Snippet 1b

"Uh...yeah, it is," Kirk said, looking a bit taken aback. "...holy crap. I can't believe you're actually reading that."

"Hallelujah," Uhura said offhandedly, sipping her custom-made drink.

Spock looked confused. "You cannot believe it?"

"Nope. Not in the case of a Vulcan. Don't you guys think that stuff's all bogus?"

"If we do not believe something it does not constitute something we are not interested in," Spock replied, turning back to his book. "And, as it were, I am not a Vulcan."

Kirk scoffed into his own drink, rolling his eyes. "'Y'know, Spock, I don't really care what they say," he said, lowering the glass from his lips and placing it beside the pool again. "You'll still always think and act like another species from the rest of us. So, seriously, to me, you'll always be a Vulcan."

"As you wish, Jim."

McCoy was half-standing in the water, looking irritated as he walked over to the thermostat. "Temperature's too damn high..." he muttered, turning it down. "Trying to fry us into dilerium."

"I thought it was nice," Uhura said, glaring at him. "Leave it as it is! It's good for you."

"I'm a doctor, I know these things," McCoy said, giving her a look as he got back in the hot tub.

"Yeah, well, you're the lucky one," Uhura grumbled, reaching over to sip a drink she'd made herself from the cooler nearby. "You're the only one who kept a legitimate job after the show. The rest of us have to go scrambling."

"True," Kirk sighed, leaning back to look at Spock again. "Where are you gonna work, Spock? In England somewhere?"

Spock raised an eyebrow but did not look up from his book. "I am uncertain. There are several options that I am able to pursue at this point."

"Such as?" McCoy asked skeptically.

"A designer for the national aeronautics and space administration," Spock began. "A theologian for the religion of my choice, a researcher for the military of my choice, an actor, a travelling spokesman, an analysis specialist for a scientific institution -"

"Why don't you take over the whole damn planet while you're at it," McCoy muttered.

Spock raised an eyebrow at him.

"At least he's got ideas," Kirk said, grumbling to himself. "Maybe I should look for something in NASA, too. Or maybe I should just have my own farm. With TONS of chickens and cranky roosters..."

McCoy scoffed. "They probably don't exist."

"Actually, they're probably all the rage here," Uhura said. "Especially since people here are so behind with technology. Farming is probably still one of the major careers to have around here."

"I want one," Kirk said decisively. "With chickens."

"Condo not good enough for ya?" McCoy asked sardonically.

"What's the matter, Bones? Don't you miss the country?" Kirk asked, peering at him. "Wouldn't you at least want a little cabin down there, or something? Away from the city?"

"I'm buying a timeshare," McCoy said, looking at him pointedly. "That way I can visit many cabins in many places."

"You're gonna buy that many?"

"You only need one, Jim. They get my condo, I get their cabin."

"That's stupid. Nobody's touching my condo. Spock, come on, get in here! You'd LOVE how boiling hot it is in here."

"Your persistence begs me to question your motives," Spock replied, his eyes still on the book.

"Oh, you're right, Spock. I just want to see you in a bathing suit," Kirk said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "It's just wrong for you not to enjoy this, too. Come on, you can read in here, too, you know!"

"I was not referring to sexual motives, Jim." Spock replied. "And if I joined you it would be impolite for me to read."

"No, it wouldn't. You're reading right now, and you're still in our company." Kirk insisted. "You're so anti-social."

"Oh, leave him alone, Jim," Uhura said, sipping her drink again. "If he doesn't want to come in, don't make him."

"Way to take the Vulcan's side."

"It's the best side there is. It actually makes sense."

"Sense does not always justify what's right," McCoy argued.

"Most of the time it does. Better than swear words do, Doctor."