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James T. Kolk

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+'''Lieutenant J.G. James Tiberius Kolk - “The Once & Future Kolk, Part III”'''<br>
+((Forward Officers' Lounge, C Deck, ''Enterprise'' class ''USS Vera Cruz'', approaching Starbase 118, Alpha Quadrant  - Stardate 239109.14))<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>During the long journey from the Cardassian edge of the Federation to the Klingo-Romulan, Jim had enjoyed the chance to slowly tour the ''Vera Cruz'', one of the last remaining Enterprise class vessels still in active service. He’d seen the ''Vera Cruz'' docked at Starbase 211 plenty of times—after all, she was the base’s primary support craft—but he’d never had a chance to board her, much less take a long stroll through her corridors. The ''Enterprise'' class was one of his favorite starships, and he would’ve given anything to tinker around with her engines, but Starfleet had relegated him to Science. Still, he’d managed to take the time to read everything about the ''Columbia'' (crew, unique Engineering specs, etc.). Reading the crew manifest of the Columbia had caused him to realize that there might be two or three awkward conversations in his future once he came face to face with the Chief Counselor and her husband. Still, he hoped that with time he’d be able to earn forgiveness from them for all he’d done in the past and one day perhaps even call them friends and joke around with them as he now did with his twin.::<br>
+<br>
+''((Flashback: Patient Kolk’s Quarters, Starbase 211 - 2 Years & 2 Months Ago, Stardate 238906.27))<br>
+<br>
+''::Jackford Kolk, the psych patient/inmate sat at the terminal in his quarters, wearing a medical-teal jumpsuit. He was waiting for a response. If it didn't come soon, he'd have to leave a message, but he really didn't want to do it that way, plus he wasn't sure there was enough time to wait for a response if it came to that. Luckily the console chirped happily just before his own face, but with less unshaven stubble on it, appeared.::<br>
+<br><br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: Jack! How've you been? You're getting out soon, right!?<br>
+<br>
+''::He smiled at the man he now considered both a brother and a friend, as opposed to an enemy.::<br>
+<br>
+''Patient Kolk: Sure am, Jack. Stardate 238906.3. ::his smile turned a tad mischievous as he said the numbers.::<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: Our birthday!? That's fantastic! Happy birthday!<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Happy birthday to you too. I, uhh, have a question for you.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: What's up?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Have you and Sarah ever talked about kids?<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: ::chuckling and furrowing his brow:: A bit... why?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: About names?<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: ::chuckling again, starting to guess where this was going:: Yes.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: How does she feel about... ::with a nervous half-smile:: Jim?<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: T.?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Yeah.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: She thinks it's too cliche.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: ::breathing a big sigh of relief:: Oh good!<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: ::chuckling:: Why? You didn't get one if the other patients pregnant, did you?<br>
+<br>
+''::Now they both laughed freely.::<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: No, not at all. I was just... thinking of changing my name.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: And you wanted my permission to use our favorite name?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: ::nodding:: Exactly. I mean, our last name is perfect for it.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: It is.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: And you pointed that out to Sarah?<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: ::nodding:: She said that made it worse.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: ::chuckling:: Well, your loss is my gain, I guess.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: Sure is. But I think it's terrific that the name will get used.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Cool.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: So, what're you gonna do once you're free?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: They're giving me a job in Science. Here.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: In Starfleet, or...?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Yup.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: At what rank?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Ensign, provisionally.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: Provisionally?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Yeah, providing I don't go crazy and start... you know.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: Ah. For how long?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: I'm not sure. Till they trust me, I guess.<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: Well, good luck, Jack. Sounds great.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: ::smirking:: You mean. "Good luck, Jim?"<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: ::chuckling:: Right. I guess I'm gonna have to get used to that, now, huh?<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Yes you are.<br>
+<br>
+''::Just then, the intercom on the Commander's ship interrupted, ordering him to the bridge.::<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: =/\= On my way.=/\= Well, it was good talking to you... ::smiling:: Jim.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: You too. And maybe now I'll stop getting your mail...<br>
+<br>
+''Cmdr. Kolk: ::chuckling:: Maybe. Farewell, Bro.<br>
+<br>
+''Pt. Kolk: Farewell, Bro.<br>
+<br>
+''::The line closed and the scruffy-looking psych patient quickly got to work filling out the forms necessary to change his name from Jackford Benjamin Kolk to James Tiberius Kolk on his and his “twin” Jack's mutual 28th birthday. For the first time in almost a year, he would be free soon, and he was very excited to start really doing something with his life again. It had been a lot longer than one year since he'd been doing that...::<br>
+<br>
+''((End Flashback))<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>Ever since he'd been notified that they were approaching Starbase 118, he'd been leaning back on the single four-person sofa in the forward (and sunken) observation area that was in many ways the focal point of the Officers' Lounge. It had taken a few minutes, but finally he could see the spacedock doors of Starbase 118 through the viewports. Starbase 118 looked exactly like Starbase 211 to most people, but to an Engineer and someone who lived on 211 for several years, he knew where to spot the differences. This was, well quite literally, actually, worlds apart from the massive space station he’d twice called home. Nevertheless, it wasn’t really the starbase Jim was interested in anyway; it was the Nebula class ship he’d soon be living aboard that he stood up and started seeking out. He walked as close as he could to the windows. The quiet sound of the small, artificial pool, accented by a few shrubs, tinkling in the background could still be heard, but Jim quickly forgot it was there, his focus entirely spent on the glistening examples of modern engineering he’d soon be seeing within.::<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>He smiled wider and wider as they sailed slowly, carefully around the various other ships getting repaired and restocked at the station. Although he was still assigned as a Science Officer, he would always be an Engineer at heart, and starships were his first love. In some ways, he loved the ''Galaxy'' class most of all — there’s one! — and the ''Lakota'' (sometimes called “''Neo-Excelsior''") — right there! — oh, and of course ''Sovereign'' — there! and another ''Galaxy!'' — but what he really loved — Ooo! An ''Akira!'' (not his favorite, aesthetically speaking, but special to him since serving— no, since Jack had served on one, not him; shared memories could be so confusing...) — the one he — eeww... a ''Streamrunner''; no sense of style, that one — the one he really wished he would see (but knew he wouldn’t) was the ''Constitution'' class, the predecessor to the ship he was on now, but all of those had either been refitted to ''Enterprise'' class or newer, or been mothballed. It made Jim sad, but as an Engineer he also underst— there she is: ''Columbia!'' His new home!::<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>His inner child (or was it his inner Engineer?) had wanted to stick his finger out excitedly at each of the ships in turn, but the 30 year old man, encouraged by the few other off-duty officers who were mingling about the lounge, managed to restrain himself to simply grinning in a ridiculously childlike manner. It didn’t matter that he’d seen a similar menagerie of starships just about a week ago when he left Starbase 211, or that he’d strolled the observation deck there at least once a week (usually more) for the past two and a half years. It still thrilled him to see them all, shining like the stars they soared amongst. He’d lost a bit of that ''joie de vivre'' for a while when he’d been stuck in the bowels of Deep Space 17, fighting a war against the Gorn and constant power struggles with every officer there, and then after... — No. He didn’t want to think about that. Sure, he’d been good at it—and good at surviving while everything and everyone he knew was destroyed—but the real, meaningful, penetrating joy of life had been all but gone for years. ... Until Jack had led him back to the light; forgiving him so he could finally forgive himself and stop running.::<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>Being here, now, on the brink of a new assignment amongst the stars reminded him of the excitement he’d felt all those years ago—seven, technically, but it felt like a hundred when he thought about it—when he’d only just arrived at DS17, before all Sheol broke lose... Huh, hundreds upon hundreds of lightyears—and two universes!—travelled, and seven years—to the day, actually, come to think of it—since arriving at that first assignment as an Ensign. Huh; both lives started on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. How fitting. And yet, until this day, he’d never technically served aboard a starship. Stolen them, blown them to high heaven, sure...::<br>
+<br>
+''((Flashback: Semi-stolen (more like inherited, really) civilian runabout ''SS Idril Mar'', aboard the dilapidated ''Miranda'' class ''USS Trial'' from Universe 107-LS9, Deck 6 Starboard Aft, Shuttlebay 2 - Stardate 238702.25))<br>
+<br>
+''::Adeptly flying his fingers over the console, “Evil” Jack started the ''Idril Mar's'' engines and weapon systems with expert speed. There was very little time left before the inevitable happened. His slim PADD had told him precisely how hard the structural integrity fields on the ''Trial'' were working, and when he'd subdued his “escort,” Mr. Kiev, a small number of them were already failing. Luckily, he'd specially reinforced the fields around this particular corner of the larger craft for just this reason. He couldn't let the ''Idril Mar'' be lost simply because a decrepit spacecraft had exploded around it. The forcefield reinforcing the bay doors, on the other hand, was less than fully powered, which made it quite easy for him to blast through those doors with a photon torpedo once the ship was humming and ready to go.::<br>
+<br>
+''((Vulcan's Harp Nebula, 2.5 Lightyears from Deep Space 17 - Two Minutes Later))<br>
+<br>
+''::As the ''USS Ronin'' gallantly strode in to save the day, a small craft shot from the far side of the dying ''Miranda'' class starship. As the alternate ''USS Trial'' broke apart into five different pieces and then exploded in several brilliant flashes, the private runabout-sized vessel wavered out of view, her cloaking device hiding her from the prying sensors of the ''USS Ronin'' and the Vulcan science vessel, ''T'Kol-tan''. At first, the unseen craft shot deeper into the nebula at high warp, but the pilot pulled back on the throttle once he was clear of the blast.::<br>
+<br>
+''((End Flashback))<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>...but never officially served on one. Shaking off those somber (and yet distressingly enjoyable) thoughts as the ''Vera Cruz'' gracefully settled into her berth, he stood up, grabbed his duffel (filled with just a few light-weight personally-modified transporter buffers, rather than his actual belongings; you know, to save space), and marched onto the concourse, off to find the Catholic chapel and go to Mass, and then to report to his new post.::<br>
+((Holodeck 121 - a couple hours later))<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>Jack stood as the large double doors slid away to reveal the lush garden of Jurassic beauty juxtaposed with the chaos of the toppled table and the frantic fun-seekers. Looking at the scene from the periphery as he was, it was quite amusing, especially so with the remarkably long-haired man being chased by the pterodactyl and the others attempting to chase away the great bird. Of course, seeing the Gorn amongst them reminded him of the first time he’d encountered a Gorn after escaping from Deep Space 17...::<br>
+<br>
+''((Flashback: Cockpit, newly “liberated” ''SS Idril Mar'', Sol System, Sector 001 - Starbase 2385087.14))<br>
+<br>
+''::His getaway felt too easy. The runabout ''Kursk'' had followed for a while, but, having bitten his dust, it was gone now. Stopping to collect his thoughts and decide on a course, he ran a sensor sweep of the system on a whim, focusing on the ship most likely to come after him: the ''USS Ronin''. She was moving away from Mars, but not towards him. Minimal life signs, several humans, an Andorian, a Gorn, and a--Wait! WHAT!! A Gorn! He didn't care what the story on the Gorn was. It could've been a refugee who'd joined Starfleet. A scientist on a tour, a "diplomat" stealing a Federation starship. He didn't care. It was a member of the race that had ruined his life and it would be a dead Gorn in a few minutes. He kicked the shuttle into a quick swirling turnaround, and headed at Warp 1.0 towards the ''Akira'' class ship, slowing to 3/4 impulse just before he setting the proximity alert on board. He considered just beaming the lizard into open space, but that felt too kind. Instead, he prepared the transporter for something a bit more... artistic. Then, he typed in a quick message that he'd make sure showed up on every powered console on the ship once he'd sent it. As he came within range, he managed to dive beneath the ship's shields just before whoever was flying the thing raised them. Matching her speed and practically scraping the hull (but not) so they couldn't fire on him, Jack lowered his shields and initiated a five-part transport. Part I: beam the beast's tail in front of the deflector dish of the ''Ronin''. Part II: beam the beast's arms directly in front of the port nacelle. Part III: beam his arms in front of the starboard. Part IV: Beam the torso in front of the Flight Operations Pod. And Part V: beam his head... into Lt. Kolk's quarters, facing the door. All 5 parts of the transport were accomplished simultaneously. Once the deed was done, Jack smiled at his handiwork.::<br>
+<br>
+''Alt. Kolk: Molecular transport is a joyous art.<br>
+<br>
+''::Thereafter, the ''SS Idril Mar'' set a course for a nice, quiet corner of the Ithassa region (as if such a place existed—and if it did, it wouldn’t for long with him there) at maximum warp, and a message blinked on every powered-up console aboard the Ronin.::<br>
+<br>
+''Message: I hope you don't mind; I took care of your little Gorn problem. You can thank me later. See you 'round the galaxy... -"Deviant" Kolk<br>
+<br>
+''((End Flashback))<br>
+<br>
+<nowiki>::</nowiki>Ironically, he now also very clearly recalled the moment when his other self had been greeted by the gruesome sight a few days later. Perhaps that was another part of his penance for all he’d done during those dark times. Shivering ever so slightly while silently praying an “Eternal Rest” for the poor unknown Gorn, he shrugged the memories aside and walked in, saying the first words many of his new crewmates would ever hear from him.::<br>
+<br>
+Kolk: Did someone call for a holographer?<br>
+<br>
+Anyone: ((R))<br>
+<br>
+Kolk: Lieutenant James Tiberius Kolk, reporting for duty.<br>
+<br>
+Livingston/Brek: ((R))<br>
+<br>
+((To Be Continued...))<br>
+<br>
+<center><nowiki>~~~===/\===~~~</nowiki></center><br>
 {{SIMNav
 | Color = Navy
@@ Line 327: / Line 478: @@
 | FirstName = James T.
 | LastName = Kolk
-| Post = Science Officer
+| Post = Former Criminal/Madman, Starship Gazer, Part-Time Engineer & Holographer, & Science Officer
 | Ship = USS Columbia
 | ShipReg = NCC-85279