I do not own Star Trek, or any of the related characters. This story is intended for entertainment purposes only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of Star Trek belong to Paramount Global.

The sudden gleam of Yorktown’s vibrantly orange sunset on the unnatural river’s glassy water forced my eyes to blink rapidly as I attempted to keep listening to Spock’s endless stream of information about our next mission. How in the hell did he know so much already? A useless question I didn’t dare verbalize. No need to instigate a Vulcan and a man who had a real knack for being a giant pain in my ass no matter what the situation or subject might be.

With a deceptive nod to at least suggest that I might be listening, my eyes wandered among the dozens of people who lingered near the river’s edge. Some stopped to admire the architectural marvel of the modern riverwalk, others were running after gleeful children that were playing an admirably chaotic game of tag.

Man-made nature. Families. I ran my hand through my hair and gave another half-hearted nod for Spock’s sake. Only a week had passed since Bones had thrown me a surprise birthday party that I didn’t want, but was ultimately glad I got. It helped prolong the sense of accomplishment and pride that came along with rescuing my stranded crew and preventing Yorktown from being destroyed by Krall, or as we came to know him later, Balthazar Edison.

Another bout of brief glory, along with the constant expressions of gratitude and admiration from fellow crew members and the inhabitants of Yorktown. A feeling that almost seemed like happiness, almost like contentment, faded in just a week. A week. Before, it had lasted me months. But now, heading to our debriefing for our next mission aboard the rebuilt Enterprise, my intense loathing of going back into deep space seemed to be a looming presence walking right beside me.

The borderline impairing, intense loneliness had peaked just before our last mission. I was ready to be promoted to Vice Admiral and leave the endless days of exploring deep space behind me. Maybe being grounded in Yorktown would have offered me more clarity, more stability. But I had turned down the position just over a week ago while I was still high on the glory of our last mission. Now, watching the couples and families stroll along the symmetrically patterned stone bank of the river, I was already regretting my choice to stay onboard as captain of the Enterprise. How was I going to be an optimist about this?

Just as Bones and Spock started to ascend the stairs that lead to headquarters for our meeting, the last searing light of the waning sunset drew my eyes to the near white blonde hair of a woman standing by the river. Her face was downcast towards the water. I could’ve sworn her shoulders shook slightly. She stood alone, far away from the couples and ruckus of the families further along the riverbank. My feet carried me down the steps and towards her before I even really knew what the hell I planned on doing.

“Jim, where the hell are you going? We’re gonna be late as it is. You can get space ice afterwards!”

I waved Bones off over my shoulder and kept my eyes on the woman leaning against the railing on her elbows.

“I’ll be right back!”

“Captain, it isn’t wise to keep the commander waiting.”

Spock’s logic was met with my silence. As I neared the woman, I slowed my pace and took in her appearance. Civilian clothes, cheeks clearly tear stained. Light, near golden skin. Her hair just a few shades lighter. Everything about her seemed warm. Oddly familiar. I squinted in the fading light as I stood just feet away from her.

“I know you.”

Her posture instantly stiffened at my statement, but she remained leaned over the railing, her gaze locked onto the quietly flowing river. She spoke without looking at me.

“James T. Kirk.”

I blinked a few times at her quick recognition of who I was based solely on hearing me speak. The quality of her voice matched her appearance — warm, light, and again, oddly familiar. Of course she knew who I was. Considering my name was plastered everywhere in space that the Federation touched. Especially here, on Yorktown, where my name and video footage of me speaking was still being played on every available screen in the wake of everyone’s near annihilation.

“I know you. Did we go to the academy together? We did, didn’t we? You kicked my ass in a combat class…”

She remained leaning over the railing, dropping her head slightly and speaking with a tinge of sadness.

“That was a long time ago.”

“I remember you. I could never forget. Aria, right? You really kicked my ass. What are you doing now? I don’t remember seeing you at the academy after that year.”

I had very unintentionally struck a nerve. Moving much quicker than I anticipated, she was suddenly standing in front of me, just inches away with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Interestingly enough, she wore a leather jacket similar to the one I wore. The last of the fading light caught the lingering residue of tears on her flushed cheeks. She didn’t move to wipe them away.

“What do you want?”

“You caught my eye. I knew we had met before. Plus, you seem upset —”

“Jim! Are you out of your damn mind? You can flirt later! We like having jobs, you know!”

With a sneer of aggravation I cocked my head to one side. Bones’ voice cut across the entire riverfront. People were turning and looking from every direction.

“Give me ONE SECOND Bones.”

I took a step towards her, closing the gap between us. Even her eyes were golden. Red with stress and crying, but still a honeyed gold. I couldn’t read her expression. Irritated? Mostly irritated. Maybe a little intrigued, though. And that’s what I bet on as I found the right words to say and trudged ahead.

“Are you free later? In a couple of hours? I just have this meeting to go to, but I would really like to hear more about you. And I apologize for my cohort's lack of manners. It seems that harassing me is irresistible.”

Her arms shifted ever so slightly as she continued to stare up at me with those mesmerizing, golden eyes that were filled with apprehension. There also seemed to be disbelief there, like she was finding it hard to comprehend that I was actually standing right in front of her. I could nearly see the ping-ponging of thoughts going on in her head. Go, don't go. Go, don't go. Her eyes squinted as she took me in, her jaw clenching and unclenching before finally responding.

“Fine. I’ll see you in two hours at the Fueling Hole across from the academy. I think I can help you with your little harassment problem from your friend over there, too.”

“Well, it’s just that he thinks that I can’t just talk to a woman without it being —”

“You are the WORST!”

And then I was being slapped. Hard. Before I had time to recover from the shock of the blow, her hands were on my jacket and I was being flipped over the railing and into the shallow water of the artificial river. My back slammed into the glass bottom before I righted myself quickly, frantically popping up and out of the water. She was gone. Nowhere to be seen on the riverwalk. I clambered up and over the railing as the piercing eyes of startled strangers watched as I walked back to where Bones and Spock stood. Bones looked legitimately concerned, while Spock could’ve been contemplating quantum physics or how he would logically berate me for causing us to be late.

“Thanks for the assist there, Bones.”

“Good god, man. You really need to try flowers once in a while, Jim.”

I squished past them with my sopping wet clothes, making sure to wipe some of the water off my face hard enough to hit both of them with it. My appearance would at least serve as a conversation starter, right? At this point I didn’t think there was much I could do to phase the commander. I couldn’t even find it in myself to even really be mad at Aria. All I could think about was getting this meeting over with and going to see her again. The woman who kicked my ass three years ago, and who didn’t hesitate to kick my ass again.