When I was nine, I lived in Germany (my mom was having issues with her Green Card) for a year. My sister and I taught one of our cousins, who was an adult at the time, go fish one day because we were just that bored (tiny town with very little to do). He quickly decided it was his favorite card game ever (until we taught everyone Uno anyways) and demanded to play it over and over again. We must have played with him for hours. It was kind of ridiculous and adorable at the same time. That's kind of how I see the beginning of this chapter.
"Go fish," his voice was far too amused for this game.
Hayley shook her head fondly and picked up another card from the deck stacked in between her and Sybok on his biobed. Since he had woken a few days ago, she had been hard pressed to leave his side. It was even worse than when he was unconscious. Not because he was in any danger, but because she forgot how much she enjoyed his company. Even as a child she had favored Spock, but Sybok would always be the perfect older brother to her. He was protective, but not stifling. He understood the merit in emotions unlike most other Vulcans and encouraged her to stay connected to her human tendencies without commenting when she acted a little too Vulcan. And he had been the first to see the special bond that had formed between her and Spock. Sybok had always teased them, saying it was only a matter of time before they got together and announced an engagement. Now he was more than a little smug about the new relationship, much to the crew's amusement.
The doors swished open, causing Hayley to glance up from her cards. Spock nodded to a nurse who was leaving as he was entering before making a beeline for her and his brother.
"Spock," Sybok greeted with a small smile. "Care to join us?"
"No thank you, Sybok." His eyes traveled over Hayley momentarily, making her blush with the reigned in intensity hidden in the brown depths. They really hadn't been spending enough time alone together lately. Sybok chuckled, drawing them back to reality. Spock glanced over to the other Vulcans who were quietly talking together in the corner. They had woken shortly after Sybok and were recovering well. "How are the others recuperating?"
"Well," Hayley answered, flashing a quick smile as she paired off a couple twos. "They'll be able to talk to Jim about what happened today."
"That's good," a bright voice interrupted as the Captain appeared at Spock's side, clapping him on the shoulder with a smirk. "Hopefully we can figure out what to do about those Romulans. Any bit of information helps."
"And I have received a request from our father for the three of us to call him and Mother," Spock informed them, bringing up the PADD he had brought with him. "Would now be acceptable?"
Sybok nodded and motioned for Hayley to move up from the end of the bed so that she was sitting beside him against the pillows. Spock handed her the PADD and nudged her until she made enough space for him to squeeze in beside her.
She huffed, "Why am I always the one stuck in the middle?"
"You are the youngest," Spock stated calmly as he sent out a call to Vulcan.
"And the female," Sybok joined.
"And human," Spock nodded slightly in agreement.
"Shall we continue?" Sybok chuckled when Hayley stuck her tongue out at him.
"None of that is fair, nor logical. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself so you don't have to form any sort of protective barrier. And that female comment was just plain sexist."
"Are my sons becoming overbearing again, Hayley?" Amanda joked, suddenly appearing on screen. She must have overheard at least part of their usual bickering.
"Mother," Spock greeted her, completely unfazed. "Sybok is Father's child from a previous marriage, therefore he is not your son."
Amanda heaved a giant sigh, looking thoroughly amused, "Yes, Spock. I'm aware. That doesn't mean I can't see him as a son." She turned her focus back to the other Vulcan male clustered around the PADD, "How are you, dear?"
"I am well, Amanda, thank you. I've had a wonderful doctor taking care of me." His arm came up to tug Hayley into his side as she rolled her eyes.
Amanda chuckled, "Well it's good to see you three together again. I expect you to come visit soon."
"Of course," Hayley nodded.
"Besides, we'll need to start planning your wedding soon," Amanda smirked. "I believe you owe me…how much was it again, Sybok?"
Hayley's eyes widened, "You guys bet on if we'd get together?"
"Not if," Sybok told her calmly as Spock raised an eyebrow. "When."
Hayley groaned, rubbing a hand down her face, "I changed my mind. I don't want to go home now."
"Mother," Spock redirected the conversation. "I was under the impression that Father wanted to speak with us."
The older woman nodded, "He wanted to make sure you were all alright, but he's been called away to an emergency council meeting. I decided to stay and take the call myself. He promised to call you all tomorrow, if he can."
"Do you know what the emergency was?" Hayley's brow furrowed. An unsettling feeling had settled in her stomach. Something was niggling in the back of her mind, something familiar, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly.
"No," Amanda tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"Very much so," Kirk approached them again, his voice strained. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have our own emergency. Or the same one, technically."
"Jim?" Hayley straightened between the two Vulcans.
"One of the survivors," he nodded to the Vulcans who had been herded away by a nurse for their check-ups. "He was left conscious after the initial attack. A handful of Romulans boarded their vessel to let loose the gas. He heard them discussing their plans. Apparently they blamed Vulcans for their Empire's troubles. Something about a betrayal…He didn't really understand. Anyway, they plan on unleashing the gas on the Vulcan High Council and taking Vulcan for the Romulan Empire. My guess is they're overconfident and sent out a message to Vulcan to brag about their impending conquest. Either that, or the Vulcans just got wind of it."
All three Vulcan natives stared at their captain in stunned silence. It was all too much to take in. Spock was the first to snap out of it, grabbing the forgotten PADD from Hayley's limp grasp and looking at his equally stunned human mother, "Mother, you must warn the High Council."
Amanda blinked and shook her head, "Yes of course. I'll have them contact you as soon as they come up with a plan."
"Tell them I've already ordered to set course for Vulcan," Kirk said, his authoritative "Captain's Voice" (as Zooey called it) ringing throughout the Med Bay as he leaned over Spock's shoulder to speak directly to Amanda. "We'll be able to join them within twenty four hours."
She nodded once, sent her children a worried look, and disconnected the call. Hayley and Spock slid to their feet, waiting for orders from their captain while Sybok hesitated on the bed. Technically he wasn't part of the crew, but he was intricately involved in this already. He deserved to be able to help in any way he could while he was still recovering. Hayley could only hope that Kirk saw it that way as well.
Blue eyes scanned the three siblings in front of him, taking note of the hand Hayley had laid on Sybok's shoulder as well as where Spock had placed his on the small of her back. He sighed and nodded in understanding, "Mandatory meeting in the Captain's Conference Room in thirty minutes. I want all three of you there."
A total of sixteen people turned up for the meeting. Kirk sat on one end of the table with his mother sitting at the other. (Both Kirks seemed much more at ease with one another as of late, even being more than just civil when they were forced to interact. They still didn't search each other out, but Mikaela had confided in Hayley that they had made more progress than she had been hopeful for at this point.) At Jim's right was his First Officer, followed as always by Hayley who held his hand under the table. They both needed the comfort at the moment. Sybok sat on her other side instead of one of her friends, his hand laid on her knee to keep it from jiggling in nervousness.
Next came Zooey, the controls to the large screen behind Wynona in front of her, ready to switch them on and connect them to a call to Vulcan whenever they were ready. Then came Vi and Scotty, their clasped hands sitting on top the table. Nova sat between the Chief Engineer and Wynona, shifting uncomfortable like she wasn't sure why she had been asked to join them while shooting looks to Khan who sat across from her. Only Wynona and Elba had been willing to sit next the man, the others still mistrustful of the near-stranger. Chekov sat beside Elba, his small presence almost disappearing behind Elba's intense concentration as Jim explained what he'd already told the Vulcans present. (Elba was still dead set on returning Hayley's favor of saving his life, no matter what anyone said on the matter, so she seemed the most invested in Jim's words.)
Sulu sat next to his fellow helmsman, a PADD open in front of him so he could monitor the flight to Vulcan though another officer was in his place on the bridge while Command Crew were here. Daneel was practically vibrating with repressed energy as she sat at attention next to him. She wasn't used to being singled out as part of the Command Crew yet, and was determined to prove she could be just as helpful as her sister. Mikaela was beside her, eyes going over everyone as she monitored any strained emotions (which was pretty much everyone) before she settled on looking at her best friend across the table. Hayley and her smiled weakly at one another as they shuffled closer to the men at their sides. McCoy glanced down beside him at the half-Betazoid but stayed silent as he turned back to Kirk.
"I understand that everyone present has some sort of reason for wanting to be a part of the landing party when we go to Vulcan," Jim finished his explanation of the recent events. "Whether it's simply for helping a friend, or a more personal reason. But I need one of us to stay behind and Captain the ship in my stead." He paused, waiting for someone to volunteer when he clearly knew none of them would. He nodded and cleared his throat, "In that case…Mom?"
Wynona jerked in shock over her son addressing her directly, "Yes…"
"Would you be willing to be Acting Captain?"
"Me? Are you…Yes, of course, Jim. I'd be glad to help. But…Are you sure?"
He nodded, a small smirk gracing his features, "The Enterprise needs a Kirk at the helm."
Everyone chuckled weakly at the failed attempt to lighten the mood. Jim nodded to Zooey who began working on the machine in front of her.
"Now that that's settled, we'll be taking a call from a member of the Vulcan High Council to see exactly what is going on on planet."
Everyone turned to the large screen as it lit up. Ambassador Sarek came into view, his hands folded on top of the desk he was sitting at while he regarded them with a carefully blank expression. His eyes settled briefly on his children before turning to the Captain, "Captain Kirk. You have been made aware of the threat on Vulcan?"
"We have," Jim nodded curtly. "However, I would like to know how exactly you were informed."
"The Vulcan vessel you stumbled upon sent out a brief message before communications failed. It merely stated that they were being attacked by Romulans."
"One of the survivors said the Romulans were blaming Vulcan for something…" McCoy trailed off.
"This is Dr. McCoy, my Chief Medical Officer," Jim explained at the Vulcan's raised eyebrow.
Sarek inclined his head slightly, "Doctor, I would like to convey my wife's and my gratitude for your assistance in rescuing my son and daughter."
McCoy cleared his throat awkwardly, "With all due respect, sir, that was all Hayley's doing. She'd the one who made the antidote and administered it to herself and Sybok."
"None the less, they were under your care while they were recuperating, and for that we thank you. To answer your question, Vulcans and Romulans have a common ancestry. The Romulans were pushed from our society when Vulcans adopted the teachings of Surak during the Great Awakening. They chose to leave Vulcan and continue the barbaric ways of our ancestors. However, over time groups of Romulans have emerged to try and take back Vulcan. They blamed us for losing their original planet."
"Why hasn't the Federation been notified of this?" Jim merely sounded curious, not angry.
"Until these recent events, the groups of Romulans in these attacks have been few and far between, as well as largely disorganized. We did not feel it was dire enough to inform the Federation."
"Well, now it is," Jim straightened in his chair. "Now it's affecting my crew. I offer myself and my crew to help in any way we can. We are already on course for Vulcan and should be arriving within a few hours." He glanced at Sulu who gave a firm nod. "These Romulans seem to be staying with using the gas as their main offense. When we arrive we would like to have all of your high council and any others who may be seen as a threat vaccinated for their safety."
"Understood Captain," Sarek nodded in agreement. "All will be gathered and ready when you arrive."
"Thank you, Ambassador."
Jim motioned Zooey to cut the connection, but a second before she could a female voice called out, from somewhere off screen, "Don't forget my money, Sybok!"
Hayley snorted in amusement as the screen went black, "Only mom would think of something like that right now."
Zooey leaned forward to look at Hayley around Sybok, "Your family's weird."
No one disagreed with her.
