I am soooooooo sorry for the late update. Real life got in the way and I seem to have misplaced my Beta (please come back to me!)
I will make it up to you by posting two chapters this week.
This has been un-beta'd, so any mistakes totally and absolutely belong to me.
I don't own Star Trek
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"Captain, we will reach Titan in approximately 10 minutes."
Kirk goes to acknowledge Sulu's update but Spock, who is now manning the science station, speaks first.
"It is nine point two five minutes to be exact."
Jim covers his mouth with his hand so that the rest of the bridge crew cannot see the grin on his face. Others may find Spock's constant corrections annoying, but he finds them to be incredibly cute. In the past he has purposely made errors just so Spock can correct him.
"Thank you Mr Spock for clearing that up. A mistake like that could have destroyed us all."
Chekov giggles, but stops when a pouting Sulu smacks him in the chest.
Remembering that he has a things to do, Kirk slaps his hands on his thighs and jumps to his feet. He turns to Uhura, who is scanning space for any transmissions.
"Lt. Uhura, can you please inform Mr Scott that Commander Spock and I will be making our way down to the transporter room and I want him there to meet us."
Uhura nods.
"Aye, sir."
She is spinning around to face her station, but stops and faces Kirk once more.
"Captain?"
Jim and Spock, who left his station and is now at his bond-mate's side, focus their attention on the communications officer.
"Be careful and don't do anything too stupid."
Kirk is smart enough to know when someone is holding out an olive branch, the least he can do is accept it. This doesn't make them friends, but at least they're not enemies any more and that has to count for something.
"I'll try, but I can't promise anything since doing stupid things tends to work for me most of the time."
Nyota eyes go to Spock and she gives him a look that asks 'how do you put up with him?' Spock returns it with his ' I love the illogical human' look that Kirk would know anywhere.
Kirk clears his throat so that he is again the centre of attention.
"Sulu, you have the conn. If you see a chance to destroy that ship, take it. Even if we are still on board."
Sulu hesitates before giving a reluctant nod of his head.
"Yes, sir."
Kirk and Spock walk together to the lift and enter. Once they are inside, Jim grabs Spock by the back of his neck and pulls him into a passionate kiss. After a few moments, they move apart, in need of air. The Vulcan is looking at him with a question in his eyes.
"That was not a 'goodbye' kiss, if that is what you are wondering. It was simply a 'we are alone and I needed to kiss you' kiss."
Spock's lips tilt into a small grin as he gazes into his bond-mate's blue eyes.
"I am pleased to hear that seeing as you will not be leaving me and will have no need for goodbyes."
The conversation is cut short when they both spin to face the door as it hisses open. A very grumpy looking Leonard McCoy is blocking their exit. The older man starts waving his hand in front of him in an irratic manner.
"Just so you are both aware, I think you are out of your goddamn minds."
Spock's eyebrows lift at the doctor's outburst. Kirk just rolls his eyes at his best friends dramatics.
'Bones is such a drama queen.'
Spock expresses his agreement through the bond.
"Noted doctor. Now, if you would move, the Captain and I have a mission to complete."
McCoy steps aside to let them pass and then moves to walk beside his best friend. When the three men enter the transporter room, they find Scotty already at the terminal calibrating the machine.
Kirk and Spock climb up onto the beaming platform and attach their belts. They also check their weapons. McCoy stands nearby, watching them silently.
Mr Scott lifts his head form the controls to look at the captain and commander.
"If that ship makes any sense at all then I should be beaming you directly into the cargo bay. Should nae be a soul in sight."
Kirk nods at the Scot and then glances down at McCoy who has a worried expression on his face. Jim tries to give him a reassuring smile.
"I'll be back, Bones. Stop worrying so much. Would hate to see your pretty face covered in premature wrinkles."
The tension does not leave the doctor's face at that little joke.
"I'm not worried that you won't come back. I'm worried that you will come back in pieces, goddammit!"
Jim shrugs.
"Maybe, but I have you to put me back together."
Kirk looks to Scotty and nods.
"Energize."
As they disappear, Kirk spies Scotty giving them a small salute and he can't help but smile.
}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{
Apparently the Romulan ship doesn't actually make any sense because instead of being beamed into a quiet cargo bay, Spock and Kirk materialise in an area that could be considered a depressing version of a recreation room.
They take cover as laser blasts begin filling the room and return fire. They manage to stun three pissed off Romulans, but another manages to allude them.
"I will meld with one of the fallen enemies. I request that you cover me."
Kirk is not happy with plan. He has no idea what melding with one of these psychos could do to Spock. He also doesn't want his husband being that intimate with anyone that is not him.
Spock seems to be picking up on Kirk's train of thought because Jim can feel the Vulcan send feelings of comfort, but also urgency, down their bond.
"We have no time to wait for those that were stunned to awaken so that we may question them and we cannot simply wander around looking for my counterpart's ship or Captain Pike. Melding is the quickest way to gather the information that we need."
Jim sighs and nods reluctantly. He knows this already but it doesn't mean he has to like it.
"Of course you're right. I'm just being silly. Go and I'll watch your back."
As Kirk switches his phaser to kill, Spock runs off and kneels next to the nearest unconscious Romulan. He is deep in the meld and doesn't notice the Romulan that escaped earlier is nearly upon him with a deadly looking blade. Luckily Kirk does see him and he kills the man before he reaches the Vulcan.
A few seconds later, Spock disconnects from the meld. His eyes widen when he spots the dead Romulan near his feet and he raises an eyebrow at Kirk, who is sprinting to where the Vulcan is waiting. Kirk just shrugs his shoulders at his bond-mate.
"What? I killed him before he could kill you. You would have done the same."
Spock's eyes soften in acceptance as he gazes at the blond.
"Indeed. Come. I know where the ship is and where they are holding Captain Pike."
Kirk gestures for Spock to take the lead.
"Lead the way, love."
They get to the future Spock's ship without any further incident, which makes Jim a nervous.
'That seemed a little too easy, don't you think?'
Spock doesn't answer the silent query because he is too distracted by the technology within the ship. The Vulcan walks up to the chamber that is holding the red matter and then scans the ship's interior again with a look of uncertainty.
"I do not know if I will be able to fly this ship. It is much more advanced then I was anticipating."
Both Kirk and Spock are startled when an automated voice fills the ship.
"Voice identification accepted. Welcome back, Ambassador Spock."
Both of Spock's eyebrows shoot off his face and Kirk smirks at his obviously surprised bond-mate.
"Well, that settles the question of if you can fly this thing, doesn't it... Ambassador?"
Spock glares at him but doesn't respond. He instead walks towards the cockpit and Jim follows close behind.
"Okay, so while you fly this thing and destroy the drill, I'll go find Pike and heroically rescue him. Sound about right?"
Spock turns from the ship's controls and looks at Kirk with a serious expression. He simply nods in agreement.
Kirk spins around to exit the cockpit and the ship, but Spock's voice has him spinning to face the Vulcan once more.
"I do believe it is possible for this plan to succeed but if it does not I wish for you to know..."
Spock's words are stolen from him when Kirk steps forward and presses a feather soft kiss to the Vulcan's lips. The blond man steps back and he and Spock look eyes.
"Tell me when we are back on the Enterprise."
Spock has no time to respond because Jim has run out the door and has exited the ship.
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Kirk is running in the direction of where Spock showed him Pike was being held. He comes to the end of the platform he is on and begins searching for a bridge so that he might get to the next platform.
A shout has him looking up and he spots none other than Nero staring down at him from higher ground.
Jim takes aim and prepares to shoot the man who has destroyed so many lives (his included), but a sudden sharp pain to the back of his head has him dropping his phaser and almost falling over the edge of the platform. A rough tug on his shirt has him stumbling backwards. Once he gets his bearings, he turns to face his assailant. An angry Romulan (Jim idly wonders if there is actually such thing as a happy Romulan) that he has never seen before is staring back at him with pure hatred in his eyes.
The sound of someone landing heavily on the metal ground has Jim spinning around again, only to have strong hands wrap around his neck and begin choking him. Nero throws him to the ground as if he weighs nothing and then the Romulan commander climbs on top of him and continues strangling the human.
"I recognised your face the moment I saw you on the bridge of that ship. According to Earth's history, James T. Kirk was a good man and an excellent bond-mate to our dear, dear Spock. It however did not show the true extent of your beauty. I may keep you as a pet."
Nero leers at Jim in a way that makes the human's skin crawl.
Kirk manages to lift his head slightly and spits into Nero's eye, showing him, in no uncertain terms, that he is not a fan of that idea. The Romulan snarls and his hands wrap tighter around the blond's neck. Kirk's hands scramble against Nero's trying to loosen the Romulan's grip, but Nero is too strong.
'Pissing off an already murderous Romulan was probably not one of my best idea, but I sure-as-hell wasn't going to be one of his play things. No fucking regrets.'
"Since you are so against belonging to me, then I will kill you. I will deprive you of your shining future just like I did your father and take away Spock's only chance for happiness in one single act."
Nero smirks down at Kirk.
'I was wrong before. They can be happy, but only when they are being evil dickwads.'
"Killing you will perhaps be my greatest act of revenge. Both your Vulcan and the one from my time will be devastated by the loss. Your death will bring me immense pleasure."
One of Nero's hands lets go of Jim's neck and he inhales what air he can. He is confused by the unexpected act of mercy until he feels the knife enter his side.
'Ah, can't very well stab me with both hands around my neck. Very logical. They have more in common with Vulcans then I thought.'
Kirk can feel Spock entering his mind and he finds that he is too weak to block the Vulcan from doing so. The Vulcan's panic rips through the bond when he feels Kirk's pain.
'Hold on, t'hy'la. I have destroyed the drill and I am coming back for you.'
Jim forcibly pushes Spock from his mind and mentally scolds his bond-mate.
'No! Stick to the plan. I'll be fine.'
A voice shouting from out of nowhere alerts Kirk to the fact that there is stuff in the real world he has to deal with before he can worry about his bond-mate.
"Captain, someone had stolen the ship with the red matter and they have destroyed the drill."
Nero looks up at the crew member who has just spoken and then glares back down at Kirk. Jim is smirking up at the tattooed freak and even though he is moments away from passing out from a lack of oxygen, he knows that Nero has realised the reason for his sudden cockiness.
Nero jerks away and releases Jim as if he has been burnt and then releases an inhuman howls.
"SPOCK!"
Nero gets to his feet and runs out of Kirk's sight. Jim somehow gets to his own feet and ends up standing in front of the Romulan from earlier.
"I am Ayel and I will be killing you in Nero's stead."
'Wow. How fucking polite.'
Jim goes to move, but his injuries and continued blood loss are making him slow and uncoordinated. Ayel's arm shoots out and grabs him by the neck.
'Do all Romulans have a choking fetish or something. It's kinda getting ridiculous. Get a new fucking move?'
The Romulan lifts Jim off of his feet and positions him over the edge. Kirk's hands grab for anything on this guy that he can use, but it seems that luck has finally left him.
"Look at you. So weak, so easily beaten. I do not understand the Vulcan's or Nero's fascination with you. You would be a worthless mate. You would break before any real enjoyment could be achieved."
Kirk rethinks his earlier observation regarding luck because his hand has just landed on the butt of the Romulan's gun. He makes some noises to distract the Romulan, as he lifts the gun gently out of the holster and points it at Ayel's stomach. He making sure not to make actual contact with the other man's body.
"The insect wishes to speak. What is it that you wish to say? What will be your last words?"
Kirk's blue eyes, which are shining with anger and determination, lock with Ayel's black ones.
"I have your gun."
Surprise overtakes Ayel's face at this declaration and as he looks down to confirm the statement, Kirk pulls the trigger. The Romulan stumbles back, dragging the human with him and lets go of Kirk. Jim's feet meet solid ground and for that, he is eternally grateful. Ayel makes a lunge for the blond, but he moves out of the way of the wounded alien, who ends up stumbling over the edge and falling into the darkness.
Kirk stands there a moment trying to catch his breath. He just wants to lay down and rest his bruised and beaten body, but he still has his part of the plan to complete. People are depending on him. Spock is depending on him.
With this in mind, Kirk begins running towards Pike's holding cell, praying that he doesn't run into any more Romulans because he wouldn't be able to fight off a fucking tribble in his current condition.
Jim enters the cell to find a barely conscious Pike laying prone on a dirty medical table. He begins unbuckling the older man's restraints.
"I'm gonna get you out of here, sir."
Pike just mumbles something that sounds like acknowledgement.
"Can you shift over a bit towards me so I can get the last strap?"
Pike does as asked and Kirk leans over the injured captain and loosens the strap. As he does so, he feels Ayel's gun, that he stole, get pulled from his belt and hears two shots fire from it. He turns sideways to discover Pike holding his gun and spins around to find two dead Romulans lying on the floor. Kirk's gaze returns to Pike, his expression one of complete awe. The older captain is still focused on the door just in case more Romulans decides to join them.
"You are so BAMF! Can I be you when I grow up?"
Pike's gaze never leaves the door but his lips turn up into a grin.
"Just get us out of here, you smart ass."
Kirk gets Chris off the table and to his feet, but the older man can't seem to stand or walk on his own. He gets Pike to lean heavily on him and they begin to make their way out of the cell. Just as they pass through the door of the room, the ship jolts violently.
"What's going on, son? Who is attacking the ship?"
Jim gets a better grip on the man next to him and picks up the pace, ignoring his body's screaming protests.
"It's the Enterprise, sir. And I believe that was our cue to leave."
They are now in the bowels of the ship. Kirk lift his communicator from his belt and informs Scotty that they are ready to be beamed back.
"Aye, Captain. Won't be a moment. Just hold still, while I get a lock on Mr Spock's signal."
Relief begins to was through Jim, but then it is suddenly overtaken but a feeling that can only be described as sad resignation. Those feelings are not his own.
'Spock? Ashaya?'
He can feel the sadness more keenly now that he is focusing on the link.
'I am sorry, t'hy'la. I am faced with my own Kobayashi Maru and this is the only solution that ensures your safety. The device must be destroyed. Do not grieve for me.'
In his mind's eye Kirk can see the huge Romulan ship straight ahead and a blinking screen that indicates that a collision course is immanent.
Jim snaps away from the bond and screams into the communicator.
"NOW SCOTTY! BEAM US UP NOW!"
Beams of light surround Pike and Kirk and moments later they are gone.
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Next chapter should be up on Friday.
Also, thanks for all the reviews. They are like oxygen!
