Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.earthlink.net!elnk-pas-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!pd7cy1no!pd7cy2so!shaw.ca!feed.cgocable.net!border2.nntp.dca.giganews.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!hermod.ttsg.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: <7d.577d84c5.2e6dee16@aol.com> From: JennaSTS@aol.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: TOS, AU, PG, K/S: WIP Home is the Heart sequel by Rae Trail, Part 1 of 4 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 604 Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:55:06 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1094604906 209.198.142.218 (Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:06 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:06 EDT Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:84113 X-Received-Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 17:55:17 PDT (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) I'm posting this for Rae Trail at her request.=20 Jenna NEW:Home is the Heart =E2=80=93 Chapter two (TOS:A/U:K/S:PG) By Rae Trail Archive: okay Feedback; none Warnings: none Summary: a year after finding themselves in an alternate universe, the boys= get a new lease on life. Notes: This is about the first quarter of the story =E2=80=93 I hope to sen= d you all=20 the rest over the next few months. I have asked Jenna to post it on my beha= lf.=20 I can neither receive nor respond to comments, though I wish I could. No, I= =E2=80=99m=20 not in jail, LOL! Just in a country that doesn=E2=80=99t support this kind = of art. =20 Home is the Heart =E2=80=93 Another Universe, Another Time Part One of a Work in Progress Part One of Four =20 By Rae Trail =20 =20 =E2=80=9CCaptain Kirk,=E2=80=9D the Klingon Commander said, =E2=80=9Cit has= been an honour and a=20 privilege to assist the Federation=E2=80=99s most illustrious commander.=E2= =80=9D =20 Kirk nodded his head. =E2=80=9CYour help was appreciated, Commander Kothor,= =E2=80=9D he=20 replied politely but firmly. =E2=80=9CI hope that this incident will open u= p a new era of=20 peace between our people.=E2=80=9D =20 The Klingon bowed slightly. Kirk indicated to the astonished Communications= =20 Officer that he should cut the feed, and then sat down again in his chair. = The=20 image that appeared on the screen, five Klingon War Birds in battle posture= ,=20 was somewhat disconcerting. =E2=80=9CHelm, set a course for Starbase 10. I = want to get=20 some room between us and the Neutral Zone =E2=80=93 best possible towing sp= eed.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, sir.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk stabbed a button on the arm of his chair and was about to call Sickbay= =20 to check on the condition of the Kobiyashi Maru survivors, when the lights = on=20 the bridge suddenly flickered. He felt a shaft of alarm run through him, an= d=20 exchanged a look with Spock, seated up at the science station. /Here it com= es!/=20 he thought, and saw the Vulcan=E2=80=99s almost imperceptible nod. =20 The side wall of the bridge vanished. =20 Admiral Nogura himself stood there. The officers and officer-cadets in the= =20 simulator all rose to attention as Kirk announced, =E2=80=9CAdmiral on deck= .=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAt ease,=E2=80=9D Nogura said. Behind him, half a dozen simulator = operators were=20 huddled around the main computer banks. Kirk couldn=E2=80=99t read Nogura= =E2=80=99s expression,=20 even though his eyes were boring into Kirk=E2=80=99s own. =E2=80=9CCadet Ki= rk.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSir.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CDebriefing room one. Immediately.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, sir.=E2=80=9D Kirk turned and jogged up the steps to the door= . He felt Spock=E2=80=99s=20 interrogative mind touch an instant before Nogura called his name, too. =20 =E2=80=9CMister Spock, right now.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, sir.=E2=80=9D =20 Debriefing was directly across the corridor. Kirk entered it and stood at=20 relaxed attention, Spock joining him a moment later. He shot a grin at the= =20 Vulcan, and then turned his eyes front as Nogura entered the room. =20 The Admiral paced once around the perimeter, then stopped across the table= =20 from them and skewered Kirk in place with a look. =E2=80=9CHow?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSir?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CDon=E2=80=99t give me that bullshit, Kirk. I have had both of you = watched leading=20 up to this simulation. All of your computer access has been monitored. Your= =20 movements. Your communications. There is absolutely not one second of one d= ay in=20 which you could have reprogrammed the simulator. I want to know how you did= =20 it. Exactly. In detail.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CActually, Hiro=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s Admiral Nogura, Cadet!=E2=80=9D Kirk didn=E2=80=99t= flinch. Heihachiro hadn=E2=80=99t=20 intimidated him in years. =20 =E2=80=9CAdmiral. It was Captain Kirk who changed the simulation. 16 years = ago, in=20 this universe.=E2=80=9D =20 Nogura stood up straight, looking nonplussed. =E2=80=9CBut that program was= deleted=20 immediately after Kirk=E2=80=99s cheating was discovered.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CTechnically sir, you=E2=80=99ll recall that it was ruled as being = fair tactics=20 under Academy=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CDon=E2=80=99t give me any history lessons, Kirk! Tell me what you = did today. How=20 did you hack it? It was exactly the same scenario=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt was=E2=80=A6 it is a sleeping mirror, sir. The complete progra= m is duplicated=20 several times in other portions of the main Academy computer, though it can= =20 only be activated during the Kobiyashi Maru simulation. When the simulation= runs,=20 if the computer receives the activation code under my voice print=E2=80=A6= =E2=80=9D He=20 shrugged. =E2=80=9CIt starts.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThe code was?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s when I say my name and tell them either to assist me,= or prepare to=20 die.=E2=80=9D He found it hard to contain the snort of laughter that threat= ened him at=20 the memory, but struggled and mastered it. =20 =E2=80=9CAh. And then it automatically retrieved a mirror that has been dor= mant for=20 almost 17 years, despite considerable upgrades and=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D Nogura= stopped and shook=20 his head.=20 =20 Kirk nodded. =E2=80=9CI didn=E2=80=99t actually know if it would still work= , Hiro. But I=20 wanted to try. After all, it was fun the first time.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAnd if it hadn=E2=80=99t worked?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI was going to destroy the ship in an anti-matter explosion and ta= ke all the=20 Klingons with me. I figured that would give me at least a week of psych=20 evaluations, which would also be fun. The game=E2=80=99s rigged, Hiro, and = you knew that I=20 knew it! I just =E2=80=93 re-rigged it.=E2=80=9D =20 The Admiral=E2=80=99s eyes narrowed. =E2=80=9CSpock, did you have anything = to do with this?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, sir. Abetting through silence, sir. I knew what Cadet Kirk wa= s planning=20 and did not report it. However=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, yes, never mind.=E2=80=9D Nogura sighed, then shook his head = and sat down. =E2=80=9CAt=20 ease. Sit down, both of you. You give me a headache.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk grinned openly at Spock, and reached for a chair. =E2=80=9CYou must ha= ve been=20 expecting something, Hiro. I mean, why else would the Chief of Operations b= e=20 watching a cadet simulation?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI did wonder how you would beat it this time, but I=E2=80=99ll adm= it you still=20 managed to surprise me. Imagine the program staying intact through all the = refits=20 and upgrades, it tells me that we need some new technicians. Someone should= =20 have noticed it,=E2=80=9D he replied, then drummed his fingers briefly on t= he table top.=20 =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s been a tough 14 months for you two.=E2=80=9D =20 The subject change sobered Kirk. Spock had slid into the chair beside him,= =20 and he pressed his knee lightly against the Vulcan=E2=80=99s. The unspoken = support that=20 came back soothed him.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CNot so bad, Hiro. Busy. Irritating, sometimes. Compressing the tri= als and=20 exams of 4 Academy years, including survival training and everything, into = just=20 over one year=E2=80=A6 a bit tiring. Then there=E2=80=99s all the extra tec= hnology we=E2=80=99ve had=20 to learn. Not to mention the hours and hours of historical debriefing and=20 mission debriefing from our own two years on our Enterprise. For Spock, wor= se,=20 with all of the extra academics. But=E2=80=A6 interesting.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt has been interesting to watch, as well,=E2=80=9D Nogura replied= . =E2=80=9CHow do you=20 think you=E2=80=99ve done?=E2=80=9D =20 It was a sore spot with both of them. StarFleet had suppressed all of their= =20 results. They hadn=E2=80=99t seen a single exam result, nor had any written= or oral=20 feedback on any simulation or training exercise. No grades, no marks, not e= ven a =E2=80=98 pass=E2=80=99 or =E2=80=98fail=E2=80=99. And not a word about possible futu= res. Kirk glanced at=20 Spock, and both shook their heads. =20 =E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re not even speculating,=E2=80=9D Kirk replied. =E2=80= =9CWe have known from the=20 beginning that it would be=E2=80=A6 that the decision about our future in S= tarFleet wouldn=E2=80=99t=20 have much to do with the results of our exams. If it did, you could have ju= st=20 sent us into space =E2=80=93 our counterparts here passed everything, after= all. We=20 knew we would do much better than that, having so many years experience in = the=20 field. Your decision would rest more on our actions than our results. So we= =20 decided quite early on, perhaps after the fourth time a result was refused = us,=20 not to speculate about it. We deduced that the withholding of results was=20 probably part of the test itself. Our decision was simply to do our best.= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAh.=E2=80=9D Nogura nodded. =E2=80=9CSensible. Well, I don=E2=80= =99t have any news for you today=20 either, I=E2=80=99m sorry to say. However, you have earned, along with the = rest of the=20 fourth year cadets, two weeks of leave before postings come out.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CPostings?=E2=80=9D Kirk sat forward. =20 =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99d advise you to continue in your course of refusing to s= peculate, James=20 T. Kirk the Younger. In the meantime, you both have two weeks=E2=80=99 holi= day.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CGreat, two weeks in our room with nothing to do, after months of n= ot having=20 a moment to stop? Hiro, I=E2=80=99ll go nuts.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWhy stay in your rooms?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWell, mainly because the allowance you paid us was just about enou= gh to=20 restock our wardrobes and buy a decent quantum computer for Spock, plus get= us as=20 much FedNet time as he needed for his research. We=E2=80=99re used to unlim= ited access=20 to the greatest computer system in the Federation, Hiro. Do you know how=20 expensive extra-planetary =E2=80=98Net time is for non-coms? There=E2=80=99= s not a great deal=20 left over for holidays.=E2=80=9D Kirk didn=E2=80=99t mention the money that= they both received=20 automatically from Vulcan. It was going into a contingency fund in Shi=E2= =80=99Kahr,=20 that Sarek was managing, and they had decided that it was off limits until = their=20 future was more secure. He sighed. =E2=80=9COh well, there=E2=80=99s always= the simulators.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CNot during term break,=E2=80=9D Hiro replied. =E2=80=9CNot for a n= otorious hacker like=20 yourself, who just completely confused our most advanced simulator programm= ing=20 experts. I was going to force you to find and delete the program yourself, = but I=20 think it would be best to keep you away from our computer department for a= =20 time, or I couldn=E2=80=99t guarantee your safety. No, maybe you=E2=80=99ll= just have to do a=20 bit of sight-seeing around the Bay area.=E2=80=9D He stood up and both Kirk= and Spock=20 followed suit. =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99ll hear from me in 2 weeks.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, sir,=E2=80=9D they both replied. Then Kirk smiled and cocked = his head. =E2=80=9CSir?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHow do you think we=E2=80=99ve done?=E2=80=9D =20 Nogura didn=E2=80=99t smile, but he didn=E2=80=99t frown either. =E2=80=9CP= ut it this way. Do you=20 know that there are pools among the senior officers every time the Kobyashi= Maru=20 is run? We bet on how long the individual cadet will last before they get t= he=20 ship destroyed. Last time a Kirk was in there, we had to pay back all bets.= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAnd this time?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CMost people bet you would use the self-destruct, just to get it ov= er with.=20 However, I won the entire pot,=E2=80=9D Hiro replied, smiling slightly, but= with=20 narrowed eyes. =E2=80=9CAnd, as you might imagine, the odds against you wer= e very, very long. =E2=80=9D =20 * =20 They walked back across the Quad to their building, shoulder to shoulder bu= t=20 not touching. /That was very unsatisfactory/ Spock sent at last. =20 Kirk nodded. /But doing the simulation was fun. Two weeks! What are we goin= g=20 to do for two weeks?/ He sighed and stopped beside a fountain in their=20 residence=E2=80=99s forecourt, watching the water droplets patterning the s= urface. /I didn=E2=80=99t=20 realize how much I was counting on finding something out today./ =20 Spock didn=E2=80=99t respond. After a moment Kirk turned to look at him. = =E2=80=9CWhat?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI am thinking,=E2=80=9D he replied. =E2=80=9CI would have no diffi= culty continuing my=20 studies for two weeks. In fact, I would welcome the uninterrupted time to c= omplete=20 some enquiries I have been making into a new field of research here, regard= ing=20 the intersection of normal space and tachyon space with the multiverse.=20 However, it would be patently unfair of me to do so.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSpock.=E2=80=9D Kirk smiled and touched his mate=E2=80=99s chest l= ightly, then let his hand=20 drop. =E2=80=9CI was the one being selfish. Of course, you can continue you= r=20 research. I=E2=80=99ll find some way to amuse myself.=E2=80=9D =20 /You have made no friends here,/ Spock replied. Kirk felt his face slowly=20 fall. It was true. He had been too busy, too caught up in the process, and = the=20 cadets were all so young and inexperienced. The more senior officers, those= =20 closer to his age, couldn=E2=80=99t socialize with him while he was still, = technically, a=20 cadet. /Normally you would go away with McCoy or Scott./ =20 /There is no =E2=80=98normally=E2=80=99 here, not yet/ Kirk replied. He swu= ng around and=20 felt Spock falling into step beside him. /Besides, we=E2=80=99re still bein= g treated like=20 curiosities./ =20 /You have handled it very well./ The door of the building slid open before= =20 them and he walked through at Kirk=E2=80=99s side. =E2=80=9CPerhaps a compr= omise is in order.=20 We will allot a certain number of hours each day for mutual sight-seeing an= d re laxation. I can work for four of the seven hours that you normally like to= =20 sleep, and in the extra hours during the day.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThat sounds like a good plan,=E2=80=9D Kirk replied, though he kne= w Spock could=20 feel his little stab of frustration. =E2=80=9CWish McCoy was here. I deserv= e a good =E2=80=98 drunk=E2=80=99.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CPerhaps you might use these two weeks to seek out some new acquain= tances,=20 with whom to indulge in that peculiar pastime.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9COh, great idea. Right before I am due to get my first real posting= in this=20 universe, I=E2=80=99ll go out and get drunk with a near-stranger and ruin m= y record.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CDid you and Gary Mitchell not do that during your two week leave b= efore your=20 first posting after graduating, last time?=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk laughed. =E2=80=9CYeah. But then, I was young and stupid.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI have no comment to make to that.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSmart man.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI know that.=E2=80=9D =20 * =20 The sun was barely up, not yet strong enough to lift the dew sparkling on t= he=20 grass of the playing field. Barely 0500 =E2=80=93 during the last year Jim = had=20 grabbed exercise time when he could, but for these last two days he had bee= n up with=20 the birds, with nothing to do. He was surprised the first day that he wasn= =E2=80=99t=20 alone at that hour; a dozen others, anonymous in their track suits, were=20 taking their exercise as well. It was no different today, and as he pounded= up to=20 the bleachers after his fifth and final kilometre of the morning he exchang= ed=20 a grin with another man who had arrived there just ahead of him. =20 =E2=80=9CFive klicks?=E2=80=9D=20 =20 =E2=80=9CYeah. You too?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYeah.=E2=80=9D Neither of them was blowing hard. The other was tow= elling the sweat=20 from his neck as Jim reached for his own towel. Jim inspected him=20 surreptitiously as he wiped the sweat from his own head. Probably around th= e same age, he=20 decided, though it was hard to tell. The other man had quite dark skin, and= =20 Jim had always had difficulty pinpointing the ages of other humans with=20 different racial characteristics. The man caught his eye and blinked, then = smiled. =20 =E2=80=9CYou teach here?=E2=80=9D Jim asked. He didn=E2=80=99t remember see= ing him before. =20 =E2=80=9CNaw, but the officers=E2=80=99 quarters at the main HQ building ar= e full. Lots of=20 ships in orbit, waiting for crew reassignments right now, all getting refit= s.=20 They put the overflow here, because there=E2=80=99s so much space during te= rm break.=20 Saves on hotel rooms,=E2=80=9D the darker man responded. He straightened up= and offered=20 his hand. =E2=80=9CLieutenant Commander Pete Redding.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk took a step back and stared, suddenly angry. =E2=80=9CIs this some kin= d of a=20 joke?=E2=80=9D =20 The other blinked, and dropped his hand. =E2=80=9CWhat? Hell, I was just tr= ying to be=20 friendly. What the hell is your problem?=E2=80=9D He snapped the towel back= around=20 his neck angrily and began to walk away. =20 Confused, Kirk followed. =E2=80=9CNow wait a minute=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CLook, buddy, I don=E2=80=99t see any pointed ears, so if you have = some other reason=20 for refusing to shake my hand, I don=E2=80=99t want to know, okay?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99re name is Pete Redding? It really is, you=E2=80=99re = not joking with me?=E2=80=9D=20 =20 The other man stopped and sighed. =E2=80=9COh, so that=E2=80=99s it. Yes, i= t is, and yes, he=20 was, and no, I don=E2=80=99t know anything about him that isn=E2=80=99t in = the history=20 books. There, does that make you happy?=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk shook his head. =E2=80=9CHis descendent? That=E2=80=A6 I=E2=80=99m sor= ry, that didn=E2=80=99t occur to=20 me. Look, I didn=E2=80=99t mean to be rude. I apologize. You must get that = all the=20 time, the =E2=80=98are you related to=E2=80=99 thing.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIn fact, I do. But most people don=E2=80=99t draw back like they= =E2=80=99ve seen a=20 poisonous snake.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSorry. It=E2=80=99s just, I never know what to expect around here.= =E2=80=9D Kirk smiled his=20 most rueful, boyish grin and shrugged. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m Jim. Jim Kirk.= =E2=80=9D =20 The other man stared, and then suddenly he relaxed. =E2=80=9CShit. Well, th= at=20 explains that.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou know then? About me?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYeah, everyone knows. I=E2=80=99m surprised I didn=E2=80=99t recog= nize you =E2=80=93 I=E2=80=99ve seen=20 your local doppelganger around enough times. But you know, you do look youn= ger.=20 And thinner.=E2=80=9D He held out his hand again, and this time Kirk shook = it firmly. =E2=80=9C Let=E2=80=99s start again. I=E2=80=99m Pete Redding. I hear you knew my ump= teen-times great=20 grand-dad.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CKnew him briefly, liked him a lot. Glad to meet you. So, you=E2=80= =99re shipping=20 soon? What=E2=80=99s your department?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CChief Medical. I=E2=80=99m a doctor and surgeon. Hey=E2=80=A6=E2= =80=9D he began, and then shook=20 his head. =E2=80=9CNo, that=E2=80=99s as bad as everyone asking me if I=E2= =80=99m related to him all=20 the time.=E2=80=9D =20 With a stab of intuition, Jim knew what the man had been going to ask. =E2= =80=9CYou=20 want to hear about him.=E2=80=9D =20 The other man shrugged, and started walking again. Kirk fell into step besi= de=20 him. =E2=80=9CAll I know is that you met him. I=E2=80=99d like to hear more= about him. Wouldn =E2=80=99t you, if you were me?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes, I would. And I=E2=80=99d like to tell you about him. But I=E2= =80=99d have to get=20 clearance, I=E2=80=99m afraid. Most of the story is still classified inform= ation. Temporal=20 directives. You know.=E2=80=9D =20 Redding nodded. =E2=80=9CI understand. I wasn=E2=80=99t really expecting an= ything. What are=20 you doing here?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWaiting,=E2=80=9D Kirk replied. =E2=80=9CSpock and I have been bus= y since we arrived,=20 catching up with your=E2=80=A6 with our new universe. We=E2=80=99re hoping = for some kind of=20 StarFleet assignment next week, but Nogura=E2=80=99s a tight-lipped bastard= . So for the next=20 few days, I=E2=80=99m jogging and watching the grass grow.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CGood for your soul,=E2=80=9D Redding replied, laughing. =E2=80=9CW= ell, I=E2=80=99m cooling my=20 heels, too, this week. Can I invite you and your partner out for a drink? I= =20 promise not to ask about my illustrious ancestor.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk shook his head with a wry smile. =E2=80=9CI wish I could accept, Comma= nder, but=20 unfortunately that would be against regs. Technically, we=E2=80=99re still = cadets.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99re joking.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI wish I was,=E2=80=9D Kirk replied with a laugh of his own.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CHuh.=E2=80=9D They walked along in silence for a moment, then Pete= glanced at him=20 sideways. =E2=80=9CWell, if you just accidentally happened to run into a fe= w officers=20 at a nice little harbour-front bar and grill, and they invited you to sit d= own,=20 you=E2=80=99d pretty much have to do it, wouldn=E2=80=99t you? I mean, as a= cadet, how can=20 you refuse?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAs an ordinary cadet, of course I couldn=E2=80=99t. But as=E2=80= =A6 as me, I=E2=80=99m afraid I=E2=80=99d=20 have to plead a previous engagement and politely decline, Commander. I=E2= =80=99m=20 afraid I=E2=80=99m rather under the microscope here. Though thanks for the = offer.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CUnderstood.=E2=80=9D The path split, and they stopped. =E2=80=9CIf= you are feeling less=20 virtuous tonight, a bunch of us will be doing the joints between Ogilvy=E2= =80=99s and the=20 Wharf from 20 hundred until we can=E2=80=99t see. Otherwise=E2=80=A6 see yo= u on the track=20 tomorrow?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThanks. Tomorrow then.=E2=80=9D He held out his hand again, and Re= dding shook it=20 warmly. =E2=80=9CGlad to have met you, Commander,=E2=80=9D Kirk said. =20 =E2=80=9CI prefer =E2=80=98Doctor=E2=80=99, but you can call me Pete. We=E2= =80=99re practically related.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CUntil tomorrow, Pete.=E2=80=9D =20 *** End Part One [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: 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: TOS, AU, PG, K/S: WIP Home is the Heart sequel by Rae Trail, Part 2 of 4 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 534 Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:55:07 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1094604907 209.198.142.218 (Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:07 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:07 EDT Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:84110 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 Two of Four =20 By Rae Trail =20 Continued =20 The ordinary interaction with another Human, someone near his age who hadn= =E2=80=99t=20 treated him like a strange science experiment, left Kirk feeling slightly=20 elated all day. Spock, intrigued both by the meeting and Kirk=E2=80=99s moo= d, was=20 speculating about it as they walked along the beach near the ancient walls = of the=20 Presidio late that evening. =20 /I didn=E2=80=99t realize how depressed you had become. It was a gradual ch= ange./ =20 /I=E2=80=99m not depressed./ =20 /Not at this moment, no. But you are a very social creature. You have=20 sublimated your need for multiple companions during this difficult transiti= on time=20 into =E2=80=98teamwork=E2=80=99 and=E2=80=A6/ =20 =E2=80=9CHold on, Mister! Multiple companions?=E2=80=9D =20 Spock nearly smiled. Instead he took Kirk=E2=80=99s hand and squeezed it. = =E2=80=9CI did not=20 mean =E2=80=98multiple partners=E2=80=99, Jim. I meant a group of friends. = You have always=20 had a small group of Human friends, who give you something I simply cannot.= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou give me everything,=E2=80=9D Kirk responded loyally. =20 =E2=80=9CNo. I do not. Nor do I aspire to, or even wish to. I do, however, = wish you=20 to be happy. I am glad you met Doctor Redding. It shows both of us a need t= hat=20 you have to fill.=E2=80=9D =20 Jim squeezed Spock=E2=80=99s hand back, and then sat down on the cool sand,= pulling=20 Spock down beside him. =E2=80=9CI love you.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI know that. And no, I will not make love with you on this beach.= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHell, I know that!=E2=80=9D Kirk pressed up against Spock=E2=80=99= s side. =E2=80=9CWhy don=E2=80=99t you=20 come out to the track tomorrow morning and meet him too? You=E2=80=99d like= him.=E2=80=9D =20 He could feel the black eyes on him in the dark. The sigh he half expected= =20 didn=E2=80=99t come. Instead, Spock nodded. =E2=80=9CVery well. I will.=E2= =80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CGood.=E2=80=9D Kirk looked over at him. =E2=80=9CWhy?=E2=80=9D =20 Spock smiled. =E2=80=9CDoes it not strike you as peculiar that you have nev= er heard=20 of a Pete Redding of that rank and position in our own fleet? Most ship=E2= =80=99s=20 doctors=E2=80=99 ranks are ornaments, few bother with the command courses t= hat would raise=20 them above Second Lieutenant, fewer still achieve the field work and=20 decorations necessary for the rank of Commander, even Lieutenant Commander.= Yet, Doctor=20 Redding stated that he had =E2=80=98seen your local doppelganger a few time= s.=E2=80=99 There=20 are only 17 ships in our universe which would have had a position for a=20 doctor and surgeon of such a high rank, and I believe that you would recogn= ize the=20 names of all of them.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWould I?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CCertainly you would, even if you cannot call them to mind at the p= resent=20 time. Presented with a printed list, you would acknowledge the truth of thi= s.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk mulled that over for a moment and then saw the flaw in the argument. = =E2=80=9C There are over four times as many ships flying under the flag in this unive= rse,=20 Spock, thanks to their longer time in space. Talent gets promoted. No doubt= he=20 was serving elsewhere in our=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D he trailed off. =E2=80=9CBut= there aren=E2=80=99t that many=20 more ships that are flying deep space exploratory missions, with hundreds o= f=20 crew, and large sickbays, and the need for command rank Chiefs. Not that ma= ny=20 who would run into the local =E2=80=98me=E2=80=99. He really should have be= en killed that=20 night, shouldn=E2=80=99t he? In our universe, this Pete Redding couldn=E2= =80=99t exist.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t know. We cannot know. There may be no real relatio= nship, just=20 wishful thinking on the part of this Pete Redding=E2=80=99s family. It was,= after all,=20 rather difficult for a homosexual man in that time to have children that bo= re his=20 name.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI guess.=E2=80=9D Kirk lobbed a stone into the bay, thinking back = to Spock=E2=80=99s=20 statement about =E2=80=98multiple companions=E2=80=99. =E2=80=9CIt has been= difficult. I mean, I knew more=20 than half of the instructors and doctors and examiners this year. They were= so=20 like their old counterparts =E2=80=93 men and women and others that I used = to=20 socialize with, that I had so much in common with. Stolsky, in tactics =E2= =80=93 that was=20 tough. I liked that old bastard! We were friends after I graduated, and I=20 guest-lectured for him. I=E2=80=99ve been to his house, I=E2=80=99ve met hi= s wife. Hell, I dated his=20 daughter!=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYes. I am surprised he made no overtures of friendship.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSome of them though =E2=80=93 I felt like I should have heard of t= hem before,=20 should have known their records. This fleet is huge compared to ours. Thoug= h=20 Enterprise is still the flagship.=E2=80=9D He grinned. =E2=80=9CAnd some ve= rsion of me is still her=20 captain!=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CTalent gets promoted,=E2=80=9D Spock echoed. =E2=80=9CDid you know= that there are 43=20 Vulcans serving on inter-racial ships here?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHow did you discover that?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI asked,=E2=80=9D he said simply.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CYou would.=E2=80=9D Kirk thought that over for a moment. =E2=80=9C= Were you still the first?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI was.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9COf course you were, my Spock, always leading the way in any univer= se. Are=20 most of the others serving in the sciences?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9C31 are in sciences. 10 are strictly involved in computational engi= neering.=20 One is a helmsperson. And one, to my surprise, is a security and weapons=20 officer.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThat is shocking.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt most certainly is.=E2=80=9D Spock rose and dusted the sand from= his trousers. =E2=80=9CI=20 am cold.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThen let=E2=80=99s go home, and I will warm you up.=E2=80=9D =20 * =20 The next morning it seemed that Pete Redding had been struck with a similar= =20 impulse as Jim Kirk, for he was jogging in tandem with another man, and bot= h=20 waved when they saw Jim and Spock at the bleachers. =20 =E2=80=9CWonder if that=E2=80=99s his partner?=E2=80=9D Kirk asked, droppin= g his towel and beginning=20 to stretch. Spock raised an eyebrow, but didn=E2=80=99t bother to answer th= e useless=20 speculation. Instead, he folded himself onto a bench seat and activated the= =20 padd he had brought with him. Taking the hint, Kirk lopped away onto the tr= ack. =20 Redding completed his five kilometres one lap ahead of Kirk, but Jim didn= =E2=80=99t=20 bother to join them immediately. Instead, he tuned Spock in and continued w= ith=20 his final lap. /Greet him for me, will you, love? I don=E2=80=99t want to c= ut short my=20 exercise/. =20 Acquiescence. Through the bond, Jim followed the conversation. He noticed=20 that the man with Redding was panting, though not heavily. =20 =E2=80=9CDoctor Redding,=E2=80=9D Spock said, rising from his seat, as the = two men=20 approached. =E2=80=9CJim is nearly finished his allotted number of laps, an= d says he will join=20 us then. I believe he wishes to exchange greetings in person.=E2=80=9D =20 /That was just sooooo Vulcan, Spock! Couldn=E2=80=99t you just say =E2=80= =98hi, I=E2=80=99m Spock=E2=80=99?/ =20 /No, I could not./ =20 =E2=80=9CI am Spock,=E2=80=9D he added, belatedly. Jim couldn=E2=80=99t see= the exchange, as he was=20 rounding the near end of the track and had his back to the three of them. =20 =E2=80=9CSpock. A pleasure to meet you,=E2=80=9D he heard through Spock=E2= =80=99s ears, always an=20 interesting sensation. =E2=80=9CThis is a friend and erstwhile ship-mate, W= aleed=20 McKenzie.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CLong life and prosperity,=E2=80=9D the second man said, and Kirk w= as surprised by=20 his accent. A mixture of Damascus and Glasgow, he thought. Through Spock=E2= =80=99s eyes=20 he got a picture; short, well-trimmed beard, short black hair, olive=20 complexion, large, hooked nose and surprisingly bright lips. A twinkle in h= is dark=20 brown eyes. Handsome, in a jagged kind of way. Perhaps forty years old. Fit= ,=20 though less so than Pete. He jogged into the backstretch, and watched as th= e=20 little group settled on the bleachers. =20 =E2=80=9CYou two have served together before, then? On which ship, if that = is not too=20 bold?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CNot at all, Mister Spock,=E2=80=9D McKenzie responded. =E2=80=9CWe= were on the Bucephalus=20 together as ensigns, a million years ago, and most recently served three ye= ars=20 together on the Gallant. I=E2=80=99m in engineering, but Pete warned me no= t to=20 divulge my rank.=E2=80=9D =20 Even though he couldn=E2=80=99t see it, he could feel Spock=E2=80=99s eyebr= ow climbing. =E2=80=9CMay=20 one=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CPlease don=E2=80=99t, Mister Spock,=E2=80=9D Redding over-rode smo= othly. =E2=80=9CRight now, we=E2=80=99re=20 both between ships, and wondering if we=E2=80=99re going to be posted toget= her again.=20 You two are pretty much in the same position, aren=E2=80=99t you? So rank d= oesn=E2=80=99t=20 really matter, does it?=E2=80=9D =20 Jim slowed his pace to cool down in the last 50 metres. It appeared that a= =20 second invitation, more easily acceptable, might be in the offing. He took = the=20 few moments he had to consider it, still listening.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CI hope we didn=E2=80=99t interrupt anything,=E2=80=9D McKenzie was= saying. =20 =E2=80=9CNegative. A review of charm and strange anti-quark behaviour in no= n-space. I=20 am doing some advanced research, and realized that I had learned one of the= =20 fundamental building blocks of chaos theory at such a young age that I had= =20 better be sure I understood it correctly, as they appear to be applying the= =20 calculations differently than I expected.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99re reviewing basic chaos at five in the morning?=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s my Spock,=E2=80=9D Jim said, slowing to stop a few = feet away. =E2=80=9CThough I=20 doubt you=E2=80=99ll find that you=E2=80=99ve misunderstood it, Spock. It s= eems far more likely=20 that the current batch of scientists are applying it improperly.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9COne always checks one=E2=80=99s facts before challenging another= =E2=80=99s. Jim, this is=20 Mister Waleed McKenzie, of unspecified rank and unknown posting,=E2=80=9D h= e finished,=20 as he handed Jim his towel. =20 Jim took it and dried his hands, then held out his right hand to McKenzie,= =20 who shook it firmly. Jim noticed heavy calluses on the palm, and thought = =E2=80=93 chief=20 engineer. =E2=80=9CMister McKenzie, I=E2=80=99m Jim Kirk. Nice to meet you.= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou too, Mister Kirk.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CJust Jim, please. Good morning, Pete! How was the pub crawl last n= ight?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAs expected. We got asked to vacate Molly=E2=80=99s at about midni= ght, and Waleed=20 and I had the sense to go home then. The rest may be sleeping on the wharf = for=20 all I know.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CTypical shore leave.=E2=80=9D He slung the towel around his neck a= nd sat down=20 sideways so that he could see all three men easily, one knee barely touchin= g Spock=E2=80=99 s thigh. =E2=80=9CSo you=E2=80=99re both between ships, then? Any hopes?=E2= =80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWell=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D McKenzie frowned. =E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t = see any rank insignia here, so I=E2=80=99m=20 gonna assume that you two can keep your mouths shut. You, and your counterp= arts=20 here, have a reputation that says so.=E2=80=9D =20 Jim blinked. =E2=80=9CYour choice, but thanks for the compliment.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s this new Explorer class transwarp ship. Rumour has it= that she=E2=80=99s going=20 through final design approval, and I=E2=80=99d like to get my hands on her = again. She=E2=80=99 s a little beauty.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CTranswarp!=E2=80=9D Jim=E2=80=99s surprise was mirrored in Spock= =E2=80=99s raised eyebrows. =E2=80=9CThat=20 was on the books as a pure experiment, where we come from. Transwarp was=20 considered years in the future, if practical at all. They were still using= =20 experimentals.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWell, I hope they don=E2=80=99t use many manned experimentals,=E2= =80=9D McKenzie replied=20 dryly. =E2=80=9CNot to say that transwarp doesn=E2=80=99t work, in a very p= eculiar way. We=20 fussed with it for years, before we realized that the very act of crossing = the=20 warp barrier was creating the same kind of instability in the multiverse th= at=20 brought you two here. Our models kept achieving the expected relativity. Th= ey=E2=80=99d=20 be fine for two or three runs. Then=E2=80=A6 poof.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CGone?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CCompletely. We finally figured out that they were crossing into th= e=20 multiverse and not finding their way back. Ridiculous=E2=80=A6 we should ha= ve figured it out.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHow?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWell, at that level of relative chaos, you=E2=80=99re dealing with= improbabilities=20 that are very difficult to calculate. The larger the mass you are trying to= =20 move, the more improbable a predictable result is. So, when we tried to mov= e a=20 large ship, it became highly improbable that it would behave in the way we= =20 forecast, based on models of smaller dimensions. The more mass, the more=20 particles, the less predictability, you see? Also, the further we tried to = move the=20 mass, the more improbable it became, so long or repeated runs altered the n= ature=20 of reality just enough to tip the mass over into another aspect of the=20 multiverse, but not tip it back to the right one again.=E2=80=9D He gazed a= cross the playing=20 field. =E2=80=9CI can imagine there are some rather startled folks in other= universes=20 trying to figure out where our ships came from=E2=80=A6 that is, if any of = them got=20 anywhere useful.=E2=80=9D =20 Jim checked to make sure that Spock, at least, had understood, and relaxed= =20 when he got an affirmative. =E2=80=9CBut we have such a ship designed now?= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CA different sort of application. We discovered that if we make onl= y one=20 short run through the multiverse, we can return to our point of origin with= out=20 disrupting reality to the point that the return becomes too improbable. Now= , a=20 short run in the multiverse is relative as well, because it can mean a very= long=20 distance in real space. The runs, or hops, tend to average between 3000 and= =20 6000 simultaneous light years.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CGood lord!=E2=80=9D Jim got off the bench and paced away, then bac= k. =E2=80=9CBut you can=20 only do it once, before improbability becomes too great to allow a return?= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CActually, our limit seems to be 3 hops out, three hops back, at th= e size of=20 ship we are using. Were using. They may have improved it. Of course, after= =20 those 3 hops the ship has to exist in real space for an extremely long time= =20 before its probability of existence returns to normal enough numbers for it= to=20 venture out again.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAnd if you stick to one hop out, one hop back?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CShe outbounds to a space and returns with enough inherent reality = to make=20 any number of trips without disturbing the multiverse.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIn any direction from the starting point?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s the theory,=E2=80=9D McKenzie said, rubbing his han= ds together. =E2=80=9CYou can=20 hop out, engage normal warp drive capability wherever you arrive, and cruis= e=20 until you want to return. Re-engage, and Bingo! You=E2=80=99re back.=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CFrom a different outbound position, achieved at normal warp speed?= =E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CExactly. Point of departure never varies from point of return, no = matter how=20 many light years travel occurs past the outward point.=E2=80=9D =20 Jim sat down and stared across the field. =E2=80=9CThat is really something= . That=20 means we could begin new explorations immediately from the very edge of kno= wn=20 space! But the ships are small, you say?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9COh, small is relative. The Constellation class is far too big, but= the=20 Explorer class will carry between 80 and 100 people, depending on species= =E2=80=99=20 requirements. The design is lovely. They say she=E2=80=99ll do warp nine in= normal warp space=20 for extended runs, though she cruises best around warp six and below. There= =E2=80=99s=20 your exploratory vessel of tomorrow, gentlemen!=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CNo kidding,=E2=80=9D Jim muttered. He looked up at McKenzie. =E2= =80=9CAny chance of seeing=20 the math? I know that seeing the plans is out of the question.=E2=80=9D =20 The other two humans exchanged looks, and then McKenzie sighed. =E2=80=9CWe= ll,=20 talking about it is one thing, but actually showing the numbers=E2=80=A6 th= at=E2=80=99s quite=20 different, isn=E2=80=99t it? Everyone in the galaxy knows we=E2=80=99ve bee= n working on it, so I=20 don=E2=80=99t think I=E2=80=99ve gone over any lines yet. But=E2=80=A6=E2= =80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CNo problem.=E2=80=9D He managed a smile. =E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re no= t even cleared to see the logs=20 of the present Enterprise for the two years that coincide with our voyage o= n=20 her, so I know that we wouldn=E2=80=99t be cleared for this. Thanks for the= overview=20 though, Mister McKenzie. It=E2=80=99s nice to know that progress is being m= ade in the=20 field, even if I never get to see it.=E2=80=9D =20 The four men stood up, and handshakes were exchanged again. Pete lifted his= =20 towel, and said casually, =E2=80=9Cwe were planning to go out to the Wharf = for dinner=20 tonight. Strictly out of uniform and off the record, of course. We are all = on=20 leave. Nineteen-hundred. Hope to see you there, both of you.=E2=80=9D =20 They sauntered away across the track, and Jim exchanged a look with Spock. = =E2=80=9C Are we being set up?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CMost assuredly. Though I cannot say for what.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHmmm. Let=E2=80=99s go. I need a shower.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI know that.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSmart ass.=E2=80=9D =20 They turned and walked together toward their building. Spock waited serenel= y=20 while Kirk=E2=80=99s mind churned over the new information he had received,= and then=20 was quietly pleased when Kirk came up with an appropriate question. =20 =E2=80=9CThis is what you=E2=80=99re investigating, isn=E2=80=99t it? You f= ound the math somewhere,=20 interpolated the application, and now you=E2=80=99ve found something unusua= l in the=20 equations.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou are a very smart man, James T. Kirk.=E2=80=9D =20 Jim grinned at him. =E2=80=9CI know that.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI will explain it all to you via a meld when you are clean again. = Perhaps=20 your non-linear mode of thinking will help to clarify the difficulty I see = in=20 the figures. According to what I understand, the improbabilities continue t= o=20 multiple over relative time, until the multiverse shifts realities, regardl= ess of=20 the length and number of the jumps, or the amount of time the vehicle spend= s=20 in normal space. Eventually, a device of any size predicated on these=20 equations must fail to return to its point of origin.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHow do you figure that?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI will tell you in the meld. It is far too complex to communicate = without=20 the correct math and models.=E2=80=9D =20 *** End Part Two [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: ath: 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: ath: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!bigfeed2.bellsouth.net!news.bellsouth.net!fr.ip.ndsoftware.net!proxad.net!proxad.net!yellow.newsread.com!news-toy.newsread.com!netaxs.com!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 4 of 4 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 513 Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:55:11 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1094604911 209.198.142.218 (Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:11 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 20:55:11 EDT Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:84114 X-Received-Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 17:55:19 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 Four of Four =20 By Rae Trail =20 Continued =20 Kirk felt much calmer when he and Spock walked into Nogura=E2=80=99s office= almost=20 five days later. He hadn=E2=80=99t had any contact with anyone other than S= pock =E2=80=93 even=20 the joggers on the track had left him alone and he hadn=E2=80=99t been sorr= y. =20 Spock=E2=80=99s strange revelation had occupied most of his waking time. He= had been=20 busy, very busy, learning all he could about his day-to-day contemporary=20 reality. Hours on the internet, with current biographies and even popular = fiction,=20 with planetary and Federation news stations, with easily accessible history= =20 books. =20 He had come to the conclusion that Spock was right. This universe was very= =20 different. He had also concluded that the differences went much further bac= k=20 than his interference in the fist fight that would have killed Pete Redding= ,=20 those centuries back, or Spock=E2=80=99s inadvertent introduction of sub-sp= ace to the=20 clever designer. He remembered Spock=E2=80=99s recitation of the difference= s that evening=20 in the apartment; the avoidance of the Eugenics war, strong global governme= nt,=20 the existence at that time of a moon base. =20 Very different indeed. =20 One of the most illuminating things he had encountered was a clipping servi= ce=20 that provided him with the public information about the Enterprise=E2=80=99= s first=20 five year exploratory mission =20 He could trace the difference between the two universes to a single date an= d=20 time and incident now. He wondered if part of the reason he and Spock had b= een=20 kept so busy during their first year here had been to keep him from doing=20 just that. He wasn=E2=80=99t exactly sure how he felt about it, but realize= d it didn=E2=80=99t=20 matter. =20 Nogura was alone in his office when they entered, but stood up the instant= =20 they walked in and nodded toward the next-door conference room. =20 =E2=80=9CIn here, gentlemen.=E2=80=9D =20 He opened the door and the pair preceded him into the room. Around the larg= e=20 conference table, several people were gathered, all standing up as Nogura=20 entered the room. Jim was pleased to see Pete, Waleed, and Uhura all there,= as=20 well as the local version of Montgomery Scott. He also recognized Commodore= Matt=20 Decker, and was glad he had known the man wasn=E2=80=99t dead in this unive= rse, so=20 that he wasn=E2=80=99t shocked now. In addition, there was a rather young l= ooking Vulcan=20 male, and two women whose rank insignia identified them as Vice-Admirals be= low=20 Nogura. =20 Introductions were made; the Vulcan was Saven, of the VSA, the two women we= re=20 Lori Ciani, in charge of the Explorer project, and Miriam Al Shehi, in char= ge=20 of Fleet Maintenance. =20 =E2=80=9CPleasure to meet you,=E2=80=9D Kirk said, accepting greetings for = both himself and=20 his partner, as they took seats near the top of the table beside Nogura. =20 =E2=80=9CJim,=E2=80=9D Nogura said, =E2=80=9CI have been monitoring your re= search for the last few=20 days.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m not surprised,=E2=80=9D Kirk replied, feeling no resen= tment for the invasion of=20 his privacy. He had come to realize very shortly after their arrival on thi= s=20 Earth that privacy was not something he could expect, except in the warmth = of=20 his bond. =E2=80=9CHave you reached any conclusions?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99d like to hear what you found the most interesting. Don= =E2=80=99t worry about=20 confidentiality. Everyone in this room is cleared, henceforth, to hear what= ever=20 you have to say.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk nodded and glanced at Spock. =E2=80=9CFirst of all =E2=80=93 is it gen= erally accepted=20 that my bond mate didn=E2=80=99t break any regulations in determining the p= roblem with=20 the transwarp equations?=E2=80=9D =20 Ciani nodded. =E2=80=9CIt is. We were a bit shocked by how quickly and bril= liantly=20 you discovered the problem, Mister Spock. We all agree that you arrived at = your=20 conclusions on your own, from material that is in the public domain.=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CAye,=E2=80=9D Scott said, grinning widely. =E2=80=9CI traced enoug= h sources to confirm that=20 another mathematician of your ability could do the same.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAnd Mister Saven, given that material without any other informatio= n,=20 inferred transwarp within a matter of hours. Although, he did fail to make = the=20 connection that you made and find the error in the equations.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI am gratified to be exonerated. As a Vulcan, I find the idea of b= eing=20 suspected of lying to be repugnant,=E2=80=9D Spock said. =E2=80=9CAre steps= being taken to correct=20 the problem in the equations?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThey are,=E2=80=9D Ciani replied. =20 =E2=80=9CGood,=E2=80=9D Kirk said. =E2=80=9CThen I will gladly tell you wha= t I found most=20 interesting in my research over the last few days. Reading the public versi= on of the=20 logs from the first two years of your voyage on Enterprise,=E2=80=9D he sai= d, nodding=20 toward Uhura and then Scott, =E2=80=9CI found myself curious about an incid= ent that couldn =E2=80=99t be reported there. An incident regarding a being or artefact tha= t called=20 itself the Guardian of Forever.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAh.=E2=80=9D Nogura nodded. =E2=80=9CGo on.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CLooking into local history, I found the name of a woman who was de= emed=20 almost single-handedly responsible for the development of world-wide democr= acy. In=20 our universe, that woman was killed before she could begin her important li= fe=E2=80=99 s work. In our universe, she was not a democratic allied with powerful=20 democrats, however, but a pacifist aligned with fascists. In our world, Edi= th Keeler=20 died young. In fact, we were directly responsible for her death.=E2=80=9D =20 The body language of those around the table told Kirk all he needed to know= .=20 They were all aware of that important difference =E2=80=93 they had all won= dered what=20 he would make of the information once he discovered it.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CYou have questions for me?=E2=80=9D Nogura said.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CDid Kirk, Spock, and McCoy go through the Guardian, here?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThey did not. There was no need. The accident with the cordrazine = didn=E2=80=99t=20 occur.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk nodded in satisfaction. =E2=80=9CHas any use been made of the Guardian= ?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CNo. It is deemed far too dangerous. In light of the three instance= s we had=20 seen in which you two were involved, affecting the life or death of a singl= e=20 individual in history, our Temporal Directives have been made very strict,= =20 stricter than they were already, and that=E2=80=99s saying something. In fa= ct, it took over=20 a week of intense debate to decide to go back in time for you two. The=20 Guardian is carefully interdicted. We don=E2=80=99t even keep a research st= ation there.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSensible. The temptation to use it=E2=80=A6 It would be difficult = for some people=20 to resist.=E2=80=9D =20 Silence fell for a few moments. Nogura finally leaned forward and addresse= d=20 Kirk again. =E2=80=9CWhy do you find that the most interesting thing?=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CIt leads to everything else. It leads, finally, to why Jim Kirk in= this day=20 and universe is a different man to me. Sure, he cheated on the Kobiyashi Ma= ru.=20 That=E2=80=99s the kind of guy we are =E2=80=93 we don=E2=80=99t take =E2= =80=98no=E2=80=99 for an answer, we don=E2=80=99t=20 allow death to win if we can find any way of allowing life. But your Kirk w= as=20 raised without the same bloody history that I, and my universe, had. And hi= s=20 voyage had a different tone and texture because of it. It also was differen= t,=20 because he didn=E2=80=99t meet all the same people we did, visit all the sa= me planets,=20 encounter all the same dangers. Furthermore, the technology of this time=20 ensured that many of the dangers he did encounter simply weren=E2=80=99t as= dangerous to=20 him and his ship and his crew as they would have been to me and mine.=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CAll true. Go on.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI have no doubt that he is a=E2=80=A6 good commander. I am a good = commander, and=20 you don=E2=80=99t give your flagship to someone you don=E2=80=99t trust abs= olutely. However, I=20 venture to say that I am a great commander. Something he can=E2=80=99t be, = simply=20 because he didn=E2=80=99t develop the personality for it by meeting the cha= llenges that I,=20 that we, met, and overcame, just to survive during our voyage.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m glad that your ego quotient is well known, Jim,=E2=80= =9D Pete said dryly, =E2=80=9Cor=20 I would have to accuse you of megalomania. As it is, I, and the rest of the= se=20 folks and others who have been keeping an eye on you two for the last year,= =20 are convinced that you are what you appear to be; a well integrated genius = who=20 is aware of his abilities and isn=E2=80=99t shy about using them.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk sat back and grinned. =E2=80=9CWell, thanks, Doctor! Does that mean yo= u=E2=80=99re a=20 shrink, as well?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAny CMO on a starship is especially trained in the maintenance of = the mind=20 of the man in the centre seat. In deep space, if you lose him, you generall= y=20 lose the ship.=E2=80=9D =20 With a tossing nod of acknowledgement, Kirk asked; =E2=80=9CWhat worried yo= u most,=20 this last year?=E2=80=9D =20 Redding sat forward and laced his fingers together, elbows resting=20 comfortably on the big table. =E2=80=9CI was concerned that you were isolat= ing yourself. Apart=20 from you bond, you had very few social interactions. Of course, we didn=E2= =80=99t=20 exactly provide you with an environment in which you could easily make frie= nds. The=20 instant we did, last week, I finally got a first hand look at the famous Ki= rk=20 charisma. Oh, don=E2=80=99t look like that. It wasn=E2=80=99t all an act on= my part, either.=20 Uhura warned me that I=E2=80=99d like you immediately, once I was able to c= hat with=20 you in person and not just watch you on the holos and read other doctors=E2= =80=99=20 reports. She was right. I hope=E2=80=A6 well, I wouldn=E2=80=99t mind at al= l, having you for a=20 friend.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThanks, Pete. The feeling is mutual. Did they pick you because of = your name?=20 Are you really descended from the Pete Redding we met?=E2=80=9D =20 There was laughter all around that table at that, and a broad grin from=20 Scotty. Of course, Kirk realized Scott was probably the only contemporary a= t the=20 table who had met the discoverer of sub-space in this universe. Doctor Redd= ing=20 smiled acknowledgement and settled back in his chair. =20 =E2=80=9CI am, but that=E2=80=99s not why they chose me. I was James Kirk= =E2=80=99s physician during=20 his tenure on the Farragut. Saw him go from Lieutenant JG to full Commander= =20 in ten years. No mean feat, by the way. I treated him for everything from a= =20 near-amputation by sword, to the clap, and knew him pretty well. They wante= d=20 McCoy, but he wouldn=E2=80=99t leave the Enterprise.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CGood old Bones,=E2=80=9D Kirk replied, grinning. =E2=80=9CWhat abo= ut you, Waleed?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CHell, I=E2=80=99ve been lobbying to meet you in person since I sta= rted analyzing=20 your mission reports, ten months ago. But =E2=80=98wait=E2=80=99, that was = all they said. =E2=80=98 Wait, see what they do.=E2=80=99=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSo, you are the people who have been watching us this year? Uhura,= were we=20 your =E2=80=98special project=E2=80=99?=E2=80=9D =20 She nodded, smiling. =E2=80=9CYou were. They wanted a communications expert= who was=20 familiar with the relationship and interactions between the contemporary Ki= rk=20 and Spock. And I must say that I agree with your assessment. While I admire= and=20 respect the Captain James Kirk under whom I served for five years, I have a= =20 soft spot for swashbucklers, and he isn=E2=80=99t one. My Jim, however, is = a much=20 better diplomat than you will ever hope to be.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI won=E2=80=99t argue with that. I always find the best diplomacy = for me is in=20 action, not words.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou have, however, a remarkable way with words,=E2=80=9D Spock sai= d in his driest=20 Vulcan voice. =E2=80=9CI have a question.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CPlease go ahead, Mister Spock.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CCommodore Decker, what happened in this universe with the planet k= iller?=E2=80=9D =20 Decker shook his head. =E2=80=9CWe never encountered any such device, thank= god. When=20 I heard what happened to my ship, and to me, in your universe, I was=20 physically ill. I=E2=80=99m glad, though, that I know what to do if or when= we encounter such=20 a device.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAh. Another question, if I may?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CFire away,=E2=80=9D Nogura said.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CWill you now give us access to the logs of the Enterprise for the = first=20 voyage she undertook?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CFull access, yes. We=E2=80=99re curious about your feedback on the= m, when you have=20 time to provide it. You=E2=80=99ll be interested to know that part of the E= nterprise=E2=80=99 s mission on her current voyage is to visit some of the places you went tha= t=20 they didn=E2=80=99t the first time out. They have sent back some very inter= esting logs =E2=80=93 you can see those as well. When you have time.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CSo you are intending to commission us,=E2=80=9D Kirk said with sat= isfaction,=20 settling back and crossing his arms over his chest. He half-caught a wink f= rom=20 Uhura, and winked back, earning a stifled laugh.=20 =20 =E2=80=9CTo offer you a commission, yes,=E2=80=9D Nogura replied. =E2=80=9C= Admiral Ciani? Would you=20 care to do the honours?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CThank you, sir, but it was your idea and your project to begin wit= h. I don=E2=80=99 t want to steal your thunder.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99re a gem, Lori. Jim, Spock=E2=80=A6 because of your in= terference, your very=20 timely interference, the Explorer project has been set back by several mont= hs. We=20 estimate that crewed trials of the re-built system will begin early next=20 year. Commanders Scott and McKenzie were the chief engineers on the prototy= pe=20 engines, and they are preparing to begin building the actual ship.=E2=80=9D= He drummed his=20 fingers and referred to a padd on the table in front of him. =E2=80=9CI hav= e an=20 estimate that we will need a crew of 87 persons when we launch her. I=E2=80= =99d like you to=20 undertake the staffing. We need people who won=E2=80=99t fall apart when th= ey=E2=80=99re=20 attacked by aggressive inter-stellar probes 6000 light years from the neare= st=20 Starbase, and come running back via transwarp to report every lost light bu= lb or=20 deranged god-figure they encounter.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWouldn=E2=80=99t someone more familiar with personnel=E2=80=A6=E2= =80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99d be working with Pete. He=E2=80=99s the best assessor= we have.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk sat back, nonplussed. =E2=80=9CWell, frankly, I think that=E2=80=99s a= job for Pete and=20 whoever the ship=E2=80=99s captain is going to be.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CWhy the hell do you think I=E2=80=99m asking you to do it?=E2=80= =9D =20 In the ensuing silence, Jim could hear his own heart thudding loudly in his= =20 chest. =E2=80=9CMe?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CYou, Captain James T. Kirk! Mister Spock, we would like you to ass= ume the=20 dual role of First Officer and Chief of the Science Departments, at the ran= k of=20 full Commander=E2=80=A6 Captain Kirk, are you going to faint on me?=E2=80= =9D =20 =E2=80=9CHell no!=E2=80=9D Kirk felt the blood washing back into his face a= nd took a deep=20 breath, and as he drew it in he could feel joy starting to swell in his che= st. =E2=80=9C What=E2=80=99s she to be called? What=E2=80=99s her name?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CIn honour of a great journey, she=E2=80=99ll be christened the Ody= ssey. If that=20 meets with your approval,=E2=80=9D he added sarcastically. =E2=80=9CWe figu= re a little thing=20 like folding the multiverse isn=E2=80=99t gonna scare a couple of old adven= turers like=20 you two. You=E2=80=99ll take Waleed and Scotty with you, and Uhura, of cour= se. Saven=20 wants to be considered for the head of the Astrophysics department, under S= pock.=20 Otherwise=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CAnd me, Hiro,=E2=80=9D Pete said. =E2=80=9CThey=E2=80=99re not goi= ng without me.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9COf course we=E2=80=99re not,=E2=80=9D Jim replied. =E2=80=9COdysse= y. Good name. I approve. Spock?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI concur. A name of good omen, even from a Vulcan point of view.= =E2=80=9D He=20 steepled his fingers again, and nodded. =E2=80=9CI am reminded of the Odyss= ey that was the=20 Command Service Module of the Apollo 13 mission, in our history. Despite a= =20 disastrous setback during the mission, that ship brought her crew safely ho= me=20 under conditions that would be challenging to overcome even today.=E2=80=9D =20 Eyebrows went up around the table. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99d like to hear that s= tory,=E2=80=9D Scotty=20 said. =E2=80=9COur Apollo 13 mission went off without a hitch. What happene= d?=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CLater, Commander,=E2=80=9D Nogura said, rubbing his hands together= . He picked a=20 pair of data chips off of the table and handed them across, one to Kirk and= one=20 to Spock. =E2=80=9CThose ID=E2=80=99s reflect your official ranks, and prov= ide credit access.=20 We put a bit of money in the bank for you, equivalent to an advance on your= =20 year=E2=80=99s pay. Oh, and there=E2=80=99s an apartment for you in the Off= icers=E2=80=99 Quarters. You=20 still have a week of leave =E2=80=93 I suggest you move in and find yoursel= ves some=20 furniture and so on. You=E2=80=99ll be stuck on Earth for another year, at = least.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=A6.=E2=80=9D He took another deep breath and looked at Spo= ck. /Love? Will we go to=20 space again together?/ =20 /To the ends of the galaxy, if that be thy wish,/ Spock responded. He looke= d=20 up at Nogura and nodded. =E2=80=9CWe accept, with thanks.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CGood. Uhura, take them home and get them changed. I expect to meet= all of=20 you in the main Officers=E2=80=99 Wardroom in one hour, to toast this new u= ndertaking.=20 Oh, I took the liberty of moving your things out of the dorm when you left = it=20 this morning =E2=80=93 say, that=E2=80=99s one thing that really surprised = us all.=E2=80=9D =20 =E2=80=9CReally? What was that?=E2=80=9D =20 Nogura stood up as he spoke, and so did the others around the table. =E2=80= =9CNot one=20 word of complaint, all year, about that cramped little room we put you in.= =20 Why? We had already decided to move you somewhere decent if you did complai= n.=E2=80=9D =20 Kirk grinned and shook his head. =E2=80=9CWe were far too busy to worry abo= ut=20 something like that, Hiro. Besides, small spaces have their charm.=E2=80=9D= =20 =20 Finis, WIP, Rae =20 End Part Four [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: