Day 3 - Rigel X
The Captain of the trade ship to Rigel X is a Betazoid, who, upon hearing of their endeavour, insisted that they visit Betazed en-route.
"It's the festival season on Betazed," the Captain says. "The best time to visit and enjoy our culture!"
Pouring over a replicated print of interstellar map, Kirk draws an elaborate circle around Betazed and stares at it thoughtfully. "Cargo ships," he mutters. "How many days to Betazed on one of these?"
"Three days at warp five," the Captain says.
"What about warp seven?" Kirk asks.
The Captain gives a loud belly laugh, then sobers when he realises Kirk was not joking. "Warp seven?" he says, giving him a dubious look. "This isn't Starfleet, my friend. Warp five only if it's one of those fast track service ships. Most of them will go about warp two, in fact, since most Captains don't like to give their ships undue strain."
"Huh," Kirk says, and scribbles something on the map's margin. Spock takes one glances at them, and raises an eyebrow in obvious disapproval.
"What," Kirk says, not even bothering to look up.
"I do not believe it is good form to rewire the power conduit of another's ship," Spock says.
"Who says I'm rewiring anyone else's ship?" Kirk asks, biting the end of the stylus and grinning unabashedly. Unperturbed, Spock looks ahead.
"If you decide to steal a ship," Spock informs him, "I will not assist you."
"Right," Kirk says, eyes dancing. "Duly noted."
"Nor will I offer bail."
"Yeah, Bones is the one I usually call for that," Kirk says solemnly. "He has a standing order for the Intergalactic Justice System, you know."
"Or character reference, for that matter," Spock continues. "After all, Vulcans cannot lie."
Kirk rolls up the map and hits him on the arm, laughing. "Whatever. I know I have your soul."
"You have my loyalty," Spock says. "If you have my Katra, you would know."
"Ha! I knew it," Kirk says, beaming. He offers Spock a fist bump, which Spock eloquently declines with an eyebrow. "Wait, what's a Katra?"
Spock does not answer, and Kirk rather predictably pouts for the remainder of the docking sequence.
Rigel X happens to be holding an intergalactic trading fair, which, to Spock's surprise and suspicion, delights Kirk endlessly.
"Oh look," Kirk says, like a starved cadet at Starfleet's annual buffet banquet, "Raw and exotic minerals, two for the price of one!"
"That is radioactive," Spock informs him levelly, when Kirk picks up a particularly bright piece of crystal.
"Which means it's a potential power source," Kirk says with a conspiratorial whisper. "Let's get one. You know, for a rainy day."
Spock eyes the crystal dubiously, but allows the transaction after making sure the casing is indeed radiation-proof.
"That is essentially a small scale nuclear reactor you are carrying," Spock tells him afterwards. "No public means of transport will allow it past their security."
"Who says we are going by public transport?" Kirk says, winking. His hands are already full of purchases at the fair: three bags of food and necessary upkeep, one small bag of sanitary products, and two carefully wrapped boxes procured efficiently when Spock was distracted by a stall on printed books and related antiquities.
"I'm not trying to be presumptuous or anything," Kirk says, when he joins Spock at the book stall. "But I really don't think you need a book if you are travelling with me."
"On the contrary," Spock murmurs, "It is precisely why I think a book is advisable."
"Oh, this one thinks he's funny," Kirk says to the the bookseller, who appears unappreciative of the joke; he hastily pulled the book Kirk was casually leafing and placed it back on the shelf.
"My books are collectibles," The bookseller tells them with a barely concealed note of contempt. "They are not travel amusements."
Unsurprisingly, Kirk also finds this funny. "I can't believe you just got spurned," he says, as they made way through the weaving crowd. "That guy has never met a Vulcan before, has he?"
"I feel compelled to point out that I was close to purchasing one of his collections on pre-Surak poetry before you arrived," Spock says, although the loss of opportunity to purchase does not bother him much.
"Oh! That reminds me." Kirk says, easily distracted; he pulls out a slender tinbox from one of the bags. "Vulcan tea. Here. Thought you might like it."
Spock stares at the intricately woven patterns on the box and finds himself at a loss for words. "You procured Vulcan mocha here?"
"Er, yes?" Kirk says, scanning his face. "Wait, don't tell me I've been ripped off or something? It is Vulcan, right?"
"It is," Spock says. "Although, Vulcan Mocha is a beverage more similar to coffee."
Kirk's eyes light up. "Oh, awesome." He hesitates for a moment, looks over his shoulder (presumably to the stall where he procured the goods) then at Spock again. "Do you like it?"
Spock fingers the light inscriptions on the box and finds the cool metal pleasing to the touch. "You are welcome to share it at any time," he says, and Kirk smiles at him, warm and pleased.
Spock had thought they were waiting for the next civilian transport to Betazed, but apparently he was wrong: after an hour of browsing at the fair, Kirk leads them out the back and into a dimly lit bar. The place looks unhygienic with a questionable clientele, which is exactly the kind of place that Spock thinks will lead to events that will require bail later, and he tells Kirk as much.
"Well," Kirk replies mysteriously as he leads them into the basement, "Warp seven don't come easy."
At the bottom of the stairs, Spock finds, rather alarmingly, ten Orion pirates engaged in what appears to be a game of roulettes.
"Harromad!" Kirk greets enthusiastically, and Spock's alarm increases by threefold.
"Captain," he says lowly, touching briefly on Kirk's arm. "Caution is advised."
Kirk gives him a look of pure glee and nods several times in an approving manner. "That's right, that's right," Kirk says, face half-flushed, eyes gleaming. "Captain."
Spock, being committed to the Vulcan way, seldom regrets things: this is one such instance, when his mind is calculatingly and logically supplying him with 1001 reasons on why unsanctioned interstellar travel with James T Kirk is a Very Bad Idea.
While Spock quickly calculates the time and evasive manoeuvre needed to nerve pinch ten Orion pirates at once, Kirk appears to have engaged himself deeply in conversation with the one whom he referred to as Harromad, and after a few minutes, they are shaking hands.
"Harromad here has a ship," Kirk announces, clapping his hands together. "Warp seven and ready to leave any minute."
Then, Kirk sits down at the roulettes table.
Spock walks over to Kirk's side and deliberately, very deliberately, places a hand on Kirk's shoulder.
"Did you just agree to a gamble, for access to an Orion ship?"
Kirk looks up at him sideways. "If I say yes, can you not pinch me?" He says, licking his lips. "I kinda need to be conscious for this."
"We could have just boarded a civilian transport with warp two," Spock murmurs. Regret - he will not show it in his voice, no.
"Relax," Kirk soothes. "Gaila taught me how to play Dabo before. I'm pretty good at this," he says, and watches avidly as the wheels begin to spin, and the Orions begin to thump the table in anticipation.
After three turns, Spock pinches his eyes close. "This is a game of chance," he says. "I calculate our odds for success to be at 28.2%, if you keep making the same bet."
"Very good odds, compared to what we are used to, don't you think?" Kirk yells over the thump thump thump. His eyes are bright, but clear. Spock feels drawn towards Kirk's confidence, even though he knows gambling is against logic. Kirk smiles: as if he knows Spock has conceded once again to his illogical whims.
"Eyes on the wheel, not the Vulcan!" One Orion yells, and they laugh obnoxiously. Kirk makes a rude gesture, and Harromad cackles, nearly falling off his seat.
"Say!" Harromad begins, "I'll raise you. I'll give you the ship plus two beautiful girls if you win, but the Vulcan stays if you lose."
"In your dreams," Kirk says easily, flicking another chip into the wheel. "I'll burn your whole fucking palace down."
To Spock's surprise, Harromad only laughs harder. "That's why Gaila liked you!" he says. "My sister never goes for the boring type now, does she?"
Kirk nods arrogantly and drops the final chip with deliberation. The wheel spins faster and faster, three rings at once, and Spock sees it before it settles -
"DABO!" Kirk yells, throwing his arms above his head and nearly hitting Spock in the nose. "Cough it up, 'Maddie!"
Groaning loudly, Harromad throws them an ID chip shaped like a naked Orion female. "Fine, fine," he says. "But don't forget what you said! A full upgrade when it's returned!"
"Sure, sure," Kirk says, waving a hand and twirling the ID chip over his finger. "Shields at 150% capacity as promised."
"200%!" Harromad yells.
"Talk to SCIENCE," Kirk replies. In his peripheral vision, Spock notices him sliding one of the chips into his pocket.
"The Vulcan can get it to 200," Harromad insists. "Can't you?"
Spock inclines his head to the side. "Perhaps," he says cryptically.
Kirk grins a shark-like grin and points a finger at Harromad, as they climb the stairs once more. "Be nice," he says. "Gaila's Astrophysics credit for the year might depend on it."
"I am not open to academic malpractice," Spock tells him readily, as Harromad cries,
"Oh THAT Vulcan! Hey! You be nice to my sister - "
Kirk slams the door shut and exhales triumphantly. "Ready to roll?" he asks. Outside, night has fallen, and the fair has lit up with a spectrum of revolving lights: Kirk is beaming a secretive smile, eyes bright.
"I maintain that a civilian transport to Betazed would have served the purpose just fine," Spock says exasperately, although he cannot help but give a small, involuntary nod.
Kirk grins wider. "Who said anything about Betazed?" he winks, and leads them into the effulgent night.