Another Meeting

[mirroredcommand]

With the most careful of attempts, not wanting to warn the system that he was trying anything at all, Pike was testing the limits of the restrictions on the padd he had been given. He had been reading extensively on the history and known facts of the Christopher Richard Pike of this universe.

In many ways, they were surprisingly similar, and in others, not so surprisingly different. This was a man of peace, with multiple accomplishments in the areas of peace keeping and bravery, a very well respected captain as well as the designer of this universe's Enterprise.

And a slightly younger man as well, it seemed. The year was 2258. When he had left his universe, it had been 2263. Briefly, Pike had wondered if he had remained fifty years old or he had lost five years in the process.

His head came up from the faint light of the padd when he heard the guards shifting. It was too early for the shift change - that meant something was happening.

Comments

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

The connection is starting to drift, the contact is fainter now and Spock curses the coming of his solitude. He stretches out, last lingering promises.

I will always come for you, Christopher. It will be as you command. Soon. I will be there soon.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

I will be waiting.

He could not keep the connection any longer. With a phantom drift of fingers to fingers, down over the palm and across the wrist where the brand would sit, he broke the connection.

It was agony at its finest, enough to nearly shatter the meld between himself and this Spock of other universe, like re-breaking a broken leg.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk stared at the two of them, and to his surprise, saw a ripple of agony go through both of them. He wanted to slug Pher in the face and break the meld, but had no idea what it would do to Spock.

His finger tightened on the trigger, and Jim's words rang in his head. Not to take a life, to be diplomatic in this, that it wasn't his right to destroy what Pher was. ...Dammit, Jim.

He stepped back and pressed against the wall, the phaser dropping to his side.

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

The connection was gone and the emptiness of Spock's mind almost overwhemled him, the pain even greater for the brief respite from him. Alone, for this single moment, he squeezed his eyes shut and ruthlessly contained it. He would feel it but it would not rule him. Could not rule him.

He had made a promise to Christopher. And he always kept those promises.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

The pain of their connection breaking nearly sends Spock to his knees but he controls his mind, his body, finds himself once more under his own arching sky, panting at the effort and the pain.

Pike. Is his mind intact?

You have returned, Pike. He is coming for you.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

He'll come, no matter the difficulty, and he'll listen to my command. This crew is safe.

Pike started to withdraw from the meld, needing to regain his footing and mental focus as well as force down the pain.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

Spock felt Pike's withdrawal - stopped him momentarily.

If you wish to contact him again, you need only to ask it.

And then they were separate, Spock uttering a single gasp.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

It was only maintaining a sense of decorum that kept Pike from immediately sitting down and putting his head into his hands. The ache was deep, like a burn that would not stop being on fire until the nerves healed themselves. He did step back from Spock, eyes closed, face almost impassive except for the furrowing of his brow.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

Spock's voice was very slightly raspy.

"You will require rest after this."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"Yes." Pike said in a quiet tone, carefully sitting down. Perhaps there was no surprise as he began to replace the gloves on his hands immediately. He paused as he finished pulling on the second and looked up to Spock. He nodded slightly, the harshness of his gaze softening. A silent thank you.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

He was finding slightly more to understand about this man. Perhaps a dangerous thing.

The nod was returned and Spock moved to the entrance of the cell. He repeated almost the same words that had ended their last... visit.

"I will speak with the captain."

He raised the barrier and withdrew, leaving Pike to his rest and his pain.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk took a long breath as he looked at Spock, glared at Spock, then silently turned and walked out of the brig entirely. Only when they were both out and out of Pher's hearing range did he turn, "What the hell is wrong with Spocks!? Both of you! Maybe I should be worried about Prime too but evidently a hundred and twenty years FINALLY puts some common sense into that Vulcan brain of yours!"

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

Spock is rather exhausted from this effort and the residual pain of their broken link is throbbing inside of him.

He bent his head, looked at James through dark lashes.

"There was less risk than you suppose. I am not undefended, James. And he has extracted a valuable promise through his command of his Spock."

His voice was quieter than usual. He would let James' wrath wash over him rather than object because it was all he had the energy for at the moment.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk clipped the phaser to his belt in an angry motion, almost snarling, before he turned and suddenly hugged Spock hard. "...Damn you." He whispered, just for a second, breathing in the scent of the Vulcan, before letting go and walking away entirely, leaving Spock there.

[sehlatbear.livejournal.com]

The contact, as brief as it is, calms Spock. He leans against the wall and reorganizes his own head, reassures himself that his bonds, all of them in their many forms, are still intact, still strong and whole. That pain is not his and they will heal it in Pike and his Spock.

It is almost without thought that he goes to the wall panel and checks his messages. The note he sent to young Spock has been returned. Spock breathes deeply, takes one last moment under the sky of his mind, before arranging to speak to his counterpart. The young one should be warned.