Chapter 16 – How to Save Earth 101

Spock paused at the entrance to the Bridge and listened to Chekov speak. Kirk stood with Uhura, Sulu, McCoy, Chekov and the Scotsman discussing their next course of action. Zia nudged Spock.

"You can do this," she whispered, squeezing his hand. He met her gaze, nodded, and approached them.

"Doctor, Mister Chekov is correct," he said. All eyes turned to him. "I can confirm his telemetry. If Mister Sulu can manoeuvre us into position, I can beam aboard Nero's ship, steal the black hole device and if possible, bring back Captain Pike." Now he stood in front of them and only Zia sensed his nervousness.

"I won't allow you to do that, Mister Spock." Kirk shook his head.

Spock spared him a glance. "Romulans and Vulcans share a common ancestry. Our cultural similarities will make it easier for me to access the ships computer to locate the device. Also, my mother was human, which makes Earth the only home I have left."

Kirk glanced at McCoy and approached Spock, swaying slightly as he moved. "I'm coming with you," he said.

"I would cite regulation," Spock said, "but I know you will simply ignore it."

They stared at each other and Kirk smirked. "See, we are getting to know each other." He slapped Spock's shoulder hard and walked right past him. Confused, but not willing to show it, Spock turned and stared after Kirk. Then he turned and followed, motioning to Zia.

It took mere minutes for the three of them to stop at the armoury, retrieve two utility belts, and reach the Transporter pad.

"How are we Scotty?" Kirk asked as they breezed toward the Transporter pad.

"Unbelievably thorough. The ship is in position," the Scotsman, now Scotty, said from his console.

Kirk activated the comm to the Bridge and Zia took Spock's hands.

"Don't die on me, okay?" she asked.

"I will not," he assured her, the ghost of a smile on his face.

"I'll be monitoring your frequency," she told him. He squeezed her hands and she stepped back as Kirk moved beside Spock.

"Are you two…?" Kirk asked.

"No," Spock replied. He smirked. An actual smirk. "Not yet."

"Okey dokey then," Scotty said, "if there's any common sense in the design of the enemy ship, I should be puttin' you somewhere in the cargo bay. Shouldn't be a soul in sight."

"Energise," Kirk ordered. White light engulfed the two of them.

o.O.o

Zia raced to the Bridge, threw herself into her seat and scanned the Earth's surface. The drill had been activated and was right near Starfleet headquarters and the Academy. She paled. Please let Tara, Blair and the remaining four hundred cadets be okay.

"Zey have activated ze drill," Chekov exclaimed.

Uhura burst onto the Bridge, panting. "Communicator and Transporter inoperative," she called. "Sulu, please tell me you have them, otherwise we won't be able to beam them back."

Sulu slammed his screen. "Kirk and Spock are on their own now."

o.O.o

On the Romulan ship, Spock and Kirk burst into the ship that held the red matter. Spock stared around the ship. It was white, and the design was unlike anything he'd ever seen. Who had built it? "I foresee a complication. The design of this ship is far more advanced than I have anticipated."

"Voice printer, face recognition analysis enabled," the ships computer said. "Welcome back, Ambassador Spock."

Kirk glanced from Spock to the floor. "Wow, that's weird." He headed to the next room.

Spock glanced between the red matter and the speakers and frowned. "Computer, what is your manufacturing origin?"

"Stardate 2387. Commissioned by the Vulcan Science Academy." That was unusual. What else had Kirk neglected to tell him?

Spock stalked into the next room. "It appears that you have been keeping important information from me."

Kirk turned to face him. "You'll be able to fly this thing, right?"

"Something tells me I already have."

"Good luck." Kirk turned and made to leave. Weakness crashed onto Spock and his thoughts flashed to the auburn-haired Vulcan waiting for him on the Enterprise.

"Jim," he said softly. Kirk turned. "The statistical likelihood that our plan will succeed is less than 4.3%."

"It'll work." He turned to leave again. Should he…? Yes, he had to ask this of Kirk.

"In the event that I do not return," he said quickly, "please tell Cadet Abbott-"

"Spock!" Kirk interrupted. "It'll work." He rolled his eyes and ran from the ship. Spock gritted his teeth and sat in the chair on the other side of the room. It turned automatically, much to his surprise.

"Fascinating."

o.O.o

'The drill has been destroyed.' Overwhelming relief accompanied Spock's words.

"The drill's down," she called to Sulu.

He worked his controls. "My information says the same thing. Hold on… the Romulans are going into Warp!"

"Follow them," Uhura cried.

"Warping in three… two… one…" The ship flew straight through the planet and into light. "Everyone to battle stations," Sulu ordered through the comm. "Prepare for fire."

Mere minutes passed, and all eyes were on Sulu's console. The Romulan ship had dropped out of Warp and there was another ship heading straight for it. Man, it was going to be one messy moment.

The Enterprise burst from Warp and locked onto dozens of torpedos heading right for Spock's signal.

"Fire all batteries!" Sulu shouted. Their weapons struck each torpedo right on target and they exploded. Enterprise flew right on past them and turned. "Locking on to both signals," Sulu said. "Scotty, get ready to beam!"

The small ship was heading right for the Romulan ship. Everyone held their breaths, but Zia was on her feet and running for the Transporter room. McCoy and two other doctors joined her, and they skid into the room. Captain Pike, Kirk and Spock came off the pad looking a little worse for wear but were otherwise fine. McCoy and the doctors ran straight for Captain Pike, while Zia grinned and grabbed Spock's hand. There was time for full reunions later, but right now they had some ass to kick.

Once Captain Pike was secure, Kirk, Spock and Zia ran to the Bridge.

"Keptain," Chekov said, "ze enemy ship is losing power. Zeir shields are down, sir."

"Hail them now," Kirk ordered. He stood in front of the window and Spock gripped Zia's hand. The Enterprise aimed straight at the Romulan ship and everyone saw the black hole forming in the middle of it. Wait, shouldn't they be moving away from the black hole? She voiced her thought to Spock.

"We must wait until we can hail them," Spock replied. He pulled her closer to his side. Nero's face appeared on the window screen.

"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise," Kirk announced. "Your ship is compromised. You're too close to the singularity to survive without assistance, which we are willing to provide."

Spock let go of Zia's hand and stood beside Kirk. "Captain, what are you doing?" he muttered. Kirk turned his face away from the hail.

"We show them compassion," he whispered. "It may be the only way to earn peace with Romulans. It's logic, Spock! I thought you'd like that."

"No, not really," Spock muttered. "Not this time."

Nero finally replied. "I would rather suffer the death of Romulus a thousand times. I would rather die in agony than accept assistance from you."

"You got it," Kirk grinned. He and Spock moved back around to the Captain's chair. "Arm phasers, fire everything we've got!"

"Yes, sir," Sulu nodded. As Kirk sat down, the Enterprise fired on the Narada, completely decimating the Romulan ship. Spock grabbed Zia's hand and led her to their seats. Uhura glanced at their joined hands darkly and refocused on the Romulan ship. Under the assault from both the black hole and Enterprise, the ship was ripped into little pieces and swallowed by the vacuum. Zia knew a lot about black holes from high school, and she knew that there was no way anyone aboard that ship had survived. She and Spock shared a look, but there was no smile.

Alarms rang out. "Sulu let's go!" Kirk shouted. They were too close to the black hole.

"Yes sir!" Sulu replied. His fingers flew across his console. But it wasn't enough. The gravitational pull from the black hole was dragging them into the void and their engines weren't powerful enough to get them out of it.

"Why aren't we at Warp?" Kirk demanded.

"We are sir!" Chekov shouted.

"Kirk to Engineering, get us outta here Scotty!"

Zia gripped Spock's hand and they held on like their lives depended on it. Cracks appeared on the ceiling as their area of space shrunk. Those cracks spread to the front window and the non-breathable atmosphere threatened them all. Kirk shouted to Scotty through the comm, but the roar of the ship and blare of alarms drowned him out. She took a deep breath, gripped the sides of her chair with her legs, and focused on the warmth of Spock's hands. At least she could feel something good before dying.

'We are not going to perish!'

A huge explosion burst right behind the Enterprise, and the shockwave smashed into the ship and threw everyone backwards. Zia hit her console hard and only her grip on Spock's hands kept her steady. He pulled her back into her seat as the shockwave shook the ship and pushed it forward. White light filled their visions, before the Enterprise was thrown forward and away from the black hole. Consoles sparked, and steam hissed, but they were in one piece. Spock allowed one of his rare smiles as he glanced at both Zia and Kirk.

'See?' he said. 'We did not perish.'

"I hate you," she grinned.