Chapter Nineteen

Salen stumbled into his dorm room and instantly crawled into the top bunk and collapsed face first into his pillow. With one arm dangling over the edge of the bed he debated whether or not he had the strength to haul his hand up onto the bed with the rest of him. In the end he decided that it wasn't worth the effort.

When Salen felt a light touch on his arm he yelped and jerked away. Baring his teeth Salen prepared to attack the uninvited guest. When he caught sight of his roommate who was standing his hands up in surrender Salen relaxed. Letting himself fall back down into bed Salen rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes.

"Sorry about that, Salen."

"Do not worry about it, Douglas."

"So...uh...where have you been for the past three days?"

"I was kidnapped, tortured, rendered deaf, nearly bled to death, arrested, accused of murder...the list goes on."

"Um....okay, that's not what I was expecting to hear. What's that green thing behind your ear?"

"Medical experiment."

"Wow, you've had a busy few days."

"Indeed." Salen turned onto his side with his back to Douglas. "Now, if you do not mind I am in desperate need of sleep."

"I thought Vulcans needed like no sleep." Douglas joked.

"We all have our limits." Salen mumbled.

"Fair enough. Okay, well I'm going to go to class...I assume that you're not coming."

"Your assumption is correct."

"Are...are you okay?" Douglas asked with hesitant concern.

"No. However, you can not help me."

"I'm...uh...I'm here to listen if you need someone to talk to."

"I do not."

"Okay. I guess I'll see you later."

"Go away, Douglas."

Douglas gave Salen a shocked looked, but the Vulcan couldn't see it. He took a breath to say something more, but decided against it. Shaking his head sadly Douglas left the room and headed off to class. Salen was just glad to have some quiet. Breathing slowly he quickly succumb to sleep.

Salen once again slipped into dreams of his past. He was used to these dreams since they were a nightly occurrence for him. He didn't even realize that most people had dreams that were mostly fantasy. Dead to the world around him Salen slept deeply.

Alone in the quarantine room at Starfleet Headquarters Salen curled up in the corner thinking of all he had learned from his involved mind meld with Spock. Despite the half Vulcan's assurance that he was in good hands Salen remained fearful of what the future would hold for him. He did not wish to be sent to Natala, he did not want to complete the journey that his parents had failed to make with him.

Feeling sorry for himself he rubbed away a tear that slipped down his cheek. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of the door opening. He watched apprehensively as Pike entered the room. Spock had assured him that he could trust the Admiral, but he still had reservations. Pike came to a stop about ten feet away and smiled.

"Hello, Salen."

"Hello, Admiral." Salen returned respectfully.

"I was talking to Spock, and he told me that you would rather not return to Natala, is that true?"

"I can not 'return' to a planet I have never been to."

"Good point. Natala is not really a home to you, is it?"

"No, Sir. I have no home."

"Would you like to live with me until we can figure out where you'll be happiest?"

"Will I be locked in a room as I am here?"

"No." Pike shook his head.

"Then I would prefer to go with you."

"Okay, then let's go."

"N...now?"

"Yes, unless you would like to stay here longer."

"No." Salen answered quickly.

Salen got to his feet, but found himself unable to take that first step closer to Pike. He wondered if he was making the right decision by trusting the human. Pike waited patiently for Salen to make up his mind. Too fearful Salen didn't move.

"Salen," Pike said gently "you do not have to come with me, however, I am sorry to say that your options are limited. Starfleet can not allow you to roam the streets of Earth homeless and alone."

"You are admitting that I am a prisoner?"

"In a way, yes."

"What if you take me to your home and I run away?"

"I'll be in big trouble, and Starfleet will look for you."

"You mean hunt me down."

"We just want you to be safe."

"If I am caught by Starfleet, will I be beaten?"

"Beaten?" Pike repeated with concern. "No, no one will hurt you. You'll simply be returned here."

"In that case, if there is no consequence to attempting to escape, I can not promise that I will not try to run from you."

"I understand."

"You said that you would be in trouble if I left you, and yet you are still willing to take a chance on me?"

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because I think it is unreasonable to ask you to trust me without even knowing me, so I am taking the risk of being the one to trust you first."

"Why take such a risk on me?" Salen asked suspiciously.

"Because I know you're worth it."

Pike's smile was so genuine that Salen was able to gather the courage to take a step towards him. In the original scene Salen had quietly followed the Admiral out of the room and had journeyed with him to the house that eventually he'd come to call home. With the stresses of the past few days the dream twisted and deviated from reality.

Salen approached Pike and when the Admiral reached his hand out Salen hesitantly took it. The moment he touched his future father's hand he changed. Salen jerked his hand back as Beckett smiled up at him from his new place in Pike's wheelchair. Beckett looked hurt that Salen had pulled away from him.

"You don't trust me?" Beckett asked. "Even after all I've done for you?"

"I do not know what to think of you."

"Just remember what I said: 'I'm one of the good guys'." Beckett chuckled. "You didn't trust Pike at first either. You were going to bolt on him."

"No..."

"Yes." Beckett insisted. "I didn't say that you did, but you were thinking about running away...right about the time you started cutting up your own arm."

"I was confused."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Salen. I am just pointing out the facts. You didn't know what to think of Pike when you met him, and look how well he's treated you. I'm offering you a once in a life time opportunity to really make a difference in the galaxy."

"I can make a difference without you."

"Maybe...maybe not. After all you are just a Vulcan outcast. Do you think you would have made it as far as you have if it wasn't for the fact that your 'father' is an Admiral? You should take all the friends in high places that you can get, Salen, and a few friends in low places couldn't hurt either."

"I do not know..."

"I'll give you my number in case you change your mind."

Salen tried to back away however in his dream Beckett was faster than a striking snake. Having caught Salen's wrist Beckett pulled out a small sharp knife and twisted Salen's wrist so that his under side of his forearm was facing up. Beckett calmly carved a set of numbers into Salen's skin as calmly as one would write on a piece of paper. Salen cried out and tried to pull away as the numbers bled heavily.

Waking with a sharp gasp Salen hugged his injured arm to his chest only to find that it had been a dream. Salen stared at the scared, but unbroken skin on his arm. Shaking his head to clear it he looked around to get his bearings again. It seemed so unreal to be back in his own dorm room after facing the threat of imprisonment for life.

Sitting up Salen scratched behind his ear. When he came in contact with the jewel like implant he froze. He had avoided touching the implant until now, fearful of damaging it or causing himself pain. He gingerly touched the cold gem. It didn't hurt, and it didn't seem to be picking up any sound when he gently tapped on it.

"What if this has nothing to do with my hearing?" Salen mused out loud.

Concerned by his thought Salen jumped down out of bed. He was about to leave when he realized he was still wearing the white hospital outfit that he'd been given. Not wanting to draw attention to himself on campus he went over to the closet and changed into his uniform. Feeling more comfortable in the red uniform Salen left the dorm and headed directly to the engineering section.

Salen made his way carefully through the dangerous work shop that helped teach the Cadets about engineering disasters and how to fix them. He was looking for someone in particular. Weaving around he finally found who he was looking for. The young engineer was cursing up a storm at a dilithum crystal based power source.

"You worthless piece of cubic zirconia!"

"Try recalibrating the resonating frequency." Salen suggested.

"Salen!" The Cadet cried happily as he looked up from his work. "Damn it, Mate, where the fuck have you been?"

"You do not want to know. Brian, I need a favor."

"A favor? You?" Brian pushed the device he'd been working on aside. "I get to have a Vulcan owe me a favor?"

"Only if you help me."

"Of course I will." Brian chuckled. "Actually I think I owe you a couple after you helped me out with the neo-gyroscopic stabilizer fiasco. What can I do you for, Salen?"

Salen looked around to make sure that no one was watching them. He'd tucked his hair behind his ear to hide the green device. Salen pulled his hair away from the back of his ear and showed the jewel to Brian. With his interest instantly captured Brian reached out to touch it. Salen pulled away slightly and released his hair to hide the device again.

"Whoa...that is freaky." Brian said. "What is that thing?"

"That is what I need to know. I fear that it might be a transmitter."

"A transmitter? Like a listening device or a tracking system?"

"Exactly."

"Can I ask an obvious question?"

"I am sure you can."

"How in the entire fucked up Universe did you end up with something that you don't understand implanted behind your pointy ear? I thought Vulcans were supposed to be smart."

"I was told that it is to correct my hearing loss."

"But you think you were lied to?"

"That is a distinct possibility."

"Awesome." Brian smiled brightly.

"Awesome?"

"I love mucking around with technology that I have no clue what it does. It's exciting, particularly when there is conspiracy involved."

"As thrilled as I am that you are so excited do you think you could avoid 'mucking around' and just tell me what it is with as little damage to myself as possible."

"I'll see what I can do."

Brian beckoned Salen to follow him. He led Salen into a room full of beeping and whirring machinery. He cleared off part of a desk and patted on it in invitation for Salen to have a seat. Feeling like they were doing something wrong Salen looked around to make sure they were alone once more before accepting the offer.

"Relax, Salen."

"Do I seem nervous?"

"Like a virgin on his wedding night." Brian chuckled. "So who put this gizmo in your ear?"

"A surgeon at Walter Reed."

"Starfleet's finest hospital? And you're worried they bugged you? Salen, you need to get your actual head checked, not this high tec hearing aid."

"Please, Brian, can you just look at it?"

"Okay, but I still say you're nuts."

"Noted."

Salen took a deep breath and pulled his hair up once again. Brian picked up a scanner and gave the jewel a quick once over. Looking at the read out he clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Salen's heart was starting to pound painfully as he waited for the engineer's opinion.

"Hmmm...well it doesn't seem to be giving off a signal of any kind." Brian concluded. "It does appear capable of receiving one, but if it is for hearing that makes sense. It has no recording properties, so what we're saying now isn't being heard by anyone. All in all I'd say you're safe."

"Thank you, Brian."

"Of course if you really want to know what it does you've come to the wrong guy."

"Who should I go to?"

"It's a medical device, you should go to a doctor."

"I...I have caused her so much trouble, I did not want to bother her with this."

"Her?" Brian raised a knowing eyebrow. "You got a lady friend, Salen?"

"I do, a very good one."

"I see. Well I suggest you go see her and forget about your new neck jewelry."

"Brian, I need to know exactly what it does before I go back to her. I need to know she's safe."

"Safe from what, Salen? Starfleet fixed your hearing. If you've got your knickers in such a twist over it why did you let them do it in the first place."

"Because I didn't have a choice."

"Salen are you sure they fixed your hearing properly? I mean can you hear yourself?"

"Yes."

"Then you should know that you sound like a lunatic. There is no way the doctors at Walter Reed implanted you with some listening device. Who would be listening in on you anyway? What good would it do Starfleet to spy on a Starfleet Cadet? To steal a Vulcan catch phrase: it's just not logical."

"You are right. I am sorry to have bothered you."

"Not a problem." Brian patted Salen on the shoulder. "Now go see your lady friend."

"I told her we should spend some time apart..." Salen sighed sadly.

"Well go tell her you were wrong."