A Trekker, who happened to be the son of a billionaire, let Jim and Co stay at a rather expensive hotel sweet that had several rooms. It had a nice balcony, a pretty brilliant fireplace, slipperly wooden floor (that would be slippery if one had walked around in slippers with a easily sent-forward-sole that did not keep the person in balance), a couple rugs, a staircase leading upstairs, and it basically had a mix of the original Leverage Headquarters mixed with a wealthy person's city slicker hide out.
A couple Trekkies screamed running down the stairs trampling over one another with red faces and beads of sweat coming down their faces. They were rushing to the wide gray doors. The doors were right across from the kitchen, the coat rack, the welcome mat, and the shoe seating arrangement. The men got their shoes on lickedly split. Their feet had made loud sounds as had their commotion in the wide room with decorations and furniture. That commotion caught the attention of Spock and Jim, who were least to say 'unamused' by the panic and hysteria over the delivery that a living plant was undergoing. Naturally, far as everyone was concerned, plants had pollen and seeds that grew or developed in various places exchanged through various ways.
Sam Witherton came down the stairs calling for what could be assumed his friends.
"Come on!" Witherton said. "This is history! Plant repopulation history-"
"Screw history and Star Trek!" Came the much shorter boy grasping at his bleeding hand. "I am unfriending you on Facebook!"
The much shorter boy went through the open doors.
"Facebook?" Came the two Star Fleet Officer's first question.
Witherton sighed, head low.
"Don't bother," Witherton said. "It ruins your life."
"I need four pots-no, make that six!" McCoy shouted. "And a lot of soil!"
While Witherton and Spock were at the store getting some plant related materials, Jim was looking over the crying and mewing pairs of Tigerliona's that had paw like shape leaves. The mother was licking at the little ones curled up beside her exposed milk related organs (That had to be taken out of the pot due to delivery). They had slow growing roots however they needed to be given a little 'playpen' to grow in. Jim was so surprised to see the mother so calm and content because just a few minutes ago she was a blazing beast fighting with them. She had teeth that could kill, literletly, and her body had become dotted in thorns. Now why didn't they ever come up when they were under the attack of tribbles?
Did the tribbles attack during the night when the creatures were fast asleep?
Perhaps they need to be pregnant in order to be very threatening all the time.
"Jim, what is that?" McCoy asked, staring at the thin and flat object.
"A Ipad," Jim was tapping on the LED screen. "Sp-No,no, no, I am not search for Spoiled little 'brats'."
His fingers were way too big for the Ipad.
"That reminds me of a Padd," McCoy remarked. "This is. . . different though. What is that on the screen?"
"A webpage," Jim said, typing it in again. "This is a search bar. I wonder why Steve Jobs never lived past the Eugenics wars. He would have benefited the use of technology and expanded our use."
"Perhaps he didn't meet the expectations." McCoy muttered.
The screen popped up a mobile page.
"Oh look,Spock's got that headgear on in one of those images." Jim smiled, warmly, recalling the comment 'I feel pleasure at the sound of your voice, captain.' made by Spock.
McCoy frowned at the multiple colored letter.
"Google. . ." McCoy commented.
"Google was never invented in our time." Jim noted.
"Silly name for a 'engine'." McCoy said.
"Agreed," Jim said. "Scotty wouldn't like these engines."
Jim scrolled down.
"Jim,hold it!" McCoy said.
Jim stared wide eyed at a picture of people with names underneath their pictures. One was of a older man with a raised eyebrow, the next was of a typical every day man with glasses, the third was of a teenage boy, the forth was of a young boy, and the fifth was a older man who seemed to be balding considerably for some time. Even without those tilted up eyebrows Jim could recognize the face to the first man as Spock's. It was uncanny. It was odd.
"Do you see that?" Jim asked.
"And four more people have portrayed Spock . ." McCoy said.
"That is very unnecessary." Jim said.
"Seems like this Leonard Nimoy was born to play Spock." McCoy said,
"There is only one man out there who can do Spock and that is Spock." Jim said.
Jim tapped on the 'see more' option.
"EIGHT people?" McCoy said, in shock.
"Four actors in 'Search for Spock'," Jim stopped. He looked toward McCoy. "Is mind travel possible?"
"I believe it is not, Jim." McCoy said.
"Four people. . ." Jim said, turning his head back toward the screen. "Searching for Spock's brain was much easier but his mind? No, that wouldn't be easy. Searching for him through a entire movie would take four people, tops, not a whole squadron."
The little ones were mewing, this time not suckling their mothers milk so that drew the attention of McCoy away. In total there was fifteen baby Tigerliona's. These babies were not ready to eat meat until they had progressed from being milked by their mother. They had different spots all over their plant body. Jim then searched for 'Spock love interests'. Most of the results that came up were 'Spock and Uhura are together'. It made Jim laugh, randomly, out loud. These two certainly wouldn't get along that easily. . . wouldn't they? No, of course not, Uhura has a husband who is in Star Fleet as acting Captain of the USS Delta. He knew that because one time it landed on his desk that a certain 'Mr Robert Uhura' had broken the rules to warn a civilization that they were going to kill themselves if they went straight down into the ocean to retrieve a rock. All of them. All in one gigantic construction. For a rock. A rock that really wasn't of much value. In fact the ship could have sunk. They could have died if he hadn't intervened and said 'Hey,look, we'll get it.' Exposing themselves like that to a race that hadn't developed warp drive, YET. He only was able to retain his captaincy if it wasn't for several other reasons.
Jim searched 'Jim and Spock' where the following suggestions came up:
Spock and Jim fanfiction.
Spock and Jim slash.
Spock and Jim tumblr.
"What the hell?" Jim said.
Obviously that meant someone was shipping them together. He understood that term due to some time in the academy where a couple students were slipping each other notepads. Most of these notepadds read 'Lieutenant Jim and Miss *insert name*' with drawn hearts all around them. Jim looked around noticing that McCoy had left him alone with the little guys. The mewing had become lower. So low enough they sounded like kittens.
"It feels like someone has been reading my captain diary." Jim remarked.
Jim clicked on some links,went to a few webpages, had some laughs at a few images on this 'google' image results when he saw that Spock was smiling. It was so unexpected and out of place, then again Jim did like that smile. Since Gary's death, he has come to rely on Spock for cold and calculative related decisions in some of their missions but mostly calculations. Calculations on to proceed and if the chance of death is worth it. It was like falling for a talking freezer that claimed not to have emotions and he was a fully sapient broke freezer that had feelings.
True, true, true
Spock was like a brother he never had.
And then he came across a blue page to a 'star trek wikia'. It was like a encyclopedia of sorts. The page was on the word "T'hy'la". A word Jim had come across on the images department where he saw a hand making a Vulcan hand sign on a window touching another that was somewhat foggy. "Always, my T'hy'la." were the words on the screen. Beside that picture was a young male in his late twenties with the facial characteristics of Spock who had a tear running down the left hand side of his face. Obviously this picture was connected to a scene this . . . This sad. He sat down in the chair waiting for McCoy.
Anyway, back to the blue page.
Spock had been doing kolinahr to purge all emotions.
Jim read, Spock's last thought before receiving the symbol of pure logic was to him. 'Goodbye, my T'hy'la.' He reread the definition over and over again. All these years. ALL. THESE. YEARS? How could Spock not have told him that he felt feelings toward Jim? Jim took a sigh relieving the tension in the room and relaxing himself. Surely Spock must have believed his emotions were getting in the way of everything. The simple emotion. Love. The one emotion that a machine named V'ger could not understand. The one Spock had understood.
Could have Spock gone to purge his emotions because . . . it was . . . difficult to admit?
So difficult to say "Jim, I love you"?
Vulcans outlived humans.
That's what Spock would have pointed out.
Jim understood all those images of T'hy'la with images of their counterparts being young men.
If Spock knew he shared the same feelings. . . Well. . . Why not? They still had a ship to return and return to their old lives. Exploring the galaxy beat everything in beating a admiral. Returning to show the new generation that they too can become legends if they put some effort into it. The chemistry is vital to heroics. Jim could say that a majority of his heroics were done when Spock was by his side which was true. Completely true. The Enterprise would not be the same without Spock, period. Spock gave Jim his memories back at one point. Spock stopped the plant life of Vaal from killing Jim. Spock was dismayed to learn that he killed the captain at one point on Vulcan and was going to resign for that to suffer the consequences and he was even happy to discover that Jim was alive!
Jim browsed the web until he came across. . a movie.
Star Trek: Into Darkness.
"Hmm. . ." He looked both ways then back to the Ipad. "This must be interesting."
Jim hit play.
It became wide screen.
Jim watched the familiar figures come onto the screen and witness, his counterpart, go blantedly against the prime directive (to which other Spock duly noted).
HE WAS SEEN.
"I wish they had Romulan Cloaks around there somewhere," Jim muttered. "Kirk, you idiot."
The people of the planet started to worship the Enterprise.
But it was worth it.
Because Spock's life was on the line.
Then he watched it all unfold. He raised a eyebrow at the entrance of a bad guy, a explosion occurring in a place of knowledge in Star Fleet that he was very aware of and had the best security (but not enough apparently in this universe), watched his counterpart lose the ship, watched his counterpart admit he would miss Spock if he had died after telling him he is not acting captain of the ship, watched countless people die, and was left stunned for a good hour of what transpired. More like the next two hours. He watched the face of older Spock appear on the screen as Jim was shaking.
Khan. Khan. Khan.
Why? Why? Why?
Why was that universe so screwed up?
The shock was still fresh. Jim half wanted to throw the Ipad out of the window, shove it down into any machine he could and wreck it beyond recognition. He was stunned to hear the dying man that Spock had been beside was Pike. Christopher Pike. Christopher Pike was the man who had died in that attack, really. Pike was the first captain Spock served under. The one who died peacefully with the woman of his dreams. The awful way his life was snatched away. History and experience yanked from the life of Spock.
Why was this all occurring prior to 2264?
History had been changed, dramatically.
The most shocking of it call came when it was confirmed this absurd universe had the Spock and Uhura couple. The Klingons in this universe had strange foreheads that had silver rings in them. If they were put in this situation in a different time in their youth then yes that could have happened. They could have ended up not as much as best friends as they had as the years had shaped them aboard the Enterprise. It was equally shocking to learn the man behind it all was Khan.
He looked nothing like Khan!
Period.
Jim wanted to speak with whoever directed this awful movie.
This very incorrect movie.
He had to stick around, though, for the end.
Older Spock appeared to be different though older. Really old. There was that ancient look in Spock's eyes. The warmth, the humanity, and the logic in his eyes. They were like a old friend who hadn't been seen in decades. Spock had aged, considerably. His ears were pointy as ever and those daring eyebrows were pushed upwards. They had both greeted one another calling them each other by name, "Mr Spock." "Mr Spock." So they were both aware of each others existences. Then Jim saw his counterpart die. He witnessed a Vulcan crying. In fact the scene sold Jim that despite the difference which brought them together, Spock would have still cared about Jim. Enough to swear revenge after screaming out Khan's name. When the movie was completed Jim was staring there dumbstruck. That was a terrible film. Those ancient eyes were full of 'alone'. Damn, a terrible film was making him cry. That could quite possibly be Spock's future.
Separated in time and space from his best friends?
It occurred to Jim that Older Spock somehow got sent into the past which somehow wrecked the future ensuing the creation of a alternate Universe. McCoy was sure taking his sweet time coming back as was Spock and Witherton. Nothing was making sense regarding this sudden change in the film where a person was out of time. Jim knew better. He knew better. He played the first movie. Frame by frame went. The lens flare was outrageous and nearly blinded him. He witnessed the death of George Kirk, young Spock beat up a couple of children, young Spock's father talk regarding "It was . . . logical." about his mother, his other self getting into trouble a lot with the law and. . . He pressed pause. Did he go through . . . No. . . No. . . Yep, he was there on Tarsus IV. He was there. He had seen Kodos. Some of his friends were part of the four thousand people put to death for the benefit of the remaining 4,000 survival. That event had to happen. It shaped Jim into the man he is today.
It nauseated the admiral.
Jim could recall the body bags being taken. One of which was partially open and saw his friend Freddy Wilson, ten years old at the time, laid inside dead with his chest covered by the black tarp. Eyes lifelessly staring at his direction. Jim puked into the toilet, flushed it, and then washed his hands. It had scarred him for life. His grip along the sink was tightening. Part of him was relieved that Kodos was dead and the other half wasn't happy that his friend hadn't gotten justice. Freddy deserved better. Tarsus IV was a subject he didn't walk about much with anyone.
Jim played the movie again starting from the scene where his otherself was in a bar fight.
He had to restrain himself from throwing the Ipad out of the window it came to the Kobyashi Maru.
He nearly got thrown out of the academy for that!
There was no trial set up by Spock.
There was no love-feast banter between them regarding his 'original thinking'.
Then he stared at the screen seeing a confused other version of himself standing around watching everyone go past him while a hundred names were being listed. So far he has become annoyed by the movie WITH THE SEX SCENE AND THE INCORRECT TIMELINE. Sure, Jim would have enjoyed the movie HAD HE NOT LIVED A LIFE SIMILAR TO THAT! He had to pause at the movie. Good thing his other self met Bones. Bones was almost like family. His other self should count his blessings for being gifted with such a good friend but all his counterpart seemed to do was apparently not be happy for that. The little Tigerliona's were sucking their mother's milk once more kicking their little loots against the floor.
Jim played the movie, again.
Why was he still playing a movie that was pissing him off?
He watched the sequence of events.
His other self being stabbed by Bones.
Spock allowing Uhura-. . . there's a relationship flowering right in the middle of a event that is frightening for everyone.
Spock allowed Uhura aboard the Enterprise.
Where was Scotty in all of this?
Chekov?
Sulu?
Jim continued watching.
And eventually the two best pals poked on screen.
"Oh my god," Jim said. "Chekov looks like a kid."
Chekov had a big head that was totally adorable (at least to the perspective of a girl) and Sulu . . . was just Sulu. He was good at fencing as he always has in any timeline. That made Jim appreciate Sulu even more. Then he watched Vulcan . . . be destroyed. His jaw dropped. Vulcan. Millions. . . Perhaps Billions. . . . Vulcans . . . dead. Spock's mother was dead. The nice woman was dead. Jim covered his mouth blocking a sob. As the Vulcan's saying goes, "I grieve with thee" but only someone who wasn't there. She was such a nice woman. Once he had gotten over that, Jim resumed playing the movie.
He watched himself be kicked off the Enterprise.
Land on De-DELTA.
DELTA.
DELTA VEGA.
It hit Jim like a tumble of bricks.
Gary.
Gary was buried there, on that planet.
"'Gary." Jim had stopped playing the movie.
Elizabeth Dehner had died on this planet and so hard Gary Michell. It should have been him who got the power. Jim could have been strong enough to overpower it and not lose his close friend and his recently assigned first officer. Guilt. Survivors guilt. Something that Jim was familiar to. Jim had a long pause in their name. Then he pressed play.
The pod crash landed in a snowy environment.
It wasn't full of snow when they arrived.
The conflict lead young Kirk to a cave.
Spock.
Apparently Spock did care very deeply about him, the way he referred to him and talked to the young boy. He wasn't young anymore, that Spock knew, Jim could tell in his eyes. The Vulcan had figured out what had happened after his other self explained what he went through prior. Spock. . . alone. That volume of emotions in his eyes and those characteristics were over nine thousand times higher. Jim wanted to turn off the Ipad but something inside of him said no. He watched in agony seeing what happened next. He didn't like the movie. Not really. Jim made a mental note to himself regarding Spock's future. Someone had to make sure he went there earlier and that Nero's family would be evacuated just in case or in this case a majority of the population if all else fails. Jim had a train of thought watching the movie progress. Older Spock made a distinctive comment regarding their friendship on how it shapes them both as individuals. It was golden. A golden comment.
Damn, Spock just admit it again.
Spock did have feelings for Jim!
Right in the gut, too.
Then came the ending.
Spock.
Spock was giving a monologue.
And then he watched the Enterprise zip off into space.
Jim turned off the Ipad.
Where were everyone?
One way to figure that out.
Turn the TV on.