Jim Kirk widened his eyes slightly at the view of his alternate self in the turbo-lift. This one was older (just slightly), more muscular, his hair was shorter and he wore a variant of the uniform Constantine and his men wore. But he was James T. Kirk, alright.
Behind him were Spock and McCoy. The Spock was his Spock, with a few more lines indicative of the man Spock was destined to become. And McCoy barely looked older at all.
Spock – his Spock – was the first to speak, eyebrow dutifully raised.
"Fascinating."
The other Spock raised the same eyebrow.
"I was about to say that," he said. He raised a hand, and splayed his fingers in the traditional Vulcan salute. "Live long and prosper."
"Peace and long life," Jim's Spock replied, hand raised in the same salute.
The two McCoy's walked up to each other and eyed each other distastefully.
"You like whiskey?" Jim's McCoy asked.
"Yep," the other McCoy replied.
Jim's McCoy nodded, and without a word, the two men headed for the turbo-lift. The new James T. Kirk turned to his McCoy.
"Bones – where are you going?" he asked.
"To get us a drink," Jim's McCoy replied before James's McCoy could answer. "Leave you two to talk."
Then the turbo-lift door closed and James was left with Jim. Constantine indicated his briefing room with his arm.
"Please," he said. The two Kirks looked at each other, then Jim shrugged and the two entered. The two Spock's were engaged in polite discussion of... whatever...
--
"It is logical to assume that your universe is significantly different to our own," Spock Prime said.
"Logical but incorrect," Spock replied. "I have studied your history and apart from a few minor differences, there appears to have been little alteration."
"Fascinating. I would appreciate the chance to study your history."
"That would be unwise," Spock cautioned. "Certain things are... possibly distressing for us, and also possibly damaging to your timeline."
Spock Prime – far younger than Spock remembered him, almost identical to him in every way save the lines of care that serving on the Enterprise had given him - raised an eyebrow.
"Then events in my timeline created yours?" he asked.
"I can say no more," Spock replied, and Spock Prime nodded.
--
"So," Jim Kirk began.
"So," James Kirk added.
The two sat in silence for a long time.
"How old are you?" James asked.
"Twenty six," the reply came immediately. James Kirk raised both his eyebrows in surprise.
"Young," he said.
"How old are you?" Jim asked.
"Thirty three," James replied.
"That's young too," Jim pointed out.
"Not as young as you," James said. "Must have been something special to make you the Captain of the Enterprise so quickly."
"It was," Jim smiled, "but Spock would kill me if I told you."
"Time travel stuff?" James guessed.
"Yep," Jim confirmed.
"Damn, that stuff gives me a headache," James said, grinning ruefully.
"Same," Jim added. "Look, me and my ship oughta be finding a way to get back..."
"I'll have Scotty look it over," James replied instantly.
"You've got Scotty?" Jim said, incredulous.
"Yup," James said. "Hard to keep him prized away from the engines..."
"Yeah," Jim smiled. "I'm expecting the engagement announcement any day now..."
--
The two McCoy's said nothing, didn't talk about the divorce, didn't talk about their lives or any discrepancies, because neither of them cared. They just grabbed their whiskeys, and drank.
--
Captain Constantine let them discuss what they wanted- it wasn't hurting anyone.
"Sir," Mitchum, Constantine's tactical officer said, turning in his chair and looking worried. "Reporting multiple high warp inbounds. Unknown configuration."
Constantine looked up at the screen.
"Alert the Enterprises," he ordered, "and raise shields."
--
"Mr Scott," Sulu said on the Enterprise-Prime. "Multiple high warp inbound ships. Unknown configuration. The Maverick had raised shields."
"Best follow suit," Scott said, from the command chair, leaning forward expectantly. He wasn't as experienced a commander as Kirk, and he hated being away from his engines, but he wasn't about to lose his head.
--
"Mr Scott," Sulu said from his tactical console on the Enterprise. "Multiple inbound ships at high warp, unknown configuration. The other Enterprise and the Maverick have raised shields."
Scott looked at Sulu blankly for a moment, then at the screen.
"Sir?" Sulu asked.
"Well," Scott said. "Uh... raise shields, Mr Sulu. And, uh... contact the Captain. Aye, that'll work."
"Are you alright sair?" Chekov asked.
"Tell you what, I'd best get down to engineering," Scott smiled, standing up. "I'm no good in command situations," he added, walking for the door quickly. "You've got the conn, Chekov," he concluded, before legging it for his engines.
Chekov exchanged a look with Sulu.
"Typical," Chekov said, before contacting Kirk.
--
"They'll be out of warp in six seconds, sir," Jackson reported. The two Kirks came up onto the bridge, just as the unknown ships came out of warp.
Circular central section. Two wing-like nacelles. Painted symbol of an eagle.
Romulan Birds-Of-Prey.
--
Note; James T. Kirk Prime is referred to as James, and the alternate as Jim.