Jim groaned, trying to crawl his way back to consciousness. Since the prison break in, he had been drugged, dragged, and beaten. His head was pounding painfully, and it hurt to move.
Get up¸ he told himself. You have to get out of here.
Jim bit his lip and pushed up to his hands and knees.
"Stay down," someone barked, kicking him in the ribs.
Jim collapsed back to the ground and coughed. He felt sick to his stomach and would have given anything to feel the sharp stab of a hypospray from Bones. He listened to the voices and movement around him. They were preparing for something, and Jim knew he would have a starring role in it.
He cleared his throat. "Wait. Listen to me. You don't need to do this. All of the factions are gathering for negotiations. Your voices can be heard."
A voice near him spoke up. "We don't need your advice, Captain. We're not interested in peace. Now, please stay quiet, or we'll be forced to sedate you again."
Jim cursed under his breath and tried to get his bearings. "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing, Captain. You won't have to do a thing."
"So, you're going to kill me. That won't further anyone's cause! I was already imprisoned; what purpose will killing me serve?"
"Oh, you let us worry about that, Captain."
When Jim tried to get up again, a blow landed to his head. He was awake just long enough to feel someone binding his wrists together behind his back before darkness claimed him.
Claudia watched as Leonard paced back and forth. "We'll find him. There are a lot of good people searching for Jim."
"I know. I just ... I need to ... I don't know. I can't stay still. I need to help."
Claudia's heart went out to him. "I know. I wish I could help, too."
Leonard smiled. "You are. You're keeping me from running off and searching for him recklessly."
She was glad to see him still able to make jokes. "What did you talk about last night?"
Leonard shrugged. "Whole lotta nothing. Funny the way that happens, isn't it? But ... It didn't matter. We were just happy to be able to talk to each other. We did talk a lot about plans for leave. Jim promised to take me home to Georgia." He shivered. "Of course, all that's for nothing if we can't find him."
"They'll find him."
He stopped his pacing and wiped his eyes. "This can't be happening."
"Breathe, Leonard."
"He could be dead," McCoy whispered.
Claudia stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know that isn't going to help. We can't think about what might be. And Jim is most likely far too valuable to kill."
He looked up at her with wide, wet hazel eyes. "Do you love someone?"
She was taken aback for a moment. "Yes. And I would be no less distraught than you if anything happened to her." She let her hand move from his shoulder down to his fingers and gripped his hand firmly. "I can't do anything to make Jim appear. But we can wait this out together. You're not alone."
Leonard sat down, and she followed him, wrapping an arm around his convulsing shoulders. "But Jim might be. He's hurt, and … God only knows what they might be doing."
"Listen to me. You can't think like that. You can't. You'll drive yourself insane."
"I don't know what to do …"
"You need to breathe. You need to focus on positive thoughts and remember all the people that are doing everything they can to find Jim."
"I need to stay sane so that I can beam down when they need me."
Claudia nodded. "That too. Let's just keep with the breathing for now."
Spock was perplexed when a comm interrupted the peace talks.
Pike smiled winningly at the Yivahens. "I apologize for the interruption." He pressed a button. "Pike here."
"Admiral, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's a signal coming from the planet. It's – they have Kirk," Uhura stated.
Spock watched the Admiral debate, fleeting emotions flickering across his face. "Have they made demands?"
"No, sir."
"Can we locate the source?"
"Not yet, sir. It's being blocked somehow."
Minister Zacorta rose to his feet. "Admiral Pike, is Captain Kirk all right? Can we help?"
"Admiral, the signal is being broadcast to all over the planet. All of Yivahen can see it," Uhura added.
Pike sighed. "Route it through here, Lieutenant."
The screen at the front of the conference room switched to a video feed. There was a group of armed Yivahens standing around a form crumpled on the ground. Even in the poor lighting, Spock was able to identify his captain.
"We know that many of you have been told the lie that there are currently peace talks occurring between all of the factions," one of the Yivahens was saying. "But not all voices were welcomed at these talks. We were denied the opportunity to say our piece. So, we are taking a stand in this manner instead.
"We find ourselves in opposition to those who refuse to alter the laws of old out of a so-called respect for tradition. The idea that a Ploplam is more important than humanoid life is outrageous –"
Jim coughed, and the speaker paused. She was about to continue, when Jim interrupted again. "No – not true! They're not progressives; they're anarchists. All are welcome at the peace talks, but they refused –"
A figured stepped forward, kicking Jim viciously until he was silenced.
Spock heard gasps of horror around him.
The speaker finally continued. "We are therefore going to make an example, since we have not been listened to. This is the great Captain Kirk, who was sentenced to prison for saving his friend's life. And now, he is going to serve as an icon for the cause to listen to reason, instead of blindly following tradition."
Spock's eyes widened as the view changed to reveal a Plopam in the room.
The conference room exploded in cries of shock and outrage.
Spock quickly deduced their plan as they dragged Kirk – whose hands and feet were bound – over to the creature.
"Uhura, do we have their location?" Pike demanded over the noise.
"No, sir, the signal is still being blocked."
"See what you think when you watch an innocent man being eaten by a monster, and then try to tell us that tradition is more valuable than his life," the speaker concluded before stepping out of view.
"Where did they acquire the creature?" Spock asked.
Zacorta's pastel green skin had turned a sickly blue. "There were a few that were never accounted for once they were declared protected. And they can live for many, many years …"
"I'm afraid we will have to cut our session short," Pike informed the Yivahens. "If you have any resources that can help us locate Captain Kirk, please contact them immediately." He locked eyes with Spock. "Bridge."
Jim moaned weakly, trying to come back to his senses. He still knew what was happening, knew he was being made an example of. He tried to move his limbs, but they were bound fast.
What are they doing?
He heard something moving behind him, but he didn't have any energy to react. He heard a low growl before something latched onto his feet.
Jim's eyes shot open and took in the sight behind him. A Ploplam – slightly smaller than the one that had tried to eat Bones – was lazily swallowing his feet. Jim forced himself to stay calm. "This is all a lie," he said to whoever was listening to the broadcast. "They're not progressives; they're anarchists. This doesn't prove any point other than they want to destroy any chance at peace."
He looked around the room, but his captors had retreated into the shadows. He shook his head in an attempt to clear it and tried to wiggle his feet free. The Plopam reacted by sucking him in up to just above his ankles. It was clearly in no hurry.
"This won't solve anything," Jim shouted to his captors. "Whatever you're trying to accomplish, you're only hurting your cause. If they heard your message, they also heard mine. End this now, and you can still have a way out –" His voice cracked as he slid along the floor, having been pulled further into the mouth. Bones, please, don't watch this. He forced himself to keep talking, describing how the Federation would react to his death. But if they could even hear him, they gave no reaction at all.
Chris tried to remain calm as the bridge crew worked frantically to locate the source of the signal and find Jim.
"Admiral, an away team is ready to beam down the moment we have located the Captain," Spock informed him.
"Go to the transporter room, Commander. I want you down there."
"Yes, sir." Spock turned crisply and left the bridge.
Chris looked up as the doors opened a moment later. Security personnel had been assigned to all of the Yivahens on board, and Lieutenant Fulton led a nervous-looking female onto the bridge.
"Admiral, Minister Bemott insisted on speaking with you."
Pike stood and nodded. "How can I help, Minister?"
"I think I can help you, Admiral. I have worked with Plopams both in captivity and in the wild. Once you have located Captain Kirk, I believe I can assist with retrieving him."
Pike raised an eyebrow. "You know how to get it to regurgitate."
"Yes, Admiral."
Pike nodded. "Very well. We appreciate the assistance. Lieutenant, please escort Minister Bemott to the transporter room."
"Yes, sir."
Chris watched them leave and tried not to focus on the video feed on the main screen. Kirk was still keeping a level head, trying to negotiate and giving as much information about his surroundings as possible. Unfortunately, none of it was useful to devising his location.
"Admiral?" Uhura said quietly.
"Yes, Lieutenant." His eyes had drifted towards the screen again, and he was thankful for the excuse to look away.
"Should someone tell McCoy?"
Pike shook his head. "This would be unbearable for him to see."
"I know, sir, but … he could be useful on the rescue team. If this gets much worse, Kirk is going to need support, especially if the extraction takes some time."
"And if the worst should happen?"
"Then he'll want to see the feed at some point. Because I'm sure Kirk will say something to him."
Pike sighed. It made him sick to his stomach, but he knew she was right. If Dolan could keep him sane, McCoy could help Kirk recover from the ordeal. "Do it."
Leonard and Claudia both looked up as Uhura's face appeared on the vid screen. They could hear near-chaos going on behind her.
"What's going on? Did you find Jim?" Leonard demanded.
"Leonard … we have found Jim. The people who grabbed him are broadcasting a vid feed to the entire planet. We picked it up, but we haven't been able to find the source yet. They're anarchists who are trying to disrupt the peace talks."
Leonard swallowed with difficulty. "What are they doing to him?"
"They have a Plopam."
Leonard was vaguely aware that he was emptying his stomach onto the floor. He could distantly hear Claudia arguing with Uhura – something about Pike.
"Leonard, Jim is going to need you. We'll find him. If you can do this, go the transporter room to join the away team." Then Uhura's face disappeared and was replaced with a vid of Jim slowly being eaten by the gigantic slug – Leonard's worst nightmare.
"JIM!"
"Leonard, listen to me!" Claudia shouted, shaking his shoulders gently. "Leonard, calm down. They're going to find him, and Uhura is right. He's going to need you. Just like you needed him. You're the only one in the universe who knows what Jim's going through right now."
"But … how will they get him out?"
"Uhura says they have an expert who can help with that."
An odd calm – or shock – settled over Leonard. He didn't know how he would have gotten through the ordeal if Jim hadn't been there for him. Whatever happened, he needed to be there for Jim.
"I'm okay," he murmured, wiping his mouth. "Let's go. Just … help me be there for him."
Claudia locked eyes with him and nodded.
Leonard took a few deep breaths and let Claudia take his arm as they walked together to the transporter room.
It was completely silent. Spock nodded briefly at their presence, but all other eyes remained fixed on the screen.
Jim was knee deep inside the creature and struggling futilely. Leonard felt himself start to panic, but Claudia squeezed his hand firmly.
He closed his eyes for a moment, counting his breaths. When he opened them again, he forced himself to medically assess Jim. He definitely had at least a concussion, from the bruises and unfocused gaze. He also looked unnaturally flushed, probably reacted badly to something his captors had given him to subdue him.
When the slug swallowed again, its lips going over Jim's knees, something snapped inside Jim. His struggles became more desperate. "Don't do this! Let me go! This was all a mistake, and it wasn't an accident! The transporter was sabotaged on purpose." He pulled viciously at the restraints holding his wrists behind his back. "Argh, LET GO! "
Leonard felt tears creeping down his face. The crew around him was shifting nervously.
"If anyone is uncomfortable, you may be excused from this mission," Spock's voice interrupted suddenly.
Leonard couldn't imagine anyone being comfortable with what was happening, but no one moved. They all wanted to help their captain. Claudia's grip on his arm was becoming almost painful. He didn't need to look at her to know that she was staring at the screen, just as terrified and transfixed as everyone else.
Jim's cries became higher pitched and more desperate. Leonard was thankful that someone on the bridge patched through the audio of the crew; it gave them all a sense of everything that was being done to find Jim. Leonard forced himself to keep breathing, waiting for the moment they would beam down and rescue him.
"BONES! Bones, shit, I'm sorry if you're watching this, but I love you!"
Leonard closed his eyes; his knees nearly buckled.
"Doctor McCoy, perhaps you should –"
Leonard opened his eyes and gripped Spock's arm. "No. I have to stay."
"I've got it!" Chekov's voice cut through the noise.
"Prepare to energize," Spock snapped as everyone got back into position.
Leonard squeezed Claudia's hand one final time before she stepped off the pad. He gripped the medical kit he had grabbed more tightly.
"Energize."
As soon as they materialized, Spock began barking orders to attack the anarchists. Phaser fire exchanged, and he noted that he could hear his Captain's panicked shouts above the noise.
The kidnappers that avoided phaser fire charged forward, engaging the Enterprise crew hand to hand. Spock managed to keep his balance as Doctor McCoy shoved his way through the fray to Kirk's side. He fended off his attacker long enough to grab him by the neck and pinch the appropriate nerve to render him unconscious.
Looking around quickly, the anarchists were subdued one by one. He gave orders to Lieutenant Fulton to secure the prisoners for transport before escorting Minister Bemott towards the Plopam.
Kirk was still yelling, despite McCoy trying to calm him and assure him that they would free him from the creature. He was pleased to see that Doctor McCoy appeared to be handling the situation appropriately.
"Commander, I believe I will require assistance," Bemott said softly.
"Of course, Minister. How can I be of assistance?"
They walked toward the tail of the creature, while everyone else wisely stayed back.
"If we can stimulate the correct glands and muscles, we can trigger the reflex to regurgitate," she explained, running her hands over the large body. She prodded around and was not alarmed when the creature moved and slid under her. "Here, I need you to press here, Commander."
Spock nodded and follow her example, pressing into the Plopam's scaly flesh.
"Good. Keep that pressure there. Hopefully, this won't take long."
Jim knew logically that he needed to believe what Bones was telling him – that they would free him, and he wasn't going to be eaten.
But it was hard to think about that when he was halfway in its mouth and covered in saliva up to his waist.
Bones had his arms around Jim, holding him tight, assuring him that if the creature somehow did manage to swallow him, that Bones would follow right afterwards and get him out.
Jim felt something wrapping around his ankle and thrashed against his bonds and the Plopam's suction.
"Easy, Jim. S'okay. We'll have you out in a minute."
"It's fucking eating me, Bones! You know what this is like!"
Bones tightened his grip. "I know, darlin'. I understand. I want you to stay still, but you scream as much as you want, Jim. It's all right."
And Jim did just that; it felt better than trying to hold that massive terror inside. When he stopped to gather breath, he realized his body was moving – forward this time.
"They did it, darlin'. Easy now. I've got you."
Jim closed his eyes as Bones eased him out of the mouth and cut the bonds holding his wrists. He squirmed. "Bones, the tongue!"
"I got it, Jim."
Jim kept his eyes shut as Bones untangled the tongue and cut the restraints on his ankles. For the first time in far too long, he wrapped his arms around Bones without anything between them.
"I gotcha, Jim. I gotcha, shhh. You're gonna be all right."
Jim tried to choke back the sobs as Bones spoke quietly with Spock to make arrangements for transport.
"Bones?"
"What is it, darlin'?"
"That … thing," he gasped. "The slug. What will happen to it?"
"They're gonna make sure it never harms anyone, Jim. Spock will take care of it."
Jim shivered and nodded, burrowing more thoroughly into Bones's embrace as he waited for the transporter to take him home.
Chris smiled as he listened to the different factions of Yivahens debate in a civilized manner about how to reform their government and heal the damage done to their capitol.
He knew that Jim was also listening in. M'Benga hadn't cleared him for anything more than light duty, but he was permitted to have a vid feed of the conference.
Yivahen authorities had taken the anarchists into custody; they would have to wait until the new Council was formed before they could be tried. Pike wasn't terribly sorry about their additional jail time.
The Woodland officials had collected the Plopam, treated it for malnutrition, and then released it back into the protected land. The anarchists may have had an effect after all, since voices were now much more reasonable when discussing the laws about Plopams. Seeing a man nearly eaten alive will do that to you, he thought.
Chris looked down at the PADD in front him as a message appeared on it.
Encourage Bemott to speak up. She knows a lot more about Plopams than she's saying. I think she's just nervous. – JTK
Chris rolled his eyes subtly. "Excuse me, Minister Bemott, would you mind giving us your perspective on the matter?"
Bemott bobbed her head and then began to speak.
Chris silenced a chuckle. Jim Kirk – always getting into the middle of everything.
To be concluded ...
