Thank you for the feed back, I apologize for the spelling mistakes. I know how grating that can be.


He ran his thumb across the picture on the screen in a gesture of deep concentration. Then he brought his hand to his face, bridging his nose and chin with his forefinger. The lights were subdued in his vast office, all screens and monitors off except one and he was alone. His staff knew not to bother him for the first hour of every day. The complexity of the Earth and its position in a growing universe demanded careful thought. He knew how easy it was to jump to wrong minded conclusions. He practiced system 2 thinking. He had studied the seminal research of Daniel Kahneman. He had a good working knowledge of Kolinahr. Although of the latter, he found while the tools of mental discipline were exemplary, the philosophy was dangerous. Vulcan was gone; what more proof did you need of the foolishness of Vulcan thinking?

On his screen was the official military picture of James Tiberius Kirk and a full report summarizing the life of Earth's newest hero. In the dossier was the complete un-redacted military file. Any gaps had been filled in by private investigators.

James T Kirk had burst onto the world stage from complete obscurity one year ago with the events surrounding the Narada and the destruction of Vulcan. Using ingenuity and a vessel primarily built for exploration, Kirk had defeated an enemy of immense power. Harris had been impressed.

But the recent defeat of Khan Noonien Singh and the destruction of Vengeance by the same officer had been beyond impressive. James Kirk was a legitimate phenom. Harris was now intensely interested in this man. And even more interested in the fact that Kirk had been saved from death by the ingenious use of Khan's blood.

Myles Harris had a long pedigree of ancestors involved in covert military operations. Their private logs were held in encrypted family archives. When Harris saw the report that Section 31 had found the derelict vessel containing the cryo-preserved bodies of Khan and 72 of his compatriots, he ordered Admiral Marcus to revive Khan. Marcus believed he wanted this because of Khan's superior strength, savagery and intelligence. All that was true, but Harris wanted more. Harris wanted access to Khan's genome.

And now James Kirk was a living example of the properties held in that genome. To Harris, Kirk jumped from being an interesting Star Fleet officer to his number one priority.

Marcus was a fool. His ideals had been his downfall. He believed, like most of earth, that genetically engineering ones own specie was morally offensive; as offensive as cannibalism or incest. He looked at Khan as an abomination. Harris was different. His unique family background had trained him from the cradle that people who thought like Marcus were wrong. In the end, Khan defeated Marcus because he was stupid.

Myles Harris didn't follow his father and grandfather into a career of espionage and intelligence. Their influence had been limited from his perspective. True, intelligence agencies had less of a moral code when compared to the military but governments and officials still imposed restrictions. Harris wanted more. So, he chose off planet, private equity companies to fund his immense influence. He bought power.

As head of Starfleet, Admiral Marcus had been easy to control. The destruction of Vulcan and the near destruction of Earth had re-waken an xenophobic fear of the dangers of the universe. Fear was an easy emotion to exploit in the mob mentally of public opinion. Marcus had needed money and resources to build Vengeance and Harris had been happy to provide it.

Now Marcus was dead and Starfleet was in flux. World leadership would chose the new Commander in Chief of Star Fleet. Federation council hearings were already scrutinizing the list of candidates. Harris was applying pressure to certain individuals to influence the choice. But he knew the process was flawed and weak.

What he really wanted was James T. Kirk. This man was a keystone who could manipulate public opinion and change the course of Earth - at Harris's bidding, of course.

He pressed a call button to his assistant's com badge. "I want the latest medical records on Kirk."

A voice chirped back. "Those are all that are available. Starfleet's official medical post incident report. World Health Organization's detailed threat assessment."

Harris's mouth drew a thin line. "Nothing there of interest. I want the logs of the ship's doctor. I need to have a detailed step by step procedure and follow-up. The primary physician's name is McCoy."

"I believe they are included with WHO report."

Harris's voice went deadly quiet. "Frankly, that report contains nothing but placating bullshit. I want McCoy's private logs. Video of Enterprise sick bay at the time of the incident. Interview the medical personnel on the Enterprise at the time if you have to. At Starfleet. There must be lab results somewhere. McCoy's PADD would be outstanding. Just do it."


Spock strode up the steps of legislature of United Federation of Planets at Presido. Waiting at the top of the stairs, also in his dress greys, was Jim Kirk.

"Come on, Spock," he said. "I'm anxious to get this over with."

"As it takes only 5 minutes to go from here to the Federation Council Room and the meeting doesn't start for another 15, I would say we have plenty of time."

"Are you going to throw me under the bus again?" Kirk joked. They were witnesses at the hearings investigating the construction then subsequent defeat of Vengeance.

Spock answered, "I showed you my report. My verbal testimony will be no different. However, I do see many buses available. To which do you refer? " He looked over to the visitor parking area.

"At least McCoy is no where in sight. That's one good thing."

"Are you avoiding Dr. McCoy?" Spock studied his face.

"I could only dream. The man has me in for a physical every second day. I feel great. I've surpassed my personal bests in the gym, in the weight room and on the running track. What more does he want?"

"It has been only ten weeks since the attack of the Vengeance. Perhaps he is just being thorough." Spock too had noticed that McCoy was being particularly diligent.

"He would have made a great nursemaid if he had been so endowed. I am golfing tomorrow, so he will need to do without me."

"Golf?" Spock didn't recall that as a pastime of his friend.

"With Admiral Komack. There is someone he wants me to meet," Jim said. "Lately, I feel like an Orion female at a slave market. Or is it an Orion male? I always forget who is really up for sale there. How long until Enterprise is refitted?"

"I looked at the schedule today. It will be six months before the construction crews are gone. Then three months of systems checks, speed trials and provisioning."

Jim stopped for a moment and took on a serious tone. "I can't wait to go home."

Spock knew he wasn't referring to Iowa. He watched as Jim went through the door into the council room.