Chapter Text
Albrecht hadn’t come by for her usual status report today. La’an didn’t think anything of it, one thing that remained the same between both universes was that running a ship was enough to keep a person busy and preoccupied. Captain Albrecht wasn’t only running a ship, she was also a key player in staging a coup. Checking in on a pair of prisoners when there was no real reason to give status updates had to be a low priority. No news was good news, there was no reason to believe that they weren’t still en route to Terra Prime, and La’an was mildly relieved to have a brief respite from the captain’s taunting
Maya hadn’t taken the absence quite so well. She had barely calmed down to rest since the meeting, still constantly glued to the computer console, getting defensive at any attempts to have a conversation. The more time they spent in this universe, the more agitated Maya became. Getting out of here was the best she could hope for.
“We won’t be able to do it alone.” As usual, Maya did not look away from the computer. “Neither of us know enough about transporters on our own, and we would need to reach the transporter room and complete the necessary modifications while avoiding detection. We need allies, ideally someone with the correct knowledge and who can be trusted.”
“And, how, Maya, do you plan to find such an ally?” La’an sighed. “I’m even sure such a person exists.”
“They might, I’m sure not every person on this ship agrees with Albrecht and is eager to take part in a coup.” Maya explained. “The Terran Empire keeps detailed personnel records, which can be accessed with your security clearance. Finding a potential ally is simply a matter of finding someone flagged with suspicious behavior.”
“It sounds risky and inexact.” La’an crossed her arms. This happened at least once a day, when La’an found herself trying to talk Maya out of doing something stupid. Superior intellect, but lacking in sense just like any other twenty four year old. “I want to get back home as much as you do, but acting recklessly will get us killed.”
“You might change your mind once you see just how in depth these records are. Here’s what it says about you. Admiral La’an Noonien Singh. Descendant of Khan Noonien Singh. Graduated top of her class, but highly suspected to have killed the only student who outperformed her. Served on the ISS Enterprise under Captain Pike until James T. Kirk murdered Pike and took his place….Damn. She was later married to Kirk, but it lasted less than a year. Honestly, from what I’ve seen I’m surprised she didn’t kill him when they decided to cut it off.”
“Not if she felt the same way about Jim as I did.” La’an mumbled, looking away. Decades had passed, another universe, another timeline, and somehow Jim still managed to make her heart ache.
“”What?” Maya finally looked away from the computer, her head tilted to one side.
“Nothing.” La’an shook her head. This wasn’t her Jim either. Her Jim didn’t exist and was only a youthful dalliance. It was foolish to still get so broken apart over it. “What else does it say?”
“That she earned the rank of admiral by crushing an Andorian uprising. And if you’re really bored, there’s also a detailed description of every disagreement and grievance she’s had over the course of her career…”
“That’s enough.” La’an bit her lip before she went on. She placed her hands on Maya’s shoulders, trying both to comfort her and hopefully peel her attention away from the computer for an uncomfortable conversation. “Maya…I don’t want to press the issue if it’s truly something you aren’t comfortable sharing, but what did they say to you after the last meeting? You’ve clearly been upset by it.”
“It doesn’t matter!” Maya snapped, wiggling away from La’an touch. She still didn’t look up, but her eyes stopped scanning the screen. “I can’t stand being in this universe another moment. There’s a stranger with my face who is everything I’ve been working not to become, hanging on to a perfect copy of a lover who I watched die, and they won’t leave me alone. I first thought I wanted to stay around long enough to save Spock and be the hero, but we’re not meant to be here. Someone else can be that hero.”
La’an fell silent and stepped away, looking down at the ground for just a moment before there was a chime at the door. This must be Captain Albrecht.
“Come in,” La’an answered with a heavy sigh. She was in no mood for this.
The door slid open, but on the other side it was not Captain Albrecht but instead a Vulcan woman.
“Doctor T’Ralia?” Maya rose to her feet, but stood up too quickly and had to sit back down to keep her head from spinning.
T’Ralia simply nodded before she stepped inside through the door. “I wanted to inform you myself of some recent changes onboard the ship.” She took a moment to look from La’an to Maya. “I already know that you are doubles of the other La’an and Maya. Captain Albrecht tried to be secretive about your existence, but the truth was not difficult to uncover. What I don’t understand, however, is how and why.”
“Parallel universe.” La’an shrugged. She knew how far fetched it sounded, but truly it was no worse than any of the other strange things she had witnessed from her days aboard a starship. “We haven’t exactly figured how or why we ended up here either.”
T’Ralia raised an eyebrow. “Curious.”
“And what about the changes?” La’an asked.
“A shift in the chain of command. Captain Albrecht has been killed, Conroy is the new captain, and I am now first officer.” T’Ralia took a few long strides into the room and glanced down at the computer console. The Terran La’an’s personnel file was still open. “I predict that this change will have little effect on the two of you, as Conroy is loyal to Admiral Noonien Singh and intends to follow the same course of action that Albrecht agreed to. However, my promotion does afford me more freedom to investigate and satisfy my curiosities.”
“What curiosities?” Maya asked. She didn’t stand up again, but she did sit more upright, shoulders tense.
“What is your involvement in the coup that your alternates are planning?”
“Unwilling accomplices, coerced into participating.” La’an replied. “Strategically, your La’an intends to use us to give her and Maya a way to be in two places at once.”
“And your intention is to cooperate?”
“Our intention is to get out of here before it comes to that.” Maya stood up, careful this time to not rise too quickly.
“Maya!” La’an snapped.
“There is no need to be alarmed. I have no intention of sharing your plans. I suspect our goals may align.”
“You want to help us return home?” Maya asked.
“I want you to help end this coup before it begins, and in return I will do anything in my power to see you return to your own universe.”
Maya shook her head. “I still don’t think we should get involved.”
“Are you serious?” La’an took a step closer to Maya. “Just a minute ago you were desperate for an ally, and now you refuse our only chance to find one.”
“I’m sorry!” Maya snapped. She threw her hands in the air and began to pace the room, her speech growing quicker and more frantic with each word. “I’m afraid of getting involved in this universe. I’m afraid of what might come to pass for the Terrans if we have too much influence here.” She stopped herself and took a deep breath. La’an’s brow was furrowed with worry, but T’Ralia was as impossible to read as ever. “I’m sorry. Doctor. I’ll accept your offer and your help, but only because we have no other choice.”
“I accept too,” La’an agreed.
“Thank you both. We will be maintaining contact as we approach Terra Prime.”
“Of course. Thank you again, Doctor, and goodbye.” La’an said.
There was no precedent for the position T’Ralia found herself in, filling the role of both chief medical officer and executive officer. If her plans went accordingly, she would not be torn between these two positions for long, but for now she had to balance them carefully. She worked in sickbay, ready to see any unexpected patients if they needed her, but her attention was on her PADD, reading documents and filling out paperwork relevant to her new position. Until the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She looked up to see a young Andorian man enter, doubled over in pain. His face was swollen and bruised with blue blood flowing from his nose.
“Ensign Shyraal.” T’Ralia rushed to the Andorain’s side. She acted with a sense of urgency, but still remained cool and calm. “Please have a seat on the biobed.”
Shyraal followed the doctor’s directions, his movements slow and stiff. “It’s not that big of a deal, Doctor.” His speech was slurred, likely from swelling and pain in the mouth. “I could probably sleep it off, but the bastards broke one of my teeth.”
“You were in a fight.” T’Ralia examined the patient with her tricorder, checking for any unseen injuries such as a concussion.
“I got beat up, I’d hardly call it a fair fight when it was three against one.”
“Open your mouth.” T’Ralia examined the broken tooth, a lower left molar, as best she could through all the blood. Shyraal’s explanation confirmed a suspicion she had. Larsen, Pavlova, and Suzuki: a trio of rage-filled Terrans who had a history of committing acts of violence against non-Terrans yet never suffering any consequences for their hateful actions.
Once T’Ralia pulled away and Shyraal could speak again he shook his head. “It was naive to think that once Spock was in charge everything would change overnight, but on this damn ship its the same old Terran Empire. I don’t know if you understand how bad it can be. I always thought Vulcans had an advantage, not looking so different from them.”
“I’m the executive officer now.” T’Ralia set down her tricorder and picked up a dermal regenerator to begin repairing her patient's cuts and bruises. His broken tooth might be a greater priority, but they could not continue this conversation once dental work was underway. “You can report any personnel grievances to me, and you have my assurance that I will protect your anonymity.”
Shyraal shook his head. “It’s a nice idea, but I can’t let myself feel hopeful about this. Those three won’t stop unless they get thrown out an airlock. Don’t push things too far too soon. Remember, you still have to answer to Conroy, and he’s just as bad as Albrecht.”
“If I am successful in my plans, then in time I will answer only to Admiral Noonien Sigh.”
Shyraal leaned in closer, eyes open wide. “You’re going to kill Conroy too?”
“I have not yet decided if I will kill him by my own hand or recruit an accomplice, but yes, my goal is to take command of the ship and stop the coup before we return to Terra Prime. The admiral would undo all of the progress that Spock has made and re-create a fascist world that is not only unsafe to non-Terrans but also unstable and unpredictable to each individual living within the Empire.”
“You don’t have to convince me. I’m on your side and I’ll do whatever it takes to get you in the captain’s chair and to protect Spock. I’ll even kill Conroy myself if you need me to. The admiral too, even though she scares the shit out of me.”
“I appreciate your allegiance. Now, I hate to cut this conversation short, but I would like to repair that tooth and cannot do it while you are talking.”