Disclaimer: Star Trek is not mine nor do I claim to own it. This is purely a work of fiction.

AN:

So, I really don't have much to say this posting. It's been a long week and I'm tired and worn out. Haha. Thus I wrote this all out.

It may come across slightly lethargic and sorry that's my own mood seeping through the lines. It's still a good chapter and important build up so please enjoy. : )

Oh also…part three. I am mid writing at this point and just…whoa. All I can say. I can't wait to post that. It's probably going to get long though so expect chapter eleven to be four parts…if not five. I mean this chapter is going all the way up till getting (spoilers…sorry) but I have a crap ton of stuff in store for you all, and an answer to one of Regretting Crimson's earlier questions.

Yah…I'll leave you all with just that said. Build up excitement and confusion until later posts. ^ ^

Without further ado. Let's go spend time with Spock and see how he's going to go about rescuing Jim from the enemy ship.

Chapter Eleven:

(Part Two)

"Fools Rush In, Vulcans Can Too"

"What are you planning on doing? You can't just rush this…god-I just…how is any of this possible!"

McCoy's words were clipped and littered with worry and an overwhelming sense of what the fuck. Nothing made sense anymore. People don't just disappear, well sometimes they do, but there is always logic behind it or a reason. Jim had just vanished, like a puff of smoke. It was so unbelievable that Leonard found himself unable to do much more than ramble in what he knew to be shock, and follow Spock.

Whereas, McCoy was floundering in a sea of denial and improbability, Spock was completely okay with what was going on. Well, perhaps it was better to say that he appeared to be functioning at his full capabilities. Even though, he would be the most understandable one to be compromised by what had just happened. Logic and vanishing acts do not coincide, yet when it involves Jim logic seems capable of being bent and molded to better fit the situation.

Yet, Jim had disappeared.

Vanished.

Poof.

Gone.

That wasn't passing over the fact that supposedly there was "another" Jim coexisting at the same time on a Romulan ship, which they were currently blowing to bits. Yah…this definitely had a Jim situation feel to it. So, now they had to get this other Jim back, because he was apparently the right Jim—the real Jim. Though, Jim had said that he had still been him while on board the ship, and really who wrote this because this story had become too surreal for McCoy's book?

So, get Jim back, save the people (allegedly on board as well), destroy the enemy ship, figure out what this "bigger picture" was, and see about saving the entire federation (because apparently Jim was a pawn in the Romulans' mighty chess game to conquer the federation). And if that wasn't enough of a list they didn't know what type of Jim they would be getting off that ship.

They had been so concerned over the torture or pain that Jim had faced, but they had believed that they had Jim back for almost a year now. They had been wrong. Jim was still hostage on a ship and they were foolishly letting themselves bask in his return. No one questioned it. Yes, perhaps it seemed much too convenient that they had been the nearest ship at just the right time. It was also odd that an elder clan had altered him to better cope with his pain, but not so unbelievable in comparison to some of the previous situations they had found themselves in.

Also, was this new situation any less believable than the one prior? It seemed like each situation barely settled in before they were forced awake to realize that what they had thought was reality was only a dream. What if they accomplished this and found that again it was all just some rouse? A dream, within a dream. Could they handle that?

"Dammit, Spock just…what are—how the hell are we going to get him back?" McCoy fumbled over his speech and really couldn't understand how he was able to walk and talk at the same time with all these thoughts overwhelming him.

"Doctor, cease trying to look at this in a pessimistic manner." Spock spoke clearly but clipped as he stopped only briefly to send a sharp look at the doctor. It was a look that held a mixture of annoyance, fear, but most importantly it shone with an overwhelming determination. "I had promised that Jim would not be taken again. As I was incapable of upholding my word, I will not allow them to keep him. He belongs here on the Enterprise."

'With you.'

McCoy's thoughts didn't get spoken aloud but he could see the struggle Spock was trying to mask as the man once again felt responsible for Jim's absence.

"You couldn't have done anything, Spock. He was never truly back to begin with. So, you couldn't stop them from taking him again, when they never really let him go."

"An astute clarification, doctor, but it is one that does not ease my viewing on this matter."

Spock moved onto the lift to head towards the bridge and looked at McCoy waiting to see if he would continue following him or not.

Bones seemed unable to do anything else, and entered the lift with a much more somber attitude, before the door sealed them inside.

"What's the plan?"

"We will wait to further discuss a plan of action with those most knowledgeable with getting the captain out of such extreme predicaments." Spock folded his arms behind his back in an overly forced appearance of normalcy.

"They ain't gonna like hearin' that Jimmy boy isn't still with us." Bones muttered and rubbed at his face in exhaustion and hopelessness. "Hell, I'm still pissed that I spent the last hour or so workin' to keep him alive…I thought he was finally alright. That all was fine and dandy once more, as far as Jimmy's concerned. It'll break the crew's heart that he's gone."

"Perhaps, yet, I predict that the crew is more likely to be driven towards getting Jim back before they allow something like this to tear them down." Spock replied evenly.

"Speak for yourself." McCoy regretted the words as they fell out past his lips, and his eyes immediately pulled up to see what affect they had on Spock.

Spock remained tersely silent for a moment's breath before replying just as evenly as before.

"I had included myself into those odds."

"Dammit, Spock just because Jim ain't here don't mean I can't see through this Vulcan armor shit your pulling!" McCoy huffed out but by this point the lift had stopped and Spock only sent him a very quick glance before stepping out among those on the bridge.

"What's goin' on here? I still have a whole lump of things back in engineering and you all just pull me away because it's urgent? What can be more urgent than the ship keepin' a'float. Mind you I do enjoy you lot keepin' me in the loop an'all but ye aren't considering the fact that only moments ago we were takin' enemy fire. Hell, if I'm seeing this right, that there ship, is the enemy that had fired on us. You mind telling me why were just sitting tight staring at it…with our shields off?"

"I wouldn't mind answers myself."

Scotty and Giotto had both been brought to the bridge, arriving only moments after Spock and McCoy had. Bones couldn't recall when Spock had taken the time to comm for the pair, but it must've been during their trek back to the bridge.

"I had deemed it more efficient to explain the matter once, and to those involved most in the problem at hand." Spock was standing ram-rod straight just alongside the captain's chair and looking back at those of the alpha crew and the leading members who served under Jim.

He barely had a chance to continue before Chekov sniffled and broke out over him, "It vas ze Keptin! I canna believe it but zhat iz it, ya? Zhat is why you and ze Doctor are both here and not in sickbay. Vhy Jim iz not here as vell. Why ze other Keptin had been so sure. I do not wish to believe zhat this iz true."

Nyota who sat at her station just shook her head. It had long since fallen to be cradled in her hands, for she had known as soon as Spock returned the answer to the unasked question.

"Wait. Hold up what?" Giotto seemed almost compelled to raise his voice up an octave as he asked this question. For it was obvious that he had no idea what those on board the bridge were talking about. Something must have occurred during the last time they spoke, because it seemed like there had been a serious change among the atmosphere of the crew and he really didn't like the sound of it.

"Aye, it sounds to me like you're telling us that Jim is no longer on board this ship. Which I canna' find believable seeing as I had redirected power for the pair of you down in sickbay just for the captain himself."

"There's no way any Romulans got him in sickbay! After that last hit we've kept down there guarded nice and tight. Add to that there aren't any more lingering on board among us. We got them all. So, the captain couldn't have been beamed off?" Giotto seemed almost angered by this turn of events.

Hell he had been afraid more so that Jim wouldn't make it because of how wounded he had been. The last time he had seen their Captain he was on the floor, as whip marks blared angrily against his back.

Something that Giotto would never truly be able to erase from his mind and yet he had been amazed at Jim's strength. The man had obviously been beaten to the point of his skin tearing at the marks and yet he only counted out the strikes, taunting the hand of his punisher.

Yet, he had left him with McCoy and word was that Jim had survived the surgery. Hell, word was that Jim had even woken up and here they all were informing him that their Captain was gone again. That was not going to fly well, not when Jim had prepped them all just so they could be able to keep the ship safe from the surprise attack. Not when he had saved Jim from the Romulans' hand around his throat, and not when they were so close to having their normal captain back!

"Jim had never truly been back on board the Enterprise."

Spock's voice was even and not lifted to a higher level to over speak anyone, but even still he managed to cease every rumbling protest in its wake.

That was until his words seemed to sink in with those on the bridge.

"What!"

"Wait…huh?"

"What iz mean?"

"Dammit we ain't got time for this!"

"So…that was our Jim then?"

"That can't be!"

"You will all cease this now." Spock stepped forward and drew all of the eyes back to him, even causing Nyota to jerk her head up to gaze at the one who seemed most level-headed at the moment. Yet, she could hear the urgency in his voice, the pain at having already wasted time. They needed to act now. They couldn't keep arguing over what was. It was times like these that Jim would act first and ask questions later. For their captain they needed to step up and take this role. They needed to go get him back.

"What's the plan?"

"Zhey are going to be expecting us to try and get ze captain back." Chekov muttered slumping in his chair.

"They're probably counting on it." Sulu agreed.

At some point during this conversation, his hand had reached out and Chekov's own was now clutched tightly around it. The two didn't need to meet gazes as they were too busy looking towards Spock for some answers, and yet they were still providing support for one another. They needed to be strong, and the two of them were strongest together.

"It is a high probability that this is a trap." Spock agreed and baffled many of those who were waiting for some type of reassurance. "However, I find that in this situation the ending goal outweighs the risks. It is also likely that those surviving on board the ship have been severely reduced in number. Leaving them all to try and aide in fixing the ship that is slowly malfunctioning and the rest to guard those trapped on board. Jim included."

"Jim's with the captain." Nyota stated and her eyes shifted panicky between Spock and McCoy.

"Aye the lad wouldn't like this to be easy on us." Scotty huffed and pinched just below his brow and atop his nose. "Alright so I'll be assuming we'll be beaming a nice size crew over to this here ship. Raise some type of commotion to draw those remaining out and while they're attacking have some others ready to beam the captured off the ship? Am I right?"

"I'd like to be a part of the rescue party." Sulu volunteered immediately looking to Spock with a fierce loyalty and devotion in his eyes. Jim had and would always remain the man who blindly jumped from that drill for a stranger.

Maybe now, Sulu could understand more deeply that Jim had grown into such a life. That for Jim, some point growing up, he had realized that things didn't just happen unless you went out and accomplished them yourself. Jim had taken so much upon his shoulders always, not because he had to but because it was what made him who he was. Jumping off a drill for a stranger was the same as jumping off a drill for someone he knew. They couldn't help themselves, but their odds were better if he helped.

Sulu wanted to help, because right now Jim was falling and needed the crew to help catch him and beam him back.

"Usually that would be a gratifying and welcomed suggestion. However, in this case we must approach things carefully."

The words left Sulu's eyes drooping almost immediately. He had been so prepared to help fight for Jim and now Spock was not going to allow him to join the away team. He would perhaps argue this if not for the fact that arguing with a Vulcan usually left one feeling small and insignificant. Well, unless your name was James T. Kirk, and you didn't mind taking on someone who was three times stronger and almost double that in comparing intelligence.

Spock would have a reason to not allow him to join. He knew this and even if he felt compelled to argue because of his own desire to aide their captain and his friend, he knew that Spock would be right. Not only that but the look in Spock's eyes spoke of a deeper volume of thoughts and plans that Sulu was sure he had a point to almost all of this.

"It is likely that the captain on board the other ship will be hailing again soon." Spock continued having only paused after catching Sulu's reaction to his prior sentence. "As you all were on board for his initial call it will be wise to keep all of those that were present still remaining during his next call."

"Do you not think that he will be expecting you on board with us? He was practically ignoring the rest of us in favor of speaking solely to you, Spock. You are the one he wants to watch. You are the one he was taunting. I don't know how but he knows that to you Jim is the most import—that our captain is a good weapon to strike down the heart of the Enterprise."

Nyota cut herself off seeing a flicker in Spock's eyes as she began to voice her thoughts and opinions aloud. She altered it only subtly but the point was clear enough.

"I believe that he also suspects that I would be the one most likely to beam on board. Either way suspicions will be raised." Spock countered and stood, if possibly, straighter, "If the Romulan captain hails, and requests my audience than you will inform him that I remain in sickbay with Jim. I believe that this might buy us some more time and there is a 56% chance that the Romulan captain will be compelled to prove this wrong. Especially seeing as whatever had been keeping Jim on board was removed. The thought that something had gone wrong and James has remained, will more than likely compromise him. With factoring in pure dumb luck as Jim would call it, we may time this correctly so that we can save Jim without having him harmed further."

"That seems like a heck of a lot of if's if you ask me." McCoy spoke up. At some point he had faded into the background as they had all began to plan out and argue over the rescue of Jim He was content with just holding off until it was time to hop on over with the rescue party. So, that he could go get Jim back and fix whatever was really wrong.

Now that he had already patched the kid up more times than he could count, it seemed like he really shouldn't expect less than another round.

However, even though he was expecting Jim to not come back to them in one piece; that didn't mean he welcomed risking more harm to Jim. The kid had obviously already been through hell and back. No need to kick his feet out while he was stumbling to stand up straight again.

"Sounds like a chance to me. Sounds like us getting somethin' done rather than continuing to sit tight and talk this out while we could be out there getting the lad back and safe and sound. I say we take up Mr. Spock's idea, throw in some unforeseen complications, and expect a miraculous ending. Where Jimmy turns this all around and blows, not only, our minds but those on board the Romulan crew."

Scotty's voice is heavily accented as he seems pumped with the idea of getting Jim back and fighting first hand those who took him, "This is the lad who had single-handedly trained each one of us to fight off this very attack in a means of a game. I say we have some additional surprises just waiting to be revealed to us."

"I dunno, Jim seemed pretty blown away when he remembered that he wasn't really here with us." McCoy mumbled and brought with it an immediate shift in the slightly blossoming mood.

"It does not matter at the present if Jim has some additional motive or plan. We are unaware and unable to know for certain if he does. This leaves a rescue the most successful option. Those on the bridge will remain. If the variables change, out of our favor, than you are to fire on the enemy ship. Put the lives of the many over that of the few. Prepare for anything and expect problems to arise-"

"As should be expected when it comes to Jim." McCoy grumbles but straightens when Spock moves towards the exit.

"I am promoting Mr. Scott to Acting Captain and Sulu as his First should we find that this is a trap, and are unable to return. Sulu you will take the conn. Mr. Scott we will require the best when it comes time to beam those on board the enemy ship back over."

"Aye, Captain. Be my pleasure to aide as I can." Scotty nodded and moved around the others to make his way as quickly as he could to the transporter room.

Giotto only gave a brief nod of understanding. Spock had called him up for this discussion because they would need him and some of the best among the rescue part. He walked away right behind Scotty.

"We'll keep the ship safe and try and distract him long enough for you to get Jim back, Captain." Sulu replied an understanding gleam lighting up in his eyes.

"Spock."

"I believe I already know what you are bound to say Nyota, I find in this situation promising to keep safe is a one that is impossible to make. So, I shall simply state that I can try."

Nyota smiled a watery smile but laughed, "I was going to say you bring Jim on back safe, because you both better assume that I expect all of you returning to this ship."

"We'll try Nee." McCoy sent her a brief reassuring smile before both himself and Spock exited the room.

"Alright so this is me guessing here. Seeing as last time we attacked a Romulan ship, I planted you in a spot brimming with Romulans. I hope that this time we can place you lot in a spot where you'll be able to remain unnoticed for as long as possible."

Scotty was seated behind the console gearing the transport and altering the codes so to figure out the best place to send those in front of him.

They had no idea what to expect on board the enemy ship and really for all they knew it could be worse than the Nero incident. Hopefully things would not end that way. So, for now Scotty was gearing up for beaming this team over and preparing to beam them on back.

"Alright lads, we're all set for go."

Scotty turned his eyes up to meet with those ready to beam aboard. McCoy was to the right of Spock, and with them stood Giotto and four of his best men. They understood the importance of having enough people to fend off whatever was to come, but they needed their party to be small.

At the current time the plan was to locate the surviving federation members trapped on board and beam them off with the security party. Depending on their condition McCoy would either remain or leave among that group. Also they were unsure just how many members there were.

Beside that Spock was the one planning on facing the Romulan Captain.

Last time they had been on board with that captain, Jim had taken up charge and faced the Romulan on his own to leave the crew safe. Now Spock would face the same man and make sure he never harmed Jim or the rest of the crew again.

"Energize."

AN:

So, as promised I gave you all part two of chapter eleven, in roughly a day later. Bam! Haha. I'm kind of excited how this is coming together. I'm loving all your reviews. Some of you are so animated haha.

Anyway, on to Spock and the rescue party saving those on board the ship. And probably a surprise that isn't going to blow your minds, but one you wouldn't have seen coming…something perhaps, bigger than us. : )

Ah…this is fun. Okay well I'll hopefully have next chapter sometime before Monday. ^ ^

Random AN:

Um, holy crap…stumbled upon this. If any of you like Christina Perri or instrumental songs please check it out. It is beautiful and seriously more emotional than the lyrical version by Christina herself…at least in my opinion. Man...if I was in a sad mood this probably woulda made me cry hearing it. Gosh, if the upcoming chapters get really depressing I'm sorry it's probably do to emotionally compromising and beautiful songs like this. GAH! Really check it out.

http: / www. youtube .com/ watch?v=nICbEbCaK40&feature=fvst

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