ACTION [ota]

[vulcanyounot]

[Spock has devoted pretty much all of his free time since his arrival a few weeks ago to the Genessia Scientific Research Foundation in an attempt to learn more about the world that they’re all trapped on, hoping that a deeper understanding will help facilitate figuring out how to get off this rock. And while he trusts his peers’ work, there is nothing better than a first hand account. Which is how he found himself approaching the barrier. He hasn’t seen it for himself; maybe he can spot something that was previously missed. He’s been fully warned not to touch it, but a close look certainly can’t hurt, right?

Wrong.

He’s still a hundred feet away from the barrier when he feels it hit him: a wall of emotions unlike anything he’s ever felt. He can’t even make one out above the other, it’s just too much too much too much. Through the sensation his mind is racing. He’s not touching the barrier, nor was he trying to use any sort of telepathy when the sensation struck. It’s only been about three seconds and his mind feels as if it’s about to explode; this is far more intense than any meld he’s done before. His logic dictates him with one final thought before the surge overwhelms him and he crumbles to the ground: they were wrong about the barrier’s reach.]

((ooc: Spock has passed out his first month here this has to be some sort of record and will awaken in the hospital in a few hours! Feel free to visit him there to make sure he’s okay, or berate him for being an idiot.))

Comments

[dammit_imadoctor]

[While Spock had been doing research, McCoy had been using the time since their arrival for his own use. Namely - getting himself set up in the local hospital in Genessia with some cobbled together supplies from Nova City that got to at least some approximation of his Tricorder - albeit without the database access. It meant he was on his own, but not quite in the dark ages. It worked for him.

What worked even better was that somehow, Jim hadn't been admitted yet. That was almost suspicious, really, but a relief nonetheless.

So of course, of course he catches sight of Spock being brought in, out cold.

It would be a lie to say he hadn't bullied away the nurses around him and informed them that was his patient, pointedly telling them not to touch him. He hadn't seen anything that screamed these people knew Vulcan anatomy and consideration from the broad side of a barn.

He had just brushed up not too long ago, while they were waiting for their new ship - makinga few very long distance phone calls. Spock was a pain in the ass sometimes, but after the field surgery he'd had to do like hell McCoy was going to be responsible for losing him.

So he was left with checking his vitals, making sure that all he really was was unconscious.

Then he sent Jim a message, sat down with the list of ingredients in Nova City's patches, and watching Spock out of the corner of his eye, waited.

He was on his feet though, the moment there was a sign of life.]

You know, I expect this kind of thing from Jim. [McCoy greeted him with, scowling even as he was getting to work checking his eyes, their focus. Even if he still didn't know quite what happened.

The damn pointy-eared bastard had scared him, at least for a minute, and he had no intention of letting him off easy for it.]

[vulcanyounot]

[Spock is all too familiar with the scent of an infirmary. He’s not sure what he’s doing there, but he can only conclude that he must have passed out at some point when he was near the barrier and had been brought here. He only had the briefest of seconds to wonder if the people here even knew anything about vulcans when he hears McCoy. He was in good hands, then. Very irritated hands, but good nonetheless. He obediently lets his friend examine him, knowing there’s no getting out of here until he can see for himself that he’s fine.]

Apologies, doctor. Next time I plan on waking into a supposedly safe area I will request Jim to go in my stead so that you will not be disappointed.

[The snark alone should tell you he’s fine.]

[dammit_imadoctor]

[As good of a sign as the snark and the actual results are, McCoy still answers it with what could almost be a growl.]

You know damn well that's not what I mean, Spock. And you're the one who's usually all for how superior Vulcans are. So you want to tell me what the hell you were doing? I don't buy you just went for a stroll.

[He crosses his arms - it's obvious that he's not going to be letting Spock move a muscle until he's got some answers.]

[vulcanyounot]

[ Oh yeah, he's in trouble. He'd be almost sheepish if he had done any of this remotely intently. ]

You are correct in your presumptions, however I did not intend for any negative consequences. I went to observe the barrier that is keeping us here. I had been informed that it was harmless unless touched, however I began to experience the effects of it when I was no less than ninety eight feet away.

[ See Bones? Totally not his fault. ]

This likely means that the barrier's radial area of effect has increased drastically over a short period of time, however more study is required to conclude this finding.

[dammit_imadoctor]

[Yes, yes he is.]

And I'm sure Jim knows all about what you were planning, right?

[It was slightly petty, but McCoy rolled his eyes as he brought that little point up.]

In the meantime, you missed something. Whoever you've been getting your information from doesn't keep it very up to date. Unless it just doesn't like you - if that's the case I can't blame it.

[koishi_komeiji]

And when he opened his eyes he would see a pair of glowing green ones and an adorable pouting face inches from his own. It was Koishi. Again.

"Oh good! You're awake Mister! I was worried." She floated up, doing a little roll in air to straighten herself out. "You got too close to the barrier so you got knocked out. You need to be more careful." A pause. "What happened though? Your head is full of wrinkle blocks and cubes all off kilter. That isn't anything like your head before."

But first. There was something more important to worry about. "I brought you something to help you feel better!" And placed an entire box of varied cookies on his chest.

She means well, Spock. She really does.

[dammit_imadoctor]

[The day, McCoy thought, could have been worse. He didn't think it seriously though. Spock was sleeping again, and he'd been taking care of a few of his other responsibilities, poking his head in when he passed and things weren't too urgent.

That was when he saw something bobbing in the window.

He was in, a moment later, looking at something on Spock's chest and more importantly a girl hovering nearby. It was starting to become some kind of epidemic.]

Who let you in here? This is a damn hospital, not a zoo. And what's this? [He moved, reaching for the cookies.]

[vulcanyounot]

[ Spock's only barely aware of his surroundings when he noticed Koishi staring at him at point blank range and flinched slightly. This was... far from ideal. He's not sure how she even found out he was here. He's still reeling a little and her talk about wrinkle blocks and cubes made no logical sense and what was even happening.

And then there were cookies on his chest. ]

I... [ Start with what you know, Spock. ]The barrier is only supposed to affect you if you touch it.

[ He's still staring at the cookies because how can cookies possibly help him recover? He was pretty sure the diabetic nightmares would not be as effective as rest and meditation. He's not really sure of what to make of them.

But before he can ponder on that more, McCoy is there, and he's never been so grateful to see the man in his life. Except maybe that one time when he was impaled with debris since he's pretty sure no one else on the ship would have been able to help him survive that adventure.

He looks at McCoy, eyes just slightly wider than normal - he's still a little flustered from this whole ordeal. ]

I believe those are cookies, Doctor.

[koishi_komeiji]

Kosihi looked up at McCoy, blinking, her third eye swaying a bit from side to side. "Oh... Hello there!" She wasn't really bothering to keep her voice down. At least she seemed friendly enough. Though she did give his hand a sharp little tap as he reached for the cookies.

"Yes they're cookies. But mister gets one first because he's the one in the sick bed in the doctor building. You can have one after." It was a gentle scolding. At least the cookies appeared to be store-bought and the seal on the packaging was unbroken. So she clearly didn't tamper with them.

Koishi then turned back to Spock, backing off a short distance and shifting back in the air. At least she was out of his face now. "The barrier though... I dunno. I haven't been over there in a really long time. I used to get close to it all the time since it's really shiny and interesting but after the incident I've been careful."

"At least one snow ago, maybe two, the barrier cracked apart and lots of scary things came through it. They would grab people and devour their emotions which is really hard for humans since humans rely on their emotions a lot." She didn't have to tell Spock this though.

"A lot of people evacuated but I helped out and fought the things because I don't have emotions of my own. I have to borrow them from other people if I want to feel anything. So they weren't all that interested in me but its still better not to risk provoking them I think. I've seen what happens when monsters are provoked." She had first hand experience in that regard.

[dammit_imadoctor]

[McCoy glared when she tapped his hand, but gripped the container of cookies anyway. He had no interest in opening it, and he simply held the package aloft, expression challenging.]

He's not a table. [He snapped at her, less gently than she had before turning his attention to Spock.]

Do you want these? Do you even know her?

[He was ignoring the floating like he was ignoring the third eye. Once this was dealt with, well, he could go back to giving Spock a hard time. His gaze tore over to her once more.]

You still didn't answer my question - and keep your voice down.

[k2so]

Kay doesn't go near the barriers on principle. He's not a scientist and they don't interest him much. Besides, he isn't too worried about finding ways to leave this world. He has no place to, only death waits for him outside the cities. And so, it's unusual for him to wander near the barriers, yet he has been walking close enough that he spotted the man lying on the ground.

One of the new arrivals, no doubt, and one Kay recognizes. He approaches him quickly, kneeling on the ground to check the Vulcan's for vitals when two things happen at once. One, his processor goes haywire, his HUD sending warning message in the span of milliseconds. Two, and more alarming, there's a flood of mixed thoughts and feelings starting to pile at an alarming rate in his mind. Another second ticks away, his processor keeps hurling warnings at him and Kay's body reacts when his mind can not.

A metal hand reaches out to grab onto Spock's arm and, rather unceremoniously, pulls him towards Kay's chest. The droid lift the unconscious man and moves away from the spot where he was lying down as fast as his legs would take him. He has pretty long legs, it takes him only two more seconds to put a reasonable distance. The warning messages are dying down but his processor still feels like screaming at the raw emotions it had to deal with in such short time. Kay doesn't know what happened but he's not staying there to figure it out. Optics flickering as he walks, he looks down at Spock.

"Can you hear me?"

No answer comes, which isn't particularly surprising. Kay shakes his head, focuses on his surroundings and then turns towards the East, heading to Genessia hospital. He's lucky enough to find another familiar face once he gets there, one that even Spock would recognize if he were awake.

When McCoy and the nurses take Spock away, Kay is left alone with his own thoughts. The memory of what happened, of the sensations running amok in his mind and the certainty that a lot of them had to do with Cassian, make the droid's mood sour. Instead of leaving, he decides to stay and wait until he knows for sure that commander Spock will be all right.

[vulcanyounot]

When Spock finally awakens a few hours later, Kay’s face is one of the last he expects to see. He’d only spoken with the droid briefly before. Still, it is comforting to find someone at his bedside. Not that he’d ever admit it.

He lets his mind catch up to him. Barrier. Emotional overload. Hospital. Right, that all made sense. But how did Kay play into the equation, and furthermore, how did he know Spock was there?

“Greetings K-2SO. Is there something I can help you with?”

[k2so]

Kay is good at keeping quiet and waiting while injured people rest, he's done it plenty of times before with Cassian. He doesn't exactly enjoy it but it gives him time to think. Maybe that's exactly why he doesn't enjoy the quiet.

Head tilting towards Spock when the man moves, Kay runs a quick scan and determines that the man is not in danger of passing out again.

"A curious thing to ask when you are the one in a hospital bed. How do you feel?"

[vulcanyounot]

Don't worry, Kay; he's passed out enough for one day.

Is it really that strange? Because Spock really cannot figure out what Kay is doing there. He gives a slight nod at his question. "I am satisfactory. I am uncertain as to the reason why you are here, though." The only explanation that he can come up with is that there's a bug in Kay's programming, but the hospital likely wasn't the place to go to take care of that. But different worlds, so maybe it was.

[k2so]

A small relief.

Kay also doesn't understand why Spock seems so disconcerted at finding someone by his side when he's been hurt.

"I don't suppose you take naps on the ground in a daily basis, so when I saw you passed out I figured it would be a good idea to bring you here. And then I stayed because I wanted to know if you were all right."

[aurabble]

[There's a soft knock on the doorframe before Jaune lets himself in. He hates hospitals. Labs such as the one Ed works in aren't so bad, but when it comes to actual patient areas, the atmosphere seems to change entirely. But when he heard about someone who suspiciously resembled the new scientist guy passing out, he felt compelled to see for himself. He couldn't visit immediately, with both his jobs. He doesn't know Spock well. At all. But he has that whole quiet intellectual vibe that makes him think he's the last person to try something stupid.

Guess he was wrong.]

I heard about a tall guy with a bowl-cut passing out near the barrier. You okay? Besides being in here.

[vulcanyounot]

[Spock had been making notes on his experience when Jaune knocked on his door. He was one of the last people Spock expected to see visit him. McCoy and Kirk were givens, but he didn’t know Jaune very well yet. He taps the screen a few more times before putting it down, not wanting to be rude. He gives the blond a nod as he approaches the bed.]

I am satisfactory. I believe that everything is normal, however Doctor McCoy has yet to release me as we are not one hundred percent sure as to the nature of the attack. I was informed that the barrier only affected those who touch it, yet I was still 98 feet away when I experienced the emotional feedback which rendered me unconscious.

[He did not "pass out" excuse you.]

[aurabble]

That's good. [Jaune doesn't care about being rude he'd eat chips in front of Spock if he had any but he doesn't. He finds a chair, probably uncomfortable, to sit in.]

But yeah, that's pretty far to faint like that. [You wanna go Spock he'll use faint instead.] What makes you think it was an attack?

[vulcanyounot]

[He was rendered unconscious you jerk]

The barrier emitted a torrent of emotions directly into my psyche. The effects were unwarranted; and, as you stated, I should not have experienced anything at such a distance. So either it has now gained the ability to target individuals, or its reach has extended drastically. Since I seem to be the first person to have this experience it is too early to conclude anything.

[There's also the slight chance that this has to do with him being a telepath, but that was almost entirely a touch-based power, so it was quite unlikely.]

[aurabble]

[Poor Spock fainted. :) And the chivalrous McCoy had to save his ass.]

Do you remember the general area you were in when you planned to approach the Barrier? We should have a team check it out and see if it happens again.

[james_tiberius]

[Bones had called, before, and told Jim that Spock was in the hospital. He wasn't exactly sure what to expect - the experiences he had of his crew being sent to the medbay were usually catastrophic, but Spock looks okay when he gets there. Which is a huge relief; Jim had been pretty worried. As it was, he smiled at Spock from the doorway.]

Hey, Spock. What did you do to end up here?

[vulcanyounot]

[Spock looks up from his phone when his captain calls his name.]

Hello, Jim. I went to investigate the barrier which is keeping us here but began to feel the effects of it from a supposedly safe distance. K-2SO brought me here when I was rendered unconscious.

[End report. Now to make sure he doesn't do anything dumb.]

I advise against going near the barrier; the reports from the Genessia Scientific Research Foundation believed it would only affect you upon physical contact, however I was approximately ninety eight feet away from it at the time.

[james_tiberius]

[Jim does his level best not to look as amused and exasperated by Spock's nonchalant explanation as he feels, but he's pretty sure he doesn't succeed.]

Well, I guess that's good to know, but did you have to find out face-first? [Yes, what are you talking about, of course Jim has double standards with these things. He's the captain, it's practically his job.] You okay?

[vulcanyounot]

[ Spock, to his credit, does not comment on how Jim clearly isn't taking this seriously enough since he's smiling. Look at him, learning. ]

I was unaware that I was putting myself at risk; the provided information about the barrier is not up to date. [It wasn't his fault this time.]

[Spock gives a slight nod.] Doctor McCoy has assured me that all scans are normal, however he is adamant that I remain here instead of continuing my research. [Jim help.]

[james_tiberius]

[The fact that Spock didn't intend to wind up in the hospital is a small relief at least. Still.]

Well, if Bones thinks you should stay here.. he's the doctor. [And if it were Jim in the hospital bed, that wouldn't matter, but it's not, and did we mention how double standards work?] And next time you go out to research the boundaries, you should bring someone with you.