Title: The Love Game
Chapter: (1) Confrontation
Pair: Reboot: Spock/Kirk
Rating: T
Confrontation
Stunned, the group of instructors turned to face each other. Most eyes fell on Commander Spock.
"How the hell did that kid beat your test?"
The commander was stunned, "I do not know." He watched the young cadet from the simulation control room with fascination. James T. Kirk's face rested in a smug grin as he took a bow for his fellow classmates. His arrogance made Spock uncomfortable. There was no logic to such a display; the test was not beaten admirably. On the contrary, by changing the conditions of the test, the cadet had failed to understand the lesson taught by the Kobayashi Maru. This blatant disrespect for the test and its creation would be taken in front of the Academy Council.
Kirk sat in the auditorium awaiting his name to be called. He knew what he would say. He would not allow the circumstances of the test to impede his ambition to one day captain a ship in Starfleet.
The name 'Cadet Kirk, James T.' was called. McCoy looked up as his friend stood and marched toward the podium. He feared for Kirk's fate in Starfleet. The Kobayashi Maru was taken seriously by the Academy council and its student body. He doubted anyone would take Jim's side against the council, no matter how harsh their decision for the brazen cadet was.
"I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly," Kirk began calmly. He scanned the crowd for the man referred to as Commander Spock. The council informed the audience that the commander had been programming the Kobayashi Maru for years. This Spock was a respected and brilliant man.
Kirk saw immediately that the Vulcan was not pleased with his reprogramming. Instead of apologizing, however, Kirk insisted that the commander had developed the game as a 'cheat.' As it was a construct of situations in which the student could never win or pass, Kirk maintained that the Kobayashi Maru was unrealistic and unfair.
Commander Spock was taken aback by what the cadet implied. Wasn't this the same Kirk whose father faced a no-win situation and ultimately died? How could he be so ignorant of the lesson his father taught all of Starfleet? Spock tried to appeal to Kirk's logic, assuming the cadet had any, by bringing to his attention the underlying lesson taught by the Kobayashi Maru.
At the mention of George Kirk, the cadet visibly stiffened. Spock watched the face of the young human as it flushed red, indicating anger and embarrassment.
Neither of them had the opportunity to fight their point further. An alarm sounded over the speakers as the entire Starfleet was called to report to the hangar. The Vulcan planet was in trouble.
As the auditorium emptied in a rush of officers and their cadets, Jim Kirk hung back. Staring after the Vulcan, he asked of his friend, "Who was that pointy-eared bastard?"
McCoy smiled from his place beside Kirk, "I don't know, but I like him."
Kirk frowned. McCoy didn't like anyone. What appealed to him about this stoic instructor? "Really," he waited for McCoy to continue.
"No offense, Jim," he sighed, "He's got balls, man. He's the kind of guy that won't take your shit. I like it."
"Hmm," Kirk made a face as they made their way around the podium and toward the door.
Kirk and McCoy stood among the swarm of cadets awaiting assignment to a starship. As the last name was called, the group dispersed leaving Kirk in frustration. "Commander!" He ran after the man in charge of reading off assignments, "You didn't call my name. Cadet Kirk, James T."
"Cadet Kirk, you are suspended from Starfleet activity until the ruling at Council." He informed, "I am sorry, but you're grounded." The commander turned and walked away from the cadet without as much as a backward glance.
"Grounded!" Kirk shouted after the man. "Bones!" He turned to his friend, wide-eyed as the realization struck home. "Grounded?"
"I'm sorry, Jim." McCoy gave his friend an encouraging pat on the shoulder that did not change the situation.
Kirk watched as the doctor turned away and made for the Enterprise. He threw his hands into the air in defeat. This was not the way to rising through the ranks to Captain.
McCoy felt compassion for his friend and though he did not support Kirk's reprogramming of the Kobayashi Maru, he did not feel it was right to ground the cadet. As the distance between he and his friend grew, McCoy's stomach twisted into a knot. He could not leave Kirk grounded. The young man was a brilliant student committed to Starfleet. He felt Kirk belonged on a ship and came up with a plan to smuggle him onto the Enterprise.
A/N: Ok, so next chapter they will be on the ship. No slash in this chapter, unfortunately. The chapter is so short, but length doesn't bother me as much as rehashing the movie does. I think that is why I love club fics. Oh well. Let's see where the next chapter takes us.