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Special thanks to beta Notes from the Classroom for reading this TWICE. Check out her latest "Crossing the Equator" in my faves for Spock/Nyota goodness and Pike and Number One.
Chapter 8
As the turbolift doors opened on the bridge, Noyoto thought the sight of T'Spock's delicate frame walking down the hall, alone, would stay burned in his retinas forever. Those narrow shoulders bore the weight of a world. His fingers felt numb where he'd touched her forehead. His lips felt very warm.
She was right. They had to continue performing admirably.
Returning to his station, he hastily retrieved the logs from the brief conversation with Nero.
"Narada's trajectory?" It was T'Spock's voice. Noyoto was so engrossed in his task he had not heard her come onto the bridge. Spinning in his seat, Noyoto nodded at her and Kirk at her side. "Sir," Noyoto said, "There is something you need to hear."
"Chekov, compute the Narada's trajectory," said T'Spock.
"Aye," said Chekov.
"What is it you wish me to hear, Lieutenant?" said T'Spock, approaching his station.
"Sir," said Chekov, "their destination is Earth."
Noyoto went cold at his words. What he had to say could wait.
From the Captain's chair, Kirk said, "Earth may be his next stop, but we have to assume every Federation planet is a target."
Pacing by, T'Spock said, "Out of the chair," completely without inflection. Noyoto wasn't sure he could have been so calm. He shot Kirk a disapproving look on her behalf, but Kirk didn't even notice.
"If the Federation is ze target," said Chekov, "why didn't they destroy us?"
"Why would they?" said Sulu. "Why waste a weapon? We obviously weren't a threat."
"That is not is not it," said T'Spock. "He said he wanted me to see something; the destruction of my home planet."
"No," said Noyoto standing from his station. "Not you. He wanted Spockto see it...not you. And some of his crew are not happy that S'chn T'gai Spock isn't here."
"What?" said T'Spock and Kirk in one breath, turning to look at him.
All eyes on him, jaw tight, Noyoto said, "I overheard a discussion in Romulan in the background when Nero was talking to us.
"I retrieved the logs and amplified the background noise. It wasn't a discussion, it was an argument." Turning quickly back to his station, Noyoto said, "The Universal Translator turns their Romulan to gibberish, but I was able to translate it myself. I added audio."
"Put it on speaker," said T'Spock.
"Aye, sir."
Over the intercom came the Standard translations Noyoto had created using the original voice signatures. "There is no Spock!"
"Shut up!" Hissed another voice.
"We were lied to! Ayel has deceived you, Nero! There is no Spock in this timeline! The deaths of billions is upon our souls -"
There was a strangling, gurgling noise that needed no translation.
"Does anyone else have anything to add?"
Turning back around, Noyoto said, "That's the end of it." He met T'Spock's eyes and then Kirk's. "I think we've encountered a ship from an alternate reality." He had discussed the possibility of such a thing numerous times before with T'Spock and Kirk – separately, of course.
"That would explain their technological advantage," said T'Spock gazing out the view screen.
"Dammit, how is that even possible?" said Bones.
"They have technology necessary to create a black hole," said T'Spock. "Theoretically, such technology could be used to travel through time, or to cross from one reality to another."
"What would an angry, alternate reality Romulan want with Captain Pike?" said Kirk.
"As Captain he does know details of Starfleet defenses," said Sulu.
"What we need to do," said Kirk, "Is catch up to that ship. Disable it, take over, and get Pike back."
Nodding, Noyoto said, "From the sounds of it, some of his own crew might join us."
"Nero's ship would have to drop out of warp for us to overtake it," said Chekov.
"We are technologically outmatched in every way," said T'Spock. "A rescue attempt would be suicidal, and therefore illogical."
Her words hit Noyoto like a cold wave. If Kirk was right, and Nero would attack other Federation planets maybe they should regroup with the fleet...perhaps with the knowledge they had they could find a weakness in the Narada...
Closing his eyes, hands gesturing in the air, Kirk said. "But what about assigning engineering crews to boost our warp yield."
"The engineering crew is busy repairing radiation leaks on the lower decks," said T'Spock.
"Okay," said Kirk.
"...and damage to communications," said T'Spock.
"Alright, alright," said Kirk striding down the bridge to T'Spock.
"...without which we cannot contact Starfleet," said T'Spock. "We must gather with the rest of Starfleet to balance the terms of the next engagement."
"There won't be a next engagement!" Kirk shouted. "By the time we gather it will be too late."
"Mr. Sulu," said T'Spock going to the Captain's chair, "Plot a course to the Laurentian System warp factor 3."
"Aye, Sir," said Sulu.
"T'Spock," said Kirk striding over to the chair, "Don't do that. Running back to the fleet for a confab is a massive waste of time."
"It was Captain Pike's last order that we rendezvous with the rest of the fleet in the Laurentian System," said T'Spock.
"He also ordered us to go back and get him," said Kirk. "T'Spock, you are captain now. You have to make -"
"I am aware of my responsibilities," said T'Spock.
"Every second we waste, Nero is getting closer to his next target!" said Kirk.
T'Spock said evenly, "That is correct and why I am instructing you to accept the fact that I alone -"
"I will not allow us to go backwards," shouted Kirk shouted, his face turning red, the veins in his neck visibly popping.
Noyoto had seen Kirk get angry in debates in class, especially when he felt some principle was being violated. He'd never seen him like this, though, but the stakes had never been this high.
Feeling a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach, he moved from his station towards T'Spock and Kirk. "Kirk," he said in his most soothing tones.
Evidently feeling the same, Bones stepped forward, too. "Jim," said the doctor.
They might have been talking to a wall.
"Confront the problem!" shouted Jim, oblivious to both of them.
T'Spock stood from her chair.
Taking a step closer, Jim shouted, "Hunt Nero down!"
Kirk was less than a dozen centimeters from T'Spock. Far too close for human comfort, definitely for Vulcan comfort. Noyoto felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He fought the urge to go forward and yank Kirk away from T'Spock.
"Mr. Kirk," said T'Spock, "Although I welcome debate on the bridge within reason, if I perceive any threat to my person I will be forced to call security."
Kirk did not move. "The lives of an entire planet are depending on us!"
"Stand down, Mr. Kirk," said T'Spock softly, her face expressionless. Noyoto tilted his head. Her hands weren't even behind her back, as they were often when she was agitated. He had seen her emotions in the turbolift...but now...even for T'Spock she seemed remarkably calm, remarkably in control.
"There is always a way, T'Spock!" said Kirk not budging an inch. Noyoto wondered if Kirk had even heard her.
Moving his hands furiously in the air, Kirk began to shout. "If we -"
"Security, escort Mr. Kirk from the bridge," said T'Spock.
Kirk's hands dropped, but the look he was giving T'Spock was pure murder. Noyoto's fist clenched at his side. It almost looked to him like Kirk would hit her, of course Kirk wouldn't - would he?
Two security officers went to either side of the acting first officer. Noyoto let out a breath. Maybe it was best they get him out of here. Kirk was going off half cocked. If he cooled down maybe he could put his mind towards something useful.
As the two security officers led him down the steps of the bridge, Kirk began to struggle. Pulling himself out of their grasp, he elbowed one and decked the other.
"Enough, Jim!" shouted Bones.
Not listening, Kirk tried to wrestle a phaser out of one of the guard's hands.
Walking calmly forward, T'Spock put a hand upon Kirk's neck. Kirk slumped to the floor like a rag doll.
"Get him off this ship," said T'Spock.
x x x x
Jim stared out across the frozen expanse of ice that was Delta Vega. His head hurt, maybe from the nerve pinch he was fairly sure he'd received from T'Spock.
He was furious at her for letting Nero get away. But more than her, he was furious at himself. He prided himself in being able to get his way with depth of his intellect, and the fierceness of his convictions. Failing those, then by charm.
He'd lost his cool when Earth needed him most.
He actually felt like he might cry. He'd fucked up. And Earth might pay for it.
Putting his hands on his hips, took a deep breath and said aloud to himself and the universe at large, "I do not believe in no-win scenarios."
An hour later, in the depths of the blizzard, when a giant abominable snowman creature with really big claws and even bigger teeth was chasing him through the drifts, Jim stilldidn't believe in no win scenarios. A few minutes after that, when the abominable snow creature got tossed aside by a giant pink snow spider that obviously coveted Jim for it's lunch, he still hadn't lost faith...much.
When said spider chased Jim into an ice cave, and Jim was lying on the floor of the cave, being reeled in by its tongue, he began to think he mighthave to reevaluate his philosophy. Not that he didn't kick and squirm and vow to give that spider hell all the way down.
And then out of nowhere came this old guy swinging a torch - the point of his ears obvious even from Jim's behind the head view. Giant pink spider creature retreated in terror.
Jim sat gasping at his own dumb luck.
Then old guy turned around and said, "James ," and Jim began to wonder if maybe he was being eaten by the spider creature and his brain was in the throes of the rush of endorphins that burst just before a violent death. He was hallucinating; that had to be it.
"Excuse me?" he said.
"How did you find me?" said the old guy.
Did hallucinations usually last this long?
"Oooooh...uh..." said Jim. Standing up, not letting his eyes drop from the stranger - who could very well be crazy, even if he wasn't a figment of his imagination, Jim said, "How did you know my name?"
Nodding sagely, the old Vulcan guy said, "I am and forever shall be your friend."
"Wuh?" said Jim laughing. The cold on his face, the prickle of sweat on his skin made him feel like this wasn't a dream, and the stress of almost being eaten twice and then being saved by a somewhat senile old Vulcan guy was catching up with his tongue.
Taking a breath he smiled as politely as he could and said, "Uh, look, I...I...don't know you."
"I am Spock," said the Vulcan.
Jim's smile shrank. Could this be the guy Noyoto was talking about? That would have to be some really dumbluck. Jim wasn't that dumb. "Bullshit," he said.
The old-guy-possibly-a-hallucination nodded. "Come, we need to get away from the entrance to the cave."
Jim wasn't going to argue with that. In near silence they made their way back into the cavern's depths; a fire was already burning there. Motioning for Jim to sit down, the Vulcan calling himself Spock said, "It is remarkably pleasing to see you again, old friend, especially after the events of today."
"Ah...sir," said Jim, "I appreciate what you did for me today. But I really don't know you, the only Spock I know is T'Spock."
Standing up, mouth agape, Spock said, "T'Spock?"
"Yeah...and you're not her...I mean...you're a dude…"
Spock tilted his head. "Pardon?"
But Jim's mouth was set to play, not reverse, "And you're old, and T'Spock and I, we're not friends at all, she hates me. She marooned me here for mutiny."
"A she?" said old Vulcan guy blinking. "Women are allowed to be captains already?*"
Jim's mouth dropped. What a warped universe this guy must come from. "Um, yeah. She's the captain. Pike was taken hostage." He began to pace around the fire. He had to get out of here...
"By Nero," said old guy.
Stopping in his tracks, Jim said, "What do you know about him?"
"He is a particularly troubled Romulan," said the old guy.
Jim eyes narrowed incredulously. That was one way of putting it.
Coming towards him, old guy - Spock said, "Allow me." Putting his hand up to Kirk's face he said, "It will be easier."
Ducking instinctively Jim said, "Whoa, what?"
Without dropping his hand, old guy said, "Our minds, one and together."
Jim froze. The Vulcan brought the paper thin skin of his fingertips, aged, dry, and fever hot, to Jim's face. "129 years in the future," said Spock, "A star will explode and threaten to destroy the galaxy.
And suddenly Jim saw the stars. And many other things.
x x x x
Gasping, Jim came to, staring at Spock's eyes. They were so familiar. And so not.
"Forgive me," said Spock. "Emotional transference is an effect of the meld."
Stumbling away Jim said, "So you do feel." Spock felt. A lot. Spock felt his own failure. He felt despair. And he felt...for Jim. It was too much.
"Yes."
"Going back in time...coming from your universe to ours...you altered all our lives." Jim's father had been one of the first casualties.
"Jim, we must go," said Spock. "There is a Starfleet outpost not far from here."
"Wait," said Jim. How different was this Vulcan's universe from his? "Where you came from, did I know my father?"
"Yes," said the old Vulcan. "You often spoke of him as your inspiration for joining Starfleet. He proudly lived to see you become captain of the Enterprise."
"Captain?" said Jim.
"A ship we must return you to as soon as possible," said the Vulcan heading towards the cave entrance.
Kirk nodded. Captain. But not in this universe.
X x x x
"You wanted to see me," said McCoy to T'Spock. His eyebrows were drawn together. A thousand occasions when Amanda's face had been drawn together in the same way came to T'Spock. And the way his started with heavy inflection on the first syllables... The emotions Sarek had felt behind these expressions of emotional state came, too. It was just an intellectual observation, it was a feeling...as humans might say, it was "in her gut".
"Yes, Doctor," said T'Spock. Standing from her chair, T'Spock said, "I am aware that James T. Kirk is a friend of yours. I recognize that supporting me as you did must have been difficult."
"Is that a thank you?"
T'Spock stopped and turned. She had slightly more respect for Bones than she did for Kirk. He had taken initiative in the sick bay without instruction. But he was deliberately confrontational. She wanted to snap at him...
...but over 20 years of diplomatic experience came back to her...or informed her...she wasn't sure which.
"Yes," she said simply.
Bones' mouth opened and then closed. Swallowing, he said, "Permission to speak freely, Sir."
"Proceed," said T'Spock.
"Are you sure?" said the doctor.
"Quite," said T'Spock, annoyed that he felt the need to second guess her.
Taking a deep breath, McCoy opened his mouth and then closed it again.
T'Spock tilted her head and tried to remain patient.
"Are you?" Straightening, he seemed to regain himself. "Was sending Kirk away the logical choice...probably...but...the right one? You know back home we have a saying; if you're going to ride in the Kentucky derby, you don't leave your prize stallion in the stable."
T'Spock blinked. Irritated, she resisted the urge to twist the metaphor around, mention that stallions needed to be broken. Or that bit of her that held on to Sarek resisted the urge. She wasn't sure. Now was not the time for verbal jousting.
"Cadet Kirk is not a horse. He possess sentience and self awareness," she said. "He attempted mutiny. Although I welcome the frank debate of ideas, in present circumstances we cannot afford to physical confrontation between ourselves."
Taking a deep breath McCoy said, "Yeah...right."
Through the doors of the bridge, Amanda came. T'Spock was in awe of her now, and not just due to memories from Sarek. She would have thought Amanda too mentally frail, too human, to hold up so well in this crisis. But it was not that way at all. Amanda had been very strong. So strong in fact, that she had been assisting with the Vulcan refugees, both the ones from the council and the others the Enterprise had picked up as it left the Vulcan system. Many had slipped into telepathic shock.
"Excuse me, Doctor," said T'Spock, anxious to get an update of the Vulcan survivors - and also just to talk with her mother. To be in her sphere, and some semblance of normality, even if it was more Sarek's normalacy than her own.
McCoy nodded, but T'Spock heard him mutter, "Green blooded icicle," under his breath.
x x x x
"You realize how unacceptable this is?" said the woman in the outpost who'd just been snoring with her feet up in the chair. She had a definite Scottish accent, which coupled with quirky features might have been cute...but the snoring, and the general disregard she seemed to have towards her deportment, unkempt clothes, stringy hair peeking out from under a non-regulation knit hat, really took away from her appeal. Not that she had many people to impress here, thought Jim.
"I hesitate to ask," said the Vulcan, "but your accent sounds familiar. Who might you be?"
Sitting up straighter, the woman said, "It's Maggie Scott, like you didnna know!"
A/N:
* In the TOS universe women weren't allowed to be captains (See "Turnabout Intruder"). That was fixed later (Saavik was training for command), but I chose to play it off as though that happened later in Spock's career - err...just so we can remember that although TOS was ground breaking it was still a product of it's time.
No juicy T'Spock Noyoto moments in that chapter. Sorry everyone. But you did get Maggie! I'm picturing Tina Fey.
Still enjoyable I hope – if it was, please leave a review! They help keep me posting.