A groan rose from the back of Jim's throat as he compared the empty room to the vibrant one he had expected. What was he doing on the planet in this condition? Bones was right; he belonged in sickbay where he would not endanger his crew. Despite that being the logical thing to do, his gut instinct said to ignore rational thought and remain here. But wasn't that one of the reasons why Bones had yelled at him in the first place? Not choosing to run with his instincts? Faced with indecision, he bit the inside of his cheek, the drawing of blood strangely grounding.
"Are you alright, Captain Kirk? Do you need anything?" Princess Eoksa asked. He bent under her imploring eyes, speaking the first thing that came to his mind.
"Dr. McCoy," he whispered. Bones would know how to help him, like always.
"Sir?" Nudged by Uhura's sharp breath, Jim's face drained of color. He almost looked away, wanting to hide his mistake while at the same time fighting for a sense of reality, for a line that wasn't blurred, for a shoulder to lean on...for anything. But the truth hurt. He was more alone than ever.
"Captain, you would like me to get Dr. McCoy?" Uhura hesitated.
"No," he said, unable to disguise his dry rasp. He really didn't care to earn a one-way ticket back to the Enterprise. What if he hadn't imagined creatures in the room and it somehow was changed - to trick him? If his crew was in danger on Re'an V, Jim had to find a way to get them to the Enterprise the swiftest but most diplomatic way possible. Without Bones knowing - or Spock. And if Jim's mind had deteriorated as much as he thought it might have, he could not attract more attention to himself. "Lieutenant, I'm fine."
"I'm happy to hear that, Captain Kirk," the princess said sweetly. "I would hate to disappoint my son today. Be aware, he may pester you for a story or two of your recent discoveries."
Out of nowhere she held out to him a young, writhing snake. Still reeling from his mental instability, Jim stared at the snake in wonderment, all the while contemplating that he had something more serious to take care of than continuing to please the Re'an princess.
"Take it, Captain," the princess urged.
He had a few minutes to spare, didn't he? As soon as its crimson, shimmering scales met with his skin, his mind softened, curling all its thoughts around the creature. His shoulders dropped, but not under his previous burden. If anything, his load had lightened. He'd forgotten how good it felt to be relaxed and the moment stretched. He stared, mesmerized with this smaller snake as much as he'd been with the grander creature days ago.
"It's a rups'el," the princess explained. "Similar to your Terran garter snakes but with two extra eyes and the full size much smaller than most adult snakes. And like the other, Young Kirk, it senses strength of spirit."
Jim slowly grinned as he held it in his hands. He didn't care what it was - only that the creature was comfortable enough to touch him. It slithered up his arm, stopping near Jim's shoulder and curling its tail once around his bicep. Aleyah would appreciate this. "I assume our xenozoologist has seen this little guy?"
"She has. Lovely, Dr. Jahnas is," Princess Eoksa peered at him. "Perhaps she would like to again, before we eat. To whet your appetite, so to speak."
"Lieutenant." Jim's skin warmed where the creature rested. He kept his eyes on the snake. "Would you please inform Dr. Jahnas that her presence is requested here?"
Uhura was silent, testing him. He stared hard at her, daring her in return to disobey his order in front of Eoksa. "Of course, Captain," she finally said.
It was almost thirty minutes later before Jim managed to simultaneously peel himself from the rups'el and extract both he and Aleyah from the vigilant eyes of Eoksa and her guards. Jim fell in step with Aleyah, carefully calculating his next move.
"Dr. Jahnas, I am going to need your assistance obtaining information from the Enterprise," he muttered in her ear as they approached the banquet hall. He grimaced at her arched eyebrow but continued. "Yes, Acting Captain Spock has severely curtailed my access for the time being. However, I am suspicious of the Re'an's motives for our mission here and need access to some of that information before I bring it to his attention."
"What would I need to do?"
"I need the names of those renegades and in particular, the name and description of the one who is unusually petite." Jim frowned, perturbed that he couldn't remember the information he was certain he'd read several days ago. And the partial image on the rocket wasn't much to work with, only what appeared to be part of an arm and a tail of a snake. "Also, a description of the full, pieced image on the rocket, if they have it."
She looked sideways at him. "Dr. Marcus already discussed the image with me yesterday and I am more than happy to tell you everything I know. But the details of the renegades have been classified to command staff and I doubt Mr. Scott would tell me anything. He knows the ramifications of doing so."
"Listen, Aleyah, I need you try." Jim forced his face to relax as a pair of Re'an youth walked past them. He gently grasped her arm and pulled her closer. "If he is suspicious, I'll just deal with it later."
If Scotty suspected Jim was behind Aleyah requesting information, the engineer would tell Spock right away. Jim sighed. He had no choice but to turn to Aleyah for help if he wanted to get to the bottom of this before anyone else got hurt. It was a risk, and he had to move fast.
"Why the secrecy?" She looked curiously at him.
"I think...I think there's something unusual going on here. If I'm right, and you know I am, I am the only one who can find out. Until I get proof, Dr. Jahnas, this has to be an unofficial investigation. I can't drag the Enterprise into this until then." He paused, knowing full well that she would not refuse his request.
"I'll do it." Aleyah practically preened as she smiled at him, eyes bright under her long lashes.
"Thank you." He gave her a fluid smile, relieved he had her cooperation. There was more to say but that could come later.
There was a hitch to her step. She careened into his chest, Jim allowing it so she wouldn't fall to the ground. "It's my pleasure."
Jim looked up and his breath caught. Dr. McCoy stood near one of the banquet hall doors, watching them with a scowl.
After the banquet ended, Spock stood next to his superior officer as they awaited presentation of the gift Lequa had promised them. Logical concern for that officer had been on his mind for the past forty-six minutes ever since he received the equally concerned comm from Mr. Scott and look from Dr. McCoy. Breaking his silence, he quietly observed, "Captain, you appear to be quite anxious."
If speaking to Jim did not alleviate his own anxiety for the captain's health, Spock would order Jim to be directly beamed to the Enterprise.
Jim frowned, swirling the liquid in the glass he held.
"I must inquire as to why."
"Now's not the time, Spock," Jim clenched his jaw and indicated his head to the group of Re'an and Enterprise crew members taking places in various chairs and couches in a corner of the banquet hall. Spock did not miss the way Jim's eyes swept over the thirteen arched entrances into the hall before returning his gaze to Spock.
Spock clasped his hands behind his back. "We are awaiting their presentation, yes, but we are alone. If you do not inform me at this time, I will insist that you return to the Enterprise immediately. I have also been made aware of your attempt to elicit information from Mr. Scott through Dr. Jahnas."
Jim scowled and gulped down the remaining drink. He wiped his mouth, eyes hardening along the edges. The lines on his face deepened as he stared at an empty space in front of him. "Either I'm losing it more than I thought I was or they're lying to us."
"Jim-"
Jim held up a palm. "Don't, Spock. Please. Don't ask me..."
Spock fell silent for a moment, observing Jim as he watched his crew with their hosts. "May I inquire why you believe they are lying?"
Jim rubbed his eyes and sighed, and the vague explanation that followed deeply troubled Spock. Learning that Jim was tormented in his mind by a tragedy he refused to name and helpless to control the illusions unsettled Spock. As he weighed the situation in his mind, his own calculations were also disconcerting. It was more likely that Jim had imagined the conversation with Lequa and the creatures in the room than the Re'an had lied.
"You don't believe me." Jim's face fell, shoulders sagging.
An unprecedented sadness swept over Spock. Taken by surprise he swallowed, giving himself time before replying. "I do not wish to hurt you, Jim."
"That's the second time you said that to me in the past twenty-four hours." Jim whispered. "And both times, Spock, it has hurt me."
"It is not safe for you to be here, Jim." Spock could not bear for this to go any further. It was all too clear to him now - he was losing his captain.
Jim spoke with a controlled but vicious edge. "If I'm right, Spock, it's not safe for any of us to be here."
"I will be cautious, taking in consideration what you have told me. In the meantime, I will inform Prince Lequa that your presence is immediately required on the Enterprise." Spock took out his comm.
"No." Jim's eyes widened. "Spock. Please, don't send me back. You don't understand."
Spock observed the distraught man and calculated the odds of Jim refusing his offer at at ninety-nine point three percent. He swiftly reinforced his shields to ward off the emotional backlash and stated slowly, "Jim, there is one way I could quickly ascertain what is real and what is imagined. Do you wish me to meld with you now?"
Mentally stepping back, Spock awaited the harsh reaction he expected. No doubt Jim would refuse to yield information he wished to remain private.
Jim paled and took an unsteady step backwards. "That's not...that's not an option."
"Then you leave me no-"
A woman cried out. Spock jerked his head to the commotion on the other side of the room. All attention focused on the corner where several forms huddled around a woman slumped on the floor. His vision narrowed as he recognized Dr. Jahnas to be the woman who collapsed. She blinked up in confusion at the concerned face of Dr. McCoy crouching over her.
Determined to return Jim back to the Enterprise, Spock jerked his head back around. His chest constricted. The spot where the captain had stood beside him seconds ago was now eerily vacant.
Jim had simply and silently disappeared.