11 Years Later
Music was blasting at a bar in the middle of the country. The bar was filled with people dressed in red outfits, cadets to Starfleet that were set to start their new semester the next day. The cadets did not know that sitting in the same bar were the famous Kirk twins. Handsome, James Kirk was sitting at the bar, scooping out the new opportunities that came with the cadets leaving for Starfleet headquarters in San Francisco from Iowa tomorrow. He was wearing a leather jacket, a t-shirt and faded jeans, his hair ruffled on top of his head. Once in awhile his eyes would travel to the dance floor not too far away, checking on his sister.
Theodora Kirk was beautiful with her blonde hair curled around her face. Wearing skinny jeans that hugged her just right, a loose off the shoulder black shirt with a black tank top underneath. Heels adorned her feet and didn't seem to hinder her in any way as she danced with a guy on the dance floor. Over the years the two had changed a lot from the two 11 year olds who were naïve and innocent to the world around them. Life had not been easy on them but the two had continued on leaning on each other in times of need.
Thea was having a good time, even debating on leaving with the guy grinding behind her, when she suddenly felt a shift. Her eyes automatically snapped to her brother to see that he was surrounded by four cadets. She watched for a moment, ready to step in if necessary. Her brother turned his back to the cadets, facing the bar, when one of the bigger cadets swung him around and punched him.
She instantly snapped into action, joining the fray right as her brother kicked the guy who punched him in the gut, sending him flying. As another went at her brother, she dodged a fist from one of the other cadets who figured out that she was going to help.
She pouted at the guy and said as she stayed just out of his reach, "What happened to chivalry?" The guy paused, clearly seeing that she was a girl and was second guessing himself. Taking his hesitation, she punched him hard with a right hook. His head snapped back before he made a move to grab her, she was prepared for him and again punched him. Another guy came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms. She growled, seeing that the guy she had punched was now grinning at her, thinking he had the upper hand. He moved to hit her when she pushed off the floor, kicking her leg out and hitting the guy in the balls, sending him to the ground.
She then flung her head back and head butted the guy holding her, instantly crushing his nose in the process. He let her go and she swung around to punch him in the face, knocking him out cold as he fell to the ground. She turned to help her brother catching him being held down as the big guy from before started to continuously punch him. She moved to stop him when suddenly a sharp whistle was heard.
Everyone looked to the doorway where a man in a captain uniform stood. Thea tilted her head, recognizing him as being Christopher Pike. All of the cadets stood at attention as Pike said, "Outside. All of you, now!" Thea smirked at the two guy's asses she had kicked as they glowered at her and walked out the door, one of them limping. Thea made her way to her brother who was still lying on the table, listening to Pike ask her brother, "Are you ok, son?"
"You can whistle really loud, you know that?" Jim asked drunkenly. Thea rolled her eyes, reaching out and pulling her brother up by the lapels of his jacket. He groaned and gave her a 'pity me' look as he slung his arm around her shoulder to lean against her.
She smirked at him, "You don't look so hot, bro," The two didn't notice Pike looking between the two with knowing eyes. A few minutes later, the bar was cleared and the three were sitting at a table, Jim with tissues up his nose to stop the blood flow and Thea holding a bag of ice to her knuckles at her brother's insistence.
"You know, I couldn't believe it when the bartender told me who you two were," Pike said, looking between the two.
"Who are we, Captain Pike?" Jim asked as he took a drink. Apparently he wasn't as drunk as Thea thought he was if he was able to recognize the good captain.
Pike watched him for a moment before looking to Thea who was in turn watching him. "Your father's children."
Thea narrowed her eyes as Jim glanced behind him and asked, "Can I get another one?"
"Make that two," Thea threw over her shoulder.
Pike knew that they were trying to ignore him, but he wasn't going to be stopped, "For my dissertation I was assigned to the U.S.S Kelvin. Something I admired about your dad, he didn't believe in no-win scenarios."
There it was the family motto as Thea and Jim liked to think of it as ever since they were eleven. Jim's eyes narrowed just a bit while Thea kept a blank face (She was the tactical of the two after all) and scoffed at Pike, "Sure learned his lesson."
"Well depends on how you define winning, you two are here aren't you?" Pike said in return, holding her eyes steadily. Thea didn't respond just taking the drink that the bartender had delivered to her and Jim, downing half of it in one gulp. Pike continued, "Though that instinct to leap without looking is natured too, and in my opinion what Starfleet has lost."
Jim chuckled, "Why are you talking to us, man?"
"Cuz I looked up both of your files while you were drooling on the floor." Pike responded. "Both of your aptitude tests are off the charts. So what is it? You two like being the only genius level repeated offender in the Midwest?"
"Maybe I love it," Jim quipped.
Pike raised an eyebrow giving a look to Thea and asking, "And you?"
No she didn't, but she wasn't going to leave her brother. So instead she said, "It has its perks,"
He wasn't buying it, she could tell as Pike gave her a narrowed eye look before saying, "Look, so your dad dies. You think you can settle for a less than ordinary life? Or do you feel like you were meant for something better? Something special? Enlist in Starfleet,"
Both Thea and Jim let out surprised laughter. "Enlist?" Jim asked.
"You guys must be way down on your recruiting quota for the month," Thea said sardonically.
Pike first focused on Jim, "Look, if you are half the man that your father was, Jim, Starfleet could use you," Then looking to Thea he said, "If you have half of the determination and stubbornness that your father had, Thea, you could be amazing. The two of you could be officers in four years. You could have your own ship in eight. You understand what the federation is, don't you? It's important; it's a peace keeping and humanitarian armada-,"
Jim cut in and said, "Are we done?"
"I'm done," Pike said after a moment. Thea was looking away from the table, not wanting them to see that Pike's words were bouncing around in her head. Pike looked at the two, "Riverside Shipyard, shuttle for new recruits leaves tomorrow, 0800."
Jim just saluted him while Thea made an uninterested noise. Pike smirked, "Your father was a captain of a starship for 12 minutes. He saved 800 lives, including your mothers and both of yours. I dare you to do better," Pike then walked out the door.
Thea stared at the door for a moment before huffing and saying, "Oh, I hate him." She knew that she and Jim were going to be at the shipyard tomorrow. Pike had said the magical words and the two were now going to have to show that they were better just to prove a point.
Jim nodded in agreement, idly playing with the small space ship shaped salt shaker.
That next morning they were indeed there. They arrived at the shuttle right before they were preparing to leave, Pike standing outside giving them a knowing smirk. They got off Jim's bike, Jim handing the keys off to one of the workers as they moved to Pike.
Jim smirked in return, "Four years? I'll do it in three,"
To outmatch him, since the two made a bet, Thea said with a grin, "I'll do it in two," Pike shook his head at the two as they made their way into the shuttle. Jim looked around the shuttle gleefully, not watching where he was going as he hit one of the bars that said low clearance. Thea laughed at him as she moved around him, ducking under the beam and looking for a seat. She gave a wink to the two guys she had fought last night, the two were staring at her and her brother gob smacked. Thea led her brother to a place to sit where there were three more seats left. She took the middle one and Jim took the one to her right.
They started to buckle in, Thea looking up when she heard her brother chuckle. She raised an eyebrow as he said to an African-American woman sitting diagonally from them, "I never did get that first name,"
The girl shook her head before looking to Thea and asking, "You know him?"
Thea snorted, "Unfortunately. He's my brother. My names Thea," The girl nodded giving her a pitying smile before they all looked when they heard a voice say, "You need a doctor,"
"I told you, I don't need a doctor. I am a doctor," A short woman was pulling a man out of the bathroom and toward the seats as she told him, "You need to get back to your seat,"
"I had one," The man replied. Thea looked him over finding him to be handsome even though he was disheveled. "I had one, in the bathroom, with no windows." The man was telling the short officer.
The man then went on to tell the officer that he was afraid of something that flies, she seemed to be done with him as she ordered him to sit down. The man scowled at her before sitting down to the left of Thea.
He started to buckle himself in, Thea getting a strong whiff of alcohol on him as he turned to her, giving her a once over and saying, "I may throw up on you,"
She gave him a look, "I may punch you in return," The man gave a small smirk at her response before looking at Jim as her brother said; "I think these things are pretty safe."
"Don't pander to me, kid, when one tiny crack in the hull and our blood boils in thirteen seconds. Solar flares might crop up, cook us in our seats and while you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian shingles, see if you're still so relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding. Space is disease and danger, wrapped in darkness and silence." The man ranted.
"Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine," Thea mumbled sarcastically.
"I hate to break this to you, but Starfleet operates in space," Jim told the man.
The man took out a flask, "Yea well got nowhere else to go. The ex-wife took the whole damn planet in the divorce. All I got left is my bones," He then took a drink from the flask before glancing at the two Kirk siblings who were staring at him in disbelief. He then offered the flask to Thea, who took it and took a long swing of what she could taste as bourbon. The man gave her an impressed look as she handed it to her brother who also took a drink.
Thea gave the man a look and said, "Thea Kirk."
Jim handed back the flask and also greeted, "Jim Kirk,"
"You two siblings?" At their nods, the man introduced, "McCoy, Leonard McCoy."
San Francisco- Three Years Later
"If it isn't my favorite sister," Thea heard as she walked up the steps to the main library. She was looking through some of her notes, since she had a final she had to take. She was almost done with her classes and would meet the bet her and Jim had set, her taking two years and him taking three. She was all finished, she just had one class left and she would be $300 dollars richer by the end of the week.
She continued up the steps, not even looking up at her brother as she simply said, "No,"
"Oh, come on! You don't even know what I was going to say." The protest came in a whining tone.
"I am not going to be there as you fail the Kobayashi Maru for the third time," She replied, she only paused when Jim grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him and Leonard.
Jim gave her a puppy dog stare, "Please, I need the best tactical officer in there with me and that's you!"
She huffed, sharing a look with Leonard who was scowling at Jim. Suddenly a devious look appeared on her face as she asked, "What's in it for me?"
Jim paused, looking her over cautiously. He knew when she had that look on her face, he was either going to be broke or humiliated. He debated for a moment then said, "What do you want?"
She smirked, "I haven't decided yet. But I'll let you know, and I'll see you bright and early tomorrow."
Jim nodded, giving a grin and said in departure to the two, "I got to study," He patted Leonard on the arm and kissed Thea on the cheek before strutting off.
"Studying my ass," Leonard mumbled. Thea grinned at him, looping her arm through his and said, "Why, Leo, you never told me you were willing to study your ass. Need any help?"
When three years ago, her saying something like that would leave him stuttering and blushing (before the two became, for lack of a better term, fuck buddies), now he grinned down at her and said, "Darlin' I will take any help you were willin' to give,"
She smiled at him, laughing softly, as he led her farther into the quad.
The next day it was time for Jim's test.
"We are receiving a distress signal from the U.S.S Kobayashi Maru. The ship has lost power and is stranded. Starfleet Command has ordered us to rescue them," Uhara said in a mockingly sweet tone to Jim.
"Starfleet Command has ordered us to rescue them, Captain," Jim corrected her as he swung the captain's chair back to face the front, missing Uhara's glare at his back.
Leonard rolled his eyes, giving a look to Thea who sat next to him. She was watching her brother with a calculating look, watching as he messed around with an apple in his hand. She could tell he was anxious; he played with food when he was as he needed to something to keep his hands idle.
"Two Klingon vessels have entered the Neutral Zone. They're locking weapons on us," Leonard reported, taping at the screens in front of him.
Jim smiled, confidant. "That's ok,"
"That's ok?" Leonard asked, turning to look at him along with Thea.
"Yea, don't worry about it," Came the calm response.
"Three more Klingon War Birds de-cloaking and targeting our ship. I don't suppose this is a problem either?" Leonard asked sarcastically.
Thea smirked as she taped away on the screens in front of her, before saying, "They're firing, Captain," the last word was laced with heavy sarcasm.
"Alert Medical Bay to receive all crew members from the damaged ship," Jim ordered.
Uhara turned to face him, "And how do you expect us to rescue them when we're surrounded by Klingon's, Captain?" Thea gave her a glare over her shoulder. Only she was allowed to be sarcastic to her brother. The two women had gotten along for the first five minutes of meeting but became enemies when Thea was put ahead of all of the other cadets after she had taken the placement exam.
Jim turned and smiled sweetly, "Alert medical," Uhara scowled and turned to follow orders.
"Our ship is being hit," Leonard said. "Shields at sixty percent."
"I understand," Jim said simply.
Thea frowned at her brother, "Shouldn't we, I don't know, fire back?" Her eyes narrowed when Jim took a big bite out of the apple in his hand.
"No," He told her.
"Of course not," Leonard growled. Suddenly the screens flickered before turning off completely. A few seconds later they flickered back on, Thea frowning at the screens in front of her.
"Hmm, arm photons, prepare to fire on the Klingon War Birds." Jim ordered, a smirk fighting to spread across his face.
Thea, seeing the changes on her screens, said with a sigh, "Yes sir,"
"Jim, they're shields are still up," Leonard told his friend.
Taking another bite out of his apple, "Are they?" Jim asked in return.
Leonard looked back and frowned, "No, they're not."
"Fire on all enemy ships," Jim ordered Thea. "One photon each should do it, no need to waste ammunition."
Shaking her head, Thea put the commands into the system, "Target locked and acquired on all War Birds. Firing,"
Everyone looked at the main view screen and watched as the photons launched and hit each Klingon vessel, destroying them instantly. "All ships destroyed, Captain," Thea reported. She looked over to Leonard, giving him a look that told him all he needed to know. Jim had somehow hacked the system and cheated.
"Begin rescue of the stranded crew," Jim said, standing up as he continued, "So, we've managed to eliminate all enemy ships, no one on board was injured, and the successful rescue of the Kobayashi Maru crew is underway," He then took another large bit of the apple.
Later, as they all made their way to the auditorium for a sudden assembly, Thea saddled up to her brother, hitting him on the back of the head as they walked into the auditorium. "I can't believe you, are you crazy?"
He simply gave her a look, "Please, like it doesn't bother you that no one has passed that test."
"It's not meant to be passed. It's supposed to help you know how you would react under pressure and an unbeatable outcome. An outcome that has no other way out,"
"No such thing-,"
Thea cut him off, "As a no win scenario. I know, Jim. But that's our motto, not Starfleet's."
"Well maybe it should be," He then continued on, leaving her shaking her head at him. Leonard came up to her, pressing a hand to the small of her back to lead her toward where her brother had sat. Once everyone had taken a seat, the Admiral's had come in and taken their seats next.
The Academy President is the first to speak, "This session has been called to resolve a troubling matter. James T. Kirk, step forward." Thea's head snaps to her brother sitting next to her. He gulps and stands, glancing at her concerned face before heading down to stand at one of the podiums in the front.
"Cadet Kirk, evidence has been submitted to this council suggesting that you violated the ethical code of conduct pursuant to regulation 17.43 of the Starfleet Code." The president stated. "Is there anything you would care to say before we begin, sir?"
Jim's mind was clearly whirling as he paused then said, "Yes, I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly," Everyone looked as a Vulcan stood up, straightening his shirt, before going to the other podium.
"This is Commander Spock. He is one of our distinguished graduates," The president remarked. Thea cursed lowly, the man was a Vulcan and would run circles around her brother with all the logic that he would use. "He's programmed the Kobayashi Maru exam for the last four years. Commander,"
"Cadet Kirk," Commander Spock started, "You somehow managed to install and activate a sub-routine in the programming code, thereby changing the conditions of the test."
"Your point being?" Jim asked dismissively.
"In academic vernacular: you cheated." The president said sternly. Thea shook her head, leaning over to whisper to Leonard, "He's so screwed, they're not going to listen to anything he says after they said he cheated," Leonard just squeezed her leg in a way to reassure her, both looking to the front as Jim started up his defense.
"Let me ask you something, I think we all know the answer to. The test itself is a cheat, isn't it? I mean you programmed it to be un-winnable."
"Your argument precludes the possibility of a no win scenario," Spock responded.
Jim smiled charmingly at the Academy board, "I don't believe in no-win scenarios."
"Then not only did you violate the rules, you also failed to understand the principal lesson,"
God, he swore if the next words out of the Vulcan's mouth were word-for-word what his sister said, he was never going to live it down. "Please, enlighten me,"
"You of all people should know, Cadet Kirk," Thea tensed, hoping the Vulcan wasn't going to say what she thought he was going to say. "A captain cannot cheat death," A rumble went throughout the room. Thea clenched her hands around her armrests, Leonard's hand coming up to envelope hers.
Jim looked down for a moment before saying, "I of all people?"
"Your father. Lieutenant George Kirk assumed command of his vessel before being killed in action, did he not?"
Jim automatically tried to deflect, something ingrained into the Kirk twins since before they could remember, "I don't think you like the fact that I beat your test."
"Further more you have failed to divine the purpose of the test,"
"Enlighten me again,"
"The purpose is to experience fear. Fear in the face of certain death. To accept that fear and maintain control of one's self and ones crew, this is a quality expected in every Starfleet Captain." Jim shifted, glancing behind him at his sister and Bones. Like Jim expected, Thea was staring hard at the Vulcan, clearly fighting the urge to jump up and attack. Feeling his glance, she looked at him and as their eyes connected she raised a questioning eyebrow.
He sighed and gave a small shake of his head to her silent offer of help. He didn't want to drag her down with him; he knew how much she enjoyed being here at the Academy. How excited she was to soon be in space and exploring freely.
Spock noticed the exchange between Cadet Kirk and the blonde with bright blue eyes. He found himself mildly curious as to what the two were silently communicating to the other. The two were an odd match. Cadet Kirk being arrogant and brash, while the blonde kept a continuous neutral expression, the only sign of any emotions was by the tightening of her jaw, the skin tensing at the corner of her eyes, and her hands tightly grasping her armrests.
The silence in the room was ended when a cadet said, having silently come into the room a few moments before, to the Academy President, "Excuse me, sir." The man simply handed the Admiral a PADD. The man silently reads it as the room is once again filled with murmuring voices.
The president looks up, his face concerned as he says, "We've received a distress call from Vulcan,"
Thea glanced to Spock and thought she caught the slightest hint of fear and concern, but a moment later the Vulcan's face was as blank as ever. She focused back on the President as he continued, "With our primary fleet engaged in the Laurentian system, I hereby order all cadets to report to Hanger 1 immediately. Dismissed,"
Everyone stood up and started to leave, Thea and Bones heading down to Jim, all three watching the Vulcan leave without looking back. Bones gave Jim a pat on the back in a semblance of reassurance as Jim said, "Who was that pointy-eared bastard?"
"Clearly a Vulcan who likes to play dirty," Thea responded, sounding almost admired.
Jim gave her a narrowed-eyed look as Bones broke in what looked to be a heated argument between the siblings with a teasing comment, "I don't know. But I like him," Jim turned his look onto his best friend as said best friend led Thea out of the room with Jim following sullenly.
A few moments later, after splitting with Bones and Jim, Thea found herself in formation with her best friend Gaila to her right and behind her friend was Uhara. Although her brother had a fling with Gaila, Thea found the girl to be a perfect match to Thea's sometimes silent, brooding moods. They were roommates their first year and became fast friends, constantly helping each other whether it was academia or relationship related.
Thea listened for her name carefully, standing up taller when she heard, "Kirk, Theodora-USS Enterprise." Thea fought a gasp, feeling Gaila reach over and squeeze her hand in excitement. The Orion knew that Thea had her hopes set on becoming the Chief Tactical Officer on the fleet's finest starship-The Enterprise. And it looked like her dreams were starting to come true, she was having her first mission in space on the ship she and Jim used to go and watch be built at the Riverside Shipyard.
Thea tuned back in when she heard the Lieutenant that was handing out assignments say, "Go to your stations and good luck," Gaila turned to Thea, hugging her tightly and squealing, "Congratulations! Remember, relax and don't be so Ice Queen! You'll be great!"
Thea laughed softly, "I am not an Ice Queen! People just get insulted easily, good luck. And be careful," The two pulled apart, giving each other wide smiles before turning to head in opposite directions toward their assigned space shuttle.
Gaila paused though when she caught sight of Uhara glaring after the blonde, jealousy burning in her eyes. Uhara was always so put out at how easy Thea seemed to go through every task set before her. Getting perfect grades, charming her teachers, hell-the girl was going to be the first to go through the academy in two years!-Theodora Kirk was perfect in everything except when it came to relationships it seems. She wasn't as bad as her brother where he slept with anything that had boobs and a pulse, rumors around the school was that while she didn't have one night stands, she was very picky on who she dated. Almost prudish were some of the worst rumors, that and a slut when it came to being in the sack.
Gaila shook off her thoughts, giving Uhara a small smile when the African-American woman looked to her. Uhara just frowned and turned, stomping off somewhere. The Orion woman sighed, continuing on her way to her shuttle, thinking that when they all got back she was so going to lock Uhara and Thea in a closet together. Hopefully the two would come out friends and not kill each other.
