Soul Bound 07/? (Hermione/Spock - R)

[sarhea]

Title: Soul Bound - 07
Categories: Harry Potter, Star Trek AOS/Reboot/IX/2009
Type: gen, het, romance, drama, scifi, supernatural
Rating: R, violence
Characters/Pairings: Hermione/nu!Spock
For: crossbigbang 
Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood and co, JK Rowling does. I don’t know Trekverse and associated characters, Paramount and various other holding companies do.
Author Notes: See the Master Post for full notes.
AU after B7 Deathly Hallows; ignore the epilogue. AU to Star Trek Reboot the movie. The Narada destroys the Kelvin but the events in the movie have changed because Spock’s motivation, character, and history have changed since he met a particular little girl. Butterfly Effect.
Acknowledgments: Janni, for the art created and my beta Kit.
Last Edited: June 11, 2011,  Please note this may be revised & updated.
Summary: The disciplinary hearing of Cadet James T Kirk does not go as the Admiralty expect. Neither does the rescue mission to Vulcan. The Enterprise crew witness something never ever seen before… the results the result of years of research and effort, a miracle born from blending magic and science.


AN: AU core events of ST Reboot, the Academic Hearing, the mission to Vulcan.

~ooO 07 Mission to Vulcan Ooo~

Spock restrained the urge to sigh as he reviewed his hastily compiled notes on his PADD. He really did not want to do this.

"You look pretty unhappy for a Vulcan Commander." An aged crackling voice broke the quiet of the ante chamber attached to the main auditorium.

Spock stood up and saluted. Admiral Jonathan Archer was one of the few Admirals Spock truly admired. Even more so after T'Pol herself shared the details of the mission to retrieve and return Surak's katra to Vulcan.

"I have doubts regarding the logic behind the charges." Spock allowed cautiously.

"Would you care to share them Commander?"

Spock looked up into dark knowing eyes creased at the corners by a web of wrinkles. Archer already knew. He just wanted to hear Spock confirm it.

So the Vulcan did.

"When the Academy requested I create a simulation to test the character of cadets applying for the Command track I did some research on the characters of various men and women who were considered the epitome of leadership. All of them had certain traits but the one I felt most important was perseverance in the face of certain death. I designed the simulation accordingly and kept track of the students going through the simulation and their success, or lack there of, in Command.

"I noticed a particular trend that matched my research regarding character traits of good leaders. Students who took the test with no expectation of passing failed to even enter the Command track. Of the students who took the test expecting to fail but tried, twenty-one percent graduated from Command. Of the students who took the test with neutral attitudes, forty-five percent graduated. Of those who took the test expecting to win, seventy three percent graduated.

"From that last category five took illogical but calculated risks with very bad odds to fulfill both objectives. All five were put on the fast track and are currently in positions of greater authority compared to their fellow cadets.

"The Admiralty is not looking for a single trait but all of them: perseverance, intelligence, risk-taking, bravery. If you are looking for a cadet with those qualities James Kirk has them all. He willingly accepted blows against his self-esteem in reapplying to go through the Kobayashi Maru. He is intelligent enough to try various methods of achieving his objectives. He recognized the simulation is a no-win scenario and sought to change his environment so he could win. Is that not what a good captain does? Evaluate the situation and do whatever it takes for crew and ship remain alive and whole while meeting mission objectives?"

Archer seemed amused. "Barnett calls reprogramming the simulation cheating."

"A good general cheats on every battlefield. Why should he accept the conditions set if he can improve them in his favour? There is no conventional solution so Cadet Kirk used an unconventional one. A good captain seeks and uses all leverage against the enemy."

Archer tapped his cane against the ceramcrete floor. "You are quite correct Commander. Verimont, the Admiral in charge of the Command Program has been using cadet reactions as a filtering tool for the program for years now."

"Then why has Cadet Kirk been charged?" Spock wanted to know.

Archer looked tired. "Kirk is a good boy but he is more than a little brash and headstrong. He is not the sort to just lie back and take things. He will want change, he will demand it if he believes it is best. He is not the sort of Officers the desk-jockeys want to promote. But he is exactly the type of Captain Starfleet needs right now. Just like his father."

The elderly human stiffened and glared. "Barnett is interfering where he has no say. You will do what is logical and critique Kirk's character, the strengths and weaknesses. Try to avoid commenting on how we select candidates for Command track training."

~o~

Jim Kirk frowned as he tugged down on his red jacket as he listened to the charges. He had expected to be pulled before a disciplinary board for cheating but he didn't expect it to be so public! In front of the whole Academy and a full table of five Admirals. His spine stiffened as he realized just what that bastard Barnett was trying to pull.

"I reserve the right to face my accuser."

Admiral Barnett smirked. "Commander Spock? Please step forward."

Jim stiffened and turned to face the placid looking Vulcan dressed in plain blacks step down to stand beside him. WTF? Was he mad because Jim had hacked into his precious Kobayashi Maru simulation?

"You may begin Commander." Barnett proclaimed graciously.

The Vulcan gripped his wrists behind his back and began speaking slowly and clearly.

"The Kobayashi Maru simulation was designed to be a no-win scenario, to test the character of the cadets taking it, to determine their reaction in the face of certain death: Would they break down and collapse or would they continue to lead despite seemingly impossible odds. Cadet Kirk might have violated regulations regarding access to restricted Starfleet databases but he has passed the Kobayashi Maru."

Barnett turned purple. "Commander!"

"Cadet Kirk may be charged on Section Seventeen, Article Five, Point twenty-one regarding illegal access to Starfleet property but he cannot be charged on Section Twelve, Article One, for academic dishonesty. He did what was necessary to succeed in an untenable situation; he changed the rules. The method he chose deliberately left evidence that implicated him. I believe the Cadet wanted a hearing to challenge the validity of the test. Is my conclusion valid Cadet Kirk?"

Jim bestirred himself. "Well yeah. The Kobayashi Maru is unbeatable and that's not realistic. I don't believe in no-win scenarios. There is always a way; a real slim chance but something more than zero." He glared at Barnett. "I tried submitting requests for a more realistic evaluation but they kept getting rejected."

"How curious." Spock murmured blandly. "I never received any such request. My TA for computer science usually processes any requests regarding the Kobayashi Maru and forwards them to me. I must review the mail program archives to see if there are any other requests that Lieutenant Barnett-Herron has failed to forward to me."

Admiral Barnett stiffened at the veiled insinuation. He opened his mouth but before he could speak a Lieutenant in Operations scarlet entered through a side door.

"Admirals. We've just received an emergency distress signal. From Vulcan."

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

Spock did not hesitate once the orders came through. Every single senior cadet had been ordered to report for assignment. Spock needed to ensure certain individuals were on the Enterprise. He glanced through a PADD listing the cadets and made a few changes, moving around assignments so all of the names T'Mia specified were on the Enterprise. All were easily justifiable as the individuals in question were among the best in their specialities. And as Starfleet's flag ship the Enterprise deserved the best of the best. However there was one file he could not adjust without setting off alarms: James Tiberius Kirk who was on academic suspension.

James Kirk had to be on the Enterprise. He watched the human challenge the Staff Sergeant and kick a storage crate in anger when being informed of his suspended status. He watched Cadet Leonard McCoy inject Cadet Kirk with something that induced a strong reaction in the younger male. He did not interfere as McCoy manoeuvred Kirk onto a shuttle for the Enterprise claiming Kirk as his responsibility as attending medical officer.

He turned away and made for his own shuttle. Kirk would be on the Enterprise as T'Mia had requested. Now, Spock needed to report to own assignment: the Enterprise.

~o~

Christopher Pike resisted the urge to pace as reports started coming in from all departments now that the Enterprise was underway. The Enterprise was supposed to go on her first shakedown cruise, not into disaster relief with a crew complement of mostly inexperienced cadets!

A familiar hiss caught his attention. He glanced to the turbo lift and its single occupant. Spock was finally showing his face. Pike wondered what had kept the younger male from the Bridge during the undocking and first launch. It had to be something important. But it was odd Spock had not informed Pike of his delay before now.

"Commander."

"Captain. May I speak to you in private."

"I'm a bit rushed right now Spock. Reports are coming in."

"It relates to our current mission."

Pike stiffened. "You have information on the distress call from Vulcan?" Spock did not answer; he waited. "Join me in my ready room Commander. Lieutenant Haneeba, you have the conn." He hoped Spock had a really good reason for not sharing what he knew earlier during the mission planning session. Pike settled behind his desk and waited, his hands linked before him on his desk. "Sit down and make your report Commander."

Spock obediently took one of the guest chairs on the side of the table closer to the door.

"We are flying into a trap." The Vulcan surmised bluntly.

Pike stared hard. "Do you have any proof of this?"

Spock hesitated. "Nothing the Admiralty would accept."

That spiked Pike's automatic retort. "What do you mean?"

Spock looked away for a brief moment before turning to face the older human.

"It is not in my file but I am… betrothed."

Pike was confused. "Yeah, I expected it. From what I've been told all Vulcans are matched up before they turn ten."

"As was I. T'Pring broke our bond when I decided to study at Starfleet Academy instead of the VSA. In her eyes my choice was illogical."

Pike was curious but he held his tongue. Pushing Spock only turned the Vulcan stubborn.

"Two point six years ago I met an old childhood friend I had not communicated with due to my own choices. We were bonded during my leave of absence."

Pike blinked. "I had wondered why you made that request in such a hurry on short notice." He admitted thoughtfully.

The smooth unflinching visage cracked a micron. "I had lost T'Mia due to my own choices once. I was not willing to loose her permanently a second time. She is… extraordinary. Anyone she accepts tend to… resent having to share her with others."

The unspoken confession rocked Pike back. This was the closest admission to feeling love, jealousy, and regret Pike had ever heard from a Vulcan. He nodded slowly.

"Okay. So I assume your fiancée is on Vulcan."

"Yes. And our bond is unique by Vulcan standards. If I open the connection on my end I can sense strong reactions from her, even when I am on Earth. I cannot make out too many details but right now she is concerned."

"Will you be able to get a more complete picture when we are closer to Vulcan?"

"Yes."

"Is that everything Spock?"

"No."

Pike swallowed hard. What other Vulcan bombshells were going to be dropped on him? "Go on."

"The Vulcan High Council has been expecting this attack for some time now."

"What?" Pike was taken completely aback. "Why didn't they tell someone? Starfleet could have sent ships weeks ago if we were informed!"

"There is no scientific or logical reason to believe the source."

This confused Pike even more. "What do you mean Spock?"

"Christopher, you know we are a race of telepaths."

"Yes."

"And you know there are a variety of talents among humanoid psis."

"What does telepathy, telekinesis and pyrokinesis have to do with this?"

"Vulcans once produced individuals with the capacity to use multiple psi powers with terrible effectiveness, in civilian life and battle. Most of these gifts are emotion based and were lost once most of the population started following the Teachings of Surak. Many Vulcans still bear the genes for the talents but they rarely become full-blown. If they do most choose to join the Temples and Monasteries at Seleya and Gol; to control and hone their abilities."

Pike nodded slowly absorbing the information. Vulcans were a private people. He could see why they would not share this information with outsiders. Most other Federation planets had bad histories regarding psis or anything resembling augments. The only exceptions were races where psis made up a majority of the populace.

"I'm assuming one of these priests have something to do with your info."

"One of the rarer talents is clairvoyance, or prophecy. The future isn't an easy thing to predict. Every moment is in flux until it happens; events can to either way and the seer does not know until it happens. The strongest seers can generally only see two hours into the future on a major event affecting large groups of people he or she has personal bonds to." Spock's expression was very sober. "The priestesses of Seleya have been dreaming of death and destruction, of Vulcan dying in fire and ice for two years now. The cause has never been identified, only that it is huge and all encompassing.

"Their historical accuracy unquestionable so the High Council started evacuating significant percentages of the civilian populace to various Federation planets and colonies."

Pike sighed. "I see why they've kept this under wraps. Everyone believes the Vulcans are logical and scientific. No one would accept this explanation and justification."

Spock inclined his head. "Correct."

"So you think this warning dream is happening right now. We're going to be sailing into a situation that could cause destruction on a planet-wide scale."

Spock blinked. "It is only logical to take precautions. The priestesses of Seleya have never been wrong." He hesitated then continued. "T'Mia, my betrothed, has a sister who dreams like the priestesses of Seleya. T'Lun dreams of fires burning in the sky, a sword shaped from a star killing her, the ground breaking apart and falling into darkness. Most prophetic dreams are usually in metaphors but for so many to have similar dreams… is disturbing."

Pike drummed his fingertips against his desk. He completely understood the Vulcans reasoning for keeping quiet. If anyone had come up to him claiming to have had a warning dream of a future disaster he would have completed the paperwork for a Section Six. Even now he had no evidence; nothing but his gut. But if the Vulcans were taking this seriously so would Chris Pike.

"All right. We're going to take all the precautions for possible enemy action."

Pike rose from his chair and exited his ready room followed by his First Officer.

And stepped out into chaos.

"What is going on?"

He blinked and stared at the young man in basic black pants and undershirt without a tunic indicating his department and rank being restrained by two Security officers.

"Kirk? What are you doing here?"

"Captain! You've got to stop the ship! We're flying into a trap!"

Pike sighed internally. "So I have been informed Mr Kirk. Show me your proof."

Kirk blinked confused by Pike's calm and unusual response. Slowly then more surely he made his report. A Klingon transmission translated by Uhura describing an attack on the Klingon penal colony Rura Penthe, by a single Romulan ship, which decimated the Klingon fleet and Rura Penthe. And a strange lightening storm in mid-space.

"Just like the one in your dissertation on the Kelvin." Kirk concluded.

Pike inhaled sharply. "All hands prepare for battle stations. Do we have a Communications Officer who can translate Romulan?" A slim beautiful dark-skinned female cadet in Operations Red stepped up. "Name?"

"Uhura sir. I'm fluent in all three dialects."

"Take over from Lieutenant Kaylie. I want to know if there is anyone not Vulcan or Starfleet out there Uhura."

She nodded and took over the Communication Station.

~o~

Uhura was pleased. She was on the Bridge, close to Spock now. She now had the chance to demonstrate her competence and professional skills in real-life situation, to prove to Spock she was more than a good student, that she was a mature capable adult now and more than ready to make and handle adult commitments and responsibilities.

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

Jim stared out blankly. In his mind's eye he could see the debris field. A large fragment bearing the letters 'Farrag' floating in the blackness of space. They were gone. All seven ships. The entire senior cadet year that was not on the Enterprise was dead. In numb shock he listened to Nero's demands. And then he listened to Pike's orders.

He snapped to life.

"You can't surrender yourself sir! There is no guarantee Nero will keep his end of the deal and not destroy the Enterprise!"

Pike smiled faintly. "You will follow my orders Acting First Officer Kirk. You and your team will do an orbital skydive and disable that drill. Once you have succeeded the transporters will operation and Transporter Chief Kyle will beam your team back on board. Don't let me down Jim."

Jim stiffened. "I won't sir."

Pike turned to Spock. "Spock, you are Acting Captain now. Do what you have to do to stop the Narada. Nero destroyed seven Starfleet ships and he seems set on destroying Vulcan. He is dangerously unstable if all the reports are accurate."

"Understood Captain."

Pike glanced over at Kirk. "Find a spacesuit and anyone else qualified for orbital skydives and close-combat. Suit up and meet me in Shuttle Bay Two."

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

Spock resisted the urge to pace on the Bridge. He wanted to beam down to the planet, to run to T'Mia and drag her back to the Enterprise, to fragile safety. But the transporters weren't working. What was taking Kirk so long?

Chekov was making unhappy sounds as he recalibrated sensors and reported on the increasing seismic activity on the planet below. It would not be long before the drill caused permanent damage destabilizing the fault lines passing under the Langhorn mountains. The L-H canyon was the primary 'backbone' fault line on the Northern Continent. If it slipped the damage could very well be the disaster predicted by the Seers.

"Komm-. Keptin Spock. Zenzors are picking up unusual energy zignatures all across the planet. It ess almost on a kounter-rezonance frequency to the zeismic tremors."

Spock stiffened. "Is it specific to power stations or populated areas lt?"

Chekov shook his curly head. "Nyet. It does not match the recordz ve have of the planetary pover gridz."

"Overlay the sensor readings over a planetary map on the view screen." Spock ordered.

And watched as the Navigation officer did just that. The outlines of the primary landmasses, major towns. Coloured lines indicating underground transportation and power lines. And a silvery network overlaying it all, lines connecting specific points on sacred lands, national parks, ancient estates and battlegrounds.

"The leylines and nodes."He murmured in Vulcan. Open the bond darling. He called out mentally. She did not respond, intent on her duties.

"Keptin?" Chekov was confused.

"Report."

"Zeismic tremors have fallen two point four degreez in magnitude." Chekov allowed. "Zhe unknovn power network is ztabilizing the zeismic activity. Keptin, do you know vhat that grid is running on? I do not detect any zigns of materials that would be used in pover cablez or transmizzion linez."

"It is an experimental model developed by the VSA." Spock temporized. He knew the network was more the creation of T'Mia and T'Lun using data from Seleya. The VSA provided funding, skilled labour and the labs to test and refine the prototype concept designed by T'Mia: A network that would gather and amplify a planet's natural magic.

"Captain! Communications and transporters are working!" Uhura reported excitedly.

Kirk's voice came through the comm. "Enterprise! We can use a quick pick up here!"

"Transporter Room One. Beam Kirk and Sulu up." Spock ordered.

"I'm trying Captain! They are falling too fast for the computer to compensate. And the fluctuating gravitational fields are not helping!"

"Keptin I can do it! I can beam them up!"

Spock gave assent and paid little attention to Chekov rushing off the Bridge.

Everything indicated Jim Kirk and Hikaru Sulu would survive so Spock chose to focus on what was happening on the planet below.

He did not pay attention to Kirk, Sulu, and Chekov exiting the turbo lift onto the bridge. Kirk and Sulu were still in their spacesuits, faces bruised from the terrific gee-forces and the fight on the weapon platform.

"Captain." Kirk's voice was very controlled and strained. "What are your orders?"

"We wait Mr Kirk."

Kirk snapped. "Wait? Captain that weapon of theirs nearly opened a crack in Vulcan's crust down to the lower mantle! We have to stop them before they duplicate what they just tried to do to Vulcan to some other hapless planet!"

"And how would you suggest we stop them?" Spock asked in tranquil tones he did not feel. "If our theories are right the Narada destroyed the Kelvin, Rura Penthe, the Klingon fleet. And we know she destroyed Vulcan's planetary defences, the local defence forces and seven Starfleet vessels."

"We have to do something! We can't just sit here and twiddle our thumbs!"

"Control yourself Mr Kirk or I will have you thrown in the brig." Spock's voice was iron hard. He was desperate to beam down to the planet, to go to his other half. But he did not because it was her wish he remain on the Enterprise.

"Keptin. The Narada haz juzt launched zomething at Wulcan! Zhe trajectory vill take it into the chasm the drill created."

Spock froze and watched as a small insignificant tube flew down towards the planet.

Every instinct screamed that tube was dangerous. It was the finishing blow.

T'Mia! Do it! Do it now! Before it is too late!

The entire Bridge crew watched in horrified shock as reality began to 'twist', like some unknown hand was twisting existence into a knot, 'hiding' Vulcan itself behind a void. The sensors screamed as the gravitational forces in the surrounding space tore the Enterprise out of a stable orbit and 'down'.

"Pull us back!" Spock ordered calmly. "Now!"

Kirk clung to the railing as the ship stabilized and reoriented itself 'up'. "What just happened? Where is Vulcan?"

"Zhere vaz a huge grawitational build up." Chekov reported in a trembling voice. "It vaz like a black hole had built up and zwallowed zhe planet."

"Was it from whatever the Narada launched?" Jim wanted to know.

"I don't know!" Chekov exclaimed shrilly. "Zhe zensor readingz were too compromised by zhat odd radiation from zhe experimental power grid. It is impozzible to pinpoint the exact effectz of that device."

~o~

Jim turned and stared at the Vulcan who was still seated in the Captain's chair with his usual stony expression. Was he made of stone? Did he not comprehend what just happened? That his planet was gone? Jim wanted to blame Spock for not acting more quickly, more decisively.

But if Jim was really honest he wasn't sure what he would have done if He was Captain. It had happened too quickly. And no one could have anticipated the sheer destructiveness of the Narada's weapon. How could anyone have created a device that created a device that could generate a blackhole so powerful, so quickly, it could swallow up a planet like Vulcan in the blink of an eye!

Spock was still sitting, still staring at the view screen, as though waiting for something to happen. Did he expect the planet to pop back into existence? Vulcan was gone! The Narada had destroyed it!

"Keptin, zhe Narada has gone to impulse power and iz leaving thiz region."

"Cadet Uhura, send a transmission packet with a synopsis and all sensor data upto the device being launched from the Narada to all Star bases with instructions to forward to all Federation worlds. Send a Priority One communication to Starfleet HQ with copies of full sensor data." Spock announced.

Jim froze when he realized the implications of what had just happened. They had proof the Narada was capable of wiping whole planets out of existence. Who knew which planet Nero would target next?

"Earth." The answer came to him. "Nero will go after Earth next. We have to stop him before he does the same thing to Earth."

"Given what we know I estimate the likelihood of Nero targeting Earth is ninety-eight point seven three percent."

Jim frowned. Spock was way to calm. "Captain, what are we going to do?"

"We are going to wait."

Jim snapped. "For what? Nero to do the same thing to Earth? We have to follow the Narada and stop her!"

Spock glared. For an instant Jim quailed before steeling his resolve. Spock was probably hurting and in shock. But they could not afford to waste anytime.

"Captain we have to act now."

"And what would you propose the Enterprise do once she catches up to the Narada?"

Jim opened his mouth and shut it. "I'm not sure." He admitted. "But surely we can come up with some sort of plan between then and now!"

Spock leaned back in his chair. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. I would prefer to have better resources before pursuing such a dangerous opponent."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Jim snapped. "We should be rendezvousing with other Starfleet vessels and chasing the Narada down."

Spock inhaled deeply. "No. We will wait."

"Wait? For what!"

"For a few Aces Mr Kirk."

Jim gaped and wondered if Spock had somehow lost it. Vulcan was gone! Sensors were not picking up any VSF or allied vessels. In fact the only crafts were a few civilian freighters and smaller inner-system crafts that managed to escape the Narada's attention.

Jim debated his options. He was pretty sure anyone would agree with him that Spock had somehow lost it. Why else was he insisting on hanging around the gravesite of his home world? Was he punishing himself some how?

"Captain! Gravitational fluxes building! It has a similar frequency pattern to the fluxes that had pulsed just before Vulcan was consumed."

"We have to retreat!" Jim noted calmly wondering silently why he wasn't yelling.

"Hold position." Spock ordered in iron hard tones. "Prepare for gravity surges. Use tractor beams on any smaller intact crafts that might be drawn in."

Jim watched as Sulu and Chekov obeyed Spock.

Uhura gasped. "Captain! Something is happening!"

Blue eyes almost popped as space twisted once more and flattened out to reveal a very familiar red planet.

"Captain! Sensors picking up planetary transmissions. The strange energy grid is collapsing. There are only thirteen lines running across the entire planet now at much lower levels than before. Thirteen point one three times to be exact.

Spock nodded. "Are there any transmissions from the planet? From Shi'Khar, the VSA or the VDF?"

Uhura frowned then nodded. "There is one coming from Shi'Khar, from the private estate of Ambassador Sarek."

"On screen." Spock ordered.

Everyone's attention focused on the viewscreen.

The Vulcan on screen was clearly exhausted, his face mottled with bruises and emerald green eyes bleeding blood green tears.

"Spock." His Standard was spoken with a British accent.

"Hari." Spock acknowledged evenly as he leaned forward. "Report."

"The Fidelius was a success at tremendous cost. Four-hundred and fifteen priestesses and monks are dead from holding the secret. T'Rei is in a healing trance but she is expected to recover fully. T'Lun is in an induced coma suffering massive core drain from hiding the freighters and vessels leaving the planet. She cannot be woken for at least ten days without risking permanent impairment."

"T'Mia?"

"She is in a self-induced healing trance. She will be well enough in three hours but do not expect us to duplicate this for Earth. We only have five uninjured Acolytes with the necessary training and mindset. Both T'Mia and myself are nearly completely drained."

Spock nodded. "Very well. Prepare for transportation to the Enterprise: you, T'Mia, the priestesses, their guardians. Bring all necessary supplies with you."

Hari nodded. "I will call when we are ready. Expect contact from Sarek and T'Pau."

Spock nodded. "Understood. Spock out."

The viewscreen went blank. Spock tapped the keys to open a channel to Sickbay.

"Doctor Puri."

"McCoy here. Doctor Puri is dead. I'm the senior medical doctor available." McCoy's familiar raspy voice barked.

"Doctor McCoy. You are the Chief Medical Officer now. Prepare for two more patients, both Vulcan-human hybrids being transported to the Enterprise from Shi'Kahr City in the next fifteen to twenty minutes. One male suffering physical contusions, one female in a healing trance."

"Wait, why do I have to treat them here? Surely there are hospitals with more experienced doctors on Vulcan! I don't know anything about Vulcan-hybrids!"

"Then it is time for you to learn Doctor. Spock out." He stood up. "Mr Kirk, you have the conn."

Jim shook his head. "Oh no you don't! I want to know what the heck just happened! One minute Vulcan was gone and then it suddenly popped back! And why are you bringing civilians on board when we're probably be going into battle?"

Spock looked as though he wanted to sigh. "Mr Sulu, you have the conn once your relief arrives."

"Aye, aye Captain."

"Mr Kirk, walk with me."

Jim warily obeyed, following Spock to the turbo lift and across several decks to the Transportation Room.

~o~

Spock was uncertain of how much to share with the human. He was important but he was young and impetuous. He wished Hari and T'Mia were here. They were better at evaluating and countering human emotionalisms. But they were not so he would have to… make-do as humans say.

"Where are we going?"

"Transportation Room Mr Kirk. To greet our guests."

Kirk eyed him warily. "Aren't you supposed to be talking to Sarek and T'Pau?"

Spock was silent for a while before he answered. "This is more important."

Kirk frowned. "T'Pau is the head of the Vulcan High Council. Surely it is more logical to give her a report first."

"T'Pau will understand. She is my clan matriarch."

Kirk blinked rapidly and followed in silence.

"Captain Spock."

"Mr Kyle. Any word from the surface?"

"I have an open channel with the Vulcan Planetary Transportation Authority. They have a lot of storage crates that are marked fragile and volatile that need to come on board."

"Just a precaution Mr Kyle. Use the cargo transporters to store them in Shuttle Bay Three for now. Start beaming up any personnel who are ready." He glanced at the ensign assisting the Transporter Chief. "Ensign Cheong will be assigned as their primary guide. Contact the Quartermaster to prepare the VIP suites on Deck 3 for the Acolytes and their guards. Mark two units on Deck 5 as reserved for S'haile Hari and T'sai T'Mia until further notice. They will be spending a few days in sick bay first."

Chief Kyle nodded and tapped at the panel before him.

"The first group is ready to beam up."

"Energize."

Spock was very aware his human XO was goggling at the sight before him. Two Vulcan females in their teens, still not fully matured dressed in the plain thin white shifts of new Initiates. Two older females wearing the pale blue and silver sash of a more experienced reldai. One was in her second century with grey streaked hair, but the other was just a few years older and very attractive with pale grey eyes and sleek black hair twisted into braids and pinned securely. A fragile looking elder wearing the white robes of an Adept from Gol. Two other males, much older than the females but more athletic and fit than the Adept; presumably guardians and advisors, dressed in plain dark grey tunics and pants. They bore no conventional or visible weapons but Spock knew they would be formidable fighters. The reldai of Seleya were rarely allowed to leave Vulcan, and never unprotected or casually.

"Spahk." The priestess closer to his age stepped off the platform, her hand shaped into the ta'al. "I greet thee."

"And I thee T'Prala." He turned to the third male on the platform dressed in heavy brown robes embroidered with yellow silk thread. "Ambassador." He hesitated for a brief moment. "Sa-mekh. I greet thee."

"And I thee." The grave looking Vulcan responded. "T'Pau has appointed me as her agent, her eyes ears and voice."

Spock nodded. "Understood." He turned to the rest of the group watching silently. "Ensign Cheong has been assigned as your guide and aide. If you have a specific need inform her and she will see to it. Go and rest now, eat and meditate. There will be little time for it once the Enterprise intercepts with the Narada."

T'Prala nodded. "We will Spahk. We will be available for a planning session if needed."

Spock nodded and watched Ensign Julie Cheong shepherd her new charges out of the Transporter Room One. With the extra audience gone Spock turned to his father.

"T'Mia?"

"Her condition is stable." Sarek reassured his son. "T'Lara has prepared a PADD and kit with medical data, instructions and treatment if needed."

Spock nodded sharply and turned to the door. Doctor McCoy had arrived with Nurse Chapel, two orderlies and a gurney.

"Sir, the second group is ready."

"Beam them up." Spock ordered turning to the transporter pad.

This time there were three and a small pile of trunks and storage cases. A weary, bruised, dishevelled looking Vulcan with messy black hair, bright green eyes dressed in a one-piece dark blue jumpsuit under an open, sleeveless burgundy robe. An unconscious female in a long white shift and laid stretched out on a long white stretcher. She had curly brown hair twisted in an unravelling braid lying on top of her torso. There were small sensor nodes attached to her temples and forehead, but other than that she looked as though she were just sleeping. An older female with black hair pinned up in a neat coif dressed in white and pale green stood beside the stretcher holding a medical-kit in one hand, a tricorder in the other. Within a split second of materializing she turned to the unconscious woman to scan her.

Spock stepped up onto the platform to greet each in turn.

"Hari. T'Lara." He knelt down beside the sleeping woman though he did not touch her. "When can she be safely awakened?"

"In three hours." T'Lara reported. "She insisted on it."

"What happened?" Spock wanted to know.

"She was the Focus." Hari's voice was strained. "I helped channel but she was guiding and shaping the power. It was too much… it sparked and set her clothes on fire. The fire suppression systems overloaded. She had to channel some of the power through herself to Heal before casting the Fidelius. I thought she would burn out but she didn't."

"She is stable." T'Lara added firmly. "She was conscious right until the end, to give instructions on what was to be done. Her body is recovering swiftly thanks to the treatment protocols T'Lun developed. Her mind however still needs to rest and recover. When she wakes she will be tired but completely healed."

Spock nodded jerkily and stood up.

"Doctor McCoy, this is Healer T'Lara. She is T'Mia's attending doctor."

McCoy nodded and turned to his staff, to give low voiced instructions.

Spock watched the orderlies transfer the stretcher to the gurney and had to resist the urge to push them aside when they touched her bare skin.

Fortunately T'Lara produced a blanket and tossed it over her patient.

"I will join Doctor McCoy in your Sick Bay. You may join us after Kevet-dutar and S'haile Hari have replenished themselves." She ordered firmly.

Knowing it would be best to obey the Healer Spock did not make a fuss. He turned to Kirk and gave instructions to move the trunks to his private rooms. And then he led Hari and his father to Deck 5 where they could clean up and eat.

He could see Kirk had questions but the human restrained himself to follow orders. He hoped Kirk's obedience would last a little longer.

~o~

Jim frowned. He'd ordered a Security Officer move the trunks to Spock's quarters. Kirk had taken over the unused Science Officer's quarters. He wondered what was so important about the trunks. Spock was storing it in his room even though it did not belong to him. Wouldn't it make more sense to keep it in the VIP suite the younger Vulcan, Hari, was sharing with the Ambassador?

He glanced at his wrist comm. and carefully balanced the tray he was carrying on one forearm before tapping on the panel beside the door. Spock had asked him to report back in fifteen minutes. He hoped Hari and Ambassador Sarek were okay with the vegetarian snack tray of dips, spreads, crunch raw vegetables and dry breads the on-duty chef had whipped up.

"Enter."

Spock was already here.

The door slid open. Jim entered the VIP suite and put the tray on the coffee table before looking around. The room was bland and elegantly furnished. It did not suit the Vulcans who were standing behind the overstuffed chairs instead of sitting.

He watched as the two guests efficiently prepared a small plate with their personal preferences. Hari was more liberal with the dips and spreads. He ate neatly but efficiently. Jim recognized the style of eating. He himself ate that way. It was a habit learnt in the aftermath of starvation on Tarsus: how to eat quickly without throwing up. Where had Hari learned to eat like that?

Spock and the Ambassador were eating more leisurely. Jim watched in silence until Hari slowed and put his plate down.

"If you want to know the details of what happened you should wait for T'Mia to wake up." He announced.

Spock frowned faintly. He did not like that. Jim didn't either.

"It is illogical-."

"For me to share information I am uncertain of." Hari interrupted. "T'Mia was the one who designed the system. You know she and T'Lun practically created the necessary maths when conventional methods failed. I only understand in the most general and broadest sense. My strengths are never in theory, but the application."

Spock nodded slightly. "What can you tell us?"

"Don't expect us to cast the Fidelius on a planet again. It killed sixty-six point eight three percent of the Secret Keepers. The most we can manage will be this ship if we are really lucky and both of us recover quickly enough to set up and charge the matrix."

"What were T'Mia's instructions?" Spock wanted to know.

Hari shrugged. "Head for Earth. Plan to intercept the Narada."

Spock nodded slowly. "Very well. Hari, Sa-mekh, rest. I must return to my duties. If you need anything use the intercom to contact Ensign Cheong."

Spock inclined his head and retreated. Jim followed close on his heels.

Jim frowned. "Shouldn't we be going to the Bridge?"

They were heading for Sick Bay.

"Unnecessary. lt Sulu has the conn and instructions to plot a course to Earth."

Jim blinked. "You knew what Hari was going to say."

Spock was quiet. "I suspected." He admitted.

Jim glanced at his Acting Captain through the corner of his eye. "What are you planning on doing once we catch up to the Narada?" He asked softly.

"I have some ideas." Spock temporized. "I need some information from T'Mia before any plans can be finalized."

Jim frowned. "I don't get it. You seem to have a lot of trust in this T'Mia. Who is she?"

They were at Sick Bay now. Spock nodded at the staff, unerringly heading to one of the private rooms on the right. The small room had one occupant lying on the biobed and a chair up against the wall next to it.

Spock leaned over the sleeping woman though he did not touch her. Vulcans did not touch, especially in public in front of others. His face was stony but Jim sensed T'Mia was someone very very important to Spock.

"Who is she?"

After a long time Spock answered. And the answer shocked Jim.

"She is my bond-mate… My fiancée."

Jim wasn't sure how he managed to get out of the private room without keeling over but he did. A tumbler of heavy crystal filled with strong spirits was thrust under his nose.

Blindly he accepted it and took a heavy swig from it. His eyes watered. He rubbed them away before looking up at Bones.

"You look like you just got knocked down a hill and rolled into a mudhole."

"Spock's fiancée." Was all he could get out.

Bones absorbed the information and nodded. "Yeah. T'Lara said something like that. But it's a little more serious than an engagement. They're married by Vulcan standards."

Jim waved his hands wildly. "Spock's married! There's nothing about him being married in his files! Why is she on Vulcan if they're married? I mean I saw them on campus once but I never even guessed they were serious about each other."

Bones snorted. "You never will with Vulcans Jimmy." Jim sputtered. Bones sighed. "Just go and get some rest boy. We're all going to need it."

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

TBC…

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