As always. I don't own, yadda, yadda... (I do own T'Lura, Van Ravanok, and whatever character you might not recognize though, and the fic itself).
It's taken me a while, more than I'm sure most of us ever expected (or wanted). But finally I'm here! I present to you, the first of two AUs to the M'aih series. As had been established before, this is the pertaining to what would have happened if T'Lura hadn't died in Tarsus IV.
I'm also aware that some expected this last week. But when I was halfway through the other AU (yoD') I got several ideas to add to this one, so I decided to delay the posting so I could add them in.
This fic has two parts, the second which will be coming next week. Enjoy!
Ravanok
(Alternative Universe to M'aih)
By: Lalaith Quetzalli
When young he made the choice to be just a boy, and one day a man, to leave behind the burden of his old name, of the father who died a martyr and the mother who never wanted him, instead embracing the family that chose him, that fought for him, that he almost died for. He is, and forever will be James Ravanok.
Part I.
He was bored. Truly and absolutely bored. When he woke up in the morning he wasn't expecting to have to spend hours in that conference room listening to that bastard of an Admiral speechify and rant and… how was he still talking?! So he clearly did not agree with James actions, it was also clear that he'd no idea that he not only was allowed to modify the code of the Kobayashi Maru, but was in fact requested to do so. Also, it was quite clear he was unaware just who James himself was, judging by the way he kept throwing around words like cadet, and expulsion, and threats of court martial… could he be court martialed? James didn't think so, wasn't sure he even qualified as a cadet, all things told.
"Excuse me, sir." The man was finally interrupted by a young aide who looked very worried.
All of a sudden James became very aware of the trickle of worry in the back of his mind. Something was wrong… His hand went for his communicator even as the aid delivered whatever message was meant for the Admiral. He only caught one part of it (the important part):
"… distress call from Vulcan."
So that explained why the people he was calling, no one was answering their comms, and the automatic message ringing through the planetary channel. One that served to confirm that things were, indeed, bad, yet at the same time reassured him that things were under control. Or as much as they could be when a whole planet was being evacuated!
It was about then that the admiral turned his attention back to James, and it was clear that he didn't like the fact that the blonde was on his comm, despite the fact that he too was busy. However, before he could open his mouth to try and chastise James once more, the door opened yet again, allowing none other than Commander Spock inside.
"James!" He called the moment he stepped into the room.
"I'm here Spock." The blonde said instantly, rushing towards the Vulcan.
"Commander Spock this was meant to be a private meeting…" The admiral began, then seemed to think of something else: "How do you know this man?"
It was obvious he was beginning to wonder at what might be going on exactly. After all, everyone knew Commander Spock to be an exemplary Starfleet officer, an instructor in the Academy, the soon to be First Officer in the brand new USS Enterprise under Captain Pike, and the creator of the Kobayashi Maru simulation… the very one Mr. Ravanok had been discovered hacking…
"Admiral Komack, I was unaware that you had any business with James." Spock stated, head tilted to the side as if he were trying to divine what was going on.
"Yes well, it was necessary, as Mr. Ravanok has been found hacking the code of the Kobayashi Maru." The man stated in a very pompous tone.
Spock turned to look at James, then once again at Komack: "It appears that you are not currently in possession of all the facts Admiral."
James almost snorted, almost. It might just be him, but that sounded like a very Vulcan-like way of telling the older man he was being stupid. It might just be him… Then again, he was aware that when the Vulcan Elders made a mention of the 'disadvantage' of him having a human mother during his acceptance into the VSA, Spock's reaction had been to decline, before telling the xenophobic bastards to 'Live long and prosper' in such a way that it was obvious he meant something entirely different so…
"The modifications to the Kobayashi Maru code carried out by Mr. Ravanok were done at my request, and with Admirals Barnett, Archer and Liu's full knowledge and approval." Spock informed the man in a perfectly even tone.
"What…?!" The man blurted out before he could control himself.
They were interrupted, yet again, by an announcement on the general paging system, calling all Starfleet officers to duty, as well as the senior cadets to present themselves for ship assignments ASAP. That, if nothing else, served to tell all who might be listening that something really big (and potentially really bad) was going on.
"We must go." Spock stated stoically.
"You're not going anywhere!" Komack demanded before James could give a single step.
"Admiral, as I believe you must have heard, we have duties to fulfill, all of us." Spock stated in a tone that for most would have seemed to be perfectly in control… though James was not just anyone, he could tell that the Vulcan was barely in control, and with the situation being what it was (what little they knew about it) it was not surprising.
"How do you even know this man?!" Komack demanded in a near-snarl.
He knew he was missing something, beyond his colleagues deciding to approve changes to a simulation without him being aware of it. It was clear James Ravanok wasn't Starfleet, he wasn't registered in the system as an officer, not even as a cadet! So how was he involved at all?!
"James Ravanok is my husband." Spock answered in a perfectly even tone. "Now, with your leave, admiral."
He didn't actually wait for the man to dismiss them, and James followed without hesitation. And while a part of the blonde really would like to crow with laughter at the man's expression there at the end, the part of him that was extremely worried about what may be happening in Vulcan kept the humor under control.
"They will be alright." Was all he said in the end, touching two fingers to Spock's wrist even as the two marched down the hallway and towards the shuttles, barely stopping to give their names and authorization codes as they climbed inside. "Our families will be alright Spock, you'll see."
They had to be, James didn't want to even consider any other possibility.
xXx
While some of the people present did look at James oddly, mostly since while they were all dressed in either red, blue or gold, he was wearing merely regulation blacks, with him having arrived beside Commander Spock, and after they both received nods from Captain Pike, no one said a thing. Sulu, who actually knew James, as they'd met during piloting simulations, smiled at James and directed him to a station near him, where the two began working together on getting the Enterprise ready to go.
James might not have been Starfleet, technically (as he'd never attended the Academy formally, barely taking a few classes here and there), but he was very much a pilot. The few classes he had attended, and all his hours in the Sims qualified him to serve in Starfleet as just that, which had been the intention all along. He might have his reasons for not joining Starfleet officially, and truth was that if there had been no other way for him to stay close to his husband he would have, and screw the consequences. Thankfully that wasn't necessary. His qualifications as a pilot, along with the fact that he and Spock weren't just husbands, but telsu, meant that Starfleet would allow him to join the crew, as bondmates weren't to be separated. Ever since Pike had gone to Spock and offered him the post of First Officer, part of the offer had been giving James a chance to be a pilot. James had been a pilot since he was fifteen, but piloting small shuttles, and even most commercial ships wasn't the same as piloting a ship like the Enterprise. So James trained, took all the tests that were required, and even attended a handful of classes, just enough to qualify. He wasn't an officer of Starfleet, not even an ensign, but he didn't want to be. He was James Ravanok, pilot, and Spock's husband and telsu, that was enough.
"May I have your attention, please. At twenty-two hundred hours, telemetry detected at an anomaly in the neutral zone. What appeared to be a lightning storm in space…"
Most of James's attention was on his station. Sulu was so nervous at being in charge he'd missed a couple of things. Nothing serious, but enough that his confidence would have taken a hit if James hadn't noticed it just in the nick of time and given him a hand. That was probably why it actually took him more than a couple of seconds to process what he'd just heard…
A lightning storm in space…
"...We should be arriving at Wulcan within three minutes. Thank you for your time." Ensign Chekov, seated on Sulu's other side, finished right then.
"A lightning storm in space…" James repeated, his mind razor sharp as adrenaline kicked in.
*Ashal-veh…?* Spock's voice questioned in the back of his head.
James sent a half-absent reassurance even as he called Nyota's comm. Nyota Uhura was one of the most beautiful women James had ever met, a superb communications officer, who knew so many languages it made even James dizzy at times and he really needed to ask her to confirm something he'd heard her and Gaila talk about the day before… It was funny in some ways because most of those who knew their history: the fact that Nyota had flirted with Spock several times before eventually asking him out (before ever meeting James, or having any idea that Spock was betrothed to his t'hy'la already), they didn't understand how they could all be friends. But James didn't feel threatened by Nyota, nor did he feel jealousy. He knew his husband was a very handsome man (vulcan hybrid, whichever), extremely intelligent and kind, so why wouldn't anyone be interested in him? Nyota would have never said or done anything had she known about James's existence beforehand, and she'd certainly stopped her advances and even apologized when she learned the truth. She was a wonderful person and both James and Spock felt fortunate to be able to count her as a friend.
"Nyota…?"
"James! What…? Why are you calling me? What's going on?!"
"Last night, you said something about intercepting a transmission from the Klingon prison planet… do you remember who was responsible for the attack?"
"Wha…? James what does that have to do with anything?"
"Just tell me. Was it a Romulan ship?"
"Yes. Now wha…"
"Sorry, gotta go." He cut the communication and spun around in the chair, standing so fast he almost tripped. "It's a trap!"
All eyes were on him instantly.
"Captain Pike, we need to stop this ship." He said, forcing himself to focus past the sudden, near-irrational fear that threatened to close his throat. "Vulcan is not experience a natural disaster. It's being attacked by Romulans."
Those words caused absolute pandemonium. Soon enough they were all trying to speak over one another, arguing about all the reasons why it couldn't possibly be what James was saying. Even Pike expressed disbelief. It wasn't easy for James to stay calm and detached, but even then he did his best to remind everyone what had happened 25 years earlier, the tragedy of the Kelvin and what was reported just before the disaster. Everyone in Starfleet knew what had happened that day, Pike himself had written his dissertation on it. And yet none of it seemed to be enough…
"My father was on that ship!" He roared eventually.
That was certainly enough to make silence fall, as all eyes turned to the blue-eyed blonde man staring at Pike as if trying to force him to believe him…
"Your fa…" Pike began, confused (and clearly focusing on the wrong thing!)
"Lieutenant Van Ravanok was the Helmsman of the USS Kelvin, sir." Spock offered from his spot behind Pike himself, though his eyes never left his husband.
James for his part was just blinking, staring at his beloved Vulcan. He could hardly believe the words that had come out of his mouth. He'd almost given himself away! Would have if it weren't for his telsu's quick thinking. After ten years of being nothing more than James Ravanok, of taking all sorts of measures to ensure no one would ever connect him to the believed-deceased son of the martyr-hero of Starfleet: George Kirk…
At least the outburst seemed to achieve what nothing else had and people began listening to him.
It was impossible to tell whose idea it was in the end, exactly, but instead of coming out of warp early, they decided to bypass the original point before coming out of warp. Not by much, just as far as the next planet in the system (an uninhabited one). The most important though, was that it meant coming out of warp out of sight and sensor-reach of the Romulan ship attacking Vulcan. It didn't stop the mix of shock and horror of everyone in the Enterprise as they realized why none of the other ships had answered their hails… or the size of the Romulan ship that seemed to be actually drilling into Vulcan!
James could sense Spock's paralyzing fear, and in seconds he had gone 'round the bridge, placing a hand on his telsu's shoulder and sending as much calm, belief, faith as he could.
*Everything will be alright…* The blonde did his best to reassure his beloved. *Our families will be alright. The last I heard from Vulcan was the global message of evacuation. We both know it's a good plan. Vulcans are nothing if not through in their plans.* And the two of them had been closely involved in the creation of those plans, and all their failsafes and contingencies, so they knew how good it was. *They know what to do. And if all else fails, the Rishek will help.*
Spock took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he forced his body to relax: *Thank you, ashayam…* He murmured into their bond.
James opened his mouth, intending to remind everyone of their priorities, and suggest someone come up with a plan to destroy what looked like a giant drill before it reached Vulcan's core and something cataclysmic happened. When three small ships emerged from the atmosphere, going straight for the drill. Shooting at it so fast and so strongly that it was destroyed before the Romulans could do anything to stop it.
The cheering in the Enterprise's bridge was deafening. They'd no idea where those ships had come from, they didn't look Vulcan in design… but still, it was clearly a good thing. James for his part, he just smiled, he knew those ships.
*See?* He directed a mental-smile to his husband. *Told you.*
"Captain! We're picking up on transmissions again!" The Communications Officer announced.
There was a bit of a complication when it turned out that the lieutenant did not speak Romulan, or something like that. Though thankfully Uhura, who had rushed to the bridge after James's call, worried about what might be going on, did. Pike instructed her to take charge of the Comms.
As if on cue, James's comm rang right then, calling the attention of every single person on the bridge, including Pike:
"Ravanok here…" He answered formally.
"Ravanok!" A voice both he and Spock recognized instantly replied. "Tell me you're in the system. And with some serious back-up."
Recognizing that he couldn't share that kind of information without authorization (he might not be Starfleet, technically, but he wasn't an idiot), James turned to look at Pike.
"That the one who shot down the drill?" Pike asked.
James nodded. Pike seemed to think it over for a moment and then nodded too. James pressed a button on the comm, then held it out on his open palm, which he held out before him and began speaking openly.
"Asad, you're on speaker." James informed him succinctly. "As to your question, I'm currently on board the USS Enterprise, we're the last of the ships Starfleet sent to answer the distress call from Vulcan. Captain Christopher Pike is in charge."
"You do realize Vulcan never sent out a distress call?" Asad asked.
"I surmised as much once the 'lightning storm in space' was mentioned." James replied.
He didn't mention that they'd been the only ones, there was no need to mention what was plain enough in the debris floating nearby.
"Captain Pike, I am Asad Givens, I am the leader of the Birds of Prey, the trio of ships that just destroyed the drill threatening Vulcan." Asad addressed Pike. "Currently a full evacuation is taking place in Vulcan. With the drill destroyed the transporters should be active again, which will allow for them to move faster." Something seemed to occur to him right then as he added. "Spock, James, your mothers and siblings were among the first to be evacuated, Ambassador Sarek, Lady T'Pau and the Elders should be on a ship on Mount Seleya, they went there to retrieve the katric arc and will be departing as soon as they have it. Two of my most trusted are with them, they'll make sure the Elders make it off planet."
Spock didn't react in any visible way to that information, but James could feel his husband's relief as clearly as if it had been shouted.
"Thank you Asad." James murmured, heart-felt.
"We still need to discuss what we're going to do about that ship…" Asad began.
Only to be cut off as the ship in question turned its weapons towards him and the other Birds of Prey, requiring evasive maneuvers on their part.
"I believe we all know what needs to be done." Pike announced strongly, straightening up in the captain's chair as he announced. "All departments to battle stations!"
"Sir, with all due respect, that ship is much too big for any of us to destroy it from the outside…" James pointed out.
"James is correct captain." Spock stated stoically, before turning to his husband as he caught on a stray thought. *You cannot mean…*
"...from the inside though, we might have a chance." James finished, answering his telsu's thoughts at the same time.
"Are you insane James?!" Uhura cried out as she understood what she meant. "Spock! You cannot tell me you agree!"
"My accord or lack thereof is, at present, irrelevant, we have a duty to Vulcan, to Starfleet and to the Federation. That ship cannot be allowed to threaten any planet again." Spock stated evenly.
He was angry, James could tell. Having processed the relief at the news of his mother's safety and the confidence that soon his father will be safe as well, next came the anger, the righteous fury towards those who would threaten their lives. It couldn't be allowed to happen again. James pressed his side to his telsu's own, not seeking to change his mind in any way, just to show his support. They would ensure it never happened again.
"Mr. Ravanok, if you're sure you want to do this, I'm allowing you to go with Commander Spock and a group of volunteers." Pike stated, because of course Spock would go with his husband, that had never been in question.
"Captain," One of the officers that handled security spoke up from a corner. "Me and my team, we'd like to volunteer for this mission sir."
Pike took a deep breath and nodded.
James and Spock turned in unison, marching towards the doors when Uhura unexpectedly stepped in their way.
"You better come back, you hear me?" She demanded, eyes wet with unshed tears.
She was terrified, but still a professional, one who knew she was needed, so she wouldn't allow fear to take over, not while she had a duty to the Enterprise (later, once the crisis was over, she'd allow herself to shake, and to cry, to mourn all the lives lost in all the ships that didn't have someone like James Ravanok, who could realize what was truly going on in time to save them all; her own innocence, so abruptly lost).
"We hear you." James nodded, knowing his beloved wouldn't reply, he wouldn't see the point.
Nothing else was said, there was no need for words. James and Spock walked down the halls, side by side, in step; Hendorff and half a dozen individuals followed them. They'd a mission to fulfill. For Starflett, for the Federation, but above all, for their family…
xXx
James and Spock met when they were sixteen and nineteen years of age, respectively. James was living in Themys, working as a pilot to provide for his blind mom, and his adopted little sister, there was no dad in the picture, Van Ravanok having long since died while in service to Starfleet. The way he and Cilaun had met was a story all on its own, but essentially, when M'aih and he first came to live in Themys, it was a new beginning for them. They embraced that fact to the fullest. James met Cilaun a few months after they were officially moved in, she'd recently lost her parents in what was supposed to have been an accident (the fact that her dad was romulan and that even in a colony like Themys, where people from all planets and species lived, romulans were still distrusted and not treated as well since the thing with the USS Kelvin a little over fifteen years prior made him think otherwise). After everything he'd been through already James just couldn't see that young girl and just ignore her, so he invited her to his place for lunch, he helped her when other people were cruel to her, offered her a roof when he found out she no longer had a home. Before the end of the month she was his sister.
He was young, but good at what he did and while his clients weren't many, they were good and paid well. The job took him from home with relative frequency, sometimes for days, perhaps even weeks at a time, but it was worth it, for his family, to be able to provide for them. His mom had basic knowledge as a healer, and had once worked as a teacher; and Cilaun never hesitated to take all sorts of odd jobs to help the family economy, but that just wasn't enough.
James met T'Pau first. There had been some kind of incident, or an accident (he was never clear on the details), the ship the Vulcan matriarch was traveling in was forced to land unexpectedly in Organia, least they risk something worse in more inhospitable territory. The ship's crew began working on repairs, however that still left T'Pau and her staff needing transport. In a place like Organia that wasn't an easy thing to find, while the place was fairly frequented by pilots, most were more used to transporting wares than people, and no few of them leaned towards piracy, rather than any proper jobs. James was well-known in the area, being one of few trustworthy pilots who traveled so close to Klingon territory, regardless of his youth (it was said even the Klingons respected him), it was his skill and his trustworthiness that mattered in the end. So one of the Vulcans went looking for him to request his services in getting them to Vulcan.
James never told anyone that doing so meant letting go of another job, one that would have gotten him a lot more credits, allowing him to buy his little sister a new PADD (she was learning hacking). He didn't regret it either, as it was what allowed him to meet the love of his life, the other half of his soul…
Their first meeting was rather shocking. James had never been to Vulcan, never expected the old phrase 'hot like Vulcan' to be quite so accurate; all the heat, and the low oxygen levels, it affected him more than expected. He had the hypos he needed, but as he hadn't known he'd need them so badly he hadn't used them before landing the ship and stepping out to help Lady T'Pau and her entourage. Spock was there to receive her, in representation of his father, as the Ambassador was busy at the time and when James tripped over… something, he was the one to stop the blonde from face-planting in front of all those Vulcans. The moment their bare skin touched, the Vulcan's hand on the human's arm, it was almost… electric.
Wuh'rak esta, was what they called it, because apparently Vulcans had a word for something like that. An electric first-touch… after it was all explained to him, what it was, what it meant, he couldn't help but think that for a race that was said to have no feelings, not only did they have them, but they had names and explanation and proof (proof!) of things that humans had long seen as nothing more than legend, romantic nonsense made up for old novels and stories. Except apparently it wasn't just old stories, because there was such a thing as soulmates and James was one of a very select number to have found his.
After the shit-show that were the first fifteen years of his life… he wasn't sure what was stronger, his disbelief that he truly could be that blessed, or the thought that maybe, just maybe, the universe was finally paying him back for all the misery and the tragedy and the horror he'd been through… or perhaps, perhaps it was just how things were meant to be. Much as he might hate thinking it, perhaps he was meant to go through all that; after all, he was the man all those things (the good, and especially the bad) had shaped. And how else was he supposed to have ever met someone like Spock? He'd no idea. If they were right, if they were soulmates, then they'd have met, someday, somehow, no matter what. As it was, he was happy, felt blessed, for having met Spock when and how he did. That was enough.
With T'Pau bearing witness to it all, no one ever expressed doubt or disagreement when James and Spock were betrothed officially just a few weeks later. Just long enough for James's mom and sister to be fetched from Themys (he wasn't the one going to get them because even as brief as the touch might have been, he couldn't even think about leaving Spock's presence, much less the planet), the two families got to know each other. Things got even more interesting when, as she went into their minds to confirm their minds were healthy and the preliminary bond had formed correctly, T'Pau instead found a full bond. A t'hy'la bond…
T'hy'la… friend, brother, lover, soulmate… yet something else Vulcans had a word for. What they were for each other: everything. And while it was clear that there were many who couldn't understand how such a thing was possible, how a human and a hybrid could have one of the strongest and most legendary bonds in Vulcan culture… T'Pau herself had confirmed it was true, and that was enough for everyone to accept it.
Also, when T'Pau met with T'Lura and heard her story, their story, the matriarch insisted on adopting them all into her House, which granted them the protection of the extended family, as well as Vulcan citizenship. She was also pretty insistent on James finishing the studies his m'aih had guided him through, which allowed the young man to eventually be considered a graduate from the Shi'Kahr Institute. Cilaun too got the chance to finally get a formal education, and to learn all that one could learn about hacking (which was what she loved). James for his part could have even pursued further studies, like Spock was doing as he aimed for acceptance into the VSA, but in the end chose not to. Instead he continued working as a pilot, though he didn't travel too far away, or stay gone for too long anymore. Truth was, James valued his independence, and being able to provide for his family too much to let others provide for them instead. Spock, being bonded to him, understood and valued that independence, and thus didn't try to stop him.
James was probably the only one not surprised when Spock left for Starfleet Academy months later. Truth is he'd been expecting such a thing to happen even before the xenophobic bastard of an Elder was stupid enough to call a woman as amazing and gorgeous as Amanda Grayson a 'disadvantage'. Much as James might love M'aih and accept her being Vulcan, he knew that as a race they weren't perfect (then again, weren't all races far from perfect?). Spock wasn't entirely Vulcan but that didn't make him less (in James's perfectly honest, and entirely biased opinion, it made him more, better). He was capable of controlling his thoughts and emotions like Vulcans did, but that didn't mean he had to. He also had the ability to endure, to persevere; to believe in things and people against all odds (he certainly believed in James, even when the human had trouble believing in himself), things so many Vulcans would never even think to try.
It was about a year after Spock left for Starfleet Academy (following a serious disagreement with his father, that only thanks to James's and Amanda's intervention did not turn into a fight and near disavowal) that James first met Asad and his crew, his Clan. Of course, that wasn't his name at the time. No, back then his name was Noonien, Khan Noonien Singh, captain and the leader of the last remaining six dozen Augments…
James was trying out the latest mods to the engine of his ship: Puksu, when he came across the Botany Bay. The ship was drifting, and if it hadn't been for the excellent scanners Spock had helped him calibrate he'd have believed it to have been empty. But while the heat-sensors didn't show anything other than cold, other sensors were picking up signs of life.
James shared his discovery with no one but M'aih, who helped him research the names he'd been able to find in the ship's very old files. She was there to support him as he read all the horrors Khan was said to have done, and to guide him as he kept digging when he realized some things just didn't add up. It wasn't like James couldn't believe that humans could be bad. He knew all too well the depth of some humans' depravity… had experienced it on his own skin and still carried the scars, both physical and emotional.
James brought Spock (who was on summer break from the Academy) and M'aih with him to the Botany Bay a month later and the three of them were together when they woke up Khan, made sure he was as healthy as he could be, and then explained what year it was and how much not just Earth, but the universe as a whole had changed since he and his people went into cryo. They waited to make sure he was alright and understood everything before getting to work on waking everyone else, one person at a time.
"Why are you doing this?" Khan asked, voice thick with some unnameable emotion.
"This?" James asked, curious.
He was the least busy in that moment, as his m'aih and betrothed were the ones with the skills to help the frozen men and women. So he was mostly spending the time talking to Khan, and keeping an eye on the people that had been unfrozen already but hadn't yet woken up. Like Khan's young daughter… who couldn't have been more than five. James had seen nothing about her anywhere, and the thought of what might have happened to that little girl if some less than scrupulous person had found her, found them all…
Khan said nothing, just stared at him pointedly.
"I… don't actually know." James admitted with a slight shrug. "I guess I just… I've seen some bad stuff. Seen people killing others, their own neighbors, people they claimed were their friends, because someone told them to… and I've seen people with next to nothing, being willing to share what little they have with total strangers, some even willing to risk their own lives to save another. I… I know what kind of person I want to be."
"You're a most extraordinary individual Ravanok."
"James, call me James."
"Then call me Noonien, that is, after all, my name."
It hadn't remained his name for long. Eventually it was decided that even though most people didn't know much about the Eugenic Wars anymore, Khan's name could still be found relatively easy. So he changed it to Asad, claiming the surname of his deceased wife for himself and his daughter. And thus Asad Givens came to be.
A month or so later Asad and his people arrived to Vulcan, introducing themselves as the only survivors of his people, who were forced to flee their home-planet in order to survive. With the Vulcans being the only race inhabiting the system it was to them that they went to request permission to settle a colony in one of the nearby planets. Ni'Var III was an uninhabited M Class planet about 400 million kilometers from Vulcan. The tempestuous seasons and intemperate weather, a well as the fact that about 50% of the surface of the planet was covered in water, along with the various wild creatures living in it (some which looked like much more 'beastly' versions of some Terran animals, made it an inhospitable place for most species, Vulcans included. The Augments though believed they'd be just fine. And they were right.
It was the Vulcans who gave the group the name of Rishek, the Survivors. James never found out just how much T'Pau and the other Elders knew about them exactly, deciding that it wasn't his business in the end. Still, he and Asad came to be good friends. The man helped him modify Puksu into one of the best ships in existence, and they worked together in the creation of a new one-person battle spaceship they named the bird of prey (mainly because the ships were meant to fly and fight together): which prompted Vulcans to grant them both the title of Engineer.
Some of the best doctors among the Rishek, like Asad's own second: Elijah Amasay, were responsible for some amazing medical discoveries in the following years, including the one that allowed Amanda and Sarek to finally have another child (they never intended for Spock to be an only child, but after repeated attempts that ended in miscarriages, the last one which caused so much bleeding Amanda almost lost her own life, they decided to give up on it); children actually, as the method was based on the very old invitro fertilization, multiples had been a possibility from the start. That was how Spock came to have two little siblings, fraternal twins, a boy and a girl: T'Ura and Surev; who were probably the most cherished and spoiled little vulcans (or rather, hybrids) in the planet.
Asad and the Rishek were also involved when T'Pau suggested that they take measures to make sure the plan for Vulcan's preservation that James had presented as his final work to be able to graduate from SI could be implemented successfully.
After his own experiences James believed it was better to always be prepared for the worst. His plan at its most extreme had the entirety of the Vulcan race being evacuated from the planet through a mix of long-range transporters, shuttles and ships of various sizes stationed in key locations. It was the kind of plan that would have seemed impossible, with no possible destination close enough to make trips in small shuttles and the transporters plausible (and they couldn't depend on assistance of another, not even Starfleet), until the Rishek established their colony in Ni'Var… then the possibilities opened up to them.
Most Vulcans thought such a plan unnecessary. An illogical plan made by an overly emotional human who had no understanding of the true capabilities of the Vulcan race to survive and endure anything. And then came Nero…
xXx
James burst into the bridge in a rush, body tense and panting breaths, calling the attention of every single person present:
"What the hell is this?!" He demanded as he shook a piece of golden cloth held tightly in his fist.
Something that, as everyone soon realized, was no mere piece of cloth, it was a shirt, a Starfleet-issue shirt in command gold.
"I'm not Starfleet." James stated crisply, shaking the shirt for extra emphasis.
"You are now." Was all Pike said.
"Wha…?" James began, confused, then shook his head, voice going cold again: "That makes absolutely no fucking sense!"
"It makes every sense." Pike retorted, his expression softening as he elaborated. "Kid… you just lead a team into boarding and taking an enemy ship with an unknown enemy who was in possession of weapons that represented a threat not just to Vulcan but to the Federation as a whole. You went after your enemy, tried to arrest the crew, and when that proved to be impossible you ensured that they wouldn't threaten anyone ever again."
"Sp… Commander Spock was the one leading that mission." James murmured, though his voice was much quieter than it had been before.
"From what I've heard and read in the official reports, Commander Spock wasn't the one giving the orders, you were." Pike replied, James tried to say something but Pike kept going. "And they were good orders, which is why they were followed."
"I lost Matthews and Jenkins." James muttered morosely.
"And you brought back Hendorff, Hudson, Taylor and Williamson, along with Spock and yourself." Pike pointed out. "All who followed you into the Romulan ship knew it was a dangerous mission, they volunteered to be there, and you ensured that as many of them made it back as you possibly could." A small smile formed on his face. "You did good kid. And you deserve that shirt, and everything it represents."
James kept looking at it for a few seconds. There was a reason why he hadn't joined Starfleet, not when Spock first left Vulcan for the Academy, or later on. Not even when offers were made and he eventually accepted to work for them as a pilot…
"They know, don't they?" The words were out of his mouth before he had even processed them fully, but once the idea came to him he couldn't stop himself: "Not the brass, or not just them; the people, the public. A supposed emergency call and later on a full planet evacuation from one of the founders of the Federation, the return of the very ship and individuals that were responsible for the disaster of the Kelvin twenty five years ago, and the loss of five Constitution-class starships, along with about 40% of their crews, including more than half of the senior cadet class. They might even know how we stopped Nero and the crew of the Narada, not like you've tried very hard to restrict the communications of those on board. And of course, if they know that much, they know about me. And that's the crux of the matter, isn't it? Because you cannot have the public know that a civilian lead a group of Starfleet security in taking over and eventually destroying an enemy ship. What kind of message would that send? So when we arrive, and the press is there waiting for us, they cannot see a civilian pilot, they have to see a Starfleet officer."
Pike blinked several times in quick succession. Clearly startled by the quick and very accurate analysis of the current situation. His eyes immediately went to his First Officer who didn't say as word, didn't so much as show an expression on his face. The bond was a different matter entirely, James could feel his telsu's pride and satisfaction at how hell his husband comprehended the situation he found himself in. He understood why his James never intended to join Starfleet and yet, things had changed, more than either of them ever imagined possible.
"I never intended to join Starfleet." The blonde stated.
"I understand…" Pike began.
"No, you don't." James cut him off. "I will not go into details, because it doesn't actually concern you Captain, but the amount of individuals I trust, truly trust, can be counted with one hand, and I still have fingers left." M'aih, Spock and T'Pau, that was it. "I'm not still a civilian because of lack of opportunities to join Starfleet, I've had plenty. But joining Starfleet would mean trusting. Trusting superiors whose orders I'll be expected to follow, trusting a doctor with my health, my real and complete medical records, my body…" He broke off, shaking his head and when he saw that he still didn't get it (and how could he? How could any of them? They didn't know…). "I was in Tarsus."
That announcement caused an immediate reaction: Nyota slapped a hand over her mouth in an attempt to drown her horrified gasp. Sulu himself could barely hold his shock. The two of them were the only ones (aside from his husband) James had been close to before that day, whom he actually considered friends, and even they hadn't had so much as an inkling. His past, especially anything prior to his and T'Lura's arrival to Themys he guarded zealously, and the actual tragedy of the colony was only half of the reason.
Most people knew didn't really know him, they didn't know who he was before they met him, before his bond to Spock (before Themys, before Tarsus…), before his beloved M'aih adopted him and gave him the name of James Ravanok…
"Arrangements can be made," Pike told him soberly. "There is such a thing as doctor-patient confidentiality kid, I'm sure you know that. You could even choose to keep contact with the doctors to an absolute minimum, though that could end up being detrimental to your health in the long run. It's your choice of course. You must know some races refuse to have much contact with medical personnel unless it's of their own people. That can be dangerous, but as long as you're aware of that and sign the necessary paperwork… well, it'd be up to you, and your husband. As for your other concern… be command, for real, and ensure that your orders will be the ones others will follow, always."
He made it sound like a challenge… James always had such a hard time ignoring a challenge…
xXx
Meeting Selek had to be the most surreal thing James had ever done, and he'd been through some insane shit in his life.
"This… how is this even possible?" The blonde asked, looking at his telsu, and the older Vulcan, once and again, repeatedly, as if not quite believing it. "Shouldn't this be… I don't know, impossible? Physics, and paradoxes and the fabric of reality breaking apart or something?"
Spock, 'his' Spock, arched a brow at him before turning his attention to the other Vulcan, who was looking at them both with so much feeling in his dark eyes that it rattled the younger one.
"It is surprising, that a single look appears to have sufficed to allow you to ascertain my identity, regardless, I find myself unsurprised by this development." The Elder Spock stated.
"And of course you know me, or another version of me." James murmured offhandedly, then he turned just slightly to look at his telsu. "Suddenly Nero's rants make so much sense!"
*I believe it had already been ascertained by the nature of the Narada that its captain's ramblings had to hold a degree of truth, illogical as it should have been.* Spock pointed out in the privacy of their bond, even while another part of his brain cataloged every single detail about the one who was, apparently an alternate future version of him… one who recognized James and who showed so much emotion without hesitation…
As much as Spock might have come to accept that there was nothing wrong with feelings, and even being capable of showing his own when in private with his telsu, and at times his mother (the only other person whom he knew would never judge him), he couldn't imagine allowing so many feelings to be so clear in his expression in public; and while they might be the only ones in that area of the Starfleet HQ main building in that moment, they were very much in public still.
*Still, this is you we're talking about Spock! Or a version of you, whatever!* James replied exuberantly. *And you cannot tell me you were willing to take Nero at his word. That bastard was a few cards short of a full deck.*
Spock was so used to his telsu's metaphors and turns of phrase that he didn't even comment on it. He also knew the blonde was right. Perhaps if they'd had the chance to inspect the ship better, or to copy some of the files in its computers before being forced to precipitate its destruction… regrets were illogical, and while Spock certainly didn't regret ending Nero's life and destroying his ship (after all the danger he put his family, his beloved mother and his adored baby siblings in nothing less would have sufficed); he couldn't help but think they'd lost the chance of learning so much… Spock was a scientist, whatever specific position he might hold in Starfleet, he'd always be a scientist, and he'd always regret the loss of opportunities for gaining knowledge.
"You're bonded…" Elder Spock's words called the pair's attention, though more than that was perhaps the wealth of feeling behind them.
"Indeed." Spock and James replied in perfect unison.
They both could still remember the day their bond had been formally recognized, with perfect clarity, the words pronounced by each of them…
"What thee are about to see comes down from the time of the beginning, without change." T'Pau had been the one to preside over the ceremony. "This is the Vulcan heart. This is the Vulcan soul. This is our way…"
"Parted from me and never parted…"
"Never and always touching and touched…"
And years later, when James moved to Earth and the two of them decided to have a simple but still very important human wedding:
"Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship's masters have had one happy privilege." Admiral Barnett (then Captain Barnett, Spock's Captain at the time) was the one to preside over their union. "That of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so we are gathered here today with you, S'chn T'gai Spock, son of Sarek, and you, James Ravanok, in the sight of your family and fellows, in accordance with our laws and our many beliefs so that you may pledge your vows to each other…"
It was almost painful, the amount of feeling that filled the older Vulcan's eyes, the mix of shock and grief, wonder and hope, pain, so much pain… but above all, love, such great love, as infinite as the stars… James was sure that if he hadn't been married, bonded, to his own Spock for more than half a decade by then he'd have never been able to understand the alternate older version of him so well. He couldn't help the tinge of sadness inside himself, just for a moment, but that moment was enough.
*Ashaya…?* Spock asked softly, almost hesitant.
"How long has it been since you lost him?" The blonde human asked the older Vulcan softly.
The younger Spock almost shook when hearing that question, his body didn't move a millimeter and yet James could sense it through their bond, his shock, the realization followed by horror as he comprehended what James had concluded, and how true that assumption was. It wasn't that Spock wasn't aware of the fact that with them being of different species, and how much greater Vulcan life expectancy was (and despite Spock being half human, Vulcan traits were dominant), there was a considerable likelihood that he'd outlive his telsu, by a wide margin. It was just… he'd never wanted to think about it. It wasn't denial, because denial was illogical but… it wasn't something he needed to focus on, not now, so why should he?
"I am not at all surprised that you would reach such a conclusion, even with so few clues to get you there." The Elder Spock stated quietly. "It has been, indeed, a very long time. 94 years since I last laid eyes on him…"
"S'ti th'laktra (I grieve with thee)." James murmured with a bow of his head.
"I am not family to you, James." The Elder stated, head cocked to a side.
"Aren't you?" James asked with a small mischievous smile. "How would you define family Spock? Because from where I'm standing, you'd qualify as my Spock's… well, perhaps his brother? A cousin? Uncle? Family certainly. And since he's my sa-telsu, that means his family is my family and all that jazz."
The Elder let out a small sound, something that almost resembled a chuckle.
"I concede to your wisdom in matters of the heart, my friend." Spock acquiesced with a nod. "But I do believe the name Spock belongs to one Vulcan only, your sa'telsu. You may refer to me as Selek, if it pleases you."
"Selek?" James inquired, curious.
"An old cousin, one who saved my life when I was a child, Spock might remember him." Selek commented with what might almost qualify as a shrug.
"I regret I do not." Spock shook his head.
Selek blinked, a part of him wondering what that might mean, for him, for his younger self, for this alternate reality he found himself in. Would he never have a need to time-travel to the past and save himself? Time was so complicated, not quite as linear as some might choose to believe. The smallest of changes could bear the biggest of consequences. As was proven by the two young males before him, so much like himself and his own t'hy'la, yet so different at the same time.
"Will you be joining the Vulcans in their search for a new home?" James inquired, curious.
"I have already located a suitable planet on which to establish a Vulcan colony." Selek explained. "I shall be joining them when the time comes to depart." He made a pause, then added. "I presume you will be on the Enterprise?"
"That is correct." Spock nodded. "You were on the Enterprise as well, in your universe."
"I was." Selek nodded. "I served as First Officer under Captain James T. Kirk for many years."
"Well, that's certainly a difference." James snorted.
Selek arched an eyebrow, which made James roll his eyes.
"I'm not the captain," The blonde clarified. "Christopher Pike is. I'm barely even Starfleet!"
"James was the Captain in your universe." Spock stated rather than asked, head titled to a side in consideration.
"One of the best captains in Starfleet history. And certainly the best man I have ever had the honor of knowing…" The Elder agreed.
James lowered his head, somewhat abashed. He didn't do shame, not at all. But he still wasn't accustomed to anyone other than M'aih and Spock saying such things about him.
"Since my customary farewell would appear oddly self-serving, I shall simply say good luck." Selek declared, forming a ta'al.
Jim and Spock imitated the sign, wishing him well. James couldn't help but think that the Vulcan might bare the name Spock, but he wasn't his Spock, just like he himself wasn't his Jim… and that was just fine. His life was his own, and he'd live it as he chose, always.
*'We' will k'diwa,* Spock half-corrected. *Together, always.*
*Always.* James agreed wholeheartedly.
And thus they went forward into their new lives, together.
So, what do you think? Please don't forget to like/kudo and review/comment. Let me know what you liked, what you didn't, what you'd have liked to see. Everything! Your comments/reviews are in good part why I keep writing.
I know some people might have expected some epic Academy-era rewrite. I'll be honest and say that when I first thought of this AU I too expected it to go that way and yet... that's been done before, time and again. And some fics are absolutely awesome, I totally love them. The thing is, I didn't think I could bring anything new to that particular table. If you read my ANs you might remember what I said on Buk, how I didn't actually turn M'aih into a series until I decided to take a left turn early on in STID and go down a completely different path from anything I'd read until then (and even now). I like doing things I've never seen before in my fics. Thus, the way this fic turned out. Hope you enjoy it anyway.
As always, full-sized poster/cover can be found in my DA account, where I go by Princess-Lalaith.
P.S. Don't forget yoD' is coming!