And now Kirk seems somehow self-conscious. He smiles, amused at himself.

"Everyone on this ship knew Pike. Most of them knew him personally. And this is what he had me do a couple of times when I really pissed him off. It seemed fitting."

He coughs, clears his throat.

"My thinking is this: you hurt me. Your service helps heal that. If you come up with a better way, I'm open to it. Truth is I never cared how shiny my own boots were."