AN: This chapter is based on two issues of the comics, which in turn were inspired by the Original Series episode The Galileo Seven. There's also a flashback to the events of This Side of Paradise, and a mention of what happened in the Animated Series episode Mudd's Passion.


"OK, this is starting to get ridiculous now."

"It's not, and you should just go with it."

Jane rolled her eyes. "You don't get it! I don't want to follow some path that destiny appears to be lying before me! I want to make my own choices!"

"Usually I would agree with such a statement," said her elder counterpart. "I was always one who made my own choices, too. The only reason I'm telling you to embrace this is because I've lived my life; I can tell you now that Spock was the best thing that ever happened to me."

"But…" Jane looked down at the chess piece in her hand again. "I still don't understand the whole…love thing. I saw it when you showed me that memory, and yet I can't wrap my head around it. I know he can feel, but how does love even work with him?"

The elder Jane thought. "Let me show you another memory." The scene around them began to change, and Jane was surprised when the bridge disappeared and was replaced by a farm surrounded by meadows. "While you were gone, I tested this out; I can travel through my memories and appear in any place I have previously been."

Jane noticed herself, Spock, McCoy, Sulu and various other crewmen looking around the farm, before being approached by a farmer wearing overalls. The memory-Jane looked confused and surprised.

"So what's going on here?" asked the young Jane.

"We were sent to the planet Omicron Ceti III, where a colony had been set up some years before," the elder Jane explained. "Later it was discovered that the planet's sun was giving out deadly radiation rays which would kill a life form within a week; my crew and I were sent on the upsetting mission of collecting what remained of the colonists."

"They seem fine, though." Jane pointed to the man who'd appeared, along with several other colonists who were gathering around the Enterprise crew.

The elder Jane nodded. "It puzzled us for a long time, but we eventually figured it out. The planet has a type of plant which lets out spores when approached. These spores give a person amazing health, and leaves them in a state of bliss. The colonists were sprayed by these spores, which enabled them to survive the radiation."

"So why are you showing me this?" asked Jane.

Her elder self closed her eyes and the scene changed. They were inside one of the farm houses, and Jane looked around to see the man from before along with the memory versions of herself, Spock and McCoy. A young woman – blonde haired and blue eyed – was also present.

"That young woman is Leila Kalomi," the elder Jane explained. "Spock met her back in 2261 – so unless things have drastically changed in your time-line, your Spock has yet to meet her. Hope that he doesn't."

"Why?"

The elder Jane only gestured to the scene, and the younger counterpart saw and understood. It was obvious that this young woman was in love with Spock – and it was also obvious that the memory-Jane looked a little peeved by the woman.

"Spock may not have shown any interest in her, but…" The elder Jane sighed. "When I chose Spock as my First Officer, I chose him because he was capable. My actions here made people think otherwise."

"They thought you had a crush on him?" Jane questioned. When her elder self looked down at her feet in embarrassment, the younger woman's eyes widened. "You actually did?"

"At the time I didn't know what it was," the elder Jane admitted.

"OK." Jane turned back to the scene. "So despite Spock acting like an android, he somehow got women attracted to him. God knows why, but that doesn't answer my question."

The elder Jane changed the scene again; the landing party, except for Spock, were being showed the mysterious flowers. The spores flew, and the only one who wasn't hit was the memory-Jane. Everyone else suddenly started smiling. The younger Jane was about to ask where Spock was before she noticed him hurrying towards the crew with Leila trying to catch up to him.

"Jane, Leila has been showing me all the kinds of flowers she is growing here." He suddenly produced a red rose from behind his back and gave it to her. "I thought you would like to have one. It really is lovely, like you."

The memory-Jane didn't know what to say, and neither did the young counterpart – for Spock was smiling, and it just looked weird. "He was hit by the spores?"

"Leila showed him one in hopes that it would make him return her feelings," said the elder Jane. She nodded over to where Leila looked heartbroken. "But as I said before, Spock didn't feel anything for her. Me, on the other hand… He showered me with gifts, and I didn't have the heart to say 'no' to him."

"So what happened?"

"After a few hours, the flowers were taken up to the ship, and more members of the crew became affected by them," replied the elder Jane. "I noticed that the radiation was beginning to affect Leila, so I beamed her up to the ship with me." The memory changed to the Enterprise's bridge again. "Then the crew… They started what could only be described as a "peaceful" mutiny. They were under the effects of the spores; they wanted to live on the planet in happiness. Uhura even sabotaged the communications station so Starfleet couldn't be contacted. And then I was hit with the spores."

"You must have gotten over it."

She nodded. "I contacted Spock and told him I would be with him. Leila heard and started yelling at me about it, saying I didn't deserve Spock. I yelled back…and the effects of the spores went away. I realized that strong emotion was the key. I had to get Spock to react emotionally in order to bring him back to his senses."

The scene changed, and they were in the transporter room. The memory versions of Jane and Spock were there, and the former was yelling abuse at the latter – before he attacked her.

"So that's what the other Spock was thinking of when he asked me to take command," Jane realized.

The fight went on for about a minute before Spock finally came to. Then the scene changed and they were back on the empty bridge of the Enterprise.

"Together, Spock and I were able to get emotional reactions out of the rest of the crew, and the colonists," said the elder Jane. "Hopefully that answers your question."

Jane had to admit that it did. Sort of. "He loved you…even then, before you'd gotten together."

"I don't think it was love back then," the elder Jane admitted. "More like attraction; like two teenagers getting to know the feeling for the first time. But it was emotion all the same; there's emotion in him, Jane. It's just hidden under all that Vulcan logic."

"I knew that already," said Jane. "It was just the love part which I didn't understand. And don't think for one minute that this had changed my mind."

The elder Jane looked amused. "I had a feeling. But remember that while Spock gives in to his Vulcan side, he is still half-human. And sometimes it really shows."


"I am entirely opposed to this delay, Captain!"

Jane gritted her teeth, trying very hard not to snap at Commissioner Ferris. He'd been on her ship for only two days, and he was already driving her – and a large portion of the crew – crazy. As if it already wasn't bad enough with the ghost of her counterpart appearing in her dreams and hinting that she and Spock should get together. "It's not a delay, Commissioner."

"It is," he insisted. "Your mission is to get the supplies to Makus III in time for their transfer to New Paris."

"We'll be there in plenty of time, Commissioner." Jane rose from her seat and turned to him. "In the meantime, I have standing orders to investigate any unusual phenomena we encounter. Murasaki 312 definitely qualifies." She then sat back down in her seat and opened up a channel to the crew waiting in the shuttle. "Captain to Galileo. Whenever you're ready, Mr. Spock."

"Aye, Captain. All systems ready. Take us out, Mr. Latimer."

Jane watched on the screen as the Galileo made its way towards Murasaki 312. She thought of Lt. Latimer, whom had taken a romantic interest in her not long after the Mitchell incident; he had been in her second year Interspecies Ethics class at the Academy, and seemed nice enough.

"Captain, they're hailing us!"

Jane leapt out of her chair and hurried over to Uhura, just as the transmission came through. "Galileo to Enterprise. Galileo to Enterprise, come in please. We are being pulled off course into the heart of-" Spock's voice was cut off suddenly, being replaced with static.

"What happened?" Jane demanded.

"They completely cut out," said Uhura. "Captain, he said that they were being pulled off course…"

Jane bit her lip and turned. "Mr. Chekov, scan for the Galileo!"

"Scanners are blank, Keptin! Ionization is disrupting all systems!" He looked down at his feet, upset, and Jane knew why; Martha was on the Galileo.

Jane was also worried for the members of her crew – her friends – and out of all of them one stood out. She was surprised when she realized this one person wasn't Latimer.

"This is exactly what I was afraid of!" Jane flinched at the Commissioner's raised voice; she really didn't want to deal with him and his foul mood. "We cannot afford any delay in the delivery to Makus III!"

Jane spun and shot him a glare. "What do you want me to do? Turn around and leave my crew behind?"

"You shouldn't have sent them out in the first place!"

He was right and she knew it, but not for the reasons he stood for. Jane had suspected the phenomena to be dangerous and hadn't wanted to send her crew into that danger, especially after what had happened to Gary. But there had been no choice; as Spock had reminded her before he'd left, it was their job to explore and investigate whatever they came across.

"Captain," Uhura spoke up, "there is one planet in the system capable of sustaining human life. Taurus II. It's unexplored and at the dead centre of the Murasaki effect."

"Then that's our best bet." She turned to the helm. "Mr. Sulu, set course for Taurus II!"

"Aye, Captain."

"And Chekov, stop sweating. Yeoman Landon will return safe and sound."

"…Yes, Keptin. I know, Keptin."


"Uhura, anything?"

"Nothing, Captain. The quasar is disrupting communications."

Jane sighed. She almost gave into the temptation to bite her lip, but refrained from doing so. She didn't want to look worried in front of her crew, and in front of the Commissioner. She'd pissed him off enough as it was, she knew; the last thing she needed was him going back to the Admirals and ranting about how she'd been emotionally compromised.

"Keptin, transporters are non-functional; even if we could find zem, we could not beam zem back aboard," said Chekov.

Jane nodded before opening the comm to the shuttle bay. "Kirk to shuttle bay. Prepare all shuttles for immediate departures to the surface of Taurus II for visual reconnaissance. Correlate coordinates with Mr. Chekov."

"You really think that will work?"

Jane didn't need to turn to know it was the Commissioner who had spoken; the doubt in his voice gave him away. "I won't stop searching until the last possible second, Commissioner."

"Very well," he said. "But not one second more, is that understood? Because if it isn't, I suggest you look at Starfleet regulations. Book 19, section 33, paragraph 12. I will take command of this vessel if you do not follow your mission. I am certain this will be the case, because despite your brief tenure in Starfleet, you have already developed a reputation for neglecting protocol."

Jane took in several deep breaths. She really wanted to punch this guy in the face. "Whatever my "reputation", I won't give up on my crew. And if all you're going to do is lecture me, I suggest you leave the bridge."

He did so, and Jane sighed with relief once he was gone. At least now she could focus on finding her missing crew in peace…and Spock. Why do I keep thinking about just him? There're others with him too!

"Captain?" Jane looked up to find Sulu grinning at her. "If you wish, I could bring out my fencing sword and poke his rear end?"

She laughed. "Thanks for that, Sulu."


Hours went by. And with every minute that passed, Jane grew increasingly more worried. God, Spock. If you don't come back, I'm gonna kill you. She then realized who'd she'd been thinking about – again – and quickly shook her head before rising from her seat. "Any word from the re-con shuttles, Uhura?"

"Negative, Captain."

Jane turned and found that the Commissioner was once again on the bridge. "You have twenty-four hours left, Captain. After that I will invoke my authority to order an immediate change of course to Makus II."

"I appreciate the optimism, Commissioner, but I have faith in my crew," she told him. "And I would also appreciate you not acting like my personal pocket watch and to wait out those next twenty-four hours in your quarters."

He left once again, and Jane sat back down. "Uhura, do you have a minute?"

"Yes, why?"

"I'd like you to send a transmission to Admiral Pike. Tell him that I apologize in advance for yelling a string of colourful language at Commissioner Ferris."


"Your time is up, Captain Kirk."

Really? Twenty-four hours already? Jane wanted to speak out, but she knew she couldn't and instead glared up at the Commissioner. Do you not even care that my crew are still out there? Do you really expect me to abandon them?

"We can no longer delay our rendezvous to deliver the medical supplies to Makus III. Remember that millions of lives depend on them. It grieves me to say that we must abandon our search for your lost crew. Mr. Spock in particular was an irreplaceable officer."

Jane flinched a little, and hoped the Commission didn't see it. "Fine. I'll call in the last shuttle, and then we'll be on our way. Mr. Sulu, set course for Makus III."

The Commissioner nodded in satisfaction before walking away, and Jane sighed. She knew she couldn't get her crew back without breaking the rules; she just needed to figure out the right way to do it. Upon seeing the hopeless expression upon Chekov's face, she had an idea. "Mr. Chekov, walk with me. Lt. Riley, take over." Chekov sent her a confused look, but nodded all the same and rose to his feet. Riley took his place.

Jane rose as well and made her way off the bridge, Chekov following. Neither of them said a word until they reached medical, and Jane found the second person she needed; Christine Chapel.

Jane had almost laughed when she'd discovered that the nurse was trying to gain the affection of Spock. She found it amusing mainly because Spock was fully aware of her feelings and was always embarrassed – or as embarrassed as a Vulcan could be – whenever she attempted to confront him about those feelings. Jane had asked her counterpart about the nurse, and apparently the Christine Chapel in the other reality had been the same.

"When she lost her fiancé, Christine turned her attentions on poor Spock," she had explained. "She stopped when Spock and I became a couple, but I suspected that she never stopped loving him. My suspicions were proven correct when one day she tried to get him to fall in love with her using a love crystal – after he and I were married!"

"Did it work?" the younger Jane had asked.

"Fortunately, it didn't. The love crystal doesn't work on those who are already in love with another. I had to transfer Christine from the Enterprise after that. It was a shame; she was still a good friend and the best nurse the Enterprise ever had."

In this reality, however, Jane had actually encouraged Christine to try harder with Spock. Spock hadn't been at all pleased.

"Nurse Chapel, may I have a word?" she requested.

The nurse left her post and walked into the hallway. "What is it, Captain?"

"And vhy am I here, too?" asked Chekov.

"Chekov, you have a girlfriend on that shuttle. And Christine, you like Spock. For those reasons, I want you both to listen very carefully."


Jane arrived back on the bridge, and after sitting herself in her chair, she began to count backwards. 3…2…1.

"Captain!" Riley spoke up. "We have an emergency in the shuttle bay! One of the shuttles has been hijacked!"

Jane faked shock as she shot out of her seat. "Hijacked! By who?!"

"Chekov, Captain! Nurse Chapel is with him!"

"Damn, I'm not surprised," said Jane, acting it up. She hoped the Commissioner was buying it. "He's got a girlfriend out there and Christine likes Spock. Sulu, forget my orders to set a course for Makus III; we're staying here."

He smiled, and Jane suspected that he somehow knew about her plan. "Aye, Captain."

"Captain Kirk! What do you think you're doing?!" yelled the Commissioner.

"Ensign Chekov and Nurse Chapel have commandeered a shuttle and are attempting a rescue mission alone," Jane explained. "I'm not leaving them behind, too."

"Commandeered? You mean stolen! I'll see that they're thrown out of Starfleet for this!"

Jane rose from her seat and faced him head on. "Really? Well, before you start quoting Starfleet regulations to my face, let me have a go. Article 7, section 23, lines 89 through 92: "In the event of the reassignment of command on a starship by a Starfleet Commissioner due to extraneous circumstances not involving dereliction of duty by the ship's Captain, said Captain reserves the right, should subsequent events dictate, to resume command if it becomes necessary to ensure the safety of the ship and its crew". I've lost my First Officer, my Chief Medical Officer, my Chief Engineer, and now my Chief Navigator and Head Nurse – not to mention two shuttles, both vital to the full functioning of this starship."

The Commissioner didn't know what to say. "But…you never listen to the rules. How do you know that…?"

"Oh, I know all the rules and regulations, Commissioner," said Jane. "I just choose to ignore them when I feel I need to. Because sometimes, doing the right thing means breaking a few rules. Now, I'm getting my crew back. You're welcome to stay on the bridge and complain, but I advise against it. And if you attempt to dish out orders, know that my crew won't listen to a word you say – because command is mine."


"Starfleet will hear about this, Captain Kirk-"

"They already have," said Jane, as she and the Commissioner made their way along the Enterprise's hallways. "I contacted Admiral Pike, and he replied back. He and Admiral Marcus want to have a rather interesting talk with you when you get back to Earth." The Commissioner's eyes widened. "Besides, Sulu said we'll reach Makus III with time to spare."

The Commissioner walked away, and Jane continued along to medical. When the door opened, she smiled at the sight; McCoy was already back to work, examining Scotty and the two other surviving crewmen, while Chekov was hugging Martha. Spock was being examined by Christine, looking uncomfortable.

He appeared to brighten up – as much as a Vulcan could, anyway – when he saw Jane, and he immediately rose from the bed to greet her. "Captain, Mr. Chekov and Nurse Chapel informed me of what you did. And I would like to say thank you."

"There's no need, Spock," said Jane. "I got my crew back, and that's all that matters." But she was saddened by Latimer's absence; he was the second guy who had been killed after she'd taken an interest in him. She knew that if it happened a third time, it would be no coincidence – that the universe itself was just as determined as their counterparts to see she and Spock together.

But that wasn't all that bothered her; McCoy had informed her that Spock had almost jumped out of the shuttle in order to ensure that the rest of them made it back safely. He hadn't even considered his life or the effect his death would have on anyone, which was unusual for someone as logical as him, even with his saying that the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few.

The fact that it bothered her so much came as a surprise to her, and she tried to shake the feeling away. "You don't have to report to the bridge; go and rest in your quarters for a couple of hours." He opened his mouth to object, but she sent him a stern look. "That's an order, Spock."

"Yes, Captain." A hair fell out of place across his face, and without really thinking, Jane reached up and removed it. Her hand lingered there moments more than it should, and her eyes met with Spock's…

She realized what she was doing and backed away, before leaving medical in a hurry. Damn the other Spock! Damn the other me! Damn the universe!

Damn...everything!