Disclaimer:
I don't own Star Trek or it's characters
I considered sitting in the back. There were less watchful eyes back there and I could leave out the doors at any time I wished without people noticing. I could always tell Bones I couldn't find him. With less people, I could also use two seats. Maybe I could even fall asleep and wait this out…. Or I could just leave and claim I showed up. I was really starting to favor that idea.
"JIM!"
That makes leaving a bit more difficult.
I turned back around from the door I was just about to sneak through. Bones was standing near an empty seat and gestured at me to approach. I forced a smile and walked to the second row. Having to squeeze past a group of talkative friends I finally reached the seat. Bones was now sitting and seemed to make himself comfortable as he leaned back acting as if he had been walking all day. Bones sighed. Had he been towering over his seat looking for me the whole time?
"Did I ever tell you I hate documentaries?" I asked. I opened my jacket and pulled out some chips I bought for lunch that I never got to eat. When I had just finally got done with my final class - Gaila had showed up unexpectedly and dragged me away from my room to help her with one of her projects.
"You… Brought snacks..." Bones said.
I shoved a chip in my mouth. "I was hungry." It wasn't until I spoke that I realized how it looked. Oh.
"Of course, you wouldn't see how inappropriate that is."
I sighed and closed the bag of chips. I guess I'll just have to combine lunch with dinner later. "I'm not Kodos, I'm willing to share." I held up the bag towards him.
"I ate." Bones said, He was now staring straight ahead already prepared for the documentary. He was even prepared to take notes.
I put the bag back into my jacket ignoring my stomach. The room was beginning to become louder as more people entered. Bones and I were surrounded with laughter and chatter. I continued to sit there and think of food while waiting for the documentary of Tarsus IV to begin. The irony didn't escape me. Sure enough, no one else had brought food. I let out a sad sound.
"I mean who doesn't eat at the movies? My brother always bought snacks for me!"
Bones turned to look at me with a very judgmental glare that I did not care for. "Food and drinks aren't allowed in the auditorium." He reminded me. I cared even less for those words.
"That's a ridiculous rule. Are you telling me you don't buy popcorn at the movies?" I asked knowing wholly that I was babbling as a distraction for myself.
"Not when it's a documentary about a genocide caused by a famine, no." Bones said.
I furrowed my eyebrows together and held up my hands in a confused gesture. "That's like… Going to watch a documentary about a missing kid and being judged for bringing your children." Why was Bones offended? Why was I listening to him? I was there! I was one of those starving kids! I had half a mind to go buy more food and eat it all in front of him.
"Why would you let kids watch a documentary like that?"
"I don't know! You're the one with a daughter not me." I argued. The lights then went off and the room fell into hushed silence. Dread filled me.
On the screen was Francine Armstead. I knew it even if the name wasn't being displayed in the corner. She sat in a brown chair facing the camera. Her eyes were sad as she spoke "I realized there wasn't enough food to go around when my parents made dinner for only my sisters and myself as they went to bed hungry." She said.
The screen cut to a different chair with Catherine Yoshida now talking. There was a small polite smile on her lips. She still seemed sweet despite no longer being eight.
"My dad told me he would find food for me tomorrow. I was young and sort of just accepted that as an answer." Catherine said. "Of course, he had said that to me the day before as well. There weren't any alarms going off in my head though about what situation we were about to find ourselves in. My parents were acting like everything was fine so I thought everything was." The camera stayed on her sad sweet smile dramatically in silence.
Then there was Lamont Hodges. He looked serious with a grey suit that fit him well as he leaned back on a sofa. "We were robbed a few days before the massacre." He said as if he was just reading what the weather was like. Lamont remained expressionless the entire time as he said, "I had woken up to a loud crash in the living room. A few men had broken in and took everything from our kitchen. My father was a big man so he put up a fight but he was outmatched against bigger – hungrier men. My mother told me we would have to go a few days without food. I just assumed it was a momentary thing and they would come back with food any day."
Lamont Hodges faded as the title of the documentary The Tales of Tarsus read out on the screen. Followed by more text
Tarsus IV. The fourth inhabited planet in its star system. Colonized with inhabitants from Earth. A population of 8000 was quickly formed and settled into the planet. The events in 2246 would leave half the population executed in an order that is now called the Tarsus IV Massacre.
I sat through about ten minutes of the film which showed how the massacre came to be. Accounts of horror was shared and some Starfleet members explained how such a thing could happen. Kodos's infamous message was read out that announced his plan to execute half the population as pictures that was taken of the victims was shown. Even Bones flinched away from a few photos that was displayed. Kevin Riley was on screen for a while sharing a story of himself running through a stormy night unsure where he was headed and who he was following. When the stories became more graphic I stood up.
"I'm going to go to the restroom." I whispered to Bones.
"Well, be quick about it." Bones said back, eyes glued to the screen.
It was a relief to find that no one else was in there. I approached a sink and sat down next to it. I couldn't hear anything that was happening outside, it was safe. Minutes past as I did nothing but sit. It was a miracle no one walked in and wondered what the hell I was doing. Everything was still, for once I appreciated the stillness.
Leaning against the wall I stretched my legs out. The only sound was my breathing. There were others that could have been on that documentary. The wall wasn't particularly interesting nor beautiful but I stared anyway. Blue tiles and grey tiles. One right after the other. I grew bored of the stillness eventually. I stood and looked at the mirror. 4000. Yet you're still here. Hiding just like always. They weren't hiding. Thomas, Kevin, Evette, all of them was out front talking about what happen without flinching. What the hell was wrong with me? Then I remembered there was one other missing. Patrica Wilson. Why wasn't she sharing her story?
I blinked and looked down. Better go back, Bones will be wondering where I went. The last thing I needed at that moment was an overprotective doctor coming in here to check on me.
For the briefest moment, I wondered how Bones would have handled Tarsus. It felt like a punch in the gut to even imagine him near that place. Images of the victims flashed in my eyes. I headed out the door.
"What the hell restroom did you use, the one back in Iowa?" Bones whispered harshly as I sat back down.
"Got lost."
"Got lost…" Bones repeated my words with a tone of disbelief. Slowly his expression changed before leaning forward to look at me. "You're shaking… What happened?" he asked.
"I'm not feeling well." I said before closing my eyes regretting that excuse instantly. "Don't. I'm fine." I already began to argue.
It was too late as Bones' concerned expression was already on his face. "You're sick?" he asked, no longer whispering. People nearby was starting to throw us cold glances.
"No, I'm… Tired." I said in a hushed tone trying to get him to quiet down as well.
"You look terrible Jim!" Bones did not whisper.
"Stop touching my forehead."
"You're warm."
"Can-can I just watch the documentary please?" My voice cracked as I gestured to the screen. Bones remained relentless.
"Did you throw up?"
"No."
"You lying?"
"No, I wasn't vomiting."
"JT went back for you." My attention was back on the screen. The statement was made from someone behind the camera directed at Thomas Leighton. Thomas grew up to be a handsome man even with the eyepatch. He had a cruel smirk and his dark eye reminded me of Bones.
"He did." Thomas said. He traced a finger across his chin as he spoke almost fondly of the memory. "I remember, not being able to hear anything. JT was above me shouting something as he was grabbing onto the collar of my shirt. He looked panicked and I thought - it must look bad." There was an odd smile that broke out on his face.
A video of young Thomas appeared on screen when Starfleet members had just rescued him. He looked to be in horrible condition as some doctors rushed into a room away to treat his wounds.
It was back on present Thomas now. He leaned forward towards whoever he had been speaking to. "For a few days, we stayed there. I think they did it for my benefit. I regained my hearing fortunately... JT presented himself as an optimist. Cheered up the kids. While they were asleep though. I would see the real him. The part of him he dared not show the others. He was angry. We would passionately discuss what we would change for hours. Then one night, JT looked me right in the eye and told me "When we get out of here. I'm going to get answers for this." Before adding that he was also going to get me a pirate ship. But it was the "When." That I clung to... The way he said it. The certainty." Thomas fell silent looking off into the distance.
"When was the last time you saw JT?" A women's voice asked. Thomas's eye flashed back towards her
"The night we were captured." Thomas answered. "The rest of us was put into a dark room together except him. I saw Kodos leading him elsewhere. JT was trying to fight his way back to us but by then he was too starved to do much damage. I saw a photo of him they took during the rescue. He is out there, somewhere… Getting answers hopefully."
I was still shaking, I hadn't noticed it before Bones pointed it out and now I couldn't focus on anything else. "I don't feel well after all." I whispered. "I'm going to get some rest."
"You need me to do anything?" Bones asked.
"No no it's fine. See you in the morning Bones."
"I'll come check on you after this is over. See if I have anything that could help." I could only nod at Bones' words. I knew I couldn't talk him out of checking on me. All I could do was act asleep by the time he came around.
