"Star Fleet has issued that we investigate the area before returning to Earth," Uhura said, her eyes meeting Kirks, knowing that there would be annoyance there.

They had come across the SS Valliant's, a vessel that had been missing for two hundred years, flight recorder which had been ejected shortly before its own self-destruct. It had coordinates on it, revealing the last known location of the missing vessel. When they had reported the finding to Star Fleet, they had been ordered to maintain current position until further orders. The orders being what Uhura had just repeated.

Kirk was annoyed, just as Uhura had predicted would be. Not because he had to do his job, but because he wanted to get back to Earth to drop off their… guest. Harry. He, Kirk, had attempted to make nice with the three hundred year old, even going so far as to try sparring with him (which Kirk lost, by the way), but he, Kirk, still could not get the feeling that Harry was a bad guy. Sure, Kirk had evidence to the contrary, what with Harry being polite, non-violent, and even kind to his crew members. But, what if it was all a façade? Even worse, what if Harry was just using Bones? It had only been four days since the Gorn episode, and Bones had admitted that Harry hadn't seemed interested in anything but dinner. Not that Bones seemed to be complaining, because he wasn't, but still. Harry could at lease put out, Kirk thought.

All in all, Kirk just wanted Harry off his ship. Not out of hate, just a weird gut feeling. The sooner they got to Earth, the sooner Harry was off the ship. And away from Bones.

"Orders," Kirk finally said, after a moment's thought, "are orders." He turned to the helms station. "Sulu, set a course for the last known location of the SS Valliant."

"Aye, Captain," Sulu said, punching in the proper sequencing codes. "Estimated time of arrival, three hours, sir."

Kirk nodded, pressing his comm button, "Kirk to General Black."

"Yes, Captain, Black here," Harry's accent came immediately.

"Please, come to the bridge and meet me in my ready room," Kirk said, already standing.

"Yes, sir," Harry responded.

)page break(

"We have to find, or attempt to find, the ship," Jim concluded, watching Harry carefully, "I'm sorry."

Harry, however, simply closed his eyes and nodded. "I understand, you have a mission." He folded his hands in his lap, "Captain, I am… apprehensive," he met Jim's eyes with his own, "to go back. I know this seems odd, but make no mistake it's honesty…. Will I be able to make a life there? Am I too much of a thing of the past to be able to integrate into society of today?" He sighed, "I feel as though, perhaps, being on this ship is sort of a… purgatory. A waiting place, if you will, before I'm sent into hell." He laughed a humorless laugh, "How ironic."

Jim frowned at his words, but chose not to comment on that specific part of what Harry said. "Harry, I don't think you're too far into the past. I may not like you," Harry snorted here causing Jim to crack a smile, "but, I think you've been very accepting of the situation and you've become acclimated to the ways of today."

Harry nodded, "Yes, I've read some of the history books, available here, of course. I've also brushed up on current technology. But, reading about it in books, and seeing it for myself…." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Still, the delay is welcome. Thank you for the update, Captain."

"Jim," Kirk corrected, "when we're alone, and I'm not thinking about ringing your neck, you can call me Jim. But," he stood, causing Harry to stand with him, as he held out a finger in mock warning, "don't tell Bones, or he'll think I'm hitting on you."

Harry smirked, cocking an eyebrow, "As if I'd even want you to."

Jim smiled, his ego showing, "As if you could have me."

)page break(

"This is the Captain speaking," Jim's voice came over the comm, "the disaster recorder we encountered in from the SS Valiant, a ship that had gone missing two hundred years ago. We have nearly reached the coordinates that the recorder fed to us. We hope to learn what the Valiant was doing here, how the ship was destroyed, and why. We will move on when those questions are answered. All decks please stand by."

McCoy had just entered Harry's room, glad he had just gotten off of his shift. Harry had promised to have dinner with him, so McCoy hoped to wine and dine Harry, speak about their relationship and then, maybe, mess around. Harry had been a little closed off since the Gorn problem, and McCoy was worried, mostly because of the inverted personality Harry was now exhibiting. McCoy had had no problem with how Harry had acted. Harry, however, had been exceedingly gentle with him, as though attempting to reassure them both that, though Harry was strong, he was also careful and gentle. It was frustrating McCoy.

Harry walked out of the bedroom, entering the sitting area, wearing a black button down, black slacks, and looking like sex on legs. McCoy wasn't sure how he kept his hair looking so freshly sexed, but McCoy wondered if, when he finally did, it would become tamed by the sex. Amused by his own thought, he smirked at his soon to be lover as he walked forward to embrace him, when the ship suddenly jerked so hard, the both lost balance and tumbled to the ground.

"What the hell is that man doing on that bridge," McCoy cursed, standing up, pulling Harry with him.

Harry smiled at him, lifting his hands and pressing them to his cheeks, "Are you actually looking at me, thinking about James T. Kirk?"

Raising an eyebrow, McCoy smiled back, "Only how dumb he is compared to present company."

Leaned forward, gently pressing his lips to McCoy's, Harry took his mind off the captain. He slid his hands over McCoy's shoulders, massaging lightly, and pressing his tongue into McCoy's eagerly opening mouth. But, he found, Harry was being too gentle.

"Harry," McCoy said, pulling away, "I won't break."

Harry met his eyes, curiously. They raked over his body, taking in the hidden muscle that was always masked by the blue science tunic. McCoy felt as though he were being sized up, perhaps judged, though he knew that Harry didn't judge him. What was going on in Harry's head, McCoy couldn't help but wonder. His demeanor had changed, but, he was still Harry.

"I'm sorry, Leonard," Harry said, rubbing his hand up Leonard's arm, "I've just… when we… dealt with that giant lizard thing…."

Leonard smiled, bringing his hand to the back of Harry's neck and pulling him into a deliciously hard, warm and heated kiss. Tongues met, teeth bit lips and they devoured each other, causing both to moan. 'Fuck,' Leonard thought, feeling Harry press his weight more onto him, 'he feels amazing against me- WHAT THE FUCK?!' Suddenly, all of Harry's weight pressed forward, forcing Leonard to catch the falling man.

Ripping his mouth from Harry's, he held onto the lithely muscled man as he watched Harry lose consciousness completely. He supported Harry's head, leaning down to lift him under his legs, to carry him bridal style. He turned heel and exited the quarters, racing to medbay.

)page break(

"Nine people are dead," Jim said, watching Bones hover over the two men in his medbay. "Two men are unconscious and I have a psychologist who also passed out." His eyes glanced over to the woman sitting up in the biobed, sipping water, pretending not to listen.

Bones didn't even glance up as he finished setting up the monitor, "Do we know what the hell that force field was?"

Jim shook his head, "No, but whatever it was, we think it's the reason the Valiant's captain set the ship to self-destruct. By the way, what do you know about ESP?"

Bones frowned, the line on his brow defined clearly, as he ran the tricorder over Mitchell's body. "Why, Jim?"

"All the info you can give me on it, would be exceedingly helpful," Jim said, walking up next to Mitchell's bed. "Why only certain people? Were they espers?" He looked over to Harry, "Is he one?" He walked around the bed, over to Harry's, holding up his right arm, to see the tattoo. It was still just a regular tattoo, not moving and such, but it looked darker that before. Maybe it was the lighting.

"Will you get out of my medbay," Bones practically shouted, glaring at his best friend. "Any changes in anyone and I'll call you. I'll send all info on ESP in twenty minutes via PADD, now shoo!"

)page break(

"He can control certain autonomic reflexes," Doctor Dehner said, her eyes sweeping over the command crew with scrutiny. Why couldn't they see this as a good thing? "He reads very fast and retains more than most would consider usual."

Kirk nodded, before turning to Scotty. He looked expectantly to Scotty, not having to say anything to get the man to speak.

"'bout an hour 'go," Scotty said, his brogue heavy, "the bridge controls jus' started goin' crazy! Levers shiftin' by themselves, buttons pressin' and instrument readin's changin'."

Spock continued, as though he were the one originally speaker, "And, at the same time this was occurring, I could clearly see Mitchell's face smiling. It is as if we are toys for his amusement." He raised an eyebrow at the bristling the Dehner was doing.

"Are they right, Doctor Dehner," Kirk said, looking at her as she shifted. "Has his power level reached this high?"

"I have… seen some indications," she said, not looking up.

"And, you didn't think to mention it to one of us, or, maybe your direct supervisor," Kirk all but shouted at the woman, motioning to Bones, who had originally stated very clearly what he saw Mitchell doing.

She glared back, haughtily, "No one's been hurt, have they? Don't you see," she looked into the captain's face, "a mutated superior man could be a wonderful thing! He could be the forerunner for the better of the human race."

The entire bridge crew visibly flinched at what she said. Did she not read the Khan case file? Kirk glared back, putting on his best command face, causing the woman to shrink down slightly.

"You are not allowed to decide what, or who, is the forerunner for the better of the human race." Kirk growled, "We've already went through that, and look at what happened! No," Kirk said, crossing his arms, "You are to stay away from Mitchell, Doctor."

"But, Captain, just think of the poss-" she tried to appease the blonde, batting her eyelashes.

"Dismissed, Doctor," Kirk said, pointing to the door.

She grumbled, stomped, and all but pouted, but she left all the same.

Jim sat back down, relaxing slightly when the woman was gone. He brought as hand to his forehead, rubbing it. "Any news on the General?"

"No, Jim, he still isn't awake," Bones said, quietly.

He was really upset, Jim thought to himself. "Let me know, please," Jim said, patting his hand.

Bones just nodded back.

"Okay, back to the Mitchell problem," Jim said, looking to everyone else. "I need a recommendation."

Everyone was quiet, looking around, before Spock finally grew a pair, adding his input.

"At the rate his power is growing, we, as a crew, will cease to be entertaining in a few short days. We will be more of an annoyance," he frowned slightly, though his face still showing no emotion. "Delta Vega is near here, Captain."

"That shitty ice planet you marooned me on," Jim asked, raising a brow.

"They are mining lithium, which we need to repair the ships warp drive," Spock said, not meeting Jim's eyes, "if we could get Mitchell off-"

"We're not marooning him, Spock, so stop there," Jim said, glaring softly at his first officer. "Any other ideas?"

"Again, at the rate he is growing, plus his… attempts at entertainment, we might," Spock paused here, and Jim wondered if it was for dramatic effect, "be forced to take lethal action."

"Kill him," Jim asked, incredulously. "You want us to kill him, Spock?" What was Spock saying?

"Not particularly," Spock said, quickly looking troubled at the idea, "but, Captain, do we really need another Khan?"

Jim had no response.

)page break(

They were now orbiting Delta Vega. Mitchell had been drugged, and the landing party was ready to go down, with Mitchell in tow. The landing party consisted of three security officers, Jim, Spock, Dehlmer, and McCoy. The security officers would guard Mitchell, while Spock and Jim grabbed the lithium and McCoy and Dehlmer kept sedating Mitchell.

It should've gone off without a hitch. But, soon Lee, one of the security officers, noticed Mitchell awakening twenty minutes ahead of schedule. He alerted the landing party.

"My friend, Jim," Mitchell said, his eyes his normal brown, instead of the shining silver they had slowly become, "do you remember the rat planet? They had those darts? I took one for you." He was behind a force field, staring deep into Kirk's blue eyes.

"You almost died," Kirk said, nodding.

"You fear me now," Mitchell said, more than asked, as though he expected it.

"You've been testing your ability to control the Enterprise," Kirk responded. "You told Bones that you would squash us all like bugs."

"I was drugged," Mitchell said, shrugging his shoulders.

"You also said, if you were me, you'd kill me," Kirk countered, "before we drugged you."

"Then why don't you," Mitchell asked, shaking with effort, it seemed.

"You can't mean that," Kirk said, looking into Mitchell's wavering expression.

Suddenly, Mitchell tested the force field, ignoring all protests to stop. He looked wounded, before meeting Jim's eyes again, his eyes flickering from silver to brown, "I'll just keep getting stronger, Jim."

)page break(

Hours later, the fission's were finally fixed, and the lithium was powering the warp core again. Kirk entered the brig, noting the Dehlmer was again sitting next to the force field, her eyes trained only on Mitchell.

"You're going back to the Enterprise," Kirk said, gaining the attention of the woman.

"He's not evil," she whispered, more to herself it seemed.

"I gave you an order, Doctor," Kirk seethed, watching as Mitchell rose from his cot.

"You should've killed me when you had the chance, Captain," Mitchell whispered, before disappearing from the cell.

Kirk looked around frantically. "Spock, Bones, everyone, into the brig! Bring the rifles!"

They all entered the brig, as Mitchell reappeared, behind them, and with a flick of his hand, sent all men flying across the brig. He held out his hand to Dehner, which she reached for, looking up to the crew, her eyes matching the silver of Mitchells.

"Command and compassion," Mitchell said, smirking up to Kirk, who glared back in anger, "is a fools mixture, Captain."

Before Kirk could retort, another voice sounded out.

"Why, I couldn't agree more, Mister Mitchell," the British voice rang.

Every head snapped over to Harry, who stood in the far end of the brig, looking for all the world as though he belonged there.


AN: Phew! Like, the longest fic yet! Ugh, but it was fun to write. I should have the next chap up in about two days, max! Also, I just want everyone to know, most of the dialogue in this is actually from the episode "Where no man has gone before". Great episode, one of my favs! Some tweaking was necessary, but otherwise, I'm pretty glad with how this turned out. And, yes, guys and dolls, we're about to be introduced to Harry's magic! YAY! So, if ya'll could shoot me some love! I do appreciate REVIEWS! Just leave me a "love it", "hate it", "wouldn't let my dog pee on it" or what ever! Thanks for sticking to it!