Another Confrontation in the Brig

[mirroredcommand]

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.

Comments

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"The consequences I have brought against myself? You're thinking in the limited, Spock. What you believe of me? You're wrong. I told your younger self much the same thing, and now, I repeat it to you. You think your conclusions are based on logical, but in reality, you're allowing emotion to skew your final judgment." Pike delivered the words calmly, as if they could have been discussing anything at all instead of what was such an important issue.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

"It is simple to attest that I am incorrect. It costs you nothing. Yet I have not judged you for anything other than what you appear to be. A predator. In a cage.

I am familiar with cages, Pike."

Spock folded his hands together, fingers interlaced.

"What would you have me conclude about you?"

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

Pike's eyes closed for only a moment, thinking over sucha broad question. He met Spock's eyes again when he looked up. "A predator can only be defined by its prey. As such, my actions have been defined by someone who believed themselves a predator, but in truth was not. You're being led by a fallacy; you are allowing your judgment to be dictated by it. If you would allow yourself to step back and view my actions since arriving in this universe in a logical manner, you would see that I've done nothing wrong, only defended myself."

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

"Upon his return to our universe, my Captain Kirk asked how it was so easy for us to differentiate between him and your Captain Kirk. I informed it that it was much easier for a civilized man to pretend at savagery than a savage man to pretend at being civilized."

He stepped just inside the door of the cell.

"I think you are better at such acts of deception in any universe."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"Deception is what you make of it." Pike pointed out, a brow lifting, watching Spock closely. Predator and prey. "It is often deceiving." Twisting the Vulcan's words around.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

"Hence the illogical nature of deception. And why I do not practice it."

He had made no move to threaten or to bluster. Secure, then, in his abilities and position. Bored but patient. No Kirk had ever been patient but Spock had spent more than 11 years with another version of this man.

The similarities, beyond the physical, were obvious to him. Keen eyes that saw more than they should, and an iron mind.

"I will share a thing with you, freely given, to assure you I am ruled by logic in this matter, rather than emotion: I have, without hesitation, advised my captain to kill. Life is precious yet the good of the many outweighs the good of a single life. Yet I have not advised such a course in this case. I am waiting to see what you will demonstrate of yourself."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

It seemed a Spock was a Spock no matter the universe. A creature that believed itself to be ruled by logic, and mostly was, but it was a logic tripped by emotions its ruler denied.

"If you would have advised such a thing, your logic would have been brought into question." Pike held up three fingers, then curled two down. "Once, when we first met. The second, when he came into this cell and attempted to enter my mind. The third, when he came again and no guard would have been there fast enough to stop me. So far, three times in which I could have killed a member of this crew easily enough, or forced my way from this cell by his ransom."

"Yet I have not. What you might scoff at as force used in my own self defense, was merely training to keep from being destroyed physically or mentally by your own race. A predator is only a predator when it goes on the hunt." Pike stared at Spock, unblinking. "Otherwise, just a being living its way."

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

"It is unwise to ever forget that a predator is a predator, Pike. Or you will find yourself one day surprised when the creature obeys its instincts."

Spock's head tilted, body still yet at ease.

"You make much of your actions as self-defense. Was it self-defense to establish mastery over him in such a fashion?"

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"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?

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

"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."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"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."

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

"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.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

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?'

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

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.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"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."

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

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."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"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."

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

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."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"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?"

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

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."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

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."

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

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."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"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.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

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."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

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."