A/N: Welcome! :) This is the second story in my Vulcan Archives collection, featuring a Spock/OC pairing :) I would recommend that new readers check out the first story, The Mind vs. the Heart, to understand the relationship Spock has developed with my OC Cora and her backstory. Just to warn, I haven't seen much of the original series or any of the different continuations of it, so this story will be mostly based on the movies with some things I do know of Star Trek popping up.

This story will be about 12 chapters long, updated daily, and, unlike my first story of the series, will be more like a giant version of the movie with quite a few original scenes and bridging moments put in. I wanted to add original scenes to give more background to Spock and what he'll be going through in this story, explaining how it's affecting the movie portions ;)

I'm going to do my best to keep Spock in character, however, keep in mind, Pon Farr will be setting in during this story so I will try to delve into his mind and make the changes and reactions he has appropriate :)

I hope you enjoy :)

~8~ is a scene break

Disclaimer...I don't own Star Trek...if I did, I'd have moved to Ireland by now :)

~8~

Odd Stirrings

Cora smiled to herself as she walked down the halls of the Enterprise, heading for the Bridge where Captain James T. Kirk had called the key members of the crew to discuss their next mission…or what he liked to call a mission. Spock was in favor of calling it a 'purposeful disregard for the prime directive' in most cases. She had to admit, both men were correct. Kirk was very fond of giving them tasks that helped other civilizations and planets, though they often always came close to violating the rules and regulations of Starfleet. So far though he hadn't broken the rules per say, more just…bent them.

So far though.

She stepped up to the doors of the Bridge, waiting till they parted for her before entering, her teal eyes, the eyes of her people, immediately meeting Spock's at his post off to the side. She felt herself smiling even wider, felt a bit of a blush come to her cheeks when she saw his lips quirk up in the corner. It was often as much a smile as she could get from him but it didn't matter to her if he fully smiled or not, because she could…feel it, how happy he was to see her.

Well, she hoped he'd be happy, she was his mate apparently.

Oh that was still taking her time to get used to, the thought that she was his mate, that she was irrevocably bound to him, and to a Vulcan no less, her an Empathic. Her people were known for their ability to not only sense but manipulate the emotions of those around them. It was why they were such enormous assets to the Fleet, so much so that they spent funds that could have gone towards the building of another starship to buy her from her masters, the Mas'heirs, who ruled her planet Hestia with an iron fist and forced her and her people into the chains of slavery. The Fleet saw her and her kind as tools, useful in the most delicate of negotiations and in hostile or dire situations. They had the ability to manipulate others to feel calm, to feel scared, to be more…agreeable to terms of a contract even, more willing to listen and negotiate. They could tell if others were lying if they had ill intent, if they were hiding something. They were very useful to the Fleet.

She had had trouble adjusting, of course, not just to being free, to not have to bow her head or look away or remain quiet, but to…being around others. Her time in the Academy had been full of hostilities and rampant emotions of the other Cadets, but there had been on oasis of calm and peace…Spock. Being a Vulcan his emotions were more controlled, he had offered he sanctuary in his office, acting as a tutor throughout her years there, and they had grown…close, closer than most. They understood each other in a way no one else could. He perceived her strength, he understood her history her challenges, he felt protective of her and did all he could to keep her strong and show her how truly amazing she as, how much spirit she had despite being a slave most of her life. She understood the emotions he held within and rarely showed. She could see it in his expressions and gestures and on the inside what he felt at any given moment and didn't expect more of him that what he offered. She allowed him to be both human and Vulcan at once instead of forcing him to choose or trying to drag the other aspect of his biology out of him.

And now, years after having first met him, she as his mate. Together they had forged an empathetic bond on her side, allowing her a more direct link to his emotions, as was customary for her people when a partner was selected for them, her people thriving on emotion and connection. She could feel what he felt stronger than she could what others felt. Together they had developed a telepathic bond for Spock to her. He had a stronger sense of what she thought as a result. Though she could not read his mind, he could not read her emotions yet they…fit. They understood each other that the bonds were almost not needed if not for their cultural significance.

His telepathic bond to her meant she was his mate, her empathetic bond to him meant he was her…well, she wasn't sure exactly what the term was for her people, it had been lost through the ages. The point was, they were together and she…felt it even now, what he felt.

It made her feel warm that, even if all he gave her was a lip-quirk and a nod, that she KNEW, that she felt he was truly happy to see her. It was one reason the other crew members had a harder time understanding them. She was an Empathic, she was meant to flourish on emotion and Spock was the most stoic and 'unfeeling' of them all. But she knew better, it wasn't that Vulcans didn't feel, it was the opposite, they felt more deeply and powerfully than any other species, they just…controlled it better. Just because he didn't express his emotions didn't mean she didn't feel them.

"Hello Spock," she walked over to him,

"Cora," he greeted with a nod.

"Do you know why James T. Kirk has asked us down here?" she wondered.

She was…trying to break a habit all Empathics had, of showing 'superiors' respect, in which all others were superior to them. It seemed to irritate Kirk when she attempted to do so and call him 'sir,' and she had just managed to stop doing so. He kept insisting she call him just Jim though which she could NOT do. Instead she tried to break out of calling him 'Captain Kirk' when not in the same room as him, so it became his full name, as was also a custom and a sign of respect, though one that seemed to irritate the crew less so than calling Kirk 'Captain' every single time, even though he WAS the captain.

"I do not know," Spock replied, "He has had us stationed above Nibiru for the last three days. I am uncertain as to why."

She nodded, she wasn't sure either. They had been assigned to observe the local 'developing' planets, Nibiru was Class M, one of the perfect ones to watch a species starting to evolve. She didn't know why Kirk would call them there, it had been months since they were ALL called there. She wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not, it reminded her too much of when Nero had attacked, how they had all gathered in the Bridge to try and convince former Captain Pike not to go aboard the enemy ship.

"Captain on ze Bridge!" Chekov called as the doors to the Bridge opened and Kirk, in his gold captain's uniform, walked in.

"Good," Kirk clapped, "You're all here," he moved to the captain's chair.

"Captain," Spock greeted, "Might I inquire the reason for this meeting?"

"Mr. Spock I'd be shocked if you didn't," Kirk joked, before tapping a few buttons on the control pad of the chair, bringing up an image of Nibiru on the viewscreen, zooming in on a few coordinates, getting them closer and closer to the planet's surface till they were right above a rather black area that seemed to be slowly consuming the planet.

"What is that?" Uhura frowned, standing to move closer to the chair, looking at the black thickness.

"Ash," Kirk responded, "Mr. Chekov?"

"Yes, Captain," Chekov nodded, explaining a few scans that came up, "Recent scans of ze surface of Nibiru rewealed seismic actiwity connected to this," he brought up another image of a volcano, "Ze wolcano is beginning to erupt and, by my calculations, will do so with such a force that it will wipe out ze indigenous species that liwe on ze planets surface."

"Thank you Mr. Chekov," Kirk grinned, before glancing around, "Our new mission, stop the volcano."

Uhura rolled her eyes, "And how do you plan to do that Captain?"

"Cold-fusion device," Kirk remarked, "Drop one into the volcano, freeze the magma, all's well that ends well."

"There are a great number of flaws in this mission Captain," Spock cut in, "For one, a cold fusion device cannot be activated remotely but must be done by hand. How do you propose we accomplish this?"

"Well, I was thinking we fly into the volcano, drop down into it, and set the device off, getting the hell off the planet before it goes off."

Cora frowned, "But…Captain Kirk, we are not to be seen by the natives," she remarked, "They are a Class M Planet…"

"It would violate the prime directive," Spock agreed.

"Then we hide the ship and send a shuttle," Kirk shrugged.

"A shuttle would still easily be seen by the indigenous species," Spock argued.

"Then we distract them."

"How?" Uhura scoffed.

Kirk rolled his eyes at all their nitpicking at his plan, Cora frowning as she sensed him growing frustrated, "Alright, then we sit here, in our ship, and watch as all those people down their burn and then our mission's over, no natives to observe."

"Captain…" Spock began after a moment of silence.

"What now, Mr. Spock?" Kirk rubbed his head, "What objection do you have this time?"

Spock blinked, "I was merely going to suggest, as a distraction, perhaps a small task force could be sent planetside and gain the indigenous species' attention, leading them off in order for a shuttle to sneak behind them."

Kirk blinked and stared at Spock a moment, "Did you just…agree with my plan?"

"I believe I did," Spock nodded.

Kirk grinned, "Excellent suggestion Spock," he turned to Sulu, "Mr. Sulu, I'm designating you as shuttle pilot, go see that one's ready."

"Yes sir," Sulu stood, heading out.

"Uhura, with him," he added and Uhura left the room, "Spock," he turned to the Vulcan, "I'm trusting you to prepare the cold fusion device," he pointed at the man, "You're the only member of the crew who knows how to work it and can withstand the temperatures of the volcano in one of the heat resistant suits, clear?" Spock nodded at that, knowing Kirk was referring to his lost home planet, to the heat of it and also to the natural strength Vulcans had that were slightly more than the humans, "Bones!" he cheered as the man stepped into the Bridge as Uhura left, "You, me, and Cor are going to take a little stroll," he got up and slapped McCoy's shoulder as he passed, heading out of the room.

Cora sighed as she shook her head at Kirk, the last few months had been an experience for all of them. Kirk had a rather strange sense of adventure and fun, which often involved them all running for their lives or rushing to the defense of someone else. Even the shortest, most planned out missions never went according to plan. It had been one daring mission after another but she had to admit it had brought them all closer. She was often paired with whichever team was going to be dealing with the people, which she was excited for, to expand her abilities. Usually that meant she and Kirk were on the same mission team and she had gotten to know the man very well, he teased her at times, especially when she said something that sounded too 'Spockish' as he called it. She knew Kirk cared for her in the way a Captain cared for his crew or a brother cared for a sister.

"Will you be alright?" she asked Spock, still staring at the screen with the information and images of the volcano. She frowned when Spock didn't answer and looked at him to see he'd been staring at her the entire time, "Spock?"

He blinked, straightening as though shaking himself from his thoughts or logical reasonings for things and looked at her, "My apologies," he blinked a few more times, as though he hadn't been aware she'd spoke, "What did you say?"

"Are you alright Spock?" she had to ask instead, it…wasn't like him to become so distracted and over her of all things.

"I am well," he nodded, "What was your first question?"

She blinked and eyed him, knowing he was telling her the truth but that something was still bothering her about it. It really wasn't like him to be so distracted that he missed a question being asked. Even when he was angry or citing the rules or arguing with Kirk he always seemed to hear when others asked him question.

"Will you be alright?" she asked him.

He nodded, "I will be," he stood, ready to prepare, gesturing to the doors as he followed her out and into the turbolift, "You shall be careful as well?"

She nodded, "Of course," she smiled, "James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy will protect me as I will them."

They fell into silence a moment before she glanced at him, reaching out to stop the lift, "Why did you agree?" she had to ask, she'd felt a…shift in him as Kirk spoke about the planet, felt him go from wanting to follow the prime directive to…considering Kirk's proposal seriously.

Spock tilted his head as he observed her, "We have both…experienced the loss of a planet and a people," he began delicately both because it was difficult for him to bring up what happened to his homeplanet, but also because he did not want to remind her or trigger any thoughts of what SHE had endured when Vulcan was destroyed, how she'd felt billions of his people dying in an instant, "I…did not wish to experience the again."

She blinked, "You mean me."

She could feel that as well, his emotions were full of concern for HER, not himself. The destruction of a planet or a species would be terrible yes, but he had no tie to it or the people, not like Vulcan. He would be indifferent, seeing it as a natural course in the planet's life. But…SHE would feel it, she would feel those people burning to death as the ship wouldn't be allowed to leave till after the eruption to catalogue it for their log. She would be forced to feel it happen again, feel a people dying and a planet ruined.

He was trying to spare HER that pain once more.

"Yes," he nodded, speaking simply, "That is not…something I wish to see ever again."

She smiled softly at him, at how he was willing to…bend the rules as Kirk did to do this for her, "You might end up breaking a rule," she reminded him.

"I do no believe so," he argued lightly, "If we remain unseen and the ship and other technologies unobserved, the natives need never know that we were there or that we had affected the volcano."

He didn't add that, in the back of his mind, the VERY back of his mind...it would be...worth it, to break a rule if it meant his mate would not suffer. Cora was...one of the most important things in his life. She had been there for him through the most devastating times, she had helped him understand who he was without even trying, she had helped him accept the half of himself he had tried hard to bury. He was...better, stronger, more...complete because of her. He did not ever want to see her harmed because of him again, like she had been when HIS planet had been attacked. He never wanted to be the cause of her distress, but be a...source of comfort and strength, like she was to him.

Cora nodded, that made sense. But still, she couldn't help but reach out and place a hand on his arm, lightly turning him to face her, "Thank you," she whispered, holding out two fingers to him.

He felt his lips quirk at the gesture, she often did that first, as a first move, offer him a Vulcan version of a kiss and let him decide whether to accept it or require something more than the touching of fingers from her. He had noticed lately that he was starting to feel the need to kiss her lips more so than touch her fingers. It was as though his Vulcan half was slowly coming to terms with the fact she was his mate and she deserved affection and attention from him. His Vulcan half was slowly accepting that Cora was an Empathic and needed more physical touch than a Vulcan would and, oddly, seemed to be agreeable to it, to doing so, to keep his mate happy.

He reached out and pressed his two fingers to her, watching as she smiled softly at him for the action, before he continued, curling his two fingers around hers and tugging her gently towards him. He leaned down, his other hand lifting her chin slightly, an automatic reaction it seemed after all the years of tilting her head up to get her to look at him, as he leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers, feeling a familiar tingle race though him.

Though this time, it was…odd…it was as though the tingles were racing faster, heating up, warming him more than normal…

Odd, but not alarming.

A/N: Oh Spock, anything that's 'odd' you should watch out for ;) I know this chapter was a little short, it was more an introduction/opening to explain how we get to Nibiru and why Spock was helping them 'bend a rule' :) And also show the hints and beginnings of a plot for this story...

Pon Farr will be popping up! I'm very excited to try my hand at it, I find it interesting and challenging to write a Spock that's slowly losing control but still try to keep him in character. Fingers crossed I'll manage it :) I can say as a warning, I won't be writing any lemons or limes or anything like that, they come out ridiculously weird and truly awful when I even attempt, but we will have rather intimate moments to come and lots of confusion. But...just keep in mind, Spock was quite angry by the end of this movie so we may not even see it come to a head in one sense of Pon Farr with Cora ;) And just so say, I've heard rumors that the 3rd movie might feature Pon Farr, I've already got a backup plan in mind for ways to tweak/replace those moments if it does factor into ST3 ;)