The Devil's Defense

by wild-springflower

He'd thought he would be in the clear. He'd thought they could finally be done with the hellish topic and move on, but really, when had life ever been so kind? So now Jim was sitting, hands poised over his PAD, wondering just what exactly one could type into a search engine to find compelling arguments defending Governor Kodos' actions on Tarsus IV. (Academy Era)

4. Chapter 4

"So," McCoy began conversationally, flopping tiredly into a seat next to Jim at the dining table.

It had been two days since their tense conversation about Jim's assignment. The kid had barely eaten anything since. Even at that moment Jim was just absentmindedly pushing his food around his plate, a trick that would have made it look like he had consumed some sustenance had McCoy's eye not been keener.

"You ready for the debate tomorrow? I'm tellin' ya, it's the topic on everyone's lips right now. Because it's so controversial, everyone who can make it is planning to go, even some other professors. This is probably going to be the biggest debate in the history of the academy."

Jim inwardly groaned. "Great." The single word was drawn out and stated in such a way, Leonard could tell Jim's opinion on the matter was anything but.

"How's your side of the debate going?"

Jim dropped his fork with a loud clank against his plate and shot McCoy a glare that clearly read: 'How do you think it's going?'

"But you do have a point to argue, right?"

"Oh I have a point." The oh-so-normal words sounded eerily ominous coming from the young cadet's mouth.

McCoy fixed Jim with a wary glance, not quite catching the message hidden behind his words. A promise of sorts. "Well as long as you finished the assignment. You know how stupidly important they are for your final grade."

Jim just nodded his head once. His eyes darted back to the still full plate of food in front of him and, picking up his fork, he began to push the food around once again.

With a sigh and the resigned knowledge that he honestly couldn't help Jim if the kid didn't let him in, Leonard retreated back to his bedroom to continue studying.

Jim's ice cold glare remained centered on a burn in table in front of him, but his mind was far away. McCoy's worries were definitely based in reality; even missing one of the end of chapter assignments could be severely damaging to a cadet's final grade. But Jim hadn't lied to his friend; he did have a point to make during the debate. It just wasn't the point Krestridge would be expecting.

A/N: Sorry this chapter is so stupidly short, but I felt it was necessary for the overall evolution of the story. I'll post the next chapter tomorrow!