Losing A Bet With Destiny [4/?]
Fandom: Star Trek XI
Characters/Pairing: Bones, Spock, Kirk, Pike, future Bones/Spock/Kirk.
Rating: PG-13, future may be up to NC-17.
Chapter List: Found Here
A/N: Cleaning up the older chapters and posting them, so I can begin updating again.
The next few days were a blur, despite the Vulcan being confined to bedrest; reports started coming in about what had actually happened, spreading through the small community like wildfire. Strange tales of a dangerous ship made up the brunt of the tales: so dangerous that it had somehow torn the entire planet of Vulcan apart. Jim did not believe it until one of the Starfleet officers told him himself, recounting the story with haunted eyes.
“It collapsed on itself,” the man had said. “Like it was being swallowed from the inside. There’s nothing but a black hole there now.” His words rang hollow, as if they could not even come close to the horror he was trying to describe. Jim had just nodded and bought him a beer, before going back out into the cold to see if there was more that he and his crew could do.
He was stopped on one such trip by the golden clad man he had seen the first day; the captain, he was pretty sure.
“You and your doctor friend have my first officer in your care,” he said by way of introduction. “I’m Captain Pike.” He offered his hand, which Jim took firmly.
“Jim Kirk.” A light went on, as it did with almost everyone when he told them his last name; the Captain gave him a curious look. Jim just squared his shoulders and waited for the inevitable question.
“You look just like him,” came the answer, instead. Jim frowned, looking at the man again.
“You knew my dad?” It should not have come as a surprise; the man was Starfleet, after all, and about as old as his father would have been now. Still, it was not every day he met someone who knew the man and not the legend.
“We were friends at the Academy.” Jim just nodded, not sure what to say. It was not exactly if he could swap stories about the man; this Captain probably knew more about George Kirk than his own son did. “I’ve heard you’ve been helping my ship a lot, giving us some supplies and crew from your own,” Pike finally said, effectively changing the subject. Jim just shrugged.
“Most of it was for here, and they agreed to let what wasn’t absolutely necessary go.”
“You aren’t getting paid for it, though. Give me a place to send it, and I’ll get Starfleet to forward you the credits for what we’ve used.” Jim frowned, looking up into the man’s blue eyes.
“It’s really shitty to extort people for supplies they didn’t even ask for in the first place, especially when their ship is blown half to hell,” he pointed out, uncomfortable. “Keep your credits; none of my crew are going to starve anytime soon.” Pike looked at him again with that piercing stare, and Jim wondered if he was seeing him or the ghost of a man he once knew.
“I don’t take charity, Jim,” he said finally. “But if you won’t accept credits, let me offer this.” Jim raised his hand to wave it off, but Pike shook his head. “No, you listen here. My crew’s my family. That ship up there, it’s my home. The boy your doctor friend is taking care of? He’s my first officer, a good friend, and I’d have adopted him straight up as a son if I didn’t think his mother would have come all the way to San Francisco to claw my eyes out.
“You’ve done me more than a favor, the both of you. So I’ll return it, anyway I can. Either of you get into a scrape someday that you can’t worm your way out of, you can drop my name. Character witness, problems with trade regulation, plain get yourselves arrested, anything.” It was a long moment before Jim responded, thinking on that.
“I’d be an idiot not to accept. Bones too. But you seem really convinced that we’re likely to get into some sort of big trouble someday.” Pike just laughed.
“Son, I’ve seen your records. Far as I can tell, the only reason you’re not in Federation custody right now is because you wiggle your way out of trouble like a Chameloid smuggler.” To his own horror, Jim found himself turning a bit red. The Captain clapped his shoulder. “Despite that, you’re a good kid, Jim. Thank you, for everything.” He turned to leave, though he stopped a few short paces away and glanced back.
“Spock tries to get up before he’s allowed, you call me and I’ll set him straight.” Jim had to grin.
“Oh, don’t worry; Bones has already threatened to hypospray him into submission if he tries.” Pike’s eyebrows went up, and then he laughed.
“Good to know he got sent to the right place.” Jim could swear that Pike winked at him before finally walking away.
Characters/Pairing: Bones, Spock, Kirk, Pike, future Bones/Spock/Kirk.
Rating: PG-13, future may be up to NC-17.
Chapter List: Found Here
A/N: Cleaning up the older chapters and posting them, so I can begin updating again.
The next few days were a blur, despite the Vulcan being confined to bedrest; reports started coming in about what had actually happened, spreading through the small community like wildfire. Strange tales of a dangerous ship made up the brunt of the tales: so dangerous that it had somehow torn the entire planet of Vulcan apart. Jim did not believe it until one of the Starfleet officers told him himself, recounting the story with haunted eyes.
“It collapsed on itself,” the man had said. “Like it was being swallowed from the inside. There’s nothing but a black hole there now.” His words rang hollow, as if they could not even come close to the horror he was trying to describe. Jim had just nodded and bought him a beer, before going back out into the cold to see if there was more that he and his crew could do.
He was stopped on one such trip by the golden clad man he had seen the first day; the captain, he was pretty sure.
“You and your doctor friend have my first officer in your care,” he said by way of introduction. “I’m Captain Pike.” He offered his hand, which Jim took firmly.
“Jim Kirk.” A light went on, as it did with almost everyone when he told them his last name; the Captain gave him a curious look. Jim just squared his shoulders and waited for the inevitable question.
“You look just like him,” came the answer, instead. Jim frowned, looking at the man again.
“You knew my dad?” It should not have come as a surprise; the man was Starfleet, after all, and about as old as his father would have been now. Still, it was not every day he met someone who knew the man and not the legend.
“We were friends at the Academy.” Jim just nodded, not sure what to say. It was not exactly if he could swap stories about the man; this Captain probably knew more about George Kirk than his own son did. “I’ve heard you’ve been helping my ship a lot, giving us some supplies and crew from your own,” Pike finally said, effectively changing the subject. Jim just shrugged.
“Most of it was for here, and they agreed to let what wasn’t absolutely necessary go.”
“You aren’t getting paid for it, though. Give me a place to send it, and I’ll get Starfleet to forward you the credits for what we’ve used.” Jim frowned, looking up into the man’s blue eyes.
“It’s really shitty to extort people for supplies they didn’t even ask for in the first place, especially when their ship is blown half to hell,” he pointed out, uncomfortable. “Keep your credits; none of my crew are going to starve anytime soon.” Pike looked at him again with that piercing stare, and Jim wondered if he was seeing him or the ghost of a man he once knew.
“I don’t take charity, Jim,” he said finally. “But if you won’t accept credits, let me offer this.” Jim raised his hand to wave it off, but Pike shook his head. “No, you listen here. My crew’s my family. That ship up there, it’s my home. The boy your doctor friend is taking care of? He’s my first officer, a good friend, and I’d have adopted him straight up as a son if I didn’t think his mother would have come all the way to San Francisco to claw my eyes out.
“You’ve done me more than a favor, the both of you. So I’ll return it, anyway I can. Either of you get into a scrape someday that you can’t worm your way out of, you can drop my name. Character witness, problems with trade regulation, plain get yourselves arrested, anything.” It was a long moment before Jim responded, thinking on that.
“I’d be an idiot not to accept. Bones too. But you seem really convinced that we’re likely to get into some sort of big trouble someday.” Pike just laughed.
“Son, I’ve seen your records. Far as I can tell, the only reason you’re not in Federation custody right now is because you wiggle your way out of trouble like a Chameloid smuggler.” To his own horror, Jim found himself turning a bit red. The Captain clapped his shoulder. “Despite that, you’re a good kid, Jim. Thank you, for everything.” He turned to leave, though he stopped a few short paces away and glanced back.
“Spock tries to get up before he’s allowed, you call me and I’ll set him straight.” Jim had to grin.
“Oh, don’t worry; Bones has already threatened to hypospray him into submission if he tries.” Pike’s eyebrows went up, and then he laughed.
“Good to know he got sent to the right place.” Jim could swear that Pike winked at him before finally walking away.