Disclaimer: I don't own. I don't profit.
Special thanks to Beta Notes from the Classroom. For Pike / Number One and Spock / Uhura check out "Crossing the Equator" in my faves.
Chapter 6 : Nero
"Jim, your hands!" said Bones as the three tumbled into a turbolift.
Gasping for breath, Noyoto blinked. "What happened to you?"
"Shnondn't knew," said Kirk. "Arrgghhh!"
Bones pulled a hypo from Kirk's neck. "Don't ask," he said.
The doors to the bridge opened and Noyoto couldn't have asked if he wanted to.
Kirk ran out before him. "Sirrrrr...youshhhh goottt..."
Standing quickly from his chair, Pike said, "Kirk, how the Hell did you get on board the Enterprise?"
"Sir, you've got to stop the ship," said Noyoto.
"Captain," said Bones running over to Kirk and putting his arm on his shoulder. "This man is under the influence of a severe reaction to a vaccine."
"Bonessss," said Kirk.
"He's completely delusional," said Bones.
"No, he's not," said Noyoto. All eyes turned to him.
"Vulcan ish not exppperriencing a natural disasterrrr," said Kirk.
"It's being attacked by Romulans," said Noyoto going to Kirk's side. His was dry and metallic tasting; his heart was racing.
"Romulans?" said Pike brow furrowed, "Cadet Kirk, I think you've had enough attention for one day. McCoy, take him back to medical. Lieutenant Uhura, we'll have words later."
Noyoto felt like lead. He couldn't move. Nor did he know what to say.
"Sir," said Kirk finally regaining the capacity for coherent speech, "That same anomaly -"
"Cadet Kirk is not cleared to be aboard this vessel," said T'Spock stepping into Noyoto's line of vision. He did his best not to look at her.
Ignoring her Kirk stepped up to Pike, "Occurred on the day of my birth."
"I can remove him," said T'Spock.
"Try it!" yelled Kirk. "This cadet is trying to save the bridge."
"By requesting a full stop mid-warp during a rescue mission?" said T'Spock.
Anger rising with his fear, Noyoto stepped forward, "It's not a rescue mission; it's an attack."
Eyes narrowed at Noyoto, T'Spock said, "Based on what facts?"
Trying to look as confident as he could, Noyoto said, "The lightning storm in space also occurred before a Romulan ship attacked the U.S.S. Kelvin."
Noyoto looked to Pike. If the Captain didn't know about the Kelvin...
Kirk stepped even closer to Pike. "You know that, sir, I read your dissertation." Turning his eyes to T'Spock, Kirk said, "That ship that had formidable and advanced weaponry was never seen nor heard from again." Eyes back on Pike Kirk said, "The Kelvin attack took place on the edge of Klingon space. At 23:00 hours last night there was an attack. 47 Klingon warbirds destroyed by Romulans, Sir. And it was reported that the Romulans were in one ship. One massive ship."
"And you know of this attack how?" Pike said.
Kirk turned to Noyoto. Pike's and T'Spock's eyes followed Kirk's.
"Sir," said Noyoto, "I intercepted and translated the message myself. Kirk's report is accurate."
"We're warping into a trap sir," said Kirk. "There are Romulans waiting for us. I promise you that."
Pike looked to Kirk, then to T'Spock.
"The cadet's logic is sound," said T'Spock. "And Lieutenant Uhura is unmatched in xenolinguistics; we'd be wise to accept his conclusion."
"Scan Vulcan space, look for any transmissions in Romulan," Pike said to no one and everyone.
"Sir," said the acting communications officer, the one who'd brushed off Uhura earlier. "I don't think I can distinguish the Romulan language from Vulcan."
Looking at Noyoto Pike said, "Do you speak Romulan, Uhura?"
"All three dialects, Sir," said Noyoto jaw tightening. How long did they have now?
"Uhura, relieve the lieutenant," Pike said.
Uhura nodded, and slipped into the vacated communications chair. The seat he'd always wanted, but not under these circumstances.
"Hannity," Pike said, "hail the U.S.S. Truman."
From across the bridge a female officer said, "All the other ships are out of warp, sir, and have arrived at Vulcan, but we seem to have lost all contact."
Shit. Noyoto adjusted the dial at his station, hoping to pick ups something, anything, Romulan or otherwise. "Sir," he said. "I pick up no Romulan transmissions or transmissions of any kind."
"It's because they're being attacked," said Kirk meeting Noyoto's eyes.
Noyoto nodded.
"Shields up," said Pike going to his chair. "Red alert."
"Arrival at Vulcan in 5 seconds," said Sulu. "Four, three, two..."
The ship slammed out of warp and into a nightmare. There was Vulcan, but no fleet, only asteroids of mangled machinery - machinery that had once been ships...and crew.
"Emergency evasive," said Pike as a hurling piece of debris hit them.
"Aye, sir," said Sulu.
The next few moments were chaos.
"Damage report," said Pike.
"Deflector shields are holding," someone shouted.
"All stations," said Pike. Noyoto turned his eyes to the communications board as Pike began issuing a string of commands.
It was only when Pike got silent that Noyoto began to feel afraid. Turning in his seat he saw something that took his breath away. It was like a giant black angular squid, mutated and twisted, with sharp tentacles pulled inward. That was a ship?
"Captain, they're locking torpedoes," said T'Spock.
Pike began issuing another stream of commands. The Enterprise quaked.
"Sir, shields at 32%" said Sulu. "We cannot handle another hit like that."
"Captain," said T'Spock spinning in her chair. "The Romulan ship has lowered some sort of high energy pulse device into the Vulcan atmosphere. Its signal seems to be blocking all our transmissions and transporter abilities."
"All power to forward shields," said Pike. "Prepare to fire all weapons."
A blip sounded in Noyoto's ears. Jumping from his seat he said, "Captain, we're being hailed."
The view screen flickered and suddenly filled with the face of a Romulan. He was bald, his face blazened with intricate tattoos. Noyoto's mouth opened; mourning markings?
"Hello," said the strange Romulan in Standard - Noyoto could tell by the movement of his lips that he wasn't receiving a Universal Translator deciphered message.
"I'm Captain Christopher Pike, to whom am I speaking?"
The Romulan bowed his head and smiled in a way that made Noyoto feel vaguely sick.
"Hi, Christopher, I'm Nero."
"You've declared war against the Federation," said Pike. "Withdraw and I'll arrange a conference with Romulan leadership at a neutral location."
"I do not speak for the Empire," said Nero, head tilted. Eyes narrowing but remaining slightly unfocused, he said, "We stand apart."
The tilt of his head and the unfocused way his eyes scanned the deck - even if he hadn't just destroyed a fleet ,Noyoto would have thought Nero mad.
Furrowing his brow, Nero said, "As does your Vulcan crew member..."
Noyoto watched as T'Spock stood from her seat. "Pardon me, but I do not believe you and I are acquainted."
Nero's eyes narrowed further. "You're not Spock." Shaking, voice rising in volume, Nero said, "Where is the half breed Vulcan!"
Unflinching at the slight, T'Spock said, "I am T'Spock, daughter of Amanda Grayson and S'chn T'gai Sarek, and the only half human Vulcan in existence."
Noyoto heard something in his earpiece, just barely audible Romulan in the background. He went to his station and tried to adjust the background volume, but the conversation had ended. He'd have to go back through the logs.
He turned to the screen, hand on his earpiece, trying to see if he could see anyone in the background behind Nero. Even if he couldn't hear them, he might be able to read their lips.
In the center of the frame Nero's nose wrinkled up in disgust. "Liar!" He swallowed and shivered. His face flat, his voice icy, he said, "T'Spock, there is something I'd like you to see." Bobbing his head slowly, Nero continued. "Captain Pike, your transporter has been disabled. As you can see by the rest of your armada, you have no choice. You will man a shuttle. Come aboard the Narada. For negotiations. That is all."
Pulling himself slowly from his chair, Captain Pike stood and walked towards the screen.
"He'll kill you, you know that," said Kirk.
"I agree," said T'Spock.
So did Noyoto.
"Captain we gain nothing by diplomacy," said Kirk. "Going over to that ship is a mistake."
"I agree. You should rethink your strategy," said T'Spock.
"I understand that," said Pike. Gazing around the deck he said, "I need officers who are trained in advanced hand-to-hand combat."
Stepping forward, Noyoto said, "I have training sir."
Pike nodded at him, "You're the only person here who can speak Romulan. You'll stay put."
Raising his hand, Sulu said, "I have training sir."
"Come with me," said Pike moving to exit the bridge, T'Spock following. "Kirk, you come, too. You're not supposed to be here anyway."
Pike, Kirk, Sulu and T'Spock got onto the turbolift.
"Chekov you have the comm," said Pike.
"Aye aye, Captain," said Chekov.
As the doors whooshed closed Noyoto found himself trying to catch T'Spock's eyes - but caught Kirk's instead. Kirk gave the quirky sort of half smile he'd given Noyoto years ago in the bar.
Noyoto tried to smile back, but found all he could do was nod.
x x x x x
"T'Spock," said Pike. "I'm leaving you in command of the Enterprise."
They were not the words T"Spock wanted to hear. She did not relish the idea of command. She'd only accepted the role of interim first officer because Pike insisted there would be no one better while Number One was out of commission. And now, at this particular moment, if they managed to regain transporter capabilities, T'Spock wanted to get down to the surface of Vulcan, not be stuck in the ship.
Hardly pausing for breath, Pike continued. "Once we have transport capability and communications back up you'll contact Starfleet and let them know what the Hell's going on here. And if all else fails, fall back and rendezvous with the rest of the fleet in the Laurentian System."
Turning, he said, "Kirk, I'm promoting you to first officer,"
"What?" said Kirk voicing her own sentiments precisely.
Stepping forward, T'Spock said, "Please, Captain, I apologize, the complexities of human pranks escape me."
"It's not a prank, T'Spock." said Pike, "and I'm not the captain. You are."
Turning to Sulu and Kirk he said, "Let's go."
Kirk nodded at T'Spock before following Pike into the turbolift.
"Sir," said Kirk, "after we knock out that drill what happens to you?"
"Well, I guess you'll have to come and get me," said Pike.
The odds of successfully deactivating the drill, restoring communications and transporter capability were over 10360 to 1. Even if he didn't know these odds with T'Spock's mathematical precision, he was no fool. Pike was just being cavalier; it was a strategy he used to maintain morale.
"Careful with the ship, T'Spock. She's brand new," said Pike. Feigned cavalierness did not do anything to maintain T'Spock's morale.
Raising an eyebrow, T'Spock nodded. Restraining her fear, the fear she felt in the back of her mind from Sarek, and a blooming anger that tinged the edges of her vision green, she made her way back to the bridge.
Twenty minutes and forty seven seconds later, despite all odds, Kirk and Sulu managed to deactivate the drill, but too late. Nero and his crew had injected something into the planet's core that was creating a singularity that would consume her planet.
Her parents could not know that, but T'Spock could feel Sarek resigning himself death, and her stomach tied itself into knots.
Standing from her station, T'Spock said to Noyoto, "Alert Vulcan Command Center to signal a planet wide evacuation, all channels, all frequencies." To the helm she said, "Maintain standard orbit."
Without waiting for his response, T'Spock spun and headed towards the turbolift.
Leaving her station was strictly against regulations...but...her parents would be with the High Council. Surely saving the High Council was reason enough for a captain to abandon command?
Entering the turbolift she turned and found herself face to face with Noyoto. His presence on the bridge had been until this point a mere detail, one more unsettling occurrence that T'Spock could push aside.
Face to face, the crew too busy to pay attention, it was a different matter.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
T'Spock did not have to answer. To her surprise, she did. "To evacuate the Vulcan High Council. They are tasked with protecting our cultural history. My parents will be among them."
"Can't you beam them out?" Noyoto said.
"It is impossible. They will be with the Katric Ark. I must get them myself." She could have explained further that the Katric ark was shielded from transporter beams and photon fire - but she was running out of time.
To her relief, Noyoto did not ask any further questions. He just nodded.
"Chekov, you have the comm," she said.
"Aye, sir," Chekov replied.
She pressed the lift controls her eyes locked on Noyoto's. His face was rock hard and emotionless, and she was grateful for it. If he had reminded her of the lunacy of her plan, or even just asked her to stay she did not know if she could have gone on.
x x x x
Noyoto watched T'Spock's eyes disappear behind the turbolift doors, helpless and shut out. It wasn't the first time.
The first time they arranged to meet after the reception he suggested Stern Grove. It was quiet, secluded, a place where they could hash things out. Or do other things.
But she insisted on a crowded cafe on campus. He'd gone, thinking he could convince her to take a walk afterwards. He'd stared at her blankly across the table as she declared, "I have accepted a position aboard the Farragut with Captain Pike, my shuttle leaves in an hour." He'd wondered then if he'd ever see her again.
He wondered that now.
A/N:
So just posting takes a lot more time than I remember. Sorry I put this chapter off for so long - it's more fun to write and post than just post.
If you read and enjoyed please leave a review – it's the only way fanfiction authors get paid, and will, encourage me to keep posting.