Chapter 8

"It'll be okay child. You'll see. I have a plan, a plan to save us."

Jim nodded. His stomach grumbled at that moment. Kodos smoothed down his hair. He hadn't had time to get ready this morning. "Come. Let's get you something to eat. And a bath and some clothes," Kodos added.

Jim nodded. He really was hungry. It had been weeks since he had eaten enough food to feel even marginally full especially after he started splitting his meager portions with Kevin.

Kodos led him to his kitchen. Jim's eyes widened. His grandmother had a kitchen like this. He remembered spending the holidays there when he was little before his mother started taking longer and longer missions. Then it was just Jim, Sam and their android caretaker before Frank came along.

It was easy to see that before the famine; this kitchen had been a lively place. Jim could easily surmise that this was where most of the food for Kodos' dinner parties had been prepared at.

Kodos pressed him into a chair. Maybe Kodos pushed a little too hard, or maybe Jim was just that weak. Whatever was the reason? When Kodos left him at the breakfast table to make his food, Kodos' large handprint was left on his shoulder. It throbbed as much as his head did.

Jim watched as Kodos made him a sandwich: peanut butter and jelly. His mom had made that for him once when he was little. She called it comfort food like chicken noodle soup. He watched as Kodos cut the crust off before slicing the sandwich into equal triangles. His mother had never sliced the crust off his sandwiches. She was always in too much of a hurry to care about the little things.

Kodos set the plate down in front of him along with a tall glass of milk. Jim's eyes widened. The sandwich was huge. He had forgotten how large food portions could be. Seeing the sandwich, Jim really did believe Kodos. Kodos really had found a way to save them.

"Go on, child. Eat." Kodos smiled at him. He flashed his set of pearly whites.

Jim nodded. He reached for the sandwich. The first half he swallowed quickly. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was.

"Slowly, child, or you'll choke." Kodos smiled. "Do you like it? I rarely have any chance to cook for children."

Jim looked up from his glass of milk.

Kodos had been so nice to him. He was like a father that Jim never had. A father he had always wanted. Frank had been a bitter disappointment.

"Do you want a kid?" Jim was coy. He always had been.

Kodos laughed. "Very much. Maybe, a little girl with golden, blonde hair and blue eyes... Maybe someday I'll be luck enough. Hmm?" Kodos smiled.

"Maybe," Jim smiled back.

He wasn't a girl, but maybe... maybe for Kodos he could be.

They sat in silence as Jim finished his sandwich. Kodos watched him in amusement. When he finished, Kodos stood up.

"Come, child. Let me show you to your new room."

"Room?"

"Of course. With the nasty business of the famine soon behind us, you will need to start your lessons: piano, singing, dancing, intrigue, leadership, history. We have lost so much time." Kodos steered him away from the kitchen. They went upstairs to a section of the house that Jim had never been to before.

They ended up inside a large bedroom. It was twice the size of his bedroom back home in the Riverside, and so much larger than the room he shared with Kevin. There was a bed in center. It was a large queen sized bed. There was a dresser in one corner and a console in the other. There was large rug in the middle of the room. Above all it was fully furnished.

"I'll let you settle you." Kodos said before leaving. "Dinner is at 7." He added before disappearing. Jim watched as the door closed behind Kodos. He heard the sound of the door latching shut. He vaguely wondered if Kodos had just locked him in. He wondered if he should investigate further, but his head felt funny.

As he sank into the bed and tethered on the edge of sleep, he wondered if Kodos had drugged him and why he wasn't more concerned.

Kodos later mentioned to Jim that he had notified the Riley's of his new residence. They sent their good wishes.

For a month, Jim lived in Kodos' house. Every day he ate lavishly. After the first night when he had thrown up everything he ate, he learned to pace his food intake. He was no longer hungry. Kodos really had saved them. He couldn't wait to see his friends or the Riley's again. He mentioned it once to Kodos at dinner. Kodos waved his hands dismissively and asked about his studies.

For one month Jim lived in the illusion that everything was alright. For one month, Jim acted like the perfect, obedient daughter. He didn't mention his friends or the world outside the confines of Kodos' house after that night. Kodos filled his days with lessons, and there was Kodos' personal library with books… real books. Jim found himself spending hours in the study immersed in Kodos' classics.

He trusted Kodos. He trusted that because he wasn't hungry anymore, nobody else was either.

He practiced his piano, read his books, but most of all he started to wonder when he stopped thinking of Kodos as Kodos but as 'father'. He wasn't his dad. That would always be reserved for the man who had saved 800 lives. The one he would never know.

It had taken Jim a day to realize that Kodos really had locked him in his bedroom. It would have taken less if he hadn't been so god damn tired. The latching sound he had heard the first day was the sound of the door locking shut. For some reason, he never confronted Kodos about it. This was Kodos' house. Maybe there was a reason he didn't want him wandering around late at night. Also, Kodos never did it during the day. During the day, Jim was free to wander thru the mansion. He just chose to spend most of the free hours in that vast library.

Jim had been in Kodos' mansion for three weeks when it first happened. Jim had stayed up late reading a book. He thought he was dreaming when he felt the dip in the bed created by another body weight and hot breaths traveling down his back. He didn't dare to open his eyes. He didn't dare to move. He only fell asleep when he heard the sound of the Kodos' 'rooster' crow. He told Jim the first morning he had spent the night months ago that it reminded him of a different time.

"There is nothing like waking up to the sound of a rooster's crow."

However when he finally woke up, the space next to him was empty. There wasn't a trace that someone had been sleeping there. Jim thought he was just being delusional, or maybe he didn't want to know. He found himself stalling. It took him twice as long to comb his hair.

He tugged at the collar of his turtleneck shirt. He wore turtlenecks almost constantly now to cover his barely formed Adam's apple. His voice hadn't started to crack yet. As he looked into the mirror, he realized how female he was starting to look. He tilted to his side. As he fattened his shirt, he realized that his breasts had gotten larger over the months. He was starting to fill out now that he was no longer starving.

When he finally entered the dining room, there was a plate of breakfast and a PADD on the table with a list of readings and lessons he was required to read. His lessons were getting more and more interesting.

Kodos wasn't anywhere. He ate a silent breakfast, and Jim was glad. He had never been good with confrontation, especially this. As he took a bite of egg, Jim realized he had let out a sigh he didn't even know he was holding.

It happened again and again.

After the fourth time, Jim knew he wasn't hallucinating. He didn't understand. He really didn't. The morning after, Kodos had left him a note on a PADD along with his lessons. It was a note stating that he would be tied up in meetings all day and to find his own lunch.

Jim slammed the PADD down. The mansion suddenly felt constricting. He was going tell Kodos he didn't want any more lessons. He was going to leave. He secretly hoped it was a misunderstanding. It had to be a misunderstanding. Maybe Kodos thought he was lonely. Did parents sleep with their children like that? Fuck. It wasn't like he had any points of reference.

He spent the day in his room. He sat in a chair that was directly across from the door and simultaneously far from the bed. He eyed both wearily.

He felt himself almost dozing off when the door opened. Jim looked up. His eyes immediately snapped open.

Kodos stumbled in. He looked drunk. Kodos was already half stumbling, half walking to the bed. Jim pulled his legs to his chest. He watched Kodos pull off his shirt and casually toss it to the floor. He toed off is boots.

Jim flinched when the book he had set down fell off the chair. It seemed to have shaken Kodos from his stupor. He immediately looked up. His eyes were wild and primal. He crossed the room in five quick strides. His body was imposing and larger than normal. He grabbed Jim's arm with one hand. Jim tried to break free, but Kodos' grip was strong.

With his other hand, Kodos ran his fingers through Jim's blonde curls. "God, are you beautiful my little blue eyes." His breath reeked of alcohol and tobacco. It reminded him of Frank. In fact, everything about the situation reminded him of Frank.

Jim pulled harder. "Let go!" He shouted. He pulled back.

Kodos grabbed both of his arms, hard. He smiled as he shook him. It was cold smiled. "Oh my little blue eyes," he practically cooed. "You silly, silly child," he said sluggishly.

"Let go," Jim shouted again. His voice became more frantic. God, he needed to get away.

Kodos laughed. "Child, don't you want to know what I've been doing all day?"

"No." Jim really didn't care. Fuck. He needed to get away.

"But child," Kodos smiled. He ran a finger over Jim's cheeks. He cupped his chin before tilting his face upwards. Jim could smell the alcohol in his breath. "Oh Jane." He laughed. In that moment, Jim saw insanity. He saw the eyes of an insane man. The same look that for months he had been turning a blind eye to.

Jim pushed back on the balls of his feet. The force was enough for him to slip free. His wrist was still thin from the starvation he had previously experienced.

Kodos didn't grab him again. He even seemed confused. Jim ducked past the man. As he reached the door, Kodos called for him. "Child, oh child," he slurred his words together. He shook his head berating. "Tomorrow is a dawn of a new era. We're going to follow in the path of the great men of the past. Rid the world of waste."

Jim spun around. His eyes became large and blue. He watched as Kodos fell into bed.

This would become a moment in his life that Jim would come to regret. He would regret that he didn't march back into the room and demand to know what Kodos meant. Instead he ran. He ran from that mansion. Because at thirteen, Jim still believed. He believed he was still too young, too insignificant to do anything.

He ran from Kodos' mansion and back into the settlement. It was eerily quiet. The lights that were normally lit outside the adobe houses were all turned off.

Jim, who had made this walk for months now, managed to find his way to the Riley's assigned residence. As he reached the door, he was startled at not hearing the sound of voices. It wasn't that late. Normally nights involved Tom playing on his bagpipes and Joan singing an old Irish song. They would sit in the living room with all the windows open to let in the autumn winds.

He and Kevin would share a couch. Afterwards they would play a board game or a card game, and then he and Kevin would curl up together in bed while Jim would read him a story off his PADD or tell a story he had heard from memory or make one up.

The door swung open the moment Jim touched it. It was strange. He knew Tom always locked the door at night, an old Earth habit that he never broke.

His eyes widened as he stepped inside. The soft moonlight that entered the windows was enough for Jim to see the destruction that had taken place in the home. Kodos' words resonated in his ears. "Kevin! Tom! Joan!" He screamed the names. He crashed through the house. He left the door wide open. It swung back and forth in the wind.

"Kevin!" He shouted again. Fuck.

The kitchen was in just as much of disarray as the small living room. Jim saw the remnants of what appeared to the Riley's dinner. There were smashed plates and bowls. The plant that Joan had tenderly cared for since before his arrival was lying on its side. The clay pot that Kevin had made from the clay of Tarsus for the plant was cracked in half. Dirt and brown water were leaking steadily from the base of the pot.

As he proceeded to leave the kitchen, he heard the faint sounds of a child's whimper. He immediately pivoted around. "Kevin?" he whispered. The sound seemed to immediately disappear. "Kevin," he said again. He walked around the kitchen table and into the adjoining laundry room. It was near dark in there. The moonlight didn't travel this far into the house. "Kevin," he said again. He scanned the room. It was hard to see past the shadows of the appliances and the freshly laundered clothes hanging on the racks.

It was only because he heard the quiet rustle that he located the little boy curled behind drying laundry and the washing machine. Jim immediately bent down. "Kevin?" he said again. He reached forward. He waved his arm around widely. He felt so blind.

The little boy bristled.

"It's Jane," Jim whispered.

"Jane," Kevin whispered, a little confused. He saw Kevin's eyes widen. He felt the little boy crash into him. Kevin seemed thinner than the last time he saw him nearly a month ago. He could practically feel the little boy's rib cage poking through his thin shirt.

Kevin's grip tightened around him. Jim wrapped his own arms around Kevin. The boy buried himself into Jim's chest. He trembled. Jim stood up. It was awkward. Kevin's weight; however, light nearly toppled them both over.

At that moment, Kevin pulled away. Jim could see traces of salt from dried tears and sweat. "Jane, we have to hide. Mommy said to hide."

Jim felt his blood run dry. "Kevin, where's your mom and dad? Where are Tom and Joan?"

Kevin looked like he was going to cry again. He sniffed. "They took them."

"Who did?"

"They…. Mommy said to hide. We have to hide Jane. They're going to come back," Kevin rambled. He was frantic. He pulled on Jim's shirt, tugging it forward.

"Who Kevin?" Jim asked again. Oh god. If what Kodos had told him… "Kevin, you got to tell me. Who?"

"The guards…" Kevin breathed out.

"When?"

"A… a few hours ago…" Kevin managed to breathe out.

"Fuck."

"Jane?"

"Come on. We got to go see Jack…" Jack, Jim was sure he had connections to Starfleet.

"No, Jane, hide." Kevin said again.

Just as Jim opened his mouth to answer, he heard the sound of footsteps. It seemed so close. Kevin's eyes widened. "Jane…"

Jim pressed his finger to his lips. He scanned the room. There wasn't a door or a window in the laundry room. The footsteps were getting closer. The kitchen didn't have a direct view to the front door. He backed up. He set Kevin down. The boy tightened his grip on Jim's arm. Jim motioned at the kitchen hoping that Kevin would understand. Kevin nodded.

They crept into kitchen. They stayed in the shadows. As Jim opened the window, the footsteps reached the front porch. As he hoisted Kevin through the window, the door swung open. The living room lit up. As he climbed through the window, he saw the guards Kevin spoke of. They were holding a PADD and torch lights. They looked annoyed and determined. As he lowered himself down, he heard them calling out 'Kevin Riley'.

He landed hard on the balls of his feet. He flinched upon impact. Kevin immediately latched on again. His eyes were wide. "Jane."

Jim pressed his index finger to his lips.

Kevin bit his lips. He looked like he wanted to cry. Jim pulled him along. He needed to get to Jack or any one of his friend's house. Maybe he should see Ms. Kimura. She had been a Starfleet officer once upon a time, but she was old now.

They stayed under the shadows of the plants and buildings. Kevin followed closely behind. It was so dark. Once they were far enough away, Jim chanced turning around. He saw that the Riley's house was partially lit. He could make out the guards' figures through the windows. It seemed they hadn't given up the idea that Kevin was still in the house. Jim's only consolation was that he had returned for Kevin when he did.

Jack's house was nearly at the other end of the settlement. Jack's family had been one of the first to arrive on Tarsus. Jim had only been to Jack's house a handful of times. He pulled Kevin to the back of the house. Jack's room was at the back of the house. He tapped the window. "Jack," he half whispered, half shouted. "Jack."

He was surprised how fast Jack's face appeared at the window. He didn't even look like he had been sleeping. Jim backed away as Jack pushed open the window. "Jane?"

"Jack…" Jim started. Jack motioned behind him. Jim nodded.

Minutes later, he and Kevin were in Jack's house. It was dark like every other house in the settlement. He followed Jack into his room. Jack immediately pulled the door shut when they entered. Jim nearly did a double take when he noticed that Eli, Thomas, Jennifer and Aiko had all assembled in the room. They were sitting on the floor. Their faces lit up by the moonlight.

"Jane…" Jennifer immediately stood up.

"We have to contact Starfleet," Jim blurted out.

"What the hell," Eli positively groaned.

"It's Kodos. He's going to do something tomorrow." Even at the words left his lips, he realized how lame it sounded.

"Yeah, he's going to save us," Jennifer explained.

"Save?" Jim said incredulously.

"I thought you were living with him."

"I thought." Jim shook his head. His eyes widened. In the last month, Jim had lived with the idea that Kodos had already saved the colony, but now… from the moonlight he could see just how thin his friends were. They looked as thin and boney as Kevin. The little boy was still clinging tightly to his pants legs. The dawn of the new era, Kodos' infatuation with Hitler and Napoleon and the Eugenics wars, and then Kodos' belief that only the useful deserved to live. Kodos was going to… he was going to… He felt his blood run cold. "Kodos is going to purge the settlement tomorrow."