Chapter 1
44 Years Earlier
Vulcan with its hot arid desert and burning heat. This volcanic orb to many outworlders would appear to be barren and lifeless. Yet the beauty of its landscapes captivates visitors from all over the galaxy with wonder and mystery.
Although limited in corporeal investments. It was extensive intellectually with the philosophical accomplishments of its people.
The young woman named Saavik had never visited her ancestral planet Vulcan. For many years she lived on Yeldon III, a remote human outpost with her human adoptive family. Later she returned to the Earth and followed Spock's choice of career and joined Starfleet Academy at San Francisco in the year twenty two eighty one at the age of nineteen.
Now at the tender age of twenty-three she was a proud officer holding the well-earned rank of junior grade lieutenant. This was the first time Saavik had stepped foot onto Vulcan. She watched through the silent azure darkness as the high Priestess T'Lar performed the ancient ceremony Fal-tor-pan. To humans, those who had heard of it knew that it's ancient interpretation meant the re-fusion of body and mind.
T'Lar had told everyone that the ancient mystical ceremony hadn't been performed since ages past, and then was only a legend.
Spock lay in solemn black. Clothed in the burial robe, which Saavik had dressed him in when she and Doctor David Marcus had found the captain regenerated as a small boy in arctic weather conditions on Genesis.
Captain Spock of the Starship Enterprise was unconscious on a stone tablet. On his left lay Doctor McCoy the chief medical officer of the ill-fated starship and between them both was T'Lar with her hands poised at the telepathic points on both men's faces.
Saavik could see the concentration delineated across the elderly Vulcan's features as her powerful mind wrenched Spock's katra back into his body and freeing McCoy from the terrible chaos inside his mind.
For Spock's mind to be returned to his body was a great risk and would take a considerable amount of time to accomplish. It would take at least until sunrise and that was hours away. It was even more of a risk to McCoy, a human being. To under take such a dangerous process might have permanently rendered the doctor brain damaged. Also the process was considerably more hazardous because he wasn't at all prepared for what was transpiring.
From even this distance Saavik could see that McCoy was trembling. If something went wrong, even the slightest thing they would both be condemned.
Saavik's thoughts seemed to wander back in time. Back to Genesis, to David Marcus. Carol's coadjutor and son had stepped forward and given his life to protect her. She had been unprepared for the Klingon attack.
Saavik sighed deeply as much as her Vulcan discipline would permit her. If only I had reacted a moment before, she thought. Saavik had sensed what the human was about to do, but something held her back. Perhaps If I was prepared David may never have been killed.
Saavik told herself that it was nothing more than a delayed reaction. It had been natural and it would be resolved with future experience. The natural reflex could have happened to anyone. Even so, the thought, had intervened David wouldn't have been dead now. But then even if his life was spared it may have been Spock or myself. We would then never have got as far as we have now. Perhaps it is what the humans call fate.
Saavik found herself frowning. It is illogical to dwell on the past. But it did bother her. She sat down on the warm carved rock floor, folded her hands and watched T'Lar as the other humans dosed lightly.
She noticed all but one of the humans remained awake. It was Admiral Kirk and there was clear concern for both McCoy and Spock etched across his strong face. Saavik some how took it unto herself that she understood the man's concern and silently she hoped.
Living with humans for seven years brought her some understanding of their erratic behaviour. Humour however was still a difficult subject, which she still could not master. Saavik continued and permitted herself to hope.
Time passed at an incredible slow pace. Despite it Saavik realised that five hours had passed and that she herself had fallen asleep. She sat up and glanced up at the darkness. Soon it would be sunrise. She glanced back at James Kirk who had moved a few paces from where he was positioned the last time she had seen him. He was clearly still awake, but appeared to be in deep thought.
Her vision past over to the High Priestess T'Lar. Her face had visibly whitened with deep furrows of concentration etched across her sallow complexion. Saavik realised that the process was obviously taking its toll of her.
The sky slowly began to brighten. The blackness turning burnished red with soft orange gold.
Jim visibly came out of his trance and peered up at the sky. It's a good job that Bones has bought plenty of Triox with him, Jim thought. He stretched and yawned. The past events had left him exhausted. He concluded that he needed a good nights sleep.
T'Lar still standing between both Spock and McCoy withdrew her hands from their faces. She stepped down elegantly and was attended by two Kolinahr adepts who lead her towards her awaiting sedan chair. In the distance a soft gong could be heard. Was this a sign that the process had been completed? Jim could only hope.
Saavik glanced in Kirk's direction. He was now clearly fidgeting with anticipation. Spock's father, Ambassador Sarek approached the admiral. She redirected her gaze to where Captain Spock was being lead down the steps now dressed in white. His face was completely hidden by the heavy woven hooded robe. Saavik was unable to decipher his features. Spock would have no recollection of what happened to him after the sacrifice he made.
McCoy steeped down from the platform and headed out towards the admiral. He clearly looked exhausted, but managed a weak smile at his friends. Sarek departed from the awaiting crowd of humans and followed the Vulcan congregation to join his son.
Jim smiled feebly at the doctor in return and rubbed his blood shot eyes. McCoy despite what he had just undergone appeared surprisingly of good spirits. Jim hoped that his friend would never have to go through that again. He didn't wish to wonder how his friend felt that very minute. He clearly felt very fatigued himself.
"I'm all right Jim." The doctor managed to say despite the throbbing ache that tore into his head and through to his poor brain. There was something missing. The terrible ache and agony in his mind. Then McCoy realised it. He no longer felt the precise and ordered thoughts of Spock being trapped and blind with only McCoy's emotional chaotic consciousness for company.
As both men looked into the distance Spock followed the other Vulcans towards the exit of the temple. Jim found it difficult to decipher who was who, as they appeared to be dressed all the same, but he quickly identified Spock from his characteristically graceful movements and the way he held his slight frame.
The Vulcans walked straight past the Enterprise crew. Kirk held his breath. Hadn't Spock recognised them or him? Suddenly Spock stopped and turned away from the other Vulcans. He took a step closer and glanced at the strangers then at his father who was at his side.
From this distance Saavik sensed confusion from within him. She was however no more than a stranger to him. He didn't even look at her. She nearly reached out, but something drew her back. She saw Jim's eyes on her. She realised her Vulcan control had slipped.
Spock caught sight of one of the humans who appeared to be the chieftain. Who was this man and what were these humans doing here? He thought.
Spock resumed walking then something clicked in his mind. Not exactly a memory, but there was something, something which was connected with this stranger. Who is he? Spock questioned himself. Am I supposed to know these people for I do not recollect?
Spock withdrew from the Vulcans and approached Jim. His features still concealed behind the hood. He pulled the heavy woven cloth away from his face and let it fall to his shoulders. No longer was there blinding agony, which contorted his face and the emptiness. It was now replaced with calm serenity.
There was complete silence for a long moment. Even the warm breeze did not break the stillness. Spock glanced back at Jim.
"My father told me that you had been my friend you came back for me. Why would you do this?"
"You would have done the same for me." Said Jim. He himself was struggling to remember the horrific previous events, which belonged in the past.
"Why would you do this?" Spock questioned again.
"Because...because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many." Spock frowned. Once again he turned, this time to his father and the other Vulcans. Hidden words inside broke into his mind. Words that had no meaning, yet they did. He frowned at Jim and peered at him closely. Something was stirring within him.
He decided that he had known this human before. Perhaps in another place, or even in another time. Spock turned away and glanced at the others.
A strikingly beautiful human black woman gave him a stunning smile. Spock momentary looked up at the sky. Suddenly came a memory, hazy at first then came vividly bright with blinding moving colours.
There were people running about frantically and I ...I was in main engineering. The warp drive was off line. I had to do something, but I can't remember. Something before it was too late. The ship...the Enterprise and the radiation chamber.
I had to reconfigure the warp drive but what cost? The radiation and the terrible pain that gripped me. I remember now. So clear and vivid.
His flesh had been burning from gamma radiation, but the ship, his only thought had been for the ship and her crew. He had to get the warp drive on line otherwise everyone would be dead in a matter of minutes.
He was being overcome. Blood had surged and hissed in his ears and lungs. Tears had stung his eyes nearly to the point of total blindness. He had managed to succeed in his task.
The Enterprise was safe and then there was that man again. I knew I had seen you before, he thought. It was Jim. Spock finally realised.
Back in time again, but only in a matter of days Spock had managed somehow to get to his feet. He had known that it would have been the last time he would speak to Admiral James T. Kirk, his friend.
Still managing a little dignity he had tugged at the burgundy uniform jacked to straighten it before addressing his superior officer. Spock had struggled over to the transparent aluminium wall that kept them separated.
He made his way blinded by pain and tears to where the admiral had been standing behind the protective shield. And yet again he had been isolated and alone. Spock remembered falling against the transparency and slipping down to the floor.
Each breath had been an on going exertion to survive. He had felt his mind blur as he said his last goodbye to Jim. He could struggle no longer. The darkness had beckoned and all he had wanted was to sleep. Spock had let it happen. He could no longer struggle for life. The radiation had quickly consumed him. Finally he had let it win.
He had expected peace and silence following death, but the strange thing was he had heard a voice, but the voice that he heard was not his own inner thoughts. He had finally come to realise his katra had safely made the transmigration into McCoy. His desperate last thinking, spur of the moment mind meld with the doctor hadn't been in vain desperation after all.
Spock came back from the memory of pain and death. He studied the admiral intently before speaking. This time words came easily. He didn't have to struggle quite so much, but remembering the terrible pain and isolation in the radiation chamber made him tense. But I am now here. On Vulcan and the others are here also. Why? He asked himself.
Finally words came bubbling up to the surface. The same words that he had barely managed to say before because of the pain and the difficulty to breathe. "I have been and always shall be your friend, "he said clearly in English.
"Yes Spock," Jim whispered.
"Ship out of danger?" He said a little louder.
"You saved the ship. You saved us all. Don't you remember?" Spock said nothing for a moment and pondered the questions as they came. He realised that he knew this man so well that they could have been brothers. Except of cause that they were not. Spock cocked his head to one side and then characteristically arched an eyebrow.
"Jim," he said softly, "your name is Jim!"
"Yes," said the admiral smiling. Spock gazed at each of the group. He had taken the first step to recovery.
