Disclaimer
I'm not making a cent from this story.
Kirk, McCoy, Thelin, Arex and M'Ress all belong to Star Trek.
The name U.S.S. Saratoga is from Neferit's story, but everything about the ship's class/design I made up!

Acknowledgment
Those of you who have read Neferit's works may have come across her 'This is the End' trilogy.
In it Kirk is raped during shore leave. Instead of supporting him his crew, with the exception of Dr. McCoy,
assumes that he was just fooling around and basically turn their backs on him. This betrayal, added to
the already devastating trauma of the rape, leads Kirk to step down as Captain of the Enterprise.
Several months later he accepts command of a different ship, the USS Saratoga.

When I read the series I was fascinated with the entire premise because it opened up a whole universe
of new stories and possibilities. This story is my take on Kirk in his new command. I've written it with
Neferit's kind permission.

Notes
Other stories in this universe are, in chronological order:
Dreams to Nightmares
Prologue
Chastise
A New Start
A New Season
Amethyst Skies
Parallels
Newest Crewmember
Final Flight
Unforgiven

Request
If you fave or follow please leave feedback! I live for it!
GOD bless
John 3:16

Captain's Log
Stardate 2261.5.1

The Saratoga has arrived at the Tymle Cluster, a large open star cluster containing mostly B (Blue)
or A(white) type stars. We'll be spending most of our time on the edge of the cluster, we've discovered
an A type star system with two planets, both of which share an orbit around a common barycenter.
We've named them Gemini I and Gemini II. Both planets are moonless, although Gemini II has a ring
around it, indicating that it did have a moon at one point. Gemini I is P class and completely covered
with snow and ice. Gemini II is also covered in snow but M class and both filled with all manner of
life forms.

We're scheduled to be here for two weeks and I predict that all of our departments will enjoy the assignment.

James T. Kirk

5/4/2261
Alyen and L'Naym's quarters
1:23 AM

Alyen awoke from a deep sleep to find his lifemate moving gently against him, preparing to withdraw from
their bed. He stirred and reached after her, curious as to whether she was slipping away to visit the fresher,
or whether she was heading for their desk to look something up on the computer or to pick up a PADD,
something she had been doing a lot lately.

For the past three days the entire ship had been busy. Shuttle missions had been sent out everyday
to study different areas of the cluster and everyday away-teams had been sent down to both of
the Gemini planets. The different Departments were all having a field day with the new data being
collected and the Botanical Department was no exception. Although Gemini II was cold and covered
in ice and snow, there was still plenty of both animal and plant-life to study and catalogue. And from
someone born and raised on a desert world, every expedition had been filled with wonder.

"Where are y—" Alyen started to ask as he looked into his lifemate's face. The room was dark, but there was
enough light see as their eyes met.

It struck.

The Mating.

L'Naym's eyes widened with shock and Alyen knew that his own expression was just as stunned.

But then she smiled at him and slipped back under their blankets and he embraced her eagerly. The demands
of the Mating were immediate- already they could both feel the burning, the longing- and neither of them had
any desire to resist it.

The Joined Souls joyfully embraced.
Two bodies became one.
Two Souls became one…
To give life to a Third.

Later

The lifemates lay together in silence, exhausted but filled with wonder and anticipation.

Alyen lay with his eyes closed, simply holding his beloved close, soaking in what they had experienced.
At length, he felt her stir, and the touch of her fingertips tracing his face.

*Don't move.* Her large sea-green eyes were filled with tears of joy. *Let me fix this moment forever.*

Alyen's smile betrayed him. *Shylea,* He flooded her with his love for her and his joy

He stroked her belly, knowing that a child had just been sparked inside her.

Their child.

The joy he felt was almost a physical weight.

A child. He and Shylea were going to be parents. They would be bringing a child into the world.