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The small 'family' gathered in the living room after lunch. George Kirk sat on an old armchair, face hidden behind a local newspaper. He chuckled occasionally.

"What's so funny?" Winona Kirk cut a slice of blueberry cake and handed it to her husband.

"Oh, some silly jokes about a Starfleet officer, a doctor and few light bulbs," he winked. Even Uhura smiled at the mention of that. Everybody in Starfleet knew the joke.

Bones hated it, though. Kirk grinned.

Winona beamed. "We should throw Jimmy a party before he leaves for the Starfleet academy, George. "

"Sure, we'll invite some of our close friends and Sam can invite hers. Let's do a two in one celebration. You don't mind us throwing you a twentieth birthday bash, do you, Jim?"

"God, I hope he's not too old for that!" Winona teased.

"He's not twen…" Uhura quipped but Jim signaled her to shut up.

"Err…yeah, sure!" Uhura rolled her eyes.

"Can I invite a few close friends? You know, like Spock, Leonard, Chekov, Scotty and Sulu. You know them, right?" Jim pretended to count his fingers and acting as if he was trying to remember whom else to invite. Uhura instantly knew where Jim was heading with the question.

"Why, honey, this is the first time you've mention them to us. Spock? Is he a Vulcan?" Jim just nodded. He made an eye contact with Uhura and blinked twice. He hoped that she got the hint to follow his lead.

He stood up, stretched his long arms and stifled a yawn. "Can I go out for a while to get some fresh air?"

He looked at his mother and grinned."That was such a good lunch and you're a great cook, mum but I am supposed to be fit and lean at Starfleet. You know that, right?" Jim hoped flattery could bring him somewhere. He gave Winona a quick peck on her cheek.

"Eat as much as you can now, James T. Kirk. You're not getting any of these food at the academy and you'll be begging me for them." She pinched his nose.

"Come back before dinner, okay."

Sam, you're coming?" Without hesitating, Uhura agreed.

Jim was trying his luck again. "Dad, you don't mind me taking your Corvette for a ride, do you?"

George put his newspaper down, took his reading glasses off and sighed." Just be careful with her, son. Sam, will you make sure your brother is not up to some crazy antics again?" He threw Jim the keys.

He caught them and said," Who says I'm driving." He passed the keys to an astonished Uhura and smiled at his 'parents'.

Jim was glad they were out of the house. He wasn't feeling well. He honestly needed some fresh air. His head hurt. He slid his hand into his pocket and took out the colorful tablets Winona gave him earlier.

He threw them away.


They drove the convertible for about fifteen minutes along Iowa's long, quiet road. Jim remained silent. He would have never thought to ride the car again. He brushed his hands on the leather seat unconsciously and felt the wind blowing and the sun shining. He closed his eyes.

He was around eleven. He loathed his alcoholic and verbally abusive stepfather, Frank. He had wonder why his Starfleet officer mother went off world too frequent; leaving him with the disparaging man. He hated his life. The final stroll came when Frank had ordered him to wash his late father's vintage 1965 Chevrolet Corvette and Sam had abandoned him on the very same day.

He had found the keys to the car and decided to drive off through the road. He had been chased by a police officer and ultimately plunged the car into a quarry. If he hadn't jumped out of the car fast…

"Hey, are you out of your mind? That car's an antique. You think you can get away with this just 'cause your mother's off-planet? You get your ass back home, now! You live in my house, buddy. You live in my house and that's my car. You get one scratch on that car and I'm going to whip your a**!" Frank's scream echoed in his mind.

He was back to reality when the car stopped.

"I don't know where we're going, Jim." Uhura sighed.

I don't feel so good.

"I don't feel so good." Jim groaned. He didn't mean to say it out loud.

Uhura turned and looked at him. "You look flushed, Jim." She put her hand on his forehead. It felt warm. He pushed her hand away. "I'm fine."

Jim was quick to change topic. He stood up straighter and tried to concentrate, hard. Whatever it is, it will go away. He convinced himself.

"Do you remember the white light on our ship, Uhura?"

"Yes. I recalled McCoy shouting my name and yours to get away from it at the bridge."

"Did you received any kind of subspace frequency before we were consumed by it?

"No. There was no message intercepted. The last message was from the cargo vessel Alliance and you have been informed about it forty eight hours ago."

Jim frowned and nodded. "Yes."

"Spock didn't mention anything on the sensors too. Even the deflectors were negative.

"Unless somebody or something is shielding them."Jim cut in.

"Well, at the moment we know the rest of the bridge crews are probably not affected since my parents didn't recognize any of the names. But that's also probably because all these events are happening prior to me joining the academy. The question is, why just you and me?"

"And why we're floating in your world, Jim?" Uhura added.