Kirk slept and remembered.
Remembered being on the bridge of the Saratoga, speeding toward the Klingon ship.
Closing his eyes, picturing the faces of his crew, willing his thoughts to reach the three he loved most.
The Saratoga striking the Klingon vessel…
Himself being hurled forward and then enveloped in white light…
Nothing but white light all around. He looked around confused. What happened to the Saratoga?
The Klingon ship? How did he get here? And where exactly was here?
"Full of questions, aren't you?"
A voice behind him startled him from his thoughts. He spun around to find a smirking man. He was wearing
something that was similar to Starfleet uniform – but although the insignia was familiar, the uniform design
was completely different.
"Who the hell are you?" he blurted
The stranger chuckled. "Hello, Jim. You may call me Q."
Shivers ran down his spine because he knew that this… man was dangerous. Or could be if he wished.
"My crew? Are they all right?"
"They're just fine. They're being picked up by a Federation ship as we speak."
"Where am I, Q?"
"I was hoping you'd ask that." Q gestured around, "This is the Q Continuum."
"Don't get me wrong, Q, but why exactly did you bring me here?"
"That is quite a question, my dear Captain," Q said jovially. "I trust you remember, Spock?"
Spock. And from Q's words Kirk knew which Spock he meant. Of course he remembered his old friend
and mentor. He remembered every single one of the talks the two of them had had. The elderly Vulcan
had been gone for five years and he still missed him terribly.
He nodded and Q continued. "From your encounter with that anomaly in the Campor System a few years
ago, you know that there are an infinite number of timelines. Ambassador Spock's timeline was my favorite.
Since that mess with Nero and the red matter however, the possibility of it coming to life here is pretty
low now." He gave Kirk a sad smile. "The Enterprise crew certainly didn't help matters."
His eyebrow then raised. "They're the ones who rescued your crew by the way." At Kirk's obvious surprise
he chuckled. "Considering how loyal your crew is to you and how dismal their opinion is of the Enterprise,
that should be one interesting sight."
He once again grew serious. "And now, James Tiberius Kirk, the question is – what do you think should
happen next?"
"You mean I have options?" Kirk wondered aloud.
Q chuckled. "There are always options, Jim. Maybe showing you what would happen will help you decide?"
Kirk nodded.
Q vanished and white fog enveloped him. A low voice spoke.
Embrace eternity.
This is what is happening now, Jim Kirk.
Finding himself on the U.S.S. Enterprise. A ship he had once vowed never to set foot on again.
Young Chekov programming the next round of maneuvers. Tears streaming down his face, the sorrowful,
"I never told him I was sorry, I never told him I was sorry…" replaying in his mind over and over.
Bones barely keeping himself together as he raced around the cargo bay tending to the injured.
His Soul Siblings helping as well, struggling to contain their grief.
"Guys, I'm here!" he called.
They can't see, hear or sense you. We exist outside of their reality now.
Thelin talking to Morrick, explaining the events leading up to the attack and afterwards.
"The ship was under the command of a Klingon commander named Kor. He knew about the Captain from
his trial and hinted at knowing Nero. From what he said I don't believe that this was an attack against
the Federation or that it was officially sanctioned by the Empire. I believe he attacked us for no other
reason than to test his prowess against a famous Starfleet Captain."
He's right on all counts. Things are definitely going to get interesting with the Klingons
because of Kor's little stunt.
Other crewmembers providing details here and there. All of them giving their full cooperation
to the Enterprise crew. But the air of distrust and disproval is so thick that even he, who's not
fully there, can feel it.
Like I said, an interesting scene.
This is what is will happen if the timeline is not allowed to heal itself. Watch, Jim Kirk.
And decide.
The U.S.S. Ptolemy and the Andaman rendezvousing with the Enterprise to take his crew home.
The crew holding a private farewell service for him.
They all love you. This is going to be hard for them.
Kirk cried as he witnessed the depth of his crews' grief, desperately wanting to comfort them.
To be with them.
Most of Starfleet and several delegates, Federation and otherwise, turning out for a very public
memorial service. Pike, and so many others whose lives he had touched, and vice versa, mourning him.
You're important to more people than you realize.
His crew pretty much going their separate ways afterwards. Most going to other ships, others to stations
and outposts. But always bound to each other. Never forgetting James T. Kirk.
Bones resigning from Starfleet and surrendering to alcohol not long afterwards.
"Bones, please don't do this!"
He can't hear you.
Others try to help. Friends, family, Kirk's Soul Siblings, Bailey…
But he pushes them all away.
You were his anchor. Without you...
After two months of self-abuse; combining alcohol and antidepressants, he is found on one of the streets
of Riverside. The autopsy states alcohol poisoning as the reason for his death.
"Bones," Kirk wept. "Bones…"
He might have been able to work through his grief in time. But alcohol cut that time short.
He's not the only one unable to cope.
The Enterprise returning to Earth a month later.
Chekov resigning from Starfleet immediately afterwards.
Two weeks later checking into a hotel.
The following morning housekeeping finds him in the bathtub with his wrists slit.
Beside him a note with these words:
We betrayed our Captain and we drove him to his death. Those are two sins which can never be forgiven.
For seven years I lived for only reason: the faint fragile hope that someday, somehow, I might gain his
forgiveness. But now that day will never come. And my guilt is compounded for we not only killed the Captain,
we killed his best friend, Dr. McCoy as well. That's three sins which can never be forgiven.
Or in my case lived with.
I'm sorry, Captain. I pray that wherever you are you can find it within yourself to forgive me.
For I know that I will never forgive myself.
Kirk was stunned and saddened. "Chekov… I never wanted…"
Spock resigning soon afterwards, accompanied by Uhura.
The two of them settling on a Federation colony that focuses on scientific research.
Finding a measure of contentment together.
But Bones's, Chekov's and especially Kirk's shadow, haunt them both for the rest of their lives.
Scotty and Sulu staying on the Enterprise.
Their work remaining exemplary but…
"I've worked with Commander Scott for twelve years," an Enterprise engineer tells a colleague.
"And I have never once seen that man smile."
"I know," his friend replies. "Sulu was never the same after the Incident. And after the Captain,
McCoy and Chekov… He died too…his body just hasn't figured it out yet."
Not everything is bad. In fact, there's a lot of good.
Most of his former crew having distinguished careers.
Many gaining their own Commands.
Many of his scientists making several important discoveries.
Several becoming famous.
You don't seem happy. Aren't you proud of them?
"Of course I am! But I should have been there with them. Been able to praise them in person."
Let's drop in on your Soul Siblings.
His Soul Siblings assigned to an important research outpost.
Years later, now both bearing the rank of Chief Petty Officer, becoming important personnel
on the U.S.S. Pasteur; Starfleet's largest hospital ship, dubbed the Flagship of Starfleet Medical.
They're blessed in another way as well.
Not long after they transfer to the Pasteur, they have their third child.
"I dreamed about Jim last night," Shylea whispers to her lifemate as she holds their newborn daughter.
"He would have been so happy for us."
"He is happy for us, Beloved," Tuskaro whispers. "I know it."
"Guys! I am happy for you! And I'm so, so proud of you! But I don't want you to dream about me!
I want to be there with you!"
And this is what could happen, if the timeline is allowed to heal itself.
Himself, his crew and several hundred new crewmembers, entering a new ship.
Himself attending several diplomatic functions; smoothing over the ruffled feathers of ambassadors,
as well as being interesting company himself.
He and his crew embarking on a Five Year mission. Boldly going where no one has gone before.
Bones always at his side, wherever he goes. They both form new friendships and even find other loves.
But they're always there for each other.
Proudly watching as his Soul Siblings have distinguished careers.
Sometimes he's with them and sometimes apart, but even then he's never far away.
All three of them watching with pride as Jay'veen becomes a Starfleet Captain himself.
Seeing himself growing old, but not alone. Never alone.
Choose, Jim Kirk.
He did.
"I want to go back! I need to live!"
Once more he stood in an endless field of white. Q was standing beside him.
"Why did you do this, Q?"
"Because you're important." Q's looked thoughtful. "Most James T. Kirk's tend to be important in all realities.
Each one of them is like a nexus, either in the midst of great change or causing it. Often both. When they're
not in the equation things tend to go wrong, but when they are they have a tendency to always turn a no win
situation into a win."
His smile once again turned mischievous. "The James T. Kirk that you ran into a few years ago, the one
who never left the Enterprise-he and I have had a few encounters as well." Q paused and his eyes glowed
with white light. "In fact, not long before the two of you met, he and I were involved in an interesting gambit
involving the Prophets and the Pah-Wraiths."
"Who?" Kirk asked.
Q's eyes returned to normal. "Another race of extra-dimensional beings. You don't need to concern yourself
with them. Yet. Suffice to say that since then, from gazing across all dimensions and timelines, I've learned
that you're going to be just as important. Both to the Federation and to the Q Continuum. But you couldn't
very well do that if you were blasted to space dust. So I gave you a choice and I was pretty confident of the
one you'd make."
An escape pod suddenly appeared and Kirk felt himself blacking out.
"In you go now," he heard Q saying. "It'd probably be better if you're not awake when I put you back.
Your physical form took quite a beating from your ship blowing up."
6/8/2265
Enterprise Sickbay
7:30 AM
Kirk woke up.
Bones was above him, pale as a sheet with dark circles surrounding his eyes. "Jim," he whispered, and then
crushed him in an embrace. An embrace Kirk returned with as much urgency.
Beside him were his beloved Soul Siblings and his Senior staff. He noticed that the Enterprise Senior staff
were hovering in the room as well, and he knew he needed to finally confront what had happened between
them seven years ago.
But there'd be time to talk to them later. Just like there'd be time later to talk to Starfleet and give a full report
on what the hell happened.
For now…
His gaze went to the faces that he loved.
Bones…
Shylea…
Tuskaro…
Filars…
Akari…
Hatcher…
Thelin…
Tolliver…
Arex…
M'Ress…
For now he was content to be with them and he felt more alive than he ever had.
