for ZEX

[bornsnarky]

[scowling at the communicator]

Yeah, but what the hell happened to him? You could give me a little more-

[Jim barks something curt about not having time and you'll just have to deal with it, Bones]

Oh, great. Just great. Guess I better get ready for anything from the Antares Two-step to Denobulan Mudfever.

Comments

[zexyandiknowit]

[Silent, for a long moment, gathering his thoughts]

Slave ships were a common thing, when I was serving in the Armada.

[bornsnarky]

[voice rough with rage/protectiveness]

You've had some experience?

[zexyandiknowit]

Yes.

I was banned from raiding slave ships after an incident similar to this one.

[bornsnarky]

[expression hardening, empathy for you but also fear/anger for you, you don't normally lose control like this]

What pisses you off so much about slavers?

[zexyandiknowit]

...

Initially, I had honorable reasons. Now, I believe it is that they remind me of the Druuge, the slavers of my home galaxy, and the... the deals I struck with them for the betterment of the Armada.

It is most likely guilt. Guilt and rage. I have been able to quell neither.

[bornsnarky]

...oh.

Oh, fuck.

You do realise beating people up doesn't generally help with either of those?

[as close to snapping at you as I get, but it's out of concern]

[zexyandiknowit]

I do.

[bornsnarky]

[...that takes the wind out of my sails]

[quietly, cupping your cheek for an instant then going back to work] Then what the hell did you think you were doing?

[zexyandiknowit]

...

I was not thinking. I saw the bodies of innocents on the floor, their arms still locked behind them in irons, and I ceased all thought.

When thought returned, the slavers were on the floor and the other members of my party were restraining me to the best of their ability. Eventually, I let them do so.

[bornsnarky]

[freezing as I bandage your shoulder, cursing under my breath]

Hell. Okay.

Poor bastards.

[zexyandiknowit]

...It is odd, I know, for a man with military experience to be so affected by unrighteous death.

[bornsnarky]

[tersely] There's death and there's death.

If you were completely unaffected by something like that, I'd have to take you off duty.

[and I wouldn't want to know someone who was completely unaffected by something that goddamn horrible]

[zexyandiknowit]

[Sort of nods, thinking]

[bornsnarky]

To be made so powerless like that...



[not sure if I mean the slaves or you, possibly both]

[zexyandiknowit]

It is unacceptable.

[Also possibly meaning both.]

[bornsnarky]

So.

What do we do about it?

[zexyandiknowit]

[Blinks and actually looks at McCoy]

[bornsnarky]

Oh, I know we can't magically stop slavery. But maybe there's something we can do, somewhere.

[zexyandiknowit]

...

There is information--they have information caches they have yet to purge that link them to the Druuge. Though they are immoral, they are not criminals, and the loss of so much sentient cargo goes against many of the Druuge bylaws.

We could stop these specific traders from working ever again, even beyond prison. And we could track their suppliers relatively easily.

[bornsnarky]

[easing a little now you're not quite so dazed and closed off and angry]

Good. I'll help if I can. We should get as much data as we can to Jim and Spock as soon as possible.

[zexyandiknowit]

I have planted a Leech. It should update shortly and remotely.

[bornsnarky]

[casual, wondering if your back will ever start getting better]

A leech?

[zexyandiknowit]

It is a type of spying device from my people. I have several. They have been cleared by the Federation for field use.

[bornsnarky]

Good idea.

[finishing up working on you, frowning at the poisonous spines]

What do these need? I can scan you, of course, and let the computer figure something out. But I'd prefer it if you told me, if you know.

[zexyandiknowit]

...

I know.