Chapter Thirteen
Finding A Balance
Kirk Personal Log Stardate 58332.3
It has been a little more than a month since Quinn and I discovered that he is truly human and began our physical and romantic relationship. Things have worked perfectly between us and I love him more and more with each passing day. Our friends were happy for us when we told them and I'm still a little shocked over the way that homosexuality is so readily accepted in this timeline. It wasn't in the previous one. It was tolerated but not exactly accepted by all.
Classes have gotten more intense just as Kathryn told us they would. I know that Quinn's classes have gotten intense because he's almost always at the academy working on something. Chad's classes have intensified but not nearly as much as ours have. I have spent more time on Starships than on the ground in the last month. I know that it will only get worse as we continue through the semester.
"What we are going to discuss in this room today is of the utmost importance and has to be kept completely confidential," said Admiral Hammil as he addressed the room. There were only four cadets in the room and all of them held the rank of Commander.
"I'm telling you this and giving you the opportunity to learn these procedures because the four of you will be at the rank of Captain at the end of the next semester," he continued. "No one under the rank of Captain has any access to what I'm about to tell you."
He went on to explain an Omega Molecule and talked about the molecule's destructive capacity. By the end of that class each of the four cadets in attendance were pail. Jim hoped he never had to implement the Omega Directive. He knew he couldn't discuss this with anyone and the knowledge was almost overbearing.
They were given specialized data pads with high priority access codes. They were told to memorize the code for each pad and never to give it to another living being no matter the circumstance. In effect they were given their actual priority clearance access codes that very day. Jim's was Kirk 2170 Alpha Tango. It was set up so that he would easily remember it as the year that he was revived from stasis.
For the rest of that week those four cadets were together in each class. Each class revealed more and more of the secret directives known only to Starfleet Officers ranked Captain or higher. Jim was relieved to learn that almost all of them had never been enacted. He learned that the Omega Directive had only been implemented twice in the last three hundred years.
By the end of that week each of the four cadets had learned twenty of Starfleet's General Orders. The first twenty were deemed the most important and therefore needed to be committed to memory. The rest were on data streams that each cadet could study at their leisure. The class ended and they were left to think for themselves. They were warned not to discuss Omega or any of the other highly classified material they had learned about even with each other.
Quinn was having similar classes. He wasn't learning any classified directives or orders. He was preparing to learn surgery. He and his fellow cadets were at Starfleet Medical observing a procedure performed by an EMH. While he watched he thought about the fact that tomorrow was Jim's eighteenth birthday. He and Chad had been planning with Kathryn all week long. He couldn't wait to see the look on Jim's face when he saw the gifts they'd gotten him.
He pushed those thoughts from his mind and focused on the scene in front of him as the surgery became more urgent. There were six of them sitting in the gallery and all six were on the accelerated track to becoming Starfleet Doctors. Each had more knowledge than any other cadet had possessed by the time they'd reached this level in their education. The knowledge had come from various places. Some had experience and field training under the watchful eye of a doctor. Others, like Quinn, came from advanced cultures and learned the things that the first years of medical school would have taught them while they were growing up.
By the end of the academy day both Quinn and Jim were mentally exhausted. Jim was happy that it was Friday because he didn't think he could take another day of directives and classified orders. Plus the next day was his birthday. He would be eighteen years old. In the other timeline that meant that he would be a legal adult and could make decisions for himself. In this timeline that feet was achieved by gaining a rank above Lieutenant. He had that so he was already a legal adult. What he was looking forward to was the party. He couldn't wait to have the entire crew of Lexus in the same room with him once again.
The evening was spent in the living room, cuddled with Quinn. They talked about their day, both keeping back what was classified. After all Jim couldn't discuss the Omega Directive with Quinn. His rank would only be Commander when they graduated. It made him angry that there had to be a secret between them but there was nothing he could do about it. If word got out that he'd talked with Quinn about classified material he'd be court martialed and jailed.
Around 2300 they crawled into bed to become a tangled mass of limbs as they loved each other. When they were sated they slept in each other's arms both dreaming about the future. Just like on the Red Squad mission aboard the Leviathan they naturally melded their bodies against each other and wrapped arms and legs together as they slept. Content in their sleep they rested better than they had in so long.
Quinn opened his eyes as the first rays of sunlight began to filter into the room through the windows, bathing Jim's face in a golden light. He raised up on an elbow and smiled at the man who held his heart. He thought of the first time he'd seen Jim as he looked at him.
He'd been sitting in the captain's chair on the bridge of the starship that he and his best friend had created on a holo suite. He looked confident and strong even then as he gave orders that were followed out by men and women. Most of those men and women were old enough to be his parents.
He'd watched him grow as he himself had grown the past two years on Earth. Jim had grown into the man he was supposed to be. It was his destiny to be in the position he was in. Quinn knew it from his days as a Q. Destiny would carry James Kirk on its back all the way to the glory that would be at his feet in years to come. And he would be right there with him. He would love and support him for the rest of their lives. He smiled as Jim's eyes opened.
"Happy birthday, Commander Kirk," he said, sliding back down in the bed and taking him into his arms.
"Thank you," replied Jim before kissing him softly on the lips. "How long have you been awake?"
"A few minutes," replied Quinn. "I guess our ability to sleep in has been compromised by conditioning and training."
"It looks that way," said Jim, glancing at the clock. "Do we have to get up?"
"Well I suppose we don't have to," Quinn said with a smile. "We could just stay in bed until Chad comes pounding on the door."
"He's good at that isn't he?" sighed Jim, reaching over to run his fingers through Quinn's hair.
"Yes," agreed Quinn with his usual smirk. "We need to find him a boyfriend."
"But first we must get up," said Jim, turning and sitting up with a groan.
They performed their bathroom rituals and moved on to the kitchen fully dressed for the day. Jim was wearing a Starfleet t-shirt and jeans with bare feet while Quinn wore a Red Squad t-shirt with sweats and bare feet. They replicated breakfast with coffee for Jim and juice for Quinn and sat at the table. Seconds later Chad was at the door.
"Morning birthday boy," said Chad, shaking Jim's hand as he came into the room. Quinn followed him back from the door with a smile on his face.
"Good morning," replied Jim, munching toast. "What are you planning for the day?"
"Oh nothing much," Chad said with a smile as he snatched a piece of toast from Jim's plate and sat down beside him. "Just the usual madness and mayhem. Nothing you're not used to."
"Forget it Fly boy, we're having a relaxing day today," said Jim. "My birthday, my rules."
"Yeah, yeah," said Chad, looking at Quinn. "So no parties?"
"None," said Quinn, keeping a straight face. This was all part of the ruse to keep Jim unaware that there was a party. What he didn't know what that Jim already knew.
"At least not until the crew arrives," Jim said with a smirk as the other two boys' eyes widened in shock.
"How did you find out?" Chad demanded, open jawed.
"You shouldn't use the comm system in my room to send messages back and forth to the crew," he said, smiling smugly.
"Quinn!" cried Chad, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Hey," said Quinn, smirking. "You asked to use the comm system. How was I supposed to know that you'd use the one in our bedroom instead of the one in the office?"
"Alex said he'll be here in plenty of time by the way," laughed Jim. "He wanted to know what gift to bring. He said something about not being able to find what you had discussed."
"Shit!" cried Chad. "You always find out!"
"Well I'm good," laughed Jim. "That's why I sit in the captain's chair."
"Bite me, Kirk," replied Chad, smirking at him.
They spent the morning combing through the many stores and shops along the streets of Starfleet's section of the city. Jim found a replica of the Phoenix Tower and bought it while Quinn found yet another gift for Jim in the 1980's store and had it wrapped so that Jim couldn't see what it was.
They stopped at the Earth Deli for lunch and had club sandwiches with carrot sticks and fruit juice. While they ate they discussed the fact that in three days final exams for the semester would begin. The three of them would enter their final semester in the following month. That meant that in four months they would be ready to take their places on the Lexus.
It was exciting to think about going back to space without someone looking over their shoulders all the time. Jim would be Captain again but this time it would be for real. He'd have all of Starfleet to back him if the need arose and not have to worry about going to them and getting court martialed for pretending.
"Well we've scoured the shops," said Chad as they came out of the deli. "What do you want to do next?"
"I think I want to go home and relax for a bit," said Jim. "What time is the party?"
"Oh so you don't know everything?" laughed Chad. "It's at 1900."
"I do know that it's being held at Casablanca," he said, smiling at Chad's dark look. "Alex mentioned that."
"Did you actually talk to Alex?" Chad asked. "I find it hard to believe that he'd tell you all of this when he knew it was supposed to be a surprise."
"No I didn't talk to him," admitted Jim. "It was a recorded transmission."
"I'll have to have a talk with him about what he says during his recorded transmissions," laughed Chad.
"Good luck," said Quinn. "Even after you graduate he'll out rank you."
"There is that," laughed Jim as they got into the transport vehicle.
Back in the apartment they lounged on the couch and recliner. Jim sat against the arm of the couch with Quinn lying against him. They talked about nothing important and sipped juice. Jim was happy. As far as birthdays went this one was going all right. He missed his parents badly but having Quinn and Chad with him helped to ease that pain. He squeezed Quinn as he thought about it.
When they were getting ready for the party that evening Quinn watched him like a hawk. Jim tried to put on a happy face but missing his parents had been weighing on him all day long. Quinn knew that's what it was and he wished there was something he could do to make him feel better but there wasn't. All he could do was be there for him.
"Hey," he said when Jim was trying to tie his neck tie. "Let me help."
He moved behind him and tied the tie. Once that was completed he hugged him from behind, inhaling his scent. He loved him with all of his heart.
"Thanks," said Jim, patting Quinn's arm across his chest.
"Missing your parents?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"I wish there was something I could do about that," said Quinn.
"Just being with me is what you can do about it, Quinn," he said, turning in his arms and holding him.
"I'll be here for the rest of our lives, baby," he said, leaning in to kiss him.
"We'd better get upstairs," said Jim when the kiss ended. "Kathryn will be wanting to leave soon."
"Come on, birthday boy," said Quinn, taking his hand and tugging him along as he left the bedroom.
They smiled at each other, picking and prodding at each other as they tried to make each other laugh while riding the lift to the next floor. They were still laughing when the doors opened to reveal Chad and Kathryn standing on the other side.
"Well you two look like you're having fun," said Kathryn, smiling at them.
"We are," said Quinn. "We were coming to get you."
"Well we were coming to get you," laughed Chad.
"Then I guess we're all gotten," laughed Jim. "Ready to go?"
"Sure," said Chad as he and Kathryn joined them on the lift.
"Chad tells me you knew about the party," Kathryn said as they rode to the first floor.
"Yeah," Jim said, smiling. "Chad used the comm system in our bedroom without thinking and I got Alex's reply."
"Ah," she said, smiling.
They got into her transport vehicle still laughing about Chad's blunder and Jim's learning about the party. All the way to the restaurant the boys bantered back and forth about who could keep a secret better. Kathryn smiled and thought about how strange it would feel when the three of them were gone again.
They were the last to arrive at the restaurant. The senior staff of Lexus along with Tom, B'Elanna, Owen and Julia were already seated at their table. A long table of gifts had been set up behind them. The entire room was decorated. It was the Ocean Room with floor to ceiling windows along the entire back wall with a great view of the beach.
"Captain Kirk," said Alex Munro as he came to shake Jim's hand. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks, Alex," he replied, smiling. "Glad you could make it."
"We all made sure we could be here," said Alex. "Even Juliet is here tonight."
"Captain," she said, stepping up to them. "It's good to see you again."
"It's good to see you as well, Juliet," he said, hugging her. "How was Vulcan?"
"Vulcan was desolate compared to Lexus," she said, smiling. "I can't wait to get back on board."
"The rest of the crew has shared similar aspirations," said Alex, smiling as a waiter came into the room.
"I think we'd better be seated so that we can order," said Kathryn, shepherding them to the table.
For the next hour after food had been ordered and brought to the table they ate and laughed. Jim was given birthday wishes by each of them and after dinner a cake was brought to the table in the shape of Lexus. Jim made his wish and blew out the candles and after everyone had a piece of cake it was time for presents.
He opened each, thanking them each for the presents they'd given. Kathryn had given him all of the volumes of her favorite author. He'd read a little of the first of George Lucas's works. They were about ships sailing through space much like those that actually traversed the stars in reality. Great adventures were had in those books. He smiled and thanked her.
From Chad he received tie dyed t-shirts and cotton lounge pants. He smiled as he looked at them, remembering their own time. From Quinn he received a pocket watch also from the twenty-first century. Quinn told him when he embraced him that there was another gift at home waiting.
There were gifts from each of them ranging from tickets to plays to a bottle of champaign from Alex. The older man told him not to open it until they were on the bridge of the ship once again. Jim smiled and thanked him.
When they got back to the apartment Quinn handed him a small wooden box. It was the size of a slice of fresh baked bread and carved on the lid was his name. He opened it to find a golden horseshoe. He looked at Quinn when he opened it.
"That's to hang over the door to your quarters on the ship," informed Quinn. "It's for luck, Jim."
"Thank you," he said, taking him into his arms and holding him tight.
He let go and walked to the desk they'd put in the second bedroom when they'd converted it to the office. In the top drawer was a special gift for Quinn. Jim had agonized over it in the store for three hours that day. He handed it to Quinn as he held his breath in anticipation.
"Jim, it's your birthday," said Quinn with a soft smile. "Why are you giving me a gift?"
"Open it," he said, placing the small box into Quinn's hand. He waited while Quinn opened the box to reveal a polished platinum ring.
"Jim . . ." Quinn's voice trailed off as he took the ring from the box and read the inscription inside. "James and Quinn" was etched into the metal.
"Marry me, Quinn," he said in a breathless voice.
"Are you serious?" Quinn asked, looking at him with shining eyes. "We're still in the academy, Jim."
"I didn't ask you to marry me tomorrow," he replied with a smile. "Just say you will."
"Of course I will," said Quinn, handing the ring to Jim. He smiled as Jim put the ring on his finger. Then they were locked in an embrace, kissing passionately.
They announced their engagement the next day over breakfast with the crew and Kathryn. Everyone was elated to hear they were planning to get married and relieved when he told them that they were in no rush for the ceremony.
The news of their engagement swept through the academy as they prepared for their final exams. Quinn and Jim both were congratulated by the young men and women in their sections. Jim smiled for days just knowing that Quinn had agreed to marry him. Nothing could take the smile from his face, not even his finals.
They celebrated their exam scores at the same restaurant Jim's birthday party had been held at. It was just the two of them for that celebration. They had another with Chad and Kathryn the next day. They celebrated their week of freedom before the grueling final semester of their academy careers but taking a week long cruise on the ocean liner, Wavedancer.
The ship had a holo suite and they reserved time to show Quinn what Disney World was like. When they were in the park they had a great time riding rides and seeing shows. Quinn had more fun than he'd expected and he kept thanking Jim over and over again. They were tanned and relaxed when the ship docked in San Francisco, bringing them back for their final semester.
"Well you look rested and ready," said Kathryn when she picked them up on the dock.
"Oh we had a great time," Quinn replied, smiling with excitement. He told her all about Disney World on the way to the apartment.
She told them that most of the senior staff of Lexus had taken temporary positions at Starfleet Academy as guest instructors. They'd be there for the semester but not in Command or Medical School. Jim was just happy to know that they would be there.
They settled into their school lives with reluctance. The classes were brutal and they had very little time to socialize. Kathryn explained that the summer semester was shorter than spring and fall so the classes had to be more brutal to cover all of the material. In the end they'd be finished with the academy at the end of the semester and Jim couldn't wait.
THE LEXUS CHRONICLES