mirroredcommand | Another Confrontation in the Brig

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Another Confrontation in the Brig

The worst part of the time in the brig was the boredom. Normally he was a very, very busy man. He worked with the science division of his crew quite strongly when it was needed, in particular Spock on the replication of the alien technology that was the source of power for his gloves. They had many plans for it, in particular for the Enterprise herself.

Now he was alone, or possibly only mostly alone depending on who else was in the brig. Without the First Officer that was the single person he trusted in any universe. Briefly, he entertained the thought of Spock attempting to come through the barrier between universes to find him, but would not push the strength of their trust that far. But... perhaps.

For now... he could wait.

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"If you were trapped in this cell, among people that could be your enemy, what would you do to escape?" Pike questioned in return. A hint, turning the question back on Spock, or both?

"I should endeavor to ascertain if they were, indeed, my enemy and if they regarded me as such. I would take no action against them until such a conclusion had been made."

"A Vulcan that wasn't my enemy wouldn't try to put his hand on my face. It may be different in this universe, but in my own, that is considered an act of torture."

"That does not explain your forced mastery of him. Or your response upon initial encounter.

What was the extent of your relationship with the Spock of your own universe?"

It is not a staring contest so much as it is maintaining vigilance.

There seemed to be a tiny smirk curling the edges of Pike's lips. "A very personal question to ask someone, Spock." In a tone that silently asked, 'Why should I answer you?'

A familiar expression. Spock's own captain had worn this smirk of private amusement often, a man with a great capacity for humor. Something in Spock twinged to see it on the face of this man, something similar to the tightness he felt when interacting, however briefly, with the Admiral Pike of this universe. The universe was not a just place; his own Captain Pike would have been the equal of these men.

"Because to be forthcoming is to indicate you wish to establish that you are not my enemy. Or are you my enemy? Do you hold me accountable for my counterpart?"

Spock did not have enemies. For a variety of reasons.

"Accountable." Pike repeated, the smirk growing in his amusement. "Your counterpart has been on my ship for eleven years. He was my first officer for five of those. We've worked together longer then any other captain and first officer in the history of Starfleet. You don't get that sort of recognition without some level of trust."

Very slowly Pike stood, retaining the distance between them, keeping their eyes locked. "I've no desire to be your enemy, though it seems you have every desire to keep me as yours."

Spock was aware of the man rising but refused to look away. To display weakness now would be a tactical error so he calmed the beat of his heart that had increased to see a Pike in such condition.

"Fascinating. I served a similar, perhaps identical, length with my own Captain Pike. The Spock of this universe was not so fortunate. This suggests, against the first impulse of analysis, that our two universes may be more closely aligned than my own with this one."

Now, now that Pike was standing. Spock relaxed his sharp focus on Pike's grey eyes and surveyed the height of him, a deliberate measuring.

"I do not desire enemies. Rather, I desire knowledge."

"Enemy or knowledge," Pike said in that rich, strong tone as he stepped forward, hands tucking behind his back in a near parade rest, "I can provide both, but would rather provide only one."

Spock mirrored his posture. Was Pike attempting to appear nonthreatening or nonchalant? Perhaps both.

"I would prefer knowledge. But as you are the maker of the choice in this instance, your preference is the determining factor. You may share information with me or not."

"Then tell me, Spock," He stepped closer, watching Spock meticulously even as his tone remained casual but dropped in timbre, "What would you like to know?"

Pike's body temperature seemed higher than that of the other humans. Spock could feel it as Pike moved into Spock's personal space. He tensed slightly, ready for motion should Pike attempt to touch him.

"I have already told you what I desire: to know the extent of the relationship you shared with your Spock. Also, I would be remiss if I did not inform you - I am aware of the capabilities of your gloves. If you are not my enemy, you would remove them."

Pike slowly tilted his head, keeping their eyes met from that so-close distance. "Would you ask a tiger to remove its claws? A bear its teeth? If I am not your enemy, you would trust me to keep my claws sheathed." His voice remained in that low register, quiet. "After all, I can't ask you to remove your strength or your telepathy."

Spock leaned in until the barest inches separated them.

"It may be that you are not my enemy, Pike. But you are a predator. I smell it on you. I do not trust you to defy your nature."

"It takes prey to recognize the predator, or another of its kind. Which are you, Spock? I know what your counterpart is." Pike did not pull back in the least, keeping that same calm expression, focused and intense.

An answering spark of humor flared for a moment, deep in Spock's dark eyes.

"I am a vegetarian. It would be unwise, however, to mistake me for prey."

There was nothing for a long moment, then the expression around his eyes lightened and he laughed. It was a small laugh, but for a moment his face smoothed out into one that Spock would find far more familiar. He shook his head minutely and brought his gaze back to Spock's.

"Well played, Spock. Well played." He rumbled lowly, tilting his head. "I could tell you of our relationship, if you still desire to know... or you, as he often as, are allowed to see for yourself."

Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Would you clarify your meaning and intention?"

"You're a bright one, Spock. Is it really that difficult to figure out?" Pike's hand came up slowly and held the fingers in a very familiar spread, but did not touch Spock.

"You have responded most aggressively to an attempted meld - I do not begin such endeavors without consent where it can be given."

He brought one hand up, fingers in delicate position, and placed them just above the points on Pike's face, not even the lightest of touches yet while he considered. Internally, he tucked certain things away. He would keep his own secrets and protect his bondmates if he were to do this thing.

"I'll let you see what is needed, do not probe further or I will shield you out in any way necessary." The voice dipped only briefly into the range of a threat, but lightened into something almost... affectionate? with the last statement, "You have my consent."

Spock nodded.

And settled his fingers like Earth butterflies, pressure so light they were almost not there, onto Pike's face.

The ritual phrase was spoken softly.

"My mind to your mind."

Immediately, with a sense of familiarity, Spock was drawn into Pike's mind. It started small, simple, with flickers of voices and images so quick they were impossible to tell. Without a doubt, Spock was being led down a corridor, one with steep sides that undoubtedly would trigger the defenses the younger counterpart had stumbled into.

Let me show you where we began.

It was a place that seemed both similar and different to the Starfleet that Spock knew in this universe. In the center of it all was a very familiar face. The Spock of this memory looked no older then 20, back straight in what looked a great deal more like military fatigues then the Academy's cadet uniforms of this verse or even in the one Spock remembered. Spock was being watched from an angle that suggested the seating arrangement of the room was curving.

It was a half-caught debate occurring below in the pit of the room. An argument of sorts. Memory provided the information that they were listening to the captain of another ship arguing to have 'this green blooded slave' removed from the roster of his ship. Pike knew of the Vulcan that they were speaking of - a half blooded Vulcan-human given second class citizenship and an education.

But no one trusted him farther then he could be thrown.

With the view of his back, Pike could see the leather gloves that covered Spock's hands. A form of invisible handcuffs that Spock was required to wear at all times. Pike doubted for a second that if the half-Vulcan meant any actual harm it wouldn't stop him from ripping open someone's mind. All it took was skin-to-skin contact. The young man had no resemblence to a human at all, but looked perfectly Vulcan. Except for those eyes, ones that currently seemed narrowed in anger.

"...transferred to another ship." The Admiral was just finishing up. Whatever the full statement was threw everyone around into a state of pissed off panic.

"...I wouldn't trust that thing on my ship..."

"...Not for a million credits."

"...thing'll tear apart..."

Pike listened to the fools around him, muling it over as he remained silent. A bit of research before he had come told him that the half-Vulcan had graduated at the top of his class, excelling in the areas of science and even command. He had never stepped a foot out of line, despite what could not have been an easy road to where he was now - trying to get his first assignment.

The fighting continued around him, loud enough to start to annoy him. He leaned back more in his seat, tugging at the brief pull of leather, keeping his eyes glued to the Vulcan. Spock had not moved, in fact he seemed like a statue... except for the faintest tightening of his fists in their parade rest.

What notion urged him to stand was impossible to say, but several people shifted away from him when he did so. His guards behind him stiffened, ready. Pike had his hand on his dagger, just in case.

Then he thinned his lips and whistled as sharply as he could.

The arguing slowed to a halt, and a hundred faces looked to him. Pike looked calmly (with a definitely sense of disgust) over the group, then said in a voice just loud and rich enough to fill the entire area, "I'll take him, if you fools can't see what's right in front of you."

He could see, then, Spock make his first actual move of the meeting. The half-Vulcan slowly turned his head and looked over his shoulder at him. The anger had mostly been replaced with something else, a sort of guarded curiosity, as Spock appeared to examine him from afar.

"...has he gone insane?"

"...maybe old age is starting to get to him-"

"That thing'll rip out his mind while he sleeps."

"Bet you 20 credits he's dead in two days."

"Fifteen extra if he takes out the old bridge crew."

"Its a bet."

Pike waited until the whispering died down before he moved from his seat, slowly walking down the isle and straight to where the young half-Vulcan was. From this distance, he studied Spock, meeting the dark eyes without fear or disgust. No, his mind fully believed him to be in command of the situation. "Spock."

Spock did not shrink back from him, didn't move, and didn't lower his gaze in intimidation as so many young officers would in Pike's presence. The gaze held. "Captain." Spock's tone was devoid of anything than simple respect, not tainted by any irritation, anger, or (worst of all) cockiness.

Fascinating.

Spock's voice is clear inside of Pike's head, no different than his calm external speaking voice. He remained shuttered, his own mental windows and doors battened down but this glimpse of another reality was...

Fascinating, he said again.

As the top student in my class, I had my pick of assignments. I, of course, chose the Enterprise and Captain Pike.

You recognized a powerful tool and plucked at the stirring of his loyalty.

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