A/N – Thank you so much for all the kind and encouraging reviews! I read each and every one! Thank you for taking the time to give me your thoughts and reactions! 8D
…
Now that Jim knew the stolen ship was Romulan, he had every reason to believe what he thought was true. They were warping into a battle, his father Nero and Uncle already beginning the plans they devised since before his birth. But why without him? Hadn't part of their big plan included retrieving him from the Federation so he could also watch Ambassador Spock suffer? As he dashed through the corridors, trying to find his way to the Bridge to warn the Captain, he came to the logical conclusion that the time predicted for Spock's arrival must have been earlier than suspected. That's the only reason he could fathom for their early attack.
If he got there in time, stopped the ship in time, while the Enterprise was preparing for battle, he could find a discreet way to contact Ayel and let him know he was alive. Then his uncle could beam him and McCoy aboard to safety while the battle raged on.
The only thing was, Jim had to act as though he was saving the ship, not about to turn his back on it. His mind raced for excuses and facts he could use in his benefit to make it seem he was a hero and not at all a Starfleet traitor. He was going to have to try and make the Captain believe him and that was—
Jim burst out unto the Bridge, all eyes looking at the intruder. A bewildered set he recognized settled on him: the Captain was Pike.
—going to be very hard.
Captain Pike stood up so quickly, Jim nearly missed it. Jim's steps faltered, surprised to see Pike was the Captain of this vessel, and he gulp down something thick in his throat. The Bridge went silent, all knowing that unauthorized access to the Bridge was punishable by discharge, but that didn't bother Jim since he was already in the process of being discharged. That didn't mean the same for McCoy and Uhura who had followed after him, though.
Pike stared down at him from the elevated platform, boring holes into his head as Jim reluctantly backed up a step. "How the hell did you get on this ship?" Pike demanded, slowly, angry, looking at Jim square in his eyes. For a moment, Jim found he had nothing to say. He hadn't thought that Pike was going to be the Captain of the ship.
When Jim said nothing, Bones stepped up for him. "Kirk is suffering from a severe reaction to a vaccine; he's under my medical supervision and is my responsibility." The Captain glared at McCoy, and that set Jim off. No one looked at his best friend that way.
"He's not important," Jim interrupted, "it's my fault he burst out onto the bridge."
"Jim!" Bones warned, surprised. Pike turned his attention back to Jim and studied him angrily, but clearly controlling it.
"Haven't you gotten enough attention for one day?" He demanded of Kirk. "Or was the holding cell child's play to you and now you'd rather test your abilities on a starship?"
Pike had every right to be angry with him, Jim knew, and tried to calm himself into a compromise mode. Time was running out. "I understand you're upset with me, Captain, but the reason I'm here is not to offend or piss you off any more than I already have. I came to tell you that—" His voice felt caught. Would he really give his family away to save Bones? Was his very first friendship that important to him? Jim turned and looked at his friend, giving him a look that he couldn't translate well. Ayel had taught him the wonders of friendship, the special bond it created between the two people, much like his uncle and father's friendship. For three years Jim had tasted the beautiful connection that comes with love and trust, could he really stand to lose that?
Fierce blue eyes traded McCoy for Pike. "I came to tell you that Vulcan isn't experiencing natural disasters. Vulcan is under attack." Everyone was now looking at him, staring in awe at the strange story.
"By whom?" Pike asked, steadying his stance to size him up.
Jim bit his lip. "By Romulans." He finally admitted, unwillingly. He kept telling himself it didn't matter, they still thought he was on their side and wasn't about to pull a 180 on them. They didn't know.
Mr. Spock stood from his station, looking Jim over carefully. Jim allowed him to, keeping his head held high to make sure the Vulcan couldn't see through his attempt. Spock came forward to them, taking up one of Pike's flanks as his right hand officer. His eyes looked dim, serious, and curious. "Based on what facts have you come to this conclusion, Mr. Kirk?" Jim might have been imagining it, but the Vulcan's voice almost sounded relieved, in a weird way.
Jim gulped again and decided to tell them part truths to gain their trust again. After discovering he was Kobayashi Alternative, he'd managed to burn his own bridge, but now could begin to make repairs. If they'd let him. To hopefully reach in and grab the curious Vulcan that Kobayashi Alternative had managed to grab, Jim focused on Spock's gaze as he spoke. "The same anomaly, a lightening storm in space, also occurred on the day of my birth before a Romulan ship attacked the USS Kelvin, you know, the ship my father piloted to his death?" Jim knew about the ship because the entire attack had centred around his birth, before Federation swine attacked their ship and killed his Human mother in the process. It wouldn't have happened had Spock not sent them into another universe, but he'd done well to study the circumstances that surrounded this alien James Kirk's birth and now utilized it for his own benefit. He was supposed to be pretending to be this Human after all.
"The ship, which had formidable and advanced weaponry, was never seen or heard from again. And this attack," Jim said paused to take a needed relaxing breath, "happened on the edge of Klingon space, where it was suspected that the Romulan ship remained. And, at 22:00 hours, eight days ago, there was an escape from a Klingon prison. The prisoners and the ship they stole were both Romulan." The look on Pike's face was in stagnate disbelief, while Mr. Spock's looked unchanged, if not a bit suspicious too.
"How would you know of this escape?" Pike asked. Jim stopped and turned to Uhura, looking at her with wide eyes. He had betrayed her, and it could be so easy for her to do the same, to simply tell Pike she didn't know what he was talking about to get back at him. But Uhura wasn't like the rest of these Federation dogs, she was a true individual. An honour to call his friend—once was his friend. Would she betray him? Jim knew it would be the smartest thing she could ever do for her people.
Uhura, instead, took a breath and stepped up beside Jim, Bones taking his other, as if to protect him from the Captain. "I intercepted and translated the transmission myself, Captain. Kirk's report is accurate." What was this feeling inside Jim's heart? Was it pain? He wasn't sure, all he did know was that betraying that woman again was going to hurt a little more now, but not everyone appreciated Uhura's support. Pike still appeared suspicious.
"Even if that was true," he began, "why should I trust you now?" he asked Jim pointedly, with a huff in his voice. "For all we know, you planted that transmission yourself, Kobayashi." Jim lowered his head a bit to the derogatory use of his pseudonym. It was best to lay low to the Captain, even if he wanted to lash out against him. Pike still had every reason not to trust him.
"With all respect, Sir," Jim said, "I'm flattered you think so highly of my abilities, but there wouldn't be much point in sending a fake transmission."
Pike stared into him. "Just like there wasn't any reason for you to masquerade around as Kobayashi Alternative? Surely, it wasn't to cheat on a notable test." He waved Jim off with his hand. "Spock, remove Mr. Kirk from my Bridge. He's been discharged, meaning he's now a stowaway. Lock him in the brig with full ensemble of precautions. I don't want our hero's son to manage yet another escape."
Jim nearly panicked. "But, sir!" He tried. "We're warping into a trap!" Pike ignored him, walking back towards his command chair while Spock took hold of Jim's shoulders to lead him away. The contact was icy, and Jim pulled himself away. "I don't care if you think I'm lying! At least have everyone at battle stations! You're going to get everybody killed!"
Pike swung around and approached the stowaway, making the blonde choke on unspoken words as the Vulcan stepped to the side to make room for his Captain. "I've heard just about enough from you." He warned deeply, now showing the anger that had been rising in his throat. "You will not give orders on my Bridge." He flicked his eyes to Spock, Jim reading it as another sign for the Vulcan to take Jim away, but before he could touch him again, Jim accelerated after Captain Pike to stall him once more.
"So I cheated on a damn test, big fucking deal! But you're about to make the worst mistake in Starfleet history if you don't get these officers ready for battle!" Pike whirled around again, hand in a striking position.
"The only mistake I've made, Kirk, is allowing your ridiculous tirade to continue!" Jim's eyes went wide as he saw Pike's hand come down to land a harsh hit upon him. He turned his head away to brace for impact—but none ever came. The loud sound of skin striking skin echoed in the now silent Bridge, but Jim felt neither flesh nor heat upon his face. He looked up, confused, and saw a stiff figure in front of him, a blue back protecting him, and the profile view of specific features, a particular black cap of hair, and distinguishingly pointed ears.
Spock had jumped in the way of the blow and had received the contact instead.
The Bridge was in awe.
Pike stared at the figure in front of him, Spock between him and Jim. His hand remained in the air, and he looked at it as if it wasn't his own, then he looked at the Vulcan who pulled his face back to the front. A slight greenish hue began to form on his cheek, and a tiny drop of blood dripped down his lip from where it looked like he bit it. Why had Spock protected him? Why had he gotten in the way?
"Spock," Pike said with his breath, like it was something he couldn't believe. His eyes were wide, staring into the Vulcan like he knew him better than anyone else.
Spock spoke like he hadn't been bitched slapped. "Mr. Kirk is now considered a civilian. Reprimanding him with any physical attack would be illegal in accordance with regulation code 34.2 A, subsection 84d and 14e." Both went silent.
"Is that really why you jumped in the way?" Pike suddenly asked, sounding a bit sad. "Regulations?" Spock didn't answer him right away, looking more like he was thinking of the right words to use.
"Also, Mr. Kirk's logic is sound. Lieutenant Uhura was top of her xenoliguistics class—an exceptional student, and it would be wise to accept her conclusions. If she claims the transmission is real and has no doubts of trickery, then I believe it would be in our best interests for the ship and crew to ready ourselves for battle." The Vulcan peered into Pike's darkening eyes. "As per Mr. Kirk's instruction." He added for no apparent reason. Like it was private, somehow.
And Pike understood that private reason, letting it sink into his body and mind. He'd been so angry with Kirk, he'd almost forgotten that any threats should be dealt with cautiously. Even if what Kirk said was a lie, it would be best to ready for anything upon their arrival. But even knowing that, Pike couldn't shake the bit of jealousy that wrapped around his heart. He looked to Spock, then Jim who stood behind him, three inches shorter, looking at him over the Vulcan's shoulder like a scared puppy. Perhaps they had been too quick to judge him. Did he really have anything else to go on?
"This is why I wanted you as my First Officer," Pike told him with a weak smile, and a light, sarcastic laugh to himself, "to remind me of other options." He looked at Kirk one last time then turned to his Bridge crew, retaining the strong air he had before Jim Kirk had managed to remind him he, too, was also only Human.
"I want everyone at battle stations." He ordered, turning to his Communications officer. "Scan all Vulcan space for any Romulan transmissions." He told her, but she frowned.
"Sir, I can't discern the difference between Vulcan and Romulan." Well that was great. He faltered for only an instant before moving to Uhura, breathing deeply before he approached her.
"What about you?" he asked. "Can you speak Romulan?" He only knew her as a star pupil back in the academy. She was responsible and trustworthy, but in fact, Pike knew very little about her though he'd often requested her to do various duties for him. One of them three years ago to escort Kirk. Spock was right to say they should trust her conclusions.
Uhura saluted promptly and smiled. "All three dialects, Sir." Quick, prompt, and smart. Pike remembered why he liked this officer.
"Good, then relieve the other lieutenant." She scampered off to the station. Everyone was beginning to get into battle mode. The alert red lights flashed on and off now as the entire ship was being notified.
"Mr. Spock," Pike said, "hail the USS Delegate." The Vulcan quickly complied and went over to a nearby station, helping Uhura clear frequencies. Jim swallowed thickly, wondering if what he was doing was the right thing, then moved back until he was standing side-by-side with Bones. It was strange the Human gave him such securities.
A warm hand placed itself on his shoulder, making Jim look up into sincere brown eyes. Bones was smiling. "You did good, kid." He told him. Jim replied with another smile, thinking how that simple phrase made his entire plan seem so flawless.
"The other ships have dropped out of warp and have arrived at Vulcan," Spock reported evenly, "but contact is impossible."
Uhura spoke up right after him. "All frequencies have been jammed. I'm not able to send or receive any transmissions, Captain!"
"That's because they're being attacked." Jim said darkly, looking over to Pike who had just sat back down in his command chair. Their gaze locked for an instant, Jim now knowing that the Captain had no other choice but to believe him. There hadn't been enough time for him to fake up that amount of data. Now Pike had two choices: Die or fight. Jim hoped either option gave him enough time to rescue Bones and his own ass.
Pike looked around one last time. "Shields up." He ordered smoothly. "And ready all weapons."
"Dropping warp in five seconds." The pilot reported, readying the starship for the drop. Everyone went tense. The Bridge fell silent once more. Bones could hear his own heartbeat. Mr. Spock and Uhura looked up to the view screen. Then—
The view screen lit up with the ominous glow of debris and attack. A part of some starship's hull came barreling towards them, making the new pilot use evasive maneuvers to avoid contact. The scene was dreadful, just as Jim had warned. The other starships on the scene were either blown to pieces or still fighting a giant dark mass. It was then Pike saw the giant dark mass was actually a ship! Larger than any ship he'd ever seen, and very sea-creature like with protrusions like evil tentacles, and torpedoes like hell's wrath.
Jim was the only one who smiled. It was his home.
Alarms blared, the pilot making moves to avoid more debris, forcing a lot of the crew around the Bridge to keep themselves steady. One particular uplift caused Jim to tumble backwards and land right on top of Spock, who caught him at his shoulders as they landed against the console. Both grunted from the pressure.
"Are you injured?" Spock asked. But before Jim could answer, the ship tumbled again, making both men topple to the floor, Spock hovering over Jim's vulnerable body. When he looked up, Jim thought he saw something flash through the Vulcan's eyes, but disregarded it. Spock was an emotionless fool, an alive emotionless fool, he reminded himself. Damnit! He still needed to kill this guy!
As they stood up so Spock could return to his station, Jim looked around to get an idea of how he was going to murder him while on the Bridge. There wasn't anything he could use without seeming obvious, and he still lacked the appropriate time to get into the manual controls of the ship to cause any malfunction that would destroy him.
The ship tumbled again, throwing Jim over to the left to smack the floor. He peered up blurredly at the view screen and decided there wasn't enough time for that. Nero would just have to destroy the ship and accomplish his mission for him. In the mean time, he needed to find a way to contact his uncle.
Pike shouted orders about the Bridge, making the Enterprise throw itself everyway it could to avoid contact and weapons. It was a bumpy ride, most of the crew trying to hold themselves at their stations for the worst of it.
"Get me Starfleet Command!" Pike shouted to whomever was working the stations at the moment, but he was met with equal desperation. Spock held himself on the station, turning his eyes to his Captain.
"The Romulan ship has lowered some kind of high energy pulse device into the Vulcan atmosphere—its signal appears to be blocking all communications and transporter abilities!" Pike grumbled to himself. This was fucking brilliant! No communication, no transporter, they were just on the edge of fucked.
"Evasive maneuvers!" He ordered the pilot. "Take us below and fire all weapons!" The crew went into a frenzy to comply the orders, but only Jim was free to move about the Bridge since he had no duties to perform.
While everyone was distracted, he was trying to access the wall terminal to give him complete controls of emergency communications. Since his father had already sent down the drill, only he knew of a way around the scrambling frequency, and he needed to act fast if he wanted to make sure he and Bones were gone before the ship was destroyed. Nimble fingers worked their magic, trying to disengage controls and initiate others, only to turn up empty. They were running out of time, fire power, and stamina. It wouldn't be too long before they met their demise.
"The Romulans have locked torpedoes!" An officer shouted across the Bridge. "Shields down to twenty percent! We can't take another hit like that!" Jim internally panicked, making his hands work quicker. When another 'access denied' prompted him, Jim slammed his fists down in frustration against the panel. He then looked around, unsure what to do next—and where the hell was Bones?
This was the first moment he'd actually taken in the damage upon the Bridge and knew instantly where his friend had gone off to. Sickbay, to help the injured. Damn that man's Hippocratic Oath! This wasn't going to work if the main reason for his traitorous acts wasn't present!
He needed a new idea and fast. Thinking quickly, Jim cursed to himself. He had no other options. Jim dropped beside Uhura who was frantically working her station to get control of the frequencies. His only choice left was to use Uhura's duty privileges to save their asses one more time.
"Uhura, open and access the ship's main computers for me, allow it to give you all administrative access." She stared up at him confused, another hard maneuver throwing them a bit.
"You have a plan?" She demanded of him, almost scared. Jim nodded, and with nothing else to lose, she complied and opened the access terminal.
…
The crew aboard the Narada was in less of a wreck than the Federation scum below them. They moved swiftly through their duties, complying with every order. Nero was pleased. The drilling was almost complete on Vulcan, and soon they would be sending down the Red Matter to make Spock pay for his crime. Everything was going according to their long, drawn out plans. Finally, the time for their revenge was nearly complete. Nero smiled.
Ayel sat in silence, working his station tediously, blasting starships out of existence and toying with others to let the enemies think they stood a chance. It was hardening for his heart, each attack blazing through the space around them to kill more innocent people. The destruction was immense, but after twenty-five years of servitude to Nero, he'd grown numb to it all. What was another life for the cost of their planet? What was another life to bring him one step closer to hell's doorstep?
He zeroed in on the newest starship to join the fight. It was moving about drastically and proved a formidable foe, but it wouldn't last long, Ayel knew. He locked the torpedoes on the starship, readying for the final attack that would finally silence the destruction. But he did not pull the trigger.
Before his fingers touched the controls again, Ayel stopped to observe a tiny blinking frequency upon his station. He opened the strange alert and his terminal lit to life with a barrage of numbers and codes. Ayel recognized these codes, and began translating them, making his breath stop in his lungs. His eyes went wide and then a smile formed over his lips while tears stung into his view.
Jim!
Another alert blipped on his screen and his eyes fell over in shadow. Another helmsman had taken over the attack controls since he had stopped briefly. They probably assumed he was recharging ammunition and decided to finish the attack for him.
Oh no.
Ayel stood up from his station quickly, knowing the only person who could call off the attack was Nero. Since his emotionalism over Jim, Ayel hadn't been given much command out of fear he would become compromised during the execution of their plans. Nero had thought right to do so, but this was one moment where he had dreaded following those orders. They were about to kill his nephew!
The Romulan Commander rushed through the corridors to gain access to their Bridge. The doors opened swiftly, allowing him quick entry. Every eye on the Bridge turned to him, Nero's gaze the hardest.
"Why aren't you at your station, Commander?" Nero demanded of him, wondering if this was going to be another attempt at mutiny.
"You have to stop the attack!" Ayel replied desperately, not calming Nero's assumption. "Jim's on that ship!"
…
Uhura looked up from the controls to Jim who wore an expression of pure surprise. She had given him complete override control of the communications mainframe, but what he had done with it was beyond her knowledge. She'd never seen someone deliberately destroy codes and reassemble them into an older fashion for what her instructors would call a 'flinging vulnerable shift'. He managed to break through the scrambling caused by the strange device only temporarily, but with enough time to send one code. Whatever he had sent stopped the attack. Everyone was looking on in silence and question. Why were they still alive?
"Kirk, what did you do?" Pike demanded, getting up from his chair to face him directly.
Jim stood proud and firm, sure of himself. He knew what he did. "I sent them a signal, forcing them to call our bluff," he lied, "making them think we still have communication abilities."
"How did you manage this?" Spock asked him, intriguingly. Pike laughed to himself and shook his head.
"Really Spock? You're asking how?" The Vulcan looked at him, saying nothing. Pike continued. "He's Kobayashi Alternative. That should be answer enough, don't you think?" A strange sense of warmth burrowed in Jim's stomach upon hearing that. He smiled, but he wasn't sure what for. These feelings were so new to him, was he feeling pride from Pike? Accomplishment? He turned away, feeling his face heat up. How odd this feeling was.
"Captain," Uhura then said, breaking the warmth that had enveloped them, "we're being hailed." The entire Bridge switched glances with one another, Jim looking up to the view screen before frantically looking around for the nearest exit. But he stopped himself. No. He wouldn't run away, not from his father. Not now. If Ayel had gotten his message, then his uncle would be there too. He missed that Romulan so much.
Everyone stilled in unison when the view screen blinked and sputtered alive to show the hard and strong angles of Jim's father.
Nero.
No one knew this but him, and Jim stood proudly, playing his role and allowing his father to see he was still alive and still strong, even though on the Bridge stood with him the younger form of his enemy. What was his father to say? What would he do when he saw Jim's mission was incomplete?
Nero looked around at them all, stopping on Jim's form, flicking his eyes to Spock, still breathing, and then offering a smile to the Captain. He kept his eyes on Jim, however, for a much longer time. Would Nero give him away? Would he blow his cover?
"Hello." Nero began cordially. "I am Nero of the Narada."
Pike shifted his weight, moving towards the front to take the Romulan's attention. "I'm Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise. You've declared war against the Federation. Withdraw, and I'll agree to arrange a conference with Romulan leadership at a neutral location." Pike knew they were fucked. No communications. No fire power. No transporter. Nero had them in a trap. Words were all that was left in their arsenal.
Nero laughed. "I'm sorry to inform you, Christopher, but my crew and I stand apart from the Empire you know. Just like one of your crewmembers." Nero admitted, and Jim felt his skin crawl. His own father was going to give him away! Nero was going to expose him! He had failed! Jim looked down at his feet, awaiting the words that would seal his fate—but none came. At least, not to him. "Isn't that right, Spock?"
Both he and the Vulcan looked up at once. All eyes fell on Spock, Jim was thankful for the diversion. Did this mean Nero wasn't angry with him? Had Ayel possibly talked sense into him since his departure three years ago? Would his father love him, no questions anymore? The thought that Nero would take him into his arms as a father, accept him, embrace him, made his heart stop. Could it be true?
His thoughts were so occupied, Jim had missed most of the small conversation between Spock and his father. What he could gather was that Nero didn't look as angry as before, and Spock appeared rigid with uncertainty. Pike was suspicious.
"Spock," Nero began again, "I want you to see something, since you're here, after all." Jim bit his lip, maybe Nero wasn't too forgiving just yet. He kept his eyes away, showing his father much respect even though they were still far apart. Nero continued, facing the Captain.
"Captain Pike, your transporter is disabled, and it has been confirmed you are still without communications." Pike knew they'd called their bluff. Nice try, though, Jim. "You will man a shuttle and come aboard my ship for negotiations." He looked around the Bridge one last time, making everyone's breath catch. Jim didn't dare look up to see if he had stopped on him. "That is all." He finally told them and cut the transmission. Jim released the breath he didn't even know he was holding and basked in the feelings that washed over his body. That had been so close. But seeing as Nero didn't single him out, maybe he had forgiven him? Jim was still unsure, and almost scared to go back to the Narada and find out.
His thoughts were broken when Spock spoke up to an eerily silent Captain. "Your survival is unlikely." He told him slowly, evenly. "It would be best to rethink your strategy." Pike nodded to him, understanding that completely.
"You're right, Spock." He told him bleakly, "but Nero hasn't left me any other options." Pike knew what he had to do. Looking into the faces of his young crew, gazing into the minutely worried eyes of his Vulcan friend, Pike knew his duties. His life was not worth the hundreds aboard his ship. He stared back into Spock. His life was not worth his dear friend's. Pike spun around and spoke clearly unto the Bridge with firm, strong tones. "I need any officers with experience in hand-to-hand combat."
The pilot raised his hand, standing and saluting to him. "I have experience, Sir." Good man, Pike thought.
"Then you, come with me." He ordered and began for the turbolift, Spock following on his heels. "Kirk," he said loudly, regaining the boy's attentions from whatever was clouding his thoughts, "you too. You're not supposed to be here anyway." Jim stared at him like he couldn't believe what he was hearing, but then nodded his consent and followed them. They all stepped into the turbolift. "Mr. Chekov, radio the engine room and have them deliver a pulse bomb to the shuttle bay."
"Pulse bomb?" Jim asked, but the turbolift doors shut around them before any answer could be given.
…
Nero turned from the view screen, a smile on his lips as deadly as his heart. "James is alive." He told Ayel who was standing a distance behind him. Ayel said nothing, made no movements or gestures. He didn't think he could since he had seen his nephew's face again. The pure emotion behind it had almost made him choke on relief. Nero approached him.
"James is alive," he said again into his Commander's face, "but so is Spock." He spat, the smile fading. Ayel didn't give away any of his inner thoughts, but stood still, facing forward. Taking Nero's taunting. "The clock is running out, Ayel… You know what awaits you both should he not complete his mission."
Ayel slowly nodded, forcing back the knot in his throat.
"Let's just hope that James realizes I'm giving him another chance." Nero laughed deeply, as if the joke was private. "What a kind father I am to give such chances. With the Captain gone, James will be free to roam about and finish his mission. No watchful eyes. He can bloody his hands green." Nero grasped Ayel's shoulder tightly, shaking him once to remind him he was there. The smile was gone, and the seriousness of their plans returned.
"Go and retrieve Christopher from the dock once he arrives. Bring him to me in the brig. When we're finished interrogating him, we'll discuss how to bring your nephew back aboard—but only if Spock is confirmed dead. Do you understand, Commander?" Ayel nodded again, but much quicker this time. "Good. Then you're dismissed, Ayel." He pat his cheek and smiled again. "And smile a little, my friend. It won't be long before you two are reunited again. Whether it be by an embrace or by a shared death. Smile."
Smile.
It was times like these Ayel wished Nero didn't have his complete loyalties.
…
Mr. Spock followed Captain Pike directly, Jim Kirk, and the pilot he knew as Mr. Sulu walking alongside him. Nothing was logical, when Spock thought about it. First his bouts with Jim Kirk at the academy, then his own friend singling him out to protect him from Jim Kirk, and now a Captain named Nero he'd never met before calling his name and telling him he wanted him to 'see' something. Was it strange to feel like he was at a crossroad? Put on display for some cosmic scaled reason? It was not logical.
But hard to deny the bizarre coincidences.
Pike started, causing Spock to focus attention on him. "Without transporters, we're screwed. We can't beam off the ship, or assist Vulcan. So I'm going to create an opportunity that Nero won't be expecting." Spock thought he may have imagined the slight determination that flooded into Jim Kirk's eyes, but he ignored it. Pike continued. "Mr. Kirk and Mr. Sulu, was it?" he asked, "You're both going to space-jump from the shuttle with chutes and the pulse bomb and land on that machine they've lowered into the atmosphere. That's the source of the scrambling. We need to disable it, which is where the pulse bomb comes in. Use it to deactivate the device and once completed, beam back aboard the ship." Kirk and Sulu switched glances. Spock was equally confused since Mr. Kirk was in the midst of a discharge.
They continued to the shuttle bay, feet matching the quick pace. They stopped just in front of another turbolift which would take Captain Pike and the others down to the shuttles. "Captain," Spock pleaded, "Mr. Kirk is in the stages of discharge. He is not listed for active duty." Pike turned and looked at him with sincere, Human eyes.
"I know, Spock, which is why I'm putting you in command now." Pike took his shoulders, Spock feeling the warmth of his fingers bleed into him. "Clear Kirk for duty and allow him ship-wide access to all terminals and data. His discharge has just been rendered null." Spock stared into him, curious, confused by his fickle Human traits.
"But, Captain—"
"He just saved us, Spock." Pike nearly whispered. "Maybe you were right to force me to look at another perspective." Pike's hand reached up and caressed Spock's cheek where it was still sore from Pike's slap earlier. "Perhaps we were too quick to judge him. I've been a fool, Spock, a jealous fool."
Spock was stunned. "Chris…?"
Pike shook his head. "No, Commander. Not Chris. Not Captain. You're the Captain now." The Vulcan felt his eyes widen, but said nothing in response. He wanted to, tried to, but found something blocking his airway. He quelled the emotion quickly, feeling a chill settle over him when Pike released his shoulders.
He returned to business, smiling at Spock. "The moment you can transmit again, contact Starfleet Command and let them know what's going on out here. If for some reason the mission fails, fall back and rendezvous with the fleet in the Laurentian System. And one more thing," he paused, looking to Jim Kirk and then back to Spock. "I'm promoting Kirk to First Officer."
"What?" Jim all but shouted. Spock shown his concern as well, but subtly. Was Captain Pike serious?
"Consider this a white flag, Mr. Kirk. We need to keep the chain of command, and I don't think I need to go into the details why I think you two will make a good match." Pike told him, then looked to Spock again for approval. He winked at the Vulcan. "Be nice to my ship, Mr. Spock. She's new." The turbolift doors opened and closed around the three men, Spock's vision fading with their presence.
Jim stood beside Pike and mumbled to himself. How was he supposed to get back home now? He was sick of this charade and wanted to go home, but Pike had just promoted him to First Officer, a second in command aboard the Enterprise. If he made it back safely, he could kill Spock and take control of the ship entirely, turning it over to his father as an apology gift to accept Jim's delayed mission. Yes. That would work. And on the drill, Jim could easily knock Mr. Sulu off and let him escape to an unfortunate death. He'd work the controls himself, talk with his crew again, and beam back aboard giving the ship no further contact, surrender it to Nero, grab Bones, and walk to his home a hero.
Yes. The plan was perfect.
But little did Jim know that McCoy was getting his own stroke of additional promotions.
…
Dr. McCoy held in his arms the bloodied remains of Dr. Puri. He was the ship's Chief Medical Officer, and now lay dead in the doctor's arms. His death caused by an explosion of one of the equipment during their battle, forcing a gaping hole into the CMO. Bones stared down at the man, trying to hold back tears of a lost life. He had done all he could, but it had been too late. Sickbay was in shambles, injuries all throughout the ship. McCoy now understood he had a new responsibility. It took one message from Mr. Spock to force reality in motion.
"Dr. Puri, please report." The Vulcan's voice came over the intercom. McCoy released the cold CMO and stood, ignoring the blood that covered his body. Bones was the second ranked doctor on board. It was now his duty to fill the spot Dr. Puri had left behind. He pushed the intercom button to establish a link.
"This is McCoy," he said with a heavy heart, "Dr. Puri is dead." Silence filled on the other end for many seconds.
"Then it appears you have just inherited his title, Dr. McCoy. Please report."
McCoy stared down at the body, the bodies being moved around him. Some of them bore the faces of cadets he'd known at the academy. Friends. He shook the thoughts away. He was responsible for them now. All of them. The weight of duty nearly crushed him where he stood.
It was the first time McCoy ever fought back tears while giving a report.
…
