I own nothing of Star Trek or any other series that might pop up. This is an AU, with an added daughter for McCoy.
Chris Pike didn't know what was stranger. The fact that he had found Ambassador Sybek, or Spock Prime as a select few knew him, playing chess with Jordan in his office before lunch or that she was sitting here at the dinner table with no less than four Vulcans carrying on a rather detailed and informed conversation, especially for a three-year-old.
At first she had kept quiet, obviously minding her manners, if not perhaps a bit intimidated by the Vulcan party. However when Sybek engaged her in conversation, something he noted had confused the other, younger Vulcans, she opened right up.
Upon seeing the intelligence this child held the other Vulcans also began to join the conversation. Very soon they were telling her about various aspects of Vulcan culture and she would counter with human rituals and traditions, pointing out similarities and differences. It was probably the most animated conversation he had ever witnessed Vulcans having.
Of course she didn't just speak to the Vulcans, she had also pulled in the command staff of the station making sure they had a say in the conversation. In the end what had originally promised to be a slightly dull evening had turned into a rather enjoyable event for all present. Yet like all things dinner was coming to an end and he could see her earlier energy starting to deplete drastically.
He let her stay long enough to say goodnight to the other guests before whisking her off to his quarters for bed. It didn't quite surprise him that Prime followed.
The Vulcan waited in his common room as he helped Jordan into bed and tucked her in, Dart curled up right beside her. Making sure to crack the door slightly he joined the other in the sitting room, offering a drink which was politely declined.
"I'm guessing you're wondering about our little guest," Pike started, pouring a drink for himself.
"She informed me earlier in your office as to what she has been told occurred. I understand that she gave you the files discussing the experiment," aged eyes full of wisdom and experience settled on him.
"That she did. We've already run a preliminary scan of the data collected. It was…disturbing to say the least," rolling his shoulders to try and ease the tension he continued. "They claimed they were researching better medical techniques for regenerating cells, to the point of fully regenerating missing limbs. However digging deeper it appears that they were trying to change the actual DNA sequence. I have no doubt if she had been in the beam any longer she would have died. It seems to break down the cellular growth and reverse it. My guess is they are working on a weapon of some sort."
"A disturbing prospect," Prime allowed his lips to down turn ever so slightly. "Would it be acceptable for me to view this data?"
"By all means," Pike waved. "Perhaps you'll find something we didn't. I do know that so far the scientists and doctors here don't feel there is a chance to reverse the effects. They have confirmed from the few blood and tissue samples they took that she is growing normally, as if she was actually three instead of fifteen. However we can't do any further testing without her father present. He already raised hell with us taking her blood samples." Snorting at the memory he let a small smirk cross his face. "Luckily Jordan was able to calm him down."
Prime didn't say anything for a moment, his eyes glazed in memory. "Though I have not had much contact with the McCoy of this dimension, I am sure he is very similar. Thus her ability to calm him is likely an amazing feat."
"Believe me it is," Pike grinned into his drink. "Did you know Jordan in your past dimension, as you and that McCoy worked together for some time?"
"No, sadly I did not," Prime crossed his arms. "There are many similarities yet even greater differences. I once shared a part of myself with the McCoy of my dimension. In doing so I brushed a memory he hid deep inside. It actually surprised me that Sybok had not been able to pull it up." He waved off the other man's questioning look not bothering to go into that story. "In our dimension Jordan McCoy died at a very young age. Her survival here would explain many advancements that this time line has compared to my own past."
Pike hadn't expected that. He swallowed hard, unable to believe that the little energetic ball of sunshine had died in any dimension. He could imagine the affect that had on the McCoy of Prime's time line. Hell, he'd only known her for three days and he already felt attached.
"That wouldn't surprise me," he finally managed to speak. "Her current research on warp drives is said to decrease the time frame for completing a warp nine engine from ten years to four. I also know she had a hand in designing the Enterprise and several of our other ships. And you yourself mentioned the major differences you found with the Enterprise from your time line and this one."
"Indeed. It is a good thing that she discovered the plans of those men and made her escape," he observed. "I have a feeling she will be instrumental in the future of this dimension."
"Of that I have no doubt," Pike chuckled. "The problem will come in where to place her. Obviously we can't send her back to the Institute. The politicians want her under Starfleet's full control, but I know her father is not going to accept that. We could try sending her to her mother, but from what McCoy told me the woman hasn't contacted the girl in four years." Suddenly weary he sighed.
"Why not place her on the Enterprise with her father?"
"A kid on a Starship? That'd be too dangerous."
"Perhaps, but she is not a normal child," the Vulcan pointed out logically. "This way she would be with her father and Starfleet would be able to assist in her education."
Pike considered it. "That might work…we'll have to run it by her father and administration of course. But I could probably pull a few strings on that."
That subject done the two moved on to discuss the actual reason of Prime's visit. Neither man noticed the tiny shadow moving behind the cracked door of the guest bedroom.