Chapter Fourteen
The New Lexus
Kirk Personal Log Stardate 58665.9
This semester has been very hard for all of us but it is nearly over. We have exactly two weeks to go before our academy days are behind us. I am keeping my eye firmly on the prize of rank and the chance to command the ship again. The entire crew is back in San Francisco now that the time to return to the ship is getting closer. Admiral Hammil told me that as Captain I get to pick my crew. I told him I already had.
Quinn and I are planning to get married shortly after graduation. We've already booked a suite on Risa for our honeymoon. I can't wait for him to become my husband. I still can't believe that he accepted my proposal. Miracles happen from time to time and he's mine.
Kathryn has told us time and again that she'll miss us when we leave. I think she knows what our first mission will be but she insists that she has no idea. Being an admiral I'm sure she knows all about it. Oh well I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
"You're tense," said Quinn as he rubbed Jim's shoulders after class.
"It was a long day," moaned Jim as he lie on his stomach, his face nearly buried in the pillows. "That feels good."
"What happened that made it such a long day?" Quinn asked.
"I had to give a long speech about slipstream," he said. "They asked so many questions that the hour became two. Finally Admiral Teague told them it was way past time to leave for the day and they shut up."
"It'll be time for finals again soon," said Quinn as he worked on Jim's tense muscles.
"Don't remind me," he sighed.
"Suck it up, Captain Kirk," laughed Quinn. "The sooner we take those exams the sooner we'll be on your beloved ship."
"You want to go back to space, don't you?" Jim asked, turning over in the bed to look at his lover.
"I want to be where you are, Jim Kirk," said Quinn. "I lived in space."
"Quinn, I thought you wanted to go back," said Jim, sitting up and pulling him into an embrace.
"It will be all right," he said. "Being on the ship won't be anything like being in the continuum. I'll be all right."
"If you don't want to go . . ."
"What?" Quinn asked, cutting him off. "You'll leave Starfleet? I don't think so, love. We'll graduate and take our places on the ship. As long as you're with me it won't matter where we are. I love you, Jim. I'm going to marry you. Stop worrying."
"I can't help it," replied Jim. "You sound like you'd rather live on Earth."
"Oh I don't know about Earth," he said, smiling. "We'll be fine on the ship. Then maybe we can find a nice house on another planet somewhere."
Jim thought about it for a minute. Another planet wouldn't be too bad actually. They'd have a place of their own. They wouldn't have to worry about running into anyone that they didn't want to see on Earth unless they came to the planet they chose to live on. He started to like the idea.
"Tell you what," he said. "We'll go on our first mission and then we'll start looking at houses and planets."
"Deal," said Quinn. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he replied, pulling him again and kissing him with more passion. The kiss deepened and Jim began to pull Quinn's shirt off as they slid down in the bed.
An hour later they were snuggled against each other. Quinn was asleep but Jim was thinking about what he'd said. Quinn wasn't excited about returning to space. It was what kept Jim going. He loved him so much for going back on the ship just to please him. He was a good man and Jim felt he was lucky to have him.
They said nothing about it the next morning. Too much was already on their minds as they made their way through the Command School section of the campus. Jim had another brain crushing class to attend and Quinn had to assist in a surgery. And they marched closer and closer to their finals and graduation.
"Quinn doesn't exactly want to return to space," Jim told Chad when they were having lunch together. Quinn was still in surgery, so they decided to eat without him. "He said he's only doing it because that's what I want and he wants to be with me."
"He loves you, Jim," said Chad. "You're going to get married. Of course he wants to be with you."
"I want him to be happy, Chad," Jim said. "How can I be sure he'll be happy on the ship just because I'm there?"
"Because loving you as much as he does he'd be miserable anywhere else if you weren't with him," said Chad. "Trust me, Jim, it's going to work out."
Jim thought about that for the rest of the day. He thought about it as he sat in command of a small ship that traveled to the moon to pick up cargo that they knew nothing about. He thought about it in his Command Class and all the way home that evening. Quinn had to stay and do rounds at Starfleet Medical with Doctor McCoy. He didn't make it home until 2100 and when he did the last thing he wanted to do was talk about not wanting to be in space but going because Jim would be there. Jim left him alone about it.
By the time the weekend came they were both so excited to have time off that they didn't know what to do with it. In the end they decided to stick close to the apartment. Chad spent Saturday with them and they studied on Sunday. They took breaks to sit on the couch and cuddle but still nothing was said about the ship or their impending departure for her.
Final exams began Monday and they lasted the entire week. The following Monday there would be the graduation ceremony and then they would have a few days off before they returned to the ship for their test flight.
Jim sailed through his first final and was in a good mood when he got home with Quinn and Chad. They sat around the kitchen table with ice cream and laughs. Quinn had done well on his final as had Chad so they were celebrating. The happiness was interrupted when Chad mentioned the ship.
"Two weeks and we'll be back in space," he said, and Jim and Quinn looked at each other in silence. "Come on. I know you're excited, Jim."
"Of course he's excited," said Quinn, smiling. Jim noticed that the smile didn't quite reach his eyes though.
"Most of the senior crew is already at New Moon Station," said Chad. "They're itching to get underway."
"Well it won't be long now," said Quinn, but Jim still hadn't said a word.
"Well I'd better get upstairs and study," said Chad, noticing that Jim was less than happy.
They saw him out and then went back to the kitchen to clean up the ice cream and put things away. Quinn watched Jim and dwelled on his silence. He had to make Jim understand that he'd be happy wherever he was. He wasn't exactly against space travel to begin with. He didn't know why he'd said any of what he'd said about it in the first place.
"You know it's all right to be excited about leaving, Jim," he said when they were sitting in the living room studying. "I'm actually starting to look forward to it."
"Really?" Jim asked, disbelief clear in his tone.
"Really," insisted Quinn. "Think about it. I'll be a real doctor on the ship, Jim. I'll have the EMH to back me up but it won't be an instructor and I won't be watching anymore. I'm excited about that. Lexus is the reason for this."
"You're really looking up about it?"
"I really am," he said, smiling at him.
They studied in silence for a while, getting into their subjects. For Jim the final he was studying for was the next morning. It was for his Command Class and he had to know a large list of regulations and reasons for them. He had most of them memorized but he just wanted to make sure.
"I love you," he said when they were getting ready for bed.
"I love you, too," said Quinn. "I really am looking forward to this."
"I'm so glad," he sighed, stripping out of his clothes and climbing into the bed. "I was worried about making you do something you didn't want to do."
"No one makes me do things I don't want to do, Jim," said Quinn as he slid into the bed beside him. "Like I said even if I wasn't looking forward to this it would be fine because we'd be together."
"I just didn't want you to be miserable," Jim replied, pulling him close.
"James Kirk, when are you going to get it through that thick head of yours?" Quinn asked. "I'll be happy as long as I'm with you."
"I think I've got it now," he said, kissing Quinn's neck.
"All right then," laughed Quinn.
For the rest of the week they were run ragged with finals. By Friday Jim was so tired he'd have given up if it hadn't ended. When he crawled into bed with Quinn that night he had no energy to do more than hold him until they slept. Monday couldn't come soon enough.
"Well we're done," Quinn said the next morning when they woke to find that they'd actually managed to sleep in. It was 1030 when they finally went to the bathroom to start their day.
"We sure are," said Jim. "Thank God."
"Graduation Monday and then some time off," said Quinn with a grin.
"Time off sounds amazing," Jim said, smiling as they sat at the kitchen table to eat breakfast.
"It does, doesn't it?" Quinn asked with a genuine smile on his face.
"I'd like to take another cruise," he said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"That sounds nice," Quinn agreed. "I'll look into Tuesday."
They spent the afternoon being lazy. Jim read a Lucas book while Quinn checked the messages in the communications console. Once done he replicated them strawberry shortcake and sat in the recliner with his. It was a great way to pass the day and they both relished it. Their days off would be few and far between once they were back in space.
The next day they spent with Kathryn and Chad going to shops and different clothing stores. Kathryn loved to shop lately and she bought quite a bit. It was her way of splurging on them before they left. She knew where they would be going and what they would be doing. It would keep them in space for more than eight months. She'd be reduced to letters and subspace transmissions soon. Her boys had grown up.
The next evening she sat with Tom, B'Elanna, Owen and Julia Paris to watch as her young men accepted their degrees from Starfleet Academy, Command School and Medical School. She took pictures along with other parents and relatives and cried as Jim stepped forward to receive his degree and pips. His official rank was now Captain and she couldn't have been more proud of him. He'd been fast tracked and learned everything that he needed.
When Chad came out to get his degree and pips she was moved to tears again. He stood proud and posed for the pictures that were flashed from several different directions. His official rank was now Lieutenant and he looked proud. Finally it was Quinn who stepped out on the platform and accepted his Medical Degree along with pips for his uniform. His official rank was now Lieutenant Commander and he was also now Doctor Quinn Janeway.
The celebration lasted well into the night. Jim and Quinn danced for hours at a time and never stopped smiling. She knew that a wedding would happen soon. Owen Paris had agreed to officiate. It would be some time after the first mission and she would cry once again.
She saw them off on the Wavedancer the next morning for their three day cruise. On Friday they would take a shuttle to New Moon Station where they would be reunited with the crew and she would say farewell as the Lexus-A embarked upon her maiden voyage to Alta Venus to drop off cargo. They'd also be taking the Torres - Paris family back to the planet to resume working on their projects.
* * *
They sat on the deck, soaking up the sun as the powerful cruise ship charged through the ocean waters. Their much needed down time would be spent on this ship, tanning themselves, spending time on the gambling deck and giving each other as much pleasure as possible in the three days and two nights they'd be aboard.
Quinn was really starting to look forward to heading out on Lexus. He hadn't thought about the fact that he'd actually be the doctor for the ship. Sure the EMH would also be seeing patients but that would only be when Quinn was off shift. A full medical staff would be at his disposal and he would be the ships Senior Medical Officer. A slow smile formed on his face as he thought about it.
Jim was thinking about what life would be like on the ship in the Alpha Quadrant. They wouldn't be in constant danger he supposed. Part of him would miss the thrill of Andromeda and the Delta. The rest of him would just be thrilled to be back on the ship. Now that he knew that Quinn was looking forward to it instead of dreading it he could relax and spend his down time having fun.
They ate in the ship's dining room at the captain's table, guests of Captain Charles Wit. He was surprised that Jim had advanced from Commander to Captain in Starfleet so quickly. Jim told him and his wife about being fast tracked through the academy and Command School but not why. Captain Wit thought it was fascinating.
The sixty year old man with salt and pepper hair and dark eyes told them how he'd gone to the academy in his younger years but found it to be a bit too strict for his tastes. They agreed that the academy was strict but then they'd never tried to break any of the rules. Both Jim and Quinn had been too busy paying attention to instructors and studying to bother trying.
"What's the name of your ship?" asked Captain Wit as the captain stood with them on the deck as the ship prepared to dock on their last day aboard Wavedancer.
"Lexus," replied Jim with a smile. "We leave for New Moon Station to join the rest of the crew tomorrow."
"Always loved space travel," said Wit. "Miss it sometimes. This boat is all the travel I get anymore."
"I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I couldn't be in space," Jim admitted. "I think it's gotten into my blood."
"Sounds as if," replied Wit. He shook Jim's hand. "You have a safe voyage, Captain Kirk."
"Thank you, Captain," he replied, smiling. "It's been a pleasure."
"The pleasure was ours," said Wit.
The ship docked and Kathryn was waiting for them. Chad wasn't with her and Jim wondered about that but didn't ask. They went back to the apartment and ran their clothes through the refresher and then started packing for the trip to Lexus.
Kathryn took them to dinner and finally Chad appeared. He was a bundle of excited energy as they rode with Kathryn to the restaurant. She told them that he'd been helping out at the academy the whole time they'd been gone.
"To burn off some of this energy," she said, smiling.
"I'm just excited," he said. "We're going to be back on the ship soon."
"We'll be there in a few days at least," Jim said, smiling at his friend.
They arrived and ordered as soon as they were seated. Kathryn told them a tale about her first mission and had them laughing as they waited for their food. She told them about her return from the Delta and they listened with rapt attention as she described meeting her future self and double crossing the Borg Queen.
"She only saw what she wanted so desperately," said Kathryn as their food was brought to the table. "She never thought we were smart enough to outsmart her and it was her undoing."
"But she still exists," Chad said. "Seven talked about multi-dimensional life cycles and . . ."
"Yes, she still exists," Kathryn said, holding up a hand. "She'll always exist and she'll always be the Queen. That is unless we find a way to really destroy her."
"And we will one day," said Jim, determination clear in his voice.
"Until then we'll fight," said Chad.
They were each silent as they started to eat. They were all thinking about the Borg and ways to kill the Queen. It had consumed Kathryn when she'd first learned about the reality of the Queen. She didn't want it to consume them.
"I didn't intend for this to become a quiet celebration," she said, smiling at them. "I'm going to miss the three of you very much and I'd like our last night together on Earth to be a happy one."
"We'll miss you, too," said Jim after a moment. "I wish you could just go with us."
"I have my work here," she said, smiling. "I'm sure we'll spend time together in the future. This will be your first Starfleet mission. Enjoy it gentlemen."
They talked about the wedding after that. Both Quinn and Jim insisted that they weren't even close to setting a date. She smiled at them and made them promise to keep her posted. She asked where the wedding might be held but both young men insisted they hadn't even thought about it.
The next morning they boarded the shuttle at Starfleet Command at 0600. Kathryn was traveling with them to New Moon Station She would see them off when they departed from the station. The trip was spent in near silence. Now and then she would ask one of them a question about the ship she still hadn't had a proper Captain's tour of and they would answer.
When they arrived at New Moon Station they found the crew sitting in one of the bars. They stood when Jim entered. He smiled at them and looked out the window at his ship with pride. He'd finally made it. Soon he would be home again.
"Captain Kirk," said Alex as he came to stand in front of him. "It's good to see you. The ship is ready to go."
"It's good to see you, too, Commander," he said, smiling. "We'll board in a few minutes."
He made his way around the room, shaking hands with each member of the crew and welcoming them back. They followed him out of the bar and to the shuttle way that connected the ship to the station. There he stopped and hugged Kathryn.
"Safe journey, Jim," she said, holding him tight.
"You as well, Kathryn," he replied. "Thank you for being my second mother."
"Oh," she moaned, holding him tighter. "It has been an honor."
She was crying when they ended their embrace. He reached out and wiped the tears from her face with a smile. Then he turned and looked at the men and women who he'd longed to be with for so long.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," he said. "It's time."
They followed him through the shuttleway and onto the ship. He and Quinn went straight to their quarters to put their things away before he took his place on the magnificent bridge of the ship. It looked different than the original bridge. The color scheme was now white and grey where it had once been cream and brown. The consoles were bigger and the ship smelled new. It wouldn't be new for long though. He'd make sure of that.
"Welcome home, Captain," said Alex as he came to stand beside him.
"Thank you, Alex," he replied, smiling at Chad as he took his place at the conn. "It's been too long."
THE LEXUS CHRONICLES