For the next three days the scans had turned up nothing. It seemed the prospect of finding another anomaly were slowly dwindling. Even Spock was beginning to show a restlessness with the data. As for Jim, with the added stress of no identified anomalies, he was still very upset with his Spock. During the course of these days he had whiffed subtle flashes in his mind, like he was trying to remember something that had just happened only seconds ago. The thoughts drove him crazy. They seemed to be driving everyone else crazy as well with his constant questions to his friends and all that.
Everyone was as tight lipped as his Spock was.
Very irritating.
When the team wasn't faking repair reports or studying the data for anything remotely looking like it might be the same anomaly, they were retired to their mindless paperwork or just chillin' around. Jim, when he finished his needed paperwork, wanted to do just that—chill. For the three days, after shift or after the data turned up another disappointment, he would go into the Private Rec Room where everyone seemed to love to gather and after the fourth time, everyone was getting used to the fact that Jim was about to question the hell out of them. No matter how angry he got, or how calm he was, the answers were always the same.
He had head trauma. (Thanks for the reminder, dick.)
He was suffering from slight memory loss. (Slight?)
He was just being testy. (Hardly constitutes as an illness.)
He needed to calm down. (I am calm!)
Everything was as it should be. (The fucking hell it is!)
Exasperated from his fifth, sixth, or whatever attempt this was, Jim was about at his wits end. Not just about the anomaly problem, though they only had three days left to figure that shit out, but about to give up on the idea of questioning his crew. He was obviously getting nowhere. He was angry with them, but maybe they were telling the truth? They all seemed to have the same demeanor as one another so maybe Jim was just being a ridiculous paranoid bastard?
He did think that, and then that happened.
'That' being that Jim subtly flipped everyone the finger and decided to take knowledge into his own hands. If they wouldn't talk, surely the security tapes would. Jim smirked and laughed to himself. Oh, he was so awesome.
He left the Private Rec Room and went straight to his quarters like he had done the past few times when his friends decided to be dicks. He sat down at his computer and began rummaging through the files and accessing places until he finally authorized himself into the security system. Smiling, he quickly let himself in and began searching for the tapes that showed his corridor for the past two weeks. When the date was specified, he pulled up a view screen and sat back, admiring how fucking awesome he was and berating himself for not thinking of this plan sooner.
Blip.
He looked up, the screen was blank.
Blip.
When he looked again, Jim nearly smashed his computer in. The tapes for that sector had been deleted or removed. Now Jim knew something was up that they didn't want him to know. The only people who could override the commands and access the system like he had done would be the exact people he was interrogating for the past three days. He raised his fist for his frustrated attack.
"Son of a—"
"Captain." The voice came suddenly and surprised him before he could do any damage. He looked around and heard his title again. He was being paged over the intercom. Jim stood and walked over to the wall where he pushed the button that allowed him to talk back.
"Kirk here."
"Your presence is required on the Bridge, sir. It is urgent." It was Spock. He sighed, or more like, he blew out the steam that had been building.
"I'm on my way. Kirk out."
When he arrived on the Bridge, Spock was standing idly by his station and greeted Jim with a nod. Jim wasn't in the mood for his pleasantries and didn't bother to look happy to see the guy. Knowing how 'out of regulation' it must seem to approach his First Officer with the pissed off physique of a cram study night college student, he softened his features and gave a wry smile.
"So, what's up?" He asked Spock. That wasn't a regulation greeting either, but Spock appeared indifferent and merely guided Jim to his panels. Jim looked over the data and turned his eyes back to his First. It's not like he didn't know how to read them, he just couldn't comprehend them as fast as the Vulcan beside him.
"We have discovered an anomaly with the exact readings of the previous one we had encountered." Jim smiled. Finally, some good news.
"Great, let's get to it then." He said with a hearty clap of his hands.
"It is not that simple." Spock urgently replied, as if he knew Jim would say that. "The anomaly is located in a sector of space which has not been explored by Starfleet Personnel." Jim rolled his eyes.
"So let's go explore it. We do have precious cargo that kinda needs to get back where it belongs." Spock was unmoved.
"I am aware of our current situation, Captain."
"Then you're also aware that we're under a time crunch."
"Indeed, but should we encounter problems, such as but not limited to: causing a small war with a local star system, invading a hostile environment, or encounter other anomalies which may put us further behind schedule, it would be best to lay low for a full 24 hours and scan the area before 'treading into darker waters', as the old Earth saying goes." Jim eyed him with those sarcastic looks teachers typically gave a smartass in their classroom. He then sighed and gave a large grin.
"And this is why I'm the Captain and you're not Mr. Spock." If the comment had any disturbance in that Vulcan, he was doing a damn good job of hiding it. "We don't have the time to sit back and wait for your calculations. It will take us a day in itself just to get there with the speeds we have available." He paced for only a moment. "Mr. Sulu, take us to that anomaly for observation. As fast as she can go."
"Aye, Sir." Came Sulu's voice though his eyes flicked in Spock's direction as if to tell him he was sorry Jim was his commanding officer. Spock looked at Jim and in response Jim gave a wider grin. He was happy he could get a little revenge on Spock for being such a tight-lipped ass, but in respect, he wanted to get the counterparts home. He wasn't one to just sit back and let time tick preciously away, he knew his older self would have done the same thing. He was more determined to figure out a way to utilize the anomaly than worry over invading some space.
When the Bridge crew made a departure for their lunch three hours later into the new territory, Jim was quick to snag the turbolift with Spock before it shut him out. They stood beside one another in silence before Jim spoke.
"I remember a certain younger half-Vulcan telling a certain dashingly awesome Captain that our security system was top of the line." Spock didn't move.
"That is accurate, Captain."
"I also remember disabling it myself and proving that it could be easily hacked into, but, not just anyone has those capabilities." More silence.
"Are you implying that there are errors in our security system?" Jim stopped the lift abruptly and turned to his First. Spock seemed a little surprised by the action, but remained still and lifeless as Jim remembered him always to be.
"I went into the security tapes and found the data from a few weeks ago missing. It was removed or deleted. The only other individuals who could manage that would be either me, you, or our counterparts." Spock still refused to budge. "Why did you remove the tapes?" Silence. More silence.
"We knew you would attempt to search them at some point while under your trauma."
"Why?"
"I can not disclose that information at this time." The answer was quick, as though rehearsed. Jim knew pulling rank on him wasn't going to do anything, but it didn't stop him from trying.
"I order you to answer why you removed the data."
"I recommend you provide me with the proper punishment for I will not provide the answer." He looked pained, Spock didn't want to say that, did he? Jim eyed him, searching. Those dark deep eyes betraying the Vulcan's civilities. Unconsciously, he moved a step closer and Spock retreated back until he was against the wall. Jim crowded him and placed two hands on either side of his head flat against the wall. They were dangerously close and Jim knew he was breaking at least five regulations and sixteen sub-regulations.
"Why did you remove the data?" Silence. "Tell me, Spock." Silence. "You guys have been leaving me in the dark for some reason and I want to know why." Silence. Spock looked away but Jim used his right hand to pull Spock's face back to his attention. Those dark eyes still refused to look at him. "Tell me." He nearly whispered. Spock's Vulcan barrier seemed to diminish slightly and his lips tightened, almost as though he was contemplating something that was making him worry. Before Jim could blink from the blatant display of emotion he felt slender fingers grasp his shoulders and turn them violently around until Jim was plastered against the wall. The force had nearly knocked the breath out of him.
"Forgive me, Jim, but the information you seek I can not provide." Jim was tired of the dodging and equally took a grip on Spock's shoulders and turn them back around again—Spock's back hitting the wall with force that surprised him more than knocked his breath out.
"Yeah, well I'm tired of this shit and I want answers!" He barked. "Something obviously happened and I demand to know!" Another grasp and another turn. It was like they were having a violent dance around the turbolift. When his back hit the wall, it was much gentler this time.
"You may use the appropriate repercussions for my dismissal of your request." Grab. Turn. Throw.
"You know I won't do that, Spock!" Grab, Turn. Throw.
"Then desist your inquiries!" Spock's barriers were being worn down, he was beginning to shown his temper. Jim didn't bother to turn them around again and just sank into the wall. He then spoke as calmly as he could manage.
"I have a bite mark on my neck tied to a memory of your eyes." Spock appeared shocked, but his Vulcan mask returned full force. "How much longer do you think I'm going to buy the whole 'head trauma' bullshit?" Silence. "At least tell me where the fucking bite came from. Was it you?" Silence.
"In a way." Spock quickly admitted. Jim put two and two together.
"It was Older You?" Spock nodded. "Why did he bite me?" His First released his shoulders and stiffened.
"You would have to ask that of him, for I can not conclude any possible reason for his actions." Jim grasped his upper arms tightly.
"If he did it, why do I see your eyes?" Silence.
"I do not know."
"Did you pull some Vulcan mind shit on me?" Silence.
"I was following orders." Jim felt himself become frustrated again.
"Who's goddamn orders? Mr. Spock's? James'?" Spock abruptly reached over and started the turbolift. The doors opened instantly on some deck. Spock aggressively pulled himself from Jim's grasp.
"Yours." He stated and exited the turbolift in a quick turn of his heels. Jim was so perplexed and confused that his body froze and he couldn't bring himself to exit out on to the deck with him. His orders? Spock was following his orders? What kind of orders did he possibly give? Why the hell would he mind-fuck with himself? It was apparent that the interrogation had given him more questions than answers, but at least he knew where the scar had come from.
Next stop: Mr. Spock.
He would figure this shit out soon enough. If his mind still remembered his regulations correctly, then he could sure as hell out-rank himself and any previous orders he may have instated.
He exited on the deck he needed and as he left his mind began think a little more logically. He stopped mid-step. What if I gave those orders to protect myself from something horrible? What if something terrible happened and I wanted to keep myself from experiencing it again? What if I'm just being a selfish bastard and Spock is the real victim? He couldn't move. Was he really being an insistent asshole? If he was meant to know, surely Bones would have told him something by now. The guy lived on gossip. If something had him tight-lipped then maybe it was for the best. But then, why did Mr. Spock bite him?
As he tried to think about it, a sudden wave of nausea hit his gut and forced him to topple towards the nearby wall. He tried to regain himself, but with the nausea and the sudden pounding in his head, he found it difficult to manage. He continued to try and think about the scar on his neck but the nausea only became worse and before he knew it, his vision went white and he felt the hard, cold floor.
...
When Jim first woke, he was greeted by a blinding white light that made him blink several times before he could see. He lolled his head around lazily and took in the view around him.
He was in Sickbay.
Fucking brilliant.
His head was still pounding so he squeezed the bridge of his nose hoping the action would help—which it like, didn't—and looked around to see if he could find a clock. Before any clock could be located, a tricorder was rammed into his face.
"Good morning, Sunshine." Jim flicked his eyes up at Bones who given any other situation was typically aggressive looking but at the moment seemed slightly pleased.
"What hap—"
"Your head trauma decided to act up and rendered you unconscious. James found you on the floor and called for me. You've been in Sickbay for over 21 hours." Jim groaned and threw his head around. If there was one thing he hated more than being still, it was being unconscious for more than eight hours. He felt groggy and dirty.
But mostly dirty. I think I threw up at some point…gross.
"Jim," Bones began as he removed the tricorder and lifted a dataPADD, "could you tell me what you were doing before you decided to kiss the floor with your forehead?" Jim gave an airy, sarcastic laugh.
"Kiss? I was going to rape that bitch."
"Be serious."
"Ah, God, Bones, I don't know. I was trying to figure out why I had a scar on my neck and then I was trying to think of Mr. Spock and Spock and shit Spock-related, I suddenly got all woozy." He paused and smiled up to the country doctor, "Do you think I have Spock-perosis or Spock Cancer? Oh, or maybe Spock Lyme Disease or—"
"Okay, I get it, " Bones interrupted as Jim laughed again, "your discomfort came from the thoughts of Spock."
"You know," Jim said now that he was feeling better and had decided to try and sit up, "if you losers would just tell me whatever the fuck you're trying to hide, I wouldn't be laying here right now." Bones didn't look up from his dataPADD. Jim knew his aliments where Spock related, he had figured that much out, but what he didn't know was 'why'. Over the three days, he had gotten hints that some shit went down but it was like he was the only one who couldn't remember it. "Bones, Spock told me that Mr. Spock gave me this scar," he said while pointing to his neck as emphasis, "and I also know it was him who removed the security files. What are you trying to keep from me?" Bones finally looked up at him and wore an expression that Jim had seen many times during their days at the academy. There was an obvious pain there.
"I'm sorry, Jim." He finally said. "But I just can't tell you." Just as Jim was about to hit his head and shout a string of curses and how Bones was being difficult, an alarm sounded which startled them both.
Great, he thought, seriously, just fucking great.
Jim removed himself from the medbay bed and started to put back on his boots.
"Where do you think you're going?" Bones demanded as he tried to swipe the boots away.
"I got Captain stuff to attend to." Jim retorted as he stole his boots back. "You know? It's kinda what Starfleet pays me to do."
"I haven't released you yet."
"And I care…why?"
"Damnit, Jim, you might still be suffering from the after-effects of your trauma!" Jim finished putting on his boots and stood. He approached Bones in a manner he typically reserved for his enemies and shoved his finger hard into his friend's chest.
"I would agree with you if I fucking knew what the trauma was! But since I like, don't, and you fucktards are refusing to tell me, I have every reason to believe I'm healthy and I'm getting out of here. My ship and crew need me." The alarm sounded again and Jim heard his title called over the intercom.
"Captain Kirk, please report to the Bridge." As Jim started out, Bones hit the intercom system and contacted Uhura.
"Lt. Uhura, the Captain is in medical care at the moment, you'll have to get Sp—"
"I'm on my way, Lieutenant." Jim interrupted as he pushed Bones to the side. Then he shot his friend a deadly glare and made his way out. He was in no mood for any more bullshitting. Bones just stood there, perplexed and frustrated, but Jim had left so quickly that he didn't have time to see just how much he had affected his best friend.
Jim entered on to the Bridge and looked around at his crew frantically moving about.
"Status report Mr. Sp—" He turned but Spock wasn't at his station. That was weird. He turned his attentions to Uhura. "Lt. Uhura, where is Mr. Spock?" She turned to face him.
"I'm not certain, sir. I paged him but he hasn't responded." His brow tilted. This was unlike Spock. Was he still upset about what had happened in the turbolift? No, Spock wasn't known to let things like that get in the way of his duty. With no time as another alert sounded, he turned his attention instead to another science officer who was monitoring data in Spock's absence.
"Status report." He ordered. The crewman studied the data one more time and looked back up to him with worry in his human eyes.
"We approached the anomaly one hour ago, sir, and it has begun a strange magnetic pulsing. It appears to be emitting a monstrous amount of neutrinos at a rapid rate and the small particles are interacting with some of the particle structure of the ship. We're being bombarded with microscopic torpedoes." Jim knew what neutrinos were.
"If we stay too close for too long, they may interact and destroy our DNA." He said under his breath. Maybe jumping in head first to this situation wasn't a good idea. Had the previous anomaly emitted neutrinos? Jim would have to go over the data again. All his emotions aside, he needed to speak with Spock and come up with ideas. If they stayed, they may damage themselves, but if they go, they might not be able to send their counterparts back.
Jim hit a button on his command chair. "Computer, locate First Officer Spock."
"First Officer Spock is in Loading Dock C. First Officer Spock is in Loading Dock C." What? What was he doing there? And why had the computer said it twice? Something was wrong.
"Mr. Sulu, you're in command." And with the 'Aye, Sir' he quickly exited into the turbolift. He felt panicked and he wasn't sure why. As he exited on to the appropriate deck, he ran head first into someone with as much bulk as him. When he looked up, he was surprised to see James.
"James? What are you doing down here?" Jim was panicked as he began looking around the dock to see if there were any other crewman around. Thankfully, it appeared that most of the crew had reported to other stations. James appeared out of breath.
"I was coming to get you." He said quickly, "Spock and I were conversing in the Rec room and suddenly he started acting strange."
"Wait, my Spock or Mr. Spock?"
"Mr. Spock. He ran into the turbolift and when I tried to catch him, he had already closed the door. When I tried to locate him, the computer said he was down here, twice."
"It did the same for me. Both Spocks must be down here."
"They are!" James suddenly shouted and began tugging his arm. "Come on, we don't have much time!"
"Time for what?" He demanded as he was dragged along. James didn't bother with a reply, which when Jim saw what was going on he didn't need one. In front of them, an air lock had closed them out and through the windows Jim and James could see Spock and Mr. Spock operating his universe's version of the vessel Orion.
"Are they out of the fucking minds?" Jim shouted as he grasped James tightly by the shoulders. "That thing is blasting neutrinos out! They'll be damaged!" Both captains tried to frantically search for a way to stop the loading dock, but it was of no use. Every computer had been overridden by the Spocks and prevented them from any further halting. Jim violently pounded his fist into a nearby wall as the vessel exited the dock and flew out into the darkness.
Damnit all to fucking hell! Jim grasped James by his shirt.
"Bridge. Now."
"Jim—?"
"NOW."
...
A/N – That's a good place to stop for now, right? I'm so sorry that this update took forever but hopefully the next one won't take as long. Thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with this story and alerted it and fav'd it. It's much appreciated!