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“Okay tell me, Who’s next?” Kirk asked. His eyes were closed and he had both arms up stretching absentmindedly.
“Who’s next? Look, you've proved your point. I can’t think of anyone else you can date.” McCoy was nose deep in his textbook, not caring to look up at Kirk.
Kirk opened his eyes, half-surprised, half-disappointed. “Really? So you're done then. No more betting?”
The Bet. It has been going strong for almost a year now. McCoy had bet that Kirk, as charming as he may be, still couldn’t get a date with everyone in their class (so long as they were interested in boys). Kirk however, believed that he had enough people skills that McCoy could name anyone that could be interested in a guy, and Kirk could go home with a date.
So Kirk had a grand total of one month to win over any one person, and so far, had managed that one date with everyone McCoy had picked. McCoy wasn’t exactly happy that he was losing this bet, especially considering the stakes. If he really lost then he would have to be Kirk’s CMO for his first five-year mission. McCoy liked being friends with Kirk just fine. But fixing any medical issue Kirk could get himself into as a captain sounded like a pretty bad five years.
Kirk knew this, and had roped McCoy into this bet just to have McCoy as a guarantee. If McCoy won Kirk would toss over some money and McCoy was free to never get guilt ridden about being his CMO ever again.
McCoy gave Kirk a quick glare, then proceeded to put his book down and scan the room. People were just now starting to file into the room, as much of a nightmare as Kirk could be, he was still always early. So this gave McCoy the chance to get a good look at everyone as they filed in.
It didn’t take McCoy long before he spotted his next target. Tall and lanky and nose deep into a book as he walked in. The half-vulcan, Spock.
He’s just perfect, thought McCoy. Spock had shown no signs of interest in anyone since transferring to starfleet. Not just in terms of romance, but the guy, as far as McCoy knew, never talked to other students. This Spock had only talked to teachers and was anti-social enough to only have been seen at the gym or out reading a book.
McCoy leaned back in his chair practically smirking at his find. Even for someone like Kirk, Spock would be next to impossible for him to charm. McCoy, already feeling his victory, considered that after the bet was over, he would have to find a way to thank the half-vulcan.
“Find anyone?” Kirk was now looking over his assignment as he pulled it out, fully content that McCoy hadn’t found anyone.
“Yep.” McCoy watched Kirk look up before finishing. “Him, I think his name is Spock.” McCoy nodded in his direction.
Kirk stood up to get a better look. McCoy watched, waiting for Kirk to look annoyed or impressed that McCoy had found someone so hard. However, Kirk looked at the young man and pinched his eyebrows together with a curious look.
“Okay Bones. Nice one, he’s pretty hot.” Kirk ran a hand through his hair and sat back down to look at his assignment.
McCoy could barely believe it. “Okay then. Remember you have-”
“One month,” Kirk finished airily.
***
Kirk knew he needed a plan. McCoy had picked a pretty good target. Good-looking enough that Kirk was bound to get flustered at some point. Also Spock was probably totally content being single, so getting a date was even more of an up-hill struggle.
It was also mid April, which meant finals and the end of the school year in mid-May. It ruled out vacations, But the half-Vulcan would surely see vacations, especially ones at the end of the year, to be totally illogical. But even so, the end of the year meant it would be harder to convince someone to go on a date with finals so close.
So, thought Kirk. Going through his planner and put a star by May 20th, all I have to do is pass all my classes and get one date with you, Mr. Spock.
The next few days only proved the difficulty of Mr. Spock even more. The following day Kirk went for a run on the track the same time as Spock’s Phys Ed class. First stretching nearby and getting some unhelpful attention from some girls. Which wouldn’t have been so bad if this attention would have helped Spock look over. But no luck, the guy was practically inches from the teacher.
Then on the classes run Kirk weaved through the others and positioned himself to be just ahead of Spock. But whenever Kirk stole glances behind himself, Spock looked totally focused, even poker-face worthy. At the end of the run, Kirk was about to walk over and talk to Spock, only to find that he left the very second the class was dismissed.
Next Kirk tried to catch Spock before class started. Spock was hardly ever much earlier than two minutes, but never late. So throughout the week Kirk tried positioning himself in various hallways that Spock had a snowball's chance to go down. By Thursday Kirk was convinced that he must be just missing Spock, then he saw him.
Spock was walking at a steady pace towards the west building. It was raining steadily, not pouring, but enough that everything looked shiny. His jet black hair that was already straight, stuck to his face a little more now, and his pale face stood out angular.
Kirk walked quickly towards Spock, Kirk was almost grinning when he realized his good luck. Spock didn’t have an umbrella.
“Spock is it? We're in the same class, I’m Jim Kirk. Want to share an umbrella?” Kirk tried sounding both airy and charming.
Spock had almost jarring eye contact, but seemed just fine by Kirk's company. “That’s fine with me.” He said this with almost an indifferent tone.
“Leave your umbrella at home?” Kirk knew he was reaching for something to talk about. Then again, sharing an umbrella had its implications.
“I’ve never actually seen much point in owning an umbrella,” Spock said, “I really don’t find that I stay outside long enough that one would be needed, and even then it could be quite the lightning rod. Getting a little wet isn’t really so bad. Owning umbrella-type objects is far more common on planets with rain that's more damaging than just getting wet.”
Kirk’s eyebrows dropped a little. Vulcans must not have implication-based flirting. Spock really was going to need a more direct approach. Spock didn’t just sound indifferent, he really was indifferent, not just to umbrellas, but to Kirk as well.
So Kirk got more bold. His next in with Spock came in the form of the yearbook. As the class spent the end of the class hour signing each other's front and back covers, Kirk shut his book and looked around to ask Spock.
“He left.” Said McCoy who was busy signing a pretty brown-haired girl's yearbook.
“Just now?” Kirk spun to look at McCoy.
“Yeah, he left just a minute or two after Captain Peterson did.” McCoy said, still not looking up.
“Thanks,” Kirk said as he quickly left.
Spock hadn’t made it too far. Kirk quickly saw him on the steps going up to the library. Once he was feet from him Kirk became brutally aware of how awkward he looked.
“Hey! Um, Spock,” Kirk called.
Spock turned around, one eyebrow raised, “Yes?”
“I’m Kirk, or Jim, the one who you shared an umbrella with and I’m in your Quadrants class. I was wondering if I could sign your yearbook.” Kirk was aware of how awkward this must be. But then again, he tried a smile and at the very least looked confident.
“Sign? The yearbook,” Spock’s face was unreadable, but he sounded more curious than anything else. “Is this a kind of ritual of sorts?”
Kirk knew that Spock was being brutally honest in his confusion. “Yeah, humans are weird like that,” Kirk said lightly and smiled. Then he figured it best to just pull out his own and hand it to Spock. “Now give me yours, you write in mine whatever you want and I’ll sign yours.”
Spock obliged silently. Swiftly pulled out his own yearbook, which from the looks of it hadn't even been opened yet.
Kirk quickly stole a glance at Spock, who seemed to be reading the other entries on Kirks. Quite a few people in the class had signed it, the pages were already crowded.
Kirk clicked his pen, looked down at Spock's empty page and wrote-
- I’m so happy we shared a class this semester, you really saved my grade by knowing so many answers to the questions Peterson had. You seem like a really cool guy and I would love to hangout sometime soon. This Sunday I’m having a few people from our class over at the Starfleet Training Pool at 5pm, I’d love to see you there. - James T. Kirk
Kirk read this over a few times. He was really sticking his neck out, but it also sounded casual enough. Then Spock and Kirk traded yearbooks back.
Kirk looked down and read Spock's crammed message in the corner, - You seem like you will make a competent captain. - Spock.
The corners of Kirk’s mouth turned up, for someone like Spock, that had to be a compliment.
“What does Hags mean?” Spock asked in a casual but curious tone.
“Wha- Oh.” Kirk was taken aback before realizing what Spock meant, “H. A. G. S. means have a great summer.”
“That makes sense. I saw it written quite a few times in your yearbook, so I was curious. Well I guess I’ll see you this Sunday.” Spock said this casually and turned to leave.
It was only nine days into the bet, not even May, Kirk thought, and he was going to get his date with Spock. He would just have to make sure to be extra clear during the pool party that he was asking Spock on a date. Kirk ran a few fingers through his hair, prematurely dazed by his almost-win. As Kirk walked back to class he found McCoy standing by the west building entrance.
“Sorry about the pool party Kirk,” Said McCoy.
“No need Bones, Spock said yes,” Kirk smiled, though trying to make this look apologetic, the last thing McCoy would want was for Kirk to gloat.
McCoy’s eyebrows raised slightly, “Wow, I’m impressed. But I really am sorry. You're scheduled to take the Kobayashi Maru at that time on Sunday.”
Kirk looked at McCoys phone and his heart sank.
***
Kirk met Spock at his desk when he walked in.
“Spock, I’m sorry this is so last minute, but I have to cancel this Sunday. I have to take the Kobayashi Maru at that time.”
“Oh, Okay.” Spock nodded and seemed unfazed by this change in plans.
“But I was serious about hanging out sometime, maybe sometime next week?” Kirk hoped his hopeful tone was coming across.
“Are you sure, don’t you think we need to study?”
“Fair point, we could meet up and study together sometime.”
“Actually there’s been a ton of study’s, even on earth, about how studying together is never as effective as studying alone.”
Kirk’s eyebrows dropped. Even when he made himself clear, Spock seemed to have no idea what he was driving at.
“Fair point, well we will have to find a time sometime.” Kirk tried to keep the same tone as before, but felt this falling flat.
“Sure thing Jim.”
Peterson walked in, and Kirk excused himself to go back to his desk. Even though it hadn’t gone as planned. Spock still had chosen to use his first name.
***
Sunday, 5:32pm.
A red flashing light crowded the screen, in big bold letters it said.
Failed the Kobayashi Maru
Kirk stood up, almost re-registering the words, double checking if they were real. Unaware of himself he put his hands on his hips and his eyes focused down. Away from the bold words, that he had to admit, were true.
He had protected the ship. His crew. His eyes searched for meaning in the air. It seemed so odd for a test to demand him to do better than save his crew. The crew was of the utmost importance.
Kirk’s eyes focused on Captain Moffet coming towards him. Quickly fixing his face to show more of a bewilderment than his current confusion that could even show bitterness.
“Well Kirk, you did a good job, but what do you think happened?”
Kirk narrowed his eyes. What did he think happened? It was like Moffet was driving at something else. With effort, Kirk kept his voice light. “We blew up sir. If that’s what you mean?”
“Is that all you think?” His bushy eyebrows went up. Almost condescendingly.
Kirk clenched his jaw. “Could I retake the test, sir?”
Moffetts eyes widened to match his raised eyes, “Retake? Well,” Moffet paused. “When did you have that in mind?”
Kirk was a little surprised at this too. Any failing grade of this level should at least allow one re-take. Especially if it was a requirement for becoming a captain. So why was Moffet acting surprised at this request. “Could I later this week?”
Moffet nodded slowly, thinking. “Well, that could work. Do you care if I ruin your Saturday James?”
Kirk could almost laugh. He hasn't made any recent headway with Spock, so a possible date seemed out of the question. “Sounds like a plan.”
***
McCoy found Kirk buried deep into starfleet electronic books at the top of the library. Kirk seemed to have a fever about him looking through the books. His eyes strained from the blue light admitting from the book tablet.
“Well any news with Spock.” McCoy took an airy tone, trying to break through the feverish intensity Kirk had in front of the books.
“I’m studying for this test, Bones.”
“What? Going to win him over by a test score.” McCoy said lightly.
“Who?”
“Who? Who? I’m talking about Spock.”
“What? Oh, forget that for a moment Bones. I took the Kobayashi Maru.”
Bones laughed. “What? Don’t like your grade?”
Kirk’s jaw was tight and he looked up, bitter, at McCoy.
“What?” realization dawned on McCoy, “Wait. Did James T. Kirk fail a test?”
“I’m retaking it this Saturday alright.”
McCoy blew the air out of his lungs loudly. “Wow. I feel like I’m living to watch the fall of the Roman Empire.”
Kirk shut his book loudly. “You could at least try to have a heart you know.”
McCoy laughed quietly and sat down across from Kirk and his mountain of books. “Look everyone fails a test Jim. Everyone. Even pretty blonde boy’s from Iowa who claim to be perfect.”
“I never said that.” Kirk said from behind a new, ancient looking Ebook.
“Fine. You never said that. But that confidence of yours seemed to have come from a laundry list of wins and not very many L’s.”
“Arrive at your point and leave.”
“My point is. It's hard to feel sorry for someone who just experienced something that, just statistically speaking, was bound to happen at some point. Like it does to everyone.”
“You know, Bones. I don’t know many patients who want a doctor who specializes in rubbing salt into wounds.”
McCoy let out a dry laugh. “Fair point. Alright I’m heading out and good luck this Saturday.”
***
Now knowing which direction Spock came from Kirk now tried talking to Spock for a few minutes every day. So far, Spock still seemed to have no interest in romance. But Kirk was hopeful that their conversations could move towards that direction.
“How was your weekend? Study well?” Kirk said brightly.
“Well enough, How was your test?”
Kirk's lips pursed for but a moment. Spock's striking eye contact was both jarring in the best ways, and made dodging his question impossible. “Actually it didn’t go so well. I typically do better on tests.” Kirk answered quickly and looked away. Hoping this test didn’t ruin whatever positive image Spock had of him.
“I’m sorry to hear that Jim. The Kobayashi Maru I hear is a relatively new test, I haven't heard of anyone doing well on it yet. maybe look at some of the more recent material on starships.”
“Is it? Well, thanks. I’ll have to try that.” Kirk honestly smiled. Spock was really quite helpful. Being friends first with Spock wouldn’t be so bad if Kirk wasn’t in such a time crunch.
***
Failed the Kobiashi Maru
The letters were plain as day. Somewhere in the back the test runner was being told to turn off the red alert and turn the lights back on.
Kirk stood up. Twice. This had hurt the first time. But now? He had failed the test twice. Studied harder than he had for anything ever. He had made different decisions, following what Starfleet had recommended in at least eight different books.
Was failure a dish best served cold? Kirk was almost lightheaded by the same words, same sounds, same feelings flooding him back again. Once was palatable, a motivating factor even. But now? He felt like a true failure, someone who was really indistinguishable from the students who hadn’t even studied. Twice was brutal. Like it was a sign that he should have never even tried.
Captain Moffet hand patted Kirk's shoulder.
“Well. Kirk, let's talk about this.”
Kirk didn’t turn to look at Moffet. Kirk felt determined to look forward, he didn’t know how clearly his face showed his frustration and even sadness.
“I just don’t understand what I could have done better.” Kirk was almost whispering, staring at the words.
“That's totally fair Jim, you measured your risks both times.”
“But we blew up,” Kirk now turned to look at Moffet.
“Well, yes.” Kirk could tell Moffet was picking his next words carefully. “Well, that's always a possibility.”
Kirk’s eyebrows contracted at that. What an odd thing to say. Captain Moffet was acting like this was supposed to happen. Moffet seemed far more interested in what Kirk thought of the test, versus the fact that he had failed the test.
Kirk looked back at the screen. The failing grade was now barely visible with the lights turned back on.
Suddenly it all seemed to make sense. Was the test's reputation of being hard because the purpose of the test was to fail?
Kirk had in fact made two completely different choices, ending in the same result. Both times were met with sympathy, no study guide, no clue to a right answer. Both times Captain Moffet had come up to see Kirk's reaction. Measuring what he did when all was lost. It was a compelling idea in theory, but maddening being the one in the hot seat.
Kirk relaxed his face and turned to Captain Moffet. “I’d like to take the test again on Monday.”
“What?”
“Monday. Do you have a spot open?” Kirk could tell he was looking a bit nuts now, but didn’t care enough to quit.
“Well, alright. That could be arranged. It would be the first thing Monday morning.” Moffet shifted his stance a bit.
“Sounds good Captain, see you then.” Kirk nodded and left. Leaving Moffet standing, staring at Kirk as he left. Kirk could almost see it in him, Moffett's jaw was shifting and had a hand partly up in the air. He wanted to tell Kirk the truth, that failing was the only option.
***
Kirk went straight to the technology section of the library. Grabbing nearly every Padd that had “programming” in the title.
The library was all dark, fluorescent ceiling lights lit the far corners of each room, the Ebooks that lined the shelves only omitted low lights. Leaving the library to look almost creepy. The whole place definitely had a ‘after hours’ feel to it. Even the people still silently studying were ghoul-lit by their lonely Ebook lights.
Kirk bounced back between a feverish excitement, he was without a doubt going to pass that test and a sinking feeling that if he really did cheat he could face getting in real trouble.
Cheating? He was an honorable student, a walking bookshelf. Now he felt almost like a criminal. Was getting a good grade this important? He could just take failing like everyone else. Take the L as a life lesson. Kirk turned back to the first page to read the first chapter over again. A small part of him was admittedly mad, why did Starfleet want him to know failure?
He was about an hour into studying when Bones showed up.
“Well Jim, you’ve got until Friday.”
“Friday what?” Kirk said, without looking up.
“Jesus, Jim.” Bones sat down across from him, staring hard, “A date, you have to have a date with the half-Vulcan on Friday or sooner!” He said in a hushed whisper.
Kirk rubbed his temples. He knew the last month of school could get busy, but this? “Okay Bones I get it.”
Bones leaned back. “Wait, is the great James T. Kirk giving up?”
Kirk shut the cover to his electronic book. Then exhaled loudly. “I don’t want to give up. It's just. It's just too hard.”
“What? Some test?”
Kirk shut his eyes and then opened them. “You were right, Bones. I don’t know about failure, I don’t fail tests, I don't get turned down for dates. I don’t know rejection, I don’t know how to just wake up and deal with this.”
“What? So school is just, what? Being mean? And Spock is some loser who doesn’t see what he’s missing? Look Jim, it didn’t go your way-”
“No Bones, would you give me some credit. I know it's not just school being mean. Look, I love school. I respect Starfleet. But this test isn’t measuring my ability. It was screwing with me. The Kobayashi Maru is a personality test with no right answer.” Despite Kirk’s frustrations he was barely louder than a whisper, almost a measured calmness to him. “ And I guess to top off my school year, I’m not getting a date before friday; And I don’t just think Spocks a loser for not liking me back. I do wish him all the best, it's just… I did like him, and I really wanted you to be my CMO. But you’ll be free okay. Free to be anyone else’s Chief Medical Officer. The bet can end a few days early. Go ahead and say you won alright..”
“Look.” McCoy leaned forward and shut his eyes for a moment, exhaled, and then looked Kirk dead in the eyes. “I’ll be your CMO,”
Kirk stared at him for a moment. “Wait, what?”
“C’mon Jim use your brain. I would never have agreed to the bet if I didn’t consider you winning a possibility.”
“What? Why’d you make it last a year then?”
“Well, I was at least somewhat entertained.”
Kirk laughed dryly. He turned to look at the last person leaving the library. “Thanks Bones.” Kirk said earnestly.
“Well I’m getting out of here before I figure out what you're doing to pass an unwinnable test.”
“Just trying to make it winnable Bones. Don’t worry.”
“Right. No worries there.” Bones rolled his eyes and waved goodbye.
***
Early Monday morning Kirk used his key card to get into the west building before the test was set to go. Then Kirk reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru.
When Captain Moffet and the rest of the staff began to pour in, Kirk's chest was already pounding and his temples were sweating. It wasn’t until Spock came in and sat down in the science officer spot, to help administer the test as an actor, that Kirk mumbled under his breath so only he could hear.
“Well that’s just my luck.”
When the simulation was set and off, Kirk found calling orders to Spock oddly comfortable. Spock was quickly receptive and had a certain charm about himself, he showed clear interest and his strong eye contact was as charming as it was helpful. It was surprisingly natural to be Spock's captain. Especially considering, Kirk thought, with having a crush on him.
Looking into Spock's eyes didn’t last forever though. Soon the test got to the part of saving the ship. Kirk began to try to make contact with the Kobayashi Maru.
Originally, he would be met with dead air, forcing him to have to enter the neutral zone and get everyone killed. This time the ship answered.
Kirk positioned himself turned away from Captain Moffet and the other graders, but could hear hushed whispers behind him.
The test then went quickly, and for Kirk's first time, smoothly. He saved the Kobayashi Maru with no deaths and no hiccups. Even before the test ended, Kirk was already proud that his crash course in programming had gone as smoothly as it did.
Then the test ended a little oddly. Kirk had not felt right creating a big victorious end to the test. All he had really wanted was for the test to no longer show, “you have failed the Kobayashi Maru.” So the screen was all black and the red alert turned itself off. Kirk had a moment, really a second where he felt he had finally passed the test.
Kirk waited for it. Sure enough he was pulled to the back of the room and was getting shouted at.
Kirk didn’t notice Spock stand up as Kirk got pulled back. Spock watched Captain Moffet with three other Starfleet personal shout and demand to know what Kirk had done to the test. Spock felt sure that they were too preoccupied to pay any attention to his eavesdropping.
“I changed the conditions of the test,” Kirk said. Spock had to really focus his ears to hear Kirk, since he was so much calmer than the rest of the personnel.
“That's how you see it, others more commonly know that as cheating!”
“Kirk this test is to measure how you handle failure, not how you-”
“I handled the failure! Twice!” Kirk still sounded calm, just louder. “Give me a personality test if that's what you want to measure!”
Spock couldn’t believe his ears. He found himself agreeing with Kirk. He was making fair, even logical points. Spock knew he would have to leave soon but took a minute to steal a glance at Kirk.
Whether Kirk had been born with an athletic build or created one with hard work, Spock could not tell. But Spock couldn’t deny that there was something attractive about him. Spock was only mildly aware of a feeling that he was really seeing Jim Kirk, as he was, for the first time.
Spock tore his eyes away from Kirk and followed the rest of the acting crew out of the room. Spock hung behind for a moment, thinking back to what all he knew of Jim Kirk. It seemed he had seen the blonde quite a few times, especially in the last month, and even considered him his closest student ally. Spock thought it over and, although not sure exactly why he felt this way, he decided he would talk with the blonde later that day.
“How much trouble did you get into?” Spock asked when he saw Kirk in an empty table at the library.
Kirk looked up shocked, like he hadn’t expected Spock to really be standing there. “Oh, You heard that huh?” Kirk ran his fingers through his blonde hair, “well I’m getting a week of academic probation. Which is a bit of a bummer the week before finals, but I honestly expected a lot worse. I also, surprisingly, am getting accommodations for original thinking.” Kirk used air quotes over ‘original thinking,’ “Ha, it's hard to believe that Starfleet might have managed a sense of humor about this, I didn’t think they had it in them.” Kirk looked almost beyond Spock, thinking elsewhere.
“I wanted to tell you that I agree with you. It might have been fair at this moment to cheat.”
“Really? Do you think so? Ha, well I’m still not so sure. I think I was a little bold and angry.” Kirk was dazed by how well everything had gone, and even Spock was talking to him by his own volition. Just maybe, Kirk thought. “Hey Spock, seeing as I have a free night. Well week really, but that’s besides the point. Did you want to go grab dinner with me?”
“Sure Jim,” Spock said this airily, but to Kirk it seemed like he could see the ghost of a smile on Spock's face for a moment.
At dinner, Kirk couldn’t stop staring at Spock. He was really there, in front of him, eating his vegetarian ravioli and sipping water. Kirk couldn’t stop staring at Spock's high cheekbones and broad shoulders. Kirk was blown away at his luck. This morning Kirk was sure at this point he would be packing his bags to go back to Iowa and a date with Spock would be the last thing on his mind. But now? Sitting here, Kirk felt like he could really do anything. So long as he had a good enough plan, his CMO, and Spock by his side.