We were called to go back to Starfleet headquarters. The incident with Uhura and Spock was still fresh on my mind. I was sitting in my apartment when my communicator started to ring. I answered it to hear the voice of Admiral Pike. "Penny," he said in a cheerful tone, "I would like for you, Captain Kirk, and Commander Spock to come to my office first thing in the morning. I have some things to discuss."
"Yes, Sir," I said into the communicator. "See you then." I closed the small device and went to take a shower.
Once I had dried off, I slipped into my pajamas and slid into bed. My mind started to wonder. What on earth could the Admiral want with us?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I followed Kirk and Spock to the office. We were wearing our gray Starfleet uniforms. Kirk seemed to be exceptionally excited, while Spock and I were not so sure.
"Spock," Kirk said, "I'm telling you, this is why he called. I can feel it!"
Spock tilted his head. "Your feeling aside, I consider it highly unlikely that we will be selected for the new program," Spock insisted.
"Why else would Pike want to see us?" Kirk asked. "Forget about seniority. They gave us the newest ship in the fleet. I mean, who else are they going to send out?"
"I can think of numerous possibilit-"
"A five-year mission, Spock!" Kirk breathed out while slapping Spock in the chest. "That's deep space! That's uncharted territory! Think how incredible that's gonna be."
I rolled my eyes. "Captain, after what happened on Nibiru I highly doubt we-" I started, but I was quickly interrupted.
"Hey, ladies. Jim Kirk," Kirk said with a smile.
I let out a humph and kept walking, avoiding eye contact with Spock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" 'Uneventful,' " Admiral Pike read. All three of us were standing in attention in front of Pike's desk. We had our hats neatly tucked in our arm while the other arm fell freely to our sides. To my left was Spock, and to his left was Kirk.
"Admiral?" Kirk questioned.
"It's the way you described the survey of Nibiru in your captain's log," Pike explained.
"Yes, sir, I didn't want to waste your time going over the details," Kirk explained. Spock turned his head towards Kirk with a "you-better-not-have" look on his face.
"Yeah, tell me more about this volcano," Pike belted out. "Data says it was highly volatile. If it were to erupt, if would wipe out the planet."
"Let's hope it doesn't, sir," Kirk said.
"Something tells me it won't," Pike said with a not-so-amused grin. Spock turned his gaze towards me. I looked at him with wide eyes and he straightened himself out, still facing forwards but looking at Kirk with the corners of his eyes.
"Well, sir, volatile is all relative," Kirk said coolly, "Maybe our data was off."
"Or maybe it didn't erupt because Mr. Spock detonated a cold fusion device inside it right after a civilization that's barely invented the wheel happened to see a starship rising out of their ocean!" Pike shouted, motioning towards Spock. "That is pretty much how you described it, is it not?"
Spock drew in a small breath. "Admiral...-"
"You filed a report? Why didn't you tell me?" Kirk said in an astonished voice while glaring at Spock.
"I incorrectly assumed you would be truthful in your captain's log," Spock said.
"Yeah, I would have been if I didn't have to save your life," Kirk quickly shot back.
"A fact for which I am immeasurably grateful and the very reason I felt it necessary to take responsibility for the actions-"
"Take responsibility, yeah. That'd be so noble, Pointy, if you weren't throwing me under the bus," Kirk spat back. I let out a quiet gasp.
Spock's eye widened. "'Pointy?' Is that a derogatory reference to-"
"Gentlemen," Pike finally interrupted, "I want to inform you that Penny also talked of the incident in her daily journal log."
I closed my eyes, feeling the burn of Kirk's glare into the side of my face.
Pike let out a sigh. "Starfleet's mandate is to explore and observe, not to interfere," Pike said while getting up from his chair.
"Had the mission gone according to plan, Admiral, the indigenous species would never have been aware of our interference," Spock quickly stated.
"That's a technicality," Pike shot back.
"I am Vulcan, sir. We embrace technicality," Spock said in an emotionless tone.
"Are you giving me attitude, Spock?" Pike asked.
"I'm expressing multiple attitudes simultaneously, sir," Spock quickly answered. "To which are you referring?"
"Out," Pike said in a disgusted tone. "You are dismissed, Commander."
Spock glared at Pike for a few moments. He then looked at me and then at Kirk. Kirk just kept staring straight ahead. Spock turned around and walked out of the room, annoyance and disbelief radiating from him. I just stood there awkwardly, looking at Pike with slightly wide eyes. He blinked gently at me and then walked a few steps forwards.
"You have any idea what a pain in the ass you are?" Pike asked Kirk.
"I think so sir," Kirk answered honestly.
"So tell me what you did wrong. What's the lesson to be learned here?" Pike said.
"Never trust a Vulcan," Kirk answered.
"Now, see, you can't even answer the question. You lied. On an official report, you lied. You think the rules don't apply to you cause you disagree with them," Pike stated, his voice rising.
"That's why you talked me into signing up in the first place. That's why you gave me your ship," Kirk said.
"I gave you my ship because I saw greatness in you. And now, I see you haven't got an ounce of humility," Pike said, getting right in Kirk's face.
Kirk turned to face Pike. "What was I supposed to do, let Spock die?"
"You're missing the point," Pike said.
"I don't think I am, sir. What would you have done?" Kirk asked.
"I wouldn't have risked my first officer's life in the first place!" Pike shouted back. "You were supposed to survey a planet, not alter it's destiny! You violated a dozen Starfleet regulations and almost got everyone under your command killed."
"Except I didn't! You know how many crew members I've lost? Not one!" Kirk spat back.
"That's your problem, you think you're infallible! You think you can't make a mistake. It's a pattern with you! The rules are for other people!" Pike yelled.
"Some should be," Kirk mumbled.
"And what's worse is you using blind luck to justify your playing God!" Pike yelled.
There was a pause. My heart was beating out of my chest. Sweat starting dripping from my forehead. I never liked chaotic situations, which, now that I see it, probably isn't the best when you are constantly on a starship in enemy space. I don't think I had ever been in a more awkward situation.
"Given the circumstances, this has been brought to Admiral Marcus's attention," Pike said. "He convened a special tribunal, to which I was not invited. You understand what Starfleet regulations mandate be done at this point," Pike said with a pause. "They've taken the Enterprise away from you. They're sending you back to the Academy."
My heart skipped a beat. I felt tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. This is your fault, Penny! All because you talked about it in your stupid journal!! It's your fault he is demoted!!
"Admiral.. listen...," Kirk said in a low voice.
"No, I'm not going to listen.."
"I can justify..."
"Why should I listen? I'm not going to listen. You don't listen to anybody but yourself!"
"I understand regulation, but every decision I've made..."
"No! I can't listen! You don't comply with the rules, you don't take responsibility for anything, and you don't respect the chair," Pike said in a calmer tone. "You know why? Because you're not ready for it."