AUTHOR'S NOTE:
It's been quite a while since I've written any fan fiction, but inspiration struck with Star Trek Beyond. I absolutely adore the latest installment and really appreciate how they've allowed Kirk's character to evolve. Because I'm a sucker for the romantic stuff in fan fiction, this story will involve Kirk and Uhura being romantically linked. I never saw that coming, but the maturation of Kirk's character has a lot to do with it. And because I'm lovin' me some Chris Pine right now. For me, Hell or High Water is the movie of the year.
That being said, I don't want to see Uhura and Kirk become a couple on the big screen, because I still love the Uhura and Spock match. The beauty of fan fiction is that it allows for the exploration of all kinds of alternatives. This story assumes Uhura and Spock were never a couple. In fact, Spock won't play a role in this story because the goofy, illogical part of me wants to avoid any blurred lines. In other words, I don't trust that I won't be influenced by my appreciation of the Uhura/Spock dynamic.
I do not own Star Trek or any of the characters.
CHAPTER ONE
James Tiberius Kirk loved being a starship captain. The adrenaline rush was like no other. He thrived in situations that would cause countless others to buckle under the pressure and blossomed when others expected, and even desired, to see him wilt. He laughed when the more rationale response would be tears. He lived in spite of death continually nipping at his heels. No one had logged more time in The Enterprise's med bay than her fearless leader. The tally of scars was increasing at an alarming rate, aging his rugged frame beyond its years, but that didn't bother him. As he so eloquently and frequently reminded his attending physician, Leonard McCoy, "chicks dig scars." So, yes, James Tiberius Kirk loved being a starship captain.
What Captain Kirk categorically did not love was being a glorified babysitter. Yet this was the position in which he found himself, leaning against a rock hard and stone cold pillar in the shuttle bay. His arms were crossed tightly against his chest, broadcasting his displeasure to all those within line of sight. He tried as best he could to linger in the shadows to mitigate the effect his current attitude may have on his crew—particularly the younger women and men who had not yet become jaded by such assignments.
"Captain?"
Hearing the voice of his Communications Officer brought Kirk to attention. His slouch was immediately replaced by a tall, firm stance, hands gripped tightly behind his back.
"Ah! Lieutenant Uhura. Fancy meeting you here," he offered in a light tone that was in direct contrast to his visage.
She smiled sweetly at his attempted levity. She knew her captain well enough to know that he would rather be anywhere else than the shuttle bay waiting for the arrival of an Ambassador's liaison from out of whatever quadrant of the galaxy he or she decided to roll.
"You know, you really don't have to wait here. I'd be more than happy to bring our guest to your quarters," she suggested.
He shot her a look that said he was seriously considering her offer, but he quickly waved away the notion.
"Thank you, but no. What better way to improve my diplomatic skills?" he replied with a hint of jest.
"I appreciate you being here, by the way," he continued. "Seeing how you're the only one on the ship who can speak Kh'ytonian that means you're the only one standing between us and an interstellar incident."
"Are you saying the Kirk charm doesn't transcend language barriers," she asked in feigned shock.
"You and I know for a fact it doesn't," he retorted with a playful side-eye glance.
Truth be told, Kirk wanted to be the first to greet their guest because he felt a need to look into the eyes of anyone entering the sanctum of his ship. So much could be gleaned from looking into someone's eyes. True intentions, fears, thoughts of ill will—if something was off, he knew the eyes would tell the story, regardless of species. For all of his perceived shortcomings, it could never be denied that Kirk vigorously maintained guardianship of The Enterprise. Having already suffered several invasions—both overt and covert—he was determined to do everything in his power to ward off future attacks.
Behind the protective glass barrier, Kirk and Uhura watched the bay doors slowly open, heralding the arrival of their honored guest. Why the liaison needed to hitch a ride on The Enterprise still baffled her captain, but he decided this was not a battle worth fighting.
"Captain, may I offer a suggestion?"
"Of course, Lieutenant," he said, swiveling his neck to meet her gaze.
"Lose the scowl. It's not your best look."
He simply stared at her for few moments before allowing a hushed, 'humph,' to escape his lips.
Uhura broke out into a toothy grin as her eyes gently rolled the top of her head. Instead of being disheartened by her captain's response, she dug her index fingers into both cheeks and gave them a playful twist.
"Smile!" she commanded her superior officer.
When he still wouldn't relent (purely due to stubbornness and not any offence at being given orders by a lieutenant) she pulled out the big guns to force her friend to acquiesce. She did what any brilliant, strong-willed woman would have done in her position. She stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. Mission accomplished.
Kirk could not contain his laughter as the deep ridges in his brow dissipated.
"Ok, ok. I'll smile," he capitulated.
"Much better. Now this is the Captain Kirk everyone should meet for the first time."
As Uhura turned her attention once again to the shuttle bay doors, Kirk lingered just a bit longer on her profile. He was thankful for their friendship and the ease with which they now interacted. It took them a while to get to this point. That fateful night at his go-to dive bar was by no means his shining moment with neither the fairer sex nor the not-so-fair sex, as the faint scar on his hairline could attest. Thankfully, they were able to overcome that less than ideal introduction, which had been tainted by emotional trauma he'd sustained only several days before. Kirk knew that he had more than his fair share of second chances, and the one Uhura gave to him was at the top of his list of those most appreciated. Kirk also knew that her respect for him was not simply because he was the captain and she had ambitions and high expectations for what her future held with Starfleet.
Uhura came to realize that Kirk was complex, despite the unfortunate habit of presenting himself as a unidimensional playboy to the outside world, whose success could only be chalked up to dumb luck and a killer smile. The only thing that matched his bravery was his vulnerability and she recognized that once she took the time to look beyond the surface. The bravado and machismo, more times than not, were his armor of choice to shield past wounds that hadn't completely healed. She had broken the code of Kirk. She knew she had. He knew she had. For that, he adored her for not pitying him, and more importantly, for not viewing him as a broken man.
The shuttle finally made its way completely into the bay and deftly rested on the tarmac as the area was once again sealed from the vacuity of space. The shuttle door swung open and a figure covered completely in an oversized hooded robe descended from the small vessel. Something wasn't right and Kirk knew it as soon as the liaison took a few steps away from the shuttle.
"Uhura."
"Yeah," she distractedly responded as she continued to look down at the PADD displaying the day's agenda.
"Does something seem off to you about that Kh'ytonian? I mean, besides the whole Jedi knight get up."
"Um … yeah. I don't think I've seen a Kh'ytonian that small before. And I can't imagine a juvenile would be an Ambassador's liaison."
"She looks humanoid," Kirk surmised.
"She?"
"At least judging by the gait," he offered as explanation.
The name they had been given for the liaison, Teemun Raknni'i, gave no clue as to whether he/she was male or female. Uhura ascertained it was not a standard moniker for the Kh'ytonians as he hadn't been able to find any other instances of its use during her research.
Teemun Raknni'i walked as if not one iota of time could be spared during this mission. There was an aggression in her movement that put Kirk ill at ease.
Looking back at his security detail, he instructed, "Make sure your phasers are set to stun. Don't draw your weapons yet, but be prepared if I give the order."
"Yes, Captain," the two security officers chimed in unison.
Uhura sat her PADD down on a nearby desk so she would be unhindered in case the need arose to employ her myriad skills in the martial arts. Kirk took note of her preparation and allowed the tiniest hint of a half-smile to invade his lips. She was the best at reading a situation and he loved that she rarely needed to be told what to do next. Captain Uhura had a nice ring to it if she so desired such advancement in the future, he mused.
The parties progressed towards one another and when Teemun had gotten to within 20 yards of Kirk and Uhura, her movement came to an abrupt halt. The hood on her dark robe veiled her eyes in pitch black, while only the hint of her nose, mouth, and chin peeked through.
"Definitely not Kh'ytonian," Uhura offered.
The smirk on Teemun's lips let them know that the statement had made its way to her ears.
"No," she replied with humor in her tone. Moving the hood slowly away from her face, she continued, "Just your standard-issue Earthling."
As the hood fell around her shoulders, Kirk's eyes went from an untrusting squint, to being as big as saucers.
"Oh my God," was the only response he could conjure.
Closing the gap between him and the liaison as quickly as he could, he grabbed the woman into his arms and swung her body in a semi-circle like a ragdoll. The two held each other for a long time as she tightly encompassed his shoulders and dropped her face into the crook of his neck. Inhaling deeply, she allowed his natural scent to transport her back to a much simpler and less perilous time.
A confused Uhura picked up her PADD and made her way over to the duo, trying her best not to disturb their reunion. Kirk finally returned his dear, long-lost friend to the ground, but words still escaped them both. Teemun's lower lip quivered as they both struggled to prevent the tears that welled in their eyes from falling.
Reaching up and wiping a traitorous droplet away from Kirk's cheek, Teemun finally broke the silence with, "It's good to see you too, Corn Bred."
Kirk gave a sigh at hearing the childhood nickname that she had attached to him so many years ago.
He gave a shy look at Uhura before responding, "Oh, come on." He motioned with his hands towards the lieutenant as if to ask Teemun, 'can we be a bit more formal in front of my crew?'
"Oops, I'm sorry. Captain Corn Bred," Teemun playfully needled.
Uhura could not restrain the snicker that escaped her lips as Kirk looked over at her with knitted brow. Uhura wasn't eager to discover if she'd crossed a line, so she quickly extended her hand to Teemun and introduced herself.
"Hello, Ms. Raknni'i. I'm Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. Welcome to The Enterprise," she smiled warmly.
"Thank you," she replied, gripping the lieutenant's hand firmly in her own.
In a hushed tone that only the three of them could hear, she continued, "I'm sure you've figured that my name isn't really Teemun Raknni'i since I'm not really Kh'ytonian and James didn't recognize the alias. But we'll get to the explanations a little later."
Teemun studied the lieutenant and had surmised that James T. Kirk, who wasn't shy about chasing anything in a skirt, may actually have a "type." Strangers seeing the two women may have thought they were related in some way. Similar skin tone, facial features, and body structure, although Teemun was a couple of inches shorter than Uhura and had more defined muscle tone. Teemun had long since gone to a pixie cut, but the last time she had seen James, her hair was a cascade of chestnut, much like Uhura's, albeit with a bit more wave.
Surreptitiously handing Kirk a portable communications device, Teemun took a much more serious tone as she said, "This will start to explain why I'm really here. Gather your most trusted officers and let's plan on meeting someplace private. The fewer, the better."
"Sure thing," Kirk said, looking at the small device in his hand. "I'll take you to your quarters so you can get some rest before we meet."
Looking up at Uhura, he proceeded to direct, "Dismissed, lieutenant."
"Yes, Captain," Uhura complied. Curiosity gnawed at her, but she knew it was neither the time nor the place to solicit answers to the growing tally of questions piling up in her head. An unexpected twinge shot through her as she witnessed the familiarity exhibited between the two friends. She couldn't help but speculate if "friend" was too mild a term to define what they shared.
"It was nice meeting you, Lieutenant. I'll see you a bit later," her doppelganger offered, as no one had to tell her that Uhura fell into the category of Kirk's most trusted. She had witnessed how the two interacted with one another while looking out the window of the shuttle as it pulled into The Enterprise.
Making their way out of the shuttle bay, Uhura turned left while Kirk and "Teemun" veered right. Looking back at the retreating lieutenant, she asked, "What's the story with you and Uhura?"
"Hmm?" he distractedly grunted, still staring at the object she handed to him.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"What? No!" he responded, finally looking up at her. "She's a good friend, but not my girlfriend."
"Well, she wants to be."
"What in the world are you talking about?"
"Something you'll never fully understand."
"Good Lord. Is this the whole women's intuition thing again?"
"Scoff all you want, but I picked up the tiniest hint of disappointment when she saw us hugging."
"I know you like your jokes, so that's what I'm going to consider this to be, and just leave it at that."
"Ok, fine. Whatever makes you feel better."
It had been too long since they had engaged in such banter. Teemun and Kirk both offered a wry smile at the ease with which they resumed such verbal tussles. Both knew it probably wouldn't be the last before she left.
Walking arm-in-arm through the brightly lit corridors of the ship, Teemun rested her head against Kirk's bicep, which had grown more solid and unyielding since the last time she'd found herself in this position. They ambled slowly to their destination, for which she was grateful. Thankful to finally be in the presence of the only one she completely trusted with her life—enough so that she allowed her eyes to close, confident that he would lead her to a safe haven.
"So, are you going to enlighten me on your name change?" he finally asked.
"I will," she said with a weary sigh. "But I'd rather do that in a more secure location," she offered, fluttering her eyes open.
"Fair enough," he conceded.
After passing several members of his crew and noticing the warm greetings mingled with mild confusion at the stranger latched to his arm, she hesitatingly asked, "Should I let go?"
"Absolutely not," he quickly answered. "Besides, they know I'm not big on formality."
Teemun giggled softly, happy that she would be able to feel his warmth for a little while longer. 'You can take the boy out of Iowa …,' she silently reflected.
"I've missed you," Kirk's voice gently rumbled as he kissed the top of her head.
Gratifying warmth coursed through her body at his declaration. They continued on in silence, entering the turbo lift that delivered them to the deck housing the officers' quarters. As they stood outside the cabin that would become her base of operations for the next several days, she released his arm only to interweave her hand with his.
"I'm just at the end of the hall if you need anything," he said pointing to the door of his cabin. "One of the yeomen will have your things brought up. Get a few hours rest and we'll regroup in my quarters after my shift. In the meantime, I'll review this," he said waving the small device that he'd been studying ever since she laid it in his hands.
Teemun raised both hands, gently cradling his jaw, unimpeded by the assault of short bristles tickling her soft palms. She lifted herself on the tips of her toes and planted a soft kiss that caught the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, James," she whispered.
Kirk wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body close to his own. His lips rested on her forehead for several beats before he broke the connection with a delicate peck. "I'll see you in a bit," he said, hesitant to pull away, but bound by duty to do so.
He avoided looking her in the eye as he broke their connection because he was in no mood to test how successful he would be in maintaining his resolve to step away. Consequently, in breaking his self-imposed rule and not observing the eyes of The Enterprise's newest visitor, he missed the opportunity to surmise that something, indeed, was not quite right.
