Thanks for all the replies everyone. Joshua strolled down the passage that led to one of Fist Of Kahless' transporter rooms, Gond, his sworn brother, walking at his side. "They say that the Republic Star Cruiser is on it's way here," The Klingon said. "Why did they drop out of hyperspace, anyway?" "They recieved an emergency signal. A ship was being attacked by pirates." "They should have called me!" Gond said with a grin. "My people are very good at dealing with pirates. "I know. I fought alongside them when I was nine." "Joshua!" Gond said in a voice that was tinged with awe. "You still don't realize what an impact you and Mack had on my people that day. Seeing the video of these two tiny Human males taking down those eight pirates. Especially you, swinging that damned Bat'leth around the way you did. The damned thing was almost as tall you were. You were celebrated when you took out their Klingon commander. Took that big bastards head right off. After taking his legs off at the knees, of course." "Hey! I had to do something to get to that head of his. He was tall! Taller than you are." The two entered the transporter room where Zanat stood waiting, a bottle of Blood Wine in her hand. "I have a gift for you and your family when you return to Mars," Gond said as the woman placed the bottle in Kirk's hands. "It's from the same vintage as the bottle we shared when you took command of Ericsen." "Before you leave, we're to pass a message to you from the Emperor," Zanat said as she put her hand on Kirk's shoulder. "He and Chancellor Martok need to know who's going to run the affairs of House Kirk while you are running around this other galaxy being a Jedi." "Well, I was thinking of adopting someone. A warrior who brought my brother home, so he could come back from the dead," Joshua's face then grew red with anger. "The same warrior who invaded the Federation embassy to rescue my daughter when the president ordered her arrest." "That was an dishonorable thing for your president to do!" Zanat growled. The two Klingons then nodded as one. "And I'm sure Kurga will be honored. My little brother has always looked up to you." "Well, figuratively of course!" Gond said as he patted the top of Joshua's head. Stepping onto the platform, Kirk smiled as he was beamed back to the Runner. When the process was over, he found himself on the Runner's bridge, being spun about by Peenk who then slapped him. Joshua stared in shock at the woman, her face twitching with rage. "What was that for?" He demanded. "I don't ever want to see you do that again!" Peenk said breathing heavily. "It's not fucking natural!" "What, the transporter?" "Yes! The fucking transporter!" She shouted. "I don't ever want to see you do that again!" Joshua stared around at the others and saw that they, too, were angry. "But it's safe!" He said quickly. "I've done it a thousand times." "I don't fucking care!" Peenk said as she brought her face to his. "It is not natural, tearing yourself apart like that!" He stared at her for a few second, then answered her back. "I promise to only do it if my life is in danger." "Only if your life is in danger!" Peenk repeated before shoving her face in his. "Remember that!" Peenk then stormed off the bridge, followed by the other women. "Damn, boy," Marty Arner muttered. "That transporter seems to upset the women. Badly." "It didn't bother you?" "Hell no!" Marty said. "Me and the boys thought it was the most amazing thing we've ever seen." "No," Tiberious said with a grin. "The most amazing thing I've ever seen is sweet little Dassa Morsen when she titty flashed me the last time we were on Doroub. Ner way of telling me goodbye." "Oh yeah!" His oldest brother #1 said with a sigh. "That's one hot little Scrum babe." "And she's got her eyes on no one but you little brother!" #2 added. "You need to go for it, now that you have permission to have a family." "She arrives on Mars in a week," Ti told his brothers and father. "Joshua has arranged it for us to hold the ceremony at the Great Hall in Old Olympus City." "And when were you going to tell us this?" Marty asked his son crossly. "I'm quite sure I just did," Ti said before turning to the hatch. "But I think I'll wait for my mother to calm down before I tell her." "Ummm, Joshua?" Nani said from the workstation she sat at as the ships exited the wormhole. "Someone's calling you. Said her name is Kobiyashi Maru." "Excellent!" Kirk smiled as he stared out the viewport at USS Enterprise. "Let me speak to her," He said as he turned and stepped behind Nani. An image of Shion Charzide appeared on the monitor. "Captain Charzide, as always, it is wonderful to see you." "Colonel Kirk, long time no see!" The Melani female said, flashing her fangs in a big grin. "I've heard that you've been up to your usual galaxy saving shinanigans." "Of course. I am a Kirk after all. It's what we do." "I've also heard that you've fathered a boy," She said, leaning forward in her seat. "It's about time! Cyn was tired of you shirking your responsibility as a father. She's looking forward to meeting her brother." "So she tells me everytime I call home." "I was on Mars two days ago, and her football team had just won another game," Shion gave her friend a puzzled look. "The girls were singing the praises of someone named Conrad Dobler. I looked him up. Are you sure you want her praising someone like that?" "Well, he is one of Mack's heroes. Same for James T. They both believe you do what it takes to win." "There's nothing wrong with that." Joshua shook his head. "But not in sports," He said. "You say that because you never played sports like your siblings. You were either studying your science or preparing for command." "You got it. I had more important things to do." "The idea of being a kid is to have fun," The Starfleet officer shot back. "You didn't start having fun until you got your own command." "Hey! I used to snowboard!" "That was the only fun you allowed yourself. Well, that, and playing poker." "Joshua?" Mala tapped him on the shoulder. "Gond is calling. He wants you to know that he's taking his ships home, and that he's looking forward to the ceremony." "Very well, tell him I'll see him there," The girl nodded and returned to her seat. "Using children for your crew?" Shion asked with a chuckle. "Maybe you forgot how old I was when I entered Starfleet. I was the same age." "True," Shion said with a nod of her head. "But enough small talk. I'm here to escort you and your friends to Earth. They have a big party ready to welcome them." "Do you have a hyperdrive in that bucket?" "Bucket?" She asked, giving Joshua the eye. "Watch how you talk about Starfleet's first hyperdrive capable ship of the line." "No!" Kirk cut his friend short. "Excalibur and Moscow have that honor." "But Moscow was listed as destroyed fifty years ago," Charzide replied. "She is no longer part of Starfleet." "Wrong!" Joshua said, a smug expression on his face. "To her crew, she's still a ship of the line. And thanks to the modifications that have been made to her over the last two months, she's the most powerful ship in Starfleet after Excalibur." "Are they fast?" The Melani asked Kirk. "Both have hyperdrives rated at 1.2." "Well the Big E has both of them beat." The woman grinned again. "She has a hyperdrive that's rated at 1.0." "Well that will enable you to keep up with these ships. This baby I'm on is rated at .7." "Oooo. You have a fast ship." "Not mine. She belongs to the gorgeous blonde here," Kirk said, pointing to Peenk, who waved. "She's done some rather nice modifications to her." "We can talk about that in eight hours when we get to Earth. But until then, they've asked me to welcome you home," The Melani extended her hand. "Welcome home to the Federation, Joshua Kirk." The end.