Chapter 4 - News Of the Day

In Leonard McCoy's sickbay, a young woman heard two pieces of news. One was expected, and not entirely unpleasant. The other changed every last detail of her life as she knew it, but was still not entirely unpleasant. The one meant that she had not been careful. The other meant, though, that she had been lied to, almost certainly with complete foreknowledge on the part of the deceivers. At McCoy's request, the Captain was called in, as this involved his family. Both his families.

"Bones, what's... Saavik? Is something wrong?"

Saavik's odd hybrid nature, trying to be Vulcan but never quite making it always had an odd appeal for Jim - among other Kirks.

"It is pleasing that you have announced Peter as your son, Captain. Some fathers must needs maintain their silence out of a false pride. I - need to talk to Peter. I sense he wishes to formally reestablish our bond - as do I. I love Peter, Captain. I will be a good daughter-in-law."

Jim couldn't help but take note of a Vulcan who said she loved someone outright, and who seemed to be on the verge of tears as she left. McCoy gestured towards a chair, which Jim took.

"Bones, what was she here for?"

"Jim, blunt is my style. So here it is - you're going to be a grandfather."

Kirk's face lit up.

"Peter - and Saavik - I... damn! Why now? Those two... we're facing Galactic Armageddon, Bones. Uhura's taking in reports of a civil war on Earth, as the Ghidorans press forward their agenda. There are reports of revolts on other major worlds, too. There aren't many of them, but they are quite fanatical. Bringing a baby into this mess - why aren't I happier? I mean, this is good news - isn't it?"

"Jim, Saavik feels the same way, and so will Peter, when he hears about it. As to why you aren't happier about it, well I think you are. But in the last 24 hours, we found out that Ghidorah is real, that he has followers in Starfleet, and those followers kidnapped your son, who always knew he was your son, who is now to become a father himself, while possessing distressingly familiar powers. Have I left out anything?"

"No, I don't believe so ."

"Oops. Actually, I have. We know now for certain who Saavik's Vulcan parent is. Guess what her DNA says, percentage-wise?"

Jim shrugged. "Um, 50-50, Vulcan-Romulan?"

"Nuh-uh. Try 50 percent Romulan, 25 percent Vulcan, and 25 percent...."

Kirk put his head in his hands. This had to be the kicker. He knew what McCoy would say, so he said it for him.

"Human."

McCoy smiled a grim little smile.

"Sort of narrows the field a mite, don't you think?"

"But why wouldn't he acknowledge her?"

"Because, Jim, all that Vulcan talk about embarrassment over rape is just good old-fashioned blame-the-victim and blame the product. I don't care what they call it, it's "You lost control and brought it on yourself" with Surak instead of Chauvin painted on. It stinks."

"He's on Qo'noS, Bones. I have to find him-find him before Ghidorah does. I won't lose any more family members to that monster-not now, especially."

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The monster which had claimed so much of Jim Kirk's extended family was in a narrow corridor of Klingon space. It spied a convoy fleet. Its purpose was quite simple. The fleet was to back up certain trade demands made of another world, and by osmosis, to begin an occupation of this world for the longer-term. The target planet's name was Bajor. The fleet was from Cardassia.

On board the lead ship, Gul Damand tried to run the over-bureaucratized fleet without going insane. he was succeeding, except for one minute aspect of his Command structure. As he spotted Ghidorah as a sensor shadow, he ran up against this problem once again. He bid his convoy halt.

"Convoy Halt!"

"Convoy Halt!"

"Convoy Halt!"

"Convoy Halt!"

"Convoy Halted".

"Convoy Halted."

"Convoy Halted."

"Gul Damand. The Convoy Is Halted."

"Good. Now let us determine the nature of this sensor shadow."

"Determine the Nature of the Shadow."

"Determine the Nature Of the Shadow."

And so it went, each phrase repeated back and forth, from his command to the lowliest deckman. It was driving him out of his mind. All this was because the Obsidian Order felt that loud talk meant fewer lies. It meant less sleep, anyway.

Then, in the near-distance, he saw it. Ghidorah was coming right for his fleet. It was all over. Oddly, he felt exultant.

"To Hell With the Invasion Of Bajor! I seek a true release from this bureaucratic nightmare we laughingly call life!"

"To Hell With the Invasion!"

"To Hell With the Invasion"

"To Hell With.....Hey, are we allowed to say that? It sounds treasonous."

The creature exerted no special efforts, but merely cut through the fleet like a hot knife through butter. Gul Damand died singing joyful songs. Ghidorah resumed course for the next great population center, Qo'noS. Were it capable, right then it would have been quite confused at just what happened with the Fleet. Oddly, while the Cardassian worlds would be spared, food riots and other panic associated with Ghidorah's coming would yet take many billions there. Poor Gul Damand would not live to see the fabled bureaucrat-roast, when things got rough. There was much rejoicing.

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As Saavik sat down next to Peter and Lieutenant Roesch, she took Peter's hand and placed it on her stomach. Instantly, he knew.

"You're pregnant."

"And more. I know who my father is, Peter. But I may not say it, for now. Do you have anything to say to me?"

"Yes, Saavik, I do. I would bond with thee, swear the unspoken words, give my heart to be used as thine own, and to have thee only in my true soul, for you are that soul's name. What say You?"

Saavik closed her eyes.

"Peter Kirk, will you marry me?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

Their fingers traveled across each others' faces, in a pattern that completed the bond. Though there would be ceremonies later, they were once again husband and wife, and before long, child as well. The child of true love, love that had to find its way back after a clumsy initial pairing. The grandchild of Captain James T. Kirk - and another - who might well be born into a dying universe.

Lieutenant Roesch had been joined by her fiancé, Lieutenant Walton, and they both merely stared at the ritual in wonder. It was more than life, more than love. It was a gesture of defiance to the thing that stalked the galaxy, that was set to complete universal genocide. Peter looked over at his former Academy suite-mates.

"Wife, I was to tell them of our first bonding, haphazard though it was. Is it all right if I do?"

"By all means. I, for one, like hearing that story, especially when you consider its eventual outcome-husband."

Next- Chapter 5 - I Thought Love Was Only True In Fairy Tales....