#˚ · .✧ – the best of starfleet / christopher pike

[tinderbox210]

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds + T'Pril's roasting vs Pike's praising of Spock

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: s02e05 - Charades Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: s01e05 - Spock Amok

[ve1ljumpers]

❛⠀ well, this is a surprise, ❜⠀ he says, stepping aside to let her in. perhaps it would've been wiser to hold back, skip any comment that might spook her back to her own quarters, but if there is one thing he's learned about commander evers, and it might just be one thing, it's that honesty is the path of least resistance, even when it might appear at first glance to be impolite. ❛⠀ i was expecting your apologies any moment now. ❜⠀

˚ · .✧ – starter call / @owedfavors

[ve1ljumpers]

❛⠀⠀you have a terrible habit of correcting me, miss evers. ⠀ ❜⠀ the way he says it, it is crystal-clear that in his eyes, her penchant for picking the most accurate word, is anything but terrible. christopher has never considered the differences of sneaky, curious, and every other synonym — or, were they really? certainly not in her eyes -- so in depth. it made him want to pick words at random, see what she'll say, what she'll reveal next.

because it is revealing. she might be a mystery to the society papers, a strange creature that seemed to never quite blend in with the ton, but with each word, each time she told him he was wrong, he learned something new.

❛⠀⠀i want to know if she is in trouble. ⠀ ❜⠀ for better or for worse, april loves the girl. perhaps there is a perfectly reasonable explanation, though the odds are not in the girl's favor, but if there is a chance, even slight that he is not trying to break his best friend's heart, he has to take it. ❛⠀⠀i want to know everything. i am curious that way. ⠀ ❜⠀

❛ I believe I disputed being described as sneaky, not curious. ❜ and she had strongly protested his conflation of the two the prior night, a stance she would adamantly uphold no less strongly now by daylight if pressed to it. but she has her answer, such as it is, at last, and with it a newest puzzle, and ultimately she has no great desire to reiterate points already made in a futile effort to change his mind. for she knows it would be futile.

❛ but you seek, what, confirmation of her intentions? proof even your friend cannot deny? to what does he attribute the disappearance? ❜ people may not interest her in the way that the inner workings of their world do, and she is as little interesting to them as they are to her. yet a mystery is a mystery and a puzzle a puzzle, and una can scarcely claim herself to be even remotely as oblivious to the affairs of others as they all woulda assume.

sneaky, indeed. she merely does not like that another knows it. that he noticed.

[v-o-i-d-e-d]

I've been binging romcoms with my younger sister and we just finished "To all the boys I have loved before" and now I can't get the idea out of my head: reader writing letters for different starfleet members without intending to send them and suddenly the letters are gone and being sent to their unintended targets (lol, probably Jim did it not knowing that they were not supposed to be read or something). Problem is: our favorite vulcan will too be receiving quite a love letter. Idk, I just thought it was cute, you can ignore if it's too silly ^\\\^

This was such a cute request and I love rom-com-type situations so I ran wild. Also, I'm sorry that this took so long for me to get out I have been busy with school and other annoying responsibilities! I hope you enjoy it!

Title: Message in a Bottle

Pairing: Spock x Kirk!reader

Warnings- none!

Word Count: 4047 my hand slipped

            Lieutenant (Y/N) Kirk had been having a totally normal day. She completed her duties on the bridge as normal and had just finished eating dinner with her brother Jim. Now as she headed back to her room, she could not wait to shower, crawl into bed, and enjoy the next few hours of sleep before she had to get up and do everything again. When she entered her room the automated door hissed closed and she was finally completely alone. She took a deep breath and turned the lights in the room on. She almost immediately noticed something that completely ruined her peace.

 Earlier that morning, (Y/N) was clearing out her storage closet and had sat a white box full of envelopes on her dining room table so that she would remember to find a new place for them. That box was no longer on the table. Now, one might think why is a missing box of envelopes a big deal? Well, they aren’t. It’s the fact that the envelopes were all properly addressed and full of letters to people she knew that she never intended to send. A few sappy ‘thank you’s to old teachers, a couple to her higher-ups including Captain Christopher Pike – the man who told the Kirk siblings to enroll in Star Fleet Academy. These letters would be slightly embarrassing if they got out but nothing (Y/N) couldn’t handle. After all, everything she wrote in them was true and she appreciates everything those people have done for her. There was only one letter in that whole box that worried (Y/N)—her love letter – a detailed love letter – to one Commander Spock. She cursed herself for writing and keeping a love letter in the first place though she didn’t anticipate the whole box would disappear. She tried to think back to earlier to see if she could remember if she moved it, but when she left her room after lunch it was still on the table and she hadn’t returned since.

            “This can’t be happening. It didn’t just sprout legs and walk away!” She said to herself. (Y/N) ran a hand down her face and thought hard. She paused, “No fucking way.” She exited her room at a jog and progressively got faster as she headed toward her brother’s room. She slid to a stop in front of the white door of the captain's quarters and rapidly slammed her fist against it.

            “James, open the door right now!”

The door slid open revealing a perplexed – and slightly afraid – Jim Kirk. He knew he had done something wrong for her to be angry enough to come to his room calling him by his full name. Of course, he had no idea what he had done but he decided it was best to try to start off ahead.

            “Look, I know you’re upset about-“

            “Did you move the white box on my dining room table when you were in my room earlier?”

            “Wait, what? That’s what you’re mad about?” Jim scrunched his face up and scratched the top of his head. (Y/N)’s eyes widened and she briefly looked around the corridor before shoving Jim back into his room and following him in. The door shut with a hiss and (Y/N) closed her eyes and took a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth. When she opened her eyes Jim was staring at her with a confused expression and his hands crossed over his chest.

            “Please, for the love of god, tell me you didn’t mail those letters,” (Y/N) said as calmly as she possibly could. Silence followed her question and she already knew the answer.

            “Well –“

            “Oh. My. God.”

            “There was a box of addressed envelopes on the table so I thought you needed them mailed!”

            “Jim! Why would you mail someone else's letters? Isn’t that, like, illegal or something?” (Y/N) was absolutely freaking out and, for the life of him, Jim couldn’t understand why.

            “I was trying to be nice! I knew you had a long day today and I wanted to take something off your plate! Excuse me for being a good brother,” Jim rolled his eyes at his sister and threw his hands in the air in exasperation.

            “Well, jackass, a good brother would have asked before just taking a box from his sister’s room and now there is a love letter headed to your second in command!”

A long pause followed her statement. Jim blinked once. Twice. Then a prolonged third blink.

            “What?” Jim had no idea what to say. (Y/N) groaned and ran her hands through her hair in frustration. She began to pace in the entryway and ramble about how dumb she was to write it in the first place and how she should have burned the letters when she had the chance. Jim finally shook his head to rouse himself out of his stunned silence.

            “Why the hell would you write a love letter…to Spock? Or to anyone for that matter what is this 1812?” Jim chuckled at his own joke but covered it with a cough when (Y/N) glared at him.

            “I don’t know! I like writing letters and I just started writing one day and it turned into a full blown sappy confession that I had planned to keep hidden till the day I died! Now it’s headed off to the last person in the universe who I wanted to see it.”

            “Well, maybe this isn’t so bad.”

            “I want you to stop talking.”

            “No, I’m serious maybe this is what you two need to stop dancing around the obvious!” Jim gestured vaguely with his hands as (Y/N) ceased her pacing. She sighed and shook her head.

            “Jim, we’ve been over this: Spock does not feel that way about me. And that’s fine!” (Y/N) and her brother had had many conversations about this subject. Always with Jim insisting that the feelings were mutual and (Y/N) denying that Spock would ever even look at her in that way. I’m his best friend’s little sister and his subordinate, she thought, He’s way too professional for that.

            Before Jim could respond, both of their communicators chimed. They were being called back to the bridge for an emergency. They briefly held eye contact before rushing toward the door. As they jogged toward the bridge, (Y/N) continued the conversation.

            “Okay did you just mail them today?”

            “Why are we still talking about this?”

            “Because I want to know how long I have to transfer to another part of the fucking galaxy to avoid embarrassment,” They turned a corner and the lights flickered before flashing red. The ship shuttered and Jim and (Y/N) struggled to regain footing.

            “Is it bad that I’m hoping whatever just happened happened to happen to the mail room?”

            “Yes. And that was way too many uses of the word ‘happened’.”

Six hours and several shots fired later, the trouble was averted. A rogue Klingon battalion had decided to attack the Enterprise while it was stationary and almost destroyed the engines but quick thinking from Jim, (Y/N), Spock, and Sulu had saved the day. (Y/N) was officially beyond exhausted. She was so tired, in fact, that she forgot about the whole letter situation and went straight to bed after the whole debacle was over.

Day 1 of waiting:

She slept blissfully and woke up rested and ready for the day. She had gotten dressed and ready and made her way back to the bridge. Unfortunately, her blissful restfulness was cut short when she laid eyes on a certain Commander and remembered the imminent embarrassment that was bound to ruin her life at some point this week.

            “Good morning, Lieutenant Kirk. You look rested.” Spock greeted her with a nod as he fell in step with her toward the bridge elevator.

            “Uh, yeah, good morning,” (Y/N) managed to only stutter once and she quickly cleared her throat. She shouldn’t be freaking out. They walked together to the bridge all the time. Of course, normally Jim is with them but still, casual meetings with Spock were not entirely out of the ordinary. As they walked, silence filled the space between the two and, to (Y/N), it was suffocating. Something on her face must have given away the fact that something was wrong.

            “Are you feeling alright, Lieutenant?” Spock asked. His face was neutral but he side eyed (Y/N) intensely. Briefly, (Y/N) met his heavy gaze before looking straight ahead.

            “Yup, feeling absolutely terrific!” She couldn’t even believe herself. Spock raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to speak again but, luckily for (Y/N), he was interrupted.

            “Lieutenant Kirk.” It was Scotty. God bless him! (Y/N) thought.

            “What’s up, Scotty?” Was that the formal way to address him? No. But (Y/N) just wanted to get out of speaking with Spock one-on-one.

            “I need to speak to you. There are some issues with a few of the privates stationed in the engine room and I could use your help to resolve the issue before I throw some people out of the airlock!” His accent was strong with annoyance and (Y/N) couldn’t help but chuckle.

            “Sure thing,” She turned to Spock who had paused beside her, “You go on to the bridge, I’ll be in the engine room if you need me in the meantime.” Without waiting for an answer, (Y/N) hurried toward the engine room leaving Scotty to trail behind.

Day 2 of waiting:

            It was only the second day, and Spock had already caught on to the fact that (Y/N) was avoiding him. (Y/N) knew it was not going to be easy to allude him while also keeping it a secret that she was doing it on purpose, after all – Spock isn’t an idiot and (Y/N) is anything but subtle. Spock and (Y/N) had a routine and of course in an effort to not speak to him (Y/N) had changed it so that she was usually off the bridge when Spock was there and vice versa.

            “Lieutenant Kirk you are needed on the bridge,” Chekov’s thick accent crackled through (Y/N)’s communicator and she sighed. She knew Spock would be there which is why she was currently in the engine room recalibrating the warp drive. It was busy work that she normally wouldn’t do but anything to avoid the impending embarrassment.

            “On my way.”

            When she arrived, Spock immediately shifted his gaze from his work to her. (Y/N) briefly met his gaze before walking toward her brother who was seated in his chair with his legs thrown over the armrest. She rolled her eyes.

            “What do you want, Jim?”

            “That’s no way to address your captain, Lieutenant,” Jim had a smug smile on his face – as usual – and it took everything in (Y/N) not to smack him on the back of his head.

            “Tell me what you want or I’m leaving. I was working, unlike some people,” She scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned into her hip.

            “Okay, I am sending you and Spock on a mission,” Jim’s smirk got wider as he noticed his sister’s eye twitch in annoyance. “The planet we’re coming up on is supposed to be abandoned but there should be evidence of a previous civilization. I figured with your archeological knowledge and Spock’s general smart-assery you two would fit the job perfectly.”

(Y/N) took a deep breath in through her nose as she glared at Jim. She sneaked a glance at Spock.

He was listening in on the conversation – an action he deemed logical since it also pertained to him. His eyes were focused on the screen in front of him but he could see (Y/N) from the corner of his eye. He noticed her normally relaxed state was exchanged for tensed shoulders and a glowering expression. Whatever had been going on yesterday had most certainly carried into today. He thought. (Y/N) Kirk was one of his closest friends just as James Kirk was. Though many things that the younger Kirk did were illogical and not well thought out, she knew how to get the results she wanted and always figured out a way for everyone to be happy or at least safe. Spock enjoyed her company even more than he enjoyed her brother’s. She was smart, kind, and usually quiet if it was just the two of them. She was a challenging chess opponent and someone dear to his heart. Not that he would say that to her.

(Y/N) sighed, “Okay. When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow afternoon. We’ll be in the atmosphere at around 12 o’clock Earth time so you’ve got plenty of time to research and prepare. Why don’t you and Spock take the rest of the day for whatever nerd stuff you need to do,” Jim waved his sister off before getting up and leaving the bridge. (Y/N) glared at his back as he left before begrudgingly walking over to Spock.

“Hey, Spock,” she said. Her eyes were focused on the ground rather than up at the Vulcan who was looking at her intently. (Y/N) took a breath in through her nose before finally lifting her gaze to meet Spock’s, “Let’s go get some lunch and we can talk about the mission.”

Before the Vulcan had the chance to respond, (Y/N) quickly turned on her hell and started walking toward the elevator. Spock easily caught up to her before the doors closed and as the elevator began to descend, Spock spoke up.

“(Y/N), are you feeling ill?” Spock dropped the formalities and asked straight out. (Y/N) lifted an eyebrow and looked at her Commander with a curious gaze.

“No, I’m fine. Why do you ask?” This was a stupid question, (Y/N) realized. Her behavior was at best erratic and clearly intentional so it was only logical for Spock to know something was wrong. She did breathe an internal sigh of relief knowing that Spock hadn’t received the letter, otherwise, she was sure he would have confronted her by now – mutual feelings or not.

“You’ve been acting strange for the last couple of days. I want to be sure that your behavior will not negatively affect your performance on this mission.”

(Y/N) fought the urge to roll her eyes as the elevator doors hissed open. Of course. She thought. He’s only worried about this dumb mission my dumb brother is sending us on to torture me.

“I am also worried about your well-being, Lieutenant.” Spock’s surprising sentiment almost made (Y/N) trip on her own foot. She cleared her throat and shrugged her shoulders as they turned the corner of the hallway.

“I promise, I’m okay. Just have a lot on my mind right now.”

“Ah, yes, the letter.”

(Y/N) swore her heart stopped right there in the hallway. She hesitantly looked at Spock, trying her best to keep her expression as neutral as his. She didn't know how to respond I could play dumb, she mused, but he’s too smart for that to work. The man knows my handwriting so it would be impossible for me to deny that I wrote it. She took a deep breath through her nose, Fuck it.

“Yeah, actually that is what’s on my mind. And honestly, I had hoped I could just ignore the problem but I should have known that wouldn’t work with you.” (Y/N) rambled.

“Why would this be a problem?” Spock tilted his head slightly and furrowed his eyebrows, something that (Y/N) found impossible endearing.

“It could ruin things! In so many ways!” By now, (Y/N) was pacing the hallway and Spock was more confused than ever. “You’re my superior officer and I just sent a love letter to you! Of course, I wouldn’t be dumb enough to send it that would be my genius brother. But I was dumb enough to leave the box out and allow him into my room! But I mean, who mails other people’s letters without asking? What was he even thinking?”

“(Y/N) –“

“I’m so sorry! I seriously didn’t mean to tell you like this and if I’m honest, I didn’t intend on telling you at all! My feelings were supposed to be kept to myself! Well, to myself and Jim but he’s a nosey bastard who obviously can’t mind his business! I don't know why I tell him anything and honestly, I wish he’d just – “

“(Y/N).” Spock, tired of listening to her pointlessly rambling on about how annoying her brother is – a fact he knew to be true – grabbed her gently by the shoulder to get her to stop pacing. Now that she wasn’t speaking and instead was staring up at him like a kicked puppy waiting to be scolded his mind went blank. Spock was officially at a loss for words. “I was talking about the letter of promotion Admiral Pike sent you. About the head of engineering position.”

She wanted to disappear. Perhaps if she willed it hard enough, she could fade from existence on the spot. For once, it was running her own mouth that got her in trouble instead of her brother’s. (Y/N) tried to read Spock’s expression but couldn’t and that sent even more anxiety straight to her gut.

“Oh.” That was all she managed to say. She quickly regained her wits, “Then just forget everything I said and we can just go back to normal!” She let out a nervous laugh that sounded more like a cry and started to walk in the direction of the cafeteria. However, Spock hadn’t let go of her shoulder and as she walked away his grip slipped from her shoulder down to her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

“Wait.” That was all he managed to say. His mind was still reeling trying to decipher her quick words. A love letter. He thought. She loves me? He couldn’t believe it. “You love me?”

Despite her distraught state, she had to admit she had never seen Spock looking so dumbfounded, as if what she said was something he had never thought of in any scenario. His hand still held hers firmly and he gently pulled her back towards him. “You love me.” He said again, though this time it seemed as though he was finally understanding the situation.

“Okay, Spock, you’re starting to sound like a broken record, and the record is titled Hurting (Y/N)’s Feelings.” She chuckled only to keep herself from bursting into tears out of sheer embarrassment. This was the moment she was dreading. The absolute end of a friendship and a lifetime of shame. I’ll have to go into exile. Maybe I’ll ask Scotty to throw me out of the airlock. She thought. Just as she was about to speak again, Spock dropped her hand turned on his heel, and headed back in the direction they came from. That was when the damn broke and (Y/N)’s eyes welled up with hot tears. Blinking rapidly, she haphazardly looked around the hallway to make sure no one saw her before jetting away in the direction of her room.

“You left her in the hallway?” Jim was on the verge of shouting. He was absolutely flabbergasted at Spock’s behavior. Spock rolled his eyes.

“I was unsure of what I was supposed to do.”

“So you decided to leave my baby sister in the hallway, by herself, after basically confessing her undying love for you.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“Trust me, I am not.” Jim ran a hand through his hair and huffed out an annoyed sigh. He paced back and forth, a habit that Spock noticed the siblings share, before looking back at his second in command. “Okay, you have to go after her.”

Spock knew this. It was obviously the most logical course of action. There was only one problem: “What am I supposed to say to her?”

“Apologize for rudely walking away, first off. Then – and this is just a spitball idea – tell her you feel the same!”

Jim was actually convinced that Spock’s brain had short-circuited. Spock wasn’t firing on all cylinders because if he was, he would understand the logical thing to do. Secretly, Jim was happy this situation happened. He had been trying to the Spock and his sister together for months now but he found the process to be similar to cutting a tree down with a blunt axe.

“Beginning a relationship with Lieutenant Kirk would violate –“

“Not if she accepts the promotion.”

“She’d still be my subordinate!”

“Only in the same way Scotty is our subordinate! He only has to listen to us sometimes.”

“That is not how the ranking system works.”

“Who cares?” Jim was tired of arguing with Spock over something that seemed so obvious. Spock felt the same way. “Listen, if you don’t want to tell her you have feelings for her I can’t make you. What I can tell you is that no matter what you do the sentence needs to start with I’m sorry and end with something nice. Turn off the Vulcan side for a change, not everything you do has to be completely logical. Sometimes we just need to do things that we want.”

It must have been a strange sight. The commanding officer of the USS Enterprise stood stiffly in front of (Y/N)’s quarters. He was still trying to figure out what exact words he needed to say and he had taken to scratching at his cuticles out of nervousness. I should not just be standing here. He thought. Shaking his head and finally lifting his clenched fist, he knocked twice. Panic briefly set into his veins as he realized he was actually going to have to talk to (Y/N). A cold shiver ran up his spine as the door’s airlock hissed open and revealed (Y/N) on the other side. He could tell she had been crying, though the tears seemed to be mostly dry by now. Her red-rimmed eyes lightly glared up at him and she crossed her arms tightly over her body.

“Can I help you?” Her voice was scratchy and her words were punctuated by a sniffle. Spock felt an ache deep in his gut from knowing he had made her feel this way.

“I-“ He paused. Once again he was speechless but he was determined to make this right. “I apologized for the way I behaved. Leaving you there after such an important moment was not the right thing to do and I am sorry for hurting you.” Even as he did his best to keep his tone even he couldn’t help the slight waver in his voice.

“It’s alright, Spock. Honest. I’ll be okay and ready for the mission tomorrow. Like I said we can just go back to normal and forget about it.” She was offering him an out. He knew he could easily just take it and go but part of him, a large part of him refused to give up that easily.

“No.”

“What?”

“I do not wish to return to normal.”

“Oh.” (Y/N) believed this to be the final moment of friendship. He wanted nothing to do with her anymore. “Um, okay. I guess you can just do the mission alone or ask my brother to –“

“You misunderstand. I do not want to return to normal because I reciprocate your feelings of affection.”

Oh. (Y/N) thought. A moment of silence passed between them. Spock watched (Y/N)’s face for any sign of emotion but she seemed frozen. He wouldn’t lie, she thought. Vulcans don’t lie. “You do?” her voice was quieter than she intended, almost a whisper.

Spock took her hand in his larger one. “Of course I do. I believe an adequate way to put it would be you have bewitched me, body and soul.”

(Y/N) couldn’t help the giggle, “So you do listen when I talk about Jane Austin. I thought you found romance novels illogical.”

“Everything about you is illogical, but that is one of the many things I find alluring about you.” They both smiled. (Y/N) had only seen Spock actually smile a few times and each time it was like new life had filled her lungs but this time it was even better knowing that the smile was put there solely for her. And this time, she couldn’t stop herself from kissing that smile even if she tried.

[janeykath318]

Hot Beverages: Christopher Pike x Reader

Being stranded on one of Andoria’s freezing moons was no picnic, but you’d made the best of the limited resources you had for three days, but now, your heat fuel source was used up and you were facing despair as you huddled in the escape pod you’d been marooned in.

The distress signal was going steady, so you tried to hold out hope someone would find you in time before you died, distracting your mind by writing letters to your loved ones on your nearly dead tablet.

As you sang to yourself to keep from falling asleep, you heard a gentle whirring sound above and peeked out to see a Starfleet shuttle coming in to land nearby.

You didn’t have the energy to climb out, but approaching footsteps quickly proved help was here.

“Life signs are weak, but steady. Hypothermia is setting in,” you heard a voice say. “Looks like we got here just in time.”

“Hello!” you weakly called. “I’m here. About to become a human icicle.”

The escape pod door was pried open and two pairs of eyes, peered in at you from two bundled figures.

“Hello,” a man greeted. Your pulse leapt at the sound even as your brain told you it couldn’t be him.

“Chris?” You asked weakly. “I thought you and your shiny new ship were on the other side of the quadrant.”

You could only see his eyes, due to all the gear he was wearing, but you could see them widen in recognition.

“Y/N?” he asked in disbelief. “How did you………but more of that later. Let’s get you warmed up.”

With the help of Chris and his crewman, you were swiftly hauled to their shuttle and given a quick examination and a hot drink from the shuttle’s small replicator.

“It’s not great,” Chris apologized, handing you the steaming cup, “but it’ll do the trick.”

You sipped the coffee gratefully as the shuttle took off.

“I see you remember I like my coffee black like my soul,” you quipped, as you started to feel warmer.

Chris chuckled. “How could I forget? I couldn’t even hack that sludge you loved. I’m glad you’re okay, Y/N. It’s been too long.”

“Yeah,” you agreed. “I was on my way to take a teaching position on one of the Starbases when the ferry crew mutinied. Luckily for me, they weren’t interested in bloodshed, but sent us passengers packing.”

“We picked up the others,” he confirmed. “You were the hardest to find, because the weather here caused a lot of interference. Honestly, after that long, I didn’t expect to find any life signs.”

“Awe, c’mon, Chris, you know I’m too stubborn to die that way,” you reminded him. He was aging very gracefully, and his hair was more fabulous than ever, but there were definitely some shadows in those eyes and a few more wrinkles when he smiled.

He smiled warmly at you.

“You are. I would have had a lot more faith if I’d known it was you. We’ve come a long way since we raced our horses across the ranch,” he reminisced.

“For sure. I’d love to catch up if possible,” you admitted hopefully. “But I know you’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

“I’ll make the time, Y/N,” Chris promised. “I have the recipe for a much tastier hot beverage that I’d like to test for you.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Chris,” you smiled at him.

[wwillywonka]

excerpt from my wip mcspirk sequel to trails and trials! have some spock reflecting on his friendship with pike 🤪

Jim was married to the Enterprise. That was the way it had always been and always would be.

Silver woman goddess. She. The decision was premade when the universe itself was created.

Spock understood. Spock was devoted to Starfleet, to being an officer, so therefore he was devoted to the Enterprise and devoted to Jim. Jim was the entire crew’s leader, their hero, their savior, their light. Spock looked up to him.

It had been the same with Christopher. Captain Pike was the first person in Spock’s young but already insurmountably tumultuous life to show him kindness, to accept him without judgment or reservation.

Ensign Spock, at the age of twenty, had accepted his assignment aboard the new NCC-1701 with a distinctly Vulcan lack of pride. Having graduated from the Academy early, this was simply the next step in a career, the logical place for a student of science to be, one of the first to discover all the Universe had, until this point, hidden away from the Vulcan-Terran eye. To boldly go…

He had no expectations or desires when it came to pursuing personal relationships beyond those which were necessary for him to perform his duties to the best possible efficiency. So when Captain Pike had stopped his rousing opening speech to stand before the lone Vulcan in the row of crewman standing at attention, raking a curious, warm gaze over him, then smiled-

Christopher was his first friend. At first, the Captain treated him the same as any other Ensign, greeting him warmly in the corridors, asking for his opinion and valuing it as much as the other science officers in Spock’s lab, promoting him to lieutenant within the mission’s first year and insisting Spock deserved it and Spock actually believing him….

It was nothing more than Pike being a very good, very attentive captain. But for a half-breed outcast loner with a tendency towards habitual self torment, it was more than enough.

Then, the five years were over, and they were back on Earth, and Pike invited him and a few other select officers (including Lieutenant Uhura and Nurse Chapel) for dinner at his family’s home in California and Spock felt for, the very first time, at ease.

Looking for temporary refuge from the crowded room, Spock had wandered onto a balcony and found himself overlooking a desert that reminded him, oddly, of Vulcan- of home.

“Hiya, Spock!" came Christopher's cheerful voice. "Doing okay out here?"

He looked a little tipsy, his seafoam green irises twinkling pleasantly in the light emanating from inside the house.

"Yes, Captain." He turned to look at the house and saw Uhura's silhouette flitting about the dining room. Faintly, he could hear her singing some unfamiliar Earth tune.

“You're brooding," Christopher said, without preamble. Despite the meaning behind his words, there was a smile in his voice, even though Spock wasn't looking at him.

“Not at all, Captain. I simply wanted to see for myself the place you speak so fondly of. Surely, it is worth some observation for you to reference it so often."

Christopher laughed, eyes crinkling at the edges. “Well, of course I talk about it, Spock. I grew up here. It’s my home.”

“Yes, Captain.” Something inside of him prevented Spock from pursuing what was surely to be a very personal inquiry into his own upbringing, something he had managed to, so far, avoid relaying to the Captain in any detail.

He turned, facing away from Captain Pike once more to look out at the sands, blue with night.

“You belong here, you know,” Christopher said then. “I mean, on the Enterprise. With them, with us.”

It was then that Spock finally looked at him.

“With me.”

And then, the two men stood staring at each other for exactly 7.92 seconds. Spock definitely, absolutely, completely, pointedly did not feel like unfolding his arms from behind his back and wrapping himself around Christopher’s torso nor did he desire to bury his face into Christopher’s neck and find shelter from the chill now spiraling down his spine.

Then, the ice melted, and Captain Pike was granting him one of his usual genuine, but ultimately professional, smiles. “Thanks for coming, Spock. I know it's probably not very… standard procedure to spend leave at your Captain’s house. But I figured we all deserved some fun and celebration after those five years.”

“Indeed, Captain.” And after a pause, “Thank you for inviting me.”

The first thing Captain Pike did when they were awarded their second five-year mission was recommend Spock for the position of Chief Science Officer. And they were back, once again, in the black undiscovered frontier of space.

Spock, now stationed on the bridge, found himself seeking out Captain Pike’s smiles more than was right for a Vulcan.

It was not entirely surprising, then, that Spock, around the time of their fateful encounter with Talos IV and its inhabitants, felt something within him burst and blossom with the unfamiliar sensations of -

Of what, he did not know. Or rather, he would never dare allow himself to name it. Spock knew only that he wanted something from his first Captain that could not be satiated by the shame-laced, sweat-tinged fantasies that filled his head and his hands in the dark loneliness that was 4 A.M. in his quarters.

It was illogical. It was childish. Captain Pike was twelve years older than he, not to mention his superior officer.

So he said nothing, and he suffered and grew angry at such an un-Vulcan reaction and grew angrier still as he internally punished himself for experiencing any feeling in the first place.

And then, any chance Spock had at telling Christopher anything at all swiftly came to an end.

And he’d gotten himself put on trial out of loyalty to the first person who’d ever shown him he deserved to be loved.

So Spock brought him back to Talos IV, back to the illusions, back to her. He could give Christopher Pike that, at least.

There was something quite different about refusing to do something and no longer having the choice to change one’s mind.

He did not dwell on it often, but his first crew on the Enterprise had, too, been his first assignment aboard a starship, and it held a place within his memory that he did not wish to see damaged by the Pulosians.

To think Christopher was no longer himself, that he was very likely dead by now…

Spock had not and doubted he would ever allow himself to go down that mental path. It was illogical to wallow in that which was already etched into the arteries of time.

Christopher was gone.

[curator-on-ao3]

20 Questions for (Fanfiction) Writers

Big thanks to @deadheaddaisy for tagging me! ❤️

1. How many works do you have on Ao3?

140

2. What's your total Ao3 word count?

777,796

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Tuvok’s Secret: Tuvok has a secret — and he trusts only one person onboard to keep it. (Kathryn Janeway & Tuvok friendship, G)

Feet on the Ground: Something solid slams into Kathryn’s back. She stumbles forward, bumping Mark, who in turn careens into someone else. Kathryn turns to glare at the probably inebriated party-goer who didn’t watch where they were going.

But, instead, she looks up to achingly familiar dark eyes and the curves and lines of a tattoo that Kathryn spent the last eighteen months telling herself she didn’t miss. (Chakotay/Kathryn Janeway, G)

The Halo Effect: Tom Paris and Kathryn Janeway didn’t intend to fall in love. (Kathryn Janeway/Tom Paris, M)

Fly Me to the Moon: Kathryn Janeway and Tom Paris never met each other years before Voyager.

Never served on a covert mission together.

Never fell in love.

Never planned a future together.

Nope, never happened.

Because a secret like that could lead to some … complex dichotomies. (Kathryn Janeway/Tom Paris, E)

Bad Ensign: Harry Kim finds out he missed out on an important part of the Starfleet Academy experience. Hilarity and dirty jokes ensue. (T, Voyager ensemble and the story that launched the Bad Ensign universe other writers have been absolutely lovely to carry far and wide)

4. What fandoms do you write for?

Mostly Star Treks — Voyager, Strange New Worlds, and Picard, with smatterings of Lower Decks, TOS, Disco, and The Next Generation. Every so often, I write for a non-Trek or Trek-adjacent show. I’d like to do more of that.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes. A comment is a form of appreciation. The least I can do is recognize that appreciation and appreciate it right back. Fandom is a community.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I’m not sure, but possibly:

A Waning Note Lifts A Love Song: Tom Paris has loved Harry Kim for a long time.

Or has he? (Harry Kim/Tom Paris, T)

This ficlet takes place in the “Course: Oblivion” (goo crew) universe, so I feel like some angst is implicit.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I write lots of fics with happy endings, but the comments for one story in particular often tilt toward, “I got really nervous for a minute there, but you promised a 100% happy ending and, wow, you delivered.” And that fic would be:

Youthful Exuberance (Some Kind of Love): He gave a speech to her class at Starfleet Academy.

But why did he give that speech and how would it change both their lives? (Number One | Una Chin-Riley/Christopher Pike, E)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I mean, I got a mean comment once on a P/T fic, but I feel like a lot of people who write/wrote for that pairing have had that experience. (And, though there’s no excuse for rudeness, that fic was one I didn’t want to write and, though I tried my best, the concept maybe wasn’t clear enough.) I also once had someone vagueblog disparaging remarks that I think were directed toward one of my fics, so I blocked her (because even if the remarks weren’t toward my story, publicly hating on any fic is poor form, imo).

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes. Vanilla.

10. Do you write crossovers?

Within the Trekverse, yes. I like to delve into possibilities … like Tom Paris giving Cris Rios La Sirena, and Tuvok and Geordi LaForge having tea together to discuss the warp-damages-subspace technobabble from TNG’s “Force of Nature” … and the effect that had on the entire Voyager crew, especially Tom Paris and Kathryn Janeway.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes. In the Doorway (Tom Paris chimes at the door of Kathryn Janeway’s apartment. Kathryn Janeway/Tom Paris, T) has been translated into Russian.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! I co-wrote Long Nights on La Sirena with @cnroth and @gijane-7702 (offscreen Saffi fun in the La Sirena universe) and I co-wrote both 99 Pegasi (timey-wimey, angst-with-a-happy-ending, post-canon Pikeuna) and A Seat at the Table (Kirk and Pike’s friendship, Pikeone, and La’an/Kirk in the Kelvinverse) with @fiadorable.

14. What's your all time favorite ship?

NCC 1701

15. What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

None.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Brevity. Grammar. Character interiority.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I’m shit at snappy dialogue (trying to get better) and I overthink … everything.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic?

If dialogue in another language is needed, a beta reader who knows the language can ensure dialogue is correct … or at least plausible.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

On AO3? Voyager.

20. Favorite fic you've ever written?

In most ways, Youthful Exuberance (Some Kind of Love), as mentioned before. But a “favorite” depends on my mood.

No pressure tags: @cnroth, @gijane-7702, @fiadorable, @enterprise-come-in, @pc-corner, @elephant-in-the-pride-parade, @emilie786, @grissomesque, @lorcaswhisky, @coffee-in-that-nebula, @caladeniablue, @the-lady-general, @procrastinatorproject, @regionalpancake, @starrybouquet, @theredheadedcaptain, and anyone else who wants to play.

[kosmos2999]

In what ways did William Shatner's portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk differ from the way the character was originally written?

You really have to look at the difference between Captain Christopher Pike (portrayed by Jeff Hunter in the first Star Trek pilot, “The Cage”) and Captain James Kirk (portrayed by William Shatner in the second Star Trek pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”) to see the evolution of the Captain in Star Trek.

As originally written, the Captain of the USS Enterprise was a rather dark, tormented man who was already thinking of resigning his Starfleet commission (in the pilot episode) because he was fed-up with the demands of leadership. That was Jeff Hunter’s portrayal of Christopher Pike.

^^^ Jeff Hunter’s Captain Pike appeared as almost a reluctant commander. He was introspective and self-doubting and mostly humorless, and he didn’t want the responsibility of issuing life-or-death orders and leading others into deadly situations.

He didn’t like women on the bridge, either, except for his First Officer Number One (because she had no obvious feminine personality).

Pike was also aggressive. He barked most of his lines, he glared a lot, and he was even violently intimidating (choking a frightened and physically-frail Talosian, for example, and directly threatening to burn a hole through the alien at close range).

^^^ If looks could kill, right. No wonder the Talosians concluded that humans were "too violent and dangerous a species for our needs.”

NBC rejected the first Star Trek pilot for several reasons, including Jeff Hunter’s Christopher Pike, who was considered too intense, angry and not very likable. Gee, wonder why?

Could it be because Jeff Hunter’s controlling wife was often on the set, badgering Hunter as well as the producer and director? That probably made Hunter’s job many times more difficult, and I think it showed in his performance.

When NBC requested a second Star Trek pilot, it was decided to rewrite some characters and do away with others. For example, First Officer Number One was entirely removed from the script; Spock was promoted to First Officer as well as Science Officer; Doctor Boyce (Ship’s Physician and bartender) was also eliminated from the script and replaced with a more down-to-earth country doctor (this was Doctor Piper, who quickly evolved into Doctor McCoy); and Christopher Pike was to be rewritten as a kinder, gentler, more likable Captain.

However, there was a contractual problem, inasmuch as Jeff Hunter had signed to do only one pilot and a series (if NBC bought it)…but he didn’t sign to do two pilots and a series. Gene Roddenberry and Desilu Studios really wanted Jeff Hunter to continue working on the show, but they knew they’d have to cajole Hunter (and his overbearing wife) into signing for a second pilot.

So, Roddenberry called Jeff Hunter in for a post-rejection screening of The Cage to discuss character revisions and signing another contract for another pilot. This is where it got messy.

Desilu production head Herbert Solow was at the screening and described it best:

“In the eyes of the New York and Los Angeles television world, Star Trek was already a failure. But we knew differently and looked forward to running the completed pilot for our star, Jeff Hunter. We hoped it would convince him to do another pilot. Gene and I waited in the Desilu projection room for him to arrive. He never did. Arriving in his stead was actress Sandy Bartlett, Mrs. Jeff Hunter. We traded hellos, and I nodded to Gene. He flicked the projection booth intercom switch. ‘Let's go.’

“As the end credits rolled, and the lights came up, Jeff Hunter's wife gave us our answer: ‘This is not the kind of show Jeff wants to do, and besides, it wouldn't be good for his career. Jeff Hunter is a movie star.’ Mrs. Hunter was very polite and very firm. She said her good-byes and left, having surprisingly and swiftly removed our star from our new pilot.”

–Herb Solow, Inside Star Trek: The Real Story

So, Jeff Hunter just vanished from Star Trek. He wasn’t fired, as some claimed…he quit. Or, more precisely, his beast of a wife quit for him. Two years later (1967), after Star Trek was a success, Jeff Hunter divorced his wife.

As it happened, there was another actor invited to that same screening (quietly taking notes), and that actor was Bill Shatner, who was waiting in the wings when Jeff Hunter opted out.

Thus entered the new Captain of the Enterprise, James R. Kirk.

^^^ Yep, he was actually named James R. Kirk in his first Star Trek appearance: It says so on his tombstone in “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” the second Star Trek pilot.

Shatner’s Kirk was basically just the opposite of Hunter’s Pike. Captain Kirk was thoughtful but not deeply introspective; he was not tormented but was supremely confident and never self-doubting; he loved his ship and crew, but was willing to take life-or-death risks with both; he was perfectly comfortable with women on the bridge (or just women in general); and he could be humorous, if a little irritating.

^^^ Captain Kirk was a more likable, humorous and confident alternative to Christopher Pike.

Captain Kirk, unlike Captain Pike, was always a ready negotiator, offering an olive branch first and only turning to violence as a last resort; indeed, even in violent scenes, Kirk was typically defending himself.

In short, Shatner portrayed Kirk as a role model for kids. Shatner fully realized that Star Trek was a kids’ show, first and foremost, so he played a kid’s idea of a starship captain…and nailed it.

It became apparent from the second pilot onward that Kirk’s human warmth was a perfect balance for Spock’s icy Vulcan logic (which evolved as the first season of Star Trek progressed). Their dynamic became pure gold for the series and the movie franchise.

^^^ DeForest Kelley’s emotional and quick-tempered Doctor McCoy assumed the role of a counter-character playing against Spock, while Kirk became the reasonable middle-man between the two, and so was born the legendary trio.

By Charles Austin Miller, Investigative Journalist and Publisher.

Found at Quora:

[we-re-bibliomaniacs-together]

So I had to have emergency surgery last night and coming out of general anaesthetic was pretty... fascinating.

Now I have been reading fanfiction for well over a decade now. One might even call me a veteran as I have slogged through some Interesting tropes and writing in my day.

The Olde Classics like the 'self insert,' for example. Though my current comfort tag would have to be 'time-travel fix-it.'

So I have to say that a combination of these two, purely as a fic, would be a fun and interesting read albeit self indulgent. Believing that you ARE the self insert MC who has time travelled to save the day because of anaesthesia would be a trip for sure.

I should know.

Because that was me last night.

I woke up fully convinced that I had inexplicably time travelled to the start of Star Trek: into Darkness (2014) to save one of my favourite characters, Admiral Christopher Pike.

I'm asking these poor confused theatre nurses and anaesthetists to contact S'chn T'gai Spock to warn him about Khan Noonien Singh attacking the Daystrom conference because I am not only a nerd, I'm a Overachieving Nerd who uses proper names not used in the popular movies which I am attempting to reference in that moment.

They were understandably confused.

I was understandably distressed.

My favourite part was when a very compassionate nurse who was trying her best to be supportive and asked "who is Soo Chun? Do you have his number so we can call him for you?" To which I promptly burst into tears and cried "I don't know, ask Uhura!"

But for a few blissful seconds I got to live out my teenage fanboy dreams and fully believe that I live in a universe where Starfleet is real. Exploration of space was within reach and I was ready to boldly go where no man has gone before and save a few blorbos some suffering along the way

[ve1ljumpers]

❛⠀ i do wish to apologize once more. this was my fault, not spock's ❜ he says, accompanying the visiting vulcan to her quarters. spock was supposed to be the one greeting her at the transporter room, not him. ever diligent, his science officer notified him of the impending visit and formally requested to be removed from rotation for a single shift more than a month ago, a request he was happy to arrange. then, two days ago, their best laid plans were destroyed. a situation flared up, the sort that demanded nothing short of starfleet's best. ❛⠀ with such a... difficult mission ahead of us, i asked spock to join the away team, it was unavoidable. ❜

˚ · .✧ – starter call / @guidefaithed

[ve1ljumpers]

when she says the words, christopher realizes, quite stupidly, that he had known this all along.

he knew her too well to have ever considered he was the only one dancing with ghosts these days. but what he didn't know was how much he needed to hear it, that it was one thing for his heart to understand, it was another for his brain to have proof. understanding creeps in slowly, shifting something within him. his posture eases, blue eyes blinking rapidly, the weight of it slowly filling in the crevices left behind by her absence.

❛⠀ it is worth a lot. ❜ it was everything. it might not change the past, or help him escape from the nightmare of the present, but it made carrying the weight of it bearable. ❛⠀ so don't go forgetting it this time. it was... well, number one, it was really rude, i have to say. ❜ a smile cracks through his features like the sun peaking out after a storm.

of course he extends it. of course, when he has every right to be furious, christopher pike would instead be far kinder than she deserves. she can cling to her firm insistence that there had been no choice, no other course she might have taken, but so too can she trace her path back through countless of steps that brought them here. her crimes, after all, began far before she betrayed herself to starfleet.

whether they began in joining starfleet in express defiance of law, or in remaining oh-too-long upon enterprise scarcely matters. certainly, though, she ought to have caught the signs, ought to have left for another ship before it was too late for either of them.

she doesn't want to have, even now.

❛ for what it's worth, ❜ which must surely be little enough, when it can't undo her choices nor lead her to regret them, ❛ I have missed you too. ❜

[ao3feed-spirk]

One (1) Daily Shoulder Pat

read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/52644523 by Android_And_Ale Shenanigans ensue when one middle finger to the Academy too many gets Starfleet Cadet James T. Kirk booted off planet for a summer internship aboard the V.S.S. Sh'Raan. He's hiding a major secret from the oh so earnest and helpful Vulcans, but the longer he's on the ship, the more Jim starts to wonder if they're keeping secrets from him, too. --- Captain Spisee handed Jim a heavy sheet of rich, cream paper embossed with gold dusted Vulcan calligraphy bearing the ship’s name. It was a bit cheap by the standards of Vulcan stationary aesthetics, but shipboard life meant some sacrifices. In the most elegant handwriting he’d ever had the privilege to lay eyes on, it read: Human Enrichment and Optimal Health Program: - One (1) Daily Shoulder Pat (more provided upon request) - Seventy (70) Seconds of Hug Time Per Week (divided between crew members as you deem necessary) - Three (3) Discrete Instances of Daily Praise - Three (3) Structured Entertainments per week - Minimum of One (1) Social Companion per meal (more available upon request) “We would appreciate detailed weekly feedback on the efficacy of our Human integration efforts." Words: 3256, Chapters: 3/12, Language: English Fandoms: Star Trek, Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/M, M/M Characters: James T. Kirk, Spock (Star Trek), Nyota Uhura, Gaila (Star Trek: Alternate Original Series), Christopher Pike, Vulcan Characters (Star Trek) Relationships: James T. Kirk/Spock, Spock/Nyota Uhura, James T Kirk/Vulcan OC Additional Tags: Starfleet Academy Era (Star Trek), Set the summer between years 2 and 3, canon adjacent, Because AOS implies Vulcans never settled any colonies, TOS and I agree that there are more Vulcan colonies than human ones, Shi'Khar is full of assoles, But what if most Vulcans aren't giant Space Racists?, And instead are living their best IDIC lives!, Rural Vulcans, IN SPACE!, Look I just think Vulcans are neat, and so does Jim, Which is good because Jimmy is a sexy slab of tempeh and lots of Vulcans want a bite, consensual polyamory, Tarsus IV References (Star Trek), (nothing too grim), Spirk Endgame, Rating May Change, Dramedy read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/52644523

[janeykath318]

Pike Squared

“Jim! Can you not even take a simple training cruise without stirring up trouble?” Admiral Pike heaved a sigh of half amusement, half annoyance.

Jim had contacted him on the most secure video link he could, so obviously it was important. But what could happen on a simple training mission?

“I’m sorry, Sir. A new wormhole opened up and brought us an unexpected guest.”

“Can’t you send them back?” He asked. “We’ve had enough problems with visitors from other universes.”

“I don’t think we’ll have problems with this particular person,” Kirk said, with a very wry smile. “But no, we can’t send him back because the wormhole self-destructed. We barely beamed him on board in time and got the heck out of there. Heading back to space dock.”

“Then why all the security?” Chris asked.

“Because our visitor is another Christopher Pike, Sir. I thought you should know.”

“Oh.” Talk about a curveball. Chris had no idea what to think about this. He knew he shouldn’t be too shocked about there being another version of him, After all he’d met Spock The Elder. It was still very weird, though. Meeting yourself from another universe? Could he do it? Was he allowed to do it? Would it disrupt the timeline?

“I’ve stunned you into silence for once,” Jim gloated. “Never thought that would happen.”

Chris mildly scowled at him.

“Yeah, well, show me the proof, kid.”

“Alright. Come on over, Captain.” Jim nodded and another gold shirted figure appeared beside him.

“Admiral Christopher Pike, meet your other self, the Captain version.” Jim was grinning like a maniac.

The other Chris smiled back sheepishly. The Admiral felt suddenly quite old and rickety in comparison to this younger version. He’d never been quite that muscular even in his own prime.

“Damn. You found the advanced model,” he commented. “Wanna trade places?” He playfully asked his other self.

“No, thanks,” the other Chris replied good naturedly. “I’m not ready to get kicked upstairs. What did they threaten you with to make you accept the promotion?”

“Threat is the operative word.” the Admiral agreed with a snort of derision. “But at the time, it wasn’t certain if I would walk again, so I finally agreed. Big mistake. Now I’m stuck with paperwork and bureaucracy—and smoothing over the messes Jim causes. Tell me, Captain, do you also have a Kirk as a genius thorn in your side?”

He looked pointedly at Jim, who shrugged innocently, giving his best “Who, me?” face.

“Yes, I do, but it’s actually more caused by Sam Kirk than Jim in my experience,” Captain Pike responded. “The science types can cause a surprising amount of chaos.”

“Damn right they do,” the Admiral agreed heartily. “I should thank my stars Sam didn’t join the Fleet in our timeline. Dealing with one Kirk is more than enough for me.”

“Hey!” Jim protested. “I’ve grown out of that, haven’t I?”

“You’re still a master at pushing the admiralty’s buttons, Jim,” Chris reminded him.

“Who do you think I learned it from?” Jim retorted, giving his superior a pointed look.

“I take it you two are close?” Asked Captain Pike, observing their lively interaction with great amusement.

“Yeah. He was the reason I joined Starfleet in the first place,” Jim admitted. “He’s put up with me for years. But we digress. What should we do, Admiral?”

“Keep it quiet for now,” the Admiral said firmly. “I may tell Richard because he was there when the other Spock showed up, but other than that, limit it to your senior staff.”

“Will do,” Jim nodded. “I’ve got Spock, Scotty, and Carol working on a solution. If they can’t figure it out, well, no one can.”

“I’ll trust their genius,” Admiral Pike said. “And Jim, let me know when you’re back in space dock. I want to pay myself a visit.”

Jim laughed out loud and both Pikes smiled.

“Oh, this is going to be great!” Jim said, rubbing his hands together gleefully.

“You’re gonna be a pain in the ass about this, aren’t you?” The admiral sighed.

“Of course,” Jim grinned, and his mentor rolled his eyes and ended the connection.

“Don’t mind him, He’s always testy when his wife’s been out in the black awhile.” Jim remarked.

[cptnpike]

the totally canon shenanigans of captain christopher pike, first officer la’an, chief of security balfour cousland and nurse christine chapel.    after number one is taken away by starfleet for breaking their laws on genetic manipulation, the enterprise is left without a first officer and a chief of security, as la'an is still on leave helping a young girl they found on a mission .   

as loathe as he is to risk the girl’s safe return to her family, pike requests that la’an return to act as his first officer, a role she has successfully fulfilled in several missions in the past year.    however, that still did leave them without a chief of security.    before starfleet can get any ideas, pike invites balfour cousland, the chief of security from the northumberland, to join the team.    —    they had recently gotten stranded on a planet together, and navigated their way out together.   he had been impressed with the younger man, and, most importantly, he trusted him.

it didn’t hurt that the cousland family is well-respected within federation circles, making it difficult for starfleet to raise an objection to this transfer.

nurse chapel, who had manipulated una’s altered genetics to save the crew, breathed a sigh of relief at pike’s pick.     the new chief of security wasn’t going to be something breathing down her and m’benga’s necks, trying to wrangle the truth out of them;   it was going to be balfour, who had become, in the link of an eye, her best friend.

[curator-on-ao3]

Wednesday (Quadruple) Drabble: The Lost and Found

She had been lost before.

Moving as a child from the Illyrian side of the city to the non-Illyrian side, hope for increased safety as consolation for leaving a part of her identity behind.

He had been lost before.

Refusals overridden, his would-be captors gaining control of his computer to falsify assent for a descent into fantasy, life in unreality as corrosive as the battery acid that powered his radiation-damaged heart.

Starbase records made clear Spock’s betrayal and, once Una reached Talos IV, it didn’t take long to locate Chris— his illusion screaming in pain from fire-borne punishment, his true form immobilized in his support chair.

The rage she needed to defeat Talosian mind control came easy.

In the shuttle she’d… procured… Chris declined her algorithm to match his speaking voice, choosing instead to use a computer default, no intonation of anguish or joy, no movement in his scarred face or change to his mechanized, steady respiration as he answered her questions.

“My best guess is Spock exploited that you’d be away from Starbase Eleven for a few weeks. He knew he was disobeying my orders and committing mutiny. He did it anyway.”

“If the Illyrian doctor is willing to try, I understand the risks.”

“Leave Vina behind. She made her alliances clear.”

So it’s at an Illyrian colony far from Federation arrogance or authority that his DNA unfurls and re-forms. Genetic engineering is usually performed before birth, but this is his rebirth, no longer the Christopher Pike who upheld Starfleet ideals but a Christopher Pike who is wary of a Starfleet that would tolerate a sham court martial rather than search for a greater truth.

Is Una reborn, too? Her belief in something greater than herself, in a Starfleet that could, in fact, become what she had hoped it to be in her idealistic younger years, that belief is withered, gone, replaced by allegiance to people, not an organization.

His skin is pockmarked, his voice reedy, gait unsteady. Genetic engineering isn’t a miracle cure.

Her sense of purpose has telescoped from appreciation for differences to appreciation for those who share her values.

Are they still lost?

Isn’t everyone?

But to be lost together… a shuttle course laid in toward a curious-looking cluster of stars, his hand a comfort on her shoulder, her soft hum the music of his naturally-beating heart… to be lost together… is something like being found.

•

Christopher Pike drabbles: 3, 2, 1/?

[mceproductions]

MCE Best of 2023: Honorable Mention

TV Shows: Star Trek Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)

On the TV Side of things we come back to Star Trek.

With the growing pains of Discovery the second season of that show would bring in Christopher Pike and Spock to assist the crew.

Proving popular the spinoff would begin to explore the period right when the prime directive became prevalent with the early adventures of the original USS Enterprise.

Along with intended first officer Una Chin Riley and nurse Christine Chapel the homages to the original explorers and their own adventures were prevalent.

With the Musical episode being chief among them.

And a finale that sets up the Gorn as the overreaching character that will likely carry through the series.

The 8th episode is where this entry comes into play as on the animated spectrum we get a more comedic take.

Lower Decks focuses on the supporting crew of a second contact ship named Cerritos.

Beckett Mariner has lived in the shadow of Starfleet, and her intention of staying down at the bottom of the rung clashes with her best friends, Brad Boimler, D’Vana Tendi, and Sam Rutherford.

Only the crew led by her mother Captain Carol Freeman and First Officer Jack Ransom still see the value of grunt work to give these ensigns.

The fun is had here with cameos and callbacks aplenty.

Our shows would end up crossing via a portal that Boimler activated sending him 120 years back in time. As Pike and company ponder the future he knows but is specifically told not to mention Mariner ends up joining him as both Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome manage to take their animated counterparts and blend them well into live action.

Also comes with nice Coda at the end showing a possible reason into the mindset of the lower deckers.

Both shows mange to evoke what was insightful about Star Trek for many.

While Picard righted a ship, both Strange New Worlds in the past and Lower Decks in between managed to show off all the possibilities that still could be found.

And boy does it work.

Moopsy.

SUM 22: Led by a crossover both of these Star Treks mange to bring some levity back into boldly going where none went before.