I do not own Star Trek: TNG (at least not on paper or in the eyes of the law, but in my heart...)

Kirkian Legacy

Stardate 42564.9

Lieutenant Kirk came to with a mass of foreign images swirling in her mind and a pounding headache. Beside her, she heard someone stirring to life with a moan, echoing her own discomfort.

Picard slowly lifted his head from the back of the couch, trying desperately to clear his mind of a collage of pictures and feelings. "What the hell was that?" he inquired tersely.

Lieutenant Kirk lifted her aching head and peered at her captain and replied weakly, "I don't know, I didn't do it...I don't think I did at least." The chaos in her mind continued to swirl, interrupted by momentary points of clarity. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am," Picard replied as he righted himself on the couch. Looking at his position, he found that he was still touching Lieutenant Kirk's hand and slowly moved it back to his own lap. He noticed that he had a dull thud in his head but it was quickly receding. Risking a glance at the clock, he saw that they had only been unconscious for a few minutes.

"Oh my god, that was a psychic backlash! But why? How?" Lieutenant Kirk thought as the pictures, sounds and feelings continued to dance before her. She realized that the images were not her own, but from Picard's mind.

"I'm sure I don't know, Lieutenant. That is your area of expertise. But what is a psychic backlash?" Picard answered her unspoken question with a question of his own, while rubbing his temples to ease away the last echoes of pain.

"You heard me?" came Lieutenant Kirk's shocked reply.

"Of course I heard you, my hearing is fine."

"But I didn't say that, I thought it." As a test, Lieutenant Kirk thought, pointedly, "Can you hear me now?"

Captain Picard looked into the young officer's face, this time he had heard the difference between her spoken words and thoughts quite clearly. "Yes, yes I can," came his slow and somewhat disbelieving reply.

Stardate 42565.4

Normalcy, that's what Lieutenant Kirk was striving for as she listened to the Vekete delegate's requirements for the agreement. More correctly, as she tried to listen, but the throbbing pain behind her eyes had not ceased since the backlash, so Kirk suffered silently hoping no one could tell. The captain was another case all together, being slightly distracted by the presence of her thoughts in his mind, but as far as Kirk could tell at least he was pain free.

Proof of the link was evident by the way Picard would occasionally look her way at the same time as a surge of pain would strike her forehead. Picard tried to focus on mediating the ratification plan for the coalition agreement, but Lieutenant Kirk's discomfort prevented him from concentrating fully. They had spent hours trying to understand what had transpired, only to end with no real answers. It seemed that the situation was not controlled by Lieutenant Kirk, as she was still able use her telepathic and empathic skills or turn them off at will, but Picard could not divest himself from her consciousness. No matter how Lieutenant Kirk had tried, she could not shut down the mental connection that allowed Picard to freely navigate her thoughts.

Sitting at her console, working through the pain, Kirk was shocked when suddenly three bright red drops splashed on her I/O pad. Staring at the liquid, her thoughts were sluggish and she did not process what was happening until she felt the warm touch of liquid roll down her lip ending in two more drops to the pad. Kirk stood calmly and slowly, to not draw attention to herself and said in a staid tone, "I think I'll return to my quarters, I'm not feeling well," while trying to cover her nose and mouth nonchalantly.

Mid-way across the room, another pain spike through her head and the slow dripping of her life essence became a constant trickle. Having sensed her pain, Picard looked up to see Lieutenant Kirk moving shakily towards the corridor. Concerned he excused himself and rose to follow her. As she stopped at the access panel, Lieutenant Kirk leaned against the wall while inputing the code. When the forcefield dropped, she did not walk into the hallway, but weaved and Picard could sense her departure from consciousness even before her form slumped forward.

Picard arrived at her side in time to guide her falling form into the hallway then sweep her up into his arms and carry her to the suite. Picard noticed immediately that for the first time in hours he could not sense pain emanating from her. When her head fell to the side, Picard could clearly see the paleness of her skin stained by the blood from her nose. In the suite, Captain Picard gently laid her on her bed, but before he could return with a cool towel, Lieutenant Kirk was beginning to rouse.

As Picard sat on the edge of her bed, offering her the towel, Kirk was horribly embarrassed by being in such a position of weakness before him.

Sensing her feelings and concern, Picard smiled and said in a very tender tone, "Lieutenant, it's alright, you needn't be ashamed. I, for one, am just glad that you are all right. I'll go and summon a med tech to check you out."

"Um, sir, I'd rather you didn't...I'm feeling much better. Plus I'm very uncomfortable with strange doctors."

"Ah, well yes Lieutenant, I'm glad to hear that but just the same, I think it best we get a second opinion. We already know that this is not an ordinary circumstance."

"Sir, please," Kirk said in a weak voice, "it's more than discomfort...I don't think I could handle any more psychic intrusions right now...all of my energy is focused towards you...that's what was wrong in the hall, too many inputs and emotions. Please don't ask me to submit to an exam right now, it would be very painful."

Concerned, Picard nodded and backed away from the lieutenant, "Uh hmm, I am very sorry for that. Well then I'll just leave you alone, so that you can rest."

As he turned and headed for the door, Lieutenant Kirk winced in pain as she realized how her admission had hurt the captain. At the same time, Captain Picard felt her pain and wished for the thousandth time that day that he knew how to stop hurting her.

"Captain," Kirk mumbled through the pain, "don't feel bad...I'm pretty sure this is all my fault, not yours."

Turning slightly, Picard said over his shoulder, "Let's not worry about that now, but you should rest so you can feel better."

Before he could step out the door, Lieutenant Kirk, called out, "Please stay, I don't want to be alone."

"Lieutenant we both know that my presence is hurting you. I think that distance is the best option right now."

"I've been thinking about that...it's painful trying to block you out and fortify my mental shields. But it's not working and I think that my fighting to close the link is what is causing the pain."

"If that is so, how do we close the link?" asked Picard, intrigued by Kirk's theory.

"What if I just stopped...stopped fighting and stopped trying to push you out..."

"Lieutenant, I'm no specialist on psychic phenomenon but couldn't that also destroy your mind?"

"Captain, all truth is parallel, just as its better to go with a raging river than to try to go against it, I'm hoping it's easier to allow you access than to keep you out. Because the truth is sooner or later something will have to give and I just don't see any other options."

"Okay for now I agree, continue...," said Picard.

"For my plan to work, I will need your permission – releasing my shields with you linked to my mind will cause a flood of information and emotions. Normally it is a state only accessible by close familial ties or mates. I can't say for sure if this will be just a one way transfer or two way"

"Do you feel confident that this could remedy the situation?" Picard asked.

"I think that I...we have nothing to lose. You already have access to surface thoughts and emotions. What I'm really blocking are memories and core thoughts and feelings. To stop would give you intimate knowledge of who I am and how I feel. But maybe, just maybe after the pain is gone, we can work together to close the link. "

"Okay, how do we proceed?"

"There is nothing really for you to do. If you start to feel pain or any adverse response tell me immediately, I will have to lower my shields gradually, like taking down a brick wall. It may get worse for me before it gets better and if this goes bad, I may go into convulsions or a coma – but if that happens don't let anyone touch me unless I'm unconscious. The added psychic input could be maddening and I'd appreciate not being awake for something like that," the lieutenant finished with a half-hearted smile.

"Is there anyway to make you more comfortable while you do this?"

The lieutenant thought for a moment and then replied with a blush, "It's sort of embarrassing to ask, but you'll know everything about me in a few minutes anyway, so I might as well ask: Would you read to me?"

Perplexed, Picard repeated back, "Read to you?"

"Yes, your voice is very...soothing," Lieutenant Kirk admitted.

Picard consented, "Ah, well yes," just as the the thought 'and sexy' passed in his mind. He looked at Lieutenant Kirk to see her beet-red face.

"You heard that didn't you?" she said highly embarrassed.

"Ah, yes," Picard said leaving the room to retrieve a book. Lieutenant Kirk never saw the blush that covered his cheeks as well.

Returning to her room, Picard moved a chair to sit beside her bed, settled himself in and said, "Shall we begin?"

At the lieutenant's nod Picard began to read, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

Stardate 42566.4

Seven hours later the first part was over, Lieutenant Kirk no longer had the searing pain behind her eyes, but her mind, her being was no longer hers alone. Yet to be done was the closing of the link, but both she and Captain Picard were both exhausted from the removal of the barriers, Picard retired to his room and Kirk was asleep within seconds of his leaving.

Though they were separated by walls Picard knew everything the lieutenant felt or thought, he slept peacefully the night through knowing she was well and pain-free. Captain Picard awoke first in the morning, and his first thought or the continuation of his awareness from sleep, was that she was still sleeping peacefully. During the time alone, he began to sort through the information that inundated his mind.

Expect the unexpected, that is the Starfleet way, but it could not have prepared Picard for this experience. He was not expecting to feel her so completely – her wants, desires and needs. He could see the memory of her drab, depressing cabin and feel the loneliness it evoked. He could see her memories of her would-be suitors and feel her desire to be kind and her certainty that she could never seriously consider any of them. It was like he had known her all of her life, he could feel himself slipping easily through her mind and soul. What was most surprising was her awareness of time, the passing of almost a century alone.

Having always been a private person, Picard was not trying to invade her mind, but he also could not find a way to free himself from it. As he reflected on the vulnerable position the lieutenant was in, he thought of all the the memories and thoughts he had that he would not want someone to be able to freely access, special memories of lifetime milestones: his first kiss, the first time he made love, his first love, and the death of his parents. No sooner had he had the thought then he knew the answer to these questions bidden or not. She had never known a lover, a kiss or love. In a heartbeat, Picard knew the conflicting feelings of anger and emptiness she felt towards the father she never had the chance to know. And then loneliness again at being so far from home, and a well hidden feeling of remorse because she knew she could never fit in or stay there.

Desperately trying to separate himself from Lieutenant Kirk's sleeping mind, Picard began reviewing the final codicils of the draft version of the agreement. With any luck they could wrap things up and be back aboard the Enterprise in two more days.

Just before 0700, Picard felt the lieutenant stirring, again marveling at how he could be cognitively aware of her presence and status without trying. He new instantly that she had rested well and was no longer in pain. He also knew that she urgently wanted him separated from her mind and memories. Just that small quiver of fear flooded his mind with all the thoughts she would love to be hidden from him. Without thinking, Picard allowed a smile to cross his face when he learned that she enjoyed viewing his derriere, her exact thought was 'nice ass'.

As Lieutenant Kirk entered the room and saw Picard's smile, she grumbled, "Now you know why we do not help other races develop their psi talents – if the talents develop unnaturally, they are hard to control."

"Do you mean to say that Nivians have a means for accessing the psi potential in other races?" Picard asked in response to her statement.

"Yes, most humanoid species have the capability but it is undeveloped." Lieutenant Kirk explained, as she obtained her breakfast from the food slot, "Mostly what they lack is the know-how to access and control that portion of the brain and a motivator. These are things my mother's people give their children while still in the womb. It's also the reason the number of psychics is increasing."

Picard joined her at the table finishing his quickly cooling cup of tea, "What is a 'motivator'?"

"It is a driving, unignorable force, such as self preservation or species propagation."

"Fascinating...was this true for your mother's people also?"

Lieutenant Kirk simply nodded her assent, her mouth full of yogurt. After she swallowed she continued,"Species survival, spending large portions of time underwater means that you cannot communicate verbally unless very close. The first links were between mates a way to claim and communicate. Then the links grew to include families, sort of mental leashes for the kids."

"So then, your high level psychic abilities were just a part of you natural adaptation to your surroundings? Very interesting, in Starfleet, the widely held belief is that those talents are based upon unique genetic codings, hence the reason only some people and some races have the ability."

"If that were true then I wouldn't be human, would I? But on a genetic level I'm the same as you. You could just think of my genetics of being 500 generations ahead of the 'norm' but still human." With that Lieutenant Kirk finished her breakfast. Both she and the captain gave a quick nod and headed for the door.

Lieutenant Kirk had been anxiously awaiting the end of the day so that she could focus her energies on breaking the link with Captain Picard. It's hard enough to be attracted to someone, without them knowing your every thought and feeling. Her nerves and patience were at an end, knowing he caught every errant thought she had about him. Even worse, he knew it was upsetting her, there was no way to hide it.

Lieutenant Kirk had managed to make it through the day, completing her tasks while fending off the advances of Darmol Vo of the Vekete delegation. Darmol Vo was the long time leader of a group of smugglers collectively known as the Vekete. The Vekete were known for their rather roguish attitude of taking what they wanted. Vo had assumed the position of Darmol by challenging and defeating four other powerful smugglers – he had lead for the better part of a decade and was known for his iron fist. Vo was not what one would consider handsome, being a bulky, sweaty man with a thick neck, shaggy head of hair, and bad manners, but what he lacked in comeliness, he more than made up for in confidence – viewing himself as irresistible to all females. He was not taking no for an answer. Vo's attempts to romance her had advanced to offers to join him for a vacation once the negotiation was ended.

Having finally completed an acceptable draft agreement, Captain Picard signaled the end of the negotiation phase and invited the delegates to return the next afternoon to sign the final document. As he bid good night to several of the delegates, he was surprised by the sudden feeling of shock tinged with fear coming from Lieutenant Kirk. Trying to remain calm and polite, Picard gazed around the room, continuing chatting as he located the lieutenant. He spotted her in a far corner of the hall, attempting to back away from Darmol Vo, the man had hold of one of her wrist and it was obvious that Lieutenant Kirk had not invited the contact.

Excusing himself, Picard strode purposely towards the pair, he asked mentally, 'Is everything okay?'

Lieutenant Kirk responded with a strident, 'No!' and the look on her face echoed her dismay, 'but it's nothing breaking his nose won't fix'.

"Ah hm," Picard announced his presence by clearing his throat from behind Vo. "Lieutenant are you ready to leave?"

"Yes sir." Kirk replied tersely, trying desperately, although unsuccessfully, to remove herself from Vo's grip. Leveling her gaze at the Darmol, Lieutenant Kirk spat through clenched teeth, "Please release my arm."

"Now don't be like that little cat. I've mad you a very generous offer," oiled Vo, in such a way as to make Kirk's skin crawl. Turning to look at Captain Picard with disdain, Vo sneered, "Away with you Picard! This is between me and the woman. I have waited long enough, I'll not be teased by the likes of her."

As Vo tightened his grip and began twisting her arm, Lieutenant Kirk winced in pain, reading herself to apply a palm strike to break his nose. Before she could strike, Picard reached out, grabbed Vo's ear in one hand and twisted, then he calmly said, "Darmol Vo, my Lieutenant has asked you to release her and she has clearly and repeatedly expressed that she is not interested in your offers. You WILL respect that or relations between you and I will become decidedly less friendly."

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