Chapter 25 it's a small world after all.

"He's been asleep for 15 minutes-

Gala's voice.

"He's not asleep he's in a trance similar to the tow-cath. So are they. They are probably helping him with the chaos. He told you there would be backlash, catch up from the broken bond links or psionic screams. Grief and other ambient emotions. Plus, what's going on with the planet. He will be supersensitive to that… No, I am not going to explain that he can. There's also his worry for Spock. Which I'm sure the Elders are trying to help with if you will just chill out and wait!"

Dr. M Banga's voice. "Dr. McCoy, maybe we should listen to her. The captain did say that going to sick bay wouldn't do any good and he doesn't want people to know— "

"Well, he's an idiot! He can't keep this secret forever. Obviously, he can't use that chip not to mention the fact that according to his two subjects. It almost got him killed; because it made me think he needed treatment, that he didn't need! Which is exactly why you cannot hide this type of shit forever. I don't know why he's so insistent on hiding it. Starfleet's not going to kick out Captain James T Kirk Savior of earth and God knows what else. For just having a little bit of psychic ability. We have plenty of Telepath and Empaths and other psychic individuals as members of the Federation!" McCoy Roared.

This time it's Sulu's voice.

You can't tell anyone. Dr. because the Captain took a blood vow that none of us would reveal anything. Do you remember that part? Also, don't you think that we should have all of the information which we do not have. Maybe once the captain wakes up now that this chip or whatever is removed, it will be easier for him to explain. Even if you didn't give your word and Jim vouched for you. I would think that you would respect Jim enough to honor his wishes. He specifically stated no one can find out about this. I'm sure he has his reasons."

"He promised the Vulcans not to talk about their supersecret mystic shit and that none of us would talk about that. I'm not talking about supersecret mystic Vulcan shit. I'm the CMO. I'm responsible for the health of the captain of this ship. And his mental stability! How do we know he's mentally capable of being captain? How do you know it's even truly him? And not, not some…" McCoy trailed off as he looked around seeing the shock on everyone's faces.

McCoy's head snapped around. At the sound of a soft voice sliced through the shocked silence of the room.

"I guess I was hoping that the people I considered family. Would be able to know what kind of person I am and believe that even though I was turned into some sort of mutant as some part of a science experiment turned, telepathic paranoia. None of that was my choosing. So, I was kinda hoping that psychic freak or not my family would know I would do everything in my power, including give my life to keep them safe."

Accepting Selek's hand. Jim stood up. Coming to stand in front of Bones. He starts to reach and slap McCoy shoulder as he's done hundreds of times. This time though he pulls his hand back clasping his hands behind his back. At the wrist. The way Spock does. And takes a step back. Seeing this McCoy flinches.

"Oh… Jim no, I- "McCoy starts.

Jim just shakes his head.

"No bones… No… Don't say you didn't mean it. Because we both know you did. I know why you feel that way. I know why…

I've always known why you don't trust Vulcans."

Kirk takes a deep breath.

"I was really hoping that with all of us on the enterprise.…

I told you once years ago that things were always more than they seemed. Just because an authority figure tells you something doesn't make it so. Or it might be so, but not the whole truth. Like possibly people locked up in isolation wards supposedly undergoing treatments for damage caused by psychic coercion; might truly be failed attempts to create the perfect psi-ops super soldier. So, they could be used to manipulate Allied telepathic friends. For certain powerful people's personal gain. Disguised as treatment for abuse. Or behavioral disorder… I don't blame you for taking my advice and finding another job. You wouldn't have wanted to be there two weeks later. Although I really wish you hadn't mentioned our conversation." Jim shrugged.

"It's probably a good thing you did. Because if not, they probably wouldn't have sped up the timetable. I don't know what would've happened to lady Amanda I know Tiggy would've probably died. So, there is that. Not to mention small cat. Anyway, I'll sign your transfer papers. When this shit on new Vulcan is taken care of. I need your help. Or rather, they need your help. They're not guilty of anything except being pacifists; and through Sarek and T pau a thorn in that ass hole, Komack's side. I told the Vulcan high council that you were the best. Dr. that if anybody could find some sort of medical remedy or way to help. It would be you. That you would respect their wishes that healing and helping was the most important to you… I believed that, with all that I am. Literally having sworn on Spock's life as well as my own, on the honor of my friend. I know you're angry with me. You think I don't trust you. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have effectively put my life in your hands. More importantly my soul. Whether you believe or not. I have trusted you. The way I have only trusted one other being in existence."

Kirk hated how his voice hitched on the last word. He let his eyes flick around the room. No one said anything and he couldn't quite read the looks on Scotty, Sulu or Chekhov's face. They weren't looking at him, though they were looking at McCoy.

McCoy hadn't said anything.

"You should know by the time the presentation I'm about to start is over. Documentation will already be filed making Dr. Jeffrey M. Banga, who technically through some legal loops that I'm not even too sure about. I'm sure ambassador while one of the ambassadors could explain into Jeffrey will be on record as my physician and as I am a Vulcan citizen, and he is a Vulcan Dr. he will be under no requirement to divulge my medical history.

If you were to do so. It would be violating Vulcan law and several other laws. You heeded my advice. Once I suggest you do so again. For the record those people. They weren't the victims of Vulcan mind meld's or whatever you were told they were forcibly taken from Tiggy's universe some Vulcan some humans some Orion different species they were taken and experimented on. The doctor in question thought he was helping the Vulcan people… Someone he cared about had been exposed to something not of this world don't know how I don't know the details she was. He named it her Bane… It was part of some it's complicated in Tiggy's is universe. It's known as the Fever of Burning Bells. No, I don't know why. However, it was discovered in some it enhances certain abilities in others it causes mass hysteria for humans or at least that's what they said I really it was hard to know being stuck in cell and then on the run in the woods. It never really mattered. The details of time. Anyway…"

Kirk looks over see that Gayla has anticipated what he had in mind.

Without another word to McCoy. He turned his back and walked to the table where Gayla had set up another one of the gifts Tiggy had sent with him. At the time, Jim hadn't understood why Tiggy had insisted on such a thing. He thought it was just another unnecessary risk, but now he's glad that he listened. Not that he would let his lordship know that.

He glances around the room seeing the solemn faces. The Vulcans have all sort of moved together around Spock on the lounger. He spares a look at Spock. While he's aware of McCoy taking his seat on the other side.

"Jim…"

Jim just shakes his head. Not taking his eyes off Spock. For a few more seconds. "This is not how I intended any of this… Not even when I decided upon finding Riley in Gayla in my room that I was going to have to reveal of this. I never intended for Spock to be… Christ. k'diwa …" Taking a deep breath. He meets each one of the gazes. Around the table. "I am sorry that this meeting has been such a cluster-fuck. Hopefully we can get back on track. What it boils down to is this. There is an insidious I can't say man-made I can say disease that mimics something inherent to the Vulcan race its original purposes. Some say were for procreation enhancement because it's a desert planet and back in the day birthrates were low and Mortality rates were high. The things were harsh. I don't know, I'm not a doctor nor, am I a historian. Some say it was enhanced as part of some sort of chemical warfare between clans, due to the distraction and chaos. It can cause the unmated and/or unclaimed males and females alike. We have talked at length as to whether or not the side effects on certain out-worlder's was intentional or just a happy coincidence to add to the chaos factor. At least in Tiggy's universe, which is a version of this universe, whereas you've heard me say before this Saurekian and movement was not really accepted, so there was no offshoot Romulans who were expelled from Vulcan because they didn't want to adhere to logic. Strangely enough, there is technology extremely advanced technology Tiggy, and I debated theories on that; but we won't get into that right now. Speaking of extremely advanced technology." Kirk says. Looking at the device that Gayla had laid out on the table in front of the captain's customary chair.

Kirk has to smile.

When Scott breaks the silence.

"Begging your pardon, Captain, but what's that contraption the wee Lassie is laid out?"

Kirk opens his mouth to answer. When Gala holds up a shimmering bag for him to see. He stares at it for a long minute, taking in everyone's faces again. Staring a little longer at Nyota and then longer still it Bones. Then with a shrug. He nods at, Gala. She starts to go around the table with her hand in the bag, but he says. "No, I don't want anybody to feel pressured to put them in the middle. Will explain what they do. If they choose to take one. The be no question that it's their choice and no reason for anybody to feel bad if they choose not to." Again. His gaze flicks to Bones.

Bones sets his jaw.

Gayla nods and sets the bag in the middle of the table, folding the sides down so that everyone can see that inside the shimmering bag were opalescent crystals shaped like an egg that seemed to shimmer. Then she reaches into the case one last time drawing out a cylindrical crystal with a pointed end.

Walking over to Kirk's chair. She takes a knee and holds up the crystal that is completely clear and catching the light. Kirk pulls on what appears to be some sort of gloves that are made from the same shimmering material or so it looks like. So thin you can still see his hands. Then he takes a piece of material that once he gets it placed on his face. It covers his face from the side of his four head just before his ear down to his chin reminiscent of an old opera mask. Only this too is the same sheer almost pearlescent fabric that look. Similarly, to the egg-shaped crystals. The mask is just behind the ear. And it takes on a luminescence along with the gloves. The luminescence seems to match that which is coming out of the contraption as Scotty called it. Hearing the shuffling. He finally remembers that Scotty had asked the question.

"My apologies." Mr. Scott. I was trying to think of how best to answer your question. "This wee contraption as you call it." Kirk says with a smile. Glad to see some of the expressions around the table lighten up.

"Was a gift from Tiggy. It is, it's called a thought viewer. Although I've always thought of it more as a thought broadcaster. You know some telepathic species such as the Vulcans can mentally join with one another and see each other's thoughts feel each other's feelings.?"

"Yeah…" McCoy says. His tone was almost neutral. "This is not me trying to be a xenophobic ass Jim… But that type of thing just seems invasive… Having someone in your head, seeing everything… I just…-

"Jim looks at McCoy sadly. He starts to reach out. But stops. McCoy sees this and makes a sound.

"God dammit, Jim. I didn't mean for- McCoy goes to reach forward but Jim pulls back. Shaking his head. He sees the hurt flash through McCoy's eyes. He pulls off one of the gloves. Shaking his head. "Bones! I'm not angry with you… You're entitled to feel how you feel. You're my friend. I can't be angry with you for feeling the way you do. I can't say that I feel the same because obviously, with me being a mutant—

"Stop fucking, saying that you infant." McCoy growled.

Kirk shrugged. "I've never felt uncomfortable around telepathic races. Maybe it's because I was meant to be made into one. Maybe it's because even when I was seven before I was enhanced the only person that ever truly give a damn about me one person to people whatever other than you later on the two people in my life who've ever really and truly believed in me were both the same person but powerful telepaths. I don't know, maybe that's why I'm so comfortable. In other people, especially humans who are practically mostly psi-null."

Kirk shrugged. "I'm not mad at you… As you stated, you find psi abilities disturbing. The majority of psi capable species have a standard of conduct. The one which I was trained by has laws. It is considered the height of rudeness to read people in any way without their permission. It's why Vulcans don't touch people. Before any of you think about it. I was touchy-feely because I had the chip. Part of masking my abilities from medical scans and Tri-quarter and whatnot had the unfortunate or fortunate depending on how you look at it. Side effect of disabling some of my abilities. Without the chip I can read emotions through touch just like the Vulcans and strong thoughts as well. Just like the Vulcans. If I'm not properly shielded. Now if I'm shielding. Just like Mr. Spock. I can't read thoughts or emotions or anything else. Unless they are extremely strong. It's why didn't touch you earlier when I started to, because that would be. The exact type of violation that you're afraid of. I won't… Ever do that, not on purpose, not ever. I've gotten out of practice at shielding all the time. Chip made me lazy. I'll do my best. Though I definitely cannot touch you with this on."

Kirk waived the glove he had removed. This is an enhancer it works to enhance abilities. Technically, I don't need them to work with the machine. It just makes it easier makes the information thoughts whatever I'm sending to the viewer much clearer the gloves and mask are mainly for people of lower's psi-ability to be able to use the machine. There are a few races out there that communicate solely through thoughts. It becomes hard for a primarily psi-null person to communicate with someone like that. For instance, if you have someone who communicates completely through thought, but all the other person can pick up is the emotion and/or nothing at all or only half of it. It can be very frustrating."

For the first time Nyota actually looks something other than pissed off. She actually looks curious, and she asks.

"So?

It's a type of psychic translator or psionic translator a communication device?"

"That was one of the uses it was designed for yes. It's actually from a race of beings. Who's name. I won't be telling you yet as we have not technically discovered the planet and I'm not going to know exactly how that's going to go. I do know that in ambassador Spock's universe the planet was given general order seven which in his universe came to be known as off-limits. Upon penalty of death because the race who designed or helped design this particular device are extremely telepathic sort of illusionists. who had in the ambassador's Spocks universe retreated so far into their mental capabilities. They lost the physical and were dying out as a race due to their inability to procreate. Therefore, they were desperate for assistance with that, the way they went about it in, ambassadors box universe was considered less than diplomatic by that universe first contact that happened to be Christopher Pike and his first officer number one and his science officer Spock. However, things in Tiggy's universe went a little differently so we have use of this thought viewing machine that was indeed created by this race of people as their way of communicating with psi-null species. I should probably state that they considered Vulcans to be one of these. That's how telepathically advanced they are."

Jim shakes his head. "You people keep getting me distracted. We're not here to talk about them."

Jim goes to put the glove back on. However, McCoy stops him by grabbing his hand.

"Dammit! Bones. If you don't want me to—

Kirk stops midsentence. As he feels McCoy's grip tightened even further when he tries to pull away. He'd laugh at the look on McCoy's face. If it wasn't so touching that he was trying.

*"Is this working… Hello you idjot can you hear me?"

It was all Kirk could do not to wince… He noticed similar reactions from Elder Spock T'pau and Sarek. Although Elder Spock's lips were twitching.

"Yes. Bones I can hear you don't have to try so hard. I can guarantee you that every Vulcan in the room heard you. You Only have to think something you want me to know if you are touching my skin. The only time you would have to try that hard, is if I was actually actively shielding, which I wasn't because I didn't know you're going to that, or if we weren't touching. Then you have to do something similar. We can work on that later if you want to."*

Kirk was so happy that McCoy had made the effort. He sent along a little of the appreciation and happiness. He felt with his words and couldn't quite keep the grin and chuckle to himself. As it first McCoy startled and then a look of wonder crossed his face. Jim caught the briefest flash of that and looped back his appreciation, gratitude and affection for their friendship. Then Jim let go of his hand and just watch as McCoy stared at his hand and then back at Jim and his grin got bigger. Jim was just pulling the glove back on. When he saw the moment of realization on McCoy's face.

Before he can think of something to say it was Sulu who asked.

"I take it from the constipated and then happy look on the doctor's face. That was him attempting to say something to you and whatever was said means you will have kissed and made up?"

"Yeah, at least I hope we have." McCoy said looking at Jim. Who just shrugged. "It's like I said. Bones I was never mad at you. I even understand why you were upset... It's not like I wanted to keep things from you. It was just—

"safer… And easier than somebody going berserk on you in a paranoid rant. Instead of listening. Bones says. In a self-deprecating tone. You tried to tell me the truth… Once before. I didn't take you seriously then." McCoy's eyes got suddenly big. "Oh God!—

Jim held up a hand. I know where you're going. Bones. I won't lie to you because I promised I wouldn't lie anymore, and you'll know anyway. He tapped the machine. It wasn't pleasant but like I said before, if not for my so-called "punishment" from Commack, I wouldn't have Savik like I said in Tiggy would most likely be dead. It's over and done with.

Commack bones growls.

"It would appear that man commits nefarious deeds in any universe. Selek says.

"What does any of this have to do with Adm. Commack?" Nyota Asks

McCoy starts to reply, but Jim gives him a look. Shaking his head minutely.

"Adm. James Commack. Is Nyota Urhura's, uncle. —

"What the Fuck Jim? And your including her in this here? She hates you. Now we know why.

"It doesn't matter Nyota is a good person; and she cares about. Spock like I said. I already figured out from earlier that good old uncle Commack has been talking out of school. Did you not catch where she said something about pheromones? There's only one way she could know that it was one of the things they altered. No, I don't go around influencing people with pheromones like she insisted, but I do have the capability, now if I don't remain sexually active enough. then pheromones starts seeping out unconsciously, it's this need for touch and release that probably earned me the title the galaxies biggest man-whore when that's really not my thing. But neither is being mobbed by people who are only attracted to a chemical response engineered by an asshole. He thought it might be a handy trick for his spies. You know like they used to say about old earth times. That wars were won or lost in the beds of kings and queens? Personally, I hate it, I …. How do you know if somebody really wants to be your friend? As far as Nyota. I have a sneaking suspicion that she is going to be pissed and will be totally on our side. If we find out what I suspect to be true. That uncle James has had his lovely niece tinkered with it as well. "This is going to come off sounding egotistical and narcissistic. To quote Nyota, but she didn't know I was in the bar, and it was almost as if she was actively repulsed instead of intrigued granted different people are affected more so than others as you have seen and taken advantage of… However, from the start, she was actively hostile. It was her hostility that provoked cupcake to feel the need to assert his inner caveman. And then there's the little things like the fact that she can speak Vulcan perfectly and I don't mean perfectly as a human I mean perfectly. I can too. once again, another perk, so to speak. However, The Lady Amanda lived on Vulcan spoke the language every day. She was a linguistics expert, and she still couldn't pull off some of the pronunciations. As flawlessly as Nyota, and when I choose to myself. The Lady Amanda was talented; but talented for a human that hasn't been enhanced. The human throat without enhancement… Is just physically incapable of reproducing certain syllabic combinations with complete accuracy and some not at all. Yet Nyota's flawless when she speaks Vulcanoid languages. There's also the fact that sometimes her demeanor seems incongruous. It's like a switch flips I observed her in the bar. She was a party girl, knocking back enough liquor to put six grown men on their asses. But when she's near Spock… I'm not trying to sound paranoid and jealous… Selek as mentioned it before. He's known most of us in the alternate universe as well; and we all pretty much have the same demeanor his Jim was the impulsive and look before you leap type just like me. He said that talking to you is a lot similar, almost every person from the other universe whose doppelgänger he's met is similar personality wise, with only slight changes here and there, depending on certain factors. However, he has always been greatly disturbed by the radical differences when it comes to the Lieut. Urhura. He's even went so far as describing it as not even being near the same person. That if we weren't sure she was supposed to be, Lieut. Urhura. He wouldn't believe it was her. That got me thinking I could be wrong but what if I'm not what if Commack wanted to get close to the power of one of the founding members of the Federation?

Jim watched McCoy's eyes widened as he listened, they have to work on him developing a better "poker face" if they did this very often.

"Sorry bones, I didn't mean to intrude I will not make a habit of this. I just think it better for Nyota to see what I have to show everyone before we speak to directly negative about him Commack. Else she might Automatically shut out all possibilities."

Instead of trying answer McCoy infinitesimally nodded his head.

The whole exchange happened in just a few seconds. Jim knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help but thinking how convenient it would be if he could communicate like this when needed with his command crew or even just McCoy. But he knew not to get his hopes up.

Jim holds up a hand. "We know that the Admiralty, especially Commack has a hate on for James T Kirk. Aside from the Kobayashi Maru. Which I said before and I'll say again. I do not consider a cheat. I consider thinking outside the box. I have never cheated in the class or on a test. I've not needed to. We can save that for a later time. —