I’m going to try to have a chapter out every other week.

( we can't go back )

Figured out, thanks to Rant With My Family, what it is that bugs me about Next Gen so much.    We went from goofy bunch of nerds having adventures to This is A Job.    Picard is a Career Starship Captain that takes Being a Career Starship Captain very seriously.    The rest of the crew make it clear (for the most part) that they are not friends, they are Coworkers.    (Except for maybe the Security Chief lady that died.    It’s been long enough since I last attempted to get through TNG I don’t remember.)    They are portraying We are Coworkers that work together but don’t particularly like ourselves or our job too much; it’s just a paycheck, and it makes perfect sense and fits in perfectly in the universe.    But it’s not particularly fun.

         Bones is used to waking up from the dead by now. It’s routine. What’s less so is that for once, Jim’s letting his guilt show.
         “You were possessed,” he explains, which really does explain everything.

because of the eugenics wars, GMOs are probably banned. on the other hand, they might've saved tarsus.  interesting ethics question there

        “Jim—thank goodness; I woke up and I’m not sure…”  He trails off.  He knows that small frown of confusion; doesn’t see it much, sure, but.
        “Uhm, hi.  You okay?”
        His world tilts under him again.  “No—no, Jim, please, you know me, it’s Bones—”  Only desperation has him saying that stupid nickname, but he needs this.
        “Trust me, I’d remember a good looking guy like you.”
        The world moves, again, an earthquake in miniature, and he watches the panic filter into those blue eyes and registers that, suddenly, he’s being held carefully in familiar arms.  “Now, I’d like to say it’s every day that handsome fellows like you fall for me, but it really isn’t,” Jim jokes, but there’s a strain in his voice and concern in his eyes that’s pretty rare.  “What happened?  Are you okay?  Do I need to call someone?”

        The truth is distressing, because for a man who goes by logic, to learn that he’s missing information and, as McCoy would say, ‘jumping to conclusions prematurely’.  “I was making judgments without all the facts.”
        To Spock’s surprise, Kirk is smiling at him, with no trace of the emotion Spock believes would be logical in this moment.  “Spock, that’s what we do in command.  We make the decisions we can based on the information we have in the time we’ve got.”
        Spock narrows his eyes.  It’s slightly less of a point of pride where a human is being more logical about this than he is.  “So you have no complaints whatsoever?”
        Kirk shrugs.  “No.  You could have investigated more.  But given why some of the Admirals like to get on my case and my rep didn’t help matters.”
        Let go of any feelings of irritation.  “What advice would you give, in this case?”
        To his credit, the man actually considers the answer.  “Try to get more information, stall for time, and make the best decision you can.  That one’s Chris.”