Meeting after the Meeting

[mirroredcommand]

The new quarters were highly preferred over the cells of before, no matter how the quarters were obtained. Pike, privately, thought he was being on his best behavior when it came to such things. Otherwise, he would have simply killed one of the higher officers, removed their belongings, and declared their rooms as Spock and his own. The quarters were bare, but some time spent with the replicators made it less so. As it stood, they had little else but time.

After the messages had gone out to their respective ends, Pike could tell that the chances of their getting access to the labs was nearly none, but perhaps they stood a better chance if James T. Kirk would vouch for them as well.

The rumor mill was just as strong on this ship as it was on the one he knew far better, even if the rumors were highly different then the ones he was used to hearing. The ones in particular that struck him as interesting were the ones that the man who declared himself from Starfleet Intelligence had displeased many in needing to speak with them in interviews, and he was slowly gathering information, along with Spock, on exactly what he wanted to know in the interviews. He knew they were being recorded, and the man was attempting to gain trust by coming to locations chosen by the interviewee, but Pike knew better then to fall for such simple tricks. Starfleet was working through this man. Perhaps their universes had more similarities then just the ones on the surface.

He could smell the spiced herbal tea that was one of Spock's favorites, conveniently programmed into the replicator by the child-Captain, and was letting his own coffee grow cold. It seemed that a brand of Klingon coffee was what had grown popular, though how the Federation of this universe got their hands on it he would never know, but all that mattered was that it brewed hot and strong and somehow even a replicator could hardly mess that up.

Comments

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

He has his ways and remains firm to them. Little more can be said, or asked. I have a feeling that there will be a show down between the two beliefs, though, and it will not end well. Pike spoke like a man holding a spades-high royal flush, sure of himself and the outcome.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim glanced between them, noting the silent communication only because he was getting familiar with the practice himself.

"Anything you want to share with the rest of the class?" he asked jauntily.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

I'm growing lazy here. If Jim was capable so easily of picking it out. "No, not particularly."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim was unaware of Pike's concern, but the fact remained that Jim had good instincts and a newly-formed bond, the benefits of which were in the forefront of his mind.

"Okay then," he said. "Anything else I can answer for you? Before I give you those uniform specs, that is."

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

He was not so concerned - more fascinated.

"You often speak to your Spock in such a fashion?"

There were no other humans, in his experience, who were capable of it - bonded or not. And he had rarely been able to speak to Vulcans about it.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim's mobile expression changed to one of odd sweetness at the mention of Spock. This new capability excited him with all the potential they'd not yet explored.

"Oh, in our minds? Sure. Since bonding, I mean. We've been practicing with him at a distance, now."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

It was something Pike had noticed early enough, tiny tilts of Jim's head that he had been forced to stop to escape notice on his ship. Silent communication, infinitely valuable and dangerous, but something he would not give up willingly. "You are limited by distance?" Pike questioned, thinking about his own. He and Spock had been separated by galaxies when he had been captured, and Spock had known his danger.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

"I am," Jim clarified. "I mean, so far. I don't think Spock is, but I get tired pretty easily still. I'm not a natural telepath." He smiled wryly, thinking of the opportune moments Spock had chosen to check in with him. "But I'm very determined." He tilted his head, this time not listening to anything, merely in curiosity. "You're very subtle about it," he said. "I don't know much about your world. But I'm guessing bonding to a Vulcan isn't exactly smiled upon."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"I'm growing lax in this universe." Pike smirked slightly, ruefully perhaps. "If anyone were to find out, we would be killed after the information about the how, why, and when was tortured from our minds."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim nodded. "Like I said, you're subtle. I probably only know you're doing it because I am, too, and I assume with Spock sitting there all silent and stoic you're taking advantage of that gift. It's not as if I'd assume it under other circumstances."

The knowledge gave him additional respect for Pike, and Spock, and what they had. There was a lot he didn't like. That he found distasteful. But it wasn't his world, and he hadn't had to survive in it.

In fact, "he" was currently rotting in the brig, unloved and very possibly dead with no one to mourn him.

Pike and Spock had found something that... worked. In its own way. And they were risking death, and worse, to have it.

"It's hardly commonplace here," he added. "But from what I can tell, more people envy us than not."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"I don't see it as taking advantage," Pike corrected, "It comes as natural as breathing, after so long. "It may not be commonplace here, but at least you will not be killed for it."

He glanced sideways to Spock only for a heartbeat, "Vulcans are slaves, but intelligent ones, in our universe. To be bonded with our enemy is to be a traitor, and traitors are not allowed to live."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

"I misspoke," Jim said easily. "I didn't mean it that way. And that was my point--you don't need to be careful here. I may have to be more subtle, when I get back home, but that's for the same reason I wouldn't want any romantic relationship to intrude upon my command." He paused for a moment, solemn. "Your survival is a testament to you both. It must be... disconcerting, to be able to admit it after so long."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"To say the least." Pike agreed, "Outside of my own teacher, you are the only other person to hear me admit those words."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim inclined his head.

"I am honored," he said. "And for myself, I value your insight and experience. This isn't exactly a situation I've found myself in before."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"Though it's strange to offer, what knowledge I've gathered over the years I would be willing to impart." Pike brought his shoulders up, flat and clean, military. Am I losing my touch, because of this universe?

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim smiled warmly.

"Thanks," he said. "For now, it's just good to know someone else shares something with me, however different." They were both stranded. Both mated to a Spock. For Jim, anyway, that lent a sort of kinship. "I think I just miss him."

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"I could imagine why." It was spoken in an almost droll tone, considering the circumstances under which Spock had arrived in this universe.

Pike stood up gracefully and walked over to the manhandled replicator, which had a padd hooked into it. "Tell me about your uniform from your home-verse."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim was well aware that he wasn't missing Spock the way Pike had been. But he appreciated the nod, anyway.

He got up and joined Pike at the replicator, looking over the rig. "Actually," he said. "I can do better than that. May I?"

He tapped a few keys, bringing up an image (http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x04hd/thenakedtimehd0335.jpg). "With that strange subspace connection, I can access images from Bill Shatner's program. Looks just like me, doesn't he?"

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

Pike glanced between image and Jim, and arched a brow, "Another look alike? Are there that many on the ship?" He asked out of curiosity, studying the image more closely and began typing rapidly.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

He didn't know. Interesting, but then, not entirely unexpected. It wasn't likely anyone was keeping Pike in the loop. But how did one start explaining what Bill and Len and De were?

"It's a long story," he said. "But yes, there are more. No more of you. But four of me, counting Bill."

[mirroredspock.livejournal.com]

Spock joined them to look at the image.

Is that... velour?

Perplexing.

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"I met one other of yourself." Pike paused, studying, then continued. "Another exact duplicate." He glanced to the replicator as it made a small noise, and when he opened it, gestured, "Close?" It was an attempt at the pants, the easiest to start with. They were very similar to the ones Jim was wearing now, but with small changes.

It could be... He mused over the idea, deciding.


[OOC: The green tunic or the golden command one?]

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim reached for the pants, holding them up. They had the odd flare at the calf, a certain sheen he found comforting and familiar even as he had thought it odd at first.

"I'd have to try them on," he admitted. "But they look right." He frowned at Pike. "I met him, too," he said, and paused. Then. "What did you think?"


[[OOC - Gold, I think. Kirk made him a green wraparound replica already.]]

[iron-command.livejournal.com]

"I have as of yet to decide." Pike looked to Jim, "There is something I can't quite place with him. What do you think?" He looked back down to the padd, frowning over a variation and changing it.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim hesitated again. On the one hand, he hated to condemn without evidence. But his gut was not only insistent, but rarely wrong. Even so, where was the sense in trusting these men over a version of himself who had offered no offense?

"I don't know," he said uneasily, his brow furrowed. "I don't like him. And this may come as a surprise, but there aren't many people I take an instant dislike to. Even copies of myself."

No, in point of fact, he tended the other way.

"He's done nothing to arouse my suspicion. I'm pretty sure I'm being unfair, and that bothers me. And yet..."