Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek.
Author's Note: And then there's this chapter. Hurt!Jim addicts welcome. Those who get that we beat up on Jim and he still manages to captain a starship are welcome, too. ;0
Author's Note #2: Lenore is my wild card. I've taken liberties, as you've seen, to change her story. I felt it was alright since I'm dealings with "new" canon and she hasn't been touched, so to speak, in the movies. Also, I write historical fiction/romance and having a character like Lenore that I could manipulate to match my purpose..haha...has helped ground me to this story, so to speak. Her story results in ramifications for Jim...good or bad or both...you shall see in this chapter and others. And now...
Chapter 18
Nyota's inclination towards children was natural and complete. She cooed at babies, giggled with Dr. McCoy's daughter, and played ball with ten and eleven year olds. Spock's own appreciation for them peaked at 28.7%. He saw them as necessary.
Perhaps he should call it tolerance, instead.
The boys who half-carried Spock to the facility saved his life. His appreciation doubled.
For Nyota, he would tolerate children in the future. She would be deemed an excellent mother by human standards.
The two older boys' intelligence shown in their eyes. The third was intelligent as well, but younger by three years. He did not have the maturity of the taller ones. But his expression intrigued Spock. The child surveyed him up and down, as if looking for injury.
Delvok, the apparent leader of the trio of boys, introduced himself. He was no ordinary Vulcan. His half-humanness appeared to be dominant as Delvok smiled when Spock awoke from his trance. Delvok handed Spock the PADD that Jim had left behind. Spock unlocked the cuffs with stiff fingers, standing although he could hardly feel his legs.
Even after recalling what Uhura explanation of the Green Gate children, Spock had a momentary lapse of calculating his response to them. He could not find the proper words.
"Commander," Delvok began, "you can converse with us as Vulcans normally do. We will not misunderstand the Vulcan way or become upset."
The other boys agreed as they walked up the long path to the entrance. Delvok and Ivek flanked Spock on either side, assisting him to the building, arms fitted around his waist. Another time Spock would be fascinated by the striking appearance of the ice colors and the massive facility against the horizon. He had a fleeting thought of its structural beauty and that was all. His focus depended on eradicating his physical pain.
"I am Ivek," said the other taller boy. "The captain knew we would come for you."
Spock did not know the specifics of Jim's plan but trusted him. The children were a surprise.
"This front entrance is safe- two of the girls created a distraction for the men who were stationed here but we do not have much time." Delvok said. "Your prisoner took Captain Kirk to Kodos. We will show you the way, but we have to stay with the other children once we return to the facility."
"Do you know if the captain sustained any other injury?" Spock's chilled body demanded respite.
Ivek opened the door to the Green Gate and gave Spock his coat. Spock struggled as he shrugged it on. The chill inside the building was more than he was accustomed to but better than outside.
"Your prisoner stunned him and he has whatever injuries he sustained already." Ivek eyed Delvok. "Beyond that, we do not know. Too much is stopping me to read thoughts where Kodos and.."
"You are a telepath, not touch telepath?" Spock asked Ivek.
"Yes, that is my gift," Ivek said, a bit uncomfortably.
"They have Lenore Karidian as well as Kevin Riley," interrupted Delvok.
"The actor's daughter?"
The three boys hesitated. Delvok bit his lip. "I'm sorry, commander. Lenore is Governor Kodos' daughter."
"Explain."
"Governor Kodos is the actor who came to visit us."
"The ex-governor kidnapped his own daughter?" Why?
"Yes. Ayhan, the youngest of the children here, is gifted with ability to see the innate destiny of certain people. She insists Lenore is destined to do good in this situation. Lenore was caught trying to help Kevin."
A child who can see destiny. Fascinating.
"How did she manage to get to him?"
"A secret passageway designed by Captain Kirk, but it will be too tight a fit for you. They made it safe for us- it is too small for adults."
The smallest of the three boys chimed in eagerly and with a brilliant smile. "We stole a card from a guard. It will open the old door downstairs!"
Spock's eyebrow raised unintentionally. The smaller boy gulped. "Um, I mean, we got..."
"Indeed," Spock said. He looked down his nose at the child and spoke rare words for a Vulcan. "Thank you."
Hands forced water in Jim's eyes, nose and mouth. The liquid choked his throat and then flushed into his lungs. Burning. Suffocating.
Jim panicked and tried to jerk his head when he couldn't breathe. He was met with an unseen force which refused his movement.
The hands were as relentless as the water. The ringing in his ears transformed to a screech. His muscles tensed and ached, over and over again. Nothing he did removed him from his discomfort and the hands held the water there for a few more seconds. He would succumb to the white light around him but then the water disappeared just when he thought he'd pass out.
Some relief, if Jim could call it that, finally came from the simulated drowning. Even so, each time Jim breathed he still felt the needle-like pain he attributed to the sheer volume of water he was tortured with. Not only was there that pain lingering in his chest, but the pain from the shackles of his hands as he breathed.
Jim finally noticed the drastic way he was chained as he worked past the intense feeling in his chest. His arms strained with overextension.
They'd stretched his arms out to chain him like this, mercilessly. Then proceeded to wake him up with the water. He could not look up. He would not look up, just to satisfy his torturer. Not yet. He did see his feet, now bare except for blood, water, and bone sticking out from his skin two particular places.
They had taken his damn shoes.
He pressed upward from the floor and yelled as the weight brought more knife-like pain.
They had broken his feet. Ankles, too. It was insane that he could not recall that happening.
He would not be walking out of here, clearly.
Sinking his weight into the chains cutting into his wrists was not the best solution. It was the only solution.
He could not stand up. He could not put any weight on his feet.
Damn Kodos.
There'd be no running out of here with Kevin and Lenore. Spock would be doing a lot of carrying.
Something long and thin slithered along his back. An animalistic sounding moan slipped out when Jim realized it was a whip. Someone silently taunted him with the choice weapon of Kodos. Invoking memories of child abuse was one of the cruelest ways to torture Jim. It touched his scars like a snake curled around its prey. Jim already knew of its jaws and what its bite would do. A sob arose from the dark places he always kept hidden.
"No more pretending, James. I know you're awake." The warmth of Memphis' breath touched his neck. Jim shivered and his hair stood up on end. Once upon a time, Jim had considered him a friend. "Time to face your demons." Memphis' sing-song voice played over and over.
This was his nightmare. Returning to Kodos' lair.
NO.
Jim pried his eyelids open and lifted his head as much as he could. His chest filled with more pain with the rise of his chin. It took great effort. Kodos' face came into his line of vision.
"James T. Kirk."
The voice had grown older just as his face. Still, Jim recognized both. He would never forget the one who played God.
"Enjoying your little vacation?" Kodos sneered.
"'vrthing... 'cept...the view," Jim rasped.
"You haven't lost your sense of sarcasm, I see. You will lose your ability to withhold information this time, James T. Kirk. I told you I'd find out your name."
"'s captain." Jim would fight and he'd fight by telling Kodos that he was no longer living in Kodos' maniacal past.
"Sir," interrupted one of the guards by the door. "We've word there's a disturbance."
"Go, check it out. Stay outside the door. Kirk's Vulcan first officer is dying out on the ice, so it's not him. It's probably nothing," Kodos shrugged.
Jim internalized his smug response. The children came through.
"Today, you are JT." The lines on Kodos' face grew deeper and darker. "Memphis, prepare the serum."
A somber child of about three pressed the guard's card into Spock's hand. It was a deliberate offering. The little girl spoke to him telepathically while an alarm rang throughout the facility.
I'm Ayhan. He can't walk, Mr. Spock. Lenore will be sad. Don't let Memphis go back with the bad men. Kevin will help.
She gave Spock those five sentences and disappeared as quickly as she had come up to him. The edge of her gown and bottoms of her feet the only things he saw down the corridor. It was eerily quiet inside this portion of the Green Gate. Delvok ushered the other two boys away and remained with Spock.
"This part is always deserted after duty hours. It was safe for Ayhan, for all of us, but it won't be for long." Delvok frowned. "I cannot believe they killed our caretakers. All of them. We won't be safe here when you leave."
The ship Jim hid...
"Have the children ready..." Spock took out his comm.
"They already are," Delvok said and then quickly quieted. Footsteps sounded, hesitant and searching. Spock gripped his phaser, motioning the boy behind him.
Two guards looked where the children had sounded the alarm minutes ago. Spock wasted no time in firing.
"They'll be three more." Delvok now looked scared.
"Go back to the others," Spock commanded. The boy scurried out of the way. "Spock to Sulu. Is the ship readied?"
"Almost, Commander."
"That is not acceptable."
"We ran into...a few obstacles. We need thirty minutes."
"Please inform Lieutenant Uhura we will have fourteen additional passengers."
"Commander," Sulu huffed. "We will barely hold that capacity now that the shuttlecraft was blown up."
"Lieutenant?" Spock said. "I was not aware of that the shuttlecraft had been destroyed."
"Just minutes ago. It came up on our sensors. Thank God the captain went to the effort to hide this ship."
Only Memphis and her father remained in the basement so when the door nudged open wide enough for a body to slip through and then a body did slip through, Lenore grasped blindly at that bit of hope.
Whoever entered went unnoticed by her father and Memphis. Lenore did not allow her eyes to follow the shadow's movement. She could tell from the corner of her eye he was from Starfleet, just like Kirk. But who?
Kevin's elbow nudged her side. She tilted her head back then twisted her neck. They were now eye to eye, almost lip to lip. He had seen their visitor, too.
"Be ready," he mouthed to her.
Ready for what? She had no idea what she was supposed to do. Kevin could lean on her. That much was possible. If any adrenaline kicked in, she could make it to the door and beyond with Kevin at her side.
Maybe.
Until then, Kevin and Lenore were the only other spectators to the torture ex-governor Kodos inflicted upon Captain Kirk. She was loathe to watch but her ears picked up every little thing her father did to him.
"I need those coordinates, James."
"Never... give them...to... you."
Captain Kirk's bravery stirred something within Lenore. To defy the man who held so much power over you.
"You will." Kodos waved a hand to Memphis. "Give him the serum."
"Wait," Kirk heaved the word. "Who's...the girl?"
Kodos narrowed his eyes at Kirk. "Someone of no consequence to you."
"You only...need me. Why...innocent.. girl?" The captain inquired haltingly.
"Quit stalling, Kirk," Memphis took Captain Kirk by his hair and forced his head back, neck exposed. "Do you want me to do it, or not?"
Kodos delayed his reply. She didn't care for the frightening way he pinned his gaze on her.
It's time, Miss Lenore.
Devlok?
Ayhan says you must speak up.
"Father?"
Captain Kirk's reaction to her choice of endearment to the ex-governor wrenched away any confidence she had in herself.
"Father?" Kirk sputtered, still handled by Memphis. "You tied... up...your own...daughter?"
"To prevent her from harm, I assure you."
"Keeping her... here...?" Kirk hissed as Memphis pulled harder. "Bastard."
"Sir, we are running out of..."
"Enough, Memphis!" Kodos shouted. "I am aware of that."
He did not look away from the captain's eyes for several minutes. Captain's Kirk eyes fluctuated from gray to blue then to black. It was freakish, and Lenore forgot how to breathe.
"Stay with me, Lenore," Kevin whispered. She nodded. Or, maybe she shook her head. She still couldn't breathe correctly.
Her father, deep in contemplation, crossed his arms, fingers drumming along his shirt. He grew a smile like none she'd ever seen within a minute. It wasn't the smile used at her birthday parties or even after she performed a perfect monologue for his troupe. This was fully sinister, a match to whatever he was doing in this place.
"I see you are fairly upset about...Lenore," Kodos said. He cocked an eyebrow at Kirk. "My daughter."
Kirk growled at her father and that black gleam in his eyes stood out like fire.
"I hate to continue to distress you with this relationship, James," Kodos sneered. "Let me see if I can help you."
Lenore did shake her head then as the man who tied her up fingered her hair. Kevin held up her weight now. Kodos' hand gripped her chin and he pulled her face towards his.
"What do you remember about the children you rescued on Tarsus?" Kodos laughed. "The ones who were traded in for Memphis' life."
"What are you getting at?" Memphis came over and snatched Kodos' hand from touching Lenore's hair. "You're scaring her, your own daughter."
"Tell me, Captain Kirk," asked Kodos.
"They had full...lives ahead..." Kirk's voice was haunting. "Until...they were betrayed...and you... took them."
"If you'd been more cooperative, the possibilities would have been endless." Kodos stepped to Kirk's side. "Tell me, though, about the youngest you rescued. You do remember her, don't you?"
Kirk shook his head. He spat in Kodos' face. "Go to hell."
"She wouldn't talk. She was a sweet child, wasn't she?"
"She was mute...'cuz you murdered...her parents...in front of her." Kirk twisted in his chains with a strength Lenore had never seen in a man.
"A detail she forgot."
"She forgot..." Kirk's cry terrified Lenore. He jerked at the chains and moved his hands within the cuffs to the point they were constantly flowing with blood in an effort to escape them. She closed her eyes, unable to watch this man in such distress. "What... did...you do...you bastard? Where..is she?"
A hand caressed her shoulder. Her father never touched her like that. Ever.
"Right here, James. Right here."