It had been wise, keeping their bond a secret. It allowed time for those who would conspire to make themselves known.
Those who suspected Uhura had not acted alone, watched and were watched. Spock's spies worked quickly, identifying everyone who had been involved.
They were shown no mercy. Hours in the agonizer boot; identified leaders spending the most time there, followed by death.
It had been many months since this thing they had begun and still Uhura was unsettled by it.
Control was not something she had ever given over to anyone. She had learned early, it was the one thing that could be used against her, yielding the most severe of consequences. Her own sister had lost control in this manner. Ambitious and overconfident, she was quickly used up and discarded. Finished by her own heart.
So every comfort given, every moment spent feeling like he had become a necessary part of her, only deepened this ingrained sense of disquiet.
The ship's compliment now knew. They watched as the captain purposely made public statements of possession. Nothing as vulgar as Kirk had done, but small movements, brief touches were common. He might stroke two fingers along the back of her wrist, allow a hand to gently rest on the nape of her slender neck, there and just as quickly gone. Rare displays for a race known for abhorring physical contact.
Looks of disgust passed over many faces. They thought she was trash was for allowing an alien to touch her. This was despite the fact that the reverse was fairly common.
Terran males had their run of the myriad of alien races they conquered, with those races with physical features closest to that of a human being most desired and conversely most feared.
"...A step down from fucking a dog, because at least it's Terran." She'd overheard Sulu say.
"And dogs don't betray their masters."
When he caught her listening he quickly quieted, his eyes going wide, having already been severely punished by Spock for his loose tongue, before.
He had found out Sulu had suggested Uhura's face should be cut as a lesson.
"...A whore's punishment for a whore." he had said.
His own face had been cut for that ill-timed outburst. Spock calmly drew the blade down his forehead and across his jaw, creating a second smile, vertically-crooked and awful; a yawning, ill-placed, maw.
"Your skill-level is uncommon, but not irreplaceable, Mr Sulu." Spock said as he watched blood trickle down the ruin of his face.
"Perhaps this will be sufficient attrition for your slight. ...If not however," he said tilting his head, thoughtfully. "Your death will neither be swift nor merciful."
There was no implied threat in the tone of his voice. Spock was simply stating facts. That made his words all the more effective.
At this latest outburst, Lt. Uhura merely met Mr. Sulu's eyes evenly, allowing a slow smile to spread over her lips.
"I do understand, Mr. Sulu. Really, I do. A change in management is always difficult to deal with.
Still..."
She said, heels clacking loudly as she stepped closer. She reached out and cradled his jaw in her hand, her dagger drawn and pressed against his upper thigh -convenient if she wish to quickly unman him- before he thought to move.
"We either adapt or... We- get fired."
Leaning in smoothly, she planted a gentle kiss on his scarred cheek and patted it briskly before walking on.
*
Nero's claw of a ship slipped through the black whirling abyss. A moment of celebration, their planet saved, cut short by the realization that they would never see their loved ones again.
They were now deep in the long gone Terran Empire, a universe unkind to anyone who was not human. Knowing the outcome, realizing their capabilities were massive, relative to this new time and space, Nero had found his new mission.
Topple the Terran Empire. Insure they would never be able to gain a foot-hold again.
But first he had to find Spock.
Revered for the work he had done to dismantle the Empire years down the road, he would find him.
He would find him and help him accelerate that work.