Star Trek: Expedition into Darkness

by Evangeline Argent

Captain James T. Kirk is preparing for an expedition to the planet Kronos, temporary hideout for the relentless terrorist, John Harrison. On his journey to retrieve and arrest Harrison, the U.S.S. Enterprise runs into many complications, but will they be able to overcome them all? What kind of threat does John Harrison pose to the Enterprise and the rest of humanity? Kirk/OC

2. Chapter 2

AN: This is the second of many installments on my Star Trek: Expedition into Darkness FanFiction. Again, I do not own Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness, or any characters associated with the Star Trek franchise. I own only my OC. Also, please feel free to leave me feedback, as this is my first FanFiction ever3

Chekov turned around, his eyes scanning the hall behind him in search of the source of my running footsteps. I caught up to him, sliding the goggles from my dark, short hair onto my neck. My pace slowed to a walk as I reached him and we ventured down the hallway, back to the elevators that lined the end of the hall. Together, we stepped into the lift and set our destinations; Officer Chekov to the Main Sensor Aray, and myself to the Officer's Lounge. I bid Chekov farewell as he departed on Deck H.

There was one final stop before I reached my terminal. Nyota Uhura had joined my lift, but refused eye contact with me. I sensed she was upset, probably with Commander Spock, and did not speak to her. My final destination had arrived uninterrupted. As I exited the elevator, I heard Uhura stifle a snivel, but before I could turn back and converse her, the doors to the lift had shut. I shook off the curiosity that followed and proceeded to the lounge area.

The Officer's Lounge was adorned with white levitating pots containing various plants collected from the Enterprise's travels. They served as decoration and scientific study. Scattered around the room were sets of tables and chairs which had a blueish glow emitting from beneath their surfaces.
Overall, the domed ceiling and large lucite glass window to the outside void of space, the lounge has a very open and spacious feel to it.

I sat at the table to the far right, closest to the mirror and observed the members of the Enterprise relish in the company of friends and fellow shipmates. From my toolbelt, I took my copy of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and flipped to my current page. I wasn't normally fond of sitting alone and positioning myself as an outcast, but I wasn't particularly fond of social interaction with people who were merely my acquaintances. On a good day, I could count my closest friends on one hand and be overjoyed to have that many. My job on the U.S.S. Enterprise was strictly professional, and I hoped to keep it that way. Silence filled the lounge as the door at the front of the room opened. Captain James T. Kirk himself had stepped through and greeted his crew in a halfhearted manner. Kirk's eyes darted across the room in search of a place to leisure. I hadn't realised he was making his way towards me until his shadow had passed over one of the pages in my book. Kirk took the seat across from me and I shut my book, giving him my full and undivided attention.

"Greetings, Captain. I wa-" I started.

"You don't have to be so formal with me, Conrad. How're you?" Kirk asked, scratching his chin.

"I'm doing well, Captain," I said, clearing my throat and sitting upright. A faint smile crept onto my face as I locked eyes with Kirk. "Very much ready to bag this Harrison guy and send him where he belongs."

"Ready to go home, I see." Kirk concluded.

"Actually, sir, this is my home. I don't see any place else fit for me." My confession wasn't meant to be leaked, but took form on it's own. Kirk looked surprised.

"I can relate to you, miss Conrad. My mentor..." His voice trailed off into a momentary silence.

"Admiral Pike. I know, Captain. I'm sorry for your loss. Pike was a good man," I tried to offer comfort to my crestfallen captain. My hand reached across the table and rested upon his.

"He was the one who made you the man you are today. You are a great leader, and you are destined for victory. The hunt for John Harrison will succeed under your command, Captain. I will accompany you to Kronos and assist you in finding Harrison, that is, if you will allow it." My eyes trailed from his hand to his eyes and I smiled. "I want to find this bastard as much as you do, Kirk."

Apparently my words had reached him on an emotional level, as he took my hand in his and looked me in the eye, smiling.

"Thank you, Alice. I truly appreciate your support on the matter. You're sweet." Kirk complimented. "I will consider your request to join the invasion of Kronos, but I'll warn you ahead of time, no one can predict Harrison's actions. It will be incredibly dangerous. And fun. Bear in mind, Kronos is a Klingon planet. Although it is said to be uninhabited, we're never sure about the Klingons."

"I stand by my decision to be a part of your operations team. I will be in my cabin when you have made your accord, which I know you will not have a hard time finding." I withdrew my hand from Kirk's and stood from my seat. I nodded to him and gave one last smile before turning and exiting the lounge. Out of my peripheral vision, I caught one last glimpse of Kirk, who was biting his bottom lip, his gaze escorting me out of the room.