Big Reveals [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

Jim has been in Starfleet Medical for eight weeks before he's finally released. Which is not to say he's been cleared for duty, mind you. But he's recovered enough not to need that kind of constant medical supervision, able to take the rest of his treatment as outpatient. He has physical therapy three times a week, exercises to do at home, and of course Doctor McCoy is still keeping an eagle eye on his diet, something that annoys Jim to no end.

Of course, that's nothing compared to finding out that his Starfleet-assigned apartment is buried under the crashed bulk of the USS Vengeance.

Jim doesn't really give a shit about the apartment itself. Yeah, it was kind of nice to have his own place, but it's never been home. It was just a place to stay whenever the Enterprise was in port. And though it was more decorated than his quarters onboard the ship, it was all meaningless knickknacks, nothing with any real sentimental value.

No, he's more pissed about the fact that nobody told him until a month after he woke up from the coma.

He understands why, of course. McCoy gave him the whole spiel about stress being bad for his recovery, about not needing to worry himself about things he couldn't do anything about, that by the time this happened Jim was already dead, but it's a heavy blow to realize that the loss of life was far, far greater than he'd realized. Tens of thousands died or lost their homes. Yet Jim Kirk lives, when he has no right to be breathing, let alone leaving the hospital.

And it's hard not to be in a foul mood when he realizes that the only place he has to stay on Earth is in Iowa, at the old neglected Kirk homestead. At least it's not likely to be bugged by Section 31, and Jim spends two entire days sweeping the place for surveillance devices, and another three to get the house in order, before he's reassured enough to have visitors.


[OOC: Image links to replace broken ones below:
23rd century Iowa
Mind meld position]

Comments

[boldygoing]

Spock looks mildly intrigued, if disapproving, at the notion of a vehicle that requires such primitive fuel sources. "Have your vehicle manufacturers not researched more efficient forms of propulsion? I understand that burning such fuels was the primary pollutant throughout Earth's twentieth century." His disapproval is scientific only, with no judgment on Hunter himself.

[losthunter]

"There are some places that offer biodiesel, vegetable oil, or electric models of vehicles... but they are not widely used or sold yet." Hunter doesn't feel that he is being judged. And just explains a little bit more of his own take on things.

"There is still that industrial competition between automobile manufacturers, that they are more concerned with their bottom line over spending money to invest in vehicles that use alternate fuels."

"And right now, in my world, it is Big Oil companies that pave the streets. While there are people who protest pipelines and the use of fossil fuels... the majority of people in North America are still consumers of those fossil fuels."

[boldygoing]

"I did say your economy is weird, right?" Jim says to Hunter, amused. He wants to ask how far Hunter's gas-burner will go on a full tank, but with McCoy sitting right here listening, he knows it'll just come across like he's planning some kind of epic road trip across Iowa instead of just a jaunt over to the shipyards.

Which, you know, he is, so it's a fair assumption. But he hardly wants McCoy to know that or he'll stop him.

[losthunter]

"I definitely prefer the Barter system used in the Nexus." Hunter agrees.

He senses that Jim might just want an epic road trip. Get away for a little bit. So he plays the distraction card.

"If you would like to see an actual paper bill from 2017... I got a few $20s in my wallet."

[boldygoing]

Spock is on the very edge of launching into a verbal dissertation on the merits of barter versus fiat currency, so McCoy practically trips over himself to cut the Vulcan off before he can get going, otherwise they'll be here forever. "Is that a lot?"

[losthunter]

"A $20? No. It is in the middle of the bills actually printed by the Mint, the others being the $1, $2, $5, $10, $50 and $100."

"Most people are using Debit or Credit cards these days."

"A $20 could buy you a decent meal at an average restaurant. And it is considered more than what an average worker would make in an hour. But it is not going to be enough to purchase groceries, or pay for energy or electricity."

[boldygoing]

The idea of having to pay for the basics of what a person needs to live is so foreign to them all. Jim knows a little more about it than the others, but even he finds it a bit barbaric. "In this century, Earth's resources are shared with everyone," he explains to Hunter, helping to give some context to the perturbed looks on everyone else's faces. "Nobody on this planet dies just because they don't have enough money for whatever they need to live."

Of course, Hunter knows that Jim knows what real hunger is like. But the captain chose his words carefully. After all, Tarsus IV is not Earth. And judging by the lack of reactions from his crew, no one else seems to know there's anything out of the ordinary about the situation.

"I'd like to see this bill," Uhura says, leaning forward in interest. She's never been much of a historian, but given the chance to hold a relatively new example of ancient, archaic currency, she can't pass it up.

[losthunter]

"That sounds like a much better way to live..." Hunter answers simply. He is assuming that Jim's experience with hunger is not related to anything he has shared with the crew. So he doesn't bring it up...

Hunter opens his wallet, and pulls out the grayish $20 bill to hand it over to Uhura. It bears the picture of President Andrew Jackson.

"Especially when you consider that every country has their own currency, and that some countries... like the United States... are considered to be 'wealthier' than other countries which makes their currency worth more."

[boldygoing]

Uhura turns the bill over in her fingers, feeling the texture of the bill, examining even the small print. "Earth has been all digital for over eighty years," she says, passing the bill along to Spock. "Regional currency went out of fashion around the same time."

[losthunter]

"I do hope we get there."

"I have lived on both sides of the currency fence, as I was raised in a wealthy home, but later in my life had lived on the streets."

"But even what I experienced is not as tough as those who live in what is considered a Third World Country."

[boldygoing]

Jim's starting to get a little uneasy with this topic of conversation, as it becomes more likely for it to veer towards memories he'd like to forget. So he tries to steer it towards safer territory. "Speaking of Nexus barter, did you find a good use for that wire yet?" he asks, hiding his discomfort with genuine interest.

[losthunter]

"I sure have." Hunter is content to change the conversation once again. "I have been using it to create these little tiny metal trees. You can twist the wires together to make thicker branches. And with a little welding torch, you can melt the ends to form little leaves."

[boldygoing]

"Oh, is that what you wanted the conductive wire for?" Uhura asks Jim, perking up in interest. "Little gold trees sound adorable."

"Sounds like I might have to barter one away from you sometime," Jim tells Hunter, one corner of his mouth quirking up in a smile.

[losthunter]

"So you can give me something else I can turn into an art project, and then you are wanting one my creations and barter something else?" Hunter laughs. He is totally okay with this. Jim is welcomed to barter with him anytime.

[boldygoing]

"If you make stuff my crew want, then sure, why not? At what point does it become a commission, anyway?"

[losthunter]

"I would be honored to make something for everyone in this room. It would take me a lot more time to do something for your whole crew..."

But he does work good under a timeline. He finished those stylized portraits for the memorial in time.

"But I am sure we can work out a suitable commission." He winks.

[boldygoing]

"Don't worry about it," Jim assures him. "We're not on a time limit. But I'll take a wishlist, if you've got one."

[losthunter]

"And if I get a wish list from those who want one of my art pieces... then I can start working."

"Do you have a particular favorite gem stone, Uhura? I can incorporate it into a little gold tree for you."

[boldygoing]

Uhura considers that. "I have to love tsavorite. Hometown pride. But it's so rare, especially in your century. Rubies are a close runner-up."

[losthunter]

Hunter nods slightly. It would be difficult for him to find tsavorite in his dimension, but he has some good friends in the Nexus who have sources. And he just might surprise Uhura. He likes surprising people.

"McCoy?" He smiles. "You don't seem like a small gold tree would fit..."

[boldygoing]

"Oh hell, kid, I'm not an artsy jewelry kind'a guy," McCoy protests, shifting uncomfortably, his Georgian accent a little thicker than it usually is. "You don't have to make me anything. Just keep Jim from doing any damn fool daredevil stunts; that's good enough for me."

"Hey," Jim protests, but there's no real fire in it. It's just a fact of life that Bones worries about him, now more than ever.

[losthunter]

"And I just don't do jewelry..." Hunter laughs. "I made a bookcase for Jim. I also work in sculpture. Marble. Metal art."

"I could even take some medical tools that are used in my dimension, and make them into something for you."

[boldygoing]

"Ah, forget it," Jim says, but there's a glimmer of humor in his eyes as he casts a look at Hunter. "He's more into collecting antiques. You're such an old man, Bones."

"I'm only six years older'n you, Jim."

[losthunter]

"So if I find an antique in my dimension, it should be especially of interest to you." Plan made. He knows of a lot great little antique stores.

"Spock?" He turns to the Vulcan next. "How about you?"

[boldygoing]

Spock concludes his analysis of the twenty dollar bill and hands it back to Hunter. "While artwork and beauty are admirable contributions to culture, it is not my preference to collect items with no additional function," he replies. Though it doesn't show on his face, Hunter has seen the depth of emotion lurking behind those very human eyes of his, and the great ocean of sorrow for the loss of his home planet and so many of his people. Were Hunter able to get artworks from Vulcan, Spock would be honored to take possession of such rare and priceless pieces of his people, most of their culture now lost to the black hole that consumed their world.

Conversely, of course, Hunter could always find something to make for him that would serve more purpose than just to be admired, but Spock would never outright ask for something like that.