fic: faith (star trek: xi)
May. 20th, 2009 04:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
carmen_ljSo very not what I expected to be the first thing I wrote for STXI:
Title: Faith
Rating: G
Characters: Pike, Number One, Kirk
Summary: Pike's Number One is less than impressed with the new captain of the Enterprise.
AN: Number One was Pike's first officer in the original Star Trek pilot, The Cage.
Faith
“So that’s the kid you gave your ship to?” Number One stopped by the window that looked down on the Enterprise’s gym where Jim Kirk had just wrestled another officer to the floor. Admiral Pike stopped his wheelchair and tapped on the brake out of habit.
He was getting used to the chair, but he couldn’t imagine getting used to looking into the pitying eyes of friends and family. When he’d heard she’d arrived at the Utopia Plantia drydocks, where the Enterprise was undergoing repairs, Pike had been terrified that he’d look up and see the same look from her. He should have known better.
He swung the chair round to face her. “I didn’t give it to him. The Admiralty did.”
Number One huffed. A curiously emotional gesture from her. “On your recommendation.”
“Something wrong with my recommendations?” he asked. The side of her mouth twitched. It was Pike’s reports that had got her her own first command, after all.
She turned back to watch the bout below and folded her arms. Kirk had been knocked to the ground again. “He’s careless.” He was on his feet again in an instant, circling his opponent. He lunged forward, caught the other man around the waist and shoved him back. An aggressive moved that, had he faced a more dextrous opponent, would have cost him the round. “And takes needless risks.” Kirk turned and knocked his foot against the back of his opponent’s knee, sending him to the floor with a dull thud.
“He wins,” said Pike.
“You’re making too much of one mission.”
“You saw the evaluation reports, the psychological profiles. For him and the crew.”
Number One turned away from the window. “Yes, and every one of them warned the possibility of the outcome of that mission as a statistical fluke.”
“Only one way to find out,” said Pike. He smiled. “Care for a bet, Captain?”
“I do not.”
“You just said the odds are in your favour.”
“You think this is an appropriate thing to place a bet on?”
“Maybe not.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of his wheelchair. “I think my new predicament’s made me rather less-”
“Uptight?” asked Number One, with a look that was very nearly a smirk.
Pike shot her a glare. “I was never uptight.”
“If you say so, sir,” she said mildly, not meeting his eyes.
“I wasn’t,” he muttered, more to himself than her. “I just worried too much.”
“Ah.”
His head snapped up. “What’s that meant to mean?”
“Perhaps you should have checked your own psychological profile, because it looks like putting such an inexperienced officer in command of one of Starfleet’s most advanced ships is overcompensating for something. Never mind the equally inexperienced senior officers he’s been allowed to select.”
“They just lost more than eighty percent of their classmates.”
“They’re soldiers, Admiral.”
“They’re grieving.” He paused. “And they’re explorers. Then scientists, engineers and a dozen other things first.”
Number One took a deep breath, but did not take up the argument. “I suppose the shared trauma does solidify them into a more cohesive unit.”
“That’s a cold way of looking at it. Where’s your compassion?”
“Looking at the bigger picture. The loss of Vulcan, the deaths of so many cadets; both the Federation and Starfleet have been profoundly destabilised and our enemies are watching. What we need now are experienced commanders in the field. Ones who won’t get jumpy when faced with their first Klingon cruiser.”
Pike rolled over to the window, looked down at his protégé. “Kirk isn’t jumpy.”
“Untempered then.”
“He’s got the right instincts.”
The Captain closed her eyes for a long moment before she turned to face Pike. “Admiral...Christopher, he isn’t his father.”
Pike scowled. “I know that.”
“I hope so.”
“These people are heroes, and this ship is a symbol. Something that embodies everything the Federation should stand for and that’s something we need right now. You’re right, Captain, the political situation has destabilised inside the Federation and out, but worse, we’re afraid. Afraid because we’ve lost so much and could lose more. Afraid to make a move incase we jump in the wrong direction. I won’t indulge that paralysis. This isn’t the time for caution, it’s a time for heroes.”
Number One raised an eyebrow. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you practiced that speech.”
Pike leaned back in his chair and let his indignation fade into an easy smile. “Well, it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot, anyway.”
The door at the far end of the walkway slid back and a freshly-showered Kirk, his hair still wet, strode through. “Admiral. Sorry I didn’t meet you when you came onboard, but it seems you neglected to tell anyone about your plans.”
Pike smiled. “I just wanted to give my guest a quiet look around. Kirk, this is...was my Number One. I’m afraid she isn’t as impressed with you as I am.” The Admiral’s words didn’t stop Kirk beaming at her.
“Welcome aboard,” he said, offering her his hand. She shook it lightly, not bothering to hide her disdain. Kirk seemed unperturbed. “So, what d’you think of my ship, Captain...sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Captain will do just fine,” said Number One. She let the silence stretch between them and felt a faint satisfaction as his expression lost its edge of confidence.
“Right.” Kirk glanced at Admiral Pike. “Well, if there’s anything you need, either of you, just let me know.”
Pike looked up at Number One as Kirk left. “That was a little harsh,” he murmured as they were left alone again. He tried to sound serious but Number One could hear the undercurrent of amusement in his voice.
“If he’s as good as you say,” she said, “I’m sure he can cope with my cold shoulder.”
Pike rolled his chair onward. Number One clasped her hands behind her back, walked by his side. “You’ll change your mind one day, Number One: that man’s going to be a legend.”
“Or dead.”
Pike gave her a long look. “I’m going to pretend you’re joking.”
“If I had a sense of humour, I hope it’d be a better one than that.”
Pike shook his head, caught between amusement and despair. “You got plans for dinner tonight, Captain? I hear there’s a great Bolian restaurant on the Mars Station.”
She hesitated, then asked, “Will we be discussing James Kirk again?”
“Not one word, Number One, I promise.”
Title: Faith
Rating: G
Characters: Pike, Number One, Kirk
Summary: Pike's Number One is less than impressed with the new captain of the Enterprise.
AN: Number One was Pike's first officer in the original Star Trek pilot, The Cage.
Faith
“So that’s the kid you gave your ship to?” Number One stopped by the window that looked down on the Enterprise’s gym where Jim Kirk had just wrestled another officer to the floor. Admiral Pike stopped his wheelchair and tapped on the brake out of habit.
He was getting used to the chair, but he couldn’t imagine getting used to looking into the pitying eyes of friends and family. When he’d heard she’d arrived at the Utopia Plantia drydocks, where the Enterprise was undergoing repairs, Pike had been terrified that he’d look up and see the same look from her. He should have known better.
He swung the chair round to face her. “I didn’t give it to him. The Admiralty did.”
Number One huffed. A curiously emotional gesture from her. “On your recommendation.”
“Something wrong with my recommendations?” he asked. The side of her mouth twitched. It was Pike’s reports that had got her her own first command, after all.
She turned back to watch the bout below and folded her arms. Kirk had been knocked to the ground again. “He’s careless.” He was on his feet again in an instant, circling his opponent. He lunged forward, caught the other man around the waist and shoved him back. An aggressive moved that, had he faced a more dextrous opponent, would have cost him the round. “And takes needless risks.” Kirk turned and knocked his foot against the back of his opponent’s knee, sending him to the floor with a dull thud.
“He wins,” said Pike.
“You’re making too much of one mission.”
“You saw the evaluation reports, the psychological profiles. For him and the crew.”
Number One turned away from the window. “Yes, and every one of them warned the possibility of the outcome of that mission as a statistical fluke.”
“Only one way to find out,” said Pike. He smiled. “Care for a bet, Captain?”
“I do not.”
“You just said the odds are in your favour.”
“You think this is an appropriate thing to place a bet on?”
“Maybe not.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of his wheelchair. “I think my new predicament’s made me rather less-”
“Uptight?” asked Number One, with a look that was very nearly a smirk.
Pike shot her a glare. “I was never uptight.”
“If you say so, sir,” she said mildly, not meeting his eyes.
“I wasn’t,” he muttered, more to himself than her. “I just worried too much.”
“Ah.”
His head snapped up. “What’s that meant to mean?”
“Perhaps you should have checked your own psychological profile, because it looks like putting such an inexperienced officer in command of one of Starfleet’s most advanced ships is overcompensating for something. Never mind the equally inexperienced senior officers he’s been allowed to select.”
“They just lost more than eighty percent of their classmates.”
“They’re soldiers, Admiral.”
“They’re grieving.” He paused. “And they’re explorers. Then scientists, engineers and a dozen other things first.”
Number One took a deep breath, but did not take up the argument. “I suppose the shared trauma does solidify them into a more cohesive unit.”
“That’s a cold way of looking at it. Where’s your compassion?”
“Looking at the bigger picture. The loss of Vulcan, the deaths of so many cadets; both the Federation and Starfleet have been profoundly destabilised and our enemies are watching. What we need now are experienced commanders in the field. Ones who won’t get jumpy when faced with their first Klingon cruiser.”
Pike rolled over to the window, looked down at his protégé. “Kirk isn’t jumpy.”
“Untempered then.”
“He’s got the right instincts.”
The Captain closed her eyes for a long moment before she turned to face Pike. “Admiral...Christopher, he isn’t his father.”
Pike scowled. “I know that.”
“I hope so.”
“These people are heroes, and this ship is a symbol. Something that embodies everything the Federation should stand for and that’s something we need right now. You’re right, Captain, the political situation has destabilised inside the Federation and out, but worse, we’re afraid. Afraid because we’ve lost so much and could lose more. Afraid to make a move incase we jump in the wrong direction. I won’t indulge that paralysis. This isn’t the time for caution, it’s a time for heroes.”
Number One raised an eyebrow. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you practiced that speech.”
Pike leaned back in his chair and let his indignation fade into an easy smile. “Well, it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot, anyway.”
The door at the far end of the walkway slid back and a freshly-showered Kirk, his hair still wet, strode through. “Admiral. Sorry I didn’t meet you when you came onboard, but it seems you neglected to tell anyone about your plans.”
Pike smiled. “I just wanted to give my guest a quiet look around. Kirk, this is...was my Number One. I’m afraid she isn’t as impressed with you as I am.” The Admiral’s words didn’t stop Kirk beaming at her.
“Welcome aboard,” he said, offering her his hand. She shook it lightly, not bothering to hide her disdain. Kirk seemed unperturbed. “So, what d’you think of my ship, Captain...sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Captain will do just fine,” said Number One. She let the silence stretch between them and felt a faint satisfaction as his expression lost its edge of confidence.
“Right.” Kirk glanced at Admiral Pike. “Well, if there’s anything you need, either of you, just let me know.”
Pike looked up at Number One as Kirk left. “That was a little harsh,” he murmured as they were left alone again. He tried to sound serious but Number One could hear the undercurrent of amusement in his voice.
“If he’s as good as you say,” she said, “I’m sure he can cope with my cold shoulder.”
Pike rolled his chair onward. Number One clasped her hands behind her back, walked by his side. “You’ll change your mind one day, Number One: that man’s going to be a legend.”
“Or dead.”
Pike gave her a long look. “I’m going to pretend you’re joking.”
“If I had a sense of humour, I hope it’d be a better one than that.”
Pike shook his head, caught between amusement and despair. “You got plans for dinner tonight, Captain? I hear there’s a great Bolian restaurant on the Mars Station.”
She hesitated, then asked, “Will we be discussing James Kirk again?”
“Not one word, Number One, I promise.”
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no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 03:59 pm (UTC)YAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been playing with Pike/Number One fic but got nowhere, but then THERE WAS THIS and it makes me GLEE.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 01:37 pm (UTC)Thank ye kindly!
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Date: 2009-05-29 12:51 am (UTC)Yeah. So... Wanna beta?
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Date: 2009-05-29 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 04:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 04:23 pm (UTC)You should post this over at
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Date: 2009-05-21 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2009-05-21 01:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 04:37 pm (UTC)YES! That is Number One, absolutely. I love how you've shown her cool confidence, and how the warmth of her friendship with Pike still shows through.
I've been wanting this story since the movie-- thank you for it.
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Date: 2009-05-21 01:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 01:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 04:50 pm (UTC)And it was so good. Just. jkdhjskddsk GAH. ♥ Her being all skeptical, and. And just. Oh god, whee, love! :D
...I swear I can be coherent when I try.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 01:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 01:46 pm (UTC)And ta v much!
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Date: 2009-05-20 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 05:11 pm (UTC)*applauds*
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Date: 2009-05-21 01:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 05:17 pm (UTC)Both she and Pike are lovely here.
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Date: 2009-05-21 01:58 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2009-05-21 03:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 12:07 am (UTC)The characterizations all feel spot on here, and I liked seeing how pike deals with being questioned about Kirk.
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Date: 2009-05-21 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2009-06-11 06:23 pm (UTC)Oh, I love her. And I love how unimpressed she is with Kirk.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-01 10:07 pm (UTC)Came via where no woman...
Date: 2009-06-16 08:35 am (UTC)He is so sure his golden boy is all that.
Thank you!
I'll be reccing this sometime soon, when brain isn't all sleepy.
Re: Came via where no woman...
Date: 2009-07-08 02:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 11:00 pm (UTC)