singularity impact

Jim rolled his eyes a bit. He didn’t even fully plan things out when they beamed down to a planet. He certainly wasn’t going to start planning out his entire career when he was barely two years into his captaincy. He raised an eyebrow at Spock’s calculations, getting a feeling that perhaps his coldness when talking about the subject had something to do with the impending breakup. “Trouble in paradise, huh? Well, best of luck. And if it doesn’t work out, well I’m sure there’s always other people.” Jim suggested, shrugging. 

"Yes, that's true, but it is hardly the ideal solution," Spock remarked with a small, reluctant nod. "I do not find relationships to be so easily...replaceable, as some humans might." Especially one of the nature he shared with Nyota, even if it was not evident from his tone. Spock found Jim's casual suggestion of finding someone else to be peculiar, much in the same way as Jim might find his lack of emotional response somewhat strange. He moved another piece, the board still balanced in either favor. 

With any other opponent, Jim would have taken the lack of reaction to mean that he had purposely left his bishop undefended. But then again, this was Spock. He could have been panicking on the inside for all he knew. Probably not, though. His first officer probably had this entire game planned out in his mind. “Well,” he shook his head. “Enough talking about that stupid test. I hated it enough when I was a cadet. I haven’t grown any fonder for it. And I’m still far too young to be talking about being an admiral or whatever.”

Spock was content to let the subject of the Kobayashi Maru drop, giving a nod of consent. He did not think Jim's fondness for the incident would grow, but it appeared he still refused to see the merit of the test as well. It was pointless to continue debating the matter, as it was now a nonissue. "Career planning should be anticipated in the long-term, but if you insist," Spock remarked. Jim had a number of commendations and broken records that would easily set him apart, as well as the public's favor. Even at his age, Spock did not consider it an unthinkable possibility.   The inquiry is not objectionable. However, Lieutenant Uhura and I are currently in the process of resolving a disagreement. There is only a 46.4% chance that it will lead to a permanent termination of the relationship," Spock informed, as if the matter meant very little to him beyond crunched numbers, catching himself doing precisely one of the things which had lead to said disagreement. Regardless, he refocused his attention on the next move and took Jim's pawn. 

Jim noticed one of Spock’s bishops free for taking and, after checking quickly to see if there was any sort of set up, he sent his knight up to take it. He was almost sure that had been Spock’s intention with leaving the bishop open, but he was willing to give up a few pieces and lose the first few games to learn how Spock played and if there were any strategies he favored while playing. 

Spock looked indifferent to the claiming of the bishop, clearly not surprised, and he made no obvious move to capitalize on avenging it or taking advantage of Jim's taking it. He put down his next piece, simply moving one space to the next, willing to expend a few of his own to get his pieces in the location he desired. His offensive strategy was not yet in play, but he was already calculating the minimum number of moves in which the game could be won. "I do not know that such a quality can be taught, though I believe you would make a sufficient instructor. Given your current record and commondations, however, it is not unthinkable that you will eventually make admiral; a teaching career may not be in your path, unless you would prefer that to fleet command. However, as you have noted, I have been wrong before." 

"So you can see why some times it feels like there’s a need for a ‘mom’ then? Or dads, dads, moms, weird cousins, uncles, brothers in law and all that," she shrugs. "A hodgepodge is what it is. Yet some how, it’s a family. I love that. How the circumstances help people bond like that. One of the ways that the universe is wonderfully mysterious."

Jim  shook his head as he played move for move with Spock. It hadn’t gotten to any interesting bits yet, but he could tell that eventually it would. They were as close in playfing fields as they could possibly be., which made for an interesting change of pace on Jim’s part. 

Spock watched Jim's moves carefully, now that their moves were beginning to intersect and move past the pawn stage. Despite the careful calculation he played with, it never took him more than a second to make each move. Between his turns, however, his gaze lingered on Jim. The man had a point, illogical and unaccountable as it may have been. Much of what had occurred on their last mission was simply in the realm of being statistically unlikely. "A four-percent chance is not no chance and therefore not a no-win scenario," Spock still objected but he did look somewhat convinced. "No matter your personal views, the majority of Captains will not share that mentality and therefore must be tested for their ability to maintain control when they are faced in a scenario that has no immediately obvious conclusion. The test was not a cheat." He would stand by that point, at least. "However, your outlook does have merit."

Jim watched him move his piece and then moved another of his own, knowing that he didn’t stand much of a chance of winning, but ddeciding to give it his best, either way. After all, he won most of the times he played back home, so losing to someone who’s entire species was vastly more intelligent wouldn’t be much of a blow to his ego. 

Spock did not entirely understand Jim's logic, as his aptitude tests had also revealed a genius-level intellect, despite Jim's own lack of Vulcan heritage. The matter was not pressed. He simply continued to play, deciding it would be more efficient to rely on results rather than argue the fact before he had evidence to support his claim.  "My test was not a cheat. The way the Kobayashi Maru test is passed is not determined by the outcome of the scenario, but rather how the scenario is handled by the commanding officer. It is indeed possible to pass or fail the test, though the scenario itself is unable to be won, excepting cases of misconduct." He paused briefly, supposing even a statistic could be interpreted as flattering. "That is not how it was intended, but if you so choose."