The Planet of Veridian III...
As the morning dew drops from one full-green plant leaf to another, and the babbling water of the wide riverbed flows through this foliage-rich area, a small Federation shuttlecraft rushes over head, flying past the tranquil vision. It heads for the mountainous region beyond, from which the river flows into and where the huge damaged saucer section of the USS Enterprise D lay in its dug out crater.
The shuttle flies over the ruins, past the many hovering pill-like construction vessels that are attached to it. The rigging cables are being manned and used by the numerous crew that have been here for months, trying to salvage the crashed saucer section and repairing what they can to bring it back to Earth.
The shuttle circles around as it surveys the damage, curiosity of its pilot gives the onlookers a brief glimpse of the new arrival. The moment is done and the shuttle continues on to its next destination beyond the rich landscape of the mountainous area. It crosses over into a new sector, one that is filled with desolate rock and cannons. Built into the tallest section of the escarpment is a rickety metal platform and walkway, parts of it dismantled and collapsed. The shuttle slows its approach and softly lands down to the ground, near the base of this peculiar set up.
The occupant exits the shuttle from the rear, as it unfolds its door like a ramp, and the grey cloaked individual steps onto the surface in a confident stride. The hood obscures his features, with the dry arid winds fluttering the rest of his garb as he walks up to the top of the escarpment. The individual takes great care in reaching the top, using the path of large rocks and some of the undamaged platform to reach its peak.
Once the climb was completed, the cloaked individual stopped near the lone tree sticking out from the crack of the stone ground. In front of it, sits a pile of rocks of various shapes and sizes. Each one carefully placed and overlapping as it shields the resting place of Captain James T. Kirk. His insignia adorned the top of this rocky burial, marking the site of his grave where Captain Picard lay him to rest. The cloaked person reached down and picked up the Starfleet badge, giving it a tender rub in the hand.
The figure turned around slowly, surveying the view of this hostile burial site, and removed the hood to look out and reflect. The aged Vulcan man is known as Spock. A prominent figure head and the ambassador of his homeworld, and a former Starfleet officer who served aboard the first NCC-1701 USS Enterprise. The journey to come out here was purely of his own doing, to pay respect for his fallen friend and former captain.
"I've always known, I'll die alone..."
Spock remembered that phase James T. Kirk had once stated to him during their time together on shore leave. They had served many years together on that starship, many fond memories and a bond of friendship unlike any other. He gave the insignia another long rub with his thumb and forefinger while dwelling on it. He glanced outward, a perplexed expression on his face, it was like he had experienced this moment before, a form of deja vu of the moment. He shifted his eyes, trying to remember when, he twitching his lips slightly, and struggled to recall when.
Spock suddenly found himself on Vulcan, inside the Federation consulate, in front of a large window that looked out onto his homeworld. The perplexed look on his face remained, even as he casually glanced about. This was his current reality. He knew he was here, on this world, in this time. What he experienced before was that of a vision, a glimpse into the future. Or was it? Was this the dream or memory instead? The confusion of the moment disoriented his mind. He tried to grasp what just happened.
He's not old, not like he saw himself before, but young... yes, he was in the present, still in his prime years, wearing the full pale blue uniform of a Starfleet officer. That other version of himself was on a world he's never been too before.
"This is highly illogical..." He internally surmised. "What is happening to me?"
Then, another image suddenly flashed in his mind. He saw the USS Enterprise, the refitted one he'd been on with Admrial James T. Kirk a year ago, and it was on fire. The saucer section had been destroyed, it was falling into a planetary atmosphere. The imagery was horrifying and disturbing witness. But then, it disappeared, it vanished from his mind and he found himself still standing in the windowed lounge looking out at Vulcan.
He couldn't make sense of what was happening. The logic of these images were baffling to him. How or why it was occurring was unknown to him. The sense of timelessness was overwhelming and confusing. As a Vulcan, his people were capable of telepathy and mental projections of forethought. But, he was half human, he wouldn't be strong enough to see any of this, especially in such great detail.
"Spock?"
Hearing his name, Spock gazed over his shoulder to see who was addressing him. Standing at the far side of the room in the doorway was human woman in a white Starfleet uniform. She had a bob-cut style of red hair, that shaped her youthful, and innocent-looking facial features. He recognized her immediately and completed his turn to face her. This was someone he had not seen since he first began his early days on the USS Enterprise, not since Captain Pike was in command of the ship.
"Mira... Colt?" He stated, with an arched brow.
The sliding door closed behind her with a strong whoosh. She slowly entered the large spacious window-adorned lounge and greeted him properly. The short sleeved white Starfleet outfit she bore was that of a high ranking officer. Spock was unfazed by her authority, and greeted her back with a simple nod.
"It's been a long time." She smiled. "You haven't changed a bit... well, other than becoming captain of the Enterprise that is."
"Indeed..." He stated. "It is most agreeable to see you again."
Spock's eyes shifted slightly as he still tried to gain a sense of which reality he was in, or which timeline. That soon departed his mind in an instant, as if experiencing a glimmer of clarity about one's place in the universe, and then, having it fade away into the obscurity of an afterthought. Mira noticed his hesitation. She stepped closer to him, tilted her head and gave a concerned glance.
"Are you alright?"
"I am uncertain..." He replied in earnest. "My mind was elsewhere for a moment, before you came."
"It's happening again... isn't it?" She peered at him in thought. "That flash of memory... mixing together of the present, the future... and of the past..."
"Yes," Spock nodded.
"I remember you telling me about it before, when we last saw each other at Lieutenant Commander Jose Tyler's funeral."
Spock cocked a brow at her. Mira Colt nodded as if she understood his confusion. She stood beside him and looked out the window. They had a brief moment of silence as they glanced out onto the planet's terrain.
"I wasn't sure if you would come to Vulcan." He said. "I know you were busy heading the Science Division of Starfleet. In all honesty, I wasn't sure if I explained my reason for contacting you adequately enough. I expected no reply back, of course."
"It okay, Spock. It was a welcome distraction. But, to be equally honest, I've been getting those visions too." She smirked. "I hadn't had them for a very long time. But, every now and then... more recently, the visions have kept coming, memories and possible futures..."
"Their meaning is puzzling to me. I have no logical explanation as to why or what is causing them."
"I think I know what it is. That's why I'm here,' she exhaled and folded her arms.
"Please elaborate..." Spock questionably peered at her.
"You and I have unfinished business. That mission from Stardate 267370.29, the one we're not allowed to discuss or acknowledge. I think it's time we head back to that forbidden sector and complete the mission we started."
"And yet, here you and I are, discussing it now. Which we shouldn't be doing. That mission was, shall we say, a rather bizarre encounter and one that Captain Pike would have liked to remained forgotten."
"Only because nobody can remember what happened." She frustratedly motioned with her hands. "All of our memories of that time were gone. We found ourselves back outside the system. We need to go back and figure it out."
"That region of space surrounding the system is off limits to all Federation vessels. I doubt that the Klingons or Romulans even venture there for that very reason."
"I know," She grimaced. "But, logically, we must go back and investigate to understand what happened to us out there."
"Perhaps we shouldn't." Spock countered. "There could be a reason why we cannot remember what occurred during that time we explored that system."
Mira briefly glanced up at him, then turned back to view the scenery.
"I know you, Spock. You're just as damn well curious about it as I am. And just as stubborn when it comes to seeking out the answers."
Spock turned to look out the window as well. He folded his arms as well and gave a long exhale of frustration. Being half human, it bothered him to show such minor frailties, especially when trying to be a model Vulcan. But after the mission on the newly refitted Enterprise, and the encounter with the purely logical being known as V'ger, he came to realize that having some human feelings are better than having none at all.
"What do you say, Captain Spock?" Colt smirked at him. "Care to return to being explorers on a mission with the Enterprise? Just like old times?"
"It won't be easy. We're going to need to do this by the book." He glanced over to her. "We will need to get clearance for this mission. Starfleet won't proceed without enough support from the council."
"I'm sure I can get one or two to see things my way..." She grinned, then looked over to him. "I'm sure you've got someone in mind too..."
"Quite possibly..." Spock said, raising both eyebrows.
"You think he'll agree to help?"
"I believe so." Spock stated. "It might require some temptation, one I'm sure he'll have no objection to, but, yes..."
Colt turned back to the view and pursed her lips.
"It's settled then, we're going."
Spock nodded in agreement, and the two kept themselves poised by the window as they shared another long silence. Vulcan was a desolate, yet beautiful planet to observe, and the advanced city, with all of its technical marvel, enhanced its splendour as the red hue of the sky gave it a perfect backdrop with the sun setting in the distance.