Spock, despite the situation, was intrigued by this new universe - for it was indeed clear to him that he was no longer in the galaxy that he had been born into. Several things had made it quite obvious from the off-set, but there was - for lack of a better word - an underlying feeling that permeated this new space, and left him certain with almost every fiber of his being (as illogical as that was) that he was in a completely new place.

Many of the differences were small, and hardly noticeable, but these were the things that caught his eye and hadn't ceased to pique his curiosity. Count Dooku was one of them, and he certainly demanded more attention than the other strange things that now surrounded the Vulcan, including the odd technology and strange otherness that seemed to permeate his senses.

There was something different about his senses and abilities as well - a difference that made him uncomfortable - but he did not have time to truly think on it as he continued his outward observations. When he had the time, Spock would meditate on the changes that he felt within himself, and come to a conclusion. In the meantime, he had questions.

Decimated machinery was lying scattered about them, clearly having been cut by some sort of powerful laser. The sweat that was beaded on the forehead of the elderly human before him made it impossible to discount the idea that Dooku had destroyed the machines himself, and since there didn't seem to be any sort of alarm in the count's demeanor, Spock surmised that it had been done as some sort of exercise.

He had listened carefully when the count named the planet that they were on - Serenno - and now responded as well as he could to the man's queries concerning his appearance. Spock was not entirely certain how the Prime Directive applied when one was no longer in their galaxy of origin, but he decided that it was probably best to "play it safe," as Jim would say.

"Then you do not know exactly how you came to be here?" Dooku was looking at him with dark brows furrowed, and Spock felt that strange feeling from before surrounding him - almost as though he were in telepathic contact with the Count (despite not currently being in physical contact with the man) - and got the distinct impression that the human didn't believe him.

"Vulcans cannot lie." Spock replied, still uneasy with what seemed to be the sudden growth of his abilities and senses. As a touch-telepath, he would normally have to be in direct contact to even glean the barest hint of what anyone was thinking, and only through a mind-meld would he be able to understand anything more. It was clear to him that one of the differences in his abilities from before was that they seemed to be amplified. Spock catalogued the information for later, knowing that his next meditation would be an important one.

"I see." Dooku's voice was flat, very similar to that of McCoy's when he was no longer paying attention to Spock.

"I know that we do not know one another, Count Dooku," Spock nodded towards the man, deciding to bring the conversation away from how he had appeared here to something more productive, "But I ask that you grant me leave to stay with you as I search for a way to return home and find my associates."

"I would be honored to have you, Spock." Dooku gave a half-bow in his direction, and Spock caught a glimpse of a strange curved cylinder hanging at his waist - possibly the weapon that had been used on the machinery from earlier. "I will do all I can to aid you in your search for a way home, and for your captain and doctor." Dooku looked up from his bow, then, his eyebrows quirking into an expression that Spock could not place, "You only lost two friends, did you not?"

"Indeed." Spock then noted that the count was a highly intelligent individual, observant enough to note whomhe had called on his communicator earlier and rememberit. "It is highly probable that both Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy are somewhere near here; your help in searching would be greatly appreciated." Because he felt it appropriate, he returned the half bow that the count had given him, and Dooku smiled.

"Then I suggest we start now, after getting you situated." The count began walking, his dark cloak sweeping out behind him, leaving Spock to trail behind. "Now, I must admit to some curiosity in regards to your different galaxy, Spock. Have you ever heard of anything called the Force?"

"Force is an English word that can be utilized as either a noun or a verb, though your addition of the determiner 'the' before the word itself suggests that you do not refer to any of its standard usages."

Count Dooku stopped partway through Spock's response, and stared at him for a long moment. Spock - despite not attempting to - could feel a small amount of shock from the man through the air, and solidified his plan to meditate at his earliest convenience.

"I do not know what you mean by English, unless this is your term for Basic." Dooku spoke at length, and continued before Spock could do more than lift a brow. "But it sounds as though you haven't heard of the Force; perhaps it does not exist where you are from." The count began to walk again, but this time it was more slowly, allowing room for Spock to walk at his shoulder. "The Force is the core of our galaxy - an energy field that runs through every living or once-living thing. There are those that are sensitive to it and can connect with it, aptly called Force-sensitives. These individuals, through training, can learn to harness its power to accomplish feats that no ordinary man could ever hope to achieve."

Here the count extended a hand, and the cylinder on his waist snapped into his palm in a moment. Spock merely watched, reminded of the Enterprise's encounter with Trelane and his showcase of inexplicable abilities. Even as Dooku caused the cylinder to float upwards above his fingers, Spock speculated that - despite appearances - the count was perhaps not quite human, much like Trelane.

"What other abilities can this Force grant those who wield it?"

Again, there was an impression of shock from the count, and the cylinder floated back into the man's hand as he studied the Vulcan again.

"Forgive me for my curiosity, but what is your species?"

"Your curiosity is only natural." So. Vulcans didn't exist in this galaxy - or if they did, this man did not know of them. Clearly the man was surprised by Spock's actions and questions, though hopefully by answering a few questions from the count, Spock could more easily ask more of his own. "I am a Vulcan, and my people come from the similarly named planet of Vulcan."

"I see." The count's tone was anything but bored this time, and his dark eyes never left Spock's face. Spock took that moment to test and discover if his prediction - that the count only appeared human - was correct, asking,

"And you? What is your species?"

"I am a human." Dooku appeared (and Spock felt that he was) mildly offended by the question, but also extremely proud of his answer.

"Are humans the only species that can harness the 'Force?'"

"No, they are not." For a moment, it seemed as thought the count was going to continue on the subject, but instead he merely nodded, continuing their walk. "And to answer your earlier question, the Force can grant more than just the manipulation of objects. As it is the connecting force between all living things, it can help with communication and understanding, and there are also those that can manipulate the mind. The feelings and - in some cases - thoughts of others can be made known to one through the use of the Force, and there are even those who are granted visions of things to come, or events that have already passed."

Spock took all of the information in quietly, but as soon as Dooku mentioned the ability to sense the feelings of others, he began to wonder if it wasn't the Force that had amplified his abilities. "Fascinating."

"Indeed it is, though I find it even more fascinating to know that you have never heard of it before."

"As far as I am aware, it does not exist where I am from." Spock tilted his head in agreement, even as Dooku stopped walking again, spinning to look at him.

"Then how are you so proficient in using it?"

Forgive me, readers, for I have sinned.

I'm so sorry that y'all have hadda wait so long for this dang chapter, but WOW did this one kick my butt! Spock's voice is so hard to get, and Dooku is just behind him! I hope I didn't bore you out with all of that Vulcan-talk, and I'm sorry that I couldn't just go straight to Bones. ;) I know lots of you are excited to see what he's gonna say to Kenobi and Skywalker.

Anyway. Here this chapter is, and I feel like it'll probably be the hardest one in the whole fic (knock on wood).

In other news, I'm reading "I am Spock" by Leonard Nimoy, and it's amazing. 10/10 I do recommend.

Catch ya later.