You know the drill: many thanks for your support of this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

~Nadiea

Disclaimer: 'Star Trek' and its existing characters are the property of Paramount/CBS.

Chapter 26 - The Great Communicator

San Francisco 2245

"Remember, your Aunt Jess will pick you up at the main Depot," Mom tells us for the fourth time.

"Whatever," Sam replies, his face like stone and his voice bitter.

I say nothing.

Mom caresses his face. "Sam, I need you to do this for me. I think it's a good change for you... and for Jim."

I stare off at Starfleet Academy in the distance and the training spacecraft taking off and landing. I think about my Dad and I check the inside of my jacket pocket for the old communicator of his that I found in the attic of our house in Iowa. She keeps all of his stuff in boxes up there, collecting dust. Before Frank, she would go up there for a few hours every week. Now, it just sits there. I expect her to get rid of it all while we're gone.

"I don't care. I'm not a child and I don't want to go," Sam is replying back to Mom. "You're only sending us away so you can forget about Dad and enjoy your new family."

I glance over at an annoyed Frank, holding Jenny in his arms.

I hear Mom sigh. "That is not true, Sam. Please, just stop being so difficult."

Sam only shakes his head as he hoists his bag and walks off toward the transport without another word or glance.

Mom looks back at me and I see that look she often gives me. The one where I know she's seeing Dad in me.

She tries to smile a bit, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "You like adventures, Jim and this will be a great one. Sam will come around once you're there and settled, okay?"

I only nod and she gives me a quick hug, before stepping back. I don't see any reason to wait, so I start walking toward the transport as well.

"Jimmy! Jimmy!"

I stop and look back, hearing Jenny's small voice over the whirring of the transport engine. She's squirming out of Franks arms as she yells my name. He reluctantly lets her down and she toddles toward me. I feel something twist inside of me and I think it's that I will miss her, even though I resent her existence sometimes. It's funny, because I'm sure she's the only one in our 'family' that doesn't resent my existence. I put my bag down as she stops unsteadily before me. I squat down to her level. She puts her small hands on my face.

"Jimmy." she says again softly.

"I have to go, Jenny." I reply. "We're going to see Aunt Jess and her family. I talk to you soon on the comm." I give her a hug and stand up with my bag. My eyes involuntarily go to my Mom, who is watching us with tears in her eyes and a strange expression. But I'm used to it, so I turn to continue toward the transport. I hear Jenny start to cry again.

But this time, I don't stop and I don't look back.

I turn my Dad's communicator over in my fingers as I think about that day. Somehow, through all the crap that happened on Tarsus IV, I didn't lose it. Once I was at the Academy, I tucked it away, trying to forget about my past as much as possible. Now, seeing Jenny again, it's made me go looking for it for the first time in years. Those first few months on Tarsus IV, I would run off by myself deep into the fields and pretend that I was talking to him through the communicator. I would play at being a star captain or I would ask him questions and imagine his answers. I've never told anyone about it, not even Bones. And by the time I met Nyota, it was a painful memory and a part of my life I tried to avoid revisiting if possible.

Until now.

After indirectly confirming our relationship for Jenny and stressing the need for discretion, we were briefly interrupted by the arrival of Rand with PADD paperwork for me to sign. We ate a quick dinner, focusing on general subjects and the Enterprise. Thankfully, she didn't prod about our relationship again, but I'm sure it's only a temporary reprieve. We left her to rest before our meeting with Pike, Nyota going to her weekly meeting with her Communications staff and me to catch my breath in my quarters.

I sigh and stand up, walking over to the holograph of San Francisco on the wall in my bedroom. I remove it and press my thumb on the indentation behind it. The small door opens and I place the communicator inside with the encrypted information chip I've compiled on Tarsus IV and Kodos. I press the indentation to seal it again. Although I chose the Command Track at Starfleet Academy, I always excelled in science, math, and computers. So, installing a hidden safe of sorts in my dorm room and here on the Enterprise was simple enough to carry out.

The chip has everything I've managed to get my hands on about Kodos and his rise to power, his plans for Tarsus IV, and his Starfleet contacts. Basically, who knew what and when they knew it. I managed to hack Kodos computer system after I killed him and I copied everything on to that chip. I made sure not to leave any trace behind that I'd tampered with the system. It was only after I left his body in his office and attempted to escape the main facility that I was caught by his police force. But they were divided on whether to just kill me or use me as leverage with Starfleet. Their indecision gave Starfleet enough time to arrive and take control of the situation.

When Pike told us about the kidnapping, I didn't want to make the connection right away, but it seems impossible to escape what happened on that damn planet. Even the chat with Nyota's family ended up referring back to Tarsus IV with her brother's work as a crisis manager. I told her that it wasn't a big deal, but it is a reminder that I'll never escape my past completely. And unless my mom and/or Frank are involved in something shady of which Starfleet and Section 31 are still unaware, then it's related to me in some way. The real problem: An outside threat is one thing, but if it's a person or people in Starfleet...

I shake my head. I may not want to consider that possibility, but I need a contingency plan all the same.

I figure we'll receive some sign soon enough as far as a demand or ransom from the kidnappers. They wouldn't prolong the kidnapping without naming their price. If we don't hear from them within the week, then my mom and Frank may very well have involved themselves in something dangerous.

So, until I know otherwise, it's the status quo. Maintaining it seems harder now because there are people I care about and it feels wrong to keep it from them. But I also don't want Nyota, Bones, Spock, or Pike implicated in what I've done just by their knowledge of it. This is my thing to deal with and if it comes to light because of the kidnapping, then I'd prefer to face it on my own. I know they'd all protest that line of thinking, along with Scotty, Hikaru, and Pavel, but it is what is at this point.

I place the holograph back on the wall. Walking out into the foyer I stop by the mirror to check my uniform. For a moment, when I look at my reflection, I see what my mom and brother always saw when they looked at me: a mirror image of my father. The resemblance is startling now more than ever and I remember the times I thought about surgery to change my appearance. To try to remove that reminder. To have my family look at me and see me, not him.

It's strange, but I realize suddenly that while I used to pretend to talk to my dad through his communicator, I never let myself fantasize much about what our family would have been like if he'd survived.

I finally look away from the mirror and leave my quarters.

For now, I've got a sister to focus on and ship to run.

I find Jenny sitting quietly in my Ready Room when I enter, looking out the windows at the nebulae we're still studying.

I take a seat beside her and check the console for Pike's incoming transmission. "Everything okay with your quarters?"

She nods. "Yes, it's great." She bits her lip. "I only met Admiral Pike once, but he was nice. He said good things about you. He said we're both alike in our questioning of everything."

I smirk at that thought. I can imagine that he said it with his usual exasperation.

"He is a nice guy." I reply. "If it wasn't for him, I'd probably still be in Iowa getting into bar fights."

Jenny's smile fades a bit, but she doesn't reply.

I inwardly cringe at the awkwardness. I don't know how to bridge it with anything but time. Which depending on the events of the next few days, we may not get.

Finally my console chirps. I transfer the transmission to the view screen.

Pike's in his office, but he's not in uniform.

"This is not a formal meeting, Jim," He says in response to my surprise. "I really just wanted to check up on the two of you and make sure Jenny settled in okay."

Jenny smiles politely. "I'm fine, sir."

"Good, good." He says and pauses. "I just wanted to let you both know that I've obtained approval for Jenny to stay with the Enterprise indefinitely, depending, of course, on the status of her parents. If we're not able to positively resolve their kidnapping, she will stay with you Jim, as part of an experiment: children on board a long mission star ship. It's been discussed for years, but it's always put off as too big a risk. However, I think the reality is that as we send our ships further into the galaxy and on longer missions, we're going to need to accept the idea of families on star ships. Other federation members allow it and it can work in our favor. In my mind, there is risk everywhere you look, but if we prepare for it, it will be a successful transition in the long run."

Jenny's face goes through several emotions at his words. I can tell that Pike's trying to choose them carefully, but he's never been one to sugar coat things and I've come to appreciate that in the long run.

I'm certain we'll have issues to discuss, but I can say that I wouldn't feel right leaving Jenny without any family. I may be used to that, but she's not. "I didn't realize they were so close to considering that, sir. I just assumed it would be decades before they would do it." I reply.

Pike nods. "Jenny is not the only child or teenager in a precarious situation with an only relative on a star ship. The high-profile nature of the case and your family...background are probably what pushed them to finally agree to a handful of trial basis arrangements. As I said, I think it's about time to become practical about it at this point. I expect it stay on special circumstances only status for foreseeable future, however." He glances at Jenny. "Jenny, I know the best case scenario is to find your parents, but we always have to plan for the worst case scenario. We won't force you, so if you don't want to stay on the Enterprise authorities would find a family on Earth willing to take you in. I know you just arrived, so give it some thought-

Jenny shakes her head. "No, no I'm fine with staying with here..if...I mean...there's still no news about our mom and my dad?" Jenny asks worriedly. She starts to twist on a strand of her hair around her finger. I've seen her do it a couple of other times since she arrived. A nervous habit, I guess.

Pike sighs. "There's nothing so far, I'm sorry to say. We have officers across the galaxy working on this, Jenny. And I will keep you updated as often as possible."

"Thank you, sir." Jenny replies.

Pike nods and turns to me. "Jim, I assume you've set up a meeting with Esquival and Lawson for in the morning?"

"Yes, sir. Are you going to sit in on it?" I ask.

"Possibly." Pike responds thoughtfully. "I may need to follow-up on some leads personally, so Admiral Snow may comm you tomorrow."

I nod and try not to grimace. I know Pike sees anyway and smiles a little. Admiral Snow is rigid and by-the-book. He is, therefore, not my biggest fan. It works best with Pike there to mediate our interactions, but I know it can't always pan out that way.

"I'm sure it will be fine, Jim. The admirals discussed this today at a special meeting. There's a lot at stake and we need to work together at finding the best solution to this situation even if it's not explicitly in the code."

"I'll do my best to cooperate with Admiral Snow, sir." I promise.

Pike nods. "I know you will. And I know this situation is not ideal, but I really urge you and Jenny to enjoy your time together. We live in a universe where the next moment could change everything. You've got a chance to know each other. Take advantage of it, kids. Life passes by faster than you realize. And with that, I will talk to you, soon. Pike out."

I stare at the view screen for a moment, affected by Pike's serious tone. I really do want to talk to him about Commander Jennings. It's just that we're currently on a non-stop mayhem part of this mission at the moment. But I'm determined to get him talking about it.

I glance at Jenny to find her watching me sadly. "Admiral Pike is right. I mean, just a few weeks ago I was working with Mom in the garden and then I go to stay with my friend while they go to a 'routine' trip to Jupiter Station. And now they're just gone."

I reach out to put a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, how about we go to the Dining Hall and see what desert Chef Hall made for tonight?"

Jenny smiles and nods. "Does he ever make cheesecake? It's my favorite."

I pretend to ponder it for a moment. "I believe so. If he's in a good mood, we might even get him to let us make one."

She looks surprised. "Do you cook, Jim?"

I shake my head. "Not really, so just the threat of me in his kitchen will probably produce a cheesecake for you in near future to keep me out."

Jenny laughs and it feels pretty nice to have my sister around.

"So, how did last night go?" Nyota asks as she brushes her hair and then twists it up into a bun.

"It was fine. Jenny's really smart and funny." I say as I lean against the doorway of her bathroom. "I gave her a tour of the ship and she asked a lot of questions. She really might apply to the Academy in a few years."

Nyota glances at me in the mirror. "And how would you feel about that?"

I shrug. "I'd feel proud of her if that's what she wants to do. I guess I should play the protective older brother, but I think the best thing is to make sure she's ready and capable of taking care of herself. No one can protect anyone twenty-four-seven, but Starfleet would teach her a lot of valuable skills. And like Pike said, the universe is a dangerous place no matter where you are or what you're doing. As for the meeting, he was just mainly checking in with us and making sure Jenny settled in okay. Oh, and he said that he got Jenny staying on the Enterprise approved as part of an experiment of children and teenagers with special circumstances living on long mission star ships."

Nyota puts on her lip gloss. "Wow. That's a big deal. I thought Starfleet Command was pretty firmly against families on star ships."

"I know, but it looks like it will be very limited for the next few years."

"Still, it's fair start, I think." She finishes up and turns to me, looking thoughtful. She walks over and hugs me and I savor the feel of her in my arms and the peacefulness of the moment.

She pulls away a little to look at me closely, "And how are you really doing, Jim?"

I kiss her gently. I hate holding anything back from her, but it's the safest option at the moment. "I'm not fine...honestly." I try for general truth, even if I can't get specific. "I don't have the luxury of wallowing in anything though, you know. I'm not avoiding, I promise, I'm just compartmentalizing until I can get more than a few hours to think about everything. I figure this particular round of crazy can't last too much longer, right?"

She smiles slightly. "Mmm...hopefully not."

My communicator beeps then and I sigh as I check the time. It's only 07:00. Nyota gives me a quick kiss, moving past me to grab her PADD in her bedroom.

"Kirk here." I say.

"Captain, T'Pau is requesting a conference with us on the bridge as soon as possible." Spock's replies. "She says it is not a distress call, but rather to share news about the leadership of New Vulcan."

One, I keep saying that one day I'll beat Spock on the bridge in the mornings, but he must get there at 05:00 and I don't really think there's any hope of me getting out of bed that early without an emergency occurring.

And two, we finally get some news from one of our situations. "She must have won out if she's doing the contacting and talking directly to us instead of just to Starfleet Command."

"I believe that is the case as well, Captain." Spock responds and I think I definitely detect some relief in his tone.

"I'll be on the bridge in a few minutes, Spock."

"Yes, sir."

I meet up with Nyota in the hallway and we leave for the bridge.

"Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, I wanted to contact you personally to inform you that we resolved our dispute and I will remain as head of New Vulcan. We also sent notification to Starfleet Command." T'Pau states and I can see she is back in her office.

"We're happy to hear that, ma'am." I reply politely.

"It is fortunate that you were able to reach an agreement in such a short period of time," Spock says. "The situation appeared volatile."

T'Pau gives Spock a shrewd look. "I understand your inquiry, Commander. The proceedings became hostile at several points. However, the constant reminder of Surak and his teachings along with the fact that our planet was lost to us at the hands of our distant relations the Romulans sufficed to keep us on the path to reconciliation. Although they are still unhappy about my recent decision, the opposition agreed that I did not violate the rules of New Vulcan, or old Vulcan for that matter. Citizens were always free to come and go as they pleased and if one refused to comply with a ruling, such as T'Pring did, the punishment is banishment from the planet. Where banished citizens must find asylum is not enumerated in the text of our regulations, so their placement on your ship did not violate any laws." T'Pau looks directly at T'Pring. "Do not trouble yourself about your parents, T'Pring. They will eventually comprehend the wisdom of your choice. You are free to seek your study and do a credit to New Vulcan in your own way. The same holds true for T'Pyla. As for Lieutenant Stev, it seems that Captain Tek has changed his stance and wants to keep him on. And Lieutenant Stev has agreed."

Man, Scotty will be disappointed. Or not, depending on just how Lieutenant Stev's engineering skills veered from regulation. Scotty's the most innovative engineer I've ever worked with, but he's got his own set of rules.

"I'm both sorry to hear it as I was looking forward to meeting him and glad that they were able to work out their differences," I answer. "We'll probably stay in the system for few days before leaving for our next stop. Please let us know if we can offer our services until then."

"Of course, Captain. May you all live long and prosper." T'Pau holds up her hand to form the symbol and Spock, T'Pring, and Nyota all match her perfectly. I've tried it before and I'd rather not start the day out by embarrassing myself.

Instead, I nod and smile.

The message screen cuts out and I hear Hikaru muttering that he can't get his hand to do that no matter how hard he tries.

And I really hope that we don't encounter a species that requires a gesture that none of us can return, because I'm guessing that could cause an intergalactic incident.

And I've already collected enough of those to create my own universe.

TBC...