Kirk had been seated outside in the courtyard for over an hour, ruminating on his actions. His thoughts were interrupted by a rush of voices.

Cadets flooded out the auditorium. The assembly was over. Kirk hadn't realized he had sat there that long. Voices rose and tumbled as most people exuberantly expressed their joy at finishing the last class for the day. Somebody brought out a ball and an impromptu game of catch started. Kirk watched the cadets play for a while before a female voice asked "You okay?"

Kirk turned to find a brown-haired cadet named Stevens, sitting next to him. Kirk forced himself to smile and said "Of course, aren't I always?"

She smiled a little and shook her head slightly "You're really full of yourself. You know that?"

She continued talking but Kirk wasn't listening. He was focused on a conversation a few feet away from him. Two cadets from his ethical psychology class were locked in debate. They were discussing the assignment Relik had given. One cadet named Trudeau, who Kirk hated with a passion for the cadet's bigoted views and carefully disguised xenophobic ideologies, said "Professor Relik does have a point. Kodos wasn't all wrong."

"I have a hard time thinking of him as anything but a murderer" a human-female cadet called Navi replied.

"Look, it's like this. Kodos made a decision that people think of as murder, but did he really have another choice? He saved almost 4,000 people. Look at the glass half-full not half-empty."

"Glass half-full Trudeau? He killed people. Murdered them."

"You're still thinking linear. Think out the box. They're always telling us that here. Kodos analysed the situation and enacted the only option he saw as viable"

Navi shook her head "I can't see it that way."

Trudeau argued "Navi, half the people who died weren't even humans. They weren't native to that world and they had no real purpose. You know what he called the ones he ordered for execution: the less necessary. He was right. They weren't needed for labour or genetically."

"You're really getting into this paper. Tell you what I'll let you write my argument in favour of Kodos's decision and I'll do some work for you in another class, because I can't stand to think like that murderer."

"There you go again. " Trudeau shook his head and said "Navi, he did the right thing for the colony as a whole. The people he ordered to be executed deserved—"

Kirk jumped up from the bench and before Trudeau could say another word, Kirk hit him. Trudeau stumbled back and put a hand to nose. When he brought it back down, he stared down at the blood in disbelief. He stared at Kirk and yelled "What the hell is your problem!"

Kirk didn't respond, instead he laid into Trudeau. He hit him as hard as he could the entire time yelling repeatedly "Shut your f—ing mouth". Hands pulled at Kirk, and Trudeau's friends joined the fray. Soon Kirk stopped feeling the pleasurable sensation of Trudeau face and body yielding to his blows and instead felt his own body being used as a punching bag.

Kirk fought back, but not that much. The pain was good. When his mind was alight with the agony coursing through his body, it left no room for memories to break through.

Finally, Kirk was aware of someone wading through the mêlée of people. The assault on his body ceased. He opened his eyes and stared up into a stern face.

Campus security stared down at him and said. "Cadet Kirk."

Kirk blinked and slowly pulled himself up. A panting Trudeau was standing nearby; a security guard was holding the man's arm. Kirk glanced at the name tag of the Security guard standing in front of him. He blinked a few more times to clear his eyes and eventually made out the man's name. It was Lieutenant Panti.

Kirk's mind was already formulating several jokes centred on the man's name. Kirk gave an annoying grin and said "What can I do for you Lieutenant Panti?"

The man frowned, but didn't rise to the bait. He spoke "Cadet Kirk, You and Cadet Trudeau are being escorted to Renfield's office. You infractions are: fighting on school ground, creating a public nuisance, and conduct unbefitting a cadet. Do you deny any of these statements?"

Kirk thought about it. Panti's comment had summarized everything he had done. Kirk gave a careless shrug "You got me, guilty as charged."

"Damn right. He's guilty as hell! But I was just defending myself, that crazy a—hole walked over and attacked me for no reason"!

Kirk turned toward Trudeau and would have started toward the man if, the security guard hadn't grabbed his arm holding him back. Kirk yelled "I had plenty of reason you f—ker . You couldn't shut your goddamn mouth!"

The guard holding Kirk gave him a shake and told him to settle down. After a moment Kirk took a half-step backwards, and the two security guards and cadets started walking. They were halfway down a corridor when Kirk realized they weren't anywhere near Renfield's office. In fact they were going the wrong way entirely.

"Uh, hate to break it to you, but they don't teach you security guys much do they? Renfield's office is that way." Kirk pointed.

Panti gritted his teeth, but his voice remained even as he said "We're stopping by medical first. You have injuries that need to be seen."

Kirk froze. Panti jerked him forward. "I'm not going to medical" Kirk said. His ribs hurt and one or two was probably broken, the skin on the back of his knuckles was split and he was pretty sure he had broken a finger, yet again. Even with all his injuries Kirk had no wish to visit medical. McCoy would be there. The doctor had a late class in one of the clinics and Kirk had no desire to face him.

"You're refusing medical treatment?"

Kirk said "Yep."

Panti shrugged. Trudeau likewise refused to visit medical and so they started towards Renfield's office.

When they got there, Kirk and Trudeau were seen together. Renfield admonished them both. Punishments and warnings were handed out. Threats of expellment were said and then both cadets were dismissed. As they both started to exit, Renfield stopped Kirk.

"I understand that some of the events that were discussed in class the past few days have bothered you."

Kirk froze, then asked "What's bothered me?"

"I'm aware that certain situations in your past are very disturbing to you."

Kirk didn't speak.

"But being a Starfleet officer is about resilience. That means putting things behind you and moving on. Thinking about the positive of a given situation and not dwelling on the negative."

Kirk wondered how she could be so callous. There was no good to think about with Tarsus IV. He didn't even know how she knew he was one of the Tarsus 9. When the survivors had been rescued their identities were kept a secret. Only the high-ranking officials knew the identities of the survivors.

Renfield continued "The events of the Kelvin ,while horrific, showed a level of sacrifice that nobody could have asked for. Your father was a hero and you should be proud of what he did."

Kirk stared at her.

"Kirk, I know you have it in you to rise above your past and become the same type of captain your father was and better. He saved hundreds of lives in a few minutes. You have the potential in you to save millions."

Kirk gave his typical grin and said with as much sarcasm as he could muster. "That's a lot of weight to put on my shoulders."

"Yes it is."

"You sure I can handle it?"

"Do you think you can?"

They stared at each other, after a moment Renfield dismissed him.

There you have it. More Kirk, being Kirk. Tell me what you think. I thank all my reviewers, followers, and favorite. I tried to reply to all followers, favorites and reviewers , but it became too much. I will still reply to all reviews or PMs though. Next Story update will be : January 11th. (with as always a two-day margin of error either way. If anybody's wondering this isn't a random each chapter Jim does something crazy. There is a plot and Kirk will have somewhat of a resolution. Reviews are more than welcome.