[video]

[captaincocksure]

[Jim knows something's gone wrong the moment the whizzing incandescent sparks of the transporter beam fade from his vision.

Since when does a farming community have an ornate library?

He turns to his right to demand a report from Spock... but Spock's not there. To his left, to find McCoy's not there either.

He reaches for his communicator but its heft is unfamiliar in his hand. It's not his. But it's obviously a communication device of some sort. He fiddles with it, manages to turn on the voice broadcasting.]

Kirk to Enterprise, come in. Enterprise, are you receiving me?

[A pause as he waits for an answer and gets none. He tries a different tack.]

Cassiopeia 3 Colony, this is Captain Kirk, do you copy?

[That clearly doesn't get him what he wants, either. There's a faint sigh, the sort that comes when someone's preparing themselves to speak, and then the video comes on. Jim is perfectly in frame, looking directly into the device, shoulders straight, and he speaks with confidence and authority that almost don't seem to fit with his obvious youth. Clearly he's done this before.]

This is Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise. I respectfully request an audience, whether via this communication device or in person, with a member of the governing body, ruler, or other authority of this location, or their designated representative.

This place was not my intended destination. If I've arrived here in error, I will need some information to help me figure out how to correct it. If I was purposefully brought here, please accept my gratitude for arriving unharmed, but I obviously have questions about the conditions surrounding my transport and I would like to negotiate the terms of my return.

[He pauses again, and his expression softens. This is clearly less Official Command Officer Business, and more a casual, polite request.]

...I appear to be in a library. If someone could tell me how to get out, and where to find the people I need to talk to, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Comments

[camebefore]

[Hannibal lack of a smile says he's still feeling that Jim is trying to feed him a line of bullshit.]

[He is quiet for a minute in thought before asking his question quite seriously.]

If it was a battlefield promotion, were you the only one left alive?

[captaincocksure]

[Jim falls silent a long moment, before shaking his head, grim.]

I was not the only one left alive. I was on the only one of six starships sent to rescue a planet under attack. The other five, and all their crews, perished.

I was made First Officer of my ship shortly before undertaking what wound up being an unsuccessful mission to stop the planet's destruction. The Acting Captain was a native of that planet and its loss deeply affected him; he resigned commission the next morning and I advanced to Captain.

A similar attack was launched on Earth within a day; we were able to stop it and destroy the attacking ship with our single ship.

[camebefore]

[Another of those seconds of quiet pass on Hannibal's part this time. He watches Jim's face, his own staying as blank as a statue's. There is no pity shown for what Jim describes or the shifting tone of their conversation.]

I would apologize for calling up old memories, but I imagine you've been told 'I'm sorry' by now by too many people who don't mean it or can't grasp how insignificant those two little words are.

[He doesn't add aloud the qualifier of 'if what you say is true'. There is a limit to rudeness he'll display.]

I am sorry to tell you, Captain Kirk, that I've never heard of your 'Enterprise'. Perhaps others will be able to help you.

[captaincocksure]

[Jim nods, impressed by that.]

I'm sure people mean well but I've had enough empty platitudes to last me a lifetime.

Thank you, Doctor. I hope so too.

[camebefore]

I had thought you might.

[That much he could guess and understand with his own experiences.]

Luck be with you, Captain.

[With that, the feed ends with a soft click.]