[Interrogations in the Brig]

[kirktastic]

[OOC: Happening sometime after the talk with Mr. Spock, but happening at the same time for time's sake. XD]

Kirk waited just outside of the hallway of the brig, talking with the guard on watch quietly. He didn't want the people down in the brig proper to know he was there. They had sound and cameras ready to go, so Kirk could listen in and watch on each cell, its occupant, and who they were talking to.

This was not something he was looking forward to, but he had information to work with now. Information against at least one very dangerous person, and one possibly less so.


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Private Communication to Commander Spock
I need you to come down to the brig and talk with the other Pike, like we discussed. Don't look at me, don't talk to me, just go in like you were slipping down there to talk to him. The guards already know and will leave when you dismiss them with the same protest as last time. Don't let him know I'm watching what's happening. I want to see what's going to happen.

I need you to talk to Marlena as well. Probably should talk to her first, actually.

Comments

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

He forced his eyes to open, regardless whether Jim's angry face still listed from one side to the other and his ears felt somewhat pained by his constant yelling. "Jim," Apparently his mind had also installed some sort of stop-gap in his throat, as that didn't come out as strong as he wanted it to. "What gives you the impression I am not separated from him?...That I will not tell you what he said to me?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"If you were separated from him, you wouldn't have been listening to his bullshit! You wouldn't have let him get that close. You wouldn't have even gone inside that cell!" Jim growled out, meeting Spock's eyes with his own blazing ones.

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

"Then he would not have said anything relevant," His fingers loosened from around his grip on Jim's shirt, and he allowed his hand to drop lifelessly back to his side. Stress of dealing with Pike, physical pain, now this... "In his universe, he has learned to reveal pertinent information only to those he holds in his highest respect and confidence." There were too many lights in this room, each of them nailing sharp into his forehead. He closed his eyes again. "How may I lure him into that trust, if I am too cowardly to remove a forcefield between us?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"I don't want you hurt again by him you fucking idiot!" Kirk snapped, loosening his grip on Spock slightly. "I watched you that whole time... I know those looks on your face, even if I don't know them, I do thanks to one of your other selves."

So much he couldn't say aloud. That he wanted to protect Spock from that bastard even if he knew Spock was their best chance of getting information.

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

He felt himself slip a little against the wall as Jim loosened his grip, until he remembered that, yes, his legs did work. And he could use them, no less. "...The encounter was incredibly benign, compared to our last..." Away from the cell, the memory was painful again, but he couldn't hardly pick it out from the general ache in his head. "Because of you, I believe." And he had to thank him, but he had been thanking Jim much too often in the past few days, and his head still hurt. Spock would have to postpone his metaphorical fruit basket of thanks for later.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

...Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck. How could Spock suddenly make him feel guilty of all things? Kirk released him completely and stepped back, looking away. "Dammit, Spock." He whispered, the adrenaline draining out of him so rapidly he thought he would fall over.

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

He knew he had stopped Jim right in his tracks, because the man had stopped yelling at him. Spock brought up his hands again--finding strength in them now that the world had stopped listing and turning and moving in and out, as if the depths were changing but knowing that he was standing perfectly still. He grabbed at his shoulders; they were supporting each other now, against the adrenaline drain and growing headaches.

"I do not intend to lie to you about anything," He began, still keeping his voice quiet, between them. "But you must allow me to speak, first."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk stared silently at Spock, tense under the too-warm hands. But when they didn't tighten, he let out the breath he was holding. The rest of the world vanished, for a moment, leaving them dealing with too much between them. Anger and worry and protection and betrayal and rage and revenge and a desire to make this work when neither of them knew how.

"...go on." Kirk said finally, his voice a little rough from his yelling.

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

...Perhaps what he was going to tell Jim about what they had spoken about would ruin this not-painful, not-yelling pause between them. But being truthful was more important than keeping Jim in a good mood, apparently, though he really hoped that he could maintain both at the same time. "He wishes to be released from the brig, with restrictions if need be, in exchange for whatever information he can offer."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk's head jerked and he blinked, staring at Spock before going, "...Oh hell no." He said bluntly. "I don't give a shit what information he can tell us, he's way too dangerous to have around the crew. The only place I'd let him run free is the outside of the airlock!"

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

He had enough energy to be patient--or, not care enough so that he could get annoyed. "Consider this at another time, regardless if you are likely to approach the same conclusions."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"...No matter how long, I have to take care of this ship and its crew first. It'll always be no." Kirk sighed, "Fucker's doing this to you," His tone had changed. "...he'll do it to someone else if given half a chance."

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

"There would be no need for him to lure another person if he believes that I am already adequate." He took a quiet breath, and slowly released Jim's shoulders. "You have also heard what I said to him, in the cell: his return to his universe is unlikely without cooperation from his ship. We know this now. Therefore, it is time to make a decision. You must either kill him, or make provisions to assimilate him into this universe." Spock looked to the side. "You know which option I would prefer, and do not think that it is entirely because of anything he has done to me."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk let out a breath, closing his eyes. He knew his immediate reaction, but also knew that making a fast choice was not a good one. He thought about it before saying quietly, "...If we had a meeting with the command crew, the Spock and Kirk from the other universe as well because they've been to that mirror universe, would you be willing to tell some of what's happened the first time and what just happened?"

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

His right hand tightened into a fist at his side. Now his gaze was planted firmly away from Kirk as he took the brief spike in fear, and its accomplice, annoyance, and jerked them back into the recesses of his mind. "I would only report the topics of our discussions, and the subsequent results." There was absolutely no way he would actually tell what happened, and he was thankful that there was no logical need to. The information gathered at that time would serve no one else.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't want you to report anything more." Kirk looked up, giving Spock a long look. Consciously or not, he was trying to give Spock his dignity in a situation that required a great deal of information on a non-dignified subject.

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

"Then I suppose we could have a briefing on the matter." He predicted that it would still make him feel uncomfortable, especially if Nyota was there, but at least with the selective truth would allow him to keep his focus (rather than losing it entirely). Spock glanced up at him.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"...I'm trying to make a real decision, Spock, instead of going with my gut feeling which is to throw that man out of the air lock. I need the advice. I'm trying, but... well, I'm not too stupid to not know I'm still lacking experience."

Kirk hesitated, looking away for a moment, before saying quietly, "...I could tell them what I've seen, and what I was told... with only some minimal help from you. How about that?"

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

To see Jim acknowledging his weaknesses was still a rather odd phenomenon, though not unwelcome from time to time. "It is an acceptable condition." This was, again, rather merciful on Jim's part. The metaphorical fruit basket grew larger with each passing minute. "I will supply as much information as necessary."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk shifted in place, looking to Spock for a long moment. Then finally he reached out and tucked the tip of his finger under the curve of Spock's jaw, tilting his head. He eyed the jade-swell of the bruise, and sighed. "Make sure you put a cold pack on that."

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

It was Spock's turn to stiffen at an unexpected touch, and subsequently relax when he realized he wasn't going to get slugged from the other side. The barriers were up, unlike last time; nothing passed through between them. He didn't push his touch away, only regarding him with a calm gaze. "I will seek the appropriate medical treatment for it," he told him, truthfully--though the ambiguity of appropriate left him a host of options that were just above 'ignoring it.'

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Cold pack. It'll reduce the swelling. Feel better." A tiny smirk, "I'd know, trust me." He dropped his hand, then stepped back completely, putting space between them. "We'll hit Risa tomorrow afternoon. Everyone's getting a week of shore leave if I have to tell the Enterprise to only let the repair people beam up to the ship. Means you too."

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

A single nod. "I still consider myself part of the crew." The pain in his jaw had settled into a dull ache now, and the cold pack was looking like a remarkably good idea. "Excuse me, Captain." Now that Jim had stepped back from him, he didn't need to brush past to exit the brig.

Yes. A cold pack. He would retrieve one from sickbay and then meditate, now that there was finally time to do so.