Leadership 101

By

Wicketbear

Chapter 3 Extraordinary Contributions

"Morning, Bones."

Without replying Bones set his breakfast tray on the table and slid into a seat. "Whatcha' got there, Jim?" glancing at the PADD in Jim's hand.

Jim turned the PADD over in his hand, scrutinizing it. "It's a PADD, Bones. It holds tons of information and you can do all kinds of things with it. Makes a very poor Frisbee though, doesn't fly worth a damn, trust me I know. Does make a good place to set a coffee cup."

"Just quit," he grumbled.

"Well aren't we the grumpy one. Get up on the wrong side of the bed?"

"Hmmm," he thought, "maybe that's what I missed, sleep. I don't think I went to bed." Quizzical he asked, "Shouldn't you be on the Bridge?"

Kirk scowled and waved him off saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah I'm headed that way." He waved the PADD in front of himself saying, "I'm reading up on the next 'Leadership' category and trying to come up with some ideas."

"You're going to be late."

"No I'm not. It takes 1 minute from here to the bridge."

"What if the lift gets stuck or you trip?"

"Bones, you're just a grouch. Why don't you go back to bed and get up when you're in a better mood. I'm sure all the people that have a physical scheduled today will be very happy that you did."

"Just for that I might schedule you for a physical before I lay down."

"See, that's exactly what I mean."

McCoy was eating his breakfast when Jim dropped the PADD on the table in frustration. Bones jumped in surprise asking, "What is the problem, Jim?"

"This is impossible; I'm never going to be able to meet all these standards. These people are saints."

McCoy rolled his eyes saying, "Well you'll never have that title."

"Thanks Bones," he sneered, "I feel much better. No, really, listen to this, 'Creating a way for people to contribute in making something extraordinary happen?' How the heck does that work? Things just happen with me. There is no creating. It's only extraordinary in someone else's head. What the heck is considered extraordinary?"

Not waiting for an answer Jim continued ranting, "You know what I think would be extraordinary, if I could get one waffle out of this food processor with dimples, you know, the little dents where the syrup hides." He lifted his plate so McCoy could see his food. "This is supposed to be a waffle, looks like a pancake to me, and I bet it flies like one too, but it doesn't have the little dimples a waffle should. What's the fun in that? How am I supposed to get the syrup trapped in the little dimples if there aren't any dimples? Tell me that!"

McCoy was sitting back in his chair watching the younger man rant, and if he got any louder about waffles the whole room would know about his personal displeasure with waffles. "Honestly Jim, you're really something." Bones pushed his food tray aside. "If you don't know how to deal with a waffle then you're going to have some problems dealing with being a Captain in Star Fleet. Obviously, extraordinary is not on your menu today. Oh and by the way, you're late."

Jim jumped out of his chair, nearly toppling it, grabbed his PADD saying, "Thanks Bones, for not telling me."

"I just did."

"No I mean…" He waved any response from McCoy off, "Just shut up, Bones."

"See you later, Jim," was said to the back of a gold shirt that was running through the door.

"Captain, our shift has ended," Spock said standing directly in Jim's line of sight but the Captain didn't notice him. "Captain?"

Coming out of a daze Kirk said, "Sorry, Spock I was just thinking." He glanced at the chronometer. "Wow, it's time to go. What are you standing around for? Let's go." Jim jumped out of his chair and nearly ran for the lift that was being held open by another bridge crew member.

He stepped into the lift saying, "Let's go. Hit it." With that the door shut and the lift took off. It stopped at various floors to release passengers. The last to leave were Kirk and Spock.

Stepping out of the lift Jim asked, "Spock, are you free tonight to meet me in the rec room about 1900?"

"Captain, I have a prior engagement and would not be able to meet with you until 1930 hours, would that be sufficient?"

Jim smiled at him. "That would be perfect. See you then," he said as he stepped into his quarters.

Spock went on to his own quarters.

Jim hit the comm. panel on his desk, "Kirk to McCoy."

"Here Jim, and yes."

Kirk's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Yes to what, Bones? Don't confuse me, you know how I get." He removed his clothing to take a shower, tossing them one by one on the bed.

"Yes I will be there tonight. What time?"

"1930, see you then. Oh and we're meeting in the rec room tonight."

"I'll be there, McCoy out."

"Bones…, well crap. I thought I was supposed to be the one to cut the call if I made the call? I guess not." He stepped into the sonics.

At 1930 Jim and Spock stepped into the rec room and found McCoy over by the huge windows on a couch. "Hi Bones, Jim said as he pulled a lounger up to the small table, Spock did the same with a straight backed chair.

"So, Bones, are you in a better mood?" Kirk asked.

"Yes, Jim," he said with a sneer. "Thank you for your concern," he grinned.

"Oh boy," Kirk rolled his eyes. "Let's get started before he turns back into Mr. Hyde."

Spock raised a brow at the unusual exchange between his friends. "I believe that it would be unwise for me to say anything."

"You got that right you pointy eared Hobgoblin," Bones spirked.

"Hey Guys, let's get moving here. The first one that comes to mind is Sulu and I being able to improvise in destroying the drill when all the explosives were lost."

"What? What do you mean the explosives were lost? No one said anything about that. I assumed everything went as planned until Sulu fell off the drill," Bones shouted.

"Fascinating, Human's never cease to amaze me."

Kirk lowered his head in guilt. "I assumed everyone knew."

"Jim…," they said simultaneously.

Jim threw up his hands and stood. "What is there to talk about?" He wandered around the table behind their backs. "We destroyed the drill. That's what we were ordered to do and that's what we did."

"But how Jim? How did you destroy the drill with no explosives? And will you please," Bones said stressing the word, "sit down."

Shyly Jim said, "Oh sorry," as he settled back into his seat.

"Jim, please explain how you were able to destroy the drill with no weapons."

"I didn't say we didn't have weapons I said we didn't have explosives. The Romulans that we killed on the drill left their weapons behind and we used those to shoot up the drill until it finally shut down. It wasn't until they decided to retract the drill did we get into trouble."

Bones rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "Leave it to you to improvise."

Grinning Jim said, "Yep, that's me all right, Mr. Improvisation."

"Mr. Chekov played an important role in that life threatening experience if I am not mistaken."

"How's that, Spock?"

"I see what you're getting at Spock, Chekov beamed us out in the nick of time with some above and beyond magical transportation. If he had not been as good as he was we would be a part of the inferno that was Vulcan's core."

Bones sighed, "Thank you, Mr. Chekov."

"Indeed, Doctor."

"Yeah no kidding. Remind me to thank him every day for the next year. That is a perfect example of something 'Extraordinary'."

"Since we're talking extraordinary events, how about Scotty and his transwarp beaming?" McCoy added to the mix. "That was pretty amazing."

"Perfect timing too." Jim sat back further in his chair to get a little more comfortable. "Did you know he tried that on Admiral Archer's prize beagle?"

"So where is the beagle now?" Bones asked.

"He isn't sure. He said he'd 'let us know when it reappears'."

"Fascinating."

"Yes it is. I guess the Admiral was not too happy about it and sent him to Delta Vega where we met. He had the right idea. It just needed some refinement." Jim shook his head saying, "I can see the smoke coming from your ears all ready Spock. I swore I wouldn't tell where the refinement came from."

"I do not have smoke coming from my ears."

"Are you sure, Spock? Have you looked lately?" Bones chuckled.

"I assure you Doctor, there is no smoke."

Jim burst out laughing at his friends. "You guys are great. I don't need to watch comedy on the vid. I just have to get you two together."

"Ha, ha funny, Jim."

"I believe there is one other item that we can add to this list of extraordinary happenings."

"Oh, and what is that, Spock?"

"That you would be the one to rescue Captain Pike from the Romulan vessel and then destroy it. Your father was also the one that destroyed the Narada the last time."

"Yeah, that was pretty wild," Bones said.

"That wasn't wild Bones, that was luck. Those Romulans are very tricky and strong. One lifted me right off the ground with one hand around my neck," he rubbed his neck, feeling the ghost pain. Kirk sneered, "But I got him back. He was so preoccupied with me that he didn't notice I'd pulled his gun." Looking smug he added, "He won't make that mistake again. A little too cocky."

"Oh and you're not," Bones scoffed. "Get real Jim. You're the cockiest guy I know. Remember the separate cabin for your ego, well it still applies."

"Gentlemen."

"Sorry, Spock," Jim said.

"Well, I'm not sorry."

Jim got back to business. "First of all, the two of us teamed up together, who would have thought that. Then we transported onto the Narada where, come to think about it Scotty said there would be no one. Boy was he wrong. I need to talk to him about that," he jotted it on the PADD. "I rescued Pike while Spock took off in the captured ship and destroyed the drill then, with all the red matter on the ship, turned around and headed on a kamikaze course back to the Narada. You're right; Scotty did some amazing work getting all three of us out of there at the same time and in one piece."

Spock nodded. "I do believe that was extraordinary."

"I would too," Jim replied.

"So do I."

"Let's go to bed." They all stood in agreement and left the room. They parted company at their respected cabins.