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Chapter 4

Spock stood beside his mother on the cliff watching the scurry of humans and Vulcans around the Klingon Bird of Prey on the plain below. He expelled an un-Vulcan like sigh and she knew what he was thinking. "You're going with them, aren't you?" Amanda asked.

"Yes, Mother, I must. It is where I belong."

"I know, Spock. Just do me a favor and be careful." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

He made his way down the steep path and entered the alien ship, speaking briefly with Saavik who was on her way out. Admiral Kirk was sitting in the command chair checking items off on a datapadd.

"Permission to come aboard," he requested.

The admiral looked up and smiled then replied with the formal, "Permission granted."

"Thank you, Admiral." "I must apologize for my attire," Spock indicated the rough robe he wore. "I seem to have misplaced my uniform."

"It's alright, Spock. Station please."

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Christine flew down the steps, yanked open the front door and caught herself just short of flinging her arms around the neck of her Vulcan father-in-law. An effort for which Sarek was grateful. He had tried to prepare himself for Christine's emotional welcome, or her wrath. He would have endured either.

"Greetings, my daughter," he offered. "Am I welcome in your home?"

"Of course you are. Come in." She stepped aside, closed the door behind him and led him into the den. Then she broke down. "Oh, Sarek!" The tears flowed freely, and being the expert with human females that he had become, Sarek drew her into an embrace and let her cry, projecting calm and caring as best he could. When she finished, he guided her down on the sofa and sat beside her.

"My daughter, I have good news," he informed her. Christine wiped her eyes and peered into his kindly face. "Spock is alive!"

"No…," she whispered. "Spock died."

"Yes, he did," Sarek agreed. "But he has returned to us. I do not fully understand how, but he is now very much alive."

Christine stood, trying to find words. Finally she turned to her father-in-law and pleaded, "Why didn't he contact me? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Sarek could sense her anger building and knew he needed to head it off. He also rose. "Secrecy was necessary, Christine, to protect Kirk and his crew. Also, if word of Spock's…resurrection became public, the scientific community of both our planets would have demanded an explanation and much would have been revealed that would be best kept silent."

Christine didn't understand, but accepted his words. Turning back to him, she said, "Take me to him."

"He is on his way here. Admiral Kirk and the others decided to turn themselves in, and I came ahead to offer testimony on their behalf. I was informed only an hour ago that my son elected to join them. They will be here in less than two days."

"Two days? Spock will be here in two days?" She was trembling now, so Sarek eased her back to the sofa. "Oh!" she started and laid a hand on her abdomen. The baby had sensed her joy and was doing a little dance of his own.

It was only then that Sarek noticed the slight roundness there. His eyes grew wide. "Christine, are you with child?" he exclaimed.

She nodded her head. "Yes, four months. He doesn't know!" Fresh tears coursed down her cheeks. This time they were tears of joy.

Sarek looked away for a moment and Christine knew there was something he wasn't telling her. "What is it?" she demanded, once again wiping her eyes.

He took a deep breath and fortified his emotional barriers, then took both her hands in his. "Spock doesn't remember you."

"What?" I'm his wife! How could he not remember me?" She tried to pull her hands away and stand, but Sarek held them tight.

"The healer is not certain. It may have been that the bond between you was broken so abruptly that it could not reform. He described it as being like a tether has been cut and is tossed about in the wind. When you try to grasp it, it is pulled away and merely brushes against your hand. Spock has memories of you, but he cannot process them and give them meaning. It is my hope that when he sees you, everything will be revealed to him. As soon as he arrives, I will bring him to you."

Christine released the breath she'd been holding. "I'll be watching," she told him. "I'll know the moment Enterprise arrives."

"They will not be on Enterprise. Admiral Kirk was forced to destroy his ship to prevent the Klingons from capturing it." His eyes took on a slightly mischievous glint. "He then stole the Klingon ship and came straight to Vulcan."

Christine laughed. "That sounds like something only Jim Kirk would do!"

After Sarek left, Christine gathered her things and moved back into the master bedroom. She slept soundly that night in the big king-sized bed, dreaming of how she would remind her husband of just exactly who she was.

The next morning, Dr. Chapel marched into her boss's office and volunteered to man the E-Ops desk at the Starfleet monitoring station. He had already given her Assistant Director position to Dr. Rivers and was prepared to sign a transfer for any post she wanted. But this was a strange request. She was exceedingly overqualified for the job, but if it would make her happy… He granted her request.

Christine reported for duty. The monitoring station was by far the most well-placed building on the campus. Situated on the tip of what was referred to as 'The Presidio,' it offered an unbelievable view of San Francisco Bay. And the E-Ops desk was located right next to the massive glass wall. From her perch, she could look straight down to the rocks on the beach below. She familiarized herself with the controls and displays and spent the day alternately watching the satellite tracking network and the crashing waves. She was reminded of those old romance stories where the women looked out over the sea waiting for their sailor/lovers to come home.

All was quiet that day. The next day the station commander told them to be on the lookout for a Klingon ship broadcasting on Enterprise's frequency. Christine's heart fluttered. But it wasn't a Klingon ship that captured everyone's attention a few hours later.

The computer described the approaching object as cylindrical, composed of an unknown substance, incredibly large, and traveling at near light-speed. It was also giving off a massive energy wave. As it neared Earth, tactical and tracking satellites lost power. Communications with the space station were cut off. Several ships in orbit were set adrift. Christine could hear the mournful sounds the thing was transmitting. She could see the ocean being vaporized right in front of her. She wanted to scream, No, not today! This isn't supposed to be happening today of all days! She shook herself and concentrated on her work.

Then Ambassador Sarek entered with the Federation President and Admiral Cartwright. He noticed Christine immediately and their gazes locked momentarily.

"What is the estimated cloud cover of the Planet exactly?" the President asked. A computer voice answered: Seventy-eight point six percent.

"Notify all stations," Admiral Cartwright directed. "Starfleet Emergency, RED ALERT. Switch power immediately to planetary reserves." He faced his companions and added, "Mister President, even with planetary reserves we cannot survive without the sun."

"I am well aware of that, Admiral," the President stated. Turning to Sarek, he said, "Ambassador Sarek, I'm afraid you're trapped her with us. There seems to be no way we can answer this Probe."

The Vulcan statesman replied, "It is difficult to answer when one does not understand the question. ...Mister President, perhaps you should transmit a planetary distress signal, ...while we still have time."

As the President finished his planet-wide warning, the Communications Officer reported, "I'm picking up a faint transmission, ...I think it's Admiral Kirk calling!"

"On screen!" Cartwright yelled.

Admiral Kirk's distorted face appeared on the viewscreen. "Starfleet Command. This is Admiral James T. Kirk. ...We have intercepted and analyzed the call of the Probe." His image broke up and was replaced by static.

"Go to reserve power. ...Now!" Cartwright demanded.

The viewscreen cleared and Admiral Kirk resumed, "It is our opinion that humpback whales can give a proper response to the Probe." Again the image faded out.

Cartwright shouted more orders, "Stabilize! Emergency reserve!"

The Communications Officer complied and Kirk appeared again. "We are going to attempt time-travel. We are computing our trajectory at this time." Then the screen went blank.

"Get him back! Get him back!" bellow Cartwright.

Christine's heart sank.

Then Sarek pointed out into the bay. "Look!" he shouted. All eyes searched the through the pouring rain. And there, headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge, was a Klingon ship. She was coming in fast, nearly out of control. They watched, mesmerized, as the Bird of Prey's nose came up slowly and she slammed into the water. After and eternity – which in reality, was only a matter of minutes – the rain stopped. The sun broke through. And the probe moved away. The station commander sent out a rescue boat.

As Admiral Cartwright, the Federation President, and Ambassador Sarek followed an aide out to the dock, Sarek turned back, glanced at his daughter-in law, and spoke to the commander quietly. The commander spared her a glance as well and nodded his head. Sarek held out a hand to her and said simply, "Come, Christine."

They waited on the dock as the rescue boat approached. Christine could see eight disheveled, wet figures on the deck wrapped in thermal blankets. Her heart raced knowing one of them was Spock. Then she saw him. Only Sarek's hand on her arm kept her from leaping into the water and swimming out to meet him. When the boat finally docked, the Enterprise crew, and guest, were assisted off the boat. Admiral Cartwright and the President shook their hands. Spock made a bee-line for his father, but stopped short when he saw Christine.

Spock couldn't believe his eyes. There she was, the woman in his dreams, standing next to his father. She held out her hand to him, her first two fingers extended. Without coherent thought, he copied the gesture. When their fingers touched, it was like a bolt of lightning flashed in his mind. Suddenly, he remembered. "Christine!" he cried, and pulled her into his arms.

Their lips met and as their bond flared back to life, he kissed her enthusiastically, releasing his hold only when he heard the cheers and applause from his friends. They both blushed deeply and turned away. Christine chose that moment to whisper in her husband's ear, "I'm pregnant."

Spock's eyes became like saucers. "Mine?" he asked.

Christine took a swipe at his arm. "Of course it's yours, silly. Who else?" She placed his hand on her stomach, and he was rewarded by a gentle kick. He also sensed the consciousness forming within.

"My son," he said, his face breaking into a wide grin. The others gathered around and congratulations were offered. McCoy looked at his former assistant shaking his head from side to side, then opened his arms for a hug. He caught Spock's eye over her shoulder and quirked his eyebrow. Spock ear-tips blazed a brilliant green.

THE END

Special thanks to a great website I found, , that has all the movie, and episode, scripts.