It hadn't been what Hikaru had in mind when he agreed to join Kirk for a workout. Things had started well enough. The alpha had been bragging over lunch, though not about himself.

"You should have seen the fucking moves on this guy!" he gestured to Hikaru with his spork. "He looked like a machine the way he took out those Romulans. You don't want to be on the wrong side of him."

Janice tittered while Christine focused on stuffing a burrito into her mouth. Pavel was paying rapt attention to the story as if he hadn't had front-row seats for the whole incident. The kid was easy to impress. Less so was the alpha Kirk had introduced as an old friend: Gary Mitchell.

"Not like it's hard to wipe the mat with you, Jim," he teased. "Hard to believe you're an alpha."

Sensing a spike in tension, Hikaru interjected, "I'm by no means a master in fencing. I'd be happy to show you the basics if you want to learn."

He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

Kirk lit up like a kid in a candy store. "That sounds awesome! How about tomorrow?"

And so Hikaru found himself roped into a workout session with the whole group. The timing was…inconvenient. He had planned on condo hunting the whole day with Ben. But he couldn't say no to Kirk and Pavel's combined pleading.

The beta arrived an hour early only to find Kirk already there. He didn't recognize him at first. The man's blond hair and yellow shirt were dark with sweat already. Hikaru wondered how long he had been there. Based on how ferociously he was beating the punching bag, it couldn't have been for long. Maybe he needed some alone time?

Shrugging to himself, Hikaru turned up the volume on his earbuds and began to zone out to Kitaro. Hikaru loved creating fantasies while running. Though Ben often teased him about his workout music choices. He jumped on a treadmill and began his warmup process.

He imagined being a samurai defending an ancient village. Then he ran to rescue a fair maiden from pirates. Now he was climbing a tall mountain to face a dragon. Anything was possible.

He noticed Kirk joining him on the treadmill next to his and gave a nod. The alpha didn't look any less intense, so he continued to focus on his warmup and left the man alone.

Hikaru was a prince on an alien planet. He was a sprinter in the Olympic games. He was a hero who saved the day.

He was a dad—

The beta was interrupted from his musings. He felt the vibrations of Kirk's all-out race shaking through Hikaru's machine. The man was running terribly. His form was all wrong, and it was driving the weight of his heels down in a stomping march rather than a graceful lope. He still managed to go pretty fast, if the setting on the treadmill was any indication. But it was clumsy, brutish even.

Hikaru began his cool-down process and turned off the music in his earbuds. Now he could make out the gasping breaths of his gym partner. Kirk sounded like he couldn't get enough oxygen but wasn't letting up from his breakneck pace. Hikaru glanced at the machine's heart monitor. He wondered if he should alert medical.

Not a moment too soon, Kirk seemed to hit whatever crazy mark he was striving for. He slammed the button to stop the machine right away. Then he bent in half as he sucked in deep lungs full of air, sweat running off him like a river.

Hikaru spent another minute reducing his pace to an amble before doing the same. Kirk was grinning like a madman when he offered him a sanitizing wipe. He hesitantly accepted it before cleaning his machine.

Unable to keep silent any longer, Hikaru awkwardly asked. "Sooo, do you normally exercise like this?"

Kirk's eyebrows raised in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You're really…intense."

The alpha shrugged and tossed his wipe into the trash. "I guess so. I think it makes sense to me to work out as hard as I can. Otherwise, it doesn't feel like I'm doing it right."

"How do you not injure yourself all the time?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"Oh," he laughed. "I do." He took a swig from his water bottle. "Why do you think Bones is my best friend?"

"I'm surprised he puts up with it," Hikaru ventured.

"He doesn't," he said. "But who can resist my charms?"

Hikaru rolled his eyes, which seemed to be the intended reaction. Though he wasn't above (privately) admitting he agreed. The two men joked around before agreeing to work on some weights until the others joined them. They still had almost half an hour before the designated meetup.

The beta cringed when Kirk started too heavy and again with bad form. How had he managed to live his whole life without knowing how to do a proper curl? He made a few pointed suggestions that Kirk followed surprisingly well. He wasn't being a macho alpha about it, he just honestly seemed ignorant.

They chatted for a bit between grunts. Naturally, the conversation led to the rest of the workout group.

"So what do you think of Christine?" Kirk asked overly casual.

Hikaru winced. "She's great."

"We used to date." The beta didn't respond, too focused on not dropping his weight. It was a little embarrassing how much Kirk had already racked up. He continued, "Didn't end well. My fault. But she's great."

"Yeah, man."

Kirk shook out his arms after a difficult set. "You should see if she's interested."

"Interested in what?"

"You, duh. You're the whole package. I'd tap that, respectfully," the alpha jokingly pointed towards him.

Hikaru paused, brain finally catching up. "Thanks, but I'm happily engaged."

"Oh." Silence. "Shit, I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

"No, uh, I've been kind of trying to wing-man for you."

The beta laughed, oddly touched. "I appreciate it."

"Who's the lucky person?"

"His name is Ben," he said. He broke into an uncontrollable smile despite himself. "He's a freelance writer. We grew up together."

He missed the forlorn look on Kirk's face. Instead, he caught the playful smirk. "He better lock you down quickly. Us heroes are a hot commodity right now."

"Trust me, I am milking it out for all its worth. I haven't had to do a single load of dishes since I got back." The beta hissed as he overextended a squat. "To be honest, I can't wait to marry him. I'm scared about the steps after that."

"Like what?"

Hikaru frowned at his workout buddy, uncertain how honest he wanted to be. On the one hand, Kirk didn't seem mature. His reputation alone had made Hikaru hesitate. Then again, the man had risked his life to save him personally. What the hell, it wasn't like he had a lot of friends in Starfleet who might understand anyway. Everyone he knew married their careers or ships instead of actual people.

"We want to raise a family, but it's…"

"Complicated?" Kirk finished. "Trust me, I get it. I was raised in Starfleet."

Both men finished their sets in silence. They drained their water bottles and sat down. The weak air conditioning felt amazing as he sat under a vent.

Hikaru continued, "I know they're encouraging family units. Bigger missions and longer missions. That's not it." He wiped his face with a damp towel. "Life is so terrifying right now. An entire planet was destroyed right in front of me, Earth was next."

Kirk grunted in agreement.

"My whole family lives in San Francisco. I am so lucky that none of them were hurt during the attack. I could have lost everyone I love on Valentine's Day."

"Valentine's Day?"

"Nero attacked Earth on the 14th."

"No shit? All the days feel like a blur. Fuck, I don't even know what day it is right now."

The beta laughed. That seemed to fit his new friend. He shook his head. "That's not even mentioning all the protests. I never thought I'd see the return of the atomic ages before we had social reform. What if I have an omega daughter? How can I bring a kid into the world without knowing if she's going to have the same rights I have?"

"You're preaching to the choir," Kirk said. "I've seen the absolute worst shit that can happen from role discrimination." He shifted in his seat. "Fuck. Forget I said that. Look, just know I get it. Well, sort of. I mean, I can't imagine finding someone I'd like to spend the rest of my life with besides Bones. And that's because I'm stuck to him like some weird, incurable growth. But if I've learned anything from what happened with Nero, it's that we have to grab whatever happiness we can. And we hold on. Don't let it go."

Hikaru reevaluated his opinion of the alpha. At least, until he noticed the bruises coloring the other's knuckles.

"Hey man, are you bleeding?"

Kirk glanced down in surprise. "Oh, yeah. A little?"

"You didn't wrap your hands before you decided to spar with the bag?!"

Kirk's rebuttal was interrupted by the arrival of Christine and Janice. They were arguing the merits of a TV show they followed religiously. The blond leaped to his feet to greet them. Hikaru was left to wonder how much of Kirk's jump after him off the drill had been heroics instead of a complete lack of self-preservation.

"Enter."

Sarek was greeted by the haggard face of a Terran male. His eyes were bloodshot with a lack of sleep, but his hair was carefully slicked back. He looked displeased to see the door close behind the Vulcan. Sarek found the sentiment to be mutual.

The admiral leaned back in his chair. "I was wondering when you'd make your move. Makes sense you'd wait till the last moment." His tone was conversational. One might mistake it for friendly banter.

Sarek stared at him dispassionately, weighing his reply. Per usual, he forwent pleasantries to directly address the matter. "I advise you cease asserting your influence against my son."

Komack scoffed, as expected. "Your boy fumbled the ball. Ambassador." He said the title with a bite.

"Your senseless persecution has no merit and is founded on bigotry."

"I don't care if he's the most competent omega to ever omega." He sneered and leaned back in his chair. "It's clear to me we can't afford to risk him like that again. Have you forgotten our agreement?"

Sarek did not relent. "Spock will not be court-martialed. If he goes to trial, I will reveal his importance in the Omega Directive."

"Why do you think I started this whole process, asshole?" The human thumped the desk with his fist to emphasize his point. "It was one thing when he was teaching planet-side, and we could monitor his progress. Do you actually want him to be out there in space? Think of what could have happened if they hadn't been able to stop his heat! We were this close to losing everything."

"My son deserves the right to choose." Sarek pictured Spock as a small child when they first learned he was at risk. Amanda had been adamant he be given a choice even then when he was so young. "He may yet decide to return to the safety among his people."

Komack shook his head, jowls waggling. "Too risky. I'm not going to take that chance."

"Then you leave me with no choice."

"You wouldn't dare," he growled. "You can pretend all you like that you're a machine. But I know you are doing this because you care about your son's well-being. Revealing what we've done would force Spock to resign from Starfleet in disgrace. He'd be even more of an outcast than he already is. There'd be no turning back."

Sarek internally faltered. Mentally he reached for the aching space in his mind where Amanda should have been. He needed her. She always knew the right thing to do, even if it did not make logical sense. How would she proceed in his place?

She would protect Spock. He knew this as if her voice answered the echo of a question from the very depths of his katra. She would lie and steal and even kill for their son. Sarek steeled himself.

"In turn, you would be cast out, Admiral. I documented evidence of your involvement. You will lose everything."

The two alphas stared each other down.

Komack proved the weaker. He jerked his chin to the side to flash his pudgy neck before returning his bloodshot glare to the Vulcan. Sarek did not relax, despite the small victory.

"I can't stop what I started," he admitted. "But I'll vote for your kid if it comes to it."

Sarek exhaled.

"Now get the fuck out of my office."

Sarek couldn't have known that a similar conversation was happening in another, not-too-distant office.

"Bullshit," Admiral Marcus said.

Ambassador Spock's eyes glimmered with hidden amusement. "Vulcans do not lie."

"And I don't mean to insinuate they do, but the idea you're from the future is a lot to take in. How can I be sure?"

The elderly Vulcan stared solemnly at the man. He didn't know many personal details of this man's life. He had died by the time Spock met the man's grandson, David, but Carol had often spoken of the man with fondness.

"I am aware what I ask is difficult. However, if you clear Spock of all charges, I can guarantee he will be essential for the future of Starfleet."

Admiral Marcus frowned. "I'd be happy to help, in exchange for further information, Salek. How about something that will benefit us in the upcoming war?"

"War, Admiral?"

"With the Klingons," he explained. "It is inevitable now. We're weakened by the loss of Vulcan and so much of our fleet. I want a weapon."

Spock's sense of unease prickled. "I am an Ambassador, not a creator of weapons. My tools are peace and diplomacy."

"Perhaps information that will help protect us, then?" he pressed. His pale blue eyes were steely with determination. "I'm not going to help for nothing."

The Vulcan hesitated. He was having misgivings about approaching Admiral Marcus. If he didn't provide him something, he was uncertain how the intense man would react.

He could use him to eliminate another threat.

"There is a vessel adrift," he started. "Aboard is a crew in suspended animation. Among them is a man who has the potential to bring the Federation to its knees. You will save many lives if you secure his ship and prevent his crew from ever waking up."

The Admiral smiled, finally revealing a calculating expression. "Now that's more like it."

Bones was half a bottle under by the time Kirk found him in their dorm. The good doctor was lounging on their dingy futon. He was ham-fisting a golden-brown bottle of brandy. With his other hand, he held a hologram of a little girl with brown pigtails. Kirk could see how red his friend's eyes were but decided not to comment as he took his seat beside him.

"Where've you been?" he asked.

"I bit the bullet and answered my mom's call." He shrugged. "Needed to walk and cool down after."

Bones thrust the bottle in his direction. Kirk shook his head. "I'm fine, Bones. Besides, I can't even look at that after Uhura drank me under the table."

"Don't know how you're able to stop. World's goin' to hell in a handbasket."

"Yeah," Kirk agreed. He gestured to the picture Bones was holding. "Is that your daughter?"

"My little Jojo." He drank, eyes tearing up. "Who knows when I'll see 'er again. I'm probably gonna lose her, Jim. Jocelyn wouldn't let me see her this weekend. Every time I hug her goodbye, she smells a little less like me. She's growing up too fast."

Kirk sat down and patted his best friend's shoulder, feeling like a total asshole for not being able to do more. For a moment, he thought he heard Bones wailing, but when he turned to look, the noise was gone. The other alpha stared sadly at the hologram but made no sound.

Bones continued, "I'm not sure what to do anymore. Jocelyn's new husband has all the best lawyers wrapped around his fingers. I can't win."

"I know a pretty good lawyer," Kirk offered. "You remember Areel?"

"Your ex?" Bones scoffed. "How about someone you haven't danced the horizontal tango with? Besides, haven't you been reading the news? She's running all over hell's half-acre."

Kirk winced. Bones laid on the euphemisms thick when he was drunk or homesick. "You know reading gives me headaches."

That sparked some of the doctor's usual ire. "Use your damn glasses! I swear you don't have the sense God gave a goose."

When Kirk held his hands up in surrender, the other alpha grumbled under his breath. Probably about what an idiot Kirk was. That seemed to be the consensus from people.

Annoyed, Kirk decided to argue a point. "Besides, Areel's not an ex. Sure, we dated, but it was never serious. She fucking left me for her best friend anyway."

"Not serious like Gaila."

"Well…" He trailed off. There was that sound again, but now he was sure it wasn't coming from Bones. He struggled to regain his train of thought. "Gaila and I weren't serious either. We might have gotten there, but…I don't think I've ever been in a real relationship."

"And here I thought you only saw people as past or future exes," Bones quipped.

Kirk protested, "It's not that I don't want…that. Just. You know, with my mom and my dad…"

Bones knocked his shoulder with his own. "I get it, Jim. Trust me, I do. I can't imagine finding someone after what Jocelyn did. Don't know if I ever will." He sighed. "Sometimes the best thing that can happen to a person is being alone."

The blond alpha nodded. "I hate being alone, though," he admitted. "I'm scared to try and yet I can't stop hoping."

Bones turned off the hologram and took a swig of his drink straight from the bottle with a cough. "We both need to figure out how to live without a partner for a while."

"I don't think I've been single for more than a month," Kirk joked. "I'll be an insufferable bachelor."

"You're already insufferable."

"You know it!"

The good doctor finally smiled. It was short-lived, but worth it. He had annoyed his friend out of the spiral he was chasing down.

"Hey, you know I'm here for you, Bones," he said. "You're stuck with me. Neither of us is going to be alone."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you infant."

"Do you hear that sound?" he asked, finally fed up.

Bones squinted. "What sound?"

"Never mind," he said. Then, to wave off suspicion. "Your ears are probably too old to pick up distinct noises beyond certain pitches anymore. It's science, trust me."

The alpha's reaction was worth it.

Verg took her seat amongst the rest of the council at the end of the row. To her right sat Archer. She exchanged pleasantries with the old beta while waiting. They quieted down once Spock and Shaw entered the room and took their seats. Kyr entered only a few minutes later. The Andorian looked irritated.

Archer started, "We're here to discuss the interview you submitted, Advocate Shaw."

"I have already admonished her in private, Admirals," Verg intervened. "She's on report till the end of the year."

"Regardless, it seems to have the effect she desired," Marcus drawled. "Despite it being strictly for Starfleet personnel, we've all been inundated with…overly concerned citizens."

Komack scoffed at the other end of the panel.

Barnett said, "I believe Advocate Kyr has been tasked with formulating a plea deal?"

Kyr mumbled something under their breath before continuing aloud. "I propose a letter of adnomination go on his permanent record and a status of being on report for five years. But, that is only if Spock agrees culpability to the charge of dereliction of duty while exercising assertive initiative."

Shaw hissed an intake of breath, eyes wide with shock. Verg glared at her until she schooled her expression to one of neutrality. Spock did not so much as twitch. She whispered to the Vulcan who only nodded in return.

Barnett sighed. "I doubt the rest of my esteemed peers will agree to the possibility of—"

"I request the plea deal be approved," Shaw interjected.

Before Verg could reprimand her younger subordinate, Archer nodded. "I motion we vote."

"Seconded," Marcus said.

Taken aback, Barnett shrugged. "Very well. Deputy Director Sounti, how do you vote? Yea or nay?"

Verg's thoughts stumbled. While she didn't believe Spock deserved to be court-martialed, this also seemed too lenient to her. Why had Kyr decided to submit this plea deal? Something felt off. Despite her initial misgivings, she decided, "Nay."

Shaw slumped in her seat, looking defeated. She was biting her lip again. Spock, infuriatingly, betrayed no emotion in response. Verg shook her head to Shaw with a frown.

"Admiral Archer, how do you vote? Yea or nay?"

"Yea," he croaked.

Verg took over. "Admiral Barnett, how do you vote? Yea or nay?"

"Nay."

"Admiral Marcus, how do you vote? Yea or nay?"

Marcus smiled, looking very pleased by something. His calculating gaze watched Spock as he said, "Yea."

They were tied.

Kyr gave Shaw a sympathetic look. She was resigned to the inevitable decision. Komack had never been subtle when it came to his opinion of Spock.

"Admiral Komack, how do you vote? Yea or nay?"

Komack glowered at Shaw and Spock with such vehemence, that Verg was certain he was going to lunge at them. Alpha pheromones oozed out of the man, increasing the tension. His face was turning a violent shade of pink.

"Yea," he spat.

What?

Everyone in the room, aside from Spock, stared at Komack in confusion. Shaw looked flabbergasted. Verg cleared her throat.

"Uh, we…accept?" Shaw managed to stammer out. Then she beamed a brilliant smile. "Thank you."

The next hour was spent going over the formalities and details of the plea bargain. Shaw was ruthless in the exact wording, seeming to shed her insecurities as time went on. Verg was proud of the young JAG officer.

It struck her as strange though when she saw Spock leave the room. He looked more miserable than she had ever imagined a Vulcan could be. He slipped out of a side door. Meanwhile, Shaw addressed the startling amount of press waiting outside of the courtroom.

The Tellerite shrugged. Vulcans rarely made sense to her. If he insisted on not thanking his stars for such good fortune, she wasn't going to be the one to bother forcing him. She had shit to do.

Spock did not know where he was going.

He walked towards the Academy before rerouting. He no longer had access to his office and there were very few places that would grant him solitude there. Plus, he was avoiding any chance of running into the cadet.

Kirk.

And Nyota.

He had not sought either. This was despite a multitude of messages from the latter and silence from the former. He was uncertain he could meet either of their eyes.

He also did not go back to his apartment, as Sarek was lodging with him. Typically, his father stayed at the Embassy while on Earth. However, they were currently overburdened with Vulcan refugees. He did not wish to speak with his father at the moment.

Spock also did not return to the hospital, where he would be harassed and prodded. Nor did he leave Starfleet. The reporters had become more difficult to evade off campus after Shaw's interview. He felt hunted.

Irrationally, Spock longed to return to the Enterprise. He considered an impromptu inspection. He reasoned it would be crawling with members from Internal Affairs.

At this point in his musings, he had made his way to the hangar bay. The bustle of people scattered about where primarily focused on their tasks. Not on a single Vulcan interloper. Spock felt the tension in his jaw relax for a moment. Then he spotted someone who shared the same logic in coming there.

Sarek was walking at a stately pace away from Spock. The omega hesitated. His hearing and its results would likely be welcome news. It was illogical to withhold his presence despite not wishing to converse with anyone.

"Father," he called out.

The older Vulcan stopped and turned. Spock stamped down the feeling of relief that he had been mistaken and instead felt a curl of confusion. While he could say with absolute certainty the man was not his father—in fact, he had never met this elderly Vulcan before—there was an intense sensation of familiarity. Perhaps he was a distant relative?

"I am not our father." There was amusement lining the Vulcan's face in a way that was bewildering. Spock stepped closer, involuntarily. "There are so few Vulcans left, we cannot afford to ignore each other."

A rush of connections joined all at once.

First, the Vulcan had said "Our father." Yet Spock had no knowledge of other siblings besides Sybok. Plus, he was older than Sarek. Logically, the only way they could share a father was if time travel was involved. That had already been established as possible with Nero's presence. The ship he had commandeered had addressed Spock as "Ambassador." The Vulcan before him wore the uniform of an ambassador.

Spock was addressing himself.

Both Vulcans walked closer as if drawn by some irresistible force: curiosity. His counterpart continued to speak.

"There are so few Vulcans left, we cannot afford to ignore each other."

As if he could.

Still, "Then why did you send Kirk aboard, when you alone could have explained the truth?" he queried. He wanted to demand 'Why did you let me endure so much suffering?'

If his future counterpart had spoken with him instead, Spock would never have been forced to reveal he was emotionally compromised. He could have gracefully dealt with his heat and prevented having his designation revealed to the whole world. Now he was left struggling with the political backlash.

There would not be a Black Hole at the center of his chest.

Spock held back a surge of revulsion as his scent grew with his anger. His counterpart had ironclad control. He did not even draw back from the pulse of bitter cocoa and burnt caramel. He did not smell perturbed in the least. Or like anything at all.

"Because you needed each other."

Spock's eyebrow threatened to rise before he tamped down the incredulous reaction.

The Ambassador continued. "I could not deprive you of the revelation of all that you could accomplish together. Of a friendship, that would define you both, in ways you cannot yet realize."

The omega struggled to find a pertinent question as a flood of them began to overwhelm his input. Instead of asking a relevant follow-up to such a bizarre statement, he managed to ask, "How did you persuade him to keep your secret?"

"He inferred that universe-ending paradoxes would ensue should he break his promise," he said. There was an unusual gleam in his eyes. Spock wondered if all his emotions were as easy to read as they were in his elder counterpart.

"You lied."

"Oh, I...I implied."

"A gamble."

"An act of faith," he corrected. "One I hope that you will repeat in the future at Starfleet."

The tight knot in his stomach grew heavy with dread again as he was reminded of his dismal future. His career was essentially ruined. He would never be trusted to do anything of significance again. There was no future with Starfleet.

Unenthusiastically, he parroted his father's words. "In the face of extinction, it is only logical I resign my Starfleet commission and help rebuild our race."

"And yet, you can be in two places at once."

Spock did not respond.

"I urge you to remain in Starfleet. I have already located a suitable planet on which to establish a Vulcan colony."

A tendril of hope lodged itself in a lump in his throat. He looked down, unable to meet his future self's earnest brown eyes. They reminded him of Amanda to the point of pain.

The other spoke softly, as if sensing this. "Spock, in this case, do yourself a favor. Put aside logic. Do what feels right."

Spock inhaled but could smell nothing from the other. He wanted…he longed to believe what was being said was right. The last few days had left him feeling adrift. Cut from the rope that was his life's purpose as he waited for the pieces to fall where they may. This was the universe, perhaps another universe, telling him to get back up and fight. If he believed such things.

His counterpart was walking away, and he still had so many unanswered questions. The words died on his tongue when the older male turned to him one last time.

"Since my customary farewell would appear oddly self-serving, I shall simply say good luck." His hand raised in the ta'al.

Spock numbly responded to the salute in kind as he watched his future walk away.

But not before he rushed forward and demanded the other's contact information. He was no fool. Who knew when he might need the advice of a well-informed mind?

"You realize the information I'm giving you is completely confidential? I'm breaking the law in giving this to you. You cannot implicate me in your story."

"I always protect my sources."

"I'll continue to be your best source if you do this right."

"Look, you came to me."

"You've written some good stuff. Cracked open some stuff even that bitch Sounti had no idea about until you mentioned it. We would have never figured out Spock was in heat without you."

"I'm good at my job."

"You're a leech. Don't forget that."

"We all have to do what we can in these trying times."

"Well, you won't have to do much. It's all in there. So make sure it sticks."

"Of course, Admiral."

"This'll teach that asshole to cross me."

"A pleasure, as always. I'll send you my piece before I submit it to the channels."

"Dismissed."