Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!prodigy.com!prodigy.com!news-feed01.roc.ny.frontiernet.net!nntp.frontiernet.net!nntp.giganews.com.MISMATCH!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!newsread.com!newsstand.newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: JennaSTS@aol.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: NEW: TOS, AU, PG, K/S: WIP Home is the Heart sequel by Rae Trail, Part 3 of 4 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 519 Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:55:09 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1094604909 209.198.142.218 (Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:09 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:09 EDT Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:84111 X-Received-Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 17:55:14 PDT (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Home is the Heart =E2=80=93 Another Universe, Another Time Part One of a Work in Progress Part Three of Four =20 By Rae Trail =20 Continued =20 Spock watched Kirk dressing for dinner, and knew again that he had been=20 correct about Kirk needing =E2=80=98friends=E2=80=99. Kirk was almost dithe= ring, trying to decide=20 between the green shirt that suited his eyes but was thinning at the cuffs,= or=20 the newer wine-red shirt with the becoming wrap-around style that accented= =20 his broad shoulders and narrow hips. =20 It was like he was going out on a date. =E2=80=9CJim?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, love?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI much prefer the red in subdued lighting. It brings out the highl= ights in=20 your hair.=E2=80=9D =20 It had been the right thing to say. Jim didn=E2=80=99t even blink at the in= congruity=20 of Spock making a remark like that. Instead he nodded and pulled on the red= =20 shirt, checking the effect in the mirror. =E2=80=9CYou know, I have to agre= e. I wish I=20 could wear Vulcan style, like you. You always look dignified when you=E2=80= =99re out of=20 uniform.=E2=80=9D =20 And he hadn=E2=80=99t heard his own joke. Spock fought the smile and stood = up. =E2=80=9C Thank you. You look very appealing and relaxed. Shall we go? It is almost=20 nineteen-hundred now.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSure.=E2=80=9D He slammed their tiny closet closed, and tugged on = his boots, then=20 straightened up again. =E2=80=9CReady when you are. Do you have the credit = chip?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI do.=E2=80=9D =20 They took the free shuttle down to the waterfront and got out a short block= =20 from their destination. Once walking among the well-preserved ancient=20 buildings, Kirk finally relaxed. =E2=80=9CI like them both. I don=E2=80=99t= think that Waleed is queer=20 though, do you?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI did not get that impression. Do you mean that you think Pete is?= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=A6 huh. I did, until you asked me. Something about the way= he smiled at me=20 the first morning at the track. Sort of =E2=80=98come-hither=E2=80=99. But = who knows? Or, for=20 that matter, who cares?=E2=80=9D He looked out across the bay and sighed. = =E2=80=9CI like it=20 here, Spock. I suppose I could resign myself to being an instructor here, a= nd=20 not go back to space.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI find that difficult to imagine.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWell, you=E2=80=99re not a very imaginative man, after all.=E2=80= =9D=20 =20 Spock knew that a Human man might take umbrage at such a remark. He also kn= ew=20 that his partner knew he wouldn=E2=80=99t. =E2=80=9CI can imagine it, easil= y, for myself.=20 However, you need a bit more=E2=80=A6 activity. I believe you might end up = in the=20 stock-pot.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk chuckled loudly. =E2=80=9CStockade, Spock. Although I might end up in = a=20 stock-pot too, with Nogura stirring and Komack=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D He stopped= , and Spock could feel him=20 frowning. =E2=80=9CWhere the hell is Komack in this universe, Spock?=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CI do not know.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThat bastard has got to be here somewhere. Why haven=E2=80=99t we = run into him? You=E2=80=99 d think he=E2=80=99d be around, kibitzing, somewhere.=E2=80=9D They arrived= at the=20 restaurant and Spock felt the nervousness pass over Kirk like a breeze. /I = hope=E2=80=A6/=20 =20 Spock lifted the hand that had fallen from his shoulder and brushed his two= =20 forefingers against Kirk=E2=80=99s. /Do not hope, love. You are James T. Ki= rk, in any=20 universe; clever, commanding, intelligent, humorous, and attractive. I beli= eve=20 they are the ones who should be hoping. Now, open the door./ =20 When they entered the dining area they spotted Pete and Waleed easily, for = it=20 was early to dine in =E2=80=98Frisco and they were at one of only three occ= upied=20 tables. Moreover, they weren=E2=80=99t alone. A third person was seated wit= h her or his=20 back to the door =E2=80=93 from the length of the hair and the shape of the= shoulders=20 Spock was undecided on sex or race. =20 Pete saw them too, and raised an arm just as the maitre=E2=80=99d began to = hover over=20 them with questions. =20 =E2=80=9CI see some friends,=E2=80=9D Kirk said, =E2=80=9Cwho I think we=E2= =80=99ll be joining.=E2=80=9D=20 =20 Spock followed him across the room to the window table. All three stood up = to=20 greet them, and the third person smiled. A woman. And not just any woman.=20 Spock felt Jim freezing beside him, and had to admit to a slight elevation = in his=20 own pulse. =20 =E2=80=9CGentlemen, may I introduce Nyota Uhura, a friend and colleague, al= so between=20 ships and on leave. Nyota, Jim and Spock.=E2=80=9D =20 Jim held out his hand. =E2=80=9CA pleasure to meet you,=E2=80=9D he managed= . Spock was=20 surprised by how even his spouse=E2=80=99s voice was. =20 =E2=80=9CDon=E2=80=99t give me that, James T. Kirk,=E2=80=9D she said, toss= ing her head and sending=20 her huge gold earrings tossing. =E2=80=9CI know that you worked with my cou= nterpart on=20 the Enterprise, I saw you when you were brought aboard=E2=80=A6 though you = didn=E2=80=99t=20 see me. I=E2=80=99m not on Enterprise now because I opted out of the second= five-year=20 voyage, and have spent the last year working on a special project; but now = I=E2=80=99m=20 waiting for reassignment, just like these two. It=E2=80=99s nice to see you= , or meet=20 you, or whatever. Live long, and prosper, Mister Spock.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CMs. Uhura. A diplomat in any universe,=E2=80=9D Spock said, giving= a slight bow. =20 =E2=80=9CWhy thank you! Please, sit down, gentlemen. On the understanding t= hat we don=E2=80=99 t ask and we don=E2=80=99t tell, let=E2=80=99s have a pleasant evening, sha= ll we?=E2=80=9D =20 * =20 After Jim got over his initial surprise, it was a pleasant evening. This=20 Uhura was just as funny and intelligent as the old version he had known, an= d had a=20 wonderful way of teasing Spock out of his reticence that made the Vulcan=20 almost garrulous. More experience with the local Spock, Jim figured. The=20 conversation remained on neutral ground for the most part =E2=80=93 things = that were in the=20 news, current gossip. Once or twice it strayed into forbidden topics, but i= t was=20 a simple matter to pull it back again and veer away. =20 It was over coffee, two hours later, that Kirk broached the topic of Komack= .=20 He did it lightly, simply mentioning that he had expected to see the man=20 around HQ at some level, and was met with a sudden and stony silence. =20 /Oops./ He felt Spock=E2=80=99s agreement, and waved a hand dismissively. = =E2=80=9CSorry,=20 folks.=E2=80=9D =20 It was Pete who broke in. =E2=80=9CNo, no, Jim. It=E2=80=99s just=E2=80=A6 = his name isn=E2=80=99t very=20 popular around here. But of course, he wasn=E2=80=99t found out until long = after your=20 relative departure from your universe. Truth is, the man was working for th= e=20 Orions. Among others.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWhat?=E2=80=9D Kirk sat back in his chair. =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99re= serious!=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt was discovered when we got back from our first five years, shor= tly before=20 we went back in time to rescue you two,=E2=80=9D Uhura responded, nodding. = =E2=80=9CHe was=20 boosting to get Nogura into the big chair as Admiral of the Fleet, and prom= ote=20 Jim Kirk off of the Enterprise into the sinecure of Fleet Operations. Imagi= ne=20 Jim Kirk flying a desk!=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI can=E2=80=99t frankly,=E2=80=9D Jim said dryly. The all laughed,= and even Spock lifted=20 one corner of his mouth. =E2=80=9CHe was a spy?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes. And I think he knew, or guessed, that Kirk would eventually u= ncover him=20 if he went out on a second voyage. All his lobbying to promote Kirk =E2=80= =98for the=20 good of the Federation=E2=80=99, combined with his continued budget cuts to= =20 exploration, must have added up at last in someone=E2=80=99s mind.=E2=80=9D= Uhura shook her head. =E2=80=9CI=20 wish I=E2=80=99d been there when they arrested him. He wouldn=E2=80=99t hav= e made it to the=20 penal colony.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWhat in hell could the Orions have possibly offered him?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9COh, money, power, the usual. He had several very tidy bank account= s=20 scattered around the colonies.=E2=80=9D Pete sighed. =E2=80=9CAnd, as usual= , he wasn=E2=80=99t alone.=20 Wellesly went down with him, and Ver=E2=80=99cut. So that was Systems Opera= tions,=20 Maintenance, and Research.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s no wonder the Explorer program was doing so poorly fo= r a bit,=E2=80=9D Waleed=20 added. =E2=80=9CBut it got right back on track, once they realized that Kom= ack was=20 trying to scotch it for his own benefit.=E2=80=9D =20 Silence fell. /Jim, I wish to broach the subject we discussed earlier/=20 =20 /As good a time as any, Spock. I won=E2=80=99t say no/ =20 Spock steepled his hands, and set his elbows on the table. =E2=80=9CI wish = to change=20 the topic.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CBy all means, Mister Spock!=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt concerns the Explorer project. Especially since this revelation= . I have=20 been going over the calculations, and I have found a potentially serious=20 discrepancy in the basic algorithm that predicates the current model. Can y= ou advise=20 me? I wish to know to whom I should address my concerns.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99ve been=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D Waleed stared, mouth open. = =E2=80=9CNow where would you have=20 possibly gotten your hands on such classified information? Since this morni= ng?=E2=80=9D =20 Uhura burst out in a peel of lovely laughter. =E2=80=9CWaleed, honey, that = is Mister=20 Spock you are speaking to. You can just be sure that he found an equation=20 here, a description there, a formula somewhere else, and that they were all= =20 legitimate sources. But then he put them together and he said=E2=80=A6 now = hold on, this is=20 just not right!=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSpock? Is that true?=E2=80=9D =20 With a small nod, Spock agreed. =E2=80=9CThe majority of my information cam= e from =E2=80=9C Scientific Weekly Online=E2=80=9D and the =E2=80=9CMIT Bi-Annual=E2=80=9D, = though some of the more=20 esoteric mathematics were published in other university science newsletters= .=20 However, essentially, Ms. Uhura is correct. None of it was classified. Putt= ing it=20 together was quite simple.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSimple for you,=E2=80=9D Uhura replied. =E2=80=9CMath that the res= t of us couldn=E2=80=99t figure=20 out in 10 years if we worked at it with both hands and a shovel! Who should= he=20 talk to, Waleed? Because if he says there=E2=80=99s a problem, you can just= bet there=20 is.=E2=80=9D =20 Waleed sat back and crossed his arms. =E2=80=9CWell, I don=E2=80=99t know. = You have Nogura=E2=80=99s=20 ear, don=E2=80=99t you? Why not go right to him?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI would prefer to check my findings with someone who understands c= haos=20 mathematics on a practical level,=E2=80=9D Spock said. =20 Kirk nodded and sat forward. =E2=80=9CThere=E2=80=99s no point in anachroni= sms like us=20 taking this kind of concern to Nogura without some sort of contemporary bac= k-up. He=E2=80=99 d just pat us on the head in that grandfatherly way he assumes, and send us= =20 packing.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou know, that=E2=80=99s a good point. You understand Spock=E2=80= =99s findings, too, Jim?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWell enough to support his concerns. But, we need a contemporary p= erson to=20 go over the findings. Then, if we=E2=80=99re right, that person can take it= through=20 channels without fear of being sent to bed without supper.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHmph.=E2=80=9D Waleed sat forward again himself. =E2=80=9CWell. It= =E2=80=99s probably nothing.=20 Those equations have been gone over and gone over. But=E2=80=A6 it is Miste= r Spock, after=20 all. And I don=E2=80=99t think the local version of Spock has spent any tim= e with=20 transwarp =E2=80=93 he=E2=80=99s been kinda busy with the Enterprise. Spock= , can we, you and I=20 and Jim, go over your findings tomorrow? I=E2=80=99m up on the theory, righ= t up to=20 date. If you can convince me, I=E2=80=99ll take it to the Explorer project = team with you.=20 From there=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 Jim grinned widely, while Spock simply bowed his head. =20 =E2=80=9CThat is acceptable. Where and when shall we call on you?=E2=80=9D =20 * =20 =E2=80=9CI can=E2=80=99t leave you two alone for a minute,=E2=80=9D Nogura = said. The mild tone of=20 his voice didn=E2=80=99t fool Kirk into believing Nogura wasn=E2=80=99t ups= et. Nor did it=20 inspire him to speak in his or Spock=E2=80=99s defence, as if they were chi= ldren caught=20 with their hands in the cookie jar.=20 =20 /Spock, what is the Vulcan equivalent of being caught with your hand in the= =20 cookie jar?/ =20 /?/ =20 /Never mind./ He just sat in his chair, loose limbed, and waited. Nogura wa= s=20 not at an advantage here. The quarters were tiny, Spock and Jim occupying t= he=20 only two chairs =E2=80=93 there was not even room for Nogura to pace in the= small=20 space between the jammed together single beds and the sprawling desk that h= eld=20 Spock=E2=80=99s computer. The only thing Nogura could do was stand in the o= ne square=20 meter of empty space between the closet and the front door, and stare down = at them. =20 They stared back, blandly. =20 =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m waiting for an answer,=E2=80=9D Nogura said at last. K= irk shifted forward and=20 let some of his anger creep into his voice. =20 =E2=80=9CYou haven=E2=80=99t asked a question.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHow did you hack into this classified material?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWe have hacked into nothing,=E2=80=9D Spock said, over-riding Kirk= =E2=80=99s impulse to=20 stand up and shout. =E2=80=9CAre you referring to my findings regarding the= =20 inconsistencies in the transwarp equations?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWell what the hell else would I be talking about?=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk felt cold rage at Nogura shouting at his partner, but Spock=E2=80=99s = gently=20 raised eyebrow reminded him that there was no point in getting into any sor= t of=20 shouting contest with a Vulcan. Especially not a Vulcan who knew he was rig= ht. =20 =E2=80=9CI do not know. I am not privy to your thoughts and dealings. What = else would=20 you be talking about? If you enlighten me, perhaps I can answer any questio= ns=20 you have.=E2=80=9D =20 Nogura glared, and then rounded on Kirk. =E2=80=9CYou. Kirk. Tell me how yo= u did it.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWe haven=E2=80=99t done anything except offer some valuable insigh= t into a=20 StarFleet project that might have saved you billions of credits and hundred= s of lives.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99re saying you figured out the entire transwarp technol= ogy on your own?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CCertainly not. Spock has been learning the new math, and he found = something=20 that fascinated him. Spock was curious about what kind of applications this= =20 new math was being used for. He investigated in his very sparse free time,= =20 inferred transwarp, realized the math was flawed, and thought he should poi= nt it=20 out to me. He explained his findings to me and I agreed that it might be a = very=20 dangerous error. We sought professional assistance to bring the problem to = the=20 right office. We then took the information to the right office. The danger= =20 can be overcome. Now, unless you have anything to add to that, you can leav= e=20 right now, Admiral, because nobody insults the intelligence and integrity o= f my=20 first=E2=80=A6 of my bonded mate, and expects me to take it sitting down.= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CJim. It is unnecessary to discuss this any further.=E2=80=9D =20 Spock=E2=80=99s quiet voice brought Kirk=E2=80=99s awareness back to him an= d their bond. He=20 took a deep breath, and nodded. =E2=80=9CWe can go to Kirk=E2=80=99s mom=E2= =80=99s, until we find=20 somewhere else.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9COr Shi=E2=80=99Kahr. Sarek will make us welcome.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWhoa, you two. You=E2=80=99re not getting out of it that easily. S= ince when did Jim=20 Kirk run away from his mistakes?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t run from mistakes, Admiral. In any case, I have ma= de no mistake=20 here. I walk away from bullies and cowards, though. They=E2=80=99re not wor= th fighting.=20 Komack taught me that, years ago.=E2=80=9D He took a deep, steadying breath= . =E2=80=9C Congratulations on getting rid of him, by the way. Don=E2=80=99t worry, Adm= iral. We haven=E2=80=99t=20 hacked into anything, we have no classified information other than everythi= ng=20 we have already passed on to you, and sworn never to divulge without p ermission. But we will not stay here in the face of this heinous accusation= , which we=20 can only refute and are powerless to disprove or fight. Would you?=E2=80=9D =20 Nogura looked down at Spock, and Kirk tensed, ready to strike him at one mo= re=20 insult or accusation. =E2=80=9CSpock, did you really arrive at this on your= own, from=20 the public domain?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, Admiral. As I stated.=E2=80=9D =20 Nogura nodded then, and turned to open the door. He almost had to push Kirk= =20 out of his way to do it, but when he turned back, his face was once again m= ild.=20 =E2=80=9CDon=E2=80=99t go anywhere, you two. Confine yourselves to the Acad= emy grounds until=20 you hear otherwise from me. Consider yourselves under house arrest. I don= =E2=80=99t=20 want to have to put you under real arrest, but I need you available for the= =20 next 48 hours. Will you agree?=E2=80=9D =20 /Yes, Jim. Agree. 48 hours is nothing./ =20 /No, Spock./ =E2=80=9CI will not be made a prisoner without a charge brough= t, and an=20 accusation publicly made, Admiral. You=E2=80=99re a fool if you think other= wise.=E2=80=9D =20 Nogura=E2=80=99s eyebrows rose, then he very slowly nodded. =E2=80=9CVery w= ell. As you are=20 still on leave, you may do as you please. But I want to be able to find you= at=20 a moment=E2=80=99s notice for the next 48 hours. I would=E2=80=A6 appreciat= e it=E2=80=A6 it you leave=20 word with my office if you are leaving the Academy during that time.=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CWe will do so.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThank you.=E2=80=9D He paused with his hand on the door, halfway o= ut into the=20 corridor. =E2=80=9CFor what it might be worth, gentlemen=E2=80=A6 I do beli= eve you. But I may have=20 to ask you to convince others.=E2=80=9D =20 He was gone. Kirk was still recovering from his last statement when he felt= =20 Spock stand up beside him and place a hand on his shoulder. =20 =E2=80=9CBeloved=E2=80=A6 we have been labouring under a very, very serious= misapprehension.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSpock?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAdmiral Nogura was not expecting you to refuse his request that we= consider=20 ourselves under house arrest. He was, in fact, very surprised. This univers= e=20 is much different to our own. Much. Let me explain what I have just realize= d.=E2=80=9D =20 ***=20=20 End Part Three [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: