J.T stayed behind the tree line as he watched the buzz of activity around and inside the rows of medical tents. His eyes darted around the vicinity before turning back to Pike.
'Ok,' he told the lieutenant, take me back to the cave and you can call a shuttlecraft to take my kids to medical'.
Pike silently breathed out a sigh of relief and he nodded in agreement to the teenager's request.
The shuttlecraft touched down in the clearing outside the cave. Christopher Pike stood next to the entrance with J.T by his side and together, they watched as the shuttlecraft landed; it's engine's dying off and the door opening. Christoper Pike walked towards the door where the pilot was beginning to alight from the vehicle. Garrovick and the medical officer had decided to stay at their base to prepare for the arrival of the children whilst Pike had accompanied J.T back to the cave. After a few minutes of conversing the two officers came to an agreement and the pilot returned to the controls as Pike signaled the 'all clear' to J.T. The boy disappeared briefly as he slipped inside the cave. Moments later, his head popped back out with his 'kids' and watched their journey from the cave to the shuttlecraft. Once all the kids were inside, he waited until Pike had boarded before entering the shuttlecraft himself. The Pilot appeared to have noticed the staunch in the flow of passengers for he turned around towards Pike who nodded in confirmation. The pilot returned his gaze to the windshield and powered the engines. The shuttlecraft rose and the children stirred as they felt a slight tremor move through their seats. In seconds, they were heading back to the join the rest of Starfleet. Pike watched as J.T talked reassuringly to each of the children and answered any and every question they asked. He's like a father to them, thought Pike. It was fitting – they had all lost their parents in the massacre after all.
The Shuttle touched down and the passengers alighted the craft. J.T monitored his kids as they were whisked off to various tents. He was pestered by various medical officers but brushed them off, insisting on ensuring that his kids were being taken good care. Pike watched the irritated doctors and nurses and decided to intervene for J.T's sake – he knew first hand their skill with sedatives on an uncooperative individual.
'J.T,' he laid a hand on the boys shoulder, 'I'll make sure they're in good hands – I swear on it. You've got to get yourself checked out before you kill yourself – your kids would say the same'.
JT looked up at Pike with his eccentric blue eyes. He scrutinized the Captain for a few minutes, causing Pike discomfort as he searched his memory once again for that particular shade of blue.
'Ok'.
The answer was so unpredictable and simple that it took Pike by surprise. He stood there for a few seconds before jolting himself back into reality.
'Good,' he replied, meeting the eyes of a waiting medical officer behind the teenager.
The nurse understood the message in his eyes and gestured the teenager towards a medical tent, allowing him his personal space and refraining from making contact with the boy. Pike breathed out in relief – now to check up on a considerable number of children. He wouldn't have much trouble falling asleep tonight.
Pike crunched on an Apple. All of the kids he'd rescued, no – the kids that J.T had rescued were fast asleep and on the road to recovery. As he passed a medical tent, a heated argument grew in volume and he frowned, ducking inside to see if he could be of assistance. He blinked in surprise when he saw J.T lounging comfortably on a bed, glaring defiantly at a flustered looking nurse. The nurse looked up as Pike arrived inside the tent.
'Ah! Lieutenant!' the nurse exclaimed, relieved to see him, 'could you please inform this patient that he is required to provide me with his real name for legality purposes – not a pseudonym or nickname like J.T'.
Pike raised his eyebrow.
'What is your name, J.T?' he asked the resilient teenager.
'Why should I tell any of you?' he replied rudely, 'There's no way I'm letting Starfleet know who I am and I'd rather be assumed dead, anyway'.
Pike rolled his eyes.
'Why? Are you in trouble with Starfleet? Is that it?' he guessed.
J.T's face remained stubborn. Pike felt the ghost of a smile touch his face; he'd experienced the very same stubbornness in an old friend of him. He quickly released the fond memory as it soon brought sadness with it – George Kirk had been a dear friend.
'I already told you, I don't want Starfleet to know who I am and no, I'm not in any legal issues with Starfleet,' J.T replied stiffly.
'So what if Starfleet finds out who you are?' Pike replied, 'everything is kept confidential and we won't treat you any differently to the other children'.
'Because,' J.T glared fiercely, 'I hate Starfleet – you were supposed to be there! You were supposed to save us! All Starfleet ever does it cause death'.
Pike frowned.
'Everyone who has and is receiving medical attention has cooperated even though they were affected by Starfleet's tardiness to react – how did Starfleet effect you personally to make you hate us so much?' he interrogated.
J.T looked long and hard into Pike's eyes, seeming to search his soul for an emotional reaction.
'They killed him. They killed my father; I told you – all they ever cause is death,' he spat out bitterly.
Pike hesitated; he hadn't expected something so drastic. It was common knowledge that countless men and women lost their lives out in space but he'd never considered the effect it could have on the families of those who died. With a pang of sadness, he remembered his friend George Kirk. His son's and wife would be miserable of his death – even hate Starfleet as this teenager did. Then it hit him – the colour of J.T's eyes. They were so blue – the same unique colour of George Kirk's eyes. J.T's father had also died in space, could he be… the son of George Kirk? If he was, what was he doing here on this planet? Didn't anyone care for his life? He had to tread carefully here; he didn't want to mistakenly identify the teenager – that would be disastrous on so many levels.
'Ok, kid – you don't have to tell us your name if you don't want to'.
The nurse opened her mouth to protest but Pike shot her a look that silenced her instantly. J.T regarded Pike with interest, he seemed to approve. A simple nod confirmed his thoughts and Pike gave the kid a quick smile before ducking out of the tent.