Janeway intervened, to calm her fellow rebel. "It's all right, T'Val. Kirk and I were . . . establishing some ground rules."
McCoy snorted. "Oh, is that what they're calling it these days."
Kirk frowned at McCoy. "Bones, behave yourself."
"Have you been behaving yourself?"
"Yes," Kirk said with measured indignation.
"Well, that's a first."
Kirk let McCoy's comment pass. In most cases, he had learned it did no good to struggle to correct false impressions of his personal life, even when they were held by his closest friends. Such protestations only served to draw the attention of others and help give new impetus to the same false impressions he would prefer go unnoticed. Instead, he simply concentrated on the fire and its welcome warmth. He began to remember the fires he had shared with Teilani in their clearing on Chal. Making love beneath the stars. Waking to the sound of—
"Dr. McCoy has informed me that I am dying of Bendii syndrome," the mirror Spock suddenly announced.
The intendant's revelation had the no doubt intended effect of focusing everyone's attention on the immediacy of the moment.
But Kirk didn't understand the diagnosis. He had learned a great deal about Bendii during the virogen crisis. "Intendant Spock, from what I know of Bendii, you're far too young to exhibit signs of the disease, let alone to be dying of it"
"That's in our universe, Jim." McCoy held out his hand as if it were his regal right to be helped to his feet. Scott did the honors. "A healthy Vulcan today would have to be over two hundred years old before the disease would manifest. But the intendant, he's had a different life from most Vulcans we know. Incredible stress. War wounds. Poor nutrition. All of those can speed up the appearance of the disease. And in his case, they have."
"Are you sure?" Kirk asked, knowing how foolish that question was the instant he said it.
As McCoy rolled his eyes to the holographic heavens, Spock rose to his feet. "I remind you, Captain, that my father also contracted Bendii, so a family history of the syndrome is established."
"Is it the same in your universe?" Kirk asked the mirror Spock.
The intendant's hands played with the edge of the plaid blanket that was folded over his legs, adding to the fire's warmth. He stared into the flames as if seeing another world.
"I have learned from my counterpart that in this reality, Sarek, husband to Amanda, son of Skon, grandson of Solkar, was a respected ambassador for your Federation. In my reality, my father, whose genealogy is the same, was Arbiter of the Vulcan Mineral Syndicate, perhaps one of the most powerful business lords on my world. I do not know if he would have developed Bendii, because he died at the age of one hundred and two." The mirror Spock's face betrayed a fleeting moment of sorrow as the flames sought out the deep shadows of his features. Loss of emotional control was one of Bendii's symptoms. "He was assassinated by Orion spies disguised as Andorians, during the military action to annex Coridan."
Kirk understood the loss the mirror Spock felt. In this universe, he felt Sarek had been as much a father to him as to Spock. "Here, Sarek brought Coridan into the Federation by the use of exquisite diplomacy."
"In my universe, Coridan is a lifeless world." The mirror Spock looked across the fire to Kirk, and it was as if he stared out from the fires of hell. "Punishment for those citizens of Coridan who conspired with the Orions. An unasked-for gesture of good faith from my Captain Kirk, to show how he valued my alliance with him. It was many years before I could control his precipitous inclination to act on instinct, rather than careful thought."
"He destroyed a world . . ." Kirk said.
"It was not the first," the mirror Spock said. "Nor the last."
"What I don't understand, Intendant Spock," Scott interrupted, "is how so many things could be the same in the two universes—your father, your grandfather, even Amanda, a fine lass. And yet, everything is still so . . . so different. If ye see what I'm saying."
Spock had obviously given the question much thought and answered for his counterpart. "There is ample evidence, Mr. Scon, to suggest that there are an infinite number of universes existing in parallel with one another. Presumably, all these universes share a common moment of origin as a single reality. But then, for each event which follows, for which there might be multiple outcomes, those universes branch off from one another. Each possible outcome thus produces its own divergent reality. Those universes which diverged billions of years ago might no longer resemble each other in any way. While those that diverged only minutes ago, might be so similar that the only difference we might notice is that Dr. McCoy chose to remain seated rather than stand as he just did."
"But, Spock," Kirk said, "if there are an infinite number of universes constantly branching off from one another, what is it that links us with the mirror universe so that people in both can keep slipping back and forth between just these two, and no others?"
"Clearly," the mirror Spock said, suddenly emerging from his own contemplation of the campfire flames, "our two universes are linked in a manner different from most other quantum realities."
"Indeed," Spock added as he walked over to stand by his mirror double. "My counterpart and I have discussed in great depth the history of both our realities, and until relatively modern times, those histories are virtually identical."
"Virtually," Kirk said, "but not absolutely?" He was trying to hold his own in this discussion, but keeping up with two Spocks was taking its toll on him. He looked at McCoy and Scott, who both just shrugged.
"What differences exist," the mirror Spock explained, "seem to arise from the different interpretation that has been placed on historical events and personalities by contemporary researchers. In my reality, Vulcans admire the early Romulans for the way in which they courageously resisted the overwhelming might of those who followed Surak's teachings of logic, until they heroically set off to carve their own destiny on other worlds."
"While in our universe," Spock continued smoothly, " contemporary Vulcans tend to look back on the early Romulans as lost and misguided people, tragically blinded by emotion, who chose to run from Surak's truth."
"Thus, any apparent historical differences between our universes may only appear—" the mirror Spock began.
"—as differences of interpretation, and not differences of fact," Spock concluded.
"My Lord," McCoy grumbled, finally voicing Kirk's own unexpressed thought, "and I thought it was bad when there was just one of you."
But now Kirk ignored him. It was just possible that two Spocks were what it took to make sense of the intersection of two universes.
"But all that's in the past," Kirk said, walking around the fire to join the Vulcans. "What about now, the present?"
"Today, our two universes are quite different," the mirror Spock said, "primarily because of the radically different actions undertaken by your Federation and our Empire and Alliance."
"However, since these differences were not as profound at the time of the first crossover," Spock added, "that suggests that by continuing to trace the divergent world lines back through time, we might reach a point somewhere in the recent past, perhaps no more than two or three centuries, when both universes were, in fact, absolutely identical."
The mirror Spock nodded thoughtfully. "A point when one singular, pivotal event took place that had at least two probable outcomes. One of which led to the development of a benign and democratic Federation. The other to a militaristic and repressive Empire."
"And something about that event involved . . ." Kirk searched for the word or concept he needed. ". . . a disturbance . . . in the nature of quantum reality, which led to the two universes diverging, yet somehow remaining linked."
The two Spocks looked at each other.
"Quite logical. He is most unlike my Captain Kirk," the mirror Spock said.
"I can understand why you would think so," Spock replied.
Kirk had the feeling he had just been insulted, but this was not the tim
e to explore the possibility. "As fascinating as I'm sure this philosophical debate could become, we do have more pressing matters to consider."
"Thank you," T'Val said sarcastically.
Janeway held up her hand to ask her friend to refrain from interrupting. "Captain Kirk has suggested we work together."
"To what end?" Spock asked.
Janeway picked up a twig to stoke the fire. Revitalized, the flames threw her moving shadow up against the tall, surrounding pine trees, as if a dark giant were trapped among them, struggling to break free.
"We want to go home," she said. "Back to our universe with the technical files we need to fight the Alliance. Kirk wants to rescue Teilani. If we help him, he'll help us."
Kirk watched Spock carefully. This was where his plan could break down before it had even begun. Spock met his eyes. It was clear to Kirk that the Vulcan ambassador disap proved, but he said nothing. Whatever misgivings Spock might have, his old friend was giving him the benefit of the doubt. For now.
But T'Val had no reservations about voicing her disapproval. "He betrayed us once. How can you know he will not do so again?"
"I didn't betray you," Kirk said heatedly. "Starfleet beamed you from that hotel suite, took action without telling me. This time, we'll take action without telling them."
"Now, wait here just a minute," McCoy said. "I am not prepared to act against Starfleet. Well, not without a good reason."
"Bones, I'm not suggesting we act against Starfleet. Command wants to recover the Enterprise. Kate, and T'Val, and the intendant can help us do just that."
McCoy folded his arms. "Then let Command make that decision to help them."
"Command thinks they might be involved in the Enterprise's disappearance. But they're not."
McCoy was unconvinced. "Who died and made you a Betazoid?"
"A what?" Kirk asked.
Scott exhaled in noisy frustration at the two of them. "Captain Kirk, perhaps it would help if you tell us how you can prove they're not involved with the hijacking."
"I can't do that, Scotty," Kirk said. "But Spock can," Kirk looked to his friend.
"You are suggesting a mind-meld again," Spock said, apparently still not in favor of the idea.
"We have discussed it, Captain," the mirror Spock added. "But we have concluded our initial concerns are wellfounded. Our minds are so similar, even to a molecular level, that there is the danger we would become locked in a recursive neural iteration. Irreparably confused memories, or even the loss of our separate identities, might result when the meld is broken."
Kirk shrugged. "T'Val, then. Vulcan mind to Vulcan mind. No secrets."
But Spock shook his head. "I do not know T'Val, nor am I aware of the training she has undertaken in mental discipline. It could be possible that she is far more adept than I, in which case I would emerge from the meld saying that they are innocent of any attempt on the Enterprise. Which would be exactly what I would say if they were innocent. Since you would not be able to ascertain if I were under her control or not, you would still have no proof of what you have concluded."
"Then do it to me," Janeway volunteered. "I'm only human. No Vulcan mind tricks."
"You are not the leader," Spock said.
"Are you sure? Rebel cells are compartmentalized to protect against Alliance infiltration. I could be the leader of the entire Vulcan resistance movement, but I'd still move around like a foot soldier to protect my identity and disguise my importance." She planted her feet firmly in front of Spock and tilted her head up to him. "There's only one way to be sure."
Kirk could see Spock considering all his options, finally using logic to arrive at the same conclusion Janeway had presented to him by instinct.
"Very well," Spock said. "Are you ready?"
"Try me."
Spock raised his hands to Janeway's face, the tips of his long fingers searching out then finding her katra points. "My mind to your mind," he intoned. "Our thoughts are one. . . ."
Kirk motioned to the others to move away, to leave Spock and Janeway undisturbed. T'Val helped guide the mirror Spock's quietly humming hoverchair to join Kirk and the others well to the side of the clearing, where the light from the campfire was little more than a pale wash of soft amber.
As Kirk looked back to where Spock and Janeway were locked in a communion more intimate than anything physical could be, Scott stepped up to him, speaking in a loud, stage whisper. "Captain, I'll not be the one to interfere with whatever plans you're making, but you seem to be missing the point of what really has Starfleet concerned about all these mirror-universe goings-on."
Kirk turned to the engineer and spoke normally. "There's no time like the present, Mr. Scott."
"Well, the first time the four of us crossed over, it was a transporter accident."
"I remember it well."
"And now, with all those incursions on Deep Space Nine, they're coming through on specially rigged transporters."
"That's right. That's how I shifted to the mirror universe and back again on the moon. What's your point?"
"Don't ye see? It's all transporters, sir. And ye cannae transport a starship."
Kirk resisted the impulse to smile, because he was worried that Scott might misinterpret his reaction. But though Kirk understood the seriousness of the engineer's concern, what struck him first was how his friends had each reacted to the current situation in their own unique manner. Spock had immediately been drawn to the larger, almost metaphysical mystery of the mirror universe's origin. McCoy had focused on the health of the visitors from that reality. And Scott, by his nature, was drawn to the physical mechanics of moving from one universe to another.
Somehow, Kirk knew, if he could find a way to harness all those different approaches and viewpoints, to unite them into a single, concentrated strategy, everyone's questions would be answered, and he would hold Teilani in his arms once again.
However, Scott had missed one telling detail. "There is another method, Mr. Scott. When the first two people from Deep Space Nine crossed over—"
But, by the way Scott jumped right in, Kirk realized that the engineer hadn't missed anything at all. "Aye, they brought a whole runabout with them. But that was because of some thing they did within the Bajoran wormhole—the only stable one known to exist, as I'm sure ye know. In fact, to tell ye the truth, Captain, I have my doubts as to whether or not it really is a wormhole, what with aliens living within it and all those . . . mystical doings surrounding it." Like any true engineer, Scott said the word "mystical" as if it left a sour taste in his mouth. "So the fact of the matter is, since that mirror Voyager didn't pop out of the Bajoran wormhole, there's a chance that it's not from the mirror universe at all. That this is all . . . some kind of hoax."
Kirk thought that the question Scott was raising had already been answered. "But what about the warp particles Starfleet detected? Their quantum signatures prove they're from another quantum reality."
"Aye, but strictly speaking, all that tells us is that the warp particles come from the mirror universe, not the Voyager herself." Scott dropped his voice even lower. "One of this lot could easily have brought through a couple of kilos of antimatter from their universe and used it to create a false trail of warp particles. 'Twould be a simple matter."
"Have you raised this possibility with the admiral?" Kirk asked.
Scott frowned. "Aye. But she's convinced that once we reach the Goldin Discontinuity, we should be looking for some kind of wormhole phenomenon to explain how the ships might pass between the universes."
"And I take it you disagree with her assessment."
Scott looked as if anyone with a mind larger than three neurons would have to disagree with the admiral. "Captain, we're smack dab in the middle of Federation space, so any kind of wormhole phenomenon that could possibly exist here would have been noted years and years ago."
"What about a stable wormhole? Couldn't the people from the mirror universe have built something like that here?"
Scott's eyes widened as if Kirk should feel embarrassed for asking such a ludicrous question. "Captain Kirk, if these people know how to build stable wormholes, then they dinnae need the Enterprise nor any other paltry technology we might have. If Starfleet had such a thing, believe me when I tell ye that we could end the war with the Dominion in a week with . . . with just the original Enterprise. That's the tactical advantage a wormhole will give ye."
"So what you're saying is that there is no possible way for the Voyager to have come to this universe from the other, and no way the Enterprise can be taken back."
"No way that I know of or can imagine."
"And the admiral's not listening to you."
"She's being a ... typical officer."
Since Kirk had no doubt that Scott included him among the company of typical officers, he let the matter rest there. "Have you explained any of this to Spock's counterpart?"
Scott looked alarmed. "If it's a hoax, he might be in on it."
"In which case, Mr. Scott, you won't be telling him anything he doesn't already know."
Kirk ushered Scott across the floor of pine needles to the mirror Spock in his hoverchair. "Intendant, T'Val, I'd like you to listen to Captain Scott's . . . thoughts concerning the mirror Voyager. Scotty?"
With clear misgivings, Scott told the mirror Spock, T'Val, and McCoy why he thought the mirror Voyager's presence and the Enterprise's absence might be part of a hoax.
When he had finished, the mirror Spock was the first to speak. "We have faced the same technological difficulty on our side, Captain Scott. That is why we seek computer data which we can take with us to our universe. Taking anything larger than could be dematerialized by a personnel transporter is ... beyond our ability."
"Is it beyond the Alliance's ability?" Kirk asked.
"I do not have that information. I believe Captain Scott is correct when he states that if the Alliance could construct a stable, artificial wormhole, they would have no need of your technology. However, I find it interesting that no one has commented on what is clearly an anomalous situation in your own universe."
Spectre Page 18