Kirk's day started out much as usual. He tugged his golden shirt over his head, grabbed a coffee, ran a hand through his hair, and started walking. As he walked through his ship's glowing halls, many things lay heavy on him, though he wouldn't allow the men and women he passed to see it on his face. His thoughts about his crew and his actions seemed to carry his feet.
"Keptin on ze bridge!"
The young lieutenant's voice pulled him back to reality. It had a somewhat hoarse tone, unusual for its carrier. Kirk momentarily focused on Pavel's eyes and the little circles below them. He wondered if he had those same circles.
I hope he's had enough sleep. I don't want him with too much of this guilt.
"Captain, we are nearing the projected location of the Finalizer." Spock's voice pulled Kirk out of his reverie again.
"Pull us out, Mister Chekov."
"Aye, sir."
On the viewscreen appeared a large, imposing asteroid field, noticeably devoid of any kind of starship.
"Well, where is it?" Kirk asked, the drop he'd felt in his heart evident in his voice.
Spock cocked his head as he looked at his instruments. "Perhaps it has traveled, but I am picking up significant traces of fuel in this vicinity. I do not think it could have gone far."
"Wait, look!" Uhura cried. "I- I don't think that's a rock."
A large metallic chunk drifted before the viewscreen. Spock immediately had it on the scanners and reported.
"She is correct, sir."
Kirk suddenly stood. "You're telling me someone's already been here? Who? When?"
"I do not know either, Captain."
"Are we sure this is the ship Rey was on? Was this the Finalizer?"
As Pavel carefully led the ship through the asteroid field, they waited for Spock's answer.
"I have no way to know."
"I'm so sorry," Kirk muttered to himself.
"Captain, I'm receiving an audio message from a… General Organa. It's marked as urgent."
"On speakers," Kirk nearly cut her off.
With the flip of a switch, the General's voice could be heard.
"This is General Leia Organa of the Resistance. I trust I'm speaking to the captain of the Enterprise.
I'm sorry this will reach you later than I want, Captain. I am about to send a small squad out to rescue the young Jedi in your care. I hope this reaches you sooner rather than later, so maybe I will prevent you from getting into too much trouble. I trust the officers I sent to retrieve her, so I'm sure she's with us now. Please accept my apologies for any worry the delay of this transmission might cause. When this message reaches you, we are stationed on the planet D'Qar, for which I have attached coordinates. I hope to see you soon."
As soon as the message ended, Pavel snapped his head around to face Kirk.
"I have transferred the coordinates, sir," Uhura said.
"Thank you. Lieutenant, warp 8. I want us there as soon as safely possible."
"Aye Keptin." The Russian had scarcely finished his sentence before they were on their way.
"Are we sure the coordinates are the same for us? Did you need to translate them?"
"No, sir, oddly enough. It leads directly to a planet that I think is suitable for life. Everything seems to add up perfectly."
"Let's hope it does, then."
The entire bridge sat in silence for several minutes, the constant beeping and ticking of the various instruments keeping the room from being too tensely hushed. It took only a few minutes to arrive at D'qar at their present speed, but each minute felt like an hour.
Finally, after an exasperatingly tense ten minutes, things started to beep. They pulled out of warp and a planet filled the screen.
"Captain, there is a populated base on the surface. I believe this is the correct location," Spock said.
"Hail them, Lieutenant."
Uhura did so, and Kirk spoke once the link was secured.
"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise. I hope I am speaking to the Resistance."
A young woman's voice greeted them. "My name is Lieutenant Connix, and yes, you are. You are clear to come meet us, or I can call the General if you'd like to speak to her first."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I think we'll just come meet you."
"Of course, Captain."
The transmission ended, and Kirk addressed the bridge.
"Whoever wants to come is welcome."
Kirk turned and walked off the bridge, trailed by Spock, Chekov, and Uhura.
The team soon arrived on the planet's surface. Once they were fully corporeal, they found and turned toward the Resistance base. Kirk led the way with a quick step, and soon they had entered the large stone structure which stood out among the many smaller metal ones. They were met by an older woman before they could really even begin their search for their lost crewmate.
"I'm General Leia. I trust you're all from the Enterprise?" Her tone was warm and friendly, and so was her smile. It managed to put Kirk somewhat at ease.
"We are. I'm Captain James Kirk, this is my first officer, Commander Spock, my comms officer, Nyota Uhura, and my navigator, Pavel Chekov."
"Good to meet you all. Come, Rey is outside."
Leia led them out of the building and through a little patch of woods. The idle hum of a lightsaber could be heard over the ambience of the planet, and it made everyone quicken their step. In a moment, they had entered a small clearing where Rey could be seen taking a break after what was clear to have been lightsaber practice.
Pavel couldn't restrain himself anymore and broke into a run, calling her name.
"Rey! Rey! Ve made it! You made it!"
"Pavel!" She turned her lightsaber off and started toward him, laughing with relief.
In a moment, he'd thrown his arms around her and pulled her close. In that moment, she wasn't sure if he was laughing, crying, or a mix of both, but whatever he was doing she was doing it too. Before she realized what was happening, she was in the air, spinning. She felt his arms had shifted to her waist and his grip had gotten tighter. She was positive now they were both laughing.
After a whole spin or two, her feet were back on the ground and she was gasping for breath out of excitement. He managed to pull away, holding her by her shoulders and looking into her eyes.
"I'm so glad you're okay! Ve thought ze vorst." He froze for a second, taking her in before he started talking again with a breathless giggle. "Ah, I'm so glad you're not a traitor!"
"Me too!" She laughed as well as they pulled together for one last quick hug.
Immediately after he pulled away, she was enveloped in Nyota's arms. 'You really had us worried, you know."
After a moment in that embrace, she turned to face the captain. His face was twisted into a sort of sad frown, though his eyes kept that air of command.
"I'm so glad you're okay. I regret how I treated you and I hope you could forgive me. I was wrong to doubt you like that, as Maz reminded me in no uncertain terms," he added with a little chuckle. "You are always welcome back aboard the Enterprise and at your station."
She smiled in response. "Thank you, sir." With a knowing laugh, she added, "Leia has given me a few pointers, so you don't have to be scared of me anymore."
"I won't be. I'm sorry I ever was."
She smiled kindly at him.
Space: the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.
Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds.
To seek out new life, and new civilizations.
To boldly go where no one has gone before.
A/N: WOOO I ACTUALLY FINISHED A STORY FOR ONCE!
If you've made it this far, thank you. I know this story has been cringy and awkward at times, but thanks for putting up with it.
It has taken me so long to write this and I have changed so much. So thanks for putting up with my writing inconsistencies and everything else. I plan to write at least two more sequels after this if I can. Those will take a while too, I'm sure. But they should at least be less cringy. :D
Anyway, back to being excited that I finished a story for like the first time ever. :D
Have a good day, reader, wherever and whenever you are!