Unfinished Business
Chapter 60 : The Time Has Come
June 2280
The day had finally arrived. He packed the final bag and tugged his uniform shirt back into place, lifting the strap over his shoulder and turning to survey the bare rooms about him for the last time. He supposed Spock might move in here if he wanted, although the room was no larger than the one he already had. He knew Spock was still not happy about becoming the captain, but there had been no other he would have left the ship with. And he had finally gotten that across. Spock would do well, he had no doubt of it. He sighed once, and then straightened up, and walked out the door and down the corridor to the transporter room. Scotty was there, behind the console, ready to transport him to the Yorktown. And Spock stood beside him, ready to assume command, his hands clasped behind him in his normal pose.
He had not wanted any fanfare. He had been very explicit about that. There had been the party last night, and that was enough. He stepped up onto the transporter deck, finding his way to one of the lit discs, and stood there, as ready as he would ever be.
Spock took two steps forward. "I relieve you."
"I am relieved." It was done. He was no longer the captain of the Enterprise. He nodded his head at Scotty, and felt the familiar swirling tingles start. And when they stopped, he was on the Yorktown, and headed to Earth. Next stop, StarFleet Command Headquarters in San Francisco.
/
Spock stood staring at the empty transporter deck. It would not be the same without his friend there to speak to every day. Although he had spent much time extracting Jim Kirk from problems of his own making, still, he had counted him as one of his few good friends, and he would miss his presence. It was not until Scotty muttered that the ship would never be the same again that he turned, and nodded, agreeing, before heading back to the bridge.
He seated himself in the command chair, not looking to the science station, now manned by someone else. He had agreed to accept this position, knowing that it was what Kirk wanted, that the other man would have been very hurt if he had refused. It was still not what he wanted, but he would fulfill his duties in his normal, efficient manner. He did regret that he could not simply turn his head and observe Nyota now. She was behind him, and he would have to swivel his chair about to observe her, very obviously. He suppressed a sigh. He had given up much, and he was not sure that he had actually received anything in return. The change in rank did not impress him at all.
But he could feel Nyota's warm presence, there in the back of his mind, soothing, comforting, and he composed himself, and gave his first orders as captain, sending them off into the black of space in pursuit of their next adventure. Kaiidth.
/
Kaiidth = what is, is.
This is the last chapter of this story. The sequel "In Command" will begin tomorrow.