A/N: Just a few things to say. Number one: I am already into the 5th chapter on this story and will be updating weekly (to give me time to finish it, mostly). I am super excited for this fic even though I haven't done anything like it before. Wait and see.
Also, news about Strike Force Alpha. Truthfully, I feel that that fic has become my good luck charm. I got partway in, and then suddenly inspiration exploded everywhere else. I've worked on several longer story projects for other fandoms and added a few one-shots, and I've been reticent to continue on while my sudden writing motivation has peaked for so long. I thought it was finally tapering off (I was getting back to the Star Trek fandom) and was about to resume when nope! THIS happened instead! So I am still working on it, it's just been taboo lately. Like I said, my good luck charm.
Now, this fic is pretty dark, so the overall rating may go up to M later depending on how things play out. Any particular warnings will be included in their respective chapters. I now unleash you to read and review.
Thorshaya- explosion
Heat exploded around him. He opened his eyes and immediately closed them again. Dust, grit, and a light far too bright assaulted him. His fingers curled around the rocks as he kept his head down. Ears ringing, he sucked in air, coughing hard against the smoke.
Wait a minute- rocks?
Spock clenched his fists in the rough soil. Yes, he was lying face-down on the ground, a disturbing difference from when he had been standing in a laboratory just before. He struggled to his knees, kneeling forward on his elbows as another wash of heat rolled over him. He felt nauseous and dizzy.
What had happened? The last thing he remembered was working in the physics lab of a branch of the Vulcan Science Academy. The Enterprise, after successfully performing a cold start on its engines, had been called to Vulcan for intensive study. The scientists had been gleefully trying to replicate their work for the last four years, and a chance to compare notes with Spock and the others who performed the procedure was invaluable. Not everyone was needed, and so shore leave was declared. Spock, intending to get straight to work, had beamed down into the city of Da'Kum'Ulcha.
Taking a shuddering breath, he opened his eyes.
Squinting against the harsh light, he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. There were rocks. And rubble. The pounding heat was quite different- it was winter on Vulcan, but somehow this felt off were it even the middle of summer. It was too strong. Spock gripped his head as his stomach rolled.
"I am Srond, head of the team that developed the theoretical equation," the Vulcan introduced himself.
"Spock," he answered, returning the salute. "Your work in formulating the equation may have saved our lives."
"I am honored," Srond responded. They worked closely for several days. Spock remained on ship's time, so he was often in the lab during the middle of the night on Vulcan.
The doors opened as he was about to perform a test, and he looked up at his visitor.
Spock heard a moan come from his right. His insides froze.
"Whatcha got there, Spock?"
"A reactor with which I am attempting to recreate our cold engine start."
"Need any help?"
"Spock," the human groaned. "What… what happened?"
Spock once again squinted around the harsh landscape. "I do not know."
Whatever hell he was in, McCoy was with him.
The doctor rolled over and promptly retched. Apparently Spock wasn't the only one who was nauseous. McCoy shakily got to his feet and swayed dangerously once he stood. Spock tracked his movement, noting that the harsh light was fading. McCoy wobbled forward, looking across the rocks. The blood-red light that was setting in drew shadows across the ground.
"What did we do?" McCoy whispered. Spock's ears picked it up, which was a good sign for his hearing. The ringing from earlier was fading. "Spock, what did we do?"
Spock carefully got to his feet. "I do not know that, either," he answered. He felt exhausted.
McCoy turned around to say something to him, and the color promptly drained from his face. Even in the blood-red lighting his blues eyes stood out as they widened in a sickened sense of horror. "Oh my God."
Spock looked behind him, and for a clear, eternal moment, felt his stomach drop away as the strong emotion of horror hit him as well.
Rising up from the rubble was a mighty column of ash and dust. Already monstrous from its girth, it stretched miles and miles into the sky before finally fanning out into the image of death. The dark cloud churned high above them, curling inwards over and over again to fuel the mushroom shape.
"Oh my God," McCoy repeated. "Oh my God." Spock startled back to his senses as the doctor stumbled past him. "Spock, we destroyed the city," he began dazedly. "Oh my God we destroyed the city!"
Spock spun him around and shook him once, trying to stave off the rising panic. "Doctor, that is uncertain-"
"The whole damn city's gone, Spock!"
"Leonard!" He shook him again and the doctor fell silent. Spock took a deep breath, and tried to fight another wave of dizziness and emotion.
"We must look at this rationally," he began quietly, avoiding the 'L' word. "That reactor was far too small to have caused this. Even if something had gone wrong with the test, we were not using real antimatter. Furthermore, the lab is not located in the center of the city. We are where it… once stood. We could not have caused this." Spock hoped the human believed his words, for truthfully, he wasn't certain himself.
McCoy seemed to calm down and nervously rubbed his elbows. He coughed weakly, and cast an unsteady look at the ominous cloud of ruin. "So what did?"
Spock scarcely heard him this time. "I am uncertain," he said. He craned his neck up to look at the ash. "Judging from its shape the classic attribution would be some kind of atomic experiment. Of course, it is not the only explosion to result in a mushroom cl-"
McCoy stirred sharply and grabbed Spock's arm. "We need to get out of here."
"Doctor, I am sure rescue crews will arrive momentar-"
"Yeah, and while they do we need to start getting away." McCoy started tugging Spock along, picking his way across the rubble. "Radiation, Spock. We're far too close and every second we're exposed could mean a worse hell later."
Spock finally understood his urgency, and they moved over the loose stones as rapidly as they could manage. Both were quiet, sending only worry-filled glances over their shoulders at the column behind them.
Yes, worried. Inwardly, Spock admitted that his concern was at a greatened height than he had ever experienced. The worry was not only for their situation, but also himself. Atomic explosions and radiation always went hand in hand, and yet he had failed to put the two together. The oversight was alarming, and he was thankful that the doctor's instincts had taken over. They could both be suffering from shock to an extent, and it was a plausible explanation for his mental state. Still. As a Vulcan he should have control.
But Da'Kum'Ulcha was destroyed, and they were the only two walking away.