I’m trying this again, a fan fiction site separate from the one I use on AO3. For now I’m not widely advertising it while I see what I do with it.
I’m posting a work in progress that takes place after Star Trek Beyond, called Where My Demons Hide.
I’ll probably post photos and stuff that inspire me. Right now I’m fixated on a picture of Zachary Quinto in the snow that I just have to use for Spock.
In the brief time that apparently AO3 was up I posted a new chapter on A Cup of Cheer.
It’s down for the count again, for the second time in as many days, no idea what’s going on there, but it’s frustrating for sure
Jim was on high alert the whole way to Tolar’s house. He saw looming dark silhouettes everywhere. He wasn’t sure if they were his imagination or real, but he kept his hand on his phaser and his gaze darting everywhere.
He felt a weird pressure in his head he couldn’t quite explain. He hadn’t eaten or drank anything since they’d arrived in the Orion colonies. It wasn’t pain exactly, but he noticed it, and it was somehow familiar, but the source eluded him.
At about fifteen minutes after they’d left the area of the jail, they reached a home built under a large leafy tree.
“We’re here,” Tolar announced.
He opened the front door and preceded them in.
His mom glanced his way. “Okay?”
“Not entirely sure we have a choice, but yeah, let’s go.”
They stepped inside to the smell of cooking food and the sight of three children playing in the central room. Two were young, one appeared to be fourteen or fifteen, Jim guessed.
Tolar came forward with an Orion woman who looked to be around the same age as him.
“This is my wife, Myrla. This is James Kirk and his mother…”
“Winona,” his mother supplied.
“Welcome to our home. I was just preparing dinner,” Myrla told them. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll return to it.”
Jim smiled. “Sure.”
“And these are our children.” Tolar looked intently at Jim then. “Actually, the oldest is my sister’s daughter.”
“Gaila?” Jim asked, surprised.
“Yes. As I said, she survived because she missed getting on the Farragut. After the battles, she chose to leave Starfleet and returned here. Desda was three when her mother passed and we took over care of her.”
Jim nodded. “I see.
“Desda, come here. I would like for you to meet someone,” Tolar called.
The teenager rose from her place sitting on the floor and approached them. She had the same red hair Gaila had. She had bright blue eyes though. Jim blinked. He glanced at his mother who stared at the girl.
“Desda, this is James Kirk and his mother, Winona.”
Desda gave them both assessing looks. “You are my biological father, is that not correct?”
“I…uh.” Jim’s stomach twisted as he looked to Tolar.
“It is true,” Tolar replied. “Gaila arrived here pregnant. She told us that you were the father. When I saw you earlier I feared you came for Desda. She is part of our family now.”
Jim shook his head. “No. No. I…I didn’t even know. Are you sure?”
He was having trouble breathing.
Tolar shrugged. “Look at her eyes. Do they not seem familiar?”
Jim moistened his lips with his tongue. “This is…unexpected. But no, as I told you, we came for my cousin’s children. I…I wouldn’t removed Desda from her home.
Myrla returned. “Dinner is served.”
I’m a bit under the weather so I’m going to have to skip any updates here and on AO3 for a couple days. Should be on track again next week. I hope then to finish A Cup of Cheer and get two installments of mu blog story up.
They exited the shuttlebay in Orion’s main city into a bustling, crowded scene of pedestrians and hover vehicles. Jim let his mother take the lead of where they were going and she soon approached a hover taxi. She gave the directions after they entered and soon the taxi took off.
It wasn’t as easy as he’d thought it was to let her take the lead and follow her around everywhere. Even as a kid that had not been their dynamic. And he’d spent too many years in charge of an efficient and loyal crew. There’d been a reason he gravitated to the captain’s chair on any ship he was on. It was where he felt comfortable. Needed.
Still, this was his mother’s mission to collect Melanie’s children and so as the hover car pulled up in front of a rather dingy building wedged in-between two equally dingy buildings he tried not to be alarmed. He’d been to Orion, all those years ago when he was young and stupid, and he was not unexperienced in street smarts, either.
Jim followed her inside the jail reception area and glanced around as she walked up to the Orion male behind the desk.
Although it might have been less than clean on the outside, the reception area, by contrast, was spotless. To the side was even a cart with water and other beverages and some containers of snacks. Across from that was a cushioned bench.
His mom turned to him. “He’s going to let me in to see Melanie. You stay here, okay?”
Jim opened his mouth to protest.
She put her hand on his sleeve. “I think it’ll be better just me. Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a jiff.”
“Me? Worry?”
She chuckled softly. “Thanks for coming with me, honey. It means a lot.”
Then she turned and went through the open door the Orion dude had opened for her.
He closed it and went back to his chair behind the desk.
Jim took out his communicator and stared at it. He had a sudden urge to speak to Spock. Weird. Of course, it was seeing Uhura earlier and hearing about their divorce. Not that it changed anything. It had been Jim’s decision that it didn’t work between them.
He looked up, “Do you get reception enough in here to contact New Vulcan?”
The Orion male shrugged. He was big and muscular with a bald head and he vaguely reminded Jim of someone he’d once…
Anway. That was the old Jim.
“If it doesn’t work in here, go outside. It should be fine.”
Jim glanced toward the windows and noticed there was an electrical storm going on, lightning dancing across the sky. With a frown he flipped open his communicator.
Fortunately, it looked like he had reception, but he moved a little further away from the Orion as he connected.
But it was not Spock who answered, but Sarek. Jim recognized his voice.
“How are you, sir? I was looking to speak with Spock.”
“I am well. Yourself?”
“Good.”
“Spock is not here, James.”
“Oh. Well. Um, where is he?” Jim thought it a little odd that Sarek had Spock’s communication device and that he had even answered it when Jim called.
He did not imagine the slight pause but then Sarek said, “He is in the process of undergoing Kolinahr.”
Jim’s vision blurred for a second and he sucked in a breath. He didn’t know why, really, that surprised him. Shocked him to his core. For Spock had intended to do exactly that before he’d joined Starfleet.
“Was this an emergency?” Sarek asked.
Jim blinked and returned to reality. Because of course. Why wouldn’t he?
“No. I…can you just tell him I was thinking about him?”
“Of course, James. Was there anything else?”
“No.”
Then Sarek surprised him by saying, “Are you on Orion?”
Jim laughed, he didn’t know why. “Yeah. You can tell that?”
“Indeed. I am familiar with the signal code.”
“Secret mission with my mom. Anyway, I’ll let you go, Ambassador. Live long and prosper.”
“Peace and long life.”
As Jim closed his communicator, he wasn’t sure a long life is what he wanted.
Hi Everyone
I am still working on getting something up for Friday but it might be short. I am trying though.
I know there is so much that needs to be updated. My so-called Holiday story for this year, now last year, A Cup of Cheer is still not finished and I want to finish it and get back to my other works.
The depression is hitting me hard right now. I miss my cat. I want another cat or two or three (ha ha) but we had decided to wait until after a short trip we are taking in April but now I don’t know if that was the right decision. I don’t know. I sometimes think I won’t ever have a pet again and then I get super depressed.
All this to say that yes I know I’m a loser or a slacker or whatever right now. I acknowledge that. I never thought I’d be the one abandoning stories for months at a time. That’s me now. I think I’ve just been at this too long. I don’t know.
Anyway, I’m gone for the weekend so I really need to get something up for Friday and then I guess we will go from there. At least I mostly know where this blog story needs to go next so that’s a good thing.
We interrupt our continuing story to give a sequel to the flash on January 16.
Jim closed his eyes and sighed, leaning his head back against the sofa cushion in his quarters just as Spock walked in via their shared bathroom.
They still maintained separate quarters, mostly because now Spock used his quarters for meditation and sometimes reports when he didn’t want to keep Jim up in Jim’s quarters, but most of the time, when Spock slept, he stayed with Jim in his quarters.
“Hey,” Jim greeted Spock with a weary smile.
“Are you well?” Spock asked immediately, concern in his tone.
“Mm. Just tired. It’s been exhausting working this all out for Bones, but worth it.”
“You will be glad to know that our guests arrived, and Doctor McCoy does not have any idea.”
“I am glad, thank you.’ Jim yawned. “I guess that means I should go greet them.”
“You can rest a little longer. You are still recovering from traumatic injuries. I welcomed them aboard on your behalf and they are settling in and preparing for the ceremony.”
Jim nodded and picked up the cup of tea he’d made himself earlier. He took a sip. He’d never thought he could get into tea drinking the way he had before Spock. But Spock had changed so much about him. Not that he had given up coffee. No way.
Spock hesitated and then said, “I have something for you.”
“Hmm?”
“I was going to wait but I think perhaps it is time to give it to you now.”
“What is it?”
“Given our deepening relationship, I thought it an appropriate expression of our commitment.”
Jim frowned. “Wait. Are you going to ask me to marry you?”
Spock arched a brow. “Technically we are already married.”
“In the Vulcan way, yeah, I know.”
“While I am not opposed to a Terran marriage ceremony that is not what this is.” Spock tilted his head. “I hope that does not disappoint you.”
Jim brushed that off with a wave of his hand. “What is it then?”
“I will be right back,” Spock promised, and departed through the shared bathroom once more.
Jim sipped his tea, wondering what it could be. He loved Spock like crazy, but it wasn’t like the Vulcan to be romantic. Sure, it was Valentine’s Day but as far as Jim knew Spock had never observed it. Jim hadn’t either for that matter, except maybe as a child giving his classmates Valentines.
Spock returned with a large square box that holes in it. And as Spock came closer to Jim he heard a distinctive high pitched squeaky sound.
Mewwwwwwwww
Jim straightened. “Wait. Is that—”
Spock set the box down on the floor next to Jim, reached in and withdrew a tiny orange kitten, which he then deposited in Jim’s lap.
“Oh. My. God. He is soooo cute.” Jim melted as he picked up the kitten and he started to purr instantly. “It is a boy, right?”
Spock nodded. “To be named as you see fit.”
“Where in the world did you get a kitten?”
“I had Leonard’s daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law bring it aboard with them.”
“This is…” Jim’s eyes brimmed with tears. “This is the best Valentine’s gift ever.”
“It is not meant to be specifically a Valentine’s Day presentation, Jim.”
He laughed as the kitten swiped a paw at him. “I know. But the timing is perfect. And I love him. And I love you. And now I’m going to want to spend all day, every day in here playing with this little guy. Damn it.”
He could feel Spock’s amusement through their bond.
Jim sighed. “We’d better go. Time for Bones’s surprise.”
****
“Jim, what the hell is this all about?” Bones demanded. “Making me come to the rec room. I’m a busy man.”
Jim smiled. “I’m sure you are.”
Mewww.
“Did you just mew at me?”
Spock stared at him. “Did you bring Marmalade with you?”
Jim grinned. “Well. I mean, how could I not?”
“Okay you two are even more nuttier than usual,” Bones protested. “What the hell?”
“Spock got me a kitten for Valentine’s Day.”
Bones eyed Spock. “You replicated a cat?”
“Certainly not. It was brought on board.”
“And that’s where your surprise comes in, Bones.”
“My what? Jim, I don’t have time for this nonsense.”
Jim squirmed as the kitten moved against his chest and popped his head out the top of Jim’s collar.’
“You really are crazy.”
“Bones, it’s time for…well…just come out, will you?”
As Bones’s daughter and fiancé suddenly walked into the rec room, Jim was satisfied to see Bones eyes bug out and that he was clearly speechless. Who would have thought he could manage that?’
“Daddy!” Joanna threw her arms around Bones who hugged her close. “We’re getting married on the Enterprise. Captain Kirk is going to marry us.”
Bones looked at Jim. “You did this?”
He shrugged. “Who else?” He swayed a little and Spock was instantly at his side helping him to sit. “Sorry I still get a little lightheaded sometimes.”
“You back in medbay when this is all over,” Bones said, turning toward the man who stood quietly by.
“Daddy, this is Mark.”
“Humph.”
Jim grinned and let the kitten swat at him with his paws. Spock sat beside him.
“Your plan was successful.”
“I’m a corny soft hearted sap at heart,” Jim told him.
Spock leaned over to capture Jim’s mouth with his own. “That I know.”
Jim hadn’t been to Orion in decades. Once in his first year at the Academy he and Bones had accompanied Gary Mitchell there and they’d had, well, an interesting time. But that was back in his somewhat carefree party days, which he’d long left behind.
He sat next to his mother as they made the shuttle trip there. He didn’t have any idea what to expect. His mother hadn’t expected involvement with the Orion father’s family, but Jim knew families were complicated and you never knew when one would come out of the woodwork and declare possession.
He hoped for his mother’s sake it would be as simple as she hoped to collect his cousin’s kids.
Not that he was looking forward to kids running around the farmhouse. Once he had established that his mother had control of things, he’d be headed back to his new life in San Francisco.
“Wasn’t she married to Spock?” his mother asked out of the blue.
Jim couldn’t pretend not to know who she meant, though the question was unwelcome.
“Yeah. They’re divorced now she says.”
“Mm. Do you…well do you have any regrets?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I just know that love isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.”
She smiled faintly. “No?”
He shrugged. “I loved Spock. More than anyone I’ve ever known. Still do. And we tried. Or I think we did. I’m the one who ended it. But I think he would have eventually realized we weren’t going to work, too.”
“And yet he didn’t make it work with Nyota Uhura either.”
Jim sighed. “I probably pushed that. Them getting back together. I wanted…if I couldn’t make Spock happy then she should.”
“But she didn’t,” his mother said gently.
“No.”
“I sometimes wonder if that mission would have been better for you if you had still been with Spock.”
“Maybe. Or worse. In the end that’s what caused the break. My inability to let him completely in. I can’t. So, do I have regrets? I guess so. Maybe that I even tried. It made me want things I just can’t have.”
“Jim…”
He shook his head, reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, Mom. I’ve made peace with it. And I honestly wish they’d been able to stay together. But couples break up, I know that.”
“You and Carol.”
“Exactly. And now somewhere out there is a son I’m never going to know.” He sighed again. “So yeah. Maybe I should have avoided romance altogether.”
“You’re definitely cynical.” She squeezed his hand back. “Maybe you should check on Spock.”
“I could, sure. Maybe.” The pilot announced their impending arrival. “All right. It’s time to roll.”’
Uhura moved out of his arms and gave him a tired smile. She looked good, though. She wore black slacks and a camel-colored sweater with big gold hoops in her ears.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Jim told her.
“Same.”
He gestured to the table. “Join me?”
Uhura nodded. “Let me just get my drink.”
He slid into the booth and a minute or two later she came back carrying what looked like an orange soda. She sat across from him and gestured to the drink beside him.
“Shirley Temple?”
“I’m here with my mother. She stopped drinking a while back. She’s joining me shortly.” He picked up his whiskey sour. “Where’s Spock?”
She stared at him just as she brought the orange drink to her lips. “Spock and I aren’t together anymore.”
He frowned. “You aren’t?”
“We’re divorced. Last year.” She shook her head. “Didn’t he tell you?”
“We don’t keep in contact,” he admitted softly.
Uhura closed her eyes briefly. “Who told you about Pavel passing if it wasn’t Spock?”
“Admiral M’Benga. On-on behalf of Bones.”
She lowered her gaze, eyes sad. When she looked back at him there was just the barest wet sheen there.
“It was a simple enough divorce. No kids. No bond.”
“You guys didn’t get bonded on New Vulcan?”
Uhura rolled her eyes. “No. And I can’t believe you don’t know that either. We were going to, after you married us, that was the plan. But the Elders on New Vulcan said we weren’t mentally compatible.” She grimaced. “After that Spock retreated even farther away from me. We should never have forced the marriage, but I guess we all thought that was the thing to do at the time. Have one moment of joy after everything. Trouble was the feelings we once had for each other couldn’t be recreated no matter how hard we tried. And we did try.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, and he was. He’d wanted it to work between them after it hadn’t worked between him and Spock.
“You really should talk to him, Jim.”
He ignored that and forced a smile. “How are you doing then? I’m guessing you’re going somewhere since you’re here at the bay.”
She brightened. “I’m going to Alonder 2. I might not be with Starfleet anymore, but I took a position as a communications director with the Federation’s President. She’s sending me to Alonder 2 for a conference related to their possibly becoming part of the United Federation of Planets. Do you know it?”
“I’ve heard of it and its richness of minerals.”
“Which is why they are desirable to join.” An announcement came over the speakers and she began to scoot out of the booth. “And that’s me. We should really get together soon, Jim. I know how difficult it’s been with the others, but I’d like to keep in touch.”
He nodded. “Okay. Take care of yourself, Nyota.”
“You too. And talk to Spock.”
She hurried off then just as his mother came through the swinging doors of the bar. She glanced back at the way Uhura had gone and then joined Jim at the table.
“Was that Commander Uhura?”
“Former Commander Uhura, yeah. She works for the President now and is off to Alonder 2.”
His mom nodded. “I’ve got our bags packed and already on the shuttle for Orion.” She picked up her Shirley Temple. “Paperwork is in order too. And I have a shot for you.”
He finished off his whiskey sour. “A shot?”
“Orion pheromones can be dangerous and you’re a magnet for attractive members of both genders no matter the species as well as a magnet for danger.” She pulled out a syringe from her purse. “Stick out your arm.”
“Is this really necessary?” But he stuck out his arm, and she pushed up his sleeve and pressed the needle in.
“We need to stay focused on the mission, Jim. Get those kids and get out.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 