TIME REFERENCE & SETTING: THIS COMMUNIQUE WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE SITH SHIP HAD BEEN DESTROYED AND THE ENTERPRISE IS ON ITS WAY TO DENEVA. IT FITS BETWEEN THE STORIES THE DAY HIS LIFE CHANGED FOREVER AND THE DENEVA CONFLICT.
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CH 1 FIRST CONTACT PART ONE
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CAPTAIN'S PRIVATE OFFICE OFF THE BRIDGE
Jim leans back thinking about Jack's confession of being a member of Section 31. If he had known about Colonel Jack O'Neill's previous employer, there is no way Jim would have approved the transfer especially to Chief of Security for the Enterprise. The betrayal by Admiral Marcus cut deep. Jim looked at Admiral Marcus as a friend, a mentor, hell he even for a point entertained taking things further with his daughter Carol. Jim stretches in his seat thanking God that never happened. Never in a million years did he think he would have a daughter, nor have her show up twelve years later. Fifteen years ago, Lauren Shan crashed into his life like a freight train and he is still picking up the pieces. If there is one thing Jim Kirk knows is that the dead do not stay dead. Nero, after killing his father and presumed dead, showed back up destroying Vulcan. Khan and his Augments, after slaughtering 30 million people in the Eugenics Wars of the late twentieth century, showed back up 250 years later as a frozen popsicle for another crack at it. Seeing Kate opened up the possibility that Lauren could still waltz back into his life. He has harbored this secret fantasy for years but after finding Kate, Jim is not sure he wants to see his wife again.
Jim stops daydreaming and focuses on the current problem burning in his brain. He accesses Jack's service record polishing off his coffee. Jim skims past all the non-essential information.
SERVICE RECORD:. O'Neill, Jonathan Jacob Colonel Federation Star Fleet.
Entered service and Star Fleet Academy 2244
"Huh he's older than the Enterprise," Jim thinks laughing at the fact the Enterprise was launched in 2245.
2245 Battle of Donatu V
2246 Battle of Sateda
2247 Tarsus IV campaign
2248 Battle of Vonra
"Damn Jack you were one busy boy," Jim muses as Rand sets down a fresh cup of coffee. "Thanks," Jim gives Rand a quick wink. Jim checks his time. Kate is going to be out of school in the next 30 minutes. So far she has shown all the grace of a rabid raccoon with being grounded but has complied with Jim's no TV, no computer, no PADD, and no friends regulations. She only has one day left and he prays she can keep it together to go on at least his version of a work release program. Jim turns his attention back to the computer burning his lip on the coffee. Several drops dribble onto his desk.
2248 to 2258 Transfer to Special Operations under General Kevin McCormick
2258 Accepts transfer USS Enterprise
2258- to present USS Enterprise under command Captain James T. Kirk
Jim finishes reading the record as he wipes the coffee drops away with the sleeve of his shirt.
COMMENDATIONS:
2245 Decoration for Gallantry Battle of Donatu V
2246 Medal of Commendation Battle of Sateda
Starfleet Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry Battle of Sateda
2247 Star Cross Tarsus IV campaign
Karagite Order of Heroism Tarsus IV campaign
2248 Award of Valor Battle of Vonra
Grankite Order of Tactics Battle of Vonra
Jack's record is impressive. It was one of the reasons Jim approved the transfer. By all accounts, Col. Jack O'Neill is every bit a hero as his record claims. Jim's mind drifts briefly back to Tarsus IV. He remembers the day Star Fleet liberated the colony from Kodos. Everyone cheered as the Marines mopped up the remains of General Kodos' forces in their crisp, clean uniforms and happy go lucky smiles. Jim lets his mind wander to all the faces he saw that day. He can't place Jack's but the record states he was there. Resentment builds as Jim remembers watching the Marines pass out candy and food to the eager kids, but the shining heroes were too late for the kids in his group. No Marine was there with canned meats and bread when Carl, Sara, Emily, and Gary died from starvation. Jim forces the memory from his mind. It was a long time ago and has no bearing on the issue at hand.
REPRIMANDS:
2251 Colonel O'Neill refused to follow the orders of his Commanding Officer.
Received 30 days in the Brig.
2252 Colonel O'Neill insubordination of his Commanding Officer.
Received 15 days in the Brig.
2254 Colonel O'Neill was relieved of duty and insubordination of his Commanding Officer.
Received 7 days in the Brig.
2258 Colonel O'Neill was relieved of duty and insubordination of his Commanding officer.
Received 21 days in the Brig.
Jim stares at the list of official reprimands marring Jack's record. A record like this typically entitles the bearer to such glorious duty stations as Delta Varga with its icy climate, the mosquitos infested world of the Jaros colony, or the Norpin colony shuttling visitors to the Star Fleet veterans in retirement. No matter how many medals and awards you accrue over the years a single insubordination reprimand singles death to your career and yet Jack is serving on one of the most coveted posts in Star Fleet. This was due to Jim or course. Yes, the reprimands disturbed him but Jim's record was far from squeaky clean. Jim's insubordination reprimands were solid calls in the line of duty. He hoped Jack's were the same and some prick like Komack just wanted to take Jack to task. Kirk spent several days tracking down each reprimand learning what exactly occurred. Even with his considerable hacking skills, the records were sealed up tight with Jim only finding out the events of 2251. When learning Jack was brigged because he refused to allow privileged adults from receiving a lifesaving inoculation over kids on Dramia II, Jim dismissed the charges. Now Jim is not so comfortable assuming the other charges were trumped up. Jack's admission of being in Section 31 and the fact he admitted to being still in contact with them concerns Jim greatly. Jim toys with the idea of demanding an explanation. If the charges are trumped up, Jack should have no issue with Jim prying into his past events regardless how embarrassing. If they aren't Jim may rethink Jack's current posting. As Jim prepares to close down and meet Kate at their quarters an email pops up in the right hand corner of the screen.
"A Proposal," Jim murmurs reading the subject line. Jim's blood runs cold as he reads it.
TO: Kirk, James T. Captain USS Enterprise
FROM: Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently: Communication systems rejected message by the server for the recipient domain
STARDATE: 2259.227
SUBJECT: A Proposal
Dear Captain Kirk,
First off I want to say I am a friend. You may not believe it, but I am. I value honesty and directness, as do you. The Jedi may be gone, but Zala Tsu was correct. Your daughter is special. She is one of us and will grow into one of the most formidable foes your galaxy has ever seen. Tell me will you stand beside her as her right hand when she rules your galaxy. Without guidance, she will be dangerous. Without guidance, she will be the vilest tyrant the galaxy has ever seen. She might be your daughter, but you know this to be true. You do not want to have to be the one to destroy her and I will not be the one to allow her to destroy the galaxy.
I propose an agreement. I will allow you to raise her. For her to grow into an adult possibly having a full life with a family and children. My price for this is to educate her. To guide her and teach her how to reach her potential. Since you are her father, I will give you the choice. Allow me to be a part of her life or watch me destroy her. One life is not worth billions and we can't take a chance that she will not turn against us.
You have one chance to respond to this. Think before you respond.
A Friend
Jim re-reads the message not twice but three times. The words 'Your daughter is special. She is one of us and will grow into one of the most formidable foes your galaxy has seen. Tell me will you stand beside her as her right hand when she rules your galaxy," cause déjà vu to freeze his mind. It is not déjà vu but Kirk's eidetic memory that links these words to a single event.. Zala Tsu spoke the same words while in his Brig, but there is no way she survived to repeat them. The ship exploded into a million fiery pieces and only Kate was beamed from the vessel. Scans showed only one life form on the ship and that was Kate. So how did her words show up in an email directed to him? "Bones, something came up. Can you have dinner with Kate," Jim says going into Captain Mode. "And eat in your quarters. I hate to ask it, but she is still grounded until tomorrow so no TV, PADD, computers, or friends. I know you can't lock her or Joanna in a closet but try to make it so they don't have any fun." Jim knows he sounds like a raving lunatic but after all their years together, he knows Bones can handle it.
"Not a problem as long as you are signing off on my medical requisitions and treatment logs," Bones teases.
The arrival of the e-mail, Kate's attempted abduction, and Jack's admission of working for Section 31 sends Jim into a knee-jerk reaction. "Yeah," Jim says absently running a systems check to find why the sender of the e-mail is not showing up in the email. "And make sure she eats something healthy. She isn't picky but hates broccoli, asparagus, and spinach." Jim rattles off watching the system come back blinking no errors found.
"Did you just tell the CMO to feed your kid something healthy for dinner," Bones asks incredulously.
"Yeah. Thanks, Bones you are a lifesaver. Be there as soon as I can. Kirk out," Jim says not caring about Bones' response.
Bones stares at the nutritional charts for Kirk, Jim and Kirk, Katherine. Kate has lost five pounds in a week. This is not surprising with the stress she is under but Kate was underweight anyways. At 75 pounds, Kate is beginning to get a pinched looked to her face. Bones laughs at Jim's meal choices. Any other time he would applaud Jim's high protein, low fat and low carb meal choices but what Kate needs now is fat. Bones decides to introduce Kate to a typical Southern style dinner.
1800 hours, two hours later, and Jim is no closer to finding who sent the message. "Uhura I need you to…what the fuck," Jim thunders seeing a new message pop into the right-hand corner of his screen with the subject "response?" glaring at him.
"Sir," Uhura looks at Spock confused. With the events over the past week, Uhura has been extra diligent with every communication transmitted to and from the ship. Today was a typical day with nothing out of the ordinary coming through her boards. "Captain," she asks questions through the comm.
Jim ignores his communication officer reading the message.
TO: Kirk, James T. Captain USS Enterprise
FROM: Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently: Communication systems rejected message by the server for the recipient domain
STARDATE: 2259.227
SUBJECT: Response?
Dear Captain Kirk,
I did not get a response to my inquiry. I do not like to be kept waiting. I figured I would get a response faster than two hours. Maybe I doubted the emotional connection to the child. Does that mean you forfeit your child? Does that mean you have accepted my offer as a teacher? I have never asked twice for an answer to a question ever. There will not be a third. I will take the action I deem necessary if I do not get a response.
A Friend
"Captain," Uhura's voice pulls him back to reality.
"Lt. is there an issue," Spock strides to her console.
"Captain on the Bridge," a voice rings out as Kirk steps from the ready room onto the bridge.
"You bet your ass there is an issue," Jim snaps walking up to Uhura's comm station. "I want a full system scan of all messages sent through internal and external systems now." Jim leans over her console watching each keystroke. It is not that he thinks Uhura could have sent the message. Uhura may fight with him, but she is as loyal as a sister is. Jim watches her to make sure he hasn't wasted the past two hours scanning the comm system over a stupid error because of his heightened emotional state. The system comes back with the same response. SYSTEMS NORMAL. Jim clenches his jaw so tightly the vein at his temples budges. Jim's breath is steady, even but loud as he works to keep his temper out of control. For the past week, his ship has been invaded, shot at, seen armed conflicts in its halls, and now hacked. This is the fucking USS Enterprise, not some ship used for cadet cruises. "Uhura, Spock, walk with me," Jim turns on his heel exiting the bridge. "Now people," Jim orders disappearing into the ready room.
Uhura rises slowly looking at Spock before following Jim. "Lt. Sulu you have the conn," Spock's crisp voice fills the Bridge as he follows Uhura and Jim.
Sulu slowly takes the chair. His mind races as he thinks about what just occurred. Rarely does Jim call a meeting with only a partial staff. Something is going down that has sent Jim into a murderous rage. There is a 50/50 shot that the people being called into the ready room are the source of his anger. The flip side is there is a 50/50 shot the source of Jim's anger lies outside the room. Taking a calming breath, Sulu prepares for the next shit storm to slam hit the Enterprise. "Get to work people," Sulu orders the faces staring at him.
READY ROOM
"At precisely 1555hours I received this communication," Jim begins before Spock's ass hits the seat displaying the first communication from "A Friend," on the room's large wall PADD. Uhura's face shows shock reading it, but Spock's face remains as placid as ever to the untrained eye.
Spock has had minimal associations with Kate simply because he has spent the length of her stay so far covering Jim's work shifts. This does not mean though that the Vulcan has not developed his own unique bond with the Captain's daughter. Spock finds the mini Jim, as he has referred to her in private to Uhura, rather perplexing. Kate, although demonstrating Jim's superior intellect, has made some of the poorest decisions imaginable. Uhura spent hours trying to explain to Spock human teenagers are notorious for making bad decisions but to no avail. "Did you investigate the possibility that Katherine sent the message herself," Spock instantly queries. "She did take over the comm systems several days ago in a most unwise prank."
Other Captain's would have flown into a rage at the notion their daughter was behind the obviously threatening message, but Jim just sinks into his seat. "That was my first thought, but Kate doesn't have the knowledge of our systems yet for such a complex hack job. Ask me six months from now my answer could be different but now no," Jim stares at the black words on the screen knowing they hold a piece of the puzzle he isn't seeing. "However, let's ask her." Jim activates his comm calling Kate to the ready room. Fifteen minutes later Kate shows up smiling. Kirk eyes the clock allowing his scowl to deepen. "What took you so long?"
"You never told me about fried chicken. Oh my god is it like tip yip which is an Endorian bird," Kate starts but is silenced by Kirk snapping his fingers pointing to a seat.
"Kate sit down. I did not bring you here to talk about dinner," Kirk says as Kate spins around in the chair. "And stop spinning," Kirk sticks out his foot from under the table stopping her. "Did you hack the Enterprise email like you did the comm system?
She looks at him like he is crazy then smiles. Do you want me to? I bet I can."
"Dammit Kate," Jim slams the table with his hand. "Why?" Although he doesn't believe it he needs Kate to think he does to force the truth from her. Kate is mouthy and blustery but caves the minute she knows Jim is serious.
Kate gets quiet seeing Jim is not joking. Her eyes look from his face to Spock's. "I didn't. I mean I am learning, but there is no need to use electronic communications on the ship. With these shirt commy things and the fact my friends are with me from when I get up to when I go to bed why would I be emailing anyone?" Kate looks at Spock's calm face. "Did you tell him I did it," she yells at Spock. "Why would you do that?" Kate looks at the XO with a hurt expression. She may not trust the crew, but Kate finds it disturbing they don't believe her when she is telling the truth.
"Hey watch your tone and tell me how you did it," Jim says authoritatively.
"I didn't touch your precious ship again," Kate squeals indignantly.
"Then why the smug expression earlier," Jim presses. "I have a monster of a headache and do not find this funny."
Kate looks down guilty at her hands. "I didn't think you would find out. It was a joke I ...I didn't want to look stupid in front of the kids when I told John I did it." Kate turns bright red. "I just figured they had already also."
"In front of the kids," Jim looks at Spock hoping someone is keeping up with the conversation.
Uhura takes the initiative. "They had what sweetheart," she says softly.
"Yes, you're losing me Kate," Jim snaps in frustration.
"It was a joke," Kate starts to tear up.
"Kate just tell me what happened," Jim says starting to think there was some conflict between the kids that none of the adults knows about. This is just one more issue to add to his perfectly shitty evening.
Kate takes a deep breath. She is a great liar and just needs to buy a few minutes to make up something viable the adults will believe. Han always told her the best lies hug the truth. "It started with you and the parent quiz."
"Parent quiz," Jim's face shows his confusion.
"Yes, the one that said you were hard ass strict parent," Kate sees Jim has no idea what she is talking about. "Remember Zelda and wearing make-up." She can't believe she has to walk him through it. Maybe lying to them will be easier than she thought.
"Yeah so what does that have to do with this," Jim steals a glance at Spock. "So I was right. You didn't do this but then what the hell are you confessing to?" Jim's mind wanders to what he could have possibly missed.
"Well we did another one and I um," Kate stutters. "Look I am not doing this she stands up. Blame me for whatever the hell you want. I don't care anymore." His crew does not need to know everything that is going on in her life. It is obvious that Jim found out she has been instant messaging John when she was supposed to be doing her homework. If he knows that then he knows about their kissing conversation. Kate hangs her head hurt. The first time she let herself go and tried to be Katie Solo it backfired. She won't make that mistake again.
"Give us five," Jim motions to the door with his head. He watches her as the room clears. Just like his daughter, Jim reads body language expertly. Kate is not angry or defiant but hurt over this incident.
"I did not mean to use your comm systems when I was grounded but it started off as a homework question," Kate says once they are alone. "I'm sorry." Jim watches Kate fidget with a stylus. "That led to the instant messaging. I thought that if I sent it anonymously it wouldn't be so weird. I mean everyone was doing it and now I realize how stupid it was. I mean he had to know it came from me even though it was from Joanna's account."
"For the record what did you send so we can clear this up," Jim leans forward into what Kate is now realizing is his caring parent pose with his arms on his knees, hands clasped, leaning slightly forward.
There is still time to salvage this situation. Jim has no idea about the illegal computer use when she was grounded or at least is distracted enough not to care. Her secret conversations about Jasmine and kissing boys are a secret. Kate comes up with a plausible scenario to cover her ass. "I sent a friend quiz to John and I proved what I know."
Jim is slightly taken aback with this statement. In his mind, there is no way it can be that type of "friend quiz" so he goes with the more logical assumption it had to be about likes and dislikes of hobbies and such. "And this quiz said what exactly," he tries to relax feeling his body tense waiting for her answer.
"That I don't fit in. That I am so different from the rest of them that I should quote 'find people that will like you for who you are' end quote. Jim, I have nothing in common with them," Kate plays the sympathy card. She knows it is a shitty thing to do, but it is a helluva lot better than telling him the quiz was about whether or not they could be boyfriend and girlfriend. It is only then that Kate notices the blackened image on the PADD lining the wall. "That's what is on the screen you darkened out right?" Kate gives him an out but wonders what the illegible words say. It is obviously the reason he is so angry right now.
"That's nothing you should be worried about," Jim shuts down the PADD noticing Kate is trying to read it. The last thing he needs is for her to find out someone is sending him secret messages about her. "It was just notes from our last staff meeting." Jim deals with the one problem that he can fix surrounding Kate tonight. "Kate, honey those online quizzes are only for fun. It's a made up test with predetermined answers based on only one or two questions. You are going to fit in fine here. I mean you rocked it out with the school projects last week. I also think you are right. Hanging with me was no fun so how about we cut the grounding thing short." Kate can't believe the sudden turn of events. She can't hold the smile back. "Just stay out of trouble until at least the weekend okay," Jim teases. "Now I have a few things to finish up so go hang with Jo until I get done. I will pick you up at Bones' quarters. Kate nods vigorously smiling. This is just another instance where Kirk has surprised her. Jim waits for her to leave. "Spock…Uhura to the ready room," Jim recalls Uhura and Spock from the Bridge. "Kate's not the hacker," he says as soon as the door closes.