Of Warnings and Tactical Retreats ( For mr_enterprise, primelogic )

[smartass_captain]

The weather's turned in the Nexus and it's showing no signs of stopping.

People are starting to panic because in a place as ever shifting as the Nexus, long term weather events just aren't a thing that happens. No one's prepared for this and portals are beginning to fail. It doesn't take a genius to see that time isn't on their side. Isidor Durant is reaching out to Jim for help, which he's more than willing to give. If he's going to be in charge of anything around here though he could sorely use some more information.

And after meeting his older counterpart Jim Kirk thinks he might know where to start looking for it. Besides, the storm isn't going to do either of the older couple any favors. Especially Ambassador Spock. With their safety on his mind and Isidor's request looming while she begins to prepare a headquarters for their organizational efforts Jim suits up and heads out on an expedition of his own to a housing district not far from the plaza.

It would be a quick walk normally. Now? It's a couple of hours before a knock is rapping against the couple's door...

Comments

[mr_enterprise]

It's been a few years since the older captain found himself in this Nexus, and never once has he seen the kind of weather that's going on outside. He doesn't have much time to be thankful that he's not out in it, though, because even though he's never experienced any kind of loss of power, that too has decided to rear its ugly head.

The hope that the situation might be temporary gets less and less by the minute, as does the heat trapped by the apartment's walls. But outside looks worse, and he can't see any signs of somewhere they could walk to stay warm, so better to stay in the shelter they have now. The last thing Spock needs is to go wandering around in the cold.

He's in the middle of collecting every blanket in their quarters when the unexpected knock comes.

"Who on Earth...?" There's something familiar about the pattern of that knock, though, so even without the security feed online to give him their visitor's identity, he opens the door anyway. "Get inside, fast."

[smartass_captain]

Familiar enough, perhaps, that James T. Kirk doesn't startle when he recognizes the younger Kirk on the other side of the open door even through his all weather gear. Jim doesn't need to be told twice to slip in as quickly as he can so they can shut the door once more to keep one more layer between them and the outside. Locking everything back up gives the captain a moment to pull back his hood and shake what snow that's collected out of his hair.

"I don't know if I'm relieved or frustrated that you two are still here."

You two, Jim says, because the elder Kirk is certainly not living here alone. Soft steps approach from a room further inside as Ambassador Spock makes his way out toward the entryway at all of the commotion.

"I have sealed off the bedroom windows to minimize heat loss Ji---ah. We have a guest." The Vulcan looks as though he's dressing to go outside with how bundled up he is even in their home and Jim's heart sinks into his stomach because this is what he was afraid of. Behind the Vulcan trails the couple's kneazle who softly chips in a 'mow' of his own by way of greeting.

"I wish I was here as a guest. What's the situation here."

[mr_enterprise]

Who else would be out in a storm like this, trying to help others? The list of suspects is short enough that it's not really a surprise to see the young captain setting foot in the cooling apartment, and the dismay in his eyes probably mirrors Kirk's own. But they're also all Starfleet officers, retired or not; a crisis like this calls for level heads all around.

"We lost power around an hour ago," Kirk says, once the door is firmly secured. "The heat's been off since, and there's some kind of interference jamming the PINpoints. I can't get a weather report. What's going on out there?"

[smartass_captain]

"Portals are freezing over left and right. PINpoints are becoming unreliable and the weather hasn't let up in nearly a week now, but well. You can see that much from the windows."

It's not cold enough in here that Jim needs to keep his gear on but he is anyway because he wasn't kidding when he said he wasn't here to hang around and chat. There's a lot of work to be done and given how long it took him to get here he's in for quite a long hike back to where Isidor Durant is setting up her base of operations.

"People are getting trapped here. Pipes are freezing, power's out. We need to start preparing for a possibility of this lasting a lot longer. Which means they're going to need supplies." They, because Jim's leveling a serious gaze to both older Kirk and Ambassadors Spock.

"...We have no place to leave to, Jim." Spock chides gently.

"You will die if you stay here, Spock." Jim wishes he wasn't so certain of himself when he says as much. Even under the best of conditions the Vulcan isn't well suited to the cold. As frail as he is and as severe as the weather is becoming...? "You need to leave."

He pulls a PINpoint out of his gear.

[mr_enterprise]

In his younger days, Kirk might've put up a stronger protest. There really isn't anywhere they know they can go that isn't also part of the Nexus, and if travel is as difficult as the younger Jim says, the only thing that leaving would accomplish is that they'd be caught elsewhere without shelter.

But staying here isn't an option either, if things are going to get worse. There's no heat source he could conjure short of burning the apartment itself that'd be enough to shield Spock from this kind of chill, and even though Kirk himself can withstand the winter better, he's no spring chicken either. And he's done Rura Penthe already, thank you.

He eyes the PINpoint when the young captain pulls out the device, though. "You said PINpoints are unreliable. That's not going to strand us somewhere, is it?"

[smartass_captain]

Weather being the way it is, Jim's not really sure getting to the rallying point is an option for the Vulcan now, and that's before being escorted to the emergency bunker that's been turned into the mother of all shelters for refugees from all over the Nexus.

"It's Spock's. The one--my first officer Spock's, I mean. And it night strand you for now, but I'll know where you two are and can come get you when this all blows over." How soon that is Jim has no idea. "You'll have to lay low but it'll be safe and that's what's important right now."

"...You mean to remain here, Captain." Spock doesn't have to read between the lines. He knows Jim Kirk better nearly then the man knows himself. Even this younger strange version carries that same fire within him.

Jim looks up. Nods once. He's not going anywhere.

[mr_enterprise]

Of course he does.

Kirk knows himself well enough to know that he's not going to talk the other man out of it; he probably would've done the same if he was fifty years younger, and the Kirk family stubbornness is legendary. But he's also loathe to turn tail and leave everyone else to their fate without doing something to try to help, either. It's not in his nature.

"You might want to take some of these then," he says, waving towards the heap of blankets where he'd dropped them at the knock. "And the food in the pantry. There's a camp stove in the hall closet with a little fuel left." He should've replenished it much sooner, but he really hadn't thought there'd be a need before summer.

[smartass_captain]

"I'll take what I can easily carry for now and send someone I trust for anything else with your permission. Right now, what I need--what we need more than anything is data. I know you and Mister Spock here have been making exhaustive studies of the Nexus in your spare time. Would I be right in thinking you two have been making rough maps?"

Jim's looking between the two of them now. He doesn't dare get his hopes up and honestly warning the two of them is his biggest priority but it would be a boon to them to have some information to work with.

[mr_enterprise]

He looks over at Spock briefly, already knowing what logic probably says about all this. Personal feelings about strangers going through their belongings aside, they're not going to be using any of it themselves while they're gone, and if their supplies could make a difference for those remaining behind, there's really no reason not to allow it.

But then his attention is elsewhere, mild surprise taking hold, and he nods. "Several, actually. The layout shuffles the fine details, but there are a few basic patterns we've seen a few times." Without being able to rely on technology to scan and model the terrain for them, it's made more sense to map it out by hand on physical copies, something that might be a boon if technology itself is on the fritz as the storm continues. Kirk returns to the living room and rummages through the desk drawers, eventually unearthing several folded papers marked in pencil and ink.

[smartass_captain]

The Vulcan has a tic in his jaw ever so slightly though he says nothing. His hands remain folded neatly in front of himself as he stands in their home with as much dignity as an old man can muster. Their kneazle, however, headbutts his owner softly in the leg and rumbles a purr meant to help calm down everyone. No one likes being told what they will and won't do without exception and Spock has had to lose Jim--both of these Jims even--more than once before.

But his time for this sort of adventure is done. If he stays, if his bond mate stays here, they would be in mortal danger. Sooner rather than later in Spock's case.

The younger captain's hardened expression breaks seeing that face. He shakes his head softly.

"Please. I'm not--it won't be for long. I don't want to lose either of you." He'll do whatever it takes to make sure there's someplace safe for them to come back to once this is all said and done.

"The maps, Jim." Spock bows his head and releases the breath he'd been holding softly through his nose. It's as close to an acquiescence as they will get from him."I will begin to gather our things."

[mr_enterprise]

Stepping aside and letting the youngsters run the show has always been the hardest part of the job, and it doesn't surprise Kirk that this is no different. Once, he earned himself a second chance to step back into command, but this time, he really is getting too old for this, and Spock even moreso. If they were to stay, there'd be little they could contribute that wouldn't just be a greater strain on resources in the end. Better to get going while they still can.

It doesn't sit well with him, but that's nothing new either. At least this time, he won't be doing it alone.

For a moment, Kirk wonders if Spock is going to protest anyway, effortlessly reading the fear in that aged, stoic face, and knowing damn well how stubborn the Vulcan can be, logic be damned. But not this time. They'll be having words later, probably. Once the immediate danger is past. Kirk can live with that. Once he returns with the maps, he hands them over to the young captain. "This is as much as we have so far. The more stable landmarks are in ink." He hesitates a moment, feeling a little foolish for even considering saying so, but it feels wrong to part without it. "Jim, be careful out there." For all their sakes.

[smartass_captain]

Jim thinks he knows what he's asking of these two. That he understands how hard this must be for them. In truth it's something he won't understand for decades yet but it doesn't mean he's lacking in empathy right now. If someone told him to leave right now, would he even think about it before brushing them off?

Getting angry? The younger captain presses the PINpoint into his counterpart's hand and slowly nods. Trades it for the maps he's being handed in return.

"I will come get you both as soon as this is over with. It's a promise."

[mr_enterprise]

"We'll be holding you to that."

Packing won't take long, both from ease of long practice and because they're both used to traveling lightly. Just the essentials for two men and a kneazle, leaving the rest of their belongings behind. Hopefully safe, or at least useful to those who're staying behind.

In any case, Kirk looks around the darkened apartment one last time, hoping they'll be back sooner rather than later, and takes Spock's hand in his own. "Let's go."