Chapter Text
Stardate: 1312.4
“Your move, Mr. Spock,” said Jim as he captured a black pawn with a nearby bishop.
“Captain, your play style is highly illogical,” Spock frowned as he reached toward the top tier of the three-dimensional chess board.
“Well, Mr. Spock, it is my best strategy against someone as logical as you. And please, I’ve told you a thousand times, call me Jim! We’re off duty after all,” Jim replied cheekily. Spock internally scoffed as he waited for Jim’s next move. A sharp whistle suddenly interrupted their game.
“Bridge to Captain Kirk. Bridge to Captain Kirk,” called the Enterprise’s Head Communications officer, Lt. Uhura.
Jim stood and walked towards a nearby wall panel.
“Kirk here,” he responded.
“Captain, our sensors have picked up a nearby distress signal. It appears to be the U.S.S… Valiant? That can’t be right…” Uhura muttered under her breath.
“I’ll be right there! Kirk out.” Jim said excitedly. Spock huffed softly in annoyance, causing Jim to glance back at their unfinished chess game.
“Well, Mr. Spock, I guess our break is over.” he sighed dramatically.
“Indeed, Captain,” the smooth Vulcan replied. They exited the Captain’s quarters and made their way to the turbolift.
“Bridge!” Kirk instructed.
Captain Kirk walked over to his favorite place on the bridge: the captain’s chair. He politely nodded at the other on-duty bridge crew members as they scurried about, hurriedly settling into their stations or passing paperwork between them. As he sat down on the surprisingly comfortable leather cushions, he took a quick glance around the Bridge. Lt. Sulu and Lt. Chekov were seated in their familiar position at the helm, and Lt. Uhura’s expert fingers glided across the communication station’s screen like an olympic figure skater on a frozen lake. Her dark hair was pulled up into a gravity-defying bob, leaving the tip of her communication earpiece visible. Commander Spock was bent over the science station, his typical Vulcan bowl cut hairstyle accentuated by his sharp cheekbones gave him a severe expression for those unfamiliar with him. Kirk however, had been working alongside the Vulcan for several years after his 5 year mission aboard the newly rebuilt U.S.S Farragut, changing his official status from Commander to Captain, and he could see the keen interest in Spock’s brown eyes as they flew through the rapid fire information available from the science console in front of him. A blond yeoman with a distinctive beehive hairstyle brought Kirk a Padd of notes made during the previous Bridge shift.
“Thank you, Yeoman,” Kirk said. The blond nodded and went towards the turbolift to continue her duties on the other levels.
“Status report, Mr. Spock?” he asked, despite having the results clearly in his hands. He liked the way Spock summarized the bland reports. He was able to add life into them, and Jim found the practice refreshing.
“Captain, it appears that there is nothing in front of our current heading, however, communications have discovered a distinct Starfleet Emergency Distress signal linked to the vessel known as the U.S.S Valiant,” the Vulcan stated.
“Lt. Uhura?” Kirk directed his attention towards the communication officer.
“Yes, Sir?”
“Have you received any other communications since the distress signal?”
“Negative, sir,” she replied calmly.
“Hmm… This is troubling.’ Kirk thought to himself, rubbing his jaw.
“Uhura, please let all the senior staff know to report to the briefing room in 15 minutes!” he announced.
“Acknowledged, sir!” Uhura cooed.
Jim walked briskly towards the turbolift, Spock following at his heels. The doors slid open, revealing an unexpected surprise: it wasn’t empty. There in the small interior space was Lt. Gary Mitchell, a familiar figure for Kirk.
“Hi there, Captain!” the brunette said cheerfully, his brown eyes sparkling.
“Hey there, Gary. There’s no need to be so formal! Afterall, I’d like to think we were pretty good friends back at the academy, and I’m not exactly on Bridge duty currently.” Jim joked.
The other man nodded.
“Fair enough, Jim! Listen, have you heard the rumor about that specialty doctor they assigned at the last starbase?”
Jim paused, “Do you mean Dr. Dehner?”
“Yeah! I heard she specialized in psychology,” replied Gary.
“Fascinating,” Spock interrupted sarcastically.
Jim gave his XO a light glare.
“Anyway, what about her?” he asked.
“Well, I heard she-” Gary started, only to be interrupted by the quick swish of the turbolift doors. He walked out of the lift first, mouth open to continue his train of thought, when he was suddenly thrown to the ground by a flash of purple lightning.
“Gary! Are you alright?!” Kirk said as he crouched down beside his fallen friend. Spock reached for the nearby panel and called for medical assistance. Soon, a team of blue-shirted medics led by the subject herself, Dr. Dehner, had arrived and gathered Mitchell to his feet. She was a tall and beautiful blond woman with a bob style haircut, and her blue eyeshadow enhanced her beautiful brown eyes.
“Is he going to be alright?” the captain inquired.
Dr. Dehner nodded.
“We will take him to sickbay, but for now he seems alright,” she said.
Kirk acknowledged her and left with Spock toward the briefing room.
“Spock, where do you suppose that purple light came from? And why did it only target Gary?” Kirk asked.
“I am unsure, Captain. Perhaps he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He stated.
The command team entered the briefing room and took their seats at the long wooden table. Spock had sat himself to the right of the Captain, next to the security chief Giotto.
Lt. Commander “Scotty” Scott was seated next to Jim’s best friend and personal doctor, Leonard “Bones” McCoy. To their right was Lt. Sulu, their main helmsman, the newly promoted Lt. Chekov, former boy genius, and Lt. Commander Nyota Uhura. Once everyone was seated, Lt. Uhura began.
“Captain, there was more information hidden within the distress signal from the Valiant. Apparently they encountered an unknown contagion that killed most of their crew other than those with high ESPER skills.” she revealed. Kirk rubbed his chin in thought. “Is there any mention of how the contagion is spread?” Spock asked.
Uhura shook her head.
“Unfortunately it just keeps mentioning that those infected with high ESPER ratings become incredibly dangerous.”
“Is there a possibility that this instance could be a danger to the ship?” growled Giotto.
“I do not believe so at this time,” replied Spock. “Without direct contact with the infected ship, it is highly unlikely we would become affected.”
“Let’s just keep an eye out then!” Kirk declared as he dismissed the meeting.
“Hey, man, how are you doing?” Jim asked as he walked into sickbay. Gary grinned at him from the biobed, his brown eyes shining.
“I’m fine, Jim. Absolutely fine! In fact, I feel better than ever!” He laughed.
“Well, that’s great news!” Jim smiled, “Any idea when they’ll be letting you out of here?”
Gary shook his head.
“ I think they just want Dr. Dehner to check and make sure the energy didn’t make my head all screwy or something. I kept telling them I’m fine, but I don’t think they were listening to me anymore!” he sighed.
“I’m sure you’ll get out of their medical clutches soon enough, Gar. See you on the Bridge later?” Jim asked, gently patting Gary’s shoulder as he turned toward the door.
“See you then,” Gary promised, waving as his friend left sickbay. Unbeknownst to either man, a strange iridescent haze flashed within Gary’s eyes as he spoke his agreement.
The swish of his door alerted Kirk that someone had entered. He looked up from his Padd and saw his first officer.
“Captain,” began Spock.
“Yes, Mr. Spock?” Jim asked, placing his Padd down on the couch as he straightened up his spine.
“Are you entirely sure that Mr. Mitchell is still your friend?” the Vulcan asked.
Jim frowned at Spock.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t he be? He seemed fine when I went to see him earlier?”
“Some… concerning footage from Medical was sent to me for my observation. I would like you to review it,” Spock stated, walking further into the room. He turned Kirk’s computer screen towards the couch.
“Computer, play Medbay Footage Alpha Omega Beta 12.45,” he requested. The computer beeped.
“Access code required,” it’s feminine voice stated.
“Code Sigma Pi Omicron Chi Kappa three three one five,” said Spock.
“Access code confirmed.”
The computer monitor flickered to life, revealing a chilling scene: Gary Mitchell was sitting up in his biobed, the monitor’s behind him fluctuating rapidly as Dr. Dehner was shaking with fear. “Mr. Mitchell, please stop!” she screamed.
Gary laughed. Jim shivered as he watched. That wasn’t his friend’s normal laughter. It was chilling. He turned towards Spock and nodded for him to continue the video. The stone-faced Vulcan acknowledged his friend and hit the play button. Gary’s menacing laugh filled the air as he smirked at the beautiful doctor.
“What are you so scared of, doctor?” he purred. He got up out of the biobed and stalked toward her. Dr. Dehner froze.
“Mr. Mitch-” she started.
Gary strode closer to her and placed a finger on her lips, silencing her.
“Shh! There now, isn’t this better?” he said with a sleazy grin, “If I could do all that to your monitors with the power of my mind, what else do you think I could do?”
He laughed.
“I have this wonderful power now, and I’d like to share it with you, Elizabeth…” he whispered in her ear. The doctor hesitated, then took his hand. A shock of orange energy flowed between the two, and Gary’s eyes flashed an eerie blue.
Spock paused the video. Kirk sat in silence for a moment, steepling his hands together in a similar manner to his alien first officer.
“This is very distressing news, Mr. Spock,” he spoke.
“Indeed, Captain. What are your orders?” Spock replied.
“Have a security team sent directly to Sickbay immediately. I want Mitchell captured and taken to the Brig until further notice!” he stated.
“Understood, Captain,” nodded his faithful XO. Spock stood and walked toward the nearest wall panel.
“Now Jimmy, is this any way to treat an old friend?” Gary Mitchell grinned from his cell, leaning against the metal wall.
“Cease referring to the Captain in such a casual manner, Mr. Mitchell!” Spock growled.
“Gary, there’s something wrong with you! You have to fight back. Can’t you see how it’s changing you?” Jim begged his former friend.
Gary laughed madly.
“But don’t you see it, Jim? I’m not sick, I’m more powerful than you could ever imagine!”
Jim turned towards Spock and gestured for him to walk a few steps away so they could discuss what to do in private.
“Suggestions, Mr. Spock?”
Spock paused for a moment.
“We could… send him to Delta Vega. It is the closest uninhabited planet relative to our position, and-”
“NO! We’re not going to abandon him on some icy rock full of monsters!” Jim hissed, his hazel eyes glowing golden for a brief moment.
“Sir, it is either that or we kill him,” Spock stated coldly.
“That’s not an option either, Spock! He is my friend…”
“Tell me, Jim… Does that look like your friend? Is that how Gary Mitchell behaves normally? Terrorizing others and making grand statements about power?” asked Spock.
Jim glanced back at his friend behind the bars as he giggled wildly and his eyes were lit from a strange azure fire within.
“If… If you’re sure this is the right thing to do, then I defer to your judgement, Mr. Spock,” he sighed. Jim walked towards the wall panel.
“Set course towards planet Delta Vega, Mr. Sulu.”
“Aye, Sir!”
Jim opened his eyes and watched the stars dance above his head. He smiled softly and rose to his feet, shuffling slightly as he began to walk among the coarse sand surrounding him. He had no idea where he was, but he felt at peace here. It seemed oddly… familiar. As he walked, he saw a white stone structure in the distance. It appeared unaffected by the darkness of night, its white walls gilded with gold reflections in the moonlight. Its ivory monoliths stood as sentinels, watching over the empty streets below. He approached closer, now able to make out the intricate carvings on the stone walls.
“Are these… hieroglyphics?” he wondered aloud.
“Indeed, my child,” laughed a feminine voice.
“Who said that?! Who’s there?” he called out into the night. A fluttering of wingbeats alerted him to the presence hiding behind him. He turned around and saw a beautiful sight: A woman robed in scarlet and crimson, her golden-tipped wings floating gently behind her. Her body was wreathed in golden bands, and her eyes reflected the pale stars against the deepness of space.
“Who are you?” Jim whispered, his eyes widening in awe. The woman giggled and walked closer. She reached up and lightly ruffled his hair.
“I cannot reveal that to you yet, young one,” She twittered.
“Then can you tell me where I am and what I’m doing here?” he asked shyly.
“We are in an… in-between place. I cannot reveal to you your destiny directly, but I can do this…” She paused, her gaze meeting his as she gently placed her hand upon his cheek. “I came to warn you. You are in danger.”
“Danger? From what?” he questioned.
“Not a what, a whom. The one you once called friend has become corrupted. Beware that which seeks to deceive you with friendship and lust, for they will both lead you to ruin in the near future,” She warned.
“Thanks for the advice, but I just have one question… Who are you?”
Jim awoke suddenly, a huge gasp leaving him as he threw himself out of bed. He tossed his covers to the ground and ran his shaky hand through his hair.
“What was that about?” he mumbled to himself.
“Captain Kirk! Chief Giotto to Captain Kirk!” yelled from his communicator. Jim grabbed it from his nightstand and opened it.
“Kirk here.”
“Captain, the Brig is empty! Gary Mitchell escaped, and he took Dr. Dehner with him! We’re pretty sure he used the transporter. What are your orders?”
“Shit!” he whispered under his breath.
“Giotto, I need you to check with Scotty and see where the transporter logs indicate, got it?”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Great, Kirk out.” he stated as he closed the communicator. He walked toward his closet and grabbed a clean uniform. As he bent down to grab his pants from the floor, his feather pendant dangled from his chest and into his line of vision. He paused and held it closer for a better look. He felt like he had seen it somewhere before… recently too.