Chapter Text
Jim stuck his head out from behind the very expensive looking couch. It had been unceremoniously flipped on it’s side, and then reduced to a makeshift barricade. It was a lovely and unusual shade of aqua. A shade extremely prominent in both the lavish antechamber they currently occupied, as well as the outfits worn by the local ministers similarly cowering behind a variety of once expensive looking furniture items. Jim was unsure if it was a fad, or if the colour was nationally significant in some way.
If they survived, Jim planned to look up whether the colour had any significance. In honour of the couch.
With his head out in the open, Jim sighted a Klingon, who was making enough noise to sound important enough to waste phaser energy on. Jim's shot hit the Klingon directly between the eyes. Which would have been impressive had he not been aiming for his chest. Jim blamed lack of visibility from the smoke steadily filling the room.
A strong hand grabbed Jim's shirt collar. Jim squawked as he was unceremoniously yanked back. Jim sprawled onto the carpeted floor beside his science officer, breath leaving his lungs in a huff, as two phaser bolts flashed through the space his head had previously occupied. Jim grinned up at the unimpressed look on Spock's face.
“Captain.” Spock’s voice was unruffled. Sounding though he spoke from the safety of the bridge, rather than the middle of a firefight. Spock's face betrayed the note of warning he was keeping out of his tone. Or at least Jim thought it did. After many years attached professionally at the hip, Jim fancied himself fluent in Spock micro expressions.
“The probability of your actions resulting in you being shot in the faces is 83.28 percent,” Spock continued dryly, resuming his attempts to frankenstein a working communicator out of the pieces of their old ones. Jim pulled his eyes away from the science officers gracefully deft fingers, “I recommend you re-seat yourself.”
“20 percent? 1 in 5 chance is comparatively decent odds,” Jim commented cheerfully, pushing himself back into a crouching position. Though he was careful to keep all his limbs within the couches relative safety.
Spock eyes flicked momentarily in Jim's direction. Despite their situation Jim felt a rush of affection for the Vulcan’s obvious irritation.
“16.74,” Spock corrected, flipping the communicator open. It’s power up beep the sweetest sound Jim had heard all day.
“Spock to Enterprise,” Spock said, as the chair leg near his right ear exploded. The chair slid forward from the strength of the blast, stopped from further progression as Spock braced his legs to the wall they were sandwiched against, free arm whipping up to stop the couch crashing into Jim, “Come in Enterprise.”
“- a - - tch- - ck— t?” Jim heart sank at Scotty’s voice, barely recognizable through static
“Readings, Mister Spock?,” Jim asked, peering around the edge of their barricade as footsteps made their way towards them through the smoke.
“Unable to confirm, though most logically a Klingon signal disruptor,” Spock eyed Jim, as though considering yanking him back again, before he flipped the communicator over. Rapidly undoing the cover to regain access to its insides,“I shall set it to-” Spock paused as Jim fired off a quick succession of shots,”... transmit a general distress signal and location.”
“Won’t do much good if the disruptor's range extends to the transporter,” Jim said. He watched one Klingon trip over another Klingon Jim had just stunned. Jim paused, finger on the trigger, as the clumsy Klingon lay motionless. Knocked out cold from his fall. Previously Jim would have assumed Klingon's heads too hard for that to happen.
Spock made a small noise of agreement but remained focused on his task.
The Enterprise had been roped in to witness the official contract signing on Eckoloci, a recently warp capable planet intent on joining the federation. They had beamed down to rendezvous with Ambassador Torben who had been stationed on the planet for the past two months. Ambassador Torben was nowhere to be seen in the Eckolocin Royal Antechamber the officers had beamed down into. There were however a dozen odd Klingon's who were definitely not meant to be there. Their communicators had been swiftly neutralized under a Klingon Commander's well worn boot.
An Eckolocin minister, one of several being held hostage, had taken the opportunity to hurl an object into the antechambers' fireplace. It instantly and rather impressively erupted flames, catching a nearby Klingon's hair on fire and belching noxious smelling gas into the already sweltering room.
The room at large fell into chaos. Jim found a very nice chair, the one which at this moment he risked peering over its edge.
“Bust a window or runner at the main doors?” Jim asked, stunning a Klingon about to break a chair over a retreating Eckolocin's head. The chair followed the Klingon to the floor with a loud thud. The Eckolocin’s head swivelled in Jim’s direction. Jim would have said they looked confused, but he wasn’t familiar enough with the species to know if the expression was just their default. The lack of mouths on their face made expressions trickier to decipher.
“We are on the fourth floor Captain,” Spock said in a distracted tone, intent on the live wires he was fiddling with.
Just to see what they do, Jim wiggled his hand in the Eckolocin’s direction in invitation. Without a change in expression they scampered over, vaulting gracefully over the couch startling Spock. There was a zapping sound and Spock wrenched his fingers out of the communicator with a surprised grunt.
This one apologizes.
Jim’s eyes widened at the voice inside his head. Spock examined the Eckolocin, distracted from his task.
“Fascinating,” Spock tilted his head.
Captain James T. Kirk and Commander Spock of the starship Enterprise this one assumes, the Eckolocin was slightly taller than what Jim was expecting, at least two heads taller than Spock if they were standing. They had bright yellow eyes, common for this area of the planet from what Jim could remember. Their red brown skin clashed interestingly with their shiny Aqua outfit and accompanying jewellery. Jim would admit the combination was striking, albeit a little hard on the eyes.
“You have us at a disadvantage,” Jim said. Spock eyes flicked between Jim and the Eckolocin as if picking up on his unease. Jim didn’t have anything against telepaths per say. Though he was never delighted to have strangers gallivanting around his thoughts as a default.
Not that Eckolocin's could read minds. From what was in Starfleet records, it was supposed to be all one way, they could send thoughts but not independently read them. It was about as useful as speaking aloud in Jim's opinion. Less so in many respects. While they could, apparently, transmit thoughts up to a kilometer away, they were unable to use traditional methods of radio wave based communication technology due to their lack of audible language. And mouths.
This one is called Alk, the Eckolocin folded themselves into a sitting position and crossed their hands in front of them, palms facing down. Jim recognized the greeting from their mission briefing packet. The Eckolocin seemed remarkably at ease with the smoke and assorted chaos starting to creep over to their side of the room. This one is unsure how aware you are of the situation?
Jim coughed. They needed to get out of the room before they suffocated.
“Will take a wild guess, the Eckolocin’s didn’t intend to involve Klingon's in the contract negotiations,” Jim said.
Is that what those are , Alk somehow managed to project disdain without changing their expression or tone of voice.
Tone of thought? Thought voice tone? Voice of thought.
The Ambassador has not been able to communicate via devices since those ones arrival this morning, Alk continued, interrupting Jim’s tone train of thought.
“Logical then, we were not pre-informed,” Spock said powering the communicator back up, obviously finished, “but your people would not need devices.”
No, Alk agreed, Retreat from the grounds has been instigated. Only those originally within the palace are in the Klingon's grasp.
“The Ambassador?” Jim asked.
Alive, said Alk, held with Majesty Yeq and their family.
“Majesty- uh oh,” Jim sighed
No, Majesty’s Yeq, clarified Alk, once again Jim sensed their emotions had changed, this time to confusion though their face remained blank.
It was if… the Eckolocin’s emotions were projected empathically alongside their words. Jim wondered if that was normal in Eckolocin communication, or if Alk was stressed and letting things slip through.
“Majesty Yeq is the current ruling Monarch,” Spock said, as if organizing his thoughts as he slipped his communicator into his belt. He stared at the remaining mangled pieces of Jim’s communicator that he’d stripped for parts.
Jim coughed again helpfully. He stuck his hand out in Spock's direction.
“Hand us those Mr Spock,” Jim’s voice was starting to get raspier. Spock raised an eyebrow at him but wordlessly dropped the mangled communicator into Jim’s palm. Jim inspected them for a moment before prising the cover from the end of his phaser.
Visibly catching on to what Jim was doing, Spock took over Jim’s defensive position. Pulling out his own phaser with an air of resignation,
“Where abouts is the Majesty being held right now?” Jim asked as he pried the circuits he needed from their casings. Alk's head canted ever so slightly to the side, whether in concentration or to listen with a metaphysical ear Jim didn’t know.
Majesty Yeq is being held in administrative quarters, Alk finally said
“Which are where?” Jim glanced up over his shoulder as Spock fired off a shot.
Jim nearly dropped his phaser when the directions to Majesty Yeq’s study were projected into his head. He blinked rapidly trying to sort the barrage of information. The layout of the entire castle. Multiple paths to the study, back up directions in case there were blockages.
“Captain?” Spock's hand dropped down to grip his shoulder.
“I’m alright Spock,” Jim said, tapping his knuckles against Spock’s elbow in reassurance, “Less used to telepathy than everyone else in the room at the moment.”
“Indeed,” Spock said after a moment.
This one apologises said Alk, Jim wiggled two of his fingers in dismissal, the rest preoccupied twisting the remaining wires into place.
“Can you warn everyone in the room to leg it out of the room on my signal?” Jim asked, carefully clipping the casing back into place.
Leg…?
“A human expression for ’run as fast as you can’,” Spock supplied. Jim would have grinned if he wasn’t otherwise preoccupied. Spock could understand human colloquialisms just fine when it suited him, “Captain the odds of this plan are-“
“Too late for that now Mr Spock, look alive,” Jim popped up next to Spock. Drawing his arm back, he hurled his phaser across the room into a cluster of Klingon's trying to regroup. The phaser hit the ground with a bang and started releasing phaser beams in bursts, Ricocheting off surrounding furniture, stunning Klingon's at random.
“Les’go,” Jim grabbed Alk under the arm and bolted for the doors closest to them, trusting Spock to follow, “10 seconds, phaser implodes, stuns everything within 100 feet.” Jim explained in rapid fire.
A faint feeling of alarm flashed through Jim’s head that Jim was certain didn’t belong to him.
Telepaths, Jim thought bemused.
Jim slammed through the antechambers doors. Releasing Alks arm he sprinted down the hallway, sucking in a deep breath of significantly cooler air. Vaguely, Jim was aware of more than two people keeping pace behind him, but didn’t stop to look if they were friend or foe. He skidded around the corner, through a door, jumping down stairs. Moving as though he’d lived in the royal estate his whole life.
There was a distant bang as the phaser finally exploded, Jim nearly toppled downwards as his foot missed a step. The walls around him vibrated with shock waves.
Hopefully he could convince Spock to blame the damage on the Klingon's in their reports tonight.
Jim regained his footing leaping down the last couple stairs. He skidded into a stone floored pantry adjacent to a grand dining hall. The room was cluttered with various crockery and service implements. They were at ground level, the doors directly across from the stairs opening onto an impressive cloister, the quadrangle at its centre hosting what Jim first thought to be a gigantic square pond. Though on second look the water was far deeper than it initially appeared.
Alk, Spock, and then two unnamed Eckolocin's tumbled out of the stairway behind him. Jim glanced back up at the stairs as a new pair of boots appeared.
“Spock!” Jim scooped up a pot from the nearest bench hurling it directly into the Klingons face with a clang, as Spock shot a stunner directly into his chest.
The pot clattered down the steps after the Klingon.
“That might have been overkill,” Jim said into the silence that followed.
“Perhaps slightly unnecessary,” Spock agreed, sidestepping the Eckolocin's to fall into step beside Jim as he moved out of the pantry onto the walkway. Veering right and up a new flight of steps. Confident that if more Klingon's had escaped the explosion, they wouldn’t be able to follow them.
Exiting the staircase they were back out onto the cloister, now three levels up. Glancing over the balcony Jim realized that not only was the pond deeper than first inspection, it was unfathomably deep. The crystal clear water stretching endlessly down into darkness. The bright hot sun directly above them unable to fully illuminate its depths. Jim wondered if they had any issues with people falling in.
“Alk, how many in the room with their Majesty?” Jim asked pulling his eyes away from the water, moving instead towards the set of doors the map in his brain said belonged to Majesty Yeq.
Alk slowed taking a moment to collect themselves.
Seven. Three of Klingons, Ambassador Torben’s. Alk said, Majesty Yeq, Partner Iop, Child Qep
“Could someone create a distraction?,” Jim asked, scanning the immediate vicinity for anything that could be used as a weapon.
Alk was quiet for several seconds as Jim hefted a vase off a low table.
Partner Iop will knock papers off Majesty Yeq’s desk at this one’s signal, Alk said finally, … is this Captain planning to throw our four thousand year old vase at a Klingon.
Jim put down the vase and picked up a metal platter from a wall instead, feeling Alks approval at his choice.
“Spock, take two furthest from the door,” Jim said. Spock nodded wordlessly putting a hand on the door knob glancing back at Alk for confirmation
Alk held up a hand.
Now
Spock threw the door open as a tower of papers hit the floor. One of the Klingon's jerked a disruptor rifle up in surprise at the Eckolocin with Pale Pink skin who had pushed it over. The beam tore through the Eckolocins chest.
There was a Klingon standing with his back to the doors.Trusting Spock to deal with the others, Jim slammed into them, throwing them to the ground in an ungraceful heap. Wrenching his arm free, Jim bashed the metal platter into the Klingon's face. Leaving them not quite knocked out, but dazed enough to not be an immediate problem.
Panting Jim glanced up to see why Spock hadn’t fired off his weapon again and froze.
The remaining Klingon was holding a disruptor pistol to the head of an Eckolocin child.
No longer preoccupied with beating the Klingon beneath him into submission, Jim became aware of the voice ripping through his head.
- onnono this- Iop no- this one’s-
It wasn’t Alk.
Please-
The voice was laced with panic. Grief. And a steadily growing pressure behind Jim’s eye’s.
-one’s child- mercy - not part of -
There was an Eckolocin clutching Partner Iops body who Jim recognized from the mission packet as Majesty Yeq. Their hand covered Partner Iops wound as peach coloured liquid dripped sluggishly through their fingers. Eyes wild, Majesty Yeq gaze focused on their child as if nothing else existed in the room.
“C-c-c-commander Kaht-t-t-tok, This isn’t-t necessary,” Ambassador Torben was cowering in the far corner, “or w-w…wise-“ the Ambassador yelped as the Klingon fired a warning shot in his direction.
PLEASE. Doctor-, Jim wondered if the Majesty was projecting their voice to reach further than the immediate room. If the increase in volume equated to distance Our Partner DIES from - THIS - THEIR WOUND- THEY-. Jim’s head was beginning to ache from the pressure.
“Silence,” snapped Kahtok, eyes squinting slightly as if in pain, “Remove yourself from Kahtok’s mind.”
NO - THIS ONEC̸A̶N̶N̸O̸T̶ - PLE̸A̶SE̸ LE̶̊T̴̻͆ ̵͎̕- - THȊ̷͉S̵̢̕ ̶͍͂M̴̥̀Ų̸̈́ST̵̥̓ -
Staggering to his feet, Jim stepped backwards off the Klingon clutching at his head in pain. Jim knocked into Spock, who’s arm immediately went around his back to steady him. Jim glanced back at him as Spock’s hand gripped Jim’s shoulder.
Spock's forehead was slightly creased as he maintained a level gaze at the remaining Klingon. Though his eyes would flick occasionally, almost nervously, to the Eckolocin's leader.
BL̸̺̒͜E̷̻̝̎E̴̘̩̽̈D̵̥͒Ǐ̶̜̒N̴̘̿G̵͍̀͝ ̵͔̟͑̑-̸͖̈́̎ ̷̝̈́̽M̶̛͘ͅE̴̡͇͗͌͂̚D̴̬̬̀̐̿̌̃̆I̶̧̻̓Ć̵͚͇̼̒A̴̬̺͙͋̃̈́̎L̶̨̛̛̪͈̪͗͐̌͝ ̷̥͚̻̭̄̂̈́̉A̷̠̬̻̝̟̱͗̌T̶̝̙̳̔́̋̆̔̕Ṫ̴̲̫̰̝͚̗Ė̴̙̏́͠N̸̰̝̓̊̐́̂Ṭ̴̥̤̫̳͚̑I̷̘̪͛O̷̼͓̒͝N̵̗̻̮̮͈͆̄ͅ ̵̡̧̔̀͑̎̌̆-̷̱̒̌̾̚͝I̵̧͇͇̖͕̗̭̬̭̙̥̗͊̓̉̔͊̅͘M̵̭̭̱̏̕M̷̢̛̛̥̹̜̼̝̰̍̀̏̑̿͝͝Ë̴̡̢̫̤̱́́͠D̶̢̧͉̠̩̟͉̯̓̀̈́̒̈́̉͂̅̂͠͠A̷̧̭̯͚̘̙̼͇͗̊̓̒̃͜ͅͅT̵͖̲̗̜̲̻̪̘̰̪̭̉͐̈́̅̋̀̐̈̓̊̊͆͆̕͝Ē̶̛͙̰̭̦̭͕͖̄́̃̀́̌̈́̆͆̍̚̕͘͝L̷̰͉̬͙̲͇̉͂̏̎̆̚͝Y̵̻͍̌̓̉̃̒́̈́̊́̈́͊̆͘ ̵̡̢̧̜͉̳̱̦̣͎̜͕̖̯͈̈̅̅̓͑̈́̕͜
Jim was beginning to feel nauseous. He wanted to curl up on the floor next to the Klingon and pass out
“Captain,” Spock's voice was low and strained, “Shield your mind.” His… what?
“I don’t-“ Jim groaned, his head hurt. He was struggling to think.
“Their telepathic abilities are stronger than previously indicated,” Spock said urgently, tightening his grip on Jim’s shoulder, holding him upright as he started to slump from the pain. Jim grunted, releasing the metal platter he had been gripping, bringing his other hand to his head.
The platter hit the floor with a crack, startling Kahtok into releasing Child Qep.
In what seemed like slow motion, the child flinched away from the Klingon, seemingly unaffected by their parent’s telepathy. Startled face contorted in pain, Kahtok jerked the disruptor pistol back up, firing. The beam ripped the child's arm from its socket with a spray of peach coloured blood. Screaming flashed through Jim’s mind, younger than any he had heard this far. It would be added to Jim’s nightmares.
In a symphonic accompaniment to their child, Majesty Yeq’s screamed.
Ṅ̷̢̛̞̭̞̩̝̳̲̮̘͛̊̇͒̆̓̉̈͐́̿̏̅̈͒̚͘̕̕̕͝O̷̧̡̥̙͓̱̭̞̦̭̝̩͉͆̀̋̇̃̇̇̄̊̅̾͌̈͜͠͝ͅ
Jim’s knees gave out.
“Captain!” Spock's voice was so faint under all the noise in his head.
Jim pressed his forehead onto the carpet, He felt Spock’s hands frantically skittering over his face. His mind stretched and burned as Majesty Yeq’s grief invaded and began ripping the edges of his consciousness apart.
- tain
It felt like hours past, yet somewhere deep in his mind he knew it had only been but a moment.
-aptain
CAPTAIN
Suddenly Spock was there. In his mind. Jim could feel his panic, feel Spock desperately pushing back against Majesty Yeq, trying to build a wall between them and the grief stricken Eckolocin. But the overwhelming power of Yeqs mind ripped Spocks attempts to pieces.
I need to- I can-
Jim could feel Spock growing more frantic. His thoughts jumped around erratically, not seeming to fully wrap up before moving on.
I- I can help. I can help. Jim wasn’t sure who Spock was attempting to convince, Jim or himself. Jim felt the Vulcan desperately digging into Jim’s mind. Trying to put himself between Jim and the onslaught of Majesty Yeq’s attack. The fire just slammed into and through Spock.
Jim realized he was dying.
He realized Spock would reach a similar fate if they remained melded.
…Cut it..out.
Captain
It was so hard to think, which amplified Spock’s panicked thoughts in the silence that remained of his own.
Leave Spock
Captain, Hold on, I have got you, I just -
Jim struggled to form his thoughts into coherent words. Trying to send what comfort he could toward Spock, while simultaneously trying to shove him out.
Jim’s attempts were brushed aside as Spock plunged further into his mind trying to wrench Jim away from Majesty Yeq.
Captain, I can fix this-
S….top… it, Jim tried to pull himself out of Spock hold. But the stubborn Vulcan was stronger, desperately dragging them back further into the recesses of Jim’s mind.
Nonono-
In spite of the situation, Spock felt rather nice in his head.
Jim
Something clicked into place. Later Jim would liken it to the feeling of your ears popping. But with a reverberation similar mild earthquake. One where you knew something had just happened, but you couldn’t 100% figure out what.
And then Spock was everywhere. A wave of surprised shock slammed into Jim, and the fire disappeared.
In the relief following the absence of pain, Jim felt Spock’s confusion.
And then growing horror.
T'hy'la
And then Jim passed out.
Probably for the best.
…
The carpet pressing uncomfortably into Jim’s face was a dark aqua and smelled of a woodsy, off-mint vegetation. Jim recognized the smell from the antechamber and thought it might be whatever was in the smoke bomb rubbing off him onto the floor. He slightly deliriously wondered if someone would get mad at him for that. It was a very expensive looking carpet. Jim blinked at it blearily before focusing on the figure crouched almost defensively in front of him.
Er, the Vulcan crouched in front of him. Talking to Alk.
“Logical,” Spock said, “Is someone able to access it?”
Alk tilted his head.
“That would be the quickest, and safest, course of action,” Spock said, “Regrettable. I would rather have it dismantled and thoroughly examined.”
Alk blinked at Spock but was otherwise silent.
“I appreciate that, Thank you,” Spock bowed his head. Jim idly thought how good Spock’s profile looked from this angle. Before his thoughts cleared with a snap, memory of the previous events rushing back.
Jim grunted as he pushed himself into a sitting position drawing Spock and Alk’s attention.
“Captain,” Spock said, lifting his hand before seeming to change his mind, lowering it back to the floor.
Alk tilted his head as Jim nodded in greeting to Spock. After a moment Alk turned to stare at Spock who stiffened.
“… No,” Spock said, but in a tone indicating agreement. Jim looked at Spock in confusion before noticing the bodies on the floor behind Alk, faces covered in cloth.
“Who?” Jim started to get to his feet but was stopped by Spock's hand on his shoulder.
“The three Klingons and Ambassador Torben,” Spock said quietly, eyes flicking to the bodies before settling back on Jim’s face.
“Amb- Spock what-,”
“Partner Iop and Child Qep are alive,” Spock cut in, glancing at Alk, his head cantered as though listening to something Jim couldn’t hear. “Child Qep is receiving medical attention, but they are stable and will recover. Partner Iop is currently in surgery, the outlook is hopeful,” Spock continued.
A knot that had been tightening in his chest loosed at the news, and Jim suddenly caught on.
“I can’t hear Alk,” Jim said, looking between the two aliens.
“No,” Spock’s face and tone were unconcerned, but the tightness around his eyes told Jim something was wrong.
Jim paused, trying to put the pieces together.
“What became of the Klingon's,” Jim asked slowly, “elsewhere in the palace.”
“Dead,” Spock said, looking at Alk as though allowing them the space to correct him.
Jim felt he knew the answer to his next question, but asked anyway.
“How?”
Alk made a gesture, face blank but something in their hand movements indicated frustration. Spock inclined his head in response.
“Mr Spock, report,” Jim said wairily. Spock eyes flicked in his direction before settling back on the Eckolocin in front of them.
“Eckolocin telepathic abilities,” Spock said in a controlled voice, “Are far more powerful than previously conveyed.” Jim watched the muscles in his first officer's back tighten almost imperceptibly and realized Spock was furious . “Majesty Yeq forced themselves into the minds of all sentient creatures within a 2 kilometre radius. Obliterating any minds they successfully infiltrated.”
“But your… we,”Jim looked at Alk who seemed to be resigned to being left out of the conversation at this point, “Alk looks ok,” Jim finished lamely. Alk raised an eyebrow at him.
“We, Eckolocin and Vulcans, are not psy null,” Spock said as though that explained everything. Jim gave him a look to communicate that it didn’t, “We can shield our minds.” Spock clarified.
Jim glanced at the dead body formerly known as Ambassador Torben, a psy null human.
“Right ok… right, and you,” Jim looked at Spock, “Kept their Majesty out. From mine. Mind.” It had been a long day.
“Affirmative, my apologies for initiating a meld without-.”
“Nonsense,” Jim interrupted, shaking his head as he pushed himself into a standing position. Spock rose with him, a hand slightly raised as though to offer assistance should he need it, “You retroactively have my permission for this, and all future events where melding prevents death,” Jim said and then paused. Unable to pin down the expression that had passed over Spock’s face. Jim looked at Alk thoughtfully.
“Speaking of permissions, why can’t I hear Alk?”
“I shielded all contact with your mind,” Spock said.
“Ok… Can you unshield it?”
Spock hesitated.
“Yes,” Spock said, seeming to choose his words carefully, “I am unsure if it is wise to do so while on this planet.” Alk looked at him. Spock seemed to listen, then stared pointedly at Alk, then even more pointedly at the bodies.
“Your concern is noted Mr Spock,”Jim said, interrupting whatever arguments Alk was giving, “but unnecessary.” Spock’s expression was starting to turn stubborn. Jim signed looking to Alk.
“Are Majesty Yeq emotions under control,” Alk nodded emphatically.
“Are there any other beings on this planet predisposed to wiping out psy nulls” Alk shook his head, gesturing emphatically with his hands as he turned toward Spock.
“Mr Spock?” Jim asked, when Spock seemed disinclined to translate.
“Majesty Yeq and the heir apparents.Three in total,” Spock said coolly. Jim frowned vaguely remembering something in their briefing packets about enhanced telepathy being a defining element in royal succession.
“How long would it take you to help me re-shield or re-permanently block telepathy now that you’ve done it once,” Jim asked.
“… approximately 1.8923 seconds,” Spock answered, seeming resigned.
“There we are then, shields down Mr Spock,” Jim said, tucking his arms behind his back as he waited for his first officer to follow his orders. Spock looked for a moment like he was considering refusal, before he stepped forwards. Raising his finger tips to Jim’s meld points and just like that Spock was back inside his head.
Hello Spock, Jim thought cheerfully at the presence. Jim felt a flash of amusement tinged with concern that wasn’t his own.
Captain , Spock replied, the voice in his head feeling softer than anything that had verbally come out of Spock’s mouth. Jim wondered at that. Before he could ask, Spock got to work. As efficiently as he did everything else, Spock had the walls down and retreated from Jim’s mind in seconds. Jim felt a twinge at Spock's hasty retreat, but decided he didn’t have time to unpack that right now.
Jim opened his eyes as he felt Spock fingers withdraw
“Did it work?” Jim asked, looking at Alk who blinked back at him.
This one is unsure how to determine that.
“Fantastic,” Jim clapped Spock on the shoulder, “Nice to hear you again.”
This one is delighted we can once again communicate and would apologise for the damage caused
“The hurt caused is not the fault of Eckoloci,” Jim said in return glancing back toward the bodies, making a mental note to organise transport for Ambassador Torben’s body.
This one is heartened by your kind words. As for the signal disruptor, ours are working to dismantle it within - It took a couple seconds, but Jim realised with a start that Alk wasn’t the only one in his head. He could still feel Spock. Ever so faintly. Not emotions or words, just a presence that Jim might have overlooked if he wasn’t already focusing inwards.
Jim glanced at Spock, who was staring fixedly at a wall and was in no way touching him.
Spock’s frankensteined communicator beeped, startling Jim out of his head.
Those ones device has fallen , Alk said.
…
An Alk for you;
