Story Related

Flash Fic, 04/15/2020

“Nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

Jim Kirk eyed his best friend over the sugared rim of his fancy drink. They were enjoying a rare reprieve from final exams at Academy at a little bit of a froufrou bar some distance away from the campus. By choice. He smiled wryly. “You’re in a good mood.”

Leonard “Bones” McCoy snorted. “And divorce. I forgot that.”

“Now you’re just being petulant.”

“Well.” Bones shrugged. “That last test kicked my ass.”

“So you’re testy,” Jim cracked.

“Do me a favor and don’t become a standup comedian.”

“As if.” Jim put his hand over his chest. “Still. You wound me.”

“You’ll live. I’m surprised you’re here hanging out with me and listening to me bellyache. Surely you have a date with your mystery man.”

“Nah, he’s busy.”

“Yeah? He taking tests too?”

Jim smiled. “Yeah, it’s test-related.”

“Hmm. Just wondering when I’m going to find out who lover boy is.”

Jim chuckled. “Believe me that does NOT apply.”

“Still you’ve been seeing him for weeks and keeping it a secret. Ugly?”

“No.” Jim took a sip of his chocolate hazelnut martini.

“Married?”

“Don’t think so.”

“Then why the secrecy?”

“Don’t want to jinx it. I don’t have the best track record, Bones. And he’s…shy.”

“Well I…” Bones stopped speaking as the door of the bar opened and in walked a tall, elegant Vulcan dressed in an all black professor’s uniform. “Oh well that just killed the mood.”

“You were in a bad mood anyway. What’s your objection to…Spock!”

“Don’t call him over here,” Bones said hotly.

“Over here!”

Spock noticed Jim, nodded, and headed in their direction.

Bones stared at him. “Oh for…shy? You gotta be kidding me.”

Jim ignored Bones and gave Spock a blinding smile. “All done?”

“Indeed. Doctor.”

Bones muttered and gestured to the bartender. “Another. And make it a double.”

April 15, 2020

Flash Fic April 13, 2020

Spock stared at the chess board, surprised to find that the captain had just checkmated him. It wasn’t altogether unheard, of course. The first time they had played, so long ago now, Kirk had beaten him. His methods were unconventional and hard to decipher enough to analyze a pattern. Sometimes it seemed he came out the winner by sheer force of will. Since then, however, more times than not, Spock won.

And he had expected to win this time as well.

His captain seemed…odd. Well, more so than usual. And certainly distracted. But perhaps it was Spock who had found himself distracted.

“Captain.”

Kirk glanced at him, a question in his eyes.

“I wish to know the nature of your inquiry.”

“Oh.” Kirk shrugged. “Nothing, really. Just, um, guess I wanted to be sure you were all right. That was a difficult mission. Sarpeidon was…”

“A planet doomed to destruction. Yes. And Zarabeth doomed with it.”

“Right. But if you had feelings for her…well. I’m sorry. I guess, I’m thinking myself of my own…” Kirk shook his head. “Not shortcomings exactly.”

“Shortcomings, Captain?”

“When the Rigellian Fever hit the ship and Rayna…never mind. Our situations were dissimilar. Except I thought I felt love for her and…”

“You did not?” Spock asked.

Kirk shook his head, smiling faintly. “In just a few short hours? I was not myself. The situation the crew found itself in. And certain stirrings within me that came from a different source. It doesn’t matter. I acted foolishly and should have concentrated on the mission and not hormones.”

“I see.”

“And really, Mr. Spock. I don’t mean any of that to sound like a reprimand for you. I guess this whole thing just has me thinking of my own actions. Maybe that’s why I keep thinking of you and Zarabeth.”

“Captain, though I did feel love for Zarabeth while on Sarpeidon, it did not last. It was the circumstances in which I found myself in, the atmosphere. The changes I went through in that time period. Once I came back aboard the Enterprise, that love, those feelings, were gone.”

“So.” Kirk nodded. “You don’t wish you had stayed behind with her?”

“I do not. My place is here.” Spock did not add ‘with you’. But he thought it.

“And…what if…was there a possibility of a child?” The Captain wouldn’t look at him. Spock wasn’t quite sure why.

“There is very little likelihood of that. All indications are that I am sterile and even were I not, any child created with Zarabeth is long deceased.”

Kirk’s gaze met his then but what was behind those hazel eyes, Spock could not tell.

“Another game, Mr. Spock?”

Since he had no real desire to quit the captain’s company and return to the loneliness to be found in his own quarters, Spock replied, “Yes, that would be agreeable.”

April 13, 2020

Flash Fic, 04/10/2020

Decided to go with something a little different. This will likely be a letter Jim will write to his mother in part of a future chapter of Our So-Called Life. So this is a flashy snippet, if you will.

Dear Mama

I hope this correspondence finds you well.

I apologize for the tardiness of my reply. And for the rather formal tone of this message. I find that I am experiencing, perhaps, unwilling influence by the company I have been keeping of late.

In all seriousness and fairness, I am getting along well with Spock and his family here on Vulcan. All Vulcans have treated me fairly and kindly although impersonally in my interactions with them. I believe they find me…fascinating…in their own way. A bit of a curiosity.

It’s hot here. I mean really hot. But I am okay as long as I have my breathing shots and stuff like that. And my personal bedroom is kept cool to my liking. The food is rather bland for the most part, though Spock’s mother has made an occasional Earth treat for the two of us.

As for the school here, I am adapting well, and can keep up with my classmates admirably. That’s a direct quote from a certain someone. My days are filled with study and learning Vulcan. Apparently that is required of me.

My nights are spent playing chess, reading, and playing Earth board games with my hosts. I beat them every time. I swear I am not bragging.

It’s not as terrible as I thought it would be. But I am rather bored much of the time. They just don’t like to do much here. I once asked Spock if he’d like to go out and play catch with me. He looked at me quite perplexed and said, “Catch what?”

I have not tried since.

I will write more often. But for now, Spock’s mother is setting up Scrabble. She made Vulcan cookies. I have not yet found out if they are a bland form of cookies Vulcans enjoy or cookies shaped like Vulcans. Are you smiling? I will let you know.

Your son, Jim

April 10, 2020

Flash Fic, 04/08/2020

It was unlike Spock to be late, though he had tried everything he could not to be, but it hadn’t been able to be helped, and so, consequently, as he rushed home, his anxiety level had, as his husband would say, skyrocketed.

San Francisco had decided to pour rain on his journey home, which only soured Spock’s mood as he made his way, on foot, to the apartment building where the apartment he shared with Jim could be found.

He used hand recognition to access the front doors of the building and then scurried over to the stairs rather than the lift.

When he reached the floor where the apartment was, the fifth, it was as he feared. Jim was stepping out the door, luggage bag clutched in his hands. He turned to look at Spock as Spock approached.

“Thought you weren’t going to make it,” Jim admitted.

“I almost didn’t. One moment.” Spock brushed past Jim and into their apartment, rushing into the bedroom to seize his already packed bag. He returned to Jim, waiting in the hallway.

“You could have caught the next shuttle,” Jim told him. “I left a note. It’s just I had to—”

“Leave, yes. I know. I prefer we travel together.” Spock pursed his lips, trying to keep a most illogical emotional outburst from happening.

“You okay?”

“Affirmative. I just…I prefer we spent all our time together.”

Jim smiled and touched his fingers to Spock’s. “Me too, honey. You ready?”

Feeling illogically relieved Jim had not departed without him, Spock fell into step beside him. Their shoulders touched as they walked in sync.

April 8, 2020

Flash Fic, 04/01/2020

“And then I…”

“Help! Help!” Chekov cried, rushing into the medbay.

Jim turned around from talking to Bones to stare at Chekov in shock. “Ensign, what—?”

“He iz crazy, Keptin. Help me.”

“Who? What the hell?”

“Mister Spock! He Is going to kill me.”

Jim laughed. “Spock is not going to kill you.”

Chekov grabbed for Bones. “Doktor. He is running after me, hide me.”

“Now see here, Chekov, what is this all about?” Bones asked reasonably.

“There is no time to explain!”

“Ensign, explain yourself now. That’s an order.”

Chekov straightened and looked over his shoulder at the door. “It was a little prank, sir.”

Jim frowned. “A prank?”

“Ya. April Fools. I tell to the Kommander that you and the Doktor are inwolved in an affair as a little joke.”

“What?” Bones demanded. “Me and him? I may throw up.”

“Bones,” Jim said sharply. “But that’s just what I was about to tell you before Chekov ran in here. I’m pretty sure Spock’s going into his time and is entirely irrational.”

“What?”

Chekov’s eyes were huge. “Yes! This is vhat I am telling you. He iz trying to kill—”

The medbay doors exploded open and Spock stormed in, looking darkly menacing. He took a step toward Chekov, who squealed and dashed behind Jim and Bones.

Jim held out his hands. “Now, Spock, it was…”

But Spock charged toward them, not to Chekov, but to Bones. And his hands were outstretched toward McCoy’s neck.

“Spock! No!” Jim exclaimed, trying to grab onto his husband and first officer. But Spock swatted him as though he was just a fly, sending him flying into the bulkhead. For a moment, Jim was dazed, and he heard Chekov squealing in terror.

“Stop it, Spock! You’re not in your right mind,” Bones tried, just as Jim saw Spock’s hands wrap around Bones’ throat.

“No! Kommander! Stop. You vill kill him!”

“You think to steal him from me,” Spock roared.

“Spock!” Jim scrambled to his feet and rushed at Spock. “Stop it.”

Just then Bones fell limp to the ground. His mouth hung open and his eyes bulged wide. Jim knelt down beside him.

“Bones! Bones! Damn it. Spock, you’ve killed him.”

“Oh no!” Chekov cried. “It was…it was a joke. Just a little joke.”

Spock suddenly straightened and stared blankly at Chekov. “Very little, Ensign.”

Chekov blinked. “What?”

Jim burst out laughing. “April Fool’s, Pavel.”

“What?”

Bones pulled his tongue back into his mouth and sat up, cackling. “That was too good! Lord, you shoulda seen your face, Chekov.”

“A joke?” Chekov shook his head. “You vere in on it, Mister Spock?”

“Obviously. And frankly with what you tried to pull, you deserved it,” Spock said, simply. He reached down and hauled Jim to his feet.

“Hey! What about me? I’m the one you strangled,” Bones grumbled, getting to his feet himself.

“Are you all right?”

“Well, I…”

“Captain.”

Bones scowled.

Jim grinned. “Well you did kind of toss me into the wall pretty hard. Lost my breath for a second.”

“I will make sure you get it back later,” Spock murmured.

Jim stepped closer.

“Okay, that’s it, out of my medbay. It’s April Fools, not Valentine’s Day. Everybody out.”

“Bridge. Mr. Spock?”

“Indeed, Captain.”

“A joke,” Chekov muttered. “I thought he killed the doctor and it vas a joke.”

April 1, 2020

Flash Fic Monday, March 30, 2020

“What’s on your mind, Jim?”

Leave it to Bones, Jim thought, to know that something was eating him. Truth be told, Jim wasn’t even sure if he could pinpoint it himself, exactly.

He had stopped by sickbay because he and Bones were scheduled to have dinner in the mess together as they did just about every Monday. But really he didn’t feel much like it.

“Zarabeth,” he said, musingly.

“Is there a question there?”

Jim shrugged. “Maybe. Was she beautiful?”

“She was, absolutely.” Bones messed with one of the biobeds. “Give me a minute and I’ll be done.”

“Did she…did they…” Jim shook his head.

Bones glanced his way. “Are you asking me what I think you’re asking?”

Was he? Probably.

“Uh.”

Bones rolled his eyes. “Yeah, she did, and they did.”

“So, um, Spock was really, he liked her, huh?”

“He did. But you gotta understand Jim, that was a different time for Spock. Back when they didn’t control their emotions the way they do now. We were back in ancient times.”

“He wanted to stay with her?”

“Yes, he did. But again, he wasn’t himself, not really, and the truth was, Zarabeth was already gone for our purposes. She would have been alive a long time ago.” Bones smiled slightly. “Gives you a headache if you think about it too much.”

Jim couldn’t deny he had a headache. And he wasn’t really sure why the whole thing bothered him so much. Because Spock could obviously be with whoever he wanted to be with.

“You know, Bones, think we can take a raincheck for tomorrow for dinner?”

Bones looked up from his scan. “Oh?”

Jim waved at his head. “That headache you spoke of.”

Bones nodded. “Sure thing. You okay? Other than the headache. You want something for it?”

“Nah, it’ll pass. See you later, Bones.”

Jim made his way to his quarters, pausing only briefly outside of Spock’s. He shook his head and moved on to his.

Few minutes into changing out of his uniform, he commed Spock.

“Feel like chess, Mr. Spock?’”

There was just the barest hesitation which had Jim wondering if he should have.

“Of course, Captain. The rec room?”

“How about my quarters? I’ve already got my uniform half off and I don’t feel like being too much on display. Say fifteen minutes?”

“Very well. Spock out.”

He got Spock tea and a glass of whiskey for himself and already had the chess board set up when Spock arrived, punctual, of course.

They were seated across from each other, Spock concentrating on the game, while Jim pretended to.

“Mr. Spock, mind if I ask you a personal question?”

Spock glance up at Jim, brow only slightly quirked. “You may ask.”

Jim laughed a little. “All right. Zarabeth.”

He spotted the tightening of Spock’s shoulders immediately.

“What about her?”

“Just…I don’t mean to pry. It’s just Bones said…”

“The doctor usually does not know when to keep things to himself.”

Jim smiled wryly. He couldn’t deny the truth of that.

“What did you wish to ask, Captain?”

He felt a little foolish now, but he’d already broached it.

“Do you…did you love her?”

“Vulcans do not feel love in the same way that Humans speak…”

“Yes,” Jim interrupted. “but, Spock, did you? Love her?”

For a moment, he thought Spock would not answer. And when he did, Jim thought, maybe, he hadn’t wanted Spock to answer.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, Spock.” Jim looked down at his chess pieces. He made his move. “Checkmate.”

March 30, 2020

Fan Fiction and Personal Ramblings

Category

Follow Blog via Email