Sorry, short chapter, but... school. Ick.


DISCLAIMER: Nope, still not mine.


Chapter Ten-

Between

"So the good news for you two nutjobs: no major poisoning."

I let out a breath.

True to our word, Chekov- um, Pavel and I really had headed to the medbay to get checkups.

Bones had greeted us with an exasperated look, then told us to take a seat, all the other engineers had come and gone already.

We had both hastily made our arguments about why we didn't come sooner, but Bones just stuck a needle in both of our arms and plopped a reader on our faces as he shook his head.

I knew Ch-Pavel was just as glad as I was to hear his report, though.

"However…"

I groaned. Of course.

"You both have to take these for the next three weeks." Bones held out two bottles of jade-colored pills. "The radiation you both sustained isn't enough to pose immediate or severe long-term damage, but if the levels are left untreated, it could cause some harm. These'll take care of the leftovers- so long as you two dumbasses don't get caught near the danger zone again."

Pavel took the bottle out of his hand with a nod.

I rolled my eyes, but reached for it, too.

He pulled it back quickly. "I don't have your results back yet- I still have about two more hours on them. No allergies that you know of?"

I thought back. "Chlorahexadin and sulfur. That's it, though."

He nodded, handing back the bottle. "I'll make sure to avoid that for you."

"Thanks- prefer not to have blisters again."

Both boys shot me a quizzical look.

"Sulfur in a face scrub, embarrassing eighth grade photo- just, don't ask!"

Bones nodded again, that time with a bit of sympathy, as Pavel smiled embarrassedly.

"So, given that the engineering bay is gonna be off-limits for the next few hours," Bones began after a few moments of awkward silence, "I say you two should rest up or go get something from the cafeteria." He looked towards Pavel. "Given that someone has a habit of skipping meals. Take it from a doctor: that isn't good for you, Chekov."

"Guilty of the same," I admitted, sliding off the bed and pulling my... friend? with me. "Come on. We could both do with something to eat."

He waited till we were out of earshot to complain, "But I don't like the artificial food!"

"Too bad, we both have to eat!"

He laughed quietly. "You are very stubborn, Miss Song."

"So are you! Shut up!"

He chuckled again. We had been doing a lot of that lately, hadn't we? Anyway, it made me smile a bit when I made him laugh. Distracted me from everything else that was going on.

My mood darkened.

Distracted me from the real reason I was here.

To find Harrison. To make him pay for what had happened to Chris because of what he did.

No, Gem. No matter how much you want to be friends with this boy- with the only other prodigy you've ever met, one of the only people you feel like could understand you once he hears who you really are- you can't.

Besides, he'd never hear from you again after this. "Emerson Son.g" would go back to being dead. He'd be a bit sad if he ever looked her up, but he'd get over it.

He would never know he had become friends with Gemini, anyway.

Lie (lī/): noun. An intentionally false statement.

It was just another lie.

Then the Padd hooked to my waist binged.

I saw Pavel reach for his, too, but grimace instead. "I left mine in the room."

"Nope, I still have yours," I sighed as I realized the Padd in my hands wasn't mine. I handed it over to him. "Mine got left behind. Jeez, that's gonna be some good paperwork…"

He smiled apologetically, but leaned over. "You can hear the memo off of mine, if you want."

I nodded my thanks, then we both leaned over the screen.

A small screen popped up, showing a man I vaguely remembered making an announcement declaring himself 'acting captain Sulu'.

He announced himself again as that, then continued onto the message.

"A general warning announcement to all members of the crew: Mister Harrison has been apprehended by our team."

My breath caught.

They did it.

They caught Harrison.

"He will be brought on board shortly. Thank you for your time. Sulu out."

Pavel nodded next to me, and I subconsciously handed his Padd back.

He was about to be here.

The man who killed my guardian.

Was I ready to see him?

Was I ready to be on the same ship as him?

Was it a good idea to have even come?

"Emerson… Emerson…"

It took me an embarrassingly long time to remember that I wasn't Gemini anymore.

"What?"

Pavel smiled at me weakly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I stuttered hastily. "Um… ya know, I think I forgot something up in my room. I'll meet you in the cafeteria, okay? It may be a few minutes, but I swear I'm coming."

He nodded. "Alright."

I let out a quiet breath. I had no idea how I was gonna do this- or even what 'this' was. But I knew that I had to let Pavel think I was doing something else. I couldn't have him know who I was or what I was here for.

But after a few steps, he hesitated. "You are going to attempt to find Harrison when he comes on board, aren't you?"

"No," I corrected quickly. "I just wanted to grab something I left up in my room."

"You haven't gone to your room yet," he reminded reluctantly- almost as if he wanted to believe the lie I told him. "I remember how long it takes for the last-minute exam. You would've had to come directly to the Engineering bay after that to have been there by the time you were."

I winced. Oops.

"I figured," he sighed. There was a pause before he continued. "I really should report you."

I felt my throat dry, but tried to remain composed. "Should or will?"

"Should."

Something in my chest warmed. He wasn't gonna report me. He knew what I was doing, and he wasn't gonna report me.

"If you aren't back to the cafeteria in twenty minutes, I won't have a choice about it," he reminded slowly. "But… I will come check on you before that. See you in a bit, Emerson."

With that, he kept going towards the cafe, whistling and pretending he didn't know I was practically committing treason.

Well, even what he knew was a lot less than I actually had done.

"I hope you will be there!" He called over his shoulder.

"I hope I will, too," I whispered.

Then I turned in the opposite way, towards the brig.

Towards Harrison.

I didn't know it then, but I each step I took then decided a bit more of my fate, pulling me further from the life I knew… and closer to a world I had never imagined.