IC: Only Nine Survived || Prologue
⌥ Only Nine Survived ⌥
Chapter: Prologue
Characters: James Kirk, Kevin Riley, Thomas Leighton, Kodos, Christopher Pike, Leonard McCoy
Pairings: ???
Rating: R
Category: Horror, angst, drama
Summary: The events that happened on Tarsus IV changed James Kirk forever. Here's the story.
Familiar noises buzzed in his ear - the deep voices, the snoring not five feet away, clinking metal and dripping liquid. He didn't move and regulated his breathing as he became aware of the world continuing on around him. The cot underneath was squeaky and he knew that if he moved even an inch then they'd hear it and know he was awake. Instead, James took in the sounds and saw the figures moving about the room in his mind. The sight was familiar enough that he could judge movements by the sound alone. Sheriff Fitz crosses to the half-full coffee pot to pour himself a cup while Deputy T2407 sat at the console, downloading data into the police mainframe. In the cell next to him there was a man arrested for public display while inebriated was still sound asleep from the way he was snoring.
A clink told James that the Sheriff was putting sugar into his cup and stirring it. "What is it this time?"
"Hacked the school's communication system, disrupted classes the entire day," the deputy responded stiffly.
There's a very small chuckle from the sheriff. "Good thing it was the last day of school then." A pause followed as he stopped to sip at his hot beverage. "He didn't come?"
Instantly he knew who they were talking about and he fought the urge to stiffen. "Negative. However, she will be here in approximately ten minutes."
This time there was no stopping his physical reaction and the cot let out a creak that echoed in the small cell, making it sound louder than it actually was. Despite the fact that he'd surely drawn their attention James didn't move until he heard the clink of the keys jingling as Sheriff Fritz crossed the room. Slowly he pushed himself up into a sitting position as he yawned and stretched, eyes opening to the sight of the plain light gray walls and the Sheriff walking toward him.
"I specifically asked for a ten o'clock wake-up call last night. And an espresso but I'll settle for the stuff you think passes as coffee." James said getting to his feet and moving to the bars where he leaned his arms on the horizontal beam.
"Yeah right, kid. Keep dreaming. How about you fix up that mop you call hair before you momma gets here," the Sheriff retorted easily.
"Nah, she's going to be mad no matter what my hair looks like so why bother?" He pulled back as the Sheriff unlocked the door so he could slip out and head to the bathroom. James never used the one in the cell and they never made him. At thirteen this place was more his home then the farm was, having been arrested a dozen times since he drove the car off the cliff four years ago. All of them had been minor offenses after the car incident but the small town of Riverside definitely noticed that the youngest Kirk had become a troublemaker. Normally his stepfather, Frank, came to pick him up from the police station but it seems that Winona was back on the planet.
It was the first time since the news that Sammy had run away and not been found. Though James knew. His elder brother contacted him privately every now and then, the last of which had been two weeks ago when Sammy told him that he was going off-planet to live. The news had made James a little depressed as it meant that the number of times they talked would go down. Still, he'd been happy for his brother who had been so excited about seeing new worlds and all the people he would meet.
James was drawn out of his thoughts and meager attempts to make his fly-away dirty blond hair lay flat by a woman's voice carrying into the bathroom. While he couldn't make out her words it was obvious by her tone that she was mad. He straightened his shirt, making sure that the bruise he'd received two days ago from Frank couldn't be seen before heading out. No one denied that Winona Kirk was a beautiful woman even when angry. Her blond hair was tumbling down out of the up-do she'd done it in and her clothes were wrinkled suggesting that she'd slept in them overnight while taking a bus from San Fransisco to Iowa. If he guessed right then she'd just landed when she'd gotten the news about him and come straight here.
As she ranted about how foolish he'd been and what was he thinking Winona signed all of the documents to have him released. Not once did she lift her eyes to look at him and for that James was grateful. Whenever his mother looked at him there was always a hint of heartbreak in it, she tried to hide it but James had learned what it was a long time ago. She never looked at Sammy like that but then again Sammy wasn't a constant reminded of what she'd lost like it was with James - the son who'd been born the same day the love of her life died. It was the reason she spent so much of his life off-planet. He couldn't deny it -- Winona's lack of presence, the emotions she couldn't hold back made him glad they didn't see each other much. Yet at the same time he wanted it so badly. He wanted the looks of pure love she gave Sammy, he wanted to wake up to home cooking every morning and have her tell him goodnight before bed but James just couldn't tell her.
Finally when all of the paperwork was done she put a hand firmly on his shoulder and steered him out of the station. Parked on the street was a rental hovercar, a sure sign that she wasn't staying long. Once they were inside the car his mother heaved a huge weary sigh as she pulled out in the light traffic heading back towards the farm. He fixed his eyes on the window, not looking out at the same old scenery but watching Winona's reflection. Every now and then she'd glance his way with disappointment and that ever-faint hint of pain.
"I swear, James, sometimes I don't know what to do with you," her voice came and he almost winced at the tone. It almost sounded like she was giving up on him. "What's gotten into you lately? You used to be such a good boy."
All he did was shrug at the question. Of course he knew exactly what had gotten into him, what had caused the change but he couldn't bring himself to answer her in fear of making her hate him.
"Grounding you doesn't work and neither does taking away your stuff," she huffed in exasperation. "Frank and I are going to have to have a long talk to rethink your punishments. Until then, you're not allowed to leave the house."
James looked over at her then, eyes wide with surprise. "But mom, I promised Johnny that I'd meet him down by the river to go swimming."
"You should have thought about that before pulling a stunt like that one," her tone came curtly.
He didn't say another word but instead hunched down in his seat with his arms crossed indignantly over his chest as blue eyes were fixed on the farmland passing by. As soon as the car pulled to a stop outside of the farmhouse he bolted from the car and stormed into the house, slamming his bedroom door closed behind him as he flopped face-down on his bed with his face buried into his pillow. It took maybe two hours for the yelling to start and in that time James hadn't moved except to turn his head and look towards his brother's empty half of the room.
It was dark when he realized the fighting had stopped and that he hadn't eaten since he'd been served dinner in jail last night. Even though his stomach rumbled in protest, James didn't make a move until a soft knock came on his bedroom door. He sat up and mumbled a quiet "come in". The door opened with a quiet squeak and in stepped his mother, a tray in hand consisting of a sandwich, chips and a glass of milk. She set it on the nightstand before taking a seat on his bed which was a clear sign that they'd come up with some sort of idea.
"Frank and I have talked, Jim. You aren't making his life any easier by not listening to what he says and he's going to busy this summer. So pack your things, we're leaving tomorrow night." Her voice was soft but stern.
Those brilliant blue eyes widened in shock. Could she really be saying what he thought he was? "I'm going with you?" It would be like a dream come true for him. Traveling the stars with his mother had been something he'd always wanted from the very minute she started going off-planet for Starfleet again.
"Only to San Fransisco. From there you'll catch a passenger ship to Tarsus IV to say with your aunt and uncle in the colony on Tarsus IV. They'll have the time to keep an eye on you. I want you to be good for them." She reached out to pet his hair but he pulled away from her.
Like usual Winona was pawning her troublesome son on someone else. Really James shouldn't be surprised - she'd been doing it most of his life with babysitters and Frank but it was the first time she'd ever sent him away. Once again Winona reached out but he defiantly turned his head to stare at the wall. A moment of silence passed before the weight was lifted from the bed and a soft click came, signifying her departure.