Author's note: I am super excited about the response to the first chapter – thanks to all of you for reviewing, alerting, and favoriting this story. I hope this is to your expectations. This chapter gave me a bit of a struggle for the first half. We'll be seeing more Jim in the next chapter and him getting to interact more with Pike. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Chapter Two

Pike sat down at the desk chair and accessed Governor Kodos' computer. The techs had already broken into it. He pulled up the first file and started searching the information as it was downloaded onto a storage device for evidence. Kodos didn't save much to his computer, but it was enough. There was a copy of his speech and several other unnamed folders. The lieutenant opened the first one. It was full of scientific documents regarding the virus that attacked the colony's food.

Ensign Taro moved to examine the bookcase. Several hundreds of paper books lined the east wall, though most were coated in a fine layer of dust. The three worked for over an hour.

"O'Mara to Lieutenant Pike. How's it going?" The captain's voice came through with some static.

"Progress is slow. We've found some documents on Kodos' computer about the virus and other basic reports from the local school, the businesses, and other files from the everyday life of the colonists."

There was a slight pause. "Have you found it?"

Pike sighed. "I'm still looking. There's no sign of the list yet."

Captain O'Mara said something again, but it came jumbled and cut off. Something was interfering with their communications.

"Sir, I didn't catch that. Please repeat it."

"Just – us – posted… check… O'Mara out."

Well, that wasn't helpful; there must have been something in the room. He'd contact the captain in an hour with any progress. Pike ran his fingers through his hair and opened another document, scanning the contents.

"Hey, I found something interesting." Taro opened and closed the book in his hand, stepping closer to Pike. The ensign held the book out to him and pointed at the title. "The quote outside is from Hamlet. There's a copy on the bookshelf, but the book is hollow."

Lieutenant Pike opened it and a small data disk fell into his hands. He turned and stuck it into the computer. A file immediately opened and a list of names appeared. It was the execution list. No one had found a copy yet. It was the rest of the evidence they needed. Pike ran his hands over his face as the list began to scroll. So many names. It had to be Kodos' personal version of the list as some of the names had small footnotes next to them. Pike froze the computer. One of the names was in red.

James T. Kirk.

No, it couldn't be. There was another file attached to his name and Pike quickly opened it. It was a long document, but the bottom was what he was looking for.

Subject status changed to recovery, not execution. Once located, restrain and gather information.

There was a chance he was still alive. Pike saved the information to transport to the ship and moved around the room, examining the bookshelf. He didn't recognize most of the titles and a few were in alien languages. He moved toward the painting. Pike's boot caught on the rug and moved it to the side. He brushed it back down.

"Let's continue our search."

The two other men left the room and waited outside the door for Pike. He closed the door behind him, glad to be away from the executioner's office.

Why didn't they come save him? The footsteps moved away from him and Jim tried to move. The pain increased, causing him to hiss beneath the gag. In return, his lungs contracted and he went into another coughing fit.

There was no way to signal whoever was above him. Jim felt so tired and hungry. He tried to count the days in his head, coming up with at least fifteen days since Kodos had taken him. Jim's eyes were so adjusted to the darkness; he wouldn't be able to see for a while. He wished to have seen his mom one more time, but she was on a deep space mission. She'd probably come home for his funeral.

Someone tripped directly over the door. Jim mentally begged for the person to move the rug and save him. He didn't want to die. The footsteps came again. They were moving away from the door and out of the room.

Jim swallowed the sob in his throat as he heard the door close above him and then silence. He closed his eyes and lay still. Sweat ran between his eyes as he shivered. No one cared if he lived or died anyway.

Pike spent the rest of the day searching the inside of Governor Kodos' home. Communications had been restored when they left the office, which was odd. By the end of the day, Pike was physically and mentally exhausted. He wanted to take a long, hot shower and forget everything. But he couldn't. James T. Kirk. Taro and Miller finished searching the last guest bedroom, finding a pair of boy's worn sneakers. He opened his communicator as it chirped.

"Yes, Captain. We are finishing our sweep and returning to the beam-out spot." Pike took one last look around at the room.

There was a long silence.

"Captain?"

"One of the prisoners felt particularly talkative today. He spoke of a secret chamber within Kodos' office space. He said something was kept there, but he didn't know anything else," the captain said. "I'd like you to check it out."

"We didn't see anything out of place. But we can check again." Pike's mind dwelt on the name as he looked around. "I'll let keep you posted. Pike, out."

Chris hurried back toward the office and threw open the door. He could see the sun setting through the large window. Taro and Miller moved to the bookcase, pulling off the books and throwing them to the floor, looking for one that would open a door to another chamber. Pike stood still for a moment. There was nothing else out of place. The painting. He ran over to the rug, seeing it was still turned up. A dark line was visible. He grabbed the rug, yanking it to the side and revealing a door beneath the material. Taro moved to his side and helped lift the heavy door. As soon as they opened the door, a putrid smell filled their noses.

"What is that?" the ensign asked.

Pike tried not to breathe deeply. "There's someone down there."

He grabbed the sides of the ladder and crawled down. Pike's eyes adjusted to the darkness. Cell bars separated the small space. Taro came down behind him and scanned the area, pulling out a flashlight and shining it into the cell.

"Oh my god, it's a kid."

Pike focused on the small bound figure inside of the cell. The kid's arms were bound tight behind his back in an unnatural position. He watched as his chest barely rose and fell. It was clearly an effort for him just to breathe. The boy rolled to his side, moaning. Blood matted the boy's hair and his skin was incredibly pale. A combination of old and new bruises covered his skin. A dark spot on his left side made Pike wonder how many broken ribs the kid had. The boy was gagged and had a split lip.

The lieutenant pulled out his weapon and melted the lock, kicking the door open as soon as it fell. The lieutenant didn't hesitate to move into the cell as the smell of human waste assaulted him. He hoped it wasn't him. The kid's eyelashes fluttered and two blue eyes stared at him. Pike's stomach dropped as he recognized him. It was George's son. Jim tried to move back, but cried out through the gag. His breathing came in painful sounding gasps.

"Don't move. I won't hurt you." Pike put up his hands in surrender. "My name is Lieutenant Christopher Pike. I'm here to help you."

"His vitals are critical," Taro interrupted. "He needs emergency medical attention."

Chris glanced at the other man, seeing his tricorder in hand. Taro's face was tight. He'd have to move the kid to the main level so he could be transported to the medbay. There was no doubt in his mind that Kodos had created this place and they wouldn't be able to transport from there.

"I'm gonna pick you up. We can't help you down here."

The boy shuddered violently. Pike pulled his coat off and draped it over the kid's body to warm him up a little. Jim's eyes closed. He took the precious seconds to grab the boy and lift him off the floor. The boy screamed beneath the gag. Taro let him ascend the ladder first. Pike tried to keep from squeezing too hard, but the boy was out of it and shaking. He could feel the heat from the small body and guessed his fever was quite high. The boy opened his eyes for a moment, but quickly closed them.

"Give me your communicator," the lieutenant ordered.

Miller pulled out his and held it toward his commanding officer.

"This is Pike. We need an emergency beam-out for two! We found a child; he's in critical condition."

"Understood. We are beaming you both directly to the medbay."

Pike touched Jim's face as the transporter moved them to the ship. They materialized in the medbay. Doctor Ravi was a Betazoid, but very patient and good at his job. He was waiting for them. The doctor motioned for Pike to lay him on a biobed.

"Has he been conscious?" the doctor asked.

"Yes, but he can't say anything." Pike moved to stand next to the boy's head. "Doctor, I know who this is. His identity is not to be revealed."

One of the nurses came over to assist the doctor, but the doctor asked her to give them a moment alone.

"Lieutenant –"

"Pike. His name is James T. Kirk."

The Betazoid's eyebrow rose. "Kirk?"

"Yes. It's crucial no one knows who he is. Please."

"Of course. Doctor/patient confidentially keeps his information and condition private, but the captain will need to be informed."

"I'll let him know when he's stable."

Doctor Ravi motioned for the nurse to join them again. Jim's eyes didn't open. Pike listened as the doctor rattled off some information and he slowly untied the gag from around the boy's mouth. As soon as the cloth fell, Jim's eyes snapped open and his body convulsed as he coughed. Spots of blood appeared on his lips. Chris sat him up and held him as he wavered. As soon as he finished, his body went limp and Pike lay him back against the bed. Doctor Ravi grabbed a hypospray and injected it into Jim's neck.

"My name is Doctor Ravi. I'm trying to help you. Can you tell me where it hurts?"

The kid shook his head. He coughed again, moving around on the bed. Pike put a hand on his shoulder to help calm him down, but it only agitated him more.

"Hurts," Jim choked out. "Can't… breathe."

The words escaped his mouth seconds before the alarm went off. The nurse grabbed the oxygen mask and placed it on his mouth. Jim greedily took a breath.

"We need to remove the bindings on his arms so I can treat him," the doctor said. "Would you care to assist me, Lieutenant?"

Chris nodded. "Just tell me what to do."

The Betazoid rolled Jim onto his side. Jim bit his lip to keep from making a sound, but Pike could see the lines of tension on his face.

"His shoulders are torn. I need you to hold his arms while I cut the rope. Then ease him very slowly back onto the bed. His arms will be incredibly tender." Doctor Ravi took the scissors from the nurse. "Ready?"

Pike nodded. The doctor slowly cut the thin rope binding Jim's arms. Jim let out a cry of pain as Chris moved his arms apart. He tried to go slow, but it didn't seem to make a difference. Jim squeezed his eyes tight, but small tears escaped. Pike watched as his face continued to pale. He lay Jim down as the nurse began to run a sonic cleaner over his small body, after removing his soiled clothing and slipping him into scrub pants. Something wasn't right. Pike listened as the boy's breathing changed, becoming more rapid. He opened his mouth to say something as a choking sound came from Jim and the alarm started blaring.

"He's going into anaphylactic shock," Doctor Ravi said. "I need 5 ccs of epinephrine and a tube kit. We need to intubate him."

"Yes, Doctor."

Chris watched, feeling completely helpless as Jim lost consciousness and the doctor administered another hypo. He looked away as a breathing tube was inserted into the kid's throat.

"He's coding!"

One of the nurses gently pushed Pike out of the way. He moved away from the biobed, but couldn't look away as the doctor charged the cardiac stimulator and placed it on the boy's small chest.

"Clear!" Doctor Ravi pressed a button the monitor and Jim's body jolted.

"There's no change."

"Again, clear!"

Three times Jim's body rose off of the biobed. Doctor Ravi pressed his fingers to Jim's wrist as he observed the stats. "He's back. We need to lower his fever. Bring me two cold packs and set them on level two."

The nurse dashed across the room and returned with the packs. She adjusted the temperature and put them beneath his arms. The doctor continued his scans. Pike covered his mouth with his hand as he waited for more information. What the hell had Kodos been doing to him down there? It was clear he'd been mistreated for a while. Jim didn't wake as the nurse covered him with a blanket. Chris had to know what happened; no one deserved such horrible treatment, especially a child who had already suffered so much. Pike instructed the doctor to keep him posted and headed to the Bridge. This wasn't a conversation he was looking forward to.