Author's Note and disclaimer: Wow this is a story that grabbed me and would not let go, no matter how terrible the subject matter is. I warn you, there are some parts that might make you uncomfortable, but it is mild, and shouldn't be too upsetting for people. It is set in the Mirror, Mirror verse, so don't message me complaining. It is set during the episode "Miri", except from the Mirror Mirror universe. Hang in with me, and maybe you'll see why the story grabbed me.
A Beaker Full of Death
"The planet is remarkably Earthlike." Spock's voice was flat as he considered the viewscreen. "In fact, the arrangement of the landmasses is identical to your planet, Captain. It could be an ideal place for a new colony." He edged his words carefully; aware that suggesting anything to Captain James Kirk was never a wise idea upon the ISS Enterprise. He straightened up from the viewscreen and eyed his Captain warily.
James "Jim" Kirk nodded absently as he stared at the revolving planet. "I am beaming down Mister Spock. There might be something useful down there on that planet." This of course was a veiled order to create a landing party, something that the half-Vulcan First Officer was used to. Kirk got out of his chair and headed for the turbolift, passing his Yeoman Rand on the way out. "You will beam down with me." He told her, roughly grabbing her arm. It had been too long since James Kirk had been with a woman, and he had always found Rand a suitable partner.
Spock watched his Captain with a barely disguised sneer of disgust. Although the Vulcan had had his share of affairs and liasons, it was well known what his captain's weaknesses were. And one of them happened to be women, girls, or young boys. There were very few that could escape notice from the lecherous captain, and very few females on board the ISS Enterprise that so far HAD escaped his notice and attention. With very few men onboard being capable of sufficiently defending their women, it was hardly a surprise that Kirk had his was onboard the ship. Spock's current favorite, Christine Chapel, had escaped the Captain by virtue only of being Spock's plaything.
The group that was assembled in the transporter room consisted of two security officers, McCoy, Spock, Kirk, and of course the unfortunate Yeoman Rand. Spock had deliberately limited the number of people that would be witness to whatever the Captain had in mind for the planet. When the transporter beam started to disassemble him, the last thought on Spock's mind was somebody needs to stop James Kirk's tyranny.
Upon landing on the planet they observed a street full of an old feel. There was an old tricycle, broken and covered with rust. McCoy knelt down next to it, and pushed it over, causing it to break more. "MINE MINE MINE" came a hysterical and insane sounding voice. A man came bolting out of a nearby building and tried to hop on top of McCoy. Spock, seeing the moving blur, shot the man with his phaser. "Be more careful Doctor. I would hate to have anything happen to you." His voice was steely and full of venomous sweetness. McCoy made a gesture at Spock that was mocking and pulled his tricorder out to examine the man that Spock had just killed.
"There appear to be growths all over his body, Captain." McCoy frowned at the readings then shook his head. "And this man appears to be not much older than eighteen, if he's a day over sixteen." McCoy pointed out some of the growths to Kirk as the Captain demanded an explanation. Kirk stood and scanned the nearby buildings before catching sight of a young girl watching them warily from behind a trash can.
"Mister Spock, take over here. There seems to be a young girl over there." Kirk was already eyeing the young girl with a look that Spock knew only too well. He followed his captain's gaze, then felt a pang of guilt for not stopping what he knew was about to happen. "Perhaps we should question her first Captain. They don't seem to be able to talk much after you talk to them." It was as diplomatic as the Vulcan could be without outright calling his Captain out. He strode to where the little girl sat trembling, and knelt so he was eye level with her. "Follow me, and don't make any movements that would suggest flight." Spock said softly, taking the girl's hand in his and leading her into a nearby building.
Spock was not very alarmed to see the growths on Kirk's hand, and slapped it out of his way when Kirk demanded an answer from Miri. "Captain, might I suggest you take your anger out somewhere else." There was no question in that statement, and Spock didn't try to disguise any of his disgust this time at Kirk's continuing interest in the young girl. "I shall question the girl myself, and I will let you know if she has any relevant information." Spock was not about to be the one responsible for the young Miri, but he would work to get any information out of the girl first before the Captain's shameless tastes got to her.
"You said all of the grumps die from these growths", he said quietly, watching Kirk and McCoy compare growths from the corner of his eye. The captain he would not mind losing so much, but the doctor would be a loss to the ship indeed. As for the security officers and Yeoman Rand, they were replacable. Spock knew without looking that the security officers that he had picked were junior officers, and therefore far more expendable than a ranked officer would be.
Spock waited for an affirmative nod from Miri before going over to Kirk. "These growths seem to only effect adults Captain. There are only children here on this planet it seems, although it is somewhat unlikely that these children have been surviving on their own for very long." Kirk glared at his First Officer for a minute, then let out a breath. "Okay so we are on a plant inhabited only by children?" His voice held too much delight for Spock, who could only cautiously nod.
"I suppose, Spock, that you are going to start working on an antidote with McCoy." Kirk's voice was impatient and made it quite clear that he was not going to be deterred for very much longer. He was eyeing Miri with more than a little bit of anger, not used to being stopped from taking what he wanted. It had been a few days, and the growths were considerably worse, covering much of Kirk's arms. Spock and McCoy had been isolating the virus so that they could make an antidote, but the going was slow without their communicators, stolen during a raid by the band of children that lived on the planet. "Of course Captain." Spock glanced at Kirk and gestured to the beakers he and McCoy had set up. "We are working on it now, if you would leave us alone." McCoy spat, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
Miri was sitting quietly at Spock's feet, staring blankly into space. She had figured out that her life was in Spock's hands, and that he meant her no harm. Besides, the other man, who had introduced himself as Jim, was more intimidating, although Miri supposed he was trying to be charming. She had never run across somebody like him before, and it was clear that he was in charge of this group. She touched Spock's leg briefly, and when he looked down at her she pointed to Kirk. "He was saying that you need those boxes that you talk into." She was hesitant to anger him, for she knew it was only his presence that was protecting her from whatever the Jim man had in mind. "I can lead you to them."
"You can lead me to them." Kirk stopped pacing long enough to eavesdrop. "Spock, you continue working on the antidote. I will get our communicators back." Kirk hauled Miri to her feet and pushed her roughly in front of him. He started towards the door, and was annoyed when Spock's voice rang out behind him. "Yeoman Rand, go with them. The captain might need help." It was as much time and energy that Spock could spare on Miri though, and he turned away to continue working on the cure.
Yeoman Rand knew what the captain was up to, of course. How could she not, when she herself had been the victim of Kirk's attentions one too many times? She followed the captain and Miri, silently reaching out to hold Miri's hand, hoping that the girl understood the warning to stay next to her. Janice Rand was not a coward, but she would not sacrifice herself to save Miri. Not when it meant that the Captain would turn his anger and attention to her again. It had been months since Rand had been the subject of Kirk's attentions, and she intended to keep it that way.