exastris_scientia | the always open post v 3.0

[ the captain in question didn't need a DNA test to identify the unconscious man lying on the biobed before him. his face, although much younger, was forever etched into his memory. tangled metal, dust and blood, an "oh my," and a pair of unseeing eyes that gazed out upon the landscape of an alien world. he'd taken it upon himself to give that man a proper burial, to ensure that when landing parties arrived to rescue him, they didn't have to see the body of one of starfleet's greatest heroes trapped beneath that bridge. no, james t. kirk had deserved more than that, especially after what he did for a future he didn't even belong to. ]

Are you sure? [ he asks, and alyssa ogawa ensures him that yes, they are. save an anomaly in his blood chemistry that doctor crusher is currently investigating, this man is james t. kirk. ] Can you wake him?

[ "yes sir," she readily obliges, stepping forward and pressing a hypospray to his neck. and then she's stepping back, disappearing into beverly's office to ensure that the only officer within sight is the captain. picard is grateful for this, for he's pushing the boundaries of the temporal prime directive (again) on something of a whim, and not entirely for professional reasons. ]

Captain, can you hear me?

[ Wakefulness came rather unexpectedly, through a haze of beeping diagnostic stations, and unfamiliar voices. It didn't sound like his ship. It didn't sound like his crew because that was definitely not Spock or Bones there to harass him into consciousness.

The voice was wholly new, and it brought a new surge of wakefulness along with the added hypospray. He groaned softly, blinking his eyes open, and tried to get his bearings. The last thing he expected was a rescue, but it seemed luck was on his side, and not for the first time, either.

Jim gave a slight nod at the question, still gathering his wits about him. ]

I can hear you.

[ The room looked strange and familiar all at once. When the man who was speaking came into full view as his vision cleared, he noted a Starfleet emblem on his chest, but the uniform was different than what he knew.

He shifted, and tried to push himself up, body immediately protesting his efforts. ]

[ picard reaches out, putting a gentle, firm hand upon on the other man's shoulder to keep him in place. ]

Take it easy. You're suffering from oxygen deprivation. You lost consciousness. Your body needs time to readjust. You're aboard the Enteprise. [ he pauses, clarifying: ] The Enterprise-E.

[ While the voice and the room is unfamiliar, there is something reassuring about the hand on his shoulder, and he allows himself to sink back against the biobed. ]

It was a survey mission. There's an anomaly in the vicinity, I have scans. [ God, it took it out of him to just get that out. There was a mild headache starting up, but he'd be fine. He'd had worse. Way worse. The other man says that he's on the Enterprise and he's about to laugh weakly at the idea. This was most definitely not his ship.

But then he offered the designation, which has him forcing his eyes back open in confusion. He tenses, in case he needs to try and get back up, even though the man currently telling him all of this looks about as ready as Bones would to let him try and do that again. ]

Enterprise-E?

[ oh, jean-luc has absolutely no problem forcibly holding him to this biobed if he has to. he's gone up against james kirk's stubbornness before, and there are no open fields and stables full of horses for him the flee on this time. nor is he embittered by decades of grueling circumstance, of unimaginable loss, and poignant sacrifice with unfulfilling ends. ]

Yes, the Enterprise-E. I'm afraid your vessel, as well as those that followed it, were either lost, destroyed, or decommissioned over the years. It's a name that deserves to be carried on, and there are enough letters left in the alphabet to ensure that it will.

[ but enough about his ship. best to stop now before he begins needlessly singing her praises like a bright-eyed cadet with an antique sports car. ]

I regret to inform you that you've somehow been removed from your time period. This is the 24th Century.

[ Jean-Luc and Bones would get along super well, then. He's not wholly unfamiliar with this timeline, though he doesn't yet know it's the one that they refer to as the Prime timeline in his own. ]

We, um, we just got to the Enterprise-A. Didn't really have a choice after what happened during our five-year. Good to know that there are still people looking out for her, though.

[ He doesn't really clock the wide-eyed wonder that the other man, other captain is trying to hide. If he were a little more with it, he might have. He's not really a fan of the spotlight, and leaves that to higher brass to take that on. ]

What was the first giveaway? Enterprise-E or you being the captain?

[ Exhausted and suffering from oxygen deprivation he may be, but he's still sharp enough to see the uniform and the pips on the other man's collar. ]

[ ...just wait until you learn that he already knows him. well, this timeline's version of him that's a good century older than the one jim knows. admiral mccoy has been on board this enterprise more than a few times. ]

Well, that's certainly a difference. [ is all he says. a very significant deviation that went beyond the color of this man's eyes. (picard remembers the shade well, having looked upon them as the light faded, having waited with the elder kirk as the man passed away from his injuries.) the enterprise-a was constructed long after that five year mission was completed. ]

A little of both, though not entirely. [ he knows you. knew you. had the pleasure of knowing a version of you, once. briefly. too briefly. ]

[ That's a headache that he currently doesn't need. While he'd be glad to know that his friend, even one from an alternate timeline, is still alive and well enough to complain---maybe later. Much less that he made it to Admiral. ]

Guessing you aren't from my timeline, then. [ He's just a little familiar with this time-travel business. His head is clearing quickly, and he's hoping that he'll be cleared from medical early. Provided this Captain doesn't plan on hovering at his bedside. ]

Sounds like there's a story with that last bit. [ Quietly, he tests his faculties, mental and physical, and then, despite the fact that he might be stopped again, tries to prop himself up at least to his elbows. He's feeling okay for a guy that nearly died. Not like it would be his first time or anything.

He offers a wry smile. ] You got a name, Captain?

[ a headache jean-luc doesn't plan on giving him. it's an experience he's spoken very little of, having only really addressed it with temporal investigations, and only because he absolutely had to in that instance. it's not something he's looking forward to hashing out, let alone with a younger variant of the man who may or may not believe anything he has to say. a man who may not benefit from learning about the life his counterpart led. for all he knew, it could be detrimental. ]

Probably not. [ if he sounds unsurprised, that's because temporal shenanigans are something of a common theme aboard this ship. he's going to place the blame with you and all versions of for starting this trend. ] A long one, but not one you're quite up to hearing just yet.

Picard. [ yes, like the wine. that's his family's vineyard. he grew up there. ] Jean-Luc Picard.

[ Jim would appreciate that if he knew. As far as believing time-travel shenanigans, well, he's got a fair amount of experience himself. Not much of it is good. ]

Not my first experience with that kind of thing. Well---[ He lifts one elbow to gesture at the room around them. ]---this kind of thing. [ A dry laugh. ] You can't just tell me that and leave it there.

[ Once he's sure that getting up to his elbows isn't a bad idea. He tries to at least sit up. He's had worse, and unless Picard is going to pin him or sedate him again, he's not staying down for long. ]

Thanks for saving my ass, Jean-Luc.

Edited 2017-06-19 19:51 (UTC)

Nor is it mine. [ or far from being his last, in all likelihood. time was, in some regards, very much the persistent predator tolian soran made it out to be. ] But I'm afraid things will have to be left at that for the time being. [ temporal prime directive. thankfully, he doesn't adhere as strictly to such things as a certain fiery redhead does.

he can't help but chuckle in response to the younger man's use of such colorful bravado. ] You're welcome, Captain.

Gives me a headache, honestly. [ And in some cases, a hell of a lot of heartache. ] Time being, huh? I'll remember you said that.

Any idea when I might be able to get out of here? Try and see just what it is that got me this far out of where I belong?

the always open post v 3.0

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject