Cousin Charlie
Nyota was happy that they were finally getting shore leave.
One whole week on Alpha Seti I. That planet was pure bliss. Wonderful beaches with water the color of aqua blue. Warm temperatures and cool breezes. All of the crew was looking forward to the break.
She was surprised to receive a communication from Starfleet directing them to pick up a group of people located on Starbase Six who were also on their way to Alpha Seti I. It seemed that apparently someone in the group had connections because such a request was highly unusual.
The captain acted like he was not surprised at the delay. Starfleet was notorious for changing things at the last minute.
They arrived at Starbase Six in record time and Nyota estimated that it would only delay their shore leave for a couple of days.
"I'll beam down, Mr. Spock" Kirk said getting out of the captain's chair. "You have the con."
He walked off of the bridge and was surprised when Nyota followed him.
"Sir, I'd like to beam down to Starbase Six. My shift has ended and there are a few things I'd like to buy before we arrive at Alpha Seti I." She looked at him her eyes pleading.
"Very well, Lieutenant. However you will only have about an hour. I plan on gathering that party together and leave orbit at 2100 hours."
"Of course sir" she responded.
An hour would give her enough time to pick up a few things. She looked forward to spending some quality time with Spock. She grinned at the thought.
She quickly went to her quarters and returned to the transporter room. Dr. McCoy was also beaming down with the captain.
"I see we have company" McCoy said eying Uhura.
"Yes, Bones. Uhura apparently is planning something special for her shore leave." They both looked at her knowingly and Nyota couldn't help but to blush.
"One hour, Lieutenant" Kirk said smiling.
"Yes sir"
"Energize Scotty" he commanded.
Kirk smiled to himself as he watched Uhura rush off to purchase whatever she planned on taking with her on shore leave. He quickly hunted up Mr. Everson who was in charge of the space station.
"Captain, so glad to see you again." Everson said as he approached.
"Mr Everson" Kirk said nodding. "I hope that the party is ready to beam up. I'd like to leave orbit in one hour so that we can be on our way. This is Doctor McCoy"
"Doctor" he said nodding.
The older man smiled. His silver hair hung down almost covering one of his eyes. "Of course, captain. I have given them your instructions. Apparently they are part of some sort of band and they will be providing some of the entertainment on the planet, so I am sure that they will more than make up for your delay."
Kirk smiled "I hope so."
"Follow me. I will introduce you to Charlie Grayson who's the lead singer and the band leader."
He led Kirk and Bones into a large banquet room where a group of people with various instruments were talking. A tall man had his back to them and Kirk could not see his face.
"Charlie, your ride is here!" Emerson said laughing.
The man called Charlie turned around. "That's great, Bill. We are ready to go"
For a moment Kirk thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. The man named Charlie was grinning broadly and extending his hand.
Kirk was totally taken aback and he was sure that his mouth must have been hanging open from the shock because the man who called himself Charlie suddenly looked puzzled. He glanced at Bones who was staring at Charlie with his mouth hanging open.
"Are you alright, man?" Charlie asked.
Kirk tore his eyes away and looked at Emerson who was also staring at him confused.
"Captain, what's wrong" he asked.
"Damn!" Kirk heard Bones say. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"What did you say your name was?" Kirk asked Charlie again glancing at Bones.
"Charlie" he responded.
"What is your full name, sir?" Kirk asked looking from Charlie to Emerson.
Charlie looked puzzled. "It's Charles Andrew Grayson, sir. Is there a problem?"
Kirk continued to stare at him a moment and then realized that he had to answer the man's question, otherwise he'd think he was crazy. The man that stood before him was the spitting image of Spock. He looked about Spock's age, and he was human and not Vulcan...but he looked like Spock! How could that be possible?
"I'm sorry.." Kirk said trying to get himself together. "You took me totally by surprise. It's just that you favor my First Officer. In fact, the resemblance is uncanny!"
Charlie threw back his head and laughed. He turned to the band. "He thinks I look like his First Officer."
The band snickered as if there was some sort of private joke.
"What's so funny?" Kirk said trying not to be irritated and still amazed at this man.
"What's this First Officer's name" Charlie asked running his hands through his thick mane of dark hair. His eyes danced merrily and Kirk thought he was going to start laughing again at any moment.
"It's Spock" Kirk replied.
"Surely not Mr. Unemotional himself, Captain. Mr. No nonsense....Mr. Logical. Surely you don't think that we look anything alike. Tsk! Tsk! I'm sure that he would dispute that fact. You see, I'm most emotional and illogical...and I'm all human...so unlike a serious Vulcan."
Charlie snickered at Kirk's expression which was one of total confusion.
"You know Mr. Spock?" he asked surprised.
"But of course" Charlie replied patting the captain on his shoulder. "He's my cousin."
"Your cousin?" Kirk said in disbelief. "I didn't know Spock had a cousin. I mean I know that his mother is human-"
"Ah yes." Charlie said smiling again "My Aunt Amanda. His mother and my father are sister and brother. Of course, I haven't seen him in years. I daresay that he will not be pleased to see me."
Kirk looked surprised. "Why not? I'd think that Spock would be happy to see his family."
"Ah, well let's just say that whenever he came Earth side which was rare indeed, he'd always leave with a headache. His poor mother always had to cut her visits short. I fear that his human relatives were much too emotional and crazy for a young Vulcan male. Tsk! Tsk! I daresay I got on his nerves quite often."
Bones had been quiet all this time taking everything in. Finally he spoke up.
"I can't believe that Spock would actually allow someone to allow him to become irritated. Jim, I can't wait to get him back on the Enterprise" Bones couldn't contain his glee.
"Now Bones, behave!" Kirk said looking at him and then turned back to Charlie.
"So you have a band?"
"Ah, yes." Charlie said looking pensive. "I'm afraid that I don't possess a lot of the intense love of science and teaching that my father and aunt inherited. I'm a musician. I'm a free spirit so to speak. I daresay that Spock would look at me as the family's black sheep." He grinned at the thought of it.
"I'm Doctor Leonard McCoy" Bones said extending his hand. "I am sure that your cousin would be happy to see you. In fact, I'd love to take you to him myself personally."
"Now Bones," Kirk said "You just let me handle this. C'mon Charlie. Get your crew together, we are going to beam up." He turned to Bones. "First you and Uhura will beam up. Then Charlie, myself and his four band members will beam up. I will handle things from there."
Bones looked disappointed. "Damn!"
"Why don't you go and find Uhura and fill her in?" Kirk stressed staring at Bones intensely.
Bones eyes grew wide. "Of course, captain."
Kirk watched as he walked off and then turned back to Charlie.
"Look, it'll take us a couple of days to reach the planet since we had this detour. Why don't you plan on using this time to get with your cousin and reconnect? I am sure that it'll all work out."
"I doubt it, captain." Charlie said. For the first time Kirk noticed that his face was grim. "Spock never liked me or my family. I'm a few years younger and he avoided me like the plague when we were kids. I know I was a handful and a bit hyper....but still! I can count on one hand the number of times he'd come with his mother to see us. He much preferred to stay on Vulcan with his father. I am sure that he felt that we weren't worthy of his company."
His trademark smile returned. "But still, we are family. I'm not a hyper little kid anymore....I'm a hyper adult now. I will stay out of his way if that is what he wishes."
Kirk shook his head. "I am sure that you shouldn't prejudge him based on your childhood memories. You're both adults now. I am sure that you at least will laugh about it and find that Spock is....well, he's Spock. He's much more tolerant now since he's around us 'humans' all the time.
Charlie looked hopeful. "I hope you're right."
Kirk watched as Charlie gathered his things. He wasn't sure how Spock would take this unexpected development, but he couldn't wait to find out for himself.
