The new chapter is here!!! New Arc! Please review guys! I miss my regulars!!!
Two Years Later…Starfleet Academy…Shore leave…
Olivia Monroe sat at a small desk in one of the many classrooms at Starfleet. James T. Kirk sat across from her. He watched her as she lost herself deep in her thoughts. The silence was starting to get to him.
"It'll be alright," he said almost reading her mind.
She glanced up at him breaking out of her thoughts.
"For two years I've watched the changes. He's quiet all the time. He doesn't laugh anymore. I swore my family would not change through this. But we have. You've been here. You've seen it too. Even Amanda is picking up on it now. And Spock…" she trailed off burying her face in her hands.
Kirk pulled her hands away and forced her to look at him.
"Spock is dealing with it the only way he knows how. It has to be hard for him to teach his son to basically repress all the emotions he once had total freedom over. And Amanda is fine. She laughs constantly and is always smiling. She's the happiest two year old I know," he grinned.
"She's the only two year old you know," Olivia muttered smiling somewhat.
"True," Kirk nodded.
"I told him I did not want their relationship to be strained," she whispered.
Kirk scoffed.
"Uh, he had to teach Grayson how not to show emotion. It can be frustrating. Remember when they first started? Grayson was so angry and frustrated all the time. I think he's calmer now. He got the hang of it," Kirk tried.
"Yeah now he's a seven year old that has a mask of pure stoicism on his face. I hate it. And Spock has gone back to his old ways. He doesn't share much with me anymore," she whispered quietly.
"Grayson still hangs out with T'Ana and she still loves to play around with him. Amanda can't seem to get enough of him. Spock will come around just give him time. If anyone can get through to him it's you. Olivia I know it must be hard but today it ends. This is the last day of his training. After this they'll both be done with the whole thing," he tried to comfort his friend.
"I'm glad you didn't get any missions James. I would have hated watching you guys leave on our ship without us," she changed the subject.
Kirk nodded grinning.
"It's hurt not having any missions for two years. But the Enterprise did need that upgrade and now she's ready. We should be heading out in a week or two," he told her excitedly.
Olivia smiled.
"I look forward to getting back to work. I've missed space," she said and Kirk chuckled.
"Didn't think I'd ever hear you say that again. In fact I was panicking. I thought I'd definitely receive your resignation these past two years," he admitted.
Olivia furrowed her eyebrows.
"Why?" she asked softly.
"Well I just figured that we had been through so much on that ship…maybe you didn't want to take the risk anymore," he confessed.
"Well we thought about it. We spoke to the kids about it and it was them who convinced us to stay on the Enterprise. They insisted that the ship was our true home," she chuckled.
Kirk laughed.
"Well remind me to thank them," he added.
Just then a small girl with pointed ears and hazel eyes came running into the room. She had short black hair and bangs. Her hair was tucked behind her Vulcan ears.
"Mommy! Grayson is finished!" she yelled jumping gracefully into Olivia's lap.
She shot a grin at her uncle.
"Uncle Jim daddy wants to speak to you," she added and Kirk grinned.
"No problem Mania," he stood up and before leaving ruffled the little girl's hair.
She giggled at his nickname for her and swiped at his hand. Olivia stood with Amanda still in her arms and headed out with Kirk. Outside Grayson stood with Spock on the lawn. They were both silent. Olivia felt dread well up in her. She always felt it now. Amanda held her tighter.
"Don't be sad, mommy," she said touching her mom's cheek lovingly.
"I'm not sad baby just…tired," she tried.
Amanda didn't believe her but let it go. They reached Spock and Grayson and Kirk spoke first.
"Hey Grayson, long time no see," he grinned.
Grayson did not grin back. Instead he gave a slight nod to his uncle.
"It is good to see you again Uncle Jim. I trust all is well," he said and Olivia tensed.
Kirk nodded making sure the smile was still on his face. He loved Grayson. Nothing would change that. But it was weird seeing him act this way. Olivia stared at her son. Amanda looked at Olivia nervously then.
"Mommy your heart is pounding," she said laying her head on her mother's chest.
Olivia tried to regain her composure. She looked at Spock but he was not looking at her.
"I'm just glad it's over," she whispered to the little girl in her arms.
"Daddy I told Uncle Jim you wanted to speak with him," she smiled wide.
Spock nodded slightly towards his daughter. She kept him sane at times.
"Thank you Amanda," he said calmly.
Spock and Jim walked a bit away to discuss something that Olivia didn't care for at the moment. She couldn't take her eyes off Grayson. Finally he spoke.
"Is there something on my face?" he asked curiously.
Olivia shook her head and put Amanda down on the grass. She kneeled down to Grayson's level.
"How are you Gray?" she managed to ask.
"I am well mother. The training was successful. But please, call me Grayson. Gray is a shade that should not be confused with a person's name," he said and Olivia felt tears well up in her eyes.
Grayson furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Are you sad mother?" he asked softly.
Olivia couldn't speak. She wanted her Grayson back. In that moment she regretted everything. She wanted to disappear to the mirror world. Anything to have her son back.
"You…You want me to call you Grayson?" she asked heartbroken.
Grayson suddenly felt like he should not have said that to her.
"I…just believe it is more appropriate," he said watching her every facial expression.
Olivia closed her eyes and stood up.
"O-Okay…Grayson," she whispered and backed away.
"Stay with dad okay? I have somewhere to be," she said and her kids nodded.
When she was gone Amanda turned to Grayson.
"You upset mommy," she said angrily.
"That was not my intention," he replied coolly.
"You should say sorry," she said.
"An apology would do no good. I am not sorry for what I said," he whispered and Amanda stopped speaking.
Spock and Jim walked back to Grayson and Amanda. Kirk frowned.
"Where's your mom?" he asked.
"Grayson hurt her feelings. She left," Amanda answered quickly.
Grayson shot her a look.
"I did not intentionally upset her. I simply told her that Gray was a shade and should not be confused with a person's name," he stated and Kirk's eyes widened.
Spock closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them he spoke.
"Where did she go?" he asked calmly though Kirk sensed the agitation in his voice.
"She did not say," Grayson replied.
Kirk spoke then.
"Why don't I take Grayson and Mania to see T'Ana and we'll see you back in my quarters in an hour or so. We have to regroup with the bridge crew and get updated on our next mission. It'll be the first one in two years so we have to go through protocol again," he said and Spock nodded.
On the Beach…
Olivia stood on the beach. It was empty. She watched the water sway back and forth. It was almost hypnotic. She removed her boots and then her pants so that she was in her shorts. She pulled off her outer shirt revealing a tank top underneath. The water was freezing she knew. But she suddenly felt very hot and worn out. She also felt very sad. She stepped into the water and it felt like icicles stabbing her skin. She bit her lip and moved forward. Soon she was floating in the water staring up at the sky. Her body was numb but she doubted it was from the cold, though that couldn't have helped. The waves pushed her back and forth and soon she wasn't sure how close or far she was to the shore.
"He doesn't want me to call him Gray anymore," she thought to herself.
Flashback: Starfleet Academy…One Year Ago…
Grayson lay in bed with her. He had crawled in late one night and had woken her up. Spock was not there but she was getting used to that. Sometimes she'd wake up and he wouldn't be there. She asked him where he'd go but he would always dismiss her. She got used to that too. Grayson stared at her and she stared back.
"Am I being punished mom?" he asked quietly.
Olivia sat up and looked at him.
"Absolutely not," she said firmly.
"Then why are you and dad making me stop all of my emotions? Have I done something wrong?" he asked confused.
Olivia shook her head vigorously.
"No Gray. You did nothing wrong. We just want you to be able to control this ability that you have so that people stop disappearing. This is the way to control it," she finished rubbing his head some.
"But I hate it. Dad is very cold to me. I do not want to continue this training anymore," he almost begged.
"It's going to be for the best in the long run sweetie. Dad is just trying to help you. You'll see," she whispered.
End Flashback.
Olivia should have stopped it that night. She closed her eyes as tears fell from them. She should have said no more. Spock would have stopped. He hated doing it more then Grayson did. It did more than strain their relationship. Olivia felt the water getting rougher and a whole lot colder.
"What have I done?" she questioned.
She turned her body and headed for shore. It was difficult. The waves were rougher now but she made it. She collapsed on the sand. It was darker out she noticed.
"How long have I been in the water?" she wondered.
"Olivia?!" a voice suddenly popped into her head making her jump.
"Yeah?" she questioned coughing some.
"Where is your present location? I've been searching for you for thirty minutes now and could not contact you through our connection," he said, his voice calm but she sensed the underlying panic.
"I'm on the beach," she said and lay on her clothes still out of it.
Five minutes later Spock walked onto the beach and saw her sprawled out on the sand. His pace quickened and soon he was crouched beside her.
"Olivia—" he stopped when she looked up slowly.
Tears fell from her cheeks.
"What have we done?" she asked sadly.
Spock stared at her.
"What do you mean?" he asked finally.
She buried her face in her hands.
"How could I do this to him? I should have stopped it! What kind of mother forces her son to contain his emotions?!" she coughed out.
Spock moved closer to her and let his arms encircle her. She was freezing.
"Allow me to take you back to our quarters. We have a meeting in exactly 28.7 minutes," he said but she stood and backed away.
"Where did you go when I would wake and you wouldn't be there?" she asked suddenly.
Spock furrowed his eyebrows.
"We really need to get you someplace warmer," he said simply.
"Stop that! Stop dismissing me and my questions! Where did you go?!" she yelled at him.
Spock stared at her silently for a moment.
"I would go for a walk," he said quietly.
"A walk?" she repeated not completely convinced.
"Yes," he said and left it at that.
"Where?" she asked softly.
"Anywhere; it was a walk with no destination," he would not look at her.
"Alone?" she asked pensively.
"Mostly; Jim had joined me on occasion," he said looking down.
Olivia walked up to him slowly.
"Why do you go on these walks?" she asked curiously.
"To sort my thoughts," he said in a whisper.
"Why couldn't you sort them with me?" she asked touching his cheeks with her hands.
He quickly removed them and it startled her.
"We need to head back or we will be late for the meeting," he said and let go of her wrists and turned on his heels heading for the buildings.
Olivia stood there with her hands still in the air. He had pushed her hands away. He did not want her to touch him. He had never done that before. It hurt her deeply; probably more then he would ever know. First Grayson and now Spock. She collected her things and headed towards the buildings.
In Kirk's Quarters…
They all sat together again; the bridge crew. Kirk was proud to say the least.
"So if you'll take a look at your PADDs you will have a quick debriefing on our next mission," he said in the authoritative voice they all knew so well.
Everyone took a minute to catch up to speed on the mission. Bones looked up.
"Andoria?" Bones asked in disbelief.
Olivia read further.
"Civil war?" she said looking at Kirk.
Kirk nodded.
"Apparently the Andorians are having a little trouble getting along with their subspecies, the Aenar. Let me give you guys the quick background. Andoria, as you should know, is an ice planet. Their cities are underground and are connected by thousands of tunnels. On your PADDs you'll see what the two different species look like. When we get there we'll meet with the Ambassador and he'll fill us in on what exactly happened. We all know what Andorians look like, but the Aenar are slightly different. Though they are physiologically similar to Andorians, with the antennas and such, they are completely blind. Don't get confused. Though they are blind they have the ability to 'see.' They are also not blue. They are white; really white. The most dangerous thing about them is that they have evolved telepathic abilities. They can read minds and psychically project themselves to other humanoids. They also use it to communicate among themselves," he stopped.
"Why are they rebelling? I always thought they were compatible with the Andorians. They can even breed with them can't they?" Olivia asked confused.
Bones nodded.
"I had an Andorian/Aenar birth once. The child came out with a greenish skin tone. It really is pretty common," Bones said also confused.
Kirk shrugged.
"Well something went down and we have to find out what or war is going to tear that planet apart," he said and everyone nodded.
"We leave in three days," he said and everyone gasped.
"I know it's earlier than usual but this is an emergency," he said softly.
Olivia was the first to exit the room. She didn't look back as she headed to her quarters.
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