Chapter 1

MIRROR

2290

"Your control over your Empire is slipping, Emperor Spock."

The men across from Spock at the negotiation table were as different in personality as could be, and yet they wore very similar arrogant smirks. Spock, who had never smirked in his life, was accustomed to such displays. After all, he was the current Emperor of the Terran Empire. Emperor for an unprecedented fifteen years, he now spent his days evading assassins at every turn. Such activities were growing tiresome and overshadowed what he had believed his purpose as Emperor to be.

"That is exactly why I am here, Praetor," Spock replied.

Praetor Ran's young companion sat forward in his chair more aggressively than Spock thought necessary. "Ha! So you admit that the Terran Empire is failing...that is why you asked to meet with us under the auspices of peace negotiations."

Spock raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Senator Pardek...that is not correct. Contrary to your accusations, I come to you with the sincerest of proposals: peace between the Romulan Star Empire, and my own."

"Your own," scoffed Praetor Ran. "A Vulcan leading Terrans...what a travesty. You are no more Terran than we are."

"Nevertheless, I not only live among them, Praetor, but I also rule them."

"That does not explain your willingness to come here and beg for mercy."

Spock lifted an eyebrow. "I do not beg," he said simply. "But as you mentioned, my rule over the Terrans has been challenged as of late."

"Kirk," sneered Pardek. "Once such good friends, now plotting against his own Emperor. Some would say, you deserve your plight for ever trusting a Terran piece of trash, Spock. Nevertheless, Kirk's offenses against Romulan forces have made him a legend in this war."

"And they have also marked him for dead," added the Praetor. "It won't be long now..."

Spock settled back into the uncomfortable chair and steepled his fingertips. "Praetor, you must make a decision...will Romulans share the blind egotism of the Terran masses or join with me in a merger of sorts?"

Praeter Ran was visibly confused. "You wish to conspire? Explain!"

"Captain Kirk is planning a final offensive against Romulus. He intends to openly defy me, in an attempt to unseat me from power once and for all."

"We are prepared for his antics."

"No, you are not. Kirk has a secret weapon, one which he intends to use to destroy both Romulus and Remus."

The Praetor stood up quickly. "Lies! Why should we believe you? You are a traitor to your own empire."

"The Terran Empire is coming to an end," said Spock. "The decay from the inside is pervasive and destructive. And I do not intend to be Emperor when that happens. I do, however, intend to be alive. As you may be aware, the attempts on my life have become...more frequent, if ineffective."

"And?" Pardek sneered.

"And, the Terran Empire may be failing, but the Romulan Empire will not survive either. Despite your Romulan arrogance, you must admit that your military might has been severely depleted. I have the technology to protect your two planets from destruction. However, there is a price."

"What is it?" Praetor asked suspiciously.

"The Romulan Empire must go into seclusion for a time."

"Seclusion? You intend to hide an entire planet?"

"Yes."

Spock stopped outside of the Senate chamber when he heard stocky footsteps pursuing him. Of course, he knew who it would be before he turned around.

The heavyset senator kept his voice low as he approached. "The Praetor was impressed by your plans, Spock. But there is still much convincing to be done." Pardek's furrowed brow and jowly cheeks belied his quickness and unmatched mental agility.

Spock nodded briefly. "I leave that to you, Senator Pardek."

Romulus 2367

The incessant sound of beeping bore into his brain, but it also drew him back into the world of the living. A glaring light shone in his eyes as soon as he dared open them. The light immediately dimmed and a wizened face leaned down to look at him.

"Your father is awake," said Spock, calling back over his shoulder.

Picard raised himself up onto his elbows. Was his formidable daughter there in the room with them? She'd shot him in the leg, but apparently, he had survived. The room was nothing short of an immense cavern. The rock walls were covered in advanced technology, and all around them on various levels of scaffolding, serious looking scientists busied themselves with mysterious projects.

Picard raised an index finger to point at the busy workers. "Are those...?"

"Romulans?" Spock finished for him. "Yes."

Picard attempted to swing his legs over the side of the platform he was lying on, but Spock put a strong hand against his shoulder and pushed him back down. "I have waited a long time for you to arrive, Captain. You are not going anywhere until your surgeon arrives."

"My surgeon?" He glanced around in confusion.

Spock nodded. "We expect her to arrive shortly."

"Surgery? What the hell kind of surgery?"

"You have a startling piece of machinery inside your head, Captain Picard. It is the very reason I brought you here to Romulus."

Picard struck out with his forearm, but his aim was poor from the lingering effects of the anesthesia. Spock caught his wrist, and the Vulcan's grasp was undeniably strong. Undeterred, Picard attempted to slam his forehead into Spock's, but Spock stepped aside and brought his other hand to the base of Picard's neck and squeezed lightly. "I am afraid, Captain, that your complete cooperation is required," he said as Picard slumped backward unconscious.

"Someone fired a phaser here," said Riker. "Smart...probably Yar. At least we'll have some kind of marker." The door they had entered from sickbay had disappeared, now that they had passed through to the other side. Wherever that was...

"All I want to do is find my daughter, " Beverly Crusher said, marching past him impatiently.

There wasn't much to say to that, so the group continued on in silence, except for the sound of T'Pel's tricorder beeping.

Gradually a steep slope stretched out in front of them. Fog flowed across the path as they walked, obscuring their boots. Suddenly up ahead there was movement at the top of the hill. The same distorted figure they had seen move like lightning while watching from inside of the ship.

The next moment there was an odd wind that rushed up, blowing dust in a circle around their feet. Beverly, who had been focused on the movement up ahead, now felt a gentle pressure on her palm. She looked down to find Jeanette standing there holding her hand. It was as the girl had first appeared to she and Wesley as a young teen, innocent yet wise. She looked up at her mother with a sweet smile. "Mommy, I'm so glad you came. I need to take you to meet someone."