12.

"Are you scheming against me?" Kirk asked. "That's the third salad this week! When they said 'love thy neighbour', they really didn't mean you could go and connive with Bones, you know."

"Captain — " Spock began.

"Admiral," Kirk corrected grumpily. "God, I just wanna see the stars again. I swear, Spock, sometimes I think about deliberately fucking up so they'd demote me."

Spock opened his mouth, then closed it again, looking vaguely scandalised. "I am sure the opportunity will present itself even without your active input," he said.

Kirk laughed and stretched, sprawling backwards onto the chair. "Come here."

Spock extended two fingers towards him. Kirk rolled his eyes. "Come here."

Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, I see what we have come to now," Kirk said in mock affront. "You've had enough of my human whims. The romance is officially dead."

The corner of Spock's lips twitched. "It is most reassuring to see that your penchant for melodrama has not changed with age."

"Now he's calling me old!" Kirk exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.

Spock peered at him over the tea mug with a most unimpressed look.

"Y'know, I do feel old sometimes," Kirk hummed, grinning and drumming his fingers on the tabletop. "For example, right now I have a sneaking suspicion that I've forgotten something. But I can't remember what I've forgotten!" he scratched his chin, then glanced at his companion. "Spock! Use that Vulcan brain of yours. What did I forget?"

Spock lifted a brow. "Shall I list them alphabetically, or chronologically?"

"Oh, funny," Kirk jabbed a finger at him, beaming despite himself. "I see I've driven your humanity home."

"Perhaps you have forgotten the fact that I am a Vulcan," Spock said. "Vulcans do not joke."

"Uh huh." Kirk rolled his eyes again. "Come here, pointy."

Spock curved two fingers against Kirk's and leaned close. They kissed, slow and languid, then Kirk gently guided Spock's hand towards his temple.

"I missed you," he murmured against Spock's lips. "Come home?"

A curl of a smile, a whispered endearment, then everything went white.

"— Whoa," Kirk wheezed, pushing himself against the wall. "What was — Did you — did you see that?"

"Most fascinating," Spock's voice came nearby. "Jim — "

Kirk's eyes widened as his memories smashed back into him. "Spock!" He whirled around and grabbed onto the Vulcan's shoulder, "You're — you're —" He roamed his eyes over Spock's body, "— not hurt?"

Spock straightened. "Affirmative," he said, after a brief, surprised pause. He shifted his gaze over Kirk's shoulder. "I believe another temporal shift has occurred, since our surrounding is once again undamaged."

"Yeah," Kirk breathed, a little dazed and somehow unable to remove his eyes from Spock's uninjured body.

"Your hand appears to have healed," Spock noted, raising an eyebrow.

Kirk blinked. He held up his hand for inspection — the back of his palm is no longer splitting open, not even a scar in its place — then frowned. Searching, his gaze landed on Spock's arm. "So is your sleeve," he pointed out, nonplussed. "It isn't torn anymore."

"A most curious development," Spock remarked thoughtfully. "To have our physical state reset to an earlier point in time, while retaining the linearity of memory, is another paradox which we have not encountered before."

"Does this mean we are still inside the loop?" Kirk asked, glancing around. They appeared to be inside a corridor again, but with a slight difference: a soft, yellow light wrapped around them in a small, confined area, while both ends of the tunnel were submerged in darkness. "Just — where are we?"

"Unclear," Spock said with a light frown. "In addition to our unknown location, I am also unable to discern the source of lighting in this particular context."

"Great," Kirk muttered. "We don't know where we are, and we can't move around without some kind of light."

Frustrated, Kirk waved a hand into the darkness, but was caught off guard when the motion was met with resistance.

"What the — ?"

He pushed against the black space, but it wouldn't budge. The darkness felt gelatinous: it yielded under pressure, but bounced back the moment he ceased applying force.

"Spock, I think we are in a cage," Kirk said, flabbergasted.

Spock spent a few minutes studying the perimeters for himself, then straightened. "Jim," he requested, turning and extending his hand.

Bewildered, Kirk offered his forefingers. "Okay," he said, leaning close, "Not that I don't appreciate this, but we are still a bit far from last kisses, right?"

Spock arched an impossibly high eyebrow and gently unfolded Kirk's fingers, before taking his palm. Ignoring Kirk's perplexed expression, he closed his eyes, and focused visibly inwards.

"I believe we are currently in a shared state of altered consciousness," he announced after a few seconds, opening his eyes.

"A what," Kirk said dumbly, distracted.

"I am unable to perceive your emotions through your skin," Spock explained, flicking the eyebrow in response to Kirk's initial misunderstanding. "Barring a sudden loss of my telepathic abilities, the only logical explanation is that we are already inside a shared consciousness, of an altered state."

"We are still in a meld?" Kirk asked skeptically.

"No," Spock replied, "I believe this is much more advanced than a Vulcan mind meld."

"Okay, well, how do we break out of it?" Kirk asked, feeling around with his hands. The wall felt real enough, together with the raggedness in the rock, but the boundary where it met the blank darkness was shifty, as if it was wrapped in clouds. He threw several experimental punches into the darkness, but yielded nothing.

Heaving a long sigh through his nose, he looked at Spock. "I think we better take down the wall," he said, pressing his lips into a thin grimace. "We can push the phaser heat setting up higher and see — "

He started suddenly when a booming voice rang, seemingly, from the inside of his head.

"Please do not move until the Validation process has been completed," the voice said in a flat tone.

Kirk stared at Spock, eyes wide, then made a wordless gesture with his finger. "You heard that, right?"

"Affirmative," Spock said, visibly steeling himself. "Captain, the level of telepathy required to achieve communication on this level surpasses my race. It could be extremely dangerous —"

"We mean no harm," the voice interjected. "Our mode of communication does not involve telepathy in the same term as yours. Please cease your efforts, Mr. Spock of Vulcan."

Both their eyebrows jumped. Sharing a look, they stood back to back and faced the darkness on either end. "Well, You know who we are," Kirk said. "So who are you?"

"I am the Researcher," the voice said. Then, "I am the Collector." Again, "I am the Validator." Finally, in a slightly louder unison, "We Validate Legends."

"Right," Kirk said, mystified. He darted a fleeting glance at Spock, and received a small shake of the head in return: this was not something that either of them had heard of. "You uh, you do realise you three sound exactly the same?"

A brief pause, then, in a mixed pitch of voice, "We apologise. Is this level of aural differentiation more conducive to your understanding?"

"Yes, thank you," Kirk said, taking a big breath. A thousand questions perched at the forefront of his mind, ready to rush out. "Wh — "

"There is no need to overwhelm yourself," the voice claiming to be the Researcher said. "The Validation process will take some time. We will start from the beginning."

"Wait — " Kirk waved a hand, determined to take the conversation in the lead, "Where is my crew? Are they safe?"

"They are safely abroad the Enterprise, undergoing the same process," the Collector answered. "They are unharmed."

Kirk opened his mouth to ask another question, but was cut off by the Researcher's voice. "You are Legends, Captain Kirk. We do not harm Legends. It is our duty to research, collect, observe and Validate Legends."

Kirk took a step back until he was side by side with Spock, who was still focusing intently on the source of the voice, trying to find a telepathic range. "Did we just get complimented by disembodied aliens?" he asked out of the corner of his mouth.

Without redirecting his attention, Spock replied: "I am not sure that qualifies."

Kirk let out a small, breathy laugh despite himself. "Touché, Mr. Spock."

"Please define 'legends'," Spock asked, in the same tone that he would use when talking to the ship's computer.

"Legends are sentient beings who always find themselves in similar roles across Infinite Diversities," the Researcher replied immediately, seemingly oblivious to their little interlude. "As such, their impact in the universe is multiplied at the Point of Convergence."

They exchanged a look.

"Please elaborate," Spock pressed. "What is the Point of Convergence?"

A pause. Then, "The Point of Convergence is the plane on which we exist. The Infinite Diversities converge at the Point, and we intersect. It is both inside and outside of your universe, beyond which you are unable to understand."

"Try us," Kirk said, voice hardening.

"There is no need for animosity," the Collector said tonelessly. "We are not adversarial to you."

"That's kinda hard to believe when you don't even have the courtesy to show yourselves," Kirk said, arching a sardonic brow.

"We cannot," the Validator said in the same flat tone. "That is, you are not able to perceive us. Our only point of intersection is the Convergence. We have limited understanding of each other, even less so on your end."

"Again with the stupid comment," Kirk muttered.

"Captain," Spock intoned, "I do not believe those beings are situated in the same temporal dimension as we are."

"Yeah, I figured," Kirk breathed. He raised his voice again. "So you are responsible for everything that has happened down here? The temporal shifts, all the anomalies?"

"Yes," the Validator said simply.

"How?" Kirk pressed. "What kind of technology is that?"

The voices didn't answer. Instead, the Researcher asked, "How would you explain your drawing technology to a being living in two dimensional space?"

"Drawing isn't a technology," Kirk said automatically, taken aback.

"Precisely," the Validator said. "We draw time in the same manner that you draw lines."

Kirk shared another look with Spock, who seemed to be similarly engrossed in this information. "And why would you do that?" he asked.

"You are Legends," the Validator replied. "You overcome Infinite Diversities. Your presence in the universe affects the Convergence. We validate Legends."

"Great, even their words go in a circle," Kirk grumbled, rolling his eyes. He crossed his arms and peered skyward. "So how exactly are we legends?"

"You are Captain Kirk," the Researcher said simply. "Mr. Spock of Vulcan is by your side. The Enterprise Crew, by each other's. You are Legends."

Kirk's eyebrows flew up. "You are saying we are like this in every universe?" He inquired, immediately thinking back to the older Spock. If the older Vulcan's quiet satisfaction was anything to go by when he told him about the Five Year Mission, a remarkable similarity did exist between his timeline, and theirs.

"The consistency of your roles surpass Infinite Diversities," the Collector explained. "Which, by nature, implies infinite variations. However, the impact of Legends are always significant enough that it will affect the Convergence."

"I see," Kirk said slowly, trying to wrap his head around the idea that there are more universes where the Enterprise crew have come together than not. "And you validate us, how?"

"You are Validated when you break out of the Destiny Paradox," the Researcher said. "Failing that, you will remain inside the Curve."

Spock's eyebrow arched. "That is illogical," he spoke up, lifting his head. "You are, in fact, suggesting that we can only be allowed to fulfil our destiny, if and when we break out of the predestination loop, are you not?"

"Yes," the Validator said. "We fail to see the illogic in that statement."

"Well, you are basically telling us that in order to fulfil our destiny, we have to defy it," Kirk said, pushing off the wall to join Spock. "Doesn't that just mean it's our destiny to defy it all along?"

"You misunderstand," the Collector answered. "As beings on your dimension often do. The ability to break out of the Destiny Paradox reassures your ability to surpass Infinite Diversities. You are not destined to become Legends. You are Legends."

Kirk squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed the bridge of his nose, grimacing. "Are you getting this, Spock? Cos I'm going to need to explain this logically afterwards for the report. Are they really saying that this was just a big test to see whether we can take destiny into our own hands, so that we are worthy to become — worthy of — these so called 'legends'?"

Spock raised an eyebrow at him, then shifted his focal point of attention. "If our goal was to break out of our predestinations," he asked calmly, "then where is the point of original entry for the Curve?"

"Yeah," Kirk agreed, waving a hand, "If we broke out of the loop, then how could we have given ourselves those warnings? How did the Curve form in the first place — or have we really been stuck in it for a long time, without realising?" he finished, remembering the mysterious time loss.

"Again, you misunderstand," the Researcher said. "The Time Curve does not occur in a linear fashion. The point of original entry is neither in your timeline, nor significant."

"Great," Kirk said. "It really is like talking to a two dimensional being. I'm kinda starting to think we may be fundamentally incapable of understanding them," he said, glancing at Spock, who appeared to be in deep contemplative thought.

"We are glad you have come to this awareness," the Researcher said without infliction. "We are unable to explain something that has no meaning or analogy on your plane of existence."

"Of course," Kirk said, exhaling through his nose. He exchanged another look with Spock, who nodded slightly this time: the Validators, incomprehensible as they might be, did not appear to harbour malicious intentions at least.

Overwhelmed, they fell silent for a while. Spock stood against the wall and steepled his fingers under his chin, while Kirk paced restlessly in the small lit space, each engrossed in their own thoughts.

"Which other Legends have you Validated?" Spock asked suddenly.

The Validator offered several Vulcan names that Kirk did not recognise, and Spock's eyebrow climbed at each mention. "These are the names of ancient warrior partners before the time of Surak," he explained quietly at Kirk's inquisitive look. "I — Fascinating," he murmured, staring into the darkness with a strange expression.

"Any humans, then?" Kirk asked, retracting his gaze.

"Alexander and Hephaestion," the Researcher recited. "Merlin and Arthur. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson — "

"Wait," Kirk interrupted, "You put all of them in time paradoxes?"

"Negative," the Validator responded flatly. "Each Validation is specific to the Legend set. The Validation requirement for the Enterprise crew is the Destiny Paradox."

"I see," Kirk said, wondering if he actually did.

As if sensing his bewilderment, the Researcher continued: "The key identifier for the Enterprise Legend set, beyond yourself and Mr. Spock, is your collective association. Without such, you will neither be able to break the paradox, nor complete it. The Curve would simply fold into itself, and collapse."

"Okay," Kirk said, scowling, "Not that I don't have confidence in my crew, but seriously?"

"No Legends have ever caused the Curve to collapse," the Researcher said tonelessly, as if it was meant to reassure.

"What would happen should the Time Curve collapse?" Spock asked, straightening up.

A long pause, then, "We can find no suitable analogy that will assist in your understanding." Before Kirk could protest, the Researcher continued: "The Validation process includes a full physical re-calibration upon completion, regardless of success. Therefore, your physical form will not come to any harm."

"In fact, your bodies are being repaired as we speak," the Validator added.

Kirk thought back to the treacherous waters and shook his head. "If this was all about team effort," he began, frowning, "Then why did you specifically attack Bones and Sulu? You don't sound like violent beings — "

"We are not," the Researcher assured.

"— But you hurt my crew," Kirk emphasised. "Why?"

"That is an regrettable side effect we are unable to negate," the Collector said. "During the Validation process, occasionally you will intersect with the Convergence. Usually, it takes the form of a glimpse into your future, immediate or otherwise. When a significant amount of intersection occur, however, it could result in a greater predestination paradox, which we cannot risk. Hence we have to inform you of our intentions, and remove any specificities from your memory."

"Unfortunately, humans can be particularly hostile against foreign presence in their minds," the Validator continued. "For us, that struggle manifests in a physical form. We do apologise."

Another small piece of the puzzle slotted into place in Kirk's head. "So Sulu wasn't asking why he couldn't remember, he was asking why he was not allowed to remember," he said, turning to Spock. Then, "What about the creature with spiky wings? Is that a side effect, too?"

"When shaping the Validation process, we simply utilised what resources the planet has available," the Researcher said.

"We scanned the planet before we came down," Kirk said, shaking his head. "Trust me, we'd know if there are spiky things with razor sharp wings that dissolve in the dark."

"Once again you are being confined by your understanding of linear time," the Collector said. "These creatures lived, or will live, on this planet at one point. That is enough."

"No wonder it didn't show up on our tricorders," Kirk muttered. He paced back and forth for a few more moments, then remembered something.

"You said we will not come to harm even if the Time Curve collapsed," Kirk said, "But what about the collapse of that tunnel after we supposedly broke out of the loop?"

"After you broke free of the Paradox, the spacial-temporal reality is restored," the Validator said. "What transpired afterwards is an event of natural progression."

Kirk's stomach gave an unpleasant jerk at the memory of Spock bleeding out on the ground. "That was entirely pointless," he said, trying hard to suppress the bitterness in his voice. "We'd already broken out of the loop, so why not transport us straight back to the ship?"

"Your circumstances were exceptional," the Researcher responded. "You are a Legend pair, within a set. Certain aspects of your intersection transcends our understanding. "

Surprised, Kirk exchanged a glance with Spock. "Really?"

"Yes," the Collector confirmed. "For example, it has come to our attention that a crucial point of your intersection has in fact occurred during the Validation process. That by itself, is a paradox. We have never encountered such a phenomenon before. We had no choice but to let the Validation process run its own course, resting on the guarantee that any physical injury will be recanted at the end of the process."

"Huh," said Kirk, somewhat mollified. He licked his lips, then suddenly smirked at Spock. "I guess we picked a good time to get together."

The tips of Spock's ear turned imperceptibly greener. "Fascinating," he remarked, the corner of his lips lifting by a fraction.

Kirk beamed, feeling inordinately pleased at the idea that they one-upped a powerful, higher-dimensional being over something as... unexpected, as this.

"I feel like we should do a fist bump," he said in a stage whisper.

"I find that unnecessary," Spock replied levelly. "Along with the need for the theatrical lowering of your voice."

Kirk grinned like a maniac when Spock ghosted two fingers over his instead. Their gazes met, and a fleeting worry passed through his mind —

"We will not change any event that has occurred in its own natural volition," the Collector said, before the thought could even take form. "Your intersection will remain unaffected, once the process completes."

"Good," Kirk said, feeling vaguely surprised and pleased. He sent a faintly challenging note through his mind, just for good measure. "No one should mess with legends."

A pause. "We do not understand," the Researcher enquired in a dispassionate tone. "The Validation process is not intended to bring disharmony, rather the opposite."

Kirk rolled his eyes. "I'm sure there's no analogy for a sense of humour up there either."

"You will, however, remove the proportion of our memory that retains information regarding our future," Spock inquired, ignoring Kirk.

"Affirmative," the Validator said. "It is commonplace for you to experience a prolonged intersection with the future, nearing the completion of the Validation process. The specificities of the memory will be removed, though the knowledge that you had the encounter, will not. We have found that a certain amount of residual knowledge aids your cognitive process of the event afterwards."

"It will," Kirk said sincerely. "Especially with the paperwork."

Spock's eyebrow gave a slight spasm. "Please explain how the intended memory extraction will affect us," he said, clasping hands behind his back.

"It will not," the Validator replied simply. "Occasionally it will manifest as a phenomenon Terrans call 'deja-vu'. Beyond which, there is no lasting impact."

"You know, I'm not sure how I should feel about what I've seen," Kirk interjected, turning to Spock and smirking. "On the one hand, we kinda look cute as an old bickering couple — "

"Vulcans do not bicker," Spock countered automatically, lips twitching.

"— On the other hand, Admiral," Kirk continued, steadfastly ignoring him. "It's probably a good thing that I'm not going to remember, because I will do something stupid just to get out of that promotion."

"I concur," Spock followed cooly. "Perhaps you will at least remember to refrain from acting on your impulses when the feeling of deja vu strikes."

"Also, salads!" Kirk plunged on with a scandalised expression, paying no heed to the subtle jab. "I thought we agreed that's a deal breaker?"

"I do not think the Validators would ascribe us Legends if our partnership can be broken over something as trivial as a bowl of salad," Spock said, one eyebrow challengingly poised.

"Indeed it cannot," The Researcher said.

Kirk laughed. "I think I'm warming up to these guys," he said.

"It has been a most fascinating experience," Spock agreed.

"Your Validation process is nearly complete," the Collector announced, as if on cue. "Your physical forms have been returned to optimum condition, and you will be transported to your ship momentarily."

"We thank you for your participation," the Researcher added. "It is an honour to Validate such an extraordinary Legend set."

Kirk opened his mouth and thought about a parting quip, but decided against it. He gave a small smile instead.

"We bid you well," he said, as Spock intoned, "Live Long and Prosper."

Closing his eyes, Kirk braced for the distinctive sensation of his atoms being disassembled, but it did not come. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes again and squinted.

"You seem to have a concern which you have not voiced," the Researcher said.

"Oh," Kirk said. He felt a little caught out, but cleared his throat anyway. "It's, uh — it's not important."

"It appears to be a question that both of you share," the Collector informed them.

Kirk glanced at Spock in surprise, who flicked an eyebrow. They stared at each other for several seconds, and Spock subtly averted his gaze.

Kirk blinked, then let out a small, incredulous laugh.

"You are not going to ask," he chimed, amused, "Because it hurts your Vulcan logic, doesn't it?"

Spock made no reply but to give him a vaguely unimpressed look.

"Okay," Kirk said agreeably, "Then I will. Validators!"

"Yes?" They answered in unison.

"Does destiny actually exist?" Kirk asked, feeling valiant.

The voices were silent for a long while.

"Yes, and no," they said at last.

Kirk waited, but no further explanation was forthcoming.

"Yeah, that's — that's not helpful," Kirk said, more amused than disappointed.

"Fascinating," Spock commented, "As I find the answer logical in its illogic."

"A suitable analogy," the Researcher said.

Slowly, Kirk felt the presence in his mind start to withdraw. He mulled over the picture of their older selves in his mind, then turned to Spock, who was watching him with a privately pleased expression.

"Y'know, you do look good when you are old," Kirk prodded gently, playful.

Spock raised an eyebrow.

"And this is the part where you compliment me in return," Kirk added helpfully.

Spock inclined his head. "I find it reassuring that you will continue to demonstrate many of your defining qualities in the future."

"Hmm," Kirk pondered, narrowing his eyes, "I'm going to ignore the subtle insult there and take what I can get, cos I'm awesome like that."

Spock's eyes gleamed. He stepped closer to Kirk, just as their surroundings began to fade. "The prospects of our future are not displeasing to me," he added, soft.

"A double negative," Kirk said, turing around and stretching a slow grin. "Now that's real subtle."

They stood side by side, hands lightly brushing, as a swathe of white light washed over their bodies. Kirk felt a vague, comfortable haze starting to enwrap him, then suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, Validators!"

The air around him rippled.

"The glimpses we've seen — does that mean our future is already certain? That we'll get there, no matter what?"

A familiar sense of warmth began to buzz around his fingers, just as the Validators' voice rang in his head, one last time.

"Nothing is certain, Captain Kirk," the impassive voices said, already echoing far and small.

"But you are Legends. You do not require certainty. You make your own."

THE END

A/N:

I bet you all thought I was just using a hyperbole when I said, "this is a story of the Enterprise Crew being legendary", huh? ;)

SO THIS IS THE BIG REVEAL! Please do excuse my liberal abuse of Quantum Physics - though I had expert help, I assure you, who made it as scientific as possible before saying 'just do whatever you want, man, it's Star Trek' (!) So if you have any burning questions that needs answered, do ask away in the comments - I shall do my best.

I hope it has lived up to your expectations - it's been a wild ride! Many thanks to everyone who's commented while it was in progress, your support meant a lot. Esp. lots of huggles to mightymads who helped with the language tidbits and gave me a recipe for Vodka cake, which will make an appearance in the EPILOGUE -

Yes there will be an epilogue (where much deserved celebration, fluff, crack and sexytimes ensue), and depending on how people like it, I might make this into a SERIES because I love mission fics, and I love established relationship fics, but I love them more in their combination :3 So do let me know if you'd like to see this timeline continue!

Many thanks to everyone who's stuck with the story and hope you've all enjoyed it! See you in the epilogue :)