"I still don't understand why the hell I'm wanted at this blasted thing!" Bones remarked to Jennifer as the two cadets walked towards the front door of Admiral Archer's home. The barbeque that they had been invited to was commencing, and they were already an hour late. As it was casual, it was not deemed unprofessional to be late, in fact, one could say it was fashionable.
"Because, Chris told me to bring you with me. Meaning John wants you here too." Jennifer explained as she rang the doorbell.
"I still can't get over you calling him John. That's just… it's Admiral Archer we're talking about here. The man's a legend." Bones replied just before the door was answered.
"Well, he did ask. I- well it's weird for me too, believe me." Jennifer replied uneasily.
"Jenn! McCoy! Welcome, Welcome! Come on in!" Chris greeted the two cadets boisterously. Jennifer could tell already that the man was drunk, or at least, well on his way to being there. Possibly.
Chris ushered them in, and Jennifer noticed a stone faced woman waited for him just inside the foyer. Captain Una Robbins. Or better known as, Christopher Pike's famous secret love interest. The woman was well known in the fleet, and could probably hold her own against a fully-fledged adult Vulcan in a contest of facial stoicism. Jennifer shot her an apologetic smile, to which she nodded in return. She didn't know the woman very well personally, despite her reputation, but she had seen passing a handful of times since her education at the academy had begun, and she could feel sympathetic to dealing with a nearly drunk Chris. Jennifer and Chris had a lot in common when it came to imbibing spirits. One being the act was half of the game.
Chris and Captain Robbins led Jennifer and Bones through the house and out to the backyard where close to fifty people were gathered, socializing. Jennifer almost gasped aloud at the sight of so many people gathered together, of all ages and more notably, of all ranks. She recognized Cadet Uhura almost straight away, her long black hair tied up as it usually was in uniform, in a single straight pony tail. Uhura was conversing with Commander Spock, Jennifer realized stepping out into the light. It would have been difficult to mistake him for anyone else. She briefly wondered what the Vulcan professor seemed to be so fascinated by, but she could hardly blame the man, Vulcan, Cadet Uhura was strikingly beautiful, not the least to mention highly intelligent. Yes, Jennifer and Uhura may not have the most appealing definition of friendship, if it could be called that, but she respected the woman, as much as the woman respected her. Possibly more, though she would never admit it to anyone should they ask.
As the four made their way to what Jennifer presumed was to Admiral Archer, she noticed several other people she recognized. Captain Thompson was at the barbeque, as was his first officer, Commander Marks. Jennifer groaned instinctively when she recognized the commander. It wasn't so long that she didn't recall the particular disdain that the commander held against John Basilone. She didn't understand it, John Basilone had seemed like quite the appealing man, definitely not one she would ever consider stepping out on, but that was just Jennifer's opinion. She also spotted Cadet Lt. Savage, who was, inaudibly, toasting with Evan Michaels and another officer. Evan saw Jennifer and waved before partaking in his drink. The group passed several other people, and Jennifer noted a few of the Academy's board of admirals were present.
Finally they reached what must have been the end of an expansive back yard, a table, at which sat Admirals Archer, Barnett, Captain Garrovick from the USS Farragut, his first officer Commander Chenowyth, Captain Walsch of the USS Hood, and his first officer, Commander Fields. Commander Gregory, who was Captain Robbins' first officer on the Yorktown was also present.
"Ahh, Ensign Kirk, and Doctor McCoy, how nice of you to finally join us!" Admiral Archer greeted them from his chair. Chris and Captain Robbins simply took what was apparently their seats. Jennifer wondered at what they were doing in the house to have been the ones to answer the door, but quickly shoved the thought off. Chris was like her father, she did NOT want to picture that.
"I'm sorry we're late, sir." Jennifer noticed the admiral's hard look and instantly corrected herself. They were, after all, at an informal gathering. Supposedly. "John. Bones got held up at the clinic and I decided to wait for him, lest he would have to come alone." Jennifer replied, still slightly nervous at speaking to one of Starfleet's most renowned captains and notable legends.
"Duty is duty. Well, you're here now, might as well enjoy the festivities before setting off, yes?" Archer responded gleefully.
"Of course, sir." Jennifer humored him. She knew she was assigned to the Farragut, Chris had already told her, she didn't, however, know exactly when the Farragut would be taking off. "Although I have no idea when exactly that might be."
"We're slotted to leave the day after tomorrow, Kirk. I assume you'll be packed and ready to go by then?" Captain Garrovick asked semi-seriously, as if Jennifer would be anything less than prepared. She'd already started packing prior to coming to the barbeque. Half at Chris' insistence, half because of the growing excitement to be out in the black.
"Of course, sir. I didn't realize we would be leaving so soon." Jennifer replied smoothly. She knew a month and a half didn't leave very long for a summer break, but summer was two months long, just about, she thought she'd have at least a little time to relax before setting out on a tour, but she wasn't any less excited. Jennifer might not have recovered fully from the Aldrin incident not long ago, but she was sufficiently recovered to remember her love of the stars, and exploration.
"Well, we've got to give you cadets your time to learn and explore." Garrovick remarks smiling. Jennifer muttered an agreeance as she caught the sound of an all too familiar voice whispering as he took a seat at the large table. Admiral Komack was speaking to another officer, and said officer was glaring at Jennifer with a look of unchecked anger that made Jennifer shiver in her seat. She tried to ignore the scene, turning her attention back to Captain Garrovick, but she couldn't deny a sense of unease that started to swell inside of her.
"Exploration is, after all, sir, one of the primary foundations upon which Starfleet originated." Jennifer answered diplomatically, but she fully believed in its tenant. Archer smiled at her, as did Garrovick.
"Naturally. Of course, between you and me, I tend to think that a bit of fun was involved." Garrovick light heartedly joked. Fun, sure, but there were also extreme dangers, and sacrifice involved in getting there.
"Oh heavens! Between you and Chris the girl doesn't stand a chance! She'll be defying orders and trying to wage battle with the Klingons just for the hell of it." Archer exclaimed. This earned a quite bout of laughter from the group, even Captain Robbins wasn't quite immune to the comment.
"No doubt the Klingons will shake in fear at the thought of a mere girl handing their asses to them." Chris offered.
"If I remember correctly, Christopher, it was I that saved you from the wrath of Kaaj more than once, by inciting that fear in him which you so lightly refer to." Captain Robbins remarked.
This earned laughter from the whole table. Excepting, perhaps, Komack, and Commander Spock who had decided to join the group, standing at his captain's side.
"I do not understand, to which incidents do you refer, captain?" Spock asked evenly.
"Oh, there was the one on Epsilon Prime, or what about the one near in sector eight? Didn't Kaaj demand the life of your 'wife' for the life of his second wife? I believe I was on the bridge for that encounter when I told him in no uncertain terms that I would be surrendered, like property. Purely for the fact that you couldn't hope to own a woman of my caliber." Captain Robbins remarked said, not showing an ounce of the bridled humor that was purely evident in the claim. It made the impact all the more impressive and another round of laughter sounded.
"Ah, I do recall now. Kaaj was summarily unimpressed with your words and requested a demonstration as prove your ability. This subsequently resulted in the captain being overpowered by your person on the bridge during the video communication. Kaaj stated he was entirely too entertained to continue with his attack that day." Spock added. Jennifer knew for sure then, that no matter how he would deny it, Spock knew human humor absolutely. "I regret to inform you captain, I must retire for the evening."
"Aw, come on, Spock! You can't just leave after that. I owe you in kind, now." Chris protested lightly.
"I do not find that to be the case, captain. As I merely stated well known facts, I find your assumption illogical."
"Facts! Ha! Of course you do, Mr. Spock. Well then, good night." Chris replied looking over his shoulder.
"Gentleman, captain, cadets." Spock nodded giving leave of the table.
The group continued to talk and laugh, drink together, share stories, even Bones was included in conversation which apparently surprised him.
"I understand that you have the time to see your daughter, Doctor McCoy, however, I would press upon you the opportunity to join a, if rather short, training cruise yourself." Captain Walsh remarked. Jennifer snapped her head to him, painfully aware that this man should not know about Bones' personal situations. She tossed a look over at Chris and her suspicions were confirmed. This was no random accident. Bones had been set up.
From the casual way Chris had all but ordered her to make sure Bones attended the barbeque, to the light conversation being made to include him, even though he was the only cadet on medical track who was invited, to the Captain of the USS Hood having knowledge that Bones was planning on spending the entire summer with his daughter, now that he could.
Yes, this was a classic set up.
In the current environment, Bones could not outright refuse the captain on his offer. He desperately wanted to spend some quality time with his daughter, and the rest of his family if he was being honest with himself, yet outright refusing was not an option. Jennifer noted his carefully guarded response.
"I would be more than delighted to join a cruise, captain, if I had been assigned to one. As it is, I was not, and I do dearly miss my daughter." Bones replied, and Jennifer took note of the teeth-gritting anger that was tempting to blow. His response was worthy of a Vulcan diplomat, surface-skimming anger aside.
"It's only about three weeks, ending in an attendance to a three day medical conference with Doctor Drehner as a keynote speaker." Walsch remarked. "I'm sure your daughter wouldn't begrudge the absence of your company for a mere three weeks, what with the opportunities given, would she, doctor?" Walsch was on icy ground, he knew, but it wasn't like they couldn't just hand him orders anyway. Chris wouldn't do that, however. For a man with no family of his own, he put a large emphasis on family values. Which is, Jennifer hazarded, the reason for the whole set-up in the first place.
"I'm sure Joanna wouldn't mind, Bones. Plus, think of all the stories you could tell her afterwards. Space, all that disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence. Gripping tales abound. Plus, you know she has a taste for space travel, probably would want to go with you if she could." Jennifer said quickly.
"Yeah, she would." Bones agreed grumpily. Jennifer shot Chris a hard look, conveying that she understood exactly what his plan had been. He returned her look with a half-drunk smile of his own, claiming innocence both knew was false. "Maye it'll scare her straight. Gods above if I have to deal with you and Jojo in space."
"Besides, I've heard you rave about Dr. Drehner and all of her awesomness concerning the field of xenopsychology. It would be quite the opportunity. Wasn't one your theses grounded in the research she conducted on the pheromones of Orion women and the effect of too strict regulation in regards to something or other?" Jennifer added. Bones just glared at her like she was the worst enemy he'd ever had the opportunity to have drinks with.
But really, it's not like he could refuse the offer… he does want his standing in Starfleet to mean something one day. And starting off by refusing a short training cruise which would still allow him a good chunk of time to spend with his daughter, well, there could be worse things he could do.
"I'm a doctor, dammit! Not a psychologist!" Bones replies, his threatening gaze softening just enough that Jennifer knows he's already given in.
"Yet your degrees say you are both!" Jennifer retorted. Bones couldn't argue with that one. Damn the woman.
"Well, it's settled then, Doctor McCoy! Captain Walsch and I will transmit the orders to you as soon as we are able." Chris exclaims excitedly. And Jennifer gets it, she does, really. Chris recruited the man, for heaven's sake.
He knows Bones' skill, how much Starfleet stands to gain from him as a doctor, as a scientist in the field of medicine. And he knows that Bones needs things like academy training cruises and the like to really give him solid ground to stand on when he graduates. To get a good position when he receives a full commission, not that the rank of Lieutenant while just having completed his first of three needed years at the academy is anything to snuff at, but it was given to him because he was already a qualified doctor. Lieutenant Commander will be given to him upon graduation, and they all know it. It's pretty much an automatic thing for overly qualified doctors who enlist in Starfleet and graduate from the academy.
"I look forward to it." Bones finally says, through gritted teeth and a fake plastered smile. Yeah, he's bitter about it, but he knew it would come sooner or later.
Jennifer stands up, garnering the attention of the men in her immediate area, and Captain Robbins. "If you'll excuse me, gentleman, captain, I need to use the ladies room."
No one moves to help her find it, even though she wasn't shown on the way in, but she's fairly sure that she can figure out where the head is all on her own. She is a grown woman after all. Passing both familiar faces and strangers until she makes it inside and locates the facilities, Jennifer doesn't think that an Admiral's house, at a barbeque, is where she saw herself headed last summer. Or hell, even six months ago, honest. Probably not even after the events of the Aldrin. Jennifer doesn't think about how she had no idea she wouldn't stay in MACO forever, or that she really isn't all too sure she should be on command track, even though she'd specifically stated she'd wanted it.
Jennifer doesn't think about the observation that so many people have supported her, even if so many people have been waiting for her to fail. As if failure was ever an option for Jennifer Kirk. She didn't fail at anything, not really. Sure, she's made mistakes, felt like she'd failed miserably, but she always finds that determination not to fail. Failure is not an option, in fact, it isn't even a word in her vocabulary.
No, Jennifer doesn't think about these things at all, pushing them into the bottom recesses of her mind, because, well, she's enjoying her evening, quite so, in fact.
So it's somewhat surprising that when she walks out of the bathroom, half drank bourbon glass still in hand, because even if Bones was at that table, and a bunch of ranking officers, there was no way she would leave her drink unattended, that she runs smack into a cadet she swears she's never met before, giving her the stank eye. Okay, on second thought, maybe she has met him, she just can't place exactly where at the moment. Possibly due to the fact that two bodies colliding into one another aren't conducive higher cognitive function.
"Sorry, guess I wasn't paying attention." Jennifer muttered an apology, realizing that it wouldn't have mattered after all if she'd left her drink or not, it'd been emptied of its contents on Admiral Archer's wooden floors. She feels slightly bad about this, but she supposed that Johnathan Archer wouldn't have invited so many people over to his home without taking some sort of precautions for his floors. That and the beagles. Which were surprisingly nowhere to be found tonight.
"Yeah, well, you don't, do you?" Angry male cadet answers, wiping his hands on his uniform as if he could wipe off the offending alcohol, apparently some of the bourbon had found its way to his clothing as well.
"I apologize for running into you so thoughtlessly after opening the door to the bathroom. I couldn't help but notice I spilled my drink all over you, would you like some help in cleaning that up?" Jennifer asks, giving the angry male cadet a sly smile, defaulting to flirtation to take the edge off of the kid's frustration.
"Not from the likes of you, Kirk!" Jennifer is taken aback at the treatment, maybe she had seriously offended the guy, but she didn't even know his name, or was it that she didn't remember the name of the somewhat no familiar face after seeing it properly.
"What's your name?"
"Finnegan. Not that it matters to you. Don't even know why you're here anyway. You don't belong here." Finnegan seethes, as if he has a personal history with Jennifer. Which he doesn't, Jennifer's sure of it, because prior to tonight she's never met the kid who can't be any older than her, if not several years younger. Eighteen at most, she's sure.
"It seems I have something other than running into you to apologize for." Jennifer says, squaring her shoulders voluntarily. She could spot a fight in a heartbeat. It never paid to be unprepared.
"Yeah, you do. But you know what, it would probably be lost on you. You probably don't even remember." Finnegan replied with heavy scorn. "I mean, it's not like I have enough rank for you anyway."
"What the hell does that mean?" Jennifer questioned, smoking.
"Exactly what I said. I don't have enough rank for you. Everyone knows you fucked Pike so you could get into the academy." Jennifer was starting to see red. "I don't even know why, it's not like you're that hot anyway. But who knows? Maybe he just likes 'em young. He must, if he's so eager and fucking willing to throw his career away for a good lay. Who's it going to be now? Archer, probably. Only makes sense. He isn't exactly the brightest tool in the shed these days, and I bet he's just itching for some young little cunt like you. I bet you'll be climbing into his lap by the end of the night, asking him for favors you wouldn't ever possible dream of deserving. Only reason you'd be here now." Jennifer's hands turned to fists and she barely held back punching the asshole in his face. He could get away with insulting her, sure, but the men she respected? Oh hell no!
"Those are senior ranking Starfleet officers you're badmouthing. I'd watch it if I were you." Jennifer warned.
"Like it fucking matters! If they were so well respected they wouldn't have dumped their dicks in the likes of you!"
"They didn't, not that it makes a difference to you. But, you know what, I think I do remember you now. You were that pathetic little fuck that I told to go climb a rock when you tried to pick me up at the bar. The one who was so fucking wasted you couldn't even remember your own name. The one who thought I was your ex-girlfriend. You were pinning so bad after you saw her leave the bar with a bigger man. Not that it would be hard, as pretty much any man is bigger than you, boy." Jennifer retorted acidly. She had no idea if this was true, more than likely it was, at least in some respect. It wouldn't be the first time someone she'd rejected reacted poorly. Jennifer also knew, in that special way that she could read people effortlessly, that the last thing Finnegan wanted to be called was small or insignificant. "She probably got sick of being dicked down by someone sporting a pinky sized boner." Jennifer added for good measure.
Finnegan blanched. Got it in one.
"You know what, I think we're done here. Go back home and cry to your mommy that you couldn't even get a low life pathetic little bitch like me into your bed. You're right, you don't have enough rank for me. Even if you were the fucking president of the entire fucking universe you wouldn't have enough rank for me. Because you aren't fucking man enough for me! Just like you weren't man enough for that girlfriend of yours!" Jennifer finished she was seething, barely containing a white hot rage. She turned around to walk away before she attacked the guy right there and did some serious damage. It wasn't like she couldn't kick the kid's ass. Oh, she more than could. But she didn't try to start fights, she just finished them.
Finnegan lunged at her turned back, knocking both of them to the ground. It seemed as if this was yet another confrontation in which Jennifer would have to finish after all. Probably with blood and broken bones.
She shrimped out of his weak hold expertly and made it to her feet, balanced, before he could even heave himself up from the ground fully. Finnegan barely made it to his feet before Jennifer punched him square in the face. She was going to regret it later, after all, there were at least seventeen different ways she could have incapacitated him which would have left far less injury to herself, not that the injury to her right hand was serious, but punching people hurt regardless. However, she found knocking the shithead unconscious with her fist most satisfying.
"What the hell are you doing, Jenn?" Bones yelled, stepping into the hallway just in time to see her finish the fight that could scarcely be called a fight at all.
"Fucking justice, Bones. Justice." Jennifer said stepping over the limp cadet.
"What the fuck did he do to piss you off so badly?" Bones asked, gaping at her. He was looking from the unconscious body to Jennifer and back. He walked over to Finnegan and checked his vitals manually, as he didn't have a tri-corder on hand. Bones examined the kid's face as well. "Well, he's not dead, although I'd say he's going to be in a lot of pain when he wakes up. He has a broken nose and a dislocated jaw. What the hell did he say to you?"
"I need a fucking drink." Jennifer said deflecting while at the same time flexing her hurt hand. Bones walked over to her and grabbed her hand, which she immediately pulled back. "OW!"
"Yeah, it should fucking hurt!" Bones took said hand again and examined it, causing Jennifer to groan in pain once more. "Well, you're lucky, you didn't break it, just a bad sprain. Don't know how though, with the damage you did to the kid. What the fuck did he do?"
"Let's just say I don't take kindly to people insinuating that Captain Pike or Admiral Archer are anything less than honorable, especially considering their attentions to women." Jennifer seethed.
Bones just gapped at her, slack jawed for a moment before understanding washed over him and he scowled in anger.
"You attack him or he attack you?" He asked.
"He lunged at my back, Bones. Knocked me to the ground and pinned me. Luckily for me, I'm pretty good at hand to hand combat. I was nice, he deserved worse."
"Well, I guess I'll just make sure someone takes him to the E.R. cause I sure as fuck ain't treatin' him. Come on, let's go get that drink you said you needed."
Before stepping back outside Bones called over another officer, discreetly told him there was a cadet who required medical attention that he could not provide, as he'd been drinking, without relaying what had transpired. When he was done, they turned over to the kitchen bar still inside the house and he poured two drinks for them. A toast was made, and then interrupted by another unfriendly face.
"Just what the hell is going on?" Admiral Komack's voice boomed, storming into the kitchen of Admiral Archer's home. "A cadet needing medical attention? What's this about?"
"Sir, Cadet Finnegan attacked Cadet Ensign Kirk. She reacted in self-defense. Cadet Finnegan is being taken to the Emergency room to have a broken nose set and a dislocated jaw reset as well." Bones answered before Jennifer could reply. He didn't bother going to attention for the man, they were in civilians, and he probably wouldn't have bothered even if they had all been in uniform.
"Is this true, Kirk?" Komack asked, and Jennifer could tell immediately he wasn't asking to help her claim. She sighed internally.
"Yes, sir." Jennifer replied reluctantly.
"So you attacked a defenseless cadet for no reason?" Komack clarified, angrily.
"Absolutely not! As Doctor McCoy just stated, he attacked me first. I simply responded in self-defense after he'd pinned me to the floor." Jennifer paused a moment. "Sir."
"Yet you aren't being treated by medical and Finnegan is. Hard to believe, Kirk." Komack replied.
"I witnessed the attack, sir. Kirk acted in self-defense." Bones lied smoothly. Jennifer would have protested, but she knew it was pointless. It would be worse for Bones if she did now.
"Is that so, cadet?" Komack asked disbelieving.
"Doctor McCoy was present after I exited the bathroom, sir." Jennifer replied. It wasn't a lie, not precisely. He was present after she exited the bathroom. Just not immediately after.
"So you're telling me that a Starfleet cadet, a son of two respected Starfleet officers just decided to attack another cadet for no apparent reason?" Komack countered. The emphasis on his words was not lost on Jennifer. Komack had never been a fan of George Kirk sr. Especially after George Kirk sr. had won the hand of the beautiful Winona Davis. Or so the rumor was, anyway. Apparently his hatred of Kirks extended now to Jennifer.
"No. Sir. It was not for no apparent reason." Jennifer replied, daringly. "Cadet Finnegan and I had a conversation, albeit short, after I exited the bathroom which resulted in him insulting not only myself, but two other respected senior Starfleet officers. My response to him, pointing out just that, did not please him. When I turned around to walk away from him, he attacked me."
"So your story is that Cadet Finnegan attacked you after you turned your back on him to walk away from a disagreeable conversation. And you, Doctor McCoy, you were present for this conversation?" Komack grilled.
Before Bones could reply and further perjure himself Admiral Archer, Captain Pike, and Captain Garrovick entered the kitchen, all three with empty glasses.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Archer demanded.
"I am questioning these two cadets about an attack on another cadet, sir." Komack replied smoothly.
Chris looked to Jennifer in question, raising a brow. Archer turned to Komack.
"An attack? In my house? Where?"
"Right outside of the bathroom, sir." Jennifer replied.
"And where is the cadet who was attacked? It doesn't appear that you and the good doctor have come to blows." Archer responded.
"Right here, sir. It was Cadet Ensign Kirk who was attacked. The other cadet is being transported to the Emergency room, sir." Bones replied proudly. Jennifer had to hide a smirk at his almost blatant disrespect of Komack, who had yet been allowed to speak again.
"And yet here you are, Kirk." Archer supplied, suppressing a grin, which made Jennifer want to smile all the more. She could see Garrovick and Pike looking at each other with knowing looks.
"The two cadets claim that cadet Finnegan attacked Kirk first, however, there is not sufficient evidence to support the claim." Komack provided smugly.
"Sure there is!" Archer said happily, as if he knew where Komack was going and couldn't wait to have him eat his words. "My whole house is bugged! There are cameras everywhere. You don't think I wouldn't have the best home security Starfleet intelligence has to offer in my own home, would you?" Archer asked as if this was common public knowledge, and it was the height of illogic to suggest his entire house wasn't watched 24/7. Which, Jennifer had to admit, would make sense. "Even your house is bugged, Komack. We can't be having any security mishaps or kidnappings of the admiralty right at the heart of the Federation, now can we?"
Jennifer noticed that Komack tensed at Archer's happily given information, and for some reason, she didn't think it had anything to do with the cameras in Archer's house.
"Give me a minute and I'll pull up the security feed. Right outside the bathroom, eh, Kirk?" Archer asked grinning.
"Yes, sir." Jennifer replied, trying very hard to hide the smile she knew was forming on her face. She shared a look with the old man that meant more than the fact they both knew she would be quickly vindicated of any wrong doing. What more, she didn't know.
"Chris, be a good man and hand me that PADD on the Fridge, would you?" Archer asked, finally taking a seat. Chris turned around to grab the PADD that was obviously magnetized on the surface of the refrigerator and handed it to Archer.
"Now let's see, bathroom, ground floor, security tapes, last ten minutes…" Archer typed away at the PADD, muttering to himself. "Ahh! Here it is. Oh yes, I see. Very well."
"Sir?" Komack asked confused by the mutterings of an old man.
"It's right here," Archer motioned for him to look at the PADD, "the truth of the matter."
Jennifer noticed the way that Chris and Captain Garrovick moved to crowd around the PADD as Komack watched in mutual shock and shame, though he quickly schooled the shame. She noticed that Garrovick stole a glance in her direction, possibly giving her a sign of implied approval, and maybe a new respect that hadn't been there mere hours ago?
"Well, I guess that settles that then!" Archer exclaimed happily, slapping Komack on the back a bit more aggressively than was particularly required. "This is why every Admiral in San Francisco has security in their homes, James! To absolve the innocence, and catch the guilty! Justice." Archer spared Jennifer a knowing wink before usher the men around him back outside.
When the two admirals and two captains left Jennifer looked over at Bones.
"That man misses nothing, does he?" Jennifer asked.
Bones took his glass from the counter and raised it in a toast. Jennifer followed suit. The glasses clinked. "I'll fucking drink to that."
Two days later Jennifer was on a shuttle with a group of other cadets and officers headed toward the docking bay of the USS Farragut.
Jennifer didn't know whether or not the anticipation she felt could actually be classified as anticipation. It could be nerves, which would be normal for any cadet, or anxiety for an altogether different reason. Both possibilities, she would be told if she were so inclined to speak with someone about them, are completely normal reactions for someone who had been through what she had only months ago. Jennifer knew this to be true, but it didn't mean she had to like it.
In fact, she didn't like it at all. It was why she had decided not to have friends when she impulsively decided to join Starfleet. She'd lost her fair share of 'friends' over the years and she didn't care to lose anymore. Then she met Commander John Basilone, resident tactical badass of the USS Aldrin, and although she'd known him for such a short period of time, she had already decided to let him in. She knew that had been a mistake, for she still felt a twinge of guilt when thinking about him. It was the same reason she had given her now best friend, Doctor Leonard McCoy a nickname upon meeting him. Nicknames, names that had no tie whatsoever to the person with which she would acquaint herself, meant she didn't have to get to know the person she could end up hurting over if she lost them. She was wrong about Bones, however, he'd become her most trusted friend and ally over the past year. She'd opened up to him more than she had anyone in years, and he'd done the same in return. Now, she knew, nicknames were not a good tactic in refusing to get to know someone, to keep from being personally connected with someone, in fact, they did the opposite. Jennifer could now not imagine her life without her best friend, the one she'd named herself, Bones.
So it was, on the shuttle ride with cadets that she had decided upon keeping her connections on a purely professional level. She would call them by their given name, their surname, as was tradition and required by Starfleet regulations. With one exception. Evan Michaels was joining her on this training cruise, but she'd known him for years, she was already connected with Evan in a way that only seven other people in the universe were. Uhura, no first name given, would still be teased when the opportunity arose, but Jennifer did not really mind, she did not even want to know her first name. She did not want to forge a connection with the woman any further than she already had. And then there was Cadet Finnegan. Cadet Finnegan, she could learn his first name. Use it grossly, and lose too much sleep if she never used it with him again.
She still could not believe her complete lack of luck, well, in all honesty, if she admitted it to herself, she could. She was going to be spending over a month with the boy who would be man, and she was not looking forward to it one iota.
Cadet Finnegan hated her, and in turn, she passionately disliked him. She wouldn't say she hated him, hate was reserved for the vilest of monstrosities the universe could throw at her. Kodos, she'd hated. Lieutenants Wyatt, Henry, and Pitcha from MACO, she'd hated. Cadet Finnegan? No. She didn't even really hate her uncle Frank, who by all rights, she should have. Cadet Finnegan was just a fly, an insect in a swarm of insects who didn't like Jennifer for one reason or another, for false rumors and antiquated reasons. Cadet Finnegan was just another person whom Jennifer would have to keep a close eye on, in order not to be betrayed by his misogynistic personality.
With all these thoughts on people and connections, likeability and hatred, it should not have come as a surprise that Finnegan had done something unsavory. After the first three weeks of serving in the Farragut's armory, specifically assigned to one of the ship's phaser bank cannons during Gamma shift, along with Evan, both cadets were unceremoniously called into Lieutenant Commander Pearce's officer, the Armory Officer in Charge. One of Finnegan's family friends.
"Cadet Ensign Kirk reporting as ordered, sir!" Jennifer snapped to attention and saluted the Armory OIC. Evan followed suit.
"Stand at ease, cadets." LTCDR Pearce ordered. Jennifer and Evan both snapped their hands behind their backs assuming the position given. "It's been brought to my attention that the two of you are friends. Is this information correct?"
Jennifer considered the question, why would it matter? But neither of them could very well lie, so she figured honesty was best in this case. She knew they were in trouble for something, else they would have been told to sit down. She did, however, notice Evan stiffen at the question.
"Yes, sir." Jennifer answered evenly.
"And you, Cadet Michaels, would you say that you two are friends? Good friends?" LTCDR Pearce asked him directly.
"Yes, sir. Cadet Ensign Kirk and I have known each other for years, sir." Evan answered carefully.
"Would it surprise either of you then, to learn that the security footage in the phaser bank section you two are assigned to has been erased? That only the Gamma shift footage for that specific area has been wiped from the system?"
Jennifer looked at the officer in confusion. She knew immediately they were being blamed for said infraction, however, she didn't understand why someone would erase the security footage during their shift. Surely, if someone were to tamper with the phaser cannons, they would erase the footage of the event, and it hadn't happened during Gamma shift. That much she was sure of.
"Yes sir, it would surprise me." Evan answered, sounding genuinely shocked at the not so subtle accusation.
"And you, Kirk? Would it surprise you to learn of this as well?"
"Yes, sir." Jennifer answered truthfully.
"Well, how about that. Two friends, both on the same shift, assigned to the same area, both denying the fact that they tampered with ship security footage. I don't know about you, but that does seem rather unlikely that neither of you would know about said footage being erased, unless one or both of you is lying to me. And I think you are. But, I can't prove it. However, there is compelling circumstantial evidence that suggests one or both of you would have erased said footage." LTCDR Pearce said. Jennifer was no longer under any delusions about this meeting, no hope was left. Both she and Evan had been called in to get their proverbial asses chewed out, and then a chunk taken out of them as well. She was merely waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"What alleged evidence might that be, sir?" Jennifer asked, knowing full well she sounded as if she had an attitude. It wouldn't help, but both of them were already in trouble, and it did feel good. At least a little bit.
"I have a witness that states both of you should be charged with willful dereliction of duty. That you two are such great friends you willingly left your posts multiple times throughout your shifts over the past three weeks to socialize with one another, and at least once, left the phaser bank area completely. Which would give you cause to erase the security footage, as it would give concrete evidence to the dereliction of duty." Pearce looked at Jennifer squarely. "I looked up your file, Kirk. I know you're rated level seven in computer systems programming. Erasing security footage would have been as easy for you as breathing. So tell me something, how does it feel to get caught?"
Jennifer felt a flash of anger swell from her core. How dare this man accuse her of dereliction of duty? How dare he accuse Evan. Sure the two friends socialized while on shift, but not to the extent that they would leave their posts, or disregard the duties required of them? And how dare this man accuse her of deleting security footage. If she had wanted to delete security footage, he was right, it would have been as easy as breathing, but she wouldn't have gotten caught. She wouldn't have simply erased the footage, she would have replaced it with something else. And no one, save most likely Commander Spock, would have been able to tell it had been done in the first place. Whoever DID erase said footage was an amateur at best, or simply wanted the missing footage to be noticed.
"Sir, you're right about one thing. Erasing security footage on this ship would be extremely easy for me. The security protocols are a joke. But you're wrong. I didn't do this. If I had, you would never have known it was gone in the first place, and I wouldn't be standing here right now." Jennifer knew the comment could be taken as insubordination, but she didn't care. She was pissed as hell.
"Michaels then. Maybe you erased it." Pearce said, not skipping a beat or flinching at Jennifer's response. In fact, it was almost as if he hadn't heard her, save for his immediate reaction to accuse Evan of erasing the ship's security footage.
"I did not. I may not have as high a rating as Cadet Ensign Kirk does, but I am not as unskilled as whoever actually did erase the footage." Evan responded hardly. Jennifer could sense the tension in his voice, how he was mere minutes away from exploding at the ridiculous nature of this 'meeting' as well.
"Whoever erased the footage, you two gained from its departure from the ship's systems. Since I don't have any evidence suggesting either of you did erase the footage, beyond a good guess, I'm not charging you with that. What I am charging you two with is dereliction of duty, based on the eye witness accounts. Starting today both of you will report to the sanitation team during Alpha shift. For the next three weeks you are each to assist them with the maintenance and cleanliness of this ship. That's all. I suggest you hurry, you're already late for day one. Dismissed!"
Jennifer and Evan walked out of the office and into the turbo lift silently. Once in the turbo lift Jennifer engaged the emergency stop and turned to Evan.
"What the fuck was that about?"
"I don't know, Jenn, but I'd have to say, we were set the fuck up. Where does that guy get from doing this anyway? I didn't notice any investigation into the charge, did you? And then accusing us of deleting ship security footage? That's a fucking court martial offense. In fact, I'm pretty sure we could be court martialed for this, funny he didn't bring that up!" Evan ranted.
"I know. It'd definitely a set up, but who was behind it? Obviously the eye witness. Whoever the fuck that is. But I just can't see someone on shift with us doing that. It doesn't make sense." Jennifer considered the other officers who shared their shift. Each was already commissioned, assigned to the Farragut, and none had shown any sort of disparity or prejudicial tendencies. It was quite the opposite really. Each officer seemed to like both her and Evan.
"What about that one kid who's always coming and going from Pearce's office? He doesn't work with us, but he's in the area enough to be called an 'eye witness' for sure." Evan remarked.
"You mean Finnegan?" Jennifer asked. She thought about the cadet in question, and remembered the night at Admiral Archer's barbeque. "He doesn't like me, I know that. But I don't know. What's he do again?"
"Something to do with personnel information systems. He'd have the knowledge of how to access security footage, most likely. Rudimentary skills at the very least. And if he doesn't like you…" Evan trailed off. Jennifer nodded, it made perfect sense. Jennifer reengaged the turbo lift before speaking.
"It makes sense. But now we have to prove it. I don't know about you, but I can't afford a reprimand on my record. Especially not one from a training cruise."
"Yeah, well, I don't really feel like having one either. Guess we'll just have to figure out how he did it." Evan replied just as the turbo lift doors hissed open.
"You realize we can't go to Pearce with information, if we find it, right?" Jennifer asked.
"I know. I don't like him. Can't put my finger on it, but he seems… shady." Evan said.
"Yeah. If we can figure out how he did it, we go straight to the captain. You cool with that?" Jennifer asked.
"Of course. You know I'd follow you anywhere." Evan replied, as if it was ever a question she had needed to voice. He had followed her before, and he would be more than happy to once again.