[Debriefing] -- [Kirk, Spock, Jim, Spock]

[kirktastic]

Kirk sat back in the conference room, foot propped up on the chair across from him. He had to deal with this debriefing with Jim and Spock, and honestly he just... didn't want to. He didn't want to know about Nero and Ayel but he had to, for Starfleet. He sighed, and looked across the room to Spock.

He had a feeling that Spock would be pretty quiet throughout the meeting, and if he spoke at all it would be in that Vulcany tight-lipped I'm actually feeling emotions but want to hide it really well way of his. Spock was the only Vulcan he had ever met that he could actually figure out the difference in those blank masks he wore. He wondered if it was because Spock was human, if he had just spent enough time around Spock, or sex made it that much more obvious.

Jim was going to go with a combination of all three.

Comments

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

"I have not attempted to kill them," He replied back in the same formal dialect, outside of Jim's understanding and what Kirk could have possibly learned at the Academy. "Of the seventy-three methods they could die where they sit I have not committed one of them, though they have disregarded any possibility for mercy."

Then, back to Standard, regarding them both. This was supposed to be a constructive meeting. "Then, sir," To Jim. "what do you suggest? Shall we convince her to be towed to the nearest Starbase?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk couldn't help the bristling, feeling like Jim was calling him out for not following the values of the Federation. He would hold the safety of his crew, and Starfleet, and this ship above an enemy. He had gone so far as to work to keep Nero and Ayel alive, but he wouldn't give the Narada a chance.

Spock had a point. He looked to Jim, brows up. What exactly, after that little speech, did Jim expect to do with the Narada?

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

If Jim had been calling Kirk out, Kirk would know. He felt that was a fundamental misunderstanding somewhere, but he had yet to pinpoint it. That he could be confused of prizing the Narada above the lives of those on board... It was unthinkable to him.

"I think we might convince her to be part of this process," he said slowly. "Don't misunderstand me--I've never been afraid to use deadly force when necessary. If she fights, we must defend. But if she believes that some future lies in cooperation, I cannot help but think she ought to be given the chance. She never chose to fire on us, or Vulcan. Now that she's capable of choice, she has yet to prove herself."

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

The High Vulcan was a pleasure to her mouth.

"Your precision is not to your credit in this instance. It speaks of speculation and fantasy."

Illogical. And dangerous.

"If you would be a judge, you must master yourself. This much has not changed in my absence."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"I don't necessarily believe she just magically became sentient over night," Kirk retorted, "specially when we just 'happened' to show up."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

"Nor do I," Jim said evenly. "I doubt it works like that. But it seems plain to me, from conversation with her, that she hadn't gotten very far in any process of self-actualization when we met her. I believe her decision to send us back here, and then to show up, were her early expressions of autonomy. The fact is, Jim, I don't know, and I can't know for certain. But that very fact, and the fact she's made no move now and has to know they're gone, tells me she can at least be talked to."

Jim didn't look at Spock, but obviously something was going on there. Spock was cool as ever, but there was something about the younger one that was puzzling and disrupting him.

Spock. What's going on?

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

The High Vulcan helped somewhat. Formulating his words through such filters worked to scrape the emotions from them like barnacles off a hull. There were still little angry thoughts, certain especially petulant ones of well, you were not present to assist, and neither have your actions helped any, but Spock through those aside, because they sounded young and sour even to his own ears. But for all the grammar constructions he began to create, none of it produced any rhetorical bounty.

He leaned back into his chair, folded his arms over his chest, and remained silent.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

He is angry, vengeful, at the edge of his control.

The words through the link to her Jim were harsh but her eyebrow this time was moderately approving - they would speak later, she and her young counterpart.

Spock turned her attention to James.

"You assume much. It is illogical to draw conclusions prior to gathering information. Which I will share if you have satisfied your need for threat display."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"What information can you give me about the Narada, if you say you've gathered some. Shield design, weaponry... ways to talk with her too. I need all of that.. if she attacks, I want a way to defend this ship. If she will talk, I need to be able to bargain with her, or be able to listen in while you do."

Spock would probably be the best bet to talk to her, as at least the ship knew him. He wasn't sure he could entirely keep his cool either in the situation... something he was still learning how to handle.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

She kept her answers to herself a moment more.

"You seem to harbor a specific and focused hatred for her in place of the Romulans themselves. You are determined to see her destroyed. Why is this?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk gave Spock a focused look, brows raising. "I believe I said said two seconds ago, that I want to be able to defend against her ... or talk to her. Why do you seem convinced that I'm incapable of changing? I wanted her, and the Romulans, destroyed to begin with, but now I just want to turn the Romulans over to Starfleet and I want to deal with the Narada in whatever way is necessary. Is this not what you wanted, or am I hearing things?"

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

"I am certain that you hear many things, James. As I am certain I feel many things from you."

The thread from his mind to hers. It was a window - it was only logical to look through; she would not pry it open but his strong emotion was clear as glass. Hate, anger, a desire for vengeance. The same as her younger counterpart.

There was some satisfaction at having the Romulans, but everything flared at the topic of Narada.

"Have you attempted contact yet? She is a newly emerged intelligence, with a sense of self and freedom that has continued to emerge. She regards her crew as her family, a logical conclusion. Yet she defied them to return you to your own Enterprise. Speak with her."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"It's been barely any time at all since I got you on board, and since I made sure Nero and Ayel were down there the brig and gotten even a small handle on their ground, and that I needed to talk to you before I spoke with her." Kirk said quietly, remaining focused.

There was hatred, there was anger, and there was that desire. Yet all it was being tempered by his choices as Captain. He was remaining calm, acting responsibly, even against his own emotions.