I'm sorry about the paragraph spacing. I can't seem to find something that fan fiction will preserve... maybe it's cause I'm using open office or something. Anyway, I'll try something new. Thanks for the reviews and alerts and so forth.

Chapter Four~Anomalies of Heart, Mind, & Body

Peter stared up into the dark. He couldn't see the ceiling. He could hear a few Romulans around him in the massive room. He imagined it wouldn't be long before Nero came to question him. He also wondered how the Romulans would react to his ability, as they were sure to find out. He didn't have long to wait.

"You must have a lot of questions for me," Nero said when he came in.

"I guess so," Peter replied. "I suppose I think someone who destroys a peaceful planet is basically crazy, so I wasn't terribly curious."

Stupid, Peter. Make him mad, why don't you.

Nero didn't react. "I only have one question for you," he said. "I need the subspace frequencies for Earth's border protection grids."

"That's not a question."

"Very well, what are they?"

"You know, I could tell you much more interesting things."

Nero smirked. "I'll bet you could. But I have no time for that, Peter."

"The information you want is classified, which I'm sure you already know. Do you want to know my birthday?"

"If you're not going to answer my question, I might have to resort to other methods of questioning."

"It's September 3, 1980."

"You are trying to distract me. Give me the subspace frequencies, or I will be forced to use my little friends here." Nero gestured to a tank full of some kind of insect.

"Centaurian slugs," Peter said. "Okay, if you think it will help. Captain Peter Petrelli, USS Enterprise, serial number—"

"Have it your own way." Nero took one of the slugs and dropped it into Peter's mouth.

X

On Delta Vega, Kirk scrambled out of the escape pod, grumbling to himself. He zipped up his coat and shivered in the wind. So, the computer said this planet was unsafe; there was no way he was going to wait to be rescued. If the weather got too bad, he could find shelter... probably. He started off across the barren landscape and cursed his predicament. He was contemplating the fact that he had just committed mutiny, when he saw something running toward him.

Crap.

He turned and ran in the other direction, but the thing was gaining on him. He could hear its ragged breathing and jaws snapping. He didn't even want to know what it was. Suddenly the ground shook and he fell forward. Looking back he saw an insect-like thing burst out of the ground and gobble up the smaller creature. Then it turned to Kirk. His eyes widened and he hurried to his feet and ran. Not watching where he was going, he started sliding down a hill. His mind left the creature for a second as he slid across a frozen lake. Then he heard the thing thundering after him and wondered how much it could eat and whether it might fall through the ice and save him the trouble of dying. The ice did crack, minutely, but Kirk didn't wait around to find out. He was running as fast as he could to a dark opening in the hillside across the lake. He hurried inside, but the thing just broke it open further and kept on Kirk's heels. Its tongue shot out and wrapped around his ankle. He let out a cry and tried to find something to hang onto. But he just kept getting closer and closer to the creature's jaws. Suddenly his hand shot out and a bolt of electricity zapped the creature's tongue.

Holy crap, is this thing electric?... wait!

The thing screamed in pain and released Kirk's leg.

I did that?

He was beginning to be more freaked out. Before he could think further on it, someone came up behind him, waving a torch at the creature. It backed out of the cave and disappeared into the coming storm. Then, the stranger looked back. He was a Vulcan.

"Fascinating," he said.

Kirk clambered to his feet, groaning. "What is?"

"You are James T. Kirk."

"Yeah? Okay. Who are you?"

"I have been, and always shall be your friend Jim. I am Spock."

Kirk stared at the crazed Vulcan for a minute. He considered the fact that he'd just electrocuted a freaky monster and therefore might be dreaming. "BS," he said. "But go on. I'm sure it will be interesting."

"It is remarkably pleasing to see you again, old friend. Especially after the events of today."

"Yeah, sorry about that, but you know, if you were really Spock, you'd know that you hate me. You marooned me here for mutiny and you're freaking smirking."

"Mutiny?" The Vulcan seemed amused. "You are not the captain?"

"No, you are, well, Petrelli is, but he was taken hostage."

"By Nero?"

"Yeah, you know about him?"

"Indeed. He is a particularly troubled Romulan."

"Yeah, I got that. So you're from the future? Can I ask what the heck you think you're doing changing all our lives?"

Spock held up his hand. "It will be easier."

Kirk wasn't sure about letting the Vulcan touch him, but he figured not much else could go wrong. In Spock's mind, he saw glimpses of the future that should have been, but more importantly, Spock's dealings with the Romulans.

When the connection was broken, Kirk could feel everything Spock felt about the loss of his planet and his mother.

"So you do feel?" he asked.

"Very much so," Spock replied. "There is much more you don't know about me. Much that will come out soon... if thing go as they did in my time."

"You just used a contraction."

"Yes."

"Okay, whatever. So what am I supposed to do? You say I'm supposed to be the captain, but that's never going to happen now."

"It is possible. Consider Starfleet regulation six-one-nine."

"Seriously? You want me to... emotionally compromise you... guys."

"Jim, I just lost my planet and my mother. I can tell you, I am emotionally compromised. And you are still first officer, are you not?"

"I guess so. But the whole crew is going to hate me."

"I doubt that. Claire will support you and once you rescue Peter, he will too."

"So in the future you're on a first name basis with them?"

"Quite."

"Right, but how am I going to get back to the ship?"

"I have a feeling we might find help with that at the Starfleet outpost. Are you up to a long walk."

"Anything's better than sitting around here."

"That's the Jim I know."

X

When McCoy entered sickbay he was seething. Claire wondered if now was a good time to ask about it, but she didn't want to make things worse.

"You're as upset as I am," he said. "Or more so." He turned to look at her.

"How did you know?" she asked.

He didn't reply, but busied himself with something inconsequential.

"Peter is the only family I have, and Earth is my home. My father is buried there along with countless others. But there are other reasons."

"I figured that. You don't seem too worried about Captain Petrelli."

"Worried for his life? No."

"They'd gain nothing by killing him."

"That's not why."

McCoy cursed. "Do you have to be so vague all the time?"

Claire understood where that comment came from. "Yeah." Her voice dropped several decibels. "I can't expect you to understand."

"I can try." But he was beginning to wonder whether he wanted to.

"I know you can, and I'm sure you would be very understanding, but I don't think I'm ready for you to be."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere... unless we get blown to smithereens."

"Yeah." Claire nodded. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Everything I can't explain. I will though, soon."

"I can wait."

McCoy felt like history was repeating itself. He was making promises again. Promises he wasn't sure he could keep. But for some reason, he felt like he had to try. He didn't want to let Claire get away, and he didn't want to push her away either. She was an onion, which really annoyed him because he was too.

After their conversation, Claire left the sickbay in search of Spock. She wasn't sure if she could rein in her disdain, but she had to talk to someone who knew. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she should have told McCoy.

She found him on the bridge and went to stand next to his chair.

"Dr. Bennet," he said.

"Captain Spock," she replied.

"Is something wrong?" He turned in his chair.

"Yes."

"Something with which I may assist?"

"I'm not sure."

"What was that game? Twenty questions?"

"Yeah." Claire snorted. "You're doing all right so far."

"Have you spoken with Dr. McCoy?"

"Yes, and... I couldn't tell him."

"That is completely up to you. I see that it bothers you that I am the only one who knows."

"Figure that out by yourself? Yeah, it bothers me."

"Can restitution be made?"

"Never."

"Can grace be extended?"

"I'll let you know."

"I do not mean to sound impatient—"

"I know, it's been 250 years. I'm working on it. I'm allowed personality flaws."

"Understood."

"You are very patient. It does help."

"Glad I could be some help."

"Yeah."

Claire left the bridge and went to her own quarters. Conversations with Spock always made her have to think for a while. Up until now, she had always come to the conclusion that she could never forgive him. Once again, she would have to wrestle with that question.

This is probably my favorite chapter so far. What do you think of Kirk having an ability? Next chapter we get to see more of how he feels about it.