"After Martok got that Karkha Dragon to rear up, exposing the underside of it's neck, I leapt," Joshua made a move like he was leaping to the ceiling. "I thrust the dueling short sword in my left hand into it's throat, sinking it to the hilt. This acted as an anchor to allow me to swing about onto the back of it's neck, where I locked my legs around it. Finally, I forced the other sword between the armor plates on it's back, then through the thick hide, and between two vertebrae, cutting the spinal cord in two. Putting the beast out of it's misery." "That was incredible!" The woman said as she shoved the last of the barbecue into her mouth. "But it still doesn't tell me how you got that scar on your cute little ass!" "I'm getting to that, impatient one!" Kirk said, thrusting a finger in her direction. "I leapt from it's back as it fell, and waited for it to die. When it had finally expired, I retreived the weapons. I swung them hard to sling the blood off, then did this little fancy twirly bit with them, to show off. Like Mack always did. When I finished I slammed them into their scabbards," Joshua grinned at the woman before lifting his beer and winking at her. After taking a drink he put it back on the counter and then shrugged. "Well, at least I tried," Joshua said. "The left blade slammed home in it's scabbard, dead center. The right one missed. Sliced my ass open rather badly. I should have known better. Mack had trained with the short swords. The bat'leth was my weapon of choice." "Then why didn't you use one?" "The bat'leth is not made for hunting. It's a combat weapon." "And a short sword is a hunting weapon?" The woman asked with a small laugh. "No!" The man said, grinning at the naked woman. "Usually, Klingons use spears when hunting. But I was in the mood to show off. And of course, I paid for that arrogance." "So I see," The beautiful stranger replied as she watched Kirk prep more meat to be cooked the next day. "Continue, then." He nodded and placed his palms on the counter top of the island at the center of the ship's galley, and frowned at the woman. "I stood there silently, as Martok and Gond came around that carcass, talking. But behind me," Joshua smiled slightly. "Behind me I could hear Zanat where she'd been recording the hunt. She was trying her damned best to not laugh. Well, Martok saw me standing there, staring off into the distance, like a statue. He then saw Zanat. And that's when he knew I'd done something very Kirk-like." "Kirk-like?" "It's a phrase on my homeworld," Joshua told her as he stuck the tray of meat into the refridgerator. "It means to do something stupid. And despite how stupid it is, you still come out ahead," Slapping his ass, he grinned. "Voted cutest wounded ass of the year on the Man Hunter Show. The show devoted exclusively to the woman's pursuit of the male of the species. And that's the full title, too. 'Tis a silly show." "But a show that knows a cute ass when they see it, wounded or otherwise," The woman said. "Now get on with the story, please!" Joshua nodded. "Warrior Joshua!' Martok shouted at me, a big grin on his face. 'You seem to be meditating on the mysteries of the hunt, and of life in general. Is something wrong?' Well," Kirk sighed. "That was when he and Gond smelled the blood. Not the blood of the Dragon. That has a slight ammonia scent. No," Kirk said, shaking his head. "No, they smelled Human blood." "So," Joshua began, as he crossed his arms. "Martok began to laugh. Then Gond began to laugh. And behind me, I heard a thud as Zanat's shapely backside hit the ground. Oh, was she laughing it up!" "Rolling around, I take it?" The woman asked. "Oh, no!" He said with a laugh. "She was sitting motionless, that recorder still pointing at my backside! And on the flight back to the capital, Gond recorded her stitching the wound closed," Joshua smiled as his brown eyes bored into her green. "That video would be seen throughout known space before the day was out!" "Josh?" The woman smiled as she lay her elbows on the counter of the island and leaned forward, placing her head in her hands. "Three times in this very entertaining tale about your very entertaining tail, you've made remarks about this Zanat's various body parts that suggest to me that the two of you might have been romantically involved at one time. Were you?" "Romantically, no," Kirk said, his elbows on the counter as well, his head in his hands. "But many is the time that I've climbed Mount Zanat and conquered her. Just as she's done the same to me. We were friends, yes. But it never went beyond that. No, that was purely a sexual relationship." "Did she see it that way?" "It's what she said," Joshua told the woman as he stood once more. "I just take her word for it. After all, you can never know what's in the heart of another. The only heart you can truly understand is your own. And even then, you can still be deceived." "You speak like a man who does not trust his heart," The stranger said, a serious tone to her voice. "You can't trust what's not there," Joshua told her, tapping a finger to his chest. "Put that perfect ear right here and see what I mean." "I will," The woman said, dancing around the island with a jiggle that grabbed Kirk's eye. Leaning down, she kissed him briefly, then snaked her arms about his waist, and placed her ear to his breast. He smiled as he stared down at her. Soon though, he was raising his head with a chuckle. "Ah, I didn't know that listening for a heartbeat meant you had to fondle the scar on my ass." "Well it does," She said softly. "Now hush, Lover!" Soon, her other hand was tickling the hairs on his stomach as her fingers worked their way downward. But with a gasp, she leapt back, staring at the man in disbelief. "You don't have a heart beat!" She exclaimed, excitedly. "All I heard was a hissing sound! Why?" "Because my heart," Kirk began calmly. "Is not like your heart. That hissing sound you heard was my heart. Or one of them. I have five, scattered about my body." "I know you'd told me you were genetically engineered," The woman said, a tone of awe in her voice. "But I didn't think it was to this extent." "That's me! I'm more bio-machine than man, twisted and," Kirk then pulled her body to his, and standing on tip toe, kissed her. "Slightly kinky." "I will be putting that to the test," She said as she ran a slender finger across Kirk's lips, her eyes staring into his. "Because I myself am slightly kinky." "So I hope!" Joshua told her, expectantly. Soon though, the woman had a curious expression on her face. "A thought just accurred to me," She said as she placed her hand on his chest. "How do babies react to there being no heart beat? They need to feel that beat." "I learned how to deal with that while in the hospital." "Why were you in the hospital?" The woman asked. "Let's just say that the war with the Dominion I'd mentioned earlier left me in a fragile state, both physically, and mentally," He explained. Joshua then stared into space for a few seconds before continuing. "Well, part of my therapy for the mentally fragile part of me involved a treatment that my people discovered hundreds of years ago," Kirk held his arms before him as if cradling a baby. "Infants and young children. It seems to calm us when we hold and play with them. Though I was limited to infants for my first few weeks there. I was a bit too frightening for the toddlers and older children." "Well actually!" Joshua said hurriedly. "In addition to the internal damage, missing eye, scars, and burns, I was suffering from radiation poisoning. So the first week, I only had five visitors. But once that had been taken care of, the ladies were free to experience something very special. A thing only a handfull of women in the Federation can claim." "Don't be crude!" The beautiful stranger demanded as she thrust a finger at Kirk's face. "Now hold on there, Little Miss Dirty Mind!" Joshua replied with a laugh. "I'm talking about the Kirk family rocking chair. It's been in my family for more than two hundred years. I had my mother bring it in. And the ladies flocked to the chance to feed their babies, and rock them to sleep in the very chair that was used to rock James Tiberius Kirk to sleep." "And he is?" "My great grandfather," The man said in a tone that was almost reverential. "My family calls him James T. Everyone else calls him The Kirk. He was everything my people strive to be. He was incredibly brave. Fiercely loyal. Very deeply commited to the people of the Federation, and protecting them. Our greatest ship's commander, end of story!" He then paused for a moment and smiled. "And just a bit lusty." "A bit lusty?" The woman said with a hopeful tone in her voice. "Well, we strive to be a bit lusty," Kirk grinned. "James T carried lusty to a whole new level. But now is not the time to tell those tales. I'm supposed to tell you how I got around not having a heart beat." "Yes, we've seem to have gotten off topic a bit." "It was rather simple, really," Joshua started to explain, his hands holding an imaginary infant. "I would sit in that chair and hold the little one to my body. Then I would rock back and hold her in place with one hand, her ear where my heart would have been, if I'd had a normal one," The woman saw Joshua's hands begin to tremble slightly, and tears begin to form in his eyes. "Next, I would tap my chest. Right next to her head. Boom, boom. Boom, boom," He whispered as he stared out at nothing, tears now running down his cheeks. "And she would just smile that beautiful little smile of her's. The smile that captures the hearts of all who see it." "It always amazes me," The woman said as she took one of Kirk's hands in both of her's and smiled. "How a baby can make the toughest of men cry." "That's the power that a baby has over their father," Joshua said as he wiped away the tears with the other hand. "They bring out the gentle side in us, keeping the warrior under control." "But!" The woman cut the man off as he was about to say more. "The warrior is always nearby, ready to protect them. Correct?" "Correct," Kirk said. "And when they brought my daughter to visit me in the hospital for the first time, I swore I would protect her from all who would harm her. I renew the oath on her birthday every year." "Now last year?" Kirk grinned at her. "I changed it. I had to, she's growing up now, so it needed to be updated. I told her that I will protect her from all who would harm her. Until she feels she is able to protect herself. That is when I will step aside," He then laughed a bit. "I told her that I would then hide in the bushes and wait, and when I was needed again, I would strike." "And just what did she have to say about that?" She asked, smiling, Joshua's hand still clasped in hers. "Daddy, that's so sweet," The man smiled as he ran the back of his free hand over his eyes again. "A little creepy, but sweet," "What's your daughter's name?" The woman asked. "I will not tell you," Kirk said as he smiled smuggly at the woman. "Not until you tell me your name. You've been on this ship for six hours, and have yet to tell me your name. And I've asked you four times. Each time you managed to change the subject. Which is rather odd when you consider you keep telling me you're taking me home with you. So a name, please." "Well, if you must know," She began. "I must! I must!" Joshua cut in, interrupting her. "My name," She said softly. "Is Mary Pauline Corrin. Just call me Mary." "Well, my lovely Mary," Joshua said as he bowed his head slightly. "It is my distinct pleasure to tell you that my daughter's name is Sasha Cynthia Kirk. I call her Cynthia, or Cyn." "Well," The woman said after kissing Joshua's hand. "You know my name, and I know your name, and now your daughter's." "Oh, no," Joshua interrupted Anna. "My full name is not Joshua Augustus Kirk. It's Joshua William Augustus Patrick Kirk." "That's a rather impressive name," She said. "Are you named after anyone in particular?" "Three men, actually," Joshua told her, holding up three fingers. "First, there is Joshua Augustus Kirk, the first of our people to be born an Enhanced Human. He was model #1 of the First Generation. The first born of our people are known as the First Generation. Before them came the Genesis Generation. They were the girls and women who were kidnapped and altered. Among them was Ruth Kirk, the All Mother, as we've named her." "Next, comes William," Kirk continued with his story. "That name comes from my father's friend, William Marx. He's the commander of Starfleet Special Forces. Which, of course, makes him my former CO. He's also my baby girl's grandfather." "And Patrick?" Mary asked. "Where does that name come from?" "My grandfather, Patrick Rufio Kirk," The man grinned. "He hated the name Patrick. You see, he was the last Kirk to be born on Earth. To be more specific, Ireland. The wondrous island of Ireland. Patrick was once a popular name there. But the year he was born, over half the male children born, were given the name Patrick." "That's a lot of Patricks." "That's right," Kirk nodded in agreement. "And it's all the fault of James T. You see, my grandfather was born ten minutes after midnight, on January 1st, the first day of the year. And when the news got out about his name, there was a stampede for it. The same for the feminine form, Patricia. Fully a quarter of girls born that year were given that name," He then grinned at Mary. "And that's a whole lot of Pats. Both man, and woman." "Your great grandfather was that popular?" Mary asked, a smile on her lips. "Like I said," Joshua said, returning her smile. "My people revere him. But the Irish, now. They treat his memory like that of a god." "They're that proud of him?" "The Irish have developed a great sense of pride when it comes to their people and their accomplishments," Joshua told her. "Even those whose ancestors immigrated away from the island. And no Starfleet commander has ever managed to do the things him and his crew of Enterprise accomplished." "And what's the history of your daughter's name?" "Well, Sasha," Joshua began. "Is her mother's name, Sasha Marx. And Cynthia comes from my mother's younger sister, Cynthia Tanaka." "Okay," Mary smiled at the young man for a moment. "Now tell me about your twin brother, Mack." "Mack's not my twin brother," Kirk said quickly. "He's just an old friend, as I said." The woman instantly released his hand and shoved Joshua against the counter. "Never lie to me!" She said angrily. "I will never tolerate a liar!" "No!" Mary shouted as Joshua began to object. "You have an identical twin brother named Mack! And I am going to tell you how I know this!" She continued, staring the man in the eye. "Then tell me where I'm wrong!" "Wait!" The woman said firmly, not giving Kirk a chance to speak. "After we finished the contract negotiations, you began to tell me stories of your life. In four of those stories you mentioned Mack. In the last one, he was not there, true. But you revealed that you are familiar with his martial arts training," Mary then nodded slowly. "Yes, he might be a friend." "But first, you told me that when you were six, your people told the Federation of the Class C Project at a press conference. You told me how Mack would laugh at the reporters as you dominated the event. Again, he could be a friend." "Now, let's skip to when you were thirteen," Mary continued, a smile back on her lips. "When you and Mack attended your first snowboarding competion. Where the two of you impressed one of the announcers so much, that he called you the god of snowboarding, Mack your Pope," The beautiful woman then chuckled. "Whatever a Pope is. And the next day, the two of you, and your fellow competitors created the Church Of The Joshua, to have fun with the crowd," She then shrugged. "I could see a friend doing this." "But when you were nine," Mary Corrin said as she placed a hand on the counter behind Joshua and leaned down. "Your father was involved in that officer exchange program. You and Mack went with him for the entire three month tour. That's where you killed five pirates, Mack three." "I don't know what it's like where you're from," She told Kirk, her eyes boring into his. "But I don't know a single parent that would allow their nine year old child to spend three months on a warship of another government with another man and his son. Especially ships with living conditions as harsh as you say the Klingon ships have." "Hold up!" Mary once again cut Joshua off as he began to reply. "We now get to the three stories you told me about the Class C Project. In one of them, you said there were eight of you." "First," She now held up a hand and began counting off. "There are Debra and Arthur Wilmowski's two sets of identical twins. Two boys, two girls. In order they are Debra, William, Sarah, and Daniel. You called them the Monsters. Then we have your Aunt Jess and Uncle Jason Wu's twins, Little Jess and Ami Lynn. You called them the Adorables." Mary quickly thrust a finger in Kirk's face and grinned. "And finally, we have you. Now unless you are two people occupying the same space, moving and speaking in perfect unison, then you also have a twin brother. And since the other six were identical, then odds are, so are you and Mack." Now the woman softly stroked joshua's cheek, her grin fading to a smile. "And earlier, on the bridge, I made the crack about you having an identical twin brother hiding behind me. And as I was turning about playfully, to look behind me," The humor now left Mary's face. "I saw a heartbreaking expression of sorrow form on your face. It was gone by the time I swung back around, but it was there." "These things all lead me to believe that you have an identical twin brother," The woman bowed her head briefly. She then turned her face to Kirk's once again, their gazes locking. "And that, sadly, he's dead." "His name is Mackenzie Louis Kirk," Joshua said, quietly. He stared at Mary a few seconds before he continued. "Officially, Mack is listed as missing in action," He then sighed. "But we all know how that will end! Mack's not going to walk through that hatch and flash his lady killer smile and ask me where's the women!" The man shook his head slowly and whispered. "No, he's dead." "Did he serve in the Federation's Starfleet as well?" Mary Corrin asked. "No," Joshua said, glancing away for a second. "Because of his association with a radical political group called the Followers Of Singhe, he was kicked out of the academy after his first year, and was barred from serving in Starfleet. But because of his talent with languages, Intelligence quickly snapped him up." "So he was good with languages?" "Good doesn't begin to describe it!" Kirk told her quickly. "By the time Intelligence sent him on his final mission, he spoke eighty-six languages. All fluently." "What?" The woman blurted out excitedly. "How is that possible?" "Like I told you," He said, tapping the side of his head. "This brain is nothing like your's. For instance, I received my first of eight Doctorates when I was six. Three years later I was made a full professor at the University Of Mars. I taught stellar evolution for almost three years before I entered Starfleet Academy." "Wow," Mary replied in a stunned voice. "And we thought Peenk was special receiving her first Doctorate at sixteen," "Really," Joshua said, his lip curling up on one side. "How many does she have?" "Two," She told Kirk, a smile on her lips. "Mechanical engineering. Ship and drive systems. The girl has a flair for ship design. She's crazy about ships. Always has been," Mary smirked. "They say she picked it up from her father, Boz. This ship is a platform for her designs." "Really?" "She's never told you that?" Mary asked, shocked. "I wonder why?" "Probably for the same reason I've told the others little of myself," Joshua said, scratching the back of his head. "I don't know how long I'll be here. A month, a year, or forever." "That is wise of you," She muttered. Mary then smiled. "I would prefer that you stay here forever, though," But she soon sighed and leaned back against the counter next to Kirk. "But you do have a very good reason for wanting to go back." "I can't protect Cyn when I'm seventy-four million lightyears away," Kirk told her. He then crossed his arms and shook his head, staring out at nothing. "I understand you, now," Corrin said, nudging him with her elbow. "You are a protector. And not just of your daughter, but of everyone." "I'm a protector, born and bred!" He shot back, nudging her as well. "Or designed and progammed, as we say it." "What's it like, knowing all these things when you're born?" Mary asked, an expression of great curiousity on her beautiful face. "We don't," Kirk said with a shake of his head. "The only programming we have access to at birth, are the languages. The rest is activated when we turn five. But we in the C Class were special. We were brought fully online when we turned three," Kirk then smiled. "But for some reason, Mack and I were born with the ability to use our infrared vision. We were just more advanced than the other C Class Combat Units, I guess." "Must you talk about yourself like that?" She asked, appearing very uneasy. "You make it sound like you're a droid!" "Well, we were designed in a lab," Kirk told Mary bluntly. "In fact, it took five years to engineer the two fertilized eggs that each of the three couples donated. Which means that Mack and I are actually older than our sister. And Combat Unit was the term our creators used when they were designing us." "Stop it!" She said harshly. "You are Human!" "No," Joshua said calmly, interrupting Mary. "I am only part Human. I am very different, inside. Especially when it comes to my brain. For instance, as I am speaking to you, part of my brain is working on a research project we at the University of Mars have been working on since I was ten." The woman stared at Kirk for several seconds. But soon she smiled, mischieviously. "Does that mean that when we had our little tryst, as you called it, in the Rat's Nest, that you were working on this project?" "Oh, sure!" "And when you were sending me over the edge, there, on the counter earlier," Mary was now grinning. "You were working on this project?" "Absolutely!" Corrin's grin then faded away. "How about when we had that encounter on the bridge?" Kirk slowly nodded. "And I'm sorry for placing my hand over your mouth. But your emotions were causing me to panic." "Yes," Mary said with a nod as well. "Lele told me about your Force sensitivity. She's also told me how powerful you are. This is a rare and wonderful thing." "Like hell it is!" Joshua replied, sternly. "I just wish it would go away!" "Why?" She asked, warily. "Are you afraid of falling to the dark side?" "No," He told her, shaking his head. "I've been talking with Mulk and Kinna. And they're convinced that it's not possible for me to do that." "Because of your programming?" "Yes," The man nodded. "They feel that I would make the ideal Jedi, because my programming would prevent me from falling to the Dark Side. And they're now convinced the same is true for Melee and Ano." "Then what is it about the Force that makes you so uncomfortable?" "Because I have gone twenty nine years with no idea that such a thing even existed!"