Chapter3: The whole truth

Slowly Spock opened the metal chest on the table. "Why didn't you tell us who you are, in the first place?"

Jamie stepped next to him and took a look at the items inside. "I told you my name... But Dad... I mean, Captain Kirk, just assumed that I'm from a parallel universe. I actually don't know why I went with it. Perhaps..."

"...you thought it to be easier?" Spock suggested. "Because you are not born yet."

"Well, all of you had your fair share of time travelers. And to be honest - it wasn't an easy decision to come here. I... I'm actually afraid to screw things up. I don't want to meddle with the timeline. I just... saw no other option. The Ambassador was my only hope. I had planned to meet him directly on New Vulcan and to be seen by absolutely none one else."

"For the daughter of the man who doesn't believe in no-win scenarios this sounds a little gloomy, does it not?"

Jamie shook her head and smiled slightly. "I know that the Federation in the Ambassador's time was able to protect Earth and the Alpha Quadrant. So yes, I do definitely not believe that this is a no-win scenario. But the road has gotten a little bumpier now." She briefly held her breath. This was much more than she wanted to reveal. She knew the first confrontations with the Borg were merely months away and it pained her to know what was going to happen. You must not interfere, Jamie told herself. You must not change the past. You are here about the future of your time.

Spock took a jewel box out of the chest and placed it on the table. Then he grabbed a few sealed envelopes, real paper envelopes. As he read, one by one, to whom they were addressed Jamie knew what was coming.

"There is one for you", he said surprised and handed it to her. Jamie took the letter, but didn't move. To the daughter or son of James T. Kirk, to be given after the 25th birthday, was written in a delicate hand. Spock's hand.

The Half-Vulcan was confused by her non-reaction.

"I know this letter", she finally explained in a sad voice. "I got it a few week ago." In fact her letter was in one of her pockets right now. But she wouldn't tell him that, of course.

Spock was about to start a question when he realized something. "You also have a personal agenda. The Borg are not your only reason for being here."

Her eyes shot up surprised.

"You wanted his help, but it has also something to do with this letter, am I right? What is it?"

Jamie put the letter down on the table and made a helpless gesture. "I wouldn't be a good idea to tell you what he wrote. You would carry that knowledge while I grow up. I can't burden you with that and I don't know if that would change the future."

Spock nodded slowly. "You arguments are logical, however there is one flaw."

She gave him a curious look.

"The writing", he simply said.

Jamie rolled her eyes. Of course. He didn't really need to know what - else - the letter said. To the daughter or son of James T. Kirk. Those few words already spoke volumes. "He knew very well what sex this child had. Or should have had. But he wrote is like this", she said quietly.

"The other Jim Kirk did not have a daughter?"

Jamie shook her head. "A son. Who was murdered. At the age of 24..." She took a chair and sat down.

"You are having some kind of identity crisis", Spock concluded.

"I should not care about that letter. Everything was fine... before I knew about David... That was his name... It's strange. I mean, of course it was strange to learn that I was never supposed to exist. That in the other timeline, the original timeline, there was a David... If it weren't for Nero - David would exist. If it weren't for Nero - the Borg would not invade the Alpha Quadrant." And she was again saying too much about the Borg in the future. She sighed.

Now, Spock also sat down. "You cannot do this to yourself."

She remained silent.

"You cannot see yourself as some flaw of this timeline."

"But I kind of am. The Borg should not be on their way to Earth and I should not exist."

"If I may cite a close friend - bullshit."

Jamie blinked surprised. And suddenly, she laughed. "Nice pep talk." Then she grew serious again. "Perhaps I am too absorbed in all of this. But I can't help thinking about it. David should have been born. Not me. And the Borg shouldn't have gotten to the Alpha Quadrant so soon... I probably shouldn't tell you this..." No she really, definitely, absolutely shouldn't. "They are mentioned in one of the other letters, one not to be opened for a hundred years from now." Jamie saw the letter in question in the pile in Spock's hands. "He never wanted to get involved, but in the end..."

"He could not bring himself to not warn us about the worst. That is also why he told us about Khan a few years back."

Jamie nodded. "His letters carry warnings. No solutions. And I guess he never anticipated for the Borg to show up earlier than in his timeline."

Well, perhaps it didn't matter anyway that the young Spock knew now. She just hoped he would not ask, how she could know what was in the letter which actually shouldn't have been opened in her time yet. If he should be asking, she would have to make something up. She couldn't tell him what was going to happen to his Enterprise and Yorktown. The chest and its contents would soon be getting lost in the battle of Altamid and recovered years later when Starfleet would salvage what would be left of the first NCC-1701. For her it was history, for him it was the future.

"And that is why you travelled back in time."

Jamie was relieved. He gave her a strange look, but didn't ask the feared question. "Yeah... I am looking for a way to protect the Alpha Quadrant, but the Guardian of Forever sent me not where I wanted to go."

"The Guardian of Forever?"

"Long story. Complicated", she gestured and stood up to browse further through the chest. But aside from another box with Vulcan trinkets there wasn't much more inside. Or at least nothing helpful. Figures, she thought. If there would have been something we would have probably found it in our time.

"Nothing?"

Jamie shook her head. "I really don't know why the Guardian sent me here. I could have also talked to all of you in my time. Where everyone's got much more knowledge about the Borg and has experience in fighting them."

Spock's face softened in a realization. "I think, exactly that might be the answer you are looking for."

"I don't understand."

"What if you simply needed some fresh pair of eyes? Some neutral views on the matter? Or a change of perspective?"

She hesitated for a moment. "Wouldn't that be far too easy?"

"You tell me."

Jamie thought about it for a minute. There was practically no scenario and no weapon modification they hadn't tried in her time. What was different? What did the Guardian want her to see or learn?

"Perhaps you should get some rest", Spock said and interrupted her thoughts. "I will escort you to one of our guest quarters."

She was about to protest, but changed her mind and simply nodded. So they left Spock's quarters together.

"By the way, I am realizing that you left out some information about the letters. But I will not ask further."

Jamie smiled amused. Of course he did...