Kirk didn't quite resist the urge to smile after Spock agreed (subtle, at least, more with the eyes than his mouth), but his only response to the commander was a nod. Unlike certain daring young captains, he couldn't think of any reason why Spock would fudge the truth about his health (Vulcans couldn't lie, right?), but all the better to send Bones off with him so the doctor could fuss to his heart's content. Hopefully, if Spock and McCoy moved fast through these hallways, they could avoid any seven monster pile-ups. Anything less than that, Kirk trusted Spock could handle himself.

Either way, they all should've been gone ten seconds ago. Kirk grinned at Bones' comment, already backing away in the direction of the female block. "That's why I'm trusting you two to put up a fight. Don't let me down."

If either of the science officers had anything to say to that, they'd have to direct at their captain's back, because he was already headed off, disappearing into the crush of monster corpses and rearmed prisoners.

[to here]