video & text; un: majortom

[winscenario]

[ The video starts without words, or introductions. What people can see of it, Jim is in a dark room, cold and almost cavernous, no windows to let any light in. Paint is peeling off the walls, and furniture is scant, what little of it is there falling apart and thrown across the dark, blood-stained floor. There are chains, needles and ropes surrounding a table in the middle of the room, but none of it is quite as scary as the figure lying down across the tabletop, seeming like a human strapped to the table. It's eerily still now, but from the wild look in Finn's eyes, standing some good feet away from the table, that probably wasn't always the case. ]

We can't get it out of here, are you insane?! We can't—

[ Finn's voice is quiet but panicked, and silenced by Spock's swift and quiet interruption. ]

We will need to be swift and careful if we do not wish to be seen. It will not be long before someone comes back—

[ And there is Finn's voice, panicking yet again. ] Are you crazy?! No, I— no!

Captain, [ Spock interrupts again. ] I suggest that we do this now, if we do not wish to be discovered.

[ Jim huffs from behind the camera, taking a deep breath. ]

Alright. Let's get to it.

[ Finn's eyes widen impossibly, seen even in the dark of the room, but before he gets to say anything, the feed cuts.

Along with the video shared, there is also a text post. ]

This is a room in the Remembrance headquarters. It's kept locked at all times, with strange noises coming from it on occasion, and we decided to investigate. We had the key all along to open it, thanks to the work of another group among our own.

This what it looked like on the inside. We didn't have a lot of time to explore, but there was definitely something wrong in there. Blood, signs of torture, a broken dollhouse. An overall sense of stillness and dread.

The mannequin on the table was moving, before I shot that video. It tried to grab our throats as we picked it up. We brought it with us anyway, but we have it locked up in a room right now. It's not moving for the time being. We're not sure how to proceed from here on out, so I'll take any suggestions.

I also got my hands on a music box. The song from it was warped, and the room itself reacted strangely to it. Finn could sense something strange from it. If anyone here is sensitive to supernatural things, I could show you. It might prove useful.

We didn't have a lot of time to explore the room otherwise. A few minutes in there at best, but we didn't want to get caught, and we really wanted to get those things out of there. So we kind of had to rush. If anyone else is able to get in there and have a better look, explore more of it, I think we might be onto something.

Study the walls. there was something wrong with them.

Comments

[biomed]

I know, I know.

( it's a mild kind of acknowledgement, not placating, but not not tweaking him a bit, either. old habit, etc.

have a non-answer: )

Uneasy.

[winscenario]

[ There's a soft breath, not quite a sigh, a silence that lasts a few seconds. ]

That's not really much of an answer, Bones.

[ And definitely not what he was asking for. ]

[biomed]

I ran a fever this morning, but it broke before noon, and I slept decent last night.

No other symptoms.

( Yet. )

...I need to speak with you about somethin'.

[winscenario]

Thank you.

[ For being honest about it. Jim understands the instinct to keep to himself the worst of it, but he doesn't want Bones to do that. ]

In person? I can go in there.

[biomed]

Only if you feel comfortable.

( he makes a mirthless little noise, low in his throat. )

Gotta have a little privacy sometime.

[winscenario]

Of course. I'll be there in a bit.

[ And true to word, it takes him a minute or so to step through the door to Bones's room, where they've managed to put together some temporary isolation ward. It's not perfect, but it'll have to do until they can think of a better solution. ]

[biomed]

( Bones turns around in his seat at the workbench where he has his makeshift laboratory set up, courtesy of Spock, Number One, and Jim's efforts, and drops the little amulet linking him to the network. He looks... normal, actually. Tired, as if he's come off a cram session at the library, but by all appearances untouched.

He'd also like to launch himself at Jim, but even as his tricorder's not chirping any alarm that would indicate danger, he stays put. )

The Commander had an idea last week... I wanted to run it by you first.

[winscenario]

[ There's always a moment's pause when he comes into the room, but at least he doesn't linger awkwardly, and he manages to push down any emotion that comes even close to welling up. Bones is still fine, they'll work something out before it gets serious. They always do.

He pulls up a chair instead, as close to the barrier dividing them as he can, and takes a seat there. ]

Number One? [ Of course, because this Spock isn't a Commander yet. Anyway. ] Sure, let's hear it.

[biomed]

She wants to try letting herself get infected. And I'm feelin crazy enough to let her.

( Bones holds a hand up to forestall any protest as he shuffles seats closer to the barrier. )

There's a chance her immune response will provoke one in me, too. She said it happened before, in her own universe.

[winscenario]

[ Jim opens his mouth, probably to say what Bones expects to hear, but he holds off until he hears all he has to say. It doesn't change his opinion on the matter, though. ]

That's a bad idea. Bones, even with her immune system, she might get infected. Worse yet, that very immune system could mean that whatever cure you come up with for yourself might not work on her.