Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.earthlink.net!elnk-nf2-pas!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newshub.sdsu.edu!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!border2.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!feed3.newsreader.com!newsreader.com!yellow.newsread.com!bad-news.newsread.com!news-toy.newsread.com!netaxs.com!newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: <1f2.2f89e42.2ee299e4@aol.com> From: Istannor@Aol.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: NEW: TOS: A Higher Duty: PG: 28/28 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 170 Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 05:55:27 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1102139727 209.198.142.218 (Sat, 04 Dec 2004 00:55:27 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 00:55:27 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:85921 X-Received-Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2004 21:55:33 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Title: A Higher Duty Author: Istannor Contact: Istannor@aol.com Series: TOS Rating: PG13 for violence Part: 28/28 Codes:TOS Summary: This is set during the second 5 year voyage of the Starship Chapter 28 Kirk returned to light duty the next day after McCoy, M'Benga, and two Vulcan healers had certified his mind had not been tampered with. Komack's threats came to nothing. Nogura refused to hear about any charges against Kirk in view of the recent concessions by the Romulans. The Captain's performance the first day was efficient, but subdued. He left the bridge at the end of the shift and turned to find the Vulcan in the lift with him. They rode in silence. When they got off, Spock trailed behind him to his cabin. He hesitated as Kirk started to go in. Kirk stopped and turned to face him in the doorway, "Spock, can you join me for dinner and a game of chess? I want some company." "I find your offer to be most agreeable." A sad half smile tugged at the corners of the Vulcan's mouth. He entered and the door closed behind them. They sat and ate quietly. Finally, Kirk broke the silence. "We would have worked." "Yes." "Did you meld with her?" "Yes." "Did you enjoy it?" "Yes." "Did you make love to her? I know she wanted you to." "No." "Why not?" He shrugged. "I did not wish the pain of learning any more about what I would never have again. To seek out regret is illogical." "Logical." "No. Cowardly." "We could defect." Spock did not respond. He knew the statement was merely wistful. Kirk shrugged, "Where fools dread, there go I. Stupid. I am so damned stupid." "Jim, we have peace with the Romulan Empire." "Yeah, there is that." Kirk sat up the chess set and they sat down to begin the game. "It could have worked." Spock made his opening move. Kirk picked up his pawn. As his hand stretched out across the board, it began to shake. Kirk took a deep breath and tried to complete the move. The rebellious hand would not stop trembling. Spock grabbed Kirk's hand and held it steady. As he watched the Human struggle with his grief and pain, he could feel the flood of emotions through their touch. Kirk began to rock back and forth until Spock rose and went around the table. He hugged Kirk tightly to his chest and the Human continued to move soundlessly, unable to cry, unable to let go. "Jim, there is only the two of us in this room," he offered. "If you cry, it will be for all three of us. I will stay here with you and I will not let you go until you are ready. Let your tears free you and us, T'hy'la. Let go. Do it for all of our pain." Spock held on until Kirk pushed him away and then turned to stare into space. The tears were threatening to flow, but they could not, they would not. "I can't let go of my pain, " he whispered. "I need my pain to do what I have to do." Spock sighed and shook his head sadly. "Then, perhaps, it would not have worked. She would have had to come before the ship, and before the pain. She would not have settled for less." Kirk shook his head slowly and Spock was tempted to pull away completely because the grief was so very strong. "I know it wouldn't have worked, Spock, but sometimes I forget." "Perhaps one day, it will work." "Sure, I can always hope." The End Cast of Characters: Admiral 'Acting Captain' James T. Kirk Commander Spock Doctor Leonard H. McCoy Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott Lt. Uhura Lt. Sulu Lt. Chekov M'arenn AL s'Trask Therenna Al s'Trask Ramsthet AL s'Trask Adjutant J'usreyan K'Rath C'Thuth Ambassador Davis: Federation Ambassador to Cygni Beta I Massrit Al S' Trask, Praetor of the Romulan Empire Admiral Komack: Starfleet Command S'Tal Commander Shthrass Wing Commander Arthra'n USS Araidne: Constitution Class Starship USS Enterprise: Constitution Class Starship USS Colin Powell: Constitution Class Starship USS Excalibur: Dreadnought Class Starship Vulcan Accord: Cruiser Class Starship Cygni Beta I: Site of Trade and Diplomatic Conference Glossary of terms: Gesrait: Romulan carnivore, swift and deadly. PetaQ: (Klingon) Tokhe "straav: sexual plaything (Klingon) Heghlu'meH qAq jajvam: Today is a good day to die (Klingon) Khest'n: (Klingon) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: