Pike started to say something, paused, chose to reload with different ammunition. “Do you have any idea what a pain in the ass you are?” Kirk kept his reply as even as possible. “I think so, sir.” The admiral nodded slowly. “Good. That’s progress, I suppose. Now, tell me what you did wrong. What’s the lesson to be learned here?” Without glancing back at the doorway or cracking a smile, Kirk replied stone-faced. “Never trust a Vulcan?” Pike’s frustration as well as his irritation came through plainly in his reply. “You can’t even answer the question without injecting impertinence. Despite what it says on your record, I have to keep reminding myself that you’re actually a starship captain. If not for your last-minute heroics in saving Earth from . . .” His voice trailed away, momentarily lost in memory of a recent near-catastrophe. Then he straightened in the chair. “What it boils down to is that you lied. You lied, Kirk, on an official report.” The younger man’s reply was impassioned. “The intent was to observe the relevant rules to the letter, sir. Which we did. Had we not proceeded with the designed mission, it is highly likely a developing intelligent species would have been wiped out. Or at least had their maturation set back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Even worse, there was a distinct possibility that if we had held back, there would have been no interference with the Prime Directive, because you can’t interfere with a species that’s been rendered extinct. The decision to chance revealing our presence was wholly mine. Mr. Spock disagreed, and was ready to disagree to the death.” His expression twisted. “My saving his life caused him no end of anguish, or the Vulcan equivalent thereof. Though I believe he has since come to terms with still being alive. With a Vulcan, one can never be sure of such things.” Pike was not appeased. “You think the rules don’t apply to you because you disagree with them.” “With all due respect, sir.” Kirk spoke deferentially, all trace of snarkiness gone. “I thought that’s why you talked me into signing up in the first place. Why you took a personal interest in my progress. Why you gave me your ship.” The admiral sighed. Only when he spoke again did his fingers cease drumming on the desk. “No, I gave you my ship because I saw greatness in you.” He hesitated. “And now I see you haven’t got an ounce of humility.” Unwavering, Kirk met his mentor’s gaze. “What was I supposed to do? Let Spock die?” “You’re missing the point.” The younger man’s voice rose. “I don’t think I am, sir. What would you have done?” “I wouldn’t have risked my first officer’s life in the first place. You were supposed to survey a planet— not alter its destiny. You violated a dozen Starfleet regulations and almost got everyone under your command killed!” Kirk refused to back down. “Except I didn’t. You know how many crewmembers I’ve lost since—” “That’s your problem,” Pike harshly interrupted. “You think you’re infallible. You think you can’t make a mistake. There’s a pattern with you, that rules are for other people.” “Some should be,” Kirk muttered. Pike ignored the comment as he continued. “And what’s worse is using blind luck to justify your playing God.” Both men went silent for a moment before the admiral continued, more quietly. “Given the circumstances, this has been brought to Admiral Marcus’s attention. He convened a special tribunal, to which I was not invited. You understand what Starfleet regulations mandate be done at this point.” Kirk did not, but as he pondered the alternatives open to such a tribunal, a terrible realization slowly began to dawn. Pike confirmed it. “They’ve taken the Enterprise away from you. And they’re sending you back to the Academy.” When he could finally speak again, Kirk tried to defend himself, even though deep inside he was beginning to realize that the decision, along now with everything else, was beyond his control. “Admiral, listen . . .” “No.” Pike was having none of it— frustrated, hurt, and angry, he seemed no longer inclined to listen to anything his disgraced protégé might have to say. “No, I’m not going to listen. Why should I listen? You don’t listen to anyone but yourself. No, I can’t listen!” Realizing his efforts were futile, Kirk went silent. “You don’t comply with the rules,” Pike continued more calmly. “You don’t take responsibility for anything. And you. Don’t. Respect. The chair. You know why?” His next words fell on the already stunned Kirk like a hammer. “Because you’re not ready for it.”
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:22:16 +0000
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