[ He is rooted to the spot, like his feet have suddenly turned to lead, and he feels sick. He doesn't move until there's Spock's hand on his shoulder, guiding and steering him along toward the shuttle to take them out to the colonies which malfunctioned.
It couldn't be him. It couldn't. They found his body burned beyond recognition in the governor's mansion. It's his imagination getting the better of him. But that voice. ]
I thought I---[ You look at me, Jim. You have to run, do you understand me? He has to visibly swallow past the bile threatening to choke him at the unbidden memory that swarms up to drag him down. ]---No. I don't know them.
I'm sorry I folded back there. Won't happen again. When we get on board can I see the PADD with all the officials information on it? I want to review it again.
[ Which he does on the trip out. Again. Again, but only ever scrutinizing Karidian's face. Only ever poring over it, and trying to match the face in his memory to the old, haggard man on the page. He brings up other data files. Tarsus IV. Survivor list. Himself. Thomas. Wait, Riley? ]
Mr. Spock, has Kevin Riley been down on the planet assissting in the relief efforts that you know of?
[ Listed as a person of interest in the attack. Jim knows why. It's the same reason he and Thomas are listed as such. They saw Kodos's face. They heard his speech condemning them all to death. If he saw Karidian---would he think what Jim does now? ]
no subject
It couldn't be him. It couldn't. They found his body burned beyond recognition in the governor's mansion. It's his imagination getting the better of him. But that voice. ]
I thought I---[ You look at me, Jim. You have to run, do you understand me? He has to visibly swallow past the bile threatening to choke him at the unbidden memory that swarms up to drag him down. ]---No. I don't know them.
I'm sorry I folded back there. Won't happen again. When we get on board can I see the PADD with all the officials information on it? I want to review it again.
[ Which he does on the trip out. Again. Again, but only ever scrutinizing Karidian's face. Only ever poring over it, and trying to match the face in his memory to the old, haggard man on the page. He brings up other data files. Tarsus IV. Survivor list. Himself. Thomas. Wait, Riley? ]
Mr. Spock, has Kevin Riley been down on the planet assissting in the relief efforts that you know of?
[ Listed as a person of interest in the attack. Jim knows why. It's the same reason he and Thomas are listed as such. They saw Kodos's face. They heard his speech condemning them all to death. If he saw Karidian---would he think what Jim does now? ]