Anybody still there? Lol, sorry for the wait guys, job contract is now finished, arm is now almost mended so on with the story. I hope you remember what's going on, I had to remind myself. Spock and Nyota have had three years together they fell in love despite him being her teacher. After a variety of arguments and a lot of growing up on Nyota's part and growing more open on Spock's part they finally bonded (albeit it accidentally). Nyota was fine with being bonded and knows Spock is her life partner but as a Human she wants to get married in the Human way...just not yet because she wants a career. Nyota gets pregnant due to a mix up with contraceptive hypos, she's not happy Spock actually warms to the idea. But they lose the baby and Nyota becomes ill due to copper poisoning after the baby is aborted. They part ways for a while but eventually they talk about their feelings and get back together. There relationship becomes so strong that Spock decides to propose to her so that they can get married and both be placed on the Enterprise. Then..Gaila helps Kirk infiltrate the Kobiashu Maru, Spock takes him to the council, Vulcan is in trouble, Spock's mum dies, the planet is destroyed, Nyota comforts him in the elevator...

The Spaces that remain part 2

Spock walked back onto the bridge. All eyes turned to him. Chekov and Sulu had returned to their positions. Spock noticed that Kirk had sat in the Captains chair. He pushed down a feeling of irritation, Chris may have made Kirk second in command but with the acting Captain on the ridge he should have immediately stood up. It was a sign of disrespect that he did not.

"Have you confirmed that Nero is headed for Earth?"

"Their trajectory suggests no other destination, Captain. " Nyota replied. He felt a deep longing for her but was proud that she behaved in a efficient and professional manner.

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

"Earth may be his next stop, but we have to assume every Federation planet's a target. " Kirk said, Spock thought that this was just a statement to cover his own ass, as Chris would say. All evidence suggested Earth so they should react as if it were Earth Nero was heading for anything else would be unwise.

"Out of the chair. "

"Well, if the Federation is a target, why didn't they destroy us? " Chekov said

.
"Why would they? Why waste the weapons? You know we obviously weren't a threat. " Sulu pointed out in turn.

Spock felt the atmosphere of the bridge change at this. None of the crew had ever been expecting to come up against a ship that could out power the Enterprise. But he knew that Sulu's statement was not fact, to Nero's ship they were a fly simply brushed away. This was personal. Nero was about to destroy the Enterprise when he had hailed them to talk to Spock. He could have easily destroyed the Enterprise but he choose not to because he wanted Spock to see something. This was personal and yet, Spock had no idea who the man was. How could he have so badly offended a man he did not know. Yet there was the idea in the back of his mind, one coming into fruitation that it was no he who had caused the offense. That Nero was not simply a crazed Romualan but something which they had not yet encountered, a time traveler.

"That is not it. He said he wanted me to see something. The destruction of my home planet. " It took Spock considerable effort to say this as a matter of fact. He had seen the destruction of his planet, he had felt the death screams, it was very real to him. He kept moving as he spoke, it seemed to help calm him slightly."

"How the hell did they do that, by the way? Where did the Romulans get that kind of weaponry? " McCoy asked.

"The engineering comprehension necessary to artificially create a black hole may suggest an answer. Such technology could theoretically be manipulated to create a tunnel through space-time. " Spock answered. Time travel was still theoretical but many believed that they were close to a break through. A decade ago a strange substance called red Matter had been discovered. It created tiny worm holes in the fabric of time, the problem was it could not be harnessed. The moment it appeared it had a habit of combusting into a worm hole and dispersing all it's energy till it collapsed.

"Dammit man, I'm a doctor, not a physicist. Are you actually suggesting they're from the future? "
"If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. " Spock readily answered, he had expected to have to defend his theory. Those less aware of spacial anomalies might think the idea simple fiction.

"How poetic. " McCoy replied.

"Then, what would an angry, future Romulan want with Captain Pike? " Kirk asked. Spock felt a stab of emotions at the mention of his lost friend.

"As Captain, he does know details of Starfleet's defenses. " Sulu suggested.

"What we need to do is catch up to that ship. Disable it, take it over, and get Pike back. "

"We are technologically outmatched in every way. A rescue attempt would be illogical. " Spock didn't say the phrase suicide mission but it would have applied perfectly to Kirks impulsive and badly thought out suggestion.

"Nero's ship would have to drop out of warp for us to overtake him." Chekov stated. Spock felt a slight rise of irritation that they were even taking apart Kirk's illogical idea instead of just dropping it straight from their minds.

"Then, what about assigning engineering crews to try and boost our warp gear? "

"Remaining power and crew are being used to repair radiation leaks on the lower decks... "

"Okay, alright. There's got to be some way... " Kirk was walking towards him aggravation clear in his voice.

" ...we must gather with the rest of Starfleet, to balance the terms of the next engagement. "Spock said sharply.

He had opened up the discussion to the rest of the bridge crew to explore any rational courses of action he may of overlooked and to use their specialties to further improve the course of action he had chosen. But it seemed Kirk was determined to have some say however illogical. They were wasting time that could be better used in plotting the quickest course to the laurentian system. Couldn't they all see they were in a no win situation. That they had to do what they could to preserve the greatest amount of live, it was not the easiest decision but it was the logical one. If they attacked the Narada then nothing would be achieved except the destruction of the Enterprise and the death of her crew.

"There won't be a next engagement. By the time we've gathered, it'll be too late. But you say he's from the future, knows what's going to happen, then the logical thing is to be unpredictable." Kirk answered. Spock felt a twinge of anger at Kirk perverse and incorrect statement of what was logical.

" You are assuming that Nero knows how events are predicted to unfold. To the contrary, Nero's very presence has altered the flow of history, beginning with the attack on the USS Kelvin, culminating in the events of today, thereby creating an entire new chain of incidents that cannot be anticipated by either party. "

" An alternate reality?" Nyota's voice was questioning, if she who knew him so well needed confirmation on his belief in his theory then so would the rest of the crew.

"Precisely. Whatever our lives might have been, if the time continuum was disrupted, our destinies have changed." Spock felt the shock running through the bridge like a damp haze. He should have thought that statement through more carefully, Human's had an irritating habit of questioning how things could have been given a simple change in their lifelines to suggest to them that there was a possibility of having an entirely different life from the time they were born or toddlers was just going to distract them.

"Mr. Sulu." Spock said trying to draw attention back to the task at hand and sat in the captains chair." Plot a course to the Laurentian system warp factor three. "

"Spock, don't do that" Kurt was stood in front of him. Spock felt the walls around his emotions start to crumble, his annoyance at Kirk on top of his pain was just too much.

". Running back to the rest of the fleet for a, a, a confab is a massive waste of time..."

"...orders issued by Captain Pike when he left..." Spock tried to talk over him, it may go over everything he was ever taught on manners but Kirk was hard to shut up.

" He also ordered us to go back and get him. Spock, you are captain now! You have to be..."

"I am aware of my responsibilities, Mister..."

"Every second we waste, Nero's getting closer to his next target."

How could this cadet dare to tell him his job. He did not have the responsibilities on his head, he did not know how difficult it was for Spock to choose the most logical action. His mothers planet was in danger, and he was leaving it in that state because there was no other logical option. He was leaving his best friend, a man who had advised him and been his confidant for years. He was leaving him on an enemy ship to be tortured and killed. Logic was not a comfort. The only thing of slight comfort was that Nyota was close to him.

"That is correct and why I am instructing you to accept the fact that I alone..."

" I will not allow us to go backwards..."

"Jim!" McCoy shouted at the direct statement of mutiny.

" ...instead of hunting Nero down! "

Spock stood up, that one statement had given him cause for action. The last thing he needed at this time was a mutiny on his hands and though the chances of that actually happening were slim Kirk was also causing the bridge staff to question his decisions. He needed them all to work as well as possible in the given circumstance. They were all shocked, they were all a little scared they had all lost somebody but they needed to keep it together and get on with their work. And Spock, as Captain had to demonstrate that. He had made his decision. He needed to get Kirk off this ship.

"Security. Escort him out."

Two red shirted security officers had been hovering nearby. They each took one of Kirk's arms. Spock could literally feel the anger coming from the man. Was this the passion that Chris saw in him, that quality he held in such high regard. If so then it was certainly in need of direction if it were not to become dangerous.

Spock was distracted from his pondering when he heard a slight outcry, he looked over to see Kirk trip on of the security guards and quickly elbow the other in the face. Spock took immediate action he approached them quietly and unseen by Kirk in a few easy steps and as Kirk reached for the guards phaser (whether to disarm him or to use it himself) Spock placed his hand in that spot over his nerve in the Vulcan nerve pinch. A technique for briefly knocking out foe or the mentally disturbed that he had learnt as a child. Kirk gave a short breathy moan and collapsed to the floor.

" Get him off this ship." Spock commanded.
"Sir?" One of the security guards answered.

"We are passing a inhabitable planet with a Star Fleet base, he shall be held there until this mission has been completed."

The security guard stared at him wide eyed then nodded quickly.

"Yes sir."

As Kirk was dragged unconscious from the bridge Spock returned to the Captain's Chair. He found himself met with stares.

"I believe you have your orders." Spock said.

McCoy sighed and turned towards the turbo lift. Nyota returned to her seat and everybody else quickly swiveled back towards their stations and made themselves busy.

Spock, Are you sure about this?

Do not second guess me Nyota.

He felt a wave of unwanted sympathy and raised a wall around the bond. He did not wish to snap at Nyota she was trying to help him and for the most part she was but he felt he did not need any distractions. His mind felt like it was in the midst of a storm. The cold calm centre of an hurricane. The cold rational part of him he needed to lead the ship was continually threatened by a mixture of emotions, psychic pain and confusion. He had to hold it together.

Yes, a bit short but it's a start, next chapter up as soon as possible I'm going to put aside a hour or more everyday to work on this story alone (I have too many on the go at once because I always write what I am in the mood for writting). And again a lot of writing for what basically in the movie takes three minutes. Spock might show a lot of deliberation here between what only takes second in the movie but he's a Vulcan, he thinks fast when he's stressed.. survival instinct or something… yeah I'm making excuse but oh well, the next chapters got the fight and some more making out.