sg07: That slipped my mind. It'd have to be remedied. Thanks so much for piling up onto my later editing job:)
Bien: Thanks for your words of praise.
Artemis1000: Shadows dancing in the Federation is a dangerous thing, as you will see. G'Kar saw those memories because he was looking for them. He saw Londo as a bad person so of course, he'd get the bad memories rather than the good.
The Bushranger: And the epidemic of Romulans will keep on spreading, as you will see. All hail the Star Empire!
grayangle: Glad to see you back. 'Narn' and 'Narnia' seem such an obvious crossover that someone had to do it. Hehe. Of course, I wouldn't go so far as to have talking animals and a Christ-like lion appear on Narn. The universe's confusing enough as it is!
On with the story!
Starbase 10
The Constitution-class starship Endeavour was parked near the massive starbase. Behind them in the distance, the rift was still open to Babylon 5's universe. One of the starbase's doors was closing. They had just delivered the two damaged starships from the other universe: the Eagle and the Ahwahnee. This area of space, dimly lit by the distant star of Cheron and bordering the Romulan Neutral Zone, was now heavily armed with starships and fighters on patrol. So far, no one had tested this area's defenses.
So far.
Endeavour
Captain Spock gazed at the starbase in the windows of his darkened quarters. Already, the Eagle and the Ahwahnee were inside being repaired. He turned around to face a candle burning on a table and remembered Lady Morella's predictions.
"You must reunite your people or the stars will be rent in blood and fire. You must beware the man who remembers Surak's face. If you would have your friend live, he must die."
The first part of the prophecy was clear enough to him. It appealed directly to his secret desires and dreams. The second and third weren't as clear and were troubling in their implications. Ever since that Shadow vessel took Jim, Spock couldn't sense his friend. If he couldn't sense the underlying bond between them, then Kirk must be dead.
Perhaps the third part of the prophecy had already come to pass?
That didn't sound logical, as the incident at Mars occurred before Morella's 'viewing.'
The second part of the prophecy was as troubling. There were icons and statues of Surak on Vulcan and its colonies. The former Centauri empress would not mean this so figuratively. Literally speaking, the only people who have seen the face of Surak in person were priests at Mount Seleya and…Jim. And even then, it wasn't real: the priests saw Surak only in visions achieved from communicating with the visionary's katra; Jim had seen only a replicant created by the Excalbians. Perhaps Morella meant something else?
A bosun's whistle sounded. It was the ship's intercom. "Captain Spock."
The Vulcan gathered his black robes and activated the intercom in a panel by the quarter's entrance. "This is Spock."
"This is the Main Transporter Room. We've received communication from Starbase 10 that Admiral Heihachiro Nogura is about to beam aboard."
Spock arched an eyebrow. Admiral Nogura. What had prompted his presence on this particular starbase? "I am on my way." He cut the link and then opened another channel.
"Doctor McCoy. Commander Uhura."
xXx
Doctor Leonard McCoy strode into the transporter room and saw that Spock and Uhura were already there. He narrowed his eyes at an additional person. And Areel Shaw.
Spock nodded at the transporter operator. A pillar of light appeared on the transporter pad, shimmering and glittering until it coalesced into a human man. He was carrying what appeared to be a large suitcase capable of containing a portable transporter pad.
"Admiral Nogura," said Spock. "This is unexpected."
Nogura stepped down from the transporter pad, smiling at Spock's Vulcan bluntness. "Captain Spock." Then the smile disappeared. "Captain Shaw. I need to speak with you. Alone."
The blonde woman glanced at the former Enterprise officers. She didn't allow herself to appear nervous. "Yes, sir. This way, sir."
Once the Oriental admiral and Areel were gone from the transporter room, McCoy looked at his friends. "What's going on? Is she in trouble?"
Uhura gave a small shrug while Spock said, "I would refrain from speculating, Doctor. We will find out in due time."
xXx
Information wasn't long in forthcoming. But it was Spock who found out. He had been summoned into Nogura's quarters only minutes later. Areel was still there, standing off to the side.
The admiral began without preamble. "Captain Shaw has been temporarily transferred to the Inspector General's office."
Spock was surprised. Areel was a judicial captain under authority of the Starfleet Judge Advocate General. To transfer a judicial officer to the Department of Internal Affairs was almost unheard of.
"She'll be conducting a complete investigation of the Enterprise."
The Vulcan got as close to a frown as he allowed himself. "Admiral, the Enterprise has been destroyed."
Nogura winced slightly. "I know. That was a sad day for Starfleet. What I mean is that she'll investigate the remaining officers of the Enterprise. I have reason to believe there may be very wrong with you…very wrong."
"What is the basis for your suspicion?"
"I…. No. It's inappropriate to discuss it now. We'll review this fully when Mister Shaw concludes her investigation."
"Would there not be a conflict of interests, Admiral?" said Spock. "Captain Shaw has been with us at Babylon 5."
"No." Nogura glanced at Areel. "She has proven that she's more than capable of maintaining her professional integrity on numerous occasions." The admiral looked squarely at Spock. "And you, Captain, are ordered to cooperate in every way necessary with the investigation. Clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Mister Shaw, unless there are further questions…."
Areel stood almost at attention. "No, sir."
"Go on with your duties."
"Yes, sir." With that, Areel purposefully exited. When the door closed, Spock turned to Nogura.
"Admiral, I do not understand. This is not logical. What is the basis for this?"
Nogura dodged the question, though he didn't look too happy with it. "Captain, it is vital that my orders are followed exactly. I'll be staying on the ship. The investigation will go on while we make for Earth."
Spock didn't like the way that sounded. But he had to submit to the admiral's authority. For now.
xXx
Dr. McCoy was helping the Endeavour's doctor with a medical compilation of the races encountered at Babylon 5 when Areel entered the ship's sickbay. She was holding a compad and stood watching McCoy at work.
The doctor tried to ignore her, but soon, her eyes boring into him was getting to be irritating. Especially whenever McCoy made a decision or took an action, she entered observations in her compad. Fed up, he turned to Areel and said, "May I help you, Miss Shaw?"
She replied coolly, "When I'm ready, Doctor McCoy, I'll want to speak with you in private." With that, she punched in yet another observation in her compad and left sickbay.
The doctor couldn't believe it. She had been with them at Babylon 5 and now she was acting like this was the first time they met!
The Endeavour's doctor muttered quietly to McCoy, "What's going on? What's she looking for?"
McCoy gritted his teeth in frustration. Now the woman had done it! She has distracted him totally from his work. "I don't know. I'm going to find out. Now."
xXx
Spock was lighting another votive candle when the door chime sounded.
"Enter."
Dr. McCoy entered the Vulcan's dim guest quarters. He took in the single votive candle, Spock's flowing black robes and the smell of incense in the air. He frowned sympathetically. Spock was still in mourning.
"What's the hell Areel doing? She's turned inquisitor all over again!"
An arched eyebrow: "That is her job, Leonard."
"But—! She did it to us before and we're coming home as a result. What's there to investigate!"
"I…." Spock frowned slightly. He didn't like to admit his lack of knowledge. "…do not know."
"Lemme tell you, Spock. I think there's something fishy going on at Starfleet Command. Inquiries left and right! Underhanded deals designed to force entire crews to relocate! A full-scale raid into the very heart of the Earth Alliance! And now this—!"
"Doctor. Your emotions are clouding your judgment. Such speculations are not included in our duties."
McCoy narrowed his eyes at his friend. The Vulcan spoke of emotions clouding judgments yet here he was, mourning the death of Kirk. Still, he wasn't about to touch that raw nerve in his friend. "Spock…do you really don't know what's going on?"
"No," said Spock simply. He added, "Full cooperation has been ordered. We must give it. All of us."
McCoy tried not to lose his temper. He looked at Spock who only stared back unblinkingly. Finally, the doctor rolled his eyes, sighed, and left. The Vulcan looked at the closed doors for a while and then looked down to gaze at the votive candle.
xXx
Areel entered sickbay. Dr. McCoy looked up from his work and scowled.
"Are you available now, Doctor?"
"No."
Captain Shaw frowned at the answer. "You were ordered to cooperate…."
The doctor's scowl deepened. He called over a nurse and handed him a compad. "I'm available now."
"Let's go to my quarters."
xXx
Areel sat at her desk with McCoy in front of her.
"There are several problems with Captain Kirk."
"Captain Kirk?" McCoy was surprised. He had thought that Areel would investigate everyone. Certainly not a dead man.
"Yes." Areel leaned forward onto her desk. "To your knowledge, has James Kirk ever falsified any of his logs?"
McCoy didn't know that he was now standing in outrage. "My God, woman! The captain's dead and you want to drag his name through the mud?"
"Answer the question, Doctor." Areel Shaw was coolly looking up at McCoy.
"Don't you remember? You put Jim on trial back in 2267 at Starbase 11 for this kind of thing! He has been acquitted, as you very well know!"
She looked down and touched her compad, making a note. "That's in the past. This is now. You are required to answer my questions, Doctor McCoy. I want to discuss several discrepancies in Captain Kirk's logs. Shall we go over them, one by one?"
The doctor seethed at the handsome blonde woman before finally sitting down. "Go ahead."
xXx
"Why was General Order Twenty-four ordered?" asked Areel.
Uhura looked down her nose at the judicial captain. "Captain Kirk wanted to stop a five-hundred years war between Eminiar VII and Vendikar."
"Weren't there any alternative to implementing such a drastic order?"
"If he hadn't, the Eminians would have destroyed the ship and killed all of us."
"Ah. So it wasn't entirely altruistic. Don't you think it's interesting that the only other Starfleet captain to issue that order is Garth of Izar?"
Uhura was silently giving Areel a hard look.
"You don't like me very much, do you, Commander?" asked Areel.
"Is it required, sir?"
xXx
"Then you agree that Captain Kirk violated the Prime Directive at the planet Neural? He deliberately armed the natives with weapons beyond their technological capability?"
"Yes," McCoy said with very little patience. "If you read the records, it's all explained there. The Klingons were arming a faction. If we hadn't interfered, that planet would have fallen to the Klingon Empire eventually."
"There was an alternative, wasn't there, Doctor? You could have confronted the Klingons themselves. If you weren't able to handle them on your own, more starships could be called to reinforce yourselves."
"And start a full-blown war with the Klingon Empire?"
xXx
"After the Enterprise Incident, Captain Kirk once remarked that because of that event, he would never fully trust Starfleet Command again." Areel looked up quickly. "Can you confirm this?"
Uhura frowned. "That's hearsay. I cannot confirm what I didn't hear myself."
xXx
"As long as we are on the subject of the Prime Directive," said Areel. "There are impressive violations of that while you were in the other universe. The elimination of a plague on Markab—"
"If we hadn't cured them, they would be extinct by now!" McCoy's disbelief in this investigation was mounting.
"—and the subsequent downfall of the Markab government…"
"Not our fault."
"…the divulging of Federation technology to Babylon 5, the Minbari and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds…"
"Damn you, it's because of the Borg! Without our help, the Borg would have sliced through them like a hot knife through butter! And I don't hear you complaining of the Romulan and Klingon involvement with the Centauri and Narn!"
"That's regrettable, but not relevant."
"Not rele—!" McCoy was outraged. But Areel was already speaking again.
"And the political realignment of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds into a federation now known as the InterStellar Alliance…"
The doctor rolled his eyes.
"The constant antagonizing of the Centauri and the Shadows…"
"We didn't antagonize them! They went after us! Ah! It's no use talking to you!"
"Nevertheless, Doctor, all the violations occurred."
He seethed at the judicial captain. He couldn't do what he wanted to do to Areel at this moment. Not with an Admiral onboard and not with the Endeavour on her way to Earth.
"Do you believe Captain Kirk was emotionally and psychologically fit for the command of a starship?"
"What's this bloody bull—!" At a sharp look from Areel, McCoy subsided. "Of course, he was."
"What about Khan Noonien Singh? Why didn't the captain visit Ceti Alpha V and check up on the Augments' progress there, like he promised?"
"He was busy."
"Because he allowed Khan Singh exile on Ceti Alpha V, Captain Clark Terrell of the Reliant died, many scientists on the Regula 1 station murdered, the Federation's Genesis research derailed and hijacked. Doctor, James Kirk should have brought Khan to trial on Earth while he still had him."
"Oh, would that be any better? Instead of one single starship, he'd have an entire planet to hijack!"
xXx
"So you are saying Captain Kirk had no control over the Enterprise. He let an alien device take it to an alternate universe."
"No, sir," said Uhura. "That's not what I'm saying. We came to investigate the disappearance of a civilian science vessel."
"In spite of direct orders to come to Earth. Yet, he went for a…'joyride' which led to the loss of the ship. Isn't that so?"
"Not exactly, sir."
"One way or another, Commander Uhura, Kirk lost control of the ship. Is that true?"
"Yes, but that's not how it happened."
"So, the answer is yes."
Uhura was completely frustrated as Areel made notes.
xXx
"How would you characterize your relationship with Captain Kirk?"
Spock looked at Areel over steepled fingers. "We are officers of the Federation Starfleet who have known each other for many years."
Areel leaned in toward the Vulcan. "Everything said here is confidential, Captain. You can be completely open with me."
"About what?" said Spock with a raised eyebrow.
"About how you feel about serving with a man who has been closer to you than anyone else, including your family, who has drawn you away from the women of your life such as T'Pring, Zarabeth and Leila Kalomi?"
"My personal feelings about Captain Kirk are irrelevant to this investigation. And none of your business."
Areel sat looking at Spock in silence for a while. When he wasn't forthcoming, she decided to move on to other matters.
"Captain James Tiberius Kirk has been charged by Starfleet Command and the Federation President. The charges are conspiracy; assault on Federation officers; theft of Federation property, namely the starship Enterprise; sabotage of the USS Excelsior; willful destruction of Federation property, specifically the aforementioned USS Enterprise; and finally, disobeying direct orders of Starfleet Command…."
"All of those charges were dropped by President Hiram Roth himself. Except, of course, for the disobedience—which has already been addressed by the President." Spock peered at Areel closely before continuing: "Mister Shaw, this line of questioning is illogical. You have talked to everyone who were on the Enterprise. I believe that you have enough information to draw a conclusion to your investigation."
Spock stood up and added, "This display of illogic has gone long enough."
xXx
Admiral Nogura looked tired as he and Spock watched each other carefully.
"The investigation you have ordered, Admiral," Spock said finally, "is illogical, has little foundation and disrespectful of the memory of a man who has saved Federation civilization several times and has not complained about lack of appreciation shown him by that same civilization. Admiral Nogura, tell me exactly what you need to know."
"I need a little more time, Spock."
"Harassment for the sake of a secret agenda is not productive."
"Don't worry, Captain. Captain Shaw's report is almost ready."
Spock looked into Nogura's eyes, sending the message that he wouldn't budge from his next request. "I wish to be here when she presents the report."
"That has always been my intention." Nogura activated the intercom button in his desk. "Captain Shaw, report to my quarters."
"On my way, sir."
"I regret this," said Spock. "I regret the distrust that Starfleet Command has shown toward us and the disrespect for Captain Kirk."
"I know. Believe me, Spock, I regret that too, but it's necessary."
xXx
The refit Constitution class starship Endeavour was still cruising at warp to the Sol System.
xXx
Areel entered Nogura's quarters.
"Sir."
"Please sit down, Mister Shaw. Report."
Spock stood to one side in his black robes, watching Areel and almost, but not quite, glaring at her. The intensity of his gaze made her uncomfortable.
"Admiral, I've done my best to be objective during this investigation. It hasn't been easy. I've personally known James and I've worked with some of his crew in the alternate universe. I've talked with officer after officer and probed the logs. I couldn't find what you asked for, sir. I'm sorry. I did my best."
"Thank you. You're dismissed, Captain Shaw."
"Yes, sir." Areel stood to leave but she paused as she looked at Spock. "Captain Spock, I've been lovers with James for over a year. I…feel the loss as keenly as you do. I'm sorry."
Spock coldly looked at her. "As am I."
She nodded and left. Spock then turned to Nogura and looked at him reprovingly.
"Don't judge her too harshly. Areel's a good officer."
"It's not her I'm judging."
"Don't judge me too harshly either," said Nogura defensively. "We had to be very sure of you." At Spock's expression of subtle surprise, he added, "Not just you, but everyone involved with Captain Kirk. We're aware of his shortcomings and his importance to the Federation. We had to be sure of your…place in the Federation. You see, some time ago, a few of us in Starfleet Command became suspicious of problems within the Federation."
"Problems?" Spock didn't like the feeling that the Federation may not be as much the home as he remembered. He idly wondered if the rift not only opened to Babylon 5's universe, but also to yet more universes which were subtly different to that of his home reality.
"Something or someone is trying to destroy the Federation."
A small chill went through Spock before he suppressed it. Has the Shadows touched the Federation? "What is your evidence?"
"I can't get into that. Too many other people are involved. If we're right, this is the most critical time in the history of the Federation. Even more so than the Khitomer Accords.
"What do you want?" asked Spock. It then struck him that he asked the question that Mr. Morden once asked of Jim. He dismissed it as an artifact of his mourning period.
"I don't know if the threat is coming from inside or outside. I need people I can trust in strong positions throughout the Federation."
Spock wondered if that was the correct method of response to this vague threat. "As soon as I return to Earth, I am to be promoted to the admiralty."
"I know. That's not enough. I need you close. Again, I'm sorry for the investigation. I had to be sure that you weren't co-opted."
The Vulcan remembered an old human saying: Out of the frying pan and into the fire. "This is politics, Admiral. Subterfuge. It's unworthy of a Vulcan."
"Yet, you've had some experience of that. Even if I'm wrong, and I hope I am, I need you on Earth, at the heart of everything. The Khitomer Conspiracy scandal is still making upheavals at Headquarters. The Federation does not need that. It's a reminder of the old scandal over Vaughn Rittenhouse's corruption and plot for a military coup. It's distracting us from the real problems: the Borg, the rising tension with the Romulans, that alien threat you've found in the alternate universe…'Shadows,' I think you call them. Having you, a protégé of Captain Kirk, at Headquarters would encourage the people to trust Starfleet again."
"What would you have us do?" Spock didn't want to stay on Earth. He remembered Morella's prophecy.
"Be Commandant of Starfleet Academy. Doctor McCoy can be Chair of Starfleet Medical. Commander Uhura will be in Starfleet Intelligence."
Spock couldn't quite take in the power that the former Enterprise officers would be wielding, thanks to Admiral Nogura. "It's…not something that I can decide right now."
Nogura nodded with understanding. "I'll talk to McCoy and Uhura. But, Captain, I need an answer soon. Don't take too long. I'm serious about our suspicions of a threat to the Federation."
Hyperspace
Somewhere in Federation territory
A Shadow cruiser flew on in its course. The stars of this universe were in similar positions as those in the Shadow's home universe. All they needed was to compensate for the stellar drift due to the mystery of each universe being in a different point in time. There were no hyperspace beacons in this universe. Oh, there were a few faint echoes of ancient beacons, but they were unreliable due to age. Besides, the Shadows had not needed to rely on beacons for millennia.
It had been slowly moving from the rift near Starbase 10, unseen by the Federation while under interphased cloak. So far, no one in the Federation knew about this Shadow vessel.
USS Endeavour
"Commandant of Starfleet Academy!"
"Doctor," said Spock, "I do not see how that is exciting to you."
McCoy's eyes bulged at his friend. "Don't you see! You'll be able to shape the minds of future leaders of Starfleet!" Suddenly he stopped at his own words. "My word…. That means Starfleet in the future would be Vulcanized! I take it back. You're right. It's a bad choice." The doctor's eyes gleamed with humor.
"Please, Doctor, I do not have the ambition for such a thing. 'Vulcanizing', as you call it, should remain among Vulcans."
The aging human smirked knowingly. "What about all that jazz about IDIC?"
Patiently, Spock said, "I have not decided—"
A bosun's whistle sounded. "Bridge to Captain Spock."
The Vulcan pressed his intercom button. "Spock here."
"We're receiving a Code Forty-Seven, sir. Starfleet emergency frequency."
McCoy frowned, instantly concerned. "Captain's eyes only…."
"I do not see the relevance. I am not the captain of the Endeavour. Should she not take care of it?"
"Well, sir, it's addressed to you."
Spock and McCoy looked at each other, confused. "Relay it to my quarters."
"Should I be gone?"
Spock shook his head. "Please remain outside the visual range." He turned to his computer monitor which was now showing the official seals of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets. A female computer voice addressed Spock.
"This is an emergency communiqué. It is not to be discussed with fellow officers unless deemed absolutely necessary. There will be no computer record of said transmission."
"Understood."
"Proceed with voice print identification and retina scan."
"Spock, son of Sarek. Captain, USS Enterprise." He then leaned forward for the computer to scan his eyes and verify his identification.
"Voice print and retina scan verified."
The seals faded out and the image of a wizened Vulcan man appeared. Spock was surprised. It was his own father, Sarek. Why was he using an emergency Starfleet frequency?
"Father."
"My son. It is agreeable to see you. Your mother is relieved at the news of your return."
"Tell my mother that I am…fine."
Sarek arched an eyebrow at his son's use of humor and reminder of the last time they were face to face.
"Father, why are you on a Starfleet channel, especially this particular emergency frequency?"
Sarek seemed to pause and to collect his thoughts before answering. "It was a difficult decision. The actions we need may balance out the risk."
It was Spock's turn to arch an eyebrow at his father. Sarek was a highly respected ambassador throughout the Federation and beyond. For him to worry about risk was unusual. "Risk?"
"I have recently talked with Admiral Nogura."
McCoy widened his eyes at Spock from beside the computer screen. If Ambassador Sarek agreed with Admiral Nogura's apparent paranoia, then it must be serious.
Spock said, "Can you explain the basis for this?"
The aging ambassador surprised Spock by appearing to suspiciously study his son. "I cannot explain now. We need to meet."
Illogic upon illogic, thought Spock. Has it infected Sarek as well? "I do not understand. You are using a Code Forty-Seven. I must know what is happening."
"No. Not over subspace."
"Father, you are aware this is a secure channel."
"I am. We will meet at P'Jem."
"We are expected at Earth."
"Indeed. Admiral Nogura has agreed to divert the Endeavour there. Once there, you will hear what I have to say."
Spock was feeling confused. Judging by his expression, McCoy was confused as well. Spock would have argued with his father and resented this remote control. Still, he was mesmerized by the urgency in Sarek's voice.
"Something is happening, my son." The aging Vulcan leaned forward and whispered, "Have you felt it, Spock? An infestation…."
Spock looked at his father worriedly. This sudden show of emotion and paranoia…. He'd heard of Bendii's Syndrome occurring early among aging and stressed out Vulcans. Meanwhile, Sarek himself was studied Spock long and hard.
"Do not trust anyone, my son."
"Father—"
"We will be waiting at P'Jem."
Sarek's image vanished, leaving Spock to stare at the blank screen.
xXx
Admiral Nogura watched the starlines streak by the windows of his darkened quarters. His eyes were drawn to the large suitcase he had brought onboard. He went up to it and opened it. Stacked inside were what appeared to be two transporter pads. Nogura took them out, placing them in a line on the floor. They were of a forbidden technology taken from a secret section of Federation Security and Intelligence.
He stepped onto one of the pads, both of which lit up. A column of shimmering and rippling energy glowed upward from the second pad. Inside was the shadow of a humanoid, probably male.
As Admiral Nogura spoke, his voice seemed to pre-echo—sounding a split-second before the real sound came, the opposite of the normal kind of echo. "Hello, Doctor Claw."
