I don't own the Character's/World of Star Trek. All rights and reserves go to the original creator of Star Trek.

Kirk felt his mind wander into a daydream from the lack of action occurring on the bridge; he slumped leisurely in the captain's chair.

BANG!

He yelped in surprise as he felt himself being jerked from the chair, the world momentarily turned into a blur of colours and alarmed cries as he planted his heels into the floor to halt his forward motion. Kirk snapped his head towards the gold clad figure operating at the helm console.

'Mr. Sulu,' Kirk said, the unspoken question evident in the tone of his voice.

'It appears we've been struck by a meteorite Captain,' the helmsman replied.

'Why didn't our sensors pick it up?' Kirk demanded.

Before Sulu could reply, Kirk was jolted out of the captain's chair once again and a strange feeling of déjà vu overcame him.

'We're getting more hits!' Sulu warned.

'Meteors?' Kirk exclaimed incredulously, stumbling over to the helm console to confirm the Intel Sulu had been relaying to him.

BANG! BANG!

Kirk nearly lost his balance as inertia caused his body and feet to follow un-synced movement patterns.

'Major hull damage, Captain,' alerted a science officer.

'Sir, shields at 70%,'

Must be bloody big meteors grumbled Kirk.

'Mr. Sulu take us into warp,' he ordered as he manoeuvred his way back to the captain's chair.

The helmsman quickly carried out Kirk's orders and within seconds they were travelling faster than light, leaving the meteorites far behind them.

WRRRRR

Kirk glanced down at the command console and accepted the incoming signal.

Engineering to bridge!

'Scotty,' Kirk greeted.

Captain, engineering's in bad state she is – gotta whole lotta holes! If we don't get her fixed up soon, I kinna guarantee she'll last long.

Kirk nodded to himself.

'Acknowledged,' he said before terminating the connection.

Kirk quickly ordered the Enterprise to drop out of warp; the meteorites were no longer a threat and he didn't want to risk causing more damage to engineering.

'Mr. Sulu,' Kirk addressed the helmsman, 'set a course for the nearest planet with docking capabilities.'

'Aye, Captain,' he replied before activating the ships long-range scans.

Sulu's console alerted him to a planet that met the Captain's requirements and he squinted at the screen to make sure he was reading the name properly. Kirk noticed the moment of indecision.

'Is there a problem Mr. Sulu?' he asked.

Sulu's training kicked in as the captain's voice pulled him back to reality.

'Uh, no… no sir,' he reassured Kirk, 'setting a course for Tarsus IV.'

All officers present on the bridge turned to look at Sulu as he announced their destination – Kirk included. Everyone knew the horrors that had taken place on that planet and was understandably wary of the prospect of making port there.

'Mr. Sulu is that the only planet suitable for the repairs we need?' he asked, relieved his voice didn't break.

'No sir… but there is a possibility the ship might not stay stable long enough to make it to the next closest planet,' he informed.

For the briefest of moments Kirk was tempted to cheat fate, skip Tarsus IV and port at the next planet. But then he remembered his rank – he was Captain of a Starfleet ship, which at the present moment contained hundreds of innocent lives. By being too weak to face his fears, he would be potentially risking the lives those men and women. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few; one of Spock's logical quotes that Kirk's eidetic memory had stored, spoke in his mind. Steeling himself – mentally – Kirk ignored his own needs and concentrated on the needs of his crew, his family.

'Very well… Set course for Tarsus IV,' he told Sulu.

Nodding, the helmsman turned to input the coordinates in his console before the Enterprise altered her course and drew closer to the planet that was home to Kirk's nightmares.

By the next afternoon, the Enterprise received her first glimpse of Tarsus IV. It had been a grueling wait for Kirk – travelling without the use of their warp drive, the journey had taken much longer than what he was used to.

'Captain,' Kirk turned to find Uhura standing by captain's chair.

'Something bugging you Uhura?' Kirk asked, noting the conflicting expressions present on her face.

'I was just wondering… is it wise to request help from Tarsus IV? After all, the families of the original colonists blame Starfleet for the Tarsus IV massacre,' she said.

Kirk regarded her statement thoughtfully.

'At this point, I don't think we have much of a choice,' he admitted.

Uhura looked as if she wanted to say more but curbed her tongue and nodded, understanding Kirk's remark. The pair looked up as the planet's surface filled the ship's viewscreen.

'Uhura, send a transmission requesting permission to port,' he said, keeping his eyes locked onto the viewscreen.

Kirk felt her move away from the captain's chair to carry out his orders. He breathed in deeply to calm his nerves as the Enterprise awaited the planet's response. Soon – too soon – they were granted permission and docking the ship at the planet. Kirk turned to the youngest of the officers on the bridge.

'Chekov, prepare coordinates to beam me down to the planet's surface,' he said.

'Aye, keptin,' replied Chekov.

Kirk stood up from the captain's chair.

'Spock you have the conn,' he said, 'ensure that the crew stays on the ship until I return.'

'Yes Captain,' his first officer replied, 'may I inquire what you plan to accomplish on the planet?'

'I'm going to let them know that we come in peace incase they plan to attack us,' Kirk said briefly.

'If that it is your prediction, may I recommend you have an escort accompany you to the surface of the planet,' asked Spock.

Kirk rolled his eyes and slapped his friend on the shoulder.

'Relax Spock, I'm taking a friend with me,' he said.

The Vulcan merely cocked his head slightly at the captain's apparent ease. Unnerved by his gaze, Kirk rolled his eyes dramatically and turned to his communications officer.

'Lieutenant, you're coming with me to the surface,' he told Uhura, before facing his first officer once again.

'Happy?' he asked Spock.

Spock blinked, puzzled.

'As a Vulcan I am incapable of expressing such emotions,' he replied in monotone.

Kirk sighed in exasperation. Knowing that the exchange between Spock and himself could last a millennium, Kirk wisely chose to head towards the turbolift.

A young man sat in the corner of the ship's mess hall. His head was lowered; brown hair facing the occupants of the mess hall. The gold-clad officer was staring intently at his PADD, finger poised over the screen while his jaw worked mechanically to chew the food that was currently in his mouth.

*Beep-beep-beep-beep*

The officer jolted in his seat, his finger diverting considerably off-course from his PADD. In a reflex action, he attempted to swallow the large amount of food his mouth had been working on disbanding and paid the price for it – retching and choking for a few seconds until he managed to force the food down his throat. Fingers fumbling for his communicator, he flipped it open and answered the caller in-between coughs.

'Riley here,' the officer stated.

Kev! It's me; meet me at the transporter room in 5

Instantly, Kevin was alert. He smiled at his childhood nickname and the familiar voice.

'Yes, Captain,' he said before hurrying out of the mess hall, pausing in his exit to retrieve his PADD.

Kirk walked into the transporter room and was greeted by a grinning officer. The smile was infectious and Kirk found himself matching the expression.

'Hey Kev,' he greeted his friend.

Kevin's smile widened.

'Your awfully happy given the place we're going,' Kirk remarked.

Kevin shrugged.

'I was embarrassing last night when you announced our destination to the ship,' he confessed, 'you should've seen me; crying like a bloody baby I was.

Kirk snorted and Kevin shrugged indifferently.

'I got over it,' he argued, 'took 24 hours of mental battles to control myself but I guess I don't have to tell you'.

Kirk raised an eyebrow at his young friend. Kevin noticed his expression and rolled his eyes at his Captain.

'Oh come on,' he scoffed, 'like you weren't messed up in your head last night too.'

Kirk shrugged to hide his guilt. He had in fact; gone through a couple of panic attacks last night but like Kevin, he had won the battle against his emotions.

'Captain,' greeted Uhura, walking into the transporter room.

'Lieutenant,' Kirk replied, flashing a winning smile towards the Starfleet officer.

Uhura merely rolled her eyes.

'Sir?'

An officer averted Kirk's attention to the transporters.

'Coordinates confirmed sir, ready to beam you down at your command,' informed the officer.

Kirk's heartbeat elevated and he felt a sudden surge of fear. He felt a hand on his arm and he turned to see Kevin smiling reassuredly at him. Kirk felt a surge of gratitude for his old friend and nodded surreptitiously. Uhura raised her eyebrow at the noticeable hesitation but remained silent and followed Kirk and the officer onto the transporter pads when they finally decided to move. Kirk stood on the transporter with Uhura and Kevin by his side.

'Energize.'