A/N: Oh wow. I'm sooo happy from all of the reviewing and alerting. This is so awesome. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy this chapter also. Yet again I must thank my delicious Spockista Fruitista. She's bomb. U_U Nuff said. Enjoy Ya'll.

Disclaimer: Come on! Surely by now you know I don't own the stuff.

Warning: Well, it might get kinda…tense again. That be all folks.

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Chapter Four: Mad World

Two Months Later

Jim sat on the floor, legs bent at the knee, arms at his sides and his head resting against the wall, lulled to the side. He had fallen asleep from the pure exhaustion of enduring the last shock he had received.

His muscles gave an involuntarily spasm and twitched in his dream inducing slumber. Sleep had been evading him constantly due to a muscle twitch or a reopened wound. The shock collar that had been placed around his neck was quickly becoming his own personal nightmare.

Dreams were cut short when a bucket of water was thrown in his face. The salt water stung in Jim's eyes before the collar went off. The Captain's screams were ten-fold in volume compared to the usual shock.

"Mornin' sweetheart, " Jayce greeted.

Jim cringed away, water rolling off his hair as his head jerked away. He was hoisted to his feet and swayed in the muscular grip; his legs still like gello from the last jolt to his body.

Jim's neck felt raw and fried and the smell of burnt skin permeated the air. Inwardly, he grimaced, that couldn't be good.

There was still no sign of the half Vulcan, Spock and Jim wasn't sure what to make of that. The Captain could only keep fighting for so long. He was beginning to wear down and tire. Not that he'd admit to that out loud or anything.

Kirk's assumption had been proven correct when the dunking ceased; the small reprieve had only led to far worse forms of torture and water being thrown in his face.

After the drowning it became a struggle of combative sorts. The Aussie would come by every so often and would talk shit just to provoke Jim, which he tended to exceed at. Sadly, Jim had only been able to cause minimal damage in return to Jayce's provocations.

To say Jayce was strong was an understatement. He was the equivalent of Spock, but seeing as his build was not as svelte as the Vulcan's and he actually used his brute strength…he was nothing like Spock.

He was shocked out of his conclusion as another jolt brought him back to the harshness of reality.

"I knew you were thinking about him," Jayce murmured near Jim's ear none-too-happy. He raked his nails down Jim's chest, under his torn and bloodied uniform. What was the point of having it on anymore? Strips of cloth sure as hell couldn't keep him warm now.

Jim's jaw clenched and something of a hiss escaped his mouth through his teeth.

"Come on, love. Don't do this today," The shark murmured, faking sympathy for his own actions. His words were, of course, the biggest load of bullshit Jim had ever heard and that was saying something, having seen some of the guys his mom brought home.

Jim used the restraints on his arms to his advantage. Holding up the upper half of his body by his wrists, he kicked out both legs and struck Jayce in the throat. The shark reeled back while coughing and grasped at the injured body part.

"Surprise, surprise, Jimmy boy still has some fight left in him, but I'll fix that," he said lowly, smirking after he recovered.

Jim's growl was guttural. "I already told you, you aren't going to fucking touch me! I'm sure as hell not your fucking love or sweetheart, you bastard!" he said the words in his own rendition of an Australian accent imitating the idiot before him.

Poor Jim was again shocked and the pain of it made him crumple to the floor. His muscles, again, twitched uncontrollably. The tics were starting to get worse. Bones would have quite a mess on his hands when he got back…that's if he got back.

He stared down with a solemn smile on his face at the thought of his constantly yelling but strangely loveable CMO. However, that was cut short as he was yanked up and with a clatter; the chains unceremoniously fell to the floor as he was released.

Then the thrum of the force field died down as that too, was turned off. Confusion set into the pale blue eyes as his eyebrows knitted together. This was certainly new, but it sure as hell wasn't comforting.

Jayce then pulled a Houdini and produced a new weapon. A nine tailed whip.

Well, this couldn't be good.

Jayce put it behind his back as he started to explain, "You and I are gonna' play a lil game, Jimmy. You will have the run of the ship, but when I catch you, if I do, then it's over. But if I give up before then I won't harm you as much this month." By the end of his explanation there was a glint in his eye.

Jim simply glared.

"Don't waste any time. You've got a 15 minute head start. Better get goin' boy. Time's a tickin," he said before examining Jim like he was a piece of meat.

Hearing the prospect, Jim couldn't refuse. So without much thought he took off like a greyhound out of the gate and ran with a slight glimmer of hope that he could somehow get a bit of relief out of this.

With his mind running as fast as his legs, he continued twisting and turning down hallways and corridors he'd never seen before. The ship seemed like it went on forever, every hallway leading to another set of hallways.

He narrowly missed another shark type creature, but rolled to the side and skidded before returning to his feet and went around -yet again -another corner. His marathon continued up a flight of stairs.

His chest was heaving with every hard breath he took. He'd never run so fast before in his life. There was that one time with the cops…but even then it wasn't like this.

Once up the stairs, after tripping on a few, he rounded another bend. He quickly realized these halls were a lot emptier than the others, which was all in all, a positive. The last thing Jim needed was some freaky shark creature telling Jayce where he was hiding.

He'd estimated that it had been about ten minutes since he started and he was already out of breath. His heart hammered inside his chest as he gulped down the humid air. Slowly he slid down the wall and dropped onto the floor.

He felt dizzy and he leaned his head back to try and take a moment to calm down, only for his head to shoot forward as he emptied his stomach of the small amount of contents it held.

Shaking his head, he took off his shirts since they no longer served a purpose. He wiped his mouth clean with the material and was about to drop it to the floor but froze.

Looking around and taking in his surroundings, he realized there was nowhere to dispose of the clothing. He thought of throwing it one way and to go another, but where?

Jim recalled the time he was late for a class at the academy and didn't want to get picked up in one of the hall sweeps. He had managed to shimmy himself into the ventilation system and drop into the back of the class.

He looked up and it must have been a sign of some sort, because right above his head was a vent. He thanked his lucky celestial stars that he was given a chance for escape.

Determination swelled in his chest along with the adrenaline as his heart beat relentlessly in his chest.

Using a rail on the wall, he jumped up and knocked the screen out of the way. Springing up again, he grabbed the edges of the tube and shimmied his way up. Figuring he was safer, he relaxed again to catch his breath.

Jim let his mind wander to his First Officer. Spock, where the hell are you? His heart gave a painful squeeze as he acknowledged the Vulcan. He desperately wanted to get back to the ship, but more importantly to his T'hy'la. He needed him. Sure, that wasn't the most elegant way to put it, but Jim wasn't known for elegance.

He recalled the fight they were having before they left. He made accusations at Spock and belittled him in his fit of anticipation and dread. He smacked his head and let out a gusty sigh. "Damn, I'm an idiot," he murmured to himself.

He heard the clanking of boots underneath him before he saw the top of Jayce's fin head, only able to identify him by the weapon in his hand.

"I know you're around here somewhere Jimmy boy," the shark said aloud.

"I can smell you," he added in a husky drunken tone.

Jayce then followed the faint scent of the bloodied shirts, never even giving the ceiling the faintest look.

Jim let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding in. As quietly as he could, he crawled along the vent in the opposite direction of his torturer. He came to a fork in the system and took the closest path.

Almost immediately he regretted it. The path he took was filled to the brim with dust and grime. This was possibly an older part of the ship and that was a plus, considering no one probably came around where he was.

At the other end of the ship, a loud disgruntled yell could be heard along with what were probably curses in a foreign tongue.

Oh shit. He found the shirt, Kirk thought as he crawled into a narrower tube that was like a cave in every sense of the word, minus the stalactites and stalagmites.

Jim was crawling too fast as he tried to remember the last turn he'd taken, it was all starting to look the same. He miss-stepped and wound up falling through an opening that didn't have a cover. He clamped his mouth shut after the slightest yelp escaped at the impact.

He'd crashed onto the floor on his back and heard something thud that was only made louder by the echoing hall. Luckily it was one of the lower tubes he was dispensed from…

He let out a groan as he rolled over. His messy hair swished as he shook his head and caught sight of something grinning back at him.

No. Fucking. Way. In. Hell.

"Found you," Jayce practically sang with a wicked grin.

Jim's blue eyes expanded as he let out a gasp and booked it in the opposite direction despite his protesting back. He stumbled but his agility was better than the Shark's.

He sprinted down the next corridor only to get tripped up by a wire set as a trap and landed flat on his face.

Fuck that hurt. What an asshole! That was totally cheating, Jim thought while trying to get up.

His ankle was grabbed by the aquatic creature and Jim tried with all his might to kick and flail free of the predator that had caught hold of him.

"Fuck no! Let me go you asshole! You cheating bastard sonuvabitch!" he yelled out as his nails scraped against the floor in a sound reminiscent of nails to a chalkboard. Freeing his legs, he landed a kick to Jayce's jaw and was rewarded with a sickening crack.

The shark reeled back, releasing the other leg as he held his face and let out a yowl of pain. However, the yell slowly morphed into a growl as he stalked after the running man. Jim looked back as he ran only to see Jayce was gone.

Undaunted, he continued forward until the shark jumped out at him like something from an old horror movie.

Jim skidded to a halt and backtracked.

He was tired, on the verge of collapse, but he continued this ridiculous game in hopes of possibly getting a break. It was useless, but that didn't stop him. He didn't believe in no win scenarios.

Turning around, he pushed his muscles beyond their usual use. Jayce was, surprisingly, beginning to tire as well.

A light sheen of sweat covered Jim's body as he twisted down another hall only to be confronted with a dead end.

Physics would predict by the speed Jim was going, it was inevitable that his face would meet the wall. Well, Physics won that bet. He crumpled to the floor on impact and exhaustion started to ebb in his body, just as Jayce rounded on him like a predator.

The muscles in the Captain's body gave a hard twitch as he was dragged across the floor and into another room. He still shouted, but it was ignored, his thrashing limbs now in the clutch of razor sharp claws.

Jim was hauled up and shoved onto a hard slab of a table. He went to kick but his bad ankle was caught and twisted slightly, making him yell out profanities

He was turned onto his stomach and strapped down. Always with the binding, chains, meta, straps, leather, shackles, all things meant to disable him.

He was brought out of his thoughts as there was a rough caress that trailed up his back before it was replaced with the crack of the whip.

Jim's scream was surely heard throughout the whole ship. The tool of torture was as deceitful as the owner. The small round tips had produced spikes that dug into Jim's back, biting at his flesh as a jolt went straight to his spinal cord.

Then the spikes were ripped free, pulling chunks of flesh out with them and Jim heard the pieces sloppily hit the floor through all the noise he was making.

"Damn shame Jimmy boy," Jayce murmured as he repeated the action. Red ribbons spurted from Jim's back as it was flung back again after sending an even more painful shock.

It stilled for a moment, as something wet came in contact with his skin before the pain of something razor sharp on in his skin replaced the feeling.

"Get OFF of me!" he yelled out, trying to move though it was useless due to the restraints.

"Why should I? Dirty boys like you deserve punishment. The things you do under the Federation's nose. You practically get away with murder. And for what? Because of the fact that your daddy died honorably and you never knew him? You were the perfect tool to be a Captain. What would George think of you now? Would he be proud of a son that got himself into such a situation all because he didn't listen to his First Officer? Not to mention the fact he's sleeping with him," He said in Jim's ear.

Jim squeezed his eyes shut at the mention of his Father's name.

"Don't talk about my father. Or Spock. They have nothing to do with this," he ground out through the pain.

"On the contrary Jimmy. They make you squirm. Apparently just saying old daddy's name gets you riled up. I wonder what would happen if I mentioned how terrible he was at being a captain?" Jayce continued while stepping back.

Before Jim could retort with anything he was sent into another wave of pain as the whip cracked again and dug into his skin.

A shudder ran through his entire frame as he twitched uncontrollably.

"You don't know anything about my father. He saved my life," Jim ground out as the smallest sound of a whimper escaped his throat.

The crackle of the deadly energy became a part of him once more and flowed through him, echoing off the empty walls. His eyes squeezed shut as tears sprung to the corners, but he blinked them back and gritted his teeth.

"Why can't you just give it up already? Hmm?" Jayce asked

"Not on your fucking life," Jim spat back, but despite the rebuttal he began to wonder…

Chest heaving with every deep erratic breath he took, he began to try and think through the pain. What was the point of fighting anymore if all he was going to do was be reduced to nothing but skin and bones? He hoped Spock would come soon, but that thought was slowly starting to fade along with his will.

With another painful shout, blood oozed down and spilled onto the floor as the electric flow was upped, creating a river that dripped into a gutter, before his skin was spliced and fried once more.

After that he blacked out.

***

Spock stood with his hand folded behind his back. They were starting to turn into clenched fists from the rather extensive conversation he'd been having with Admiral Fitzgerald.

Spock was beginning to see how Jim easily came to illogical conclusions about Starfleet being against him.

"I do not understand why we would cease searching for the captain considering the fact that he is still missing," Spock replied, his eyes showing the faintest glint frustration from this run-around he'd had with the admiral.

"Spock, it has been two months already. If he hasn't been found by now, we can't keep up this ridiculous charade that he will be found eventually. The Enterprise has other missions to fulfill other finding a lost Captain," he answered, frowning a bit at the Vulcan.

Spock raised a brow before slowly rounding on the Admiral. "The exact words of Starfleet were, and I quote; 'We will not rest until we find Captain James T. Kirk. He is one of our best Captains and we will see to it that we get him back. The Enterprise will have no further assignments until the Captain is found."

The Vulcan's head tilted upward slightly, giving his stoic face an air of condescension.

Before he continued he stepped closer, noting that Jim had done it at time in a method of intimidation. "Seeing as I am second in command, now first, it is my duty to see to it that we retrieve the Captain and return him safely to his rightful position. Surely Starfleet is not retracting their public wide announcement that assured many the Captain would be found?"

The admiral's eyes widened marginally as his mouth did a series of openings and closings like an animal out of water.

He was flabbergasted to say the least. "Well, uh we…"

"You what, sir? You were planning on stranding a Captain in the middle of space and leave him in enemy hands? The fact that only two months has passed is what is preventing the further search for Captain Kirk? This is highly illogical," He continued, his eyes squinting slightly, an action which Jim had deciphered as Spock's silent way of showing he was angry.

Fitzgerald gave a hearty sigh and ran a hand through his silvered hair. Walking over to his desk, he picked up a PADD and started writing.

Spock raised both brows as he waited for a response. "You're gonna' get me in a lot of trouble if you don't do this right."

"To what are you referring, sir?" he asked, a brow shooting skyward.

"If you want to get Kirk back, the most I can give you is another month unless you find evidence. That will be able to extend the length of time you have to search for him."

"Yes, I am quite aware of the regulations, but what is it that could, get you into trouble, as you say, if I do not perform the task adequately?"

"If you described the aliens that took Jim and their vessel correctly, then we have data on them. The only problem is that it's classified. So I can't exactly give it to you."

"Then the only possible means for me to obtain this would be to steal it?"

"Yes."

A brow quirked as Spock came to his conclusion. "I see."

With a nod, the Admiral wrote a room number down on the data pad and handed it to Spock.

"Everything you need to know on how to access the information is in there, including maps on how to get to such a place. I suggest you take extra caution considering that this goes against everything we should be doing right now."

Spock inclined his head slightly in understanding.

"I will see to it that I leave no trail behind that will be traced back to you, Admiral. Indeed, at possibility of capture I will turn myself into the proper authorities," he responded quietly, his face never changing.

With another inclination of his head, the Admiral saw Spock to the door and returned to his desk shaking his head and wondering what on Earth he'd just done.

Spock reviewed the data pad and went en route to retrieve the information he needed.

Traveling the long hallway, he went through a series of doors which the map had directed him to. Finally, he arrived at the desired entrance.

Scrolling to the next page on the digital paper, he observed the information until pausing at the proper override code for the door. He rattled out the numbers in neutral tones before the silver door whooshed open.

Looking around, he realized that the sheer amount of filing cases hindered his knowledge on where to start. It would appear that the entirety of the room was used to hold classified information, had Spock been completely human, sheer curiosity may have caused him to wonder upon how many more rooms there were like this in the confines of Starfleet.

Spock looked over the PADD an additional time and efficiently deciphered the location of the information he sought.

Unfortunately, it wasn't as lengthy and extensive as he had predicted. He efficiently copied all of the information to the PADD before calmly placing the items back to their proper places and getting himself back to the Enterprise to continue his search for Jim.

Spock would not rest until he found his beloved Captain. Luckily, he now had the right tools to do so and a list of locations where the shark like creatures' ships rested on occasion.

With a bit of hope, he returned to the ship and took command, giving Chekov the coordinates for the first stop on the short list.

I will get you back T'hy'la, he thought to himself as he settled into the Captain's chair.

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A/N: Hope you liked it. Reviews much appreciated, along with reading.