Chapter 10

As Kirk rode the turbolift to engineering he realized just how much he loved being a part of all this. Life hadn't felt this good since his last command. These last years as a 'Captain' in name only and his duties consisted mostly of addressing Starfleet cadets at one function or another. Since his last mission he had been wasting time and it surely couldn't compare to the thrill and excitement of zipping around the cosmos encountering all sorts of situations.

The only exciting part of the whole thing was watching and enjoying the fumbling nervousness of each of his assigned young academy aides.

Besides the commencement duties, he often spoke at naval functions usually consisting of a multitude of pompous, self-serving gray-haired old fogies. He figured the most exciting thing most of them had done was to decide if their hair implants should be parted on the left side or right side. Well, maybe that was a little exaggerated, but he knew that whatever he had been doing these last years, it certainly didn't cause the heart palpitations he was currently experiencing. He felt energized, alive and he had a purpose for living each moment. He decided that no matter what, he just couldn't go back to living the kind of life he had been experiencing these last few years.

Then he realized the folly of the situation. He had been lost for eighty years, supposedly living in a place where the normal time continuum was non-existent. Then to really die along side Picard. It seemed sort of ironic that here he was now in command of Picard's ship. He felt so alive, and so vital.

It occurred to Kirk that it was exactly these feelings of total devotion to Starfleet that had kept him from marrying and settling down.

He remembered what Picard had told him about their brief time together in the Nexxus. Apparently he had told Picard, "Never let them promote you." If that indeed was true, then it meant sometime down the road, he too would be given a choice. The problem it would seem was that his decision might have been the wrong one.

When he reached engineering he walked over to Geordi. "Mr. La Forge, I was wondering if you could help me?"

Geordi had been working on preparing the tests for the holodeck. When he heard his name, he jumped, "Yes, Captain."

"Well Geordi, it seems as though our friendly pirates like big shiny toys and things that go bump in the night. And even if they are supposed to be fierce and vicious pirates, we can assume, at heart they are still Ferengi."

Geordi nodded, "Yes, Captain I agree. You certainly seem to be able to understand the Ferengi mentality ."

"And what is the most important thing to a Ferengi?"

Geordi thought briefly, "Personal gain."

Kirk smiled, "that's what I thought."

Geordi quietly listened to what Kirk had in mind and chuckled when he realized what the plan was and what Kirk's intentions were.

"I'll get right on it sir."

"I knew you'd like this game." Kirk said walking once more to the turbolift. Now that there was a plan in place, Jim had more personal business to attend to.

Before reaching his intended destination, the turbolift halted to pick up two other passengers. As the doors parted, Kirk looked from one to the other. He felt there was something different about these two. His instincts told him it wasn't that they were dangerous, but it was more a sense of being somehow peculiar. Also the female seemed somehow familiar.

It was like a glimpse into the distant past. He was surprised, almost startled when she turned to address him.

"Enjoying your stay on the Enterprise, Captain?"

"Yes. It's quite a ship."

"We like it too."

Kirk had to lift his head in order to face the male image. He was just about to ask him what his position on the Enterprise was, when the turbolift abruptly paused and the couple moved to depart. The woman pivoted to face Kirk. Most of her body, cloaked in its diaphanous dark garment caused her to seemingly melt in the darkness.

"Enjoy yourself Captain. I hope you accomplish all you want."

Kirk was caught off guard momentarily and the few seconds he hesitated in responding was time enough for the two to vanish as if they were apparitions fading in the cimmerian darkness.

* * * *

Deanna walked though the Sickbay doors, and found Beverly sitting in front of her computer screen. She stood quietly for several minutes watching her friend. The doctor was humming some nondescript tune as she smiled and worked on the keyboard.

It occurred to Troi, that it had been quite some time since she had heard Beverly humming. Leaning against the wall, with arms crossed, she cleared her throat in order to catch the doctor's attention.

Beverly heard the noise, and she quickly looked up. Seeing Deanna standing there her smile widened. "Deanna come on in."

"Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?" Beverly said, still smiling.

"You are always smiling lately. Obviously you must be very happy, even with a Sickbay full of casualties."

"You're right I am happy. I'm deliriously happy. I mean certainly not because of my patients, because..."

Deanna jumped in. "What's so great about a 138 year old holographic image?"

Beverly took a deep breath and while giving her a sidelong glance and wagging her finger she answered, "Deanna Troi, woman who can get any man she wants, I do believe you are jealous."

Deanna straightened up and insisted, "I guess I'm just concerned about you. I don't want to see you get hurt again."

"I'm a grown woman. I think I can handle my own personal life."

"Beverly, he's not real. He's just not real."

"Jim is real to me." Turning quickly so that her hair gave a little flip, she stared down at some invisible dot on the desk, and finally looking up at Troi through her lashes, she gave a little laugh. "He's real to me. Can't you be happy for me? I feel good. No, I feel great! Who knows what the future brings. I mean who knows what could happen."

Troi decided it was time to be the heavy, "What about Jean-Luc?"

Beverly's head snapped upwards, "What do you mean, what about Jean-Luc?"

"Shouldn't you be worried or something about him? After all you and the Captain have known each other for a long time. And Captain Picard is real."

Deanna was fiercely angry with Beverly for being so gullible. After all she certainly wouldn't have acted like Beverly. Troi wondered if she should tell the doctor about Kirk's thoughts when he first encountered the Betazoid. She quickly decided that it would only hurt her friend, so she kept quiet.

Beverly stood and faced Deanna eye to eye, took a deep breath and said, "No Deanna, right now, right today, Captain Picard is the holographic image! I'm not going to discuss this any longer."

She turned and took her seat at the computer. Watching the scrolling screen, she placed one elbow on the desk and rested her chin in her upturned palm.

"I'll see you later Counselor," she muttered as her attention became focused on the readouts.

* * * *

Once the turbolift doors closed, Kirk paused and then asked, "Computer, present location of Dr. Beverly Crusher?"

"Dr. Crusher is in sickbay."

"Well then, take me there."

Within minutes, Kirk entered the room and saw her sitting at her desk, peering at some medical files.

Beverly sensed someone was standing there and assumed it was probably Deanna again, so without even looking up, she said, "I told you Counselor, I am not going to discuss this any further."

"Excuse me Doc."

Beverly quickly looked up hearing Jim's voice and once more she could feel her face begin a slow blush. She gave him a little smile and shook her head.

"I guess she just cares about me and she's trying to look out for my best interests." She sat back and looked up at the man standing before her and her heart did a complex series of flips. "How are things going Captain?"

Kirk grinned easily at Beverly. His passion for the woman surged through his body, and the fire stirred his longing. "They're good now," he replied going around her desk and pulling her up in an embrace. He drew his fingers through her silky hair and pulled her head to his lips for a hungry kiss. When their lips parted he murmured in her ear. "It seems as though we have a little spare time before the genie waves his magic wand and everything turns back into white mice and pumpkins."

Beverly looked first into his eyes, and then quickly down, not trusting herself to meet his gaze. "I still have a few things I have to do here."

Kirk's eyes shone with excitement, "How long?"

"I'll meet you in your quarters in an hour."

Once more his mouth found hers. They kissed deeply and then pulled apart once more. "I'll wait for you," he whispered.

* * * *

Kirk walked slowly back to his quarters, savoring every minute of this new life. He left the turbolift and proceeded down the corridor to his compartment just as Worf was signaling at his door.

"Lt. Worf, Can I help you?"

"Excuse me Captain, I do not mean to disturb you. I wondered if I might spend some time talking to you."

Those words sounded familiar. Those were the exact words Picard used back at the lounge in Starfleet headquarters. The last time he heard those words, he began a most incredible journey. Kirk idly wondered what talking to this big Klingon would bring and so he invited Worf into his quarters and offered him a seat.

Worf appeared a little uncomfortable, but grudgingly sat down. "This is damn unusual." Kirk thought watching the Klingon. It seemed not so long ago that the events of Rura Penthe took place, and now here he is about to have a little chitchat with one of his least favorite aliens. "Go ahead Lt. Worf, what's on your mind."

Worf began in his deep voice, "I have been thinking about the stories I remember hearing as a small child. My parents died while I was still very young, and I have forgotten much of the story of my grandfather and your trial. Would it be possible for you to tell me about him?"

Kirk nodded and rubbed his forehead, not relishing recalling the events. "I'm sure you already know most of the events that led to the trial on Khitomer. Why go over them now?"

"My memories are not entirely clear. I was hoping you could help fill in some of the gaps. I do not mean to overstep any boundaries Captain, but I would appreciate if you could recount them for me."

Kirk shrugged his shoulders. The memories were not entirely pleasant but if this Klingon wanted to hear them, then he was willing to oblige.

Taking a deep breath Kirk began, "Well, the Enterprise, my Enterprise that is, had been ordered to escort Gorkon, Chancellor of the High Council to a conference that was to be held on Earth. We rendezvoused with the Klingon ship and got together that night for dinner." Kirk paused mentally comparing that dinner with the Ferengi fiasco. They were both recollections he could just as soon do without.

"It seemed that there were those on both sides including some Romulans and Vulcans who didn't want to see a Klingon-Federation Peace Treaty. They conspired together to assassinate Gorkon.

Dr. McCoy and myself were set up to be the scapegoats and the plan was that the Federation and High Council would break relations. They came close to realizing their intentions. Had it not been for Spock, Bones and I would probably both be dead." After Kirk said this, he realized the absurdity of what he had just said. After all he really was dead. No matter what had happened on the holodeck he really was dead.

"They had developed a 'Bird of Prey' that could fire when it was cloaked."

Worf interrupted, "Yes, I seem to remember stories about a Klingon/Romulan project." Worf growled low in his throat, before going on. "I believe that such a ship leaves one without honor in battle. It does not take an astute warrior to beat an opponent when that opponent is blind. There is no honor in that kind of victory. Worf paused, made a low growl-like sound and then locked eyes with Kirk. Please continue, Captain."

"When McCoy and I were taken to Khitomer they assigned a Klingon defense attorney. Needless to say, the trial was merely an exercise in duplicity. We had no chance of acquittal." Kirk paused and momentarily closed his eyes. The images were sharp in his mind's eye and he experienced familiar pangs of prejudice. Melancholy settled on Kirk's face, "Although I had no part in Gorkon's death, I feel as responsible as those who committed the murder."

Looking up, Kirk regarded the man who sat before him. "It's hard to change and members of my crew believed that the Federation should not include Klingons. Your grandfather tried his best, and I believe that he really accepted and believed our innocence, but his arguments were no match for Chang.

Your grandfather and Bones and I spent several hours talking before the trial. It was during this conversation that I came to realize just how ridiculous it was to fear change. He tried his best to defend us, but it was a set up right from the beginning."

Worf emitted a low growl from deep within his chest. "I remember stories of how he became a local hero, when the truth was finally told."

"Your grandfather was there when the attempted assassination was made on our own President. It was he who noticed the blood of a dead Klingon was not the right color. One of the highest officials in the Federation had disguised himself as a Klingon."

Worf continued to groan quietly.

Kirk heard the sound that Worf made, but decided to ignore it, "Just before the Enterprise left Khitomer, after the conspiracy had been revealed, your grandfather came to talk to me. He was young and strong then, and hell bent on fostering peace between the two worlds. He gave me a small medallion I have kept with me since then.

Kirk reached inside his tunic and pulled out a small medallion, which hung around his neck on a finely woven golden mesh cord. He hesitated, briefly contemplating the disk before finally pulling it over his head.

He stared straight at the Klingon and choosing his words carefully, he began, "Lt. Worf, I have thought of this medallion as a piece of history. It was given to me by a man who believed that those who fight for peace, no matter how difficult the battle, will survive long after their bodies are nothing but dust. This coin has been with me since then. It's like my good luck charm."

Kirk fingered the raised design on the coin face and turned it over several times before extending his hand towards Worf, the medallion entwined in his fingers.

"This opportunity of putting it into your care is like completing the circle. I always thought that while I had it, I would be able to cheat death. Obviously, according to history somehow it didn't work. So I would like you to have it. I appoint you guardian of this tie that binds two worlds. My hope is that someday you will pass it on for yet another to carry its message."

Worf gingerly put out his hand to receive the medallion. He looked at it and then deep into Kirk's eyes. "This is the medallion of an honorable Klingon. I accept this captain. I promise you will not be disappointed in how I care for it. I will remember your words and I will pass them down to my son."

"You have a son, Lieutenant?"

"Yes. Alexander's mother was half-Klingon, half-human. A Klingon bastard murdered her. Alexander lives here on the ship with me. Although I have tried to make my son appreciate his warrior heritage, I have been led to believe he will turn to diplomacy and make that his life's work."

Kirk was about to respond when his communicator chirped an interruption, "Dr. Crusher to Captain Kirk."

"Kirk here." He answered shrugging his shoulders at the Klingon.

"Captain, umm, I will be able to go over those situations with you in about thirty minutes, is that convenient?"

Worf looked decidedly uncomfortable, "I can leave now Captain."

"No Lieutenant that's not necessary. That will be fine Doctor."

Kirk smiled at Worf. "You're a lucky man Lieutenant. You have a son and still are able to be a part of this Enterprise."

"There have been many difficult situations for Alexander and myself, but our bond between father and son grows stronger each day."

"I had a son Lieutenant. He also met his death at the hands of a Klingon. I envy you. You have been able to make a life for the both of you."

Worf stood and offered his outstretched hand to Kirk. "I cannot tell what lies ahead for you Captain, but I promise you, this family will not forget you."

Kirk grasped the hand in a firm handshake. "Thank you Lieutenant, thank you."

Worf smiled at Kirk and repeated those words from so long ago, "Thank you for restoring my wife's faith, Captain."

And Kirk responded, "Thank you for continuing to restore my son's, Lieutenant."

When he was alone Kirk sat down again and tried to erase the thoughts of what life could have been.

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