In a Sea of Stars
James Kirk, lately captain of the USS Enterprise, stood alone on the Bridge of his first and finest command. His bags were packed, his cabin empty, and his heart was heavy.
The day that he’d been dreading for months—had been refusing even to think about, in fact—had finally arrived. Plenty of the members of his crew were thrilled and relieved to be home again, and he understood that. Most of them had enjoyed their five year adventure well enough, those of them who had survived, despite (or perhaps because of) its perils and unpredictability. Now, however, they were eager to get on with their lives and careers. They had friends and family to see after what felt like a lot longer than five years away. Some of them couldn’t get off the ship fast enough.
But the captain wasn’t among them. Except for his nephew Peter, orphaned in Deneva early into their mission, Kirk had no family waiting for him down on Earth. There were people he would enjoy visiting—longtime friends, former classmates, even old flames. And sure, it would be wonderful to walk in the warm sunlight and the fresh air safe in the knowledge that nothing alien and potentially deadly lurked behind every rock. Yes, he would happily have taken a few weeks of Terran shore leave.
If only it was shore leave!
When they’d entered spacedock the day before, a chipper voice had come over the intercom and said, “Welcome home, Enterprise!” Some of the Bridge crew had cheered. Kirk, though, had felt more like crying. Trading his ship for a return to Earth wasn’t a homecoming for him, because over the last five years, the Enterprise had become his home. His officers, especially his Bridge crew, had likewise become a surrogate for his lost family. And now, their five years together—ship, crew, and captain—were finally at an end.
They had faced torture and death and every kind of unknown alongside one another; had worked and eaten, laughed and cried, cheek by jowl. Kirk had lost Sam, the brother he’d idolized since childhood, but he’d gained a brother in Spock, whom he trusted above anyone else in the galaxy, and his friendship with Leonard McCoy had deepened into something fraternal as well. The thought of continuing his career without either of them by his side made him feel disoriented and even a little bit helpless. He wanted to reach for their hands, Spock’s and Bones’ and Scotty’s and the rest, and say Don’t let go! Don’t leave me!
Kirk sank into his chair (only it’s not mine anymore, is it?) without even meaning to and put his face in his hands. Without the people he’d grown to love, the ship he also loved meant nothing. But the idea of a new ship and a new crew was even less appealing. His future hadn’t seemed this nebulous since the deaths of his parents.
@multirptrash
