"Where were you two?" Chris and Jim glanced over their shoulders as McCoy joined them in the shuttle bay.
"For what, McCoy?" he asked the doctor.
McCoy huffed, "Your medical exams. Thirteen hours ago, you were in a damn firefight. Now, it's my duty to exami..."
"We're fine, Bones," Jim said to her friend.
"The hell you are," the medical officer wasn't easily convinced, "I heard about Barnett."
"We're fine," she sighed.
"You're not actually going after this guy, are you?" McCoy asked as he grabbed her arm. Anyone else and she would've laid them out on their ass, McCoy is very luck that he's McCoy.
"Yes. I am going after him. How many more people have to die, Bones?" Jim said.
"We're not in the business of revenge, Jim. When you stopped Nero, it was about saving people and not the revenge that you had every right to want. I get what you're trying to do, Barnett was a good man and Pike's best friend but you're mine and I can't just watch you go off half-cocked after some maniac," McCoy told her.
"It took twenty-five years, six billion Vulcan lives, a couple thousand Starfleet officers and four dozen Klingon vessels to stop Nero. I shouldn't have been the person to figure that out. There are fifty-five people, our people, dead so far, Bones. More will die if we don't stop him. He's not Nero, this isn't about heartbreak over his lost family or something that Starfleet failed to do. Harrison wants the world to burn. Anyone who doesn't meet his ideals will burn with it," she said. "As far as Barnett… If I died in your arms what would you do?"
Chris watched as the doctor's features softened and all the fight left him. McCoy has put Jim's broken and battered body back together enough times for the reality of that question to hit the doctor square in the chest. "You sure know how to play dirty, Jim," McCoy muttered. Jim shrugged but didn't say anything. Chris chuckled, Jim could be an annoying little thing when she wanted to be.
The three of them boarded the shuttle to find Spock already there. "Gimme a status report, Mister Spock," Jim said to her first officer as she sat down next to him.
The scientist looked at her, "The Enterprise should be ready for launch by the time we arrive, Captain."
"Good, good," Jim nodded. "Hey, Uhura speaks Klingon, right?"
"She does. May I ask why, Captain?" Spock asked.
"If I was running from the Federation, Klingon space is where I'd go. I can speak it too but I don't want to be the only one the away team that does." Chris agreed with her. McCoy didn't.
"We're going to Klingon space? They'll kill us, Jim," the southerner said.
"No they won't. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and in this case that friend is actually my friend. A big, scary, brutal Klingon Commander named Kor. We'll park the Enterprise on the edge of Klingon space and I'll ride to Qo'noS on his ship the Klothos," Jim told her friend.
McCoy snorted, "You're gonna get yourself killed, kid."
"Your lack of faith is astounding, Bones."
The Enterprise was everything he remembered it to be with the exception of the energy. The last time Chris was on the ship, there were only a handful of seasoned officers and a ton of cadets. There was an uncertainty last year when they went up against Nero that wasn't there anymore. This was a crew of officers who were confident in their abilities and in their captain. Not only was he not surprised, he expected nothing less from Jim.
"Permission to enter the bridge, Captain," Chris said as he stepped into what used to be his domain.
"Granted, Admiral," Jim answered with a chuckle. "We're just getting ready to leave." He had to stifle a groan at the sight in front of him. Jim was wearing the command gold duty dress with sleeves, her captain's stripes shining in the light as she sat in the command chair. She smirked as she looked at him and he knew she was probably reading his mind. Jim looked at her helmsman, "Retract all moorings, Mister Sulu."
"Yes, ma'am," Sulu nodded.
Jim turned the chair, "Lieutenant Uhura, open a ship wide channel."
The communications officer nodded, "Yes, ma'am." Chris watched Jim hit the com-panel on the chair to talk to her chief engineer.
"Scotty, how's our baby?" Jim asked.
"Our girl is ready to kick some ass, Captain. Warp's ready when ye need it," Scott informed her.
"Copy that, Mister Scott," she smiled before taking a deep breath and turning her attention back to Sulu. "Alright, let's ride."
"Yes, ma'am," the pilot smiled as he punched in the sequence and engaged the warp core. Chris smiled as the ship jumped into warp.
Uhura looked at Jim, "Channel open, Captain."
"Attention, crew of the Enterprise. As most of you know, there were two attacks on Starfleet in as many days leaving fifty-five officers dead and many more injured. The man responsible has fled our system and is hiding in Klingon space, somewhere he believes we are unwilling to go. We are on our way there now. Per our order, we are to find Harrison and bring him in, dead or alive. As our goal is aligned with that of the Klingon Empire, we will be engaging in a joint operation with them. Alright, let's go get this son of a bitch, Kirk out," Jim took a deep breath after she cut the connection. She reigned in the myriad of emotions and looked at him. "So, whatcha think of the ship, sir?"
"I think my ship fits you better than it ever did me," he admitted. Jim stood from the command chair with a smile.
"Go for it," she told him as she gestured towards her chair. Chris raised an eyebrow and everyone looked at her. Jim smiled, "You were building this ship for years and you only had command for a few hours. You know how much I beat myself up about that when they gave her to me. I'm serious. My chair is yours, sir."
Chris was pissed that he couldn't kiss her right now because he really wanted to. The admiral took a breath and stepped over to the command chair before he sat down. Chris sighed as the feeling of having a ship came over him, he felt like he was home again. "You miss it," Jim didn't phrase it as a question, not that she needed to, she was right.
He nodded, "You have no idea. I'm still not used to having a desk job."
"Maybe they'll let you back in the black. You can't have my ship though," Jim said with a smile.
"I don't think that would go over well with your crew, anyway," Chris chuckled.
She laughed, "Probably not."
"Are you ever gonna tell us how you know a Klingon commander?" Sulu asked Jim as they –Chris, Jim, Sulu, Uhura and Hendorff- strapped into the K'normian trade ship that Jim was piloting over to meet Kor.
"Not much to tell," Jim shrugged.
"That's a lie and you know it, Jim. Tell 'em," Chris chuckled. He knew what happened and McCoy had pieces of the story but, like most things, Jim didn't really talk about it.
"Fine," she sighed. "I was on a break from Cochrane Institute. Since I don't really have a home to go home to like everyone else, I ended up on this shithole of a planet. I was walking down the street when I came up on this fight. Group of Nausicaans attacked this Klingon and his son. Kid wasn't any older than I was at the time."
"Kor?" Uhura asked.
"Was the dad," Jim said with a nod. "The kid I was as his son, Rynar. Anyway, the Nausicaans were supposed to be their allies but they stabbed Kor in the back, figuratively and literally. I killed two of them, injured another and the last two ran when Kor's men came looking for him. I took up a blood oath with Rynar to help him find the Nausicaans while Kor recuperated. I was on that ship for two weeks while we tracked them down. Once we found them, we killed them."
Sulu nodded, "Why?"
"I spent my whole life without a father because some madman thought he had the right to take him from me. I've been neglected, beaten, tortured and a bunch of other stuff that I prefer not to talk about. The reality of life without my father is very different from what people think it is. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I saw a boy trying to protect his dad, so I helped him," Jim said like it was the easiest thing in the universe. Given what Chris knows about Jim's like before Starfleet, it very well might've been.
"So, how does this help us?" Hendorff asked.
"Kor was grateful when he got better and told me that I was always welcome among his house. As far as the Kingons are concerned, I'm considered an ally of the House of Kor. When I have something to say, they listen. They have too much respect for Kor's family not to," Jim smiled. "Look, when we're over there, hold your heads high, look them in the eyes and if you got something to say, just say it. Klingons hate weakness and whispering. If you're afraid, own it, they'll respect you for it." They all nodded.
"How is it that I get a Klingon blood debt and you become a Klingon ally?" Chris muttered.
Jim chuckled, "I'm awesome. And because you encountered Kaaj, he's smart but weak. I can kill him for you, if you want."
The admiral chuckled, "I'll think about it."
"Kirk," came a booming voice as they entered the bridge of the Klothos.
"Kor,' Jim smiled. "I brought you that fight I promised," Jim told the large Klingon as she handed him a PADD with Harrison's information on it. She stood next to Kor like she didn't have a care in the world. Not only did Kor not seem to mind, he welcomed it. "This is the man responsible for Praxis. I honestly don't care what happens to him but I will be there." It was almost funny to watch Jim talk to these men like it was nothing, the reality was that they could kill her without much effort. Kor seemed to enjoy it though.
"That's why I like you, Kirk. Straight to the point. We will find this human and you will be there when we kill him," Kor told her. None of the Starfleet officers were dumb enough to say anything about their order to apprehend. Then again, they were all in the same class at the academy under Richard's command. Chris realized that Jim picked these specific officers on purpose. They were all fighters, even Uhura, and they all had some kind of relationship with Barnett.
One of the Klingons growled at Kor and said something that Chris didn't understand. Jim understood him. She smiled sweetly before she grabbed the knife strapped to her thigh and stabbed him in the leg with it. Jim held the weapon and leaned close to the Klingon's ear, her voice calm but loud enough that everyone could hear, "This is about honor and this man has none. He killed a member of my family, of my house. By your own laws and traditions, we have every right to hunt him to the ends of the universe. He destroyed Praxis, your moon, full of your people. You can bitch like a child or you can join us in battle as we take the blood he owes us, your choice."
Jim had this murderous gleam in her eyes as she pulled the blade from his leg, wiped the blood on his pants and turned her back on him. She looked like she was one second away from slitting someone's throat. Chris had to take a deep breath, he was so turned on right now that it wasn't even funny. The look on Sulu and Hendoff's faces said the same thing. It was a damn good thing that they weren't wearing their uniforms on this mission. The Klingon looked at Jim with wide eyes but he didn't dare say anything.
Kor let out a laugh, "Have that wound healed. Know this, young one, you can't frighten Kirk. She is a warrior who had the misfortune of being born human. Don't let that fool you, she is a formidable foe."
"He's more than welcome to challenge me…" Jim smirked, "after we get Harrison." Kor laughed again as the other Klingon limped away with a growl.
"Don't kill him like you did the last one, Kirk. My sister would kill us both," Kor said. Chris was gonna have to ask her about that one later.
Jim smiled, "Okay but only because she actually scares me."
The Ketha Province was an uninhabited lowland area on the Klingon homeworld of Qo'noS. It was also where Harrison was hiding according to Lieutenant Commander Scott. Jim, Spock and Chris were right about the bag they Harrison carrying in the holos from the KMA bombing; it was a portable transwarp beaming device. Scott recovered the device from the crashed wreckage of the jump ship before they left Earth.
Despite where he ended up, there was only enough power in the device to beam Harrison to an automated cargo station in Earth's orbit. Scott traced him to an unmanned vessel in orbit near Luna equipped with another transwarp device wired into the empty ship's engine. From there, Harrison beamed to Qo'noS.
"Captain, I'm reading life sighs in those ruins," Hendorff informed the group.
Kor nodded, "I smell him."
"He's watching us," Jim said as she scanned the area with her eyes. No sooner had the words come out her mouth did the shooting start. Jim and Uhura gave each other a quick nod before the two women popped up, side-by-side, and fired back. It was a far cry from their time in the academy.
"I WILL NOT DEFEND THAT MONSTER!" Kirk's yell could be heard all the way down the corridor. Chris pushed past the amused cadets, instructing them to get to class, as the two women argued about their Ethics class. He didn't hear Cadet Uhura's response but the look on Kirk's face was something he'd never seen before. If looks could kill the young linguist would be dead, buried and a memory.
"That's enough, cadets," Chris told them. Both women looked at him.
"Sir, Kirk refuses to participate in our assignment," Uhura told him. He looked at Kirk.
"She wants me to defend Kodos in our debate," Jim practically growled. Chris' blood ran cold. He knew there was no way in hell she defend him, even if Uhura forced the issue, Thaddeus Kodos was one of the monsters under Kirk's bed.
"Sir, Kirk…" Uhura started but Chris held up a hand to cut her off.
He looked at Kirk, "Your debate is on Tarsus Four?" She nodded. Chris sighed, "I'll have you excused. You should've filled me in before today." Kirk let go of the breath she was holding but Uhura seemed to get angrier.
"Of course Kirk gets what she wants," the cadet muttered. And Kirk's temper flared up in a heartbeat.
"Since when do I get what I want, Uhura? My father is dead. As in gone and never coming back. No life lessons or bedtime stories or helping me up when I fall... he's dead. I don't understand why nobody gets that. He died and my mother fell apart and my brother ran away. I grew up unwelcome, unwanted and alone. I didn't want any of it, still don't. I really didn't want to starve and fight and watch my uncle and Hoshi die."
Uhura chuckled, "Yea right, like you were there."
Kirk realized too late what she let slip, "Forget it. Can I go?" Chris gave her a nodded and watched as she grabbed her gear and left the room.
"Kirk wasn't really there… was she?" Uhura asked.
"Yes," he said. "I don't know the whole story, just the stuff in her file, which isn't much. Her uncle lived there, she went to visit him and Hoshi before it all went FUBAR. Contrary to what you and most people think, her life is not a cakewalk. As far as Kirk is concerned, we all see what we want to see, even me sometimes."
"I don't understand, sir."
Chris smiled, "I didn't see anything beyond her father when I met her; saw what I wanted to see. McCoy practically cursed me out on her birthday about it. You're doing the same thing. You don't like her much."
"She's a nepotistic idiot, who uses her name and her body to get ahead," Uhura said, the venom in her voice was clear as day.
"Is she?" he asked. "Her engineering degrees weren't earned at Starfleet. She took the admissions exam with no prep and still had one of the highest scores ever recorded. She tested out of most of her first year courses. She doesn't date anyone assigned to the academy, students or instructors. And to be nepotistic would mean she had a family, a name is about the only thing she got from hers and given all the crap she takes for being a Kirk, it's not really hers. Just because you want her to be a nepotistic slut, doesn't make her one. You see what you want to see."
Uhura opened her mouth to argue but she thought better of it and closed it. For a minute, she just looked at him, then she sighed.
"Why do you defend her, sir?"
"Because someone has to," he smiled, "and since I talked her into joining Starfleet, I kinda volunteered for the job. Piece of advice, figure out a way to be civil with Kirk. There will come a day, cadet, when the only weapon you'll have is her. You might not understand that today, but you will."
The day he told Uhura about was the day the Narada showed up. And he was right, the two women saved the Enterprise from being destroyed at Vulcan and led the charge to stop Nero. Now here they were, fighting a psycho former Starfleet officer like it didn't even phase them, it probably didn't.
Chris knew that Harrison and his people were closing in when some of Kor's men went down. Jim and Uhura jumped from their spot just as a heavy weapon was fired at them. Jim leaned against the wall next to him, "Hey, Chris."
"Hi," he chuckled. "You got a plan for this?"
"I always got a plan," Jim smiled. "Uhura and Hendorff are with you, we're gonna need you guys to cover us. Sulu, up for some close combat?"
The helmsman pulled his retractable sword from his belt and hit the button to open it, "I'm, always ready for a little hand-to-hand, Captain."
"That's what I like to hear. Let's dance," Jim said to Sulu as she grabbed one of the downed Klingon's weapons. The pair of command officers looked around before they took off to join the fight.
"I think I should've stayed on the Enterprise," Chris muttered.
Uhura looked at him, "They have that effect on all of us, sir. We need to move."
"That way," he motioned a few yards to their left. The three officers got away from their spot to cover Jim and Sulu as they fought Harrison's men. When did Harrison get men in the first place? One of them charged at Jim and Chris shot him. The admiral was a little annoyed that he didn't get to watch the beauty that was Jim in a fight. His girl could move.
Chris looked around for threats and noticed that he hadn't seen Harrison. The terrorist's last man was stabbed in the chest by Kor, ending the fight. The admiral and the two lieutenants joined the others. He looked at the men at Jim's feet. She shook her head, "He's not here. He ran. We need to get back to the Enterprise. I have a feeling that he's not goin' quietly."
"The coward fled," Kor roared. "You were right, my young friend, he has no honor."
"Captain Kirk." Chris really hated the way Harrison said her name, his accent and tone dripped around it in false superiority. Jim glared at the screen.
"Harrison. To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked.
The other man smiled, "You have something I want and I'm willing to overlook everything else to get it."
"What might that be?" Jim asked in that slightly condescending tone she always uses when she's pissed off.
"You," Harrison said.
Jim chuckled, "I'm flattered, really, but I'm not interested in joining your super secret bunch of psychos. I'm also taken and I know for a fact that he'd love nothing more than to rip your spine out with his bare hands… so there's that. I will agree to a get together though. You, me and a team of highly trained and overly protective security officers."
"I could just kill you, Kirk," Harrison smiled. "I'm offering to make you the queen of the new world order."
"If I wanted power, I wouldn't need your help to get it," she replied. That was very true. Chris has had to remind a few of the admirals that Jim was not an enemy they wanted to have. "I'm a main attraction, sweetheart, I don't play sidekick. I also don't go around killing people because I think I'm better than them."
"Well, I suppose we nothing further to discuss," Harrison sneered before the feed cut out.
Jim took a deep breath, "Maintain those shields."
Sulu nodded, "Yes, ma'am. They have weapon's lock."
"I'm sure," Jim chuckled. "Standby, Sulu."
The officers on the bridge didn't even seem worried that Jim didn't order them to start firing. Chris stood beside her chair, "What are you up to?"
"The fun part," Jim said. "Sulu, attack pattern sierra nine in ten seconds." The helmsman's hands flew over the console as Harrison's ship fired on them. Sulu pulled hard to starboard and started firing back.
"Hang onto something," the pilot called. Chris grabbed the back of Jim's chair as the Enterprise took a hit from the other ship. He realized that Jim and Sulu were waiting for that hit. The Klothos flew in out of nowhere with some Klingon vessels on its tail.
Chris smiled, "Now this is interesting."
Jim chuckled, "Oh, we're just gettin' started."
