A/N: OK I really want to thank Bookdragon01 for helping me with this chapter. Basically I had Spock so far OOC I couldn't figure out how to get him back to the normal half-Vulcan we all know and love. So Thank you Bookdragon01 I know this wouldn't have been up for weeks if ever without you.
Nope only the people you don't recognize are mine as well as the attitudes of those minor characters we don't have much info on this go round.
'We did a pretty good job on short notice,' Uhura thought looking at the others when they met back up in the hall ten minutes later. She and Christine had their hair down, Christine's held out of her eyes by a blue ribbon that matched her eyes and the trim on her grey sweater with a pair of jeans. Her own hair was loose down her back with the African skirt her mother had given her for her birthday her third year, blue shirt and denim jacket. Len hadn't changed from that morning's jeans and t-shirt, just grabbing his old battered black jacket and his black hat; Joanna and Pavel looked like any child and teenager she'd seen in the last three weeks. They were waiting on Jim and Spock.
"Well you two look like college girls, not Starfleet officers. Not sure what I look like though," McCoy commented looking at them. Joanna nodded from her seat on the couch.
"You look handsome, Daddy," she said chuckling at the look of pleased surprise on his face as Jim joined them.
He was back in his clothes form that morning with an old fashioned blue baseball cap on his head the brim hiding part of his face as he fiddled with what looked like a prop out of an old vid.
"Where's Spock?" Jim asked looking up and causing Uhura to start as she caught sight of his face.
"Jim! What happened?" the words came out almost unconsciously. He'd somehow managed to turn his blue eyes almost the same shade of hazel as Len and Joanna's.
Her exclamation caused the others to whirl around in shock.
Jim just chuckled as they stared at him. "Sorry, I forgot that you'd never seen these before. Don't worry, it's just colored contacts. I didn't mean to scare you."
"Damnit Jim, a bit of warning next time," Bones groused looking both put out and intrigued at the change as Joanna got up and studied Jim's face.
"Where did you get them and why?" Uhura asked baffled as to their purpose.
"You look weird, Uncle Jim," Joanna told him after a few moments.
"Thanks, JoJo," Jim chuckled. "I started looking into them after everything two years ago so that I could move around a bit more. People see a different eye color they think they were mistaken and you aren't who they thought. But I didn't have time to get them with everything going on. I managed to pick them up when we had that crazy mission with the Orion smugglers, in case I needed to really go undercover or get the hell out of there without being identified," Jim explained.
"Identified as what, Captain?" Spock asked as he stepped out of his quarters in time to hear the tail end of Jim's last remark.
"An inconsiderate jackass," McCoy said rolling his eyes and looking put out at his friend's antics.
"Indeed? And why is that?" he asked as Jim turned around. Spock's eyes widened almost comically before narrowing suspiciously.
"Yes it's me, Spock. It's only colored contact lenses, I got them when we were stuck doing recon work during that smuggling mission with the Republic, just in case," Jim said with a half smile as Spock relaxed again.
"But why brown out of all the colors you could have picked?" Uhura asked, still puzzled by his choice.
"I was curious how I'd really look." Jim said with a crooked smile. "Here, Spock, try this for covering your ears," he said handing Spock the extra hat.
"I do not understand how a hat will stop others from recognizing me," Spock said, gingerly taking the hat and turning it over in his hands looking puzzled.
"I think I do, Spock," Uhura said. "This will cover your two most distinctive features, your ears and eyebrows, at least from a distance. If this works the news crews won't give any of us a second glance," Uhura said as she helped carefully settle the hat on his head making sure the points of his ears were tucked inside.
"Is that suitable?"
"Perfect, Spock. As long as they don't get too close no one will be able to tell who you are," Uhura said stepping back to check the effect of the grey fedora with his dark green turtleneck and charcoal sweater.
"Well shall we go?" Jim asked as they headed for the lift. "I left messages for Scotty and Sulu, so they can hopefully catch up at some point."
They spent two hours wandering the grounds of Starfleet and the Academy, showing Joanna the sights and sharing stories of the adventures and misadventures of their years at the Academy. They ended up in the gardens late in the afternoon.
"Can we go see the new garden?" Joanna asked as they reached the original Kelvin Memorial.
"We'll have to see if there are any news crews still camped out front Darlin'," Bones told her. "If we can't walk in without gettin' mobbed, we'll see 'bout gettin' some help so we can look in peace later."
Joanna nodded, she'd managed to sneak enough of the coverage right after the Narada attacks that she remembered how crazy the news people could get. She'd finally got caught and punished by her mother but it had been worth it to be sure her Daddy and Uncle Jim were both alright. And the good thing was that her mother had let her talk to her Daddy whenever he could call while they were grounded so she wouldn't be sneaking around to find out what was happening.
The original Kelvin memorial was a plain black obelisk with only the ship's name, dates and the names of those lost inscribed on it.
Joanna looked at it for a few minutes. "Why'd they make it so ugly Uncle Jim?" she asked.
"I have no idea JoJo. I've wondered that a few times myself; especially with some of the elaborate ones they have," Jim replied looking at it.
"It is hardly a requirement for a memorial to be aesthetically pleasing. But in this case I find that I must agree with you, Captain, this is one of the most unappealing memorials at Starfleet," Spock said as he came to stand beside them.
"Any idea why it ended up looking like this, Spock?" Jim asked looking over at his First Officer curiously.
"No, Captain. Why would you assume that I would, as I am approximately only two point four seven Earth years older than you?" Spock looked at him, eye brow raised.1
"Yeah, but you were at the Academy longer so I thought you might have heard," Jim shrugged.
"In that case I believe the elder Adm. Archer might be the person to answer your inquiry. He has been here longer than both of us, though he is now retired," Spock replied, with a Vulcan smile.
"I probably will at some point, if I think about it, when I see him," Jim said with an answering grin.
"I agree with the both of ya it's the ugliest thing on the campus. That is if you don't count seein' Tellerite cadets for a full physical in the hospital. Then I think it's a tie," McCoy remarked finishing his circuit of the monument.
"Doctor, what possible correlation could there be between this monument's lack of aesthetics and giving a Tellerite a routine medical evaluation?" Spock asked, slightly bewildered that there could be a connection.
"Spock, you ever see a Tellerite in the buff, as in naked?" McCoy deadpanned.
"I have not, Doctor, nor have I been in a situation where I would have. Why?" Spock asked, still puzzled.
"If you had you wouldn't have to ask. They are 'bout the only thing I know that's worse to look at then this thing," McCoy explained waving his hand at the stone in front of them as Jim and Joanna burst out laughing.
"I am pretty sure zhat zhe new vone vill look better zhan zhis."Chekov remarked as he, Uhura and Christine completed their own circuits and joined them. "I do not zhink it could look vorse."
"Amen to that." Christine added causing Uhura to nod in agreement as they left.
A couple of minutes later they caught their first real glimpse of the new memorial. Everyone paused for a moment at the sight, though they'd seen images of it. The walls were fourteen feet high with the glass roof rising ten feet above them. It was the walls themselves that made them pause. The champagne colored stone walls were covered by a colored bas relief of the Vulcan landscape. The front wall was decorated with the area around Shi'Kahr, where Spock had grown up. They could only see part of the left side showing The Forge. It almost hurt to look at the images but Spock found he was glad they were there where they would be remembered.
"Are you alright?" Nyota asked softly.
"Yes I had not realized how detailed the walls were, I was- surprised. It is a most faithfully detailed recreation," Spock replied as they continued walking and the true scope of the details became clear. Everything down to the sparse tufts of grass was included.
McCoy shook his head in wonder at the sight. "I wouldn't have wanted to live there but it was definitely an interestin' lookin' place," he said as they reached the first set of doors.
Once inside, they immediately shed their coats and hats at the heat, it was like stepping into a San Francisco August, and stepped through the second set. Everyone but Spock and Uhura gasped at how much hotter it was just from the entrance; like stepping into Death Valley for desert training. As Jim hastily removed his contacts before they could dry out, they paused for a few minutes to try and get at least a bit used to the heat, looking around the memorial as Scotty and Sulu caught up with them.
The walls for the ships were ten feet high and of white veined black granite, polished to a mirror finish with a small image next to each name, while the actual walls of the garden were inset with ten foot high slabs of polished red granite and engraved in flowing Vulcan script.
They wandered through the garden, starting with the ships, more or less together but giving the others their space and a shoulder if needed, waiting until they were all finished before moving on to the next. They found many names that they wished weren't there: friends, teachers, even a few friendly enemies.
Uhura froze when she found Gaila's name on the wall for the Farragut, and tears filled her eyes for her friend and roommate. She didn't hear the footsteps behind her and jumped slightly at the hand on her shoulder.
"I miss her," she murmured feeling his hand tremble slightly as her tears started to fall. It didn't really faze her when Jim gently turned her to face him and pulled her into his arms, letting her cry on his shoulder. Or that when she wrapped her arms around his waist that he buried his face in her shoulder and let a few of his own tears fall. Even the feeling of safety and strength she felt as she rested her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat as their tears slowed was only slight surprise. It was easy to forget this tender side of him, since not many people saw it, but it was as much a part of him as the devil may care attitude or the now slightly reddened blue eyes that were watching her sadly.
"I do too Nyota," Jim said as they stepped back and wiped their eyes. "I'd give just about anything to be able to apologize to her for using her password to hack into Spock's test. I-I was going to but she wouldn't -talk to me and I couldn't find her -before we left and then," he stopped swallowing thickly as more tears threatened, gently tracing the image by her name as he forced them back.
"I know. She always stuck up for you Jim," Uhura said laying her hand on his arm. "When I'd come in ranting about something you did, she'd laugh and say that you weren't as bad as I thought and that I needed to get past the way we met and actually get to know you. Once she said that she thought we fought like siblings all the time and I told her that she was crazy. But she was right, I did need to get past the obnoxious, womanizing farm boy I'd convinced myself you were," Uhura said with a watery smile.
"And the cadet who cheated on your fiancé's pet test?" Jim chuckled softly.
"That too. She could drive me insane sometimes but she was one of the best friends I've ever had," Uhura replied reaching up to run her fingers over Gaila's name.
"She's someone I'll never forget either, kidogo dada," Jim said softly and watched her eyes widen in surprise at hearing him call her 'little sister' in Swahili.
"That's for sure ndugu." Uhura chuckled at his face as he tried to figure out what she'd called him.
"Ndugu?" Jim asked, struggling only slightly over the pronunciation.
"It means brother, though I'm still trying to figure out whether to change it to mdogo or kaka. Younger or older brother," she said still chuckling at him.
"Well I am four years older than you, 1" Jim began as they started walking.
"I'm still not entirely convinced of that fact, especially given your penchant for juvenile pranks," Uhura interrupted, giving him a level stare softened by her faint smile.
"Ok, ok, I'll give you that one; but I was born before you so technically that makes me older," Jim said as they continued scanning the names in companionable silence, catching up to the others.
"Amin. Do svidaniya, Maikl, I vill newer forget you." Chekov said sadly, as McCoy reached the section of the Hood's wall where the young navigator was standing, staring at one of the names.
"You ok Pavel?" he asked, not liking the slightly lost look on the navigator's face.
"Da Doktor. I found my roommate, Maikl Connor, he showed me around zhe Academy and made sure zhat zhe older guys did not push me around my first year," Chekov told him, pointing the name out. The image next to it was of a handsome red haired young man.
"He vas an engineer on zhe Hood."
"I'm sorry, Kid," McCoy said resting his hand on his shoulder.
"I know. He told me zhat he vanted to hear all about zhe Enterprise vhen ve got back, and zhat I vas zhe lucky vone to be on it," Chekov trailed off blinking hard.
"I think we all were lucky to be on it, still are at times. I'm pretty sure your friend would be the first to tell ya that," McCoy offered.
"He vould, but I still miss him."
"I know. I've found more names on these damn walls than I ever wanted to. All I can tell you is to remember the good times rather than dwell on the fact he's gone. At least that's what my Mama told me after my granddad died when I was around Jo's age," McCoy told him gently as Joanna hurried over from the end of the wall to give her friend a quick hug.
"Zhank you both," Chekov replied taking one last look at the wall as he joined them to walk to the next section where Sulu was waiting for them.
"You're welcome Pavel. I'm sorry, that ya lost him too," Joanna said with a small smile that Chekov returned.
The names along the outer walls were written in formal Vulcan script so only Spock and Uhura were able to read them fluently, though the rest knew enough to more or less read them with a small amount of help.
It was hard for Spock to look at the lists, so many names of those he'd known. Even the names of those who'd tormented him as a child weighed him, since they were still a part of his past, even if there were parts he would rather forget at times. As they walked Uhura quietly read the names of the cities to Joanna and explained their importance.
When they reached the list for Shi'Kahr, Spock stopped, he'd found the names of distant family members and friends of his Father's on almost every section of the walls; but this was different, these were his Aunts, Uncles, cousins and a few friends. While a part of him needed to see their names and remember them; he knew his Mother's name would be here as well and he wasn't sure he wished to see it. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and realized that no amount of Vulcan discipline would really help with this, just as it truly hadn't when he lost her. Opening his eyes he looked at the names remembering their faces easily.
To his surprise and disquiet his mother wasn't listed with the other residents, or his father's family members. He even checked the green marble stele that held the list of off worlders, set in its own ring of Vulcan garden plants between the larger monuments. For a moment anger at the omission threatened to overwhelm him as it had at Jim's accusation that he hadn't loved her, only this time it was deeper in a way because his father had to have known about the omission and hadn't warned him.
Joanna's voice snapped him out of his thoughts before they could go any farther.
"Daddy, I didn't know that roses grew on Vulcan," she said pointing beyond the other memorials.
In the corner, where it was almost hidden behind a trellis of Nar'ru Vines, was a small bed of roses around a smaller stone of creamy white marble. Roses had been one of his mother's favorite flowers, so much so that she'd worn rose perfume every day.
"I didn't know they did either, Jo," McCoy answered thoughtfully, looking at the bushes with interest.
"They were not native to Vulcan, but my- mother managed to cultivate a few varieties," Spock said softly, crossing swiftly to read the stone.
'In loving memory of Amanda Grayson, wife of Ambassador Sarek, and mother of Spock. Born Seattle Earth, 2202 - death Katric Ark, Vulcan, 2258. 'As roses speak silently of love, in a language known only to the heart, so shall her memory speak in our hearts forever. Having bound herself to Vulcan in life, may she be bound with the lost to the Source of all Life.'
Spock had to close his eyes. No matter how 'logical' they might considerate to be to show emotion here, he would not cry in front of his shipmates.
Everyone else went back to reading the names and let him have a private moment. As they finished, Joanna walked over to where Spock stood still trying to calm the emotions rolling through him at the inscription.
Joanna stood beside him reading the stone silently; then she looked up at him, "I'm sorry Mr. Spock. She must have been proud of you though," she said.
Spock looked down at Joanna in surprise; as his Mother's words the day he refused the VSA seemed to echo in his mind: 'You'll always have a proud mother'. He quickly shut his eyes again as the tide of emotion came rushing back, swamping his control for a moment.
"Are you ok? I didn't mean to upset ya," Joanna said worriedly, forgetting and laying her hand on his. Spock felt Joanna's worry spike through the contact but couldn't manage to form the words to explain.
Spock almost moved away when he felt someone come to stand at his side; but Nyota's hand on his arm stopped him long enough for her concern to register. The rest moved in as close as they dared. Though they didn't touch him, but he could still feel the echo of their concern. Their silent support gave his mind something to hold onto as he finally let go of his struggle against the grief, only dimly registering Nyota's arms supporting him as his mind turned inward. Letting his emotions roll through him behind his hastily erected defenses he relived the final moments on Vulcan again, his drawn brows the only outward sign of his inner turmoil.
As his mind cleared, a half remembered saying crossed his mind as he became aware of his surroundings again. 'Family is what you make of it.' He couldn't remember where he'd heard or read it but it had made no real sense then. Now he felt he might be starting to understand. The Enterprise had become his home, and though it would never replace Vulcan, he was valued as he hadn't always been there; and even as frustrating as they could be, those with him were closer in many ways than most of his Vulcan family had been. Once again he felt a weight lift as another piece seemed to fall into place for him, as he took a deep breath.
A few moments later he felt Nyota tenderly brush his jaw.
"I apologize for my lack of cont-" Spock started to say as he opened his eyes, slowly turning to face the others.
"Spock, don't worry 'bout it. I think we've all lost it at some point to day," Jim interrupted him. "You have a stronger reason to than all of us put together."
"Then I believe the correct response is thank you," he said with a small bow to all of them, bringing smiles and nods of understanding from the others as he forced his emotions back under full control again.
"Joanna, you did not cause my- discomfort. What you said reminded me of something my Mother told me the day I decided to join Starfleet, that no matter my choices, she would always be proud of me. I had not thought of that in many years. I was not able to return often to see her after that, though we spoke often," he reassured her getting a smile in return.
"Ok," Joanna replied and shocked him with a quick hug
"Whenever your ready, Spock," Jim said nodding towards the door.
"Thank you –Jim." he replied straightening his sweater before turning towards the entrance.
After getting their disguises back on, Jim's contacts shocked Scotty and Sulu as much as they had the others. They headed out again dodging a few straggling reporters to leave the Starfleet grounds and headed for Pizza My Heart2 a few blocks away.
A/N: Ok I've got a couple for you with this chapter. Yes there was more going on this time.
1- I've fiddled with a few characters ages. I couldn't find any definitive birth year for Uhura other than the 2230's with a possibility of 2239. That would put her at approximately 19 during the movie and 16 when she meets Jim in the bar. Since his birth is the last 'set in stone' birth now, I moved her to being born in 2237. The rationalization being that she has to be at least 18 to be drinking when they meet and Jim is 22 at that time. I kept Chapel and Sulu's ages the same; so they're roughly 21 during the movie, and 23 here, along with Uhura. I couldn't see Spock really going for someone that much younger than himself; 7 years is a big enough gap. He's 27-28 in the movie since we're never given a clue as to when his birthday falls other than he's born in 2230. Everyone else I've taken a rough guess at if I couldn't find anything concrete at Memory Alpha. (Spock's comment to Jim at the original Kelvin memorial and Jim and Uhura's conversation after finding Gaila's name)
2- Pizza My Heart is a real restaurant in San Francisco and 17 other locations including Emeryville. From the view of the Golden Gate Bridge in the film as everyone runs outside when Nero starts the drill, it looks like the Academy is in the Oakland/ Berkley/ Emeryville area directly opposite the bridge. That's also where it looks like the shuttles launch from in the beginning to take everyone to the ships. (Going out to dinner)