Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek.
Chapter 12
Spock reread the details of Vager's message. Alarming. And Jim was in the thick of it.
"Commander." It was security. "The prisoner, Jared Vager, killed two guards while fleeing. We are in pursuit, but have lost him. He seems to possess strength similar to the captain's."
Jim's fierce posture and face reflected what Spock had seen from him the first time in the brig, but Spock was certain Jim's fury was not directed at him. He wanted to harm Memphis.
"Take us to red alert. Jared Vager has escaped," said Spock. "Uhura and Sulu, transport what we need to the shuttlecraft. Remain there. Be on the lookout for Vager in the hangar."
Jim had already turned to leave engineering. Spock caught up, matching his speed. It was familiar, he and Jim walking as such, and he almost forgot the grim situation of Jim's mind.
"Spock to McCoy. I need that second dose immediately. Prepare it. The captain and I are in pursuit of the prisoner."
"Spock, how's he doing?"
"Doctor, the dose." Spock cut the comm. If he answered McCoy, Spock would be forced to tell him Jim was headed towards the end.
Did Jim know where Vager was headed? Jim strode with purpose even as they met with the flurry in the corridor, towards the labs.
A scream echoed.
Jim broke into a run first. The immediacy by which Jim tore through the corridors did not surprise Spock. Dr. Marcus was in trouble.
Jim was within ten feet of entering Dr. Marcus' lab when he stopped. He turned to Spock, nothing less than complete torment in his eyes.
"Just me," he rasped.
It was illogical to trust Jim. It was illogical for Spock to trust the drug-induced man in the first place. But this is James T. Kirk, who defies all odds. Spock allowed the possibility that his brief mind meld with Jim to find the passcode had helped calm his drugged state.
"I trust you." A simple statement that spurred Jim to disappear into Dr. Marcus' lab.
Crouched and ready, Spock listened.
"I knew James T. Kirk would find some way to alleviate the drug's affects." Jared Vager's voice, confident and gleeful, was first. "Or, should I say, his friends would."
"Memphis." Jim's voice was steely, not at all like he just sounded when he commanded Spock to trust him. "Got your message. Security has been redirected. Are we going or not?"
"Yeah, I figured the message would make you come get me for some answers and get to Kodos a bit easier. But, since I don't really trust you just yet, I will take your girlfriend and I will follow you down the hall just in case anyone gets trigger happy. Got it?"
"Whatever. We don't have time to argue who shoots her at the end. I'm the one she betrayed. Remember that."
"James," Dr. Marcus whimpered, clearly sounding distressed.
"Shut up," growled Jim. "You can make this easier for yourself and be quiet. Or, you can die right now."
"I'll be quiet," whispered Dr. Marcus.
"Don't cross me, JT."
"I want the hell out of here, too. I fooled Spock. The passage is clear. We'll reach the hangar safely." Jim paused. "If not, we have leverage."
Spock took Jim's hint and hid within the confines of another door. He crouched still, but he could see Jim head out of the lab. Dr. Marcus was forced to walk with one of Vager's arms tightly wound around her neck. He held a phaser to her head.
"Security, please vacate the corridors between the science officer labs and the hangar. Situation critical. The captain is leading Jared Vager to the hangar. Do not, I repeat, do not fire or show yourselves. Take undisclosed locations in the hangar. Alert Mr. Sulu and Lt. Uhura to remain in the shuttlecraft." Spock spoke low into his comm.
Spock fled the opposite direction then. He'd reach the hangar before Jim did. The chance of apprehending Vager plummeted with the extended involvement of Carol Marcus.
He hid halfway into the hangar, ten seconds to spare. Five security officers were in locations undisclosed as instructed. Sulu and Uhura were already on the shuttle
He was concerned for Dr. Marcus, who had lost the stoicism she had displayed since the beginning of Jim's drugging. Jim's deceit had fooled even her.
"Please, James," cried Dr. Marcus
Giving no thought to her exclamation, Jim continued on in front of Memphis and Dr. Marcus. Memphis handled her even more roughly, and Jim's movement and manner degraded.
Jim and Memphis quickly passed one hidden officer. Then, Jim put his hand up to stop Memphis.
"Before I trust you," said Jim, "and let you on this shuttlecraft, Dr. Marcus or not, I have just one question."
Memphis' eyes narrowed. "You're stalling, JT."
"Not really. This place is deserted." Jim gave Dr. Marcus a leering grin and stepped closer to her. "On second thought, no questions, I think the time is now for some fun."
"James." Dr. Marcus paled.
He took a knife from his boot. Spock was on edge at Jim's actions, the probability great that he was terrorizing Dr. Marcus for her betrayal in the brig.
"Been waiting to use this," Jim said, waving the knife. He brought it to Dr. Marcus' face, barely touching her skin but catching her tears on the cold blade. "I did not forget what you did. And I don't really care to take you with us. Or leave you here." He grinned savagely.
"JT," Memphis said, a nervous edge to his voice. "This is not part of my plan. We need to get out of here."
"Your plan?" Jim scoffed. "What about my plan?"
"You're in no position to give orders, Captain," hissed Memphis.
"All I have to do is push this button and speak into it." Jim lifted up a comm as he lowered his knife.
"They won't believe you."
"Want to take that chance?"
Memphis thundered. "I don't want to take the chance you'll murder me as soon as we step foot onto that shuttlecraft. You're unstable, JT." He chuckled. "Right now, more than I am. They told me you would be."
"Then give me the girl, so you can fly the shuttlecraft." Jim cocked an eye and scratched a spot of his head with the knife aggressively. He pulled it back, his own blood covering it. Dr. Marcus' eyes widened as Jim began to clean it on his own shirt. "Up to you. I'm not in the mood for any more waiting."
Memphis, entranced with Jim's bloodied knife, loosened his hold on Dr. Marcus for a second.
Spock emerged from hiding as Jim flew into Memphis, pushing Dr. Marcus towards Spock as Jim bent Memphis' hand backwards. Memphis let go of the phaser and Jim kicked it aside.
Memphis went down to his knees but rammed an elbow into Jim's face. Jim twisted and side kicked him backwards. The bend caused Memphis' head to hit the floor. Jim continued his violence even as his opponent was clearly not in a position to fight back. Jim punched Memphis' head four times and stomped on a hand, crushing bone. Jim then grabbed one of his arms and continued dragging him to the shuttlecraft Jim had appointed them to take.
"Jim!" Dr. McCoy yelled. "Let Spock take care of the prisoner. You've done enough damage to put him down."
Jim laughed. "No way." His merciless dragging of Jared Memphis Vager to the shuttlecraft caused everyone but Spock to look at Jim as if he had lost his mind. He had, but Spock was partially to blame for this set of actions from Jim.
Spock had repeated Jim's passcode to him that entire minute of the meld.
DrCarolMarcusILoveYou. DrCarolMarcusILoveYou. DrCarolMarcusILoveYou.
He had discovered the information with great efficiency and used a method of suggestion to place it at the forefront of Jim's mind.
It kept Jim from using his rage on anything but saving Dr. Marcus and punishing the one who had threatened her.
"Spock, stop him before he kills the man!" Dr. McCoy's face was ashen.
"I do not believe that to be the wisest idea, doctor. Our interference would be detrimental to both the captain and Jared Vager."
Spock kept his face impassive as Dr. McCoy gave him a look of loathing.
"Dr. Marcus, are you injured?" She had stumbled as she fell but was slowly regaining her composure.
"No, only..." She drew a straggling breath. "He had even me fooled."
"I require your assistance. Will you keep close to Jim even though he is displaying extreme side effects? I need you to initiate physical contact. Preferably an embrace." Spock rushed his words. "Dr. McCoy, be ready to use the hypospray. Get as near to Jim as you can, from the side and wait for my signal." McCoy nodded.
"Of course," said Dr. Marcus.
Jim stopped pulling Vager before they went through the doors of the shuttlecraft. Jim lifted Vager up by one hand and shoved him against the ship. Jim choked Vager with his other arm.
"No one threatens the life of the woman I care about." Jim's murderous rage thundered throughout the hangar. "No one."
Jim took Vager's head and slammed it against the ship.
Vager fell down, clearly unconscious by the treatment Jim had extended. Jim's glittering black eyes held no remorse as he looked at Spock. "Cuff him. He is going with us."