boldygoing | Big Reveals [for losthunter]

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Big Reveals [for losthunter]

Jim has been in Starfleet Medical for eight weeks before he's finally released. Which is not to say he's been cleared for duty, mind you. But he's recovered enough not to need that kind of constant medical supervision, able to take the rest of his treatment as outpatient. He has physical therapy three times a week, exercises to do at home, and of course Doctor McCoy is still keeping an eagle eye on his diet, something that annoys Jim to no end.

Of course, that's nothing compared to finding out that his Starfleet-assigned apartment is buried under the crashed bulk of the USS Vengeance.

Jim doesn't really give a shit about the apartment itself. Yeah, it was kind of nice to have his own place, but it's never been home. It was just a place to stay whenever the Enterprise was in port. And though it was more decorated than his quarters onboard the ship, it was all meaningless knickknacks, nothing with any real sentimental value.

No, he's more pissed about the fact that nobody told him until a month after he woke up from the coma.

He understands why, of course. McCoy gave him the whole spiel about stress being bad for his recovery, about not needing to worry himself about things he couldn't do anything about, that by the time this happened Jim was already dead, but it's a heavy blow to realize that the loss of life was far, far greater than he'd realized. Tens of thousands died or lost their homes. Yet Jim Kirk lives, when he has no right to be breathing, let alone leaving the hospital.

And it's hard not to be in a foul mood when he realizes that the only place he has to stay on Earth is in Iowa, at the old neglected Kirk homestead. At least it's not likely to be bugged by Section 31, and Jim spends two entire days sweeping the place for surveillance devices, and another three to get the house in order, before he's reassured enough to have visitors.

[OOC: Image links to replace broken ones below:
23rd century Iowa
Mind meld position]

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"Consider my consent given." Hunter sets down his own glass of juice. He feels a little nervous, but reminds himself to stay calm.

Spock clasps his own hands together, index fingers against one another, ordering his own thoughts. "If you are familiar with meditative techniques, it would be wise to employ them to clear your mind. If not, calm your emotions to the best of your ability. Focus your thoughts on this Nexus you speak of. I shall not attempt to probe deeper, but as I said before, I will not be able to ignore stray thoughts."

"Clear my mind..." Hunter nods in understanding. He thinks about his rose garden first, the place where he feels most at peace. Then starts to focus his mind on the Nexus. The people he has met there. The experiences he has had there. The friends made. And just tries to keep his mind focused only on that.

Spock moves slightly closer, and reaches one hand out toward Hunter, lightly touching the pads of his fingers against specific points on the other man's face. His hands aren't quite as warm as a human's would be, but it's not uncomfortably cold, just cool. "Nahp, hif-bi tu throks," he says, his voice taking on an intonation that would not be out of place in a ritualistic setting. "My mind to your mind... my thoughts to your thoughts. Our minds... one and together."

It's like being at the top of the first hill on a rollercoaster, poised in a moment in time, waiting for the inevitable plunge into chaos and mayhem. Spock's mind is like a vast desert, massive stones arranged in logical patterns, but on the horizon, a dark storm gathers, and behind it lurks a deep ocean of emotions, locked away from the desert through rigid self-control. And the desert still bears the scars of a great flood, when the ocean ripped through the desert and tore his hard-earned stoicism to shreds.

Voices swirl between them, momentary phrases and snatches of words, but nothing solid, the proper memories where they come from dismissed almost as soon as they arise. The probing presence of Spock pushes deeper into Hunter's mind, exploring the shape of it, and listening for the truth in his thoughts.

The experience of that moment in time, waiting for that inevitable plunge of chaos and mayhem is one that Hunter is surprisingly familiar with. The feeling makes him think of a young girl, with bright green eyes, where a reflection of a young man can be seen in the depths of her eyes.

Then there is the sensation of 'seeing' Spock's mind. The logical patterns appeal to Hunter's artistic side. The dark storm beyond attracts his curiosity. There is something calming about the imagery of the desert for Hunter. He imagines a rose, blooming against all odds in the desert setting.

It is that rose that invokes Hunter's first memories of the Nexus. Painting by a lake, and getting to meet Verity and Schön. Those friends who were the first people who accepted him, when he was still struggling with his changed appearance. The friends who supported him to become someone stronger.

It was in the Nexus where he met some lifelong friends. He met some amazing people like Will Kent, Loki, Matt, Han Solo, Rhys, Captain Jack, and so many more. He had experiences that one could have never imagined, like getting to fly at the Samhain ball because Verity was Tinker Bell. Or going to the beach barbecue, and getting to meet Groot, a huge tree-like creature who could only say three words in English. Or being a support to those in need, like the symbiotic alien Faris.

Of course, that young woman is still in his Nexus memories. The emotions tied to her include anger, confusion, grief, sorrow, loss. A dance at Samhain was the last time Hunter saw her, before she walked away and out of his life.

And there is a general feeling that Hunter would be lost without the Nexus. He would still be that shy and self-conscious young man. He would have not embraced the opportunity for new art creations. He would have never had the chance to design for a museum that honored the world of his best friend -- whose door was permanently closed, since her world was erased from existence. He would have never had the nerve to stand up to his father, demanding his inheritance so he could create the foundation.

Hunter would not be the man he is now... sitting in this room, without the influence of the Nexus. And the people who has met there.

And somewhere, in his memories, Kendra smiles a little. As if she had know the whole time that it was a place he needed to be.

In the meld, there is no separation of individuals, no sense of self beyond the intertwining of their thoughts. In that moment, Spock is the desert, but so is Hunter, and as Hunter creates the rose blooming in the red sand, so does Spock.

So it is Spock who experiences the memories of painting by the lake, as if he was there, feeling what Hunter felt, saying what Hunter said. His thoughts flow with the human's, exploring the depth of memories in this new part of consciousness he may access, no barriers between them. He sees the woman, the museum, the confrontation... and most importantly, he sees the truth.

But there is one more thing he must know before he withdraws, to end the meld. A memory is pulled to the surface of Spock's mind, placing Hunter in the Vulcan's shoes, standing to the side of the command chair on the bridge of the Enterprise as Jim turns to face him, and smiles, the human's face full of warmth and pride.

When Hunter becomes Spock in that moment, it only pulls forth his own memory of standing near Jim, during his tour of the Enterprise. That smile. Seeing the captain so much in his own element. The warmth.

And that leads to surface memories of the intimacy of what happened between Hunter and Jim, when their tour took them to Jim's quarters.

The emotions tied to what was experienced, and the news of Jim's comatose situation, are more than just sexual. More than just friends. It is a close bond, one that Hunter has already come to terms that it is something that he will hold tight in his heart. Something he has told Jim, but doesn't expect the other man to return. That all he wants, most of all, is for Jim to be happy.

To have that smile. That warmth on his face. It means the world to Hunter.

Spock is not embarrassed by the brief glimpses of what happened in the captain's cabin, used to the human's irrepressible sexuality by now, no matter how personal an experience such a thing would be for a Vulcan. But neither does he dwell on it, letting Hunter's feelings take their natural course.

He has his answer.

Gently, Spock disentangles their minds, separating himself from Hunter until they are two minds once more, and lowers his hand from Hunter's face. "Fascinating."

It takes a moment, as their minds disentangle, for Hunter to adjust to having his mind to his own again. He is not embarrassed either by the glimpses of intimacy, that he knows Spock has seen. He is more trying to piece together how Spock led him to that memory, and wonders why.

"You have a beautiful mind." He speaks finally. Softly.

Spock's facial expressions are no less subtle than they were before. But with echoes of the mind meld still fresh in Hunter's mind, it'll be a little easier to read the tiny changes in his body language, the small clues to his mood that Jim seems able to read so well. The Vulcan inclines his head slightly, respectfully. "I thank thee for thy thoughts." Then he turns towards the others. "Hunter and the captain's report of the Nexus is accurate."

"Son of a bitch," McCoy mutters, shaking his head. Hearing it from Spock of all people, he accepts that it's true, but it's sure as hell hard to believe it.

Uhura looks at Jim thoughtfully. "This explains a lot."

Jim shrugs a little. "I probably would've said something eventually, once I figured out how to get around the mandatory psych eval."

"It was getting a little difficult for myself to keep hiding the truth." Hunter explains softly. His eyes are a little wet, still from all the emotions invoked during the mind meld.

"One of my best friends can sense lies. It is her special ability. And I just kept thinking about how disappointed she would be in me."

"And as I got to know all of you... it just became more of a struggle. I felt that there was a possibility of friendship, but also knew that I would never be comfortable hiding the truth from new friends."

"You know that we won't always be able to return the favor, right?" McCoy points out, frowning. "Not that I don't get where you're coming from or anything."

"I am aware that you have classified information, that you can not share." Hunter shrugs his shoulders, slightly. "Besides, I wouldn't understand anything that has to do with technology or programs that I am unfamiliar with."

"I am not going to judge you, based on that. It is part of your jobs."

"That's actually also part of why I wanted us to talk about this, away from Starfleet," Jim tells the group as a whole. "Access to the Nexus in the wrong hands could be a nightmare."

"Thirty-One," Uhura says, nodding a little. If Jim had not mentioned Section 31 to Hunter, he would have no idea what she was referring to, besides just a number.

Spock raises an eyebrow, maybe a little impressed with the captain's forethought. He's not exactly known for it, after all. "Such knowledge could indeed be dangerous."

Hunter doesn't understand the 31 reference. But he doesn't ask for clarification either. He figures it must be another one of those classified information items.

"Since both Jim and I have access to a Nexus-style communicator... that is actually how you first messaged me." Hunter mentions to Spock. "So it is important to make sure no one gets their hands on Jim's communicator."

"I had wondered why I was unable to send you a message using any other communicator," Spock muses out loud. "Captain, may I examine the device?"

Jim winces a little. "Much as I'd honestly love to know how the hell it works, I don't think that's a good idea. Even if you keep notes in your head, you're not immune to other telepaths, and not everybody's as courteous as Vulcans about it. Until we know how much of Thirty-One is left, we'd better keep it under wraps." He nods towards Hunter. "I don't think anyone'll be able to duplicate the whole magic thing, so that should be safe for study."

Hunter looks around the room, there is not any artwork around the living room that he could use as an example.

"I think even demonstrating with my own tattoos would be a good enough example."

And after considering the best option for a demonstration, Hunter stands for a moment. "I am going to remove my shirt... just a second."

He had decided on removing his shirt, since the biggest section of his tattoos is right on his chest. A heart-shaped cluster of tattoos.

"Now remember, that these are all just ink on my skin, ordinarily..." Hunter tells them all. Then he places his left hand lightly at the edge of the heart-shaped tattoo. He closes his eyes, concentrating on the magic within him. And within seconds, the heart-shaped tattoo starts to beat. Slowly at first. But soon, it is beating like a regular human heart would.

"Taking off- my god, Jim, no wonder you like this fella," McCoy snarks to Jim, who just grins back at him. Having his sex drive put on hold certainly doesn't mean the captain can't appreciate the beauty that is a shirtless Hunter.

Spock watches with calm, scientific fascination. Uhura leans forward in her seat, paying rapt attention to the motion of the ink on his skin. "Animate tattoos. That's pretty cool," she says.

Edited 2017-05-31 15:52 (UTC)

"My tuning myself to the magic, I can also animate pictures. I can make a painting come to life..." As Hunter continues to focus on animate the heart-shaped tattoo, there is a burst of color on the rose-bush on his left forearm. As several roses bloom to life for a moment.

Jim remembers Hunter working on animating paintings, before Khan made his move and sent everyone's lives to hell. Two months is more than enough time to get the hang of it, but Jim hadn't been aware he'd had the time to work on it. "You got it working?"

"For a couple of minutes... ten at the most" Just like he can only make the heart-shaped tattoo on his chest beat for a couple of minutes, before he feels drained and must stop. "It is a little emotionally exhausting. But I am just starting to practice and train myself further."

"I really don't have anyone to teach me..."

Spock tilts his head slightly, an expression of curiosity and mild puzzlement. "Are there not others who might assist you?"

"If there is any place where I could find such a person, it will be the Nexus. And I have had dear friends offer their support." That had been one of the memories of the Nexus that Hunter had shared. When both Jim and Verity had visited with Hunter, after his first display of his abilities. And of course, the constant support of Schön would have been remembered.

"I also get the feeling that Kendra was not the only one with those powers. So who knows... I could find a door that leads to her past. Her people."

McCoy shakes his head a little. "Sorry but this is doin' my head in. Doors to other universes that pop up outta nowhere, living tattoos, some kinda... transdimensional communicators..."

"Is it really that much stranger than time travel through artificial black holes?" Jim points out. "Not to mention the part where I'm not dead right now."

McCoy visibly flinches, and he folds his arms across his chest defensively, uncomfortable. "That's a low blow, Jim."

"But still true," Jim answers. "I don't get how it works either. But it is real."

Hunter takes the opportunity to put his shirt back on, a small frown on his face when Jim talks about his own near-death experience.

"I know people who live in the Nexus. It is the only place for them to go."

"As unusual as it sounds... it is a safe environment."

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