The Captain of the Enterprise felt addled himself as he made his way to the Bridge of his ship. The underlying, festering irritation that was pervasive to every one of his thoughts would not go away. A Fleet Admiral from some other part of the Fleet didn't belong on his ship, especially not for the inane reason of some kind of pleasant holiday. A child wandering about alone most certainly didn't belong aboard her and Kirk couldn't help but feel the ship he was bound silently to protect was infested with some moldering virus.
The child's big, dark eyes and general pleasantness haunted him. Kirk knew from Chekov that in Russia's rural villages the children roamed about freely and everyone was expected to keep an eye on them all. Although not the cults the Admiral claimed they were, the communal nature of the villages certainly accounted for Dimitri's apparent ability to thrive with a mentally absent father and for his father to subsist without obviously needed medical attention.
Dimitri wandered alone on the Enterprise as well, but here no one monitored his not necessarily benevolent behavior. The Admiral appeared to expect nothing of the child but to exist until he took his rightful place in Russia's cultural future. Without the restraints and expectations of his natural environment, the child possessed an unlimited potential for havoc.
As he stepped into the lift, Kirk considered what Pavel Chekov must have been like as a peasant child. It was not surprising that the thought brought to mind Andrie Chekov, his Navigator's father. The man had outright adopted Sulu into their family and Kirk leisurely wondered if he would likewise welcome a child. If Dimitri was only given the kind of attention and stability any young person deserved, perhaps the Earth's 'next Mozart' wouldn't grow into the complete monster Kirk envisioned an adult Dimitri as.
The Captain had met Andrie once when the ship had run across his path and although the meeting had lasted less than five minutes, he was the kind of man who left an impression. Instantly his thick, curly black hair, neatly trimmed beard and Russian mustache gave Kirk the idea that father and son bore no resemblance to each other. The man's fierce, joyful, grasp of life and all-encompassing irreverent sense of humor quickly changed that notion.
On first view his wide, brown eyes seemed to mirror Pavel's as well: but it took only a second to move beyond that idea. When Andrie looked at you he became absolutely absorbed and the unnerving sensation that the world around had vanished could actually cause your ears to ache. His attention to you never wavered, never hesitated. You walked away from Andrie Chekov with the underlying feeling that he had secretly discovered that there was something about you that was vitally important.
The Captain never again wondered where Pavel Chekov had gotten his unwavering self-confidence and rock solid self-image.
Every human deserves just five minutes with Andrie Chekov, Kirk thought, wondering absently what the man's his 'government job' for the Russian Federation was.
The lift doors opened then and he froze, startled to be confronted with both Dimitri and Chekov. The Navigator twisted sideways and the child stepped back quickly beside him.
Military decorum, Kirk thought ruefully, although now he suspected it had very little to do with Leonov, who seemed to ignore the child. The man had mentioned Dimitri was a cabin boy in the navy: perhaps reinstating that particular custom was pushing the limit, the Captain considered.
The child was staring up at him sedately, innocently, patiently, with his wide brown eyes. It unnerved him. He didn't like to be looked at by the boy and he hoped, now that he knew Dimitri was from the same region as Chekov, that it was the similarities bothered him.
Having stood there for an inordinate amount of time, it suddenly occurred to Kirk that he had ought to say something. "Good afternoon, Dimitri. Are you enjoying your tour so far?" was what he managed to accumulate. He thought it turned out pleasant in the end.
"Yes, Sir: thank-you," was the boy's chipper and respectful response. "This spring I was able to tour the Excalibur while she was being fitted in dry-dock, so having the comparison of a ship in service has been very educational." He twisted his neck to look up at Chekov before turning back around to smile at the Captain. "I've encountered things here I never expected."
Well trained by his military service, the Chief Navigator didn't move, didn't even blink: but his face paled several shades lighter.
"Mr. Chekov was very kind to accompany me while I tour off-limits areas, such as the Bridge," Dimitri added.
"We'll both have to thank him, then," Kirk said with a pleasant smile. Truth be told, unless it had a security code, they all knew a Fleet Admiral's grandson could go anywhere he pleased. He had to thank Chekov in private. "I won't keep you, young man."
The Chief Navigator and the boy entered the lift as Kirk moved onto the Bridge.
"Oww!"
The Captain's step faltered and he snickered, grinning when the sound escaped the closing lift doors.
"Chekov!" The indignant protest from Uhura did little good, even though it brought her to her feet. The lift was gone and he couldn't possibly have heard her. "Captain, I don't think he should be hitting the child!"
Kirk sighed as he lowered himself into his command chair, trying to reign in his smile. "Oh, I don't know as I'd judge, Lieutenant. I haven't spent any time with the boy."
The Communications Officer moved away from her post to make better eye contact with her Commanding Officer. "Captain, that is the most adorable, charming little gentleman that it has ever been my good fortune to meet."
Casting a wicked glance at McCoy, who stood by his chair, Kirk turned sparkling hazel eyes at her. "Why Uhura, are you telling me Dimitri Ivanovich has turned his charisma on you and roped in his true love?"
"If he were a few years older," she answered without missing a heartbeat and planting her hand on her hip. Then added: "That boy is going to be fighting suitors off in his time."
There was a ripple of laughter that scattered over the bridge as Uhura retook her post. Kirk moved to turn back to the viewscreen, but muttered to McCoy as he did so. "Bones, I don't trust that kid."
"Jim, I have to say: everybody seems to love Dimitre," the Doctor responded, blue eyes shining. "And he does seem to get around."
The Captain scowled deeply. "If I remember," is what he said, "Everybody loved the orphans from Triacus as well." He shot a glare at his Chief Surgeon then. "Until they took over my ship!" he roared at his friend.
"I hardly think eight year old Dimitri is plotting to take over your constitution class star ship on his own," McCoy commented.
"He is showing more than a child-like interest in the ship, Captain," Spock informed him.
Kirk turned slowly, insides growing cold, and eyed his Science Officer. "What do you mean by that?"
Stepping down next to the command chair, Spock folded his hands behind his back. "From the human children I have observed aboard before, they all seemed to wish to know what all the controls do and what the readouts mean. Dimitri, on the other hand, has expressed no interest in this. His inquiries are more theoretical: how each system works and how they tie in together to make a functioning ship."
The Captain studied him a long moment. "Opinion, Spock?"
The Vulcan tilted his head and raised an eyebrow elegantly. "Dimitri Ivanovich has different interests than the human children who have previously visited the Enterprise."
Shifting a jaw muscle expertly, Kirk stared at the man. "Thank-you, Spock."
"Indeed."
"Spock?" the Captain continued quietly, with a furtive glance behind himself.
"Yes, Sir?"
"Why is Lieutenant Uhura on duty? Alpha shift has been off duty for some time now."
Both of Spock's eyebrows rose at this. "Lieutenant Soto was required in sickbay for the first three hours of his shift. Lieutenant Uhura volunteered for the extra time.
"My understanding, Captain, was that your recent order eliminated double shifts without your express, prior consent. It was not my understanding that this order eliminated the availability of overtime for either officers or crewmen."
"Oh, good God, don't do that!"
"Bones?"
"Jim," the Doctor said in a rush. "It is my express medical opinion that if you eliminate Chekov's ability to work on Spock's pet projects after duty, he'll drive the entire crew insane! You know there's just not enough to keep him busy on a starship."
"I'll take your input under advisement," Kirk said drolly, then turned back to Spock. "You're correct. The order was meant to have no affect on overtime, within reason."
The First Officer nodded, then observed: "I did submit the duty schedules for you to review, as per regulations, before they were posted, Sir."
Like I've had time for routine paperwork with the Admiral leaning over my shoulder. Hell, he thought with a sudden twinge, I haven't even found time for Chekov. The Captain gave Spock a thin smile and wondered, not for the first time, if it were remotely possible for the Vulcan not to be able to read what his smoldering glare meant.
McCoy leaned over his shoulder knowingly. "Jim, if it worked, you know he'd deny it anyway."