Title: Sore Loser

Author: Jungle Kitty

Contact: kittyjungle@earthlink.net

Series: TOS (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Posted: 6/21/04

Codes: "Great Lines" challenge

Rating: G

Feedback: Yes, please!

Archive: ASC this version please, all others please ask

Summary: Yeah, yeah, I know Kirk can forgive Spock anything but but that's not specifically stated in canon and this is: He doesn't like to lose

Acknowledgments: The lines quoted here have always made me laugh in their original context but they're not so lighthearted in thisscenario..

Disclaimer: The Star Trek characters and universe are the property of Paramount and Viacom. This not-for-profit piece of fan fiction is not intended to infringe upon that. The copyright applies only to the author's original characters and creative content.



SORE LOSER
(c) Jungle Kitty 2004


Kirk stared across the hot sand. T'Pring returned his gaze with eyes as cold and hard as a doll's. Her lips parted in thirsty anticipation of the battle, a battle she had demanded and that T'Pau had decreed would be fought "to the death."

He looked down at a heavy weapon in his hands. What had T'Pau called it? A lirpa? Yes. 'If both survive the lirpa...'

Damn it, Spock, why the hell didn't you tell me this could happen? You call yourself a first officer...

Spock was coiled, ready to spring, eager to spill Kirk's blood and claim his prize. His slitted eyes were even more lifeless than T'Pring's and he held his weapon lightly. No confusion or unfamiliarity on that side of the arena, Kirk thought bitterly.

The bells had gone silent but there was no calm in the stillness. It strained against itself, hungry to spill over into violence.

The fire flared an angry demand and at that, Kirk felt something inside him respond, an anger that pushed aside loyalty and friendship and brotherhood. Vulcans weren't the only ones with ancient drives. Brother against brother was the earliest and most primal of Earth legends.

Suddenly the lirpa felt no more foreign in his hands than a branch of sturdy Terran oak.

But still, there were facts to consider, facts he'd dismissed when McCoy had presented them moments earlier. The heat, the thin air, Spock's overpowering strength even in his depleted condition...

Yes, there were many facts to consider but only two possible outcomes. Either he won or--

Kirk lowered his head and murmured to McCoy, "I don't mean to be a sore loser but when it's done, if I'm dead--" He took a deep breath, gathering what strength he could from air that was a mockery of life support. "--kill him."

McCoy flashed his most amiable smile at the assembled Vulcans and even nodded politely to T'Pau.

"Love to."


[End]