Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

[logical_hobgoblin]

The sandstorm seemed to come out of the blue, a sudden gust of wind that turned into a maelstrom of dust and particles that blocked visibility and made breathing difficult. It hit while the party was scattered, Spock and McCoy scouting for life forms, Kirk and the others... unknown, at this point.

The storm lasts for two hours, but it's enough to bury them and their makeshift shelter of a tarp under two feet of sand, so Spock digs them out, pushing up until he breaks back out into dusty air. "Are you well, Doctor?"

Comments

[logical_hobgoblin]

"Perhaps it would be easy if we had been on shore leave, although that would not be guaranteed, either. The statistical likelihood of the crew of the Enterprise encountering trouble while on shore leave is higher than that of other vessels'. I believe this is due to the captain's inexplicable ability to attract misfortune." Is this Spock's attempt at lightening the mood with humor? Yes. Because he's heard that works with humans in times of stress and the captain has put it to good use on many occasions, even if the Vulcan does not necessarily fully understand the mechanics of it.

Though, Spock does follow after McCoy, subtly correcting the doctor's course when it starts to waver in the disorienting hills of sand and the haze of dust.

[therealmccoy_1701]

It doesn't really work on Bones unless he's the one making the cracks, but it's... appreciated. It's a whole damn better than the usual refusal to see the dark humor in things. So he turns to smirk, even if it's weak. "Careful, elf-boy. Might make me think you're callin' the captain an idiot." Not that it would be a bad thing. The whole crew knows Bones calls the captain 'idiot' more often than he calls him by his name.

"Think the heat's fryin' that oversized brain of yours."

[logical_hobgoblin]

"It would 'fry' yours before it would 'fry' mine, Doctor," Spock dutifully reminds him with a quirk of his eyebrow. As they crest another hill, he pauses to check their surrounding readings.

"There are still no signs of the captain and communications are still down." Spock will give them a maximum of an hour in this heat. McCoy will likely suffer heat stroke beyond that, even with access to water. Shelter will be crucial at that point.

[therealmccoy_1701]

"HAH! Your circuits are gonna blow long before mine. Last I checked, computers didn't do to well in the heat..."

Now that's definitely just a joke. The heat must be getting to him already. Though, he frowns when Spock continues on. Worry darkens the hint of amusement there was,, and he moves a little faster. He needs to find Jim, dammit.

"All the more reason to get to them sooner."

[logical_hobgoblin]

"I agree, provided that they are still on this planet. Without communications, it is impossible to know whether Mr. Scott was able to lock onto the captain's signal and beam him and the others to safety before the interference began. If that is the case, then we will be wandering the desert aimlessly in search of nothing."

Spock glances down at his tricorder, as if hoping for some faint blip, and then he looks back up at McCoy. "The ideal option would be to find shelter for you, and then I will search for the others on my own."

[therealmccoy_1701]

He almost squeaks with insult.

"Absolutely NOT! You think I'm just gonna sit on my ass while you're out doing all the work? Gimme that!"

Doesn't matter that Bones has his own tricorder. He'll still yank Spock's out of his hands. It's a symbolic gesture.

[logical_hobgoblin]

He will not sigh. Sighing is a sign of exasperation. Exasperation is an emotion. He will not sigh.

"It is the most logical option, Doctor. You are more susceptible to the heat as you are not adapted to survive in this type of desert climate." Though, Spock does not realistically expect that McCoy will listen to him, especially now that he does not have a tricorder. Apparently, that somehow makes him less correct? He doesn't understand the logic behind it, but he suspects it is an inherently emotional gesture.

"In addition, I do not expect you to 'sit on your ass'. I expect you to take all measures to contact the Enterprise while I am otherwise occupied. Dividing our attentions in this manner would be beneficial, as it will optimize our success rates with both."

[therealmccoy_1701]

To hell with you and your logic, Spock!

"Even if I did agree with you, which I don't, there ain't that many places I could seek shelter in. Do you see something other than sanddunes around? 'Cause I don't."

[logical_hobgoblin]

"That would be the purpose of searching, Doctor," Spock replies with that serene patience of his that he knows tends to infuriate people. Especially McCoy. It's not deliberate, really.

[therealmccoy_1701]

"I hate you."

There's no real fire behind that. Even Spock should be able to pick up on it being said out of annoyance rather than hatred. But he also sounds tired. Heat is already getting to him, despite what he says.

[logical_hobgoblin]

"Then let us find shelter for you so you may get rid of me, at least for a time."

Spock takes his tricorder back, adjusting the settings to look for geological formations rather than life signs. "There may be a rocky outcropping three kilometers from here." Spock nods in the direction. For now, all they need is shade. They have a cover that will provide protection from the wind, but it's not enough to keep McCoy out of direct heat. Spock will search for water as he looks for signs of the captain.

One step at a time.