~ by Laurie Howard aka beyondtoday
Author Note: Other characters in this story created by me are Lucas Kirk, son of Capt. James Kirk, and SJ (Spock Jr.), the son of Cmdr. Spock. Lucas and SJ are serving their first year on the Enterprise as ensigns. They have joined the crew approximately after the first five years in deep space.
Ensign Kirk had just finished the night shift. He opened his cabin’s door to the sound of the bell and was immediately engulfed in a heavy deluge of feathers. Gasping in shock, he accidentally inhaled a mouthful of the lofty things.
“Agh,” he yelled, spitting the feathers out of his mouth and brushing them from his face. He leaped through the open doorway and began chasing two other ensigns.
SJ, whose cabin was next door, heard the commotion and ran out into the corridor following Lucas; it was clear from the number of feathers that were stuck to Lucas’s uniform that a problem had arisen. At last, Lucas caught up with one of the fellows who was laughing hard. SJ grabbed the second crewman, and fists began to fly. SJ ducked, holding the second guy immobile with his arms raised and SJ’s hands locked firmly behind his head. Lucas rolled on the floor with the other ensign and was hit by a strong punch to the eye. Someone had called Security, and soon the four were apprehended by the officers.
“Follow me, gentlemen,” Lt. Giotto said. The ride in the lift to Security was made in silence. SJ and Lucas were put into one waiting cell and the other two ensigns into another. They were questioned separately and then Giotto put in his report. The report would go to Mr. Spock, and all they needed to do was wait.
***
“Captain?”
“Yes, Spock,” Kirk said from his chair.
“A word, please.”
The Captain walked up to the science station and leaned in to talk privately with his first officer.
“Captain, I have the deck log of activities and disruptions from the Security team.”
“Yes?”
“Sir, Ensigns Kirk and Spock, along with two others are being held in the brig on a charge of fighting in section 12.” Spock looked up at the captain, recognizing the darkness in his eyes as he tried to control his emotions.
“I see. Send the report to my quarters and follow me, Mr. Spock.”
“Aye, sir.”
It had been a long week, spent transporting medical supplies to two stations on the outskirts of the sector which they were patrolling. Kirk quickly read through the report and contacted Security.
“Lieutenant. Kirk here.”
“Yes, sir, how can I help you?”
“Send Ensigns Kirk and Spock to my quarters right away, please.”
“They are on their way, sir,” the man replied.
***
Lucas and SJ strode down the hallway shoulder to shoulder, hurling quiet insults to one another in an attempt to try to calm themselves before being confronted by the captain and first officer.
“You are just like your father!” Lucas said, looking at SJ’s solemn face.
“And you have cornered the market in following in your father’s footsteps,” SJ replied.
“I believe you’re sadly mistaken. I’m nothing like my father,” Lucas mumbled.
“Mistaken, I am not. I speak from experience,” SJ teased.
Lucas sighed deeply. “What do you think the punishment will be this time?” he asked his friend, slowing his pace.
“A loud inventory of reprimands and quotes from the reg book, a long uncomfortable moment of silence, an unreadable look from the commander, and hopefully only one week of extra duties,” SJ ranted.
“I would prefer a quick death at this point,” Lucas said grimly.
They both straightened their uniforms as Lucas raised his finger and pushed the button of the captain’s quarters.
“Enter.”
The two walked inside the captain’s quarters.
“Ensigns Kirk and Spock reporting, sir,” Lucas said.
“At ease,” Kirk replied. The captain stood and skirted his desk, facing the two ensigns. Then the reprimands began. The captain, being fair, gave them a moment to defend themselves, but they remained quiet, offering no additional details. He uncrossed his arms. “This is a perfect example of how not to behave on a starship – my starship, gentlemen – and this behavior will come to an end, now!” His voice was stern.
“Yes, sir,” they both replied.
“You are confined to your quarters for the day, and I will add a week of extra detail. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” they said.
“Permission to speak, sir,” Lucas asked.
The captain crossed his arms and said, “Go ahead.”
“Sir, can we get a meal in the mess hall first?” Lucas asked.
Kirk stood straight and reached behind him. He handed Lucas an apple and an orange to SJ from a fruit bowl. “Bon appetit, gentlemen.”
“Captain, we haven’t eaten since early last night,” Lucas said.
His father took SJ’s orange and handed it to Lucas. “SJ, you can get a meal, you cannot,” he said, pointing to his son. “Dismissed!” The two spun around to leave when they were called back. “Ensign Kirk, feathers,” he said, pointing to the floor in his cabin. Lucas quickly picked up some loose feathers and walked sullenly to the lift.
Kirk turned to Spock. “You’ll have a word with your son later?”
“Yes, Captain, but I believe I will let him… ‘squirm a little’, I believe is your Human term.”
The captain smiled. “Good idea. I’ll speak further with my son after my shift.”
***
Lucas and SJ entered the lift, and a few feathers floated through the air.
“How long before your father hauls you into his quarters?” Lucas asked.
“Usually, it’s 12.78 minutes.”
“I give the captain an hour before he calls me back. I’m sorry SJ, I didn’t mean for you to get involved.”
“It seems to be inevitable that where you are, I am always close enough to become sucked into your vortex.”
Lucas smiled to himself as the lift stopped. “SJ, could you…?”
“I know, a cheeseburger and a chocolate malt.”
“You’re the best friend a guy could have,” Lucas said. SJ just raised an eyebrow in response, and they went their separate ways.
While Lucas was sweeping up the loose feathers in his quarters, SJ went to the mess hall on their floor. He pulled up the food that Lucas wanted and looked around. Yeoman Janice Rand was just leaving, and he approached her.
“Ma’am, if you have the time, could you please drop this off at Ensign Kirk’s cabin? He’s just down the hall.”
“Sure, Ensign, is he ill?” she asked, looking mildly concerned.
“No, ma’am, I just told him I’d bring it to him, and I don’t want his burger to get cold.”
She took the tray and looked at the young ensign whose features and bearing were so much like his father’s. From behind it was hard to tell them apart. “Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” SJ turned back to the food replicator and ordered his salad and tea. He sat down and ate it and went over in his mind what his father would say. Of course, his father would question his qualification for Starfleet, and he would just remain quiet until the end of his lecture.
***
Lucas heard the buzzer and yelled, “Come in!” His mouth opened wide when the captain’s yeoman walked in, carrying his dinner tray. A pile of feathers that had scattered were swept into a pile in the corner of the room.
Janice looked around and shook her head. “Did you lose a pillow fight, Ensign?”
“Uh, no ma’am, it’s a long story,” he replied sheepishly.
“Your friend asked me to bring this to you.” She cocked her head and continued, “You aren’t by any chance in trouble with the captain, are you?”
“Uh, yes, ma’am.”
“And I suppose I’ve been sent here to sneak food to you?”
“Uh, that was not my intention, ma’am, and I’m sure SJ didn’t intend it that way.” He tried to sound more grown-up than he felt in that moment.
She shoved the tray at him. “Well, we’ll see about that,” she hissed, turning abruptly and leaving the room.
Lucas went to his table to eat his food, and then contacted maintenance for a vacuum. It seems that the feathers floated everywhere with even the least disturbance of air; sweeping them was a lost cause.
***
Yeoman Rand walked quickly back to the mess hall and looked around until she found SJ. She leaned on the table. “For the record, Ensign, don’t ever use me to circumvent any order that the captain has given, now or in the future, or I’ll make sure that you are both in the hottest water you’ve ever been in. Am I clear, Ensign?”
With a mouth full of salad, SJ nodded. Yeoman Rand turned and strode off, leaving him to wonder if she would tell the captain.
Not long after, the two ensigns fell asleep in their quarters. Lucas was awoken by his comm button, several hours later. He reached over to listen to the recording.
“Ensign, report to my office when you get this.” His father’s voice came across the comm loud and clear. Lucas sat up in a hurry, causing his vision to spin, and checked his chronometer. The message had arrived an hour ago.
He flipped the button on the comm unit. “Ensign Kirk to Captain Kirk.”
There was a pause, and then the captain responded. “Ensign?”
“Sir, I was sleeping and didn’t hear the comm. I will be there in ten minutes, sir.”
“Make it five, Ensign.”
“Yes, sir.” Lucas jumped up and splashed cold water on his face and ran a comb through his hair. He had not had a chance to visit Sickbay, and his eye was now half-closed with purple bruises blooming around it.
“Crap, I’m in so much trouble.”
He ran to the lift and took it to level five where the captain’s quarters were located. He slid to a stop outside his door and buzzed the bell.
“Enter,” came his father’s voice.
Lucas stepped inside and came to a stop in front of the captain’s desk.
“At ease, Ensign.” Lucas stood at parade rest and waited. The captain came around and stood in front of him before speaking. “Young man, at what point during this past escapade did it occur to you that you had disregarded regulations?”
“Well, sir, it happened so quickly, I didn’t think of that until Lieutenant Giotto pulled Ensign Jacobs off of me.”
“And it looks like Ensign Jacobs got a good punch in before that happened, didn’t he?”
Swallowing hard, he replied softly, “Yes, sir, he did.”
“The other two ensigns have been given their just dues.” The captain paused for a moment. “Have a seat, Lucas.”
Lucas pulled out the chair and sat, and the captain sat down on the corner of his desk, looking down at him.
He shook his head and said, “I know it’s hard having your father as your CO.” He rubbed the back of his neck and rolled his head. “I am never sure how far I need to push you, Lucas. When you’re heading in the wrong direction, I feel like, as your father, it’s my duty to yank you back, but as your CO, I feel it’s important for you to learn from your own mistakes. However, since it may involve your safety or someone else’s on the ship, I must act as your captain.”
Lucas looked up at his father. “I understand, Dad, but didn’t you do stupid stuff when you first started out?”
“I can’t disagree with that, but if you think you’ll get special treatment, you are sorely mistaken…”
“I never expected special treatment,” Lucas interrupted.
“Are you being hazed too much on the ship?”
“No, sir, that is not a problem.”
Kirk eyed his son. “You wouldn’t tell me if you were, would you?” he growled.
Lucas remained quiet.
“Alright, you’re dismissed, but I want you to take a trip to Sickbay and have Dr. McCoy take a look at that eye.”
“Yes, sir.” Lucas stood and made to leave as the captain’s buzzer sounded again. Commander Spock entered, and Lucas paused by the door. “Commander, I’d like to apologize for getting Ensign Spock involved in the trouble today. He was just defending me, sir.”
“The need to apologize is illogical. Ensign Spock is quite capable of making his own decisions, is he not?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then carry on, Ensign.”
“Yes, sir,” Lucas said and ducked out into the corridor.
The door swished closed, and Kirk smiled at his first officer. “Ready for dinner, Spock?”
“Yes, sir.”
Kirk stood and glanced at Spock with a half-smile. “And was your displeasure communicated to a certain ensign?”
“Yes, Captain. I can assure you that this behavior will not present itself again.”
“Thank you, Mr. Spock, I appreciate your assistance.”
“Indeed, Captain.”
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