"That Which We Call A Rose"
Shakespeare's Lemonade
Rating: T
Genre: Family/Action
Summary: After about 200 years, Sylar has taken on a Vulcan identity. Peter and Claire join Starfleet and run into this all too familiar Vulcan. Will they keep his secret? Can the past be past? What about Kirk, the Romulans, and the rest of the Enterprise crew?
Pairings: Spock (Sylar)/Uhura, Claire/McCoy or Claire/Kirk... I haven't decided yet.
A/N: I don't know a whole lot about Star Trek. I've seen the new movie several times, some of the 80s movies and quite a bit of Next Generation and Voyager, but I've only seen bits and pieces of the original series. So, this will mostly be like the new movie... and Heroes, of course.
Prologue~Vulcan 2253
Sarek stared at the man in front of him who had just imparted his deepest secret.
"Spock," he whispered. The name felt strange coming out now. "Sylar?"
The man smirked without mirth. "I haven't been called that in 200 years."
"I find that difficult to believe," Sarek said.
"Why?"
"You are still such a child. You are human, which accounts for some of it, but most humans of 70 to 100 years are more adult than I have known you to be."
"I've been alive for about 275 years. I haven't aged since I was 30."
"Ah, but that doesn't explain how you were able to counterfeit being a Vulcan for so long."
"As I said, I have many special powers. Shape-shifting is one, and I have several variations of mind power which have allowed me to adopt your mindset easily. I must admit, it was difficult at first. Logic was not one of my strong points as a younger man."
Sarek nodded. "Why do you tell me now?"
Sylar didn't have an answer at first. "Because... you are the closest thing to a father I've ever had. Humans don't love like Vulcans do. Especially in my time, many abandoned their children. And I was abandoned by two fathers. Things make sense here. I feel free."
"Logic," Sarek said, "It offers us serenity humans seldom find."
"But they could. Humans can do this. It doesn't take special powers."
Sarek nodded. "They could, but will they?"
Sylar shook his head and stood up straight once again, straightening his shirt. "I doubt it very much, but if my secret is safe, I will continue to do so."
"We will speak to Amanda. She has often told me you are like the son we never had. She will not care about this."
As they entered the house again, Amanda came to the door. She saw Sylar's changed face and smiled. She rushed out and caught him in a hug.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"You don't think I know a human on a planet full of Vulcans?" she replied, holding him by the arms.
He felt relieved at the human emotions that came with this event.
"You are not upset?"
"Of course not. You're family, Spock."
New York 2254
Claire fingered the edge of the red uniform and had to stop herself from gagging. She was annoyed at the ridiculousness of having to wear a skirt. 200 years ago, women in the army didn't have to wear skirts. Across the table, Peter laughed.
"What?" she demanded. "You look just as ridiculous."
"Thanks," he said. "This was your idea."
"I didn't know these things were mandatory. I might have to make a complaint."
"Good luck with that."
"Can we go now?"
"What, the shuttle doesn't leave until nine. You're supposed to go out and party before signing your life away to the federation."
"No, normal people do that. I'm supposed to spend 100 years saving the galaxy and then move on to something more fulfilling."
"Remember when you wanted to be normal?"
"No."
"Neither do I. Okay, let's go."
They returned to their temporary home at the shipyards. In the morning they would be shuttled away to Starfleet Academy in San Francisco.
Peter stood in Claire's door and watched her putter about the room.
"Is this really what you want?" he asked. "After all this time."
"Yes," she replied, not looking at him. "Maybe I make it my personal goal to be a part of every military since 2013."
"You know I don't buy that."
"Why do you follow me? Is it because you have nothing better to do?"
"You're family Claire. Even after hundreds of years that doesn't change, and families look out for each other."
"Hmm. Not mine. You know the whole 'save the cheerleader' thing is getting kind of old."
"What cheerleader?"
Claire glared at Peter and walked over to him. "You think I don't know what you're doing. You think I believe that crooked grin, but I know what this is. You still can't get it out of your head that you have to protect me from everything forever."
"I'm here because I want to be. Don't forget that hundred years we weren't speaking."
Claire turned back to the room. "But you watched me. You were never far."
"Good night, Claire" Peter knew he would get nowhere in this conversation. He knew Claire was still trying to find her destiny. Joining Starfleet was another attempt to accomplish something. But Peter had different motives. There were things he wanted to see, mysteries he wanted to solve, and becoming a Starfleet captain was a good way of getting that.