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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.”