The asparagus was placed into a field from the deactivated back end of the shuttle craft. McCoy didn't seem to be too trusting with it. The doctor had calmed down the captain with a good hug that was more of him holding the one inch shorter man. Then man's head tucked on the doctor's shoulder like a terrified young boy. Spock almost mistook the doctor kneeling down holding a young, child like Jim Kirk in his arms with the kids arms around his neck leaned against his chest. When he blinked again, it was back to normal. Commander Fuller shared the same sentiment that the doctor had toward him.

Jim was back to his normal self.

"Don't you think that you may have over-reacted?" Spock said. Spock turned slightly toward the asparagus then toward him.

"Not at all," Jim said.

"But he looks unpleased," Spock said. "and he has claimed not to be interested in harming you."

"Then why was he under our feet?" Jim asked.

"Terrified," Spock said. "he only got the courage to come out and speak until the doctor beat him up," Jim looked over toward the Vulcan with a unsure expression on his face. "the loss of Mr Hendorff is felt. And we have just seen the man eating asparagus kill another person. Logically, since he had seen our reactions, his concerns were warranted. And he may know more about why they suddenly have become a threat."

Jim folded his arms.

"But why does he look like a asparagus?" Jim asked.

"Mr Sulu, Dr McCoy, and I submitted a paper regarding the subject of turning a human to plant like hybrid with studies based off my previous experience and closely monitored," Spock explained. "if turning himself a asparagus was key to his survival then it further more confirms the theory that it does not register as a being or having a temperature."

"So that is why you remained off duty for a week," Jim said.

"Yes," Spock said, with a nod. "for science."

"I don't trust the asparagus," Jim said.

"Captain," Spock said. "let me do the talking for you."

Jim nodded.

"You may do that," Jim said.

Spock approached the field.

"I am Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise," Spock began. "My apologies for my captain's reaction," the asparagus slightly waved his cuffed hand indicating it was fine. "is your name Brandon Humfree?"

The green eyes flickered.

"Yes," Humfree said.

"Where are the others?" Spock asked.

"They are safe," Humfree said.

"Define safe," Spock said. A chill was in the air.

"They can't be killed by those monsters," Humfree said.

"Where are they?" Spock asked.

"We lost our security team to them," Humfree said. "you should have heard their scream. It is our fault!" his tendrils were forced together as he briefly closed his eyes. "We were designing a big domestic animal, a bull if you will, but my colleagues . . they . . . they wanted more. They wanted to make a real engineered asparagus humanoid because of your paper," Humfree rocked back and forth. "It'll be fun! They said. We will be historic! They said. We will make a new civilization! They said."

"But they did not think about the diet," Spock said.

"No," Humfree said, pausing dramatically. "one of us did."

"Who was it?" Spock asked.

"And that was me," Humfree said. " Dirt, and water, that's all the diet was going to be," tears rolled down the green cheeks. "I gave them a harmless weapon, it was a group project, was going to make a harmless bull without horns! And they mislead me!" he regained his composure. He looked eerily calm. "and so, hell broke loose. We found the skeletons of lab techs. The asparagus was hiding. Waiting to pounce on us. They had heavy spears. Their teeth, oh my god, it's worse than the goosebumps potato."

Humfree paused rocking back and forth.

"And?" Spock asked.

Humfree lowered his hands.

"During evacuation I killed them," Humfree smiled. "I didn't let them in. The others were being administered. They are all safe. No need to be thirsty or hungry. No need to be rescued at all. Safe and sound."

McCoy stepped forward from the seat.

"There are 110 families down there," McCoy said. "last report said there were at least fifty-three pregnant women!"

"Doctor," Fuller said. "they might not be pregnant anymore if they are asparagus."

"Good god, they may have lost their babies," McCoy reeled back sitting onto the bench with a look of horror.

Jim's hands were wrapped in fists.

"Safe," Humfree said. "and I just want to leave that planet."

Jim approached the field.

"Too bad," Jim said. "we are going back and we are getting the children first."

"Then the women who were pregnant," McCoy interjected.

"And the pregnant women," Spock said.

"God knows what kind of mental state they are in," Fuller said. "Captain," the security officer added. "what about the suspect?"

"He will remain in his cell," Jim said.

"Aye, sir," Fuller said, with a nod.

"And the Enterprise is days away," McCoy said. "where are we goin' to put them?"

Spock came over to a flat screen that had a holographical view of the current solar system that they were in.

"There is a planet with three moons that is approximately thirty-three minutes away," Spock said. The Vulcan leaned forward toward a console then tapped on the holographical view of the planet that came up with a reading that had glowing words and numbers along the planet. "sensors indicate that this planet is a hospital one that allows life. The reading also indicate that planets and native wildlife lurk but twice the size of a normal horse."

"So . . ." Fulller slowly said. "dinosaurs?"

"Great," McCoy said. "going from one threat to another!"

"Bones," Jim said. "unlike man eating vegetation. . . I am pretty sure these animals become threatening if we threaten their young."

Eyes all went on to the Vulcan.

"Plausibly and plausibly not," Spock said. "it is unknown what they are. Not human, I assure you."

Jim nodded his head while rubbing his chin.

"Spock, Fuller," Jim said. "Can you determine which part of the planet is the safest place to leave a village?"

"If I mapped it out and had a security team, yes, captain," Fuller said. "I can't keep everyone safe with just me."

"There were samples taken of the planet when determining if it is suitable for colonization," Spock said. "it failed due to the lack of oxygen being produced in one key part due to a massive area lacking oxygen due to there being a hole in the atmosphere. That was over three years ago."

"Pretty sure it ain't there," Humfree said. "repaired itself."

"We need to be certain," Jim said.

"We will be more informed upon arrival," Spock said.

"Change autopilot," Jim said. "we have families to rescue."