Three days had passed since the crew of the Audacity and the crew of the alternate Enterprise set off to where they believe the true Enterprise was. An asteroid belt about seven lightyears from where they had began. Selar still hadn't gotten much sleep, even when Jameson forced her to be relieved to her quarters, she continued to ponder the unknown.
Admiral Kirk's voice rang in her head "You know the greatest danger.. facing us is ourselves, and irrational fear.. of the unknown. But there is no such thing as the unknown - only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood." The words had stuck to her since the day of which she heard him say that, after she had traveled to the future many years ago on account of a mistake.
This wasn't the first time she had faced uncertainty, the unknown or even fear. She knew that the Admiral was correct in his words, though she couldn't bring herself to act upon them.
There Selar sat in her quarters, her mind was blank as she was meditating. Alpha shift had ended only an hour ago and the beta shift was currently going. A sudden whistled caught Selar's attention, someone was at the door. "Come." She stated emotionlessly.
The door hissed open revealing the thin figure of Dr./Admiral McCoy. "Dr. McCoy, please come in." She stated, motioning him with her hand. He stepped in. "My apologies, Captain. I did not realize you would be meditating at this time, sorry." He turned for the door as if unwelcome.
"Doctor, it would be illogical to apologize on behalf of the unknowns to you. Please, come in. What is it you have to say?" Selar inquired.
Once settled down at her desk, McCoy had stayed silent as if pondering what and how he should say something. "I know it isn't accustomed to Vulcans in the means of gratitude." Selar shook her head.
"Quite the contrary, we do express gratitude, just not in the means of the ways humans do so." McCoy nodded. "Well, I wanted to say thank you for saving both Ambassador Spock and Myself."
He got up and prepared to leave when he noticed the skeptical raise of a Vulcan eyebrow and saw that he was caught. "Dr. McCoy, I do not believe that is a sufficient reason as to come to my quarters at this time. Now, tell me why you initially were here." The Vulcan stated, almost smugly. Bones scoffed and sat back down.
"I suppose I cannot escape a computer." He muttered.
Selar didn't respond.
"I came originally to speak with you."
"On what matter, sir?"
"Our situation."
"On what aspect of it?"
"This isn't the first time of which we have been in an Alternate Universe..."
"May I ask you elaborate on such a matter, sir?"
"Spock, er Ambassador Spock has traveled here before. Do you recall the Vulcans creating red matter for this?"
"Indeed, I was one of the scientists involved while I left captaincy for a years and a half."
"Well then, I am sure you are aware of a Romulan named Nero, then?"
"The name sounds familiar, yes, sir."
McCoy sighed, wondering if this would be easier or harder than expected. He knew the Vulcan was listening as he didn't understand why it would be so hard to tell her of this. It had no effect in altering the future for it had already happened, yet he felt uneasy telling Selar of this.
Possibly because he had know Selar since she was young, far beyond the memory of Selar as she never realized he was indeed around. He didn't want to hurt her with the news he was about to share in this universe.
"When Ambassador Spock tried to save Romulus from their nova star, he was too late and the black hole created sucked both Nero's mining ship and Spock's ship into it. They ended out on the otherside in this universe. Here they caught Spock and marooned him on Delta-Vega, and stole the red matter device. They-" He stopped.
"They did what, sir?"
"They made him sit and watch as they destroyed Vulcan with it, they made him watch as his planet was being consumed by the black hole."
Selar was silent, emotion peaked in her eyes though was quickly concealed.
"What is your reason for telling me this, sir?"
"I tell you this, because this time we may not be able to get back. This time, you might have to live with this reality. And I don't want you to go to Vulcan and find it nonexistent. I am sorry, Captain. I didn't mean to upset you."
"You can't upset me, I have no emotions. I am, however ungrateful for what Nero did."
"Maybe it will be some consolation, that Ambassador Spock created a Vulcan colony, before his return to his universe."
"How did he return?"
"Through another black hole, though there is no more red matter. Not here, at least. And it is risky to do. You could be killed doing this."
"We need a way to get back when we find the Enterprise."
"I know, yet you must accept the fact that we may be unable to."
"I will not give up until I know that is utmostly true."
"Just like, Jim. Not believing in No-win scenarios and just like Spock, you damn stubborn Vulcan."
McCoy saw a cold stare within the Vulcan, he watched her deep brown eyes reminding him tremendously of another Vulcan he knew. The intelligence, the stubbornness and the damn logic. He didn't say more and it felt like hours before Selar responded, though it was merely seconds.
Her voice was slow and meaningful, as though to out an impression upon McCoy.
"Sometimes, my stubbornness and resilience is the key to my success."