Chapter Text
You could see the bruise forming below Spock’s eye, the human who attacked them was strong, though he hadn’t considered that the Vulcan would make him unconscious with a Vulcan nerve pinch, but Spock couldn’t stop thinking how interesting he was.
What was a human dong in a Bird-of-prey ship? By logic alone he should have been a prisoner, but the recent event made him analyze the hypothesis.
“What if he’s a Klingon in disguise?” Lieutenant Hendorff said, “We’ve already meet those.”
“If that was the case, lieutenant, the doctor tricorder would have already given us a positive result” Captain Pike dismissed, “But it says 100% human. In any case we can’t rule out the possibility of a new type of undetectable disguise.”
“What if they brainwashed him and that’s why he reacted that way to us.” Doctor McCoy interrupted as he finished drawing a blood sample.
He moved with difficulty, he had taken the worst of the attack, his forearm now beginning to swell from possibly a fracture and his face worse to wear, "He may be suffering from some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder, given his defensive behavior, but we won't know until he wakes up."
“You’re right doctor,” Pike placed a hand on his good shoulder, “We don’t know what we’re dealing with; everyone who needs medical attention go with the doctor; the rest can go back to work.”
Spock looked one last time at the human being led to the brig before striding forward to the bridge avoiding the doctor. His situation wasn’t serious, that the logical path was to continue with his duties.
“Spock, with me. Don’t ever think of escaping!” the Vulcan stopped dead in his tracks upon hearing the doctor.
“Doctor, there is no reason for me to receive medical treatment this moment. The lieutenant Hendorff and you were the most affected by the attack.” Spock held his breath waiting for the doctor’s response.
The doctor sighed, “I’ll agree with you just this once because my arm is killing me right now but,” Leonard raised a finger, pointing at Spock, “As soon your shift ends come to the sickbay to treat the swelling in that eye.”
Spock nodded and went to the bridge with the captain. He secretly exhaled, he wasn’t scared of the medical attention or Dr. McCoy, but if he were human he would rather not be in the same room with the Doctor volatile emotions.
If he was human of course.
It wasn’t fear of Doctor McCoy.
That would be illogical.
Upon reaching the bridge, the crew concentrated on searching for signs of the enemy ship, so they would be prepared in case it attacked again. However, their attempts to detect the Klingon vessel coordinates were in vain. They had already activated its cloaking, and it had disappeared without a trace. Their only lead was the imprisoned human.
Spock was performing his duties at 76.8% of his capacity, which was unusual, he speculated the human was responsible. Due to the individual's unexpected reaction, he did not had the time to strengthen his shields and came in direct contact with the human's emotions, which were quite intuitive and focused only on survival. No, he knew that wasn't what was occupying 23.2% of his concentration; it went far beyond his emotions; a spark, too ancient to be understood with the naked eye.
He was just a simple human. What was he doing on a Klingon ship? Before being transported, it was thought he was a slave, but that possibility was eliminated seconds after he appeared on the transporter, he directly attacked the person closest to him, the Doctor. As he lunged at practically everyone trying to restrain him, Spock was the last to be hit before rendering him unconscious. The doctor gave one of his sarcastic remarks, "You should have done that in the first place, green-blooded hobgoblin" and proceeded to examine him.
Human, with no internal modifications ruling out the possibility of being a Klingon in disguise, scars on his face that healed without assistance and possibly all over his body, probably extending to his bones as well, Klingon armor, and fairly short blond hair. He lost one of his eyes, but the other was an electric blue, from what the Vulcan could see when he turned to him. He sensed his shock and anger, and he was undoubtedly a fascinating subject to study.
The beep of the communicator brought him out of his thoughts; he realized he had spent the last 30.13 minutes analyzing the individual.
“Captain, the prisoner is regaining conscience.”
“We’re heading there, thank you ensign” Pike replied rising from his seat, "Commander Spock with me, let's go meet our guest." Once on the elevator, Pike continued, "I know you've been analyzing the mystery surrounding the kid, shoot."
"When we transported him, he was quite surprised and angry. He does not have the characteristics of a Klingon slave nor a prisoner. He appeared more like he was part of their crew."
"Klingon armor," the captain interrupted. "I know. It's strange for a human to be dressed like a warrior. Not even Klingons in disguise are."
"If it is as the Doctor said, how we will know exactly how damaged his mind is?" The elevator doors opened, and they began to make their way to the cells. "The Federation is prepared to rescue and rehabilitate prisoners and slaves, but there has never been a precedent for a human being indoctrinated as a warrior."
“You're right, Commander, but we won't know until we ask him, and that's the best option we have so far.”
They arrived just in time to hear a groan; his eye opened slightly, beginning to awaken, but suddenly he jerked upright, trying to defend himself against whatever it was. He looked disoriented, looking from side to side, which was to be expected after a Vulcan nerve pinch, but the moment he laid eyes on the captain, his expressions diminished, intimidating. Pike with a calm demeanor, while Spock stared at the prisoner, who just ignored his presence.
“I’m captain Christopher Pike and you’re aboard the USS Enterprise, we beam you off a Klingon vessel.” The captain approached the cage, “What’s your name kid?”
The seconds dragged on for the Vulcan as he waited to know his name.
“vIjatlhbe' jagh 'e' QIp”1 both were taken aback, seen his human talk Klingon with ease, “Qo' jegh'a' jIH Hergh ngo' wa'"2
There went their hopes of knowing more, they didn’t know how to proceed, the captain thought of insisting but it seems that he wasn’t going to answer in standard anytime soon. Spock tried to analyze more about the blonde now that he was awake, the prisoner stared at the Vulcan.
For Spock it was like time itself froze, his eye had an intensity that took his breath away.
“nuq legh SoH? QIp vulqangan”3 the human spat, with the arrogance that Klingons possessed, apparently it was an insult directed at him.
“Captain to the bridge” he waited for the whistle.” Lieutenant Uhura, we need you in the brig, it’s urgent.
Spock couldn’t take his eyes off the human and neither could he, he barely noticed that the Lieutenant was here and that was only because the man looked at her.
Pike smiled when he saw her, “I need your expertise, our rescued over here can’t or won’t talk to us in standard. Just Klingon.
“What is she? a translator” said the blonde with mockery.
Uhura was shocked, his pronunciation was perfect as if he was a native. She quickly recovered her composure.
“Yes, does that surprise you?” the prisoner looked her in the eyes before turning his face away, “You speak Klingon as if it’s part of you, who are you?”
Uhura went straight to the point, she won’t be easily intimidated, the man smirked.
“You have courage.”
“Your name warrior.”
Spock observed the exchange with fascination, the fluency of Uhura was as good as the unnamed man, Uhura's professionalism was admirable, her capability for adaptation and that the situation was most unusual; on the other hand, the prisoner seemed quiet when speaking to the lieutenant. He still seemed reluctant but seeing that he was answering the lieutenant it must be a sign of progress.
There was a long pause between Uhura's last sentence, probably waiting for a reply.
“My name is Jim.”
“We are in the USS Enterprise, I’m lieutenant Uhura and they’re captain Pike and commander Spock, do you speak standard?”
“It would be too easy for you humans if I spoke standard, so no. I don’t speak standard.”
Uhura sighed, this guy was infuriating, “Where are you from Jim?”
“Kronos, where else?”
“Earth? You’re human.”
“As if humans can’t be born in other worlds…” Jim looked away, “Are we done with the questions Uhura?”
Nyota turned to the captain and nodded, announcing that the interrogation had come to a head. Spock's looked at the human one last time, only to realize that the other was already looking at him. Those blue eyes were more intense, digging under his skin and making him uncomfortable but he found it impossible to tear his gaze away. The blond licked his lips, and without realizing it, his eyes followed that action.
The blond must have seen that, as the last thing Spock saw was a smirk on his face.
