Disclaimer: Can I trade you my life for Benedict Cumberbatch? Oh wait, I've already done that.
Ch. 10:
Lydia was heading to her quarters when she was grabbed from behind. She instinctively threw her elbow into her attacker's nose, but was grabbed by two more when he let her go.
"Ensign Chekov sends his regards." One of the men said. "He also requests you give his regards to Captain Kirk when you see him on the other side."
Lydia fought against her captors as he raised a phaser. There was a flash and he was gone, replaced by O'Neill and Jackson. She quickly pulled her arms free in the confusion and slammed one of the men into the wall, before backing away and letting the other two men dispose of her attackers.
"Ma'am." O'Neill said. "Are you alright?"
"Fine, Lieutenant." Lydia replied.
"You know you're not supposed to leave the bridge without one of us, ma'am." Jackson told her.
"…Right." Lydia said. "Can you give me just one moment?"
She walked a little ways away and pulled out her communicator.
"Kirk here."
"Are you alright, Captain?" she asked, breathing heavily with relief.
"I'm fine, Commander." He replied. "Why do you ask?"
"There was…" she broke off and took a deep breath. "Never mind. I heard about Chekov."
"I handled it." Kirk told her.
"Good." She told him. "Watch your back."
"You too, Lyds." He replied.
"Jones out." She said, snapping the communicator shut and leaning against the wall.
"Ma'am?" O'Neill called.
"I was heading to my quarters." She told them.
"We'll escort you." He replied.
Lydia sighed, but nodded, heading off.
McCoy, Scotty, and Kirk entered the captain's quarters warily.
"Here, here." McCoy asked, wiping Kirk's lip. "What's this?"
"It's called blood, Bones." Kirk replied. "Watch your step. The officers around here move up by assassination. Chekov just tried it on me."
"Mister Sulu's Security Chief, apparently instead of Lydia." Scotty said.
"They share the duties, according to Lyds." Kirk replied. "She handles the outward security and he handles the inward."
"Well, he runs his security like the ancient Gestapo." Scotty said.
"And my sickbay is a chamber of horrors." McCoy told them. "My assistants were betting on the tolerance of an injured man. How long it would take him to pass out from the pain."
"Report on technology." Kirk said.
"Mostly variations in instrumentation." Scotty replied. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Star readings?" Kirk asked.
"Everything's exactly where it should be, except us." Scotty confirmed.
"Let's find out where we stand." Kirk said. "Computer."
"Ready." Said a male voice, instead of the normal female.
"This is the Captain." Kirk said. "Record security research, to be classified under my voice print, Commander Lydia Jones, and Commander Montgomery Scott."
"Recorded." The computer replied.
"Now we're in business." Kirk said, leaning forward. "Produce all data relevant to the recent ion storm. Correlate following hypothesis. Could a storm of such magnitude cause a power surge in the transporter circuits creating a momentary interdimensional contact with a parallel universe?"
"Affirmative." The computer confirmed.
"At such a moment, could persons in each universe, in the act of beaming, transpose with their counterparts in the other universe?" Scotty asked.
"Affirmative." The computer confirmed.
"Oh great." McCoy muttered.
"We'll fix it, Bones." Kirk assured him, before turning back to the computer. "Could conditions necessary to such an event be created artificially, using the ship's power?"
"Affirmative." The computer confirmed.
"Show procedure." Kirk ordered.
Scotty went to another screen.
"Can you do it?" Kirk asked.
"Not by myself." Scotty replied. "I'll need help. And you and Lydia are too conspicuous, and Uhura has to stay where she is to monitor communications."
They both turned and looked at McCoy.
"No." he told them. "I'm a doctor, not an engineer."
"Now you're an engineer." Scotty told him. "I'll have to tap the power we need from the warp engines and balance it for the five of us."
"Jim, the way this ship is run, what kind of people are we in this universe?" McCoy asked.
"Let's find out." Kirk replied. "Computer, read out official record of current command."
"Captain James T. Kirk succeeded to command ISS Enterprise through assassination of Captain Christopher Pike." The computer reported. "First action, suppression of the Gorlan uprising through destruction of rebel home planet. Second action, execution of five thousand colonists on Vega Nine."
"Cancel." Kirk ordered. "Now we know."
"Captain?" Scotty called. "I'm sure we can do this."
"Good." Kirk replied.
"We have to lay in the automatic transporter setting, but when we interrupt engine circuits to tie the power increase into the transporter, it'll show up on Sulu's security board." The engineer told him. "Of course, we'll only need a second."
"I'll tell Uhura and Lyds to create a diversion to distract Sulu, at your signal." Kirk said. "Let's get back to our posts. Keep me advised."
"Jim, if we're here, what do you supposed our counterparts are doing back in our universe?" McCoy asked.
"I don't know Bones." Kirk admitted.
His communicator rang and he grabbed it quickly.
"Kirk here." He said.
"Are you alright, Captain?" came Lydia's voice, sounding breathless.
"I'm fine, Jones." He said. "Why do you ask?"
"There was…" she trailed off. "Never mind. I heard about Chekov."
"I handled it." Kirk told her.
"Good." She said. "Watch your back."
"You too, Lyds." He replied.
"Jones out."
He closed his communicator.
"Let's get to work, gentlemen." He said.
Kirk was joined by Spock, trailed by several men, as he made his way through the corridors.
"Captain, I am pleased that you frustrated Mister Chekov's plan." He told him. "I should regret your death."
"Why?" Kirk asked.
"I do not desire the captaincy." Spock replied. "I must prefer my scientific duties. I am frankly content to be a lesser target. If for no other reason than it also makes Lieutenant Uhura a lesser target as well. She is…less ruthless than Commander Jones."
"Logical, as always, Mister Spock." Kirk said.
They walked past an alcove, where Chekov was in a clear cylinder, writhing in agony, and Kirk stopped.
"The agony booth is a most effective means of discipline." Spock said. "I presume you've ordered full duration."
"I haven't decided." Kirk replied distractedly.
"Indeed." Spock said. "I imagine Commander Jones is pushing to be allowed to put him to death, as she did Ensign Johnson when he attempted to assassinate you."
"I said I haven't decided." Kirk repeated heatedly.
"That is, of course, your affair." Spock said calmly. "Captain, may I inquire if you intend to persist in your unusual course of action regarding the Halkans?"
The continued on their way and Farrell joined Spock's guard, trailing behind the two men.
"You heard my orders." Kirk replied.
"They are, of course, in contradiction to standard Empire procedure." Spock pointed out. "You cannot ignore the consequences."
"Is that a threat?" Kirk demanded.
"I do not threaten, Captain." Spock replied. "I merely state facts. I have found you to be an excellent officer. Our missions together have been both successful and profitable. However, I shall not permit your aberrations to jeopardize my position."
"Spock, do you think we should destroy the Halkans?" Kirk asked.
"Terror must be maintained or the Empire is doomed." The First Officer replied. "It is the logic of history."
"Conquest is easy, control is not." The Captain said. "We may have bitten off more than we can chew."
"Captain, I do not wish to find myself opposing you, but if you continue on your present course, this confusing, inexplicable behavior – " Spock said.
"Is my concern, not yours." Kirk interrupted. "You would find me a formidable enemy."
"I'm aware of that, Captain." Spock replied. "I trust that you are aware of the reverse."
He turned and left, his guards following.
"Orders, sir?" Farrell asked.
"Release Chekov." He replied. "Confine him to quarters."
"Yes, sir." Farrell replied.
He moved off.
"Farrell." Kirk called, stopping him. "How well is Commander Jones protected?"
"Half the guard watches her, as usual, sir." He replied, obviously confused. "Would you like to change that? Because that would require taking out her man O'Neill."
"No." Kirk replied quickly. "I just wanted to check. Carry on."
"Yes, sir." Farrell said, saluting him and moving away.
Kirk sighed and continued down the corridor.
Scotty directed the guard on the door they needed to get through, while McCoy gave him a hypo.
"That oughta hold him for about six hours." The doctor said.
They moved the guard through the door and made their way to the upper deck to get to work.
Kirk walked into his dark quarters and found a woman lying on his bed.
A woman decidedly not Lydia.
"I fell asleep." She said, sitting up. "We had quite a time in the chem lab, picking up after the storm. Nothing compared to your day, I gather. I heard about Chekov."
"He gambled, I won." Kirk replied, slowly.
"You got lucky." She shot back. "I'm surprised you could be caught off-guard that way."
"I was preoccupied." He replied.
"You're still in trouble with Starfleet Command." She told him. "What you've got in mind this time is beyond me. You're scheming, of course. The Halkans have something you want, or, is it all some clever means to advance you to the Admiralty?"
He didn't answer.
"Kirk." She marveled. "The Cabinet itself?"
"Further than that, if I'm successful." Kirk bluffed.
"Really?" she said excitedly. "Well, you must know what you're doing. You always do. If I'm to be the woman of a Caesar, can't I know what you're up to?"
She leaned up and kissed him, but they were interrupted by the intercom. Kirk pulled away and hit the intercom button.
"Kirk here."
"Mister Spock, Captain."
"Yes?" Kirk said.
"I have received a private communication from Starfleet Command." The Vulcan told him. "I am committing a breach of regulations by informing you of its contents."
"Yes, Mister Spock." Kirk acknowledged.
"I am to wait until planet dawn over principal target to permit you to carry out our mission." Spock told him.
"And if I don't?" Kirk asked.
"In that event, I am ordered to kill you and to proceed against the Halkans as the new captain of the Enterprise." Spock replied.
Lydia couldn't take one more second in her quarters. She staggered out to find O'Neill and Jackson waiting for her.
"Are you alright, ma'am?" Jackson asked, catching her.
"Yes." She replied, steadying quickly. "You're dismissed."
"Ma'am?" O'Neill said, confused.
"What was confusing about that sentence?" she demanded. "Get back to your posts!"
"Yes, ma'am." They both replied, saluting her and leaving.
The moment they were gone, she collapsed against the wall. She covered her mouth to smother a hysterical sob. She forced herself to take a deep breath and another, until her breathing had calmed and she could stand upright, still leaning against the wall. She stayed like that for a second before pulling herself up and heading off in the opposite direction.
"Let's drink a toast to Spock." The woman in Kirk's quarters said. "The only man aboard with the decency to warn you, and he'll die for it. They'll never find another man like him."
"I don't intend to kill him." Kirk told her.
"Are you going to act against the Halkans before the deadline?" she asked.
"No, but I'll avoid killing Spock." Kirk replied.
"Just get out of the way, him, Uhura, and their men." She told him.
"I'll get out of his way." Kirk told her.
"Shall I activate the Tantalus field?" she asked. "You'll at least want to monitor him, won't you?"
"Yes." Kirk said.
She went to the wall and pressed two hidden buttons on the panel, which rose to reveal a screen and console.
"I hate this thing." She said.
"It's not that bad." Kirk said, not really seeing the problem with it, what with not knowing what it was.
"Of course not." She agreed. "It made you captain. How many enemies have you simply wiped out of existence by the touch of a button? Fifty? A hundred? Now, I always thought that was funny: The great, powerful Captain Kirk, who owes everything to some unknown alien scientist and a plundered laboratory."
"Well, if you don't take advantage of your opportunities." Kirk replied.
"You don't rise to the command of a starship or even higher." She agreed.
She switched on the device and Spock appeared on the screen, sitting at his desk in his quarters.
"That magnificent mind of his." The woman said. "But it can't protect him from this. I press it and he dies. Now?"
Kirk reached over and shut it off.
"You really mean it." She marveled. "It doesn't matter. If Spock fails his orders, he'll be killed anyway."
"I'll see to it that the circumstances of his failure will clear him." Kirk replied.
"You're not ever afraid of Starfleet Command." She said. "Can your scheme bring you that much power so quickly? And what about me? How does Marlena fit in?"
Kirk was distracted from his joy at finally having a name for her by her wrapping her arms around his neck.
And it just got worse when the door opened and Lydia stepped out.
"Am I interrupting something?" she asked.
He pulled away from Marlena.
"Of course not, ma'am." She said calmly.
"Good answer." Lydia said. "Dismissed, Lieutenant."
"Yes, ma'am." Marlena replied, unfazed.
She saluted Kirk and Lydia and walked out the door.
"So I take it we're not together in the reality." Kirk said.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Lydia replied, sitting down on the bed. "Go check next to your sink in the bathroom."
Kirk looked at her, confused, but did as she said. A second later, he walked out, holding a silver ring in his hand. He looked at her and she raised her hand to show him a matching ring on her hand.
"Turns out, my counterpart keeps a log, just like me." She told him. "Only hers is less personal and more like an ever changing list of allies and lovers versus enemies."
"So I'm cheating on you with Marlena." Kirk said.
"Yep." She replied. "If it makes you feel better, I'm sleeping with Bones."
Kirk took a moment to really look at her.
"What happened?" he asked.
Lydia swallowed.
"I went to my quarters." She said softly. "They're like a torture room. There are weapons on every wall, caked in blood. I'm sure you've realized we've move up by assassination in this universe. Well, my counterpart kept detailed records of who she'd killed."
She broke off and Kirk sat down next to her.
"Lyds?" he said softly.
"David was on the list." She whispered, tears streaming down her face. "She killed her own brother to advance her position."
"It wasn't you." He told her. "None of the things any of our counterparts have done has anything to do with us."
She nodded and took a deep breath, wiping her face.
"We need to get out of here, Jim." She told him.
"We're working on it." He assured him.
"I think you and I could survive here." She told him. "We'd have each other to watch each other's back. Uhura has Spock to protect her. She'll hate it, because he's not her Spock, but from what "my" logs say, they seem to be the only two people in this whole damn universe actually loyal to each other. Scotty could probably survive if we could keep him drunk enough, but this universe will destroy Bones. And I can't watch that happen. If something happened to any of you, I don't think I could stand it. I'm not sure I could survive it."
"You won't have to." Kirk assured her. "We're working on a plan. We'll get home."
She nodded, but she still looked lost. Kirk sighed and pulled her to him, letting her fold herself into him as he kissed her head.
"I'm scared, Jim." She told him. "I was trained to deal with alien attacks, space battles, hell, even foothold situations, but alternate evil universes? I don't think I can do this."
Kirk communicator went off, and he pulled away, allowing her space to collect herself.
"You've got Kirk and Jones." He said, answering it.
"It's Scotty, sir." Came the reply.
"We have to get out of here within three hours." Kirk told him. "Spock has orders to kill me unless I complete the mission."
"We've got another deadline, too, sir." Scotty told him.
"What's up, Scotty?" Lydia asked.
"The two-way matter transmission affected the local field density between the universes, and it's increasing." The Engineer told them. "We've got to move fast."
"How fast?" Kirk asked.
"Half hour at the most." Scotty replied.
"Um, I hesitate to ask, but what happens if we miss it?" Lydia asked.
"We couldn't get out of here in a century." Scott replied.
"That's bad." Kirk said.
"Agreed." Lydia added.
"We're ready to bridge power from the engines to the transporter." Scotty told them. "You've got to get down there and free the board so we can lock in. Give me about ten minutes. I've got to complete a few more computations."
"All right." Kirk agreed. "I'll be in the transporter room in ten minutes. We'll meet you in Sickbay afterward."
"Aye, sir." Scotty said, signing off.
"Come on, Commander Jones." Kirk said, pulling her up from the bed. "Let's get out of here."
A/N: Let me know what you guys think! I hope you like it!
Abbey