Appreciations and notes: Okay, heres the next chapter of the Avatar. I had to cut the chapter in half so I could put it up in time today but I hope that's okay. I would like to thank anyone who reviewed, especially those who left suggestions. Thank you for the favorites and alerts as well, it is much more than what I expected to get to be honest. So thank you all and I hope you enjoy the update. My only warning is that I did not get a chance to proof read.
Disclaimer: Whoops, can't believe I forgot this: I do not own any of the characters used in this work of fiction. It is purely for fun and no profit what so ever.
Edit: I would like to thank everyone who has already reviewed this chapter so far. and I would especially like to thank LostSchizophrenic for pointing out an important detail I forgot to add in my hurry to post this chapter: Kirk's medical/leave-work schedule He did not return to duty right after his finds out his body died. That first day back on the bridge was his shot at boosting crew/his morale. Too bad it was kind of a bust.
Chapter 2: The Opulence of These Inane Circumstances
Jim sighs deeply through his nose. He really messed up this time. He has only been back on full duty for three days after his week long mandatory medical leave and he already screwed up. Jim just knows Bones would have made himtake a longer break if he could without command getting on their rears about duties and how they can't afford to slack off now that they are practically crippled after the Nero incident. But after this major failure he wonders if it would have been better to just have requested shore leave until he got this body figured out.
But what is done is done. He now believes that he is the only captain in the Fleet that can end up offending a whole race in one humiliating and disgusting moment? He tries to resist pulling out his hair on the bridge in frustration as he began to remember the unpleasant incident. The memories came flooding back as he waited for the inevitable call from Star Fleet command. He just hopes they all consider what he sacrificed for them before they decide if they want to throw him out of Star Fleet.
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The Enterprise was on yet another diplomatic soiree to welcome a new planet into the Federation. It should have been a cake walk compared to the rest of the harrowing adventures of the USS Enterprise yet somehow, James T. Dickhead Kirk, managed to mess it up. Again.
The race being initiated is the Carrahinths of the planet Carrahi. The planet was previously known as Delta Gamma V and it was a forest planet that rivaled Vulcan in heat but surpassed even Earth in water mass. They were a tall and lean people, averaging six feet tall and completely hairless except for their long lashes and strong eyebrows. The Carrahinths are humanoid with skin as luminous as Terran gold and slanted eyes that faintly resembled the gems found on Earth.
They were friendly to aliens and very curious about the Federation and it hundreds of members. The crew was actually getting comfortable at the party and then their Captain had to go and screw it up.
The Carrahinths are extremely open and love to show off their money and power. The dining hall used for the party was practically dripping with gold and rare gems native to that planet. The wide expansive halls were lighted with the most pleasant incense found in that quadrant of space as well. A sort of mixture of what smelled like sandalwood and jasmine, While the scent was pleasing for most humanoid species, it was too strong for Vulcans.
As soon as Jim and his main bridge crew stepped into the gathering Jim's and Spock's noses were bombarded with the smell. He knew that if he had tear glands as a Vulcan, he would have started to cry at the assault but the human part of his crew only drew in deeper breaths of appreciation, especially Sulu and Uhura.
When Jim looked over to Spock to take in his reaction to the powerful odor he was glad, for a second, to know that he was not the only one that wanted to cement close his own nostrils.
But Spock was holding his own and refused to show his discomfort.
Well, thought Jim, if Spock can do this then so can I. He was not going to let some foofy smell bring him down. Even if he was developing a headache in his left temple and was starting to feel nausea.
The headache and dizziness kept him from being the social person that he usually was, though he doubted anyone would have approached a stone cold Vulcan anyways. And being in his current, Vulcan body numbed any want of socializing, anyways. Jim made the logical choice for once and just stayed with Spock, relatively away from the others, but still there to answer any of the Carrahinths' questions.
It wasn't until dinner that his grievous offense happened.
A gentile chime of the glass dinner bell signaled the end of the socializing at the moment and the beginning of their generous seven course feast. The crew of the Enterprise and other assembled ambassadors of both the Federation and the Carrahinthian people sat at the appropriate seats.
In order of importance the Carrahinthian King, Tha'mir, sat at the head of the sprawling table with his queen, Su'harth at his right. Kirk, being the most recent hero of the Federation was honored with the seat on King Tha'mir's left. Spock took the seat across from Kirk and next to the queen.
The rest of the crew, though very respected for their skills and their part in saving Earth, were not important enough for the opulent royalty of Carrahi to be included in the seats of the head table. They were seated next to the Federation Ambassadors instead.
If they took any offense to the unintentional slight, they wisely chose to keep their mouths shut unlike some of the Ambassadors. And even if Jim was a Vulcan now, he couldn't help but be proud that his young crew were so mature. He then decided that he was still Jim Kirk and screw being Vulcan he would do what he wanted. The stared straight at Chekov and threw him a thumbs up face still in the default emotionless expression. Chekov gave him a slight smile in return.
If anyone felt that a Vulcan doing such a gesture was ridiculous, they silently kept it to themselves. That was okay with Jim because he was actually starting to feel like a human again.
The silent gloating could not continue because at that moment dinner was served.
Beautifully dressed servers practically danced out from the doors connecting the grand hall to the kitchens. Their long emerald robes danced around their bare legs and bangled ankles, making them look like they were floating on air.
They practically flittered over to the long table. With grand gestures that screamed rehearsed to his Vulcan eyes, they placed the food in front of each diner.
Kirk looked at his meal and immediately lost his appetite. In front of him as a plate of some sort of poultry that would have looked delicious to him when he was a human. But now the smell of charred flesh assaulted his sensitive nose more than the incense had. Trying to keep his face from flushing orange with nausea he looked across from him to see what Spock was going to do about this.
Spock looked over at Kirk at the same moment. Worried that Kirk would try to take a bite of the meat and then promptly regurgitate it back up. Spock was thankful to notice that Kirk looked sick to his stomach at the thought of consuming the meat.
Spock turned towards the King and Queen on his right and gained their combined attentions.
"Pardon me your Excellencies," Spock began, "it has just occurred to me that might not have been informed that Vulcans are vegetarians."
The Queen looked a bit confused and spoke in a singing voice, "But Mr. Spock, you must try some. The Kalgar is the first dish consumed at successful negotiations. The bird is a symbol of unity and the consumption of its properties will bless both parties with luck and long friendship."
Spock responded without hesitation. "Yes, I am aware of your culture's beliefs, but Vulcans are raised in such ways that the ingestion of meat is to be avoided at all costs."
The King raised a thick brow and put forth another point as to why they should eat the Kalgar. "Yes, but you never said that you cannot eat it, just that you are raised not to."
Spock countered almost immediately. "Your Majesties, ingesting meat does indeed cause a Vulcan great distress. Over the years, Vulcans have evolved in such ways that we lack the ability to properly digest animal tissue."
"If it is so then it is so," conceded the Queen and Kirk let out a breath that he did not know he was holding.
"But," she continued, "The Captain is not a Vulcan so he must try some." The thought got Jim's stomach churning once more.
"But as you can see your Grace," interjected Jim in an attempt to keep himself from getting sick all over his majesty, "I am a Vulcan now and my body will reject the Kalgar."
The Queen slightly glared at him. "But Captain, you were not raised as a Vulcan, certainly your body would not be conditioned to reject the flesh of animals. I have read that meat is a staple of human diet."
The conversation had caught the attention of both his crew and ambassadors.
"Yes, but I am a modern Vulcan, I can't eat meat without extreme consequences, your Grace," tried Kirk in a last attempt. If they deny him, then he knows he would have no choice but to eat the Kalgar.
"Captain Kirk," stated the King sternly, his voice booming and quieting the almost silent din in the hall, "you people of the Federation come to our planet with wishes to participate in our culture and yet when we share the most honored meal our traditions have to offer, you reject them. Is the true face of the Federation? Ignorant and disrespectful?" he nearly growled.
"Are you not a human, Kirk?" asked the usually warm queen icily. Offended, she continues mercilessly, "or are you a Vulcan? And a false one at that." The last part wasn't even phrased as a question and her voice was no longer melodious.
An angry scowl could be seen on McCoy's face if Kirk looked at his best friend's direction. Bones knew that Jim's stomach could not handle the alien plate. Jim had no choice but to clench his fists and resist glaring at the couple. With a deep breath and a resigned sigh Kirk reluctantly stabbed a piece of Kalgar with his fork and moved it slowly to his mouth.
The King and Queen and the rest of the Carrahintians looked as pleased as the cats that ate the canaries when he put the vile forkful into his mouth. The Federation members, especially the Enterprise crew and Vulcan Ambassadors looked horrified as Jim chewed slowly and then forced the meat down his protesting throat.
Chekov actually looked as if he would cry for his captain. If Kirk could, he knew he would have been tearing for the second time that night.
As soon as he felt the Kalgar settled in his stomach he had to suppress its overwhelming urge to revolt. With an orange-flushed face and green-bloodshot eyes he unleashed a glare upon the King and Queen.
It must have been intimidating because they both leaned away from him.
With a sharp movement he shoved his chair backwards and turned sharply away from the table, the king, queen and Spock. Jim didn't care if he offended them when he rushed out of the dining hall, his dress uniform making him look only like a streak of gold as he pushed through the throng of servants and out the door. He was desperate to find a place where he could throw up in peace.
He might get a reprimand for it later but, as he was attempting to empty his body of his guts, he doesn't care. He is sick to his Vulcan stomach and suppressing a very real Vulcan emotion that feels very much like rage.
How dare they act offended after he supposedly trampled over their culture when he refused the Kalgar? He only did it because he just could not even hope to cope with eating it. Where did they get a right to force a Vulcan to eat meat?
He had the answer to that question as he was throwing up a day's worth of meals in the lovingly trimmed and beautiful bushes directly outside of the palace hall.
Take that you hypocritical bastards, he thinks bitterly and a bit spitefully as he finally succeeded in emptying his stomach.
As Jim wiped away the bitter acid that still clung to the edge of his mouth, he realized that he did not notice he had been addressing himself a Vulcan almost all evening.
End Notes: I really rushed to get this out so it might be messy. If you catch any glaring errors please feel free to tell me. I am always open to suggestions from the readers so feel free to drop one or two through a review. =)