Although several months had passed since Nero's attack on Vulcan, and although Spock was now familiar with both the concept of parallel worlds and the concept of time travel, he had not anticipated Cadet Gaila’s arrival. He had not anticipated such a stark reminder of the death and destruction the renegade Romulan had caused.

Though it would have been inaccurate to say that he had mourned her death – he had been raised as a Vulcan, and Vulcans did not mourn – Spock had been affected by it, as he had been affected by each and every death Nero had orchestrated in cold blood.

There had been no time to dwell on the fate of individuals at the time. Such actions had waited until after the destruction of the Narada, when the dead were given the honours that Starfleet considered customary. He had noted Cadet Gaila’s name on the lists. He had noted it and he had left it at that, because that was the only logical thing he could do. Looking backwards would only cause an emotional response that he could not afford.

"Cadet Gaila," said Spock, as calm and controlled as one would have expected, "The distress call from Vulcan has been responded to. It is no longer a matter of concern. Are you unharmed?"