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Special thanks to beta Notes from the Classroom. Check out her latest "Crossing the Equator" for Pike/Number One & Spock/Uhura goodness.
Chapter 10
Kirk's narrowed his eyes. His jaw tightened. And then he said, "Alright. Listen, Vulcan guy behind me, that's Spock."
"Jim," said the old Vulcan stepping towards the human.
"Change of plans, Spock," said Kirk turning around. "You heard the lady; we're wasting time." Spinning back to T'Spock he said, "He's not just from an alternate reality, he's from the future - Nero's time. He's...well...I think he's you, or what you would be if you had an Y chromosome."
T'Spock looked up at the old man, if she were taller, her nose were longer and her jaw harder they would appear very similar.
"Fascinating," she said, she'd have to ponder this at length later. She looked at the woman.
"This is Maggie Scott," said Jim. "It was her theory of transwarp beaming that got us aboard...with help from Spock."
T'Spock looked at the old man, "Transwarp beaming, the technology used to destroy Vulcan, the Narada's offensive and defensive capabilities - you know the details of all these?"
"I do," said Spock.
"Then when we must get you aboard a shuttle before we return to Earth," said T'Spock.
"But if I stay here I may be able to help you," said the old man raising an eyebrow.
"No, she's right," said Kirk. "If we fail, you'll be needed in the Laurentian System. Our communications systems are still down, right?" He looked over T'Spock's shoulder.
"Yes," said Noyoto from only .98 meters away. T'Spock wasn't even sure when had he left his station, but she was grateful to have him close. "The only way we're communicating with Starfleet is via messenger."
The old Vulcan stood stock still. T'Spock tilted her head; she was about to order him into a shuttle when Kirk whispered to him, "How many times have I let you down, old friend?"
T'Spock blinked, bewildered. Old friend?
The old Vulcan looked down. "Very well," he said. "I will go."
Turning to the helm T'Spock said, "We need to develop a plan, Mr. Chekov." Looking over to Ms. Scott she said, "You may be able to help."
"Sounds like fun!" said Maggie.
T'Spock turned to Kirk. She did not like him, but Pike had made him first officer. "Mr. Kirk, would you broadcast the change of course and see to it Mr. Spock and as many refugees as possible get aboard a shuttle? Then join us for our strategy session."
T'Spock looked over at Amanda.
Kirk whispered quietly, "I'll try to get her aboard that shuttle, too."
"You are welcome to try," said T'Spock, restraining a sigh.
"Aye, Captain," said Kirk. She glanced over in time to see him flash a wide smile.
Again T'Spock was bewildered. Was it bravado? Or was he trying to be reassuring? Even with all of Sarek's memories she was unsure. She'd have to ask Noyoto about it later.
x x x x
"Lieutenant Uhura, have you been able to configure the Universal Translator for this new Romulan dialect?" T'Spock asked.
Noyoto was standing with her, Maggie, Bones, and Sulu by the view screen. Resisting the urge to crack the PADD he was holding over the nearest piece of inert equipment, Noyoto said, "No, and at the rate it's going I won't be able to sync it up to Terran French. The UT keeps going on and off line."
"We cannot spare anyone in engineering to fix it," said T'Spock.
"Understood, Sir," said Noyoto. Engineering was busy with life support, and he was partial to being able to breathe.
Across the room the turbolift doors slid open. Stepping out rubbing his temple, Kirk said, "Spock is aboard the shuttle, along with the elders, and a few of the women, the children - and your mother, Captain."
T'Spock got very still. And then, turning to Sulu and Bones, as though he had not spoken, T'Spock said, "We have to attack the Narada from within. We will not succeed in a conventional attack."
Frowning Kirk said, "You're welcome."
Noyoto suspected T'Spock was relieved but couldn't actually say it. The woman wasn't precisely expressive when it came to her emotions.
Noyoto looked at Kirk and nodded.
Still rubbing his forehead, Kirk gave him a strained half smile.
"It's absolutely essential we stay invisible to the Narada," said Sulu.
"Agreed," said Kirk and T'Spock in unison.
"And then what?" said McCoy, "Go in there with guns blazing?"
"If necessary," said T'Spock.
"Yep," said Kirk.
"Absolutely" said Noyoto. "The question is," he said, "How to do we stay invisible to get close enough to do that?"
"I bet you'll be the first in line to, volunteer to go play cowboy," said Bones to Jim.
Noyoto watched T'Spock turn sharply to Bones. She'd been so amazingly controlled - but there was something in her eyes. Something that said, "Toss out another useless comment like that and I will throw you through the view screen."
Noyoto cleared his throat, "Not helpful, Doctor."
T'Spock's frame relaxed minutely.
"Captain!" said Chekov, hopping across the deck.
"Yes, Mr. Chekov?" said T'Spock.
"Based on the Narada's course from Vulcan, I have projected that Nero will travel past Saturn. Like Sulu said, we need to stay invisible to Nero or he'll destroy us. If Ms. Scott can get us to Warp factor 4, and if we drop out of warp behind one of Saturn's moons, say Titan, the magnetic distortion from Saturn's rings will make us invisible to Nero's sensors. From there, as long as the drill is not activated we can beam aboard the enemy ship."
"Aye," said Maggie. "That would work."
"Wait a minute," said Bones to Chekov. "How old are you?"
"Seventeen," said Chekov.
"Oh, good," said Bones.
Seeing T'Spock's eyes narrow, Noyoto coughed. "Watch the ad hominems Bones."
T'Spock tilted her head to Chekov. "You are correct. I can confirm your telemetry. If Mr. Sulu is able to maneuver us into position I can beam aboard the ship, steal the black hole device and if possible bring back Captain Pike."
Swallowing, Noyoto said, "With all due respect, no you can't, Sir."
Swiveling to him with the grace of a snake, T'Spock said, "Why not?"
"Because you're the Captain," said Kirk stepping closer to Noyoto.
"I can cite the exact regulation, if you want," Noyoto said. His jaw tightened.
T'Spock stared at him.
"I'm the only person here who has extensive combat training and speaks Romulan," said Noyoto. "It is logical to send me."
T'Spock stiffened.
"And me," said Kirk.
Noyoto looked at Kirk and nodded. "There's no one else I'd trust more," he said. It was true. Kirk was inventive, and cool under pressure. Both of which they needed.
T'Spock was silent. It was only for a few heart beats but enough time for everyone to look from Noyoto to her and back again.
At last she said, "Mr. Uhura, I see why you would be a logical choice. However," she looked at Kirk, "besides combat skills, I fail to see how you are a more logical choice than myself."
Touching his temple again, Kirk said, "Before he left aboard the shuttle, Spock melded with me again."
T'Spock tilted her head, "Again?"
"Yeah," said Kirk. "This time he implanted the exact location of his ship in my brain...and the access codes. And you, Sir," he said, "are the logical choice to remain on the bridge." He looked at Maggie, "You're the only person who can check her math quickly enough to save our skins."
"Hey, no fair!" said Maggie. "Everyone forgets to carry the one sometimes!"
All eyes went to the damp engineer.
"I see your point," said T'Spock, sagging slightly. "Mr. Sulu, Mr. Chekov, plot as a course to Titan. Doctor McCoy, please return to sick bay. Ms. Scott, please report to engineering."
Noyoto exhaled a breath. Everyone in the small group dispersed except for Kirk, T'Spock and himself. Kirk's eyes went between them, then clearing his throat he said, "I'll report to the armory."
T'Spock said nothing.
"Didn't you once tell me, worry is illogical?" said Noyoto trying to smile.
Taking a step forward she said, "I am not sure the rule applies in this circumstance." And then she spun on her heels and said, "I will see you at the transporter pad."
x x x x
Strapping on his phaser, Noyoto strode into the transporter room with Kirk. From the control panel Maggie said, "Wow, they actually managed to get us into position."
He cast a worried gaze in the obviously brilliant but slightly daffy engineer's direction.
Fortunately, T'Spock was standing beside her. "I have confirmed 's calculations."
Noyoto sighed in relief.
"I didnna forget to carry the one this time!" said the slightly bedraggled redshirt, hands dancing over the panels as she did a final check.
T'Spock nodded at Noyoto. Forcing himself to look her in the eye, he said, "You know, if you get a tactical advantage..."
T'Spock looked down.
"Save our planet before you save us," said Kirk.
Lifting her head, T'Spock looked at Kirk, "I will take the most logical course of action."
She turned her eyes to Noyoto, "No matter the circumstances."
"We'll contact you when we're ready to beam back, Captain," said Noyoto.
T'Spock nodded. Straightening and putting her hands behind her back, she said, "Gentlemen, it is time."
For a moment, Noyoto did not move, could not move. He wished he could have one more repeat of that first and last kiss, or even to just the electric spark of her fingers on his. But it wasn't going to happen.
Swallowing, he nodded again. T'Spock's mouth opened just a fraction, and she but she said nothing.
Turning around he climbed up the transporter pad. Kirk was already there.
Stepping forward, T'Spock said, "Mr. Kirk...Noyoto...good luck."
Her eyes were glued to Noyoto the whole time. It was a completely illogical statement, and the first time she'd ever used his name in public. It wasn't the same as a tearful farewell. Oddly, it was better.
"Thank you," said Noyoto.
T'Spock stepped behind the transporter screen. Smirking, Kirk said softly, "Good luck...Noooyoooto."
"No comment," Noyoto said. Staring down at his communicator he resisted the urge to strangle the man his life depended on.
"Okey dokey, then," said Maggie. "If there is any common sense in the design of the enemy ship, I should be putting you somewhere in the cargo bay. There shouldn't be a soul in sight."
Next to Noyoto Kirk said, "Energize."
Noyoto felt the familiar whisk of static around his body and then the neat and familiar curves of the transporter pad disappeared. White light was replaced with dim green punctuated by blasts of red and yellow.
It took a moment for Noyoto to realize they had materialized in the middle of a phaser battle.
"Cover," screamed Kirk.
Pulling Kirk's sleeve, Noyoto pointed with the phaser he'd instinctively drawn.
"Bulkhead! Run!" he said.
Diving behind the bulkhead, Kirk on his heels, Noyoto spun to look at the fray they'd just emerged from.
The Romulans were firing at each other.
"Looks like you were right, Lieutenant," said Kirk. "We might have some help."
"Yeah, but from which team?" said Noyoto.
"Good question," said Kirk.
Noyoto glanced down at his comm. The indicator light was dark. "Our comms are out," he said.
Swallowing Kirk nodded. "The drill is down."
"Yep," said Noyoto trying to control his racing heart.
Eyes still on the phaser fight beyond the bulkhead Kirk said, "Maybe while they keep each other busy -"
From behind came a deep voice in the strange heavily accented Romulan. "Maybe while they keep each other busy you can die."
A/N:
Quite a few twists in that chapter! Unlike a lot of people, I think Kirk was really motivated by a desire to save Earth when he fought back on the bridge.
Notes was pretty disappointed in the revised transporter scene, but she decided what happened was better, and more in character - especially since T'Spock's got Sarek's katra under the hood...Errr...but don't worry. Lots of nookie at the end of the story.
Anyway, reviews do encourage me to keep posting. ;-) Please let me know