Stardate- Bunny's Secret
Chapter 2! I wasn't sure about making this the 2nd chapter but then I kinda planned out chapter 3 and realized that this would be a good second chapter to lead into that lol. So here we go, continuing on Ellie's life on the Enterprise, just a week in and this is her life lol. This one is inspired by the episode Dagger of the Mind. I hope y'all enjoy!
Read on ao3
Chapter 1
ALSO! Feel free to vote in the poll I have in every chapter.
I also have a coffee shop for anyone who is enjoying the story so far 😊🖖🏻☕️
Word count: 7,406
Warnings: None
Pairings: None so far
⚠️ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞. I also do not give permission to use my story in any AI platform⚠️
So far Ellie isn't paired with anyone, so who would YOU pair her with?
Done with the chapter? Who are we in favor of pairing Ellie with so far?
Kirk
Spock
McCoy
No one yet
Just wanna see the results
“You have to find that place that brings out the human in you. The soul in you.The love in you”-R.M. Drake
Life on the Enterprise had been…Something. She wasn’t sure how to explain it really. Everything was still so new to her. The Captain had shown her how to use the computers to look up anything she wanted, and she had used that to try and acquaint herself with world events, technology, heck even different species that Earth had encountered so far—so to say it was a bit overwhelming was an understatement.
”Don’t push yourself Bunny, it will take time for you to get the hang of everything, no one’s gonna judge you for not knowing everything yet” The good Doctor had told her with a sympathetic smile when she had come into sickbay asking if he had anything for a headache, one she had acquired from trying to remember everything. Bunny was the nickname he had given her, told her one day when she was racing through the halls just trying to be useful that she reminded him of one, bouncing from thing to thing. He knew she was just trying to find her place on the ship, she had told him as much, everyone had a role, she just had to find hers.
She did have a lot of questions, a lot of things confused her, heck a lot of tech confused her back home in her own time, so she wasn’t surprised that it all jumbled in her brain, and knew that if she was ever gonna be useful on the ship she would have to suck up her pride and do the one thing she hated to do…Ask for help.
She didn’t want to bother the Captain with her little questions though, and the Doctor was always busy with someone in Sickbay so she didn’t want to impose on him—So she braved the one who she wouldn’t like to upset and that intimidated her the most. She wasn't sure if it was because he wasn’t human, or if it was simply his stoic personality, but she feared annoying Mister Spock more than anyone else, even the Captain—But she was desperate. So one day she made her way to the bridge, stopping to say hi to Uhura and Sulu who were chatting away, before making her way over to the Vulcan. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and asked.
”Excuse me sir, I was wondering if I could ask you a question about something..If you’re busy that’s fine I can totally find someone e-“
”Yes Miss Jones?”
”Oh..Umm..Well” she had to remember her question quickly, honestly having expected him to just brush her off and tell her he was busy. She quickly asked her question, explaining that technology back in her time sometimes confused her so she was struggling a bit. She gave a nervous laugh, hoping to lighten the mood, but the man stayed as stoic as ever.
”It isn’t anything to be embarrassed about, we are after all, centuries ahead of the technology you are used to” He told her, before explaining it to her in a simpler manner.
”Thank you Mister spock, I think I finally understand it now” she smiled, and he gave her a nod back, she turned to leave, heading back to helping out where she could when his voice stopped her.
”Miss Jones, I sense that you don’t normally ask for help do you?”
”I..Try not to” She confessed.
”Don’t want to bother anyone with silly little questions” she shrugged.
”I wouldn't say a question to help you gain knowledge or understanding of a subject you are unfamiliar with would be considered “silly”. After all, you are now trying to accustom yourself to things that are far beyond what you are used to. If you have any other questions Miss Jones, you are more than welcome to ask” She couldn’t help but give him a small smile, she was thankful, truly, for everyone so far, especially those who knew she was in over her head and doing the best she could.
“Thank you Sir, I really appreciate that…And I have a feeling I will be taking you up on that offer” She laughed, knowing that he may have just opened a door he wasn’t prepared for with her confusion on a lot of things. He gave her a simple nod again and returned to his post, and she returned to running around the halls trying to help where she could.
The next day she had been informed by Janice that they would be stopping by Tantalus V to do a cargo exchange with the penal colony there.
“Am I correct in assuming that a penal colony is the same as it was in my time?” She asked Mister Spock as she arrived on the bridge to get the captain's signature on some reports another Yeoman asked her to get.
“Correct, though not as primitive as they once were, rehabilitation is the focus of these”
“I would like to have met Doctor Adams. Have you ever been to a penal colony since they started following his theories?” The Captain asked Dr.McCoy as they walked onto the bridge.
“A cage is a cage, Jim.” The Doctor replied gruffly
“You're behind the times, Bones. They're more like resort colonies now.” He replied as he signed the PADD Ellie held out for him.
“Taking on more Yeomens duties Miss Jones?” He asked her with a playful smile.
“Just trying to be useful sir” she replied.
“Message, Captain. Switching to speaker.” Uhura stated.
“Tantalus colony to Enterprise. We are unable to locate one of our inmates. This is a potentially violent case. Possibly hidden in the box we beamed up to you. Repeat, unable to locate one of our inmates. This is a potentially violent case.” The woman warned, causing Ellie to look at the Captain, then the Doctor, and Mister Spock before looking at the door. There was an inmate on board? A violent one? Now she really wished she had access to one of those phasers everyone else uses, at least she'd feel safer if she had one.
“Enterprise acknowledging. Stand by. Security alert three.” Captain Kirk stated, turning to Uhura.
“Security alert, condition three. All sections go to alert condition three. We may have an intruder aboard.” She stated over the intercom.
“It's alright” The Captain told Ellie when he noticed her gaze not moving from the door, her eyes met his as she nodded, though she was still concerned, she could hold her own sure, but what had this person been in the penal colony for exactly?
“Captain, section C deck fourteen, reporting trouble. Someone in an Engineering uniform.” Uhura updated
“Security control, this is the Bridge. Come in.” The Captain spoke over the speaker, but no one answered.
“I have them, Captain. Closing off deck fourteen, search in progress.” Mister Spock relayed.
“Security alert, condition three. Approximately six foot four male, early forties. Approach with caution. This man's extremely dangerous. Repeat, approach with extreme caution. Bridge out.” Uhura once again warned over the com, having received a description of the man.
“Negative in the deck area, Captain. He may have gotten out. Expanding search to adjoining sections.” Mister Spock spoke again.
“Enterprise to Tantalus colony.” The Captain spoke into the com again.
“Tantalus colony. Adams here.” A new, male voice, answered.
“Doctor Adams? This is Captain Kirk. It appears we may have an inmate of yours aboard the ship.”
“Transporter crewman found unconscious, Captain. Cargo case open and empty.” Uhura told him.
“Make that definite, Doctor. He's aboard.”
“Terribly sorry, Captain. I take all the blame. Let me repeat, he's clever as well as extremely violent. Take all possible precautions.”
“We'll keep you posted, Doctor. Kirk out.”
“Interesting. You Earth people glorify organised violence for forty centuries, but you imprison those who employ it privately.” Mister Spock mused.
“Unless they got a good reason for it, self defense and all” Ellie spoke, earning a raised brow from the Vulcan.
“Back home someone breaks into your house or comes at you to the point that you fear for your own safety, and you take action against that person, be it lethal or not, stand your ground law usually comes into effect, at least in Florida.” she shrugged, when Dr.McCoy spoke up, looking at Spock.
“And, of course, your people found an answer.”
“We disposed of emotion, Doctor. Where there is no emotion there is no motive for violence.” he replied, and she stopped looking around to look back at the man, that was why he was also so stoic? She wanted to ask him what exactly he meant by “disposed”. Did that mean he couldn't feel anything? Or did he just control them? When suddenly the door opened and in walked the man who she could only guess was the intruder as he held a phaser gun, ready to shoot.
“Where's the captain? Which one of you is the captain?” He asked, looking around, eyes wild as he scanned the room. She found herself being slowly moved behind Kirk as he stepped forward.
“I'm Captain Kirk.”
“My name is Van Gelder. I want asylum.” The man demanded, though he seemed like just saying his name brought him pain.
“At gunpoint?”
“I want your promise first, your word that you won't take me back there, to Tantalus.” He told him as he pointed the phaser at him.
“No promises. Give me the weapon.”
“No! No. No, I'm not going back! I'll disable your vessel first. You choose, Captain. I'll destroy your control panel” the man shouts, becoming more unstable, Ellie catches Mister Spock begin to move out of the corner or her eye, but she feels herself pulled back as Dr.McCoy pulls her away from any sort of line of fire. The man is so distracted by the Captain that he doesn't see Mister Spock until he's right behind him, Spock presses against the man's neck and shoulder and he immediately falls.
“How did…” her eyes looking between the man and Mister Spock.
“Vulcan nerve pinch” Dr.McCoy explained, as if that really explained anything.
“Take him to Sickbay. Reverse course. Head back for Tantalus colony.” Dr.McCoy and Mister Spock picked the man up and began walking towards the door.
“Everything ok?” The Captain asked as he sat back down, his eyes landing on her.
“Oh yeah…totally….did I mention that my life has been way more active in the past week than it has been in the past years” she laughed.
“Welcome to life on the Enterprise” He laughed as well with a head shake.
“I supposed now that the threat is contained I should get back to…anything” she spoke while holding up the PADD.
“You'll find your place on the ship, don't worry” he told her and she gave him a smile and nod before heading for the door.
“Oh and after you give that back to whichever Yeomen you got it from, why don't you stop by Sickbay, if Dr.McCoy says it's ok, I'm sure he could use some help from his Bunny” The Captain stated in a teasing tone, stopping her in her tracks, she heard the giggle from Uhura and Sulu before she turned, meeting Kirk's playful look.
“You heard that nickname huh?”
“Oh yes, though I will admit, it does fit you, hopping around from task to task”
“I have a feeling it's a name that will stick with me my whole life” she said with a slight chuckle before turning and leaving. She found the girl she had gotten the PADD from, Yeoman Williams just as she was coming out of Engineering, the young woman thanking her before continuing on to get Scotty's lunch. Ellie on the other hand, turned and made her way to Sickbay, she was a little cautious about being around the intruder, but knew that Dr.McCoy most likely had him sedated. The walk there wasn't confusing for her anymore, even if she didn't bother the good Doctor with her questions, she did grace his domain often for his company. In a way his presence felt like home, him being from the south as well, so oftentimes when she felt overwhelmed or homesick she would go to him just to talk.
“Doctor?” She asked as she entered.
“It's ok to come in Bunny” he told her as he walked over to monitor the man.
“Has he said much?” She asked, looking at the man who was currently strapped to the bed and knocked out.
“A lot, but nothing useful”
“Do you think he was down there for being deranged?”
“Whatever it is it's nothing I'm acquainted with”
“I suppose ergot fungus isn't still a thing is it?”
“Ergotism? Haven't heard of anything like that happening in the last few centuries, although…” he looked back at the man before looking at her again.
“Not exactly sure why kind of living conditions they have down there”
“Mister Spock seems to think they aren't as primitive as they used to be”
“Like I told Jim, a cage is a cage”
“True and we–” the man suddenly screaming startled them both, causing them both to rush over to him, Dr.McCoy with a hypo, Ellie simply because her legs automatically moved when the man sounded like he was in pain.
“I won't forget! I won't forget!” He yelled
“Forget what?” She asked and his eyes locked onto her.
“Who I am! They tried…Edited! Adjusted! But I won't forget!” He yelled at her before McCoy gave him the hypo, knocking the man out again.
“See what I mean, doesn't make any sense” he told her, but her eyebrows pinched as she looked at the man, her gut telling her that something was very wrong, not with the man, but with the situation. McCoy walked back to his desk to write something down in his report as she watched the man's vitals. What had he said his name was? Van Gelder? She wondered why he had been put there in the first place, what crime had he committed? Edited…Adjusted. She had believed Mister Spock when he said that penal colonies were more for rehabilitation now, but how exactly did those rehabilitation treatments go? She shivered at the thought. Her hand rested on the man's as she turned to ask the Doctor more about the colonies…But it seemed that was her mistake. The overwhelming feeling of loneliness made her dizzy, the pain, the frustration, the fear…The fear was the worst. She found herself making contact with the ground before she could even mutter a word, her world blackening as everything tried to catch up. Dang it, living alone for so long she had forgotten the lessons on shielding her mother had taught her.
She didn't remember much after that, flashes of the same dream she had been having was the only break from the darkness, the orange of the planet's surface, the mountains, the city…but the voices brought her from that place.
“Abnormal, of course, but it's not schizophrenia, tissue damage, or any condition I'm acquainted with, Jim. And you know after getting him here, it took almost a triple dose of sedative to put him under.” It was McCoy's voice, he sounded both close and far, like she was hearing him from underwater.
“Your report said he was quite talkative.” The Captain's voice spoke next
“But not very informative. He claimed one thing, then he seemed to forget, and then he'd start to claim something else, but always with just the ring of truth in it. I'd sure like to study this one, Jim.”
“Not our problem, Bones.”
“You smart, button-pushing brass hat. Wash your hands of it. Is that your system? You're both quite sure of yourselves, aren't you? Quite an expert. Take him back. Let someone else worry about him.” The man, Gelder, yelled at them.
“What did you say your name was?”
“My name? My name is Simon Van Gelder.” The man told him, suddenly sounding like he was in horrible pain, a pain she had felt.
“I was the director of, director at the Tantalus colony.”
“You see what I mean?” McCoy stated to Kirk.
“I was a graduate of, of. I was assistant to Doctor. I knew. I knew, but they've erased it.”
“That's what he told Bunny and I earlier, erased”
“Erased?” The Captain asked
“Edited, adjusted, subverted me, but I won't forget! I won't forget! You, you're so blind ignorant. You believe I belong back there, don't you? Dead or alive. Well, I won't let you take me back. I'm not going! I'll die first! Do you hear? I'm not going! No! No! No.” The man's shouts quieted and she assumed the Doctor had given him another hypo. She stirred now, her senses fully coming back as she felt strong enough to sit up on what she realized was another bed.
“Are you alright Miss Jones? Dr.McCoy said you took a bit of a fall” Kirk asked looking over at her, but it was McCoy who was suddenly at her side, steading her.
“What the hell happened?” He asked, blue eyes meeting hers. Should she tell them? Would they think she was crazy? Most people did.
“I guess I just turned too fast, got super dizzy…Guess the fall knocked me out” she lied, and from the looks on their faces, they knew…but didn't push.
”Well take it easy for a bit ok, you’re no doubt running yourself thin” The Captain told her before turning to McCoy and stating he was heading back to the bridge. Once the Captain was gone she slid off of the bed, giving a sheepish smile to the Doctor as he watched her.
”I’m fine, I promise” she reassured him, turning back to the man but keeping her distance this time.
”Nothing new?”
”Unfortunatly not, something just isn’t right about this Bunny, but I can’t put my finger on it” She knew exactly what he meant, the way the man spoke, the pain she had felt, the fear, the emptiness, it was almost like he had been…
”Brainwashed” she whispered, it suddenly dawning on her.
”what was that?”
”It’s like he’s been brainwashed, hypnotized to feel pain when he tries to talk about matters he shouldn’t”
”You’re right…Just what the hell are they doing on that colony?”
”I fear nothing good”
”come on,nothing we can do for him at the moment” McCoy told her, leading her out of Sickbay and to the Bridge to talk to Kirk.
“Yes, of course. You're certain he's all right? We've been very concerned. In the violent state he's in” She heard as she walked onto the Bridge, it seems that the Captain had contacted the colony again.
“No harm to him, sir. We thought you might enlighten us as to his condition.”
“He'd been doing some experimental work, Captain, an experimental beam we'd hoped might rehabilitate incorrigibles. Van Gelder felt he hadn't the moral right to expose another man to something he hadn't tried on his own person.” That coverup stunk worse than Annie’s barn, there was no way this man had willingly done that to himself.
“Tragedy, Doctor.”
“Jim, that doesn't quite ring true.” McCoy told the Captain quietly, catching his attention.
“Er, Doctor Adams, please stand by—Explain.”
“I don't believe him. I can't explain it, but the more I study that patient”
“You don't believe him, and you can't explain it. Bones, are you aware that in the last twenty years Doctor Adams has done more to revolutionise, to humanise prisons and the treatment of prisoners than all the rest of humanity had done in forty centuries? I've been to those penal colonies since they've begun following his methods, and they're not cages anymore.”
“Jim”
“They're clean, decent hospitals for sick minds.”
“Jim, listen! Even Bunny—“
”Miss Jones has a medical opinion on him?” The Captain asked, turning to look at her, she knew she shouldn’t take the words as a dig, Kirk was just annoyed at the Doctor, but his tone still made her wonder if she should even open her mouth…Almost.
“I’m not as far removed from a time where it wouldn’t be surprising to see someone using hypnotherapy to make someone quiet about certain subjects, Captain. The way he feels pain when he tries to talk about certain subjects, it’s like someone wrapped an electric fence around things they don’t want to let loose. Now I don’t know about here in the future with your fancy tech, but it would seem to me that there would have to be someone to put up that fence while the person is under.” She stated, knowing she was out of her element when it came to things in this time, but maybe a new viewpoint was what they needed. The Captain opened his mouth to speak when Mister Spock stepped in.
“Gentlemen, I suggest you ask Doctor Adams if he wants Van Gelder returned.” Kirk looked at him, before opening the line back up.
“Doctor Adams, regarding Van Gelder.”
“Yes, Captain. May I inquire about your patrol destinations? Are you passing near any hospital facilities superior to ours? I'd like Van Gelder to have the best possible treatment, of course.”
“Thank you, Doctor. I'll take it up with the ship's surgeon. Stand by. Well, Bones, you've got the ball. You care to recommend a better place?”
“There are no superior facilities, he knows that. But that's not the question. If something unusual is going on down there”
“An assumption, Doctor.”
“I'm required to enter any reasonable doubts into my medical log. That requires you to answer in your log. Sorry, Jim.” Kirk looked at the three people waiting on his answer before he sighed
“Doctor Adams, this is rather embarrassing. By strict interpretation of our starship regulation, I'm required to initiate an investigation of this so that a proper report”
“No need to apologise, Captain Kirk. In fact, I'd take it as a personal favour if you'd beam down and look into it yourself. I'm sure you realise we don't get too many visitors here. Oh, I, er, Captain, I would appreciate it if you could come down with a minimum staff. We're forced to limit outside contact as much as possible.”
“Affirmative, Doctor. I've visited rehab colonies before. Enterprise out.” He closed the com before looking at McCoy.
”Find me someone in your department with psychiatric and penology experience, if possible.”
“Yes, sir.” The Doctor smiled, before he turned to head off back to Sickbay.
“Shall we?” McCoy asked her as he waited at the door, she had honestly expected to have to just go back to any Yeomen duty she could find.
“I'm keeping you as a nurse for today Bunny, come on” McCoy smiled at her, causing her to laugh, though happy to be of help.
“Right away Doctor” she told him, following behind him as they went back to keep an eye on their patient.
“May I say, I'm very proud of you Doctor”
“Oh?”
“You could have easily bent to the Captain, just let him drop Mr.Gelder back at the colony and been on our way. But you were willing to follow your gut, even if it put him in a position he didn't care to be in”
“I'm a doctor Bunny, it's my job to put my patients first” he told her, though the look he gave her told her that he did appreciate her words.
“You're talking to a girl who came from a time where most doctors cared more for money than people”
“A sad thing, patients should always come first”
“And that right there is why I will say that you are a great Doctor” she smiled as they walked into the Sickbay, only to be met with the sounds of yelling again.
“I'll uh, go see if I can calm him down some while you get someone to go with the Captain” she told him before making her way over the Van Gelder once more.
“It's ok, hey hey it's ok” she told him as he thrashed about. She took a deep breath, shielding herself just like her mother taught her before she took his hand in hers. No pain this time, no loneliness or fear, good.
“Mr.Gelder my name is Ellie, I was here earlier remember?”
“...Yes…Yes I remember you”
“Good, it's ok Mr.Gelder, you're safe here on the ship I promise” she gave him a smile to reassure him and it seemed to calm him for a bit. She knew that talking about himself would only cause him to spiral again, so she decided distractions would be the best course, until Kirk came back with answers anyways.
“You know, you remind me of one of my uncles” she told him while using her free hand to dab the sweat off his forehead with a rag.
“Yup, everyone said he was eccentric, but really he just saw the world differently, I guess that's why he and I got along, he believed all the weird theories I had about the world”
“S-Sometimes they're…Not so strange”
“No, I'm learning more and more that they aren't as weird as I thought.” His eyes darted to McCoy as he stepped into the room and he immediately reverted back. She tried to calm him again but it seemed it was no use. She sighed as she let go of his hand, making her way over to the Doctor when the computer made a noise that signaled a call.
“Sickbay. Report, Doctor.”
“Van Gelder's still violently agitated, Captain.”
“And you'd prefer to keep him here until I complete my investigation anyway.”
“I believe we should, Jim.” You heard Mister Spock tell the Captain.
Oh, I'm assigning your technical aide, Captain. One of our psychiatrists does have a background in rehabilitative therapy. Doctor Noel, standing by in the transporter room now.” The Doctor told him before Kirk thanked him and signed off. He turned and she noted the small smirk on his lips.
“What are you up to?” She asked
“I'm not up to anything Darlin'”
“No no, from one southerner to another, that look said you're up to something. Come on, I promise I won't tell” She smiled, motioning like she was zipping her lips shut.
“As they said in my time, spill the tea”
“Alright, but it doesn't leave here”
“Got it”
“Doctor Noel and Jim flirted at the Christmas party”
“Oh my”
“And then Jim did what Jim does” he said with an eye roll.
“Ooo the type to not call back?”
“Mmm”
“Ouch…I mean…I feel like in a way she had to expect it right? Can a Captain even have a relationship with one of his crew? Can any higher up?”
“It's not looked upon fondly, but as long as it doesn't interfere with their work”
“So let me guess, the poor girl is still pining over our Captain”
“Oh yeah”
“And you just created the most awkward away mission in the galaxy” She laughed
“I mean…She is the only one who qualifies” he shrugged causing her to laugh again
“I guess our good Captain should hold his tongue, lest he end up in situations like this more often” She smirked. Walking back over to Van Gelder who had calmed down once more.
”I’m not a criminal” he told her
”I know sir, I believe you, I myself think you're innocent”
”I am!”
”I know Sir it’s ok, calm down”
“I'm not a criminal! I do not require neural neutraliser.”
“Neural neutraliser. Can you explain that, Doctor Van Gelder?” Mister Spock spoke while coming to stand beside her.
“A room…A device…Door..Control panel.” She looked over at Dr.McCoy who returned her look, a look that said their gut feeling was right.
“I see it. A device. A light! The light”
“This room. What happens there?” Mister Spock asked
”…Empty…It’s so…Empty…Lonely…No! No!”
”It’s ok Mr.Gelder, you’re safe here” she tried to reassure him
”Let’s hope Jim finds something out” McCoy sighed, and she looked up at the time, he was supposed to check in every four hours, with the shield down below active, all they could do was wait.
“Can you give us your present location, Captain?” Mister Spock had asked when the Captain called.
“In Doctor Adams' study, Mister Spock. Why?”
“Then you're with Doctor Adams now.’
“Affirmative.”
“Captain, Van Gelder has made reference to a particular treatment room. The term was neural neutraliser.”
”Yes. He was injured there. I've seen the room. Doctor Adams explained the mistake Van Gelder made.” Everyone went silent, knowing that it still didn’t seem to ring true, but with this Dr.Adams there, it wouldn’t be wise to say anything while he could hear.
”Go ahead, Mister Spock. Anything further?” The Captain asked, and Ellie could hear another voice say something before Kirk spoke again.
“Stand by, Mister Spock.” they waited for the go ahead, knowing now that the Doctor knew he was under suspicion.
”Doctor Adams has left with some things to attend to. What is it, Mister Spock?”
”Van Gelder is extremely agitated, Captain, and warns that you are in danger.”
They could hear another voice but it was too far away.
”Please repeat, Captain. I didn't receive that.”
“Tell McCoy the technical expert he sent along with me insists that any concern is unjustified. According to Adams, Van Gelder created his own problem.” The Captain explained, and she could have sworn she could hear the eye roll in his tone.
”He's suffering from neuro-synapse damage, as if his brain were short-circuited. It's no wonder he's having delusions.”
“McCoy here. Received and understood. But we still have some doubts up here, Captain. Can you tell us any more?”
”Like can it even be operated by one person?” She asked with a raised brow, looking back at Van Gelder.
“We can’t tell anymore at the moment, but you do bring up a good question Miss Jones”
“When do you plan to beam back up, Captain?”
“I think we'll spend the night here, Mister Spock.”
”No! No, no, no.” Van Gelder yelled and Ellie walked back to try to calm him again.
“And you will continue to check in every four hours?” Spock asked.
“ Affirmative. Kirk out.”
“No! No. No, don't let them! You must warn your captain. No! No! Don't let him stay! Don't let him stay!” Van Gelder yelled, trying desperately to warn them. Dr.McCoy grabbed another hypo, seeing how out of upset the man was getting.
”Don't! No. No. Don't hypo me. Please, don't hypo me. I'll try not to fight. I'll try. But you must listen. Warn your Captain. Doctor Adams. Doc, Doctor Adams will destroy.” He tried to explain, fighting the pain as he spoke.
“Destroy how? What?” Mister Spock asked
“Right death.” He tried again, before falling back and passing out. They all looked at each other, and her eyebrows pinched as she thought of the Captain down there with someone who may not even bat an eye about editing someone’s brain.
”Are we still throwing away my brainwashed theory?” She asked, holding the man’s hand. She watched as Mister Spock walked away, seemingly deep in thought while Dr.McCoy slightly paced the room. She sighed when she felt the man coming to again, his hand beginning to shake in hers, she hated that someone would even do this to another human being, that someone could be so cruel. She looked at the others, both of them distracted by their own thoughts and figured it was as good of a time as any, she hadn’t done this in so long, but she didn’t want him to have to get hypo’d again. Closing her eyes she let her shield down only a crack, his emotions trickling in, but she focused, pushing aside the pain, the loneliness, the emptiness, and instead pushed out her own emotions. Calm, peaceful, safe. She felt his hand still, his body slowly relaxing.
“Spock, if there's the slightest possibility it might help. “ She heard McCoy’s hushed voice say
“I've never used it on a human, Doctor.”
“If there's any way we can look into this man's mind to see if what he's seeing is real or delusion” See into his mind?
“It's a hidden, personal thing to the Vulcan people, part of our private lives.”
“Now look, Spock, Jim Kirk could be in real trouble. Will it work or not?” They went quiet for a moment before she heard them turn to approach the bed, but stopped suddenly. Her eyes opened, her shield slamming shut as she met their eyes. McCoy was giving her a confused look before he looked down at the now completely calm man on the bed, while Mister Spock simply raised a brow. She quickly let go of the man’s hand and stepped away, letting Mister Spock take her place, but not before he gave her a look that let her know that at some point in her time here on the ship, he would bring it up.
“It could be dangerous. Do you understand? It requires I make pressure changes in your nerves, your blood vessels.” He told Van Gelder, who nodded
“You must open my mind. Let me warn you and explain to you.”
“This will not affect you, Doctor McCoy, nor you Miss Jones, only the person I touch. It is not hypnosis.” Spock explained.
“We understand.’ McCoy Spoke as they watched Spock puts his hands on Gelder's face.
“You begin to feel a strange euphoria. Your body floats.” Mister Spock spoke quietly
“Yes, I begin to feel it.” Van Gelder breathed
“Open your mind. We move together. Our minds sharing the same thoughts.” Ellie watched as the man’s face seemed to almost go blank as Spock did…well she wasn’t even sure what it was called, but she knew she was witnessing something that was far beyond anything from her time that was for sure, and far beyond anything her empath traits could do.
”What is our name? Who are we?”
“We are Simon Van Gelder.”
“Doctor Adams. The neural neutraliser. What did he do to us?”
“He can reshape any mind he chooses. He used it to erase our memories, put his own thoughts there. He was surprised it took so much power. We fought him, remember? But we grew so tired, our minds so blank, so open, that any thought he placed there became our thoughts.” Ellie and McCoy looked at each other, she had been right, even though she didn’t want to be.
”Our minds so empty like a sponge, needing thoughts, begging. Empty. Loneliness. So lonely to be sitting there empty, wanting any word from him. Love.”
“Yes.”
”Hate”
”Yes”
”Live”
”Yes”
”Die”
”Yes”
”Such agony to be empty”
”Empty”
”Lonely”
”Lonely”
“So Empty”
”Empty”
”So Empty”
It had been a horrible feeling, it felt like there was nothing, like her entire being was a void, not alive, not dead, no reason to live and yet no reason to die. She had never understood when someone said they felt empty, and now she hoped she never felt it again.
”We need to get the Captain out of there” She told the Doctor, her gaze never leaving Spock and Van Gelder.
”Immediately”
”I agree” McCoy replied and stepped up to the bed to try to bring Spock out of whatever it was he was in. She watched him slowly blink, his hands moving away from Van Gelder before it was almost like he woke up, blinking again like he was coming out of a dream.
“Spock”
”…Yes Doctor”
”We need to get the Captain and Miss Noel out of there” she stated, walking up to the bed to stand beside McCoy.
”I’ll keep an eye on Mister Van Gelder” She told them.
”If he gets bad, and you need it, this is a hypo, just push this button” The Doctor explained.
”Just like a normal shot”
”Always hated shots” she spoke, but took the hypo,
"Be careful” She added as she watched the two men leave the room. She sat the hypo down on the desk, she wouldn’t be using it, she could keep him fully calm now that she had no watchers. She thought on what she had just witnessed, Mister Spock had been able to reach into his mind, and not only feel what he felt, but seemingly see what he had seen. She thought back to people in her time that claimed they could read people’s minds, most were simply scam artists, but there had been a few who actually could. She wondered if it was just an ability that only Vulcans had, and if so, were the people on Earth who had similar abilities long lost hybrids in a way? She herself came from a long line of empaths, but empaths were more common on Earth. She sighed as she once again calmed the distressed man, but this time he didn’t speak in fragments.
”Thank you”
”Of course sir”
”No…You…And your crew members…You listened…You believed…Thank you”
”My gut said that you weren’t the dishonest type” she told him with a smile, watching as he laid his head back again and drifted off. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there with him, it had felt like hours, though it may have only been thirty minutes at the least. But she turned to the door when she heard footsteps, the three men soon stepping into the Sickbay.
”Captain” She smiled while standing.
”Hello Ellie”
”Still have your mind about you I see”
“Luckily, though I’m sure Bones would say something about it being due to my skull being too thick” He told her as he stood next to her.
”In this case, be thankful for that” she laughed, letting go of Mister Van Gelder’s hand as McCoy unstrapped him, glancing at the unused hypo.
”He’s been asleep” she stated, it wasn’t a full lie after all.
”Well, I think it’s best that we get him back down there now that Doctor Adams is…out of commission” The Captain told her, and watched as she looked at him shocked.
”Nothing like that Miss Jones, the…Not so good Doctor got caught in his own chamber of horrors” he explained.
”Serves him right in my books” she muttered, helping Van Gelder sit up. She helped Dr.McCoy get him to the transporter while Kirk and Mister Spock left for the bridge.
”Thank you” Van Gelder told them once more before he was beamed away.
”Well I don’t know how you did it, keeping him calm, but I’m happy I had you as a nurse today Bunny” McCoy told her as they made their own way to the Bridge.
”Happy to help Doctor, and I guess I just have a calming presence” she shrugged, still unsure if she should tell anyone about her abilities. They reached the bridge and she watched everyone move around, McCoy going to talk to Kirk while she leaned against the railing.
“Oh, Captain, there was a message from Tantalus colony, sir.” Uhura spoke from behind her.
”It was from Van Gelder. He thought you'd like to know the treatment room had been dismantled and the equipment destroyed.” Spock relayed
”Thank you.”
“It's hard to believe that a man could die of loneliness.” McCoy shook his head.
”Not when you've sat in that room.” The Captain stated with a far off look, and she knew that even though they got him out, he must have experienced at least a taste of what Van Gelder had, she wondered if it was anything like she had felt, surly first hand was worse than a playback feeling.. She watched him blink and right himself before speaking again, falling back into his role.
”Take us out of orbit, Mister Spock. Ahead warp factor one.”
“Acknowledged, Captain. Warp factor one.” She watched the planet slowly fade away into the black of space before she turned to leave, it had been a very long day. She would file her report of the day like the other Yeomans had shown her and then get some sleep.
Almost an hour later her report was filed, a shower was taken, and her pj's were on, now to just get some sle– she stopped her path to the bed upon hearing the knock on her door. Wasn't the day over for most of the crew? Shouldn't people be in bed? She sighed but moved towards the door, slightly fumbling with the lock, when would she ever get the hang of this thing? When it suddenly opened for her, revealing Mister Spock. She swallowed, knowing that he was probably here to question her about earlier. But he simply held out a cup of tea for her. She looked down at the dark red liquid before gently taking the cup.
“Plomeek tea” he supplied before she could even ask.
“It is a Vulcan tea, while it has many medicinal properties for humans Vulcans often drink it if a mind meld has taken a toll on their physical state. I have no doubts it will do the same since you used your empathic ability so much today” her head snapped up, eyes meeting his, he knew, of course he knew.
“I..I don't-” She started to lie but knew it wouldn't do any good, he already knew, and if she was being honest with herself, she was too tired at the moment.
“Thank you, I haven't used them in a long time”
“so you are in fact aware that you have them”
“Yeah” She said in a breathless chuckle
“Yeah I've had them since I was a kid. Made school hell” She explained stepping back into her room and sitting the tea on her nightstand, Mister Spock following her unspoken invitation in.
“Couldn't play very well with other kids for fear of touching them or them touching me. I lost count of how many times I passed out at recess in elementary school” She sighed
“I never told anyone because people think it's weird, they label you as crazy if you say you can feel others emotions” She shrugged, looking up at him.
“You learned to control it”
“My mom taught me when she realized what was happening, she could do it too, so could my grandma, and her mom, went right down the line from what I know. She taught me how to “shield” as she put it, like putting a bubble of energy around yourself that keeps everything out”
“Efficient”
“I just hadn't shielded in so long, Annie was the only company I ever had, other than that…I was…alone…no need to block out other's emotions when there ain't anyone else there. So today..when I made the mistake of touching his hand the first time…” She trailed off, remembering the feelings.
“Well..you did your thing and felt them too” She gestured to him and watched him nod.
“But just like I can receive emotions I can project too”
“So you kept him calm”
“He didn't want to be hypo'd again” she shrugged while picking up the tea.
“Can't say I blame him” she added before taking a sip, she knew it wasn't anything from Earth, but if she had to relate it to Earth flavors it would be lemon; beet, honey, and the slightest hint of mint. Overall, it was delicious.
“Oh wow, that's really good” She smiled.
“I'm glad you enjoy it”
“I do…Thank you…I truly appreciate it”
“Of course, I'll let you get some rest” he told her, turning to leave but stopping at her door when she called to him.
“Can we…maybe keep this between us, at least for now, I know that people are a bit more open minded now but…I'm still trying to find my place on the ship…I don't want people thinking that if they get near me I'm gonna know their deep dark secrets”
“I understand, this conversation will stay between us”
“Thank you”
“Of course” he walked once more but stopped in her doorway, still looking out into the hall.
“Thank you, for feeling comfortable enough to tell me” and with that, he walked out, her door shutting behind him, leaving her to finish her tea and get some sleep, unsure of what the next day would have in store.
So there is chapter 2! So far I'm having a lot of fun with this story. The next chapter isn't gonna be based on an episode so it's gonna take me a bit longer to flesh out. I hope everyone is enjoying Ellie's journey so far though!
















