Standing in front of the brig, Doctor Janice Lester was determined to have the last laugh. She felt the connection severing--and so bought victory the only way she knew how.

"You Lose, Captain!"

Turning the phaser on herself, Doctor Lester died. Despite himself, Jim Kirk let out a gasp--as he watched the body he was born in vanish forever.

"Noooo...."

With Spock confirming Kirk's identity, the prisoners were released and the senior crew briefed on the change in their Captain's situation. Some things, though, hadn't changed.

Kirk walked up to his Chief Of Security.

"Mister Martin, you are relieved of duty."

"But, Captain...."

"That...person who took over my... original body was issuing orders that were neither lawful nor rational. Your people locked up half my senior staff, and permitted her to strike me--more than once. On your next posting, check and see if The Captain is in their right mind."

Martin shook his head.

"Lady, I take my orders from Captain James T. Kirk. Do you see him here?"

Jim or Janice, The Captain still knew how to throw a punch--and did.

"Mister Martin, I rather doubt you can see anything--right about now."

Jim stared at his new fist.

"Poor Janice. She had power. She just didn't know how to use it."

In Sickbay, McCoy gave Jim the worst of it.

"A sex change is out. The technology that transferred you into this body is skittish, as you saw earlier. Hormonal manipulation or DNA resequencing could erase your personality. Breeding a clone would also be useless, even if it were legal. We just couldn't be even remotely certain a transfer wouldn't kill you."

Bones' eyes said the unnecessary, 'I'm sorry, Jim.' But Kirk got up.

"Doctor, I'm a woman now. That doesn't concern me. What does concern me is that I'm still James Kirk--am I also still The Captain?"

McCoy turned to Spock, who nodded.

"Unlike Doctor Lester's delusion that her gender prevented her ascension to Command, Starfleet has no concerns about your change of body--in and of itself. Their only concern is that of personality detachment, as you become accustomed to what is, after all, a new world. They have suggested that you take a year off, both to make certain that the process has no extreme side effects, and to recalibrate your skills to their new parameters. Since this situation has no precedent---I must concur with their suggestion."

Kirk nodded.

"Thank You, Spock. In a way, this is the same as if I'd been captured and then brain-implanted by an enemy. Maybe they removed all the alien-tech--or maybe its just hiding. If there's anything left of Janice Lester in me--its not getting near a Starship's center seat."

Alone in his quarters, and sulking a bit more than he would have liked, Jim received a visitor.

"Hello, Nyota. Wanna dye each other's hair?"

Uhura shook her head.

"Its making you miserable, isn't it?"

"This? Its confusing, to be sure. But what's odd is--I keep thinking about Ben Finney and Gary Mitchell. I can't say why."

"I Can. Jim, you're inhabiting the body owned by a once-dear friend who turned against you for no reason a rational person would understand. You look in the mirror, and there see a face that hated you. You may be stuck with that body- but you are not stuck with those features."

Jim shook her head.

"Cosmetic surgery? You think so?"

Nyota nodded.

"It is your new body--and I am your new roommate."

"Huh? Nyota, this is a career interruption. I can't let anyone else take the hit. Especially when I don't even know where my feelings lie--vis-a-vis us."

"Who cares? You were my friend long before you were anything else. Whatever  happens, happens. Jim--you need someone with you--if for nothing else, than to show you the ropes of living as a member of the superi--er, fairer sex."

Jim smiled, and so they left together, after a memorable farewell party. Spock assumed Command, awaiting the day Jim Kirk would return to his first best destiny.

On Earth, the two roommates found life together--interesting. Nyota slammed the door to their apartment. Jim apologized.

"Nyotaaa--I told them I wasn't interested."

Feeling on more equal terms with her friend now, Uhura had developed a sarcastic streak--deep and biting.

"Jim--why is it, every time we go out, the men we run into are more interested in your 'not interested' - than my 'Hey---I'm interested'?"

Jim had done as Nyota suggested, and Janice Lester's face was gone. Jim's face and outward form was now that of a 20th-Century ancestor who had resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and who was active in the mass media of that era. It had gotten attention. Jim was now just as archtypically desirable a woman as she had been a man.

"Look, Nyota---all they did was say hello. Then they just each asked an honest, simple question."

Uhura had previously been used to being the most attractive woman in her circle of friends. That Jim was now outclassing her, even by a hair's breadth--was not good for her ego.

"A simple question? A Simple Question? Jim--they all proposed marriage!"

Jim's head had developed a slight nervous twitch, and her voice a slight stammer when nervous.

"I--said--ya know, No."

Nyota threw up her arms.

"Then, after that--they hung around to hear you turn them down again. I thought I'd be living with my Captain--instead, I moved in with Starfleet's most capable command-level Cheerleader!"

"Hey, you watch it, Lady, I'm still Captain  James T----a Cheerleader, really?"

"I Give Up. Jim, I'm sorry. I'm glad we're friends--but you seem to have adjusted better than me to being a woman--and I was born one!"

"I'm a survivor, Nyota--just like my best friend? Y'know, my nephew still asks how you're doing."

"How is Peter?"

She nodded.

"Confused. Really Confused. He keeps saying he has something important to say about the fate of the universe--then he just ends up staring over across the table at me."

"Heh. Can't blame the kid, with a face like yours."

Jim's mouth half-frowned.

"Nyotaaa--he kind of wasn't staring at my face."

Uhura cringed a bit.

"Oh. Ah, so he's a perv. Otherwise, he's a good kid."

A voice was heard from outside.

"Yooohoooo!!!"

Uhura rolled her eyes.

"Come on in, Carol."

Carol Marcus, cheerful beyond saccharine, entered.

"I'd just thought I'd slum, and visit the great unmarrieds!"

Jim shook her head.

"Carol--you're not married, either."

"Yes--but I do have a little son, Jim."

"Carol--he's my son, too."

"Stop that, Jim. I am not going to have him traipsing around the galaxy with his mother--anymore than I can believe you went out in THAT dress!"

"Carol--what's wrong with my dress?"

"Jim, Dear Jim--it does tend to remind us that you were born a man."

"Hey--I helped Jim pick that out."

"Yes, Nyota--and the effort is appreciated-- if somewhat hard to notice."

Young David Marcus joined them.

"Hi, Aunt Nyota. Hi, Mom. Hi, Mom. Mom--could I talk to Mom alone?"

Carol departed.

"David--so--slugger--what I can do for you?"

"Mom--please don't pick me up at school anymore--half the kids want your autograph, and the other half want your phone number."

Uhura laughed at Kirk's discomfort.

"Don't worry, kid. We won't pick you up anymore."

"Oh, its all right if you pick me up, Aunt Nyota."

Uhura fretfully nodded.

"Thanks a lot, David."

"Oh, I forgot. Mom--is Cousin Peter okay? Word around school is, he's gone into therapy."

Jim guided David out, nervously

"I'm--sure--Peter's okay, David. I think-- he's just confused. Nyota--I'm meeting with Bones, while he's on leave. Wanna come?"

"No, Jim. I'm just gonna enjoy the peace and quiet."

Ten Minutes into her quiet, Nyota heard a knock on the door.

"Ma?!"

Ida Uhura looked around.

"So this is your apartment. Well, I'm almost certain that you try to  keep it tidy. Comm Officer aboard a starship--and she never sends a message. Upenda Nyota--you look thin. Have you been eating enough? Was that a child I saw with Jim? Did it give you any ideas?"

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USS ENTERPRISE

The new Communications Officer read off the urgent relay to Captain Spock.

"Barely clinging on to life, Captain O'Ryan's forces have attacked and destroyed beloved children's author, Uncle Remus. More as this develops."

Spock, understandably, chose to re-read the message himself.

"Mister Baxter---the text reads--and I quote : Klingon and Orion forces have destroyed the Autorian Ore base on the Romulan world, Remus.' Your message--had nothing to do with that."

Ted Baxter shrugged.

"Now, c'mon, Captain, admit it. Wasn't my version a lot more interesting? I figure that, with a little effort--I can liven up those dull messages. Make this a more--pleasant cruise for all involved."

Sulu shot one off.

"You want to make this a more pleasant cruise, Ted? Check and see if the light stays on when you open the shuttlebay doors."

"Hokay, smart-guy, I will--but only because I've been curious about that, myself."

As Ted departed, he ran into the returning Doctor McCoy.

"Hey, Doc--I've got some 'Bones' to pick with you. Get it--'Bones'?"

"Shut Up, Ted."

"Gotcha, Len."

Chekov spoke up after Baxter was gone.

"Sir--vhat eef he opens the shuttlebay doors?"

Spock nodded.

"Then I shall see fit to close them after he leaves, Ensign. Doctor--how is the Captain?"

"Well, Spock--I'd say she's ready for duty again. Jim's adapted rather well, and has even shown strengths and qualities he lacked before."

"Then why do you seem pensive, Doctor?"

"Spock--among those new qualities Jim has is a little thing we Terrans like to call spunk."

"Then what, may I ask, is your concern?"

McCoy shook his head.

"Jim's got spunk. I hate spunk."

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Who can turn The Bridge On With Her Smile?; Who Can Take A Routine Mission; And Suddenly Have It Turn Upside Down? Well, Its You, Jim—And You Should Know It; With Each World And Every Little Contact You Show It;

Space Is Your Frontier; Feel Free To Shape It; You Have Five Years More; Why Don't You Take It; Boldly Go Where None Have Gone Before; We're Gonna Make It Through The Stars!

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Writer's Note : Sorry, but the 'Oh, Mister Spockkkk...' joke and having M'Ress 'Meow' at the end were just too obvious. No, 'Oh, Robbbb....' stuff, either. I got that when I did 'Amanda Tyler Moore' on the Highlander NG.