Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek 2009 or anything else connected to the Star Trek franchise.
Warnings:
Slash Spock/Kirk
Mentions of rape
Swearing
AU fic
POSSESSED
Chapter 8 – Makings
Pike motioned for them to stay back where they couldn't be seen as they reached the holding cells. The General had volunteered to take the lead while Archer and Barnett had stayed back to read through the documents Jim had given them.
He and Bones followed the General down to the cells, ignoring the whole fact that he was supposed to be confined to quarters. Jim had to confirm if what he thought was true and Bones had no intention of leaving his side, still worried about his health. Not that the doctor would admit to it, of course.
The holding cells were bright; walls a sterile white, cool air whispering over their skin. Jim shivered in the overly clinical atmosphere, glad he didn't have to feel like a lab rat to be poked and prodded behind the two-way flexi-glass walls that fronted the cells. He decided sitting there in a little white box ,not knowing if you were being watched or not, was more horrifying then any dank, dark, vermin-infested dungeon portrayed in horror vids.
Tapping a panel on the side, Pike turned the one-way glass to a two-way view allowing the Vulcan in the cell to see him as well.
"You wanted to speak to a General," Pike said, gaining the cells attention with ease, "I'm General Pike. What do you want to tell me?"
"General Pike," said the Vulcan in a voice Jim would recognize anywhere, "I am Commander Spock of Vulcan. I have come to Earth Base, willingly surrendering to your forces to prevent wrong assumptions being made."
"And what would those assumptions be?" Pike asked plainly, eyebrows rising in question. His voice didn't change from mild conversation, his posture relaxed.
"The human shuttle returning the prisoner Captain James Kirk was not shot down by persons within or sanctioned by the Vulcan military nor the Vulcan High Council," Spock spoke, closer now as he moved to the front of the cell. Jim smiled, picturing him standing tall, hands resting in the small of his back.
"Do you have proof of this?" The general questioned, leaning forwards slightly.
"I have with me a data chip that proves not only this, but also the existence of a third party that has staged attacks that implicate the Vulcan Council in the breaking of treaty agreements between our peoples." The commanders voice was even, but Jim detected a hint of unease as he hoped for the General to believe him.
Pike blinked, rocking on his heels and taking a deep breath before letting it go, "Well, that is an interesting story, Commander. One that, surprisingly, I have heard before; just recently, I might add," He indicated Jim to move forwards so Spock could see him.
"You remember Captain Kirk," Pike said as Jim stepped forwards seeing Spock for the first time in 4 days, "He was your prisoner for the last 3 and a half months, I believe."
Jim almost allowed his jaw to drop, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw Spock light up the moment he saw him, his hand reaching out to the glass, reaching out for him. It was only for a moment, a moment that seemed to stretch out forever, as Jim took in the unbridled emotion consuming Spock's face. Relief, amazement, and surprise were etched in each line of his face, and something Jim couldn't quiet describe shone deep in the brown eyes and played on curved lips.
Pike blinked staring in astonishment at the Vulcan in front of him. In all his years fighting against these people he had never once seen more then a flicker of disdain reflected in their dark eyes. Now this Spock had dropped his control completely caused simply by seeing James Kirk. It was unbelievable.
McCoy could only share his superior's astonishment knowing that if anyone had ever told him they'd seen a Vulcan even twitch near an emotion, he'd have ordered them to have their head examined.
That single moment ended as Spock realized his lost control. Clearing his throat, his hand retreated to rest behind his back once more before he spoke, his expression as impassive as before, "I was lead to believe you had perished in the shuttle on your return to Earth Base."
"Nope," Jim grinned, ignoring the warm feeling settling in his chest as he reigned in his astonishment at Spock emotional display, "Just had a little jaunt across the desert is all. Arrive back here yesterday."
"You walked across the desert forge?" Spock's eyebrows rose as he clarified Jim's statement, decidedly ignoring the General standing silently as he watched the exchange.
"Wasn't so bad, just a little sandy, though I will say the nights can get pretty chilly if I do say so myself," Jim joked, hands finding their way into his pockets as he relaxed into familiar banter.
McCoy refrained from commenting as he watched his friend's whole demeanor change when he spoke to the Vulcan. He had expected some form of hostility, for Jim to close off in the presence of the one who had attacked him so brutally, but it was the complete opposite. The Vulcan commander's momentary lapse in control had betrayed his affection and Jim had done the same as he relaxed into the conversation, completely oblivious to his unconscious reaction.
"Temperatures in the forge are known to drop to an average of 278 degrees kelvin, or 5 degrees Celsius for an easier comparison, during the night hours," Spock informed them, going into what Jim liked to call his lecture mode.
"Why do you not seek out the Askital when they arrived to assist? They would have returned you to ShiKah and we could have contacted Earth base to reattempt the exchange with a full explanation," Spock questioned him before he had a chance to comment on his previous declaration.
"It wasn't really an option," Jim replied sheepishly, running a hand through his hair, "The Romulans were between me and them so I had to run in the opposite direction to escape. I didn't have anyway of signaling either."
Spock's lips tightened minutely as he processed the information, "Romulans, Jim?" he questioned.
"Yeah, the Romulans; they're the ones doing all this," Jim exclaimed, excitement touching his voice, "Did you know that they look almost identical to Vulcans, even I could hardly tell you apart. But they don't hide their emotions all that well," Jim couldn't help feeling pleased being able to tell his co-conspirator of his new findings and theories, "You think they could be decedents from the Vulcans that left when Surak's teaching became wide spread?"
The Vulcan listened intently to the Jim's excited answer nodding as he finished, " The Askital did report the fraction that attacked your shuttle did look similar to our race but did not wear the right uniform. They retreated too quickly for them to get close enough for a chance to capture an insurgent, but your theory seems plausible."
"Spock," Jim grew more serious as he fell into parade rest, questing for more information, "What did the Askital report? What happened after they saw the shuttle attacked?"
Spock's stance seemed to become more ridged at Jim's tone, almost as if he was preparing himself to report to a superior officer, "The Askital lost contact with the Earth shuttle for 5.26 minutes in which the attack occurred. They followed the smoke trail across the desert. Before they reached the site they found a body in the dunes, which was identified as Lieutenant Gerald Miles. He was able to tell the Commanding officer that you were in the rear of the shuttle that broke away from the stern. It is the reason they were delayed in assisting against the rogue fraction as they attacked."
"Miles is...?" Jim asked ,eager to know what had happened to the young Lieutenant he had known from officer training.
The Vulcan's eyes darkened, closing for a moment in resigned sorrow that only Jim could recognize, "He passed 10.76 minutes after he conveyed this information. His injuries were extensive to the point that nothing could be done to preserve his life."
Jim had to take a breath; Bones placing a warm hand on his shoulder as the doctor listened, knowing how Jim felt about loosing a man. Pike nodded in solemn acknowledgment of the soldier's death making, a note to change his status from MIA to deceased.
"The others Spock, are they...?" Jim asked, needing to know the fate of the other soldiers that had come to take him home.
Spock spoke this time to all present, "Colonel Bognart, along with Lieutenants Germe and Willard, were extracted from the shuttle before the control panel ignited. They are recovering from their injuries in the ShiKah citadel hospice. Once they are recovered they will be transferred to an appropriate prisoner of war camp to await the end of the war."
Jim let out a sigh of relief knowing no one else had to die because of him, "That's good to know."
The clearing of a throat stopped Spock from continuing, "What I would like to know is why a Vulcan patrol was trailing the shuttle in the first place?" Pike asked, accusation sliding into his neutral tone.
Jim tried not to cringe under the accusing stare, "They were trailing the shuttle as a precaution," he started to explain.
"A precaution?" Pikes eyebrow rose, demanding answers as to why the Vulcans had actually violated the prisoner exchange treaty, arms folding across his chest.
"It was know to us that this third party was gaining assistance from inside the Vulcan Military, with a 87.6% probability that assistance was being given by a member of the Vulcan High council," Spock spoke up before Jim could continue, "I myself arranged for a Askital of soldiers to trail the human shuttle to within the Earth Base furthest boundary in the event the third party was informed of the true reason behind the prisoner exchange and staged an attack against the shuttle. It was a precaution that become necessary, if not as effective as I had calculated."
"I see," the General did not look satiated in the least, "You do realize, regardless of the intentions behind it, that it was a direct violation against the agreed treaty between our two people?"
"Yet none of your people would have survived the attack had I not," Spock replied, his voice impassive, eyes dark.
"And now you have taken them as prisoners of war," Pike voice betraying frustration. Jim knew he cared a great deal about all the soldiers under his command and to hear one man dead and the rest captured was upsetting.
"Prisoners would be preferable to dead," The Vulcan stated, pointing it out as a simple fact.
"Are you doing anything to find the informant?" Jim cut in before the General could take it any further, knowing they couldn't afford not to have Pike on their side.
"Measures have been taken to ensure the traitor will be caught," Spock nodded, attention returned to Jim, "Incidents of this kind will not occur again."
"Good," Jim nodded, feeling he could trust the rest of the Vulcan Council to uncover the traitor, "Does the council know you're here?"
"Only my father and Lady T'Pau were made aware of my intentions," Spock told him, "It was deemed unnecessary for the majority of the council to know of my actions while the investigations are ongoing."
"So you kept it to the family then," Jim grinned, before his blue eyes darkened and he became serious once more reaching out his hand to brush against the cool glass almost realizing it was there for the first time, forgetting the General and Doctor were still standing silent behind him, "Why did you come Spock? You had to have known you would be caught, confined as a prisoner. You said so yourself that the Generals wouldn't listen to you if you where the one to bring them the information."
"I said the probability was greater that they would listen to you if you brought the information," Spock corrected him, his arm twitched once like he was forcing himself not to reach out, "I had to try; I could not allow your death be the reason for this war to escalate once again. It is not something either of us wanted."
Jim couldn't say anything in return as he took in the Vulcan in front of him, his stance strong and unmovable. Face like sculpted marble, smooth and vacant, but his eyes, his human eyes with irises of dark chocolate betrayed him, and his every emotion.
He withdrew his hand as a cough startled him back into awareness.
"General," he acknowledge, quickly stepping back from the glass.
"If you are done with interrogating the prisoner Captain, I think it best we take the data chip from him and I get back so I can read through these documents everyone keeps mentioning," Pike said, his voice measured, reminding Kirk exactly where he was and the situation they faced.
"Of course, General," Jim nodded, before tapping the panel on the side of the cell, creating an opening in the glass just large enough for a hand to slip through, "Commander, if you would."
Spock nodded, bending down to fiddle with his shoe before straightening with a data chip in his hand. "This is the chip," he stated, arm moving through the opening to place the chip in Jim's open palm, brushing their fingers as he withdrew. A gesture neither General or doctor missed.
Jim tapped the panel once again and the opening melted back into glass, "The chip, General," he said, holding it out for Pike to take, "It should hold the same documents that are stored on the data chip I gave you earlier."
"I would except as much," Pike said, taking it and placing it in a pocket for safekeeping, "I will return to the Generals board and give my report," he said looking to McCoy, "I trust you will return the Captain here to his assigned quarters until a decision can be made on his involvement in all this?"
"Yes, sir," The Doctor replied, snapping a quick salute before grasping Jim's arm.
Jim added his own salute as the General matched down the corridor. He barely got a chance to look back to see Spock standing at the glass watching McCoy pull him away.
POSSESSED
McCoy yanked him down the corridor into his office, shutting the door behind him, his face lined with unguarded fury.
"What the hell was that?!" He demanded, shoving Jim into a chair before striding around his desk, too angry to look at him.
"What was what?" Jim asked, rubbing his arm where McCoy had drug him though the base corridors, confused at why his friend was so angry with him.
"You, back there," McCoy jabbed at him, finally looking at Jim properly now that he had his desk between them, "Do you want Pike to think you're a bloody hobgoblin sympathizer?"
"What the hell do you mean by that?!" Jim exclaimed, straightening from the slouch Bones had pushed him into as he become annoyed at the Doctor's accusation.
"You talking to that pointy-eared bastard like you were friends," McCoy growled, the metal desk rattling as the doctors hands came down hard, "In front of Pike when the council already thinks you might be fucking converted."
"I.." Jim didn't even realize what he'd been doing. It was just how he would normally talk to Spock, he didn't think anything was wrong with that.
"Yesterday you told me you hated him, you wanted to strangle the bastard for what he did to you," McCoy growled, looming over his desk, gray eyes a storm of confusion and fury, "Then I see you today talking to him like a long lost friend, or a fucking lover!"
"I never said I hated him," Jim mumbled, starting to realize what his whole conversation with Spock must have looked like to Pike. Like some sort of conspiracy that he'd become involved in with the Vulcans, like he'd defected from his own people.
"He fucking raped you, and to speak to him like that, you...!" McCoy continued like he hadn't heard him.
"Stop it!" Jim pushed up from his chair eyes blazing, a snarl forming behind his clenched teeth. He really didn't want to go back into this, not after he'd already spilled his soul, "I know what he did to me, but that has nothing to do with this. This is about stopping this freaking war, about stopping more innocents from being killed, about two entire planets; not one person."
"Well it's not looking good on that front either," The Doctor didn't let up, fingers pushing into the hard surface beneath them, his voice set at an angry rumble, "You think they are going to believe you now that Pike's seen you bloody fawning over that Vulcan? You think they're ever going to trust you again?"
"It doesn't matter if they believe me or not its whether they believe the documents; Whether they find these Romulans that are fucking up this war!" Jim shot back, fists clenching an unclenching.
"So you don't care if you're taken out and shot as a bloody traitor?" the doctor growled, eyes glistening with something more then just anger.
"Bones," Jim deflated, finally understanding why Bones was going all crazy at him, "I'm not gonna get shot. Once they read the documents the Generals will understand."
"You can't be sure of that," Bones pushed back off his desk, his growl softening.
"No but I trust that they will," Jim smiled, slouching back into his chair, "Or at least Pike will ,and he'll convince the others."
"You really believe that don't you?" Bones sighed, finding his chair and slumping into it. He leaned forward shuffling through his cupboards, pulling out his whiskey and two glasses, deciding he really needed a drink.
"Just don't do anything stupid until they give you the all clear," he grumbled, deflating slightly as he poured out two glasses, sliding one across the desk towards Jim.
"Don't worry Bones," Jim smiled, grabbing the glass and taking a sip, happy the doctor's angry outburst was just his way of showing he cared, "I can't get into too much trouble when confined to quarters."
"Yeah, well, we gotta find your quarters first," McCoy grumbled, booting up his computer as he sipped his whiskey, grumbling under his breath about stupid oblivious captains. Jim smiled into his glass.
POSSESSED
It had been five days; five ridiculously long days of Jim bored out of his freaking mind. Bones had tried to keep him occupied by bringing him games and puzzles but he found staring at the four off-white walls, a bed, and a bathroom door was maddening. At least when he was locked in Spock's room it was A, way bigger and B, had a window. It did make sense, in theory, to have the barracks closer to the center of the base. Protected those resting from possible attack and you weren't actually supposed to do anything but sleep in them, but having to spend five days confined to such a tiny space was driving him crazy.
He couldn't stop pacing as restless energy coursed through his veins. It hadn't taken the Vulcan council this long to come to a decision, but the Generals he knew, if the documents convinced them, would have to take it to the council and convince the councilors to sign the ceasefire. It would then take time for them work through the details and contact the Vulcan council to confirm they would sign it, if they agreed with all the terms. It would take even longer if they wanted to negotiate.
At least he would have some company soon. Bones had told him Decker's platoon would be getting back from patrol tomorrow, which meant Uhura and the others would surely visit. As that seemed to be his only luxury, he couldn't leave his quarters but people were allowed to visit at least for short periods. The doctor had been in everyday after shift to play cards and talk. Jim had told him everything; about Spock, his family, the Vulcan council, everything that had happened since they'd seen him forced to his knees on that stage in nothing but shackles and a loincloth. He left out only his more intimate moments with Spock. He'd hoped his story would help Bones to understand the tentative friendship he and Spock had developed, and maybe not hate him so much for what he'd done to him. Bones couldn't seem to get past the whole 'Spock was the one to hurt his best friend', thing. Which was completely understandable, but it didn't help the situation at all.
Spock, as far as he knew, was comfortable enough in his little underground cell. Bones had been down to speak to the Vulcan after everything Jim had told him and was kind enough to report back that the pointy-eared hobgoblin didn't seem to care at all that he was locked in a cell in an enemy base. The guards that patrolled the cells said he just sat and meditated all the time, but they also said that was what most of the Vulcan prisoners did until they were shipped to POW camps. They had designed the cells to be as disconcerting and as clinical as possible to unseat any prisoners they brought in, but with Vulcans, nothing seemed to faze them, which made interrogation extremely difficult.
The doctor had also said the Generals had gone down to speak to Spock themselves. He had heard they were completely surprised by how co-operative the Vulcan was being as he answered the majority of questions put to him. Jim really hoped it would help tilt the Generals in their favor.
Jim slumped down on to the bed, stretching out along the mattress. He was so bored, he thought, rubbing a hand over his face. Turning his head to the side, he contemplated reading his pad as it had a few books and vids on it, but it wasn't connected to the network so he wasn't able to check up on the goings on outside his little room. Bones tried to keep him up-to-date, but he wasn't too interested in going over details.
Picking at the blanket, he blinked up at the ceiling, contemplating what else he could do to keep him occupied. Closing his eyes he tried to relax; Bones would be visiting soon so he just had to wait for him. Maybe he would have more information for him. The artificial lighting burned through his closed eye lids, painting his vision with a tinge of red; a color he was all too familiar with as it splashed across the sands. Deciding he had seen it enough, blue eyes blinked open, fixing on the white plaster above him.
A beep at the intercom had him looking up at the door. He blinked, sitting up as it slid open with a squeak of compressed air, the doctor standing in the gap half an hour early for their card game.
"What's up Bones, shouldn't you still be on shift?" He asked swinging his legs over the side of the bed, rubbing a hand through his hair.
"Get dressed, Pike wants to see you," Bones told him striding into the room. He pulled open his tiny closet and threw his dress uniform at him.
"Sweats not good enough?" Jim grinned, catching the stiff fabric almost ecstatic that Pike wanted to talk to him. Maybe they'd believed him and the council had signed the treaty, or, he deflated slightly pulling his high collared jacket from its hanger, he was being sent to a prison camp for treasonous activity.
"Shoes too," McCoy growled, shoving his boots at him, breaking him from his train of thought.
"Watch it!" Jim growled back as the heavy soles collided with his chest, "I'm still recovering you know."
"Your fine," Bones smirked, striding from the room, "Now hurry up."
POSSESSED
Pike's office wasn't large or extravagant; about the same as McCoy's, it was basic sized room, white walls desk and chairs. The military never went overboard when it came to interior design; it was unnecessary and Jim thought with a smile, the Vulcans would find it quiet logical.
"Sit down," Pike told them, dismissing their ridged salutes with his own.
Jim wiped his sweaty palm over the stiff fabric of his dress uniform as he sat, Bones following suit at his side. The walk through the corridors had done nothing to quell his nerves as his mind raced over all the possible outcome of this meeting and only one ended well.
"The Generals and I have reviewed the documents you gave us, and the ones Commander Spock handed over," Pike said, elbows coming to rest on the desk top as he leaned forward eyes focused on the two men that sat in front of him. A pad lay on the metal surface in front of him, presumably containing notes or orders.
"Do you believe me now sir?" Jim asked, really hating the need for build up. The look Pike shot him killed anything else he had to say before the words left his lips.
"Yes Captain, we believe you, the documents you gave us were a compelling argument. Along with your report on the shuttle attack and an in depth autopsy on the bodies recovered, we made the decision to bring the information to the council," Pike continued, hand clasping under his chin, satisfied he would not be interrupted again, "The bodies were the final piece in the evidence you presented to us about this third party, that you claim to be Romulans. While much of their physiology resembles that of Vulcans, the doctors found small remarkable differences. Differences you would consider to be slow evolutionary quirks developed from living many generations on a planet far removed from the natural deserts of Vulcan. This proved the to us and the council that the insurgents that attacked the shuttle were, as you say, not Vulcans."
Pike paused to ensure the information sunk in before he continued once again, a small smirk forming on his lips as he took in the slow realization forming on Jim's face and the relief and interest peaking in the Doctors eyes.
"The Council has agreed to sign the treaty the Vulcan's have put forward and form a task force that will be assigned to prove or disprove the existence of the third party escalating the war. Depending on the outcome of these investigations, either peace will be declared or the ceasefire treaty will end and war will continue."
The general took a breath looking down at the pad in front of him before his eyes swept up landing on Kirk, taking in the Captain sitting silently, his entire body just before the point of shaking with anticipation.
"As for you, Captain Kirk, " Pike paused for effect, "It has been suggested you be court-martialed for your part in the unsanctioned treaty offer by the Vulcans and for knowingly putting your fellow soldiers in danger through violation of the charters of war concerning the exchange of prisoners between offending sides."
He waited, letting the implications sink in. Jim had acted without orders and aided their enemy, which could not be covered by the fact it was to deliver a treaty. He had also gotten one man killed and three others captured when he had allowed himself to take part in a staged prisoner exchange. In normal circumstances, a court martial would only be a formality before he was marched in front of a firing squad for the crime of treason and conspiracy against Earth, or if he was lucky, sentenced to a life of hard labor on the same charges. This, however, was not normal circumstance.
"But," The General continued, lowering his hands to the desk, "It has been decided to give you a chance to prove your conviction toward your goal of ending this war and loyalty to Earth by heading the joint task force which will be directly under my supervision. You will be given 6 months to search for and find this third party the documents indicate and apprehend them with approved action from both Earth and Vulcan Councils. This task force will be kept classified, you understand, only a few select people will actually know what you are doing. If you succeed, all charges will be dropped and removed from your record. If you do not, and the documents are not proven correct, a tribunal will be convened at the end of the 6 month period. A decision on your charges will be made then. I warn you, however, the decision will not be in your favor."
The Generals eyes stayed fixed on Jim as he shifted in his seat, eyes darting to the side to share a concerned look with the Doctor before they snapped back to face front.
"Have you anything to say, Captain?" Pike questioned, giving him permission to speak, leaning forwards on his hands once more with an undetermined gleam in his eye.
Jim straightened in his seat leaning forward, mimicking the General as training took over in the wake of such relief. He had a chance to redeem himself and prove his loyalty had never wavered, "My team, how will they be determined and how many will I get?"
"That will be left up to you," a smile formed on the Generals lips as he waited for a breath, "And since it is a joint task force that includes any Vulcans you might want to add."
"But anyone you chose will have to be approved by me," Pike included, not wanting to get the Captain too excited.
"Understood General," Jim nodded, a grin forming, "I know exactly who I want."
POSSESSED
AN: End of Chapter and now the question is who will be apart of the task force. I'll give you three guesses ;)
Thank you so much for all those people who have reviewed, especially those that I could not thank personally.
And once again a big thank you to HyenaGreyScale for taking the time to make sure my writing makes sense lol :D
Please please REVIEW, or I will have no motivation to write :P