Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek, nor do I make any money off this fan fiction.
Summary: Kirk and Chekov are stranded on an inhospitable planet fighting to make it back alive.
This idea came to me out of the blue, Ramoth just couldn't let me have a night without writing lol
Blink of an Eye
Responsibility for the lives of the crew sat heavily on Captain Kirk's shoulders. In a matter of mere moments, he had gone from having only himself to having over eight hundred lives dependant upon him. Of course like all things, Jim Kirk was the only man in the Federation that could adapt so quickly. Admiral Pike had not lied when he said Star Fleet needed more men like Jim, he just had not known the depths of that need at the time. He had made his decision to accept Pike's challenge in a blink of an eye.
Away Missions were not Jim's forte, though the put forth a great effort. Every time a crew member was lost because some alien culture held no regard for Star Fleet personnel, Jim contacted the family himself. The Admiralty said it was his captaincy that had matured Jim, but the truth was the sobering communications with family members that had lost their only child or a parent had opened his eyes to the world around him. His life may have not been the best, but he still drew breath and it could be taken from him in the blink of an eye. He had a duty to the men and women under his command, to protect them as long as he was able.
Jim slammed his head back into the rock behind him. He and Pavel Chekov had beamed down to the planet two hours pervious on a whim. Pavel had wanted to study the geological fluctuations and Jim was bored orbiting a non-inhabited planet. So, they had beamed down with a smile leaving Sulu and Spock in charge. Of course once they had gotten on the surface, this planet was not what it had seemed. Hurricane-force winds howled, lightening struck constantly, volcanoes were erupting and earthquakes shook the ground with such force it had knocked both men down.
Pavel's forehead was creased with worry. "Keptin, Iz zere zomezing ve can do?" He wrung his hands.
Jim's bright blue eyes sprang open, searching his companion's face. "Nah, Pav, Scotty will have us back up in no time. Surely by now, Spock has realized that we haven't communicated and they will start searching for our life signs." Jim said it with such convection, he almost believed it himself.
Pavel nodded, not asking any further questions. The kid was a genius, he would surely be able to calculate the hazards the environment posed to the transporter, a shuttle or even the probes. They had no water, no food and no way to communicate with their ship. Everything they had beamed down with had been swallowed by the fissure that opened up underfoot as soon as they touched down, save one baldy crushed communicator. They had barely escaped with their lives.
Jim could see Pavel's large eyes begin to dim; the kid had pieced together their distressing situation. Jim had to keep the navigator's mind off the grim circumstances. "So, Pavel, why don't you tell me something about you? Think of it as one of those team building exercises. Try to come up with something I don't already know." He winked before turning back to the electronic beacon in his hands attempting to resuscitate it enough to send a distress call.
If Pavel knew this was just an attempt to divert his attention, he sure didn't show it. Getting comfortable, or as close to comfortable as the ground and the boulder they were hiding from the wind behind allowed, Pavel licked his lips. "Zomezing you don't know…" He scratched his curly head. "I know! I kin burp ze alphabet in Russian." He smiled proudly.
While Jim had not meant to truly engage in the conversation, just add an 'mm-hmm' when needed, that answer took him by surprise. He couldn't hold in the laughter. "Really?" The younger man nodded enthusiastically. "That's defiantly something I didn't know." Jim sighed, calculations were running wild through his head.
Pavel blinked at Jim, as if assessing the Captain's worry. "It's your turn." He gently turned the challenge back on the blonde.
Shocked to have his own game turned against him, Jim took a deep breath. "Alright." Thoughts of ion fluctuations and wind sheer, changed to trying to find something happy enough to share so he wouldn't burden the poor boy more. "I write poetry." Jim was blushing as the blurted words left his mouth.
Pavel's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. "Really?" James T. Kirk wrote with words that rhymed?
Jim shrugged. "It's a past time." He had not felt this uncomfortable in years. He made a mental note not to ever share that information with anyone ever again.
Pavel nodded. "I zink it iz vonderful. Poetry iz wery beautiful. I am sure yours iz the best." He smiled.
Once more Jim was amazed by this young man. He had expected an awkward silence or a clearing of the throat to mask the laugh, but Pavel, through his innocent view on life, thought it was wonderful. "Thanks. I may let you read it one day." Jim smiled.
Without warning the ground around them began to shake. Jim jumped up clutching Pavel's arm. "We've got to get away from here." He shoved the boy in the direction opposite the boulder.
'Captain Kirk do you read me?' Spock's voice was barely discernable through the static.
"Yes! Spock, get us out of here!" Jim screamed into the communicator pushing Pavel faster. They were running into the wind barely making any headway.
Spock answer was barely audible. 'We can only beam you up one at a time.'
Before Jim could answer the earth beneath their feet, began to shift. Leaving no time for the humans to move aside, the giant slab of rock shot sky wards with the men clinging to the edge. Thinking no further than watching Pavel struggle, Jim replied. "Spock get Chekov up there now!" Jim grunted with effort as he ordered the command and clung on for dear life. "Pavel, get back to the ship, tell them what is happening and then get me back on board my Enterprise." Jim could see the panic rising in Pavel's face.
The boy could merely nod as the white light of the transporter engulfed him. The last thing Pavel saw on the surface of that hellish planet was Jim's grip on the rock slip.
A/N: Thanks for reading.
You want me to continue? Hit the review button ;)