When New Vulcan solidified around him - or more accurately, he solidified on New Vulcan - flanked by Spock and the Romulan commander, Jim's first thought was, If it feels this bad with Bones' hyposprays, what would it feel like without them?

Then, as he surveyed the small group of Vulcans who had come to meet them, Jim had to bite back a smile. Before him stood Ambassador Sarek, a handful of other Vulcan elders he vaguely recognized from the aftermath of the Narada incident, some humans Jim thought he should recognize but couldn't put names to, and behind them, only partly visible, the older version of Spock.

Jim forced his gaze to slide past the elder Spock and land on Ambassador Sarek. He raised his hand in the ta'al.

"Greetings, Ambassador," he said. "It is my pleasure to see you looking well."

Sarek returned the salute. "Captain Kirk."

"Of course you know my first officer, Commander Spock," Jim continued. "And this is Commander Di'On Charvanek."

Sarek nodded to her. "Commander Charvanek."

Beside Jim, Charvanek also raised her hand in the ta'al. "No longer a commander, but a supplicant."

"Commander or supplicant, be welcome," Sarek responded, and proceeded to introduce those who stood with him.

Jim acknowledged the introductions, only mildly surprised when the elder Spock was introduced as Selek.

Sarek's next words almost made his jaw drop. "And you know Admiral Christopher Pike."

This time, Jim didn't bother to hide his smile, though he kept it to an upturn of his lips only, as he saluted. "Good to see you again, Admiral."

Beside him, Spock echoed the gesture if not the words.

"And you, Captain. Commander." Pike returned the salute and the hint of a smile. "At ease."

"We shall speak inside," Sarek said. "Commander Charvanek, if you will join us."

Jim fell in behind the diplomatic party, hoping that the elder Spock might hang back. Now that they'd arrived, Jim wanted to make sure to see him before they left.

Instead, it was Pike who matched his pace.

"Why are you here, sir?" Jim asked quietly.

"Somebody had to escort the Federation ambassadors here," Pike answered equally quietly. "And since Enterprise was otherwise engaged, they sent Defiant. She dropped us off and will patrol the area while the conference takes place."

Jim nodded to that. It made sense - Defiant was the same class as Enterprise, with similar weaponry and speed. She'd be ideal to shuttle diplomats in a hurry.

According to Spock - his first officer - the meetings would take place in ancillary chambers of the Vulcan Council building. Jim could only hope it would be at least slightly cooler inside.

The room Sarek led them to had a high ceiling but little else in the way of architectural features. Jim supposed that choice had been made so as not to distract from the two-meter-wide IDIC that dominated the wall opposite the entrance.

While the diplomatic representatives took their places at a large round table, Jim, Spock, and Pike moved to seats along the wall. Jim wanted to ask about the over-large, perhaps even ostentatious, IDIC symbol, but he knew just enough about design to suspect that his words would be heard by everyone in the room.

Making a note to ask Spock - either Spock - about it later, Jim focused on Commander Charvanek.

"I come to you as a refugee," she said. "Bereft of home, family, and name for the crime of acting on my beliefs. And yet I bring a message from the Emperor himself, if you wish to hear it."

If the entire gathering had been human, Jim suspected a murmur would have run through it. As it was, the handful of humans at the table simply glanced at each other.

"If you will," Sarek said.

Jim watched Charvanek reach for something - he hoped it was a communicator or recording device but wouldn't rule out an explosive of some kind.

Before she'd fully withdrawn it, it screamed at a pitch that hurt Jim's ears even at this distance. Even as he lunged for her, he could only hope none of the Vulcans would suffer permanent damage.

Then Charvanek was speaking into the device, asking for a status report, and Jim stumbled to a halt.

"We're under attack," came the response. "Enterprise is firing on us."

"That can't be right." Jim had his own communicator out before he'd finished speaking those few words. "Kirk to Enterprise."

Silence answered. He tried again, and a third time.

"What is the meaning of this, Captain?" Sarek asked.

"You'll know as soon as I do," Jim shot back, not caring how it sounded. He was about to try the Enterprise a fourth time when his communicator beeped.

He flipped it open. "Kirk here. Talk to me."

"Keptin," Chekov's voice sounded hushed. "It's Feynman's crew. They rushed the bridge, took over the ship, and are firing on Iron Talon."

"Any casualties?" Jim looked up at Charvanek. She closed the distance between them, her expression grim.

"Nyet," Chekov replied. "They threw us all off the bridge and have secured it from the inside. We cannot get in."

"Have Mr. Scott disable the power to the weapons systems," Jim ordered.

"They have secured Engineering as well."

"A well-planned mutiny," Spock observed. Jim glared at him, but his mind had already shifted into crisis mode and he had no time for anyone stating the obvious.

"How about the transporter rooms?" Jim asked. He was dimly aware of Pike beside him, contacting the Defiant to summon her back from patrol.

"Transporter rooms are guarded, but lightly," Chekov reported.

"Get Giotto and a security team and get one of those rooms back for us. Call me when you're done."

Jim slapped his communicator shut, turned to Pike. "How far away is Defiant?"

"Fifteen minutes at full impulse," Pike reported. "Captain L'Engle'Stahdt isn't comfortable warping over short distances."

"It'll be over before then." Jim knew that with certainty. Then he met Charvanek's eyes. "How are your shields?"

"They will hold," she said, "but not indefinitely."

"I don't need indefinitely," Jim said. "I just need a -"

His communicator beeped, and he flipped it open. "Go."

"We have control of transporter room three," Chekov reported.

"All right. I want you to lock onto Admiral Pike's emergency beacon." Jim met Pike's gaze. Pike nodded, and activated the signal. "Beam him and Commander Charvanek over to Iron Talon. When you get there, sir, hail the Enterprise. They might be less likely to fire if they know they'll be killing one of our own."

"Doctor McCoy is already aboard -" Spock began.

"And he has no authority over them in this instance," Jim finished. "Admiral Pike does."

"And if they do not cease fire?" Charvanek asked.

Jim felt his lips pull into a tight grin. "Then I'll cease it for them. Chekov, you need to beam me onto the bridge."

"Without weapons, Captain, we will be at a disadvantage," Spock pointed out.

Jim noticed the we but didn't question it. He could feel Spock's determination through their bond and, in any event, he'd never try anything like this without Spock beside him.

"Forgive my interruption. I have taken the liberty of procuring these." Jim looked up at the elder Spock, who had approached silently and now extended a pair of the most elegantly beautiful phasers he'd ever seen to him and his first officer.

"The ceremonial phasers carried at the opening of the Council." Sarek looked over the elder Spock's shoulder. "Logical."

"I appreciate the gesture," Jim began, "but ceremonial phasers -"

"Are still fully functional," the elder Spock finished. "Although they are limited to a stun setting."

"Thank you," Jim said, taking a phaser in his free hand and speaking into his communicator. "Ready for transport, Mr. Chekov?"

"Aye, sir. In three. Two. One."

Pike rested his hand on Charvanek's shoulder, and the two of them dissolved in a swirl of light.

"Two for the bridge," Jim ordered and returned his communicator to his belt. "Ready, Spock?"

Spock readied his phaser. "Ready, Captain."

Spock ignored the slight falling sensation that always accompanied solidifying after a transport in the realization that he and Jim had materialized in front of the helm and tactical station, facing the viewscreen which currently displayed the Iron Talon.

Instinctively, Spock dropped to the floor, turning on his knees to face the rest of the bridge. Beside him, Jim had done the same just as phaser blasts fired overhead.

If he hadn't already known Acting Captain Torres sat in the center seat, the shriek of surprise would've confirmed it.

"What are you - how did you get aboard my ship?" Torres demanded.

"You are in error," Spock said. "This is not your ship."

"It's mine. Stand down." Jim rose to a standing position, and if Spock were fully human, he would have cursed. Jim knew better than to expose himself to an enemy like that.

I know what I'm doing. The words sang in Spock's mind as clearly as if Jim had spoken them aloud. Be ready.

As if he could be anything else, in this moment. Still, he shifted his muscles minutely, bringing himself into a somewhat more battle-ready stance.

"Stand down?" Torres sounded frantic, or perhaps half-mad. Spock was never certain of the distinction.

"Sir, they're hailing us again." Spock didn't know the man who sat at Nyota's station.

"Ignore them," Torres ordered.

"That'd be Admiral Pike calling," Jim said conversationally. "I'd answer, if I were you."

"Sir?" The communications officer looked uncertain.

"How can it possibly be Admiral Pike?" Torres demanded. "Ignore it."

"It's Admiral Pike because he brought a diplomatic team to New Vulcan," Jim said. "When we found out what you did, we beamed him aboard the Iron Talon. You sure you want to add murder to your list of crimes?"

"Murder?" Torres all but snarled. "They're Romulans, Kirk - Romulans at New Vulcan, and you brought them here. They'll destroy New Vulcan like they destroyed Vulcan! Like they destroyed my ship! How can you call that murder?"

"Besides the fact that Pike's on the Talon? Because these Romulans had nothing to do with Vulcan, or the Feynman," Jim said. His tone was pitched low and steady, a voice of reason. "These Romulans aren't like them. Answer the hail, and let Admiral Pike explain things."

Spock lost track of Jim's voice because Jim's thoughts were spilling through their bond in a way they never had before. While Jim spoke to calm Acting Captain Torres, he was also explaining his plan.

Soon as Pike's on screen, they'll be distracted. You take Torres, I'll take the guards at the turbolift.

Spock understood, and silently confirmed it.

"Come on," Jim's actual voice registered again. "What can it hurt to answer a hail?"

"Ignore it!" Torres shouted.

"But what if it is Admiral Pike?" The communications officer sounded uncertain, then his next words were resolute. "On screen."

Pike's voice filled the bridge. "This is Admiral Christopher Pike to Enterprise. Stand down immediately."

Now.

Spock dove and rolled from his hiding place, coming up into a crouch, the phaser aimed at Torres, in one smooth move. He pressed the trigger and Torres stiffened in his seat, then collapsed.

Peripherally, Spock was aware of Jim firing his own phaser once, twice, and then Spock was shoulder-to-shoulder with him, ready to take on the rest of the Feynman crew.

"Let's call it a day, shall we?" Jim said conversationally.

"Stand down," Pike repeated. "Surrender your weapons to Commander Spock."

Spock waited until most of the remaining crew of the Feynman put their phasers on the floor and stepped back before rising from his crouched position to collect the weapons. He paused just long enough to release the locks on the turbolift.

As soon as he did, the doors slid open, and Giotto rushed in, followed by a team of security officers.

"The Feynman crew have surrendered," Spock told him. "Confine them to the brig."

"Aye, sir," Giotto said, and Spock was able to turn his attention back to Jim and Admiral Pike.

"What's the Talon's status?" Jim was asking.

"Minimal damage," Commander Charvanek replied, her tone clipped.

"Please accept my apologies, Commander," Jim said. "The mutineers were part of the crew of the Feynman, who are aboard the Enterprise after an encounter with another Romulan ship."

"Then I must apologize as well, Captain, Admiral," Charvanek said. "We first attempted to contact Feynman, but another ship fired on her before we could make contact."

"What happened?" Jim asked.

"We destroyed it, but Feynman didn't respond to our hails afterward."

Spock felt Jim's irritation through their bond, and spoke before Jim could say something he might regret.

"Captain, we should contact New Vulcan and apprise them of the situation."

"See to it, Spock," Jim said. "And take command of the Enterprise while I return to New Vulcan. You have my permission to deal with any other attempts at mutiny the way you dealt with mine."

Spock chose not to argue with that tone, despite the order's questionable legality. "Yes, Captain."

He was spared the need for further reply when the remainder of the Enterprise's bridge crew emerged from the turbolift to resume their stations.

Jim supposed he'd get used to diplomatic functions eventually - assuming that sitting in on a meeting with a defecting Romulan officer counted as a diplomatic function, which he wasn't certain he'd assume.

Still, once he'd returned the ceremonial phasers, there hadn't been anything for him to actually do other than sit around while the diplomats talked. Beside him, Pike seemed to be paying rapt attention to the proceedings - at least on the surface. Jim would bet that Pike was as bored as he was.

The only highlight had been the message from the Romulan Emperor, when Charvanek finally had the chance to play it. The first surprise was that the Emperor spoke in Standard. The second surprise was that he had endorsed, even encouraged, Charvanek's defection.

"Too long the Empire has stagnated," he said. "I have sent my beloved niece with the hope that she and you together will encourage new growth for both the Empire and the Federation."

That threw the meeting into what Jim suspected was as much chaos as ever happened on Vulcan. Finally, Sarek rose. "It is decided. Be welcome, Di'On Charvanek."

After that, all that remained were the details of transporting the Romulan defectors to New Vulcan and the Iron Talon to Starfleet headquarters - neither of which Jim would be involved in.

As the diplomatic party broke up, Jim excused himself from Admiral Pike and crossed to Spock - or Selek, as he had been introduced.

The older Vulcan looked up even before Jim came within speaking distance, as though he'd expected Jim's approach. "It is good to see you again, Jim."

"And you." Jim smiled.

"Forgive me, that our time must be brief, but I have duties," Spock said.

"I know, and I won't keep you. I just wondered if I could stop by tonight."

The request seemed to please him, to judge by the lessening in the severity of his expression. "That would be agreeable. I will send you the coordinates."

"See you tonight." Jim turned away, finding himself face to face with Pike.

"Is he the Vulcan you met on Delta Vega?" Pike asked.

"Met is too mild," Jim countered. "He saved my life, and indirectly, the lives of every human on Earth."

"I'd like to meet him," Pike said.

"His name is Selek. I can give you his contact information."

Pike gave him a look that wasn't quite intense enough to be a glare. "There are still questions as to exactly what happened on Delta Vega. I'm sure he has all the details."

"You could write a dissertation." Jim kept his expression innocent. His mother had never bought that expression, but maybe Pike would.

Pike chuckled grimly. "Students will be writing dissertations about the Narada incident for decades to come." Then his expression turned shrewd. "You're not going to give those details, are you?"

"As my first officer would say, they are irrelevant."

"Still, I'd like to hear them someday. Maybe over a bottle of Saurian brandy."

"I don't think Vulcans drink, sir."

"I meant you, Captain."

Jim blinked, surprised, and Pike grinned. Then, "I appreciate your loyalty to a man you barely know. I won't press, but if anyone finds out who he is, they might."

"They're welcome to try, sir," Jim said.

Pike looked amused at the thought of anyone trying to press a Vulcan for details they didn't want to give, but only for a moment. Then he gestured toward the door.

"Walk with me."

"Sir." Jim fell into step with him and after a moment realized they were heading toward the beam-in point.

It took a moment longer to realize Pike was subtly questioning him about the status of the Enterprise and her crew.

Of course. She'd been Pike's ship before she was his. Of course the other man wanted to know about her. Jim praised both ship and crew, but couldn't resist a dig at the Admiralty.

"She's the finest ship in the fleet, and I'm satisfied that she has the finest crew. Now I just have to convince Starfleet Command of that."

"They don't need convincing," Pike said. "Sure, you've got a young crew, but nobody doubts their capability."

"Thirty percent more paperwork suggests somebody does," Jim said. At Pike's inquiring glance, he explained, concluding with, "It's annoying as hell, and more than once I've thought about applying a Kobayashi Maru solution to this paperwork problem."

"God forbid," Pike muttered. Then, "I'll see what I can do about it."

"Thank you, sir." Jim meant every syllable. But they'd arrived at the beam-in point, and Jim saluted as Pike disappeared.

Then he was aboard the Enterprise, waving to the transporter technician on duty and heading directly for the bridge, not even stopping to change out of his dress uniform.

When the turbolift doors opened, Jim's footsteps faltered for a moment. Instead of Spock, his counterpart sat in the center seat.

Jim recovered quickly. "Status?"

"Acting Captain Morrison had to be physically restrained from punching Lieutenant Torres, but otherwise the mutineers are secure," Kirk reported. "Iron Talon's repairs are completed, and Defiant has taken up a flanking position in case anyone else gets any ideas about our guests."

Jim's mind had hung on the third word. "Acting Captain Morrison? The science officer?"

"She is the ranking officer not involved in the mutiny," Spock said, and only now Jim noticed him at the science station. "And, her aborted assault on Lieutenant Torres notwithstanding, she has performed her duties competently."

"And that's the trifecta," Jim muttered, caught somewhere between pride and amusement. Then, "Do I even want to know what the duty roster for today looks like?"

"Why should it look different than the duty roster for any other day?" Spock asked.

Jim just nodded to his counterpart.

"The record will show that Captain Kirk resumed his station upon return from New Vulcan," Spock said. "And if the record is not particular about which Captain Kirk it meant, nor the time of said return, that is hardly a court-martial offense."

Jim sent a surprised query along their bond, got back an almost sheepish feeling in response. Biting back a grin, Jim said, "Then the ship is in good hands. Carry on."

"Yes, sir." Spock turned back to his station.

Jim headed for the turbolift, and before he stepped in, he glanced back at his counterpart. "Join me after shift."

"Aye, Captain," Kirk replied.

Jim waited until the turbolift door slid shut before letting out his grin. Tonight was going to be good.

A few minutes before the end of alpha shift, Kirk stepped down from the center seat and nodded to Spock. "Probably best you're in the chair when the relief comes on."

Spock rose from his station. "It has been an honor to serve with you, sir."

"A relief, you mean," Kirk said, then crossed to Spock and lowered his voice. "Keep an eye on him. I know he's not the same me that I am, but he's similar enough…"

He trailed off, uncertain how to finish the sentence.

Fortunately, this Spock appeared to be somewhat more adept with human emotions than his own had been. "I shall endeavor to ensure he lives at least as long as you have."

The dry, logical sense of humor was the same, though. Kirk grinned at the thought and then headed for the turbolift.

Only when the door slid shut behind him did Kirk let out a long breath. Sitting in the captain's chair of the Enterprise, even if it wasn't his Enterprise, had been a bittersweet reminder of his lack of place in this new world. He'd have to find one, some kind of purpose, somehow, or else he'd go insane in a way he hadn't while he was trapped in the nexus.

But that was a thought for another day, Kirk told himself firmly as the turbolift landed at deck two. He used the few steps to the captain's quarters to shove that melancholy deep down in the back of his mind. His younger self didn't need to feel bad for bringing him out of the nexus.

Jim didn't feel bad about it, if his smile when he opened the door to his quarters was anything to go by.

"C'mon," he said, and started back toward the turbolift.

Kirk caught up with him in a couple of hurried steps. "Where?"

"New Vulcan," Jim said casually - too casually, Kirk thought.

"Why?"

"Trust me."

"You do realize who you're talking to?"

Jim laughed and held out a hypo. "Tri-ox compound. New Vulcan isn't as hot as Vulcan, I'm told, but it's still at the edge of human tolerance for long periods."

Kirk knew how he could get when his mind was set on something, and he assumed his counterpart was the same way. Rather than argue the point, Kirk gave a silent sigh and injected himself with the tri-ox.

Minutes later, Kirk re-solidified on the surface of New Vulcan. He glanced around curiously. "A central beam-in point?"

"It's serving as a customs and clearing port for supplies and personnel for the colony," Jim explained. "And Vulcans are Vulcans, so beaming down anywhere else is considered impolite."

"Makes sense," Kirk agreed, "all of it."

He studied the colony as they walked through darkening streets. A double handful of permanent buildings were already up, including the Council building and the home of the New Vulcan Science Academy, though many of the personal residences appeared still to be pre-fabricated emergency housing - not too surprising so soon after the disaster itself.

Still, Kirk had to admit, "They're making good progress."

Jim agreed. "The biggest challenge is that many of the local flora are indigestible to Vulcans. They've been importing food, seeds, and starter plants at a rate that's nearly mind-boggling, but it'll be a hard couple of years before the farms are producing with regularity."

"At least they're Vulcans," Kirk said. "No chance of a repeat of the disaster at Tarsus IV."

"Yeah," Jim agreed. "I got mad when I heard about it. How could something like that happen in the twenty-third century?"

Kirk stopped in his tracks. "When you heard about it?"

Jim turned to him. "Yes. Why?"

"I was there."

Jim swore, then met his gaze seriously. "I'm sorry."

"A long time ago," Kirk said, and his younger counterpart nodded, accepting the close of subject.

Then they were turning down a side street, and Jim rang the chime at a pre-fab residence that was smaller than any Kirk had seen on the Vulcan of his timeline.

The door slid open, and Kirk found himself staring at Spock.

Not the Spock that was first officer on this timeline's Enterprise, but an older Spock, even older than the last time Kirk had seen him, before that disastrous launch of the Enterprise-B. Wear lined his face, but he stood as straight as ever.

"Hey," Jim said, the words barely registering in Kirk's awareness. "Sorry to bring a guest unannounced, but I didn't think you'd mind."

"Spock," Kirk said - or maybe he just thought he said it through the dryness of his throat that had as much to do with emotion as it did with New Vulcan heat.

Spock stared at him almost a full minute before stretching out a hand, the first two fingers extended. "T'hy'la?"

Kirk extended his own fingers to touch Spock's, and decided he'd have no trouble adjusting to this new timeline at all.

Spock insisted Jim stay for the evening meal, but Jim excused himself almost as soon as he'd finished eating.

"You guys have been apart long enough," he said. Neither of them disagreed.

"Thank you, Jim." Spock's tone was solemn, almost reverential, and Jim found himself ducking his head to try to hide his blush.

"Wouldn't you say that reuniting the two of you was the logical thing to do, so no thanks are necessary?"

"Perhaps not necessary," Spock said, "but certainly meant."

Then his elder counterpart was on his feet, and Jim found himself enveloped in a bear hug.

"Thanks, youngster," Kirk said.

Jim endured the hug a moment longer, then stepped back. "I'll note that you chose to remain here in my report. If 'Fleet has questions, they'll know where to find you."

When he materialized in the transporter room, he was surprised that Spock was waiting for him, his hands clasped loosely behind his back.

"They'll be fine," Jim said.

"I have no doubt," Spock replied. "Although there are reports awaiting your approval, I wondered if you might be interested in a game of chess. Captain Kirk said that he and my own counterpart used to play."

"I haven't played in years," Jim said, "but I remember how. Go easy on me, will you?"

Spock raised one eyebrow as they started for the exit. "I do not believe you wish anyone to go easy on you, as you say, in anything."

"Maybe not, Mr. Spock," Jim said. "But it was worth a try."

"Indeed."

They were almost to Jim's quarters when a thought occurred to him. "Hey, Spock - I've been wondering something. The other you said something when he saw the other me, something in Vulcan, and it's a word I don't know. What does t'hy'la mean?"

Here ends the first story in the Changing Times series. The next one, Unsettling Times, will be up as soon as I get it back from my beta readers and make their edits.