Sirosa

Chapter 12

Much to Spock's dismay, Mac'hla's bed was empty.
    Where had she gone?
    He worried for a moment that perhaps the young Vulcan had gone and done something rash, but upon closer inspection of her room, he realized otherwise.
    But now he was really worried.
    Mac'hla's belongings were strewn across the floor, and her normally neat bed was disheveled and spattered with green blood.
    "Computer," Spock said, "What is the current location of Lieutenant Tirok?"
    "Lieutenant Tirok is in sickbay."
    Spock bit his lip. What had she done this time?
    Spock strode into sickbay, secretly worried for his young friend.
    "Spock? What brings you here?" Nurse Chapel asked, peeking out from behind a shelf.
    "Where is Lieutenant Tirok?" He asked, looking around.
    Christine stepped out from behind the shelf, "They're sleeping. They had a rough night."
    "What happened?"
    "I'm afraid I can't tell you, Spock." she said, gently touching his arm, "Patient confidentiality."
    "May I see her? Mr. Scott and Ms. Uhura have been injured, and the Captain thinks that she and I should take the next guard."
    Christine shook her head, "He doesn't know, either..?"
    Spock raised an eyebrow, "Know what?"
    "I'm sorry, Spock. She can't." Chapel sighed.
    Spock gently pushed past her and into the recovery room. She tried to grab him, but he had already seen her.
    Mac'hla's eyes were closed as she slept but every breath she took looked as if it hurt her.
    Their face was splotched with green and their eyes were puffy, and finally, Spock noticed the finger shaped bruises around their neck.
    "Who did this?" Spock demanded.
    "Spock, I-"
    "Christine," he said, grabbing her shoulders, "Who did this?"
    She looked to the floor, "The prisoner escaped last night and went straight for her."
    Spock was momentarily filled with rage before he quickly pulled himself together.
    Mac'hla shifted and winced before opening their eyes. They coughed and whimpered almost inaudibly before sitting up.
    "Commander?" They asked hoarsely, blinking into the light of the room.
    Spock approached slowly, "Lieutenant, are you alright?"
    She blinked slowly, and Spock's attention was drawn to the burst blood vessels in her sclera that turned the whites of her eyes dark green.
    "Yes, sir, I am well." they said, absently rubbing the bruises on their neck.
    "You are injured," he stated almost firmly.
    She attempted to raise an eyebrow but all she could muster was an awkward twitch, "How very observant."
    Spock reached forward to lift their chin to see the bruises better, but they flinched away.
    He bit his lip and withdrew his hand, saddened by her fear.
    She looked at the ground, ashamed by her reaction.
    Spock decided it would only be logical to tell them why he was here.
    "Mr. Scott and Ms. Uhura are injured and unfit to guard the prisoner. The Captain has requested that you and I guard him this morning, though, given your current condition–"
    "I will be fine." she said, standing quickly and stumbling into his chest, "I am fine."
    "Lieutenant, I-"
    "Spock, I will not let him think that I am frightened." she said firmly, "If he sees my face, then perhaps he will-"
    "You have a tendency to interrupt people." he said, raising an eyebrow.
    They stared up at him, a defiant gleam shimmering in their eyes for a only split second.
    "Forgive me. I will work on it." they whispered, "I will change into my uniform and be at the armory in 15 minutes."
    Spock and Christine watched with concern as she strode from sickbay, head held high, and gleaming with confidence.
    "Why would you do this to her?" Christine asked,
    "I did not do anything." Spock said, crossing his arms, "She has chosen this. You know as well as I that once she has made up her mind, there is no changing it."