James T. Kirk

"Understandable," he says. "I don't think anyone could blame you for that. But the question, Marlena, is what you want beyond that. What you would do if, for instance, we can't send you home."

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Relief flickers across her face for an instant, then she blinks. "If I couldn't return to my own universe? If I had to stay here, on this ship?" She smiles slightly. "I would continue to perform the duties to which I am accustomed, to the best of my ability and to the extent which I am permitted to do so."

She steps closer to the forcefield, close enough that the skin on the back of her neck prickles. "Are you going to let me out of here, Jim?"

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"I'd like to," he says seriously, taking another step closer himself. The field warns him, and he stays clear. "I see no reason to keep you here if that is truly what you want. The question, I think, is which duties you consider yourself accustomed to. Things work differently here. There is no Tantalus Field. No Captain's Women. I've no doubt you can survive on your own merits. But will you be content with that?"

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"I suppose I'll have to be," she accedes. "Do I have permission, then, to continue with the project that Commander Spock assigned me to work on in the chemistry department?"

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Jim doesn't exactly have jurisdiction over this, or know about the extent of her association with Commander Spock. But he sees no reason to reveal that.

"Believe me, this world, as mine, has more than enough to make up for what you've lost. But what project is that?"

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[OOC - I actually have no idea. Spock gave me something to work on; it's kind of unspecified. I assume it's something that needs to be done...]

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[OOC - Okay, consider this an edit of sorts.]

"Believe me, this world, as mine, has more than enough to make up for what you've lost. I'm sure we can work something out," he says. "I'm certainly not opposed to you earning your way, Marlena. I just want to make sure everyone's safe. Including you. It's a different world."

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"I thank you for your concern," she says.

She spreads her fingers and lightly touches them to the forcefield, making it spark and hiss. It hurts, but she doesn't flinch. "Not that different."

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His expression darkens.

"That's a dangerous thought," he says. "There's a difference between force used to protect and forced used for dominion and subjugation. Starfleet's, the Federation's, goals are diametrically opposed to those of the Terran Empire. No matter what superficial similarities you see. I should be proof enough of that."

He wonders, again, what she'd seen in the other Jim Kirk. What he'd been to her. If she could have been anything but a tool to him. Spock had described him in terms that seemed bestial, primal. That is not how he saw Marlena.

He wonders what it means, that he can imagine Marlena here, and not his mirror self.

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"Of course," she agrees mildly. "Your universe is nothing like mine. They're almost direct opposites, or so I've observed." Marlena's smile isn't very pleasant. "Here, though, in this universe, things are a bit different, aren't they? Would your Spock ever disobey your orders?"

"Tell me, Jim, how did you convince the captain not to throw you in the brig when you arrived here?"

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But Spock has disobeyed him. Early on in their association, but there had been ramifications. It had set them back, however understanding Jim had been of Spock's mutiny. Intellectually, logically, it had made perfect sense. But Jim trusts on instinct.

He smiled at Marlena, the smile that offers all of his attention and charm. "It seems I have a special talent for blending in," he says. "At least for awhile. But no; Jim is... me. He trusted me. Spock once told me it is easier for civilized men to act like barbarians than barbarians to act civilized; hostile intentions will tell. I hope you won't, Marlena, I really do. You saved my life. You've a striking, talented woman. And an asset to any crew. I'm willing to give you the chance to prove it to them. If you're willing to give our ways a fair shot."

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"Yes, I'll give it a shot," she says. "I'll do anything you want, Jim." And for once, there's no innuendo in that statement, just the honest desire to please him. Even more surprising to Marlena is the realization that she really doesn't have an ulterior motive. He's not the captain here; to put effort into manipulating him would be futile. You're going soft, she thinks.

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"I believe you," Jim says softly. It's not in him to be easily manipulated, whatever his reputation for a weakness for feminine charm. It's more that he's willing to give nearly anyone the benefit of the doubt, to believe the best of them, to allow them the opportunity to succeed. Or fail. He constantly had to temper this with his good sense and judgment, but James Kirk does not wish to live in a world where optimism is never rewarded.

Perhaps he can see her honesty. He knows what manipulation looks like. He smiles, and his smile doesn't seem to agree that she's going soft--just that he's happy she's reached that decision.

"I'll go talk to the captain," he says. "But I think you've made the right choice."

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She straightens to attention, and her hand is halfway to her chest before she remembers Spock's caution, and instead brings it to her forehead, stiffly. The salute is awkward and unpracticed, but at least she means it.

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Jim smiles again, in approval. He'd have understood her other salute, but he appreciates the effort. Even if she only learned it to fit in undetected.

He can appreciate that, too, from the other side.

He nods in answer to her salute, and goes off to find Jim.

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[OOC: Thanks for the notice!]

Kirk was still sitting in the guard booth, looking thoughtful. He glanced up as Jim came into view, and frowned a little. "...interesting. Wasn't what I was expecting, to be honest."

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"No?" Jim glanced at the monitors. "What were your impressions?"

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"Well, honestly... she seems like she could be honest... but I'm worried about letting her out into the crew." He said honestly, frowning still.

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Jim nodded.

"I want to trust her." He glanced at the captain. "It's your call, of course. And there's no denying she might be dangerous; she was an accomplice to my counterpart's ruthless elimination of his enemies. At least an accessory. And she's from a world where her considerable personal charms have directly benefited her."

He sighed.

"But keeping her locked in the brig doesn't seem like the solution."

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Kirk looked into the distance, thinking silently for several long moments. "...I think I need to talk to her and see how she reacts to me compared to how she acted with you."

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Kirk nodded slowly.

"I'll buy that," he said.

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He levered himself out of the chair and gestured for his other-self to take it. "Wish me luck." A grin, and he slipped out of the office and down the hall of the brig (glaring briefly at Pher as he went by) and stopped in front of Marlena's cell. He looked her over (damn, she was pretty) and offered a small grin, "...So, you're the one I'm hearing so much about."

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[OOC - Sorry about the delay. I'm so bad at keeping up with everything. >.< ]

Her face lights up when she recognizes him. "Captain Kirk, I presume," she greets him. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance." She looks him up and down, unsubtly. "You're much younger than the Kirk in my universe was when he took Captain Pike's command from him."

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When he took command from him. Usurped him. Kirk tucked that information away. He offered a grin to her, "Youngest Captain in history." He confirmed that. "So, putting aside the bullshit, tell me about yourself." He definitely wanted to compared notes on what she had told his counterpart versus what she did now.

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