Our scene panned over into space where the Enterprise was in orbit above Vulcan. The Enterprise appeared to be unchanged, frozen in time, but different by the inside. The sounds of the bridge were heard. Our view flew toward the saucer section past the nacelles right inside to a vast differently bridge that was themed a light shade of gray from the walls to the ceiling. The floor was black, pure black, with black railings supported by light gray poles. The chairs soft, and cushiony, while being a light shade of brown. There were officers at their stations including Ilia at the navigation station. Along side the Deltan sat at the helmsmen seat was Hikaru Sulu who had a photograph tucked along the edge of his console being of a Asian man.

"Mr Xon," Pavel said, coming over to the young Vulcan. Xon turned slightly from his station placing his hands onto his lap. "say, vhat is it like being a Wulcan Professor at the Wulcan Academy of Science?"

Xon looked up toward the Russian.

"Being a Vulcanian professor requires knowledge and patience," Xon said. "The children are normally in their study holes. If anything, it is commonly like it is for any cultural: efficient, and thorough. Not at all different."

"Vere you in one?" Pavel asked.

"I thrived under it," Xon said.

"I didn't take Wulcan's to study in holes," Pavel said. "interesting."

"Is there any more questions that you have for me, Mr Chekov?" Xon said.

"Yes," Pavel said. "are you a fan of Mr Spock?"

"It is a impressive feat to serve with humans for thirteen years," Xon said. "dealing with their emotional out busts, being bonded to one, and understanding how their emotional cultural is. . . it is ideally impressive. I wish to blend in smoothly under the command of Captain Decker."

"Blend in?" Pavel said. "you don't need to blend in."

"Yes, I do," Xon said. "or else I insult my fellow crewmates when I do not intend."

"Xon, you are going to be fine," Pavel said. "If anything you vill have insulted a few alien willains here and there."

"Not every alien race is a villain," Xon said.

Pavel nodded.

"I mean the sentient machines," Pavel said. "sometimes we kall them the big bad, the big deed, the big breeder due to their tendency to refer to our krew women as breeding objects, and the big 'kray-kray'."

"Cray cray?" Xon said.

"Krazy," Pavel said.

"So what if I said one of the crewmen are cray cray?" Xon asked.

"That vould be inappropriate and demeaning," Pavel said.

"Give me the correct example," Xon said.

"Aru over there is kray kray over his husband Ben," Pavel pointed over his shoulder. "that is a positive usage, korrectly, regarding its use," Xon's eyes drifted toward the Russian. "we may not fear words from others but some still sting."

"Like slut?" Xon said.

"I am a major slut for kotten kandy," Pavel said.

Xon raised his eyebrow at first in sheer surprise then shook his head.

"I will make sure to use it," Xon said.

"Just not on duty," Pavel said. "we use those words off duty."

Xon nodded his head.

"Understood, Lieutenant Chekov," Xon said.

"You are a enlightening Wulcan, Mr Xon," Pavel said. "I look forward to serving with you in this new five year mission."

"As do I," Xon said.

Pavel turned away from the Vulcan. Xon was a young Vulcan male with curly brown hair and light blue eyes that were soft to look at. They were in the new uniforms which consisted of jackets with the colors of their career track: blue, gold, and red. They had standard white shirts underneath them. And black pants with the line at the side. Some female officers wore skirts. They had long sleeves to the uniforms. They wore black boots. Nyota was at the communication's station. The doors smoothly opened. In walked in a familiar person. Pavel's role model. The Vulcan who he had always looked up toward as an Ensign aboard the Enterprise. Didn't all ensigns look up toward the Vulcan? Spock was the role model who left abruptly and never returned, until now.

"Mr Spock!" Pavel stopped, half in shock, from his station to see the Vulcan appearing too rigid and. . . there was a dull, depressing glow about him. The only thing that reminded the Russian of him being the Mr Spock was the face. The cheeks that stood out, the stare that could easily become a stare, and the arms behind his back military pose. He looked ten years older even though it had been a little over three years since the Vulcan's departure from the Enterprise. "It is good to see you again."

The captain's chair lay ahead of Spock. Spock could vividly picture Jim turning toward him, bracing himself against the rail, calling "Spock!" using the rail to prevent himself from going out and embracing the man. The only thing that would have divided Spock from Jim would have been that rail. All self control would have been otherwise gone. The chair was a bitter, heavy reminder of what Spock had lost. T'hy'la!, Spock inwardly groaned. He was assaulted with familiar, bubbling emotions washing down upon him. Spock restrained himself from expressing the emotions on the bridge. His attempts to subdue the pain of his T'hy'la's loss had been futile. His human half had only hidden during the long hours of meditation. He could vividly picture Jim with brown curly hair and aged well. Spock had not fully grieved well as it seemed.

Nyota turned from her station in the direction of the Vulcan as all eyes were on him.

"Mr Spock," Nyota said, well pleased to see him again. "welcome back."

"I wish if we had met again on better circumstances, Mr Chekov, Mrs Uhura," Spock said. His voice laced in no emotions. Lacking the familiar warmth that the crew were more familiar to. He came toward the chair. "set course for Hellgaurd."

Spock felt a sensitive touch to his fingers as a single thought was carried to him, Taluhk nash-veh k'du, ashalik.

Spock sat down into the captain's chair.

"Enterprise here," Nyota said, with the communicator device in her ear.

"Arrest Mr Spock for Shanghi Nooning me," Decker said.

"Pardon me?" Nyota asked.

"I am being sent to Starbase Yorktown aboard the SS T'Kashi for whatever bull shit he pulled," Decker said. "pardon my language but this Vucan has gone too far in stealing my crew and my ship."

"I am sorry, can't hear you over your the ion storm--sorry--captain--where--" Nyota terminated the call as the starship leaped into warp.