An: Wow! This story is almost over just two more chapters! I wanted to go even longer, but with school and work that won't be happening.

Enjoy this chapter!

A Wrinkle in Time

Chapter Eight

Leaderless

(Vulcan)

King Sarek was having troubling breathing. The illness had rendered him completely weak and incapable of doing anything. His body was useless. Only his mind managed to stay functional. He didn't want to die alone, but his concubine was away and neither son was with him now.

Staring up at the ceiling Sarek thought of his life.

He thought of his childhood and the day he succeeded his father to the throne. It was a glorious day for his family and he was unstoppable in expanding the Vulcan Empire to the far reaches of the galaxy.

Under his rule, the Vulcan Empire reached the zenith of its power and Sarek wanted Spock to make sure that it stayed that way.

Now he wasn't sure if that was going to happen.

His servant Trel walked in and lowered his head.

"Your majesty! Captain Sulu of the Enterprise is here. He wishes to speak with you."

Sarek was weak, but he needed to talk to Captain Sulu, "Let him in." He spoke with a sore throat.

Captain Sulu walked in and approached the bed. The king was surrounded by female attendants who looked at him with a curious eye.

"Your majesty, I understand that this is a bad time for you personally, but I have some information you need to know. I was sent here by Syon to talk to you." Sulu again showed the necklace the young prince gave him for safe passage.

King Sarek was confused. How could Nyota's son had given him this necklace.

"Syon?" His eyes darted around the room.

Sulu nodded his head and explained everything, starting from the very beginning.

"I understand! That traitorous Sybok! Just like his mother! I have no doubt that he is going to talk to the council about making him king. Where is Spock? Why has he left me at my darkest hour?"

"Syon is going to Solaris Prime to bring him back. Hopefully everything will be okay."

"I wonder if T'Pring knows of Vulcan's destruction by Nero in your universe." King Sarek asked.

"I am not sure, but it will be interesting to know why Nero would work with T'Pring."

The King coughed. "Yes it would."

"I want to stay until this matter is resolved, however, I want to get in contact with my ship mates and go back to our own universe."

"I understand. You will be extended protection as well as help in getting back home."

"Thank you your majesty."

King Sarek motioned to one of his female servants. "T'kila will send you to your room. You are my guest and will be treated as such."

Sulu followed the attractive dark skinned Vulcan to the guest room and King Sarek was again left to his thoughts.

(Nerada)

Syon couldn't believe he was in the presence of his father. A man he had been taught to hate for most of his life. A man whose life was the subject of scorn from T'Pring and his uncle. A man whose good deeds and hard work increased the Empire's wealth and status.

"Father." Syon asked quietly.

"Yes."

"What was so special about my mother that caused you to leave T'Pring?" Syon asked, mainly because he was raised by Nero and T'Pring who told him stories about Nyota and Spock's love for her. T'Pring's jealousy made Syon feel ashamed of his parent's relationship.

Prince Spock didn't know how to answer the question.

"Nyota is special. T'Pring is my wife because our marriage was arranged."

This was a basic Vulcan explanation of what was a truly complex story.

"We will be arriving at Vulcan in under an hour going at wrap speed." Nero muttered. He hoped Syon would make good on his word and let him go after arriving at Vulcan.

He had no idea what Syon was up to.

(Amanda's Ship-The Daystar)

Upon giving birth to Prince Spock, Amanda was given the comforts of a Vulcan Princess. She had her own servants, her own quarters, and her own ship, which was capable of going wrap speed.

She had explained to the others everything and found herself drawn to Spock even though he wasn't her son.

Amanda knew that Spock was going through Pon Farr and made a considerable effort to hide it from the others. After all, she lived among Vulcans for most of her life and knew all of their most hidden secrets.

It would be only a matter of time before the primitive Vulcan emerged from Spock and he would take Ny by force. But she wondered if Ny knew what state Spock was in.

"He is so tiny!" Amanda held the infant in her arms.

"Oh, yes but he is strong!" Nyota touched Syon's small head. The baby smiled a little and went back to sleep in its grandmother's arms.

"Vulcan infants are very strong, because at this age they are incapable of suppressing their strength." Amanda added, "Why, when Spock was a baby he broke his toy by throwing it into the wall."

Everyone looked at Spock.

Spock raised an eyebrow.

"She isn't talking about me." Spock mumbled. He couldn't bring himself to look at Amanda, for she reminded him of his own mother.

Therefore, he tried to keep his distance from her.

But that hard.

Amanda's ship was small in comparison and everyone was in a small room.

It was the worst situation imaginable for a Vulcan going through Pon Farr.

There was only another smaller room left and Spock decided to add distance from himself and the others by going there.

Amanda gave the small child to Nyota and followed Spock.

Closing the door behind her Amanda sat in the chair.

"Why have you been avoiding me Spock?"

"I haven't been avoiding you."

"Why sure you have." Amanda smiled.

Spock didn't want to tell her why, but something told him that she already knew what was wrong.

"I remind you of your mother?" Amanda asked.

Spock nodded his head. His Pon Farr made it nearly impossible to focus on the words others were saying to him. However, this universe's version of his mother reminded so much of the smiling, loving, and understanding mother that died right in front of him.

"Yes, you do. Only she wasn't a concubine and my father wasn't a king."

Amanda giggled, "Oh, what was your father?"

"My father is an ambassador to Earth and my mother was a teacher before marrying my father."

"I was never educated; in fact, Nyota is the first concubine I have met who possess any kind of an education. Most Vulcan males prefer if their concubines had no education."

"It is logical. Vulcans in my universe pride themselves on logic and want a mate to posses a high degree of intelligence."

Amanda folded her arms, "Well it will seem as thought both you and my son have something in common. Nyota's intellect was attractive to him, as well as her beauty."

"This version of Nyota would not be considered intelligent by our standards."

"Really?"

"Yes, while she is very beautiful she is still so…."

"Girly."

Spock nodded his head. Amanda laughed softly.

"Vulcans from your universe seem so reserved and you tend to keep your emotions to yourself. Very different from the Vulcans I deal with."

"Emotions are illogical and are not needed."

Amanda looked at Spock in the same way his mother use to look when he was lying.

"Just because you suppress them doesn't mean you don't have them. I see the way you look at your Nyota."

Spock's eyes widen.

"If you are inquiring about my relationship with Nyota then yes, we are involved."

"You say it so plainly and without emotion."

"What other way can I say it?"

"What do you see in her besides her obvious beauty?"

Spock had to think about it.

"Her intellect…."

"Let me stop beating around the bush as they would say on Earth. I know you are going through Pon Farr and you need satisfy your sexual urge or else you will die."

"I don't know what to do."

"Take Nyota and mate with her!"

"I am not comfortable talking to you about this…"

"Oh why not! I am sure you are well aware of sex and reproduction. I mean hell; you witness Nyota give birth to Syon the son of this universe's version of yourself!"

Spock hesitated.

"We been having problems lately."

"Like what?"

"She is upset with me for some reason and I don't know why."

"Have the two of you had sex before?"

Spock's face flushed red.

"No."

"Then that is the problem. Sex allows for humans to deepen their emotional connections."

The doors opened and Ny walked in.

"I been sent here to let you know we have arrived at Vulcan."

Ny glanced at Spock and walked out.

"Well, it's time to meet the king and put an end to this saga."

(Vulcan)

"Spock is incapable of ruling. He has exiled himself." Sybok pressed his claim to the members of the council.

T'Pring stood next to Sybok as he spoke.

T'pok stood up.

"The king has named his successor as Spock and besides what of T'Pring? Are you going to take her?"

Sybok looked at T'lau and then at T'Pring.

He avoided the question.

"I will do whatever is necessary."

"That is not the question. What about T'Pring! Vulcan law does not permit a brother to marry his sister in law. If you become king T'Pring claim to the royal family is invalid!"

T'Pring's eyes widen.

"I thought Sybok could marry me! Our families made an agreement."

"Yes, the king made an agreement for you to marry Spock, but if Spock loses his claim to the throne then the agreement is void." T'lau stepped in.

Sybok saw his chance.

"Are there other eligible noble women for me to marry?"

"Yes, there are only if the council agrees, but first we must have the king's permission."

T'Pring now saw the truth. She had been set up. Sybok never planned to marry her. It was T'lau all the time whose powerful family and wide-ranging sphere of influence encouraged Sybok to join forces with him. T'lau had several daughters and Sybok was going to marry one of them.

"What of his mother T'lana?" T'Pring now was against Sybok.

"I am not responsible for my mother's actions." Sybok stood closer to T'lau. "I want to make it known that T'Pring does not stand with me. She is a traitor! What woman goes against her prince to make a deal with his brother? Where is her honor?"

"How dare you!" T'Pring yelled.

Sybok walked up to T'Pring and whispered in her ear.

"I know everything T'Pring. Syon, Stonn, and this Romulan Nero, I know them all and what you plan to do! I am going to take the throne and destroy the rest of your family! It was your father who told the king about my mother and her plans, it was his fault she was killed."

T'Pring didn't know what to say.

"Sybok…"

"I have known this for many years and use you to get where I am now. And if you think for a moment I am going to let you rule the throne then you are as foolish as a Ferenghi!"

There was heavy commotion and Sybok turned to see a Vulcan solider entering the doorway.

The solider was visibly shaken.

"The King is dead!"

An: I had to make it short, but I hope you like. The next chapter, sex, murder, and chaos... good stuff! Read and review.