Title: Family
Time Setting: At the end of Star Trek IV.
Codes: Kirk, McCoy and the rest of the original crew.
Summary: The crew contemplates their fate prior to the Court Martial.
Disclaimer: Star Trek and characters are Paramount's property, I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. Any original characters, situations, and story are the property of the
author.
Copyright 2005
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Chapter 2
The next morning, the crew was escorted to a conference room by security to wait for their interviews. Bones noted everyone, but Jim, alternated from nervously pacing too impatiently sitting. Jim sat away from the others and refused to talk. Bones' long experience with his friend told him this was not his normal behavior. In fact, the easy way he agreed to these interviews was not his usual attitude. After years of dragging him into a sickbay for physicals, Bones knew Jim would never normally agree to an interview with Starfleet Medical so easily. Bones sat next to Jim and said, "Tell me, why did you agree to this interview?"
"Bones, why don't you just drop it." Jim was not in the mood to discuss anything with anyone.
Bones knew Jim well enough to detect signs of depression. They had all been through a lot, especially Jim, and with very little time to adjust to each new trauma. "Jim, you can't just give up, you have to fight for your life, your career. Being a starship captain and exploring the universe has been your life's dream."
"My life, that is a joke. I have no life, no family and now no career." With the latest crisis over, Jim could not stop thinking about the loss of his son, David. What did a man ultimately have without a family?
To Bones it was obvious Jim was thinking about David. McCoy knew there are few words to console a parent when a child died no matter the age, but Jim had the added grief of never truly knowing his son. "Jim . . . there isn't much I can say about the loss of David except I'm truly sorry. I can only imagine my feelings if Joanna were to die. But, David is not your only family. You have a family. They are the people right here in this room and Spock of course. We have served together for more than twenty years through the good times and the bad times. This is one of the bad times and if you let us help, we will get through this together. Just think about that for a while." Bones moved away and left Jim to mull over his words.
At that moment, an aide for Admiral Webber came in carrying a data pad. "Gentlemen and Ma'am, the Admiral is ready to get started." He checked his pad and said, "Dr. McCoy, the Admiral would like to interview you first. This way, please."
Bones gave his companions an encouraging smile and followed the young man into the next room as he tried to remember why he had agreed to the interview. Five individuals sat at a table which resembled more a court martial set up than a medical consultation. In the center of the table was Admiral Derrick Webber the head of the Psychiatric branch of Starfleet Medical. On his right side was Admiral Marc Stevens assistant to the head of Starfleet Medical and Captain Philip Edwards who had many years of shipboard experience. And, on the left was Captain Steven Lewis who also had shipboard experience. The panel was rounded out by Admiral T'San, the only Vulcan Admiral in the medical branch of Starfleet with degrees in Vulcan and human medicine, deep space medicine and psychiatric medicine. McCoy was surprised to see Admiral T'San included. He wondered if a couple of tricky Vulcans of his acquaintance had something to do with his inclusion. Bones was glad to see Lewis and Edwards as they had served on starships for more than six months. The minimum requirement for a Starfleet Medical Officer was six months of service on a starship and Bones had a theory that most Starfleet Medical Officers who made Admiral had only met the minimum requirement of service.
"Dr. McCoy, thank you for participating in these interviews. We are interested in your thoughts and professional opinion in making the decision to head to the planet Genesis." Admiral Webber didn't waste any time in coming to the point, and neither did Bones.
"I was a little confused at the time with that whole Vulcan katra in my head thing."
Captain Lewis interrupted to ask, "Dr. McCoy, we do not fully understand this business with the katra. Do I understand correctly? You supposedly carried the soul of Captain Spock?"
"Not supposedly, Spock placed his katra into me prior to his death. Gentlemen, do we really have to go through all that again? I know you have access to the entire report and I am sure Admiral T'San can fill in the details if he chooses." Bones looked at T'San but his face was impassive in the best Vulcan tradition. Bones shrugged and continued, "What you need to understand is I had no choice but to go to Genesis. Spock's katra compelled me, no, demanded I return to Genesis."
Admiral Stevens jumped in, "What compelled Admiral Kirk and the rest of the crew to go with you to Genesis?"
"You will have to ask each of them, as I understand you plan to do today."
"Dr. McCoy, your expertise in evaluating and maintaining the mental health of your crew is well known. In your medical opinion, why did the Admiral and the crew return to Genesis?" Captain Edwards asked.
"Have any of you spent an extended tour on a starship?" His question was mainly for Admiral Webber and his stare was for Webber only.
Admiral Webber interrupted, "We'll ask the questions, Doctor."
"I thought not. First, you need to understand the dynamics of a starship crew, especially the ships and crews of more than twenty years ago. We are talking about more than 400 men and women on a starship often totally bored with routine tasks and many times in danger of total destruction."
Admiral Webber was becoming frustrated, "What does this have to do with our question of why the six of you went to Genesis?"
Admiral T'San interrupted, "Admiral, you asked Dr. McCoy to explain and I would like to hear his explanation." Admiral Webber waved his hand indicating Bones should proceed.
Bones nodded a thank you to Admiral T'San, "To get back to these crews. We were often weeks away from contact with Starfleet. The captain had to be diplomat, policeman, judge, and sometimes jury to the crew and the planets we visited. All of these duties were placed squarely on the shoulders of a young man barely into his thirties. His first officer not much older, myself elderly in comparison as I was ten years older. The majority of the bridge crew, Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu were in their twenties. Did you know the average age of the crew during that first tour was twenty-nine years old?" Bones did not even pause to let them answer. "We only had fifteen individuals who were forty years old or older, one hundred crew persons were in their thirties and the rest were in their twenties. These young people faced unknown situations and looked to one man to pull their butts out of the fire. And that man, Captain James T. Kirk, saved his crew numerous times. He brought his crew and ship home when many others had been destroyed."
Admiral Webber was getting irritated as he felt he was not getting the answers he wanted. "Doctor, I understand the dynamics of starships but you still have not answered our questions."
"No, Admiral, I don't think you do understand. Jim Kirk made an impression on his crew. More often than not, Admiral Kirk led the away missions as he was unwilling to place his crew into dangerous situations. His crew knew he was trying to protect them. And, Jim Kirk felt every death under his command. We all saw how hard he took the deaths. The Admiral would do anything to protect his crew and they would do anything for him. And as time passed, we began to function more as a family. We had very few chances to see our own families and shore leave occurred on whatever planet or space station we happened to stop at. Human beings have a need for family and in the absence of our real family we will form family units with our friends and companions. Over the last twenty-two years we six, and Spock, have served together probably eighteen to twenty of those years, and when it was time for shore leave we took it together. Through chance, Starfleet brought together a group of people who developed a strong connection to each other."
Admiral T'San leaned forward as he asked, "Are you saying this crew's loyalty is to James Kirk rather than to Starfleet."
"Dammit, we are the most loyal officers Starfleet has, but sometimes when your family is hurting they take precedence." Bones was trying to control his temper but he did no anticipate Starfleet allowing them to keep their commissions.
"Interesting," was the only comment T'San made before leaning back in his chair.
"Calm down, doctor," Admiral Webber glanced at the panel of officers as he said, "I believe this interview is finished unless anyone has any other questions. All of the officers shook their heads indicating they did not have any other inquiries. "Very good, Doctor you may be excused. Lieutenant Spears" Webber looked at his list and said, "Escort Dr. McCoy to the waiting room and send in Commander Uhura."
Bones was furious at being dismissed so quickly, "Calm down, you say. What is your agenda? What are you really trying to do with these interviews? Because, if it is to put the blame squarely on Jim Kirk's shoulders, you are all wrong."
"Lieutenant Spears, escort the Doctor to the waiting room." Webber glared at McCoy and it was apparent his interview was over. Bones glared at Webber but finally left the room and began to seriously wonder about the real purpose of these interviews.
Uhura passed Bones and he whispered, "Watch yourself, I'm not sure what they're up to." Nyota nodded her head and followed the ensign through the door. Bones surveyed the room and noticed Jim had not moved from the chair he occupied earlier. Bones moved across the room and pulled a chair next to Kirk and had a seat. He noticed the others casually moving as far away as possible to give them some privacy.
They sat in silence until Bones asked, "Aren't you going to ask me how it went?"
"Nope," Jim sat staring at the floor. He refused to look at McCoy and continued to go over the events leading to the death of his son. He was sure if he had done something different his son would still be alive. The picture of David, on the ground with a gaping knife wound and blood everywhere, would not go away.
"Well, you had better be interested. I think they are looking at putting us away, for good. I just haven't decided whether it is a penal colony or a rehab facility."
"Contact Dr. Cory, maybe he can save me a room next to Captain Garth," Kirk said without emotion or looking up.
Jim's attitude not only concerned Bones. It was making him mad. Knowing an angry tirade wouldn't help Jim, McCoy controlled himself. "That's not very damn funny! If you don't start fighting for your life and career, you just might wind up next to Captain Garth. I don't think you really want that to happen. Do you? Jim?" The captain refused to look at McCoy or talk to him. Bones sighed but chose to keep Jim company. He leaned back in his chair and went over his interview looking for more clues to what Admiral Webber's motives were with these interviews.
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