Prologue
The Fall of Vulcan
"Although she did not return his affections, Vulcan was, in the beginning, extremely fond of his mother, Juno. He often consoled her after one of their frequent arguments with Jupiter.
Angry with his son's interference, Jupiter threw him out of heaven. And when Vulcan fell to earth, landing on the summit of Mount Mosychulus, the severity of the fall left him lame and deformed.
Partially in retaliation for how he was treated, Vulcan fashioned a beautiful golden throne for Juno. If unoccupied, it appeared innocent, quite ordinary. However, if anyone sat on it, the chair ensnared its captive in shackles, and all attempts to escape its clutches would be fruitless..."
~Source: Don Wasson {Mythical Information: Guerber, Myths of Greece and Rome}
"We have to infiltrate the VIM," Jim said, not sparing a moment as he gathered phaser charges and stocked up on Tri-Ox. Sulu glanced at Chekov like VIM was a bad word, rather than an acronym for disgruntled Vulcan isolationists.
"So you want to go guns blazing into a combat situation a bunch of full-blooded kamikaze Vulcans despite the dissent of both the Vulcan High Council, Starfleet, and Spock himself?" Bones summarized into one of his succinct 'I think you're crazy' spiels, but with a twist, like he thought Jim was being cute or something.
"Uh.. yes?" Jim said, wondering why no one else was following he lead.
"Are we even trained for that?" Ensign Rutherford whispered.
"No," Lieutenant Uhura answered immediately.
"To save Spock?" Bones said again, just to be sure he was following.
"Yes," Jim snapped, "why is everyone looking at me like I'm crazy?"
The bridge crew eyed each other covertly and then looked back at him.
"Oh come on, are you serious? I'm the only one who gives a shit?"
"Yes-" said Chekov, admirably the most honest of the bridge's compliment of officers. Bones elbowed him with a curt "can it."
Jim rubbed his temple, listening as his crew bemoaned their survival odds like a bunch of panicked, green-eared recruits... not that that wasn't what they were--
"Can you imagine? Meelitant Vulcans? All zhe ones ve met before vere pacifists, but can you imagine if zhey hadn't been?"
"That's practically Romulans-" Sulu gasped.
"But vorse-"
"We'd be dead before we make groundfall," Richardson complained, "Look I nearly got red-shirted on Denobula, this time you're on your own, Kirk."
"For Christ's sake- Bones?" Jim turned to his most reliable companion, exasperated.
"Article Zix, Section Tvelve, you don't have to follow orders if zhey're illegal," Ensign Chekov whispered to the doctor, trying to be helpful. Bones batted him off.
"Look, all things considered. I need to be here ready to go for when you come back here on life support. You'll thank me later," Bones pointed to him, backing out of the swivel-doors, "Chapel, time to scrub up!"
Jim just stood there for a hot minute, internally thanking him for the vote of confidence.
"Just to get zis straight, this is the one that left you to freeze to death on Delga Vega, yes?" Chekov's eyebrows contorted in confusion, "the one that killed that gmo kitten because it was a potential disease wector?"
"He did not kill the.."Jim threw hands. "Alright, point taken. I can handle this solo, don't sweat it. Sorry for disturbing your PTO, everyone," Jim nodded, defauting to his tried-and-true approach to life: self-sabotage. Then he sauntered out the rear silding doors, wearing a grin that in no way suggested how screwed he was.
