Chapter Notes:

What can the pain of losing his parents do to a young man?

A second Remix of 'Operation: Annihilate'

Upon My Parents' Graves...

By Rob Morris

McCoy stroked the flying rodent. It was almost cute, in its own way.

"Little fella, if anyone had told me that you and your jillion or so
brothers would be the ones to take down those parasites....but then, you
were always good for skeeters."

The people of Deneva were safe. There had been only two victims. But
Captain Kirk was inconsolable, for those victims had been his brother
and sister-in-law.

"At least you nightflyers saved the boy."

Or had they? Despite being chased out, young Peter had snuck into
Sickbay constantly to look upon the dead bodies of those he loved best.

McCoy overheard his chilling monologue from the next room. The boy had
become intense, and very very scary.

"Father---when you explained it, the universe made sense. I didn't need
to be like Uncle Jim. I didn't need his ship. I only needed my mind to
see it all. Now, nothing makes sense anymore. Forces like those
parasites move against the innocent. They may just be hungry--but why
should we feed them? Father, give me a sign! What can I do? These
feelings are making me crazy! Father, what will I become? Father--please
just give me a sign!"

As McCoy sat silently in the next room, his concern for the boy with
the crazy, blank eyes was briefly put aside as his winged guest flew off
his desk and directly towards Peter, still shaking his fist at the empty
air. As the Doctor got up and looked on, he saw the thing alight on the
boy's shoulder. When McCoy tried to shoo it, the nightflyer hissed. It
was now the boy's protector--and perhaps more.

"Jim--you better get down here."

As Kirk entered, with Spock at his side, he too shuddered. A legend to
equal his own had been born. Peter kissed his dead father's cheek.

"I accept your omen, Father."

He turned, and Spock raised both eyebrows. Even Sarek would have. Even
Surak would have. Jim's nephew was different, now, as evidenced by what
he said last.

"I Shall Become A Bat!!!"