AN: Please review and let me know what you think and if I should continue.

Time Warp

Chapter 1

James Kirk

Star date 2258

USS Enterprise

Goddamn Vulcan. The bastard had been on Jim's ass since they had first met at Starfleet when he had been accused of cheating on the Kobayashi Maru. It hadn't mattered that the accusations had been true; it was the Vulcan's smug attitude that had made Jim's blood boil. Unwinnable scenario, his ass, the test was a cheat, plain and simple, nothing but an exercise in futility. Jim certainly had shown him. The feeling of victory hadn't lasted long though as the Vulcan had crowded into his personal space, so close that Jim could make out the flecks of onyx dotting his dark brown irises, the pointed ears, ebony hair and broad shoulders were clearly visible. The Vulcan had stated that Jim of all people should understand the no win scenario alluding to the events surrounding the USS Kelvin.

James T. Kirk may be many things, but a fool wasn't one of them. In fact, contrary to what many people believed, beneath the good looks, quick wit, and short temper a very clever mind lay hidden. Jim was tough. He had to be in order to survive. His father, George Kirk, perished before he was born during the Kelvin disaster and his mother, Winona, had left him and his older brother Sam with their Uncle Frank in Iowa while she decided to join Starfleet as a misguided tribute to her deceased husband.

Frank had been a mean bastard. He was an alcoholic and wasn't afraid to use corporal punishment when he deemed it necessary. He looked for any excuse to beat Sam and Jim often taking his frustrations at his own failures out on the boys. Sam had hauled ass outta there as soon as he could, leaving Jim behind to face their Uncle alone. One would imagine that after years of mistreatment, Jim would lose hope. However, Jim always did have a knack for surprising nearly everyone he met and Frank had been no exception. Jim could still remember the immense sense of satisfaction that he had gotten driving Frank's beloved corvette into the quarry in Iowa. By that time, Jim was a in his teens and big enough to defend himself. Rather than risk getting his ass handed to him, Frank had kicked Jim out and Jim had never looked back. He took odd jobs and made just enough to scrape by. It had been rough, but at least he was able to make his own choices and live his own life. Not that his choices were always the best, far from it. Jim smiled as he remembered the day that he had met Christopher Pike.

He had been a dive bar near the Riverside shipyard. He had been looking for a good time and to hopefully get lucky. There were a bunch of Starfleet cadets hanging around and he had spotted an attractive exotic beauty amongst them. She was stunning with long raven hair and flawless mocha skin. He had made his way over and started flirting, though by then he was more than a little drunk. Jim probably should have learned by then, if his experience with Frank was anything to go by, at least, that alcohol more often than not led to nothing but trouble. That hadn't deterred him though and Jim had been goaded into a fight by three other male cadets who were jealous of the attention he had been getting from the young female, who he now knew to be Nyota Uhura. Jim had fought like a man possessed but three to one were not good odds even for him and eventually it was Pike who had broken up the brawl.

Pike was persuasive; Jim had to give him credit for that. Jim was smart enough to know when he was being manipulated but had listened regardless to Pike's urging him to join Starfleet. Pike had looked him in the eye and said that he had the brains to do anything wanted and then outright challenged him to out do his father rather than live in his shadow for the rest of his life. The line that had really stuck with him and cemented his decision to go had been Pike calling him the "only genius level repeat offender in the Midwest." While Jim had an almost instinctive distrust of anything having to do with the Federation, the organization that had taken both of his parents from him, he couldn't deny that there was a real opportunity there. One that was much more promising than anything that he could ever hope to find in Riverside, Iowa. So Jim had done as he always had, and made a snap decision on a whim. He'd sold his few possessions including his bike and hopped a shuttle to San Francisco where he met Dr. Leonard McCoy on his way to Starfleet Academy.

He and Bones had become fast friends on that trip. He still laughed to this day when he remembered that the doctor had admitted that he had a terrible fear of flying. Jim had attempted to distract him by asking him about his past. He had learned that McCoy had just been through a messy divorce and that his wife had taken "everything but his bones" leading to the nickname which Jim gave him much to his dismay. Despite the doctor's quick smile and southern charm, Jim was able to sense the pain behind the bravado especially when he talked about how much he missed his daughter Jo. After all, Jim knew a thing or two about how to hide ones pain behind a joke and a smile. Jim had shared a few sips from a flask and they had made it to Starfleet in one piece much to McCoy's surprise after sharing more personal details than Jim had initially set out to.

They had gone through Starfleet together as classmates and completed their respective training in just three years. They had had some great times that was for sure. While Jim wouldn't call himself vain exactly, he knew he was good looking. He had golden hair, blue-green eyes, a strong jaw with high cheekbones and dimples and while Jim never had any trouble finding lovers, at Starfleet, he hadn't even had to try. The cadet's had practically jumped into his bed. Gaila, the beautiful Orion, had been the high mark to live up to. She had managed to teach him a few tricks in bed that he was unfamiliar with, much to his delight.

Jim had enjoyed it while it had lasted. He frowned as he remembered how his academic hearing had been interrupted by a distress call from Vulcan leading to the premature inauguration of the USS Enterprise as all of the cadets were sent to hanger 1 for assignments. Pike was appointed Captain; Spock (the Vulcan bastard), first Officer, Bones, CMO, Sulu, helmsman, Uhura, communications officer, and Montgomery Scott, Engineer. Jim had managed to sneak on board with McCoy eager to see some action and unwilling to desert his best friend.

Jim had felt his stomach twist in dread as he had watched along with the rest of the crew as the Narada had attacked Vulcan. Pike had ordered the beams to be activated when it became apparent that Vulcan's surface was becoming unstable from the attack in an attempt to save as many lives as possible before the planet was destroyed. Spock had lost his steadfast control and panicked pushing Scotty out of the way and recalibrating the beam. He had then jumped into it bumping into Jim accidently causing him to be sucked in with him as they were sent through a warp into an unknown location and now were alone without back up on an unknown planet. Goddamn Vulcan couldn't do anything right.

"James T. Kirk, are you injured?" Spock asked looking at him warily pulling Jim from his thoughts and back to the present. Jim had merely sneered and wonders why it was that trouble always seemed to follow him wherever he went.

Chapter 2

Vulcan Pre-Reform

Spock

Spock took in the seething expression on Kirk's face with his usual placid objectivity, attempting to keep the panic that had been steadily growing since hearing Vulcan's distress call at bay. Kirk looked away but stands without aid and brushes the red sand off of his pants. They both take a moment to take in their surroundings. Spock is sure that when he reprogrammed the beam Vulcan had been the desired location and this certainly appeared to be his home world. There was something off, however. There were no buildings, transportation devices or anything that hinted at civilization at all. While there were still a few remote parts of Vulcan which were uninhabited, they were few and very far between. Spock was certain that they should have been sent to capital city, which was the home of the High Council, but something had gone wrong. There was only desert as far as the eye could see.

"Where the hell are we?" Kirk demanded clenching his fists, his blue green eyes flashed angrily.

"Vulcan." Spock answered. "Though, I am unable to determine our exact location."

"Well, that's just great, now we're lost in the middle of the Vulcan desert without communications." Kirk snapped sarcastically turning his back to Spock and walking away from him.

Spock sighed. This had not been his intended action and now he would be forced to improvise, something that he loathed to do. First, though, he must calm the angry human, which was rapidly escaping from his immediate area.

"Cadet, as your commanding officer I order you to stop." Spock shouted over the wind, which was rapidly gaining strength. Sandstorm. Spock thought. Vulcan was prone to them and they were often deadly if encountered without proper shelter burying everything in their paths. Kirk turned to look at him rising Spock's hopes that perhaps he would obey before crushing them by waving his middle finger at him and proceeding to jog up the dune as the wind began to kick up. Spock grit his teeth; stubborn fool hearty human. Spock should leave him to die in the desert just another victim of a vicious sandstorm, but he wouldn't. After all, it was Spock who had put them both in danger and it was now his responsibility to get them out of it regardless of whether or not Kirk wanted to accept his help. Spock loathed resorting to force, but if Kirk continued this course of action he would have no other choice. As Spock followed Kirk, he felt his inner eyelids engage protecting his eyes from the grains of sand, which were currently being swept around by the winds. He could see the Kirk was rubbing his eyes attempting to protect them with his fingers from the harsh sand filled wind. The wind did nothing to stave off the oppressive desert heat. Spock was unaffected as his core body temperature was 15 degrees lower than a human's thanks to Vulcan's evolved internal cooling adaptation. High volume circulation of cool blood allowed the Vulcan's to regulate temperature without sweating, which could lead to fatal dehydration in desert conditions.

"Cadet! A sandstorm will soon be upon us. If you do not wish to die, then I suggest you do as I say." Spock shouted unsure if Kirk could even hear him over the howling wind. Kirk must have though because he stopped, and turned in Spock's direction. As Spock approached, he could see that the cocky self-assurance was gone and in its place there was true fear. Good. Spock thought. If fear was what it took to motivate this human to listen to logic, then Spock wasn't about to attempt to assuage it.

"Come!" Spock ordered as he turned and quickly slid down the dunes with Kirk in his wake. He then ran until he found a narrow trough between the dunes. He moved deep into it and began digging a small hole into the dunes side. "Help me." Spock ordered and for once Kirk did what he was told without argument. They had soon carved out a small alcove barely big enough for the two of them, which offered adequate protection from the violence of the storm. It was far from ideal. A mountainous cave would have been safer, but time had not been on their side and looking for one in such a storm could prove fatal. After what seemed like an eternity, the storm ended allowing Kirk and Spock to retreat from their makeshift shelter. Spock looked the human over critically. Signs of dehydration were already becoming apparent; chapped lips and dry skin, as well as rapid breathing. The thin arid air could also be difficult for humans to adjust to. Spock sighed; keeping James Kirk alive was no doubt going to prove to be a difficult task.

"Follow me, Cadet." Spock said firmly as they moved along the trough in between the dunes. At the very least, night had fallen giving them a reprieve from the heat. With night, however, came other dangers. Predators on Vulcan were often nocturnal. Le-matyas and wild sehlats were amongst the most dangerous. Spock could only hope that they would not encounter either tonight. Spock's keen eyesight allowed him to see in the darkness as he combed the ground looking for small stems of the plomeek plant, which produced a thick root like vegetable that was rich in both moisture and nutrients. Finally, he came upon it. Spock dug up the plant freeing the root. After carefully peeling off the skin, he bit into it, taking a large gulp of its juice then passing it to Kirk allowing him to do the same. Kirk tilted his head back and drained the root dry.

"Thank God!" Kirk exclaimed with a sigh of relief as he licked every drop of moisture from his lips. "Thank you." He murmured handing the root back to Spock looking slightly sheepish realizing that he had consumed the lion's share of the juice. Spock only nodded knowing that his Vulcan body was better equipped to survive in the desert. He required far less water to survive than Kirk. Spock then bit into the flesh of the root using his sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles to pulverize the tough flesh before swallowing it. The flavor is familiar, a bit more bitter and metallic than normal due to being eaten raw, but quite filling. He offered a small piece to Kirk who eyed it dubiously. He takes it and has difficulty chewing it up before spitting it out in disgust. "Ugh! That tastes awful, like sucking on a penny. At least the juice was palatable." He complained.

"It is not typically eaten raw. It is normally cooked and seasoned then used as a base for soups and teas." Spock explained popping the remaining bit of root into his mouth. "We should continue on before the heat of day is upon us." Spock and Kirk then begin to walk. Spock continued to keep an eye out for anything edible and he soon comes across a few more plomeek roots and the fruit of a small soltar tree, it resembles the succulent plants found on Terra and the fruit is nearly identical to that of a terran prickly pear. It isn't much, but it is better than nothing and will tide them over if only for a bit. Dawn approaches quickly and with it comes oppressive heat. "We should rest between the dunes for shelter until dusk, otherwise you will quickly become dehydrated," Spock insists. They retreated back to the dunes and after a few moments of silence Jim asked.

"I'm no expert on Vulcan, but isn't it densely populated? Where the hell is everyone?" Jim murmured as he looks up at Spock with worried eyes.

"I do not know. We should have warped to the capital city. Something must have gone wrong." Spock admitted. Kirk frowned deeply but remained blessedly silent on the matter.

"How long do you think it'll take before we find a city?" Kirk prodded.

"Uncertain." Spock replied.

"We can't wander around the desert forever." Kirk stated.

"Affirmative." Spock agreed.

"I'm glad we agree on that. Care to let me in on your plan of action, officer?" Jim snapped looking frustrated. He is not the only one. They should have come across something by now they had covered over a ten-mile radius during the night and come across no signs of civilization. Spock was at a loss and Kirk was right they couldn't go on like this forever.

"We will continue on tonight and reevaluate in the morning." Spock proposed. It isn't much of a plan, but it is all he can offer at the moment. Jim sneered but stays quiet having no viable alternatives of his own to offer. "I highly suggest you attempt to sleep. We have a lot of ground to cover tonight. Spock advised before shutting his own eyes.

Chapter 3

James Kirk

Jim still can't believe he'd gotten into himself into this massive clusterfuck. They were lost wandering around aimlessly in the desert in the dead of night. It was only a matter of time before they died of dehydration. Spock had mentioned underground caves which housed fresh water springs, but he was unable to located them without a map and compass, if they were able to find them then they would likely stumble upon a city, if they followed the aqueducts which supplied most of the population with potable water. Jim was pulled from his wandering thoughts by Spock's voice muttering something in Vulcan. Jim's heart rate kicked up as he looked around for someone, anyone, but saw nothing. He squinted in the darkness and followed Spock's sight line and his mouth dropped at the massive structure that greeted them. It was an obelisk and on it were numerous Vulcan symbols, which Jim couldn't read. He now was regretting not taking extra electives in xenolinquistics. His understanding of Vulcan was limited to just the most basic phrases and only the most rudimentary symbols. The ones on the obelisk were not only complex, but in some sort of dialect that Jim didn't even recognize.

"What the hell is that?" Jim asked still confused as to who would build an obelisk out in the middle of nowhere.

"This is an ancient shrine. I have never seen one that was so well persevered. The few that were found and excavated suffered major damage from thousands of years of exposure in the harsh desert conditions; their symbols were completely illegible worn away by time and the elements. This one is different. It is pristine. The symbols reference Sha Ka Ree which is a mythological place which was worshiped before the Time of Awakening, underneath are the Symbols for the God of War, the God of Peace, and the God of Death." Spock explained looking very wary. "Unheard of. It almost resembles to the Stone of Gol." He murmured under his breath with a shudder seemingly transfixed.

"Ok, well, thanks for the history lesson, but since there are still no actual people here, I think that we should just keep moving." Jim suggested strongly. He started to walk before stopping realizing that Spock was not following him still looking up at the shrine seemingly mesmerized. "Spock!" Jim called "Are you coming? Or are you just going to stare at that thing all night?" Jim asked. Spock seemed to debate and then moves to follow Jim still reluctant to leave the strange shrine.

They continued on until finally the landscape begins to change. The sand dunes shift into rock canyons with mountainous caves. "I have determined our location. We have passed the Gateway." Spock explained as he looked around looking a bit relieved. "We are in the Plain of Blood located in Vulcan's Forge."

"Plain of Blood? What the hell kind of name is that?" Jim hissed looking around cautiously.

"The name comes from a legend that states that that Surak crossed the plain when the hot blood of battle still flowed green, and then with logic he cool it. It is a very sacred place, but also very dangerous." Spock warned ominously. Spock looks around seemingly confused. "No aqueducts." He murmured. "Something is not right. There should be aqueducts. The networks of caves contain the springs." Before Jim can ask any more questions, the sound of an inhuman screech fills the air. "Le-matya!" Spock warned. "Get down!" Jim doesn't ask questions and hits the deck. He looks around, but can only see shadows in the darkness.

Spock grabbed his arm roughly taking him by surprise pulling him behind a rock formation. "Stay here! Don't make a sound." He ordered before disappearing into the darkness leaving him alone without so much as a weapon to defend himself.

Christ, just when he thinks that things may finally be looking up, they go to shit again. They had evidently stumbled across the fresh water springs hidden deep in the networks of caves, but now something called a Le-matya was stocking them. Jim hadn't caught a glimpse of it, but judging by the sound of it, it was large and aggressive.

"Klee-fah!" An unfamiliar voice hissed in the darkness followed by a sickening crack and another animalistic screech. Jim held his breath unsure of what was going on. He strained his hearing to get some sense of orientation, but only silence greeted him.

It was broken suddenly by the sounds of scuffling. What the fuck was happening? He couldn't see a damn thing. "Kroyka!" someone shouted. The word was one of the few that Jim knew in Vulcan. Stop. The voice wasn't Spock's. Jim bit his lip unsure what to do. Was that creature dead? Who was out there? And where the hell was Spock? The voices had sounded angry. Vulcan's never sounded angry. Anger was illogical, isn't that what Spock always said? There was something very wrong here. Jim's mind drifted back to the mysterious shrine and then to the missing aqueducts.

He decided that for once in his life, he would error on the side of caution. He would wait for Spock. He could only hope that he would not be discovered before he returned.