James T Kirk: TNG
If Time Knew
Trianguli Gamma VI…
Captain James T Kirk and Commander Nog made their way down a worn path that was covered with trees and a myriad of flora, and finally, after nearly half an hour, the thick foliage began to thin out. Jim Kirk was also well aware of the fact that they were being followed by a native of the planet. The first time Kirk had visited the planet, which had happened a hundred years earlier, Kirk and that landing party were followed in much the same way.
It was when Kirk and Nog had come upon an opening when their "unknown" pursuer broke off its escort. Kirk had the impression that their unseen friend had been more of a chaperon, seeing to it that Kirk and Nog had arrived safely to their destination.
As Kirk and Nog made their way out of the trees, they saw four medium sized buildings. Even though Jim Kirk was a hundred or so years out of his time, he still recognized Starfleet construction habits, as the buildings had been arranged in typical two by two formations. It was a comfort to Kirk that at least some things were still practical and stayed the same.
"According to the Defiant's computer," Nog began to say, as he looked at the data on his Tricorder "Commander S'vath is heading up a once a year expedition to this world. He and his team have been sent to monitor the indigenous humanoid population, which includes medical check-ups of the native children, and to further investigate peculiar energy crystals which have been discovered over the past century."
Kirk was beginning to like Commander Nog more and more. The report the young Ferengi had just given was to the point, and just like Spock use to do, it brushed across the highlights in an efficient manner.
"Very well," Kirk said, "tell me more about those crystals." Kirk said.
"According to the latest reports, the crystals show signs of being organic, and started to show up several years after the automated machine called Vaal had been destroyed."
"As my old friend would say," Kirk interjected, "that sounds rather fascinating."
"That's not all," Nog went on to say, "Due to the unique standing that Trianguli Gamma VI has in the Federation, it has been decreed that the crystals cannot be removed from the planet and were declared a life form that could not be interfered with, unless the crystals were an immediate threat to the humanoids."
"Starfleet must have more information about those crystals," Kirk concluded. "This planet, even in this time, is pretty far off the beaten track to keep sending teams up to investigate."
"I wonder where everyone is?" Nog asked Kirk.
Kirk was about to answer when, from about twenty yards way, three people came out of the building closest to where Captain Kirk and Commander Nog were standing. Two of them wore standard Starfleet uniforms. One of the two was a Cardassian male, and the other was a human female. The third person, who was also a human female, wore a black one piece jump suit with a silver Starfleet communication badge on the collar. She had a presence about her that drew Kirk's eyes in; she was stunning looking. She looked over to Kirk and Nog, and then she stopped walking.
Nog was obviously enamored by the woman's beauty as well.
"She's looking at me," Nog said with a broad smile.
"Oh my God," Rhonda said to herself, with a soft whisper, "He's here. He's really here."
Kirk and Nog walked over to the others.
"Hello there," Kirk said with a warm smile, "I'm Captain James T Kirk, and this is my associate, Commander Nog."
Although Kirk was really only a commander, with all due respect to Admiral Janeway, he decided to give himself a field promotion to Captain.
"Lt. Kacit," the Cardassian said. "Excuse me, but you cannot possibly be James Kirk. He died on Veridian III many years ago."
"Excuse me," Rhonda said to Kirk, "we don't get too much outside news here." She turned to face Lt. Kacit and Ensign Angela Reynolds. "This man is definitely James Kirk. S'vath and I both were briefed by Admiral 'Xgan two days ago about this James T Kirk's existence. We should have passed it down to you and the others."
"So you really are the Captain Kirk?" Ensign Reynolds asked, with awe in her eyes. "I am so honored to meet you sir."
"Thank you," Kirk said, as he prepared for another round of hero worship. But, thankfully, Kirk was rescued by the attractive blond woman.
"We are all honored to meet you," Rhonda said, "I am Doctor Rhonda Christine Chapel. I hope…"
Kirk cut her off.
"Rhonda Christine Chapel?" Kirk repeated, in a dumbfounded voice.
"Yes Captain," Rhonda said, "and yes, I am the granddaughter of Christine Chapel, your former head nurse on the Enterprise."
"Christine is your Grandmother? How is she?" Kirk asked.
"She passed away nearly five years ago." Rhonda said with sorrow in her voice. "She told me many interesting stories about her time on the Enterprise and how it was the most fulfilling time of her life."
"Where is the rest of your team?" Commander Nog asked.
"We have several projects we are studying," Lt. Kacit said. "I'm the resident geology specialist. We've had a couple strong tremors in the past month, and I was just on my way to check the instruments in the science building. The others are out in the field."
"I wasn't aware of Cardassian Starfleet officers," Commander Nog said to Kacit.
"Actually," Kacit said, "there are three hundred of us now serving in Starfleet."
Suddenly, from out of the trees, two other Starfleet officers came into view, propping up yet another officer between them. And it was clear why the other two were propping up the third officer; he had been injured. Four spores were protruding from his chest; which meant, in Kirk's opinion at least, death wasn't too far behind!
Rhonda sprinted over to the injured man, with the others, including Nog and Kirk, not far behind. The injured man had been stretched out on the grassy area at the edge of the camp, as Rhonda took a hypo from her side pocket as she got on her knees beside him.
"Be careful; those spores can be deadly," Kirk said to her, as he stood behind her and watched her administer aid to the fallen officer.
Kirk looked at the wounded officer. He had humanistic characteristics, but sported two very Vulcan looking ears. Kirk concluded it was S'vath, the son of Spock. S'vath opened his eyes and looked up at Kirk.
"Hi Jim," S'vath said with a wide smile. "How's it going?"
"Hey, you," Rhonda said to S'vath, "no talking! You know you're not supposed to talk or exert yourself until a minute or so after I do this," and at that instant, she put a hypo just beneath S'vath's neck and administered the shot. "Take him to the infirmary; I'll be there in a moment."
The two officers propped S'vath back up, and took him away toward one of the buildings in then near distance. Rhonda stood up and walked over to Kirk.
"I can see he's Vulcan," Kirk said. "My first officer, Spock, was injured by spores as well on this world, and he survived as well."
"It wasn't his Vulcan heritage that saved him this time. The spores that hit him were from a rare variety that is three times as deadly as the ones you're speaking of. What saved him was the formula in this hypo spray," Rhonda said. "Dr. McCoy returned here years later, after your first visit, with my grandmother I might add, and the two of them came up with the spray's formula."
"Impressive," Nog said.
"Bones came back here?" Kirk asked, having no memory of such an event.
"Yes, but many years later." Rhonda told Kirk.
Rhonda could see the slight look of depression in Kirk's eyes. It was clear to her that the man was feeling lost, having missed so much of the life he never really actually lived. It's as if time knew, and was trying convince Kirk to let go. It had been the other Jim Kirk, the one who had died on Veridian III, who had carried such memories in his mind. This Kirk was more like a lost child.
"I'll take you both to camp," Kacit said to Kirk and Nog, "I will show you around while the doctor attends to Commander S'vath."
"Alright," Kirk agreed.
"Show them what we're doing here," Rhonda told Kacit. "I think they'll find it interesting. We'll meet you at the galley in about an hour."
And with that, Kirk and Nog followed Kacit into camp while Rhonda Christine Chapel headed off toward the medical building.
An hour passed by as Kirk and Nog observed the camp as they were given a short tour of the facilities by Lt. Kacit. In that time, Kirk had also taken care to make routine contact with the Defiant, and finally he and Nog were finally led to the galley which was an impressive dining area with several food items arrayed on several tables. A Klingon chef could be seen behind a serving window. He was preparing food while attempting to sing Klingon opera.
"I know him," Nog said to Kirk. "He opened the first Klingon café on DS9 years ago. He franchised his restaurant chain, and rakes in serious Latinum. He must be doing this for the adventure."
At that moment, from another door, Rhonda and S'vath entered, and came over to Kirk and Nog.
"I hope all of this isn't for us." Kirk asked his two hosts.
"So this is Jim Kirk," S'vath said, as he reached out his hand to shake Kirk's. "As I am sure you have heard a thousand times since your return, it is really an honor to meet you. Not only because of your service to Starfleet, but as being my father's most true friend."
S'vath's choice to shake Kirk's hand and not render the typical Vulcan hand salute had piqued Kirk's curiosity. Kirk shook the Vulcan's hand none-the-less.
"Thank you S'vath," Kirk said. "I must say that I am really happy that Spock found the time to have a family."
"I wouldn't call it a family," S'vath said, "My father and I have not always gotten along, and so, I left home at an early age. However, I am quite sure that if he were here he would agree with me that our relationship has been most fascinating."
"Well," Kirk said, with an understanding tone, "your father and his father didn't always see eye to eye either. It's called being stubborn; it must run in the family."
"More than you know," Rhonda said with a teasing tone in her voice.
"And your mother is," Kirk paused for effect," T'Pring?"
"Ironic, to be sure," S'vath said.
"I would say so, considering the fact that through her actions, your father almost killed me." Kirk said with a laugh.
"Jim, you have to remember that my parents had been betrothed to each other based on over two-hundred variables, including the prospect of producing ideal offspring."
"Oh, of course," Kirk replied, "So, I guess sometime later her relationship with Stonn sputtered out, and she and Spock decided to at least have children, if not a marriage."
"And fortunately for me," Rhonda said, "that reunion created a Vulcan who is not only smart and logical, but sexy and suave as well," she added with a seductive look on her face at her husband.
Kirk was finding this conversation very illuminating. It was clear that Rhonda was very in love with her husband, and had no qualms showing that affection in front of others, in a very forward kind of way.
"I think it is great that, of all people, Christine Chapel's granddaughter married Spock's son." Kirk said to
"Please," S'vath said to Kirk and Nog. "Let us sit down and enjoy the food K'Maq has prepared for us."
And with that, everyone gathered around the table for a meal. They were joined by the rest of S'vath's team. During the meal, and more than once, a member of S'vath's team came over to meet Kirk. S'vath watched with humor as Kirk tried his hardest to deflect the adulation the others were giving him.
As S'vath was enjoying his meal, Rhonda had one of her hands playfully on his upper thigh, edging closer to his groin in a seductive manner. They shared a few kisses as her fingers reached their goal. Kirk, while talking with the others, noticed the playful banter, above the table, between S'vath and Rhonda, and had a pretty good idea what was happening beneath the table. The fact they displayed such behavior in front of others, though innocent, still conveyed strangeness to Kirk. And as Kirk's eyes caught S'vath's glance, if only for a mere second or two, Kirk could almost detect an air of arrogance; the eyes of T'Pring were alive and well.
-next time
Commodore Jellico gathers up a posse to find Captain James T Kirk. The man charged with finding Kirk? Captain Benjamin Maxwell. Meanwhile, Jaden Weer, the man who nearly destroyed DS9, arrives on Bajor. And no one will stop him from capturing the wife of James T Kirk; or so he thinks.