elliewood | Fic: Consort, Chapter 8

"Jim. Jim, wake up. Someone's knocking."

Kirk burrowed deeper into the bedclothes to escape the grip of McCoy's hand on his bare shoulder, his reply muffled by one of the many pillows that littered the sleeping chamber. "Tell 'em to fuck off."

From the other side of the door came the faint reply. "I heard that. Get up, lazy. The Ambassador wants to take us sightseeing before it gets too hot."

The sheet and several of the pillows trailed Kirk as he groaned and rolled off the low bed onto the floor. "I can't do this. It's too early."

He swore again as his pants hit him in the face.

"Get your britches on, Snow White. There might be just one person in the universe I won't keep waiting, and neither will you."

"You talking about Nyota or the Ambassador?"

"Take your pick. Just get your ugly ass out of bed and let's get going."

"I thought you liked my ass. Or was that just a pickle in your shorts last night?"

One boot sailed through the air toward his head, followed immediately by the other; he tried to bring his arms up to deflect them, laughing helplessly as he struggled against the entangling bedsheet. "Okay, okay, I'm getting up. Jesus, Bones."

***

McCoy shaded his eyes against the early morning sunlight. "God, it's beautiful here. I thought it would be hotter."

"The average temperature on our home world was, in fact, slightly higher than it is in this region of the planet. Many of my people are finding it difficult to adjust to the somewhat cooler clime. But I expect you will find it uncomfortably warm as the day progresses. We are wise to be active early."

They were standing at the entryway of the ambassadorial residence and gazing down the main thoroughfare of the colony. The elder Spock lifted his arm to point toward the center of the settlement.

"As you can see, the more urban aspects of the colony lie in that direction. From what Spock told us last night, I suspect you would be more interested in investigating that area today. We can save our exploration of the countryside, which I believe your will find most enjoyable, for another time."

The doctor shifted his gaze in the opposite direction to where groves of trees shaded the dusty road before them, their yellowish branches swaying slightly in the morning breeze. "From what I understand, Vulcan was largely desert. Here it's so...lush."

"Indeed. The amount of rainfall allows the propagation of a wide variety of plant life, both indigenous to this planet and imported from other worlds. Seeds from several native Vulcan species have been recovered from other colonies and are being cultivated as well, albeit indoors to prevent contamination of the natural ecosystems. We may tour those facilities later in the week if you wish."

"I'd really enjoy that," murmured McCoy as he tilted his head back toward the warmth above, eyes closed. "Except for the different colors of the plants and the sky, it reminds me of home."

"Doctor, I expect you will find many more differences between New Vulcan and Georgia than mere coloration."

He stepped out into the unpaved street and started toward the heart of the colony, ignoring Spock's comment to turn instead to the Ambassador as the rest of the party fell in behind them. "Were you that much of a killjoy when you were his age?"

"I believe you would have found me to be so. Your counterpart in my universe certainly did, on numerous occasions."

"Well, I sure do like you a lot better now."

The corner of Spock's mouth lifted in concert with one eyebrow. "Doubtless another benefit of old age."

Uhura's eyes darted from side to side as they made their toward the colony's center. "It's strange. People are actually looking at us." She sidled toward Kirk as they walked, her arm reaching around his waist; he rested one arm across her shoulders to draw her closer.

The Ambassador inclined his head toward her, his eyes closing briefly. "Your observation is correct. Many of the colonists have abandoned their good manners out of suspicion toward outworlders. Perhaps a natural reaction to the disaster of losing so much. It is my hope that they will shortly return to the old ways of courtesy and restraint."

They continued onward, the Ambassador narrating a description of the colony's development, until Spock broke in. "Ambassador, is that the temple you told me of last night?"

They were approaching a low building set back from the dusty road, its wide doorway screened by a light curtain that floated open invitingly in the breeze. Spock nodded. "It is indeed. They call it The Temple of the New Beginning. I believe you will find one who can help you here."

Kirk looked doubtfully at the individuals gathered by the entrance, most of them standing, some of them seated on benches arranged in a semicircle around the door. "There's a lot of people already here. Like a waiting line or something."

"That is correct. We do not have a sufficient number of healers to support the colony's population. Those who are available to practice come here when they can, and there are always clients awaiting their attention."

Many heads turned at their advance to stare openly at the party of Humans; the Ambassador lowered his, politely, and spoke to his younger self. "Spock, it would be advisable for you to enter alone to spare our friends further embarrassment. I will accompany them onward while you attempt to secure an appointment with a healer. You can rejoin us after you have done so."

Spock nodded. "Very well. I will meet you at the central square in approximately thirty minutes." He moved toward the entrance and disappeared behind the flowing material.

"You should have gone in there with him, you know. You can't keep avoiding this," McCoy said pointedly as they continued down the path. Kirk shook his head in reply.

"Not today. Spock likes to take charge, so I'll let him handle it."

The Ambassador raised his head to glance at Kirk. "It is unfortunate that he did not, as you say, 'take charge' of informing Sarek of your visit."

"Yeah, well, that wasn't the only thing he forgot to mention."

"So I observed. I apologize on his behalf for the pain that must have caused you. But now that Sarek is aware of your situation, I am certain he will strive to make amends."

"I don't know. He likes Nyota pretty well."

She smirked as she tightened her arm around Kirk's waist. "I can't help it. He obviously has good taste."

"Well, I second that," McCoy smiled as he reached for her free hand and interlaced their fingers. "Mr. Spock, were you and Nyota ever an item in your universe?"

"We were colleagues and friends, but our relationship never progressed to one of a more romantic nature. I would not necessarily have been averse to that eventuality, but it was clear to me that, were she to involve herself with a member of the Enterprise crew, she would have preferred the captain."

Kirk let out a triumphant whoop. "So you did pick me! Just in another dimension!" He squeezed her closer to him as she shook her head laughingly and pushed back against his embrace.

"Indeed not. Your relationship with the lieutenant similarly did not progress beyond friendship. I merely stated that she would have wished it to."

"Good enough for me."

***

They had moved beyond a number of smaller, shaded dwellings and were nearing the more commercial area of the colony when Spock stopped in front of a modest, light-colored building whose windows were curtained against the intensifying sunlight.

"Allow me to draw your attention to this shop. It contains much that may interest you all."

McCoy stepped inside first, grateful for the coolness as he wiped the first trickle of sweat from his forehead. "Hey! It's the old curiosity shop!"

"Indeed, it bears some resemblance to that establishment. The proprietor acquires items pertaining to Vulcan and its history from our outposts across the galaxy and brings them back to New Vulcan to help restore our culture. This is where Sarek found many of the volumes you saw last night, and I believe you will find items to your taste as well."

The floor and walls were packed with shelves holding hundreds of items; more artifacts hung from a row of hooks along one wall. Uhura glanced around the room, uncertain what to look at first, and she started when her eyes met those of another patron, a Vulcan male who stared at her almost rudely before finally averting his eyes and exiting the shop.

Kirk had already made a beeline to the back of the store where several bound books and loose folios lay, carefully arranged by subject and date, all spotlessly clean and free of dust. "Oh my god. Look at these," he breathed as he caressed their covers with his fingertips, occasionally lifting them to view the first few pages.

The Ambassador smiled slightly as he came up behind Kirk to look over his shoulder. "I thought you would appreciate the collection. The owner of this shop receives inventory weekly, and there may be new items for you to examine before you depart."

Behind them, McCoy was inspecting several tools that resembled farming implements. "Spock, how old do you figure these are?"

"Millennia. And yet modern tools bear a remarkable likeness to these ancient ones. You will see that when we tour the agricultural facilities." He turned to where Uhura was perusing the shop's collection of ancient weaponry. "The same can be said of our instruments of battle. Weapons very much like these are still used in ritual combat, rare though it is."

She picked up an ahn-woon, its leather still whole and pliable despite the centuries of red dust that stained its grain. "I like this. It looks like you need skill rather than strength to use it effectively."

"Quite correct. I would be pleased to demonstrate its use to you. Allow me to make it a gift."

Despite their protestations, the Humans found themselves gathered at the counter several minutes later, each bearing a piece of Vulcan antiquity. Spock passed his credit chip along with Kirk's choice, a volume on Vulcan pre-Awakening worship practices, to the shopkeeper, whose careful wrapping of the book irritated Kirk with its slowness.

He elbowed Uhura. "Want to go outside and try out your new toy?"

"Ain't no toy, son," McCoy drawled as he hefted his new scythe appreciatively. "She could kill you with that. Once the Ambassador shows her how to use it, anyway."

"I'll take my chances."

The pair exited the shop as Spock retrieved his credit chip and pocketed both it and the book, turning back toward McCoy as though to speak, then abruptly bowing his head down and folding suddenly trembling hands in front of him.

McCoy touched his sleeve lightly. "Ambassador. Is something wrong?"

Spock sighed gently, then lifted his head to meet McCoy's concerned gaze. "Forgive me. I am somewhat...overcome."

"Should we sit down somewhere? Let you rest?"

"That will not be necessary, as I am not physically compromised. I meant that I am overcome with emotion."

"Emotion." McCoy felt the surprise on his face and rearranged it into tactful professionalism. "Is it because of being here, on New Vulcan, because of what happened?"

The older man frowned, then shook his head. "Not directly, although the sequence of events that brought us here is certainly relevant." He paused as if reluctant to continue, then went on. "In my universe, my timeline, all of you have completed your lives. I am all that remains of that Enterprise crew. To have the three of you here, now, to interact with you and see you interacting with each other, to hear your voices and your laughter once again, is almost overwhelming. I feel great happiness at your presence but also a longing to have lived my life differently, to have taken more advantage of the brief time we had together. It is most illogical."

McCoy moved his hand up the Vulcan's sleeve to his shoulder and squeezed gently. "Sounds perfectly normal to me. And you've got us now, and we're gonna be around for a long time yet. You can take advantage of us all you want to."

"Perhaps I shall. The prospect is most appealing."

McCoy released his arm and pushed the shop door open; they walked back out into the empty street, squinting against the sunlight.

"Hey, where'd they go?"

A quick glance up and down the street showed no sign of either Uhura or Kirk.

"Perhaps your communicator."

McCoy reached toward his belt for his communicator and commed first Kirk, then Nyota. "No response."

"Most curious." The Ambassador looked down the street again to where the younger Spock was now coming toward them. "Spock may have some knowledge of their whereabouts."

But such was not the case, and a more thorough search of the area around the shop revealed no sign of their friends. A thoughtful frown creased the Ambassador's forehead.

"Dr. McCoy, do you know of any reason why anyone here would be interested in either Jim or Miss Uhura?"

McCoy glanced at the younger Spock before answering. "Maybe."

"Then we need to employ sensor scans to locate them. My personal ship is so equipped; we should return to Sarek's home to retrieve it at once."