Jim wasn't really surprised. Everyone else had turned against him in his life – his father, his mother, Frank, Sam, Kodos – why not Tom? It only made sense. So there was no point getting too wrapped up in it. Instead, he focused on the faces of his friends – the ones who weren't going to betray him, as far as he knew, and felt the guilt rising to the surface. If he hadn't been so stupid, none of this would have happened. He could have come in more prepared. Hadn't he learned from his past? You should always expect the worst. His time with Starfleet had made him forget that somewhat, and he cursed himself for being so weak.

Now, he just had to say the word. Tom wasn't giving him a choice, though maybe he thought he was. What was a choice between thousands of lives and his own? He already knew what he was going to say – he just didn't know how to say it.

His thoughts were interrupted by another blow to his ribcage, and he leaned forward, groaning, blood dripping from between his teeth.

"Give me an answer!" Leighton yelled in his ear. Jim turned to him with the worst glare that he could muster.

"Fuck you," he snarled, and spat blood into Tom's face.

Leighton's face twisted, and he flipped open the communicator. "Wait!" Jim said.

Bones was fighting against his captor again. "Jim, no! Don't do this!"

Jim turned to face his friend, resigned, and tried to make his face as expressionless as possible. "I'm sorry."

Now it was Spock who called out to him. "Jim, you cannot. Stop this!"

He bowed his head. "If there's a chance, I have to do this," he replied softly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the others being taken back to the truck. He didn't look up; fearing that one look in their eyes would make him back down on his decision. As it was, their voices were close enough to tearing down his conviction.

Tom, the little shit that he was, gave a smirk and revealed the remote that would set off the bombs.

"You know, it's almost too bad you're injured. We'll have to fix that soon," Tom said to him, leaning down to put a hand on his shoulder. Jim flinched away, giving him a hard glare, and his ex-friend put his hand back down, nodding. "I think Kodos would be proud of your decision, Jimmy."

Jim groaned. "Why, Tom? Why are you doing this? What do you want?"

"Of all of the time that I've known you, you were in the spotlight. Even though we were both on Tarsus, you were the one that Kodos wanted. You're no smarter than me – just lucky. Always lucky." His lips pressed together, a dark look passing over his face. "Now we're in the same position. You're captain, and I work in maintenance. You didn't even think me good enough for engineering, despite our time together!" He growled. "You could have said something – back when Kodos was in charge of our fate, and now, when Starfleet is. Then I could be the lucky one, and you could be off the hook, just like you always wanted. Why couldn't I be as lucky as you?"

Jim couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Lucky?" He said, his voice harsh and incredulous, yet he didn't yell. "You think I'm lucky? How? Tell me how! My father, despite everyone who thinks otherwise, was too dumb to find a way to live. My mother left me alone, never saw me, and instead left me with Frank. Then Kodos, who supposedly "chose me," tortured me for months. When I finally think I have my life right, Nero shows up and kills my friends. Then I die, and I come back before having to face your fucking ass. If you think I'm lucky, something in your head's not screwed right."

Leighton's face had gone blank, and he looked at Jim with only a sparkle of anger in his eyes. "I think we've talked enough, don't you?" He turned away and sat himself in the seat of one of the trucks, taking another remote out from his pockets. "You fight, and the city and your friends go down – by your hands. Your hands will be the ones that squeeze the life out from their lungs. So don't get any ideas."

Then Leighton closed his eyes, pressed a button on the new remote, and Kirk's world went dark.


Remember when I said I would update that same weekend? LOL... he he... ha... Just don't kill me. I'm trying my best on this story, and even though I'm pretty proud of it, I realize there must be some plot holes. If you notice anything out of place, or anything that doesn't really make sense, PLEASE tell me. I don't have a beta, so it's just me.

Anyway, thanks so much to everyone who's stuck with this. I'll be updating as soon as I can, which might be very soon, or... not so soon. Love y'all! xxx