MLK's Star Trek Saga

"...Captain," Kira turned to Sisko. "I have an incoming message from the federation starship Intrepid. A captain Saavik on channel 3."

"Affirmative." Sisko answered. "On screen please."

"Captain." Saavik wore the uniform of command very well. Her long, black hair glistening on the view screen. While her demeanor mirrored the days of long ago.

"Yes Saavik, it is I." Sisko answered. "Good to see you again." He grinned.

"Yes it is agreeable to see you as well Benjamin Sisko." A genuine smirk crossed her face that Sisko immediately recognized.

"Would you care to beam aboard for a short while? I would really appreciate the company." He told her.

"That can be arranged." Saavik reported. "However half of my crew is Vulcanian while the rest are comprised of Human, Telerite and Orion so I doubt the Vulcans will accept shore leave."

"I agree." Sisko told her. "But tell them that they are all welcome to deep space nine."

"I will be sure to do that." Saavik turned to a communications officer on her ship and nodded. Implying the request that Sisko just made. "I shall see you shortly captain."

"I look forward to it captain." The view screen shut down.

"Well," Dax smirked one of her own. "You seem very pleased to see the captain of the intrepid."

"Yes, I am. We go way back." Sisko smiled. "I served with her as first officer for 2 years before I was commissioned aboard the Saratoga." Remembering those days filled him with nostalgia. "Did you know that woman served with James T. Kirk and almost all the members of the legendary crew of the enterprise?" His eyes lit up.

"No I wasn't aware of that." Dax answered him. "And since Kirk is one of your heroes I am sure that you have had many discussions concerning those days."

"Yes that is correct." Sisko could barely hold back his anticipation. "You know, serving under her was like having a life line to those days. It was an experience that I will never forget. Until the time that we accidentally traveled back to the 23rd century and I met Jim Kirk, her sharing of knowledge of those days was a thrill that I thought could never be rivaled." He turned to the elevator. "Is commander Laforge onboard the station yet?"

"Not yet captain." Kira's bore no resemblance to the fact that she was once pregnant with the O'Brian's child. "He will be beaming over with the captain in 15 minutes."

"Affirmative, alert me to their arrival. I'll be in my quarters."

"Aye sir."

Doctor Bashir continued his monitoring of the man from the alien ship that rested in the main hanger of deep space nine. There was no change in his condition. His medical scans revealed nothing damaging inside the brain of Curtis Fox. He became frustrated with the fact that there was nothing medically wrong with his patient and by the fact that he could not induce memory using all known techniques.

"Well, any change?" Odo stepped through the door into sickbay. He did not expect there to be any.

"No, no change at this time constable." Bashir sighed. He felt defeated. "Even with the great strides we have made in medical advancements we have yet to learn the secrets of the brain."

"I understand doctor." Odo sensed his dismay. "Try not to let it bother you doctor. I'm sure that you are doing everything that you can."

"Well yes, I certainly am but it appears not to be enough." Bashir half-heartily said. "Heck, I don't know why I let it bother me so, I doubt that anyone could do better. I have tried everything."

"Then it is settled doctor." Odo smiled. "Don't blame yourself for events beyond your control." He moved to the door.

"Well I guess this puts a damper on your investigation eh' constable?" Bashir smirked.

"Yes, you could say that doctor but I believe that man will regain his memory in time and when that happens, I'll be right here to conclude my interrogation and get to the bottom of this whole sordid affair." He promised. "This investigation is just a prelude to a much bigger picture."

"Why constable, I didn't know that you were into predicting the future." Bashir mused.

"I'm head of security doctor, not a psychic." Odo's sense of humor was not present at this moment. "However I will say that the repercussions of events unfolding here could have a profound affect on the balance of power if hard facts aren't discovered...and discovered very soon."

"What did you say?" Bashir jerked.

"I said," Odo rolled his eyes. "That the balance of power..."

"No, not that." Bashir seemed to be in a daze. It was obvious his mind was contemplating something. "Before that?"

"Listen doctor, I really don't have time for this." Odo turned to leave the room.

"No, you don't understand." Bashir moved swiftly to the door and stood between it and Odo. "Your comment concerning being a constable and not a psychic..."

"Well?" Odo was annoyed. He had witnessed Bashir rant and rave before but this time he actually succeeded in out doing previous attempts. "Doctor, what is the point to this, if there is one?"

"Perhaps I have been going about this the wrong way?" He pondered.

"How so?"

"Well, perhaps there is someone who can help me."

"You mean another doctor?" Odo did not know what to make of Bashir's pondering.

"Not just another doctor." Bashir told him. "But a legendary man of medicine. Doctor Leonard McCoy."

All eyes were on the door as Ambassador Spock glanced over the entire room slowly. His unannounced arrival provoked an ovation of respect and admiration as every off-duty crewmember saluted him. If his human side could express itself, and he had made peace with that part of himself several years ago, he would be teary-eyed. Still, as Vulcan as he was his heart was touched, even if he didn't allow himself to express it.

"...It is good to see you again, Ambassador." Michael held the Vulcan sign of peace.

"Yes," Spock seemed pleased as well to see Michael. "It is agreeable to see you Captain." He returned the peace sign. "Captain Riker, your service honors me." Spock turned to Riker. "Thank you."

"It is my pleasure, Ambassador." Riker said. "Everyone at ease." He told the crewmembers and they quickly returned to whatever they were doing. "I don't suppose that you will join us for a drink, ambassador? Riker knew that Spock would not but he thought it was the proper thing to ask.

"I thank you captain but I must decline." Spock answered. "I am here to...request the presence of captain King."

"Of course Spock." Michael sprang even more to attention. "Where would you like to meet?"

"The botanical gardens." Spock turned to exit the room. "Meet me there in 10 minutes please." He left.

Riker's expression was one of curiosity and surprise as he glanced into Michael's eyes. He could not help but wonder what the ambassador wished to speak with him about. "It sounded important." This sounded like a warning.

"Well...I can't say for sure what the topic of the conversation will be..." Michael told Riker. "But you can bet it will be...logical." He grinned.

Riker returned the grin. "You know," Riker began. "History seemed to paint you as a very serious man, without a sense of humor." He smirked. "I just never thought of you...joking."

"History...is replete with seriousness, Riker." Michael smiled. "The facts are usually true but data on the individual is extremely...lacking." Michael turned to face the door. "Take me for example," He beamed like a young schoolboy. "I have an affinity for humor, I love to laugh and I have a disturbing weakness for...women." He admitted. "There's nothing in the books about that."

"I must agree with you Captain." Riker grinned. "I have read the books...and there is not a document about your lighter side."

"Thank you for the tour" Michael stepped toward the door and it opened. "I look forward to completing it Riker."

"And I also, sir." Riker forgot all about his disdain of being aboard an unfamiliar ship.

"I do want to take this opportunity to...thank you captain, for making me feel...welcome, to the 24th-century." He was sincere in his gesture and extended a hand to Riker, in thanks.

"...It was a pleasure sir." Riker strode outside the lounge with him. "And I thank you as well."

"For what, captain?" Michael turned in curiosity.

"Well sir, it's like you said, thank you for making me feel...welcome, aboard this ship." Riker felt a distinct closeness to the man from the past. "I felt restless and uneasy aboard this vessel before I spoke with you. Those feelings no longer bother me." He received Michael's hand and with his other, braced his arm. "I won't keep you from you appointment any longer. Good day sir." Riker headed down the corridor to the nearest turbo-shaft.

Michael watched him leave and he took comfort in the fact that with all the leaps in technical achievement, man...had not lost the gentle things that made them "special."

Ambassador Spock stood completely motionless while peering out into a massive viewer's port. He was alone in the gardens. To a casual visitor, it would appear that he was in deep thought or meditation but neither condition was true. He was fully aware of the events that went on around him. Though he did not often think of the past, his mind settled on events that were perceived to be the first death of James T. Kirk, the closest friend that he could ever have. Shortly after the christening ceremony of Enterprise-B, the nexus encounter, and the disappearance of his friend, he returned to earth to pay respects, along with his other shipmates. Those past events of history weighed heavily on him though it did not dominate that perfectly tuned Vulcan mind. Though ultimately he was blameless in Kirk's final fate, he could not help but speculate as to whether or not his presence could have made a difference. Illogical, he thought, to pass the time debating a series of events that had passed and could not be altered. He could hear the words that Jim spoke to McCoy and himself, while spending shore leave on earth. "I've always known that I will die alone." Indeed, he realized, Kirk did die alone. It was a fact that Jean-Luc Picard was with him in his final moments of life but that man was a stranger to him. The realization that his dear friend died, at the very least, without him at his side, disturbed those mathematically perfect brain-wave patterns. And as much as it hurt him, the pain was even worse because he could not express it. This was not an allowable condition for the Vulcan people. Word of Jim Kirk's death spread throughout the galaxy fast as a fleet of hyper-driven vessels. On the Klingon homeworld, a ceremony in his honor was bestowed upon the people. Those people revered him as a warrior. A man who had become an icon on their world in all his dealings with the inhabitants of Qo'nos. The people did not deem him an evil man. The battle for peace that Jim waged against an invisible enemy for the sake of peace pertaining to the Federation and Klingon Empire was a story that warrior Klingons told their children. In the case of Jim Kirk, it was a good day to die. The Federation's own Lt. Worf, specified the ceremony in Kirk's honor because of the historical fact that his great grandfather, Corneal Worf defended him in a Klingon court. Spock's mind continued to flow back and forth throughout the streams of time. He found it...difficult to focus on one particular event since his deceased friend was so much an influence on his life. It was Jim Kirk in the early days that risked his career and life to bring him home to mate, when he was maddened deep within the plak tow. It was Jim Kirk who repeated these steps once again to bring him home to mount Selah on Vulcan after he had died saving the Enterprise from destruction. He thought of his resurrection. "...My father said that you came back for me." Spock remembered. "Why would you do this?" "Because the needs of the one, out-weighed the needs of the many." Kirk told him. "You would have done the same for me." "You have been, and ever shall be...my friend." Those memories faded with the after thought that, he did not do the same for Jim. Jim died alone. With all his friends light-years away or either objects of the past as well. Guilt was a human condition, not realized by Vulcan's...and though this was the logic of the situation, his logic failed him now. His captain was gone and now, that was the painful logic of the events that dictated the time frame. He had to let go. He had to find the strength within to let go of Jim and move on with his life. He realized what his logic told him but alas, he also felt what his heart told him. That Jim was gone and he bore responsibility for his passing. Spock continued his gaze into space, focusing on the ever-moving rotation of Veridian III. Still fully conscious to his surroundings, he allowed his mind to continue the memoirs. This time, the events settled at Jim's home on earth in San Francisco. The entire crew gathered to pay tribute to the man after the memorial service. Spock took it upon himself to oversee the legalities of Jim's properties and accumulated resources. Since there was no will, he did what he thought Jim would find satisfying. "...He was a hero in every sense of the word." Leonard McCoy grumbled, embittered by the fact that he was not with his old friend. "I should have been with him, Spock!" They had pulled away from the rest of the crew to discuss matters of a personal nature. "Do not trouble yourself so doctor." Spock told him. "There would have been nothing you could have done. The captain, in his usual...gung-ho style, would have attempted the repairs on the Enterprise-B regardless of your presence or not." "...Spock?" McCoy hated when his Vulcan friend was...right. "Must you be so blasted...logical all the time?" He did not have the heart to draw out a long debate. "...Yes." Spock said softly. "If I didn't know you, my Vulcan friend, I would think that you enjoyed being right, all those years." McCoy tried to get the last word. "But I can tell you this." He moved closer to Spock. "Take your own advice Spock. Jim would have been killed even if you were there." "I fail to see your point, doctor." Spock pretended. "Listen Spock, we have been friends for a long time. Com'on now, it's me McCoy. It doesn't take a Betazoid to realize that you are hurting just as much as we are and blaming yourself for Jim's death." McCoy scanned Spock's face for an admission of his state of mind. There was none. "...Never mind Spock, You may not want to admit it but you are hurting. You are also carrying a great deal of guilt inside you and I'm telling you as a...friend. Don't let it destroy you." Spock glanced up at McCoy, silent but thoughtful. "I shall...regard what you have said doctor." Spock moved back into the circle of friends. "...Aye Chekov, the captain then raced to the deflector control room and done what he always did..." Montgomery Scott bowed his head in silent remorse. "Turned death into a fighting chance to live." McCoy joined as well and completed the sentence that Scott couldn't finish. Uhura was still teary-eyed since the ceremony. She and Dr. Chapel sat along an intervening couch near a window in the living room. Chapel continued to comfort Uhura, who was taking her former captain's death very hard. Even in the days of their original 5-year mission, Jim meant much to her. She never thought that the captain would ever die. He had cheated death so many times and fought so hard to protect others, she just simply never thought that his day would come. "I can remember when we lost the captain in the Tholian sector..." Uhura sobbed to Chapel. "He was gone and deemed dead but still...part of me knew that he was coming back." She continued. "And all the other times when he defeated death, he came back." McCoy, who noticed her difficulty, joined Uhura. "Uhura, don't punish yourself." McCoy gently stroked her long, Nubian hair. "...But this time, he isn't coming back, is he?" She looked up at McCoy. "No Uhura," McCoy hated to say what he knew to be true. "He's not coming back this time." His voice trailed off as his eyes watered. Chekov and Sulu watched events that transcribed. They were both in periods of mourning. Chekov relayed all the times that he wanted to be like the captain to Sulu, his wife and daughter Demora. "The Keptin was always my idea of the ideal leader." Chekov said. "Both diplomatic and a soldier at the same time." "Yeah, he was really something to see in action." Sulu agreed. And still, all of Jim Kirk's admirers and friends continued to talk amongst themselves. Whatever the case, it was clear that James T. Kirk was an unmovable influence in their lives and a man that they would never forget. The stories of their adventures with him would be passed along to their children and their children's, children. When the day panned out and all but a few people remained, Spock approached Captain Michael King and his close friend Jeffrey Kimbro, also a starship captain. "I am deeply sorry for the pain that you must be experiencing." Spock told Michael. "Thank you Captain, Spock." Michael tried to regain his posture. "Kirk, will be missed by many people." "...And captain," Jeff addressed Spock. "I didn't know Jim Kirk very well but what I did know of him, was that he was a hero to many and a savior to even more. I am honored to have met your captain." "Thank you." Spock said. By the time that all had left, Sarek of Vulcan and his wife Amanda, Saavik, Corneal Worf, Gillian Taylor; the whale biologist from the past and the others, Captain Spock sat in the foreboding darkness, looking out over San Francisco Bay. He was completely motionless, almost trance-like in appearance. Hand underneath his chin, he perplexed the possibilities while attempting to make peace with Jim. Moments later, he snapped into true consciousness and stood. Walking toward the main door, he stopped in the opened outlet and looked back into the home. "...Good-bye, Jim." He whispered and departed.

His mind faded back into the reality of current events. Spock accepted a deep breath while walking to a nearby bench. His dark Vulcan-robes blowing in the refined but artificial winds in the garden. He had allowed his thoughts to get the better of himself so he attempted to reinforce those conditions that would subdue his human-side. Those multiple disciplines worked to a degree but he still found the pain of Jim's death to be consuming. Just then, the garden door swished open to reveal captain Michael King. Spock turned, got up and met him before Michael had a chance to reach him. "Captain," Spock's voice was a bit more stressed than normal. "I am in need of your assistance..."

"...My assistance?" Michael puzzled. "For what?"

"Your assistance in the return of...James T. Kirk."

End of Part 3

Star Trek is a registered Trademark of Paramount Pictures. These stories are intended for fan reading only and are by no intention, an infringement on Copyrighted materials nor for monetary benefit.