Title: Across the Board

Author: mzsnaz
mzsnaz1108@yahoo.com

Rating: G

Summary: It is ST4 (The Voyage Home) and, instead of remaining on Vulcan, Saavik went along and
is now time warped back on 20th century Earth w/ the rest of the gang. Kirk realizes they will
need a lot more money to accomplish their mission, so he sends Spock and Saavik into 20th
century San Francisco and orders them to come back in 12 hours or less with as much money as
possible.

Disclaimer: Star Trek is the property of Paramount and Viacom.

----

"Where are they?" Kirk grumbled as he checked the chrono for the fourth time in less than an
hour. Spock and Saavik had been gone most of the day, and they only had ten minutes until
check-in. Perhaps it had been a mistake to give them the remainder of the two hundred dollars
he’d received for his glasses, but there had been no other option. Someone had to find a way to
make money fast so that they could purchase the transparent aluminum necessary to build the
whale tanks. After Scotty and McCoy showed Dr. Nichols the formula, he agreed to manufacture
the required walls, but only for an exorbitant price. The only alternative existing was to
quickly come up with the proper 20th Century amount.

"Sir, they’re back!" Uhura crowed from the Klingon Bridge. Kirk watched with growing
consternation as the two Vulcans finally solidified on the transporter pad.

"It’s about time you two got back!" Kirk exclaimed as he tried to read their expressions. It
was an exercise in futility, however. "Any luck?"

"Luck had nothing to do with our achievement, Admiral," Saavik replied as she handed the
Admiral a large satchel. "Captain Spock and I were successful in our endeavor."

Opening the bag, Kirk’s jaw dropped as he picked up one of the numerous wrapped bundles of
paper money. "How…successful…were you, Spock?" he stammered.

"The required amount has been secured, sir," the Vulcan calmly replied. "No illegal methods
were utilized."

"I figured that," McCoy cheekily said as he joined the group in the transporter room. "You
wouldn’t even steal a kiss if the opportunity arose…right, Spock?" He grinned at Saavik, who
ignored the smiling Doctor.

"Correct, Doctor," Spock replied as an eyebrow rose in response to McCoy’s query. "Saavikam, I
believe you have noted the distinctly irrational aspiration of many humans to break the
regulations and laws established for their benefit?"

"Yes, sir, I have," Saavik dryly responded, causing the Doctor to harrumph in her general
direction.

"I’m just wonderin’ what y’all did to get the money so quickly," McCoy retorted. "Generally,
you don’t earn a small fortune in only 12 hours time."

"That is generally true, Doctor," Spock agreed. "However, we did have the benefit of our
superior Vulcan senses to assist us."

"You mean the same superior Vulcan senses that did nothing to prevent your death?" the Doctor
evocatively said as he raised a challenging brow at the taciturn Vulcan.

"Gentlemen, please," Kirk interrupted, "Bones, I’ll need you and Scotty to contact Dr. Nichols
again to verify that he has the walls finished." As McCoy left the transporter room, a pleased
look graced Kirk’s features as he nodded his approval at the two Vulcans. "I don’t know how you
two did it, but the money’s here, and that’s what counts…in more ways than one."

"I agree, Admiral," Spock concurred as Kirk’s expression fell.

"Spock, call me Jim, not Admiral," he adamantly said. The Vulcan looked blankly at him for a
moment, and then raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Jim. I shall follow your order."

Sighing, Kirk rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. Saavik watched the retreating figure
with a genuine sense of curiosity. It was odd that the Admiral would object to his title, but
that was but another idiosyncrasy of humans.

"Spock?"

"Yes, Saavikam," the Vulcan said as he also seemed to be considering Kirk’s reaction to his
reply.

"How did you know which ones would win?"

Spock gazed over at the young Vulcan. He had been waiting for her question since they placed
the first bet on the long shot that won the first race.

"It was a simple matter of inquiry, although I will admit that it is fortunate that access to
the stables is not difficult to obtain." He observed the way she carefully considered the
answer as he continued. "It is important to remember this, Saavikam… If one is to ‘play the
ponies’, it is most helpful to be able to communicate with them." His upraised eyebrow appeared
to enliven his brown eyes as he continued. "And like Vulcans, Saavikam, the horses never lie."



THE END