Free Star Trek: The Original Series - 162 - Shadow of the Machine by Scott Harrison

morning? “I have found that it is a common practice among humans to attempt to mask one’s problems and shortcomings with humor.”
    When he was younger, Kirk had been keen to learn everything he could from his older brother. It seemed the trick of hiding the truth from those you loved was just one of the many lessons he had learned. Sam had been the perfect teacher.
    Now at dinner Peter had chosen to sit quietly throughout the meal while the others talked. Kirk wasn’t even sure the boy was listening. Once or twice he saw Peter glance across at them, probably just checking that he wasn’t being spoken to . His nephew might have had no desire to join in their conversation, but it was obvious to Kirk that Peter took care not to upset or offend those around him by making them think he was ignoring them.
    The silence would have continued unabated had the subject of Starfleet Academy not been raised.
    “So, it looks like I’ll be losing my right-hand man in a few months,” Uncle Abner declared to those gathered around the table.
    Peter glanced up quickly, a troubled look on his face.
    “Abner, maybe this isn’t the time . . .” Hanna began to say.
    Abner waved a dismissive hand at her. “Nonsense, there couldn’t be a better time. We have one man sitting at the table whose Starfleet career is the stuff of legend, and another who has the potential to have one every bit as important.”
    Kirk looked from Abner to Peter, then back again. “What’s this all about?”
    “Peter applied for Starfleet Academy at the beginning of the year, and he got a reply from them last week. He’s been accepted.”
    Kirk beamed across at his nephew. “This is wonderful news, Peter. Your mother and father would be very proud of you.”
    “Yeah? Well, we’ll never know because they’re both dead.”
    At first everyone around the table was shocked into silence. None of them was prepared to believe that the words had come from Peter’s mouth, let alone that they were aimed at James Kirk.
    Hanna was the first to recover herself.
    “Peter, that’s no way to speak to your uncle,” she admonished. “He was only congratulating you.”
    “No, that’s okay.” Kirk raised both hands, palms outward, as if to say I’m fine, I’m not hurt.
    “That’s kind of you, Jim, but it’s not okay,” Abner said, his eyes on Peter. “It was downright uncalled for. Your uncle Jim was being gracious.”
    “I’m sure Peter had his reasons for saying what he did.” Kirk could see that there was an argument brewing, and he was doing everything he could to defuse the situation.
    “If he did, then I’d sure as hell like to hear them, because he wasn’t brought up to talk to people like that,” Abner said.
    “Nobody knows how I was brought up—no one,” Peter said, suddenly losing his temper. “Not you, not Uncle Jim, not even my own mom and dad. No one’s ever stopped long enough to ask me.”
    Abner shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
    “Please, Ab,” Hanna warned.
    “No, if the boy’s got something to say, then let him speak,” Abner said.
    Peter pushed his plate away, then stood up. “May I be excused from the table now, please, Aunt Hanna?”
    “No,” said Abner. “You still haven’t explained yourself.”
    “Yes, of course you can,” Hanna said as she picked up his half-empty plate. “But don’t you be too long out in that shed.”
    The door clicked shut and Peter was gone.
    Abner was furious. “Why the hell did you just excuse him, Han? We can’t have him talking to folk like that.”
    “The boy’s upset and you know it,” she replied. “Shouting at him isn’t going to do any good. Never has done in the past. Just leave him be.”
    “Maybe I should speak to him now,” Kirk said suddenly, surprising himself.
    Abner nodded curtly and said, “If you wouldn’t mind, Jim, we’d both be most obliged. The boy’s not been paying attention to us for a while, but maybe he’ll listen to you some,