It Is Not Logical But I Understand

Chapter 1

Spock Prime entered the space cruiser prepared to begin the rest of his life—one that, he reckoned, had already seen his death, rebirth, and re-emergence in another reality. What more could one anticipate?

Meeting his younger self in an alternate reality was odd but in a way enlightening, and even—he could admit to himself, and to she who had been his wife had she still lived—entertaining. She knew him better than anyone, even Jim Kirk. It was even enjoyable speaking with young Spock. In this different reality, Commander Spock had made choices he hadn't seriously entertained. But then, this Spock had already had a childhood so very different from his own painful memories and a very large part of him rejoiced in this.

Of course, this reality had seen the destruction of Vulcan—something he could never have imagined. It was even more catastraphic than the death of some 400 Vulcans who perished aboard the USS Intrepid-by a massive amoeba of all things-back in 2268. The shock he felt as the Intrepid died—that was the only way he could describe it at the time—was nothing compared to the hundreds of times he'd witnessed Vulcan's destruction, over and over again. It did something to him, destroyed his sense of who he was, maybe even his katra.

Enough. It was done. Now all he could do was help resettle the remaining Vulcans on a new planet. He was old, but he hoped he could still be of assistance in some way. He tried to convey this to Ambassador Sarek, his sort-of-father. The Vulcan was nearly spent—understandably—after witnessing the death of his own wife and his son's overwhelming grief. Spock—the younger one—was still in his extended Vulcan adolescence, much as he had been when he'd met his own wife, a Human serving on that other Enterprise.

Sarek suggested that Spock could perhaps work with elder Vulcans like himself, who found themselves utterly alone after losing their mates and children. For telepaths like Vulcans, being truly alone was devastating. He knew that, had felt it hundreds of times. Only now he was just beginning to adjust to not having to constantly witness his planet's destruction.

Spock mused over young Commander Spock's choice of companion. He'd known Nyota Uhura, of course, and liked her well enough. As the only woman among an otherwise all-male command crew, she broke barriers with her intelligence, dedication to duty, toughness, and enormous likability. At least half the men on the Enterprise and a good deal of the women, Christine once told him, had huge crushes on her.

Nyota flirted with him, in a friendly sort of way. She liked to sing when he played his lyre and sometimes even touched him, something they both enjoyed as a kind of amusement. Spock didn't often tease his Human crewmates but even he realized that the sight of a most attractive woman officer sweeping her hands over his shoulders shocked the crap out of most of them, according to Jim. He always reacted by smirking and lifting an eyebrow. It was usually enough to send the Ensigns a-twitter, as McCoy liked to say.

But this Spock was intent on bonding with Nyota, who was completely different than the Nyota he knew. In fact, she was more like his own wife, who he didn't think young Spock even knew. He had learned that in this reality, she was currently working on New Vulcan to help newcomers settle in. He wasn't sure what her role was but he intended to find out. He would, though, stay away. It would be illogical to interfere with her life in this reality.

Spock's reveries were interrupted by a young Human man slumping into the seat next to him. He and the man nodded to each other. The man wore desert-style fatigues and boots and looked to be in his early 30s? He had a mop of curly brown hair and hadn't shaved. He pulled one of those PADDs everyone had from a dirty backpack and dictated a message:

"Hey, Chrissie, it's me. Just wanted to let you know I'm on the shuttle to New Vulcan or whatever they're gonna call it. It's, uh…um…10:30 in the AM here in San Fran, and we should be taking off in about 30 or so. I think. I dunno, I'm so tired I can't think straight. Yeah, about 10:35, this is supposed to take off at 11:00 or eleven-hundred since everyone's using military time anyway. Anyways, should be there in two days from now, meaning from here, at um…"

He looked at Spock. "Excuse me, sir, could you tell me what time we arrive?"

"1400 local time."

"Thanks, man. Uh, sir."

He continued. "We get in 1400 local time, that's like 2 pm to us. So, Chrissie, I'll see you then, hope you have a good coupla days. If you can meet me at the station, that'd be great but if you can't, no sweat, I'll just take a cab. If they have them. Uh, of course they would, not having cabs would be illogical right?"

He must have sensed Spock's slight amusement and cleared his throat. In a much lower voice he probably intended to not be overheard, he added "Love you more than you could know Chrissie. See you in two days. Bye for now!"

Spock thought it was rather sweet. She would have thought so.

The young man glanced his way before putting the PADD back into his backpack, giving him an awkward grin. "My fiancée," he explained.

Spock nodded. "Indeed." He gave the man a tiny smile.