No. 14 Die a hero or live long enough to become a villain (desperate measures)
TW: beheading, violence
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He wanted to get out. He needed to get out.
Keenser grunted in pain. His head was still aching from being knocked out and standing without swaying was a huge effort.
He glared at the man who had locked him and the other crewmen up.
It was supposed to be a visit at a festivity. Kirk couldn't have known that the inhabitants would take his officers and himself prisoners. For if he had, he wouldn't have accepted the invite.
"This is against Federation's law! Let us go!" Keenser heard him protest but the Wardians didn't seem to care.
They opened the cell Keenser was in and one of the huge orange-skinned inhabitants pulled him out.
He tried his best to break free from the grip but it was no use.
Keenser could see another cell being opened. Scotty was forcefully dragged out of it, kicking and screaming.
"Oi! Let go of me, ye stupid bastard!"
But the guard didn't listen. The other crewmates had to watch helplessly as Keenser and Scotty were taken away.
Keenser was blinded by the bright sunlight that hit his eyes as the two engineers were brought into what looked like an arena.
"The red ones next!" He heard an inhabitant yell. The crowd was cheering and applauding.
Keenser couldn't do anything. He and Scotty were tied to some sort of stretchers.
Strange wires were wrapped around their limbs and neck.
"Who shall decide!" The familiar voice which had presented the two of them called out.
Keenser felt his heart racing. What was happening? What were they planning to do?
The voices of the crowd didn't seem to agree at first but eventually a choice was made.
"The green one."
He grunted and whimpered, fighting against his chains. But it didn't help.
Keenser looked up at the guard who had brought him outside. He grinned at him with these sharp red teeth.
"Decide."
What? What should he decide?
Keenser stared at him with wide eyes, then his gaze moved over to Scotty.
The human didn't seem to understand what was happening either.
"You. Or him."
Keenser shook his head. What would they do if he…
His eyes widened in horror as he saw something in the distance.
A head with dark hair. Torn of limbs. A golden shirt.
He remembered how they had taken two of his friends away earlier.
Chekov. Sulu.
Keenser's stomach dropped. He wanted to throw up.
No… no…
"You. Or him," the guard repeated his words.
Keenser could feel tears in his eyes. He wasn't ready. He wasn't ready to die.
But what was the other option?
One word. Just one word and he would kill his best friend.
Scotty was still trying to break free. He didn't even look at Keenser. He was only focused on getting them out of this place.
"You. Or him."
Keenser was breathing way too fast. His heart was running a marathon. He couldn't decide!
A memory filled his head. The first time he had met Scotty.
It had been so cold on Delta Vega. He had been lonely. And then Scotty had arrived. A ray of light in the darkness.
He had asked him about a Lt. Keenser…
And the Roylan had said only one word back then.
His body was trembling as he slowly opened his mouth to repeat it.
He looked at Scotty, a small smile on his face.
That crazy Scotsman… had made his life a better one. Who would he be if he killed his savior?
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
"Me."