Chapter Text
Along the journey to Ceti Alpha V, La’an and Maya were kept mostly in the dark. They were confined to quarters and didn’t dare to try to use La’an’s security clearance again. No need to waste such a valuable asset only to be caught sneaking out and find themselves with tighter restrictions. The days turned into a hazy blur, with each running into another with the same endless march of work without progress: researching, brainstorming, hitting a wall, and starting over again. The only thing that punctuated the tedium were the regular visits from Captain Albrecht where she would ask a few prying questions about their universe before updating them on their ETA to Ceti Alpha V.
This time, the chime on the door came earlier than usual, taking La’an by surprise. She wasn’t doing anything she would mind if the captain saw, but it sent a jolt through her body and made her spring to her feet.
“Don’t be nervous.” Captain Albrecht stood in the door frame, leaning against one side. “I have good news. Where’s Maya? I want to tell her myself.”
“She’s asleep. You know she’s unwell, it can take some time for her to wake and become fully alert.” La’an crossed her arms. Their frequent meetings with Albrecht wore on her patience, for they accomplished nothing but wasting time.
“Then wake her and replicate a pot of strong coffee.” Albrecht gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “We’re in orbit over Ceti Alpha V, and as soon as your counterparts have assembled their team of augments and beamed them aboard we’re having a meeting in my ready room.”
“And you’re sure you want them to know about…us?” Deep in her heart, La’an knew this was a point they were progressing toward, but because they had been secretive with the crew, she began to expect that they would be just as secretive with the augments. Even after so many years and so much work to preserve her peace, and she still had those moments that stung so deeply when they reminded her of her family legacy. She felt queasy at the thought of sitting in the same room as people who obediently followed Khan.
“To be frank, I’m not sure how I feel about it, but the admiral insists that the two of you are part of the plan and that everyone involved in the coup needs to be present.”
“Understood. Give us a few minutes.”
Captain Albrecht’s ready room was filled to capacity. Around the table sat Albrecht, Conroy, both versions of La’an and Maya, Katya, and Suzette Ling. Eight more augments crowded around the table. Each augment glanced from one copy of Maya and La’an to the other with looks of shock and confusion, and some whispered amongst themselves.
Maya recognized each of them and wasn’t surprised that these were the people who supported her counterpart’s coup. The versions of these people from her own universe had either been more sympathetic to her or more critical of Khan. Only one of them mattered though. Katya sat across the table from her and next to the Terran Maya. Maya couldn’t find the willpower to try to be discreet. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Katya, enchanted by just how much this woman was like her old lover, not just in her appearance but her mannerisms, the way she moved. The way she gave sweet looks to the Terran La’an made her heart jump. Was she feeling jealousy toward…herself? La’an–her La’an–gave her a sharp look. Maya blushed and shrank down in her seat. She hadn’t realized that she had been so obvious.
“I should begin by addressing the most obvious concern I’m sure you all have noticed,” The Terran La’an began. “There are two of us.”
“Thank you, Admiral, for stating the obvious.” Suzette leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. She was one of three older augments present, the others young adults who had been born on Ceti Alpha V. “What I’m more interested in is the why and how you have a pair of clones.”
“Not quite clones.” the Terran La’an explained. “But if it helps to understand, that’s not a terrible way to think of it. I realize what I’m about to explain might sound far-fetched, but our universe is not the only reality to exist. There’s one that mirrors our own, almost the same but inverted in key ways, and through some accident that I cannot explain, these doubles found themselves here.”:
“Bullshit.”
“How much advanced technology have you seen that seems impossible?” the Terran La’an pressed. “Warp travel, transporters, modern medicine? You were frozen in time for hundreds of years and accepted it with an open mind.” She looked around the room to address all of the other augments as well. “The same goes for the youngest of you, to live on a primitive planet and one day find yourselves invited about a starship. All I ask for is that same open mind, or at least to keep your skepticism to yourself. Explain it to yourself in whatever way makes sense, but this is our reality.”
She paused again and looked around the room. No one showed any sign of wanting to say anything more, not even Suzette Ling.
“Good. I must also ask for secrecy here. Do not discuss this with the crew, the very existence of the other universe is highly classified. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the strategic advantage in having a perfect double…” the Terran La’an continued.
“They aren’t perfect, though.” Suzette pointed at Maya. “This one’s heavier.”
That comment made Maya look away, finally, from Katya to study her Terran counterpart. She had never paid much attention to her size and shape beyond an awareness that she was shorter and smaller than her peers. Recovering on Earth, she could tell that she was softer and fuller, but saw it as a sign of much needed rest and healing.
“Not by much, and no one is going to be seeing either of them long enough to make a detailed comparison.” The Terran La’an corrected. “Now, if no further explanations are needed, I would like to discuss our preliminary plans. I have a team on Terra Prime who will be working closely with us.” She addressed the augments. “Nyota Uhura and Joseph M’Benga will be in contact with you as soon as we are in range. They know the details of security requirements and have been investigating vulnerabilities that could be exploited.” She looked at her counterpart again, a sly smile forming on her lips. “Of course, none of this could be accomplished without someone on the inside who Spock trusts. One Admiral Noonien Singh to arrange an innocuous meeting with Spock and distract him while the other uses her security clearance to invite in our new allies.”
“I’m not going along with this.” La’an shook her head.
“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.” The Terran Maya teased with a half smile. “Admiral, I mentioned another strategic advantage I could provide. Now, Katya.”
From underneath the table, Katya produced a sealed jar that contained a small creature, its body covered with armored plates. “The secret to our success.” Katya explained. “With a Ceti eel in your head you won’t be able to refuse any order.” Katya gave Maya a thoughtful look/ “Francesca would have loved to be here to explain herself, but she just had her baby boy and had to stay behind.”
“So that’s how you did it?” Maya glared at her Terran counterpart, pointing an accusing finger. “You didn’t defeat him on your own merit, you just broke a few minds with a few well placed eels!”
The Terran Maya slammed both palms on the table and lunged forward. “I still thought to do it and did it successfully. It was by my own merit regardless of my methods.”
Maya looked to La’an and took a firm grip on her upper arm, her fingertips sinking into the older woman’s skin. “Please,” she begged. She tried to keep her composure, but her eyes glistened as she held back tears. “The Ceti eels destroy everything you are from the inside out. I’ve seen it happen. They killed my mother. They nearly killed Captain Albrecht. Please believe me, it’s better to give in and comply on your own terms.”
For a moment, La’an looked into Maya’s desperate eyes before wiggling her arm free from Maya’s surprisingly strong grasp. “Very well, No extreme measures are necessary. You have my cooperation.”
“What a relief,” The Terran La’an sighed. “I was hoping to keep your mind intact and not have to worry about losing you too soon.” She stood, spine straight and shoulders broad. “We will continue to have these consultations regularly as we approach Terra Prime. I recommend that all augments take advantage of the ship’s databases to learn as much as possible about the Terran Empire. As promised you and your kin will enjoy elevated status as an elite ruling class. If there are no further questions, you are all dismissed.”
Silence. The Terran La’an stood, followed by Captain Albrecht who gave her a Terran salute. That was the sign that the meeting was over, and as the augments began to move toward the door, the Terran Maya quickly stood up and spoke out. “I need to speak privately with my double again, and with Katya.”
“Keep it brief.” The Terran La’an commanded as she stepped outside the door.
Once the three of them were alone, Katya studied the new version of her lover, looking her up and down and licking her lips. “I can see what Suzette meant, but I think I like it. Her breasts are bigger.”
“That’s not why we’re here.” The Terran Maya said.
Maya had her back toward the door and was already inching back toward it. “You want to scold me again for daring to criticize you?”
“No, in fact, just like before, I’m intrigued by how similar we are. You guessed my strategy when everyone else thought I was being difficult and cagey. But I want to know, how did Mother die in your universe.”
A heavy moment of silence passed. Maya tried to look everywhere but at her counterpart, eyes nervously flitting around the room. “She wasn’t your mother, no more than your mother was mine. I was very young, I hardly remember. We didn’t yet know what the Ceti eels could do…” Maya stopped, her breathing heavy, but both her double and Katya stared her down, demanding information without saying a word. “Please don’t make me go on.”
The Terran Maya nodded, moving around the table to close the space between them. At the same time, Katya came around from the other side. The two of them were like sharks circling their prey, eyes fixing on their target. Maya wanted to shrink away but was closed in.
“Have you given my offer any more consideration?” The Terran Maya cooed, close enough that she could put a hand on her double’s shoulder.
“I’ve realized that you might be right, that maybe letting the Republic endure isn’t in the Terran’s best interest.” Even after what she saw, it pained Maya to admit it. She had met the other version of Spock, he had shown her compassion…but this was not the same person.
“Honestly, I don’t give a damn about what’s in the Terrans’ best interest so long as I can rule them,” The Terran Maya’s hand crept high, leaving her counterpart’s shoulder to graze the side of her neck. Too bold, the other Maya pulled away. “But I won’t complain about the reasoning so long as you’re on my side.”
“I don’t know that I’m on your side!” This was too much, Maya couldn’t escape through either side, couldn’t back away, but she could go forward, lunging between the two women.
Katya rushed to her side, keeping her hands to herself but leaning close. “If you agree with the ends, why not help us achieve it? You and I could be the right and left hands of the Emperor.”
“No…No.” Maya insisted. “I’ll cooperate so long as it keeps me safe, but I don’t belong here, I need to return to my own world/”
“What a pity, but I suppose I shouldn’t ask for too much. Go.”