Botanic Lab

4:30 PM

Rodriguez handed L'Naym a PADD. "Shylea, could you take this to Commander Falno right away?
He's in Stellar Cartography now."

L'Naym nodded and took the PADD. Since the Enterprise crew had arrived, all of the Departments
had been intensely collecting and going over data. As she had assumed, most of the action was taking
place in Engineering, Operations, Physics and Stellar Sciences. But the other Departments were busy too;
the Saratoga was getting ready to launch another probe toward the anomaly, and both the Biology and
Botanical Department where preparing samples to send with it.

L'Naym nodded and took the PADD. Since the Enterprise crew had arrived, all of the Departments had
been intensely collecting and going over data. As she had assumed, most of the action was taking place
in Engineering, Operations, Physics and Stellar Sciences. But the other Departments were busy too
and Botany was no exception.

As she wandered through the corridors she noted the mood of her fellow crewmates. Everyone was
professional, focused and determined.

And everyone was upset as well.

The Saratoga was a small and close knit crew and fiercely loyal to their Captain. All of them know how badly
the Enterprise Incident had scarred him. And all of them knew how badly this new Enterprise was affecting
him now.

But their Captain had given all of them a task and all of them were determined to not do what the Enterprise
crew had done years ago…let their Captain down

Stellar Cartography

L'Naym exited the turbolift and made her way to Stellar Cartography. She had always enjoyed visiting
both it and the astrophysics lab; they reminded her of the vast observatory in Oslamth that she had
so loved to visit in her youth.

When she entered the chamber, she noticed Lieutenant Commander Falno, Head of Stellar Sciences.
He was involved in an intense conversation with Commander Thelin and…she paused in recognition…
Commander Spock.

She took a breath and made her way over to Falno. "Sir. Commander Rodriguez told me to give this to you,"
she said softly.

Falno nodded and took the PADD. After briefly looking through it, he handed it back to L'Naym and called over
to another officer. "Silverstein, download this and transfer over files A-79, C-29 and H-10."

"Yes, sir."

L'Naym silently made her way over to the consol where Lieutenant Abigail Silverstein sat. She managed
a slight smile as she approached which Silverstein returned.

Both women were good friends. Silverstein was practical, level headed and passionate about stellar dynamics.
She also had an interest in botany and L'Naym, while plants would always be her first love, had always had
a deep interest in the stars. The two had bonded as a result and over the years had conducted several projects
and studies together.

"Shalom," Silverstein whispered as she the Nlian arrived at her side.

"Shalom," L'Naym returned. Exchanging the ancient Hebrew greeting had become a longstanding habit
between them.

Silverstein took the PADD and looked over it. "This will take a few minutes."

L'Naym nodded and moved closer. "How have things been down here?" she whispered so as not to interrupt
the other officers' conversation.

"Very busy." Silverstein answered. "Commander Falno's constantly moving back and forth between here
and Astrophysics. Commander Thelin's been in here a lot too, although he's spending most of his time in
Physics."

"What have they found so far?"

"A lot of stuff about that anomaly." She glanced at the anomaly's image which was being displayed on the vast
viewscreen. "The Departments are focusing on three main things right now: finding out the physical effects
of the anomaly on organic matter, finding ways to enhance the Enterprise's shields while near or in it, and
indentifying the unique quantum signatures of each of our realities. The theory is that every reality has its
own quantum signature, its own 'fingerprint.'

"And they need to find the Enterprise reality's 'fingerprint'."

"Exactly."

As the download continued, L'Naym glanced back over at Falno, Thelin and Spock..

She had encountered Vulcans before; growing up she had seen a few on Nlia. And of course there had been
Jim's mentor, Ambassador Spock.

The elderly Vulcan had called Jim regularly and the two had struck a close friendship. Jim had mentioned
once that the Ambassador had become almost a father-like figure to him. She had found it ironic that while
one Spock had hurt her Soul Brother so badly another version of him could become a close friend and mentor.

Last year, her Captain had been notified that the Ambassador was dying and asking for him. He had immediately
taken the Saratoga and had headed to New Vulcan where he had spent three days in the dying Vulcan's company.

During that time, much to her surprise, the Ambassador had asked to see both her and her lifemate.

*Flashback*

4/1/2260
New Vulcan
Residence of Ambassador Spock

Upon beaming down to the dying Vulcan's home, Jim had led them both to the elderly Vulcan's bedside.
The Ambassador had silently gazed at the Nlians for several moments before speaking.

"Jim's path…is different here," he whispered haltingly. "Every reality…has its own path. In my reality…
Dr. McCoy and myself were always at his side. That…is not the case here. Here…instead of my counterpart…
it is the two of you and your friendship has greatly aided him." He paused. "Jim…chose well in you both.
Thank you…for being there for him."

He had paused and coughed for a few seconds before continuing. "Cherish…your friendship always…
For it will define…all three of you… in ways that you do not yet realize."

*End Flashback*

L'Naym forced her thoughts back to the present.

The Ambassador had been right. The bond she and her lifemate shared with their Soul Brother
had changed and enriched all three of them.

She thought about her universe's Spock. Jim had told her and Tuskaro that according to the Ambassador,
in the elderly Vulcan's reality, Kirk and Spock had been best friends. As close as brothers.

Here…because of mistakes and misunderstandings that wasn't the case and never would be.

She thought of the other Spock who was somewhere in space on the now disgraced former Flagship.

I pity you Commander, she thought sadly. You have no idea what you threw away. What you lost.

She had seen Jim's soul. She knew him and knew that there was no better person to have as a Captain,
as a brother, or…she thought lovingly of her unborn child…or an uncle.

She looked over at the other Spock who was now talking to Thelin.

An elderly Spock from one reality.

A second Spock from this reality.

And now a third Spock from yet another.

It was all enough to make her head spin.

"It's done."

Silverstein's voice startled her and she glanced over to see her holding the PADD out.
Murmuring her thanks she quickly took it.

As she made her way back towards the door, she once again gazed at the Vulcan.

I hope that you haven't made the same mistakes that your counterpart here did.