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Title: The Flavor of Laughter, Part Two Chapter Six (18/36)
Author: Brytewolf
Beta:
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awarrington Series: Star Trek XI
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Rating: PG-13
Words: ~6,800 (Total so far, over 90k)
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Summary: He is Starfleet’s youngest captain. But he is untried, and inexperienced. What kind of captain will James Tiberius Kirk become? A story in three parts. Slow-building, will eventually be K/S.
Previous Chapter
Part One, Chapter One
A/N: Well, here it is. This is officially the 18th chapter overall. So if there are 36 chapters total, it means we are halfway through this story :) And at this point, I have hit over 90k words (By the official count, which isn't considering author's notes, etc). I thought I'd be lucky to hit 100k with the entire story, so I am very proud of myself xD. Also, this week I have a wonderful, FANTABULOUS, utterly BEAUTIFUL banner made by the bestest gal in the whole wide world --
avictoriangirl !!!In the last two weeks I have gotten two very, very special presents that I've been anxious to share. FANARTS! MedicatedManiac illustrated the last scene from Chapter Five, when Kirk decides he'll never be outside of Spock's bubble again! And surrenderdammit went back to Part One, Chapter Eight and illustrated Kirk's babysitting of the wittle bebe Vulcans. I AM IN LOVE WITH BOTH OF THESE.
The Flavor of Laughter by ~MedicatedManiac on deviantART
For Brytewolf - Proper Care by ~surrenderdammit on deviantART
Chapter Six
Unusually, Spock is one of the last to arrive at the pre-mission briefing, making his way to his captain's side and stands next to him – really next to him. Kirk lets out a little internal cheer as Spock positions himself with about a hand span of space between their two shoulders. Not content with the distance that was between them that day on the Observation Deck, Kirk has continued to slowly inch closer to the Vulcan. A month after the successful completion of that diplomatic mission, and his patience and diligence are finally paying off as Spock himself ignores the bubble of personal space he routinely maintains, because it no longer applies to Kirk.
His enjoyment of his new status is short-lived as they both take their seats and he slips back into duty, focusing on the up-coming meeting. Distracted as he irons out the details of the briefing in his head, he bites down on the pointer – hard enough to crack the slim instrument.
"That is unwise, Captain," Spock murmurs quietly, reminding Kirk again that his hearing is acute enough to pick up even the small sounds of crunching. "It is possible for you to damage your teeth with such an action, which will require a visit to Sickbay for corrective work to be carried out."
He removes the pointer from his mouth, grimacing at the taste of the material – it hadn't registered until that moment, "Meh! Tastes horrible anyway."
"Indeed," Spock comments, slight signs of humor in evidence in the area around his eyes.
Butting into the conversation, Bones turns to give Kirk a raised eyebrow, "If you plan on hurting yourself, kid, make it on an away mission – at least then we can all pretend it's not your fault."
"I'm just trying to give you something exciting to do, Bones," Kirk grins, sticking his tongue out at his friend. "I know how much you complain about treating all these scrapes and burns, I figured dental work would be new and interesting for you!"
The doctor chuckles at the comment, and opens his mouth to reply – but Chekov beats him to it.
"Oh, zhis ship is always interesting, with you as zhe keptan!" the young genius asserts, a big grin on his face.
Sulu, on the Russian's other side, pokes Chekov lightly in the ribs with an elbow. "You shouldn't say that."
Kirk watches as Chekov turns to his friend, a quizzical expression on his puppy-dog face. "Why? It is zhe truth, yes?"
The pilot smiles back, patting the whiz kid on the shoulder. "Just trust me on this one."
Chekov nods, shrugging his confusion off and turns to Kirk expectantly.
As Scott, the last one to arrive, enters with an apology and takes his seat, Kirk clears his throat to gather attention back to himself. The quiet conversations that had sprung up around the table cease, and everyone looks up at him intently.
His hand rubs the muscles at the back of his neck, as they've suddenly gone tight. While he's done several of these pre-mission briefings in the last month and a half since they left orbit around Quakel, he's still getting used to having his crew so focused and dependent on him and his command decisions. Before the Narada, he basked in being the center of attention, but the way they look at him, look up to him, reminds him of all his responsibilities and how much he stands to lose if he makes a fatal error of judgment.
"The Admiralty," Kirk begins, "has decided that since the Enterprise is already in the Regulus Quadrant, they are going to send us to the Kassae Sector. The Federation hasn't had the opportunity to explore much of that Sector, and there is a spatial anomaly located in the region that they want us to investigate. Some of you may know it colloquially as 'The Briar Patch' – they want to know what exactly it is, and if it poses any danger to life. Before Mr. Spock goes into the specifics of the mission, are there any questions so far?"
Scott is the first one to break the silence. "If Ah'm hearin' ye correctly, we're headin out of Federation space an' won't have a chance to stop by a space port an' do some upgrades, will we? Ah have some ideas on how t' make the cabins more comfortable without losing beds, but we need t' be docked, an' some time with the crew gone, for them t' be completed."
Kirk grins, never ceasing to be amazed by the Scot's dedication to the ship. Or his tinkering abilities. More comfortable cabins would certainly help with crew morale, as while the Enterprise's are better than most, they'd never be considered roomy. But even though Kirk thinks it's a great idea, he can't resist the opportunity for some gentle teasing. "No, Scotty, not anytime in the near future. I'll try to swing a visit after this mission, if it'll make you feel better."
Grumbling softly to himself, the engineer leans back in his chair, "Nae, not truly. But it'll have to do."
It's hard to hold back a chuckle at Scotty's obvious pout, but he manages. Turning to Uhura, he asks, "Can you make sure to remind me – the next time I have a briefing with the Admiralty – my chief engineer requests time at a space port for some 'necessary repairs?'"
Uhura smiles at him, sharing in the joke, as she replies, "Of course, Captain." And then bends down to dutifully add it to her notes on the PADD before her. Kirk knows she doesn't need the written reminder – he saw her eyes light up at the mention of more comfortable cabins – and that it is mostly for the engineer's benefit, as Scotty is watching her from the corner of his eye.
Comfortable silence settles around them as everyone contemplates their new orders, Spock is about to begin the more in-depth briefing when he is interrupted by the intercom unit on the table chirping to life.
Leaning forward, Kirk presses the button to open the channel. "Kirk here."
"Captain, there's an incoming transmission from Starfleet," responds the Communications officer on duty, smoothly professional. "It's Admiral Pike, sir. I told him you were in a briefing, but he still told me to put him through."
"Relay it to the main viewscreen here, Ensign," he orders, spinning in his chair until he's facing the screen.
"Aye, Captain," says the officer, and a moment later the main screen displays the familiar view of an Academy office, Admiral Pike's silvered head front and center, seated at his desk.
The professionalism Kirk had cultivated while speaking with the duty officer disappears, eclipsed by a radiant grin. "Admiral Pike! It's been a while – how's it been, old man?"
The Admiral appears gruff, but there is warm familiarity in his eyes, "I am doing well, Captain, thanks for asking. I hear you haven't done anything disastrous to my ship in the last week."
His grin turning into a smirk, Kirk replies; "Oh, she's my baby now!"
Pike's gruffness is erased as a slow smile spreads across his face, "And that's how I know you'll continue to take care of her."
"Always, Admiral," is Kirk's immediate response, all seriousness for just a moment as he leans forward.
"Good," Pike says with a nod, and glances down at the PADD Kirk knows is just out of view. What's also out of view is the wheelchair that every person in the conference room knows Pike will be tied to for the rest of his life. Kirk watches them observe their former captain with grave respect tinged with sadness – and knows they love him almost as much as Kirk does.
Pike's smile is comfortable as he goes over the information he finds on the PADD, nodding every so often to himself. "I'm actually glad I caught you in the middle of your pre-mission briefing."
Kirk nods to the Admiral, aware of a coiled tension in his belly as he waits for the ball to drop.
"There's been a last minute adjustment to your orders," Pike explains, looking past Kirk to the senior crew seated around the table. "Not only are you to survey the anomaly and give us a full report, we have one more stop for you in the Kassae Sector. It's a planet in the Servin star system – an M-class, and Starfleet wants it thoroughly explored so they can tell if it's fit for colonization."
"Understood, sir."
"I've sent you a data packet with all the necessary information. I have every confidence in you all that you'll do a good job of this."
Kirk feels his tension dissipate, replaced with relief and a warm sense of accomplishment. He has – they have – progressed a long way since the Quakel mission, if additional responsibilities are being entrusted to them by the Admiralty.
Pike's slow smile gets a little wider, as he looks on the young crew with the same pride Kirk feels. "Remember, Kirk, if anything comes up contact us as soon as possible."
"Aye, sir." Kirk readily gives a salute, one which the Admiral easily returns.
"Keep the lady in one piece, Captain. She was mine first, and I'm counting on you," Pike jokes.
"I can't ever forget that, sir – you won't let me!" Kirk snaps back with his grin.
Pike raises a lone eyebrow – an expression he must have picked up from his former first officer – and then closes the channel without another comment.
Even though its name is safe, innocuous and pedestrian sounding – like a piece of a fairy tale told to children – the Briar Patch sends shivers up and down Kirk's spine.
After traveling at maximum speed for several days, they have just dropped out of warp at the very edge of the spatial anomaly. Silently, Kirk thanks Spock for having advised him to maintain their distance from the region – getting too close would have certainly led to their destruction.
"Zhese are zhe coordinates, Keptan," Chekov confirms what is obviously apparent on the screen. "It appears as if zhis anomaly is wery large, yes?"
At a loss for words, Kirk revels at Chekov's ability to make understatements at the oddest of times. They aren't even close to the anomaly, and in the viewscreen there is nothing but Briar Patch – no ending in sight.
"I can see that, Ensign," Kirk replies, eyeing the field of space matter before them. "Lieutenant Sulu, make sure we don't go anywhere closer to that thing until we have a full work up on its composition."
With a nod, and an 'Aye, Captain!' Sulu manipulates his controls until they're in a hold position.
Satisfied, Kirk turns toward the Science Station. "Commander Spock, are the probes ready?"
Intent on the monitors before him, and the readings that are scrolling across the screens, Spock does not look up as he answers. "Yes, Captain. They have been loaded for some time."
"Launch when ready," Kirk orders.
A brief pause, as the Vulcan inputs a specific sequence. "The probes have been launched, sir; we shall begin receiving telemetry in 5.63 minutes."
A grin in response, Kirk keeps his eyes on the viewscreen as the probes streak forward and disappear somewhere inside the cloudy mass before them.
Kirk waits, patient for once as the probes do their job. He can tell the instant they have spiraled open and begin collecting their information, as the computers around the Bridge start beeping as they receive the new data. And then every officer is occupied in a flurry of activity, as the information gets processed by the ship's supercomputers.
Kirk is able to monitor the incoming data stream on his PADD, but is the only person not involved in interpreting the results. He finds himself drawn to the view on the large screen, scrutinizing the anomaly before them. It looks angry, an oppressive dark scarlet in color with flecks of something hard and black floating in the gloom. Kirk can see how it got its name – it actually does resemble a briar patch; if said briar patch had leaves the color of blood and sharp ebony spikes for thorns. But he also knows from some of the data they're receiving that these "thorns" are monolithic chunks of rock that could easily pierce the Enterprise's smooth hull if something were to happen to their shields. A fleeting hope crosses his mind that the probes will come back with a result that it's too dangerous for them to enter that malevolent-seeming cloud.
Spock's voice breaks through the sound of tapping fingers and incoming data. "Preliminary reports are in, Captain. It appears as if the mass is not as solid as has been previously reported. Telemetry indicates the solid debris is consistent with the remains of a supernova; however the anomaly also contains two intact star systems. Readings suggest the presence of pockets of metreon gas, together with a previously unknown form of radiation and inexplicable vacuum fluctuations."
Ripping his eyes from the dread-inducing vision taking up the forward viewscreen, Kirk gladly feasts on the sight of his first officer's form.
"How passable are we talking about here?"
"From this data I have concluded that, provided we avoid the metreon gas clouds which will render the impulse engines inoperable, the anomaly is safe to enter at sublight speed to a distance of four point seven AUs from our current location. However in order to avoid overheating the impulse manifolds, we cannot traverse it at a velocity greater than thirty three percent impulse power."
Not what he really wanted to hear, but it gives them the ability to get the information Starfleet truly desires.
"Are you sure?" Kirk asks, and is immediately treated with a glance that can only be interpreted as affronted. He softens the question with a half-smile that he hopes conveys his trepidation at the thought of entering that – thing.
"I have reviewed the calculations twice, Captain. There is no doubt that we can safely enter the anomaly to the specified distance. Beyond that is an unknown since they were surface probes."
The clinical response does nothing to assuage Kirk's worries as far as the cloud goes, but at least the mildly affronted look has disappeared. He takes some small comfort in the knowledge that Spock is getting good enough at reading his expressions that he knew what he meant.
Sighing with resignation, Kirk turns back to the viewscreen and the anomaly that fills it, "Understood, Commander." Kirk presses a button on the arm of his chair and leans forward. "Attention all hands. Preliminary reports show the anomaly we have been ordered to investigate is safe to enter. We're analyzing all data as we receive it; however, we're dealing with the unknown here, so as a precaution, I want anything out of the ordinary to be reported to the appropriate department head, no matter how inconsequential it may seem. Kirk out."
Something makes Kirk turn back to Spock, who gives him a nod of approval – the small action gives him an inexplicably warm feeling. With a smile, he turns back to the viewscreen. "Sulu, proceed into the anomaly, ahead one third impulse and keep a close eye on where those metreon clouds are. Chekov, power all shields to full. I don't want any of that – debris – causing unnecessary damage." Both the helm officers chirp their affirmatives, as the Enterprise floats gently forward.
Kirk swivels in his chair. "Uhura, keep scanning all frequencies. There may be intelligent life in those star systems and who knows what else could be hiding in there; I don't want anything ambushing us while we're carrying out our exploration."
"Aye, Captain," she murmurs from her station.
As they begin to infiltrate the edges of the cloud, Kirk realizes he is bracing for some sort of impact. Risking a glance back, he looks at Spock and can see there is no sign of tension in his body posture. Even with his back turned to him, he can imagine the expression on his face is one of keen interest and expectation.
Resolving not to feel any fear if Spock so obviously isn't, Kirk shifts his attention back to the viewscreen with something closer to curiosity. Despite Sulu's best efforts at avoidance, the arm of his chair beeps as the shields register impact – but nothing serious enough to weaken them. The helmsman throws an apologetic look over his shoulder before returning his eyes forward.
The entire Bridge crew– excluding Spock – seems to release an unconscious sigh of relief as they slip further inside without incident. Nothing dangerous, so far, at these speeds.
"Keep it nice and slow Sulu," Kirk commands unnecessarily, as the pilot maneuvers the ship with a finesse that belies its size. "We want to be able to stop immediately if necessary."
It's an irrational thought, given all the background noises made by the bridge computers and equipment, but Kirk thinks he could hear a pin drop in the silence as Sulu flies the Enterprise around any debris large enough to be a threat to the integrity of the shields. During his training, Kirk went on a field trip to the Sol system's Kuiper Belt and, while some of the asteroids there were big, none were as huge as the planetoids Sulu has to fly around. Every now and again, flashes of shimmering light in the viewscreen show the shields are doing their job, as they deflect various bits of floating matter.
"Spock – how wide do the reports state this anomaly is?" Kirk asks, keeping his eyes on the viewscreen.
Several beeps ensue behind him, as Spock pulls up the necessary information; "On our current trajectory, it measures six hundred forty nine AUs in diameter; however the size varies, with the greatest diameter being zero point seven six three light years."
"Okay. Sulu, get us as close to the center as it's safe to do so on our current heading, and then we'll send off another set of probes."
"Aye, Captain," the helmsman replies, glancing down at his display to see how far in they've already navigated.
At one third impulse on a course that circumnavigates the larger debris and avoids pockets of metreon gas, it takes them over four tense hours to reach the center of the cloud. Once there, Sulu brings them to a gentle stop. Kirk notices with approval that the helmsman keeps his hands on his controls, ready to respond if any emergency arises.
After checking his displays one more time Sulu announces, "The center of the anomaly is directly in front of us, Captain."
"Great work, Lieutenant," Kirk responds automatically, before he addresses Spock. "Commander, launch the second set of probes. Let's get those readings in as quickly as possible so we can get out of here and make our way over to the Servin system."
This time, as soon as the probes leave the protective veil of the shields, they disappear into the oppressive red mass around them. The silence on the Bridge lingers, as everyone hurries to collect the necessary data so they can leave.
Kirk is relieved when, many stressful minutes later, Spock reports from his Science Station. "All requested data has been collected, Captain. Starfleet's mission parameters regarding this anomaly have been fulfilled."
"Thank you, Commander," Kirk murmurs, knowing the Vulcan can hear his low tone. The atmosphere has served to suppress even his vibrant personality, and he just wants to leave.
He gives the order to Sulu to reverse their course, and they gratefully make their way out of that forbidding place.
After they leave The Briar Patch behind them – with not a scratch on the lady's hull, thanks to Sulu's phenomenal piloting skills – they arrive at the Servin star system ahead of schedule the following day, dropping to impulse on its outer edge.
The vibrant blue star, over three times the size of Sol, in the center of the system is beautiful to behold. Intellectually, Kirk knows that this means Servin burns hotter than Earth's own and, given its much larger mass, that it will become a brilliant red supergiant towards the end of its life cycle. But knowing this does not diminish his awe at the sight in the viewscreen, or his incredulity that something so beautiful could exist so close to The Briar Patch, which gave him the creeps.
With its intense heat and radiation, they stop close to the orbit of the outermost planet in this system. The screen automatically adjusts so the image is safe to view without damaging their eyes, and Kirk takes a few moments to watch the roiling blue colors on the star's surface.
Because it burns hotter than Sol, Servin has fried the inner planets to crunchy husks, denying any life that might have existed on them. Only the sixth planet is in that perfect zone of close enough to get warm – but not too close to burn off atmosphere.
Servin VI is also subject to the perfect conditions to create an Earth-like oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere, which means the away teams are going to be able to explore the planet's surface without worrying about the quality of the air. According to the reports, the planet is covered in plants that photosynthesize, creating a rich ozone layer.
Without needing an order, Sulu turns the Enterprise towards the planet on their leeward side, coming in close to the orb. The planet that comes into view is as different from Earth as its star is different from Sol; instead of the rich blues and greens Kirk is used to, it has ochre and orange and subtle pink blazoned across its surface in delicate patterns.
"Put us in orbit as close to that large continent as you can get," Kirk orders, indicating the land mass in the upper left quadrant of the globe. It is a conscious choice, and not something picked at random – that area of the planet will soon be entering daybreak, and will give them plenty of time to explore the continent before darkness forces them back to the ship.
"Aye, Captain," Sulu responds, easing them well above the top layers of the atmosphere and coming to a geostationary rest – twenty five thousand kilometers above the surface of the planet.
With a confident smile on his face, Sulu programs the ship to automatically make corrections to maintain orbit, flying at over 10,000km an hour to maintain an orbit close to the planet's continent; they will stay in this exact spot for as long as they need to. After he finishes with the required calculations, Sulu turns to his friend with a grin on his face.
"This is the closest I can get, Captain."
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Kirk replies, distracted as he watches the blue star rise over the crest of the planet. The two objects complement each other beautifully, the oranges against the blues. He gets lost in the sight – until a shift of fabric informs him that someone's standing at his side and the faint wash of heat tells him who.
Glancing up, his eyes meet two orbs that are infinitely more interesting than anything on the viewscreen. Kirk can't help but smile. "It's a beautiful view, isn't it, Spock?"
The Vulcan regards the image on the viewscreen for a moment, then turns back to his captain. "The current view is indeed aesthetically pleasing."
His smile turns into a wide grin. "Are the landing parties ready?" he asks, finding it, at least for the moment, hard to think around the warmth that fills him when he's near the Vulcan.
"They are prepared, and waiting to begin transport," Spock murmurs in his low voice.
"Just what I wanted to hear!" he responds enthusiastically as he rises from his chair. "Sulu, you have the conn."
Facing his first officer, he grins. "Are you ready for some fun?"
The question earns him a tilt of the left eyebrow in mock disapproval as they enter the turbolift. "I have yet to determine exactly what you mean when you state an activity is going to be 'fun,' Captain. Whenever you use that term, it typically means something or someone – usually yourself – is going to be damaged in some way."
Kirk's hand shifts, but falls back to its side before he brushes the Vulcan's arm. "Not all the time, Spock. Fun means different and interesting and…well...usually a high chance of explosions." Undaunted, he leads the way from the lift to the transporter room as they continue their discussion.
His grin is bright enough to light up the corridor all on its own.
(*)
The puppy is stretching his legs. Kirk watches, shielding his eyes from the sun, as Archie leaps and jumps, panting, through the long grass-like vegetation on the planet's surface.
They had spent the planet's morning setting up command headquarters in the clearing, and then the landing parties had gone back to the ship to eat. Because he'd be staying at the HQ while the survey teams did their work, Kirk decided it would be good to take Archie to the surface for some exercise. He is incredibly happy he did – the puppy has been penned up in the Enterprise, without any real exercise, for too long. But he has one worry, one he hopes will be assuaged.
"You're sure that the radiation levels aren't strong enough to damage him?" he asks, turning to glance at Spock, who is standing close at his side, their shoulders almost brushing. As first officer, Spock is in charge of coordinating the efforts of both the teams on the ground, and back on board the Enterprise. As science officer, he is responsible for overseeing the collection and analysis of the data gathered by the various teams and, because they're investigating the planet to see if it's habitable by Humans, there are a lot of teams – people checking on geological factors, chemical makeup of air and soil, weather and climate differences, and mapping the flora, fauna and microbes of the planet. Spock is the one all the reports from the section heads and teams will get handed to as the day ends, and is in charge of coordinating the next day's efforts in the same areas, so this small moment together is probably the only time Kirk will get to see the Vulcan for the next two weeks in an unofficial capacity.
"I am certain, Captain," Spock murmurs in easy reassurance, "as the depletion of the ozone layer was created by the gases expelled from the volcanoes on the southern hemisphere of the planet, and not as a result of damage from chlorofluorocarbons as in the early 21st century of Earth. Therefore, the radiation leaking through is not extensive and should have no adverse effect on the crew, or the canine."
"But we haven't found any native creatures yet… " he can't help but add, his brows furrowing slightly as he considers.
"I am certain that we will find an explanation for this," Spock responds, his eyes focused on the dog running around in the field and completely unconcerned about the topic at hand. "Also, if their destruction was caused by abnormally high levels of radiation for this planet, it has no bearing since the level is not of a sufficient severity to have a detrimental effect on any living being from Earth. The Federation would not be considering this planet for colonization, otherwise."
Satisfied, at least for now, Kirk lapses into silence as he allows himself to take pleasure in watching Archie enjoy his freedom.
"One could be forgiven for believing the animal has boundless reserves of energy, Captain," Spock says after several minutes of watching the dog cavort around the field.
Kirk's mouth spreads in an easy grin, eyes following the puppy as he approaches the limit of how far he's allowed to get from his master. "He's not even close to his limit, Spock, trust me! He'll run for a good fifteen minutes more; then pass out for three hours."
"So he expends energy for periods of 20 minutes, and then is forced to recover for six times that length of time? There is a certain inefficiency in this approach."
"He's only six months old," Kirk explains, turning to glance at his friend. "He's got a lot of energy to get rid of and the rest of that baby fat needs to be burned away."
"I see," Spock replies, pretending Vulcan disinterest – but Kirk can see the fascinated curiosity hidden beneath the surface. Over time, Kirk's been able to determine that Spock's apparent dislike of the dog was more distrust – the Vulcan, having no real experience with Terran animals, had not known how to interact with Archie. But after Spock's stint as caretaker for the animal, things have thawed between them considerably.
Turning from his friend to look for the dog again, Kirk is frustrated to see that – in his excitement – Archie has travelled farther than he's allowed to.
"Zeh-Kwul Karik'es Archer –" Kirk calls, the sharp command traveling on the wind like a whip.
His head spinning around, the puppy looks back at Kirk – then ducks his head down, tail wagging low as he trots quickly back towards his master. But instead of stopping near Kirk, the dog sits at Spock's side and looks up at the Vulcan expectantly. Kirk can't help but grin at the positive sign that their relationship is growing and is satisfied that the dog won't wander again.
Glancing again at his friend, his smile turns sheepish, as he finds Spock observing him, one eyebrow elevated in silent question and an unreadable expression in his eyes.
"Archer Straight-Strike Strength?" Spock repeats in Standard. "Is that name not somewhat ostentatious on such an animal?"
For a moment Kirk can't decide between a grimace and a grin, and settles on something in between – another shrug. But the memory brings a slow smile to his face nonetheless. "Yeah…it wasn't exactly what I had in mind for his full name. But I did promise Surel that she could help me name him. She explained it as…" he pauses for a second as he tries to remember, "'For a creature of such dignity and honor it is requisite that his name signify his strength and pride of bearing.' Or something along those lines."
The animal in question has left Spock's side – now that Kirk's attention is elsewhere – and is busy rooting around in the grass, rolling in a smell he found particularly interesting.
Spock returns his gaze to the dog, observing him for several moments before shaking his head in confusion. "I must admit, Captain, that I do not see the animal in quite the same way our young friend does. There is no dignity or pride in his form."
Kirk's smile turns into a grin as he resists the urge to give Spock's arm a comforting squeeze. "Don't worry, Spock. When he finishes growing up, he'll be a very prideful little creature and you'll understand better then."
Then he sobers for a minute, remembering the little girl he'd helped as much as he'd been able. "She made me practice for days, and she still laughed at my pronunciation of his name. Well, laughed as much as a Vulcan allows themselves to."
Beside him, Spock shifts so his eyes alight on Kirk instead of the dog, an eyebrow again raised and his head tilted gently to the side. "I fail to understand her criticism. Your pronunciation, while not on a par with a native speaker, is excellent for a Human. It is unavoidable that your vocal chords have difficulty with some of our consonants."
Unable to help himself, Kirk chuckles, feeling warmed by the compliment. "Thanks, Spock – that really means a lot. I've worked hard on Vulcan, as well as the other languages I know."
Spock's expression turns curious. "How many languages are you fluent in?"
Kneeling so he can pet Archie, who's pressing himself, stinking, against Kirk's knees, he grins. He only allows himself to because he knows his face is safely turned away from the Vulcan. "Enough. I was even treasurer for the Academy's xenolinguistics club."
"Fascinating."
Before the conversation can continue an ensign runs up, calling for Spock – the brief moment of respite is over, and they're pulled back into the rush around them.
(*)
Much to Kirk's chagrin, not that it's unexpected, they are both kept busy for the rest of the daylight hours. And after the last of the daylight has disappeared and they are back on the ship, Spock's duties actually increase – as now he has to go over all the reports he was given for the day, as well as plan the next day's activities.
In an attempt to lighten Spock's load – as his own duties are fewer during their time on the planet – Kirk offers to help the Vulcan with his paperwork. It's also an excuse to spend time in Spock's company, which makes the paperwork much less torture to contemplate.
Even though they're not talking very much, Kirk is enjoying himself. Leaning forward, his chin resting on his palm, he stares down at the PADDs spread out between them. Even though he's paying attention to the report he's currently going over, from this angle he can still clearly see Spock's hands, steepled gracefully in front of the Vulcan.
And he can ogle them whenever he gets a moment, without Spock even having a clue. One of those hands shifts, smoothly reaching across the table. Spock inclines forward to grasp a PADD almost out of his reach, leaning towards Kirk. His head stops just shy of touching Kirk's, and the Human freezes in surprise. So close he can see the individual hairs as they fall in perfect order, the smooth green-shaded ear so near that if he exhales strongly, his breath would reach it.
He doesn't know what to do, not wanting to draw attention to where Spock is, and never wanting him to pull away, and so he continues to hold still. The Vulcan's elevated body temperature creates a halo of heated air around his head, and Kirk can feel the warmth like a kiss against his cheek. When he inhales, his lungs are filled with the scent of coriander – and something else he can never quite place, no matter how many times he catches it while they're practicing in the gym, but reminds him of a different place and time, he's just not quite sure where.
And as suddenly as he came close, Spock moves away again. He has the PADD he needed, the one with the schedule for tomorrow, and Kirk is too stunned to even recognize it happened. All he knows is that his cheek feels suddenly cold.
Clearing a throat gone suddenly dry, he glances up at Spock, who is looking at him with an expression that is eerily similar to the one Kirk was given earlier in the day.
Kirk raises an eyebrow questioningly, curious to find out what Spock's thinking of when he looks like that.
"I have been contemplating a topic since our discussion this afternoon," Spock begins, indulging Kirk's curiosity. "Indeed, I have been contemplating it for three point two weeks, but your revelation today that you have the ability to speak my language will make it easier for my people to accept, which is why I raise the subject now."
Curiosity now burning a hole in his belly, Kirk leans forward and rests his chin on his hand. "How could my being able to speak Vulcan have any bearing on anything?"
"You are aware that the Vulcan people are, by nature, private," Spock speaks softly in his low voice, eyes focused inward as he speaks. "There are many traditions we do not discuss with outsiders. There is one, an ancient tradition, which predates Surak. The closest equivalent I have been able to find referenced on Earth was the Trojans, and their traditions. Like the Trojans, Vulcans were honored with warrior brotherhoods, known as S'Kanderai, which were forged in blood on the battlefield."
Kirk has no problem keeping quiet, intrigued by the information that Spock is sharing. He knows that the Vulcans are reclusive – that even Bones was having difficulty getting medical data to assist in the treatment of Spock should he need it. Having done some informal research himself following the recognition of his interest in Spock, he found that no one outside a select few has discovered much about pre-Surakian Vulcan and what is known is, at best, sketchy.
"While fighting in the battlefield, if two warriors displayed an aptitude, if they complimented each other, they were given the chance to become ne ki'ne – shield partners." His attention turning outward again, Spock's dark eyes alight on Kirk's face. "You and I fought well together while onboard the Narada. There was a rhythm, a silent understanding between us that allowed us to achieve our goal in a manner that would be considered exceptional by the standards of my people. Also, because of the aptitude you have shown during our practices – even with the ancient Vulcan combat techniques I have been demonstrating – I had considered that you and I could be ne ki'ne. Your abilities, combined with how well we have complimented one another during our various confrontations, are ample evidence that you would excel at the special pairs fighting style used by the ne ki'ne. Yet I did not want to mention anything until I was greater than 97.3% positive that this was the correct path for us."
Stunned by the admission, Kirk can't do anything but blink. Surprise doesn't even begin to cover his response, and he tries to ignore that little piece of him that screams want deep inside. "Why would my knowledge of Vulcan make ne ki'ne the correct path?" he quietly asks, managing to keep his voice level.
"It is simple, Captain," Spock continues, a smile hovering somewhere around those dark eyes. "Over the coming years of this mission, such an association and the specific training required can only enhance our ability to achieve victory in the face of adversity. You and I have already fought as ne ki'ne in all but name. It would mean you would be formally accepted into my family as my brother. You would be the first outworlder to be given this privilege. It was your actions on the drill during the Battle of Vulcan that caused a long enough delay in Nero's goal to allow me to rescue Vulcan's elders. That, together with your fluency in Vulcan – demonstrating an interest in our culture – would make it easier for some to accept. I believe the honor is deserved."
He gulps, mouth dry again in a way he doesn't think will go away. Spock…wants him as a brother. Kirk's eyes mist over, as he's reminded of the discussion they had nearly a month ago, about Sam – and how much Sam had meant to him. It wouldn't be the same, no – but he would have someone who he can depend on, that he knows will stand up for him and be there for him no matter what.
"I would be honored, Captain, if you would allow me to be your brother," comes Spock's quiet voice, and then Kirk really is blinking back tears.
He ducks his head to hide them, his voice wobbly as he answers, "Only if you call me Jim." It hurts to say the words aloud, but it feels right and he doesn't want to take it back. If Spock is going to be his brother, then he's allowed.
"If that is what you desire, Jim."
Even stranger than saying the word aloud, is hearing it used. But he grins, forcing away the betraying tears, and lifts his head to look into Spock's eyes.
"It is."
Part Two, Chapter Seven