Author Note
As in my other Mirror tales, Mirror Kirk and McCoy are in a physical relationship.
If you would prefer to skip that part of this tale, do not read past the line break following the Spock/Scotty/Chekov scene
The door to the Transporter room opened again. Looking up, Spock wasn't entirely surprised to find the final member of the alternate landing party enter, but he was puzzled.
"Ensign Chekov, why are you here?"
The burst of anger that immediately came from the young man was unexpected.
"You are already aware that I am not your Chekov. He may be an Ensign, but I am a Lieutenant. If you cannot bring yourself to call me by that rank, then I request that you drop it altogether. As to why I am here? I am ranked as an expert in advanced theoretical physics plus I was the top in my class in transporter theory. I can help you solve the problem of how to return everyone to their own places."
By the end of that little speech, Scotty was, quite frankly, staring at Chekov. This was most certainly not the slightly shy Russian kid that Scotty knew. While not really comfortable with the thought of working closely with this version, Scotty had to admit the lad had a point. With his knowledge base, they'd be hampering their efforts not to include him in the work. He looked to Spock and gave a short nod.
"We could use all the help we can get, sir. The sooner we solve this, the better."
After only a momentary hesitation, Spock offered Chekov one of the PADDs containing the data they had pulled together so far and within minutes, the three of them were tossing around theories at a speed that few could have had any hope to follow. Spock quickly found how fast and agile Chekov's mind was - he also found that Chekov remained somewhat hostile toward him. After a couple of hours, when they took a short break for food and drink, he decided it was time to question that and he did so with normal directness.
"Might I ask what the source is regarding your animosity toward me, Mister Chekov?"
Pausing with his cup of tea partway to his mouth, Chekov considered the Vulcan for a moment before answering.
"A transference, I suppose, but you are not the Commander Spock that I know, so I will attempt to stop."
Scotty's curiosity was too great not to ask.
"What problem is it that you have with your Commander Spock, lad?"
Not seeming to mind the question, Chekov reached for one of the sandwiches as he answered.
"Commander Spock murdered one of the few of my fellow cadets that I considered to be a friend."
Spock's eyebrow rose at that, but he remained silent and allowed a startled Scotty to do the talking.
"Murdered? How?"
"Captain Pike promised a guaranteed spot onboard the Enterprise to our team if we beat the Kobayashi Maru simulation. We did, but Commander Spock took our win as a personal insult, went behind Captain Pike's back and reassigned half of our team to other ships when the emergency call came from Vulcan and Pike was distracted. Kevin was aboard the Hood instead of where he should have been, so he died during Nero's attack on the fleet."
On one hand, Scotty thought murder was a bit strong of a word, but he couldn't deny that Chekov's friend would have lived if the other Spock hadn't altered his assignment. Not remarking on it seemed the best option and Scotty reached for another sandwich himself and changed the subject.
"Are the rest of us that different from the crew that you know?"
Slowly chewing the bite in his mouth, Chekov considered before swallowing.
"Yes and no. You are all . . . softer. This is why we need to return. Before the others do damages we cannot fix aboard our Enterprise."
Chekov then shifted his gaze to Spock.
"I wish that we would be able to see what will happen here when they return. Nyota and I were going to bet about what you will do, but there would be no way for us to verify which of us won."
Scotty was, of course, lost, but Spock knew exactly what was being referred to.
"How would you have wagered, Mister Chekov?"
"Nyota thinks you will do nothing. Does that answer your question?"
"It does. It is time we returned to our work."
A small smile formed on Chekov's face.
"I doubt any of us have left our work, sir. As a matter of fact, I was considering vibrations."
Leaning forward with interest, Scotty was obviously running the theories they had been discussing through his head.
"Go on, lad."
"We have been considering power fluctuations and magnetic fields. But what if what is keeping one dimension separate from another is that their oscillations are at a different rate?"
Steepling his fingers together, Spock gave a slow nod.
"What you are suggesting is that the combination of the power from the transporters interacted with the magnetic field of the ion storm to briefly cause our dimension and yours to oscillate at the same speed in that one specific region of space . . ."
"And that formed the gap that we switched through. Remember how we were all ill when we first appeared? What if that illness was due to us having to adjust to a different frequency than the one we have lived in for all our lives?"
Looking pained, Scotty shook his head.
"If that is the case, the changes of that set of circumstances happening again are astronomical."
Spock nodded.
"Approximately eight million six hundred forty-two thousand eight hundred twenty-two point five to one. However, we do not need to recreate the circumstances. we merely need to recreate the precise oscillation pattern that occurred when the transference occurred."
"Aye, but the Enterprise on the other side is going to need to be doing the same thing as we are for it to actually work."
"Then we must hope that our counterparts are working together and will have arrived at the same conclusions as we have. Mister Scott - Mister Chekov - if we establish this connection, might we be able to assume that communication will be possible."
The two exchanged glances, then Scotty shrugged.
"Theoretically? Aye. So, we work to recreate the pattern, then send through a message to coordinate swapping our people back to where they belong?"
"That would be far more likely to insure success than blind teleportation would, Mister Scott."
"Aye, that it would. But everything is moot until we can calculate a way to match that pattern."
"Then I suggest we turn our attention to the solution of that problem immediately."
In the Captain's quarters, Kirk and McCoy were going over the room slowly, studying books, knick-knacks, artwork - everything that gave an indication of the type of man this universe's James Kirk was.
Running his hand along the back of one of the chairs, McCoy's eyes continued to travel over the walls.
"Wonder if this version is as big of a trouble magnet as you are?"
"Probably. You did tell me once that it must be genetic."
"True. I've also speculated that you simply do crazy shit deliberately because you want to see how I look with white hair."
"Naw - I like your hair the way it is. Ah ha! Found what I needed. Come here you."
"Wait a minute - is that what I think it is?"
"If you think I've adjusted the recording device in here to record what I want it to, then it is indeed what you think it is. I thought I'd leave my counterpart an instructional video. After all, he doesn't have his Pike here to teach him about the proper care of a Captain's CMO."
"Wait. Pike actually gave you lessons?"
"Sort of. More in line with a 'facts of life' type speech."
Moving to sit on the bed, McCoy laughed.
"This I have to hear. What did the Admiral have to say and how did I miss it?"
Kirk took a moment to activate the recording before moving over next to McCoy.
"it was our first year in the Academy - you'd gotten attacked when I'd left campus for the Winter break."
"Well, that explains how I missed it."
"So, while Puri was tending to you, Pike took me for a drink and a talk. Remember that bottle of Romulan Ale? That's when I got that."
"I'd wondered about that. You're avoiding the question though. What words of wisdom did Pike give you?"
Kirk's hands weren't idle. As he started to speak, he began to tug off McCoy's uniform shirt.
"First was that I needed to bind you to me in as many ways as I could."
McCoy's chuckle was deep, more a response to Kirk's action instead of his words.
"That brings an interesting image to mind, but I don't want us to get sidetracked. What was second?"
Succeeding in pulling the uniform shirt free, Kirk tossed it to the side and began the same process on the black undershirt.
"Second was that I find ways to indulge your curiosity. Find ways to get you the tools and materials you need to experiment on whatever has your medical mind intrigued."
"I take it these were things he did with Puri?"
"So he said. And third, he said I needed to figure out what your line was - the thing that you found morally repugnant - and then never order you to do that. Pike said there are plenty of others to do those kind of jobs, but the most important thing was to never betray the loyalty you'd shown me."
McCoy waited until the black undershirt had been tossed to the side before speaking again.
"Pike should have listened to his own advice and we could have avoided that fiasco when he commandeered the Enterprise."
"All in the past, Bones. Deep breath - relax for me. We've done the audio part of this tutorial - now it's time for the visual."
Having forgotten about the recording part, McCoy tensed, but only momentarily. With a skill that spoke of practicing, Kirk removed McCoy's boots, socks and pants, tossing each item carelessly to the side in turn. He left McCoy's briefs in place for the moment, moving back down to the feet.
How Pike had done things with Puri wasn't a detail that had been spoken of nor did Kirk truly care. For his own method of binding McCoy closer to him, he had taken his time and, over the years, had explored to find all the places on the doctor's body that he could get a response from. Picking up McCoy's right foot, he began to massage it, running his thumbnail firmly across the sensitive areas to stimulate them without tickling. By the time both feet had been thoroughly worked over, McCoy was making slightly obscene noises and had forgotten all about the recording again.
Keeping his voice soft to avoid distracting McCoy, Kirk slowly made his way up the right side of his CMO's body, avoiding the obvious erogenous zones and concentrating his attention to pointing out and lavishing attention to those spots that were McCoy's own - everything from the side of his knee to just above his earlobe. Kirk paused then for what turned into a rather intense kissing session where he lost track of time. He eventually remembered what it was he was doing and turned his attention to McCoy's left side, this time going from top to bottom.
Stopping to give attention to a spot just above McCoy's hipbone - a spot that, oddly enough, was not sensitive on the right side - Kirk knew without a doubt that if he and the other Kirk had even a little libido in common, he would watch the recording from beginning to end. Probably more than once. What was unknown was whether or not the other McCoy would ever know of its existence.
After a moment, he continued his trek down the left side. Whether the other McCoy ever discovered the recording or not, Kirk sincerely doubted that the other James Kirk would ever be able to look at his CMO in the same way again. Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to avoid his doctor over this though.
Snorting softly to himself, Kirk reached for what was left of McCoy's clothing. If the other Kirk was that big of an idiot, he deserved to lose everything, including the Enterprise herself. For himself, he had his doctor, friend and lover to take care of now - any remaining thoughts of their counterparts were quickly banished from his mind.