In honor of the new Star Trek movie coming out today, I'm posting this early. :) For those who have seen the movie already, I'm sooo jealous! I'm seeing it tomorrow, so if any of you leave spoilers, I will eat you. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 14
Tsunami
At first, no one could comprehend what had happened. It had happened far too fast. Spock and Sulu had incapacitated Wolff in a matter of seconds when they reached him, disarming him and shoving him to the ground by the back of his neck. Wolff didn't protest as he was slammed front first into the ground, only letting out a huff when he collided with the hard floor. He felt a knee press painfully against his back – Sulu, he assumed – because Spock's fingers were by his shoulders, just ready to Vulcan pinch him into oblivion. But Wolff paid them no attention. Instead, all he did was cackle at the sight before him.
Despite the burning anger, dread quickly filled both Spock and Sulu at Wolff's obvious glee. Slowly, they turned with their hearts sinking to see Liam on the ground from where Jim had pushed him out of harm's way. Chekov was standing close by with a matching look of horror and grief written across his faces. Tears were streaming down their faces.
That was when they saw Jim.
Jim was being cradled so delicately in McCoy's arms, like something that was so absolutely precious, his blue eyes staring tearily up at his best friend. His body was like a puppet with all its strings cut and he was clearly losing all his strength by the second. There was a small puddle of blood that was growing at an alarming rate underneath his back. His shaking hand was touching McCoy's cheek, leaving blood trails behind. Jim was clearly trying to say something to McCoy, but they only heard McCoy begging Jim to stay with him. Jim's voice had faded so much that not even Spock could hear him.
Slowly, Jim's hand fell, dropping limply against his stomach.
His eyes fluttered shut.
McCoy called out Jim's name a couple more times, but he didn't have to be a doctor to know that Jim wouldn't respond to him anymore.
With a loud, anguished cry that shattered everyone's hearts and souls, McCoy pulled Jim upwards into a tighter hug, his entire body shaking and breaking apart in grief.
The hall was frozen in silence, too shocked and overwhelmed by sorrow so strong that it would bring everyone to their knees, save for the quiet sobs from McCoy.
Wolff laughed loudly, "He's dead, isn't he? He's finally dead!"
Spock had no qualms when he viciously and ruthlessly Vulcan pinched Wolff into unconsciousness. Swiftly, he checked on the two guards, ensuring that they were still alive, before making sure that Wolff could never escape again. It took all of Spock's self-control and Vulcan teachings to not let the sorrow and pain of losing his dearest friend completely overwhelm and cripple him.
But even then, Spock knew that he was fighting a losing battle.
He could already feel the hot tears that made his eyes burn as his entire soul sank in despair. The darkness that was growing within him was something that he had never encountered before – he hurt so much that words couldn't even begin to describe it. The pure, utter agony felt like he had lost his right arm, his eyes, and everything that made Spock who he was.
He had lost his best friend, his comrade, his brother. Spock was spiraling back to those dark times when he had just lost his mother and home planet, but he didn't have a light to bring him back from the abyss anymore. Without Jim, there was no coming back. Spock wasn't even sure if he wanted to recover. Nothing would ever be the same again.
Spock limped over to McCoy, his body so overwhelmed with grief that he couldn't walk straight. Without a word, Spock fell to his knees next to McCoy, his legs crumbling beneath him. He leaned over, placing a single hand on McCoy's shaking shoulder.
All at once, McCoy's emotions washed over him like a tsunami, inundating him like a city sieged with water. For once, Spock didn't try to shield; he deserved being torn apart for not being fast enough to save Jim. For not taking down Wolf before he managed to get the fatal shot out. And he was sure as hell not going to let McCoy fall alone. Jim would never forgive him if he did.
McCoy's heartbreaking sorrow crashed into him, wrecking him into tinier pieces and destroying whatever was left. Spock completely drowned in McCoy's absolute loss: if Spock had felt that he had lost an arm, McCoy had lost all of his limbs and senses. He had lost all his nerves and cells within his body; his lungs were collapsing on him. He couldn't breathe anymore. There was a gaping hole in his heart and he was hemorrhaging out. There was nothing to catch him from falling and falling. He was never going to come back from this.
Sulu numbly watched the two grieve, frozen in disbelief and trapped in a river of denial. It couldn't be…Jim couldn't be gone. It felt just like yesterday that Jim was onboard with the rest of them, smiling and putting his arm around Sulu as his entire body shook with laughter. Jim was always glowing, always dynamic. Sulu couldn't juxtapose the image of Jim being so pale and lifeless in front of him with the Jim that never stopped moving and never stopped being larger than life. Jim looked like a doll now: broken and empty. It just wasn't right. Sulu wanted his hero back. Sulu wanted one of his closest friends back. More than anything, he wanted his brother back.
But he knew his wishes were just tendrils of air that would disappear from between his fingers. Sulu felt everything completely drain out of him. As if he had died with Kirk.
Sulu stumbled forward, almost in a drunken manner, and just sank down by Jim's side as he grieved with McCoy and Spock. Nothing in the world could have moved Sulu from Jim now, even if he could lift a single finger, yet, he was still able to flinch harshly when he heard Chekov wail loudly.
With slightly blurry vision, he turned to see Chekov crumbling to the ground, openly weeping. He wanted to go comfort his Russian friend, but he wasn't capable of it right now. None of them would be ever again. It was hard to imagine what Chekov was feeling. Jim had chosen Chekov to be his right-hand man on this mission. He clearly had a bond with Chekov that was deeper than just the sheer respect they had had for each other. Sulu couldn't even fathom the depths of Chekov's grief, nor could he possibly begin to even scratch the surface of McCoy's or Spock's, especially the doctor's.
At least Chekov wasn't alone in his grief though. Beside him, Liam wrapped Chekov into a hug with his impossibly thin arms and together, they felt the world come crashing down on them. Chekov leaned into Liam's touch, sobbing heavily against the child's chest. Liam didn't deserve to hold him together – he had gone through so much already, but Chekov had no one else to turn to because no one, other than Liam, would understand the true tragedy that Chekov saw in Jim's last moments.
McCoy, Spock, and Sulu didn't see Jim like Chekov or Liam did, struggling fiercely through his nightmarish memories. They didn't see him break down into tiny little atoms from guilt and the weight of the world collapsing on him. Or how tired Jim had gotten, fighting tooth and nail every single second of his life. And they certainly didn't see the relief that was on Jim's face when he breathed his last breath.
That, more than anything, was what broke Chekov. Because Jim had welcomed death when he realized there was no escaping it. Jim had done what he had set out to do: save his family and those kids. And, in the end, he was content to just be done. To not struggle anymore. To finally find some peace in himself.
It was just so tragic: that after everything Jim had ever been through, all the lives he had saved and all the lives he had touched, Jim could only find peace in death.
And Chekov hated himself for not being able to have a chance to change that. To let Jim know how much he mattered. To let him know how much he was loved. And most of all, to not have saved Jim the way he did for everyone he had ever come across.
After everything – all the torture that Greenaway did, all the fighting and struggling that Wolff caused – it wasn't either of them that brought the Command crew of the flagship Enterprise to their knees.
It was Jim.
All their hearts broke together. There was no possible way to ever repair them.
The only one who was dry-eyed was Giotto, but that was only because he had a duty he had sworn to Jim that he would do. He stood guard over his Command officers like the soldier he was – the way Jim had taught him. He had already failed his Captain, but he would be damned if he let anything happen to anyone else. He was going to keep McCoy, Spock, Sulu, Chekov, and Liam safe while they mourned. He would watch over them and protect them if it was the last thing he did. In honor of his one and only Captain.
Liam felt Chekov clinging to him, his hands grasping his thin clothes, but he didn't grieve as Jim's friends. His heart was already heavy from his sister's death, but right now, Liam felt more guilt than sorrow. Jim literally gave his life for his promise to Thea. He had sworn that he would keep Liam safe, and now he had left behind his friends and men, to grieve and wallow in sorrow.
Unlike his sister who had seen Jim for who he was, Liam just only saw everything clearly now: Jim's life had been heartbreaking and full of struggles. But that was how Jim became so strong and so brave. It was how Jim was able to take on an entire army and save everyone single-handedly. But even so, Jim had never found solace until he found his friends, his family by bond. Thea identified with him immediately as someone who would sacrifice everything for the people they cared about.
And here, at the end, Thea and Jim were two side of a coin and had both given their lives for Liam. So that he and the other children could have a future. Jim had even stained his own hands so that Liam wouldn't; thrown away whatever future he may have had for Liam.
And all Liam did was cause Jim's death.
Liam closed his eyes, but he could still feel Chekov's shaking arms. He hadn't even thanked Jim. Now he never would.
There was a whisper of air that floated near Liam's ear. He felt a warmth touch his cheek, caressing his skin and wiping away his tear. Instinctively, Liam knew that touch. He would never forget it for the rest of his life.
He opened his eyes and before him was a transparent form, floating just an inch above the ground.
"Thea…" Liam whispered in awe.
His beloved sister was smiling at him, her green eyes glittering. Her long black hair was let loose around her shoulders, flowing beautifully around her. She was wearing a simple, white, long dress and made her seem angelic. She looked as though she was flying free.
Tears starting splashing down his cheeks with new fervor. He had missed her so, so much. "How…how are you here?" he asked quietly, not quite sure if he believed what he was seeing yet.
At his words, Chekov looked up, but based on his confused expression, he couldn't see Thea even though she was right in front of him. At least not yet.
Liam opened his mouth, wanting to ask more questions, but Thea just raised a finger to her lips and smiled. She turned her head, making Liam follow her gaze and look back at Jim.
A graceful, translucent figure shrouded in light and a sense of serenity was floating in front of McCoy. She was tall and slender and was surrounded in an aura of white. The long, white dress that she wore flowed around her elegantly. She looked as though she had been carved from a piece of pure, white marble by Michelangelo himself – perfect down to the toes on her bare feet.
Instantly, Liam knew who she was even though he had never even seen images of her. It was an instinct, almost, for his soul to recognize the being before him. His jaw dropped open and he scrambled to kneel in front of her, bowing his head to the ground. "Goddess," he murmured in greeting.
Chekov almost overbalanced at Liam's sudden movements, but the moment he saw the Goddess, he froze completely as hope rose ever so slightly.
"Cease your tears, Doctor," the Goddess spoke softly, her voice echoing ethereally. "All is not lost."
At her words, McCoy, Spock, and Sulu's head all snapped up to stare at her. Their reactions varied: Spock looked on in curiosity, Sulu in awe, and McCoy in suspiciousness. Immediately, McCoy pulled Jim closer to him, trying desperately to shield Jim with himself. The meaning behind his actions were clear: he couldn't protect Jim in life, but he would be damned if he let anything happen to Jim's body.
"Do not fear me, Doctor. I mean no harm to any of you."
McCoy stayed stubbornly reticent, knowing full well that Spock would handle it. If there was anything that bonded the two opposites together, it was Jim. And McCoy had complete faith and trust in Spock that he would never allow anything to happen to Jim. Not even in death.
Spock subtly moved forward so that he was positioned to leap in front of McCoy and Jim if necessary, but there was also a quiet contemplation in his brown eyes. "Who are you?" he asked.
"I have forgotten my true name centuries ago, but the people of this world call me the Goddess."
"Are you a deity?"
She shook her head, "I am an elemental. My race used to live on this planet long before the humans came. I am the last of my kind and the last to have stayed."
"Why did you stay?"
"For the sake of the children whose innocence must be protected."
"I don't care who the hell you are," growled McCoy, his eyes red and angry, "If you want Jim, you can fuck off."
Liam hissed at the utter disrespect and the Goddess' image wavered briefly, like a heat mirage. Her facial expressions showed no anger, however, or annoyance, but there was a weariness that hadn't been there before.
Spock laid a calming hand on McCoy's arm, urging McCoy to leave the talking to him. It was a testament to how far they had come that McCoy didn't even think twice about shutting his mouth.
The Vulcan considered the Goddess calmly. "Why have you come?"
She pointed directly at Jim. "For him. For the first time during my long, long existence, the stars and the universe cried out in so much sorrow and pain when this man breathed his last. James Tiberius Kirk was not meant to meet his end here."
Hope lit in McCoy's eyes and he tentatively raised his head. "Can you save him?"
"Alas, I no longer have the strength or power to do so. I have grown weaker and weaker over the last few hundred centuries. I have used the last of my power to protect the children of this world from harm. Even now, I can barely sustain my form."
"Please," McCoy begged. "Please, save him. I'll do or give anything. Just. Please…He's my brother. I can't live without him."
"I cannot, but fear not, Doctor. This is not the end for James Tiberius Kirk."
As if on cue, Thea stepped forward, making Liam do a double-take. He hadn't noticed that she had left his side. She was now standing proudly beside the Goddess, completely visible to all those who were present. She smiled gently as Chekov gasped out her name like it was a prayer, garnering curious looks from his friends.
Silently, Thea lifted her hands, as if she was cupping water. A small dot appeared above her open palms. She blew on it carefully and it grew like a balloon until it was the size of a softball. At first, the orb was dark and seemed to lack any energy, but Thea blew on it gently again.
Suddenly, color exploded out from the middle like a firework, quite reminiscent of the universe's big bang. The orb was now sky blue with wisps of gold running through it like clouds. The gold sparkled and glittered like diamond sand. An aura of golden light, shining bright like a star, was being emitted by the orb. In a graceful and gorgeous dance, the blue and gold moved in tandem with each other as a swirling, infinite galaxy, giving the distinct impression that it was alive.
It was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen. And somehow, they all knew that it was Jim's soul in her hands, fluttering around within the confines of that orb like a bird's beating wings.
Only Jim's soul could look like the stars, the sky, and the sun all at once – majestic, awe-inspiring, and fantastical.
"Jim saved my soul. I want to save his now." Thea smiled knowingly. "After all that Jim has given for this universe, after all the lives he has saved, it's about time that the universe repays him, don't you think?"
She leaned forward, askance in her eyes for McCoy to release some of the gripping hold he had on Jim. He hesitated at first, not sure what she was about to do.
"Let her," Chekov said, breaking the silence with his hoarse voice. "She won't harm the Keptin."
Frowning, McCoy slowly did as Chekov asked and let Jim lay back down flat on his legs, but he refused to completely let Jim go. Jim felt so light in his arms, a far cry from what Bones had remembered. The thought almost broke McCoy again.
"You must be Bones," Thea murmured as she drew closer. "Jim never stopped talking about you. I can see why now. You mean a lot to him. You all do."
At that, McCoy looked at her – really looked at her. Jim wouldn't have told his nickname for McCoy to just anyone. She was just a kid, a teenager, but there was wisdom far beyond her years in her green eyes. "Who are you? How did you know about me?"
"A friend," she replied simply.
And she shoved the orb straight into Jim's chest.
Jim's torso heaved as his entire body arched off McCoy's legs. He fell back immediately, his head slumping to the side, still unconscious, but his chest was now moving. Up and down. Up and down.
McCoy could feel Jim's heart start again, beating slowly at first and then gradually picking up some speed. Ecstatic happiness erupted in Bones, but at the same time, he could feel the hope sink by the second because with each new heartbeat, he could feel Jim's blood soak through his pants.
This all would mean nothing if McCoy couldn't stop the bleeding and repair the damage.
He made to move, but a curtain of white light blocked his vision for a brief moment. He blinked and looked down. The Goddess had darted forward and laid both of her elegant hands on Jim's chest. Light pulsated around her and Jim for two long minutes.
When she pulled away, she was so transparent that she was fading away into the atmosphere by the second. She had used the last of her power to help Jim.
"This was all I could do, I'm afraid. I could only temporarily cease his bleeding. His wound is still grievous. You do not have much time to save him," she whispered. "You must act quickly."
"Please wait," McCoy said before she disappeared completely. "Why him? Hundreds of men died today. Why save him and no one else?"
The Goddess smiled. "Because the universe still needs him. He is a good man. Someday, he may even come to believe it, but he needs to be given that chance first. He is worth it, no?"
There was no hesitation in McCoy's response. "Absolutely. He's worth everything."
"And there is your answer. Farewell, Doctor. Take good care of him. For the sake of the universe."
And then she was gone, fading away into the air like she hadn't existed in the first place, but Thea still stood there still with a gentle smile on her face. She clearly had something left to say before she went too.
She floated closer, laying a hand on Jim's cheek. Unconsciously, Jim leaned into her touch. She looked up at McCoy with understanding in her hazel eyes.
"Please, tell Jim not to feel guilty for what happened to me," she said. "There was no escaping death for me, but he kept my soul untainted so that I could join my family. For that, thank him for me. He won't understand it at first and he won't accept it, but you'll need to help him through it. Jim was meant for bigger and larger things. Don't let this crush him."
"Wait, I don't understand. What the hell happened?" McCoy asked.
"You haven't been told yet?" she questioned, , she glanced at Chekov with a curious tilt of her head. "He's forbidden you from telling them what happened, hasn't he?"
Chekov just nodded, tears still in his eyes. "I can't tell them. Not until he tells me otherwise."
Thea sighed. "He needn't punish himself like this."
"I don't know vhat to do…" Chekov sniffed.
"Worry not, Chekov. He may have forbidden you, but he didn't say the same to Liam, did he?" She hovered towards her brother, a proud smile on her face. "Liam. My dear, dear Liam. Tell him that I was born to save him. I see that now. So that he could save everyone else. He may not understand. But he will. In time."
Thea's form started fading. She flung herself onto Liam, hugging him tightly. "I'm so proud of you, my little brother. And I love you. No matter where you go, no matter what you do, know that I will always be with you. Always. Live, Liam. For all of us."
"I love you too, Thea," he whispered, hugging her back with tears falling down his face. "And I will. Goodbye, my dear sister."
"Til we meet again, Liam…"
She disappeared from his grasp, leaving Liam to cry quietly. There was a change in him though. There was still loss, digging a hole into his heart with such pain, but at least this time, he had the chance to say his farewell to his sister. The closure meant more to Liam than he could ever express.
Chekov scooted over and hugged Liam tightly, holding him as Liam had done earlier. The Russian turned his head to look at the very baffled McCoy, Spock, and Sulu.
"You should take the Keptin back onboard, Doctor," Chekov said, his eyes so full of strength. As if he knew that he had to take charge while the rest of them recovered. "The Goddess' magic von't last long."
McCoy nodded and scooped Jim up in a delicate hold. Jim's head lolled so that he rested against Bones' throat. He could feel each breath that Jim on his throat, and it warmed him like coals bring kindled to life.
As he shifted Jim more securely, something slipped out of Jim's pocket and clattered onto the ground. It was a Starfleet communicator that Jim had obviously configured. The edges of the Starfleet insignia was battered and had been melted – no doubt from the crash that had brought him to Zenobia. But it had been carefully repaired, despite the fact that it had been so damaged.
Wordlessly, Sulu bent down to pick it up. As he did, he accidentally pressed a button on it. Wolff's voice flittered through. His voice sounded distant, but every word came through clearly.
"You finally came. I feel so honored."
"This was what you wanted, wasn't it, Wolff?" came Jim's reply. "I must say, this was probably the stupidest idea you have ever had in your entire life. It'll be your last, Wolff."
"I think it's rather brilliant. Where is that girl of yours? I thought you would bring her with you. It would be cruel to let her continue to suffer, just as your crew is."
Sulu shot Liam a look. Wolff had to be talking about Thea, goading Jim so soon after her death. But Jim continued speaking in that cold, dead voice of his. Completely unruffled by Wolff.
"What have you been telling the Enterprise to keep them up there? Do they know that you killed Dreyes and framed me in order to rebel against the Federation?"
Wolff laughed loudly. "You think me foolish enough to tell the grunts what my plans are? Even if they have realized that there was something wrong, they wouldn't be able to beam down. I've implanted a virus onboard that only people of our caliber can overwrite."
"I wouldn't underestimate my people, Wolff."
"You were the only one that posed a threat, Kirk. But I still managed to frame you for killing Dreyes and take over the Enterprise without any difficulties. When this is all over, the Federation will erase you from history to cover up the shame of having one of their own committing treason."
There was a moment of silence before Jim spoke again. "How did it feel to kill Dreyes – your mentor for years – by your own hands? Was it easy? To stab him so many times and feel his blood dye your hands red?"
Wolff's reply was extremely smug and euphoric. "I had never felt so excited before in my entire life."
The recording cut off there.
Sulu's eyes filled with tears again. "Even after everything, even after he made plans to kill Greenaway, he was still trying to prove his innocence. He forced a confession out of Wolff! This is admissible in the court of law!"
McCoy didn't know if he wanted to cry or laugh, or possibly both at the same time. "That bastard. Even while running around with a fucking target on his head and saving an entire planet, he still managed to think ahead and do this?"
At that, Spock's face softened slightly – almost immeasurable to anyone who did not know him as well as McCoy or the rest of the Command crew. "He did say that he wanted to stay with us, did he not?" he said softly.
Yep. Decision made. McCoy was going to cry. He looked down fondly at his friend. "Yeah…the idiot. He didn't have to go to such lengths. We would've stayed with him, no matter what happened."
All Spock could do was nod in response. "Indeed."
Sniffling, McCoy cleared his throat and looked at Spock. "I'll leave this place to you, Spock? Sulu, you're with me. You need treatment too."
Spock tipped his head. He would have to mediate soon to sort out the mess of emotions that he was still reeling from. The bleakness inside him had been overwhelmed by his relief that Jim was alive again, but it was not easy to forget. Spock reckoned that he never would. "Take good care of him, Doctor. Please keep us updated."
"Giotto, you're with me too. We're not leaving Jim anywhere unguarded," McCoy said.
Giotto simply stepped forward to stand next to him. Sulu came closer and Giotto just pulled out his communicator, speaking softly into it.
White lights surrounded Giotto, Sulu, McCoy, and Jim. They were gone in seconds.
Chekov stood, keeping one hand on Liam's shoulder. He kept an eye on Spock. The Vulcan seemed to be completely shell-shocked – too overwhelmed by the rampaging emotions within him to make any coherent decisions. He tapped Liam lightly twice, a question in his expressions. A quiet conversation passed between the two, ending with Liam nodding his consent to Chekov. Telling Chekov that he would be fine on his own for the moment and that Chekov should do what he needed to do.
With that, Chekov stepped away from the teenager and straightened his spine. He drew himself to his full height, exuding brilliant confidence, and took command of the room immediately, just as Jim did.
"Commander Spock, please inform Lieutenant Commander Scotty and Lieutenant Uhura of vhat transpired here. The battle has been von, but peace has yet to come. Vork vith Lieutenant Uhura to ensure that the villagers are properly settled back in their homes. A new government vill need to be set up as vell. Ve vill need to rebuild Zenobia from ground-up before ve can return home. I vill inform Admiral Pike and have Starfleet send more resources and relief for Zenobia."
Spock came out of his reverie and stared at Chekov like he had grown another head. But he didn't question Chekov's sudden rise to authority and strength; he had always recognized the young man's potential to be a strong and charismatic leader, similar to their current one.
Chekov had been blooming over the years under Jim's tutelage so it seemed only fitting that Chekov took up Jim's mantle when Jim had fallen. Perhaps even more so than Spock himself, who was Jim's presumed right-hand man. Chekov was young, but he had watched and learned for years. Kept his head down until the time called for action. It hadn't occurred to Spock that, when everyone was broken and unable to step up, it was the one that they had coddled and protected that ended up being able to stand before the rest of them.
Thank the stars for Chekov.
Spock merely gave Chekov a small, grateful nod and swept out of the hall, unable to stay any longer in the hall where Jim had met his demise and brought back to life in mere minutes.
The tension in Chekov's shoulders never dissipated, even after Spock's exit, but Chekov didn't feel the weight of it. It was time that someone took some of the burdens from Jim's shoulders and Chekov was honored to do so.
"The Keptin vill be out of commission for a while," Chekov said to Liam. "Vhat do you say that ve make sure he has nothing to vorry about vhen he vakes?"
Liam slowly stood, took a moment to compose himself, and snapped a smart salute to Chekov. "Yes, sir!"
"For the Keptin," Chekov smiled.
"For Jim."
Within an hour, the entire crew of the Enterprise had heard of what happened. Scotty almost fainted when he was told that Jim had died; Uhura nearly broke down in tears. Similar reactions were seen throughout the crew, but the grief was short-lived. After all, Jim was alive, thank God, and they had absolute faith in McCoy to ensure that Jim survived his grievous wounds. The true concern now was that Jim – a fugitive from the law – had killed a prisoner in front of witnesses. No matter how much Greenaway deserved what he got, the Federation didn't take kindly to an officer killing an unarmed man who had surrendered.
Even if Jim was exonerated for Dreyes' death, it didn't change the fact that Jim had escaped from prison and had stolen a ship. And he would have to be arrested for executing Greenaway. The punishment would be severe.
Knowing that, the crew of the Enterprise got busy. Every able body went to the villages and helped rebuild homes and farm the fields. Engineers fixed machines and the scientists worked their magic on the crops. The Command crew focused their efforts on reshaping the government so that people like Greenaway and Wolff would never be able to take advantage of the citizens again.
Pike served as a mediator between Starfleet and the Enterprise. It went without a surprise that the Federation was not pleased that, in the short span of a month, two of their Captains went rogue. One was framed, granted, but the other had essentially attempted to recreate Tarsus IV – a shame and disgrace that the Federation had tried so very hard to prevent from occurring again.
No one had told the Admiralty, besides Pike of course, about Jim killing Greenaway yet. All they had reported was the Greenaway was killed in action and that Wolff was now under their custody in the brig onboard, but they knew that sooner or later, it would come out. They hoped that by bringing back the peace in Zenobia and fixing everything that was broken, there would be some leniency for their beloved Captain, especially when considering the circumstances that Jim had been in.
All the children had been returned to their families. Even those that had been hiding out in the cave with Thea. Those who had no one to go back to where kept with the crew of the Enterprise who searched long and far for distant relatives. Many were able to find homes and would join the crew when they returned to San Francisco. A few were even adopted by crew members.
Liam, on the other hand, resisted heavily and clung to Chekov while the Russian worked. They had yet to find a place for him. It didn't help that Chekov also refused to pass Liam to foster services unless Liam wanted it.
Days passed and slowly, Zenobia began to heal.
And Jim slept through it all while Wolff rotted away in the brig.
It didn't mean that Spock, Uhura, Sulu, Scotty, Chekov, or McCoy forgot about Wolff. Anger hung on their frames and made them seem as though they were constantly surrounded by a live electric field, even as they went about their jobs. Hatred consumed them, blackening their souls like food coloring spreading out in clear water. It festered as an infected wound until they could take it no more.
When everything was relatively settled, they made a collective decision to face the man that had started this all. McCoy wanted to give Wolff a piece of his mind as well, but staying with Jim was far more important. Chekov opted out too, mostly because he had been there with Jim firsthand. He would be hard-pressed to not try and kill Wolff for all the suffering that he had put Jim through.
The rest of them waited until night had fallen and most of the crew had gone to sleep before Spock, Uhura, Sulu, and Scotty made their way to the brig, entering in formidably silent.
The four of them stood before Wolff whose bruises from when he was roughed up by Security upon the day of his incarceration was just starting to fade away. But that was the only mistreatment that Wolff had had. Despite everyone despising him, Wolff was still being fed and given water on a scheduled basis. They would never stoop to his level, no matter how much they wanted him to suffer.
"Well, well, look who has come to visit little old me," smirked Wolff. He was sitting casually on the cot, leaning against the wall. He stood when the four stopped just outside his cell and came face-to-face with them with just the clear force field between them. "It must be my birthday. How's Kirk? He still kicking? He didn't seem like he was up to breathing the last I saw him."
"He's fine," replied Sulu curtly.
"So he did survive. I've been hearing rumors. Are you here to gloat then? Because I can assure you that it's far from over for Kirk."
"You speak as though you still have leverage over him," Spock said, "You are in our captivity. The people of Zenobia are recovering. You do not, as the humans say, have a leg to stand on, Mr. Wolff."
"Ah, but Kirk's name still isn't clear, is it?"
"Kirk recorded your last conversation with him. You confessed to framing you." Uhura gave him a smug smile. "He did say to not underestimate him, didn't he?"
"That wasn't what I meant, and you know it. He killed my uncle. There's no way to spin it where Kirk comes out unscathed."
Scotty crossed his arms. "Was that the point of all this? Ta besmirch Jim's name? Is that why you took the kids?"
"You guys certainly are thick, aren't you? The whole point of this was to ruin Kirk. That's it. I took the kids because my uncle claimed that the Goddess would show to protect them and we could harness her power. And because I knew that not all of them would be captured. It was a trap I laid out for him."
"Why? Why do you hate him so much?"
"Why else?" Wolff stepped closer to the force field, a snarl on his face. "Because I could."
Sulu just rolled his eyes. All he heard was the whining cry of a baby who didn't get as much attention as it wanted. Unbelievable. "So dramatic for someone who was just jealous. This is why you can't have nice things, Wolff. It doesn't matter though. You lose. Kirk is alive and he'll be acquitted for Greenaway's death. Under the circumstances, Starfleet would be more than forgiving. And knowing Kirk's luck, he'll get a medal for all this. So you can shove your petty little envy up your ass and go die."
Wolff chortled. "You still don't understand. I've won. I always knew about the children that escaped. I knew where they hid, but I left them alone because I wanted Kirk to find them and fail to protect them. I wanted him to see this planet dying from famine and see civilians slaughtered because of a madman who stood on top of them all. This was never about me taking down Starfleet or even smearing Kirk's name. This was all about breaking him. Kirk may have survived Tarsus the first time around, but even he cannot survive it a second time. And I succeeded. Kirk will never be able to recover from this. I've broken him. I have scarred him for life. I will live inside his mind for the rest of his life, haunting him. Torturing him. He is mine now. He will always remember me."
"You have no claim on him. He is ours," hissed Uhura and only Scotty's light touch on her arm prevented her from releasing the force field just so she could gouge his eyes out.
Beside her, Spock clasped his hands behind his back as he considered the man before him. "You may have left a mark on Jim and it is likely true that he will struggle with his memories of Tarsus IV, but there is a vast difference between the child he was then and the Captain he is now."
"And what is that?" questioned Wolff.
"He has us. He may break into thousands of pieces because of you, but it is of no consequence. No matter how broken he may be, he will have us to hold him together until he is capable of it on his own. Regardless, I do not believe that he is as broken as you think." Spock leaned in a bit. "You have forgotten one more thing: James T. Kirk is far stronger than any of us can imagine. You have done the one thing you insisted that you wouldn't. You have underestimated him. He will emerge from this stronger than before. The probability is irrefutable at 100%."
"In other words, you dickwad," Sulu growled, "You've lost. Do us all a kind favor and burn in hell, you fucking psychopath."
"We shall see," Wolff grinned, "Just wait until your precious Captain wakes up. Ask about that girl that he was with. Ask what happened to her. Then ask if he wants to continue being Captain. You'll see that I'm right."
Unlike his friends who bristled in anger, Scotty just shrugged with nonchalance. "We will. And we must warn ya, yer going to be so very disappointed. Because even if ye don't underestimate Jim, ye underestimate us. Do ye really think that we would let Jim go so easily?! Ye must be out of yer bloody mind."
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Wolff's face, and Scotty caught it. "See? Even ye think we're right. But like Sulu said. It doesn't matter, because yer no longer a factor in our lives. After this, ye won't even register on our radar anymore. We've beaten ye and we'll make sure Jim does too, so why waste our time and breath on a dead man walking?"
"This won't be the last you hear of me, I swear it!"
"You are correct in that matter," Spock confirmed. "The last we hear of you will be when you are convicted of treason, espionage, and the murder of Admiral Dreyes as well as a myriad of charges that the people of Zenobia will bring against you."
Uhura smiled wickedly at Wolff. "I hope you rest well while you're here, Wolff. Because it's only going to go downhill from here."
There was such certainty in their eyes. More so than what Wolff was feeling at the moment. All of a sudden, something within Wolff snapped. In that moment, he realized that not everything had gone the way he had planned. Yes, he had never saw himself coming out the other end as a free man. Hell, he had barely thought he was going to still be alive. But he took great pleasure in knowing that he had brought Kirk down with him. Which the chances of seemed to be dwindling down by the second. He had been banking on Kirk's self-deprecation and loathing of himself to shatter him into a million pieces. He had thought that the guilt would've outweighed anything that his friends would have said or done to help him. He had thought that only Kirk was the threat.
How could he have been so wrong?
He was a fool! An absolute idiot! After all these years of plotting and planning, after bringing Kirk to his knees, it was all for naught because he hadn't bothered to register Kirk's crew as threats. They hadn't seemed incredible or extraordinary for Wolff to pay any attention to them. Jim's light had overshadowed them completely, which is why they had never appeared on Wolff's radar. But Wolff was only just realizing that they kept quiet simply because there was no need to rise above Jim. They were a team – there was no one that was more superior to the other because each of them had a different strengths and set of skills that they brought to the table. It was all their collective brilliance that made the Enterprise and her Captain as famous as they were, giving out the illusion that Jim was on a higher pedestal than he could have ever accomplished on his own.
It was a symbiotic relationship that Jim was fully aware of and used to his advantage. If everyone's attention was on him, then the rest of his people could move freely and more safely. Now that Wolff thought back, Kirk had kept dropping hints about this, saying that he wasn't the Queen in this chess game. He wasn't even one of the pieces in the second row that was to be protected by measly pawns. No, he was one of the protectors and Wolff was so blinded by his insatiable need to prove his worth that he had completely underestimated Jim's crew. How could Wolff have missed it?!
Everything twisted within Wolff, snapping like an elastic band that had been pulled too much. Madness settled into his bones and he couldn't see anything but red.
Wolff pounded his fists against his prison, "No! No! I won! I WON!" he screamed, but the four of them ignored him completely.
They turned their backs and with such finality, they left, shutting the door tightly behind them.
Desperation and despair tore through Wolff. Swiftly, a single thought began to dominate his mind and his very being.
If he was to lose, then so be it. But he was going to take everyone down with him. He knew how much the crew cared about Kirk. He knew how devastating that loss would be.
Kirk had to die. That was it. Kirk could not be given the chance to recover. Or this all would've been for nothing.
No. Wolff had to strike now. While Kirk was obviously still weak.
The maniacal laughter came out of him like a geyser, almost making him doubling over at the suddenness of it.
He wasn't done yet.
This wasn't the last they had heard of Royce Wolff.
He would make damn sure of it.
To be continued...
Like I was ever really gonna kill off Kirk, lol! I love that character waayyyy too much. I'm glad that a lot of you realized that and didn't threaten me. :) And to those that noticed that Kirk's death was timed to happen in chapter 13, kudos to you! Yep, that was planned. Well, it was planned as soon as I realized that this story ran away from me and would have more than 10 chapters, lol!
We're nearing the homestretch now! I don't know exactly how many chapters are left, but there shouldn't be that many. The next chapter is barely written, so it might take some time. Just giving you a heads up. Thanks for sticking with me though! And for those that read Ingenious Idiot, I'm still working on the next installment. It's slow-going, unfortunately. Hopefully the movie will inspire a massive writing streak.
As always, please read and review! (No spoilers though! Please and thank you! Lol!)
Cheers,
Yuna