AN- Well, as requested, here is another chapter of this story. I love that you guys like this story and I hope to have it finished soon and the sequel up shortly after that. Not much to say here other than that y'all need to see Star Trek Into Darkness. It made me cry, but I still want to see it again!

Chapter Nine

Commander T'Les Reed of Starfleet Intelligence waited in her office for a certain cadet who was supposed to be here two minutes ago. She was almost ready to have him direct beamed to her office when he walked in, swaggering as if nothing was wrong.

"Cadet Kirk, if I recall correctly, I ordered you to be here at 1700 hours on the dot," T'Les snapped as he sat down.

James Tiberius Kirk glanced at her, barely looking up from his datapad that he was carrying, "Relax, darling. It's only been two minutes."

T'Les leaned across the desk and plucked the datapad from his hands, drawing his attention.

"We're going to set down some rules here. First off, you will address me as Commander, or ma'am. You will refrain from being a smartass and you will not disobey a direct order, even if by two minutes. Two minutes on a starship in the middle of a battle could cost you your life, Cadet. And I am more than four times your age, so no flirting. I'm a married woman anyway, so I'm off limits," T'Les snapped. Kirk only nodded.

"Do ya understand, Mista Kirk," she drawled, allowing the full extent of her Southern roots to tinge her voice. He stared at her.

"Bullshit," he muttered, "How the hell does a Vulcan get a Southern accent?"

"I was born in Florida, Kirk, and raised between there and Georgia. It's not that hard," she sighed, "Now, what did you see before the bomb went off?"

Kirk gave his report, and when he was done, T'Les leaned back thoughtfully.

"Congratulations, Cadet Kirk. You just earned a place on my mission tonight. You get to act as a date," she said.

"To who?" Kirk said warily.

"Cadet Nyota Uhura. She successfully translated a message that requested a meeting. You have thirty minutes before we meet back here. Find something nice to wear," she ordered. Kirk sighed heavily and left, trudging out of the room.

T'Les stood up and went over to the window, rubbing her wrist uncomfortably. An Andorian melted out of the shadows and watched her.

"Are you alright, T'Les?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine, Thress. He just reminds me so much of George when he was a cadet here."

! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !

Junior Centurion Zafriana of the Romulan Tal Shiar glanced at her partner-in-crime, a woman who had not given her name. She was an older woman with an attitude that wore a cloak and had her face covered. At least she spoke Federation Standard.

Two couples wandered down the street, laughing and joking. They passed by, but one of the couples innocently turned around, dragging the other with them, still laughing and joking. They stopped at the corner of Washington Street and Adams Boulevard. The sun was setting. It was time.

Zafriana stepped forward, her long coat swaying in the breeze. The woman came with her.

The couples slipped into the alley and stopped laughing and joking.

One of the four called out to them, "We're here. Sorry about the extra. He's security."

The woman next to Zafriana snorted, "No he's not. He's in the command track. Isn't that right, Cadet James Kirk?"

The woman pulled down her hood and took the scarf off her face.

"Oh my God," a young dark-skinned human woman gasped.

A single eyebrow raised, but nothing was said. The woman had black hair and brown eyes, as was common of the Romulan people, but the clothing she wore identified her as a member of the Romulan Star Navy, as well as her bearing.

"I assume that you know my… ally, because I don't," Zafriana said, glancing at the Vulcan male in the group.

"Actually, I do. Your file in the Starfleet Intelligence records is quite impressive, Commander," the Vulcan woman said, "So why don't we all introduce ourselves. I'm Commander T'Les Reed."

"I am Lieutenant Commander Spock," the dark-haired Vulcan male said.

The blonde human man spoke next, "I'm Cadet James T. Kirk."

"Cadet Nyota Uhura," the human woman said with a smile.

Zafriana nodded, "I'm Junior Centurion Zafriana."

"And I am Commander Ael," the final woman said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you officially, ma'am," Reed said with a slight smile.

Ael only nodded before turning to Spock, "You are Ambassador Sarek's son, correct?"

When Spock nodded, she continued, "His life, along with many others, is in danger. I am going against my superior's orders just by being across the border, so please listen to what I have to say."

AN- Dun Dun Dun. Evil cliffy. Sorry it's so short, I just needed to update before I got too lazy and neglected all of you for the next eternity. Well, I'll see y'all next chappie!