There's a few time jumps in this chapter, hope that doesn't confuse anyone!

Disclaimer: not mine

The next few months passed by quickly, and for the first time in a long time, Jim felt truly happy. He did more traveling – South America, Australia, Asia – while starting his degree at MIT. He found the coursework exhilarating and challenging. It was probably the first time he had ever been challenged at school.

He enjoyed not being tied down anywhere, and he jumped from city to city whenever the need took him. He kept in touch with his friends – Pavel, and Hikaru, Tom, Cory, and April – and was relieved, as the weeks melted into months, to feel a sense of calm wash over him. The horrors of Tarsus were still there, but fading into the background. He no longer felt like he was suffocating under the weight of the memories. He felt like he could breathe again.

XXX

Chris and Shay had shipped out with the Yorktown shortly after Jim's reappearance, and both thought about him often, though they didn't speak of the meeting with each other afterwards.

A year into the Yorktown's five-year mission, an unfortunate encounter with Klingons near the edge of the Neutral Zone resulted in a less than thrilling shuffling of ranks, and the Yorktown limped back to Earth with Chris acting as Captain, the Pilot, Lieutenant Commander Schueller, as Acting First Officer, and Shay doing her best to make sure that Chris actually took some time to sleep and eat in between performing the new duties he found himself saddled with.

They returned to Earth, and a series of debriefs, where Chris had to both explain what had happened, and defend his own actions for every decision he had made as Acting Captain. Finally, he was allowed to go home, with the Admirals' congratulations, and a shiny new stripe to add to his uniform. His battle promotion had been upheld, and he would be heading up the rest of the Yorktown's five-year mission, once her crew had recovered sufficiently, and filled out its ranks to compensate for the thirty-seven crewmembers they had lost in the attack.

Chris sighed as he entered his two-story house, feeling every bit the weary Captain. Shay was waiting for him, and immediately caught him up in a tight embrace. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered in his ear. They had not had the opportunity to spend much time alone, since the attack. Their face-to-face contact had mostly consisted of her forcing him to return to his quarters for a few hours, or to go to the mess hall for five minutes to eat something. Now that they were home, and alone, she finally was able to speak with him in private, and tell him how proud she was of his actions.

Chris smiled, relaxing into the embrace. "It's official," he replied. "When we ship out again, I'll be the Captain."

Shay nodded, pulling back, though she kept her hands on his arms, needing the contact with her boyfriend. "I never doubted it for a second."

They were heading towards the couch when his comm. chimed. Chris frowned, hoping it wasn't anything official; he had had enough of work for the day, and he just wanted to relax at home, with his girlfriend.

Reading the message, he smiled, the lines around his eyes smoothing out.

"Chris? What is it?" Shay came up next to him.

Chris looked up at her. "Read it," he implored.

Furrowing her brow, the Lieutenant Commander complied, and felt her eyes widen as she read the short missive.

Congrats on the promotion – Jim

Shay looked at Chris, startled. "How…?"

Chris just shook his head, amused. "Somehow, I'm not surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if he knew before I did."

Shay smiled, though it was a little unsettling. Chris had told her of what he had learned about James Kirk – he had kept himself informed as much as possible, and had looked up more information after meeting the kid again on Tarsus. So she knew that he had a proficiency with computers to match his curiosity and inquisitiveness.

They spent some time speculating on how the kid had been doing over the last few months, and where he was now, but they didn't get any answers for another two weeks; the Yorktown was due to leave in three days, and Chris had been busy over the last couple of weeks, approving promotions and appointments. He had put forward roughly fifteen officers forward for promotion, including Shay, who would also be taking over as head of the Navigations department, as the previous head had been killed in the attack.

His Acting First Officer, Schueller, had been officially promoted to Commander, and had requested a teaching position, rather than ship out again with the rest of the crew. Chris and the Admiralty had honored his request, but it meant that Chris needed to pick another First Officer. He had looked at personnel records, and drawn on personal experience and encounters with all those qualified, but in the end, it really wasn't a hard decision. Shay had protested for only a few minutes, before giving in and accepting. She knew that their relationship had nothing to do with Chris' decision, so she really had no grounds to object.

Late that night, three days before the Yorktown was scheduled to depart, Chris and Shay were both once more woken from their sleep by a pounding on the front door.

Chris got up to answer it, and couldn't help but stare at the calm and confident young man in front of him. No doubt about it, Jim Kirk had grown up. He was now a muscular and vibrant sixteen year old. He was tall and handsome, and Chris had no doubt that the girls were fighting over him already.

He only paused for a moment, before he was reaching forwards, giving the teenager a tight hug. "Jim, I'm so glad you're here."

Jim only hesitated briefly, before he tentatively returned the hug. Chris drew him into the house, where Shay also greeted him, smiling warmly.

"James, it is so good to see you again."

Jim pulled back, also smiling. He wasn't surprised to hear her use his given name; after all, she lived with Pike, the Captain would have of course informed his girlfriend of everything. He saw no pity in her warm gaze, however, which set him at ease. "I just thought I'd stop by and offer my congratulations in person. I know you guys leave in a couple of days."

Chris shook his head, sitting down. "Why am I not surprised you know our schedule? Do you also know where we're headed?" Jim opened his mouth, but Chris overrode him. "Don't answer that."

Jim and Shay chuckled, before the new Captain disappeared into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with three cups of coffee – the real stuff. There were a lot of things Chris was willing to compromise on, but real, honest to God, brewed coffee was not one of them.

Jim apparently agreed, and sighed contentedly as he sipped the strong drink. Replicated coffee really couldn't compare.

None of them got any more sleep that night, as they sat in the living room and got caught up on each other's lives.

"I've been traveling," Jim explained what he had done with the last couple of years. "All over, really. France, Italy, Russia, South America, parts of Africa. Working odd jobs when I can get them. Seeing what's out there."

Both officers listened with interest, and in return, shared some of their adventures, including an abridged version of the attack that was the reason for their early return to Earth. Of course, the questions Jim asked about it made it pretty clear that he already knew what had happened – no doubt, he had read both the official and unofficial reports. It made Chris feel oddly relieved, that Jim had been keeping track of him, just like he had tried to do with the young man. Of course, Jim seemed to have had better luck than he had.

"So what are you planning on doing now?" Chris asked, as the sun had started to peek over the horizon, indicating dawn to be not far away.

Jim looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I'm traveling."

Chris leaned forward. "So you're just going to travel the world until you die? Don't you want something more?"

Jim bristled. "What'd you have in mind?" he asked cautiously.

Chris sighed softly. "You could do anything, Jim. I've seen your records, I know your test scores, not to mention the two degrees you have, and I know how old you were when you earned them. What do you want to do with your life? Don't you want to make a difference?" He paused. "Have you thought about joining Starfleet?"

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say, as Jim stood up abruptly, his face a mask of barely controlled anger, and Chris was suddenly and irrationally afraid. There was a fire in Jim's gaze, that reminded the Captain of the younger teenager he had seen on board the Seymour, when he was telling Halloway just where he could stick his recruitment speech. Yeah, what had he been thinking? Jim hadn't been interested then, and he wouldn't be interested now.

"Why? Why would I join Starfleet?" Jim asked rhetorically, just barely able to keep his voice calm. "Starfleet's why my dad's dead. Starfleet's why my mom can't even look me in the eyes. Starfleet's why I had to live with an abusive asshole. Starfleet's why I was sent to Tarsus. Starfleet's why Tarsus happened." His voice dropped slightly, and his words were like ice. "Why the hell would I ever join Starfleet?"

Chris tried to placate him, knowing that it was a lost cause at this point. "Starfleet could really use you, Jim."

Jim's eyes flashed dangerously. "I don't want to be used by anyone, least of all Starfleet."

He didn't wait for a response, and simply walked out, leaving both enlisted officers staring worriedly after him. Chris slumped in his seat, rubbing his hands across his face. "Shit," he muttered.

Shay rubbed his shoulders comfortingly. "It'll be all right," she said quietly, knowing how much he regretted bringing up the topic with the teenager.

Chris sighed. "I don't know if it will, Shay. You heard him, he just sounded so angry."

"And maybe he is," Shay agreed. "But I don't think he'll disappear completely. At least, not forever. Just give him some time to cool off. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him."

Chris nodded, feeling a little better, and the pair went to get ready for the day. They still had a lot to do before the Yorktown departed.

XXX

Jim fumed as he left Chris' house. Why would that man think he would ever consider joining Starfleet? After everything he had suffered because of that organization, why would he join it?

He walked aimlessly for a while, no real destination in mind, as the sun rose higher in the sky. After a while, he was surprised to find himself on the beach. He watched the waves pound against the sand for a few minutes, before shrugging and heading towards the rental shop. Ever since Hikaru had taught him to surf, he had found the sport relaxing. Soothing. Nothing but him and the waves. He had only gotten better with the relentless waters of South Africa and Australia to hone his skills.

He didn't know how long he was out there before he was joined by his friend. A part of him was surprised that Hikaru had actually managed to find him amongst the many surfers that littered the beach. Sensing his disinclination to talk, Hikaru didn't try to force anything, and the two spent the rest of the day in the water, only returning to dry land as the sun started to disappear behind the horizon.

When they reached the beach, Hikaru walked Jim back to the rental shop and waited while he returned his board and wetsuit. Once that act was complete, the two headed towards the parking lot, where Hikaru's truck was parked.

Hikaru paused by the driver's side door. "You need a ride?" he asked hesitantly. Jim had been very different today, and he wanted to know what was wrong, but he wouldn't push.

Jim shook his head, smiling slightly. "No thanks," he replied. "I'm probably going to head out of town for a while, anyway. I'll see you around, all right?"

Hikaru nodded. "Take care of yourself," he said, before getting into his truck and driving off.

XXX

Jim grimaced as he sat down in an empty seat on a transport. He wasn't quite sure where it was going, but he needed to get away from this place. After his visit to Chris, and after he had calmed down, he had thought about it, and decided that Earth just wasn't large enough. He had done a little exploring, but the one thing that pressed on his mind was something he hadn't thought about for years.

His brother. Sam.

With all his skills at computers, it hadn't been that hard to find out that his brother had left Earth several years earlier, and gone to work with a colony of scientists on Deneva. He hadn't thought much beyond getting to the planet, and now, looking back on it, he wished he had.

Sam had looked at him the same way Winona had, the few times she had ever deigned to return to Earth for a shore leave. Like he was looking at a ghost. Jim knew he looked like his dad, but he wished people would stop seeing only that. He was his own person, and he wanted to be judged on his own merits, not those of a dead man.

But Sam had just looked spooked, and then angry, that Jim had interrupted the new life he had built for himself. He had told his brother, his only brother, to leave, that he didn't want to see him. Jim hadn't been able to form much of a sentence after that, so he just turned heel and headed back to get on the first transport headed off planet.

He knew Sam had left because he couldn't deal with the asshole stepfather anymore. He didn't blame Sam for that. But hadn't his brother ever wondered about Jim? Had he known what he was leaving Jim with? He had to have known that Frank would just turn on Jim after he left. Why didn't Sam care?

He closed his eyes against the threat of tears as the hum of the ship's engine started up, and they began the procedures for take off. He couldn't let this affect him. Sam was his brother, but only biologically. He wouldn't let that man... that stranger... take anything from him. If Sam didn't want him, then he didn't want Sam. He had others he could consider family. Cory. Pavel. Tom. Kevin. They could be his brothers.

He opened his eyes, determined to move forward. The last thread of his old life had been snipped. So what if his family didn't want him? He would prove them all wrong. He wasn't just the shadow of George Kirk. He was James Tiberius Kirk, and he would be better than them all combined. He would show them.

XXX

Chris sat down at the bar and ordered two drinks, as he waited for Shay to join him. She had gone to the restroom, but would be back in a few minutes. The Yorktown was currently docked at the planet Risa, for a weeklong shore leave, after the last ten months of exploring. Captain and First Officer had left their ship in the capable hands of Lieutenant Higgins, Chris' Second Officer and Chief Engineer.

A weight settled down on Chris' left. "Nice night for a drink."

Chris almost choked on his beer, as he whipped his head around to see Jim sitting next to him. He was a year older, and perhaps a little more worn, but beneath it all, Chris could see the fire and passion that made up his young friend.

"What are you doing here?" he asked; it was all he was able to say around his shock.

Jim shrugged and smirked, taking a sip of the drink the bartender – a rather curvaceous blonde – had set in front of him. "You asked me if I was going to spend my whole life traveling the world. I got bored of Earth, so I decided to see what else was out there. And when I heard the Yorktown would be taking their shore leave on Risa, I thought I'd drop by."

"And just how did you hear that?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow. Jim's only response was a widening of his smirk. The Captain shook his head. He really didn't want to know.

"James?"

Both men looked up as Shay joined them, and Jim's smile turned more genuine, as he returned the hug the Commander gave him readily. "Just thought I'd drop by to say hi," he said cheekily.

Shay nodded knowingly, sharing a glance with Chris as she sat down and sipped from the drink he had ordered her.

The trio spent some time talking as the bar began to fill up around them, Chris and Shay talking about some of their adventures and explorations, and Jim telling them about his studies, as well as his more recent travels in the months it had been since they had last seen each other. Apparently, country hopping had lost its appeal, and he had moved on to planet jumping. "I've just been seeing what's out there, you know. Visiting different planets, learning about different species."

"So where have you been?" Chris asked, curious.

Jim shrugged. "Capella, Babel, a few colonies in the Delta Quadrant. I spent some time on Vulcan as well, but they're not really any fun after you've beaten them in a logical debate. They get awfully hissy when they lose."

Chris snorted, and Shay chuckled. "So, have you learnt any new languages to add to your repertoire?" Chris asked curiously.

Jim shrugged. "One or two," he hedged. Chris just raised an eyebrow, and Jim sighed. "Fluently, probably five or six. There's another nine or so that I could get by in, if I needed to."

Chris shook his head. So much talent, it was a shame the kid didn't really have a goal in life.

Jim seemed to understand what the Captain was thinking, because his voice had a hint of steel in it as he spoke. "Don't, Chris. Please."

It was the 'please' that really captured Chris' attention. He nodded. "I promise, kid. No recruitment speeches tonight. Let's just… relax."

Jim nodded, settling down, and the three spent another hour or so talking and drinking, enjoying each other's company, and observing the beings that had chosen this particular bar for their evening's entertainment.

Chris' comm. chimed, interrupting their conversation, and with an apologetic glance, he took the call.

"Pike here."

"Captain, I'm sorry to disturb you, but we've got a bit of a problem here. Do you think you could stop by Engineering for a moment?" The voice of Second Officer, Chief Engineer Higgins came from the small piece of technology.

Chris sighed inaudibly. He knew part of being Captain was being available at all times, but he really wished he didn't have to reply. He wanted to spend some more time with Jim. "I'll be there in a few minutes, Lieutenant," he agreed, putting the communicator away and looking at his companions. Both appeared to understand.

Jim made to stand up. "I just wanted to say hi, and I guess I'll see you around the universe."

"Would you like to come with me?" Chris didn't know why he offered, he hadn't really thought it through completely. All he knew was that he didn't want to say goodbye just yet.

Jim hesitated, a little uncertain. It sounded an awful lot like an attempt to get him on board with the whole Starfleet idea.

Chris knew what the teenager was thinking, and shook his head. "Nothing like that, Jim. Just a tour. Don't you want to see what an Engineering deck on a Constellation Class Starship looks like?"

Jim bit his lip, thinking it through, before nodding hesitantly. Chris and Shay smiled, before the First Officer said her goodbyes to go spend the rest of her leave with some friends from Navigations.

Chris and Jim headed to the beam up point, and the Captain couldn't help but watch his fascination with amusement. Jim seemed to be enraptured with the very halls of the USS Yorktown.

They made their way down to Engineering, with various crewmembers snapping to attention as their Captain passed by. More than one glance was spared for the young man in civilian wear, but no one commented.

Lieutenant Higgins also gave Jim a confused look, but he immediately greeted his Captain, explaining the issue they were having. Jim paid attention for a few minutes, before he began to wander away, looking at the various machines and computers. This truly was like Christmas for him; he had always been fascinated with engines and computers. He had been very young when he had learned how to hack, and by the time he was eight, he had learned how to circumvent the normal policies in place at the average University, in order to go for a degree. His two degrees were in Physics and Engineering, with concentrations in Warp Technology and Quantum Mechanics, though he was by no means a slouch at other areas of those fields; with all his traveling, he had drawn out his study for his Masters a little longer than it would have been, but he would need to return to Earth to complete a few more classes, and defend his thesis, in the next year or two.

He studied a console, trying to figure out how the thing worked, when his musings were interrupted. "Are ye supposed to be here?"

Jim looked up, startled, and nodded a greeting to the slightly older man who was looking at him with a mix of suspicion and interest. He calmed himself down, berating himself for not hearing the other man approach, and answered, "Chris invited me along for a tour. We were having a drink when he got called back to deal with whatever's going on."

The officer, whom Kirk noted was an Ensign, by the insignia on his sleeve, furrowed his brow. His gaze shifted over to the console Jim had been studying. "Ye know anything about this?" he asked curiously.

Jim shrugged. "Why don't you tell me what's going on, and I'll see if I can help. I've got a background in Engineering."

The Ensign seemed a bit doubtful. After all, the kid couldn't be more than seventeen or eighteen. But he began to explain the issue, which was rather complicated, but boiled down to the fact that the ship was experiencing 'technical difficulties' and they wouldn't really be able to go anywhere with any kind of speed until they fixed it. Unfortunately, they couldn't really fix the problem without going to a Starbase that would have the equipment they needed. For the moment, they were little more than sitting ducks. If they needed to, they could probably travel, but it would take several weeks to get to the nearest Base.

Jim listened with interest, and when the officer in front of him stopped to take a breath, he cut in. "Have you tried inserting a bypass?"

The Ensign stopped abruptly, his mouth dropping open.

Jim shrugged. "It sounds like it's an isolated issue. If you insert a bypass to get around that particular system, you shouldn't have much of an issue at least getting to a Starbase. It's not the most elegant solution, but it'll work."

The Ensign agreed. It wasn't exactly legal, but then he was a big fan of questionable solutions. It would require hacking into the system and basically creating a back door between two systems and linking them together to cut out a third system that was more dead weight than anything else at this point.

"That's pretty brilliant, lad. How'd ye think of something like that?"

Jim smiled slightly. "I've always been good with computers," he admitted. "Something I've noticed a lot is that people tend to overcomplicate the situation, trying to think of something complicated, when the easiest solution would usually work. Occam's Razor, and all that."

The Ensign nodded, and started to lead him back to where the Captain and Chief Engineer were still talking. "I'm Ensign Scott, by the way. Montgomery Scott."

"Jim," was the short reply. Scott seemed to realize that that was all he was going to get, so he just inclined his head.

They cut off the two senior officers mid-sentence. Lieutenant Higgins looked a little annoyed, but Pike was more willing to include them.

"Ensign Scott, I thought you were heading off duty for your scheduled shore leave," the Chief Engineer commented.

The Ensign shrugged sheepishly. Truthfully, he'd rather stay here and continue working. He loved his job. "I was, sir, but Jim here thinks he might have a temporary solution."

Chris looked intrigued, but Higgins did not seem quite as interested. However, the Captain was quick to ask the teenager his inputs.

Jim immediately gave the two senior officers a run down of what Scott had told him, and his own theories. "From what Ensign Scott told me, it sounds like you've got one system that's malfunctioning and causing your issues. By creating a bypass, you can essentially cut off that system from everything else. The reason you can't go anywhere now is because that system is acting like dead weight, slowing everything else down. By cutting it off, you'll be able to at least get to a Starbase. You won't really be able to get to warp speed, but the nearest base isn't that far away, so you should be all right." He was deliberately using generic terms and not going into major detail, because he knew that Chris wasn't an engineer. He was knowledgeable, sure, but it wasn't something he had spent any amount of time really studying, so most of the complex terminology would just go right over his head.

"Can you do that?" Chris asked, nodding to show he understood what he was being told.

Jim nodded, but before he could say anything, Higgins cut in. "Without Starfleet authorization that's illegal, Captain."

Jim shrugged. "Only if someone finds out. Once the issue is resolved, the bypass can be taken down, and no one will know."

Chris almost sighed. Somehow, he really wasn't surprised that Jim's solution involved something of a questionable legality.

Higgins turned, protesting, to his captain. "Captain, surely you're not –"

"Do you have a better idea?" Chris cut him off. Higgins shook his head slightly, and Pike continued, "Would you like to stay here, then, Lieutenant, or should you go check on another section of Engineering."

Higgins looked from the Captain to the strange man he still didn't have an explanation for, and back. Finally, he swallowed and nodded. "I'll stay here, sir."

Chris inclined his head, and turned back to his young friend. "Go ahead, Jim. Fix my ship."

Jim grinned, a look that almost had Higgins taking a step backwards, there was so much intensity and glee in his expression. Scott's eyes seemed to be gleaming just as much, and Pike was just amused.

It took him less than five minutes, before Jim was stepping back from the console, satisfied. "That should work," he said, looking back at the officers surrounding him. "It won't last forever, of course, and you won't be able to run at full capacity, but nothing critical was being supported by the dead system. You'll probably want to inform the crew that the junior mess hall won't be operational until your repairs are complete, so the junior rate officers will need to take their meals elsewhere, and some decks might have to run on back up generators. Other than that, there shouldn't be any issues worth noting."

Chris nodded, smiling. "Thanks, Jim," he said. "Now, I think I owe you a tour. I did promise, after all."

Scott cleared his throat. "If ye want, Captain, I'll show the lad around. I don't mind."

Chris looked at Jim, and on receiving an agreeing nod, indicated his own consent. "Be back in an hour or so, all right?"

The pair had already turned away, and the only indication he received that they had heard him was Jim's waving of a hand behind him as the two disappeared into the bowels of the ship.

Higgins turned to his captain once they were alone. "Who was that, sir?"

Chris sighed. "An old family friend," he replied, not really answering the question to the Lieutenant's satisfaction.

"How does he know so much about all this?" Higgins pressed, indicating the machines around him.

Chris tore his gaze away from the direction Jim and Ensign Scott had disappeared to, to face his Second Officer head on. Higgins was taken aback by the intensity in the older man's gaze. "There's something you need to understand about Jim, Lieutenant. He's a genius, no question. He's a veritable mine of information. He's completed two degrees, and is currently working on a Master's in Engineering. He's not easy to comprehend, and sometimes there really isn't a reason behind his actions." Chris snorted. "He'll go off on a trip around the universe, just because I once asked him if he was going to spend the rest of his life traveling around Earth."

Higgins frowned. "How old is he?"

"Seventeen," was the succinct reply.

The Chief Engineer stared. "How was he able to do all that, so young?"

Chris furrowed his brow. "I believe he completed his first degree at ten, the second perhaps two years later, through online and distance learning." He let out a half snort. "You probably wouldn't approve of the methods he used to get into those programs, as it involved circumventing the system and basically forging parental permission, since his parents weren't the most attentive, and would no doubt have denied him the opportunity. Jim knows what he wants, and if he has to, he'll find a way to make sure he gets it. He's stubborn and tenacious, but he's also a bright and thoughtful young man. He's a good kid, no matter what your thoughts are on his less than legal actions."

Higgins nodded his understanding, and decided to go over the adjustments the kid – Jim – had made to the ship. He had to admit, it was rather neat. Simple, and yet complex. For all the teenager called it a 'temporary fix', he doubted his attempt would have looked so good. It was also rather well hidden – if he didn't know what to look for, he probably would never have found it. He looked back up to find Pike watching him with amusement. He sighed ruefully. "It's good, sir," he admitted. "I doubt anyone working in Engineering right now could create a bypass this effective."

Chris nodded, smiling. "Well, I won't admit to understanding completely what he did, or how he did it better than anyone else could have, but I know Jim, and he would make sure that it was as good as it could get. He doesn't do second best."

Higgins stepped back from the console, and tried to explain. "Like the kid said, it's essentially building a door between two systems, though perhaps it's more like creating a hallway around a third system that isn't working. The problem is that these systems are meant to work together, so even though one's not working, the others will try to include it, so you basically have to build up a wall to stop it from interfering, since it will only slow everything else down, since they'll be trying to compensate for it not working."

Pike nodded. He understood the building terms easily enough.

He and Higgins spent some time walking around Engineering and talking, waiting for Jim and Ensign Scott to return. Eventually, they had to track the two younger men down, and found them by an out of the way computer console, slinging upgrade theories and equations back and forth in a way that made Chris very glad that the two would not be able to spend a good deal of time together before the Yorktown left Risa, and Jim moved on to whatever planet he had in mind next. Something about those two being in close capacity just screamed dangerous for anyone nearby.

Jim looked a little disappointed to have to leave, but brightened slightly when he and Scott exchanged comm. numbers, so that they could keep in touch.

Chris led Jim back to the transporter room. "Where are you staying, and for how long?" he asked curiously.

Jim shrugged. "I'll find a place," he replied evasively. "I thought I'd stick around for a few days. There's a transport headed for Sauria at the end of the week. Maybe I'll check it out."

Chris nodded, knowing by now not to try and micromanage the kid's life. He wasn't Jim's father, and all he could really do was be there as a friend, and maybe sounding board, if he was needed. "Maybe we can spend some more time together then." Jim nodded his agreement and stepped onto the transporter pad. "I'm on duty tomorrow, but the day after?" Jim nodded again, and Pike smiled. "I'll comm. you." He turned to the technician in the room. "Energize."

Jim disappeared in a whirlwind of bright lights, and Chris headed back to his room, still smiling.

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