. . . 2263. . .
. . . Georgia . . .
"CAPTAIN SPOCK, YOU MISSED THE TURN!" Kirk shouted, in horror.
"No, I did not." Spock said, calmly.
"That man in the yellow shirt on the porch indicates that is the correct house." Kirk said.
"And how would you know that, Commander?" Spock asked.
"Bones Prime told me so," Kirk said. "And I read the most haunted Georgia locations site. This was number ten."
It was illogical to feel angry.
"How is that distinguished?" Spock said.
"Because only one triumvirate in this neighborhood have a friend who once was a captain," Kirk said. "I did my research. Turn back, we are going not going to the Victorian street."
Spock noticed there were Victorian houses lined separately from one another. Spock took a left turn and turned back much to Kirk's glee. Spock could remember, five years ago, approaching the burn unit where Kirk's body was covered in burns to the point Spock at first couldn't recognize him if not for those baby blue eyes staring right through him. He remembered the eyes closing and Kirk making it seem it was difficult to stay awake. The conversation they shared was odd but otherwise intriguing.
"My dad told me to come back." Kirk said.
"You were dead for one minute and thirty-two seconds." Spock said.
"To you." Kirk said.
Spock raised an arched eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" Spock said.
"I don't know why. He just said there was a extraordinary friendship with you in my future," Kirk sighed. "I don't even see that in my future."
The Vulcan looked back toward the holo-emitter's message. One that indicated a bright future ahead of them, well, what could have been. The message indicated at one point Spock could have been Kirk's first officer and Kirk would have been his captain. It was a token of what could be between them.
Spock lowered his arched eyebrow.
"At one point I had a needle in my arm, didn't I." Spock said.
"Yeah, you did." Kirk said.
"And why did they threaten me instead of Doctor McCoy?" Spock asked.
"Because why would I want a angry Vulcan nerve pinching everyone," Kirk said. "Yes, you totally have emotions, you know I can tell."
"Negative, I do not." Spock said.
"Mr Spock, you are half human," Kirk said. "At least some part of you is not cold."
"Mr Spock," Bones called. "Visiting hours are over!"
"Visiting hours . . ." Kirk said, forcing one eye open and attempted to cock up what remained an eyebrow. "You visiting me? Okay, here I thought I was dreaming this up."
"Do not 'kid' yourself, Lieutenant." Spock replied.
Kirk had a small smile spreading on his face and Spock turned away walking out of the room.
"And I was visited by a Vulcan," Kirk said. "I should be special."
Their friendship had taken its time and tolls to be made. Kirk was not on some of the missions but a majority of them he was. He climbed up to become head of security in three years (and also because the head of security was killed off by a sluggish moving lava rock creature) on the Enterprise. Dare he say, the Vulcan cared? Yes, he dare say that. At one point he got a message from Bones Prime two years ago revealing the truth and how they played a instrumental role getting him on the ship including some important people. It was Scotty Prime's help that Scotty was able to get in the transporter room along with a friend of his named Keenser, Scotty Prime also aided in getting Kirk back onto a ship, it was Spock Prime's part in the story that truly showed he had no bounds when it came to his friends: he got Pavel Chekov, Bones, Nyota Uhura, Hikaru Sulu, M'Benga, and Nurse Chapel onto the Enterprise.
Bones Prime took the role of informing Kirk.
And also requested when the five year mission was over to visit a certain address with Commander Spock.
Thanks to Kirk's service, and act of courage that went beyond duty that got him out of the security corps into Star Fleet. Five years of experience in space for a thirty year old male was ideal. Hell, it took an admiral to get him back into Star Fleet rather than the security corps. It was fun, Kirk would admit, to be out in the action. Serving alongside the captain who he looked up to as a father who he never had. Kirk had a new real arm and god did it feel good to not have the prosthetic arm. Kirk had his arm halfway out of the window with a grin on his face.
Fifteen minutes later and several bad turns afterwards, they arrived to the house. They passed the house nine times during the ride and they heard a distinctive male laugh as they did so. Spock got out first and then came out Kirk with a frown on his face. The nine times they passed the house they were bickering about a certain subject regarding landmarks. Kirk could see a rocking chair going back and forth slowly. The hair on the back of Kirk's neck went up as he closed the car door behind him. He could feel as though he were being watched.
"Do you feel that?" Kirk asked.
"Vulcans do not feel." The Vulcan said.
"Do you sense someone is staring at you?" Kirk asked, turning in the direction of Spock with a concerned look.
"Affirmative." Spock said.
Kirk turned away then walked toward the rocky path leading to the front door.
"I never visited a haunted house before." Kirk said.
"A haunted house is usually characterized by spiritual energy that remained from the previous tenants that once lived here and now linger," Spock elaborated. "Sometimes they are forced to stay in their given location because of a traumatic event that lead to their death in that destination." Spock now was by Kirk's side. "I have come across one hundred thirty-two haunted houses and you have come across thirty-two of them."
Kirk raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't know you were a ghost expert." Kirk said.
"The time when you were made ghost like due to the residual energy machine as was the captain required me to do some research," Spock said. "You were not quite. . . yourself." Kirk appeared to be baffled lowering his eyebrow. "You do not remember?" Kirk replied with, "I don't remember it ever happening." Spock nodded. "You do remember waking up with Captain Pike lecturing you about risking your life."
"No, that was Bones." Kirk said.
"I remember very clearly that it was Captain Pike." Spock said.
"Okay, Mr Memory," Kirk said. "Then I was lectured by both of them."
"It seems you tuned out the captain's lecture," Spock said. "As usual."
The two approached the door, and then Spock pressed the doorbell ringing it three times. They heard a loud "Coming!" from inside and what similar to a slow walk down the stairs that sounded like a slow heartbeat. Spock's hands were behind his back while Kirk had his arms to his side. Kirk looked over toward the rocking chair to notice it had stopped rocking. Kirk turned his head away shaking his head. The door opened to reveal Bones Prime. Bones Prime's eyes brightened and a smile grew on the older man's face.
"Ah, you brought the Vulcan," Bones Prime said. "Good. We have been waiting." They heard a loud sneeze from above. "Bless you!"
"Who is sick?" Spock asked.
"You are," Bones Prime said. "Scotty's attending a transporter conference. I'll be picking him up tonight." He stepped aside. "Come in, please," The two came in. "Spock's memory has been getting bad lately. But he still remembers us. He has been hanging on longer than I thought."
"When did the symptoms start?" Spock asked.
"Illness or his memory?" Bones Prime asked.
"Memory." Spock said.
"Five years ago." Bones Prime briefly closed his eyes. "One hundred sixty-three. . ." Bones Prime opened his eyes. "I don't think he is going to make it through his next Pon farr."
Spock was thirty-three.
Kirk was thirty.
"Pon farr?" Kirk asked.
"Doctor," Spock said. "Can we please not discuss this."
"I do hope you are spared of it in this alternate universe, I really do, Spock." Bones Prime said, closing the door behind the two.
"Is Pon farr some illness?" Kirk said.
"Yes," Bones Prime said. "It is. In a sense." He turned toward the stairs,one hand on his cane, looked in the direction of the staircase. "He is upstairs. . . This damn cold is hitting him hard. I believe he got it from Scotty. Scotty weathered through it like a breeze." They followed him up the stairs. "One thing you should never do: underestimate a Scottsman."
"I did that a lot." Kirk said.
Spock elbow jabbed Kirk.
"Five times the commander got drunk last time on the way to his quarters." Spock said.
"Ow." Kirk said.
"Wait, commander?" Bones Prime said, looking over his shoulder.
"Yes." They said at once.
"I would have expected you to be a captain already," Bones Prime said, turning his head away and resumed walking up the stairs with the two younger men. "Jim climbed fast on the career ladder."
"So is it true?" Kirk asked.
"Which part?" Bones Prime asked.
"All of it," Kirk said. "You knew what would happen if we went to Scalos. You sent us there to save my career."
"You got whales to save, kid," Bones Prime said. "All of it is true."
"Whales?" Spock asked.
"Yes, whales," Bone Prime said. "We used a Klingon starship last time. Don't use one next time without Uhura." They got off the stairs. "She can read Klingon. And I highly recommend that you make sure Chekov doesn't get shot by a bullet. Because they'll take him to a damn hospital. So primitive! So unsanitary. We slingshotted around the sun! Not a good business to save the world by but it worked."
"When do we need to save the whales?" Kirk asked.
"2286," Bones Prime said. "I really recommend you are off planet by then."
Spock and Kirk shared a glance.
"Is Jim here?" Came a older unfamiliar voice for both Spock and Kirk yet it was a familiar voice to Spock.
"He is here, Spock," Bones Prime opened the door to reveal a ill and elderly Vulcan laid in bed with a kleanex box beside him and a tray that had Plomeek soup. Bones Prime put the tray on the table out of Spock Prime's lap. "Both of them."
Spock Prime's eyes were glassy.
"That is not Jim." Spock Prime said.
Kirk looked over toward the shorter man.
"Let me do this, admiral." Kirk said.
Bones Prime nodded.
"Go ahead." Bones Prime said.
Kirk approached the side of the bed then he sat down on the side wearing a smile as he picked up the man's hand using both hands and looked sincerely toward Spock Prime. He transformed before Spock's eyes into a man comfortable with his older counterpart. The mood in the room had shifted into a endearing kind of one. Bones Prime felt deja vu all over again. The last time someone held Spock's hand was after he had attempted a mind meld with V'ger and that person was Kirk.
"Hello, old friend." The words were familiar, and older to Spock Prime's ears.
Spock Prime looked up to see a old friend in the place of Kirk holding his hand. He was transported one hundred plus years back into the past where he first met Captain James T. Kirk. A smile came on the older Vulcan's face. His ill eyes had lighten up to a level they hadn't been in years. Before Kirk's eyes, the older Vulcan looked much like he was middle aged and alive.
"Jim," Spock Prime said, emotionally. "It has been too long."
"It was only yesterday to me." Kirk said.
"I never did say goodbye." Spock Prime said.
"You did a long time ago," Kirk said. "In your little logical way."
"I suppose I did. I have a terrible memory." Spock Prime said.
"Nonsense, Mr Spock,you still remember what I look like!" Kirk said.
"I should have visited you before I went on my Ambassador duties." Spock Prime said.
"Listen, Spock," Kirk said. "You did say goodbye. I haven't been sticking around because you HAVEN'T said goodbye."
"So you are waiting for us?" Spock Prime asked.
Kirk nodded.
"Five years ago I finally found you," Kirk said, holding up five of his fingers with a frown. "So yes, do you know how bad traffic is? You made Genesis look EASY!"
Spock Prime had difficulty laughing.
"Difficult." Spock Prime said, with a sigh of relief.
"Uhura misses you playing your lyre," Kirk said. "They are all waiting for you and the others. I am not going back to my ship without you, Spock, it is not the same without you. I am not leaving without my first officer and the two most instrumental men to my crew."
Spock Prime looked up toward Kirk.
"I am scared of forgetting you." Spock Prime said.
"Long as you have Bones and Scotty," Kirk said. "There is no chance you will." He looked over toward Spock then back to Spock Prime. "I have a friend who is here to give you something that you gave to him." Kirk squeezed the hand of the elder Vukan. "You are going to get better, Spock, mark my words."
Kirk let go of Spock Prime's hand and stepped back.
Spock stepped forward taking out what seemed to be holo-emitter.
Kirk seemed to be confused.
"Hey, weren't we at the doorway to his room?" Kirk asked.
Spock handed the holo-emitter to Spock Prime.
"I believe this belongs to you." Spock said.
Spock Prime looked looked down toward the holo-emitter.
"Thank you . . . But one question," Spock Prime said. "Who are you?"
"I am Captain S'chn T'gai Spock." Spock said.
"You are . . . me . . ." Spock Prime's hands clenched around the holo-emitter and his eyes closed. "Fascinating."
The elder Vulcan fell asleep.
"Kid, how did you know about Genesis?" Bones Prime said.
"Genesis?" Kirk said.
"Yes, that." Bones Prime said.
"The book of Genesis is a well known book." Kirk said.
"Doctor," Spock said, turning around. "I believe the commander was possessed by his counterpart."
Bones Prime shook his head.
"I would know if he were haunting us," Bones Prime said. He looked up two the two. "Thank you for coming here. . . This old Vulcan doesn't have much long to live."
"Vulcans have a extended life span."
"Listen to me, you are different from my Spock so don't expect your life to be cut short at one hundred sixty-three years of age," Bones Prime said. "Don't go to the Enterprise B, please,Commander Kirk, your life will surely be cut down if you go there. Your whole life snatched."
The three went out of the room.
"Why are you telling us this?" Spock asked.
"Because I have regrets on my shoulders and Jim is one of them! I coulda' been there! Now, I am here, I am saving myself a lot of heartache including you, captain, his loss hurts you more than the loss of your mother." Spock's face turned into 'what'. "It practically tore you apart. You were going to purge yourself of your Vulcan half but as a good friend I came and helped you grief. I lost you once, I wasn't going to lose you again."
Bone Prime went down the stairs.
"Are you . . . by any chance. . . Vulcan mates?"
"Hell no!"
"There is a word for your friendship."
"T'hy'la, ain't it?"
Spock raised an arched eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Then screw that word!" Spock raised both eyebrows up. "That word doesn't apply to us. I do not want to associate myself to those damn healers who nearly ruined my mind getting you out!"
Spock lowered his arched eyebrows.
"But it is not a healer word."
"I don't want to hear that word again from you, captain."
"You care very deeply for my counterpart."
"Because he is my best friend. So of course I do! Someone has to make sure his wish is respected, and I want you two to help me make sure of that." They came to the bottom of the stairs. "Captain, Commander, when Spock dies . . . I want you to have him buried at sea. Somewhere far, far, away, preferably in open space. I will be cremated and Scotty agrees." He turned toward the two men. "He will not have his mind given to the great hall of thought. Is that clear? Because that is in his will."
"Spock is in the position to do that kind of stuff."
"So this is why you live in Georgia. Away from Vulcan."
Bones Prime shook his hand.
"He can't live on Vulcan anyway, he is afraid of messing up your social life." Bones Prime noted.
"There is a word for our friendship, doctor." Spock Prime said, taking in the readings of the scenery while Jim was making a captain log outside.
"What kind is it?" Bones Prime asked.
"Romantic and platonic." Spock Prime said.
"I go with platonic." Bones Prime said.
"I agree." Spock Prime said.
"What is the word, Mr Spock?" Bones Prime asked, looking away from a unusual furry creature.
"T'hy'la," Spock Prime replied. "It means friend, brother, and lover."
"We are not calling each other T'hy'la," Bones Prime said. "Besides, it sounds like a girls name."
"It is not meant for girls, Doctor. It is strictly male." Spock Prime replied.
"That is quite logical." Spock said.
"I hope Spock will share the same friendship you have with yours," Kirk said. "If Mr Spock has Bones under his command."
"Some how I believe he will." Bones Prime said.
Spock held up his hand and made the Vulcan gesture.
"Live long and prosper." Spock said.
Bones Prime reciprocated.
"Live long and prosper." Bones Prime said.
Spock went out first.
"2286, right?" Kirk asked.
"Yes," Bones Prime said, with a nod.
"Have a good day." Kirk said, and then he walked out.
Bones Prime watched the young man walk after the Vulcan.
"Goodbye,Jim." Bones Prime said, as the screen door closed watching the two head toward the hovercar.
. . . 8:49 PM. .
. . . Georgia. . .
Scotty Prime was fast asleep in the passenger seat. Bones Prime parked the car near the sidewalk. He had a strange feeling about this night. A feeling he could not quite shake. He had turned the hover car off letting it land gently on its wheels. He had the doors unlocked. Scotty often times fell in the hover car on the way home and waking him up at night made his Scottish accent pretty strong and he would be up a complete twenty-four hours until he crashed on his bed. So he started a different way of going about. Allow the Scottish man to wake up in the middle of the night with a aching neck, get out of the car, and take the backdoor inside. He would later forget that it ever happened.
Bones Prime was lucky that Scotty Prime didn't always fall asleep at night in the hovercar.
Bones Prime closed the door, gently, then headed toward the door.
But Bones Prime stopped halfway noticing the door was ajar,and his entire body felt as though it had stiffen. He had locked the door before leaving to pick up Scotty since the Vulcan was fast asleep and wouldn't wake up until several hours later. The lock was broken. The blood in his face had drained, and his first thought was 'Spock!',second thought was 'Someone is in the house', and the third thought was 'I have to make sure Spock is safe and the house is secure' as he speeded toward the small stairs using his cane to lift himself up in a rush. Bones Prime used the cane to carefully open the door.
"Spock?" Bones Prime said.
Bones Prime could feel the hair on his arms raise up.
Bones Prime walked into the building and let the doors shut behind him. He squinted looking over to see the shapes of three figures in the hall turning toward his direction. And then he felt a sudden pain on his head. Bones Prime grip on the cane became loose and he let go falling to his side. Bones Prime's vision became sideways. There was pain coming from his head. He was struck at the head.
"SHIT, JACK, YOU DIDN'T JUST DO THAT TO A OLD MAN!" Came a young and loud obnoxious voice.
And his eyes closed.
"How long do they have to stick around each other?" Sulu Prime asked.
"Full twenty-four hours," Bones Prime remarked with a grin watching Spock Prime and Jim sitting beside each other eating their lunch. "Long as they are not twenty-five feet from one another: they will live. Until it wears off, they might have to share the same bed."
Sulu Prime had a laugh.
"Good thing I am not one of them." Sulu Prime said.
Bones Prime nodded.
"Say," Bone Prime said. "You are willing to bet they sleep together?"
Sulu Prime looked over toward Bones Prime.
"Ten Federation credits." Sulu Prime said.
"Fifteen." Bones Prime said.
"You got a deal." Sulu Prime shook hands with the doctor.
Smoke drew Bones Prime back into reality followed by a familiar shout, "BONES!" with "WAKE UP!". Bones Prime could feel a pain in his back. Damn it, Bones Prime thought. He searched around for his cane seeing a flickering flame close by. His eyes widened drawing in the scenery around him. The house was engulfed into flames. Bones Prime steadied himself up then he, with remarkable speed, headed toward the stairs. The material blocked the entrance to the house. Bones Prime coughed into his hand heading up the stairs.
Spock.
Spock.
Spock!
He used the rail as his guide covering his nose with his free hand coughing.
Smoke inhalation is a major cause of death in house fires. He felt a pain coming from his head but he ignored that willingly. Bones Prime would need to get it attended to afterwards. His vision grew dizzy. His grip on the rail tightened. Bones Prime continued his path to Spock's room. One stair piece collapsed. The living room was burning and the floor above it collapsed. Bones Prime made it to Spock's room where the Vulcan was asleep curled up apparently unaware with his hands grasped around a small item in his hands. On the bedstand was the photograph of the Enterprise crew. Bones Prime pulled back the blankets over the Vulcan.
"Mr Chekov, I am not done with the cure to get rid of the alien fungus on your foot." Spock Prime said.
Bones Prime managed to get the Vulcan up with some difficulty. Bones Prime picked up the photograph of the Enterprise crew with his free hand.
Spock Prime eyes managed to open.
"It is not daylight yet," Spock Prime said. "Doctor McCoy."
"It is Leonard to you." Bones Prime said, heading toward the door.
"In twenty-two hours the solar eclipse will end and the creatures will retreat to their caves." Spock Prime said.
"Ah, dreaming in the past much?" Bones Prime asked.
"Affirmative," Spock Prime said. The ceiling above the bed gave out collapsing on the bed. "I speak for everyone here. It is quite rude farting."
The stairs were hanging on, barely, covered in flames.
Damn it, Bones Prime thought, looks more dangerous than it had before.
"Hold on, and don't let go pointy eared hobgoblin." Bones Prime said.
"Why would I let go when I am about to fall into a river?" Spock Prime said.
"Forget what I said." Bones Prime said.
"Affirmative, captain." Spock Prime said.
Bones Prime slowly made his way down the stairs. His skin sweating with fear and his eyes were wide. The Vulcan's eyes were closed, slumped against the man's side. Spock did sound a lot better than he had several hours ago in his sickly state. One part of the floor gave out below Bones Prime's foot and he nearly lost his footing. A hand kept him in place. But from where? He looked over in shock and awe, but most confusion. The hand let go of Bones Prime's shoulder. He could hear his heart beating against his chest.
He came to the last stair step.
Bones Prime coughed.
Come on, Bones Prime thought, get Spock the hell outta dodge!
Bones Prime walked around the rail to the stairs. The wall above the stairs gave out crashing down.
"Excuse you, Doctor McCoy." Spock Prime said.
Bones Prime could have laughed at the picture of a sleeping Vulcan thinking the sound of crashing was farting and believing it was coming from a distinctive source but he wasn't laughing. Bones Prime walked round his cane then headed down toward the hallway. That hallway lead to the kitchen which leads to the back door. The large flaming beast was blocking his view. The wall paper was peeling right off. Bones Prime looked both ways considering the risk that they could both die in this firey inferno. No, he wasn't going to allow this to happen.
"Come on,Bones," Came a familiar voice in the direction of the kitchen. "You can do it."
"Jim." Bones Prime said.
Bones Prime stepped forward narrowly missing the wall material that was falling.
"Bones, get out of here!" Came a demand. "Now! Walk faster! I know you can go faster. You got it in your bones, doc!"
"That I do." Bones Prime said.
Bones Prime walked, with ease, toward the back door. He saw the window blinds were being scorched, the tables were engulfed into nothingness. Bones Prime looked over toward the Vulcan then back in the direction of the door reaffirming his next choice: to risk his life. Jim would have done this if he were here instead. He made it to the door which opened on its own as though someone were behind it.
"Go!" Came a shout.
Bones Prime went out of the blazing building coughing into his free hand. He went around the building hearing a explosion from the kitchen. Uh oh, that went Scotty's scotch. Who were the idiots who thought of destroying the building by making it go ablaze? Bones Prime must have been out for thirty minutes or less. The second explosion jerked the Vulcan awake.
"Leonard, why are we outside?" Spock Prime asked.
"Someone made the damn house catch on fire." Bones Prime said.
"Leonard, you are bleeding!" Spock Prime said.
"I will have that taken care of." Bones Prime said.
There were hover firetrucks parking nearby and a hover ambulance parked nearby. Scotty was behind the yellow tape with a ongoing crowd of people staring at horror at the escalating flames. The firefighters hooked the hose and went after the fire, though the one panicking the most was Spock Prime. Bones Prime noticed his legs felt sore. His back didn't feel so good. He may need to lay down for while while his back recovers.
"We need a paramedic over here!" Spock Prime shouted as they were on the front lawn.
The next was more of a blur, one minute Bones Prime was on the front lawn and the next he was on a stretcher listening to Scotty telling Spock how he had discovered the house was ablaze and he went for help, "I went next door, knocked, and used the doorbell. I had tae point at the blazing house tae get them tae call the firefighters. I was awoken by the smoke comin' from the house. Spock, what happened in there?"
"I do not know, Scott." Spock Prime said.
Bones Prime's hand was still gripped on the picture frame. Inside it was a data chip that was infinite and had a lot of data regarding their adventures aboard the Enterprise and with captain James T. Kirk. They made it five years ago because Spock Prime was concerned about forgetting his memories and believed that in two decades he wouldn't have a idea who they were. The house was a gift from Star Fleet due to their 'future service' and 'their great help for tracking down Nero'.
"Leonard, we are okay," Spock Prime reassured Bones Prime. "Rest."
Bones Prime had the picture frame on his chest.
"I couldn't leave Jim behind," Bones Prime said. "Not our Enterprise family."
The older Vulcan took Bones Prime's hand with a soft smile.
"I will see you at the hospital, Leonard." Spock Prime said, and then he applied the nerve pinch to Bones Prime's neck.
Bones Prime's eyes closed.
"Excuse me, sir." Came the Paramedic, loading the resting old man into the ambulance.
"Are you family to his man?" The second paramedic.
"Yes, we are!" Scotty Prime said.
"Affirmative," Spock Prime agreed. "We are the only ones he has."
And it was the truth.
Being a doctor, a admiral, a friend of the last surviving Enterprise members has its advantages. They treat you like family. They become immediate family. Most of the Enterprise bridge officers viewed the Enterprise as their home away from home. A home they felt comfortable with, cherished, and loved deeply. It was a starship that connected everyone for decades to come. Spock Prime and Scotty Prime got into the ambulance. The truth is: it makes a long lasting friendship between the three legendary figures from the Prime Universe.
The doors closed behind Spock Prime and Scotty Prime.
Spock Prime pressed the button on the holo-emitter watching a holographic aged and older figure appear while it sang as he casted a caring smile down toward it.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you . . ."
And the ambulance flew off to the hospital leaving a trail of red burning marks on the road.
The End.
