Chapter 13 - You're Going to Need a Good Lawyer

Kirk strode into the Advocate General's office. The outer office was empty, the computer terminals darkened. The door swished open behind him.

"Sorry I'm late, Jim."

Kirk turned. "Areel." He put his hands on her arms to greet her and accepted a peck on the cheek. "I didn't know you'd changed starbases."

"Just like you, Jim, I like to see the galaxy."

She put down the bright blue case she was carrying and greeted him with a quick hug.

"It's good to see you," Kirk said. "You. You aren't my lawyer, are you?"

"Yes, this time I am on your side. Officially and unofficially. Let's get started, shall we?"

"I've never been more pleased to have you all business, Areel."

She led the way into a meeting room. "Don't fight me on staying on topic, Jim. We don't have time."

They sat at one corner of a conference table. "You really know how to get into trouble, Jim. They should give you a medal for that. Make one up if they need to."

"I'm the victim of a mistake."

She paused to look at him then continued to unpack her case.

"I don't like that look," Kirk said.

"Well, last time you said that, you were correct."

"You don't believe me?"

"We'll get to that in a minute." She arranged her padd and stylus and communicators in front of her. "First I have to yell at you properly. What the hell were you thinking submitting to a truth scan for Commodore Ramos?"

"He's calling the hearing. I wanted it stopped."

She shook her head. "Jim. Don't. Do. Anything. Without checking with your lawyer. First."

"I don't see the harm."

"You've handed them the knowledge that you will pass lie detection. Now they have the opportunity to be ready for that."

"But . . ."

"Jim. You need a lawyer so badly, you might consider simply making one part of your bridge crew." She put her hands down on the table and leaned over him. "Aren't you considered some kind of legend of strategic thinking, Jim? Think for a moment. You are accused of fraternizing . . . get this . . . with a telepath. All they have to do is suggest . . . don't interrupt me . . . just suggest that your memory has been tampered with to allow you to fool the truth tester."

Kirk's face grew hot. "You are honestly suggesting that Spock, of all people, would alter my memory? Without my knowledge?"

"Jim. I'm suggesting that someone will suggest it in the hearing, negating your testimony in the first place. Capeesh?" She flipped open her padd and madly tapped on it with the stylus. "Stop making my job harder, is my point. If I can think of it, they can think of it."

"Yes, ma'am," Kirk said.

"That's more like it." But she gave him a soft smile. "My temptation is to have you ask for an extension so we have more time to prepare."

"I want this over with. It's an unacceptable strain on my crew. What do we need to prepare?"

"Jim. Have you seen the evidence? No, I can tell you haven't."

She turned her padd around and slid it under his nose. The photo on the screen was of two people in Starfleet workout suits in what certainly looked like an intimate scene. Spock was bent over him, arm behind his upper back. Kirk had his hand on Spock's shoulder. To fend him off, he knew, because he couldn't breathe in that position.

"I knocked the wind out of myself," Kirk said. "Landed wrong. Where is the full video?"

"That's all there is."

"In context this is innocent."

"Can you get the context?"

"It's not a working area of the ship. It's considered private. We don't keep that data longer than thirty six hours."

"Can it be recovered anyway?"

Kirk shook his head. "When data are removed, they are completely removed. Spock reprogrammed things to be certain of that. It's a security risk otherwise."

She placed a pink nailed finger on the padd. "So, you knocked the wind out of yourself. Is that the proper recovery procedure for that?"

"No. That's more open airway. He pulled me to a sitting position a second after this. Knees up, which is the proper position."

She stared at him too long, reached over and flicked the image. This one was in motion, jerky and blurry. Even Kirk had to admit it looked like they were necking. Especially the way Kirk sealed his shirt up with that eaten-the-canary grin.

Areel said, "Any idea why the quality is that way?"

Kirk stretched his neck without realizing it. The view was the arboretum, from a low angle.

"It's one of the sensor cameras. Time lapse, close range. It can't focus at a distance or take continuous scans."

"And, do you remember these events?"

"Yes, I-" Kirk glared at her. "Of course I do. What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm representing you, Jim, not your first officer."

Kirk sat back, arms crossed. His chest was heating up, starting from a slow burn under his ribs and rising from there.

Areel said, "Jim, I have to consider the possibility that you don't have your full faculties. I'm not doing my job otherwise."

"I can take a lot of criticism of myself. I can't take unjustified insinuations against my best friend."

"If you say that during the hearing, or anything remotely like it, it is over. You are finished. Is that clear?"

Kirk set his jaw. After a second, he nodded.

Her nail clicked on the padd screen which was looping through the same jerky image of the two of them seeming to have their arms around each other. "So. What is happening here?"

Kirk reached over his shoulder to point at his back. "The nerve that runs here, controls a feedback loop between physical stress and emotional stress. Suffice to say if a Vulcan gives you a really minor neck pinch there, it's a fifteen second equivalent of a two hour massage."

She didn't respond right away. Her eyes were narrowed in thought.

"It was either that or the brig. I was on the verge of losing my temper with the admiral and after weeks of holding it in, it was going to be a tirade to end all tirades." Kirk rubbed his forehead. "I was facing sanction, Areel. I have no doubts about that."

She pulled the padd back.

Kirk said, "Any more?"

"Mostly circumstantial items. And some records of how often you communicate late at night."

"Running a ship is a 24 hour business."

"I know that. But one of your late night communications officers remembers your conversations as a bit less than professional."

"I get a bit punchy when I'm tired. Teasing my First is how I relax."

"We need an extension, Jim. Can you talk to Commodore Ramos. Right now?"

Kirk stood and took out his communicator. He felt like he moved in a dream. Ramos was more than willing. He sounded relieved. Kirk joked with him a bit and signed off.

"That was easier than expected." Areel flipped open one of her comm devices. "Which is a bad sign given that Ramos likes you. I need to find someone who can certify that your memory isn't altered."

"You really think that's necessary?"

"We have to be prepared, Jim. If they make the suggestion and we immediately counter with proof, the suggestion can be neutralized and your self-testimony with the truth tester bears weight again." She opened a channel to her computer assistant and assigned it the task of finding someone.

Devices down, but still all business, Areel said, "I'd like to talk to you and your officer at the same time, if possible."

Kirk nodded. He still had his communicator in his hand. He didn't flip it open. "Is there any chance you can hold off on showing Spock those images? He's somewhat reserved."

"Jim, those are not the photos of someone who is reserved. But I will if you prefer it. It's not going to help, long term."

Ensign Rail answered when Kirk hailed the ship. He was likely the source of the testimony about he and Spock communicating, since he was on duty most gamma shifts. "Connect me to Mr. Spock, Ensign."

When Spock answered, Kirk tried not to think about how what he said might sound out of context, "You're needed here for a meeting. Can you get away right now?"

Spock arrived minutes later. He took in Kirk's grim posture with a long glance, then turned to Areel.

"Have a seat, Commander, please," Areel said.

Spock took the chair opposite Kirk and sat with his arms at his sides, hands in his lap.

Areel said, "I have some questions, but first it occurs to me that maybe you would know of someone we can use, a mind healer or such. Since Jim pulled that little stunt with revealing he can pass a truth test, I want to have him certified as never having had his memory altered by you. I know that's pretty broad but-"

"Such certification will not be possible," Spock said.

Kirk glared, stunned. "What?" he finally managed to say.

Spock said, "I have manipulated the Captain's memory."

Kirk stood up, fists pressed onto the table top. "I was defending you-"

Areel waved Kirk back. "Does this alteration involve this case?"

"No. It was half a year ago or so."

Areel scribbled with her stylus. "You have to be the worst client I have ever dealt with, Jim."

Kirk's voice came out whip-sharp. "That's a surprisingly vague time frame coming from you, Spock."

Spock nodded acknowledgement of this. "The alteration was done somewhat at Doctor McCoy's suggestion."

Kirk sat down, he felt himself expanding inside his own skin, compressed by it. "I'm not sure that helps."

Spock went on, "But nevertheless, my actions on Planet Amerind necessary to recover you from your Kirok persona would also likely qualify as alteration."

"All right," Areel said. "Jim. Fists off the table. I'm trying to get you off from one minor offense. I would like to do so without getting your executive officer hauled before a courts martial for a major one. So drop it."

She stood up and leaned on the table between them. "I have to ask this because we are not having any surprises during a hearing. Mr. Spock, are you familiar with the Starfleet manual definition of inappropriate sexual interaction?"

"Yes."

"Have you and Captain James T. Kirk ever engaged in anything in violation of that?"

"No."

Areel turned to Kirk. "Jim?"

"No."

She slid back to her seat. "That's the first thing that's gone right this entire meeting. I suppose with random chance something had to."

She took a deep breath. "Just to double check, Mr. Spock, it isn't possible to get the video logs from the Enterprise gym from Stardate 3902.35?"

"No, they have been erased."

"Too bad. Jim thinks a bit of context would help your case."

"Because it would." Kirk said. To Spock he said, "Selective frame-grab off the feed." He leaned forward. "You know, I can't see Diamond doing this. That leaves Farragut." At the moment, no one seemed to be on his side.

"What's she have against you?" Areel asked.

"I don't know. I hadn't met her before the Admiral was assigned."

Areel stared at him a long moment. "You're certain?"

"YES."

The meeting wrapped up finally. Kirk's stomach growled. "You want dinner, Areel?"

"I have to work. And I think you and your officer have some things to clarify. I'm ordering you to get them clarified. We will not have a clash of personalities in front of your peers who get to rate the show at the end of it. Understood? United front."

Outside the Advocate General's office, Kirk said to Spock, "I'd like to stay on base to get something to eat."

Spock said, "I'm not sure that is wise, together, in any event."

"I feel like doing so in defiance of what is safe to do, Mr. Spock." He peered down the long corridor leading away from the command pod. "Is Farragut still on board the Enterprise?"

"No sir. She was transferred baseside end of shift. But I do not think it wise to speak to her before the hearing."

Kirk contemplated pointing out that Spock's advice wasn't exactly trustworthy right now, but he didn't. It wouldn't hurt the Vulcan badly enough for starters.

"You and I need to talk."

Kirk walked away. Spock caught up and the two of them walked in silence to where the ship was docked.

On board, Kirk sat heavily behind his desk and paged Rand to bring dinner to his quarters.

"You gave me a vague date so that I can't figure it out." Kirk's anger was banked, transformed into alarm and hurt.

Spock nodded.

Kirk almost swore at him, but he rubbed his face instead and composed his thoughts. He felt under siege from all sides and had to rethink too much at once.

Rand came in with trays, put them down, glanced between them, exited.

Kirk wasn't very hungry. He dropped the tray cover back over the plate. He rocked back in his chair and studied Spock, who had the decency to appear humble with shoulders curved forward.

Kirk was all command. "I want to know what you changed in my memory."

"Captain, this is not an optimum time to be saddled with those emotions."

"You're messing with my emotions? You think I have too many? Of course you do." He sat back again, not even aware of sitting forward. "By the way, that was a command, Mr. Spock."

"May I respectfully request that you consult with Doctor McCoy on the wisdom of doing so now, rather than after the hearing. I strongly suggest it wait until then."

Kirk breathed in and out a few times, too fast, he could feel it. "I feel like if I threaten you with court martial, you are still not going to tell me."

Spock hesitated. He tilted his head. "I will face that rather than put your career at risk with such a distraction at this time."

"And you know it's a bluff, because if I court martial you for that, my hearing is also done for."

"I was not actually thinking of that, Jim."

"You're worried about letting me remember something from six months ago. What about how much you are undermining me right now?"

"I am having difficulty balancing those two competing problems. I feel however in the first case, that most of the damage has already been done."

"No, it's not. Why did you do it?"

Spock's face became serene, which Kirk suspected was an additional layer of control. "It was a moment of weakness."

"That must be a first. I hope it's a first."

Spock nodded with a remote expression. "It is."

Spock looked down at his hands. He was slow to speak, as if the words had to be dragged up from somewhere deep. "I could not bear the emotional pain you were in. The guilt."

When Kirk didn't reply for a long time. Spock raised his eyes in question.

"I messed up?" Kirk said.

"In a sense. You gave into your passions and destroyed something you cared deeply for. The consequences were limited. It wasn't a career changing event. Just a personal one."

Kirk worked his mouth and rocked his head to the side. "Don't do it again."

"I will not. I have almost admitted it to you several times, but there seemed to be no upside to doing so. I would lose your trust in me and you would have nothing to gain but emotional pain."

"Logical to keep it to yourself then." This came out half mocking.

"Indeed. And your scorn is well placed."

"It's more anger than scorn, Spock. You took something away from me then and you are taking something away from me now."

Spock didn't reply. He stared at his clasped hands.

"Okay," Kirk said. "We've been through too much together and this can't create friction right now. We don't have the luxury of it."

Spock didn't respond.

"I'm not ready to forgive you for the breach of trust, but I'm ready to overlook it. I overlook a lot of things on this ship, for most all of the crew but you since you usually don't need it. This is what I'm overlooking for you. This moment of weakness. Seems only fair to you to get your share of consideration from the captain."

Spock sat straight with apparent reluctance. "Yes, sir."

"Areel might want to have another meeting tomorrow afternoon after she does some research. Make yourself available."

Spock nodded.

Kirk waited, watching him. Spock didn't move. Kirk flattened his voice. "You're dismissed," he said.

When the door swished closed, Kirk tilted his head back.

"Damn," he said to the empty room.