The Ragged Edges
Aug. 15th, 2009 10:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mirroredcommandPike was laying back on the bed in his cell, one leg curled up, one hand pillowing his head, the other resting on his stomach. Each breath was pulled in and out steady and easy and he seemed to be asleep to the rest of the world. In truth, he was listening to the quiet talking of the guards outside of his cell - they were somewhere further down the hallway in the brig, leaving him to himself.
Like a cat, he fell into a half-sleep with an ear listening. Never truly asleep, not with Spock missing. They slept on and off, protecting each other in a world of people that would easily take one of them out without a second thought. It was strange to be back to this old pattern, so long had they been together.
Despite the danger the bond presented, it was one that was worth the price. It meant a single person that could always be trusted, that he knew would not betray him and had every reason to protect his life.
And visa versa.
He could easily recall the first time he had realized the fledgling bond was tucked into the depths of his mind. The realization that he was feeling something he was actually not, very faintly. It had been brushed away several times and confusion or stress, but it began to get louder.
Once he had fully realized, he had faced down Spock about the subject. It had been a night of tension, Spock's life hanging on the line. A night of choices. A night of learning as Spock taught him how to shield his mind stronger then Starfleet ever had.
Those shields, that mental discipline was the only thing keeping him alive now. He kept his emotions locked down, far from his face, far from the sight of any of his enemies here in this universe. He had been able to ignore it until--
--Until Spock had appeared. Not the young one, still a child in emotions and logic and control. Not the oldest, too set in his ways, cold and distant. It had been the one roughly his own Spock's age. The one that had made the bond ache.
Now here he was, laying, prodding the ragged end of the bond that could cross a universe and not die. Prodding it like the hole left behind from a tooth pulled out of its socket. Incesint and constant.
He thought of the words Spock had murmured in his mind. That his own Spock would come for him. Would Spock? Either the young, childish James Kirk was in charge of his ship, or the younger Spock here was correct and his own Spock was in charge. Personally, he would have approved of the latter far more. James Kirk was powerful, ruthless, determined. Everything that made Pike himself a great captain, but without the mental and emotional control and restraint of the mind to use it affectively.
He wanted Spock to remain in control of the ship he had designed. Eleven years ago, give or take, the Enterprise had had her maiden voyage. The strongest ship in the fleet, and still remaining as such. He was careful to intergrate new weapons, new defenses, any new technology they could work into the system. With Spock leading in the science department, there was little that could stop them.
Spock had to remain in control. By risking coming here meant risking never coming back. He did not want Kirk in charge of his ship or anyone else.
Do not come, Spock. We have lived, can live.
Pike sat up with that thought and walked to the barrier. He cleared his throat, startling the guards who immediately dropped their hands to their phasers. He had not spoken a single word to them since being put into the brig.
Pike kept his voice calm, light, commanding. "...If you plan to keep me here, could I at least get a padd? Restrict what I can access to history and nothing else if you need to. Has this pathetic universe even gotten as far as a padd yet, or are you still using pen and paper?"
Like a cat, he fell into a half-sleep with an ear listening. Never truly asleep, not with Spock missing. They slept on and off, protecting each other in a world of people that would easily take one of them out without a second thought. It was strange to be back to this old pattern, so long had they been together.
Despite the danger the bond presented, it was one that was worth the price. It meant a single person that could always be trusted, that he knew would not betray him and had every reason to protect his life.
And visa versa.
He could easily recall the first time he had realized the fledgling bond was tucked into the depths of his mind. The realization that he was feeling something he was actually not, very faintly. It had been brushed away several times and confusion or stress, but it began to get louder.
Once he had fully realized, he had faced down Spock about the subject. It had been a night of tension, Spock's life hanging on the line. A night of choices. A night of learning as Spock taught him how to shield his mind stronger then Starfleet ever had.
Those shields, that mental discipline was the only thing keeping him alive now. He kept his emotions locked down, far from his face, far from the sight of any of his enemies here in this universe. He had been able to ignore it until--
--Until Spock had appeared. Not the young one, still a child in emotions and logic and control. Not the oldest, too set in his ways, cold and distant. It had been the one roughly his own Spock's age. The one that had made the bond ache.
Now here he was, laying, prodding the ragged end of the bond that could cross a universe and not die. Prodding it like the hole left behind from a tooth pulled out of its socket. Incesint and constant.
He thought of the words Spock had murmured in his mind. That his own Spock would come for him. Would Spock? Either the young, childish James Kirk was in charge of his ship, or the younger Spock here was correct and his own Spock was in charge. Personally, he would have approved of the latter far more. James Kirk was powerful, ruthless, determined. Everything that made Pike himself a great captain, but without the mental and emotional control and restraint of the mind to use it affectively.
He wanted Spock to remain in control of the ship he had designed. Eleven years ago, give or take, the Enterprise had had her maiden voyage. The strongest ship in the fleet, and still remaining as such. He was careful to intergrate new weapons, new defenses, any new technology they could work into the system. With Spock leading in the science department, there was little that could stop them.
Spock had to remain in control. By risking coming here meant risking never coming back. He did not want Kirk in charge of his ship or anyone else.
Do not come, Spock. We have lived, can live.
Pike sat up with that thought and walked to the barrier. He cleared his throat, startling the guards who immediately dropped their hands to their phasers. He had not spoken a single word to them since being put into the brig.
Pike kept his voice calm, light, commanding. "...If you plan to keep me here, could I at least get a padd? Restrict what I can access to history and nothing else if you need to. Has this pathetic universe even gotten as far as a padd yet, or are you still using pen and paper?"
