Disclaimer: Star Trek are the property of Paramount Pictures and Viacom. I make no money off of this story what so ever. No copyright infringement intended.

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Note:  This story was originally written for a non-Star Trek fan audience.

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Death of a Friend

By Tamar Richardson

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Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk presumes on his good fortune during the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. He started out as never having faced death only to have his best friend, Spock, die. Star Trek II introduces us to the genesis device. This device, when used properly, can turn a totally lifeless planet or moon into a living, breathing biosphere. The problem is, if it comes into contact with living matter, it completely eradicates it. So, when the device falls into the hands of the enemy (Khan), they worry. Thus, our heroes come to the rescue.

"You've never had to face death, have you?" said Dr. David Marcus (scientist working on the genesis project. and Kirk's illegitimate son). Captain Kirk had always managed to escape death, whether it be his own or the ones closest to him. He even managed to defeat the Kobayashi Maru simulation (a test every Starfleet cadet has to take, it deals with having to face the no-win scenario) by fiddling with the program so it could be won. Dr Marcus was right, Captain Kirk had never had to face death. That is, until now.

Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock have been friends since as long as the Star Trek community can remember. It is impossible to picture one without the other. At the point at which Star Trek II was made, it was understood that Kirk and Spock had known each other for about 15 years. They first met shortly after Captain Kirk took command of the USS Enterprise from Captain Pike (Spock's former commander). Over the years, Spock and Kirk became friends. This was achieved through the fact that on countless times, they had saved each other's lives. But, no matter how many times Kirk had saved Spock's life, it only took one time for Kirk to not do so.

"Jim, I think you better get down here," Dr. McCoy (the ship's chief medical officer) said from Engineering. Dr. McCoy was informing the Captain that Spock was dying. After a battle with Khan, the Enterprise's warp engines are down. Khan, after having stolen the genesis device, has set it on the four minute count down to detonation. With only impulse, the ship has no chance of getting away in time to prevent being caught up in the "genesis effect". Spock risks severe radiation to repair the warp drive. The consequence of his actions: death. Kirk is devastated. His best friend in the entire galaxy, just died.

In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Captain Kirk went from never having facing death to losing his best friend. He presumed on his good fortune and was punished for it. Ironically, Captain Kirk was never given the chance to learn from his mistakes, but then, that's another essay.

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