Flash Fic Fridays

Flash Fic, April 3, 2026

This is sort of an Easter flash.

“Jim, what are you doing?”

Jim frowned as he looked up from the hard-boiled egg he held in his hand. “Huh? I’m making Easter eggs with Joanna.”

Bones made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a snort. “Yeah. About that. Can we speak privately, please? And bring the egg with you.”

Jim glanced at Joanna. The five year old was busily brushing an egg with a paint brush dipped in pink.

“I’ll be right back, okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Jim rose and followed Bones out of the dining room where they’d set up their egg dying.

“What’s up?”

“Why are you here?” Bones asked.

“Because you asked me to come with you for Spring Break. Are you going senile, Bones?”

Bones smirked. “I know I did. Because you were weeping and wailing back in San Francisco and acting like the world was over.”

Jim felt himself flush. “I did not. There was no weeping. And hardly any wailing.”

“Uh-huh. I thought coming along with me was better than you moping back there for the week but now you’re moping here so I’m not sure there’s much improvement.”

“Well…”

“Let me see that egg.”

Jim reluctantly let Bones take the egg.

“How did you get that dismal gray color on it? I thought it was pink and purple and green.”

Jim scowled. “I don’t know. The colors sort of ran together.”

“And are those eyes and a mouth? Why did you do a frightening face?”

“It’s not frightening. It’s supposed to be a bunny.”

“Only if it’s some kind of rabbit horror movie for Halloween. Geez, Jim. Don’t quit the Academy and decide to be an artist.”

“You’re a big help, Bones.”

“Look, kid…”

“Uh-oh. Whenever you call me kid I’m in big trouble.”

Bones ignored that. “I get why you didn’t want to go to some party town for Spring Break. I know you’re upset about what happened between you and the hob…Vulcan.” Bones quickly corrected. “But you walking around here with your hang dog face isn’t helping anyone.”

“I’m not trying to bring anyone down, Bones,” Jim protested. “Okay, so I thought maybe Spock and I could possibly make some sort of relationship between us work, but I was wrong.”

“Well you couldn’t be any more wishy washy even when just talking about it. Did you actually talk to him about your expectations?”

Jim shrugged. “I started to. And that’s when he said he was going to spend Spring Break on Vulcan visiting his parents.”

“And what did you say?”

“Maybe I should come with you.”

Bones winced.

“Too soon, right? I know. I think that’s what scared him off. He mumbled—and believe me Spock does not mumble—that wouldn’t be wise or something like that. And then he was gone in a flash and I haven’t heard anything since. So, yeah, pretty sure we’re done almost before we got started.”

“Yeah,” Bones agreed. “Not sure seeing each other for a week counts as much of a relationship, Jim. Did you even…I mean… you know.”

Jim rolled his eyes. “No. But we were working our way toward that. I think. We’d kissed. You know both ways. And I actually thought we might spend Spring Break together and it might happen then, but then that’s when he said he was going to Vulcan and I said my idiotic thing.”

“I get it. But you’re acting pretty broken hearted for something that wasn’t even much of a thing yet. That’s not like the Jim I know.”

Jim blew out a breath. “Yeah. I just…I really liked him, Bones. A lot.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll try to be more cheery. Let me go back in there and finish those Easter eggs with Jo and then I think day after tomorrow, I’m going back to San Francisco.”

“That’s a couple of days early. You don’t have to do that.”

Jim smiled. “I know. But I want to. Get a good start on studying for the classes coming up.”

“Now I know you’re delirious. Okay, Jim. I’ll let you do what you want to do.”

“Thanks, Bones. Now why don’t you come help us with those eggs.”

Bones nodded. “Will do.”

Two days later, Jim opened his dorm room and stepped inside. He tossed his carryon bag into his bedroom and went into the kitchen to get himself a cold beer.

Now he had a few days before classes started back to decide what to do with himself. The truth was the whole domesticity in Georgia had been starting to get to him.

He took a swig of his beer and was about to take another when there was a knock on his door.

He set the bottle on the counter and made his way over. Not for the first time he wished there was a peephole in the door because there were at least a dozen individuals he did not want to see.

With a sigh, he cracked open the door and peeked out.

“Sp-Spock?”

Yes, Spock stood there at his door, dressed in black slacks and a navy sweater. Too hot for this time of year, but that was Spock.

Only Spock was not alone. Next to him stood a Human woman, with a flowery headscarf covering a lot of her dark hair, and dark eyes that resembled Spock’s or maybe the other way around because he very much feared this was Spock’s mother. On his doorstep. Unannounced. While Jim looked like something the cat dragged in.

“Jim?”

Jim swallowed and opened the door wider, hoping he didn’t look nearly as freaked out as he guessed he did.

“Spock, uh, what are you doing here?”

“I learned you had returned from Georgia and wished to invite you to have dinner with my mother and me.”

And just like that Jim’s ability to think crashed out. He blinked stared.

“Can-can you excuse me? I’ll be right back.”

Jim turned and left them standing at the door. He went into his bedroom, shut the door and sat on the bed, head in hands.

A moment later the door opened and in walked Spock.

“Jim? What is wrong?”

Spock now knelt in front of him, and he reached over to remove Jim’s hands from his face.

“Talk to me.”

“I-I…I think I’m having a panic attack.”

Spock nodded. “Why?”

“Wait. How’d you know I was back from Georgia?”

“Your friend Leonard McCoy advised me. As it turns out, my parents came to San Francisco, so I did not go to Vulcan, however by the time I had this information you had left to Georgia.”

“You-you really want me to have dinner with your mother? I thought…maybe you didn’t want that. I know it was too soon. But I figured maybe you didn’t want me to ever meet them.”

“I did think, perhaps, that it would be too soon to bring you to Vulcan for a variety of reasons. However, it was fortuitous that they came here and when I spoke of you, Mother wished to meet you.”

“You mentioned me to your mother?”

Spock was silent for a moment. “Was I in error? It was my understanding that expressing an interest in my family meant a specific interest in me, but…”

Jim grabbed Spokc’s face and kissed him hard.

After a moment Spock pulled away. “Then I am not wrong?”

“No, you aren’t. But Spock…I’ve been traveling all day. I look like—”

“You look good.”

Jim puffed out a breath. “I do not. I haven’t showered. I’m sweaty. My hair is a mess.”

“She will like you,” Spock said quietly.

Jim shook his head.

“She will. Because I do.” Spock stood up and helped Jim to stand. “Come. It will be all right, Jim.”

“All right. Okay.”

Spock led Jim back out of his bedroom and saw that Spock’s mom was at least standing inside his dorm instead of outside waiting.

“I’m, uh, I’m really sorry for that,” Jim said to her. “I was a little overwhelmed.”

She smiled. “And no wonder. We just showed up with no notice. I’m sorry about that. I’m afraid that was my eagerness to meet the man Spock won’t stop talking about. My name is Amanda. Forgive me?”

Jim returned her smile. “There’s nothing to forgive. And I’m Jim.
Jim Kirk.”

“And what do you like to eat Jim Kirk?”

“Anything but hard-boiled eggs.”

“What?” She laughed.

“Never mind. Italian?” He glanced at Spock, who shrugged.

“Very well. Italian it is. Let’s go.” She put one arm in Jim’s and one in Spock’s and off they went.

Happy Easter if you celebrate.

April 3, 2026 5

Flash Fic March 27, 2026

“Okay,” his mom said, her hand already on the handle of the hover car. “I’m going in to get those kids.”

“What?” Jim shook his head. “No way. I’m going.”

“Negative. Someone has to stay here with Desda and that’s you. I know what these kids look like. I have instructions from Melanie on their location and what to say to get them to come with me.”

“Mom—”

“Spock can come with me.”

Jim glanced at Spock who nodded his consent.

“I still think I should go.”

“Because you always have to be in charge,” his mom said, opening the door. “I have a phaser and I have Spock. We’ll go in and get those kids and be back here before you know it.”

Before Jim could argue further Spock and his mom were out of the car and gone up to the school that looked a bit more like a prison to Jim.

“I make you pretty uncomfortable, huh.”

Jim glanced sideways at the Orion teen in the back seat. Rather than respond right away, he crawled over the console between his seat and the driver’s seat and put himself in the driver’s seat.

“What are you doing?” Desda asked.

“We might have to make a fast getaway so having me here makes the most sense.” He sighed, his gaze focused on the school instead of the Orion with his eyes. “Maybe.”

“Maybe what?”

“You make me uncomfortable. I never intended to have kids.”

“Why?”

He shook his head. “Not something I wanted. My life was in space. It’s hard to raise a family in those circumstances. It’s a dangerous place and easy to leave orphans behind.”

“Like you.”

“I wasn’t an orphan. You just met my mother.”

Desda grunted. “But your father was killed. My mother died here and until you came along, I had no one but my uncle and his family. And now they are gone.”

“And they were you only family?”

“No. My father is alive,” she said pointedly.

Jim winced, nodded. “Come on, come on. Hurry.”

“You’re anxious.”

“I just want to get home.”

“Where is home?”

“On the Enterpr…” He stopped. No. Not anymore. “San Francisco. Riverside, Iowa for my mom.”

“What were you going to say?”

“You’re full of questions, kid.”

“How else am I going to learn?”

“I was captain of the USS Enterprise with Starfleet. But then the entire crew was grounded.”

“What happened?”

“We responded to a distress signal and were attacked,” Jim told her. “It’s happened before. Lost the whole ship. But this…this was different. We were physically and mentally tortured for an extended period of time. It was…catastrophic. Some didn’t make it. Some who did were never the same. Those of us who mostly survived…we’re not the same either.”

Desda whispered, “Were your attackers brought to justice?”

“No. They’re still out there. Starfleet has closed the space where it happened to all ships.”

They both fell silent then while Jim’s anxiety grew. It was taking too long, wasn’t it? He was going to have to go in after them.

Desda broke the silence. “The Vulcan…Spock. Who is he to you?”

“He was my first officer.” Jim paused. “And my…ex.”

“He dumped you?”

“No. I dumped him.”

She opened her mouth, probably to ask even more nosey questions, but Jim saw movement at the doors of the school and then he spotted his mother and Spock running toward them, Spock carrying both children.

Jim pushed the button that would unlatch the doors and they rushed in.

“Go! Hurry,” Spock ordered. “There is a private shuttle waiting to take us to Earth.”

As Jim pulled away, his foot pressed down on the accelerator, he spotted flashes of gunfire behind them.

March 27, 2026 7

Flash Fic March 20, 2026

Continuing our story—

“I had trouble sleeping,” the teen explained. “I couldn’t stop thinking about meeting the two of you and what it might mean for the future. My uncle is…” She paused, her voice cracking. “Was good to me. He and my aunt were decent, and they loved my cousins and me. I was never mistreated.”

“But?” Jim’s mother prompted.

“Uncle Tolar got involved with the syndicate. I used to hear them talking about it and how he got in too deep. I don’t know what happened exactly but it all went bad. That house we just left? We’d only moved there a short time ago. We had to flee our old house because they knew where we lived. My uncle thought we were safe at the new place.” She let out a little sob. “But I guess they found us.”

Jim saw his mom put her arm around the girl’s shoulders. He turned to look forward.

“How did you end up in Spock’s hover car?” he asked.

She hiccupped. “Because I wasn’t sleeping, I heard them arrive. I knew-I knew someone shouldn’t be coming to the house then. I knew it was bad. I wanted to warn everyone but there wasn’t much time. Uncle Tolar came out of his room, he’d heard them too. He saw me and told me to run.”

“Easy,” his mother said. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say more.”

Jim bit back a denial on that.

“I went out the window by the kitchen and tried to figure out where I could run, how I could get away with them right there in the house. Then I saw the Vulcan coming toward your window. I saw his vehicle. I knew he had to be coming for you, so I got in the car and hid there.”

“Thank goodness you did,” Mom said.

Spock had remained silent until then. Now he said, “Who is she exactly, Jim?”

Jim blew out a long breath. “Remember Gaila, from the Academy. She was Uhura’s roommate.”

“Yes, I recall.”

“We were involved…before the test. Before everything with Vulcan. I guess…she was pregnant and never told me. Desda is that child.”

“And yet you found her when you were here,” Spock replied.

“Coincidence, I think. We’re here for those kids. My mom’s grandniece and nephew. Gaila’s brother, Tolar, recognized me as the man Gaila had been involved with and brough Mom and me to his house. I don’t think he knew what was about to happen.”

“He didn’t,” Desda insisted. “I think he wanted us to meet, though. That maybe you would take me with you when you left Orion.”

“You must have other relatives here.”

“Jim!” His mother admonished.

Jim pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just…I need time to think. Time to get this in my head.” He glanced at Spock. “Wait. How are you here? Your dad said you were undergoing Kolinahr.”

“Yes.”

“Was it successful?”

Spock looked at him, his expression unreadable. “We are about to arrive at the school where your relatives are alleged to be. Please prepare for arrival.”

March 20, 2026

Flash Fic March 13, 2026

Jim couldn’t believe Spock was there, outside the window, hand outstretched toward them. He wore all black and blended in with the ominous darkness out the window.

Within the rest of the house Jim could still hear blasts and explosions.

Jim glanced toward the bedroom door, heart pounding.

“Tolar and his family.”

Spock gave barely a shake of his head. “They are beyond help. You must hurry. They will come your way within minutes, perhaps seconds.”

Jim swallowed down the sorrow at the thought of Desda, a daughter he never knew about, gone already. He could see the mirroring sadness in his mother’s gaze and also fright.

“Jim—” Spock began.

“Go, Mom. Now. Spock’s right. We have to get out of here now.”

Jim helped his mom scramble out of the window and into Spock’s arms to help her out and onto solid ground. Just as Jim was climbing through to follow her, the door to their room was blasted open. Spock pulled him the rest of the way out.

“I have a vehicle ready.”

“We need to get to Kinavvern to get my niece’s children,” Mom said as she hurried into the hover vehicle.”

“It is wise to leave the Orion colonies,” Spock replied.

“Sure is,” she agreed. “But not without them.”

Jim exhaled. “Yeah, she’s right. We need to get them.”

“Very well.” Spock’s hover car shot away from Tolar’s house and the massacre that had occurred there.

“What was that?” Jim asked, when he could find the words.

“I am not sure.”

Suddenly Desda popped up from the back of the hover car. “I can tell you.”

“Desda!” his mother exclaimed.

“It would seem we have a stowaway,” Spock remarked, speeding up ever faster.

“Yes. Jim’s daughter.”

Spock glanced his way, his eyes widening in surprise.

Jim shook his head and turned to Desda.

“All right. Spill. What did we walk into there when Tolar brought us there?”

March 13, 2026

Flash Fic March 06, 2026

Dinner at Tolar’s house was awkward, honestly, and most of the time Jim was in something of a fog. Fortunately his mother managed to carry any conversation Tolar and his family looked for from them.

Jim sort of remembered providing a couple of brief responses. He felt…bad…guilty he didn’t know. He had never known he had a daughter nor ever wanted one, honestly. He couldn’t recall having any conversation with Gaila about kids. But based on her not telling him about Desda, maybe she had known after all.

He was glad she was being raised by her uncle and his wife. That was good. He didn’t know the first thing about raising a Human kid let alone an Orion one, and despite her blue eyes, Desda looked passable as full Orion.

Jim didn’t want to interfere with anything to do with Gaila’s family. Obviously Tolar had feared that he would but he definitely would not.

After dinner his mother and Desda talked in the corner and he could hear Desda asking if she might be able to keep in touch via messaging.

Jim wanted to tell his mother not to get her hopes up that she would have a relationship with her granddaughter. He was pretty sure Desda’s family did not want that.

“Your mother seems taken with my niece,” Tolar said, walking up to where Jim stood to observe them.

“She, uh, sorry. She doesn’t have any with either of her children. Or I guess she doesn’t know with my brother. The point is, she’s a little eager. But I promise we aren’t interested in taking over. I know you are her family.”

Tolar nodded. “We are. But if Desda wants to message your mother or you, I find no objection to that. You must be tired and you must get an early start to collect your family from the school; Let me show you to your room for the night.”

Jim did not sleep well. He woke every fifteen minutes with a sense of foreboding he could not shake. He dozed off and on but never had a restful sleep. His mom had wanted to talk about Desda but Jim told her they’d talk in the morning. It had been a long trying day and he could see she was as exhausted as he was.

He was glad she had been able to fall asleep. But he dozed sitting up, phaser at the ready. He felt no real threat from Tolar and his family but Jim had learned over the years you couldn’t be too careful.

So given all that, Jim was surprised to find himself waking to the sound of gunfire.

“Jim?” His mom’s frantic voice.

“Ssh. Get down.” He sprang up and scanned the dark room, but he saw no one in their room. But he also realized it was coming from within other parts of the house and mixed with the gunfire he could hear screams.

“Jim, what is it?” she whispered.

“I don’t know, but it isn’t good.”

The window to the room opened and Jim turned raising his phaser.

“Come with me. Now.”

Jim’s heart felt like it might explode. “Spock?”

March 6, 2026

Flash Fic February 13, 2026

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.”

February 13, 2026

Flash February 06, 2026

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.”’

February 6, 2026

January 30, 2026 Flash

“I’m sorry, Mom. I know how hard that was for you.”

They were back on the road, headed to Cedar Rapids to the commercial shuttle bay for the shuttle that would take them to San Francisco and then one that would eventually take them to Orion.

It had been a gloomy visit. Warren hadn’t remembered his sister Winona, Jim or even his own daughter. But his mom had tried and her gentle patience with her brother had touched Jim.

“It was yeah,” she admitted. She glanced at him. “What about you?”

Jim sighed. “I can’t pretend I didn’t think about Chekov. But his situation was a little different than Uncle Warren’s. He ended up in a facility because he was catatonic. After that mission…” Jim shook himself. “He was too young for that to happen.”

“I don’t think there was anything you could have done, honey.”

“Logically I know that. I feel guilty sometimes. Not because of what happened, because, well, of course. But because when they notified me, he’d passed, I was relieved.”

She reached over and patted his leg. “It had to be difficult seeing someone you cared about and who you felt responsible like that, a shell of what he once was. No one would blame you for feeling relieved. He wouldn’t suffer anymore.”

“That’s what I tell myself. Everyone tells me there was no chance he’d ever come out of it, and I trust what they said, but sometimes I just don’t know how to feel. I don’t want to dwell on it but it’s hard not to.”

“Well, not many people dwell on tragedy as much as I have so I get where you’re coming from. Try to remind yourself, as I try, that he wouldn’t want you to suffer so much over it. You know? The best we can do is to honor who they were and how they lived. And not waste our own lives. Took me a long time to learn that.”

Jim nodded and looked out at the road. “Were you close when you were young to your brother?”

“Not as close as I wish we’d been, honestly. He was older by a few years. Thought I was a brat.” She laughed. “He was right. Here we are. Let’s hope it doesn’t take too long to get to San Francisco.

The shuttle from Cedar Rapids to San Francisco was uneventful. But shortly after they arrived, his mother stopped next to a bar.

“Why don’t you go in and order us something to drink? I need to get our tickets and a few other supplies we’ll need, so go on in there and wait for me.”

Jim frowned. “How long will we be there? I didn’t pack anything.”

She smirked. “I know. Leave that to me. That’s part of what I need to get. I won’t be long. And I’m not sure. I’m hoping at the most we’ll be there overnight and on our way. I don’t anticipate any problems.”

“I always anticipate problems.” Jim retorted.

“Yes, I know. Go in. Get a refreshment and relax. I’ll join you soon.”

With a grimace, Jim went through the swinging doors, they were made to look like old-fashioned saloon doors and headed for the bar counter and ordered their drinks.

He was just carrying them over to a booth when he heard his name called.

“Jim? Jim, it is you.”

He set them on the table and turned to greet Nyota Uhura, who flung her arms around him to embrace him.

January 30, 2026

Flash January 23, 2026

So I got an idea for a story that if I posted it on AO3 right now they’d come after me with pitchforks because I’m not updating the stories there right now. So I decided to post it here on the blog for several weeks (minus February 14th which will be as previously reference related to last week’s flash).

So it’s a continuing story with a somewhat more mature cast (as the actors themselves are really) so I hope you will bear with me while I post it here. Thank you.

Photo by Guillaume Meurice on Pexels.com

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

Jim opened one eye to peer wearily at the cheerful visage of his mother.

“What’s up?”

“You are hopefully. Come on, up and at ‘em. We have things to do.”

Jim blinked. “We do?”

“Yes.” She pulled off his covers. “Up you go. And while you’re at it, shower. You’re starting to stink.”

He frowned and sat up, glancing toward the window of his childhood room. At least it wasn’t snowing.

“What time is it?”

“Just past seven. But we have a long trip ahead of us. And shave while you’re at it. You’re looking scruffy.”

Before he could question his mother further, or argue if he wanted to, she was out of the room and heading back downstairs.

With a sigh, Jim scrubbed his face and got out of bed. He headed for the bathroom and turned the shower on.

When he came down thirty minutes later, showered, shaved and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt she had coffee ready for him, which he gratefully accepted.

“Where are we going exactly?” He took a large swallow of his coffee.

“To pick up Melanie’s kids.”

“Who is Melanie?”

She gave him a look that oozed disapproval. “Your cousin. My brother’s daughter.”

He wracked his brain trying to remember her but couldn’t. He wouldn’t have seen in her in decades so he cut himself some slack.

“So, uh, why exactly?”

“They need someone to take care of them and I guess that’s going to be me. So I have to go. And I can’t leave you here by yourself so you’re going with me.”

He drank more coffee. “You could, you know.”

“Not in the state you’re in. And anyway it would do you good to get out and about. You’ve been here two weeks and haven’t left the house.”

“I’ve been outside and to the barn more than once,” Jim protested.

“You know what I mean.”

He grimaced. “I’m supposed to be on vacation. You know. You’re not supposed to have to do anything.”

“Vacation my ass. And anyway ever since they took your ship, you’ve been like this.”

“Have not. Up until my vacation I went to work every day teaching cadets how to be swell in Starfleet.”

“Swell.” She rolled her eyes. “You know you didn’t want to leave space.”

Jim nodded. “I didn’t. But that last psych eval convinced them I should take early retirement, so I did. And they made me an admiral, so how can I complain?”

She put her hand on his arm. “We all know what you and your crew went through on that last mission, Jim. No one blames any of you if it became difficult to continue.”

“Yeah, okay, whatever. So where is Melanie that we have to get her kids?”

“Jail. Eventually prison when she gets convicted.”

“Convicted for what?”

“Murdering her husband. Stabbed him fifty times.”

Jim stared at his mother. “What the hell?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Out of her mind on drugs or something. That’s for her lawyer and the courts to decide. But unless we want those kids to go into foster care, we have to get him.”

He followed her to the coatrack where there coats were and grabbed his to put on.

“Wait, what about your brother?”

His mother gave him yet another look. “You could maybe pay attention when I tell you things. He’s in a facility now for memory care. After his wife passed, your Aunt Caroline, he started forgetting a lot. Turns out he has dementia. Melanie’s the only kid they ever had. Her husband’s folks passed years ago. So, we’re it. Or I am, anyway.”

“Sorry,” Jim said, sincerely. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

She hugged him. “It’s okay, Jimmy. I know how it’s been for you. I’ve packed a bag for you.”

“Where are we going anyway?”

“Orion.”

“Orion?” Jim was flabbergasted.

“I did say it was a long trip. Melanie was married to an Orion. Buckle up, honey. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

January 23, 2026

Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

Fan Fiction and Personal Ramblings

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