Multiversal Constants
Oct. 19th, 2025 05:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Star Trek (the 2009!movie verse) Cambion AU (New Genesis)
Summary: Spock does his best as acting Captain.
Word Count: 1375
Rating: Teen
Minor Spock/Uhura hints (but they're on duty, so he's mostly ignoring it)
Contact had been lost unexpectedly again, demonstrating that Kirk has an uncanny ability to find trouble. They had recently been able to re-establish contact, only for the message itself to be itself a confirmation of the most unfortunate conclusions. One of the problems, that of Admiral Marcus commandeering the Genesis Project for himself, seems to have, at least temporarily, resolved itself, but only in the sort of way that would happen to James T. Kirk. His son was kidnapped—that, at least, was something Spock could do, tracking one of Regula I’s science vessels as far as he could, to at least have a location, even if he had no ability to follow himself. Technically, he was unable to do the tracking himself, stuck in the Captain’s chair, but his alternate self is more than capable of such work himself, and it is only logical to note that his skills continued to improve over the years. He had, in fact, done so before even regaining contact and learning its import, as the ship’s behavior and refusal to even respond to hailing frequencies was highly irregular. It had been rendered easier due to the type of vessel—no matter how skilled the pilot or how thorough the attempted maneuvering, instruments are just as vital to one’s abilities. He had also ordered Uhura to establish contact with the destination, to inform them of an incoming arrival and inquire about any insight they might have into the matter. They claim no knowledge of the circumstances but seem nervous. Spock needs no communications training, merely his experience dealing with humans, to determine that all they have said is a convincing lie, but as he has no evidence to the contrary, trying to confront them would achieve little. Instead, he thanks them and has the record of the transmission itself analyzed for clues. For example, what they had been attempting to hastily conceal under the guise of being busy in the background of the call.
“They are lying,” Uhura announces, and Spock merely raises an eyebrow.
“I could tell that much myself, Lieutenant. What is of more interest is what they wished to conceal,” he suggests.
She smiles at him, apparently in one of her mischievous moods. “I’m not telepathic, unlike some people on the Bridge,” she teases, but obediently listens to the message again. “They wanted to answer your question because they’re scared, but they’ve been ordered to keep it a secret. If they had been completely following orders, they probably shouldn’t have answered at all.” It is, at best, a guess, but given that it is the same tentative conclusion Spock had surmised, it is good to know that they have come to the same conclusion.
And then his counterpart speaks up from the science station, Kavalioŭ having moved aside without complaint. “I would further submit that what you have just hailed is a Section 31 outpost.”
Perhaps his counterpart has spent too much time among the humans, after all. “Based on what data?”
“Section 31 operates in secrecy. If something were to go wrong and their actions discovered, it could be disastrous for the Federation and any ongoing diplomatic efforts. They know who pilots that ship, and so are caught between two fears: a personal fear, and a fear of discovery, with the decision made for them by their acting orders. Section 31 is already involved due to Admiral Marcus, and having lived on Romulus for some years, I can identify even a modified Romulan Cloaking Device on sight, despite such a brief glance.” The other Spock pauses and then continues. “It is merely...an educated guess.”
“If a logical one,” Spock acknowledges. And there are other instruments to be identified. Some of them Spock himself recognizes as various scientific equipment pertaining to sensor readings, but others he cannot identify, which is why he logically seeks confirmation.
“I cannae be sure…” Scott begins, hesitant for once.
Spock just raises an eyebrow. “Are you not one of the finest Engineering Officers in Starfleet?”
“Aye, sir!” That indignation and certainty, Spock has learned, suggest satisfactory results on the part of their excitable Chief Engineer.
“As such, do you mean to suggest that you do not keep aware of current engineering developments?” He suddenly has the feeling that the old Vulcan watching him is somehow amused by the exchange. It is a curious impression.
“Why, nae, sir, I wouldnae say such a thing!” It is the expected answer.
The energy put into the ensuing rant is better channeled productively, so Spock endeavors so do so. “I am asking for your expert opinion.”
“Well, why didnae ye say so?” Humans, Spock reflects, while brilliant and certainly capable, are a most illogical species. “If I had to venture an educated guess, ‘tis a wee amplifier, for energy. Though that’s only theoretical, mind ye.”
Clearly not, if it in fact exists. “In conjunction with a cloaking device, it could be used to increase the area of affect, could it not?”
“Aye, if that is what it is. Though likely not a ship the size of the Enterprise. I’d have to do the calculations tae be sure,” Scott agrees.
“Then do your calculations, Mr. Scott,” Spock orders, and Scott beams.
“Aye, sir! Easy enough.” That enthusiasm for the theoretical serves well on an explorer ship like the Enterprise.
And then his counterpart speaks up. “Captain, permission to leave the Enterprise.”
That is...unexpected. “To what purpose?”
“I wish to aid in learning the fate of Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, Amanda and Sarek, as well as the rest below. In addition, it could be disastrous should I remain on board when the Admiral arrives. If he learns of my identity, he would undoubtedly seek to use my knowledge to his own ends.” All quite logical points.
“Granted,” Spock replies.
That, too, is fruitful. After some limited investigation, the cause of the communications disruption appears to be a combination of the equipment itself being missing or sabotaged, as well as a localized jamming device that appears to be on a limited power supply. The elder Spock consults with his exceptional communications officer and chief engineer, and together they had constructed a primitive (if effective) transmitter and a device to increase the transmitter power, before he beams down to Regula I, along with a small security and science team. He reports success in establishing contact, confirming that all but Kirk’s son are safe and accounted for, that the scientist John Harrison had been responsible for the sabotage and stolen craft, that he had also taken the Genesis Project and Kirk’s son, and that he was most likely one of Earth’s missing Augments. The entire chain of events is mathematically improbable, but the fact that his counterpart does not seem remotely surprised indicates that this should perhaps be regarded as a universal—or multiversal—constant when it comes to James T. Kirk.
Given the lack of effort to ensure the jamming would continue unabated, it is less likely that complete destruction was the goal, rather than delay. It is still, for example, too dangerous in the absence of any other factors indicating haste to beam anyone back, given the interference of the jammer and their location within Regula itself. Nonetheless, Spock has reason to believe that Kirk was focused on getting in contact with and warning the Enterprise, rather than the safety or even the safety of his possible new doctor. “Instruct the Captain to prioritize efforts to locate and dismantle any remaining bombs,” he tells the elder Spock, who merely smiles.
“I have already asked him to do so,” his alternate self confirms. Efficiency does seem to be an advantage of working with yourself.
So it is with that background in mind that he responds to Admiral Marcus’ hails. “Welcome to Regula. I have a report to make,” he announces.
Star Trek (the 2009!movie verse) Cambion AU (New Genesis)
Summary: Spock does his best as acting Captain.
Word Count: 1375
Rating: Teen
Minor Spock/Uhura hints (but they're on duty, so he's mostly ignoring it)
Spock was prepared, but then, it was only logical that, failing to contact Kirk again, Admiral Marcus would then contact the Enterprise instead. He would, should Nyota ask in confidence, suggest there is a linguistic difference between being ‘prepared’ and being ‘ready’, but as acting Captain, it is quite impossible to do so, so he does not try. He merely does what he can in the time allotted, instead.
Contact had been lost unexpectedly again, demonstrating that Kirk has an uncanny ability to find trouble. They had recently been able to re-establish contact, only for the message itself to be itself a confirmation of the most unfortunate conclusions. One of the problems, that of Admiral Marcus commandeering the Genesis Project for himself, seems to have, at least temporarily, resolved itself, but only in the sort of way that would happen to James T. Kirk. His son was kidnapped—that, at least, was something Spock could do, tracking one of Regula I’s science vessels as far as he could, to at least have a location, even if he had no ability to follow himself. Technically, he was unable to do the tracking himself, stuck in the Captain’s chair, but his alternate self is more than capable of such work himself, and it is only logical to note that his skills continued to improve over the years. He had, in fact, done so before even regaining contact and learning its import, as the ship’s behavior and refusal to even respond to hailing frequencies was highly irregular. It had been rendered easier due to the type of vessel—no matter how skilled the pilot or how thorough the attempted maneuvering, instruments are just as vital to one’s abilities. He had also ordered Uhura to establish contact with the destination, to inform them of an incoming arrival and inquire about any insight they might have into the matter. They claim no knowledge of the circumstances but seem nervous. Spock needs no communications training, merely his experience dealing with humans, to determine that all they have said is a convincing lie, but as he has no evidence to the contrary, trying to confront them would achieve little. Instead, he thanks them and has the record of the transmission itself analyzed for clues. For example, what they had been attempting to hastily conceal under the guise of being busy in the background of the call.
“They are lying,” Uhura announces, and Spock merely raises an eyebrow.
“I could tell that much myself, Lieutenant. What is of more interest is what they wished to conceal,” he suggests.
She smiles at him, apparently in one of her mischievous moods. “I’m not telepathic, unlike some people on the Bridge,” she teases, but obediently listens to the message again. “They wanted to answer your question because they’re scared, but they’ve been ordered to keep it a secret. If they had been completely following orders, they probably shouldn’t have answered at all.” It is, at best, a guess, but given that it is the same tentative conclusion Spock had surmised, it is good to know that they have come to the same conclusion.
And then his counterpart speaks up from the science station, Kavalioŭ having moved aside without complaint. “I would further submit that what you have just hailed is a Section 31 outpost.”
Perhaps his counterpart has spent too much time among the humans, after all. “Based on what data?”
“Section 31 operates in secrecy. If something were to go wrong and their actions discovered, it could be disastrous for the Federation and any ongoing diplomatic efforts. They know who pilots that ship, and so are caught between two fears: a personal fear, and a fear of discovery, with the decision made for them by their acting orders. Section 31 is already involved due to Admiral Marcus, and having lived on Romulus for some years, I can identify even a modified Romulan Cloaking Device on sight, despite such a brief glance.” The other Spock pauses and then continues. “It is merely...an educated guess.”
“If a logical one,” Spock acknowledges. And there are other instruments to be identified. Some of them Spock himself recognizes as various scientific equipment pertaining to sensor readings, but others he cannot identify, which is why he logically seeks confirmation.
“I cannae be sure…” Scott begins, hesitant for once.
Spock just raises an eyebrow. “Are you not one of the finest Engineering Officers in Starfleet?”
“Aye, sir!” That indignation and certainty, Spock has learned, suggest satisfactory results on the part of their excitable Chief Engineer.
“As such, do you mean to suggest that you do not keep aware of current engineering developments?” He suddenly has the feeling that the old Vulcan watching him is somehow amused by the exchange. It is a curious impression.
“Why, nae, sir, I wouldnae say such a thing!” It is the expected answer.
The energy put into the ensuing rant is better channeled productively, so Spock endeavors so do so. “I am asking for your expert opinion.”
“Well, why didnae ye say so?” Humans, Spock reflects, while brilliant and certainly capable, are a most illogical species. “If I had to venture an educated guess, ‘tis a wee amplifier, for energy. Though that’s only theoretical, mind ye.”
Clearly not, if it in fact exists. “In conjunction with a cloaking device, it could be used to increase the area of affect, could it not?”
“Aye, if that is what it is. Though likely not a ship the size of the Enterprise. I’d have to do the calculations tae be sure,” Scott agrees.
“Then do your calculations, Mr. Scott,” Spock orders, and Scott beams.
“Aye, sir! Easy enough.” That enthusiasm for the theoretical serves well on an explorer ship like the Enterprise.
And then his counterpart speaks up. “Captain, permission to leave the Enterprise.”
That is...unexpected. “To what purpose?”
“I wish to aid in learning the fate of Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, Amanda and Sarek, as well as the rest below. In addition, it could be disastrous should I remain on board when the Admiral arrives. If he learns of my identity, he would undoubtedly seek to use my knowledge to his own ends.” All quite logical points.
“Granted,” Spock replies.
That, too, is fruitful. After some limited investigation, the cause of the communications disruption appears to be a combination of the equipment itself being missing or sabotaged, as well as a localized jamming device that appears to be on a limited power supply. The elder Spock consults with his exceptional communications officer and chief engineer, and together they had constructed a primitive (if effective) transmitter and a device to increase the transmitter power, before he beams down to Regula I, along with a small security and science team. He reports success in establishing contact, confirming that all but Kirk’s son are safe and accounted for, that the scientist John Harrison had been responsible for the sabotage and stolen craft, that he had also taken the Genesis Project and Kirk’s son, and that he was most likely one of Earth’s missing Augments. The entire chain of events is mathematically improbable, but the fact that his counterpart does not seem remotely surprised indicates that this should perhaps be regarded as a universal—or multiversal—constant when it comes to James T. Kirk.
Given the lack of effort to ensure the jamming would continue unabated, it is less likely that complete destruction was the goal, rather than delay. It is still, for example, too dangerous in the absence of any other factors indicating haste to beam anyone back, given the interference of the jammer and their location within Regula itself. Nonetheless, Spock has reason to believe that Kirk was focused on getting in contact with and warning the Enterprise, rather than the safety or even the safety of his possible new doctor. “Instruct the Captain to prioritize efforts to locate and dismantle any remaining bombs,” he tells the elder Spock, who merely smiles.
“I have already asked him to do so,” his alternate self confirms. Efficiency does seem to be an advantage of working with yourself.
So it is with that background in mind that he responds to Admiral Marcus’ hails. “Welcome to Regula. I have a report to make,” he announces.
