Mutara Nebula
The Enterprise continued its trek out of the nebular but with only auxiliary power, its speed had been greatly reduced. A snail's pace compared to the escape speed needed. Inside Reliant, the whine of the Genesis device increased.
A clear sign that though a dead ship, Reliant was alive with danger.
Enterprise
Bridge
"Time!" Kirk requested; his arms crossed as he silently counted down the time they had left.
"Three minutes, thirty seconds." Saavik answered.
Thrawn was as calm as the rest of the bridge crew, but he was considering the possibility that he would die here as well. He'd always believed he would die in the line of duty though this possible scenario hadn't been what he had expected. Of course, given how he was once a commander in his own race's military, he considering that the way he died was as the commanding officer. Still, he knew the risks of joining this crew and from what he could evaluate, this had been through no fault of the crew.
Admiral Kirk, despite being rusty, had proven to be an adept commanding officer, utilizing the knowledge and experience he had fostered over his career, and he had a competent crew with him.
Perhaps this was a real-life version of the new win scenario.
Thrawn mused bitterly at the possibility of dying at the hands of the same scenario he had found a creative, yet unorthodox approach at the academy.
Irony could be quite cruel.
"Distance from Reliant..." Kirk spoke up.
"Four hundred kilometers." Thrawn answered, his attention on the situation never wavering, no matter his inner thoughts.
"We're not going to make it, are we?" Sulu asked.
Kirk looked at David, but David shook his head: No way.
Reliant
Bridge
The view screen showed the Enterprise, a garbled image at least, backing away and attempting to flee,
Khan smiles triumphantly through his pain as an electronic power sound was building. "No... You can't get away... From hell's heart I stab at thee...For hate's sake... I spit my last breath at thee!"
Khan silently toppled forward, dead.
The whine continued to build chillingly.
Enterprise
Reactor Room
Bathed in blue light, arcing energy around him, Spock was a silhouetted figure as he worked. Amid the fire-blue arcs, he moved his hands between the controls and power arcs insanely. Spock was in an inferno, a radiation hell, fighting now with all his strength to control it.
His face, despite using all the self-discipline he was capable of to control the pain, still showed signs as he continued working. He then placed the cover back on to the cover back on the top of the reactor.
Bridge
"Sir! The mains are back online." A cadet called out from the engineering station.
"Bless you, Scotty. Go, Sulu!" Kirk immediately said.
Sulu did so.
Mutara Nebula
With a burst of warp speed, the Enterprise accelerated out of the lazy pace in a blaze of light, leaving Reliant behind.
And just in time.
The whine increases to fever pitch in the doomed ship's transporter…
Then she detonated!
The starship Reliant vanished in a massive explosion, followed quickly by the nebula itself. As the Enterprise continued speeding away, a shockwave was produced by the explosion that the victorious ship narrowly avoided. The explosion encompassed the entire region, being seen across light years even as the distance between the Enterprise and the explosion grew.
There was a blinding flash at first, followed by the same tumbling turbulence of the miniature test shown on the computer simulation in Kirk's quarters.
It was awesome.
Enterprise
Bridge
The bridge doors opened, revealing Carol Marcus and Jedda. Instinctively Carol was drawn near her son who was watching the viewscreen.
Finally, Kirk turned, seeing Carol. "Reduce speed. My God, Carl. Look at it."
On the screen, a great ball of light could be seen that was growing more solid. Matter was reorganized and brought together, forming into a sphere of fiery light…
A sphere that showed a burning surface, followed by an atmosphere.
Lieutenant Thrawn slowly stood up and approached the screen, eyes wide in perhaps what was the first time in his life.
The Genesis device…The name of the mysterious science project that Carol Marcus had been working on.
He thought it was an instant terraforming device that could change the surface of a planet to make it live-able as shown from the cave deep under the surface of Regula.…However this was so much more than that.
It actually created an entire planet.
This was beyond anything Thrawn could have considered.
A single device had the power to create planets and judging from the explosion, it could even destroy just as much as it could create.
"Engine Room. Well done, Scotty." Thrawn heard Kirk speak into the intercom.
However, McCoy's voice answered after a beat. "Jim, I think you'd better get down here."
Kirk looked down. "Bones?"
"Better hurry."
Kirk and Thrawn both looked at the science station.
"Saavik, take the con." Kirk moved through the doors quickly of the nearest turbolift, leaving the rest staring at the new world evolving.
Thrawn glanced at the science station a little longer, a solemn look on his face.
It seemed that Mr. Spock had found his own solution to the no-win scenario.
It was endless. Kirk ran forever, feet pounding down, down, down…
Formerly the Mutara Nebula
The clouds tumbled and moved; new things lying beyond…
Engine Room
Kirk emerged into the engine room, encountering Scotty and McCoy, their looks telling him. He saw the flashing light over the Reactor Room…
And the body inside.
He dashed for the control panel, but McCoy and Scotty grabbed him.
"No! You'll flood the whole compartment...!" McCoy argued.
"He'll die!" Kirk muttered, unable to look away.
"Sir, he's dead now…" Scotty solemnly spoke into Kirk's ear.
Kirk's eyes bulged. With stunned understanding, Kirk stumbled to the door, seeing Spock on his knees, hands blackened, face cracked with radiation lines and scars.
Kirk knelt, looking at his best friend in anguish. "Spock!"
Spock shook his head. With a feeble hand he reached the intercom button and then stood up, stumbling over to the glass door to face Kirk who stood up, looking him in the eye.
"The ship…out of danger?" Spock asked, his voice hoarse.
"Yes." Kirk managed to answer.
Spock was satisfied even as he fought for breath. "Don't grieve, Admiral. It's logical: the need of the many outweighs-"
He almost keeled over.
Kirk had tears streaming down his face. "... the good of the few..."
"Or the one."
Spock knelt down but Kirk followed him. "I never took the Kobayashi Maru test…until now. What do you think of my solution?"
"Spock…" Kirk managed to say.
"I have been and always will be your friend..." He propped a hand on the glass to support himself. Kirk's hand reflexively went to match Spock's on the other side of the glass. "Live. Long. And. Prosper."
With those words, Spock finally fell, becoming silent and still
"No...!"
Kirk huddled up against the glass, destroyed. McCoy looked on, helpless.
Enterprise
Starboard Torpedo Room
Personal Log, Thrawn Recording: I can safely this was the first true mission I have had serving aboard the starship Enterprise and I have learned much in the short time. In my galaxy, very few powers, including the Galactic Republic and my own people, would intermingle in the way Starfleet has and yet it has worked effectively. Multiple species, humanoid and otherwise come together, serving together despite their vast differences has given them a unique strength. A strength that carried us all through a very difficult situation and I can honestly it has been an experience.
Though now, I am now to partake in a solemn activity with the crew.
The ship's senior crew along with Saavik and Thrawn had assembled for ship's burial service.
"In accordance with the traditions of Starfleet and of Article 184 Starfleet Regulations, we are assembled here today to pay final respects to our honored dead." Kirk began.
Carol, Jedda and David were present with David watching Kirk attentively. McCoy stood next to Kirk while Scotty carried his bagpipes. Saavik wore her hair down and Thrawn stood professionally, stoic but in respect.
"And yet, in the midst of our sorrow it should be noted that this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world, a world that our beloved comrade gave his own life to protect and nourish. He did not feel that sacrifice a vain or empty one and we will not debate his profound wisdom, in these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this, that of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most.." Kirk faltered for a second. "…human."
"Honors hup!" Sulu ordered.
All Starfleet personnel saluted as Scotty began to pipe, an odd blare which mellows into Amazing Grace. A gleaming black projectile is carried by pallbearers into the launching chamber, which locked behind it. At a hand signal from a torpedoman, the projectile was fired. A noise was heard, signaling Spock's remains were their way to the new world.
Kirk's Quarters
Sitting in the luxury chair in his quarters, Kirk picked up the battered volume, the gift from his friend, and closes his eyes a moment. Almost idly he started turning pages, looking for a clue. But he couldn't see the writing so he rummages through his pockets and pulls out the half-glasses…
One of the lenses is broken.
Kirk put down the book and glasses and covered his eyes.
There was a soft bong and Kirk cleared his throat. "Yes... come."
The door whooshed open and closes to admit David, the last person Kirk expected to see. "I don't mean to intrude."
"Uh, no..." Kirk rose. "I should be on the bridge."
"Are you running away from me?" David asked.
Kirk paused, thinking for a moment. "I suppose I was. I poured a drink. Would you like it?"
"No. I - I guess I'm not what you expected." David stated.
"I didn't expect anything." Kirk replied ruefully.
"That makes two of us." David studied his father. "Lieutenant Saavik was right: you never have faced death."
"…Not like this, no." Kirk answered, his voice turning hoarse. "I haven't faced death, I cheated death. I tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing."
"You knew enough to tell Saavik that how we face death is at least as important as how we face life…" David pointed out.
"It was just words." Kirk shook his head.
"But good words. That's where ideas begin. Maybe you should listen to them." David stated.
"I'm trying, David."
"So am I. My friends were killed, too."
"I am truly sorry."
Both men paused and studied each other.
"I was wrong about you. And I'm sorry." David finally spoke.
"Is that what you came here to say?" Kirk softly asked.
"Mainly." David turned to leave but stopped and turned. "And also that I'm proud, very proud to be your son."
A stunned moment came after he spoke those words, then Kirk let it all hang out: for David, for Carol and for Spock. He hugged his son, holding onto him as if to life itself.
Bridge
Captain's log: Stardate 8141.6
Starship Enterprise departing for Ceti Alpha V to pick up the crew of USS Reliant. All is well. And yet I can't help wondering about the friend I leave behind. 'There are always possibilities,' Spock said.
And if Genesis is indeed…life from death, I must return to this place again.
The Enterprise passes the new planet in all its beauty. The door whooshed opened and Kirk strode on the bridge, David with him. Carol war there with Mccoy and both were glad at what they saw.
Kirk walked up the railing and leaned on it, staring at the planet that had been created.
"He's really not dead…as long as we remember him." McCoy said with a smile.
Kirk stared at the view screen. "It is a far far better thing I do than I have ever done before... a far better resting place I go to than I have ever known..."
"Is that a poem?" Carol asked softly.
"No. Something Spock was trying to tell me. On my birthday." Kirk shook his head, remembering.
The majority of the bridge crew gathered behind him, all of them gazing at the new planet.
"You okay, Jim? How do you feel?" McCoy asked.
Kirk smiled. "Young. I feel young, Doctor."
On the new planet, appropriately named Genesis, trees grew, water fell from the skies, and the sun shined down on a forest where a certain pod had softly landed.
A blue ghostly figure appeared next to the pod, staring down at it.
"My friend…Even if the Force is not as prevalent in this universe, it can still reach out and touch the life that has connected with it." The ghostly image of Qui-Gon said with a small smile. "You truly are full of surprises and here in this new world where life thrives…You shine even greater in the Force…And yet, I sense something else at work…Worry not though, you will not be alone."
As he vanished, Qui-Gon could hear Spock's voice.
"Space, the final frontier... These are the continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise... Her ongoing mission: to explore strange new worlds... to seek out new life and new civilizations... To boldly go where no man has gone before..."
