SAN FRANCISCO, THE LARGELY-UNUSED APARTMENT OF JAMES KIRK, OCTOBER 31, 2283

He stroked her long, undone hair and smiled as she slept. His hand briefly stroked her ass, which almost roused her.

Saavik opened one eye.

"Maniac...do you ever sleep? Are you ever sated?"

He kissed her face.

"You know the answer to both questions...Wife."

"The nightmares? They are becoming worse?"

"If they were only nightmares, I could deal with them. You know, there are times I see him, and I swear its just a guy in a  three-headed rubber suit. Then...I see the bodies. Then I see the panic. I'm going to have to talk to my little friend, GK. Having seen the Saiyens fight, I can't believe Ghidorah just wiped them away."

"But he did."

Saavik was asleep again, so Peter wondered who had said that.

"Hello, Peter."

Standing in his bedroom--so to speak--was a youngish woman with cropped blond hair. Hers was the stance of a Captain.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my Uncle's apartment?"

She shook her head, almost contemptuously.

"Your father's apartment, Peter. And I'm not surprised you don't remember me. You are, after all, a Kirk man."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

The woman paused, knowing she was in control.

"Well, isn't it obvious? Kirk men have no use for women who aren't praising them, mothering them, or sucking on them."

Peter's eyes went wide as saucers. The visitor chose to follow through.

"Or in Uhura's case, all three."

Peter nodded.

"Hello, Janice."

She slapped him.

"That's Captain Rand, CADET!!!"

"Hello, Captain Rand. Now get the hell out. This property is leased to my wife, and here, your rank has no meaning."

She regarded Saavik.

"Wife. Heh. She's an emotional cripple, is what she is. Totally dependent on you, Peter. First sausage she sees, and she's in love, spelled b-i-t-c-h-i-n-h-e-a-t!"

Peter moved to toss her out, but she was too quick. Rand laughed.

"Toten Schnell, Petey!"

"For your information, Captain--I'M the emotional cripple--SHE is a functional psychotic. For all that, we are loads happier than some crazy witch who comes riding in to taunt us. Go to hell--and yes, I know you've been there. So go home."

"Happy? Two punchy kids who've raped each other? Two morons who call themselves brother and sister, so they can pretend they're committing incest? You two don't have enough troubles, so you make more? You don't even have enough brains to use protection."

Peter wondered why he couldn't scan Captain Rand, but was not giving in.

"We're of different species, Janice."

"Are you? Why is she so emotional, then? Why were you always stronger and telepathic? Ask questions, Peter. Or are you too busy riding that spare tire she calls a behind?"

Her next taunt was almost playful.

"Tell me, does she have you put on a yellow tunic while she ingests skin-darkeners? You know, we junior officers would have had you in a moment, even then. But you wanted to be the Comm Seat."

Peter's response was not playful. His eyes glowed.

"Burn."

She shrieked, and did just that. Then, when it was done--she was fine.

"That wasn't nice, Cadet."

"Neither are you---Barbie."

The look on her face brought Peter immense satisfaction.

"I'll bet you think that's clever. Well, I've heard it before."

"I know. On The Enterprise, you hated it. I never knew its derivation. But I knew what it meant. An overidealized woman with plenty on the first and second floors, but nothing in the attic. Unfair? Yeah? Bigoted and dismissive? Sure. But its 4am, and I haven't slept a full night since I was three. You come in here, and say what you've said about all of us, and somehow you don't expect that I'll punch back? I've faced real evil, Captain. Your foul mouth doesn't impress me."

"By evil you mean Ghidorah?"

"Nah. He's just a weapon. Its his followers who are evil."

"Peter--think. If Ghidorah himself is not evil, then why have none of his followers ever been good by any measure? Why is The Order always a group of snarling bigots, poised to strike at civilization. Search The Line Of Blood, kid. If Ghidorah is not The Devil, then shouldn't he inspire something other than fear and panic in someone, somewhere, at some point in time? You are facing the rawest, lowest kind of evil, Cadet. Anyone who thinks otherwise is meat. He isn't just a monster. He Is The Monster."

"Then Who Can Beat Him?"

She smiled.

"A King, Of Course."

"Will I ever know what I'm up against?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'm sorry, kid. For everything. But losing it all makes you so damned angry......"

To his shock, Peter awoke in his bed the next morning. He had slept two hours--a shocking amount of time. Saavik brought him a glass of juice. Her eyes were red from restrained tears.

"Peter---Uncle Jim called. Its very bad news."

"What--bad news, Saavikkam?"

He felt drained. He would feel more so.

"It is Captain Rand. She was found dead in her quarters aboard The Ice-Breaker this morning. There were signs of sexual assault. They have no idea who did it. I -- liked her. I have classes and must go. With me, Husband."

"Always, Wife."

She left, and Peter contemplated the evil that remotely inspired Janice's destruction. He was thunderstruck by how little he really understood it all.

"But I understand what you were feeling, Janice. And I will get them for you. This I swear."
 

For the identity and fate of Janice's murderer, please read 'As Kill A King'. It is available at the Ancient Destroyer site.