Disclaimer: Everyone who held copyrights last chapter still holds them.

Another chapter, and another surprise character…

CHAPTER NINE

Kirk did eventually get to Engineering.  Wandered his way from Sickbay onward, stopping here and there along the way, but finally ending up in Engineering.

Engineering was something of the reverse of Sickbay.  Where Sickbay was finishing its business and calming into normalcy, Engineering was still at the height of activity.  Engineers scurrying in all directions, apparently knowing where they were going though to Kirk all pattern was lost.  Engineers running everywhere, carrying everything.  It was a good two minutes before anyone even noticed Kirk.  Finally one engineer saw him and stopped, to be bumped into by the engineer behind him.  Then one after another after another stopped walking and started looking at Kirk.

Far from uncomfortable under the scrutiny, Kirk grinned and probably would have made a sweeping bow had there not been a distraction just then.  Specifically in the form of an echoing voice with a distinct Scottish burr from within a Jeffries Tube, demanding, "Why's everyone stoppin', you've got work to do!"  On not receiving a response he slid out of the tube and landed on his feet on the engine room floor.  He surveyed the room and when his eyes lit on Kirk a darker expression came into them.  "Get out."

"Funny, I keep getting that reaction.  Do you think it's the jacket?"

"We've got work to do, and e'en if we didn't you've got no business in me engine room."

"Actually, that's exactly what I'm here about.  How are the engines?"

"I'll not be tellin' a bloody pirate about 'em."

"Hey, I'm not just any bloody pirate!  I'm Jim Kirk!"

A faintly puzzled expression crossed Mr. Scott's face.  "Jim Kirk?"  They all knew the moment he recognized the name.  His expression changed and he inhaled sharply.  "Yer the leader."

"Guilty," Kirk agreed.

"Yer the one to blame."

"Possibly," Kirk said with more caution.  Admit nothing unless you know what you're admitting, and maybe not even then.

Scott was calm, but it was a deadly sort of calm.  "Yer the one who harmed me lass."

It was Kirk's turn to be puzzled.  "I don't think so."

"And me bairns."  Scott shook his head sadly.  "Me poor bairns."

"Okay, you lost me," Kirk said bluntly.  "I don't go around killing women and children.  I can't vouch for my entire gang, but not me.  Accuse me of killing your brother and you might have a case, but not women and kids."

Scott gave him an almost contemptuous look.  "I'm talkin' about me ship."

"Ohh, I get it!"  Kirk grinned.  "You're devoted to the ship."  He actually had to concentrate to stop himself from backing up a step before Scott's expression.

"I know about yer programs and yer self-destruct sequences, and I know better'n to kill ye."  A pause.  "But if ye don't get out, I might start to forget."

Kirk shrugged.  "Okay, I get the picture.  Just tell me how long you're going to take to repair the engines."

Scott gave him a long considering look, then told what Kirk could only assume was the truth based on the number sounding right.  "Thirty-six hours."

"Good," was all Kirk said as he turned and headed for the door.  He exited into the corridor, then looked back, putting a hand on the doorframe to stop the doors from shutting.  "And by the way, I don't blame you at all.  She's a beautiful ship.  Good luck with those repairs."

And then he moved his hand and the doors slid shut, leaving some faintly surprised engineers looking at a closed door.

*  *  *

As Kirk wandered through the corridors, more or less en route to the bridge, he was in a good mood.  The galaxy was his and all was right within it.

That was about to change.

"Jimmy?  Jimmy Kirk?" a voice boomed down the corridor.

Kirk recognized it immediately and it took him back fifteen years.  Not happily either.  He turned to confront the speaker.  "Finnegan."

It was.  Fifteen years older, but otherwise unchanged.  Right down to the mocking grin.  [A/N: If you don't know Finnegan, he was in Shore Leave.  Essentially the bullying upperclassman at Starfleet Academy.  Which I say in another line anyway.] 

"Jimmy Kirk.  Never thought I'd see you again."

He was not a first-year cadet, and Finnegan was not the bullying upperclassman.  He was a pirate.  "It's Jim.  Or better, Kirk.  We're not on a first-name basis."

"Still so high and mighty," Finnegan sneered.  "The great James T. Kirk.  Fought any Klingons yet, hero?"

"Maybe."

Finnegan snorted.  "Right."  He looked Kirk over.  "A pirate, eh?  Figures.  Never did think an Iowa farm boy would make captain."

 "And you're more likely?  Taking your time, aren't you, Lieutenant?"

Finengan's face flamed.  "At least I'm not a criminal.  Always knew you were trouble.  But I guess we all found that out.  Fifteen years ago."

Kirk didn't respond immediately, fighting a battle within himself.  Finally, though it cost him, he managed a careless shrug.  "I have better things to do than talk to you."  His footsteps echoed as he walked away.

Finnegan didn't appreciate having an opponent walk away from him.  "You think I don't know what's really eating at you?" he shouted after him.

Kirk stopped walking.

Finnegan went on, words laced and dripping with contempt.  "It's killing you that I'm the one in the gold shirt…and you're not."

In one moment, one movement, Kirk drew, turned and fired.  The red beam lanced out and struck.  "No, Finnegan," Kirk said quietly.  "It's killing you."

Then he turned and walked away.

Chapter ten hopefully fairly soon.