Disclaimer: I don't own anything Star Trek it is all property of Gene Roddenberry, J.J. Abrams, Paramount, and whoever else owns rights to the franchise. I am not making any profits off of this so please don't sue me.
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Chapter 19
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The silence was soft and warm throughout the bedroom. A pair of pale blue eyes fluttered open and blinked softly against the dim light that filled the room. A slow sigh escaped Jim Kirk's lips as he smoothly came back to consciousness. He was beyond comfortable where he lay almost completely on his stomach with the soft pillow beneath his cheek and the sheets tucked around him almost in a cocoon. But as he stirred Jim realized that he was the bed's lone occupant. Instantly wondering about the one who had kept him company throughout the night, Jim slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. Once he was upright Jim let his eye roam over the room. Inside he began to feel a mild panic slowly start to rise up. But the feeling was gone as quickly as it had manifested and replaced with relief as he young man caught sight of a certain ebony haired and pointy eared individual who was sitting cross-legged on the floor by one of the bedroom walls.
Even though he was staring at the back pf a meditating Spock's head, Jim felt a small surge of warmth spread through his whole being. A soft smile graced Jim's lips as he relaxed and leaned back against the headboard. For a while Jim simply took in the sight of the half-Vulcan. Spock for his part seemed to almost feel the gaze that was on him as he straightened up a little and slowly turned his head to look over one of his shoulders. Serene almost black eyes met those of warm pale blue.
" You are awake." Said Spock softly as he gracefully rose to his feet and started making his way to the bed.
Jim's smile widened a little before he finally spoke.
" Yeah, but I'm kinda sorry I woke up so soon." Said Jim as Spock came to sit beside him on he bed.
" For what reason would you be sorry for the simple act of coming back to consciousness?" Asked Spock looking perplexed as only he could.
Jim chuckled softly before he leaned in close and explained.
" What I mean is that last night I had the best sleep I've had in a long time, no restless mind and no nightmares. I have you to thank for that Spock." Said Jim as he smiled at his companion.
Spock allowed an almost smile to grace his face before he carefully reached out and cupped the side of Jim's neck. Jim leaned into the touch and soaked up the heavenly warmth the Vulcan's fingers gave off.
" I am pleased that my presence served to ease your mind and allowed for a restful night." Said Spock softly.
Smiling at Spock, Jim silently gathered his nerve and closed the distance between the and softly pressed his lips to the Vulcan's in a chaste kiss. Spock was stunned only for a moment before he gently returned the kiss. The Vulcan wrapped his arms around the human and pulled him in close. While he enjoyed the kiss that he had initiated Jim was suddenly struck by an idea. Jim abruptly pulled away from Spock and stared at him with wide eyes. Immediately wondering what was wrong, Spock spoke.
" Jim, what is it? Did I frighten you?" He asked feeling growing concern.
Spock watched as Jim's face rapidly morphed from a look of astonishment to one of quiet glee before the young man spoke.
" I'm fine Spock. Sorry it's just that, I just got this really interesting idea." Grinned Jim as he looked at Spock with a mischievous little glint in his pale eyes. For some reason, Spock felt this illogical surge of warmth course through him at witnessing this. It was probably because it was the first time in a long time that Jim Kirk looked completely like his old, cavalier self.
" What do you mean Jim? What idea are you referring to?" Asked Spock.
" I think I just figured out how the conflict between the Karun-ish and the Huzore-ain might just get resolved. Have you researched the laws and customs of both clans?" Asked Jim.
" Of course I have Jim." Said a now intrigued Spock.
" Alright, can you tell me about their laws pertaining to marriage?" Asked Jim.
Quirking on dark, slanted eyebrow at the odd request Spock nodded and began regaling his captain none the less, making sure not to leave out any details.
A good half an hour later Jim bid Spock a reluctant farewell as the Vulcan stealthily exited the Captain's quarters. After Spock left, Jim decided to just get ready for the day despite how early it was. The Captain of the USS Enterprise quietly disappeared into his bathroom and partook in his usual morning routine and a nice long shower. Forty five minutes later a fully dressed Captain Kirk was stepping out of his quarters with getting breakfast in mind. He was making his way down the corridor towards the turbo-lift when a familiar voice called out to him.
" Hey Jim wait up!" Came the gruff, Southern tinted voice of Dr. Leonard McCoy as he lightly trotted up the corridor to catch up to his best friend and Captain.
" Morning Bones, your up real early." Greeted Jim with a small grin.
" Oh, don't you 'morning Bones' me Jim, I barely got a wink of sleep last night worrying about you after that quick exit you pulled at the dinner party last night." Said Bones loudly.
" Jeez Bones not so loud please, there are still people trying to sleep. Bones I'm okay, really I'll explain everything once we get down to the mess hall cause right now I am starving." Said Jim as he reached out and gave the Doctor's sleeve a light tug.
Grumbling quietly to himself, Bones nodded and then walked with Jim to the turbo-lift. When the door slid away with a soft hiss Jim and Bones silently stepped inside.
" Deck 11 please." Commanded Jim to the Ship's computer.
The computer beeped in acknowledgment and then the lift started moving upward towards the intended deck. As they rose the lift Bones kept on stealing glances at his friend and Captain. From what he could tell Jim actually looked good, completely rest and relaxed like he had not been in a very long time. Naturally Bones was curious as to what brought on the good mood in his friend and once the lift came to a smooth stop he spoke as he followed Jim out onto deck 11.
" So Jim, what's going on with you?" He asked conversationally.
" I'm fine Bones. I'm okay now." Said Jim as he and the CMO entered the as of yet deserted Mess Hall.
" But you weren't okay before." Said Bones.
" Yeah, I wasn't. Let's just say I got some unexpected news that had me rattled." Sighed Jim as he stood before one of the replicators and started pressing buttons here and there to get the breakfast items he wanted.
A few minutes later found Jim and Bones taking setting down their respective trays filled with food and taking their seats at a table near one of the more secluded areas of the Mess hall.
" Alright Jim spill, what unexpected news did you get that could have you runnin' like a bat from hell from a simply dinner party?" Asked Bones.
" I got a message from the Antarian Elder A'tal yesterday." Said Jim neutrally.
Bones's face instantly morphed into an expression of shock and then full blown urgency and concern as he spoke.
" Oh no Jim, tell me he didn't... That he's not." He began when Jim cut him off.
" It'vek is dead Bones, shot by one of the prison guards during an escape attempt. A'tal just wanted to tell me personally and also ask for my forgiveness yet again even though I've told him repeatedly that what happened was never his fault." Said Jim with very little emotion tinting his voice except for when he mention the kind Antarian elder.
" Jesus." Swore Bones before he continued.
" Can't say I feel the least bit sorry though." He said quietly.
" You and Spock both." Said Jim as he allowed himself a small melancholy smile at that.
" Well, glad me and the Hobgoblin agree on at least one thing." Muttered Bones before he started digging into one of the breakfast rolls on his tray.
" Yeah, when I told him he flat out said that he was glad It'vek was dead and gone." Said Jim.
" Hell has indeed frozen over if you got a Vulcan admitting he feels something." Said Bones in an attempt to lighten the mood.
" Or maybe it's just me." Said Jim.
" Maybe." Smiled Bones.
After that the conversation tapered off into more pleasant topics like one of Scotty and Keenser's newest antics down in engineering or how one of the Huzore-ain delegates had gotten totally plastered last night at the party and nearly started a full on bar fight. And speaking of the topic of the conflict between the Huzore-ain and the Karun-ish clans, Jim gave Bones the barest hints of what he had planned today to try and settle the dispute one and for all.
Bones naturally told him that he was out of his mind and that if the plan backfired and Jim found himself baring the brunt of the wrath from two warring clans, he wasn't gonna help him save for pumping him full of hyposprays.
Jim simply broke out into full belly guffaws and enjoyed breakfast with one of his best friends, all the while eagerly anticipating when the peace talks would resume.
A good three hours later...
Jim Kirk walked into the star base conference room with Spock and Bones flanking him on either side just a few steps behind. The delegates from the Huzore-ain clan and the Ka-runish-clan were all there waiting on opposite sides of the room. From his position, Jim Kirk was silently glad to see that the two people he was most interested in were among them. The Kar-unish elder's son Matyick was standing dutifully by his father's side while the Huzore-ain elder's daughter Dalmaya was doing the same with her father.
Jim looked from the young man to the young lady as he made his way over to the very head of the conference table. The time to set his insane plan into motion would have to wait, right now it was all about getting formalities out of the way and once again listening to the unending bickering. After giving everyone the expected greetings of a new morning Jim took his seat with Spock and Bones flanking him on either side. All of the delegates took up their seats as well and much to Jim's silent amusement, Dalmaya and Matyick were stealing glances at each other much like they had been during last night's party. They looked yet again like a pair of lovesick teenagers and now Jim was hoping that their hidden feelings for each other were deep enough for what he had in mind to do today.
Jim allowed himself a full twenty minutes of once again listening to the clan elders repetitive squabbling before he finally had enough and spoke up.
" Alright gentlemen, I have heard everything you have had to say several times over, so now I'd like to ask a few questions of my own." Said Jim loud and clear, effectively silencing the verbal combatants who sat on either side of him.
" Well, what is it you wish to ask of us Captain Kirk?" Asked the Kar-unish clan elder.
" Yes, do ask away." Piped in the Huzore-ain elder.
" This question is for your children respectively. I'll start with you Matyick." Said Jim as he gazed at the young man with a calculating glint in his eyes.
" Y-Yes sir?" Asked a nervous looking Matyick.
" It's quite simple Matyick, do you love Dalmaya with all you have?" Asked Jim with a small hint of nonchalance in his tone and he smiled at Matyick.
There was a beat of stunned silence and then chaos erupted with nearly everyone in the room, Kar-uish and Huzore-ain alike all rose up in astonished outrage at what the Starfleet Captain had just asked.
Spock and Bones stood protectively on either side of a surprisingly calm Jim Kirk.
The Clan elders were turning blue in the face as they hurled insults at each other and at Captain Kirk. The din in the room was rapidly gaining more and more volume until a single voice rang out over the noise.
" YES, I LOVE DALMAYA!" Yelled Matyick as loudly as he could.
The silence that followed these words was amazing. Every person in the room who had been yelling their heads of were completely silent and staring wide eyed and some slack jawed at the young Kar-unish man.
Jim's smiled widened before he turned his gaze from Matyick to Dalmaya. The young woman was standing right across from Matyick, looking at him in disbelief and the beginnings of quiet joy.
" Well now that we have that one thing cleared up, I now ask you Dalmaya; do you share Matyick's feelings?" Asked Captain Kirk.
Dalmaya let out this one soft little squeak before she started rambling.
" Oh, what? Oh I mean it really is sort of complicated, and he is from a different clan and all, but I... Well I mean I... I.... Yes. I love Matyick with all my heart." Said Dalmaya softly.
It was here that the Kar-unish elder finally found his voice and spoke.
" But Dalmaya, I thought you hated my son every since that incident way back when you two were children. He put moren ink in your bubble juice, turned your teeth black for three months." He said as he gave his son a look.
Jim barely stifled the snicker that bubbled up inside him at this revelation. Bones shot Jim a withering look while Spock merely quirked his brow.
Then the Huzore-ain elder spoke, looking at Matyick.
" Matyick, I thought the hard feelings were mutual because my daughter got back at you by doing the same to you only she used kato ink that left your teeth neon blue for seven months." Said the elder.
That just about did Kirk in as he guffawed loud and happy. He tapered off into soft chuckles when all eyes went to him and he spoke.
" Man, you two were made for each other." He said before he let out an unmanly giggle.
" Captain Kirk, what the hell were you thinking by bringing up this matter?" Asked the Kar-unish elder.
" I was thinking about how whenever I happened to glance at those two I always found them staring at each other like two lovesick puppies. This led to me thinking that perhaps a joining of your two clans would end the conflict once and for all." Said a now completely sober and serious Jim Kirk.
" And if I may add, the laws of both clans does not state that intermarriage is prohibited." Piped in Spock in his blunt, matter of fact way.
After this more chaos erupted in the conference room, but it was mostly between the two clans with the three members of Starfleet being all but ignored and Matyick and Dalmaya were all but grilled each others kinsmen. While all of this was going on Jim sneaked away from the conference room with Spock and Bones right behind him, they figured that the two clans could hash things out without anymore mediation.
About three hours later when the three of them were back on the bridge of the USS Enterprise Uhura alerted everyone to an incoming message from the star base.
" Put it up on screen Mr. Chekov." Ordered Jim from where he sat in the Captain's chair.
" Aye sir." Nodded Chekov before his fingers were moving over his console. A second later the main view screen was switching from the star filled blackness of space to the faces of the Kar-unish clan and the Huzore-ain clan. Much to everyone's relief, these were all happy and smiling faces, not murderous ones.
After the message had played out the bridge of the Enterprise was silent for a long moment before her Captain suddenly burst into hearty chuckles and pretty soon everyone except for a certain Vulcan First Officer was joining in.
Bones simply shook his head and wondered just how Jim's plan had worked because a week from now the whole crew would be attending a wedding.
The wedding where Matyick of the Kar-unish was going to marry Dalmay of the Huzore-ain.
" Oh yeah, I am definitely back." Thought Captain James T. Kirk happily before he and the rest of the Enterprise's personnel went back to work, although they were now all far more relaxed now that a potential civil war had been avert.
Instead of war there would be a wedding.