2200 hours, 9th February 2258
Somewhere in the Beta Quadrant
(3rd Person POV)
A violent distortion rippled across the darkness of the universe, followed by a brilliant eruption of blue-white energy. The phenomenon resembled a gigantic lightning storm suspended against the stars, with luminous arcs of energy twisting around an invisible centre. Space itself seemed to bend inward as the singularity stabilized, its gravitational forces warping the light of distant stars.
Then something emerged from the centre.
The Jellyfish.
The small Vulcan vessel burst free of the singularity, tumbling slightly before its engines corrected its trajectory. Inside the cockpit, Ambassador Spock fought to stabilize the ship, his hands moving rapidly across the controls as warning indicators flashed across the displays. The gravimetric forces generated by the singularity had nearly torn the vessel apart during its passage, and for several long seconds he had been uncertain whether the ship would survive the transition at all.
At last, the readings began to stabilize. Spock allowed himself a quiet breath. He had succeeded.
Or so he thought.
His eyes moved toward the forward viewscreen. A massive vessel hung directly ahead.
The Narada.
The enormous Romulan mining vessel dwarfed the Jellyfish, its jagged, skeletal structure silhouetted against the stars. Its asymmetrical, spiked, insectoid structure, covered with heavy-duty plasma drills and weapons arrays, gave the ship the appearance of some enormous predatory creature waiting patiently for its prey.
Spock reached for the controls and the Jellyfish accelerated. But almost immediately a powerful tractor beam from the Narada locked onto the smaller vessel. The Jellyfish shuddered violently as the tractor beam seized it and began pulling it toward the Romulan ship.
Spock's fingers moved across the controls as he attempted to compensate for the force. Nothing worked.
He considered his options. The Jellyfish carried no photon torpedoes. Its forward-mounted phaser cannons were powerful enough to damage conventional vessels, but against a ship of the Narada's size and technological sophistication, they would accomplish very little.
Worse, attacking would be strategically unsound. At this distance, any retaliatory weapons fire from the Narada would almost certainly strike the Jellyfish. The Red Matter aboard his vessel represented an additional danger. A sufficiently powerful impact could destabilize its containment system and create a singularity.
The consequences would be catastrophic.
Spock made his decision. He would surrender for now and wait for another opportunity.
The tractor beam pulled the Jellyfish toward the enormous Romulan vessel until the smaller ship disappeared inside one of the Narada's cavernous docking bays. The Jellyfish settled onto the deck.
Spock remained in the cockpit for a few seconds, watching the docking bay through the viewscreen. Romulan crew members were already assembling outside the vessel. Leading them was a man Spock recognised.
Nero.
There was no point resisting here. Spock slowly rose from his seat. The ship's doors opened, and Spock stepped outside.
He descended the gangway with measured composure. The Romulan guards surrounded him, weapons trained on his body. At the bottom of the ramp, a large Romulan stepped forward. Without warning, he shoved Spock violently from behind. The Vulcan stumbled and dropped to his knees.
Spock raised his head. Nero stood before him.
For a few moments, the two men simply stared at each other. Then Nero gave a thin smile.
"Welcome back, Spock."
Spock's expression remained controlled. "Nero." He looked around the docking bay before returning his attention to Nero. "What is the current stardate?"
Nero's smile widened by a fraction. "2258.40."
Spock's eyes narrowed slightly. So it had happened. They had truly travelled through time.
He looked back toward Nero. "What happened to Romulus was never my intention. I attempted to prevent the destruction of your homeworld. I failed, and for that, I'm truly sorry."
Nero laughed—a harsh, humourless sound.
"You're sorry?"
Spock remained calm. "I empathize with your loss."
Nero sneered. "What would a Vulcan know about empathy?"
"I am half human."
Nero's expression hardened.
Spock continued. "More importantly, it appears that we have now travelled into the past. We have been given an opportunity neither of us anticipated. Romulus still exists. Your people are alive. We have the ability to change what happened."
Nero stared at him. Then he stepped closer.
"Don't worry, Spock. I will save Romulus. Not just from the supernova." He looked directly into Spock's eyes. "But also from the Federation."
Spock's expression remained impassive, but his eyes sharpened.
"The Federation promised us assistance," Nero continued. "They promised to help evacuate our people. And then they just stood there while Romulus burned. They watched as our world broke apart."
He stepped closer still.
"And you..." Nero's voice trembled with barely restrained hatred. "You came to us pretending to be our friend. You offered hope when we had nothing left. You told us you would help us!"
His face twisted with wrath. "And then you betrayed us."
Spock said nothing.
"For twenty-five years, I've planned my revenge against the Federation." Nero's eyes were filled with something darker than anger now. "Twenty-five years."
He looked away for a moment. "I forgot what it was like to live a normal life. But I didn't forget the pain."
He turned back toward Spock. "I couldn't." For the first time, something resembling grief crossed Nero's face. "The pain of losing my wife...my unborn child...my people." Nero's eyes hardened again. "Everything I had was taken from me."
Spock regarded him silently. Nero eventually stepped back.
"Your ship belongs to me now." Nero glanced toward the Jellyfish, before looking down at Spock with a sadistic grin. "But don't worry, I'm going to let you live."
Spock looked at him. "Why?"
Nero's expression became almost disturbingly calm. "Because I want you to experience what I experienced. To feel what I have felt."
Spock's eyes narrowed.
"Above all... I want you to watch, Spock."
A transporter beam suddenly enveloped him.
Spock disappeared.
---
When he rematerialized, the first thing he noticed was the cold.
A biting wind swept across his face. Spock looked around.
He stood in the middle of a frozen landscape beneath a dark sky. Snow and ice stretched across the terrain in every direction, interrupted only by distant mountains and jagged rock formations. His eyes moved upward. And then he saw it.
Vulcan.
His homeworld hung enormous in the night sky, its familiar red surface illuminated by the distant light of its star.
Spock stared at it for several moments. He had expected to feel relief at seeing his world. Instead, he felt apprehension.
What he had learned about Nero during their brief interaction didn't paint a very promising future. He appeared to have all the worst qualities Romulans were famous for — vengeful, unforgiving, paranoid. Spock feared what Nero was capable of, especially now, with Red Matter in his hands.
Based on Nero's speech, the logical conclusion was obvious. The Romulan intended to use the Red Matter against Vulcan. Spock could only hope that his conclusion was incorrect.
A strange cry echoed across the frozen landscape. Spock turned his head toward the distant mountains. The sound came again.
It was the cry of a drakoulias — large, furry, quadrupedal predators native to the ice planet Delta Vega. It wasn't close, but it had apparently caught his scent, because the cry was steadily drawing nearer.
Spock scanned the surrounding terrain, searching for shelter. He would need protection from the elements before attempting to determine his exact location or establish contact with Starfleet.
He had barely taken a step when something changed behind him. A faint blue glow appeared in the darkness. Spock turned.
A circular aperture was forming in the air several metres away. Smoky blue energy spiralled inward along its circumference, accompanied by delicate arcs of light that crackled silently through the darkness. The phenomenon bore some superficial resemblance to a wormhole, but there was no detectable gravimetric distortion, no significant radiation and no apparent disruption of the surrounding space.
Spock stared at it, intrigued. Whatever this was, it was not a conventional spatial anomaly.
The aperture stabilized. Beyond it was not the frozen landscape of Delta Vega. It was the interior of a starship.
Spock could see a spacious ready room on the other side, complete with a desk, chairs and familiar Starfleet furnishings. The arrangement was unmistakably Federation in design, although the exact configuration was unfamiliar to him.
His curiosity intensified. Someone was using some form of technology—or phenomenon—to establish a direct spatial connection between two locations.
Then a figure appeared within the aperture.
A young human stepped through. He was dressed in a dark jacket, shirt and trousers rather than a Starfleet uniform. He appeared remarkably relaxed considering that he had just emerged from an impossible opening in spacetime onto an otherwise uninhabited frozen world.
The young man looked at Spock. For a moment, neither spoke. Then the stranger smiled.
"Hello there."
---
2300 hours, 9th February 2258
Delta Vega
(Ben's First Person POV)
"Hello there."
The elderly Vulcan standing a few metres away regarded me with an expression of cautious curiosity. His eyes briefly moved toward the shimmering blue portal behind me before returning to my face.
"Hello."
I smiled and reached into the pocket of my jacket. I pulled out a small crystalline orb and tossed it gently into the air. Rather than falling, it stopped above us and began hovering. A moment later, it illuminated itself, casting a soft white glow across the surrounding snow.
"My name is Benjamin Carter."
The Vulcan's eyes briefly followed the floating orb before returning to me.
"I am Spock."
"Well met, Mr. Spock." I slipped my hands into my pockets. "You must be wondering who I am and how I came to be here."
"That is a safe assumption to make."
I chuckled. Before I could continue, I heard movement from behind me. Three sets of footsteps approached from the other side of the portal. I turned slightly and glanced toward the ready room visible through the aperture.
"While I could attempt to explain our current situation," I said, looking back at Ambassador Spock, "I believe you will find the explanation much more convincing if it comes from a familiar face."
Spock's expression shifted slightly.
A moment later, Captain Pike emerged through the portal. He was followed by Jim Kirk and Commander Spock. All three were wearing heavy winter gear over their Starfleet uniforms, clearly having prepared for the freezing conditions outside.
Ambassador Spock stared at them. For perhaps the first time since I had met him, his carefully controlled expression displayed something approaching genuine surprise.
Pike stopped when he saw the elderly Vulcan. He looked at Ambassador Spock. Then at the younger Spock standing beside him. Then back at Ambassador Spock.
A grin slowly appeared on his face.
"Well, Spock..." Pike said to the younger Vulcan, "I suppose this saves me the trouble of wondering what you'll look like in a hundred years."
He extended a hand toward the older Vulcan. "Welcome back, Spock."
Ambassador Spock regarded him for a moment before accepting the handshake. "Captain."
He released Pike's hand and looked at the others. His eyes lingered briefly on his younger counterpart before moving to Kirk and finally returning to me.
"As wonderful as it is to see you all, I confess I am curious as to how you found me so quickly."
Pike gestured toward me. "You can thank Mr. Carter for that. He is the one who informed us of your arrival."
Ambassador Spock looked at me with renewed interest. "Indeed? And how did you know where I was when I myself only arrived here a few minutes ago?"
"I..." I began.
Then stopped. I turned my head toward the darkness behind us.
At first, there was nothing. Only wind. Snow. The distant howl of the frozen landscape.
Then I heard it. A deep, rhythmic pounding beneath the wind. Footsteps. Heavy ones. Very heavy ones.
The world seemed to slow around me as I focused my vision through the falling snow. My irises shifted, their colour changing from their usual appearance into luminous golden slits.
Something enormous was moving through the darkness. I could make out its silhouette now. It was massive—easily eleven feet tall—and looked like nature had decided to combine a polar bear with a gorilla and then give the result a set of enormous teeth. And it was charging directly toward us.
The sound of its approach finally became loud enough for everyone else to hear. Jim turned toward the darkness.
"What the hell is that?"
Ambassador Spock answered. "A drakoulias. One of the native predator species of this planet."
The creature emerged farther from the darkness, its enormous paws striking the frozen ground with enough force to send snow spraying outward.
Pike's hand immediately went to his phaser. "Set phasers to stun."
Jim and Commander Spock drew their phasers as well.
I raised one hand. "That won't be necessary." Looking at Pike, I said, "Captain, please allow me to handle this."
Pike looked at me for a second. Then at the rapidly approaching predator. Then back at me.
Finally, he lowered his phaser slightly. "Whatever you're about to do, best make it quick."
I nodded and turned toward the charging drakoulias. I took a few calm steps toward it. Behind me, I could practically feel the confusion radiating from the four men. I continued walking.
The drakoulias roared. I smiled.
Then I transformed.
My body expanded. Bones shifted. Muscle and scale replaced flesh. Enormous wings unfurled from my back. My arms and legs thickened into powerful limbs ending in curved talons. A long, heavily scaled tail swept through the snow. My neck stretched upward. Golden scales covered my entire body, reflecting the light of the hovering crystal orb like polished metal.
Within seconds, my human body had disappeared. In its place stood a twenty-metre-long golden dragon.
"ROOOOOAAARRRR!"
The roar exploded across the frozen landscape. Snow shook loose from nearby rocks. The sound rolled across the mountains like thunder.
Behind me, Pike, Jim, Commander Spock and Ambassador Spock all instinctively covered their ears.
The drakoulias froze. Its enormous eyes widened as it attempted to stop. Unfortunately, it had been charging at full speed.
Its paws skidded across the ice. The creature lost its footing and went tumbling head over heels through the snow.
It scrambled upright and looked at me. I lowered my head slightly and stared directly into its eyes. The drakoulias made a much smaller, distinctly frightened noise. Then it turned around and ran. In no time, it disappeared into the darkness at far greater speed than it had approached.
I watched it go. Satisfied with the outcome, I shifted back. Golden scales vanished. Wings disappeared. My enormous body contracted until I was once again standing there in my regular clothes.
I turned toward the others with a grin and pointed my thumb over my shoulder. "Bet he's gonna remember that for the rest of his life."
Nobody answered.
Pike simply stared at me. His phaser was still halfway raised. "...What the hell was that?"
"That was just my Animagus form."
Jim frowned. "Your what form?"
"Animagus form," I repeated. "An Animagus is a witch or wizard who can voluntarily transform into a specific animal while retaining their human mind and magical abilities."
I gestured toward the direction in which the drakoulias had disappeared. "As you just witnessed, my Animagus form happens to be that of a rare gold dragon."
Commander Spock stared at me. "Fascinating. Are all of your people capable of transforming into such forms?"
I shook my head. "Quite the opposite. Very few people ever manage to become Animagi. It's an advanced branch of Transfiguration that requires a lot of effort, study and introspection. Most witches and wizards never attempt it, and an even smaller number actually succeed."
Ambassador Spock watched me carefully. "I do not wish to be rude," he said, glancing between the four of us before looking back at me, "but I believe I am missing a considerable amount of context here."
Pike finally lowered his phaser and returned it to its holster. "You could say that. Why don't you come back with us to the Enterprise? We can fill you in on everything that's happened recently."
Ambassador Spock considered the proposal. Then he nodded. "I would like that."
Pike turned toward the portal. Jim followed, and Commander Spock stepped through next.
Ambassador Spock paused before the aperture. He studied it for a few moments, his eyes following the swirling blue energy and the subtle distortion surrounding its perimeter. Then he stepped through.
I waited until he had disappeared into the Enterprise's ready room before raising my hand. The floating crystalline orb descended gracefully through the air and landed in my palm. Its light faded.
I slipped it back into my pocket and glanced around Delta Vega one last time. The frozen landscape stretched endlessly in every direction.
Then I stepped through as well. The portal collapsed into a faint shimmer and vanished.
---
0100 hours, 10th February 2258
USS Enterprise
(3rd Person POV)
"I see."
Ambassador Spock sat quietly in one of the chairs in Captain Pike's quarters, his expression thoughtful as he absorbed everything he had just been told. Around him were Captain Pike, James Kirk, Commander Spock and Benjamin Carter. The conversation had lasted nearly an hour, and even for a man accustomed to processing extraordinary information, there was a considerable amount to absorb.
They had told him everything.
They had explained how Nero had emerged from the singularity and attacked the USS Kelvin twenty-five years earlier. They had told him about Captain Richard Robau's death, George Kirk's sacrifice and the destruction of the Kelvin. They had explained how the Narada had subsequently disappeared into dark space, waiting patiently for the arrival of the Jellyfish and its cargo.
And now Nero possessed the Red Matter.
He intended to use it to destroy Vulcan first, followed by Earth and eventually other Federation worlds, potentially killing billions of sentient beings. The very weapon Spock Prime had intended to use to save Romulus had become the principal instrument of Nero's revenge.
Then came the explanation for how they knew all of this.
Ben.
A fifteen-year-old wizard from a parallel universe who possessed the ability to perceive events across space and time. A young man who had entered this universe through a conceptual artefact known as the Anywhere Door for the purpose of preventing the tragedies he had foreseen.
Finally, they had explained their plan.
They couldn't realistically defeat the Narada in a conventional engagement. Its technology was more than a century ahead of theirs, and a fleet action risked catastrophic casualties. Instead, they intended to bypass the vessel's technological superiority entirely by opening a portal directly inside it.
Ambassador Spock remained silent for several seconds.
"While I had considered the possibility that Nero might use the Red Matter against Vulcan," he finally said, "I failed to comprehend the full magnitude of his ambitions."
His gaze shifted toward Ben.
"You have my gratitude, Mr. Carter. Had you not intervened, the consequences could have been catastrophic."
Ben shook his head.
"Your gratitude is appreciated, Ambassador, but it really isn't necessary. Saving innocent lives is precisely why the Anywhere Door was created in the first place."
He glanced toward Pike.
"And if we're going to prevent Nero from creating an all-consuming black hole in the center of Vulcan, we should probably get moving. Nero should be preparing to attack soon."
Pike nodded. He reached for a PADD resting on the nearby table and activated its display.
"Admiral Barnett anticipated that we'd need additional personnel for the boarding operation." He scrolled through the information. "He's assigned a security contingent to the Enterprise specifically for this mission. They're already waiting in the armory."
Ben turned toward Ambassador Spock. "There's one thing I need from you first."
Ambassador Spock looked at him. "What is it?"
"I need you to visualise the interior of the Narada. I need a clear mental picture of where we're going before I open the portal."
Ambassador Spock nodded. He closed his eyes and began reconstructing the interior of the Narada in his mind. He remembered the enormous docking bay, the strange organic-looking architecture and the distinctive structural elements of the Romulan vessel.
He opened his eyes. Ben looked into them, and found himself surprised.
Ambassador Spock's mind was remarkably organised. Decades of Vulcan mental discipline had left his memories arranged with an almost extraordinary clarity. There was very little mental clutter, no chaotic jumble of impressions or emotional noise to sift through. It was like opening a meticulously catalogued archive.
In no time, he found what he was looking for. Mostly because Ambassador Spock was offering it so helpfully.
Ben smiled faintly. "Got it."
Pike nodded and stood up. "Let's head down."
The group left Pike's quarters and entered the corridor. They proceeded toward the nearest turbolift, the doors opening as they approached.
"Armory," Pike ordered.
The turbolift doors closed, and the compartment descended through the Enterprise. When the doors opened again, they stepped into the armory.
Ten Starfleet security personnel were already preparing for the operation. They were fitting tactical armour over their uniforms, checking phaser rifles and securing equipment to their belts. Their movements were efficient and disciplined, every member of the team clearly aware that this was not a routine security assignment.
As they came into view, one officer stepped forward.
"Captain Pike."
Pike nodded. "Lieutenant."
"Lieutenant Kyle Johnson, sir." Johnson glanced around the group before looking back at Pike. "I was told we would receive the mission parameters here."
"That's right." Pike stepped farther into the armory. "Our objective is to board a hostile Romulan vessel, neutralize its crew and prevent them from using a weapon of mass destruction against Vulcan."
Johnson's expression hardened. "Understood, sir. How are we boarding?"
Pike pointed toward Ben. "Our specialist, Mr. Carter, will get us inside."
Johnson looked at Ben. Ben gave him a friendly smile.
"All you need to do is neutralize the Romulans once we're there."
Johnson stared at him for a moment before giving a curt nod. "Understood."
Pike, Kirk, Commander Spock and Ambassador Spock began preparing themselves. Tactical armour was secured over their uniforms, and phaser rifles were collected from the weapons racks.
Pike glanced toward Ben. "Mr. Carter, you should probably grab some tactical gear yourself."
Ben smiled. "Thanks, Captain, but I brought my own."
The first piece of armour emerged from the storage ring on his finger and hovered beside him. Then another. And another.
Components began materialising around Ben—black metallic plates, gauntlets, greaves, shoulder guards and sections of the reinforced chest piece. They floated around him in perfect formation before beginning to move.
The armour assembled itself around Ben with mechanical precision, each component connecting seamlessly to the next.
The transformation took only a few seconds. When it was finished, Ben stood in the middle of the armory wearing a sleek black suit of armour. Its surface was smooth and heavily reinforced, the design combining magical construction with an unmistakably futuristic aesthetic.
At the centre of his chest sat a circular core, which suddenly illuminated. Electric-blue lines spread outward from the core across the armour, tracing pathways along his chest, shoulders and arms. Finally, the narrow eye slits of the helmet ignited with the same cold blue light.
The room had gone completely silent.
Every person in the armory was openly staring at him.
Pike looked Ben up and down. "What is that?"
"My personal armour."
Jim stared at the suit. "Where did all this come from?"
"From a pocket dimension. That's where I keep all my stuff."
Ambassador Spock's eyes lit up with obvious scientific interest. "You can create pocket dimensions?"
"Yes."
Commander Spock stepped closer, his eyes moving over the armour's surface. "What is it constructed from?"
Ben interrupted him. "Guys, we can play twenty questions after we've stopped the genocidal Romulan who's hell-bent on destroying an entire planet."
"He's right." Pike nodded and looked around at the assembled personnel. "Everyone ready?"
The security team checked their weapons.
"Hold on." Ben raised an armored hand. "I've got something for you all."
One after another, several compact wrist devices materialised in the air around him. They resembled sophisticated pieces of futuristic technology—dark metallic bands with luminous blue and violet markings running across their surfaces. Symbols glowed faintly along their edges, while a small circular device sat prominently at the centre of each unit.
The devices hovered for a moment before moving through the air toward their intended recipients. One settled neatly into Pike's outstretched hand. Another floated toward Kirk. Others distributed themselves among Commander Spock, Ambassador Spock and the members of Lieutenant Johnson's security team.
Pike turned the device over in his hand, examining its unfamiliar construction. "What are these?"
"Personal shield units," Ben explained. "They project a protective energy field around the wearer. They won't make you invulnerable, and I wouldn't recommend standing there and letting someone shoot at you just to test them. But, if you're unlucky enough to take a direct hit from a Romulan disruptor rifle, these might just save your life."
Pike looked at the device again. "They can stop a disruptor blast?"
"They can absorb a considerable amount of directed energy before the shield collapses. So, yes. In the circumstances we're about to find ourselves in, I'd say they're worth having."
Pike's expression softened. "Thank you, Ben." He fastened the device around his wrist.
The others followed suit. Kirk secured his around his forearm, while Spock examined the mechanism for a few seconds before fastening it into place. Ambassador Spock did the same, his eyes lingering on the glowing symbols with unmistakable scientific curiosity. Lieutenant Johnson and the security personnel quickly attached theirs as well.
One by one, they pressed the central buttons. The devices activated. A translucent field shimmered into existence around each person, extending just beyond their bodies like an invisible shell catching the light. The effect lasted only a second before fading from sight, leaving nothing behind except the faint glow of the wrist units.
Pike flexed his hand. "I assume they're still active?"
"Yes. The field is normally invisible so it doesn't interfere with your vision. You'll know it's working if something hits it."
Pike looked around at the assembled team. Everyone was armed, armored and equipped with Ben's magical technology.
"All right. Now are we ready?"
There were nods throughout the group.
Pike looked toward Ben. "On your go, Mr. Carter."
Ben nodded and raised his hand. The air in front of them began to ripple. A familiar smoky-blue glow appeared, swirling rapidly inward as the portal formed. The circular aperture expanded until it was large enough for the entire boarding party to pass through.
On the other side was the enormous interior of the Narada's docking bay. The cavernous Romulan vessel stretched beyond the portal, its strange skeletal architecture illuminated by harsh artificial lighting. The Jellyfish sat inside the docking area exactly where Ambassador Spock had described it.
Several Romulans were working nearby. They stopped as they caught sight of the impossible glowing aperture.
Ben stepped through first.
His black armour gleamed beneath the alien lights, bluish-white energy glowing through the lines across his body. His helmet concealed his face completely, the illuminated eye slits fixed upon the stunned Romulan crew members.
"Hiya, fellas."