Chapter Text
“How long until we drop out of warp?”
“Twenty minutes, Captain,” Number One answered.
“Excellent. Is the away team prepared?”
I looked back to see Pike glancing around at us. I gave him a small nod before turning back to my station. We would be dropping out of warp to Tarpus R526 and beaming down. The Hutton had been able to observe a few pre-Warp civilization’s cave writings, but hadn’t taken them down— they’d been more interested in surveying the planet itself. But once we were all aboard our respective ships safely, the Captain of the Hutton had passed the information on— apparently I had a reputation for being something of a fan of pre-warp texts.
We were set the beam down in four teams, paired off in groups of two to scan the four separate caves that the writings had been found in.
--
The caves were chilly and damp. I raised my flashlight, glancing up. The crew of the Hutton had warned us that a few of the caves had bats, but that they were harmless so long as they were left alone. I turned toward the wall, eyeing the texts that had been carved into the wall. I stepped a little closer, running my fingers over them.
“Look familiar?”
I tipped my head back toward Christopher a little, eyes still set on the wall in front of me.
“Familiar would be a stretch,” I said lightly, “But at first glance, it looks like there are Peshurian roots, some Epelean influence— and considering the conquest of Epelea in this region around the 22nd century, that would track…”
“This is like Christmas for you, isn’t it.”
“And my birthday, rolled into one.”
“Nerd,” Christopher teased in a murmur.
“Hush, you,” I huffed out a laugh, nudging him with my elbow before I took a step back, “We should be scanning.”
--
“Are you still doing that?”
“Mm,” I hummed softly, hardly drawing my eyes away from my PADD. I heard Christopher huff before I felt the bed dip beside me. I pouted a little as the movement shifted my notebook.
“Careful,” I muttered.
“Would you stop for five minutes,” Christopher groaned, resting his head back against my thigh. I glanced down at him, arching a brow, unable to keep my amusement from twisting my lips.
“Just five?”
“You’re going to have to sleep sometime.”
“You’d be surprised how long I can go without sleep.”
“...I am not touching that conversation.”
“Probably for the best,” I agreed. I set my pen aside and reached down, running my fingers through Christopher’s hair. His eyes fluttered closed, and I smiled, massaging his scalp softly.
“You can do more of this tomorrow,” He mumbled.
“The hair thing?”
“The translation.”
“Not as much. Paledore gets to have all of the fun these days— Not that I’m not having fun— Don’t look at me like that,” I rolled my eyes as Christopher peered one eye open and looked up at me. He grinned, winking at me, and I chuckled softly, shaking my head and looking down at my PADD.
“You’re infuriating,” I mumbled.
“You like it.”
“It’s fine.”
I glanced down as Christopher rolled onto his side, nuzzling against my stomach. I let my hand drift down to smooth over his nape.
“Are you staying here tonight?”
“I can,” I nodded, “You want me to?”
I shivered as Christopher lightly lifted the hem of my shirt, lips brushing over my side, “I always want you to.”
--
“I take it you and the Captain have made amends?”
I glanced over at Spock as he looked over glass containing the Vulcan mint.
“Did you ascertain that from the three hours that I had the conn?” Una asked.
“Alright,” I grumbled before turning back to Spock, “Yes, Christopher and I are...Fine.”
“An undersell,” Una accused.
“Okay,” I muttered, then, “Door,” As I heard the chime of someone nearby. I looked over as I saw Christopher come inside.
“Are we having a party?” He glanced around, arching a brow.
“Your invite must’ve gotten lost,” I smiled.
“...What is this?” Spock asked.
“Hm?”
“It’s in my handwriting, but I’ve no recollection of this envelope.”
My stomach swooped as I turned to see him holding the envelope that Mr. Spock from another universe had given me.
“It’s...Mine,” I said lamely, suddenly acutely aware of the feeling of Christopher and Una watching me. Spock’s brow raised.
“It’s unopened.”
“I know.”
“What is it?”
“...A secret.”
“A secret in my handwriting?”
I sighed softly, “You remember when I was beamed elsewhere.”
“I believe the word you used was ‘blipped‘.”
“Yes, thank you, Una.”
“I recall,” Spock confirmed.
“Well— I wasn’t on the Enterprise. You were. Apparently I wasn’t at the Academy, either, so...The Spock that I encountered there went out of his way to find out what had happened to me.”
Spock lowered his eyes to the envelope, turning it over in his hands before he lowered it gingerly back into the box.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, turning back to my desk.
“...Well,” Una said, “Shall we get dinner then?”
“Yes,” Spock nodded, “Let’s.”
“You two go on ahead. The Commander and I will join you in a moment.”
Una shot the both of us looks before she and Spock left. I frowned, leaning back against my desk.
“What is it?” I asked, watching Christopher. He walked closer slowly, eyes on the box that Spock had set the envelope back down in.
“You...Never told me about Spock’s looking into your future.”
I glanced back toward the box before lowering my eyes.
“Well...Whoever I am in that universe is already so...Vastly different from who I am here. I already know that I never attended the Academy there.”
“Could be interesting.”
“Could be awful,” I retorted, eyeing the envelope.
Christopher’s hands settled on my shoulders, squeezing softly, and I looked up at him. He offered me a small smile.
“It doesn’t matter,” I tacked on softly, “I’m here, not there.”
Christopher nodded, dipping his head and brushing his lips along mine.
“Do you ever think about it?” Christopher murmured, resting his forehead against mine.
“What?”
“The future.”
My stomach churned uneasily. I smoothed my hands over his jacket, lowering my eyes to the fabric. I thought about it— I thought about his.
“Sometimes,” I admitted, “Do you?”
Christopher nodded, nose nudging mine with the movement, “Often,” He muttered. I knew that he’d seen something— on Boreth. He’d told me that he’d been faced with an inevitability, but he wouldn’t tell me what. He’d told me that he simply couldn’t. I couldn’t jump to the conclusion that it was what had happened in another universe. Things may not be one to one.
I turned my head, resting my forehead against his jaw.
“...You can open it,” I offered softly, “If you want.”
I felt Christopher tense against me before he drew back, “...Do you want me to tell you what happened on—”
“No,” I shook my head, “No, but,” I cast my eyes toward the envelope, “Someone ought to know who I might be.”
Christopher eyed the envelope for a moment before he shook his head, “You should be the only one that takes your future into your hands.”
“You’re the only one I’d trust with it.”
Christopher smiled softly, dipping his head and kissing me softly. I smiled, leaning into him before I sighed, patting his chest softly.
“C’mon. If I have to hear Una complain about having the conn for three hours again, I’m gonna lose it.”