"Split Decisions"
by Secretive Chi X
Summary: In the Mirrorverse, the transporter accident caused by the magnetic ore dust of Alfa-177 splits Spock instead of Kirk. The transporter erroneously sorts Spock's Vulcan and Terran DNA into two separate individuals. Kirk must hide Spock's Terran half and rely on Scotty to program the transporter to reverse the split. Pre-slash Spirk. Kirk 3rd person POV.
Content Warnings: Mentions of torture, past abuse
Author's Notes (of course, skip if you don't care)
After rewatching "Mirror, Mirror," I have some observations:
"Mirror, Mirror" and "Requiem for Methuselah" are both written by Jerome Bixby, and in the latter episode, Spock clearly responds out of secret love for Jim and erases Jim's memory of loving Reena (spelling of her name taken from the credits instead of the subtitles).
Mirror Spock is clearly friends with Mirror Kirk. He repeatedly warns Kirk, breaks orders not to tell Kirk that he's been ordered to kill Kirk, and even when confronted, instead of killing Kirk, he marches Kirk to Sickbay and again asks what is going on. When he learns what's going on, he simply sends them home, and he argues that he doesn't want to kill his Kirk, he wants his Kirk back. Moreover, the security guards for Mirror Spock and Mirror Kirk work together and are comfortable with each other.
Dr. McCoy appears to be the same in both universes, as Mirror Spock characterizes him as "soft and sentimental".
Mirror Sulu doesn't seem like a rapist because otherwise he would take what he wants from Uhura. He's pushy, and it's uncomfortable for Uhura, but if he were a rapist, the episode wouldn't hesitate to depict it, because Kirk's "dark half" in "The Enemy Within" is shown attempting to rape Janice Rand and the scene is graphic.
However, for those people determined to insert rape into the Mirrorverse, when Uhura says Sulu isn't at his station, Sulu's response is to ask her if the Captain or Spock are on the Bridge. If their exchange does have a deeper meaning that is an allusion to rape, Sulu states that Kirk and Spock don't allow that kind of behavior. Furthermore, Sulu is the villain of the episode, and his behavior is far from widespread. He is depicted as the only person crossing any kind of sexual boundary.
Mirror Uhura can't be different from Uhura because Mirror Sulu never realizes it isn't Mirror Uhura he's dealing with.
Mirror Kirk is shocked to be betrayed by Spock in the Federation/Prime universe, implying that he saw Spock and Mirror Spock as being similar enough that he expected Spock to be on his side. Then he tries to bargain. This is more evidence of friendship.
Dr. McCoy is frightened when Mirror Spock backs him up and instigates a mind meld, but it isn't violent, and they both show up unharmed to the transporter room. Moreover, the mind meld dictates that Mirror Spock cannot hurt Dr. McCoy without hurting himself, neither one of them appear to be in pain. The inescapable mutual harm is backed up by the 6th movie of the Star Trek TOS Movieverse. Therefore, Mirror Spock didn't hurt Dr. McCoy.
Mirror Kirk and Mirror Marlena apparently have a consensual non-abusive relationship. She's not scared of him, she's very casual. She even knows about the Tantalus Screen, its uses, where Kirk got it, and how to operate it. That's a great deal of trust.
Mirror Spock and Mirror Marlena characterize Mirror Kirk as being very with it, a mastermind, and loyal to both of them. Mirror Kirk is not an incoherent monster. They both trust Mirror Kirk.
Dr. McCoy calls the Sickbay a "chamber of horrors" because medical assistants are betting on a patient's pain tolerance. That says absolutely nothing about Mirror McCoy. For all our Dr. McCoy knows, they were engaging in that behavior because he wasn't in the room, knowing that if they were, their activities wouldn't be allowed. Also, the Sickbay looks "the same" to McCoy except that certain objects have been moved around. There aren't any torture implements, for example. Dr. McCoy is simply upset at the behavior of his colleagues when he calls Sickbay a "chamber of horrors". Later, when reviving Mirror Spock, the shots of Sickbay make it look as bright and clean as the normal universe's Sickbay. And the medicine to help Mirror Spock is apparently on hand. So it can't be that bad.
The point of the episode isn't how different the universes are, but how shockingly similar they are. It's a classic warning tale like many other stories of the time period. There's very little difference between the two universes. It's so easy to be an Empire. As a friend pointed out, this idea could be rooted in the classic "What if the Nazis won?" question.
Finally, it's implied that the universes are so parallel that the "walls" between them are thin enough to be punctured by a transporter during an ion storm, which suggests other episodes in the series have "Mirror" versions.
Accordingly, this is the Mirrorverse version of "The Enemy Within." This is a Season One episode, and thus pre-dates the events of "Mirror Mirror." I'm going by production order, which makes this episode 5.
"Split Decisions"
Chapter 1
The survey of Alfa-177, a lifeless rock floating in space if ever there was one, had Jim in a bad mood. Staying on board the ship made him too restless, but walking around a barren landscape watching a science team do their unutterably boring job made him restless, too. He sidled up to his First Officer. "Spock," he complained.
"We must be thorough," Spock intoned, understanding his meaning just as Spock always did. "It would not do to neglect our duty and risk leaving some of Alfa-177's natural resources undiscovered and untapped."
They worked together so well that Jim could say three words and Spock could extrapolate eight sentences from it. That would be a fun game to try sometime just to see how much Spock could guess. It was that marvelous Vulcan brain of his enlivened with a human level of empathy.
"Well, hurry it up," Jim said. "The temperature's dropping, and you already told me this planet isn't habitable after nightfall. I don't want to die in one of the most boring places in the galaxy. That would be too undignified."
Spock gave no sign that he appreciated or understood the humor. However, Jim just knew that Spock did. He'd caught Spock too many times feigning ignorance only to make a dry joke. Spock didn't even look up from his science tricorder. "Haste has little merit in regards to thoroughness, Captain."
One of the science technicians stepped on unstable ground while analyzing a hillock, and the miniature landslide caused him to take a tumble virtually on top of Jim.
Jim whirled on him. "Watch what you're doing, Fisher!"
Fisher was curled into a ball, cradling his left hand. "I'm sorry, Captain! Please don't Agonize me. This hurts enough. I didn't mean to, I swear. That composition of rock usually holds. I don't know what's wrong."
"Fascinating," Spock murmured, stepping over to analyze the yellow dust covering Fisher with his tricorder. "Impurities composed of some manner of magnetic ore caused the instability in the limestone."
Fisher's left hand was covered with blood.
Jim rolled his eyes. "Get yourself cleaned up with your medkit, why don't you? You're wasting your blood on this planet. We're here to take, not to give." The accident only added to his foul mood.
"Yes, sir," Fisher said quickly, pulling the miniature kit from his belt and cleaning up his hand the best that he could. In addition to sanitation spray, there was a tiny dermal regenerator. For large injuries it would take forever, but it was just a cut across Fisher's hand. He sprayed his hand clean and closed up the wound with the little dermal regenerator.
"Mr. Spock, I can see my breath," Jim warned.
"Go on ahead, Captain. I will finish taking my readings in another nine minutes and fifty-two seconds." Spock was deeply engrossed in the yellow ore that had been exposed.
Of all the wastes of time. "Very well." Jim took out his communicator. "Scotty, beam everyone up but Mr. Spock. He insists on staying behind for another ten minutes."
When Jim rematerialized on the transporter pad, he could tell something had gone wrong. There was a strange ionized smell, and Scotty was all but panicking. "What's happened?" he demanded.
"The transporter malfunctioned," Scotty said, fiddling with the controls. "We'd better run a test and make sure we haven't blown her circuits somewhere."
"Spock is still down on that planet," Jim said sharply. His voice was uncomfortably shrill in his own ears. "Vulcans can't stand the cold the same way humans can. The temperature's dropping every minute."
"I'm working on it, sir," Scotty replied.
The others hurried back to their posts, made anxious by Jim's anger.
Because it was Scotty, Jim let it go and watched his Chief Engineer work, unable to keep one foot from fidgeting. Scotty liked Spock. This couldn't be an assassination attempt in progress. Time was ticking down. I should have made Spock come back with us. "Well? It's been nine minutes."
"She's reading fine now," Scotty said doubtfully. "But I need to run more tests."
"We don't have time to run more tests. You're going to have to do the best you can."
"Aye, sir." Scotty's hands moved deftly over the controls. "We're locked onto Mr. Spock now."
"Beam him up."
Scotty waged war with the transporter, pressing buttons, adjusting sliders, cursing to himself in Scots Gaelic, and moving the lever back and forth until suddenly he pulled it all the way back. "I'm fighting some kind of magnetic interference, Captain. The readings have all gone scrambled. I'm having to disregard that and hope for the best."
Not one but two forms were materializing on the transporter pad.
"Scotty…" Jim trailed off.
Spock had beamed up with a Terran man wearing an identical uniform who had the same haircut and beard. They even looked related.
"What is this?" Jim asked. It was little more than a whisper.
Spock and the Terran newcomer who resembled him faced each other. Spock's expression was impassive, but the Terran's was a complex mix of dread and wonder. "Fascinating," they said to each other, but in very different tones of voice. Spock's voice was slightly dead-sounding. The newcomer's was pitched with shock.
"You on the right," Jim said, falling into his role as Captain as a way to escape his massive discomfort. "My right." He gestured. "Identify yourself."
The Terran man slowly tore his gaze from Spock and stared at Jim with open fear and trepidation. "I am S'Chn T'gai Spock, Captain."
The Spock Jim was familiar with stepped forward off the transporter pad and stood at parade rest, his expression unusually hard. "As am I, Captain. It is evident that the transporter did not successfully read my life signs, instead interpreting me as two beings: a Vulcan and a Terran. It sorted my DNA accordingly. This will prove to be a fascinating experiment."
Jim's mouth opened and then shut again. He heard the click of his teeth. Then his brain managed to process Spock referring to himself as an experiment, something that Spock would normally never do. It was taboo. It might be a fact that Spock was created as part of an experimental program by the Empire, but that didn't have any bearing on Spock as a person, and even the slightest whiff of a mention was enough to elicit deep anger and insecurity in his First Officer. "Never mind the experiment. We need to figure out how to put you back together." He turned to Scotty. "Get working on it. I don't care what you have to do. The transporter did this. The transporter can undo this."
When he turned back to face his split First Officer, his stomach clenched. The Terran Spock was defiantly, angrily, stonily weeping. "Indeed," the Terran Spock hissed. "It is only logical." He glanced at the fully Vulcan Spock with naked hatred. The words might have been typical for Spock, but the sheer quiet fury with which they were delivered stole Jim's breath.
"Cease your emotional display, if you please," the fully Vulcan Spock said in a monotone.
"If I didn't have to remember it from your point of view later, I would certainly punch you in the mouth," the Terran Spock snapped. He stopped weeping, but he was certainly no less emotional.
The fully Vulcan Spock didn't so much as lift an eyebrow. "In your present condition, it is doubtful that you could injure me. Your strength is greatly reduced by being split from me."
"Gentlemen," Jim said, somewhat at a loss. His heart broke a little for Spock's separated human half.
"Captain," the fully Vulcan Spock replied. "May I speak freely?"
"Why not?" Jim replied. This should be good…
"Until Mr. Scott discovers how to reintegrate me, I suggest that you hide my Terran part. I would not normally be so forward as to impose my company upon you, but your cabin is the safest place for him, provided you wish him to be whole by the time Mr. Scott finds his solution."
"Hide me?" the Terran Spock demanded. "Only me?"
"I have retained my customary outer appearance," the Vulcan Spock said with no change in tone. "To avoid suspicion, I must stay on duty. All of my mental functions are intact. This is a logical solution."
"You – You would enact what we've lived with our whole lives so cold-bloodedly?" the Terran Spock shouted. "You really are a traitor!"
The Vulcan Spock looked at his other half with no expression in his eyes, much less the rest of him. "And you are behaving quite anomalously."
Jim stepped in, as it seemed that it might be necessary to separate them before the Terran punched the Vulcan or the Vulcan neck-pinched the Terran. He put himself between them and embraced the Terran version. Terran Spock went limp in his arms and stared at him with shock. "Captain?"
"Let's go to my cabin. We'll play some chess. I'll keep you company. Come on." Jim used his best soft, coaxing voice.
"I object to being removed from duty unless I am entirely removed," Terran Spock said, but at the same time, he allowed Jim to herd him toward the nearest Jeffries tube. They'd need to go the back way through the ship to avoid prying eyes. At least this version of Spock still implicitly trusted him. Terran Spock didn't even ask what they were doing.
"Objection noted," Jim said. To Vulcan Spock, he said, "You're acting as a distraction. You're off of normal duty. Find something to distract yourself with that looks credible and don't touch anything important."
Terran Spock smirked at his other self.
Vulcan Spock looked ever-so-briefly infuriated. But he composed himself in record time. "Understood, Captain. Those are your orders, and I will follow them to the letter. Despite the loss of valuable work time."
Jim smiled sweetly at Vulcan Spock. "Thank you." Then he looked at his Chief Engineer. "It goes without saying that we're counting on you to keep a secret, Scotty."
"Aye, sir," Scotty replied. "And I'm working as fast as I can."
"I believe in you," Jim said. He and Terran Spock opened the access hatch to the Jeffries tube and disappeared inside.
"Captain, I apologize," Terran Spock said before they'd crawled very far. "I have placed you in an embarrassing and unusual position."
"No, what placed me in that position was a transporter accident," Jim said. Terran Spock sounded distressed and deferential, two things he couldn't mentally associate with his First Officer. I had no idea this could be inside you.
"You implied that you wished me to leave the planet's surface with you, and had I complied, I would not be placing you in this position," Terran Spock insisted.
Jim found himself in the position of having to try to be comforting. He adopted a brisk tone. "Well, all that's over and done now. We have to deal with the situation at hand."
"I understand, sir. If you request my Agonizer when we reach your cabin, I will readily submit myself to you." Terran Spock's voice was immeasurably calm and sad. He avoided meeting Jim's gaze.
Jim stopped crawling. They were shoulder to shoulder in the Jeffries tube, which was barely wide enough to accommodate being side by side. He met Terran Spock's gaze. "I'm not Agonizing you."
Terran Spock stared at him in return, looking quietly lost. Somehow small. "But, sir…I disobeyed an order."
"I never made my preference an order."
"But you admit it was your preference. You are the Captain. There is little difference between a preference and an order."
"Yes, damn it, there is, and I'll tell you when I have an order for you," Jim snapped. The idea of Agonizing this defenseless part of Spock turned his stomach. "Here's an order: Shut up until we reach my cabin."
Terran Spock nodded, following the order literally.
