Act Two: "Stuck In The Middle With You"

Senator Sela sat in the cloaked Romulan Warbird Vishkew. "Status?" she asked, her Romulan temper mixing with her human one.

"Two Kelvan vessels. One scout ship. One attack ship."

"Can they detect us?" she asked.

"I am unsure."

Sela sighed. "Have they made a move against us yet?"

"No, Senator."

"Then bring the fleet in closer and prepare to de-cloak."

The cloaked, eight-ship fleet came closer to the two Kelvan ships. Both vessels, long and looming, sat in orbit around a 'renegade' Romulan colony. They had to open fire, but the time seemed soon in coming.

"Prepare to de-cloak and - "

"Senator! They're opening fire!"

A beam of golden power flowed from the Kelvan vessel and utterly destroyed the cloaked ship on their farthest left.

"De-cloak! De-cloak and open fire!" she commanded.

The seven ships appeared and went towards the two ships. They immediately opened fire, green plasma launching. The scout ship took several direct hits, but it was the attack vessel that shrugged them all off.

"Senator!" shouted an ensign from behind.

"What is it?"

"Look!"

The attack vessel turned to the planet. Sela was too late in stopping what came next. A beam of incredible, sheer power fired from the mouth of the Kelvan ship and obliterated the entire area the colony sat upon. In fact, the beam was having some sort of bizarre effect on the atmosphere. It was becoming radiated.

"No!" shouted Sela.

"Senator, I'm reading an energy drop-out on the Kelvan vessel," said the ensign. "Their energy reserves were brunt out in that explosion."

"How long until they're back on-line?"

"It's not known."

"Then let's make every shot count."

The Vishkew led the assault, all of their weapons bashing against the thick hull of the attack ship. Silent explosions rippled across it, but then something else happened that no one expected.

"Five Romulan Warbirds de-cloaking behind the Kelvan ship!"

"Reinforcements?"

"No, Senator, they're opening fire . . . on us!"

The fire Romulan ships surged around and fired upon five the Warbirds. Two were destroyed immediately. Things were looking grim.

And the Kelvan attack vessel powered back up and turned to face the Romulan fleet, side-by-side with Romulan 'loyalists.'

"Lay in a course! Get us out of here! Cloak and go to Warp 9!"

The Vishkew turned tail and ran. The remaining ships were not as lucky. As they started to follow, the 'loyalists' and the Kelvans opened fire and destroyed them all.

Sela pounded her fists on the sides her chair and stood up. She was angry. Sheerly and completely angry. There was no problem with Romulans killing Romulans. She had done so before. But now . . . it was so different.

No, she thought to herself. She was not a human. This had nothing to do with her 'compassionate human side.' That all died the day . . . the day . . . the day her mother tried to esca --

"I'll be in my office," she said swiftly.

Sela didn't return to the bridge that night.

***

"No," said Quark, looking over PAD. "No, this won't work at all."

Martok threw his hands up. "Now what?"

"You've practically left no room for bargaining," the Ferengi replied.

"Where? I do not see what you are talking about," returned Lekat Mumora.

"He's right," the Romulan diplomat told them.

"What's that, Jaqen?"

"There needs to be room for negotiation in this section. 'War Reparations.'"

The whole group sighed and leaned back. It was quite a sight to see. Quark from the Ferengi Alliance. Lekat Mumora and two ambassadors from the Cardassian Union. Chancellor Martok from the Klingon Empire. Ambassador Jaqen from the Romulan Star Empire. Neelix, on behalf on the Delta Quadrant Alliance. Ambassador Lwaxana Troi from the Federation, along with Ambassador Spock. Finally, there was T'Pol.

"I suggest a break for the night. We have very little more to deal with on the treaty," recommended Spock. "And we still have four days until we arrive at Kelvan space."

"Yes, a good idea," replied Martok.

A few hours later, Spock sat into his quarters, his legs crossed and his fingers touching. His eyes closed and all of his senses became dulled. All concentration was spent inward. All power to his mind. Logic, strength . . . holding the emotions back. Spock felt his humanity slip back in the recesses of his mind and while the attempt of being a full-blooded Vulcan came into effect.

Just then, there was a voice calling him.

"Ambassador Spock?"

Spock's eyes snapped open. "Spock here."

"This is T'Pol. Please report to my quarters immediately."

"Yes, Ambassador."

Spock walked out of his quarters and made his way to a turbolift. A few moments after beginning his journey, he arrived at the quarters of Ambassador T'Pol.

"I am in need of you," the aged Vulcan told him.

"Yes?" he asked.

"My mind . . . Ambassador Spock, I am having trouble concentrating. At my age, it's difficult to . . . control my emotions."

"And you would like a Mind Meld in the hopes of restoring your emotional barriers?"

"Yes, Ambassador."

Spock nodded. The two sat down on the floor. Spock reached forward and pressed his fingers against her face. She put her hand on right temple.

"Your mind . . . to my mind . .." Spock began. "We are one mind, we are of . . ."

". . . One mind," she finished.

The two of them shuttered slightly and for only the briefest of seconds.

"Father," they both said at the same time. "Archer . . . Jim! So many . . . so many . . . living with humans . . . the temptation . . . to be like humans . . ."

There was a pause and both seemed struggled. Spock's mind reeled for a moment. The power of the Ambassador's thoughts were overwhelming. But he sought the sea of calm he had once brought upon himself.

"The strength of my thoughts will solidify the . . . barriers of yours thoughts . . ."

There was a long, strange moment as Spock felt himself leaving part of him inside of T'Pol mind. Soon, though, it was over.

"Thank you, Ambassador," said T'Pol, opening her eyes.

For some strange reason, this was not the T'Pol he had seen in the past few days. He saw the T'Pol of yesteryear. She was young and very beautiful.

"Ambassador?"

"An after-effect, Spock," T'Pol told him. It is only in your minds eye. She stood and walked over to the window and gazed upon the stars. "Nothing more. The emotions we sought to wrestle with tonight, they are being pushed into the dark corners of our most logical centers. They will not go without a fight, I believe. That is why you see me as I was when I on board the first Enterprise. And . . . it is why I see you during your tenure with Captain Kirk."

Spock paused. "I . . . I should go," he said.

T'Pol turned to him. Spock struggled with emotional restraint. So did she, he sensed.

"I do not wish it, but it would be for the best. We should meditate."

"Will you be alright, T'Pol?"

"I believe so, Spock."

"Good night, Ambassador."

"Good night, Spock."

And Spock left.