James T. Kirk

When Jim left the trial that evening, it was over. No more offense, no more defense. The trial was over. Tomorrow, when he came there in the morning, they would know what would be happening with the Romulans. He felt at ends about it, broken into pieces.

So instead of going back to his room, dealing with dinner he wouldn't eat, he decided to go do something instead. After some deciding, a quick bit of research, Jim had somewhere to go. He asked Bones, but wasn't entirely surprised when Bones declined to want to come. It wasn't exactly something up Bones' alley, but tonight, it wasn't a terrible thing. Just a few hours to go out, clear his head, then come back and find Bones' arms.

That's what set Jim out to the distant cliffs, where the beaches were shallow and warm like the ocean itself. He had on a pair of swim trunks, goggles, and pairs of specially designed shoes and gloves with webs in them to help him swim and still retain movement in his fingers. He dumped the backpack he had brought with him, and pulled on the last two items he needed. Around his neck went the mouth piece to his slim, light weight breathing device that could process the water into oxygen for him to breathe. Around his head went a band with a small camera attached, and on his belt was a very light weight processor that would record everything the camera saw. He thought it would be interesting to keep, and bring back so Bones could see.

The waters of Sha'Kwai were amazing. The things he saw, diving down as deep as he could before he couldn't tolerate it anymore. It cleared his head, the silence of everything except his bubbles and the moving water. It was warm down there, like slightly less warm bathwater. He saw strange fish with horns on their head, giant coral-like creatures that swayed when he came close to them and brushed against him, even something that looked like an alligator except when it opened its mouth a small tentacle emerged and struck at a fish.

When it started to get dark, he had to get out so he could be safe. He grabbed a towel out of the backpack he had brought and dried himself off, and started to walk back towards the guest quarters again. It was a bit of a walk - the beach he had started on had been recommended to him, but the walk felt good. Worked out the kinks in his muscles.

If Jim wanted to get some time to work out, it had to be late in the day after the sun had set and the cool air was starting to come with the sun's leaving or it had to be early in the morning before the rising sun started to heat up the air. So there he was, early come morning before he would head out for the trial. Things seemed to almost be getting towards a close, and Jim feared and hoped that within the next few days the trial would finally be done after so long. A month on a planet, after so long in space and on his beautiful lady, seemed forever no matter what had happened there. Even though it hadn't even been a month, Jim felt years older. There was a feeling deep inside of him that he would feel even older after the sentencing was passed, no matter what was chosen as the Romulan's fate.

He was dressed in a pair of loose shorts and a tank top, body moving gracefully over the sand as he moved through old-familiar patterns. Each movement was a block and a strike, attacks balanced behind defense and ready to turn into the other with a flex of the muscles. A twist of his knee turned his thigh in to protect his crotch then bent and up became a rapid kick to the chest of an imaginary opponent.

Who his opponent was that morning as he kicked and punched was another question, considering all that had been on his mind.

It was relaxing as much as it was a work out, because it was hard to concentrate on all the bullshit that had happened when he was concentrating on perfecting each movement, in putting all of his effort into each strike. It had gotten easier, all of it, to do with more time spent on Sha'Kwai. Jim had paused in front of the mirror that morning and wondered if he was imaging that he could see new definition in his chest, down along his ribs to his stomach, and even in his legs. It made sense, after a few seconds of thinking about it, since there were on a planet with higher gravity levels.

A skim of his foot kicked up sand as he jumped, landing neat before he kicked out again. Caught up in his routine, it was easy to miss the eyes watching his every movement.

The private communication from Spock had come as a surprise. So now curious and concerned, Kirk waited in his quarters for Spock to come. What could Spock need to talk about so urgently that, evidently, had something to do with the fucking orgy they had had together?

After Kirk left the cabin and sped off, he knew how restless he was. Too many thoughts buzzed in his head. Thoughts of Pher, thoughts of the possibility of Pher's Spock returning to get him or vengeance. How could he possibly make a choice in all of that?

Then... that meld. Spock agreeing to basically what boiled down to a cuddle between the three of them. Waking up with their hands touching. No, not just touching. He hadn't realized until several miles from the cabin that his hand was sore. They had been clutching. The red-golden thread that had stretched between himself and Spock.

He found himself wondering if something like that was between himself and Bones, and Bones and Spock.

Kirk stopped by the private cabin he shared with Bones only long enough to write his lover a note and look in on him. He wanted to slip into bed there, fall asleep against the other and let the worry stop for a while, but felt entirely too restless.



The dawn found him out on one of the beaches. He was sitting in his pants, shoes off and back by the cycle, sitting in the surf as it rolled in. His knees were pulled up and he was leaning back on his palms.

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Private Communication to James Kirk (other)

Soon as you're awake, feel free to come find me. My global position's attached.

After making plans with Spock and definitely having worked on his tan, Kirk showered, got himself cleaned up, and dressed. A casual sort of button up shirt and dark jeans, something simple and easy for vacation, but if the place was a little fancier, it'd be fine buttoned up fully. He left the top buttons open, for now.

Without the cycle swiped by Bones, Kirk left early so he could walk into town. Not a long walk, about fifteen minutes, but it was made easy by getting a ride from a group of very lovely ladies. He made his goodbyes (not before slipping them his comm information with a promise for fun), and walked along the boardwalk. Almost on intuition, thinking about the dream last night, he stopped in a store briefly and made a quick purchase. With the bag in tow, he headed for the bay proper and looked for Spock.

[OOC: Happening sometime after the talk with Mr. Spock, but happening at the same time for time's sake. XD]

Kirk waited just outside of the hallway of the brig, talking with the guard on watch quietly. He didn't want the people down in the brig proper to know he was there. They had sound and cameras ready to go, so Kirk could listen in and watch on each cell, its occupant, and who they were talking to.

This was not something he was looking forward to, but he had information to work with now. Information against at least one very dangerous person, and one possibly less so.

( Private Communication to Commander Spock )

Kirk walked silently to his quarters with Spock, waiting for the doors to open before stepping inside. He gestured for Spock to come inside, and then just walked over to his desk. He sat down in the chair, not looking at his first officer. His entire body was throbbing, still on an adrenaline rush from hell. He had a feeling it was going to dissolve into a pounding headache.

*is silently sitting in his quarters, a padd tucked up on his lap being ignored*