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Future Glimpses

Spock was mid sleep cycle when the comm chimed. Not opening his eyes he pulled Nyota's arm more tightly across his stomach. She mumbled something that might have been Orion. A flash of warmth and affection sparkled in that part of his brain newly joined to her. Spock's body hummed of it's own accord.

The comm chimed again. This time the caller identifier said, Ambassador Sarek calling from Earth.

Spock sat up quickly. Beside him Nyota mumbled. "Your father, something must have happened."

Spock felt his stomach sink. His mind tumbled along dark trajectories with Nyota's - the bond to Nyota was still new, he sometimes wasn't sure whose feelings were entangled with his own. But he did know his father would not call in the middle of a sleep cycle unless it was urgent.

Without putting on a shirt he moved to the desk and pressed the accept button.

"Father," he said, "Are you alright?"

On the other line Sarek blinked. "I am quite alright my son. I..."

The hesitancy in his voice made Spock tilt his head. His father did not stumble over words.

"Your mission," said Sarek. "It went as planned? No mishaps?"

Spock stared at the screen for a moment, the white noise of the ship's engines seeming to echo with the white noise Sarek's question elicited in his mind. The Enterprises last mission, or as Kirk put it, the Enterprise's last milk run, had been to deliver a Tellurite delegation back to Telluride for the Telluride's ambassador's niece's birthday celebration. It would have been difficult to have a mishap of any significance - even with Jim Kirk at the helm.

"There were no mishaps that I am aware of, Father," said Spock for a moment wondering if this was some sort of trick question. But that seemed unlikely, barring some sort of mind altering agent on Sarek's part.

"Sarek," said Nyota, suddenly at his side, "What is wrong?"

Sarek stared at them. "I...needed to see you."

Raising an eyebrow Spock said, "We are returning to Earth for maintenance, and are scheduled to arrive within the next hour and thirty three minutes. Because of the ion storm in the Portos sector, there is expected to be more traffic than usual, and docking is estimated to be delayed by three hours but after that -"

"I think your delay me be longer, my son," Sarek said.

Nyota's fingers went to Spock's shoulders.

"Daughter," said Sarek, eye's alighting on Nyota. "It has come to my attention that you were briefed by Starfleet Intelligence after the destruction of Vulcan on a matter not pertaining to the Narada."

The hand on Spock's shoulder tightened. Spock tilted his head. He'd seen that 'briefing' during his bonding with Nyota, and the mysterious time capsule.

"Yes," said Nyota.

"I believe," said Sarek, eye's going to Spock, and back to Nyota again. "I believe, it is time."

Spock stiffened.

From the hallway beyond his and Nyota's quarters the Klaxons began to bellow. The rooms lights began flashing red.

From the ship's intercom came the Captain's voice, "Spock! Uhura! I need you up here now!"

"Go!" said Sarek.

Nodding at the screen Spock stood quickly, not even bothering to turn off the connection.

x x x x

"Ceptain," said Chekov from his comm. "There has been a breach in the warp coils of the enemy ship. It is going to blow."

What the fuck. 30 minutes ago Jim had received word from Starfleet that a renegade group of Romulans had acquired enough red matter to destroy Earth and were on their way to Sol System. Because the Enterprise was closest, they were ordered to intercept them and bring the terrorists into custody.

For months Jim and his crew had been relegated to milk runs and public relations stunts. This was the Enterprise's first real assignment, and Jim had blown it.

Springing from his chair, eye's locked on the small triangular vessel in the view screen, Jim said, "We didn't hit them that hard!"

"You are correct, Captain," said his first officer. "It appears to be some sort of self destruct mechanism."

Fuck. Of course, it had been a suicide mission all along. Knowing it was futile, Jim turned to Uhura, "Hail them Lieutenant. Let them know we'll beam them out."

Uhura nodded, not turning from her station. "They aren't answering, Sir."

"Of course not," Jim said bitterly. "Spock, is there anyway we can minimize the explosion so that it doesn't endanger Sol System?"

"Negative, Captain," said Spock. "However, we are .25 lightyears from the Oort cloud. The amount of red matter aboard the terrorist vessel is not enough to damage the cloud or have any ramifications on her solar system."

Jim's exhaled. That was something. "Then get us out of here before that thing -"

The view screen erupted in an orange burst as the terrorist vessel exploded. The Enterprise lurched towards it and the singularity it had created . Jim heard the collective sound of his crews' bodies being flung against their stations. Warning lights and messages erupted on the bridge. Stumbling backwards to his chair, Jim said, "Helm, get us out of here!"

"On, it," said Sulu.

"We are too close, the force of the singularity is too strong," said Chekov.

"Understood," said Jim, eyes glued on the tear in the fabric of space that had replaced the initial explosion. Hitting the comm button on his arm rest he was about to page Scotty when a ship began to shimmer and emerge from the tear. It looked familiar...same class as the Enterprise. Squinting to read the numbers on the hull, Jim's mouth fell open.

"Captain," said Sulu, "It's us!"

"Captain," said Uhura. "We're being hailed."

Jim stared at the screen for a heart beat. Licking his lips he stood from his chair. The Enterprise...the other Enterprise, seemed to solidify, but it's hull shook dangerously. "On screen," said Jim.

There was a beep, and then Jim stood face to face...with himself. Or a man who might be himself. He wore a short cropped beard. Over his regulation gold shirt he wore what looked like a crude coat of furs. Behind him the other Enterprises bridge was dark. "Don't order the ejection of those warp coils," his other self said. "You're needed on the other side."

The other, wild man Jim's eyes swung away from Jim's. "Lieutenant Uhura, you must tell your Captain to not fire those warp coils! Tell him about your conversation with SI."

Beside the wild Jim, a woman who could have been Jim's communication's officer emerged. But instead of Uhura's straight glossy hair, hers was a short cut halo of soft black. "Nyota, do it. Earth needs you - all of you." she said. Her eyes went to Jim's Spock just as another Spock, also sporting a beard and furs, stepped into the screen. "Back her up Commander Spock."

"Captain," said a soft voice, very close behind Jim. "I think we have to do what he says."

Spinning Jim found Uhura standing just behind his chair, her eyes glued to the screen.

Standing from his station, Spock said. "I believe you should trust your other self," said Spock.

Tilting his head, jaw tightening, Jim said, "Your other self has nothing in his memories about this." Jim knows the other Spock, well, and his own other life as well.

Swallowing, Uhura said, "What we need to do, through that singularity...maybe for the first time we have something that is our destiny, and ours alone."

Jim looked at her. Her eyes were wide, and wet, and he could see she was scared. But her chin was held high; she was so beautifully fierce and frightened at the same time.

"Captain," crackled Scotty's voice through the comm. "Do you want me to eject the warp coils?"

"No," said Jim, even though his mind was swimming with doubt, and his stomach felt hollow. He tilted his head at Uhura and Spock. The had some explaining to do.

He looked back to the screen. His other self, the wild man there, tilted his head. "Well done," he said and the voice was laced with such assurance, such sincerity, Jim felt himself go warm, and the doubts slide away like a tide.

The other Jim smiled slightly, as the Enterprise shook and Jim grabbed hold of the backs of Sulu and Chekov's chairs to keep his balance. He took a deep breath as a flood of doubt rushed in once again.

The other Jim nodded, and said in that voice so full of confidence. "Don't worry, you'll make it."

Yeah. He'd make it. Obviously he already had. He blinked up at his other self...or maybe it was himself on the screen.

Damn. He could be fucking charming.

A/N:

Gotta love Jim's charm!

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