Chapter Two of As the World Falls Down
Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter of As the World Falls Down.
Captain James Tiberius Kirk considered himself a connoisseur of fine looking women of all species. Lord knows that that he had had more than his fair share of them. If asked, he would state that he was an expert on the female sex – well at least as much of an expert on women as any man could be. So he was perplexed when both Scotty and Bones commented on the attractiveness of Keva Valeri as they enjoyed replicated whiskey in the Enterprise Lounge after an uneventful shift.
"Sure, she gives me the willies," Scotty admitted in his brogue, always enhanced after a few drinks, "What with all her witchy abilities and what not, but she's a blessin' to look at." Bones nodded.
"I'll drink to that." He agreed as he held up his glass. The two men clinked their glasses together as Kirk looked on, his brow furrowed.
"I don't see it." He stated. Bones quirked an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Are you crazy, man?" The doctor asked in a tone that matched his expression.
"She's too…." Kirk paused as he tried to find the right word. "Cute." He finally settled on. He nodded in agreement with himself as the explanation developed further within his mind. "She reminds me of an anthropomorphic rabbit." Bones and Scotty shared a look.
"I don't even know how to respond to that." Bones muttered after a few moments of silence. Kirk shrugged. It wasn't that Keva was ugly, he just didn't find her dull brown hair and unnerving black eyes to be particularly appealing.
"I don't find rabbits attractive." He chuckled before finishing off the last of his whiskey.
"Considering that you are a human, that is a very healthy thought, Captain." Bones grunted into his drink, Scotty began to play with something invisible on the table, and Kirk grimaced, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment as Keva appeared behind him. Composing himself, Kirk turned, somewhat stiffly, in his chair and gave the counselor what he hoped was a charming (and not guilty) smile.
"Good evening Counselor Valeri." She regarded him coolly and all hope that she hadn't heard his thoughts abandoned Kirk.
"Good evening, Captain Kirk. I apologize for interrupting, but I just wanted to notify Doctor McCoy that Ensign Yeadaker has been cleared for work and you may put him back on the rotation schedule." Bones nodded.
"Thank you. I will do just that." Keva nodded once.
"Wonderful. I shall leave you gentlemen to your festivities." Keva turned to go, but Kirk called her back. "Yes, Captain?"
"Why don't you join us?"
"Oh, I thank you for the offer, Captain, but I try to stay away from alcohol, for everyone's sake. Besides," Her lips quirked up into a small smirk. "Most rabbits aren't fond of whiskey." She nodded once more at them in good bye and left the lounge. Kirk grimaced.
"Well that was awkward." Bones muttered as Scotty nodded in grim agreement.
"I was hoping she hadn't heard that." Kirk muttered in return.
"She didn't hear it; she read it in your thoughts." Bones corrected, placing a finger to his temple for emphasis. All three men shuttered.
"I should probably go apologize." Kirk mused as he played with his empty whiskey glass. "It was kind of rude."
"You can't help your thoughts." Scotty pointed out. "They're your thoughts and you're entitled to them." Kirk nodded, though he still felt somewhat guilty. Technically, it wasn't Keva's fault that could read his thoughts either. He was also more aware of Keva's troubled time at Starfleet Academy than his fellow officers. Vice Admiral Sokalove, the supervisor of the Exobiology degree tract at Starfleet Academy, had apparently taken a personal interest in Keva and shared with Kirk some of the troubles Keva had experienced while studying at the Academy.
"I want you to be aware of her past." Sokalove had stated in her message. "So you can better appreciate who she is and what she has accomplished under stressors that we cannot begin to fathom."
To say that Keva had been bullied and abused at the Academy would be putting it mildly. While cadets were certainly on their way to becoming honored members of Starfleet, they were also still kids and acted like most kids do when presented with the freedom and experiences of college life. Keva, with her ability to read minds and emotions as well as her Betazoid frankness, was an easy target. Life had gotten easier for her after her second year, but those first years had likely left a lasting impression on Keva. And it was because of those two years that Kirk was now feeling like an ass.
"Of course," Bones interrupted Kirk's thinking, "She can't help her creepy supernatural abilities either."
"They are not supernatural abilities, Doctor." Spock commented, his sudden appearance making all three men at the table jump slightly in their seats. Bones glared at the Vulcan as he joined them.
"I hate it when you do that." He muttered, downing the rest of his drink. "Jim, need a refill?" Kirk shook his head in the negative. "Alright then, I'll be right back." Spock watched as Bones headed for the bar before turning back to Kirk and Scotty.
"I have been reading up on the people of Betazed." He announced. "They are an interesting people, if a bit more" Spock hesitated, searching for the right word. "….open with their ways."
"And by "open," he means they get married naked, guests included." Bones interjected as he returned to the table with a full glass of whiskey. Scotty snorted into his own glass in surprise. Bones held up his glass. "Cheers." He finished half the glass in one swoop.
"I admit," Spock began slowly, "That I find some of their traditions inexplicable and I am sure that, for some, their emotional honesty would be taxing. But I find their dedication to truth to be quite admirable."
"I would imagine that they can't hide much from one another." Kirk mused. "Probably doesn't make much sense to lie." The group of men all nodded in agreement. "Well, gentlemen." Kirk got to his feet. "I am turning in for the night."
"Good God man," Bones exclaimed with a shake of his head, "You're getting soft in your old age." Kirk rolled his eyes and reached out to pat his friend on the shoulder.
"Drink an extra one for me." Kirk nodded at Scotty and Spock before exiting the lounge. The late hour meant that the halls were largely deserted and Kirk was glad that he had the turbolift to himself. He was still kicking himself for his comment about Keva and he couldn't figure out why. It had been a stupid comment, barely even insulting. Still, he was embarrassed that she had overheard it and that he had been called out on it. In a way that he couldn't even begin to understand, Kirk felt as though she was disappointed in him. Or maybe he was confused within his own mind and he was actually disappointed in himself. Kirk sighed as the door to the turbolift slid open. Pushing himself away from the opposite wall, he exited and started for his quarters.
Truth was, James Tiberius Kirk was feeling unsettled and it was making him deeply uncomfortable. While the events on Altamid had helped resolve Kirk's issues with being a captain in Starfleet, they had apparently unearthed another issue within the recesses of his mind and he was still trying to process what was going on and what it meant for him. He was no longer satisfied with his one night stands or the company of any of his usual friends with benefits (a habit that most unmarried Starfleet crew members developed within their first years onboard a ship – one of Starfleet's "dirty" secrets). Kirk couldn't tell if this was a result of boredom or something deeper. It was the chance that it was something deeper that was unsettling the usually confident captain.
Entering his quarters, Kirk stopped and looked around the sparsely decorated main room. Another sigh escaped his lips. Running his hand down his face, Kirk decided he should go to bed before he drove himself crazy.
Author's Note: I'm not thrilled with this chapter, but it's laying groundwork. I apologize in advance for the delay in updating, but my muse decided to focus on my Lost Boys fic instead of this one and, well, one never can argue with a muse!
Thanks for reading!