The next morning, Jim was awakened by his communicator. He reached for it without opening his eyes. "Yes," he answered.
"Admiral Kirk," said Admiral Winston.
Jim's eyes popped open then, and it crossed his mind to jump up and stand at attention, but he did not. "Yes, Sir."
"I'd like you to come in to the office this morning. There's a matter we have to discuss."
"Yes, Sir. What time?"
"As soon as you can get here."
"Yes, Sir. I'll be on my way in a few minutes."
"Winston out."
Jim closed the communicator. Carol slid her arm around him. "You're not getting up," she said.
"You heard that," Jim replied. "I have to."
"Oh, I don't want you to go."
"Maybe it won't take long. He knows I have the day off today."
"You better hurry back."
"I'll try."
Jim got a shower and got into his uniform. He leaned over the bed and kissed Carol. "I would much rather stay in this bed with you," he said.
"Just hurry back."
Jim went out the door and headed down to the office. He wondered what the admiral wanted to discuss. However, he knew that report about Doctor McCoy had not been resolved as of yet. He hoped he was not about to be tangled up in another court hearing.
Jim entered the Headquarters building and went up to the floor where Admiral Winston's office was, and of course, Felonia was there. "Morning, Admiral Kirk," she said.
"Morning," Jim replied. "Admiral Winston is expecting me."
"I'll let him know you're here."
Jim stood and waited. He smiled as he thought of the time he and Carol had together since he got back. He felt like he missed her already. What was wrong with him?
Jim was daydreaming when Felonia said, "Admiral Kirk." She realized he did not hear her. "Admiral Kirk."
Jim looked at her. "Yes," he said.
"Admiral Winston will see you now, Sir."
"Thanks."
Jim went to Admiral Winston's office and stood at attention. "Admiral James Kirk reporting as ordered, Sir," he said.
"At ease," Winston said. "Have a seat."
Jim sat down, thankful that this meeting was different than the last meeting he had with an admiral. "There's a matter that we haven't discussed in a few days, Admiral Kirk," Winston said. "It's about Doctor McCoy."
Jim frowned. "Yes, Sir. I haven't had much time to…"
"I know that, but this matter has to be addressed. Admiral Kirk, when you filed this report, were you force to do it?"
Jim scowled at that question. "Sir?"
"Were you force to write this report against Doctor McCoy?"
"Well…Admiral Simmons said that if I didn't write it, he would court martial me," Jim said. "I didn't think it was really worthy of having a report like that because of the circumstances."
"So, if you had been aboard your ship, you wouldn't have reported it?"
Jim was not sure where this conversation was going. "Sir, I realize Doctor McCoy disobeyed an order, but sometimes I try to put myself in their position. What would I do? Could I stand there and do nothing? I've gotten into more trouble doing what I thought was right and going against some protocol in the Prime Directive than any other time, but I know we have to have rules. But I ask myself, if I were standing there where Bones…I mean, Doctor McCoy was standing and I had the gun…what would I do? The situation there wasn't our fault. We were kidnapped and taken there…"
"I know that," Admiral Winston said. "I didn't ask you all that. I asked you if you were forced to write that report. If you had been aboard your ship, would you have written that report?"
Jim was silent a moment. "Probably not," he said. "It was a bad situation, Sir, and I…"
Admiral Winston held up his hand for Jim to stop. He tapped on a pad. "I think I lost that report, Admiral Kirk," he said. "Did you keep a copy of it?"
Jim stared at him a moment. "No, Sir," he said slowly. "I filed it on Jupiter Station and…"
"Humph. Too bad. I guess there's no report to look at then, is there?"
Jim was not sure what to say. "No, Sir, I guess there's not."
"Well, I guess that situation just kinda solved itself, didn't it?"
Admiral Winston stood up, and Jim stood up quickly. "Enjoy the rest of your day, Kirk," Admiral Winston said. "Oh, and by the way…" He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a gift wrapped in bright pink paper. "My wife and I got something for your baby. Congratulations."
Jim took the gift feeling a little dumfounded for a moment. "Uh, thank you, Sir."
"You're dismissed."
"Yes, Sir."
Jim saluted him and then left the office wondering what just happened. He walked over to Felonia's desk still feeling a little stunned. "Sir," she said. "I have a gift for your baby as well. I meant to give it to you sooner, but…"
"That's okay. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Sir."
Jim walked out of there and went down to his own office where Ajah was sitting at his desk as usual. He stood up. "Admiral Kirk, I was not expecting you to be here today," he said. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Jim said. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was catching up on some work, and keeping up with messages."
"Messages?"
"Yes, Sir. Always something. Some of them are just memos."
"Any important messages?"
"Korax came to the office yesterday afternoon," Ajah said. "He wanted to see you today if he could."
Jim felt like he had abandoned Korax, but he had stayed on Earth before and knew where he was. "Sure," he said. "Tell him, my family and I will be spending time together today, but he's welcome to visit."
"I'll relay the message."
"You can take the rest of the day off as well, Ajah."
"Thank you, Sir. I am glad you are back. I wish I could have been there to help you."
"It's alright. We made it."
"I guess I do not have much to do since Felonia is working."
"There is something I want you to do," Jim said.
"What's that, Sir?" Ajah asked.
"I want you to find out everything you can about Admiral Anthony Simmons. I want to know anything you find, no matter how insignificant. Save it all for me so I can read over it. Find out if there are any places he's been known to frequent."
"I'll get right on that, Sir."
"Send it to me. I'll be at home. Call me when you get all that."
"Yes, Sir."
"Talk to you later."
Jim turned and left the building this time. He had not expected Admiral Winston to get a gift for their baby. He would not open it until he got home, however. He was sure Carol would be surprised too. He got the kids on his way home and visited with his mother a little while. She had been quite worried about him, of course, when he was kidnapped.
"I'm alright now, Mom," Jim said.
"Are you sure there are no more bounties?"
"None that I've heard of. I really think those Klingons will be quiet for a while."
"Let's hope so."
"I'll see you, Mom."
Winona kissed him. "Take care of yourself."
"I will."
Jim took the kids and went back home where Carol was now enjoying a bath. Jim put Joy into her crib and then went into the bathroom. "Is this what you do when I'm out?" he asked.
"No, I'm usually busy," Carol replied.
Jim smiled. "I'm only kidding, you know."
"Yes, I know. I may just stay in here for, oh, I don't know how long."
"Take your time."
Jim leaned down and kissed her, and then he left the bathroom. He changed into some jeans and a t-shirt and then lay on the sofa. He remembered that Korax was supposed to visit them. He supposed he should tell Carol about that. He did not tell her about the gifts yet either, but he would tell her all that after she was done relaxing in the bath. He watched Alex playing in the floor. He certainly hoped this situation with bounty hunters was over. He did not want anymore trouble.
Later that day, Korax and Odreli came to Jim and Carol's apartment. Jim was rather surprised when he opened the door. "Korax," he said. "Come on in."
The Klingons came into the apartment, which caused Alex to run to his mother feeling afraid. Jim was not expecting that to happen, and he hoped Korax and Odreli would not be offended. "I'm sorry," Jim said.
"It is quite alright," Korax said. "His fear is understandable."
Jim went over to his family. "Alex, this is Korax and his wife," he said. "Korax is our friend. He helped me escape from the other Klingons more than once."
Alex looked up at Korax who seemed almost like a giant to him. "Carol, this is Korax's wife, Odreli," Jim said.
"It's nice to meet you," Carol replied.
Odreli bowed slightly. "I thank you for allowing us into your home."
Jim was not sure what to do next. He had never had Klingons in his apartment before. He had always been their guest. "Well, we can sit and talk a while," Jim said.
"I would speak with you in private, Admiral," Korax said.
"Sure. We can talk out on the balcony."
Carol thought Jim surely did not have to leave her with a strange Klingon, but she supposed they would just get to know each other.
Jim and Korax went out onto the balcony. "So, what's this about?" Jim asked.
"Have you heard any more news about the admiral who delivered you to Omakh?" Korax asked.
"Not yet, but I've got people picking up leads," Jim replied.
"I may also join the search. I will take Odreli to visit with Karf, and then I will help."
"Aren't you going to visit with Karf as well?"
"I shall, but she will remain there for some time. She is with child."
Jim was surprised by that. "Well, congratulations," he said.
"I would betroth our children, but I realize this is not a tradition on your planet. I would be honored to have one of your children in my House. She would be loved and protected."
"Oh, I have no doubt about that, but as you said, that's not a tradition for us…but if she grows up and they fall in love, I wouldn't have a problem with that." Jim could not say the same for Carol, but he was sure she would not stand in the way either.
"What have you found out about the admiral so far?" Korax asked.
"He covered his tracks well," Jim replied. "I'm sure he must not be on a Federation world. When they find him, I'm going to personally arrest him for treason."
"I would go with you. I would be your bodyguard."
"You're welcome to go with me. I don't know how long it'll take to find him, but he's out there somewhere. Someone has to see him."
"Have you put a bounty on him?"
"No. The Federation hardly ever does anything like that."
"It would speed up the process, perhaps."
"It might, but I'm not interested in paying out money to find him. He's living it up somewhere on that bounty. He had to have a plan. I just can't figure out how he came up with a plan so quickly that he could just suddenly run for it like that. He couldn't have known we would show up on Jupiter Station."
Korax considered that. "Unless he knew the one who captured you and would have shared the bounty," he said.
Jim was silent a moment. "Cax claimed he wanted that money to take care of his sick wife," he said. "Why would he want to share it?"
"Perhaps the admiral promised him that he would help her in some way."
"This is becoming complicated, but it's all just theory…but you know, Cax did deliver to Jupiter Station a lot. He could have known the admiral pretty well."
"It is a theory," Korax replied.
"He never seemed like he would be a traitor like that."
"Sometimes we do not know all of the intentions of others until they let it be known. We have had our share of traitorous Klingons."
"Yes, I know."
They looked out across the city and could see the Bay. "This planet is pleasant," Korax said. "It is much different than my world. Many here are quite perplexed when they see Klingons."
Jim smiled. "They'll get used to seeing Klingons, I'm sure," he said.
"It is a good alliance. Odreli and I have enjoyed our time here. I will send Karf to the Starfleet Academy when he is old enough. He will make a fine officer and will be a warrior as well. He will be formidable."
"I have no doubt about that. Are you coming back to Earth when you take Odreli…there?"
"I will. Then I shall become a hunter. Will the Federation punish him for his crimes?"
"They will. Treason is a serious crime."
"Will he be executed?"
"Uh…no. Most likely he'll spend some time in prison or a penal colony."
"And if he gets out?"
"He most likely won't get out."
"He could spend time in a Klingon prison. He tried to help sabotage the peace agreement."
"All that's not up to me. I just know what he did."
"Admiral, we have not been able to locate J'Stalla. She most likely has fled the planet Kronos."
Jim frowned. "I'm sure a female Klingon can't stay hidden. I mean, she's noticeable."
"She may be with the rogue Klingons now," Korax said. "They know her. They are not alone in their goals."
"I know," Jim replied. "But we'll just have to deal with all that as it comes. Right now, why don't we go in there and spend some time with our families."
"A fine idea."
"By the way, would the two of you like to have dinner with us…that is, if you can stand human food."
Korax laughed heartily at that. "If you can eat it, I can," he said.
Jim laughed as well. "You're quite a pal, Korax."
"As are you, Admiral."
