Thorn in the Garden of Life

[losthunter]

Hunter paced his apartment, his phone in one hand, and a list of phone numbers in his other hand. He just got off the phone with Marcus, one of the six other people who had been given a gift by Kendra. And had learned that Marcus had been attacked by Austin.

Luckily, Marcus was able to get away, without any major side effects.

But Hunter was now worried about the others. And so he was making calls to everyone else who he had talked to, and warned them about Austin so they could stay safe.

And he knew it was time to face Austin again. But even though he felt like it was an emergency, Hunter knew that it would be better to make sure someone else came with him. He also knew exactly who he wanted to have by his side.

Jim. Austin attacked another person. I feel like I need to deal with this. Are you available to come with me?

Comments

[losthunter]

For a first-timer, Jim is definitely doing a decent enough job. Hunter works on his own canvas, a small smile as he can start to see that Jim is creating a night sky. He can tell when a memory takes him, since Jim just lost focus and started to stare at the canvas.

Then he started to speak softly, only his side of the conversation is heard by Hunter. He has to wonder who Jim is talking to in that memory. It sounds like it might be one from his childhood, so that at least narrows down the options.

It doesn't sound like this is a bad memory, but Hunter is prepared to take action if Jim starts reacting violently.

[boldygoing]

The memory lasts a little longer, as the two boys watch the stars above. But then Jim blinks, and the sky is just paint on canvas in front of him, his paintbrush still held loosely in his fingers, almost ready to fall.

He closes his hand around it, rescuing it from dropping onto the floor, and looks around to remind himself where he is. Not Iowa. Not outside. Hunter's place. "That was... different."

[losthunter]

Hunter moves a little closer to Jim, placing an arm on his shoulder. "You didn't seem to be upset, or angry this time."

[boldygoing]

"No," Jim agrees quietly. He hadn't expected that. "Sam and I were stargazing, a couple years before he left."

[losthunter]

"Your brother..." Hunter nods in understanding.

"You mentioned that your mother came back into your life..." Hunter is not going to mention why. Still trying to avoid flashback triggers.

"Have you heard anything from Sam?"

[boldygoing]

"No." Jim shakes his head. "He might not even be on Earth, or somewhere where they get Federation news. We were close enough that I don't think he would've stayed away, if he knew what had happened."

The other possibility is that Sam is dead. Jim would rather not assume that until he knows for sure, though.

[losthunter]

"Maybe that is something you could look into, before you leave on your mission. Just see if he is okay?" Hunter suggests.

[boldygoing]

"I don't even know where to start. The galaxy is a big place. It is very easy to disappear if you don't want to be found." Jim looks back at the canvas; he smudged the comet a little when he went into the flashback, and he starts to fix it, painting over the smudged layer.

[losthunter]

"That worries me about Austin. If he will try to disappear now..." Hunter returns to his piece. He is working on re-creating the protestors who were outside City Hall. Just trying to capture their emotions and their concerns.

[boldygoing]

Jim glances over at Hunter. "At least the cops know what he looks like. They're looking for him, and he won't be able to get the watch off anyway. He'll turn up eventually." He might not be the most reassuring person to be around right now, but maybe he can help a little, in any way he can.

[losthunter]

"I sent a message to my father, that Austin should be placed on a Most Wanted List, just in case he wants to leave the state."

Hunter wants to address what happened. But it is like walking on eggshells right now. He never knows what might trigger a flashback.

"My dad... he is a Senator candidate. That is why there were Secret Service there."

[boldygoing]

Jim doesn't know either. He knows what things can set him on edge under ordinary circumstances, and sometimes what can cause actual PTSD-style flashbacks. But this is something beyond anything he's experienced before.

"Is that some kind of special police?" he asks, just as cautiously. Cops and Jim Kirk have rarely been a good combination.

[losthunter]

"In a fashion. Secret Service protect the lives of political candidates. So they are affiliated with the national FBI organization, allowing them to carry out their duties no matter what State they might be in."

[boldygoing]

Oh, good. Politics. Something that he has very few experiences with, besides the governor that he is trying not to think about. "So they're probably going to take his safety pretty seriously."

The comet still looks a little messy, but Jim decides to call it good, turning his attention to adding details to the landscape beneath the starry sky.

[losthunter]

"That is my goal. Especially since Austin was aiming to attack him..."

Hunter pauses for a moment. "Until today... I had no idea that my dad was even running for political office."

[boldygoing]

Slowly, under Jim's brush, the darkened figures of two boys take shape in the tall grass, lying on their backs to look up at the stars. "Does that bother you?" He's not sure why it would, if Hunter and his dad don't get along, but Jim is hardly the poster child for knowing what normal family relationships are supposed to be like.

[losthunter]

"He was always the type that wanted the spotlight. A political career seems like the next step for him..." Hunter paused.

"I just don't like some of his opinions, that he might implement as law."

[boldygoing]

"How much power does a Senator have in this century?" Jim's not terribly familiar with the details of twenty-first century US politics, and though this may be treading close to dangerous territory, he can't help wanting to understand the context. "He has to be elected, right?"

[losthunter]

"Basically, every law that would impact the entire nation has to be approved by Senate first. And one of those is the contested transgender rights bill." Hunter explained. "And yes, he has to be elected. The Senate election for the State is a year away. But he is already in campaign mode."

[boldygoing]

"It's not unilateral power though, right? He has to get other people to agree to do that?"

[losthunter]

"He does. But sometimes with a charismatic personality, and judging on some of those opinions are shared right now by our President..."

Hunter shrugs. "I just hope he can learn to open his mind to new opportunities."

[boldygoing]

Right, Jim remembers Hunter telling him a little about the country's current leader. "Sounds like a political shitstorm waiting to happen. Hopefully the people who disagree with those close-minded ideas are more numerous."

[losthunter]

"One can hope..."

"But one good thing is that Senators like my dad take attacks against them very seriously." Hunter still feels like he wants to hit Austin.

[boldygoing]

Jim starts to say, "Any kind of attack should be taken seriously," before another unwanted memory is abruptly brought to the surface.

The sound of the engines descending behind him draws his attention as the room floods with red emergency lights, and he stands, turning around to face the threat. The jumpship hovers in front of the window, its phaser cannons taking aim at the officers inside.

At him.

"Clear the room!" Jim shouts, as heavy phaser fire fills the air, energy bolts sizzling past his head, showering him in shattered glass. He dives under a table, shielding his head with his hands as the screams of his fellow officers ring out in his ears, above the sounds of weapons fire.

The table topples over and he takes refuge behind it, a poor shield against the volatile energy lashing out and striking nearly every person in the room. He doesn't know where Spock is, or Pike, but there's no time to worry about that. The threat has to be stopped.

He catches a break in the fire and dashes out into the corridor, scooping up a dropped phaser rifle from the downed security team. When did they even get here? Jim hadn't noticed, but now that he's armed, he moves to get an angle on the jumpship, and the man inside it. John Harrison.

He has to be stopped.

[losthunter]

Hunter knows immediately that another memory flashback has stolen Jim away from him. And it seems to be a bad memory.

He pauses uncertainly, when Jim dives for the floor. He is shielding his head from an unseen attack. And then he moves, like he is taking cover. The result of the action ends him in the living room.

Hunter circles Jim, just to make sure that he is not endangering himself.

Then Jim makes a break for it, dashing towards the balcony exit. Luckily, Hermione has created a similar Protego shield on both doors, so Jim can't leave the apartment involuntarily. Hunter notices that Jim has picked up a large paintbrush, which might feel like a phaser in his hands.

At least he can't shoot anyone.

"Jim?" Hunter really doesn't want to lock Jim in the shower, unless absolutely necessary. "Jim, listen to my voice. Break free of the memory sweetheart..."