Ch 3: Revelation

"I am sorry to disturb you in your home..." Spock paused for a moment, unsure of what to call his older self.

"Please, call me Prime," Spock Prime interjected as he guided his younger self through his new home. It was a modest Vulcan home, not unlike the one Spock grew up in. "While it would be more logical to call me by name, seeing as we share the same name, it would make more sense to give one of us a pen name to differentiate. Being the older and more experienced of the two of us, Prime would be a suitable pen name for the moment."

Spock nodded. "That would be agreeable, Prime. As I said, I am sorry to disturb you in your home, but I have been pondering much since last we met."

"As much as I had hoped your curiosity would not overtake your logic, I knew you would eventually seek me out," Prime stated. "After all, who knows your heart and mind better than yourself?" A small hint of a smile perked the corners of Prime's mouth upward.

Spock gave Prime a quizzical look. "Has my future affected me so that I am more willing to show emotion openly?"

Prime laughed at his younger self. "Ah yes, I remember how much trouble I had with emotions at your age. Sometimes it felt like I was torn in two, my Vulcan side compelling me to bury my emotions deep, my human side urging me to wear my emotions on my sleeve." He motioned toward a chair, which Spock sat in after giving a nod of acknowledgement. "Perhaps, in a different situation, control of my emotions would have been as successful as if I were a full Vulcan. But with the hot-blooded Admiral James T. Kirk at my side, it did not seem that would ever be possible."

Surprise showed on Spock's face. "Admiral?"

Prime laughed again as he sat down across from Spock. "Yes, Admiral. It does not seem logical at this moment, but for the very same type of command Jim took in facing Nero, he is later on promoted to Admiral." He cocked his head to the side. "Of course, with the changes to the timeline that have occurred, it is possible that the situation that led to Jim's promotion may never happen now. It is also possible that his promotion make come swifter than in my timeline."

Spock's head began to spin. He placed his hands on his head and hunched over. Admiral Kirk? Seriously? How on Earth could someone so reckless ever possibly become an admiral?!?

Spock's reaction did not go unnoticed to his older self. "It seems this information is already a bit much for you to take so soon after your arrival." Spock Prime stood up and looked down at Spock with almost a fatherly look on his face.

Immediately Spock stood up and cried, "No! …No, I…I am simply taken aback at this news. It would seem logical that at some point, the Captain would mature enough to a point where his actions could persuade Starfleet to promote him to Admiral. My reaction stemmed from my personal experiences with the Captain."

"It is alright. Much of what I will tell you will further evoke these emotions from you. Such is why I suggest that instead of immediately explaining all to you, perhaps settling in would make the experience more comfortable for you."

Spock blinked at this response. He hadn't expected to turn this into more than a few hours of conversation before returning the Enterprise. Something about spending time with a mirror image of himself disturbed him, and in all reality, neither should even co-exist together.

Then again, here they were, together in the same room.

Spock stood up straight and replied, "Very well. Though an extended stay was not my original intention, I should take advantage of the time I have been granted to be with the survivors of my race and stay for a few days."

Prime nodded. "It pleases me to hear that. Come, I will prepare a room and dress for you. Do forgive me as I do not typically entertain guests."

The two Spocks walked further into the house, the younger of the two becoming more and more worried as to what he was in for.

Prime was sitting in his living room reading when Spock walked in, dressed in Vulcan garb similar to that which Spock Prime wore. Spock Prime noticed Spock's entrance and closed his book. Placing the book to the side, he said, "I assume you have rested enough to resume our conversation?"

Spock nodded and seated himself across from his older self. He leaned forward in the chair and clasped his hands together on his knees. "The last thing you had told me was that the Captain is eventually promoted to Admiral."

"Spock," Prime said slowly, also leaning forward in his chair "is there a reason you choose not to refer to Jim by his name rather than by his rank?"

"It is only right for a subordinate to address his superior by his rank."

"Does Jim approve of this?"

Spock faltered. "Actually…no, he does not. He has requested many times to refer to him as 'Jim', much like you address him."

"Then why do you fail to grant him his request? If he is indeed your superior, if for no other reason than to obey him, you would do as he asks."

Spock's face grew cold. "I fail to see the benefit in bending over backwards for him at all times simply because he requests it."

Prime's eyes narrowed. "You hold a grudge against him for taking advantage of you when you were at your weakest."

Spock's eyes grew wide. Prime continued, "I can tell that I am right, and it is to be expected. However, you do not have Jim to blame, as he only did so because I requested."

Spock stared at Prime, his mouth agape. "Why?" he said breathlessly.

"Is it not obvious? The Jim of my time was meant to be captain of the Enterprise, and I his number one. Because of the events that unfurled from the battle with Nero, history itself altered. You see Spock, you were never meant to be Jim's superior in rank, but rather his compliment while on duty, and his…equal off duty."

Anger began to boil beneath Spock's calm exterior. Prime noticed this and sat back in his chair. "Spock, are you truly ready to learn of your future? Your reactions are telling me otherwise."

Taking a deep breath, Spock said, "I am. However, the events that have led to this moment have made it difficult for me to process these truths."

"Then there is no sense in telling you," Prime responded, raising his hand and leaning forward. "I will instead show you through mind meld, and reveal all to you." Spock nodded and leaned forward to allow Prime to begin the process. Both Prime and Spock closed their eyes.

"My mind…to your mind. My thoughts…to your thoughts."

In an instant, Spock felt himself being pulled into Prime's subconscious. He saw himself meeting Kirk for the first time, their first mission, and their adventures together. He saw his emotional responses to Kirk's proposed death and his reappearance on the Enterprise. He saw himself die and become reborn on Genesis. But he saw and felt even more. Private games of chess, happiness and laughter, sorrow and tears, embraces, sweet whispers, waves of passion, swells and releases…

Spock's eyes flew open as the mind meld completed. His breath was labored and his skin flushed a deep green. He felt incredibly lost, but at the same time, everything he saw and felt seemed so right. His lips parted as he gasped out a single word:

"T'hy'la…"

Prime nodded. "Now, you understand. However, Jim will discover all this on his own. At least, it is my hope that I did not interfere too much with him as well."

Spock gave a confused look. "What do you mean?"

Prime closed his eyes and drew a pained breath. "I performed a mind meld with Jim on Delta Vega. It was for the sole purpose of explaining the Nero situation, but I fear I let my emotions and memories slip through. What I fear more is that I have potentially traumatized him, as I gave no warning that I would perform the meld."

"Prime…"

"I know. What I did was morally wrong. Mind melds should never be performed without any kind of consent. The situation, however, was far too dire. As the humans say, desperate times called for desperate measures."

Spock closed his eyes and covered his face. He could not imagine what Kirk was going through as they spoke. He rose out of his chair and strode out of the room. Prime called out, "Are you leaving?"

Spock stopped and turned his head. "No. Not yet. I still have to process all this myself. I also have to discern what feelings are yours and which are mine. But if the Captain…Jim…is experiencing what I think he is, I believe I should make my stay short."

Prime nodded. "Perhaps that would be wise. You are welcome here as long as you need to be." Spock nodded in acknowledgement and left the room, leaving Prime to himself.

"I do hope I did the right thing…"