The Eagle's Spawn - Part Two        "Yes."        "Should the rest of the family be tested?"        Tathilan spoke. "Yes, it is genetic in humans, so it is possible that other members of the family have the trait. The Nairobi Institute of Mental Sciences would be happy to do the testing for your family. They can also recommend treatment should anyone test positive."        "You make it sound like a disease dear."        "Bad wording, English does that to me. Stress can break the mental barriers, and that is bad, very bad. Tim would have been badly hurt, even killed if I had not been there."        "Tim?"        "The guy sitting next to me, your son."        "Why 'Tim' James?"        "I have written to you about the difficulties of being 'James T. Kirk' in Starfleet. My friends call me Tim."        "Yet I recall you fought like a banshee to get into Starfleet."        "Little did I know."        "Wouldn't be proper. A banshee's a female spirit a'start with, an' they keen, not fight." The latter was spoken by a tall elegant man in rumpled tweeds as he entered the room. Tim stood up.        "Tathilan, my Father, Bruce Ian Kirk. Father, Tathilan."        "How do you do."        "And yourself."        "So, ye got inta a wee bit o' trouble?"        Tim said. "A wee, but we got oot as quick as in."        "Well then."        "Father, I was asking James about his Lady."        "Indeed. I'd like ta hear myself." The elder Kirk sat down.        Tim continued. "Not much to tell, we more or less ran into each other and things happened. We've been a couple for, six months or so."        "Are ye plannin' ta marry? Would be good ta have it close ta home."        Tim rubbed the side of his nose. "Ai, that would be nice, however. there are some cross cultural difficulties to work out. Ane don't stand in the Church and exchange vows."        "Ane is it, I ha' seen a few Ane, and I recall they are antelope looking people. Ms. Tathilan, excuse me sayin', but ye got but two legs by my count."        "You count well. Ane is my culture set if you prefer."        "We might as well dive in Tathilan. Mother, Father, Tathilan is Ane. Ane RI."        A small silence started and threatened to become a large one. Angela Kirk saved it.        "What is an Ane RI James?"        "A form of artificial life. Tathilan is the computer system on the Kongo, or more accurately, the person I chose to be the computer system on the Kongo."        "Why James?"        "She's the only person on the ship I can't order around."        "I don't think I understand."        Bruce Kirk said "I do Mother. I ha' met a few of these people. An' people they be."        "Father, how can you have artificial people?"        **Mrs. Kirk. Perhaps if I explain.**        Angela Kirk snapped around at the telepathic contact. "Oh, my."        **Did I startle you? I'm sorry, but long conversations in English are difficult for me, especially when the terms are complex.**        "I just never feel anything that, warm, before. I do need to understand this."        **The only things artificial about me are the bodies I inhabit. I was born, raised and educated just like any Ane child. My more usual appearance is four legged, I did this**, indicating her body, **for Tim.**        "What about children?"        Tim broke in. "Two ways, adopt, or get an egg donor from the Ansisi. Tathilan can nurture an embryo, just not create it. However, I am not having kids while I am active in Starfleet. It either means leaving them home, or putting them in danger, neither of which is acceptable."        Angela Kirk sat precisely her hands in her lap. Bruce Kirk looked more relaxed. Angela spoke quietly. "You are determined in this James?"        "Mother, I never showed you Katherine's last letter. She told me not to wait, or waste a second. When I found love again, to take it in both fists, and cherish it. She told me..." Tathilan laid a hand in his lap. "She told me that as I loved her, I would find love again. That she blessed any love I found, because she trusted I would not find less than I deserved. Because she loved me, she would not hold me back. Well, here is that love. I am not holding back."        "I liked Katherine, she was a sensible young woman. And she was right. Very well James, do as you heart demands. As always, the family will support you."        Bruce Kirk said. "So what are your plans?"        Tathilan said. **We have each other, we have a place and a job. We will take it as it comes.**        "I'd like to see that Ane-form. I want ta know ye when I see ye, no matter what the shape daughter."        Angela Kirk said. "That, Father, is going to take so getting used to."        "Well, we are not scheduled to ship out for a few more days. And I am making work to keep us here a little passed that. I want to see the USS Hadrian off if I can swing it."        Bruce Kirk said. "The Hadrian?"        "Gwenith Ap Owen's ship. She should be ready for space trials within the week."        "James, I thought Gwenith Ap Owen was your first officer?"        "She was my first officer. She was promoted to Captain yesterday and given the command."        "A feather in your cap then."        "Yes indeed. Could I invite you to dinner aboard? Anyone else in the clan that wants to come too, but I would like to give you a tour of the ship."        "I think we can manage that Father."        "Yes, we can."        The tour and dinner went well. Tim's Mother and Father, and his Sister, her Husband and their two children had dinner in the Captain's suite.        "Well Tathilan, what did you think of the Family?**        **Pleasant company. Your Father treats words like precious jewels, he certainly doesn't waste a single one.**        **He has been called 'terse'.**        **Your nephew Ian is charming.**        Tim continued to brush her mane. **Charming is an interesting word to describe a six year old intermix chamber.**        **I wouldn't be that hard on him, most of the ship is still here.**        **Yes, we managed to keep him in containment.**        **I see your point. He looked happy.**        **A six year old kid that has just had a tour of his Uncle's starship, got to sit in the center seat, and is leaving with a model not generally available should be happy. I would have been on cloud nine for at least a week.**        **Never got a chance?**        **Oh yes, I sat in the center seat of every ship in the Starflight Museum. However, that is hardly the same thing as an actual real working starship, and I knew it. So it was a cheap and reasonably granted thrill.**        **So, how was the Starflight Museum?**        **You have never been there?**        **Not in person.**        **We have tomorrow, we can rectify that. I did however tend to leave the Fleet personnel in pain.**        **You kicked them?**        **Nooo. I said things.**        **Stop teasing.**        **I'm James T Kirk.**        **That's it?**        **Yep, that's it. I realize now they were doing their level best not to laugh their heads off. But I was James T Kirk, in fact, still am.**        **That name as been a bit of an albatross, hasn't it.**        **At times, but it is my name.**        **And a very nice name is it is.**        **You are kind.**        **So, who should I go as?**        **Yourself, who else?**        **Silly, four legs or two?**        **Well, those older ships are easier to get around with two.**        **Should I wear a uniform?**        **You're entitled to. Up to you.**        **Are you?**        **Good question. I find that I don't want to, it seems rather pretentious to walk into the Museum in a uniform. On the other hand, There are fleet personnel on the station, and I would feel a little naked without one.**        **You, self conscious?**        **Tathilan, don't tease. You know me better than that.**        She reached around and nibbled at his ear.        **Stop that.**        **You're getting to serious.**        **You know me too well girl. Let's sack out.**        **Two legs or four?**        **I'll take you any way you come.**        Tathilan and Tim waited until the last tour group cleared out, and moved onto the bridge of the Republic. An older Chief stood ready to field questions, his hair lightly grizzled with white. Tathilan looked around the old bridge, moving from station to station. Tim stood back and took in the general feel of the place. Trying to see if any trace of the former Captains remained. The chief spoke.        "Good morning Captain, Commander. I don't get many active personnel."        "Morning Chief. Tathilan has never been here. I am giving her the guided tour."        "Been here much sir?"        "Every time the family got anywhere near Earth Chief. Other than the addition of the Excelsior, it hasn't changed much."        "Toured her yet sir?"        "Not if I can help it Chief. I did my time on that slave galley. I know the Excelsior from the bridge lights to the sump tanks."        Respectfully sir. Yours must have been one of the last classes to cruise on her."        "That's right Chief. I was in the last class to cruise on the Excelsior. The Ambassador replaced her the year after."        "What's your ship sir?"        "Oh, James Kirk, the Kongo."        "Well sir, A fine ship you have."        "Thank you chief."        "Sir, I used to get a red haired kid in here that always said he was James T Kirk, and he was going to command a starship. It was all I could do to not laugh. James T Kirk indeed."        "That's right Chief, and I still am."        "Blimey! You're kidding me. You're that kid?"        "Yes Chief, my skin got darker, but that was me. You must like the posting."        "Well sir, I do sir, that I do."        "Let it be a lesson, smart assed kids grow up."        The Chief was gamely holding in the laughter. "Yes sir, that they do sir."        Tathilan was trying out the command chair. Kirk turned to her.        "So, how does it feel?"        "Distant, and detached."        "It would for you."        "Hard to believe we used to use these ships."        "They're a far cry better that the ships a century before that Commander."        "I suppose they would be."        Tim said. "Seen enough?"        "Sure, lets go."        Tim was working in his ready room later that afternoon. The officers taken for the newly re-commissioned Hadrian left him shuffling departments and replacements as best he could. Trying for a mix of old and new that would improve and speed the integration of the new crew into a system that worked. In truth he had been dragging his feet a little with the moaning about replacements. The Hadrian left for space trials in two days, and he could hardly give leave to a crew that had been on leave for the last three months. His latest ploy was an Admiral's inspection that currently had the crew scuttling around and cleaning up. The refit had left things a bit on the untidy side. Admiral Picard and party were due at 0900 tomorrow.        The sound of the door chime shocked him slightly. He had been deep into his work.        "Come."        The door opened and a sharply dressed Commander entered. Tim took quick stock. Human, male, brown hair, blue eyes, earnest expression.        "Commander Richard Stiles reporting Sir. My orders." Stiles handed over his PADD and came to attention.        Kirk flipped through them quickly.        "This is your first assignment as Executive Officer Mr. Stiles."        "Yes sir."        "You understand you are replacing a very competent officer."        "Yes sir."        "Your record is commendable. However, I see you only have two space tours."        "That is correct sir."        "Please, be seated."        Stiles sat at attention.        "Tell me about yourself."        "Sir?"        "How do you think of yourself?"        "As an officer of Starfleet Captain."        Kirk leaned back in his chair and spoke. "Mr. Stiles. The Kongo has a 'style', we are one of the few ships in Starfleet with Ane as a significant part of the crew. We don't always hew to the book, but we have a reputation for staying within the parameters, and getting the job done. Ane are very sensitive to someone that is not honest with himself or uncomfortable in some fashion. They home in on it, and give that person Hell. In this respect they keep the crew honest. With each other, and with themselves. We have the most under-worked ship's Counselor in the fleet. If you are not comfortable with that Mr. Stiles, I suggest you request a transfer right now, and I will grant it. I'll try the question again. How do you picture yourself as per your role in Starfleet?"        Stiles shifted around a bit, but didn't relax. "I am not sure I understand you Captain. I see myself as an individual willing and able to serve."        "Let me rephrase the question in terms you might better understand. Why did you join Starfleet?"        "I want to protect and preserve the way of life we have created for ourselves."        "Sounds like a quote."        "It is sir, from my entrance examination to the Academy."        "You see yourself as a protector then?"        "Yes sir."        "How would you handle, non-protector roles, say diplomacy, or exploration."        "I am fully qualified by the FCO, and have training in diplomacy and a through grounding in the sciences. My first tour was on an Ambassador class ship."        "I wouldn't depend to much on the latter, the Kongo might share a hull and some internal fittings with the Ambassador Class, but the resemblance ends there. This is an entirely new ship."        "In what ways sir?" He was showing some animation for the first time.        "For starters, the warp drives. The Kongo's warp drives are Ane designed AWF high efficiency warp units. Along with these is the dual intermix system and the G3, mk16 Crystalmind computer system. You will meet her later. We are armed with upgraded collimator phaser banks and a pair of, again Ane designed, Octclops torpedo turrets and double the usual torpedo inventory. Those are the major differences. Minor differences abound throughout the ship. Don't try and fall back on a familiarity that is meaningless. The Kongo is a different ship. She is now classed as a 'Kongo' class heavy cruiser."        "I see sir, I have a good deal of work ahead of me. My assigning officer gave me the assurance that the Kongo was as any other Ambassador class ship. I see she was mistaken. I will get to work on familiarizing myself with the ship at once."        "Very well Mr. Stiles, welcome to the Kongo. Have you been to your quarters yet?"        "No sir. Most of my kit is still in the BOQ."        "Settle yourself in and Tathilan will brief you on what Captain Ap Owen left for you."        "Tathilan?"        "Computer Operations officer."        "What rank sir?"        "Oh, Commander. We have an Admiral's Inspection at 0900 tomorrow, you will be ready."        "Yes sir."        "Dismissed."        Stiles stood, took his PADD and left the room. For a long moment Kirk stared into space.        **He's tense as a fiddle string.**        **Yes?**        **He has way too little experience for this posting.**        **Yes.**        **Keep an eye on him for a while.**        **Yes.** Continued in Part Three   Comments or questtons on this file? Mail Here Download a zipped RTF version of this story. Return to -- Epiphany Trek: The Stories The Above is a work of fiction. All characters are fictional, any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. Copyright © Garry Stahl: May 1999. All rights reserved, re-print only with permission.