SEATTLE, EARTH, 2371Telemachus Kirk knocked gingerly on the door to his adopted parents' room. He was thankful they left it closed, now. The half-Klingon half-Vulcan loved his parents dearly, but hoped never to see them intimate again--it was a sight that stayed with him.
"Father? Mother?"
Professor Peter Kirk's 116-year old voice groggily responded.
"Yes, Telly?"
"Father--Commander Riker of The Enterprise wishes to speak with you. Are you and mother---together?"
Decades after her banishment from Vulcan, Admiral Saavik had developed a sarcastic, albeit very dry, wit.
"We are together. In all kinds of weather, my son. What is your concern?"
"That you both come to the TransComm--fully dressed."
Telemachus had been nine before they first agreed to this demand.
As Andria Kirk, an El-Aurian-Andorian 7-year-old, begged to be scooped up by her Daddy, Peter answered the TransComm. In her robe, Saavik motioned at her son.
"Telemachus---behold!"
Saavik flashed open her robe, and Telemachus turned away.
"Mo-ther!"
But a lightly smiling Saavik had on her Starfleet uniform underneath. She tossed Telemachus the robe.
"Prude."
Andria looked at her older brother.
"Telly, how come Mommy and Daddy are just soooo silly?"
The balanced, peaceful hybrid shook his head.
"Andi---it beats the heck out of me."
Ten minutes later, the 60-year couple emerged. Saavik spoke.
"Telemachus, my son--you are in charge of the house until we return. Call Aunt Perrin in Philadelphia, and see if she will join you here."
"Of course, Mother. But where are you bound for?"
Professor Kirk hugged his boy, and then each of the seven others in turn.
"Telly--we'd just as soon not say, in case this is a fraud. But for now--contact Bright Hillside at SF HQ. We have to arrange a funeral."
The somber tones on their parents' faces upset and worried the children. The Transcomm, now on Speakerphone, sounded again.
"Yeah? Pete, Viki? This is Macleod aboard The Essex. You guys know whether this junk is for real or not?"
Saavik answered.
"That, Radar, is what we aim to find out. Two, ready to beam aboard--now."
They vanished, and Telemachus could feel their worry and anxiety. He spoke to the Transcomm, link still open.
"Uncle Walter--what is this all about?"
Captain Macleod was noncommital.
"Telly--that's all big-time classified, doncha know. Lets just say--this is going to be big! Oh, and Hey--Alexander, he says Hi."
Andria held the littlest ones, but she too was shaking like a leaf.
"Telly--are Mommy and Daddy going to die, cause of they're so old?"
Telemachus chose to don a facade, in the form of a sloppy grin.
"Those two, little one? They shall never die. They are like Rocks."
And yet Telemachus put off contacting The Bright Hillside Memorial Cemetery at Starfleet HQ, for reasons he would not admit, even to himself. His bedtime prayer that evening was in neither Vulcan nor Klingon.
"God--please bring them back to me. When I was turned away by two families--I was taken in by this one. I'll even let them make love with the door ajar--just bring them back."
He then stopped, and thought.
"Ok--they still have to keep the door closed, but bring them back anyway."
The extended family, including Telly's older brothers and sisters, now slept in the living room. They were a wild genetic brew, made wilder by some stepmarriages here and there. Luckily, it was a large living room.
Finally, the bell rang.
"They are both home--and alive."
Telemachus ran up to the door.
"Mother--may I ask an indulgence of your zone of privacy, that I may exp---"
Saavik grabbed and hugged him.
"Calm yourself, my son. We are both quite healthy. Now rouse the others."
As the newly-adopted all sought to sit on Peter's lap, and the elder children watched Telly still fretting, Peter spoke up.
"Kids--clear the center of the room. You're about to meet the reason we had to go away for two weeks. We had to confirm someone's ID. Walter--beam him down!"
As the excited assemblage watched, a man appeared from the beam. A dashing figure, looking much like a younger version of Peter. He was in an antique Starfleet Uniform, and was smiling broadly. Professor Kirk nodded.
"Everyone--please say hello to your great-uncle--Captain James T. Kirk!"
Andria gasped.
"But--he's the man from the pictures!"
Saavik picked her up, and showed her to the returned relative.
"Now--he is Uncle Jim."
Kirk looked around.
"God--its good to be home. With family."
Telemachus pulled his mother aside.
"Mother--if you are all well, then on whose behalf did I make arrangements at Bright Hillside?"
Saavik looked down, then up. This would be hard on her boy.
"Captain Picard, Telemachus. He fell in battle and is no more."
Telemachus could barely breathe. For Jean-Luc Picard had been his hero.
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Jim Kirk did not rapidly become a part of the family of his nephew. He merely resumed the role he had always served--that of beloved uncle. Of course the youngest ones loved him best, since he looked so much like their tireless Daddy. The middle ones were a little slower to warm up, mostly being teenagers or the equivalent. So it was that a few quietly spoken randy tales piqued their eternal hormonal cycle and interest.For the very oldest, being among the first adopted by the Diamond-Jubilee couple, many of whom were parents--and then some, themselves--he was a walking legend, and a link to their parents rarely spoken of past. Nerius Kirk, a Trill-Talarian, once joked that their folks were actually alien dopplegangers, who switched places with the REAL Saavik and Peter Kirk, on some kind of weird vacation. The glare she got was enough to keep her from giggling for a week.
For Peter, who had lost his family at age 7, and for Saavik, the result of a Romulan's rape of a Vulcan prisoner, adopting hybrids made sense. The homes had trouble placing them, and theirs were often the neediest, most troubled hearts - much like the couple themselves were, as shattered children. That the closest thing he had to a son after David's death and the closest thing Spock would ever have to a daughter had found each other made Captain Kirk feel connected to this strange new world of Holodecks and hesitancy.
But the oldest of the children, at age 39, was completely human, a sandy blonde. She was Starfleet, and looked it. In fact, Kirk mused, she looked more a Captain than many Captains he'd met.
"Sorry--the littlest keep piling on me. You are---?"
The woman smiled.
"Captain Garrett Kirk, sir. USS Narendra. I'm not going to bother you with superlatives, Uncle Jim. The only greater honor than meeting you would be meeting my birth-mother."
Kirk shook his head.
"I'm sorry--but I'm the new kid in town, after all. Who was your birth-mother?"
She looked tearful. Saavik had done a wonderful job, but Garrett Kirk still had distant memories of her birth-mother, and they had the power to move her.
"Captain Rachel Garrett, USS Enterprise-C, sir. Lost to Romulans over Narendra 3. I was left with Dad and Mom when her 12-month border patrol began. Their sacrifice to protect a Klingon colony helped forge the world you see today."
Kirk responded in the only way he knew how, and prayed hard that it was enough.
"She was The Captain Of The Enterprise. Bob. Chris. Pavel. Nyota. Jean-Luc. I'm just the dust-bunny that keeps coming back."
Saavik moved to hold her oldest daughter, and spoke as she did.
"There was another Enterprise Captain, Uncle. He handled the last five years of The B's existence, and the first five years of the C's."
Kirk shrugged.
"With all due respect, Admiral--who are we talking about?"
Garrett Kirk moved her mother off, and merely held her hand, knowing that such physical contact was still difficult for even an unconventional Vulcan.
"We, sir--are talking about the second Captain Kirk. Before he reworked the exobiology department and took to teaching, that is."
Kirk looked at his nephew. The man now walked with light support from his spirit staff, a gift from Admiral Uhura. But now Jim saw in Peter his secret dream--a fellow Captain.
"Just when were you going to tell me about this, young man?"
The children were stunned to see their larger-than-life father turn sheepish.
"Sir--does a binary cluster brag about its brightness to The Shapley
Center?"For the one-hundredth time since his return, Kirk hugged his brother's son.
"You're damned straight it does!"
As Kirk went to talk with Garrett about the Enterprise-C and her birth-mother, Doctor Kirk sat down and looked at a vidstill of one of his brightest and most difficult students.
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STARFLEET ACADEMY, 2325"Cadet Picard---will you at least not concede that Doctor Crater, in grief over the loss of his wife, was a somewhat unreliable source of information? Comparing the salt vampire of M113 to the Buffalo is all well and good, but the creature seemed interested mainly in shifting shapes and stealing salt. Its actions were furtive, and even feral."
Picard tried not to be intimidated by the man who was leaving them to finish up The Enterprise-B's tour. He stood his ground.
"Doctor Kirk--unlike some, I do not dismiss your uncle or his accomplishments. I merely feel that he should have found another way. That he in fact could have found another way."
Captain Doctor Peter Kirk's gaze narrowed.
"On what basis do you make such a statement, cadet?"
If the other cadets, eager to see the young stiff wither, were waiting for Picard to fold, they would be disappointed.
"Because, sir--he was Captain James Kirk...."
"Pat answer. Not to mention flattering."
"Captain, if I may finish...."
Kirk nodded.
Picard breathed in.
"...And because there is always another way."
Kirk tilted his head, as though sensing something.
"Always, Mister Picard?"
The cadet had his ground, and his footing.
"Always, Captain Kirk. After all, life itself is but a series of decisions that branch out to a series of infinite paths."
Peter seemed to wince.
"Good concept, cadet---but please use another term. Personal reasons."
Picard nodded.
"Aye, sir. But its just like the old story- -two men of equal skill ascend a mountain. One is knocked to his death by an angry billy-goat--the other feasts on the goat after burying his friend."
Doctor Kirk seemed to glaze over.
"Er--good answer, Picard. Very good answer."
The class let out, and Picard gave his instructor a going-away present.
"Why, Cadet--The Collected Adventures Of Lieutenant Blueberry by Moebius? I've been meaning to get a hard copy. Thank You--but why?"
Picard nodded.
"My heroes, sir--have always been cowboys."
On the way out the door, Picard almost bumped into a woman with a baby carriage.
"My apologies, Madam. Oh--what an adorable little boy you have."
"He's a she--and she's only adorable when she's asleep, trust me."
Picard left, and Peter regarded the little redhead.
"Felicia--is this your granddaughter?"
Felicia Howard, having finished her annual symposium on Herbal Medicine, was set to have dinner with the Kirks. She smiled.
"That's My Beverly!"
Peter looked at Jim.
"Unc...I have something to tell you."
Jim smiled.
"You don't have to say it, Peter. Because its good to be back."
The older/younger man shook his head.
"No, its not that. Its about me and Saavik. We're from a different....."
Saavik rushed over.
"Yet, Uncle, despite our differences, we thrive--the embodiment of IDIC. Husband--I would speak with you, now."
Jim sensed the awkwardness.
"Tell you two what--let me go speak to Telemachus--the whole notion of a half-Klingon-half-Vulcan makes me want to know my great-nephew a whole lot better, anyway."
After he left, the argument started.
"Peter--why? Why were you about to ruin everything we have here? He—of all people--must never know the truth."
"I can't lie to him, Saavik. I never could. Just being around him again makes it all feel so right."
She folded her arms.
"You know what will happen. What always happens, when we tell who we really are. I have no desire to start over yet again. My Darling Bondmate--Our War Is Over. Here, we are merely an older couple that adopts and loves children. So I ask again--why did you attempt to tell Uncle the truth?"
He stared at the woman he had loved for a very, very long time.
"Because I sense the same unease with this lie in you. And I am better at breaking hard news."
She looked down, and then at him, resolve suddenly gone.
"I care for him far too much to risk losing his love as a result of our exposure. Also--what if they take the children away?"
He embraced her, and shook his head.
"Wife--I just don't know. But for now, I'll keep our secret, as I have. I had no right not to consult you first. Jim will, when the time comes, understand. Most everyone will. But not Telly. His identity is so important to him."
She felt his anguish, which was also her own.
"He is the son of Peter and Saavik. That much is true, anyway. The rest---he will learn to live with."
With an agreement reengaged, the Kirks made for their very large living room. A small boy almost jumped into Saavik's arms, one of her third daughter Solda's children.
"Grandma! Grandma!"
"Little one---do not call me that. Are you the Tyrian-Alderbanian?"
"Nope! I'm the Atyrian-Alderbrackian!"
"My family needs a genetic roadmap."
As the woman who hated being called Grandma sorted through her adopted brood, Jim sat down next to the brooding Telemachus.
"Telemachus--have I done something to offend you?"
"No, Uncle. Your presence here is a pleasure and an honor. But Captain Picard was my hero. I regard him as the greatest of all starship commanders. I mean no offense by that, of course."
Jim shrugged, expecting that in Picard's own century, there would certainly be people who thought that. Given everything he had heard about his ill-starred compatriot, he reasoned that perhaps they were even right.
"To each his own, I always say. Did you ever meet the man?"
Telemachus nodded.
"Once. I never forgot it."
---------------------------------------------
USS ENTERPRISE-D, EARTH SPACEDOCK, 2367His face still scarred by the removed Borg implants, but his soul lightened by a visit with his beloved family, Captain Picard had august visitors.
"Peter--Admiral. Well, if Boothby were only here, I'd have the entire triumvirate of the conspiracy to keep me in Starfleet Academy."
Young Telemachus, disappointed at not meeting Worf, stared at their host.
"You? You wanted to leave The Academy? But this ship was your destiny."
Saavik spoke, then.
"My son--you are speaking out of turn, on a subject you know aught about. Now, I ask that you apologize to Captain Picard."
Telemachus nodded, in obedience.
"It shall be as you say, Mother. Captain--I ask forgiveness."
Picard shook his head.
"Whatever for? I took no offense. You're right, Telemachus--this ship is my destiny. The intervention of your parents kept me on the path to it, once upon a time."
Peter spoke to both his son and his former student.
"Jean-Luc--why don't you tell Telly where his name came from?"
Telly shrugged.
"It is from Earth's Greek mythology."
Picard raised a finger.
"Yes, correct--but do you know who gave it to you?"
"I would presume my parents."
Picard smiled.
"You would presume wrong, young man. I visited your home, not long after you were adopted as a baby. I saw you staring out at the stars, even then. That is the supposed birth-mark of a Captain. I had it. Your great-uncle had it, or so I'm told. My dear Rene' has it, and God willing, one day I'll see him take a center chair. I commented that you reminded me of Ulysees son, waiting for The Great Man to return from The Illiad and The Odyssey. Without meaning to, I settled one of their arguments--and so you were named Telemachus."
Telly nodded.
"They are always arguing--and then they forget to shut the door, while they are making up."
The boy turned somber.
"Captain--do you feel rage at The Borg?"
Picard had been asked this question before, and so merely nodded.
"Yes. But I manage it, as best I can."
Telly gathered himself.
"I--have followed your tenure, aboard this Enterprise, with great interest. Sir--from The Aldeans to The Zalkonians, it often seems that you are beset by species that demand we live by their rules, and accept whatever they do as law--while almost never giving us the reverse courtesy, except at gunpoint. Why is this, and how do you manage your rage at them?"
Picard quickly realized this question had more to do with the young man's life than interstellar diplomacy.
"Telly--please sit in my chair."
The awed young man did as he was bid.
"When you occupy that chair, you are far more than a Captain. Far more than a diplomat. Far more than a mere representative. You are the avatar of civilization itself. Rules of Law, not of Men. Barbarism eschewed because it is for the worthless and the weak-willed. Leading not by phaser or torpedo--but by example. Not Might Makes Right--But Might For Right. Let our strength come not from a belief that we are better--but a belief that we always strive to be better. If other powers kidnap children, oppress their own people, and so forth--that, then, is their sorry concern. The Prime Directive is not their friend--it is ours. It keeps us away from such people until they are ready to behave and comport themselves as fellow avatars of civilization."
The Great Man finished, and Telemachus merely stared in silent awe. After his parents were through chatting, they guided him off The Bridge. In passing, he cried out to a young man on his way back to duty.
"To serve here-means that you are fortunate well beyond your deserving!"
Wesley Crusher shrugged.
"I get that a lot."
-------------------------------------
Jim put his hand on Telly's shoulder.
"What if I told you that--blood aside--you remind me so much of your parents, when they were your age? Such intensity. Good intensity, Telly. I wish I had really known Picard. Now, I feel like I know him just a little bit better."
Telemachus smiled.
"Uncle--what if I told you that Telemachus now feels that he is greeting King Ulysees, returned from the Odyssey?"
Jim nodded.
"And what a long strange trip its been."
The door-chime rang, and Peter gulped.
"Unc--we have company!"
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Answering the door, Jim Kirk saw three people he thought never to see again, especially under these circumstances."Greetings."
"Greetings."
"Greetings."
Then all as one.
"Greetings."
Jim almost rubbed his eyes.
"Kang--Kor--Koloth?"
The Three Klingons nodded, each in his turn. Kor actually looked happy.
"Kirk--please tell these old fools that you have come back to sever the alliance--and start a good and proper war!"
Kirk smiled himself, and shrugged.
"Aw c'mon--guys! I just got up."
Koloth pointed.
"Typical Human weakness! That will cost you four pounds of pork chops, at least. The way your kinsman makes them, they taste almost like brazed Targ--and then we grill the potatoes."
Telemachus stood up, almost unable to breathe.
"B'hai Masters! I--I had not expected you this day! I-I-I---"
Kang actually winced.
"Telemachus---just get us some of that wretched beer, and please breathe, boy!"
"It shall be as you say, B'Hai Master Kang!"
They all saw him trot off.
"Kirk--your great nephew needs a good--"
Jim nodded.
"Yes."
"You did not let me finish."
"Yes. But whatever it is you were going to say--he probably needs."
Koloth howled.
"Finally--the galaxy gets interesting again. Kirk--that Fleet of yours needs an old Lion like you to shake it up. I'll pledge one of my own line to help you build a proper crew."
But Kirk just scooped up a great-grand niece named Solona.
"Guys--I'm not taking another ship out. This is my crew, now."
Solona shouted.
"Aye-Aye, Uncle Jim, sir!"
While all laughed, the visiting Klingons made private bets as to how long it would take Kirk to be back in command of a Starship.
Finally, the last guests arrived, red potato salad in tow--but not a certain redhead. Peter looked at Commander Riker.
"Where's Beverly?"
Riker, then Worf, then Data, then Troi, and finally La Forge all took turns looking sheepish. Professor Kirk fumed.
"I changed that girl's diapers---got her to the hospital when she gave birth--let her take a blasted makeover exam! I NEVER give makeover exams! So don't any of you tell me that she's still accusing Jim of causing Jean-Luc's death. I won't have a woman who called me Uncle Pete accusing my Uncle of murdering my brightest student."
At a nod from the three B'Hai Masters, Worf stepped forward.
"Professor---she loved him. Love twisted can easily become blind hate. She will need us--her closest friends. She will need you and Admiral Saavik--her oldest friends, as well. Will you stand with her, when she is ready to be helped?"
Doctor Kirk nodded, already calmer.
"Cadet Rozehnko--you're as good at cooling me off as you were your brother. Thanks--Commander."
Riker talked to Jim, as everyone began to remingle.
"Being taught by him--always made all of us feel a connection to you, Captain. Fierce doesn't begin to describe his devotion--to The Academy, and to his family. What Beverly is doing is severely upsetting him."
Kirk nodded.
"Will--its not doing much for me, either. Please try and arrange a meeting, OK?"
Ignoring the difficulty of Kirk's request, Riker agreed.
"Consider it done--Jim."
As the children swarmed all the visitors, Deanna was held aloft by the feeling of a family reunited--and by the odd feeling that she was soon to be part of it. Overwhelmed, she pulled out, and Saavik noticed.
"The Captain again, Deanna?"
"No--not this time, Admiral. Coming over here--all your children—its such a joy after the loss of my Captain and my ship."
The Vulcan Admiral nodded.
"There is great joy, here. But to hear someone else sense it, Counselor, is an honor to our house. Have you told Uncle yet, of your feelings?"
Deanna blushed.
"As if. I can't tell him, Saavik. I can't tell him now, after he's just come back from the dead--that I would like to perhaps be with him. I must regard him as being off-limits."
Saavik handed Troi a plate of food.
"Deanna, child--the only male in there that you may not claim, almost at your whim--is that workhorse I call a bondmate. You should tell Uncle how you feel."
Deanna shook her head.
"No--way. I'd rather sublimate. Got chocolate milk?"
Geordi found himself attended by several of the smaller children.
"Are you the one who always says, 'Make It So'?"
"No, pal. That was poor Captain Picard."
"Are you the one who always thought of a really smart way to do things?"
"No. That's my pal Wes Crusher."
One more raised his little hand.
"Are you the one who got the lady angry cause of you dated her hologram before you dated her?"
Geordi gulped.
Worf and Telemachus battled, Batleth against Lirpa.
"That--boy--is not a true weapon!"
Telly was in awe of Worf, but found the opening and took his victory after an hour of tussling. Worf was handed the lirpa, and all the full Klingons nodded at it.
"True."
"True."
"True."
"True."
Data walked outside, and saw the odd scene.
"What then is up, here?"
At last, the time came for a sing-along, despite some qualms here and there.
Jim suggested one.
"How about--Row, Row, Row Your Boat?"
Data objected.
"Nonsensical, Sir. Life--is not a dream."
Deanna tried.
"We'll improvise---'Creator, Just Point The Way Home'."
All agreed to and began singing the improvisational chorus.
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life; Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
Jim, Saavik, and Peter.
"Oh, Starship Commanders--we can't be very bright--we ride inside a tin can, through the eternal night!"
All.
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life--Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
Geordi.
"A Starship Engineer; Your warp drive we must fix; Its a twelve hour task--that we have to do in six!"
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life---Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
Deanna.
"A Counselor On A Starship will often ask you how you feel--but after a long while, it loses all appeal!"
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life---Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
Kang, Kor, and Koloth.
"The Mighty Klingon Warrior--They Say We Like To Brag--But now I only want women, bloodwine--and some gagh!"
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life--Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
Worf.
"A Starship Security Chief tries to keep you safe from harm; And if you will go quietly, I'll let you keep your arm!"
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life--Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
Will.
"They tell you the life of a First Officer it is no fun--but I always find that there's room for Number One!"
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life---Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
Data.
"I fail to see the overall meaning of this verse. But I will do my small part and not end up in a hearse!"
"Oh, I Don't Want No More Of Starship Life--Creator, Just Point The Way--But Space Keeps Calling Me--Creator, Just Point The Way Home!"
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THE NEXT MORNING.....Jim saw his grand-nephew.
"Cleaning up, Telemachus?"
"Yes, Uncle. It is good to get a head start. But I will leave the rest to the little ones. The fringe benefit of being an uncle and older brother. Will you watch the stars with me, before the sunrise?"
"Of course."
Jim stared out, and saw that he and Telly shared the awe. Space was indeed, calling them both. Jim would try to resist the call. As always, he would fail.
"Uncle? Will you tell me a story?"
Jim chuckled.
"Sure. It seems we were approaching The Galactic Barrier....."
From his bedroom window, Peter Kirk watched his son and his father's brother chat and get to know each other. His wife held him and joined him at the window.
"Welcome Home, Uncle Jim. Welcome Home." But he was not home--not yet, anyway.
The Enterprise awaited its Captain.