Inverse

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Chapter Three

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Checkmate

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The days that followed Jamie and Spock's arrival on the Enterprise were mentally exhausting. The initial shock of waking up to what seemed like a dream began to wear off, and now the ex-captain found herself more melancholy then ever. She wasn't allowed on the Bridge, or in Engineering, or even the Cargo Bay without permission from the senior staff. Some part of her felt humiliated at being restricted to portions of her own home; but then the other parts informed her that this wasn't her home - this Enterprise was just a distorted reflection.

On the other hand, Spock was weaseling into bio labs despite the restrictions. Since the Vulcan knew Starfleet regulation better than half the admirals, her alternate self could not counter the amount of loopholes she uncovered in order to be where she wanted to be, whenever she wished. Yet even the meditative acts of organizing public databases and correcting wayward scientists in their methods could not pacify the Vulcan. Jamie knew that her First Officer was more home sick then she cared to admit; they both just didn't want to face that particular monster at the moment – at least, not now.

"Captain." Spock's voice was collected but almost brittle in the way she said the title.

Jamie set down the book she was reading and stared at her friend with a hint of annoyance in her eyes. "Spock, how many times do I have to tell you. I am not the Captain."

Spock took the inadequate response as permission to continue. "Jamie. We need to discuss our plans to return to our universe. You have avoided the topic 23 times, and the further we delay this conversation the less likely it is that we will succeed."

The blond rolled over on Spock's bed. She found the Vulcan's room much more serene then her own – always had. Besides, her First Officer was there to make sure she didn't fall victim to the illusion that she was indeed aboard her Enterprise. Over the last several days there were a few embarrassing moments over the intercom that had the bridge crew amused.

"There are just two of us Spock; and you want to eject the warp core for Cochrane's sake! I refuse to endanger the lives of this crew - you know that."

"Yet you wish to jeopardize the lives of thousands." Spock's eyes were cold as she built up her poker face. "Those whom we left behind are still captured by Orions, or have fallen to them. There will be more victims unless we inform Starfleet of their ill intentions. We must return. We do not belong here."

Jamie crossed her arms and mirrored the Vulcan's expression. "But what would you have me do? Betray the ones who saved us? Betray… ourselves?" There was a moment of dead silence that had both women shifting uncomfortably.

"You have grown attached to them."

Kirk threw up her hands in agitation. "And you have not? Just look at them Spock! They're…" Jamie couldn't find the words to explain, it was far too difficult. The memories of the men and women she knew were now superimposed over the faces of this new crew. The laughter, the smiles, the warmth was all so familiar, but she couldn't have it. She was a stranger to them.

Spock sat down rigidly next to her Captain and stared at the wall across from her. Both of them were contemplating in silence, wondering what was to be done. After a moment Jamie stood and stretched. She was attempting to be casual in what seemed to her like an awkward moment.

"Spock, lets go to the Recreation Room… I'm bored and could use a cup of coffee." The woman smoothed out her simple blouse and gave herself a once over in the mirror.

The Vulcan stood and grabbed the tricorder she left near the door. She made it a habit to carry it with her on all times to assist her in acquiring data on this odd universe. Kirk wondered if it were merely some sort of security blanket, as if everything could be handled by treating it like some bizarre landing expedition.

Spock followed Jamie out the door and hoped that the recreation room Jamie chose would be empty. Spock wished to address the matter of returning home further, if the subject would be permitted. Unfortunately the blonde opted for a more lively atmosphere. It was the midst of beta shift, so more familiar faces were present then Spock and Jamie were used to.

Uhura was singling to a small audience in the corner, her voice more beautiful in alto then the deep octaves Jamie was accustomed to hearing. Chekov and Sulu were sitting at a table shooting comments Jim Kirk's way as he and male Spock were in the middle of a chess game. Immediately Jamie wandered over, a small swing in her hips, and surveyed the board with interest.

"So I see yet another parallel to my universe. Let me guess, you're giving poor Spock a run for his money?"

The male Spock stiffened at the comment, "I see no reason to chase after credits. They are incapable of movement."

Sulu and Chekov chuckled alongside Jamie at the reply. The three of them drifted closer together as Jamie sat down at the table. The female Spock stood silently to the side as if she were merely a statue observing human behavior. She made no move to interact, even when the odd crew member made eye contact or attempted to greet her.

"You knew what I would like to zee? A chezzmatch between Mr. Spock and Spock." The navigator said suddenly, sparking interest in the idea from those within earshot. Sulu turned to Jamie as if she were the key to making such an event happen.

"Your Spock plays chess right?"

Jamie nodded, " She is very good… Grandmaster on two different planets if I remember correctly. I find her somewhat 'logical' in her methods, so I kick her ass a few times with a bit of randomness - doesn't always work though. Your Spock uses similar moves." She smiled despite herself, "I don't think you would be able to get the two of them to play though. They'd argue for hours that they'd have better things to do."

Sulu grinned crafty-like and looked to Chekov. "You let us worry about the set-up. We have a plan we were saving for something special, but now is better then ever. You just need to go along with it."

Curiosity got the best of the woman and her hazel eyes lit up. "All right. Let's see you try to manipulate the Spocks together, I'll be more then impressed if you manage it. You're going to have to have something really fancy up your sleeves boys." Her tone was nearly sarcastic.

The challenge was accepted. Sulu stood up and wandered away from the table towards the paging system. Chekov snickered as his compatriot whispered something into the intercom. "There is only one force zat kin stop ze Keptin from his chezz game with Mr. Spock."

Then it clicked in Jamie's brain and she felt stupid not to think of it before.

Not three minutes after Sulu sat back down, did a slightly irate Doctor McCoy slink through the recreation room doors. He beelined straight to Spock and Kirk's table with a determined stride and set his hands on his hips in a clear gesture that no matter what statment was going to come out of his mouth the response 'no' was not going to be the correct answer.

"Jim, I told you a thousand times this week, that you are due in my office for your routine physical whenever you have free time!"

Jim was cornered and everyone knew it. "Err… Bones, you know Thursdays are chess nights…"

"You can resume your game AFTER the exam. I'm the only damn person on this bloody ship that can give you a direct order, and I damn well order you to take your physical! Who knows what you've been spreading to those space dock floozies you're always chasing!" Bones inhaled for another wave of ranting but Kirk held up his hands defensively – slightly mortified at what the man was saying.

"All right, all right… I'm going. No need to have a coronary." He turned to his first officer and gave an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Spock, in lue of my kidnapping I'm afraid I'm going to be absent from the match for some time..."

That was Sulu's cue. He stepped forward and put a hand on Kirk's shoulder. "Perhaps, the other Spock would like a chance to best a similar Vulcan mind while she has the chance?"

A half dozen heads perked up from their respective activities and looked towards the Spocks curiously.

"A Spock duel would be wery interesting!" Chekov added, his face full of youthful excitement that had the rest of the room buzzing. Jamie couldn't help but grin at the sudden attention the group was getting. Kirk looked momentarily taken back by the sudden request - he had no idea what to say. He looked to the female Vulcan a little apprehensively before asking her outright.

"Spock, do you want to step in for me?"

The Vulcan woman was like a deer in headlights. She stood frozen for a good minute before her counterpart saved her by rising from his chair and tucking his hands behind his back, "I'm afraid I must decline. It would be unfair to have her begin at a disadvantage. Also I have other tasks I wish to undertake now that the opportunity has presented itself…"

Jamie realized that if anything was going to happen it was going to require her influence. She folded her arms and looked Mr. Spock up and down. "Nonsense. This is chess night! Poor Spock hasn't had a decent game in ages and your going to deny her the chance to hone her skills?"

There were several other murmurs of agreement behind the blonde's back and it now seemed that every eye was on the First Officer. McCoy seemed to be interested in the potential game despite entering the Rec Room with a sour mood. "C'mon Spock, it's not like it would kill you to play chess with someone else for a change. Hell you might even like it."

Both Spocks looked at each other with sudden uncertainty. It was obvious that neither wanted to play with the other, but the expectant faces of their peers was slowly eating away at their resolve. Kirk smiled and headed out the door; before he got too far he turned his head and addressed his First Officer. "Tell you what Spock, I'll play the winner when I get back all right? I think I'll have time for one more chess match before turning in for the night."

That gave the Vulcan the small bit of motivation he needed. He perched himself back on his seat and began to re-arrange the pieces; however, the female Spock stood defiantly beside Kirk's vacant chair.

"I do believe I have some choice in which activities I may or may not wish to partake in."

Spock looked up from his task and raised an eyebrow. "Indeed you do. Is there anything of importance you must attend to that supersedes this chess match? I was under the impression you required a method of… killing time, for you have nothing else in which you could engage your attention."

A bit of color appeared on the female Spock's face and her eyes got a bit more sharp. She adopted what Jamie liked to refer to as 'the Vulcan glare'. Sulu, Chekov and some other spectators also read the expression correctly and took a seat next to the Spocks table. Jamie heard Sulu whisper in the background, "This will be good…" before her Spock tensed.

"Assumptions are illogical. You possess no facts that would lead you to that conclusion."

An eyebrow raised, "On the contrary, your very presence here indicates that you require mental stimulation that neither your quarters or your captain can provide."

"Perhaps I required sustenance."

"Then the officer's mess would have been more appropriate."

"Unless the replicators here provided better provisions then that of the mess."

"The replicators function equally in every room unless they have been tampered with or, are in need of repair. To think that the output of one machine differs from that of an equivalent machine when the same input has been provided is an error that may stem from human sentimentality."

"Ooo… burn." Came the quiet commentary from an Ensign in the back of the room.

The female straightened. "Your attempt to insult me through a hypothetical situation was ineffective. As to your earlier question - yes, I do have something of importance to attend to; however, my business is my own and will remain as such." Spock turned in a flawless 180 degree pivot and marched out the door. Several people stared after her in confusion, but most just felt disappointed at what would have been an epic chess duel. Chekov and Sulu looked crest-fallen and decided that their time would be better placed elsewhere. They followed the Vulcan woman out the door discussing their next course of action as they did so.

The male Spock however, looked to the chessboard with a blank expression. Jamie wondered what was going through that head of his as he stared at the opposition with such intensity. Did he feel some sort of failure on his part, or was he disappointed in the actions of his female self?

On a whim the woman took the seat across from him, causing his eyes to flicker to her face for an explination.

"Well, I'm technically Kirk, and this happens to be my chess night as well." She leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table in order to prop up her head. It was odd how easily she could engage at the stranger across from her – it was as if they knew each other for years."Both our partners seem to be missing in action. Would you mind humoring me with a game?" She chose to flash the smile she normally reserved for adorable waiters. Something caved in the Vulcan at the expression and he finally agreed.

"That would be acceptable."

Jamie felt a little over-confident since the man didn't even fight the offer. Maybe he was just as curious about her and she was about him?

"May I inquire - is your First Officer normally so juvenile?"

The question shocked Jamie and made her appraise Spock in a new light. There was something in the way he said that words that revealed how curious he really was about his other self. A worried tone - no… something else that Jamie couldn't quite place.

The blond was careful with what she said next. "No… usually she's lightning sharp, but she's been under a lot of duress so she's coming off as a little… muddled. Both of us have…" She trailed off and decided to turn the chessboard around so that she'd play white. "It's been difficult adjusting to your world. Our identities seem almost cheapened here, since the roles we once played are already being played."

"Indeed. It must be an interesting perspective to be forced into." Spock moved one of his pawns gracefully up the board. His mind was capable of brooding on the game as well as focusing on the conversation. He hesitated a little before asking, "I cannot help but wonder what steps you are taking to return yourselves to your rightful places?" Those warm brown eyes of his trained onto every muscle in Jamie's face looking for any sign of deceit.

She paid no attention to the look and stared at the board instead. "To be honest, my Spock has been pestering me about that all morning." She moved her knight onto the battlefield and up a level. It wasn't a smart move, but it was out of the ordinary. It might be enough to throw off the Vulcan off his strategy."The only way of returning is dangerous not only to us but others." The woman's eyes shone brightly under the ship lights, making Spock's thoughts freeze momentarily as all his focus was drawn into those familiar hazel depths.

"I will never harm a member of member of this crew or jeopardize the Enterprise in any way." She turned back to the board, severing the eye contact.

Spock sat in silence. He felt as if he were recovering from an electric shock. He made several moves before he spoke again in the barest of whispers."You are much like Captain Kirk."

Jamie grinned, catching the words. "I am Captain Kirk. Checkmate in five by the way."

The Vulcan nodded absently, "Indeed."

Authors Notes:

Ugh... this story frustrates me so. It's hard to get characters to do things they don't want to do. Originally I had the Spocks actually playing, but when I went to write it they just... didn't. Everyone is just so damn stubborn. I'm sorry about the crappy writing and the horrible editing... it's 2:30am and I felt like I needed to upload SOMETHING. Next chapter is going to have more humor, I swear. Dear lord... the pairing possiblities are endless. Any recommendations? I have ideas... just need to know which ones to throw out there first.