Part 16 (2/2)
Kirk blinked. The dream he had been dreaming vanished as Spock drew back and lowered his hands. The meld had been terminated. But everything Kirk had experienced remained in his mind, fresh and clear as if he had conceived it for himself.
”Didn't-didn't you try to explain to Nero that if he just left you alone in this time frame you could destroy the unstable star before it went supernova and thereby save Romulus? Wouldn't you then be working to achieve the same purpose, the same ends?”
”I did indeed. But as I said, he would not listen to me. Consumed with rage and regret and anger at the destruction of his world that had already taken place in our own future, he was convinced that if he let me go I would simply disappear and allow the Romulus of this time frame to also eventually be destroyed. He is utterly convinced that, regardless of the time frame, only Romulus will be allowed to suffer destruction and that this has been the real intent of the Vulcan and the galactic councils all along. That they sought and still seek a galactic civilization without Romulus. So he made clear that he would strive, in this time frame, to create a galaxy with Romulus but without the Federation. After utilizing the Red Matter device to destroy Vulcan and the other Federation worlds, only then then would he use it to annihilate the star that would become the destructive supernova.” would he use it to annihilate the star that would become the destructive supernova.”
”That's,” Kirk searched for an appropriate frame of reference, ”that's-irrational.”
Spock nodded slightly. ”Just so. But how many times throughout history have great catastrophes been caused by individuals acting in an irrational manner? I am convinced that even if he once was, Nero is now no longer entirely sane. Having already witnessed the destruction of his entire homeworld once, he is unwilling to rely on the word of a representative of the people he blames for its destruction to now prevent it in the past. From his viewpoint that may be a logical conclusion. He would rather destroy the Federation and ensure the survival of Romulus in this time frame than give me a chance to save both.” He broke off, the agony of his loss and his failure having communicated itself whole and entire to the shaken human standing across from him.
”Forgive me-emotional transference is an effect of the mind-meld.”
Kirk did not try to hide his surprise. ”So you do do feel.” feel.”
”Cthia is the stricture that binds our emotions, but it is harder to sustain for the few of us who are not wholly Vulcan.” is the stricture that binds our emotions, but it is harder to sustain for the few of us who are not wholly Vulcan.”
The younger man just stared, still trying to digest all that he had been shown. ”Going back in time, you changed all our lives. Because of this, our futures will no longer be what they once were.”
Spock nodded solemnly. ”Yet remarkably, events within our different time lines-characteristics, people-seem to overlap significantly.”
A million questions, Kirk thought to himself. He had at least a million questions. This elder Spock must know of so many things. Not just advances in science, but the future of individuals. In his future he would know, among others, James T. Kirk. Kirk thought to himself. He had at least a million questions. This elder Spock must know of so many things. Not just advances in science, but the future of individuals. In his future he would know, among others, James T. Kirk. What was his future self like? What was his future self like? Kirk couldn't help but wonder. On initially meeting him here Spock had called him ”captain.” Captain of the Kirk couldn't help but wonder. On initially meeting him here Spock had called him ”captain.” Captain of the Enterprise Enterprise? The Vulcan elder was quite certain in his tone. At the moment, Kirk felt his future seemed to hold out the promise of a court-martial, not a promotion.
What had happened in the future to change him and the circ.u.mstances in which he presently found himself? Now that this time paradox had intervened, would that future still take place? Would someone, sometime, still refer to James Kirk as ”captain”? Or would it be ”inmate”? Or worse?
It struck him suddenly that this elder Spock's future had already been determined-but that in this time frame the future, including his own, was yet to be made. Future Kirk's destiny was set. His own was still his to make. And if they did not do something about the other intruder from the future, the Romulan known as Nero, then if Spock was to be believed, all futures would be wiped out. This corner of the cosmos would be left sterile and dead-except for present-day Romulus.
His head was starting to hurt as he struggled to resolve all the potential contradictions. All the possible futures.
Enough about projected tomorrows, he told himself. Right now everything demanded that he focus on the present. he told himself. Right now everything demanded that he focus on the present.
”So Nero has a chance at revenge. And a weapon that can destroy the Federation.” He stared at the elder Spock. ”Your weapon.”
”The device was designed and built to save, not to destroy. Throughout history great power has often been put to uses which its discoverer did not foresee or intend. In this instance, the discoverer was the Vulcan Science Academy. In your own history, consider among other examples what happened to the work of Alfred n.o.bel.” The strain of isolation and the burden of guilt was plainly weighing heavily on the elder Spock.
”But let us pause a moment to consider other things. I cannot restrain my own curiosity. Tell me about the rest of the crew of-I am presuming you were of course on the Enterprise. Enterprise. Knowing only their future selves, I wonder if and how they exist in this continuum. What of Chekov, Uhura...?” Knowing only their future selves, I wonder if and how they exist in this continuum. What of Chekov, Uhura...?”
”Tactical and communications,” Kirk told him.
”Sulu?”
”He's the helmsman, why why?”
”Doctor McCoy would a.s.sert our meeting here is not a matter of coincidence, but rather indication of a higher purpose.”
Kirk nodded. ”He'd call it a miracle.”
”Yes.” Spock turned speculative again. ”It may represent the time stream's way of attempting to mend itself. We know far too little about the physics of such deviations to determine actualities and can only speculate on how they function in the greater continuum. In both our histories the same crew found its way onto the same s.h.i.+p in a time of ultimate crisis. Therein lies our advantage. It suggests that whatever the future of this present may hold, it does not deviate so radically from mine that ultimate catastrophe cannot be avoided. We must hope that events bear this out. Indeed, we can only proceed on that a.s.sumption.” He turned and gestured.
”We must go. The future past waits for no man-or Vulcan. There is a largely automated Federation outpost not far from here. It is the location of the inadequate communications facilities to which I referred earlier and which provides me with the minimum of necessities that allow me to sustain my miserable existence. Having no hope of saving my world and not wis.h.i.+ng to further inflict the paradox that is myself on this unknowing present, I have taken to dwelling apart from it and its few inhabitants. Paradoxically-if I may continue to employ the term-this very self-isolation has resulted in my encountering you. As I said, perhaps the time stream attempting to heal itself.
”While I can no longer do anything for Vulcan in this time frame, I cannot stand by and watch while Nero destroys your your future. Possibly between the two of us we can yet do something to stop him.” Reaching out, he briefly rested a hand on Kirk's shoulder. ”It was so, once. Perhaps it can yet be so again.” future. Possibly between the two of us we can yet do something to stop him.” Reaching out, he briefly rested a hand on Kirk's shoulder. ”It was so, once. Perhaps it can yet be so again.”
Kirk pondered. He was ready to follow this intriguing, curious, and enigmatic being who insisted he came from the future. But that did not mean he was without questions of his own.
”Where you come from-in your future-did I know my father?”
Spock responded without hesitation. ”Yes. You often spoke of him as your inspiration for joining Starfleet. Indeed, as the inspiration for everything that you became. He was, I believe, immensely proud of what you accomplished.”
”That means-I must have accomplished something besides a spell in prison.”
Sharply angled eyebrows drew together. ”Prison, Jim?”
Kirk waved it off. ”It's nothing. At least, I hope it turns out to be nothing. But that's a matter for the future, isn't it? The future that lies ahead of us and that we're going to try to sway.”
”The future that we must must sway,” Spock corrected him. ”Otherwise there will not be one. Not for you, not for your father, not for anyone.” sway,” Spock corrected him. ”Otherwise there will not be one. Not for you, not for your father, not for anyone.”
Kirk was still trying to imagine what life would be like had his father not perished years ago trying to stop Nero. The sleeve of one arm wiped across his eyes.
”I am responsible for whatever is upsetting you,” Spock commented immediately. ”That was never my intention. Something you should know: he proudly lived to see you become captain of the Enterprise.” Enterprise.”
Captain. That was how this Spock had addressed him when they had first encountered one another. It was still hard to accept. That was how this Spock had addressed him when they had first encountered one another. It was still hard to accept.
It would be even harder for this Spock to accept if he knew the current James Kirk's history.
”'Captain'? Are you sure sure?”
Spock nodded. ”Of a s.h.i.+p we must return you to as soon as possible if we are to have any hope of stopping Nero.”
XIV
It was quiet on the bridge. Each officer, each refugee, carried out their duties efficiently, silently, and lost in thought. The immediate past had been devastating. What the near future might bring no one could say, but the encounter at Vulcan had left everyone wondering not about careers or promotions but far more elemental matters. Family. Homeworlds. The future of the Federation itself.
In the center of it all stood Acting Captain Spock. Everyone wanted to offer him comfort. Everyone desired to express their condolences. And none of them quite knew how to go about doing so. With one exception, and she had already expressed her empathy in every way she knew how.
From the helm Sulu looked over at the straight-backed figure standing at command. It was a relief to be able to break the silence with something as straightforward as a status report.
”Warp three, Captain. Course one-five-one mark three, for the Laurentian system.”
Indicating that he had heard, Spock looked over at Uhura. His tone was perfectly even, as was her response.
<script>