Captain James Tiberius Kirk stood in the transporter room of the starship he commanded, the U.S.S Enterprise. The room was cold and seemingly empty, despite the fact that Captain Kirk's first officer Commander Spock stood in front of him in front of the transporter pads. While Lieutenant John Kyle manned the transporter controls.
"Spock, are you sure that you are okay in command?" Captain Kirk inquired towards Commander Spock. Knowing full well that Commander Spock was capable of such an assignment, he had the qualifications to be a Captain, and frankly, Kirk didn't expect him to be his first officer for too long. He deserved a command.
"Yes Captain, I am capable of commanding the Enterprise for the remainder of these two weeks." The Vulcan Commander Spock informed his Captain.
"Good, Commander, you have control of the Enterprise, Acting Captain." Ending his sentence with a smile to Commander Spock.
"Captain, please enjoy your shore leave." Spock tried hard to leave his Captain with a nice compliment.
"Yes Mr. Spock, I intend to." Captain Kirk said as the doors to the Transporter room opened up, and an officer wearing a bright red engineering uniform. That contrasted to Captain Kirk's dull yellow Command uniform, and Commander Spock's blue science uniform. But matched Lieutenant Kyle's engineering uniform that he wore.
At first Captain Kirk did not recognize who the officer was; it was December of 2265 and he hadn't been in command of the Enterprise for too long, and he was still trying to get to know all of his department heads. That's who this was, it was Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott, who was the Chief Engineer had entered the transporter room. Kirk felt bad for not recognizing him at first. Kirk liked Scotty, he was a fine officer, and an interesting man.
"Mr. Scott! How are you doing my friend?" Kirk said as he walked forward in front of Scotty, greeting him with an ear to ear grin, he was happy to see Scotty coming in the transporter room.
"Captain! Leaving so soon? You still have thirty minutes till' you need to be and K-7?" Commander Scott said, insinuating that he should be saying goodbye to everyone. The Enterprise was dropping Kirk off on Deep Space K-7, where he would then wait for a cargo ship and catch a ride to Earth to spend his two week shore leave.
"Yes, I was hoping to get there early, maybe talk to some old friends who are aboard the station." Captain Kirk explained his reasoning for leaving early to Commander Scott.
"Well come on Captain! Have a drink with me before you go!" Commander Scott pleaded to Captain Kirk, wanting to share a drink with his Captain.
"Scotty, I really can't." Captain Kirk was trying to reason with Scotty telling him that he really wanted to leave early, he had an old friend from the academy that was staying at Deep Space K-7 and he hadn't talked to her in years, he was anxious to. But, the cargo ship wasn't coming until the next morning, so he guessed he had time to share a drink with the happy go lucky Irishmen.
"Captain! Please, we can go to the rec room, have a drink, come back. Jim, it will be fifteen minutes!" Commander Scott told his captain, feeling nervous that he had addressed him by his first name, but it didn't seem to be affecting Captain Kirk, the smile on his face remained constant.
"Okay Scotty, let's go." Captain Kirk said to Scotty, watching his face light up. Kirk wondered if he wanted to kiss his ass, or if he genuinely wanted to be his friend, and share a drink. Kirk turned his head and looked back at Commander Spock, and spoke to him.
"Mr. Spock, would you care to join us?" Captain Kirk spoke to Spock, hoping he would come with them. Kirk had never seen Spock in the rec rooms. He never even saw him enjoying himself. It's always work aboard the Enterprise, reading, or doing some sort of Vulcan meditation. The meditation rituals interested Captain Kirk, though he never inquired to Mr. Spock about them.
Commander Spock, just raised his eyebrow interested in joining them in the rec room. To both of Captain Kirk, and Mr. Scott's surprise. It was a happy surprise though, Kirk wanted Spock to come with them and share a drink. Scotty turned around and walked out the door into the corridor, Kirk turned and followed him out of the door, Spock followed him in a neat single file line out of the transporter room doors, and into the corridor, on their way to the recreation room, to share a drink.
The three Starfleet officers, Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, and Commander Scott were walking in the corridor. They had been walking for several minutes in the same single file line that they left the transporter in. There had been no words exchanged, it was quite awkward for Kirk, he knew these men well, but they didn't like talking it seemed. Commander Spock was half-Vulcan and if you had ever spoken to a Vulcan, you understand why he isn't the best conversationalist. But on the same token he felt a true brotherly bond between the two. Commander Scott was very abrasive and sullen, he waited for you to engage in conversation. Kirk thought to himself, he didn't mean to hurt any feeling, he would never say this to their face. They were both good officers, and better men.
They came to the entrance to recreation room 1, and the door opened and the three men entered. Captain Kirk was nearly surprised out of his uniform, when he saw, all of his bridge crew and department head, and friends in the recreation room. They all looked the second the door opened.
"Surprise!" The group of bridge officers and department heads and dear friends of Captain Kirk screamed at the same time.
They had thrown him a surprise goodbye party, Captain Kirk was stunned that they would go out of there way like this and he was happy. He was wearing his almost patented ear to ear grin, today was a very happy day for him…
"What is this?" Captain Kirk asked everybody, as if he didn't know. Scotty walked to the head of the group and stood next to the chief medical officer Chief Medical Officer Lieutenant Commander Leonard McCoy, which was a dear friend of Kirk's.
"Damnit' Jim, you think we would let you go on your first shore leave, and not throw you a party?" McCoy screamed from the head of the crowd with a tall drink in his hand.
"Bones, all of you, you didn't have to." Captain Kirk showed modesty speaking to his crew. He was really quite excited that they all had cared enough to come.
"But I did it anyway, come let's get a drink." Bones said as he stepped forward and put his hand on Kirk's shoulder, he lead him over to the bar, where there was an eager Bolian bartender working there.
"Get this man some whiskey!" Bones screamed at the Bolian. Kirk had seldom seen Bones drinking and being so happy. Something stood out to Kirk, Spock was still standing by the entrance, with his hands behind his back looking not all that amused at the situation.
The Bolian man set a shot of Whiskey on the table in front of Captain Kirk. Kirk also noticed that this Bolian bartender wasn't a civilian, in fact he was an Ensign.
"Ensign..?" Captain Kirk asked the Bolian Ensign, which was wearing the Ensign insignia but was wearing a green and black plaid tunic, not a Starfleet uniform. Kirk was asking the Bolian his name, the man looked confused at first, but he understood after a second. Bones who was sitting next to Captain Kirk on the bar, as everybody else is mingling and talking among themselves, except for Commander Spock.
"Ensign Brel'al! Captain Kirk I presume?" Brel'al said to the captain of his starship very boldly. Kirk enjoyed the young ensign's enthusiasm, and gal to talk to his captain that casually. When you talk to most ensigns, being a captain, you make them petrified, and this was a nice surprise.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Brel'al." Captain Kirk said smiling at him, the blue skinned Bolian, who was exhibiting the same symptoms of happiness.
"No, no, no, captain! The pleasures all mine!" Brel'al responded laughing afterword's, putting both of his hands on the bar, and leaning on it.
Captain Kirk turned his head to the entrance where Commander Spock was. "Mr. Spock, come over here, and let my friend here Brel'al, making you something to drink."
"Captain, I do not wish, something to drink. I was not informed of this get together. I am not amused. All of you have duties, and at the moment you are neglecting them." Commander Spock said silencing the entire party as they all listened.
"Commander, lighten up!" Scotty shouted at Spock, already drunk like the true Irishmen he believed himself to be.
"Mr. Scott, I will not lighten up. There are duties to be performed, who is manning main engineering rite now, Mr. Scott?" Spock asked Scotty, trying to make an example that he should be on duty.
"We got people covering our positions, you pointy eared pessimistic bastard!" Bones screamed from next to Captain Kirk, laughing afterwards. Kirk laughed along with Bones, Spock remained un-amused.
"I will await your arrival to the transporter room, Captain." Spock said turning around and exiting the recreation room.
"Buzzkill." Bones mumbled from next to Captain Kirk, Kirk giggled. Knowing this was a party, and he permitted all of these men to be away from their posts, Mr. Spock knew that, if Captain Kirk didn't know better he would say that Spock was mad because he didn't have control of the officers. But, Kirk knew better, and he downed his whiskey.
He tapped hard on the bar, as if asking for another drink. Brel'al snapped the empty shot glass up with a smile and went to make another.
A Man walked up on the other side of Captain Kirk, he was standing, "Mr. Brel'al, a vodka please." The heavy European accent gave away that this man was Pavel Chekov. Who was one of Captain Kirk's most trusted members of his bridge crew.
"Mr. Chekov! So nice to see you." Captain Kirk said to Chekov, he gestured his hand telling Pavel Chekov to sit on the chair next to him. He did just that, and he began smiling.
"Captain! How are you enjoying the beginning of you shore leave? Spending it at the bar, eh!" Chekov said joking with his captain, trying to loosen him up, so they he could talk to him more like his friend than his commanding officer.
"You know it, Mr. Chekov!" Captain Kirk said smiling still. He didn't mean for his comment to sound as if he didn't want to talk to Pavel, because he very much so wanted to talk to him.
"How's that sprained elbow doing, Chekov?" Bones said to him, he had recently treated him for a broken elbow. Kirk noticed that Bones started laughing, and Chekov had an almost ashamed look on his face, Kirk thought it might be some sort of embarrassing story.
"How'd you break your arm, Mr. Chekov?" Captain Kirk asking, wanting to be let in on this joke.
"Sprained it actually. There was a small mistake it was nothing serious, yes it is better, there is no sense talking about it now." Chekov said trying to direct the conversation away from his previously sprained elbow.
"Chekov, the modest type, he got into a bar fight, messed with some people who were a little too big for him, eh Chekov!" Bones said messing with him, followed by a hardy chuckle. His officers got into a bar fight, and he wasn't informed. It must have been reported to Commander Spock, he didn't want to be a buzzkill so he went along with it.
"With all due respect doctor, he started it." The most obvious response for anybody that has ever been in a fight.
"Pavel, please, tell me you at least stood your ground?" Kirk said half kidding, he didn't seriously want his officers to fight for their pride, and everyone knew that.
"Well-"Chekov got cut off by Doctor McCoy who was laughing almost un-controllably.
"They practically threw you across the bar, like you were a ragdoll!" Kirk then started to laugh as the embarrassment on Chekov's face was becoming more and more apparent. He was being embarrassed in front of his captain, and Kirk knew what that was like.
"Well I wouldn't say that, Sulu was-"Chekov was cut off again, when another fellow bridge officer approached the three men, it was Sulu. He put his hand on Chekov's shoulder and started to speak.
"Quite honestly, they threw you across the bar, than went over, picked you up, and threw you back to the other side of the bar!" The mixture of Sulu's surprise entrance, and the joke he had made, made Kirk and Bones burst into laughter, even Chekov was snickering a bit at this point.
"Mr. Sulu, it's good to see you!" Captain Kirk said still laughing from what he had said, Sulu put his other hand on Kirk's shoulder with trepidation. He didn't want Kirk to think he didn't respect him, they were off duty, now they were just a bunch of guys drinking at the bar.
"You too Captain. I actually have bridge duty, I need to get to my post. I just wanted to wish you an enjoyable shore leave." Sulu said addressing his captain turning like he was about to walk away, he needed to leave soon, to get to the bridge.
"I actually have to get on the bridge as well." Chekov said, disappointed that he was going to have to leave the bar.
"Okay you two, I'll see you in a couple of weeks. Don't let Spock treat you too harshly." Kirk joked with the two bridge officers.
The two officers walked away, towards the exit to return to their posts on the bridge. Bones looked at Kirk, and was frowning. "Damnit Jim, I gotta' get to sickbay too."
Kirk nodded in understanding. "I'll see you in a couple of weeks Bones." Kirk said to his chief medical officer. Bones nodded at him, and gave him a wink and then he walked away.
Most of the people in the bar were clearing out, it was that time when first shift was coming on duty, and they all had to be at their positions. Kirk glanced to the other end of the bar, and Lieutenant Uhura, waved at him. Kirk returned the wave, in that wave was all the goodbyes and have a nice trips. Uhura knew he would understand. She exited the bar with Scotty who decided to scream.
"Enjoy your vacation Captain!" Scotty screamed waving and leaving the bar, not giving Kirk the chance to say goodbye.
He watched as Janice Rand, his yeoman, and all of the other officers cleared out of the room. Whether it was because they are on duty or because they noticed everyone was leaving, and they assumed the party was ending.
Captain Kirk looked up at Brel'al who was cleaning out the glasses that all of the people were drinking in, and he decided to tell him goodbye, he knew it was about time for him to be getting to the transporter room. The K-7 station was waiting for him.
"Brel'al, I really got to get going. Thank you for the drinks, as well as they excellent service, I will talk to you is a couple of weeks my friends." Kirk said and he stood up from his stool and looked at Brel'al.
"See yeah captain! Enjoy yourself!" Brel'al said smiling continuing to clean the glasses he was cleaning. Kirk turned around and walked to the exit of the bar. He walked into the corridor and started thinking about his lady friend on K-7. He would wine and dine her before, he had to leave, he wanted to give her everything, she was a fine officer, and maybe he could put in for her to be transferred to the Enterprise. Captain Kirk thought if it would be immoral if he was too have someone transferred to his ship, because they are romantically involved. He would have to check the Starfleet officers' handbook.
Captain Kirk entered the Transporter room, when he did so, he saw Lieutenant Kyle, and Commander Spock, both standing at the transporter control station.
"Captain, we are ready to beam you aboard the Deep Space K-7 station." Commander Spock said. Kirk thought he was mad at him, but he couldn't be, he was just a Vulcan.
Kirk walked closer to Spock, so that they were staring at each other. "Spock, go easy on my crew."
Spock just stared at him for a few moments and gave him a small nod, saying that he understood and he wouldn't ride them to hard. Kyle looked up at Kirk and started smiling.
"Enjoy your shore leave captain."
"I will lieutenant, don't work too hard now." Captain Kirk joked with the lieutenant. Kirk moved and stepped on the transporter pad, and he looked at Spock, and smiled. Spock of course didn't return the smile, and Kirk wasn't surprised. He knew Spock, he tried as hard as he could to be emotionless.
"Captain, we will be sure to have all of the reports for you upon your return." Spock said to him, trying to be nice, but it was barely noticeable. Kirk knew that he meant well, he knew he didn't know that would put him straight back to work when he returned. So he didn't mention it.
"Thank you Spock, I eagerly await them." Kirk said sarcastically and he doubted that Spock picked it up. Kyle started to energize the transporter.
"Wait." Kirk ordered Lieutenant Kyle not to bema him over just yet.
"Commander…"
"Yes Captain?"
"Treat her well, will you?"
Kirk expected a response but instead he saw Spock give him a nod. "Energize Lieutenant." Commander Spock ordered Kyle to beam Kirk away. Kirk never moved his eyes from the eyes of Spock, he knew he would treat her, well, he didn't understand why this felt like a goodbye forever. In two weeks he would be back behind the wheel of this starship.
Kirk starred at Spock until he could not see him anymore, and he was being re-materializing, on the Deep space K-7 station.