Hello All! I'm back with another chapter. Apologies for the length in time it took me to update. I went to Ireland on holiday, and I was finishing up my other story Moonlit Twilight (which is now COMPLETE!). I think you'll really enjoy this chapter, or, at least, I hope you do! Thanks sooooo much to all of you that reviewed. The last chapter I believe was the most successful in reviews and feedback. Keep it up!

As the story turns…….

Chapter 10: The Undiscerning Vulcan

Her body toppled to the ground. For what seemed like ages, everyone just stood there. Unsure of what had just happened. Chekov was the one that interrupted the state of shock.

"Captain! Captain!" He screamed as he rushed into the room. He stood in front of Spock with a smile on his face. "Vulcan, it's still there. They didn't destroy it. I thought for certain that the gravitational pulls would have consumed the planet, but it's still there!"

Spock's eyes wandered back to the girl that now laid on the floor. He let go of his mother and rushed by her side. Just as he knelt down beside her, a glowing light surrounded her. Everyone had to shield their eyes. When the light faded, she no longer had wings, nor was her body covered by the white uniform, it was, instead, covered in silver ribbons. Her hair remained silver. Her skin, pale and ageless, and, on her forehead, remained a strange eight point star.

"We need to get her to medical bay." Kirk said. He walked up and knelt down beside her, making the move to pick her up, but Spock wouldn't allow it.

"I will take her." He said evenly, but Kirk gave him a knowing look with his infamous smirk. Spock's cheeks blushed a little as he picked the girl up. The ribbons really did nothing to hide her body.

She was light as he carried her from the transporter room down to medical bay. McCoy took one look at the girl. "Who is this?" He questioned.

Spock didn't say anything. He walked towards the nearest stretcher and laid her down. She still did not stir. Her body was warm. Her vitals needed to be checked, and the wounds that were on her skin needed to be healed. She looked as if she had been through hell.

He grabbed her hand. "Serena." He whispered. "Hang in there."

McCoy's eyes widened. "Is this Cadet Moon?" Spock only nodded in response. He rushed to the bed and began to check her vitals.

"What happened?" He questioned. Spock thought of an answer, but admitted defeat and said, "I don't know." The words tasted like poison in his mouth.

"Her vitals are normal. Slight fever, but nothing to be worried about. The cuts and bruises are vast though. They will need repairing." He looked at a particularly large bruise on her chest. He placed his hands on the area just above her stomach. Spock tensed at McCoy's contact, but had to tell himself he was just doing his job.

"Looks like a couple of cracked ribs." He stated as he continued to scan her body. "What's with the ribbons?" He walked away, not expecting an answer. He could tell that something unnatural went on when they dropped to Vulcan. He would have to ask Jim for more details.

As McCoy busied himself with his supplies, Spock continued to stare at the girl. As he continued to study her features, he realized she was the same girl he saw in his dream. It seemed like ages ago that he had had that dream. The only difference was the star. In the dream, she had a crescent moon situated on her forehead.

He continued to hold her hand. Pleading with his eyes for her to wake up. He felt her hand clutch his slightly, and his eyes widened. Her body began to glow once again, only the light wasn't as bright. He watched as the ribbons began to disappear. Each wound began to heal itself. Her hair turned back to its golden color, her skin regained its humanity, and the suit she had used in the jump returned to her body. Her eyes still did not open.

"This just keeps getting weirder and weirder." McCoy said absentmindedly.

A voice came over the intercom. "Sulu to Medical Bay."

Spock let go of Serena's hand and walked over to respond. "Yes Lieutenant?"

"Commander, we need you on the bridge." He looked back at the girl and towards the door that lead out of Medical Bay.

McCoy could tell he was debating on going or not. He chuckled before saying, "Commander, I'll watch over her."

Spock nodded and began to walk towards the door. "Oh, and Commander." He turned back. "I promise to keep secret your slight lapse in Vulcan judgment." McCoy said with a laugh. Spock didn't respond, but he didn't see anything humorous about the statement.

She would have. His mind said. "Shut up." He mumbled before making his way to the bridge.

The Romulan approached the Captain hesitantly. He tried to keep his composure, but it was quite difficult considering the news he was to deliver.

Nero was busying himself interrogating Pike. He sensed the presence of someone behind him. He turned and took in the Romulan's disposition. He didn't like what he saw.

"Captain, sir." The Romulan began in a shaky voice. "The red matter, it didn't work."

Nero tensed. "What do you mean it didn't work?!?" Nero screamed. "Was it launched properly?!?"

The Romulan began to slightly tremble. "It was, sir. We are not exactly sure how it didn't work. At first, Vulcan was responding properly to the matter, but then it just stopped."

"Launch another one!" Nero ordered.

"The hole in the planet has been closed. It is no longer accessible, and the drill is in need of repair."

Nero's anger reached new heights. He turned back to Pike and got in his face. "Tell me how you were able to stop the red matter?" He demanded in a quiet voice.

"I don't even know what red matter is, much less how it was stopped." Pike responded sarcastically. This earned him a smack across the face.

"You were able to stop it somehow! Tell me or I will blow your ship up while you watch!" Nero screamed.

Pike's eyes widened. "I'm telling you, I don't know!" Panic evident in his voice. He couldn't even provide the right answer to the Romulan. He didn't know.

Nero slammed his fist down. "Hail them!" He ordered.

Spock approached the bridge. His heart and mind still lingering with Vulcan, his mother, and a certain girl residing in Medical Bay. He knew, as of now, he wasn't in the best state to command this ship, but his mind reassured him that he was Vulcan, and he could put emotions aside for reason and logic.

His eyes first situated themselves on Kirk. "Mr. Kirk, I need to know what exactly happened."

Kirk stared at the acting Captain. "I wish I could tell you, but I'm not sure exactly what happened. I just remember seeing Serena…" he paused as he played the image in his mind "…she jumped. She ran and jumped off the edge after they launched whatever it was into Vulcan's core. She began to fall, and then her body began to glow. When the light faded, she was different. Her hair, her clothes. She was still glowing. I saw her enter the hole that was drilled, and then we were transported back here." His eyes focused back on Spock.

"So, she was able to stop it. How?" Spock pondered the question. It was something he could not make sense of. How can someone stop something so powerful that it could destroy an entire planet. He dismissed it, knowing there wasn't an obvious reason. He would have to wait until she woke.

He turned to Chekov. "What about the condition of Vulcan?"

Chekov's face looked blank as he began to explain. "As stated, sir, the planet is still there, however, it has suffered severe damage. Much of its surface has been shifted or cracked due to the massive shaking."

Spock nodded. He thought of the potential loss of lives, and it sent anger blazing through his body. At least it wasn't destroyed completely. He thought to himself. "Any word from Pike?" He questioned.

"No, sir." Chekov responded.

Spock went and sat in the Captain's chair. He pressed a series of buttons and began to speak. "Acting Captains log, Stardate 2248.42. I, Commander Spock, have assumed command of the U.S.S. Enterprise. We've heard no word from Captain Pike. I have therefore classified him as a hostage of the war criminal known as Nero."

Spock paused as he thought of Vulcan. "Nero, who has attempted to destroy my home planet. Judging on his actions and the equipment he has, it is safe to assume that this will not be his first attempt at an attack against the Federation."

"Commander." Kirk stated, interrupting Spock. "We need to think about Nero's next move. Especially considering that Vulcan still exists. He will try to attack, if not Vulcan again, he will more than likely head to another Federation planet. We need to attack and get Captain Pike back." Kirk demanded as if the answer were clear.

"Your reasoning is flawed." Spock began. Kirk rolled his eyes at this. "You are assuming that our ship, after suffering the damage it has, is able to combat with the Romulan ship which obviously has advance weaponry. You are correct to assume that the hostility will not end here, however, our chances are better suited if we gather with the rest of Star-Fleet."

"We don't have the time to gather with Star-Fleet! What if he attempts to attack Vulcan again?" Kirk demanded.

Spock couldn't think of Vulcan. It brought about an illogical path of judgment. Just then, McCoy walked into the room. Due to the death of Dr. Puri in the explosion, he now held the duty as Chief Medical Officer. Someway to get a title, but he was entitled to know the issues of the bridge in order to prepare Medical Bay.

Spock's eyes changed slightly at the sight of McCoy. McCoy looked at the Vulcan and stated, "Serena's condition is improving drastically. I left her under supervision." Spock nodded, still worried about the girl who had saved his planet, his mother…his life.

The Vulcan turned back to Kirk. He wasn't sure exactly how to respond to him. He didn't want to sound over emotional, but if he thought about another attack on Vulcan, his insides burned. Spock decided to respond with a logical argument. "If the Romulans have the technology to collapse a planet, then we have no chance in attacking them on our own."

"How the hell were they able to do that anyway?" McCoy asked with genuine curiosity.

Spock thought about the answer before responding, "The engineering comprehension necessary to artificially create a black hole may suggest the answer; such technology could theoretically be manipulated to create a tunnel through space time."

"Damnit man, I'm a doctor not a physicist." McCoy stated in annoyance. "Are you suggesting that they are from the future?"

"If you eliminate the impossible, whatever's left, however improbable, must be the truth." Spock stated as if it were obvious.

"How poetic." McCoy said sarcastically.

"So what would an angry future Romulan want with Captain Pike?" Kirk asked, not buying the idea that they were from the future.

Spock paused. "As Captain he knows details of Star-Fleet's defenses."

"What we need to do is go over to that ship. Disable it, take it over, and get Pike back." Everyone stared at Kirk as if he had just gone crazy.

Spock shook his head. "Captain Pike left us with standing orders to rendezvous with the Fleet on the other side of the quadrant. We're technologically outmatched in everyway. A rescue attempt would be illogical."

"Illogical." Kirk scoffed. "You're funny."

"We must gather with Star-Fleet to balance the terms of the next engagement…"

"There won't be a next engagement!" Kirk screamed. "Spock, by the time we've gathered it will be too late. How many planets are you willing to risk? You say he's from the future? Knows what's going to happen? Then the logical thing is to be unpredictable!"

"You're assuming that Nero knows how events are predicted to unfold. The contrary; Nero's very presence has altered the flow of history, beginning with the attack on the U.S.S. Kelvin, culminating in the events of today, thereby creating a new chain of incidents that cannot be anticipated by either party."

"What the hell is he talking about?" McCoy questioned.

"An alternate reality." Uhura said stunned.

"Precisely. Whatever lives we might have lived, if the time continuum was disrupted...our destinies have changed." Spock thought back to Serena He thought back to their conversation on Mars, and the Theory of Chaos. He couldn't help but wonder if this was why she was here. He turned away from Kirk and ordered, "Lieutenant Sulu, plot a course for the Laurentian system. Warp Factor Three…"

"You can't do that!" Kirk screamed, getting even more annoyed by the Vulcan's lack of emotion on the subject. "Running back to the Fleet for a confab is a massive waste of time…"

"These were the orders Captain Pike issued when he left ship…"

"Yea, he also ordered us to go back and get him! Spock, you're Captain now…"

"I am aware of my responsibilities, Mr. Kirk!" Spock's anger growing.

"Every second we waist, Nero is preparing for his next target! He could even be preparing to attack us now due to the fact that Vulcan is still there!"

"That is correct, and why I'm instructing you that I alone am in Command!"

"I will not allow us to go backwards, away from the problem, instead of hunting Nero down!" There was a pause of silence. Kirk had basically just spit in the face of Spock's command.

Spock hung his head. "Security, escort Mr. Kirk off the bridge. He is to be held in the brig."

Security began to surround Kirk. At first, it looked as if he would comply with the force, but then he started swinging. A fight broke out on the bridge. Kirk was taking them out left and right. His passion and belief in his answer giving him an extra boost of strength. He started to reach for a phaser, but was stopped. Kirk toppled to the ground as Spock performed the Vulcan pinch on his neck.

Anger evident in his eyes, Spock looked to the Security guards. "I want him off this ship."

Security reached down and lifted Kirk from the ground, dragging him out of the bridge.

"Captain." Uhura stated, interrupting the uncomfortable silence. "We're being hailed." Spock nodded in response.

Soon, Nero's face appeared. He was trembling with rage. "How were you able to stop the planet from collapsing?" He demanded.

"What were your reasons for attacking Vulcan?" Spock demanded in return.

"How were you able to stop it?" Nero asked again.

"You have just declared war on the Federation." Spock's eyes not wavering from the Romulan's.

"Tell me your methods in stopping it, or I will fire on your ship." Everyone tensed at his threat. They knew he would do it. Spock thought of going to warp, but he had the sinking feeling that, due to the Romulans advances in technology, they would be able to catch up with them if they ran now. They needed a sufficient window of time in order to escape and engage with the rest of Star-Fleet.

"I do not know the reasons why Vulcan was not destroyed." Spock admitted.

Again, the Romulan was not happy with this answer. "I'm giving you one last chance."

The bridge doors opened, and Serena walked in. Spock's eyes widened at the girl. Surely she shouldn't be up and moving in her condition. McCoy was about to rush towards her, but Serena held up her hand.

She stood at Spock's side. She did not look at him, instead she glared at the face of Nero. "Nero, withdraw from your hostilities now, and your ship, crew, and life will be spared." She stated in a determined voice. The crew of the Enterprise couldn't believe what they were hearing. She had just completely overstepped her boundaries as a Cadet, but no one dared say anything for fear of what the Romulan was thinking.

Nero's eyes bypassed the girl. Obviously annoyed with her interference, but he did not feel no real threat from someone so vulnerable. He turned his attention to the Vulcan. "Is this your final answer?"

"I do not know the answer that you seek." Spock stated evenly.

"So be it." The connection ended between the two ships. Spock's eyes turned to Serena as he stood up to tower over the girl. Anger evident in his voice, he questioned, "What gives you the right to overstep me in an act that would engage this ship in a war it cannot win?"

"Nero has to be stopped, and he has to be stopped now!" She declared. "He is affecting the timeline in ways you cannot imagine, and he is creating Chaos!"

"Regardless, we do not have the means to defeat him."

"And who says we don't?" She questioned, the anger evident in her eyes. Spock didn't answer, but he did not move from his place in front of the girl. "Look, let me go over to the ship…" Serena began, but Spock cut her off.

"Absolutely not."

"I will go over if I want to, and there is nothing you can do to stop me!" Serena argued.

"What about your position in Star-Fleet?" Spock could not rationalize why the girl had missed this important factor.

Serena started laughing. "You think I actually care about my position in Star-Fleet? You think that is my sole reason for being here?"

The rest of the crew watched silently. It was quite an interesting scene playing out in front of them.

Spock's voice lowered dangerously. "And what other reasons would you have in joining Star-Fleet?" Were his assumptions that she was the enemy correct?

Before Serena could answer, Sulu interrupted them. "Commander, they have fired torpedoes." His voice was in a panic. He knew the ship couldn't take another hit like the previous one.

They all froze as they awaited their fate. They knew they wouldn't be able to run from this.

Serena stepped forward as her body started to glow once again. She held her hand high in the air as a long white staff formed above her. She took hold of it, and as the light subsided, she stood there in the form that she was in earlier. Her form as Cosmos. She called once again on Saturn.

She placed both of her hands on the staff and concentrated on the silence that was Saturn. As she focused on the power, she began to expand it before screaming, "Silent Wall!!!" Everyone waited with anticipation. When the torpedoes approached, they were immediately destroyed by the outside barrier that the Cosmic Warrior had placed on the ship.

When the weapons were destroyed, she concentrated more on the strength of the wall itself. She combined the powers of the outer Senshi, changing the wall into a powerful weapon. She pushed the energy out away from the ship, making contact with the Romulan ship and causing damage to the enemy. Her arms collapsed as she released the power. She stood, watching the Romulan ship in response. Soon, the Romulan ship turned and went into warp, leaving the Enterprise behind.

Serena's uniform disappeared in a flurry of light and ribbons, and when her human form returned, her knees buckled once again. She fell to the ground, but she caught herself before falling completely. Her breath was raged, and her body shaking, but she only needed a second to recover from the energy loss. It was just so much to use so soon after the incident on Vulcan. She really needed to rest.

Spock was by her side in an instant. He made a move to lift her from the ground, but she stated in a weak voice, "I've got it." She pushed his hands away as she took a few more deep breaths before standing on shaky legs.

Everyone was staring at her, and Serena felt quite uncomfortable at that moment. She knew she had exposed too much of herself to the ship, but she was only doing her job as a warrior for balance and peace. She couldn't very well allow an entire planet to be destroyed by a rogue time traveler.

She broke the awkward silence. "We need to go after them."

"She sounds like Kirk." McCoy stated with a chuckle.

"We will gather with the rest of Star-Fleet." Spock commanded as he looked at Sulu. "Lieutenant, you know the course to plot." Sulu nodded in response.

"No, Spock!" Serena declared, not caring in the manner in which she just addressed the Commander.

"I will not have this argument with you as well. We group with the Fleet, and that is final." Spock ordered, unwilling to move on the subject.

"You owe me, Commander." Serena said in a cold voice. Spock knew exactly what she was referring to.

"While I am grateful for your actions, no one ordered you to…"

"So I was suppose to just let it happen?!? Let Vulcan be destroyed? Allow your mother to fall to her death?" Spock's jaw clenched. Serena stared at the Vulcan before storming off.

"Miss Moon." Spock called out to her. Serena stopped in her tracks. "Quit with the formalities Spock." She said in a defeated voice.

Spock ignored her. "You still have major questions to answer, not to mention a thorough explanation of your rogue, highly emotional, and illogical behavior."

"I have questions to answer?" She asked with a laugh. She looked around. "Where's Jim?"

"Mr. Kirk is no longer on this ship." Spock answered.

Serena's eyes widened. "You marooned him?" She asked, not believing what she was hearing.

"He was behaving in a matter that…"

"I don't want to hear it." Serena cut him off. "You Vulcans, you're all alike. So blind to your own imperfections. So blind to the flaws in your logic." She walked towards the doors. Before she exited the bridge, she stated, "I do not wish to answer any question with regards to the events that have just happened. You wouldn't believe the answers anyway." With that, she stalked out the door.

There's another chapter! So much action and excitement going on. I do hope that you all enjoyed it. Don't forget to PLEASE REVIEW!!!

-Lizzy