James T. Kirk

[OOC - Haven't written it yet, but let's assume Jim got some rest, too. ;) ]

Jim walked down to the brig, the old spring in his step and looking every inch Captain James T. Kirk--his version, anyway. He didn't like these new uniforms; he wore command gold, but without any rank insignia. But he was feeling better than the day before, the tumult of the day before having receded from his mind.

"Morning, Jim," he said, looking Jim over for signs that the kid was taking care of himself.

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Kirk looked about a million times better. Obviously he had gotten some sleep and food in him, and he grinned back at his older counterpart. "Mornin'." He looked down the hall into the brig, then back again.

"Talk to me about this woman. Spock... trusts her, obviously, and you seem to to a degree, but how much can she really be trusted? Can I give her run of ship like you or one of the Spocks, or do I have to limit her? I obviously won't let her get into anything restricted, not even enough clearance to be at the level of Ensign, but... how safe is my crew?"

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He came down, of course. There were certain parts of him that had wanted to come down here for a while now, and then there was the most logical part of his mind that said he should have kept as far away as possible, for his own good--one little incident had sparked off so much turmoil in his life. To do the same thing, and not expect expect the same result sounded a bit like insanity, though he was far from ignorant of Pike's capabilities now.

Ignoring Jim on the way through the hallway into the brig was perhaps easier than it should have been. He walked past two security guards and one force-field barrier, and then towards Pike's cell--this time three security guards, instead of two. So, Jim really thought he was that dangerous.

"Sir," One of the three spoke up. "You can't be down here--"

"I am the First Officer of this ship. Security is one of my primary concerns."

"Really, sir," The second. "You need--"

"I need for the three of you to leave, so that I may fulfill my duties."

The third was about to say something, but Spock silenced him with a look, and the three security guards reluctantly left the corridor, letting him deal with the prisoner alone.

He stepped up to the doorway, until he could almost feel the tingle of the invisible force-field against his skin, and looked inside. Calm on the outside, suffocating his various, conflicting instincts with each passing second.

"Sir."

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"That's hard to say. In my experience, she operates largely on self-preservation, which can be useful to us or the opposite--depending on what she considers in her best interests. She comes from a society where a woman can use her sexuality as a bargaining chip, which she implied was what she'd done to get to me--I mean, my counterpart. That doesn't imply she's not competent in her own right, but she's not afraid to use whatever she has.

"She seemed far more interested in sharing in my, or my successor's, power and influence than gaining her own. But who knows? She let us go, but because she wanted to come with us. Which means that she's willing to do harm to get her way, but it's promising that our world was a place she wanted to be. What worries me, Jim, is that she got to Spock. Any idea how that happened?"

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"Honestly, only a little. I think it has everything to do with that other Pike we've got locked up down here. I plan to find out about it, and I will. I need you to start it for me, though. Tell her you talked to me, ask her what she'd do if she's stuck in this world for the rest of her life. I need some answers... and you're the one person I think she'll talk straight to."

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There he was, like the great lion in the sun. Pike stared silently at Spock, blinking slowly, before the tiniest smirk crawled up to his lips.

"Spock." Mirroring the tone the Vulcan had used.

This was what he had been waiting for, but had a feeling his own influence alone was what brought Spock down to the brig again. He would be cautious, using the information he had learned during the interrogation with the other Spock, his own self of this verse, and of all people, Sarek.

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Kirk grinned.

"I'd be happy to," he said. "I think I damaged her trust in me yesterday by locking her up, but I can be fairly persuasive. Ready now?"

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"You're me. I have no doubt of it." The grin was returned. "Code names? We'll have to think about that." A wink towards his elder-self, and Kirk slipped into the guard's station so he could watch.

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And, suddenly, it did not feel so much like an interrogation but a simple conversation, private-but-not, between them. Morals and manners didn't have to be kept up, though he would continue to do so, for Jim (he would have to remind himself that he was watching). But this still felt...almost casual.

"I have learned some interesting prophecies concerning the progression of command, on your ship, in your universe." Perhaps Jim would see it as a way to make the prisoner comfortable, lulling him into a false sense of security. Spock knew it was nothing so complicated. He wanted to talk about what he had heard, to muse on the idea without the repercussions of the impressions his words might make.

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"I can think of a few, but possibly only for private use," Jim said with a smirk, and then, schooling his features he walked down the hallway towards Marlena's cell.

"Marlena?" he called softly at the barrier.

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The starting topic actually took the man by surprise, shown by a blink and a lift of his brow. "Oh?" He thought about it and wondered if it had something to do with... oh... curious. "What have you learned?"

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He was not so sure that the force-field entirely was making an odd sensation run up from his hands to his shoulders, and subsequently to crawl down his spine. Illogical--excitement? If he said it aloud, that might make it true.

"That you are to be assassinated by James Kirk, who will subsequently take captaincy of the Enterprise. Then--" He hoped Jim would not burst in here and question him for what he was about to say. "--after a time, I will dispose of him, and assume the title of Captain myself."

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Brows rose in surprise, then dropped into a thoughtful look. Pike remained silent, hands together in front of him, before he commented quietly, "That may have already happened. There was no disturbance recorded before or just before I beamed up to the ship."

He actually smirked, "Sabotage. In a way those that supported me could not fault him for. Quite a brilliant move, Kirk." His tone suggesting talking to the not-present version of Kirk from his own universe.

"The ship would be better in your hands. He is... a foolish brat." Pike commented offhandedly, as if Spock taking out Kirk would not be a surprise.

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Kirk, from the guard station, scowled at Spock's words. In another universe, Spock really did turn traitor to him and got rid of him. It sent a shiver up his spine, thinking about the conversation in his quarters, the feeling of fear/digust/traitor from Spock's mind, and hoped like fuck it wasn't a sign of things to come.

Did he learn all of that from Marlena? Well, he was right if he did. She did open up to him. Hope she will when he goes to talk to her.

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[[OOC - It's too bad my!Jim isn't hearing this... Or maybe not.]]

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[OOC: This is supposed to be all happening at different times but, whatcha gonna do. XD My Kirk's going to come find yours later to talk anyway.]

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[OOC - Oh, I understand about the timing, but since I wasn't mentioned I wasn't sure if he was there, you know?]

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"I am sure he learns quickly, even in your universe." The force-field kept him from lingering further into the room. But with Jim watching, meaning he had technically nothing to fear, he could reach over and disable it, to step into the non-privacy of the cell. "Though, I am curious as to how you would be so easily eliminated. Transporter sabotage is difficult to conceal, especially if only given a short time to create it. I still maintain my sentiments from our last talk, about my alternate--unless you offended him, in some way." It was a half-question, inviting him to reveal the circumstances surrounding his unfortunate transport.

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Pike's eyes closed entirely, the leather-encased hands tightening their grip on each other. "Mr. Scott." He said quietly. "Is completely loyal to the ship and no one else. He is easily bought or swayed." The one man completely capable of hiding such sabotage. He had done similar things as well in the past. The only reason he had allowed the engineering onto his ship with such a lack of loyalties was the man's incredible expertise.

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Once again, another sign that there were universal constants across dimensions. It did not trouble him any less because of this, but, privately, he tucked it away for future reference.

"...I have also obtained one of your universe's devices, though it is still quite unlike yours in form, though not function." He had it at his belt, on the opposite hip from the phaser, hidden over by a black extension of the belt he had personally crafted.

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Obtained another... so then his thoughts were accurate. The woman they would not allow near him was also from his dimension. "From your tone, you haven't turned it over to your Captain." Not question, not statement.

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There's more he's hiding from me! Kirk thought almost angrily. What the fuck, Spock? Why did you hide this too?! ...And what device are you even talking about?! His fingers clenched at his side, eyes narrowing.

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"There is no point in revealing something to him that I cannot explain. He has more important tasks to concern himself with." Spock reached over the side of the cell, and gently pressed the red button with one finger. The force-field dropped, and the tingle crawling over his skin mostly subsided. "I would like if you could explain the construction of your set, and why you do not use the standard model, instead." Nothing to fear, he told himself as he calmed his pounding heart: Jim was watching, and he had a phaser and an agonizer at his belt. "Without practical demonstrations."

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The final comment made him smirk, flexing his fingers. "The construction of my set." He repeated, looking amused about the whole situation. "A man has to keep his secrets, as you well know." Would be all he said about their making.

He remained seated, the cat waiting for its prey to move closer before striking. He locked his gaze to Spock's. "Who said I don't have a standard model?" Skipping the one question completely.

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