I am hesitant to post this, because school has kept me pretty busy and I haven't had time to revise it. But, here it is anyway.
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Spock, Son of Sarak, Son of Amanda. Please join me in the lounge, we have much to discuss.
The message was short, and vague. Spock wondered who it was from, but there was no way to tell. Logically it had to be one of the crew, considering they were currently patrolling the Klingon-Federation border. They had no guests, nor were there any other ships in the vicinity.
After a few minutes of debate Spock made his way to the lounge. There he was greeted by a sight that, had he not been as disciplined in Vulcan ritual, would have shocked him. Sitting at the 3d-Chess table was Spock, wearing a blue Starfleet uniform. There were some differences, such as a goatee, as well as an image of earth with a dagger running through it from north to south.
“Commander Spock I presume?” asked his duplicate.
“Indeed, as are you,” he replied. “Although, I am not familiar with your Starfleet’s rank structure.”
“It is one of the things we have in common,” Spock explained. “And while my Captain Kirk is trying to become Emperor, I am still a commander until that happens.”
“Fascinating, so you are from what we call the Mirror Universe?” he asked. “What should I call you? To avoid confusion?”
“Logically, since it was your side that discovered ours, accidently of course, it would be acceptable to refer to this universe as Alpha, and my own as Beta.”
“That is acceptable,” Alpha Spock agreed, nodding politely. “So to what do I owe this visit?”
“Research,” Beta Spock replied. “I have been aware for some time that the Terran Empire is on a path to destruction. While I feel, to use a human phrase, that the Empire has dug its own grave, I can’t help but wonder if something much worse will take its place.”
“An interesting conundrum,” Alpha Spock said as he took a seat. “How does one choose the lesser of two evils?”
“Indeed, care for a game?” asked Beta Spock. “I would imagine we would be quite evenly matched.”
Alpha Spock proceeded to set up the board as he contemplated the question. While his own Captain Kirk did not have much information about this Terran Empire, but from what was available the Humans of Beta Spock’s universe were very different from the ones in his own.
“Perhaps I could better advise you if I knew more about the Terran Empire,” he stated calmly.
“The largest difference would probably begin with First Contact,” Beta Spock replied. “In our universe, when the Vulcans came to earth following Zephran Cochrane’s first flight, the humans attacked. They took the ship, reverse engineered its technology, and used it to enslave Vulcan. After that, they continued to expand, however they did not gain true power over known space until the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise discovered a ship from your own universe.”
“Fascinating,” Alpha Spock listened intently as they traded moves on the board. “This ship they found, you are certain it was from our universe?”
“According to the records on board, it matched with your own history,” he explained, making counter moves. “Our scientists believe that this ship is what initially linked our two universes.”
“But if technologically we are similar, how did this ship assist the Empire?”
“That ship, which was discovered in the early 22nd century, what from your 23rd century.”
Alpha Spock suddenly realized what he was referring to, and understood the difficulties they had themselves during a rescue attempt. “The Defiant.”
“Correct, The USS Defiant, which was lost in the 23rd Century here, was discovered one hundred years earlier in our universe.”
“I am curious then,” Alpha Spock stated as he made another move. “How is it we are technologically on par with each other?”
“While this is an oversimplification, I believe it has to do with the fact that the humans of my universe are not as innovative towards constructive goals as yours are,” he replied. “This is part of why the Empire is dying; while they are indeed expanding, they are not growing.”
“It would seem then, that perhaps it would be better to allow the Empire to fall.”
“One might think so,” Beta Spock replied as he made another move. “And from what I have been able to learn from your historical records, I can understand how that is the easiest answer. However, our history has shown that when something terrible is taken down, something worse is put up.”
“Then perhaps logic would dictate the need for those to ensure something more promising replaces the Empire,” Alpha Spock stated as another move was made.
“It will not be simple,” Beta Spock replied with the appropriate counter move.
“In my experiences Commander,” he said calmly as he made his final move. “Few things worthwhile ever are. Stale Mate.”
Beta Spock studied the board, coming to the same conclusion. “They say that talking to oneself is a sign of mental instability.”
“One the contrary,” Alpha Spock replied with about as close to a smile as he would ever let himself come. “I have found it quite enlightening.”
Beta Spock stood, bowing his head slightly to his counterpart. “Indeed it has. I must be going however. There are few, very brief windows linking our two universes, and I would rather not miss it.”
“Farewell then,” Alpha Spock replied, returning the gesture. “Doctor McCoy would likely wish you luck, I suspect you may need it.”
Beta Spock turned and left the lounge, a few minutes later followed by Alpha Spock. After looking around the ship, his counterpart had vanished. Spock wondered for a short time if he would be visited by his mirror image, but quickly returned his focus to his duties.
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Spock, Son of Sarak, Son of Amanda. Please join me in the lounge, we have much to discuss.
The message was short, and vague. Spock wondered who it was from, but there was no way to tell. Logically it had to be one of the crew, considering they were currently patrolling the Klingon-Federation border. They had no guests, nor were there any other ships in the vicinity.
After a few minutes of debate Spock made his way to the lounge. There he was greeted by a sight that, had he not been as disciplined in Vulcan ritual, would have shocked him. Sitting at the 3d-Chess table was Spock, wearing a blue Starfleet uniform. There were some differences, such as a goatee, as well as an image of earth with a dagger running through it from north to south.
“Commander Spock I presume?” asked his duplicate.
“Indeed, as are you,” he replied. “Although, I am not familiar with your Starfleet’s rank structure.”
“It is one of the things we have in common,” Spock explained. “And while my Captain Kirk is trying to become Emperor, I am still a commander until that happens.”
“Fascinating, so you are from what we call the Mirror Universe?” he asked. “What should I call you? To avoid confusion?”
“Logically, since it was your side that discovered ours, accidently of course, it would be acceptable to refer to this universe as Alpha, and my own as Beta.”
“That is acceptable,” Alpha Spock agreed, nodding politely. “So to what do I owe this visit?”
“Research,” Beta Spock replied. “I have been aware for some time that the Terran Empire is on a path to destruction. While I feel, to use a human phrase, that the Empire has dug its own grave, I can’t help but wonder if something much worse will take its place.”
“An interesting conundrum,” Alpha Spock said as he took a seat. “How does one choose the lesser of two evils?”
“Indeed, care for a game?” asked Beta Spock. “I would imagine we would be quite evenly matched.”
Alpha Spock proceeded to set up the board as he contemplated the question. While his own Captain Kirk did not have much information about this Terran Empire, but from what was available the Humans of Beta Spock’s universe were very different from the ones in his own.
“Perhaps I could better advise you if I knew more about the Terran Empire,” he stated calmly.
“The largest difference would probably begin with First Contact,” Beta Spock replied. “In our universe, when the Vulcans came to earth following Zephran Cochrane’s first flight, the humans attacked. They took the ship, reverse engineered its technology, and used it to enslave Vulcan. After that, they continued to expand, however they did not gain true power over known space until the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise discovered a ship from your own universe.”
“Fascinating,” Alpha Spock listened intently as they traded moves on the board. “This ship they found, you are certain it was from our universe?”
“According to the records on board, it matched with your own history,” he explained, making counter moves. “Our scientists believe that this ship is what initially linked our two universes.”
“But if technologically we are similar, how did this ship assist the Empire?”
“That ship, which was discovered in the early 22nd century, what from your 23rd century.”
Alpha Spock suddenly realized what he was referring to, and understood the difficulties they had themselves during a rescue attempt. “The Defiant.”
“Correct, The USS Defiant, which was lost in the 23rd Century here, was discovered one hundred years earlier in our universe.”
“I am curious then,” Alpha Spock stated as he made another move. “How is it we are technologically on par with each other?”
“While this is an oversimplification, I believe it has to do with the fact that the humans of my universe are not as innovative towards constructive goals as yours are,” he replied. “This is part of why the Empire is dying; while they are indeed expanding, they are not growing.”
“It would seem then, that perhaps it would be better to allow the Empire to fall.”
“One might think so,” Beta Spock replied as he made another move. “And from what I have been able to learn from your historical records, I can understand how that is the easiest answer. However, our history has shown that when something terrible is taken down, something worse is put up.”
“Then perhaps logic would dictate the need for those to ensure something more promising replaces the Empire,” Alpha Spock stated as another move was made.
“It will not be simple,” Beta Spock replied with the appropriate counter move.
“In my experiences Commander,” he said calmly as he made his final move. “Few things worthwhile ever are. Stale Mate.”
Beta Spock studied the board, coming to the same conclusion. “They say that talking to oneself is a sign of mental instability.”
“One the contrary,” Alpha Spock replied with about as close to a smile as he would ever let himself come. “I have found it quite enlightening.”
Beta Spock stood, bowing his head slightly to his counterpart. “Indeed it has. I must be going however. There are few, very brief windows linking our two universes, and I would rather not miss it.”
“Farewell then,” Alpha Spock replied, returning the gesture. “Doctor McCoy would likely wish you luck, I suspect you may need it.”
Beta Spock turned and left the lounge, a few minutes later followed by Alpha Spock. After looking around the ship, his counterpart had vanished. Spock wondered for a short time if he would be visited by his mirror image, but quickly returned his focus to his duties.
