Vokaya Halan
A/N: Uh, wow, last chapter, woo-hoo! Now, hold your horses and read, because this is important and I will be able to tell who doesn't, this is the last chapter of Vokaya Halan, but there will be a separate story sequel, with chapters, woo! At present moments it's titled 'Thrap-fam'es nufau t' du', it should be up after the New Years, and it will take place only a few days after the ending of this certain chapter, then cover the space of time between the movies and the happenings of Into Darkness. And if anyone is interested, I've totaled who wins my Khan vrs Marcus debate, I'm pretty sure it is Marcus, and not Khan, while yes Khan is a scary superhuman, but when he caged and doing his silence of the lamb impressions, and when the future it one step ahead of him...And Marcus is shooting the ship, I'm gonna go on Marcus, being the one I REALLY want to kill the most. On that Khan issue, this story kinda reminds me of that movie, and the sequel kinda reminds me of that following story, huh, hmm... Moving on. I really need to know if my Vuhlkansu is bad, like now.
...I still want Marcus killed. That is all. ... I'mma...go hide under a rock now...
Chapter 6 – Marcus's Decisions: A Shoot in the Dark
"And just how do you know where he'll be, just because that trolley was moved?" McCoy grumbled as Spock hailed the lift.
"While under his command, he had frequently hid around the Enterprise to get away from either of us, if he was bored, or the Enterprise needed some fix he determined he could do and/or could lend a hand with." Spock announced.
"Why would he hide from you?" Amanda queried, it had seemed to her their relationship was solid.
There was a small twitch in Spock's lips that indicated a small smile, but it was gone as soon as they saw it. "He seemed to think the crew would benefit to have a 'your Captain is being held for ransom on your ship, find him or we kill him', moment and see if they could still keep the Enterprise afloat, not quite understanding then how many 'heart attacks' he had caused by his disappearance." Spock said.
Amanda looked miffed. "Did they?"
"Indeed. It took us half hour to locate him, as he had rigged the computer to falsify and replicate his location throughout the ship, while erasing all tracks of his current person." Spock continued as the lift opened and they filled in.
They noted curiously that Spock pushed for the lowest deck.
"Who found his location?" Sarek asked.
"I was the first to find him located in the Jefferies tubes; fixing a malfunction that had not shown up in the reports." Spock recounted.
"Then how did he know there was a malfunction?" Sarek asked, as Amanda and McCoy looked baffled.
"Upon asking such a question, he told me; 'the steering was off and went to check it out'."
Amanda looked amazed.
The group was content in watching Spock as he stride throughout engineering until, puzzling; he stopped in an odd section of non-consequential cross-section, where there was clearly no Jim, and no human in sight.
But then, Spock looked up. "Jim." He called, not at all raising his voice, nor seemed caring to the others that it looked like he was talking to thin air.
The rest looked up in time to see Jim's head pop up from above an infrequent steaming pipe to astonish them all.
"Hey, Spock…!" He called down, as if it was a regular occurrence to be found there. He then saw McCoy. "…I left without getting properly released again, didn't I?" Jim asked.
Spock nodded, while McCoy grumbled.
"Is the valve loose again?" Spock asked, missing the frowns it caused.
"Apparently we're losing organic yield, so I hopped up here to see."
They noticed how Spock didn't seem to ask how Jim knew this.
Amanda flinched; he had said 'organic yield', as being a Tarsus survivor, a loss in food to them would signal the starting's of wide starvation.
It had seemed Jim had taken it upon himself to make sure it wouldn't happen on the ship that for three years alternative years had been his.
Sarek understood as well.
Spock seemed used to his friend's ways as he knew where to find him.
McCoy looked concerned Jim would further hurt himself.
"We haven't got as many Vulcans on the ship this time, so it wasn't because of that." Jim started, making both Amanda and Sarek flinch at the reasons. "And they weren't damaged at this time, either."
Spock blinked. "Analysis…?"
Jim huffed. "Apparently a steady increase of 1.5% loss in yield to unknown means is by all acceptable by Starfleet and isn't a concern. There is no reason for the loss, yet there is loss." Jim told, clearly concerned and upset.
"Are you able to fix it?" Spock asked as Jim's head disappeared from view.
"I'm going to need a hydro-spanner!" Jim called.
By luck or fate, the rest didn't know, but once Spock head his head down; his eyes fell on a newly red shirted Mister Scott.
"Mister Scott," He called, making the man turn to him.
"Aye…?" Scotty asked.
"Are you familiar with the location of the hydro-spanner?" Spock queried.
Scotty blinked, nodded and ran off; then returned not too later with it.
With it handed to Spock, he looked back up, gaining another spectator. "Jim. Incoming."
With the warning Spock threw up the spanner, alarming many.
All quietened when a hand whipped out to take it non-pulsed. "Thanks, Spock!"
Scotty froze. "Who's up there…!?"
Jim's head popped up again. "Hey, Scotty…! How's the ship doing?"
Scotty stared, knowing perfectly well Jim had memories of being a Captain. So, what was he doing up there!? And WHY!
"Fine…sir…Ah…What are yeh doin' up there?" Scotty asked, but before he could finish, Jim's head disappeared.
"He is fixing the materialization rate per yield ratio." Spock said. They could also hear how many times Spock had said those words.
"Hah!" Jim's voiced yelled triumphantly, causing them to blink up at his location.
"What has you triumphant, Jim?" Spock queried.
"The codes haven't changed!" Jim's voice returned as he laughed. "Oh, and I also used yours, Spock."
Spock humanly rolled his eyes, which caught the attention of Sarek and Amanda.
"Will your actions not go unnoticed by Pike?" Spock asked, seemingly fine with the fact Jim knew his codes.
"Nah, hang low, I'm coming down." Jim cautioned.
With it, the onlookers watched as Spock went to one side of the cross-section, a hand out to grasp the spanner that fell from Jim's location calmly, after putting it aside, he looked for Jim.
Jim was scaling the machinery like one would professionally scale mountains, jumping to one side to the other to miss several live sections.
The watching group was amazed at when at a certain point when Jim neared the floor, Spock calmly stretched out his hands to take hold of Jim, and brought him down, only letting go once Jim found his feet properly.
"Thanks, Spock." Jim said with a grin.
"Indeed." Spock returned; his hands returning to their previous location of behind his back. "You deem it fixed?"
Jim sighed. "No, but it'll do. I've stopped the rate from getting worse."
Spock nodded and returned to grasp the spanner to give it back to Scotty who went to put it back.
Jim looked to and fro once from Spock to McCoy as they waited for the lift.
Spock blinked, and frowned a little.
"It's something I've been meaning to talk to you and Bones about, since he knows and everything is different, and I'm not sure how the Admiralty is gonna play out." Jim replied to Spock's silent question.
The communal amazed several.
"There are many variables at play, Jim." Spock reminded as the lift binged and they made their way back to med bay with McCoy, Amanda and Sarek, silent as ever.
"Yes, against me. Now, both of you…" Jim started, and he rounded in front of both McCoy and Spock, who immediately stalled, while Amanda and Sarek splinted of to the side; briefly reminded again that Jim used to be a Captain. "No matter what they do to me, you will stay in your respective fields on this ship; with or without me."
No one was quiet sure whose alarm was greater; Spock's or McCoy's.
"Jim—"
"I know the both of you. The Admiralty may send me to another ship, keep me grounded at the Academy, or at worse suspend me entirely." Jim said. "You have your respective fields already; I don't want you chucking them because of this." At this point he gave Spock a long stare, as if he knew the Vulcan would most likely do such a thing.
"Jim, you can't mean that." McCoy started, looking a little lost.
"They cannot suspend you, Jim. You saved Vulcan, and subsequently Earth—" Spock started.
"With knowledge of three years to their senior: This isn't like with the Ambassador; he can get away with it. With the subsequent change of Vulcan still being here; ours is almost the same. They may suspend me on ground that I will not tell them anything apart from how we saved Vulcan, and knew how to do it." Jim replied. "I knew by saving Vulcan it would affect me directly, Spock, that I had no doubt. I'd rather not sit around saving my own skin when I can save others."
Spock shook his head. "I was not accusing you of such, Jim. I know you well enough. I am saying that even aside our memories that saved Vulcan, if the media gets a hold of it they will not like it, nor would it look good if you were dismissed for saving both planets: Especially since it is you."
Jim snorted. "Yeah, that whole debacle with Harrison didn't go down very well, either." He replied. "Are you agreed to stay?" His question bringing them back:
Spock stared. "I will not lie to you. You are my friend, and I will not leave you."
This got a few raised eyebrows.
Jim sighed. "But Spock—"
"But nothing, damn it…!" McCoy burst through.
"Bones…" Jim tried.
"Who else is gonna make sure you don't kill yourself, huh? You can't even fend for yourself!" McCoy said angrily.
Both Jim and Spock flinched at his words.
"In any case, we will have to see what the Admiralty decides before anything else." Spock announced; "As well as Captain Pike."
"I'm going to miss this ship." Jim said sadly.
"You are very convinced." Sarek spoke up from the sidelines.
Jim blinked. "From experience: They don't like me."
Spock frowned. "That negatively has only come from particulars."
Jim glared. "What was I supposed to do? I wasn't about to leave you in that damned Volcano, Spock!"
They watched curiously as Spock yet again so humanly rolled his eyes. "We have discussed this and dismissed this, Jim." Spock reminded.
"I know: Their hatred stems from that, or because of my Captaincy being fast-tracked." Jim replied.
"Which stands to reason they will not come to return that emotion: as here they have no recollection of those facts." Spock pointed out.
"I'm still convinced they'll dismiss me when I won't tell squat about what happens after Nero. Marcus will want extensive information about the Romulans and Klingons. What am I meant to say? We dance merrily with then every full moon?" Jim gritted out.
Spock blinked in confusion. "That would be illogical as we have never….danced…with either race."
Jim chuckled. "Idiom, Spock."
Spock nodded. "Understood."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Spock, but don't you have things to do?" McCoy asked as he glared at Jim, who grinned as he sat back on his bio bed.
"Indeed." Spock said calmly.
McCoy raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you, I don't know, be elsewhere, doing them?"
Spock blinked.
"Go ahead, Spock. I'm fine." Jim announced, causing Spock to snap his head to him. "I'll message you when we're done."
Spock blinked silently.
Resulting Jim to nod, and pat his pocket.
With it: had Spock nodding, and leaving the med bay just as silently.
The humans of the group looked amazed.
Jim sighed. "That went well."
McCoy looked miffed.
"What went well?" Amanda asked, still off to the side with Sarek.
McCoy stuck a medical device to Jim's face, with it his eye twitched at.
"Getting Spock to leave: Normally it takes a lot more to get him to leave and go back to his post." Jim said thoughtfully.
"Indeed?" Sarek intoned for the first time.
Jim flinched. "I apologise, Ambassador."
This had them frowning.
"For what…?" Amanda asked.
"I'm not too sure the differences between Vulcans, but I remember how Spock used to be before Vulcan was destroyed. Any and all Vulcans I met after they were indeed, more forthcoming with their emotions. Something to do with life-bonds being completely and utterly completely severed at the same time…" Jim looked a little unsure. "I've never wanted to ask Spock about Vulcan, but I've picked up a few things from the three Vulcans I know, but…"
"Wait, which three? Spock's a given, whose the other two?" McCoy asked, still taking down readings.
"Ambassador's Spock and Sarek," Jim replied, amazing surprised looks. "I didn't have many dealings with Vulcans outside those three. I only had to ask either version of Spock about the new colony and they knew all what was happening." Jim told, and then looked to Amanda and Sarek. "I know that after Vulcan getting destroyed, and his mother dying in front of them, Spock was more emotional and allowed to be."
This caused Amanda to flinch.
"He won't say anything to you, but there will be times, and you've probably seen differences already; in the way he acts and is. He still has memories of Vulcan, and will still deal with that loss, even if the rest of the Vulcan people do not." Jim said, a little on edge at saying so much.
Without much say so, Amanda flung herself around Jim, causing him to yelp out in surprise as he stiffened, and McCoy to back up in surprise.
"Thank you, so very much!" Amanda responded.
Jim blinked in confusion. "F—for what, Ma'am…?" Jim's voice had gotten very small and limited.
"Whoa, Jim calm down!" McCoy said loudly.
Amanda immediately let go, and Jim's vitals returned to normal.
"Never Ma'am, Jim, remember?" Amanda reminded softly.
It reminded her how much memory could still hurt presently.
Just as much as memories could haunt Jim, they could haunt Spock as well.
She was pretty sure her actions had seen to Sarek noticing and coming to the same understanding.
Jim blinked in confusion. "What were you thanking me for?" He paused. "…Besides the obvious…"
Amanda smiled. "For being there for Spock when we could not."
She was pretty sure Sarek understood the silent jab she was metaphorically hitting him over the head with. Looking to him, he seemed to understand.
"Uh…you're welcome? I think…" Jim replied awkwardly.
"What did you mean, from before, that you would message him?" Amanda asked, as McCoy took the medical device off Jim's face and with one hand took up his PADD to record his findings properly.
"Here, drink this." McCoy said, thrusting a cup of clear liquid into Jim's hands, with his other hand.
"The heck, Bones?" Jim asked.
McCoy glared, which made Jim drink out of the straw while digging into his pocket and retrieving a communicator, then handed it to Amanda.
By all reckonings, such a communicator device should not even be several years old.
The one that Jim handed her should only be as such, with its range and ability.
But it had ten years its senior; backed up by the many dated messages sent and retrieved by the device.
"…You drove a car off a cliff!?"
Oops.
Jim wasn't quite sure what Amanda and Sarek were trying to do, or what they even wanted to do; but they hadn't left his side. He was guessing it was more Amanda's influence more than Sarek's will to be there. It confused Jim to no end why they would be there, and not anywhere else. Hell, why they weren't back on Vulcan confused the hell out of him! He really had no experience with well-meaning parents. And from what Jim could surmise, Sarek was still pissed at Spock for joining Starfleet, (he had learnt that from the elder of the two versions, and found it to be true, as Sarek was less forthcoming about Spock's humanity once Amanda was lost to him) and he could still mean well.
But why were they with him?! Amanda and Sarek had ceased their questioning, McCoy had to hold him in med bay (damn Bones to hell!) because he theoretically had nothing to do or anything assigned to him. He knew what Pike would be doing; he knew what Spock would be doing. But he had no idea what would become of him once the Enterprise docked in less than half hour.
Jim wasn't nervous per say. He was nervous in which how far his two best friends would go in trying to save him. The Admiralty wouldn't know what hit them over the head if Spock and McCoy (either separately – or heaven forbid, should they team up again) would defy everything they threw at the two that stood between them and what stood between them and their staying with Jim, no matter where they put him.
But he had bigger worries to think about, and bigger things to try and protect.
Jim sighed, he loved his friends as much as they loved him back, but they couldn't throw away their careers for him.
"What's wrong, Jim?" Amanda asked, she had previously chased away her husband to make him find the galley in an attempt to get him out the med bay for uncounted duration of time, it had worked along with the glare and subtle looks to Jim that had made him leave. She as well as Sarek and seen Jim didn't take well with any Vulcan (besides Spock) for a long duration of time. It was just her luck that McCoy had gone off to talk with his associates.
"I'm worried about what Spock and Bones with do after the Admiralty meeting. Both have defied them before, will continue to defy with them if it means bartering their daily lives with me." Jim said with a sigh. "I don't want them giving away their careers because of me."
Jim looked rather miserable.
Amanda sighed and sat down in the chair next to Jim's bio bed.
"Could you blame them for not wanting to?" She asked.
"That's not the point! If I get kicked out, I don't want them to do the same! I know what lengths Spock and Bones will go to!" He paused, "They don't need to: I'll be fine; they have jobs to do." Jim said a little helplessly.
Amanda searched his face to his blue eyes and saw a little boy she knew on Vulcan; desperate and trying to live up to expectations he knew he couldn't, a little boy who tried to stay unafraid in front of anybody when he was very much afraid.
"I doubt any of you will be fine." Amanda surmised.
She could see the alarm of both being's faces at when Jim told them to continue without him. Jim was something constant in their lives, and she was pretty much knew they (Spock included), would wander around like confused little ducklings without their mother if one should leave the other two.
Jim looked at her blankly.
Amanda gave a long suffered sigh. "Do you really think you leaving will have no consequence on McCoy, or Spock?"
Jim looked away. "Spock has his people back, as well as you." He muttered. He knew firsthand how it affected Spock in losing both.
"And I'm an Admiral." Amanda replied bluntly, with it Jim frowned at her. "You know his other version, yes?" Jim's frown continued to stay, but he nodded. "Was his planet unaffected?" Jim nodded, still clueless. "How does he look at you, when you're with him, even when you first met on Delta Vega?"
Jim's head cocked to one side. "Like anything I did or would have suggested he would have blindly followed and fully supported."
Amanda smiled. "Then even with his planet, and me, Spock will still need you by his side, as you will need him by yours; no matter where you are. I cannot speak for doctor McCoy, as I don't know him very well enough like I do you and Spock. But I can surmise it might be near on the same."
Jim sighed reverently. "I still wish they won't leave their fields on the Enterprise…"
"What you wish is irrelevant, Jim." McCoy's voice came making Jim jump a mile, and turning to him.
"Bones…" Jim started, not at all noticing Amanda's sweetened smile.
McCoy shook his head fondly. "Even knowing me for three years more and it doesn't make you any wiser?"
Jim huffed. "Oh, it does. It is why I want you to stay."
"And I think you stupid and that I would go sane without you pestering me." McCoy grumbled.
"I think you better get accustomed to them by your side, Jim." Amanda said while giggling.
"Still doesn't mean I like it." Jim muttered.
"Don't make me hypo your ass." McCoy threatened, making Jim flinch.
"Vulcan loyalty shouldn't be taken lightly, Jim, once you have it, they don't let go easily, and it is not blatantly given. You have to have earned it with both Spock's. Either of them will follow you to the end of the universe, questioning only when your life is in danger." Amanda reminded.
Jim sighed. "I know, I know. But it's going to cost him his job."
Amanda smiled. "You think he cares for such a thing when who knows what could be happening to you?"
"Damned I'd go insane." McCoy muttered, thinking on such a scenario.
Amanda smiled widely once she heard him. "Who's your next of kin, medically, Jim?"
"Spock is." He answered immediately, as if seeing another time when such a question needed a quick answer.
This raised eyebrows.
And Jim remembered where he was, and blinked when Amanda grinned.
"What did you want to know that for?" McCoy asked, knowing very well he would be the only doctor Jim would ask for, and would most likely be second in line if Spock ever failed the be Jim's third and fourth shadow (which seeing the last several hours; he very much doubted. Which meant both of them would be called if Jim became injured).
Amanda grinned as if she had a second agenda. "…Just wanted to know."
The Enterprise docked and as a result, caused all the crew to head dirt-side, before long Spock had found himself by Jim's side well before they beamed down.
"I believe no one but a select few of Starfleet Admirals know of the situation properly." Spock announced.
"So basically, the whole world knows." Jim said.
"Precisely," Spock said, causing Jim to laugh.
"Why would everyone know?" Amanda asked, still confused.
"The walls have ears." Jim said conspiringly.
"Ah."
With that they beamed down.
Right into a frenzy of Starfleet officers: and their families; and the media.
"Indeed." Sarek muttered.
As much as Spock and McCoy tried they were all separated from each other and Jim, but they all remained knowing where Jim was.
Amanda and Sarek saw it first; Spock and McCoy in quick concession. Jim, unfortunately, was last to notice until it was quite too late to run:
Quite too late.
"Jim!" A voice called.
Jim froze and seized up violently as a pair of arms wrapped around him.
With his back to his friends he couldn't see they were now making their way back to his side, along with Amanda and Sarek who could very well gather by Jim's reaction and by the change of Spock's mood who was in Jim's company.
"Jim!" A voice called.
Jim knew that voice; so much he froze and had no escape of her arms surrounding him.
"You just love making your dearest mother, worry, don't you?" She voiced her voice somewhat cold.
Jim had stiffened as soon as Winona had put her arms around him, unable to do anything against childhood trauma's memories whizzing into his head and consuming him.
"No, Ma'am…." Jim's voice was small and hollow.
Winona pulled back, with an approving smile by his response; not at all noticing the group behind him, nor the protective Vulcan waiting to pounce.
"You did make me worry; you always make me worry, you left me, Sam left me, George left me! You always leave me! You never cared that you make me worry!" Winona cried out.
Everyone but Winona saw Jim flinch at her words and her tone of voice. Most were left wondering who Sam was.
"Yes, Ma'am…." Jim replied.
"Here you are, right where I never wanted you to be! You left me again! I don't know anything about you, your friends—" Winona stopped when a soul stopping noise sounded, a sound that was very much directed at her.
With a glance up; she saw that there was a group of being's behind Jim; members of the group were also looking to one person in the group in particular.
It was a Vulcan, (the younger Vulcan, as she saw there were two of them).
He was the person bearing the noise.
It came out like a very low dangerous growl. Near so, she nearly did a step back; while Jim was still frozen and reeling.
Spock was growling.
He had enough.
Here this woman was insinuating that Jim was the one to leave, when it was precisely the opposite.
This was the woman who had left his friend to deal with Frank alone.
Before he could stop himself, a primal growl had sounded out from him. Be that a growl then him trying to kill her.
He knew somewhere; in the corner of his mind that Jim would not like to be a witness nor of a receiver of news that his mother was dead: by his own hand. Jim would be adverse to any type of killing, even if it was Winona.
So he growled, to any human it would be a sure sign of displeasure and malice, and a perceived threat.
She had talked long enough, this had gone on long enough; Spock wanted nothing less than to get Jim away from this woman and as far away from her as possible.
Those who knew Vulcans (said Vulcans and Amanda), knew the situation was getting on a dangerous tone, and it needed to be defused, quickly.
"Ma'am," Sarek started in his usual Vulcan emotionless voice, causing Winona to look to him. "I do believe Mister Kirk has a place to be, and we very much need to be on our way."
Winona stared at him, not fully understanding what he was saying to her, or what he wanted her to do; she found it easier to look back to a wide-eyed still frozen solid Jim.
"So eager to get out of my sight once again…?" Winona asked; her voice still cold.
Jim shivered. "No, Ma'am." Jim sounded, still in a small voice.
"Jim has an appointment with Starfleet that we must keep, Ma'am." Spock announced coldly, speaking for the first time, still dangerously low, and still in threat of returning to growling at her. Vulcan teachings be adverse.
Before Winona could say anything else, a Starfleet messenger came running up to them.
"Mister Kirk!" The boy announced, stopping in front of them. "The Admirals have convened for you, if you could follow me…."
Jim did not move, still looking at his mother, as if needing her approval to leave.
Spock walked up to him, and put a hand on his arm. "Jim." He called.
Suddenly, as if Winona had disappeared, Jim turned to Spock, with a blink; he reverted back to himself.
Spock gave a small nod; you can leave; we will be waiting outside for you when you finish.
Jim smiled and without second glancing at Winona left with the messenger.
Winona looked to them all, a little tad confused.
"Who are you all?" Winona asked.
Spock refused to stay any longer in her presence without Jim near to stop him from being rash, decided to leave in the same direction he knew where Jim would be waiting for him.
"We; are Jim's friends, and frankly, I don't feel like talking to you." McCoy said, and with that he, Amanda and Sarek left her very much alone.
Spock thought it vindictive; she was once as she claimed for the first time; left alone. He would do anything in his power to make sure she didn't come anywhere near Jim as long as he breathed.
Jim had once said 'I'm not touching that with a ten foot poll!'; to something he was averse to, and at the time Spock had not quite understood the idiom (as Jim did not have a ten foot poll); however, now he quite understood the term. He would rather not touch Winona with a ten foot poll, as being ten foot in front of her would be too close, and not far enough away. He would very much need a bigger poll to reach the desired distance of half way across the globe.
Spock watched as McCoy passes backwards and forwards the length of the hallway for the forty-seventh time.
"Doctor McCoy, could you please cease your wanderings?" Spock asked, finally from his seat outside the room the Admiralty were talking with Jim.
McCoy stalled and looked to Spock who was sitting beside his parents.
"We're worried too, doctor McCoy, but please stop making me dizzy." Amanda spoke up.
None of them had any idea how the situation would come out, nor which in favour the Admiralty would go in; but they were all waiting their turn to speak. McCoy said nothing as he came over to sit with them.
Jim was, for the first time, glad that the Admiralty had called him first. He was right in knowing that Marcus was not at all happy with his noncompliance to tell him what happens after Vulcan. So much that they shooed him off in favour of grounding him until a proper decision about him could be made: Where Marcus would privately speak to him.
So far; Jim has been able to protect that which he needs to.
As soon as Jim walked out the doors, there is a swift movement as those gathered quickly stood.
"Jim." Spock greeted first.
Jim smiled at him, "Hey you."
"Well, what did they damn well, say?" McCoy grounded out.
Jim chuckled. "They've grounded me until they come to a proper decision about me can be made; they've also grounded the Enterprise until such a decision also." At this Spock frowned. "Don't know why either, Spock. They also withdrew; they won't see you or anyone else unless their business doesn't involve time travel, resting with what I've said." Jim said.
Spock frowned at this more so, as well as the rest of the group: their decision made no logical sense.
Jim chuckled. "C'mon you guys, lighten up!" He said, clapping Spock on the shoulder happily. "Can we get out of here, now?"
Spock looked to Sarek and Amanda. Sarek nodded. "We shall see them at a later date."
It was at Jim's request they meet three days after the initial meeting of the Admiralty: they previously stating that they did not need to hear any more from Spock, or his side of events. Both Spock's and McCoy's positions upon the Enterprise remained unchanged, and no differed. The one who was still questioned was their decision on Jim.
Spock and McCoy met first at the designated area, a park in the middle of Starfleet, before Jim and very much surmised the meeting they would have would be Jim telling them of their decision.
Spock in saying his reasons for leaving his parents, they too decided (Amanda decided, Sarek being pulled along) it would be beneficial to hear what Jim would say.
Jim showed up right on time in his message to them all.
He grinned. "Hey, guys!" He said happily, grinning even more when he saw Amanda and Sarek. "Ma'am, Ambassador." He greeted them.
Amanda rolled her eyes fondly, while Sarek nodded to him, "Never, Ma'am to me, Jim."
He smiled politely to her.
"Jim." Spock greeted with a nod.
"They tell you where they're sticking ya?" McCoy said immediately.
Jim's smile didn't seem to cloud. "Nah, Marcus hasn't decided yet. Decision remains with him."
"Such a decision will not come lightly to him, should you remain fast in your decision not to tell him anything beyond these events." Spock said with a frown, as if he thought something out of place.
"Hmm..." Jim voiced agreeing with him. "Well, I'm not going to go against him."
Spock gave him an incredulous look, as if questioning him further.
I'm not going to go against him, again.
Jim shrugged noncommittally. "He'll come to a decision, and we'll deal with it when he does."
Both McCoy and Spock nodded: They would, and until then, they would get to the bottom of why Jim called them out at the specific day and time, to a park of all things.
"Is it a crime to be outdoors?" Jim asked with a pout.
"You generally do not call us out for a stroll, Jim." Spock called out on him.
Jim blinked. "Really…? Never…? That sucks. We should do that more often." He admonished.
"If ya say so, Jimbo…" McCoy grumbled.
Jim smiled apologetically to Sarek and Amanda once more.
"I just wanted to be with you guys, that alright?" Jim asked suddenly.
Both men flinched and quickly shook their heads.
This could be one of the last times they were together, (if the Admiralty had their way).
Jim smiled when he saw that they understood, with it he scratched the side of his neck consciously, like he had an itch.
"Did you get to see the Admiralty for whatever you came to Earth for, Ambassador?" Jim asked, curiously.
Sarek looked to him. "We did." He responded, while Amanda nodded.
"We'll leave when all this is cleaned up." Amanda responded.
"Good to know!" Jim said happily.
It happened just as fast, as if he had been shot;
Jim started to collapse, suddenly losing concentration.
"Jim!" Spock near on shouted, taking a hold of him quickly, and saving Jim a fall onto the pavement.
Settling on the ground, with Jim in Spock's arms; McCoy came in quick with his scanner, to try to tell what was wrong.
Amanda clutched Sarek's arm in fear.
McCoy's fear alleviated when his readings went haywire. "Jim…?"
Spock could feel what was going on by the count of beats slowing by their resonating up the arm he had supporting Jim's head on.
"Jim…?" Spock asked.
"Spock?" Jim asked back.
"I am here, as is doctor McCoy." Spock said routinely.
Jim gave out a snuffling noise, as if trying to catch his breath. "Tha's…tha's good…"
Spock quickly looked from Jim's eyes to McCoy, who was looking at his equipment for an answer.
"I—I can't…" McCoy looked to Spock. "I don't know the cause…. There's nothing…"
Spock quickly looked back to Jim, knowing the sentence those words brought.
"Jim…" He tried again.
"Not….Not afraid this time…" Jim muttered brokenly.
His words did not have time to register to others.
Spock shook his head, a look upon his face complete helplessness and brokenly hurt.
"Do not…." Spock tried, his voice broken. "Do not go where I cannot follow…" He requested. "Not again, please."
Jim snuffled again, his eyes heavy as he tried to blink, his brain slowing down once more. He couldn't see more than Spock himself. Somewhere in his mind he knew Bones was there somewhere.
He knew this dark bleak road; with it he tried to focus again on Spock.
He was able to touch him this time.
"Jim…" Spock called again, Jim focused on him, and he saw the raw emotions on his face, his shields completely broken and open enough for him to start crying.
Jim remembered him crying once before.
"Don't…" Jim tried calling out, wanting nothing more than to have the power to make Spock stop his lone sparse tears.
Don't cry no more.
Spock shook his head again helplessly, barren as to why this was happening. Why again it was happening.
Jim forced himself to swallow.
What was that word?
That all-encompassing word he had been practising?
"T'hy'la," Jim called out to Spock.
That was the word.
"You—you knew what that word meant all along." Spock looked even more devastated when Jim made a small nod into his arm; his eyes wide and teary.
Another tear rolled down and dropped onto Jim's shoulder.
"Been…." Jim breathed. "Been…practising it…Wanted to say it…once…"
Spock lent forward to bring his forehead to touch Jim's, if just in an attempt to help him.
"Tor ri hal-tor wilat to kup-ri zahal-tor, T'hy'la." Spock muttered again against Jim's forehead.
Jim slowly blinked again: his focus slowly slipping again, Spock got a little darker, as if someone had gone and turned out and covered the sun.
What was that other phrase Jim hadn't been able to say before?
Jim tried to think as his grip on Spock lessoned with his strength fading, he could feel Spock holding on tighter.
Tor ri hal-tor – Kroikah! He heard Spock cry out pleadingly, perhaps not with out-loud spoken words. Sanu!
No, not those words…
Tushah nash-veh…
That was close; but still too sad, Jim thought hazily, still trying to think, and keep a hold on Spock.
He was tired.
He couldn't think fast enough.
There was no light.
Perhaps Jim smiled one last time.
Yeah, that was it.
Maybe, he thought one last time; perhaps Spock would know what he had tried to say for such a very long time,
Taluhk nash-veh k'dular.
I Cherish Thee.
/To be Continued…
I remember tears streaming down your face;
When I said, "I'd never let you go,"
And all those shadows almost killed your light.
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone."
Just close your eyes,
You'll be alright; no one can hurt you now,
Come morning light;
Hold on to this lullaby;
Even when the music's gone,
You and I'll be safe and sound.
