“Hey there.”

Jim’s eyelids came unglued and he stared into the warm gaze of his mother.

“Mom?”

“Yep. How do you feel?”

Jim took stock of himself. He shook his head slightly. “Better. No pain. But pretty tired.”

She smiled. “Staurel said your treatment went well and you’re free of the poison. He recommends you stay here over night for observation.”

Jim was already sitting up. “Nope.”

It was then she shoved a new set of clothes at him. “I figured. Put these on and when you’re ready, we’ll head to Sarek’s house with Spock and the children.”

He nodded. “I could really use a shower. Is there one somewhere around here?”

“Behind that door.” Staurel suddenly appeared, as if maybe he’d been hovering nearby all along. He’d pointed to a door on the left. “First, I muse protest your early release and recommend you do not depart until tomorrow.”

“Yep, noted.” Jim slipped off the bed and stood.

Staurel looked unvulcanlike annoyed for just a few seconds, but then he seemed to accept it. “Very well, the shower is there. Do you require assistance?”

“I don’t, no.”

His mother insisted on taking his arm to walk him over there anyway and for the most part Jim didn’t protest.

He made quick work of the shower and pulling on the new set of clothes she’d provided him with. He noted they were made from a thin, breathable material no doubt due to the heat there on New Vulcan. From what Jim had been told, it was not quite as hot as Vulcan Prime, but it was as close as they’d managed to find when looking for a new colony to settle.

Which reminded him of elder Spock. All that seemed so long ago now.

His mother took hold of his arm when he came out and escorted him from the medical center to where Spock, Desda, and the two younger children waited.

Brick and Isabelle remained frightened judging on their expressions while Desda looked contemplative. Spock, naturally, wore no expression at all.

“Ready to continue?” Spock asked.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“Follow me.”