01 ✩ lobby
Sometimes, Jim wound up places and had no idea how he got there, but he could generally narrow it down to two things: potential enemy vessel, within beaming range of the Enterprise or his hangover would do the talking. Usually with the later, there was Scotty or Bones involved, too, which was a dead giveaway.
One of those explanations usually covered anywhere Jim might’ve wound up without ordering the course there. Considering he’d been dry for days and he’d just checked in with Spock on the bridge between chapters of The Ox-bow Incident and gotten the all clear. So no one within transporter range. No booze. That left very few things and all of them were unsettling, creeping out from dark, often ignored corners of Jim’s mind.
Pushing up from the chair that was not his, Jim did his best to take in his surroundings as quickly as possible, eyes darting over every inch of what seemed to be a waiting room once, then twice. The third look over everything was slower, but Jim didn’t dare move further yet. Trouble could still very easily be lurking. And wouldn’t that be great? In trouble and not even knowing where he was to get Spock and Bones to come rescue him. Damnit, he was going to get a telling-off for this. Or at least some disapproving eyebrows.
But, well, screw it, he wasn’t about to start being tentative about getting into trouble now. “This is Captain Kirk, of the USS Enterprise.” A standard hail, loud and clear. Definitely using his Captain Voice, despite the apparent lack of communications system. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding and I should get back to my ship now. Or, if you’re holding me captive... I’d like to know why.”
One of those explanations usually covered anywhere Jim might’ve wound up without ordering the course there. Considering he’d been dry for days and he’d just checked in with Spock on the bridge between chapters of The Ox-bow Incident and gotten the all clear. So no one within transporter range. No booze. That left very few things and all of them were unsettling, creeping out from dark, often ignored corners of Jim’s mind.
Pushing up from the chair that was not his, Jim did his best to take in his surroundings as quickly as possible, eyes darting over every inch of what seemed to be a waiting room once, then twice. The third look over everything was slower, but Jim didn’t dare move further yet. Trouble could still very easily be lurking. And wouldn’t that be great? In trouble and not even knowing where he was to get Spock and Bones to come rescue him. Damnit, he was going to get a telling-off for this. Or at least some disapproving eyebrows.
But, well, screw it, he wasn’t about to start being tentative about getting into trouble now. “This is Captain Kirk, of the USS Enterprise.” A standard hail, loud and clear. Definitely using his Captain Voice, despite the apparent lack of communications system. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding and I should get back to my ship now. Or, if you’re holding me captive... I’d like to know why.”