Chapter Text
The ship groaned unsettlingly at the arrival of the landing party; their heeled boots clicking against the metal floor where regulation carpet had long since burned away. Threat loomed in the unsettling silence, even when the Enterprise was docked she was never without sound. The emptiness left a chill richotetting down Kirk’s spine. The ventilation system groaned out a coughing sending a chilling breeze through the hall. Kirk pitied the thing, his fingers lightly brushing ashen walls, it was no state for a starship to be in.
“What do you think happened here, Keptin?” Chekov muttered out, his brow furrowed. As Kirk glanced over to the ensign his mouth opened and stilled without answer.
Three days ago Uhura had caught hold of a civilian aid request beaming through the federation communication system. The message was encrypted in layers of code unfamiliar to any computer on the Enterprise. Even their best codebreaking officers struggled to piece together more than a few words. Beyond repair and few survivors was enough for Kirk to make the order to track its coordinates of origin. Despite not being a federation issue, or as Bones had called it ‘an obvious trap’- Jim had insisted they follow the request for help to its source.
It was with great surprise that they arrived at theto the stranded carcass of the USS Renegade. The ship and her crew had been missing in action for the past three months. Final reports from the USS Agamemnon labelled the Renegade a deserter ship, vanishing into the neutral zone before battle was lost to the Romulan fleet. The federation had issued an immediate search request to all starships on the suspicion of the USS Renegade’s Romulan capture or federal betrayal. Now, she rested in radio silence, a colossal debris with no obvious signs of struggle to suggest a cause of her ruptured thrusters.
Not a single utterance of reply was returned from any of their outreaching communication attempts. It was as if the signal- undoubtedly from this ship- had been nothing more than a ghostly whisper. Still, the chances of remaining life did exist, enough to have Kirk lead a landing party onboard the vessel.
“Did the Romulans do this to them?” Sulu mused fearfully.
“I-” Jim opened and closed his mouth, like a fish out of water, desperate to give an answer.
"It would appear a fire broke out in this area of the deck causing damage to the ship's wiring. I am... not entirely sure how long it has been since the USS Renegade lost all power but it’s lifesupport. Yet, it is entirely probable this ship has experienced Romulan interferrance." Jim recategorised the hairs rising on the back of his own neck as a symptom of anticipation rather than fear, Spock was rarely unsure of things.
"Well. We must find out what happened here.” Kirk stood firm, turning to direct his landing party. “I mean, damn it, where is the crew? Someone sent out a distress signal after all.”
“Aye, Sir.” Sulu nodded.
“Mister Spock?” Kirk locked eyes with his first officer, “Do your readings indicate it's safe to proceed to the Bridge?”
“Yes captain.” Spock almost nodded in response.
They hadn’t been able to beam directly onto the bridge of the renegade. Scotty had tried his damnest to no avail. The signal wouldn’t catch right, in fact the only place it seemed possible to transport to was a hallway of the lower decks.
A cut off yelp dragged Kirk’s attention away from his science officer, his face dropping from a smile he hadn’t remembered choosing to express. Ensign Chekov’s eyes were wide as he rearranged his footing from where it caught on something, reaching out for the security officer next to him and thinking better of it.
"Captain, er, I think I have found the crew." He called out, swallowing uncomfortably as the collective gaze drifted to the floor.
By the ensign’s right boot lay the mangled remains of what was once a crewmember of the Renegade. Their red shirt was charred, only the gold of their starfleet emblem stood out amongst the gore- embellished with the symbol of an engineer. The dreaded metallic hint of bile rose in Kirk’s throat and he swallowed it down.
“Captain.” Spock’s unwavering voice provided the grounds Kirk needed to pull himself away from the sight of the corpse.
“Yes, mister Spock?”
“I do not believe all the crew has met the same fate. My tricorder reads two lifeforms still aboard this vessel.”
“Human?”
“I can not say for certain, sir. The tricorder seems to be experiencing some sort of interference- It is only providing me with temperature readings and the detection of heartbeat.” There was little hope to hold onto but the idea that two of the four hundred or more crewmembers had survived however long the Renegade had been without power, at the very least Kirk knew his own hope had survived on smaller odds. It was worth the gamble.
“Alright. Deal me in, let’s go find those survivors and figure out what happened.”
It wasn’t long before they made it to a hurdle. After tracing ashen hallways, the landing party of six made it to the ship's turbo lift. A look of pure grief struck Lieutenant Sulu’s face as he attempted to operate the command pad.
“Captain… I think we’re going to have to take the long way round to the Bridge.” he grimaced.
Though initial scans showed no signs of radiation, disease or other harmful unknowns, there was no saying how long the Renegade’s life support systems could hold out for. Traversing the ship by ladder would be tedious, they did not align as succinctly as the lift did, designed for casual maneuvering between floors.
“If I may, it would be most efficient if we split up into smaller search parties. My readings indicate…” Spock ceased his suggestion with the ghost of a frown as he looked back down at his tricorder.
“What is it Spock?”
“Captain, my readings show conflicting data. I believed there were two lifeforms on board. However, whilst the lifeform on the Bridge remains, the second shows both human and Romulan identification.”
Kirk’s pulse beat ever so slightly faster in anticipation of future battle. If there was one Romulan on board this ship, others would not be far behind. The Enterprise now faced threat of attack. If Bones were right, he’d soon have much bigger problems than his medical officer boasting an ‘I told you so’.
“Mister Spock, Officer Kacey, with me.” Receiving a curt nod from one of his security officers he turned to face the others, “We will deal with the Romulan. You head to the bridge, find the other survivor.”
Sulu’s face was hard-set in determination as he acknowledged his captain’s command. The twenty two year old at his side tried to mimic the sentiment but there was the thrill of excitement shining in his eye, it reminded kirk of the young lieutenant he’d once been himself.
“I wish Good Luck.” Chekov offered, before the two parties turned their separate ways.
***
“The readings are coming from this room I believe.” Spock indicated to an officer's suite, its door indistinguishable from the rest, scratched and battered from a presumed battle. On their search for the survivor they’d encountered no other signs of life. Blood trailed the halls, disappearing behind closed doors that now contained only death and darkness.
Stepping up to the door Kirk found it locked. Without the ship’s power, no voice command would allow them entrance. As a young cadet, Kirk had memorised the manual override codes of every ship in the fleet. If anyone asked, he'd say he’d known the ways it would fuel the fascinated desires of women he met at bars; if they pressed him for the truth, they'd know he'd learned such information for nothing more than his own passion. The door override code for the renegade was 311AJ2, one of the less memorable codes.
He punched it in quickly with little thought and flashed Spock a quick, self congratulatory smirk at the pad’s beep of approval receiving a signature raised eyebrow in return. Slowly, the door stuttered open with an almost pained hiss, revealing the dimly lit quarters inside.
Hand gripping his phaser, Kirk did not anticipate the silence he was met with. A cavern began to open in his heart, the last threads of hope spilling through it. Security officer Kacey stepped up to his shoulder, her own phaser raised in defence. She nodded at him, a silent question, asking if he wanted her to enter first. Steeling his expression he shook his head in response and stepped through the threshold.
“Hello. This is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise- we're here to help.” He called into the dark.
As his eyes began to adjust to the dark, he started to realise that which Spock’s vulcan sight had already revealed to him.
“Captain, it would appear my readings were wrong, this is…”
The officer’s room was altered as if it had become the last line of defense for whoever it had belonged to. Rations were stock piled in a corner, without the replicators working it appeared they had been surviving off base ingredients alone. Across the walls lay markings- measures of time from a solar system far from earth. The officer this room belonged to seemed to possess few personal belongings apart from photographs of himself and a woman whose appearance was so identical it would be foolish not to assume she was his twin. The desk held nothing more than a folded piece of paper and a tricorder- deserted just like everything else.
Whoever this officer was… they did not seem to remain in the cabin. At first glance the room seemed empty and then, he noticed it, the movement coming from a small bundle of blankets and uniform nested on the bed.
“Jim.” Spock all but whispered from where he had gone to inspect the desk, as he watched his captain step towards the bundle.
There, nested and swaddled, lay one of the smallest and most fragile looking living organisms Jim had ever seen, something that was not supposed to be alone on a starship in the middle of the neutral zone. A baby, amber cheeked and dewy eyed. Instantly, without much of a second thought, Kirk abandoned his phaser and scooped up the infant.
“Spock…” turning to face his first officer, Kirk called out for him, wide-eyed and out of his depth. What had happened here? Who abandoned something- someone so helpless?
He could not question anything further, the bundle in his arms pulled back his attention. Taking a moment to look at the infant’s face he took note of the soft brown hair that covered its tiny head. More importantly he noted the tiny pointed ears and V-shaped brow that certainly didn't belong to that of a human child. In fact, he noted, as the child reached out a fragile hand to wrap around his finger it almost looked like-
“Spock!” Jim cried through gritted teeth as a sudden jolt of static ricocheted up his arm. Fighting the urge to convulse he gripped the infant securely in his arms and squeezed his eyes shut at the sharp pain that cut into his head.
“Jim!” Spock was by his side in an instant, lending a rare and soothing touch to his shoulder, steadying him and the young survivor, and leading him to sit down.
“Is the captain okay?” Kirk heard Officer Kacey question from further away in the room. He did not have the resolve to peel his eyes back open.
“Jim?” Spock questioned him softly.
“I'm… I'm alright Spock.” He waved a hand to reluctantly dismiss his first officer's attention, “would you?” He raised his other arm a little , indicating the baby cradled in it.
Spock followed the order swiftly, relieving him of their rescuee. With the infant out of his care, Kirk found himself capable of focusing enough to open his eyes again.
“What happened?” Kacey asked, her phaser still raised in defense as she eyed the infant with apprehension.
“Lower your weapon officer.” Kirk scolded her, “It's a baby, not a Romulan threat.”
Spock stilled by his side, pausing the minute sway of motion he'd begun since taking hold of the infant. Kirk looked up at him, concerned brow urging him to speak.
“Captain, there was a letter left on the desk… I think you may benefit from reading it.”
Shifting the infant to rest in one arm, Spock handed him the letter, folded and crumpled from where it had clearly been torn from a book of some kind. The scrawled handwriting expressed a sense of urgency that only amplified the words that followed.
If you have reached us, thank you, I’m sorry this is your only explanation. I abandoned my post in order to protect her, my final remaining family, Elieth. My dying request is that you make sure the child stays far out of the reach of the Romulan Empire and the Federation. It is imperative that neither organisation learns of her existence, for doing so may compromise her safety.
I leave my niece to you, as she has no other living relative who wishes her safe and well. Take her and leave, do not look back! Give her a good life, make sure she is loved.
I have left my Tricorder containing my final captain’s log. Do with it as you wish.
Kirk stared at the letter in his hands for as long a time as could be permitted, trying to make sense of it. The words were left unsigned, no answer of who or what or when or why. Suddenly the horror crossed his mind as he realised he did not know how long the infant- how long Elieth had been without sufficient care. An ache blossomed in him and he stood, reaching out to take her back into his arms.
“Take the Tricorder. It seems like it might have at least something more to add to our lack of information.” He commanded Spock.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his communicator, flipping it open with a flick of his wrist. He needed Bones right now.
Before he could signal back up to the Enterprise however, Chekhov's terrified voice spilled out of the speaker.
“Keptin. Keptin are you there?”
“Yes Mister Chekov, what is it?”
“Keptin, sir, the other life form… we've found it… and it is not human… or friendly.”
Officer Kacey readied herself as she overheard Chekov’s communications. The infant in Jim's arms squirmed, shockingly quiet given the situation. He needed to get her medical aid immediately- something was wrong. Kirk hadn't spent a considerable amount of time around children this young in a while but he was certain they were usually louder than this.
“I need more information Ensign, is Lieutenant Sulu with you?” Kirk questioned.
“Sulu here, captain. The Bridge is compromised. We've lost officer Forbes.” Sulu sounded markedly shaken.
“Lost him?”
“He's dead sir. There is some sort of… creature on board the ship which has been killing the crew. We tried to shoot at it and it fled, I believe it might be heading your way.” Sulu informed them gravely, the exhaustion in his breath punctuating each word he spoke.
“Alright. Get to the transportation point and beam up to the Enterprise, we will follow you shortly. Kirk out.” Flipping his communicator closed, Kirk watched in concern as Officer Kacey quickly stepped out of the room and fired into the corridor.
“It's found us.” Kacey looked back at him and Spock with wide eyes. The corridor erupted in a cacophony of anguished unearthly sound.
Kirk reached for his own phaser, intent on protecting his officer before remembering the bundle in his arms. He turned to Spock- a silent plea for guidance etched in his face and then suddenly Spock was grabbing him by the arm and bodily throwing them all into the small bathroom as Officer Kacey’s pained cries echoed after them.
Elieth was still silent, although her eyes were wide with brimming fear. A hiccuping sob escaped Kirk's mouth as they hid, pressed together in the shower. They could not speak lest the creature hear them. Kirk would never let it find this infant. Never. Tears began to pour down Kirk's face and he regretted his recent lack of sleep. Gently, as if without thinking, Spock swiped at his cheeks- taking some of his emotion with it. Neither of them allowed themselves to react to the act. Spock retained incredible stiffness before signalling Kirk to follow him out through the adjoined quarters.
When Kirk was a young boy his brother had taken him fishing. It was easiest to catch your own bait, Sam had explained to him. It was Jim’s job then, to crawl through the undergrowth in search for beetles and grubs. Once, he’d been intent on capturing a particularly iridescent bug when the sky ahead had gone dark. Jim hated thunderstorms, especially when Sam had insisted they didn't need a raincoat. He remembered, quite vividly, the look of abject horror on Sam’s face as he’d called out to him. He remembered the moment that the storm cloud revealed itself to be a swarm of bees, And he remembered most of all the horrible droning sound they’d made.
As he cradled the infant’s head tightly to his chest, pacing after Spock as they fled out of the neighboring cabin and down the corridor, the memory of the swarm flooded back to him. The creature, whose appearance he’d processed as nothing more than a convulsing mass of jagged metallic spines, tailed them once it was satisfied with the carnage it had made out of Officer Kacey.
Spock stopped at the first ladder down, hauling Kirk into the ladderspace by the waist and shooting behind them in the hopes of stalling the predator. Over the years, especially before climbing rank to captain, Kirk had gained the ability of hooking the sides of his boots around the ladders and sliding down them. The method was efficient and, with practice, had become almost foolproof. That being said, Kirk had never attempted such a method whilst cradling a being so incredibly fragile as the one he held at that moment. As they descended through the floors, they exchanged the infant between each other, taking turns to slow down the beast in pursuit of them.
Eventually they made it to the charred floor they’d landed on and Kirk desperately flipped open his communicator to signal up to the Enterprise.
“Four to beam up, Scotty. Tell Bones to prepare to treat a survivor.” He looked over to where the small creature lay in Spock’s arms.
“Aye captain.”
There was no protocol for beaming up a baby, but there was no chance he would leave her here. The federation could scold him later. Dear god- the dying words of the child’s guardian had instructed them not to let the federation find out about her. As the familiar sensation of the transporter fragmented through his body, Kirk realised just how many questions he desperately needed an answer for.
Scotty looked at them in a distinct look of disbelief as they materialised on board the Enterprise. Kirk didn’t have the time nor the interest in contextualising why he was quickly taking a small vulcanoid infant out of Spock’s arms.
“Scotty take the conn. I have to head to sickbay.” He ordered as he began to head straight for Bones, Spock close on his heels.
“Aye, sir.”
“And mister Scott,” Kirk pivoted, stopping Scotty from disappearing further into the ship, “Open fire on the Renegade.”
“Open fire sir? Are you sure?” Scotty sounded concerned.
“Yes.”
“But that's an offence sir.” Kirk didn’t have time for justifications. He was captain, he’d worked hard to earn his officers’ trust.
“The USS Renegade went missing in action and sightings have yet to be reported have they not? Open fire. That's an order.” Kirk tried his best to prevent himself from snapping at his chief engineer.
“Alright sir.” Scotty frowned but protested no further.
***
“Bones.” Kirk's voice hinted breathlessness, his feet carrying him to the sickbay on muscle memory alone.
McCoy was waiting for them, as expected, the usual scowl of concern and indignation etched into his face.
“Spock.” Bones acknowledged the science officer, “Jim, I thought you said you had a survivor. ”
Kirk blinked, unsure of how to broach the subject. On their way to the sickbay Spock had overtaken him and stood now in front of him, blocking Elieth from Bones’ line of sight.
“We do have a survivor doctor.” Spock informed, stepping to the side to reveal a visibly uncomfortable Kirk and the bundled infant in his arms.
“What in the god damed-” McCoy’s eyes went unbelievably wide. It was not every day a baby boarded the USS Enterprise.
“Please, not now Bones.” Kirk cut him off before he could reel off a lecture filled with expletives. “You have to treat her. I don't know how long she's been left alone.”
Isolation impacts development. Jim remembered once, when his mother had babysat a neighbour's infant in his youth. A child could die if it didn't receive enough affection, even if that child were vulcanoid.
“She?”
“Her name is Elieth. She was left with a note,” Spock pulled the letter from his pocket, unfolding it and handing it to the bewildered doctor. Turning to face Kirk, he addressed his captain. “Would you like me to process the data from the Tricorder sir?”
“I-” Jim watched helplessly as Bones took Elieth out of his arms and began to cradle and rock her in his own. Something in him felt as if letting her go was akin to having a bandage torn from a weeping wound. It didn't help when she looked back at him in alarm until McCoy started cooing at her and drawing her attention to himself.
“Yes. Call back to me when you uncover anything.” Kirk dismissed his first officer and Spock nodded silently before turning heel and exiting sickbay.
“Hello there little miss.” Bones cooed at the infant, pushing back the blankets she'd been swaddled in. “Huh. She’s got goblin ears like Spock.”
They made eye contact, a silent exchange that Jim didn't understand whilst McCoy did.
“Chapel, bring me my Tricorder and a hypospray.” Kirk's eyes flashed with alarm and he flinched forwards to retrieve her before stopping himself. McCoy smiled at him a little , “It’s alright Jim. I’ll scan her first.”
Elieth remained silent as McCoy placed her down on a biobed. As they took her readings Chapel smiled down at her, stroking the back of her finger against the infant's cheek. Kirk fidgeted in anticipation, fearing the worst.
“Well. She’s an alright size for her age, a little small I’d say. Joanna was a fat baby. But you’re petite aren't you madam Elieth? Yes you are!” The joy on the doctor's face was immeasurable. A rare sight.
“Is she malnourished, sick, unhealthy in any way, Bones?” Jim clamped a hand down on his friend's shoulder.
“Well, I’d say she could definitely stand to eat more but to answer your question, she’s fine Jim, you’ve rescued a fairly healthy baby.”
She was alright. The entire crew of the USS Renegade may be lost, but their most precious cargo was safe, on a new ship that wouldn't fail to protect her from whatever threat she stood to face.
“Thank god.”
“There is something unusual about her though. Her species…” McCoy trailed off as he looked at the results on his PADD.
“Vulcan. I assume?” Jim asked.
“No.”
“No?”
“No. Jim, this is very… uh… peculiar. My machine says she’s half human and half Romulan.”
Kirk blinked in silence. The letter made a little more sense. Kirk looked down at the small creature wriggling around, attempting to grab onto McCoy’s uniform hem. Whatever she had been through was surely undeserved. Suddenly his communicator chirped.
“Spock here, captain.”
“Mister Spock, have you retrieved the data?” Kirk asked, reaching out his free hand to watch Elieth wrap her tiny fingers around his own.
“Yes. Data retrieval has been most successful. I believe you will want to listen to these recordings.” Spock’s voice as usual betrayed no signs of emotion.
“Alright Spock. I'm on my way. Kirk out.”
***
Spock was waiting patiently next to his PADD when the doors of conference room three hissed open and shut. Information left on the retrieved tricorder had been most illuminating. He took the time to school his breath as his captain joined him at the table. Kirk’s body held an elevated degree of stress and the tension of his brow indicated an element of grief. Without a word Kirk gave him a small nod for the go ahead of information.
“Captain. I have examined all the data retrieved from the USS Renegade, there are five captain's logs I think you ought to listen to.” Spock watched Kirk fidget as he listened, the infant undoubtedly occupying his mind.
“Alright Mister Spock, lay it on me.”
Spock quirked a brow, blanketing his amusement at the phrase from his face. Their eyes locked, Kirk seeming to nonverbally indicate something along the lines of ‘you know what I meant’, before he smiled a little. At that Spock instructed the computer to run the necessary files.
Captains Log. Star Date 5684.
Our mission to rescue a shuttle from the clutches of the Romulans has been a complete failure. It is an unfortunate necessity that I report the death of missing officer Emily Litton.
As a result of this mission, the Renegade takes onboard its 443rd passenger. A Half-Romulan fugitive. I do not expect this log to be released to the federation and thus have instructed Commander Wong to ensure this channel is encrypted from now on.
The fugitive resides in the care of my CMO Doctor Litton, who has assumed the role as her legal guardian. I have promised the doctor the ship's discretion in keeping his niece’s existence from the federation's knowledge and have altered our course as to avoid any further Romulan interaction.
Acting Captains log. Star date 6023.
Captain Braith Jones and landing party containing second in command Mrs Hutt, Chief engineer Powel and two security officers have not returned at the planned hour.
Communications Officer, Commander Wong has attempted to contact the party with little to nosuccess…. Uh– Concern is beginning to stir among the crew but… I remain hopeful the party will return soon.
As per the captain's last orders, I will assume command of the USS Renegade if they do not return following our fourth orbit of Planet X-29-B.
Captains log. Star Date 6029
As of this hour I, Doctor Leo Litton, am to take formal command of the USS Renegade after several attempts at communication and rescue parties have failed to retrieve the missing landing party.
It is to be presumed all missing parties are… how should I put this Agu?... Deceased. A report can’t be released to federation command due to the compromise of our… new passenger. The respective families of the missing officers have my sincerest condolences…
We will begin our course towards Colony seven in the hopes of replenishing the ship's supplies.
I’m telling ya Agu! This is what's flawed about Braith’s choices, what kind of a god damned fool takes most of the essential crew on a landing expedition? This is a ship of over four hundred people and all the most important officers get sent down? Goddamned idiot… I hope you're resting peacefully down there-
Captains log. Star date 6032
The ship has suffered a breach, one of the air locks has been badly damaged. Thankfully we have suffered no casualties and acting chief engineer Lieutenant Olson has assured me repairs are already underway.
Crew morale is low, I am making my best attempts at supporting the crew through this difficult time… I didn't sign up for this, my god I don't know what I'm doing…
If only Braith hadn’t galavanted off to his death. I'm just a doctor, I'm barely trained for-
Kirk lifted his chin away from his hands, brows furrowed in confusion at the indecipherable background chatter in the recording.
Calm down lieutenant I can't understand a word you're-
Alright alright take a breath I'm listening to you damnit!
…
Heavens above have mercy! Initiate code red! Lock down deck five. This is your captain speaking, all personal report to your stations, we have a code red situation! Alien contaminant has breached vessel, I repeat, harmful alien contaminant has breached vessel!
… Wong take the helm I have to go to Elieth!... shit is this thing still recording?
Nothing but the sound of the Enterprise’s engines gently humming followed the room for a terse 2.56 seconds after the computer ceased her recounting of the logs. Spock observed Jim, his hands clasped in front of his mouth as they had been for most of the time they’d been listening. He frowned, opened his mouth to speak and closed it again. For once, the captain was uncharacteristically apprehensive.
“Captain?” Spock prompted.
“So the USS Renegade wasn’t a deserter ship?” Kirk finally asked.
“That statement is to be debated, but I do believe the situation is as complex as Doctor Litton’s parting note suggested.”
Kirk’s frown deepened, eyes squinting a little as he righted himself in his chair.
“Then explain it to me Spock.”
“Very well captain. It is from my understanding that Doctor Litton’s twin sister, Officer Emily Litton, had taken her leave from starfleet almost two of your Earth years ago. It would appear during this time that she had a child to a Romulan father.” Spock paused, Kirk remained a silent attention to his words. “Without access to further information I am unable to fill in the events leading to Officer Litton’s death, however, given my knowledge of Romulan culture it would be logical to assume the infant was not favoured by the empire.”
“Quite.” Jim scowled inwardly.
“The rest of the information I presume you can deduce yourself captain?”
Jim stood, pacing the length of the room slowly, his face shadowed in pensive thought.
“We ought to report the deaths of the USS Renegade crew, wouldn’t you say commander?” Before Spock could open his mouth to reply kirk turned on his heel and gasped into his next sentence, “However, I find myself in dilemma. If we report the loss of the Renegade, is it likely the federation will launch an investigation? I can’t deny a man his dying wish, nor could I endanger innocent life.”
“We… Would not necessarily have to disclose all details of the Renegade’s loss captain.” Spock locked eyes with Kirk once again, “I believe it would be possible to fulfill both our professional duties to the federation and our moral duties to the care of the infant.”
“I thought vulcans couldn’t lie?” Kirk posed the question with an honesty that fought against the mirth in his eyes.
“I am not suggesting we lie to the federation captain. I merely mean to say that I believe it would be possible to present elements of the truth in a format that would not require investigation.”
Kirk dropped back into his opposing seat.
“Alright, I can agree to that.” The captain relaxed minutely before seemingly recalling something pivotal. “Spock. What do we do with the baby?”
Spock blinked slowly. He had very little experience with younglings, especially ones this small. Of course, he’d completed the necessary research. It was expected after all, if one had a bondmate, that reproduction should occur. However, Spock was no longer bonded and more importantly, he had no true practice in his knowledge of infants. Especially not an infant both Romulan and Human in biology.
“I… I am not entirely certain I am the most qualified to advise you…” Spock cursed the minute twitch of his lip and the crease forming between his brows.
“You’re second in command Spock! If I can’t depend on your advice who can I depend on?” Jim quickly lowered his tone halfway through speaking, as if he too were as aware and in need of control over his emotions as Spock.
Spock faltered momentarily before recovering himself.
“Sir. The logical option would be to find a suitable unobtrusive foster to take the infant with immediate effect. That is of course not taking into account the statistical probabilities that she could be found by the Romulans, nor does it account for the federation’s requirements for registered birth should she require to go offworld once she had grown.”
Jim frowned. “That’s a chance I think we’re going to have to take,” he said.