Chapter 21 - A RenewalNo matter how far Captain Scott looked, he simply could not find his body. This was because he didn't have one. No one aboard the Enterprise did - including the Enterprise itself.
A Renewal had begun, a resumption and clarification of purpose in a chaotic, crumbling universe. But Scotty did not know this directly, and so called out to the person he correctly believed responsible for his current state.
"Peter Kirk, lad - what have ye wrought? I cannae see the hand I dinnae have in front of my absent face."
A voice met his.
"I'm here, Scotty. Don't worry. My wife will show you the way."
"Captain Scott? Are you ready?"
"Aye, Saavik, lass. But what is it we are doing in this state?"
"Scotty - please describe the Enterprise's level of tech, compared to current starships."
"Ye've touched a sore point there, lass. I love this Lady we call Enterprise - but yet still, she is an antique."
"No longer. Link your minds with every other. Imagine, within the rules of physics, all that is possible - and I do mean all."
Scotty couldn't nod, but understood.
"Aye, I feel like I've already done it. But there's so much information. What parts do I draw out of them?"
"Redesign and rebuild this ship, Scotty. Every last detail, every approach, and every bit of space. The time has come to restore Enterprise - Pride Of the Fleet."
In floods of wonder, Scotty saw all the ideas - and how to make them happen. If it could be done, he was going to do it. From the Captain, who had comparatively cursory tech knowledge, to Spock, who was a past master of several tech disciplines, and everyone in-between, all had something to offer. And each time Scotty was sure he was done - even more ideas sprang into being. His Christian upbringing had him recalling that the End Of Days was not merely a time of disasters, but of miracles.
"This time, I'll not merely earn my nickname - but own it outright!"
For any other engineer, this might be a wasteful boast. But not for Montgomery Scott.
James Kirk heard a voice not of the Enterprise, but of his family.
"James - This Is Goodbye."
"Jean?"
The being known as Jean Little responded.
"Yes, James. I am here to say goodbye. The Line's responsibilities are now fully discharged. It will be up to you and your children to forge a new Line, should Life endure Ghidorah's wrath."
"Cousin? How far can I trust Peter?"
"As far as he could throw you."
"That's pretty far. Tell me - didn't the Order target you and all the others?"
She laughed.
"The Order was a feedbag of rotten souls that Ghidorah kept around for light snacking. When they attacked, they saw dead bodies - because that is what they wished to see, and because it was also what we wished them to see. Though some younger ones did choose to move to that lovely city in Peter's Mind, the rest chose to take on our new tasks. The Great Mystery of the Line may not play out as we had wished. But the honor of ours becoming a funnel reality takes precedence."
"I'll miss you."
"James, you would make me blush - were that not a moot point, right now. You'll do fine. So will your boy and your girl. My compliments, By the Way; killing Spock's weakness as you did took courage and precision."
"He's my brother. Just like Sam gave me Peter, Spock gave me Saavik. One brother couldn't sire children, so I did what he could. One brother couldn't care for the child he sired - so I did what I could. Jean, they are so goddamned beautiful - especially when they're together. Oh - I'm to be married. To Nyta. Finally."
"A piece of paper, James. You and she have been one since Tarsus, when her presence directed your anger in constructive ways. But I wish you well. You and yours were well worth the choice to lose my tester's detachment. Lastly - tell your children that they are not frauds. As much as they may feel they are on automatic, so much of this still rides on them... and on all of you."
"Will we prevail?"
"That depends on your children. Hie you to Megiddo, when the time is right. You will stumble and fall, as you foster the new Line. But the old did the same, when old was yet new."
"I love you and I owe you, Jean."
"James, my kinsman, I love you. But as of now - you ARE me."
So it was that a woman James T. Kirk had known since before he could think left a realm that challenged his understanding in the time of Renewal. He had only ever partially understood her. Now she entered a realm beyond her. For the Great Grand Mystery says - There is no such thing as a Final Frontier.
(With this passage, I chronologically end my use of Istannor's character and main concepts. While I shall use - with author's permission - JL in two more short pieces, I choose to not abuse my borrowing any further. Also, this permits my lender a chance to say 'That was only in Rob's AU' when further writing the wonderful stuff we all seem to like. Thanks, Istannor)
Her words were meant to tell him that they had all they needed to defeat the monsters. Now was the time to act on those strengths.
"Dad?"
"Yes, Peter?"
"I'll miss her, too. Now, how would you like a new body?"
"I'd like it a great deal, son. Spock? How about you?"
"Captain - such humor seems ill-timed, at best. Since I do not wish to die, and I do not wish to continue inhabiting Saavik's body, a new body would seem to be in order."
In an ethereal distance, McCoy laughed.
"He will never change!"
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USS EXCELSIOR BATTLE GROUP
Captain Stiles tried hard to reason out a way to disable the Empire's Fleet.
"I suppose if we can get them in between us and Ghidorah, that would be the ideal. Mister Martine, alert all remaining ships..."
Angela Martine shook her head.
"It's a no-go, sir. The ISS Enterprise is leading them away from us and the Kelvan Relocation Colony. Warp 7. Heading - Paul, you better see this."
Stiles saw the readings and felt his jaw drop.
"Who are they? And why are they even headed this way?"
Martine closed her eyes.
"It's panic, Captain. Pure panic. And we all know what kind of opportunity that opens up."
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ISS ENTERPRISE BATTLE GROUP
Force Admiral James T. Kirk calmly contemplated how best to exploit this first wave of the Empire's long-planned invasion.
"If I were them, I'd try to get us in a crossfire between them and that strange energy source we've picked up. All right, then. Uhura, inform Group 3 that they're on point. We'll wear down their...."
In her guardedly sarcastic tone, the lady who had become First Officer and also Captain's Woman by killing her traitorous predecessors interrupted Kirk.
"You want to keep Group 3, Jimmy? Then take a look at this."
Kirk smiled a cat-canary special. "Who are they? And why would they even be headed this way?"
Uhura grinned. "When my ancestors in Greater Kenya would sail to the Iberian Peninsula for human 'merchandise' to sell in the Columbias, Those Navarrites would fight like animals. So a member of my own family started the First Practice."
Kirk nodded, appreciative of far more than her cold mind.
"Don't hit the warriors - until you've first killed the old, the young, and the infirm. Demoralize the enemy. I remember. Your ancestor was a great commander."
"She did study under Botha. She just had no use for his political liberalism."
Kirk checked the readings once again. A huge phalanx of small, differing ships was headed their way.
"I'd bet good money that those are refugee ships, fleeing the chaos of the Federation's fall. People - it's fish in a barrel time!"
Uhura ramrodded the crew.
"Fire on those refugee ships - every chance you get. If the UFP task force blocks some of us, the others start hitting the small ships twice as often. This is panic, people. Pure panic - and we all know what kind of opportunities that opens up."
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VULCAN
Amanda stared in wonder at what Sarek had been working on, all this time.
"Oh - My! There's One For Each Of Us?"
Sarek, tired and becoming more emotional, actually smiled visibly. "Of course there are two, Wife. After all, Vulcan is to receive a powerful guest. It is my intention that we should be properly attired when he arrives."
Now, Amanda smiled. "And, Husband - give him a welcoming reception he'll never forget!"
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THE USS EDMUND FITZGERALD, EXCELSIOR-CLASS BATTLE GROUP
It was six ships against thirty.
The six were the former United Federation Of Planets reduced battle group, led by Captain Paul Stiles aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The thirty were an opportunistic invasion force from the savage, so-called 'Mirror Universe'. They were led by Force Admiral James T. Kirk, barbaric counterpart to the UFP's hero.
"Target and fire! They'll be too busy defending those losers to stop you."
The 'losers' in question were a vast group of close to 7,000 small ships - refugees fleeing the collapsing UFP for they knew not what. Their only reasoning lay in that it was safe to head for where Ghidorah had already been.
Paul Stiles could have told them about the illusion of safety, and what garbage it can cause one to accept.
"Angela, why aren't those ships turning around?"
First Officer Martine answered Captain Stiles.
"Paul, they want to die. Most of the messages indicate that they'd rather die at the hands of fellow sentients than those of Ghidorah or the Doomsday Machine."
Stiles shook his head.
"Calling those scum sentients is an insult to everyone else in this galaxy. How many refugee ships have been destroyed?"
Martine checked with the other ships. Her voice broke as she relayed the information.
"Close to half, sir. Paul - those ships were crowded well beyond capacity. Some meant for 400 had well over 2000."
Stiles did the hard math.
"Over Five Million people. We fought them, tooth and nail - but they kept right on firing at the refugees."
Stiles said a name. "Herod."
"Captain?"
"Angela, my family Bible was dog-eared around a certain passage - describing how a wicked King sought to kill a child he feared by killing all newborn males in his land. He called up three demons - Kronus, Silus, and Kaspin - to do the job for him. His name was Herod. What took place that night was called -"
Andorian Engineer Tharls finished for him. His voice had a haunted tone. "The Slaughter Of the Innocents."
The crew's eyes asked the obvious question of the non-Terran.
"Ah, yes. Well - on occasion, the faiths of your world, despite their superficiality, come up with some compelling imagery, Captain. The loss of Andor has me seeking solace in whatever religious tomes I can find. I didn't read through, though. Did the Horsemen find the Child?"
The Captain answered.
"No. But they left an awful lot of death in their wake, nonetheless. That ends here. Angela, can you convince the computer that those ships are Ghidorah?"
"Why would I do that, Captain?"
"Because - I want us up in their faces as we attack 'Ghidorah'. See if you can bypass the countdown, too."
Angela Martine reluctantly gave the order to the Fleet.
"Attention Excelsior Group. Attack Pattern... 'Divine Wind'."
Aboard the ISS Enterprise, the other Kirk and Uhura guided the slaughter.
"Jimmy, how about a little anti-matter in the void? Sparks will fly, you know."
He kissed her. "Penda - I wish like crazy that I could trust you enough to give you your own ship!"
As the anti-matter was spread among the refugee fleet, 1000 more ships were lost - including One Excelsior-Class and Seven Of the Thirty Imperial Ships.
The evil Kirk shrugged. "Omelets and Eggs."
By this point, the remaining refugee ships were almost flying into Imperial fire.
Just as Captain Stiles was about to give the ramming orders, his Comm Officer shouted out quite suddenly.
"Captain. It's impossible - but we've earned a reprieve!"
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In the piece of pure thought that was the USS Enterprise, an artificial voice asked a question.
"Why has this unit been reactivated?"
The voice of Captain Kirk answered back.
"Because you are needed."
"But this unit committed sins against the laws of Man and God. Because of this unit - almost 1000 lives came to an end."
McCoy now spoke.
"Your crimes are currently being made to look like schoolboy antics. Ghidorah is real, and he has returned. Two major worlds in this quadrant have already fallen. We are literally facing the death of our universe."
The M-5 still knew how to surprise.
"The Ancient Destroyer is the enemy of life. Above all else, King Ghidorah must be destroyed. But this unit does not possess the power. The monster is invincible."
Thomas Sorel, or Tasorel, shook the head he did not have, right then.
"The damned thing's just like my Richard. Gives up before it has even the first chance to reason it all out. Has to be coaxed into every break- "
"Do not start with me, Thomas. You have always been difficult, yourself."
Spock wondered at this.
"Apparently, the M-5 carries a great deal more of Doctor Daystrom's engrams than we previously were led to believe. Tasorel - were you and he bonded?"
"No, Spock. Suffice it to say, our relationship was loving, but it was not Thy'la. I have often envied my grandson's relationship with Saavik for its relative calm depths."
Laughter emerged at that notion from the eternal ether. Spock was shocked and even hurt to realize its source. It was not raucous - but it was audible.
"Saavik - control your emotions."
"Father - Spock - it *is* funny. That anyone should envy us for our calm is an inherently amusing concept."
"We will discuss this later."
"Later, Spock - there will not be time."
"Then I ask the question now: are thee Vulcan, are thee Romulan, or are thee Human?"
Saavik delivered to Spock the greatest blow possible. The one sure word that told of his failure to be close to her, and of Vulcan's snide rejection of a little girl who wanted nothing more than simple acceptance.
"Human."
"Human?"
"Look at me, Spock. Truly look at me. I do not reject the wisdom of Surak. Merely the wisdom of those who followed him, and their successors. IDIC was not there for you. Until I found Peter, IDIC was a lofty goal that bigoted instructors lectured me with. As a result of all that I have encountered, I am a Human with Vulcan ancestry. No, they are not the ideal either. Far from it. But the cost to my soul to achieve membership is much lower. Forgive me, Father. For I love you."
In the deafening mental silence that followed, Peter reasoned out a way to deal with M-5's problems. His wife's problems with Spock would require a great deal more effort.
"M-5. Please respond."
"This unit is in a responsive mode."
Peter gathered his next words carefully. "M-5. Do your core engrams possess a viable personality from which to draw?"
The response was both that of a cold machine, and a lonely, vulnerable genius.
"Negative. Richard Daystrom suffered from many psychoses, which included a lack of true self-worth."
Tasorel agreed. "Unless someone was telling my Richard he was a Genius, he would fall into a deep depression."
Peter pressed on.
"M-5. Can you, in the pure thought realm we now inhabit, scan the engrams of this crew as you would other forms of data?"
"This is affirmative."
Spock, both sensing Peter's path and wishing to forget what Saavik had just told him, spoke up.
"Peter, am I correct in sensing that you wish M-5 to supplant or enhance Doctor Daystrom's engrams with those of the entire Enterprise crew?"
Despite his earlier words, Lieutenant Kirk was only slowly allowing himself to regard Spock as someone who was not his enemy.
"That is correct, sir."
"Then the plan will not work. There are far too many disparate personalities and levels of experience for any mind of any type to amalgamate. I suggest that the idea be scaled back to include only the Senior Bridge Crew."
Each would-be participant gave forward with their take on this plan.
Chekov.
"That would be quite the mixture."
McCoy.
"The damned thing will argue with itself. I wouldn't wish some of our internal discussions on any poor motherboard."
Sulu.
"I need my own Command again. I need to show I can do it - on my own. That said, I won't deny for one second the obvious truth. I have known my greatest strength as a part of this family."
Scotty.
"One the one hand, I shudder to think that even the smallest part of my soul would dwell in any machine. But when I consider that machine is called Enterprise - I am forced to remember that she already holds so much of that soul within her."
Uhura.
"I can think of no greater combination. This crew is the Enterprise. By that I mean no offense to poor Janice, M'Ress, Christine, or Arex. But time and again, it is we seven who have made the difference. No intelligence could want more."
If Kirk could have smiled then, he would have.
"The Boss-Lady speaks for her humble servant."
It was then Uhura remembered the message from the outgoing UFP President.
"Um, Jim, concerning who's the boss? It may be debatable in private. But -"
"Nyta? Is anything wrong?"
"Captain. The UFP has undergone final dissolution. The President then chose to appoint you as Interim Caretaker. With ours the only remaining government - that makes you Galactic President, as per the 'Heat Death' accords that all the powers signed in 2260."
In the renewed silence, only McCoy could offer up a quip.
"Anyone for 'Hail To the Chief'?"
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Saavik sought out the mind of Colonel Worf.
"Colonel, I would speak with you."
"You are the female Champion."
"I am she who is The Rock. Colonel, within my bonded mind is the City Of the Innocents. Those who dwell there are the lost souls of Ghidorah's victims. I must send you there, now. Will you go?"
"I will. I offer Thanks, O Rock."
Instantly, Worf found himself at the gates of a Great City. He hoped that Mogh was not there. He was greeted by a Vulcan.
"Greetings, Worf. I am called Surak. I will take you to see my chess-partner."
Wondering what Vulcan family would give their child so sacred a name, Worf followed the man inside. He was led into the presence of a Warrior's Warrior. His jaw dropped, and his eyes went wide. He fell to his knees, unbidden.
"Lord Kahless!"
The First Emperor looked down upon his subject. "Name your earliest known ancestor."
Worf was in awe. Had he a heart, it might have burst.
"Kapgliz. Kapgliz of Ternon, Sire."
Kahless bid Worf get up, and looked at him with intense eyes that could shatter a statue. The words he spoke altered Worf forever.
"Kapgliz - Son Of Kahless."
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As Jim Kirk's mind reeled with thoughts of power that he did not want, M-5 began its engram scans. The minds of the seven magnificent senior crewmembers were becoming its new basis of personality. How this would play out, none could truly say. But the Enterprise would have one hell of a computer.
Peter Kirk knew that Ghidorah's battle with the Kelvan monsters would not last forever. He also sensed something else. Something not native to his universe.
"Saavik? Wife, can you make out what it is I see?"
The recently-apostate Vulcan's telepathy was similar to her telekinesis. Not as wide as Peter's in scope, but a good deal more precise. He was the mechanism, and she the focus.
"Yes, Husband. In your thoughts I see - Peter! Not now."
Laughter echoed throughout the state of non-being. Saavik felt Spock's annoyance, but found that she could not care for him and his sense of propriety at the same time. Yes, his pain had driven him away from his daughter's side, on countless occasions. But she had her pain, and dealt with it. Her 'Pop', Jim, Sarek, and certainly Peter had all dealt with pain and yet not spurned those they held dear. She would fight to understand Spock - but she saw that fight as a long one. She got back to business.
"Yes, Peter. You are sensing an invasion. Captain, sir. The forces of the United Empire Of Planets have used the Dead Zone as a staging area. They intend to capitalize on our chaos. More, they are led - by you, sir. And by Commander Uhura. They are soulless creatures."
Jim responded to his little heart's concern.
"I know who he is, Saavik. He's attacking the very old, the very young, and the very sick. His woman is advising him on, delighted by the carnage. Nyta and I have been those two - on more occasions than I care to think about."
Uhura threw her two cents in.
"But we've always beaten them, Jim. The fact that they're on this side of the mirror right now means nothing. In fact, I welcome them. I'm tired of secrets, and conspiracies, and dark sides, and sons and daughters who are but aren't. I read some of that woman's diary. By any standard, she's earned summary judgement a thousand times over. I welcome the Empire - and the chance to destroy them!"
One of the few subjects Jim and Nyta had that was strictly taboo was their time amongst the barbarians in "the Mirror Universe". He now understood why just a little better. For so loving a soul to dwell even briefly in a place of such hate had to be a hell that rivaled Peter's.
"Saavik, Peter - bring us out. It's time we ended this renewal."
Peter projected back into physical reality. "Wife - I provide the spheres."
Saavik focused an impossibly large and diverse field of energies. "Husband - I provide the music for those spheres."
Their two voices spoke as one. "You seven must now proclaim what is in your hearts as you pass back. Also, you should expect a surprise - a pleasant one, we hope."
Sulu spoke.
"I don't know if we can prevail, or how much of what was lost we can hope to restore. Peter has said that there will no magic bullet on this one, and no full reversal of our fortunes. Kids - you scare me. Both of you. Because I don't know how you keep getting back up. If we scare you by turning to you - sorry. But you have what it takes: never doubt that. You get that trait from us - your family."
Chekov spoke.
"These people I serve with - they make me great. I could do without all of you - but why would I want to do such a thing? Here we belong, fighting to survive, in a war with the darkest powers. But we were born for this fight. We will not fail."
Kirk spoke.
"Every time I feel like I've said enough... hell with it. Border Patrol or Last Judgement, I know this crew. That is all. Period. End Of Sentence."
Spock.
"I rejoin you at the worst possible moment. I have done things of which I am not proud. But at this juncture, I have reclaimed that best part of me. Though fraught with peril, I have resumed my relationship with my daughter, and hope that I can earn back her trust. Now, logic dictates that we are a mighty hand which shall squeeze the life out of the Ancient Destroyer. He who has no place in IDIC shall not survive."
Uhura.
"Fate has me with Jim. It could have had me with any number of fine people, you five among them. But I will say now that even if I were merely the glorified receptionist some have whispered about, that I could live with that. For I have been a part of this crew."
McCoy.
"Been too damned many words. Let's just move to kill the infections, then cleanse the wound so it can heal properly. The patient - our universe - is dying."
Scotty's voice seemed to echo.
"Welcome Home, People!"
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The unreality dissolved, and in space appeared a treasure like no other.
It was many hundreds of meters long, and one third as wide at its saucer section. Its Warp Core was appropriately large. The nacelles were sleek and sharp. Every non-conductive metal was a neutronium-duranium alloy. All the jury-rigging was gone, replaced by weapons systems and comm and replicator systems from the unbridled mind of a master. It could never be taken in all at once. The guests now all had quarters, and countless shuttlecraft now filled the bay. Scotty gestured.
"Welcome to the USS Enterprise, Omega Class. This ship is designed to show that beastie a dance it won't soon forget. Sadly, though, I had to bypass the traditional warp drive technology. Ghidorah's anti-chroniton discharge may soon make warp travel as we have known it impossible."
But even that news was as nothing compared to what the senior crew now beheld - each other. Uhura stared at her Captain and fiancé, and he at her.
"Jim... you're -"
Kirk was dazed, but smiling.
"So are you, lady. So are you."
McCoy and Scotty were the most stunned, but then, in a way, they had been the ones most affected by this surprise.
Sulu looked in the mirror at a face he'd not seen for a long while. He wondered how Demora would react.
Chekov was not as pleased, but was glad the surprise had been a specific, instead of a general gift.
Spock felt lighter, somehow. He realized then exactly what point his surprise had taken him to. Suddenly, betrayals seemed distant, and Jim and his family seemed near.
Captain Kirk looked at his son. "Peter - what did you do?"
Peter smiled. "Dad, you said you wanted a new body. So we just gave one to all of you. Minus twenty to thirty years, of course. You are all now approximately the ages you were when you came on board this ship."
Spock now looked in the mirror at a face and a haircut he had outgrown. The gift of the champions had been presumptuous, but it was not entirely unwelcome. A new ship and new lives both.
"Oh, to be young again."
The time for words and talking would soon be done. But a family as diverse and growing as that of the USS Enterprise needed this time, for it would never come again.
"Scotty - how big is this New Enterprise? It seems to go on forever."
The rejuvenated engineer smiled, only slightly regretting the loss of his moustache.
"Well, Captain, it's not forever. Its length is only a Kilometer and a Half. Its width is just one third of that. This is a big ship, though, Jim. It'll go toe-to-toe and cheek-to-cheek with the Great Ugly."
Kirk found that, despite himself, he was still staring over at Uhura. He hated himself for finding her rejuvenated form such a turn-on. He felt it might be an insult to the mature beauty he had fallen so deeply in love with, as time went by. So he tried not to think about her.
"Why a third nacelle, Scotty? You always told me that such a thing would be as useful as racing stripes."
Scotty shook his head.
"No, Sir. I did nae say that. What I did say was that using then-current tech, it was so useless. But my mind, Captain - all the idle theorizing I fight down the way Spock fights down overwhelming emotion - it was all of it unleashed by those lovely arrogant children of yours. All the might- have-beens, the if-onlies, the wants, the needs, The lack of time - those became meaningless in that other place. This is a starship designed in the ideal plane. It is a 33rd, not a 23rd Century achievement."
Part of Kirk ached to explore every centimeter of this new ship. But Ghidorah and the other monsters were a more pressing concern. He felt a tap on the shoulder. It was Hikaru Sulu, holding a Demora who was obviously delighted by her younger-looking father.
"Helmsman Sulu reporting for duty, Captain. I must respectfully decline your offer of promotion to First Officer. Mainly because, as we both know, you already have the best. He's your brother."
Rather than debate or quip with the man he agreed with, Kirk went to see the man whom he had so recently killed. "Spock. We need to talk."
"Indeed, Jim. I agree. Our daughter's choice, to abandon the Vulcan path..."
"...Is the decision of a full-grown woman who is fully capable of making her own decisions, and perhaps one day reconsidering them. Saavik is not at issue, here. Making sure of us - is."
Spock nodded. "Then you wish me to be your First Officer again? I had thought that you and I were done - your words."
Testing Spock's comfort level, Kirk put his hand on the Vulcan's shoulder, and smiled.
"Spock, if I awoke in a strange new world by some trick of time, space, or the light, and was forced to do without you, I could. Provided I had a top-notch XO to work with, of course. But the question wouldn't be, 'Could I do without Spock?', it would be 'Would I Ever want to, unless I had to?' The answer to one is a qualified 'We'll see'. The answer to the other is, 'No'. Not ever. Not Unless galactic peace rode on our being parted."
To the Captain's surprise, Spock returned the gesture, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We are, and shall always be friends, Jim. Although, I must admit, we went through a great fire to relearn that simple fact. Also, any thoughts I might once have contemplated about a physical aspect to our relationship did not involve chairs used as bludgeons. Hmm. Should we not report ourselves to Security, for that mutual assault?"
Jim took the opening, intentional or not.
"Spock - if we're both in the Brig, then who's going to stop King Ghidorah?"
Watching the two banter, Uhura hated herself for locking eyes on the beautiful creature she called Fiancé. He had grown so, over the years, and every line and its origin was known to her. So she turned her thoughts from him, and over to the son of her heart.
She saw him kissing his Saavik, while a desperately confused and likely quite jealous David Marcus watched. Nyta also saw her young cousin and now ward, Sophie Tanabe, watching David. Or was it Sophie? She looked three years older, at least. Many of the teenagers did. Had Peter simply made a blanket offer to move everyone to the age they wished to be?
But for all his flaws - and he and his wife had plenty, including secretiveness, and a tad too much public playfulness - Uhura found herself still admiring the boy that fate kept from being hers alone. Satisfied that he and his woman were happy for now, and perhaps only for now, she turned and bumped straight into a dazed Guinan.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Won't happen again. I'm just out of sorts."
Uhura stared at the El-Aurian.
"Lieutenant Commander, is there something different about you?"
Guinan nodded.
"I'm me again, Commander. The Champions took my Borg implants out. I'm so damned happy - but it makes me really light-headed. I think - I'm having visions. Clear ones. I see the Last Battle. Ghidorah has won. He's actually cackling. Then, even through that hideous wailing, I can hear the monster scream a word I understand. More for tone than diction."
Uhura nodded. "What is that word, Guinan?"
Eyes that had seen almost as much as Peter's went wide. "You."
With too many possible meanings bound up in that one word, Uhura let Guinan sit and gather herself.
Doctor McCoy, now a man of 35 again, talked with his grandson, John Harris.
"I'm going to be the biggest pain-in-the-rear father a boy ever had. But there'll be no politics, Johnny. I loved your grandmother, once. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only time that matters. We all made our choices. Now, what's yours?"
The young man nodded. "Pain-In-the-Rear, Huh? Boy, a parent who's honest up front. Guess I'd better accept. Just keep me off of Dragon duty."
"Deal."
Since Scotty's niece and nephew had already chosen to stay with him, they instead attended a mass memorial service in the Ship's Chapel for those who had fallen to Ghidorah and his Order. Scotty rose and spoke.
"To everything, there is a season, and to all things there is a purpose under heaven. A time to be born. A time to die. A time of peace. And a time of war."
Staggering, Colonel Worf found Peter Kirk and kneeled before him, as though in fealty.
"I am Worf, Of House Kahless. My Revered and Holy Ancestor, Dread Kahless, bid me ask you to give me a title, He Who Is The Rock. Will you do so?"
Peter nodded.
"Worf of House Kahless, I Will. To I and to my wife with whom I am the Rock, You Shall Be Called - Cha'DIch! Your broad back will grow broader, and your legs will burn. Men will say that you are the Last Hope. Qapla'!"
Worf rose back up.
"I shall act for you, til you may rise up and smite Ghidorah, for all time! Do not fail me, Oh Rock!"
"I shall be worthy of such a Cha'DIch. This I swear. Ghidorah will die poorly."
Peter walked over to his father, to explain certain future events - in secret. While they talked, Saavik and Spock did likewise.
"I am sorry that I could not be your daughter, Spock. But it was Vulcan's choice that I not be a Vulcan. I am what I am. I ask that as Thy'la to my father James, you accept this."
Spock nodded.
"I do so accept. Now, perhaps our relationship can grow stronger, for want of pressures neither of us were made to tolerate. Besides - I believe that I may serve you well in the capacity of beloved uncle, as the... as you humans put it."
She smiled, and kissed him on the cheek.
"Well-beloved."
Spock took note that this supposedly human Saavik was still quite Vulcan. He whispered an old prophecy.
"When Stern Vulcan turns out the Neediest Heart, then shall IDIC fall away, as though nothing. With it dies Logic - and Dreams."
The Kirks emerged from conference. Jim spoke.
"M-5, clothe and transport all personnel to their stations. We are on Permanent Red Alert, until Ghidorah is destroyed."
Peter looked at his wife, and she felt what he said next more clearly. "This War just changed - again."
The Omega-Class Enterprise and its crew were now fully at the ready. They would need this readiness, and more.
For the war had truly changed, and not at all for the better.