#leonardbonesmccoy

He dropped your gaze for a moment before looking back at you solemnly through his brows.  The look on his face was a thinly veiled mask over an expression of worry, and you were so focused on it that you jumped a little when he took your hand, giving it a quick squeeze between his thumb and fingers.

He dropped your hand as the aliens emerged from the stairs, and you felt yourself longing for more of his reassuring touch. 

You were taken into the arena again, this time the room already filled with the dark aliens, and the cacophony of sounds was deafening.  Your eyes fell instantly to the platform in the center, however, this time noting a large wooden chair on top of it, rather than the glass box. 

Your heart clenched as Leonard was dragged and pushed onto it, his arms and legs being strapped down to it. 

SNAP! The sound of Ch’al’s cane hitting the ground made you spin around and silenced the entire room.

“Welcome back, Sweet.” Ch’al’s taunting voice echoed across the arena.

Your mouth went dry and mind went blank at what to say.

“Are you going to cooperate today?  Hmmm?” He hummed. “Shall I ask you again?  I suppose I shall.  Tell me everything you know about your father.  Tell me where the Artifact is.”

You exhaled and set your jaw.  You had thought about what to say this time, wracking your brain for anything regarding your father. 

“He was an explorer.  Or at least that’s what my grandmother said when she was still alive.  She was the only one that would talk about him to me.  She said he explored the galaxies, searching for new things and new life.  I vaguely remember seeing a picture of him once in a Starfleet uniform. But that’s all I can remember.  I swear to you that’s all I know.”

Ch’al regarded you with an even gaze, and you could hear your heart pounding in your ears. 

“Where did he go?” Ch’al asked.

“Pardon?”

“When you were a child.  Where did he disappear to?”

You blinked. “I-I don’t know.  My mom picked me up from school one day and just said that he wasn’t coming home.  She wouldn’t tell me where he went.”

“So you don’t know.”

Panic started building in your chest, and your hands started trembling. “No, she never told me where he went.”

Ch’al snapped his talons.

You spun to Leonard, gasping when you saw a dark figure approach him from behind.  It was in the same shape as the aliens, but cloaked in long, dark robes from head to toe. Leonard was craning his neck to see it, but as soon as it centered behind him, his eyes squeezed closed, and he dropped his head, as if he was in pain.

“What are you doing to him?” You asked, your voice shaky.

“Maliika here is trained in the art of entering minds.” Ch’al responded. “And she may be able to add a few things or two if she feels like it.

Leonard shook his head side-to-side, as if he was trying to get water out of his ears, before he looked up to you.

“So, Sweet, you were saying your mother knows where your father went?” Ch’al sung, and you turned slowly back to him.

“I don’t know.” You said slowly, carefully. “I think she did, at one point.”

Ch’al gripped the arms of his chair tightly and snapped, “You are wasting my time.  Explain, human.”

“She-she was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 18.  It’s a… a human disease of the mind… that-that makes you see and hear things that aren’t there.  It can make you have delusions, or symptoms of depression.  Before I went to the Academy I got her placed in a psychiatric home, to have full time care.  She still recognizes me, but her attention and memory are… spotty at best.”

Ch’al seemed to consider this for a moment, though his posture stayed rigid and tense.

“I do not understand this ‘disease of the mind’.” He said flatly. “I believe you are lying.”

Then he snapped.

It was not as dramatic as before, with the water rushing into the glass chamber, but still you spun to face Leonard, who was not looking around, not with a pained expression, but with one of confusion.

“Joanna?” The name left his lips as his eyes tracked something near the large doors. “Joanna, what are you doing here?”

You frowned deeply and rubbed your hands over your face in dread.  You had no idea who Joanna was, but you knew this couldn’t be good.

“Let her go!” Leonard shouted, looking pained, his eyes fixed on a point behind you.

“Your mother must have told you where your father went.  You cannot keep that secret from a child forever.” It was Ch’al’s voice now.

“I already told you, she never did.  All I know is that he was an explorer and…”

“ENOUGH!” He yelled, snapping his fingers again.

“Jo?  You monsters! Let her go!” Leonard was the one yelling now, and you turned to see him fighting against the restraints.

“Leonard, it’s not real,” you said, stepping towards him.

His eyes tracked an invisible object and seemed to land on you.

“Y/N?” He asked, and you thought for a second maybe you had gotten through. “Answer him. Tell him the truth.  Please,” he begged. “That’s my daughter!”

Your heart dropped. “I am telling the truth. It’s not real, Leonard.”

“I don’t understand,” he said, and you could see the sweat dripping off his brow.  “Why are you doing this?” He was fighting against the restraints even harder, pure panic filling his features. “NO!” He shouted, “LET HER GO!  THAT’S MY DAUGHTER!”

“Tell me the truth and this all stops.” Ch’al’s voice cut through Leonard’s yelling. “Tell me where your father is.  Tell me where the Artifact is.”

You turned slowly to face Ch’al, keeping your voice as steady and even as you could, “I’ve told you all I know.”

“PLEASE!” Leonard yelled from behind you.

A tear inadvertently snuck down your cheek. “I would tell you if I did, because it sounds really important to you, your species, and your planet, but I don’t know where my father or the Artifact is.”

Ch’al’s dark eyes bored into yours, and you swore he smiled as snapped his fingers.

“Oh, god.” Leonard’s voice was strained.

You pinched your eyes shut for a moment as you turned around, squeezing a few more tears down your cheeks.  Leonard was staring at a spot a few feet away from you, his expression more desperate than you had seen on anyone, ever. 

“Y/N.  Please.  Stop them!”  He yelled, straining so hard against the restraints that he shook the chair. “They have a knife, oh god!  Joanna!  Let her go!  Take me instead!”

That damn near broke your heart, and had to close your eyes and look away from him.  You couldn’t watch him face whatever he was facing. 

“NOOOOOO!” A scream tore from his throat so feral and so raw that you knew he believed every second of whatever he was hallucinating. 

Leonard went quiet now, and you peeked your eyes open to see him, limp on the chair.  Head drooped down, everything about his posture defeated. 

“Take them back.” Ch’al commanded.

You heard the restraints unlatch from Leonard’s chair, and he was marched off the platform, trudging past you, escorted by guards, without glancing in your direction.

You followed, escorted by your own guards, and soon returned to the cell, void of your empty food trays and blankets, you noticed, as the guards left. 

Leonard was facing the back wall, completely rigid, not moving except for his shoulder heaving with each breath.

“Why didn’t you tell him the truth?” Leonard’s voice was low and gravely.

“I did. I told him everything I know.”

“Your lies killed my daughter.”

Oh.

“Leonard, that wasn’t real. Your daughter’s not dead.” You said carefully, staring at the spot between his shoulder blades.

“But-“ he faltered for a second, “but I saw her die.  You gave them the knife.”

“It was an illusion.  A hallucination.  Someone was in your head.”

“YOU’RE LYING!” He roared, but stayed immobile, breaths quickening.

“Please, Leonard.  You have to believe me.  If your daughter was there, I would have done everything to save her.  I would have sacrificed myself to save her.”

He didn’t move.  Stayed silent.

“Please.” You breathed, stepping up close behind him and reaching out to rest a hand on his shoulder.

Without warning he spun, knocking your hand away and shoving you to the ground, hard.  The suddenness of the landing knocked the wind out of you, but nothing hurt more than knowing that he was still in pain, still believed the hallucination.

He had stalked to the far end of the cell now, grabbing shakily onto the bars before it looked like his knees gave out and he sank to the floor.  It sounded like he was sobbing, or having a panic attack, his breath ragged, his body trembling.  He stuffed the heel of his hands into his eyes and folded over in defeat.

You wanted to comfort him, you really did, but something about him shoving you to the ground scared you.  You knew that when the mind lies it can really affect someone.  You knew it better than anyone, especially, with your mom having schizophrenia.

Leonard stayed like that for some time, folded over, defeated, but you didn’t approach him.  You tucked yourself into the opposite corner and stayed quiet.  To give him his time to process everything.

Wishing you still had that blanket, you curled into the bars, shivering at the cool contact of the metal against your skin. At some point you dozed off, in a fitful, cool sleep, filled with dark, evil creatures and little girls with Leonard’s eyes.

-Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it!- 

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added/removed):@emmkolenn @harley-with-gegs-quinn@feelmyroarrrr @jefferson-in-the-tardis@anyakinamidala@fandomheadrush@kirkaholic123@im-the-nerdiest-of-them-a11@pinkamour1588@to-pick-ourselves-up-7@starmission@destielismymothership @curiosity-killed-the-speedster@mccoymostly@yoshiepic@anotherotter@daytimemaniac@super–who–locked@sparkedupsilver @stupidhawkass @startled-seastar@dirajunara @the-space-goddess-16 @mysteriously-lost-forever @lauuerodz @kirkaholic123 @space-helen@annathewitch@releasethefreaks @bubblegum-star-trek

"Why are we here?" Leonard demanded. 

"You will come with us." The alien shouted again, and one of them stepped towards the cell with a giant key. 

"We're not going anywhere." Leonard took a step back, closing the gap between you and him and extending a hand that crossed over your front and gently touched your hip protectively. 

"You will come with us." Three aliens entered the cell and advanced towards you and Leonard. 

Leonard's grip on your hip tightened as they neared, and he stepped back, taking you with him.  They smelt of sea water and the stench of rotting plants, and it only made your panic spike. 

One of the aliens grabbed at Leonard, it’s taloned hands ripping him forwards and away from you.  In the tightness of his jaw and the stiff steps Leonard took, you could tell that he wanted to fight back, but when he flipped around in the alien's grip to face you, you could tell he'd made a decision.  To not fight back, to be docile in order not to get hurt.  And his gaze he was telling you to do the same.  

You gritted your teeth as the next alien grabbed you and held your hands to your back tightly.  

Sharp talons were digging into your upper arms as you were escorted out of the cell and through the winding stone corridors.  You climbed up several sets of wide stairs until you ended up at a large set of double doors.  They swung slowly open with loud resounding creaks as you approached, and it made you want to put your hands over your ears.  

The doors opened to a vastly large room, with towering ceilings and tall stone pillars.  It became clear as you entered that is was more of an arena, with stone stadium seats lining the room, with larger, separated seats at each far end of the stadium.  The ground was a fine gravel, almost sand, under your feet, and it made a soft crunching sound under your feet.  

A barely perceptible cool breeze brushed across your bare skin and made you shiver.  For a room with only high windows for light, it was surprisingly bright but the shadows that streaked across the room were very ominous.  

You were pushed into the center of the arena, where there was a platform in the center of the room with a large glass box sitting on top of it.  It was taller than it was wide, looking like the size of a stand-alone shower.

"Hey!"

You snapped your head around to see Leonard being shoved towards the platform.  He was trying to wrench his hands free, digging his heels into the sand, but ended up being forced up onto the platform. 

“What are you doing?  Stop!” You yelled, trying to get free yourself, but you were no match for the alien’s grip.  

Leonard was shoved into the glass box, which was quickly closed and sealed behind him, trapping him inside.  He pressed his palms against the glass before slamming a fist against it with a bang, and you could see his shoulders rising and falling with heavy breaths.  

His eyes found their way to you and he looked like he wanted to say something, and you wanted to say something too, but you had no idea what was going on.  No idea what was going to happen. 

With your attention focused on Leonard, you were distracted when two cold metal bracelets were clicked onto your wrists and you were released, arms falling separate at your sides.  

Suddenly, there was a resounding siren echoing through the room.  And without warning the empty stadium was suddenly full, the rows of empty stadium seats filled with aliens in a flash.  The echoing silence quickly turned into an uproar of screams, hoots, and hollers.  

Your heart was hammering in your chest and you felt panic and dread dripping through your system when there was a loud slam, like the bottom of a cane hitting the ground, and the entire room fell silent. 

You spun towards the sound, and you could have almost laughed.  It looked like one of those old medieval movies, where the king was sat on a throne, his guards standing at attention on either side.  The larger alien in the middle held a long staff, with a sharp golden point at the top, and had on similar armour to the rest of the aliens, except his were more ornate, a deep green and purple, with gold accents.  On his head was a line of gold that looked like a thin chain necklace draped over his forehead.  

"Welcome humans!" The alien's voice resounded, loud and echoing through the large room. His English was much smoother and easier to understand than the other alien's language. 

"I am Ch'al, the leader of this species." At that, the entire stadium erupted in applause and cheers.  

Once it died down, he continued. "You look frightened.  What ever is the matter?" 

You stared up at him, teeth clenched tightly together, feeling your knees shake slightly out of fear.  

His mouth curved into a sickening smile, sharp rows of teeth appearing behind his curled lips. "Speak, human!" He demanded, clicking his cane again, the sound resounding across the room. 

Your tongue sat thick in your mouth and you blinked heavily before forcing the words out of your mouth. "Why-why are we here?"

"Very good," he taunted. "You are here, human, because of the Artifact." He said it with such reverence that the words resounded in your brain and shook you to your core.  

What the hell was he talking about?

You curled and uncurled your fists at your side before raising your voice shakily, "What artifact?"

The entire stadium erupted in shouts of laughter, and you looked around, your breath ragged in your chest, dread soaking your nerves. 

"Oh ignorant one," Ch'al taunted, "the Artifact that was stolen from us!  The one that you came here to help us retrieve!" There was more sharp laughter, and it grated against your ear. 

"We came here to retrieve a crashed ship." You said.

"Ah yes," he grinned, "we'll just call that a 'happy accident' that brought you to us, young one."

"What do you want from us?" You shouted, and the crowd fell into a sudden silence. 

"Oh, I don't want anything from him." The alien gestured with his head towards Leonard, who was standing stoic when you looked over your shoulder at him. "I just want you."

Your heart pounded in your chest, and your palms grew sweaty. "What do you want from me?" You asked, not feeling prepared for what the answer was going to be. 

"I want information."

Well that wasn't what you were expecting. 

Ch'al looked down his nose at you, cocking his head slightly to the side before continuing. "We'll start from the beginning.”

The crowd fell into a silence again and a cool drip of sweat snuck down the back of your neck and made you shiver. 

“Tell us everything you know about your father."

Your mouth went dry.  A shiver drew down your spine. "M-my father?" You stammered, swaying slightly on your feet. 

Ch'al's gaze was even and undeterred by your fright as he waited for you to continue. 

"I barely knew my father," you gulped, "he left when I was six.  I was raised by my mother."

"Child, you test my patience." His tone had suddenly switched from taunting to icy, and the crowd started shifting excitedly in their seats. "Let me show you what happens when you test me." He clicked his talons together as you would snap your finger and there was a sudden gurgling and gushing sound. 

You spun around to follow the sound, and your heart contracted painfully in your chest.  The sound was coming from the box that Leonard was trapped in, now about a foot of water soaking Leonard's calves.  You saw true panic in his eyes as you both realized what was happening, and Leonard slammed his fist on the side of the box, shouting something that was muffled through the glass box. 

"Let him go." You demanded, spinning back to Ch'al, fury and true fear sparking in your veins. "You don't want to do this."

"I don't?" Ch'al's voice was back to taunting. "I want information, Sweet, and this is how I'm going to get it."

It was then everything seemed to swirl in slow motion as realization hit you.  This wasn't just a hostage situation.  They weren't just going to hold you and Leonard captive until you were rescued.  They wanted something.  Something you were going to have give them.  Something you didn't have.  And they were going to torture Leonard for it.  

-Thanks for reading!  I hope you liked it!-

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added/removed):@emmkolenn @harley-with-gegs-quinn@feelmyroarrrr @jefferson-in-the-tardis@anyakinamidala@fandomheadrush@kirkaholic123@im-the-nerdiest-of-them-a11@pinkamour1588@to-pick-ourselves-up-7@starmission@destielismymothership @curiosity-killed-the-speedster@mccoymostly@yoshiepic@anotherotter@daytimemaniac@super–who–locked@sparkedupsilver @stupidhawkass @startled-seastar@dirajunara @the-space-goddess-16 @mysteriously-lost-forever @lauuerodz @kirkaholic123 @space-helen @annathewitch @releasethefreaks