"Oh," Jim said, once they reached the colonists. Most of the scientists were in science blues that had the black collar that had a zipper and a actual medal piece that wasn't part of the uniform. There were medical officers part of the staff. "so they are in the new uniforms."

"Can we go now?" came the tallest asparagus but old sounding woman.

"Yes," Fuller said. "children and pregnant women must go first."

"Is there any medical professionals among you?" Spock asked.

"Our CMO died making sure we got injected," the shortest asparagus but male sounding figure said. "she wouldn't accept a no for an answer."

"Lieutenant medical professional?" Jim asked.

"Uh, she is visiting family," the tallest asparagus said. "we have some nurses but they . . don't know. . . how to deal with asparagus saplings."

The asparaguses stepped aside to show at least thirty sleeping but wrapped infant like figures that had their chubby, brown arms into the ground. Jim turned directly in the direction of Humfree with a pointed glare that could kill. His sapphire eyes were full of rage. One of the babies was very small compared to the larger ones and seemed to be a premature baby. The captain started to go forward in the direction of the cuffed scientist. Spock grabbed the man by the shoulder earning a head turn in his direction.

"It is not wise to attract attention, captain, with someone who is not worth our time," Spock said.

Jim nodded, so the Vulcan relaxed his grip on his shoulder.

"You are going to face hell for this," Jim told Humfree.

"I expect nothing less," Humfree said.

"In a single filed line, the oldest child goes first, then the younger ones," Fuller said. "gently now, the stronger kids help me get those infants out," He looked over toward the two men. "captain, commander, I am going to need some help with this."

"What about me?" Humfree asked.

"You hold the largest chubby baby not the premature one," Jim said. "I am sure you can work your arms into the position," he turned toward the colonists. "We will be back in one hour and ten minutes for the rest of you. It'll take all day it seems like it."

There was a collective sigh of relief in the cave.

The oldest children, ten and thirteen up, carefully lifted the babies fingers out of the dirt cleaning their rooted fingers off and carefully making sure that they didn't rip the rooted fingers apart. Humfree was a single man living without a family unlike most of the colonists. His husband died during the first attack. And he was still full of rage at that. The ones responsible for his death were dead. . . but he was still mad. Was he mad at himself for allowing them to use him like that? To help them? He was still in the anger stage of his grief. He hadn't cried. He hadn't found the heart to cry since the event that took his husband away. He had crafted the asparagus humanoid hypospray in the case that something like this happened. He held the large, fat baby in his arms.

Jim didn't look so happy when he gazed at his direction.

All Jim had to share was optimistic and love with everyone else he looked at.

The group slowly made their way out with Fuller looking from side to side for the Asparagay.

The Asparagay were nearby in groups crowded in nearby ditches.

Jim felt like he was being watched.

If they could do it just a couple dozen so more times.

Without getting caught then they could be in the clear.

"I think they got a suspicion on us," Jim said. "run!"

They made a mad dash toward the distant shuttle craft.