Fic: Observations, Ch 205
I have never desired to see the mind of a monster.
REDJAC REDJAC REDJAC REDJAC I REMEMBER I REMEMBER I REMEMBER YOU! I WILL KILL KILL SPILL WILL NILL KILL KILL YOU KIRK! KILL YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU LOVE EVERYTHING EVERYTHING TO NOTHING!
Pictures of another universe, another life, another Enterprise where Redjac was obsessed with
SUCH BEAUTIFUL HAIR AND FLOWING LIMBS SUCH A LOVELY NECK AND SMOOTH SKIN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT TO SEE BLOODIED IN A RING AROUND THE ROSIE THE NOOSE AROUND HER NECK THE WOMEN BLEEDING SLOWLY THE TERROR AND THE SCENT
It lived once on Terra and traveled through the galaxy, occupying bodies as it went along. I do not know how it was able to traverse between galaxies. Nor do I have any wish to study it.
THE TERROR AND THE SCENT OF RINGS AROUND HER NECK AND KIRK! RUINED EVERYTHING ALL MY FUN THE HUNGER THE HUNGER SO LONG SPREAD THIN SO LONG SPREAD APART SO LONG SO LONG I REMEMBER I REMEMBER I REMEMBER YOU!
Redjac’s strategy against being dislodged from Scotty’s mind was to inundate me with every plan it had, every image of the crew mangled and tortured and dead. Or mad, as mad as Redjac itself. Infected with mind disease and a thirst for terror.
I’VE WAITED FOR SO LONG TO TASTE THIS HOT REVENGE I’VE WAITED FOR SO LONG TO RIP YOU INTO SHREDJAC REDJAC REDJAC I’LL START WITH YOUR CREW I’LL MAKE YOU WATCH I’LL START WITH YOUR CREW I’LL MAKE YOU WATCH
I am glad Jim was spared the experience. It was difficult, wading through the acid sewage that corroded my shields.
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT LIKE IT LIKE IT? LIKE IT LIKE IT LOVE IT THE BLOOD THE RED OH REDJAC IS ME IN THIS BODY! JUST WAIT. JUST WAIT, THE WORST IS YET TO COME! THE WORST IS YET TO COME!
I was fortunate that Redjac was not a telepathic creature, else it would have latched into my thoughts and memories and used that to terrorize me. It feeds off emotions and attempts to harvest them from its prey, but it is not able to access that emotion directly. As Pavel said, it must induce a reaction by other means.
RING AROUND THE ROSIE POCKET FULL OF ROSIES ASHES SLASHES I REMEMBER YOU!
It is finished.
We are all alive.
THIS ONE’S A LOVELY ONE AND DING DONG THE CAPTAIN’S DEAD RAIN MAY FALL AND WIND MAY BLOW MANY MILES TO BE THE VEINS STRETCHED OUT OF HIS WRISTS CHOKE HIM WITH THE STRINGS OF HIS STOMACH!
We are all alive.
--
“Spock. Spock, open the door.”
I made no move to get up from my position.
“Damnit you green-blooded hobgoblin, I will use my override if you don’t open this door right now.”
Silence.
“I know you’re not meditating.”
I went and spoke through the terminal.
“Dr. McCoy, if you would kindly return to your duties.”
“No. M’Benga’s in Sickbay, you haven’t checked in for the psych exam. And don’t say you’re fine.”
A pause.
“I find myself reluctant to revisit the events that transpired on Argelius.”
“I know. It stings the first few minutes, but it’ll get better. Now open this door or I’ll drag you out myself.”
“You are physically incapable of doing so.”
“You’re that sure, are you? Well I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”
Of course. The hypo.
“If you are planning to administer a hypospray, I assure you it is not necessary.”
“After that neat trick you pulled in the transporter room? I’ll get back at you for that.”
A pause.
“Come on, Spock. I’ve released Nyota. Gave her the all clear to go on duty again.”
“I thank you for that notification.”
“Damnit, Spock, open the door. I feel like a fool talking to a bulkhead like this. We’re not brothers, for God’s sakes.”
I opened the bulkheads.
“Is this what brothers in Terran families do on a regular basis?”
“No,” Leonard snorted. “That’s what quarrelling couples do. Do you ever put Jim in the doghouse?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I am uncertain as to what that means.”
“You know, make him sleep on the couch if he misbehaves or forgets your birthday.”
“I am uncertain as to why failing to recall my date of birth would result in my depriving him of his bed.”
“Forget I mentioned it.”
Leonard looked at me expectantly.
“Sickbay. Psych eval,” he said.
“I do not need-”
“Don’t try and worm your way outta this one. Now get.”
--
M’Benga pursed his lips.
“You have been under a considerable amount of stress.”
“It is unavoidable in this line of work.”
“Contact with Redjac cannot have improved anything.”
“I am meditating regularly to modulate my emotional responses.”
“Yes, I can see that. You have been managing this remarkably well.”
I nodded.
“However, I will suggest that you take two shifts off. Allow Lt. Uhura and Lt. Sulu to run the ship.”
“May I ask the justification for this prescription?”
“Spock,” M’Benga looked at me evenly. “You witnessed your colleague and friend stab both your captain and your best friend dozens of time while under the influence of a psychotic alien entity. You witnessed a series of stabbings again in the courtroom, not to mention the fact that you were subjected to emotional manipulation by Hengist. You then had telepathic contact with that entity in order to remove it from Montgomery Scott’s body, fully prepared to rip yourself apart at the subatomic level should your alternative solutions fail.
“All the while, your captain and best friend were unconscious, your colleague wavering in semi-madness, and the entire crew looking to you to guide them from this psychological nightmare. You have remained acting captain in the aftermath to provide the crew with a sense of security and boost their morale-yes, we have all noticed. I assure you that you have succeeded brilliantly on both counts.
“However, now that some sense of calm is returning, you need to step back. Forgive me if I believe that merits a few shifts of rest.”
“I am-”
“-a remarkable Vulcan. Two shifts taken for the purpose to recuperation does not imply weakness. It is the rational course of action, or there will be severe consequences in the future. As we say in medicine, ‘prevention is the best cure.’”
I remained seated.
“Your logic is sound.”
“Spend some time with the captain. I noticed that neither of you has had very much time for each other. You have been preoccupied with duties and the captain is working through Leonard’s backbreaking physical therapy.”
“I will take your suggestion under consideration.”