Chapter Text
Marla was calling for her. “Joanna! You’re getting a call from the Enterprise !
Joanna came charging down the stairs. “Sorry, Marla, I forgot I left my communicator down here. Thank you, I love you see you later!!” She threw herself down onto her bed and hit Accept Call .
“Hey— wait. You’re not my dad.”
“Miss McCoy. I’m Captain Kirk, we met a couple years ago while your dad and I were at the Academy. I need to talk to you about your father.”
“...what happened.”
“Miss McCoy—”
“Oh my god, he’s dead, isn’t he?!”
“Joanna, listen to me. He beamed down to Beltane VII three days ago. Their planet has been experiencing severe civil unrest, and your father took a medical team down to assist the refugees. 72 hours ago, we lost contact with him and his entire team. Legally, I have to declare him dead.”
“What is that supposed to mean? Legally?! So you don’t actually know that he’s dead, you’re just gonna leave him down there and—”
“Joanna! I’m not leaving him down there!”
“Well, what are you going to do then? If you legally declare him dead doesn’t that mean you can’t keep looking for him? Doesn’t that mean Starfleet gives you new orders?”
“We’ve been assigned to go patrol the Canopus system, but—”
“Jim, the Canopus system is a week away from Beltane IX!”
He sat back, stunned. She sounds exactly like him...
To her credit, she sat back, cheeks pink. “I’m sorry, sir, that was inappropriate of me.”
He shook his head. “Don’t apologize. You have every right to be upset with me. As I was saying earlier, we have been ordered to the Canopus system. However, Miss McCoy, I can assure you I have no intention of leaving Beltane until your father is found. As to what state he is found in… well, I can’t make any promises. Please understand, we are doing everything in our power to locate the medical team.”
“I understand. Again, sir, I’m sorry for yelling. I know you’re probably under a lot of stress too right now since you’re disobeying orders and all that.”
“Thank you, Miss McCoy. Now, if possible, I’d like to speak to your mother now?”
“No, she’s off-planet for work. Marla’s here, though, if you want to talk to her?”
“Yes, that’s all right.”
While she was gone, Jim looked around at her room. From his admittedly limited vantage point, he could see her homework scattered on the bed. Federation history, American literature, Vulcan language… was that non-Euclidean geometry?
Before he could ponder that further, Joanna returned with Marla. “Can I stay? Or do you have to have adult conversations without me?”
“I’d like to talk to your stepmom alone, if that’s okay.”
“Fine.”
She turned on her heel and left the room. Marla sat down on the bed, frowning. “What’s this about, Captain?”
“It’s Leonard. He…” Jim trailed off. “He’s missing.”
“...you told Jo already?”
“Yes. She’s the first person on his list, in the event that he is declared dead.”
“Dead? I thought he was just missing.”
“He’s been missing for 72 hours. Legally, I have to declare him dead. However, I don’t believe that he’s dead. He’s smart enough not to get caught by the rebels. I’m not leaving this planet until he’s found.”
“How are you handling all this, Captain?”
My priority is to find Bones and return him safely to his daughter.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Mrs. Collins, to put it plainly, someone needs to be there for Joanna. I don’t think she’s taking this well at all.”
Marla nodded. “Jocelyn’s on Rigel IV handling a case. I’ll keep taking care of Jo.”