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Jimin sighed in contentment, eyes closed as he reclined against the almost-too-hot packed sand, the blue sky nearly blinding in its intensity, even behind his eyelids. The warmth soothed the tension in his recovered shoulder as water lapped at his toes, the dull roar of the ocean caressing his ear drums. It was perfect.
He whined as sand was thrown over his stomach, cracking one eye open to glare at Taehyung. “Can’t I even enjoy the holodeck in peace?”
Taehyung shrugged noncommittally, teasing a holo-crab with one long, tanned finger. “I gotta’ be honest, this is not how I thought you’d spend your holodeck time.”
“We don’t all have dreams of grand adventure,” Jimin sighed, letting his eyes fall shut once more. “In fact, I think I’ve had enough for a lifetime.”
“Jim, I did not transfer to this ship to not have fun,” Taehyung wheedled.
“This is fun,” Jimin mumbled, already looking forward to getting some color back in his skin thanks to the UV panels. Months on the ship was washing him out, and he felt like he was looking into the eyes of a dull stranger. “So fun,” he yawned, scratching at the sweat beading on his neck.
Taehyung was quiet for a moment, so Jimin felt suspicion clawing its way out of his restful intentions. “Lieutenant Commander Yoongi!” Taehyung called suddenly.
Jimin’s eyes shot open as he sat up, crossing his arms over his bare chest in alarm and looking around wildly. Taehyung laughed, gesturing to the empty beach. “I knew you liked him,” Taehyung said smugly.
Jimin huffed, glaring as Taehyung jumped up to splash around in the water. “I do not!”
“Oh?” Taehyung said. “Then what about the other one? The stick in the mud.”
Jimin tensed. “I don’t like anyone, okay? I just want to do my job! For once,” he added bitterly, settling back in the sand.
Taehyung frowned, dripping water over Jimin as he climbed out of the water and stood over him, dropping to his knees to straddle the sides of Jimin’s waist.
“Can I help you?” Jimin said, keeping his eyes closed.
“Park Jimin, you have committed the supreme crime of this planet!” Taehyung announced.
“It’s the holodeck.”
“Your treasonous ways have left you deserving of punishment,” Taehyung continued.
“Go away,” Jimin groaned, half-heartedly attempting to buck Taehyung off.
“And that punishment,” Taehyung’s voice crescendoed dramatically, “is death.” His fingers poked and prodded at Jimin’s sides, sending him into an involuntary convulsion of laughter.
Jimin’s sternum ached as he rolled back and forth, giggling uncontrollably. “Fuck! Tae-Taehyung! Cut it out!”
The ground shuddered, sending Taehyung careening off of Jimin as the beach reformed and tilted to the side. Whereas Taehyung was flung gracelessly, the sand formed a barrier to keep Jimin in place, the confused Ensign eyeing Taehyung in concern. “Tae? Are you okay?”
Taehyung jumped to his feet, dusting sand from his hair as his eyes narrowed, looking up at the domed holodeck ceiling. “That was all wrong.”
“Huh?” Jimin questioned, not really having to do much as the sand practically lifted him to his feet. “What just…?”
Taehyung clicked his tongue, glancing over at Jimin. “Jim, I think the computer might have a crush on you.”
“Wh—” Jimin spluttered.
“I know you like your machines, but this is a little much,” Taehyung sighed.
“Stop being ridiculous, Taehyung,” Jimin rolled his eyes, reaching down to pick up the towel that he’d set aside earlier. “It’s probably programmed to react when it thinks someone is in danger or causing trouble.”
“Being in engineering, shouldn’t you know that…for sure?” Taehyung said skeptically.
“I’m not in coding!” Jimin said. “I do the mechanical stuff. How do you not remember that?” In fact, it was of particular interest to Jimin to stay as far away from the engineering coders as much as possible.
“I remember! I was just…making sure that you did!” Taehyung said.
Jimin shook his head as he wiped himself down with the towel, already missing the warmth of the sand. “Computer, can you please change the setting to a hot spring?”
“Did you just ‘please’ the computer? No wonder it plays favorites.”
Rolling his eyes, Jimin dropped the towel, and stepped into the circle of large stones that had materialized to replace the ocean water. The new pool of water was translucent with a green tint, steam wafting in clouds from its surface. To his surprise, the computer had chosen to populate the hot spring with other people. Maybe another crewman had changed the default settings.
He found a ledge to perch on, his bottom half submerged in the water and his top embraced by the steam. If it were real, Jimin suspected that he would have had a hard time breathing, but however the atmosphere was programmed felt comfortable. He closed his eyes again, trying to find some semblance of inner peace.
Taehyung slipped into the pool as well, wading through the water and eyeing the computer-generated people with curiosity. “Yah, why are all these holograms so attractive?”
Jimin huffed, shrugging his shoulders. “Maybe someone wanted company and added them to the program file.”
“That’s a little sad,” Taehyung hummed, brushing his hair out of his face.
Jimin startled, letting out an embarrassing noise, when something brushed against his shoulder, as he could tell from Taehyung’s noise that he was a distance away. He opened his eyes to find one of the attractive female holograms making a motion with its hands. “Umm…can I help you?” Jimin questioned. He hadn’t thought any of the holograms would have been given corporeal effects.
The hologram lifted its arms up and mimicked squeezing with its thin, pale fingers, long blonde hair falling forward over its left shoulder. “Massage?” Its mouth formed the words, but it was the computer that provided the sound.
“Oh, ugh, no, thank you,” Jimin declined awkwardly.
“Is this another program?” Taehyung said, eyebrows raised. “Notice how I didn’t get an offer.”
“It’s just because I’m the one that initiated the protocol,” Jimin sighed, pressing his thumbs into his thigh muscles to attempt to loosen them.
He felt the water shift as Taehyung pulled himself onto the ledge next to him, pressing his leg against Jimin’s.
“You doing okay, Jim?” Taehyung said softly.
Jimin lolled his head to the side to take in Taehyung’s uncharacteristically serious expression. It had been over a month since he had returned from the Orion incident, but Jimin knew it’s what Taehyung was talking about. It’s what Commander Seokjin had been trying to get him to talk about, too. “Yeah,” he said. “Nothing…I mean…nothing happened to me, so…”
“You were kidnapped and nearly sold into slavery, Jim. I’d say that was something,” Taehyung said.
“But…” Jimin frowned, “no one even…no one did anything, really. It was scary, but that’s the worst it was.”
Taehyung raised his hand to press the pad of his index finger against Jimin’s temple. “They said things, though, didn’t they? Things that you still dream about?”
Jimin swallowed, gnawing at his bottom lip. Taehyung always knew, so there was no point in denying it. “It’s fine,” Jimin muttered.
“I’ve seen you without sleep, and it’s barely functional. You’re telling me the dreams aren’t messing up your shifts?”
“I…” Jimin hesitated. “Even if they are, I’ll get over it, eventually. They’ll go away. I just…I just need some time.”
Taehyung was silent, head tilted like he was pondering something. “Alright…” he finally relented. “But I’m here, if you want to talk. I transferred here for you, so let me be here for you, huh?”
“I heard a rumor that Captain Junmyeon couldn’t wait to get rid of you,” Jimin said, one corner of his mouth twitching upwards. “You’re lucky Captain Kim felt guilty enough about the whole thing to agree to the transfer.”
Taehyung gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. “Excuse me? Captain Myunnie loved me! He would have never gotten to see a sandworm if not for me! I am a precious gift, Jim! An invaluable crewmate!”
“But you’re fitting in just fine here, right? I noticed you’ve been spending time with Lieutenant Hoseok lately,” Jimin said mildly.
Taehyung pouted. “You’re trying to make this about me so that I stop asking questions, is that it?”
Jimin shrugged.
“Well-played, sir,” Taehyung said.
Jimin huffed in amusement, eyes tracing the peaceful scenery. His expression fell at movement in his periphery. He could have sworn that one of the holograms had been staring at them. But, then again, maybe it was just looking for an invitation for the offered massage. “Taehyung,” Jimin said.
“Hmm?”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Taehyung grinned, bumping his leg against Jimin’s again. “That was always the plan, wasn’t it?”
The computer trilled, the sound coming from overhead, and Jimin sighed, rubbing at his forehead. “Already?”
“You know the holodeck is always in high demand when we haven’t docked for a while. C’mon, Jim, let’s get something bad for us at the canteen.”
Jimin and Taehyung jogged to the row of lockers that appeared once the holoscape was dispelled, changing out of their Academy swimming uniforms and back into their duty uniforms. The next group of crewmen who had reserved the holodeck hurried forward, their program already to flaring to life. Jimin didn’t recognize the large stone structure, surrounded by a circle of water, but the others seemed to be having fun.
“I like their creativity,” Taehyung said, voice filled with genuine admiration when a terrifying, scaled creature flapped overhead and began breathing fire at the stone structure. Jimin shuddered.
There was no real reason to eat in the canteen, as everyone’s quarters were capable of making food, but the tradition hadn’t yet died down. It was engrained on them at the Academy that one should always attempt to form bonds with one’s shipmates.
As soon as the door slid open, Taehyung immediately moved for the replicator wall, winking at a few navigation crewmen along the way. Jimin shook his head in exasperation, wondering if his friend’s ultimate goal was to charm everyone on the ship. He glanced around the open space, looking for a free table, and was both surprised and saddened to see Jungkook eating alone. While there were several tables filled with other security crew, he either didn’t want to sit with them or was being purposefully excluded. Jimin had the uncomfortable feeling that it was the latter. He was a pariah, even after he’d done so much to prove his dedication to the Federation.
Jimin chewed at his bottom lip, knowing he couldn’t leave it alone. He weaved through a few tables, nodding in greeting when he recognized faces, until he stood over Jungkook’s. The younger man noticed him immediately, pausing in the middle of lifting a fork to his mouth. He frowned in suspicion, like Jimin was up to something.
“Umm, can I…can Taehyung and I eat with you?” Jimin asked timidly.
Jungkook’s frown remained in place. “Why?”
Jimin blinked, not expecting the question. “Because we want to?”
Jungkook stared at him for a moment before eventually ducking his head in approval. Jimin jumped when Taehyung slammed two trays down in front of him. “Eat up, Jim!” Taehyung announced, not bothered by the strange aura Jungkook seemed to be emitting. “Ah, if it isn’t Mr. Muscles!”
“That is not my name,” Jungkook growled.
“It is now!” Taehyung grinned, already shoving noodles into his mouth.
Jungkook exhaled in frustration, eating a chunk of potato like it had offended him.
Jimin turned to the food Taehyung had brought him, stomach rumbling at the scents of beef and soy sauce. It was exactly what he’d been craving. Taehyung always knew. It was kind of annoying.
“You…” Jungkook said, glancing down at his tray, “you look rested.”
“Oh, we were just taking advantage of the UV lamps on the holodeck,” Jimin offered. “You can join us next time, if you want.”
Jungkook’s eyes widened. “You…are inviting me?”
Jimin nodded happily, finally savoring a piece of meat. He didn’t often let himself indulge in things, but it was nice once in a while.
“Alright,” Jungkook said quietly, cheeks tinged pink. “I should…train. On the holodeck. More often,” he said stiltedly.
“You’re already naturally stronger than humans are, do you really need more training?” Taehyung said, sauce escaping his mouth. “Planning on challenging some Klingons?”
Jungkook glared at him in disgust. “If I had been stronger—” he paused, shaking his head. His hands clenched into fists where they rested on the table, veins prominent even under tanned skin.
Jimin swallowed, heart aching. “Jungkook…that wasn’t your fault. They were pirates, and they…they clearly knew what they were doing. We were outmanned and out-gunned…and everyone knows how hard you tried to protect all of us.”
“I can’t afford to try, Ensign Park. Only succeed.”
“That’s a little dramatic,” Taehyung said. “Anyway, no need to worry. I’m here now.”
“You?” Jungkook said, nose scrunching in distaste. “What good is yet another Communications officer?”
Taehyung winked. “Guess you’ll find out, Mr. Muscles.”
A hushed murmur moved like a wave through the room, and it had Jimin glancing toward the entrance, where Commander Seokjin and Lieutenant Commander Min Yoongi seemed to be engaged in a heated conversation. Jimin couldn’t help following the lieutenant commander with his gaze as he stood at the replicator, even though the man was doing nothing particularly noteworthy.
“I don’t know why you still like the guy after he got you stabbed,” Taehyung remarked.
“He didn’t—I got myself stabbed, Tae,” Jimin said, unconsciously rubbing at his shoulder. “I’m going to get some tea.”
“Sure you are,” Taehyung said knowingly.
“Shut up,” Jimin shot back.
Jimin stepped around a few bulky security officers to approach the replicators, hesitant to get nearer when Seokjin and Yoongi’s discussion seemed so serious. Seokjin paused mid-sentence, head turning to find Jimin and greet him with a warm smile. “Ensign Park? How are you?”
“I’m doing well, Commander,” Jimin reciprocated his smile, inclining his head towards them. “Lieutenant Commander Min,” he added.
“Keeping out of trouble?” Yoongi said wryly, the corner of his mouth pulling upwards.
Jimin flushed. “You know I’ve never sought it out in the first place.” He paused, chewing at his bottom lip in uncertainty. “How…how have you been?
Yoongi looked taken aback at the question as the commander eyed him in amusement. “I mean…the same as always,” Yoongi shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck with a pale, thin hand.
“O-oh, that’s good,” Jimin said, playing with his fingers.
“I’m going to speak with our newest and youngest crewmembers,” Seokjin said, shaking his head. “You two should catch up.”
“Jin!” Yoongi hissed as the other made his escape, heading towards Jungkook and Taehyung’s table. Jimin had the sinking feeling that he was making Yoongi uncomfortable, and he could feel his face fall in response.
“I’m…sorry…” Jimin said quietly. “I can leave you alone.”
Yoongi’s eyes narrowed. “What? Why? What are you sorry for?”
“For…bothering you? I guess?” Jimin shrugged. “I’ll just…” he slipped past Yoongi to stand in front of the replicator. “Computer, can I get some green tea, please?”
The computer trilled and a steaming mug appeared in the receptacle. “Thanks,” Jimin said quietly.
“Jimin,” Yoongi said, reaching out to place a hand on Jimin’s forearm. Jimin froze, the touch unexpected but not unwelcome. “Are you angry with me?”
Jimin’s mouth fell open slightly. “What? No! I-I’m not!”
Yoongi’s expression softened. “Then why are you so ready to run away from me?”
Jimin frowned. “I’m not running away, you just…seemed uncomfortable, I guess…”
Yoongi huffed in what seemed like amusement. “That’s just what my face looks like, Ensign Park. I’d blame the Vulcan, but I’m afraid it’s just me. Anyway, I assumed that you’d come to speak to us for a reason, yeah?”
Jimin smiled timidly in response. “Lieutenant Commander, I was just wondering…what do you like to do in your spare time? I, umm, I’ve been trying to keep myself busy, but it’s become more difficult than I thought it would be.”
“I see,” Yoongi said, nodding in understanding. “Your brain can be your worst enemy out here, there’s no denying that. I usually fight it by writing a bit, taking lessons on the holodeck, talking to Jin.”
“Commander Seokjin?” Jimin said, surprised. Not that Seokjin listened, but that Yoongi spoke to him in that capacity.
Yoongi shrugged. “He’s a good listener, and that can help take the edge off. I’m not saying you have to do anything, I just know it works for some people. And it doesn’t for others.”
“Ah,” Jimin said, sighing. “What do you take lessons in, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Instruments,” Yoongi said, “from all over. When you’re focused on the notes, or the strings, or the keys, it’s easy to block out everything else.”
Jimin’s attention was fixed on his arm as Yoongi’s fingers tightened their grip slightly, as though in reassurance. He had almost forgotten that he was being touched at all. Yoongi then released his hold, trailing his fingers down to rest against the back of Jimin’s hand. “Is there something on your mind, kid?”
The computer trilled, and Jimin found himself pushed to the ground harshly, with Yoongi hovering over him, caging him in with his arms. Jimin didn’t understand what had happened, head spinning. The buzz of the diners died to near silence as Yoongi cursed loudly, glaring at the replicator, which was still spouting boiling-hot liquid.
“Would somebody come look at this damn thing!?” Yoongi growled, and a few engineering crewmen sprung to their feet to investigate the malfunctioning machine. Yoongi turned his attention back to Jimin, who was breathing heavily under him. “You okay?”
“I think so,” Jimin whispered, eyes still wide with shock. Yoongi moved with a groan, rolling to the side and pushing himself to his feet. As he leaned down to help Jimin, he was practically shoved out of the way by Taehyung.
“Jim, are you okay? Did you get burned?” Taehyung questioned, patting his uniform wherever he could reach. Jungkook and Seokjin were at Taehyung’s side, both exhibiting signs of concern in their own ways.
Jimin pushed the searching hands aside to stand up, glancing over at the sputtering replicator. “I’m fine.”
“I thought it liked you, so what is this?” Taehyung complained.
“Lieutenant commander, are you alright?” Jimin turned his attention to Yoongi.
“Yeah, it didn’t get me, but what the fuck?” Yoongi said, watching the engineers struggle to turn it off. “I’ve never seen a malfunction like that, not unless somebody programmed it that way.” He turned suspicious eyes on Taehyung.
“Yah! I’d never hurt Jimin in a million years!” Taehyung said angrily.
“It was probably just a freak accident,” Jimin said quietly, rubbing at his elbow where it had slammed into the floor. “They just tend to happen more around me,” he smiled grimly.
“I’ll make sure Nam—Captain Kim has someone investigate this,” Seokjin said, frowning. “We need to be able to trust the replicators not to poison anyone.”
“Okay, I didn’t need that paranoia in my head,” Yoongi sighed.
“You know, I’m not that hungry anymore,” Jimin sighed. “I think I’m going to head back to my quarters and catch some sleep before my shift tonight.”
“I’ll come with,” Taehyung said.
“I don’t think he needs your help to sleep,” Yoongi said.
“Cuddling is the best medicine,” Taehyung said, eyes narrowing in derision. “Come on, Jim.”
“Sleep well,” Jungkook said quietly.
Taehyung slotted his fingers with Jimin’s and pulled him towards the door. Jimin didn’t resist.
He practically collapsed into his bed, curling up in order to give Taehyung enough room to join him. Taehyung slid in behind Jimin to wrap his arms around Jimin’s smaller body, pressing his nose against the nape of Jimin’s neck. They’d fallen asleep like that often in their Academy days. Sometimes, Jimin had to be the big spoon, but it seemed like Taehyung preferred to do the hugging.
Taehyung’s lungs operated differently. He didn’t need as much air, and so he could press his face tightly against whatever surface he wanted. “It’ll be okay,” Taehyung said quietly. “I won’t let them touch you.”
Jimin’s sigh was watery as he squeezed his eyes shut. When Taehyung was there, he didn’t have to dream about anything at all. In no time at all, he was falling into an empty sleep, eternally grateful that Taehyung was willing to help him.
He woke to the sound of his door announcer, the reedy buzz making him groan in displeasure. He had to fight a little to crawl out of Taehyung’s firm hold, but eventually he managed, stumbling sleep-drunk to the door. It slipped open as he pressed his palm against the unlock switch.
When there was no one there, he thought he was seeing things. He rubbed at his eyes to clear the sleep from them, but after a few blinks, the hallway was still empty of bodies. His communicator warbled. “Ensign Park, this is Captain Kim. Please report to the holodeck.” Jimin frowned in confusion, tapping his chest.
“Captain Kim?” He waited for a moment, but a response wasn’t forthcoming. Sighing, Jimin slipped on his boots and made for the lift.
The holodeck doors were strangely open and the hallways still strangely clear. An eerie feeling wound its way through Jimin’s stomach, hairs rising on the back of his neck. He peered through the door, but the walls were their usual grid of grey when the deck wasn’t activated. “Captain Kim?”
“In here,” the captain called, and Jimin stepped inside. He flinched when the doors swished closed behind him.
“Captain, what’s going on?” Jimin questioned.
It didn’t take long to figure out that it wasn’t the captain, the hologram imperfect and flickering as it turned towards him. “Hello, Jimin. Come rest.”
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Yoongi jolted awake, thoughts filled with murder as someone not only repeatedly pressed his door buzzer, but physically slammed their fists against the door. He violently threw his covers back, smashing his palm against the unlock switch, ready to chew out whoever dared interrupt his few hours of sleep.
As soon as he opened his mouth a sturdy body was shoving past him and into his quarters, looking around frantically. “Is Jimin here?” Ensign Kim Taehyung demanded, lifting up Yoongi’s blankets as though someone was hiding under them.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Yoongi growled. “Do you think the chain of command exists just for fun?”
“Jimin’s missing,” Taehyung said.
“He’s—” Yoongi said, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. “What do you mean, he’s missing? He has to be on the ship somewhere.”
“He’s not answering his com, he’s not in his room, he’s not on the engineering deck, he’s not with Kookie,” Taehyung said, counting off on his fingers. “So where is he, then?”
“Not in my quarters, obviously,” Yoongi said angrily, but his voice was tinged with worry. “Why are you bothering me about this? Computer, where is Ensign Park Jimin?” Instead of the robotic answer he was expecting, there was nothing. Silence.
“You don’t think I tried that?” Taehyung said. “If he could, he would answer me! He would! No matter what! So that must mean he can’t, and something’s happened and—"
“I found something,” Jungkook said, speaking with the most urgency Yoongi had ever heard from the boy. He rushed into Yoongi’s quarters, for once not subservient to propriety and decorum. He handed a tablet to Taehyung, gesturing to something on the screen. “Look! It…it is Jimin’s name mixed in with the base code, but something is unusual about it. You see these protocols? This is not something that the computer would produce organically. Someone must have put it in there. And it will not let me eliminate it.”
“Since when do you know about coding?” Yoongi questioned.
“I know of many things, Lieutenant Commander,” Jungkook answered stiffly.
Yoongi growled again and began pulling on his uniform over his sleep clothes. He had a feeling he was going to be running around unnecessarily. But what sense did it make that Jimin was missing on a ship in the middle of the galaxy?
“Wait,” Taehyung muttered, eyes narrowing as he scrolled through the tablet. “Here,” he muttered, finger tracing the screen. “You see that?”
Jungkook peered over Taehyung’s shoulder as Yoongi’s insides burned with curiosity. “Prince?” Jungkook read, the word slipping from his tongue as though it were foreign. “I do not understand.”
Taehyung frowned, expression thunderous, and the screen of the tablet actually cracked under the pressure of his grip. Yoongi’s heart jumped at the sound, even though he kept his face blank. He didn’t want to think about how strong someone would have to be to do that. “Show me a roster of the crew,” Taehyung hissed.
Jungkook tugged the tablet away from Taehyung’s death grip and did as he said, handing it back quickly.
“I knew it,” Taehyung said, shoving the tablet back at Jungkook before stalking from the room. Yoongi glanced at Jungkook, both silently confused but determined to follow after. Taehyung’s aggressive journey took them all to the engineering deck, where Taehyung glanced around, head turning wildly until he found who he was looking for.
“Yah!” Taehyung called, barreling towards an engineering ensign, who turned towards them with a frightened look on his face. He was much smaller than Taehyung, in both height and width, and cowered as Taehyung fisted the fabric of his uniform. “What did you do!?”
“Whoa, whoa,” Yoongi said, breaking them apart. “Start using your words, Ensign Kim!” He was still too confused for the worry to have really set in.
Taehyung lunged forward, pressing a palm to the other ensign’s forehead. It was an unusual gesture, as he wasn’t attempting to hurt the other man, just touch him. He pulled back before Yoongi could step in again. “It was you, you conniving little--!”
“Ensign Kim!” Yoongi barked.
“He was in my class at the Academy. Our class. I thought my last-minute reassignment to another starship was strange, but I never expected that someone was behind it! What? Were you so jealous of me and Jim that you sent me across the stars?” Taehyung said.
“Alright, but I thought we were focused on—” Yoongi interrupted.
“He changed the computer code!” Taehyung said, gesturing wildly. “He was always a little too interested in Jim, wasn’t he? Always trying to get them to study together, always following him around campus!” Taehyung paused, breathing heavily. “Scrawling Prince Jimin over all his notebooks! What did you do to him!?”
Yoongi frowned, turning the weight of his livid gaze on the shaking engineering ensign. “Name?”
“E-Ensign O-Oh,” the man barely breathed.
“What did you do?” Yoongi hissed.
“I j-just—” the ensign blathered, “I just saw that he w-was so stressed out, and so I j-just…I just changed the s-settings! It wasn’t anything bad!”
“What,” Yoongi repeated, pressing a finger into the Ensign’s bony chest, “did you do?”
“I just told the computer to like him more!” the man practically cried. “That’s literally the opposite of bad! I just wanted him to be treated right!”
“You…” Taehyung breathed. Jungkook glared threateningly at the ensign as Taehyung and Yoongi stepped away.
“You look like you know something,” Yoongi said.
“Jim and I were on the holodeck earlier, and the computer was acting weird. That’s when I first noticed it,” Taehyung said, eyes flickering left and right. “Jimin’s not anywhere else he should be, so maybe he’s there?”
“But wouldn’t he just answer you?” Yoongi said.
“The computer isn’t letting us ask it any questions about him, I’m sure it can block Jimin’s com, too,” Taehyung said.
“This is crazy,” Yoongi sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“This is life with Park Jimin,” Taehyung said wryly. “I think fate sent me to him. Or sent him to me. He puts my heart at ease, and in exchange I have to save his life sometimes.”
Yoongi stared at him for a moment. “You love him?”
Taehyung huffed. “Why do you think a human word can capture how I feel?”
“Excuse me,” Jungkook said, face stoic. “Should we not act?”
“Right,” Yoongi sighed. “But we need to tell the captain first.”
“Come,” Jungkook said, large hand dwarfing the ensign’s upper harm as he dragged him forward. The four were tense as they took the lift to the bridge, and Yoongi had the distinct feeling that Taehyung was contemplating how to murder the responsible ensign and get away with it. He couldn’t say that his own feelings were much different.
Ensign Park Jimin made him feel things that he shouldn’t. In spite of the circumstances in which he found himself, and his undoubted fear, Jimin was brave and selfless. Yoongi had questioned his fitness for a starship, but it turned out he was more fit than most. Exactly the kind of crew that Namjoon valued.
He made Yoongi’s heart ache in ways he hadn’t known were possible. He made Yoongi admit to himself that he was painfully lonely. Still, Yoongi knew that he should keep his feelings to himself. He joined Starfleet for a reason, and there was no room for any distraction.
Namjoon glanced back in surprise as they piled onto the bridge. He addressed Yoongi first, who was the highest ranked. “Lieutenant Commander Min? Has something happened?” His eyes flickered to Jungkook’s tight grip around the ensign’s shoulder.
“It appears that Ensign Oh put a bug in the computer code that targeted Ensign Park,” Yoongi said without preamble. “We can’t find Ensign Park, and the computer refuses to accept commands related to him.”
“That—that’s not—!” Ensign Oh protested, but Jungkook’s grip tightened even further.
“Jin?” Namjoon said, turning his head to find the commander.
Seokjin’s eyes were already closed in concentration. “It’s faint, but I can feel his distress coming from the holodeck.” Jin frowned, brows drawing together. “It feels strangely muted.”
“What does that mean?” Taehyung demanded.
“I’m…not sure,” Seokjin shook his head. “But he doesn’t appear to be physically harmed, just…worried.”
Namjoon frowned. “Alright, I’ll get engineering to take a look at the bug and see if we can’t fix it quickly. Commander Seokjin, you go with Yoongi, Taehyung, and Jungkook to the holodeck to figure out where my missing crewmember is. I’ll send more security to follow. Ensign Oh, you will stay here with me and explain exactly what it is that you have done.”
Yoongi nodded at the orders, Taehyung and Jungkook following him back into the lift as the captain stared down the cowed ensign.
“May I look into your mind to see what this is about?” Jin questioned, looking among them.
“It won’t work on me,” Taehyung said lowly, still simmering with anger. Jin pulled his head back in surprise. “You’ll have to use one of them.” Jungkook tensed.
Yoongi sighed. Jin already knew everything about him, anyway. “Do it,” he said, already sensing a gently pressure against his thoughts.
“Prince Jimin, huh?” Seokjin sighed. “I’m sure Ensign Park would be very unamused to hear that.”
The holodeck doors were solidly shut, unmoving no matter what command code each of them attempted to enter. Yoongi slammed his fist against the metal in frustration, the sound ringing loudly in the hallway. “I will attempt to open them,” Jungkook said, pulling up the sleeves of his uniform. He glanced at Taehyung. “You are strong, are you not?”
A few security crew filtered into the hallway as Taehyung and Jungkook took mirrored positions on both sides of the door. “Kick or pull?” Taehyung proffered.
“I believe that it would take far too much time to pry them open. We must attempt brute force,” Jungkook said quietly.
“On three?” Taehyung said. Jungkook nodded.
“Yah, boneheads!” Yoongi said wryly. “Cut a damn hole with your phasers. Are you wearing them for decoration?”
“Ah,” Taehyung said sheepishly.
The cut chunk of metal plate fell with a loud clang, sides glowing red from the heat of the phasers. Jungkook stepped into the holodeck first, phaser at the ready. Yoongi followed after and marveled at the program that was running. There was sand as far as the eye could see, except for what looked like a medieval castle plopped right in the center of it.
“This looks like the program that was running when we left,” Taehyung muttered, “except a lot more sand.”
“Ensign Oh called him a prince, and the computer makes him a castle,” Yoongi muttered. “What are the chances we can get near it?”
“No matter what it makes us see, the holodeck is only so big,” Seokjin frowned. “And I doubt it would suddenly change the illusion when it seems determined to create this fantasy.”
“Fantasy…” Taehyung muttered. “Right.” He cleared his throat and called out, “We are Prince Jimin’s humble servants! We come to…serve!” He looked at the rest of them expectantly.
“Right…that,” Yoongi said.
“We…have brought him gifts?” Seokjin offered.
“We will pay homage,” Jungkook said stiffly.
The light morphed, air shimmering like a mirage was forming, until stone steps materialized in the sand. They trailed all the way to the towering wooden gates of the castle, as though beckoning them inside.
“Great,” Yoongi grumbled, but stepped onto the first stone, determined to reach Jimin.
“Nam—Captain Kim is working on a fix, we just need to make sure that Jimin is alright,” Seokjin said quietly. “If he thinks it hard enough, I’ll know when the time comes.”
The doors opened with a groan, which made Yoongi roll his eyes. The fake hinges in the fake doors couldn’t bother to be oiled?
There weren’t any rooms in this castle, just walls draped with poorly rendered, pixelated tapestries. Candelabras floated unattached to any supporting tables or walls, and the floors squished underfoot, like the stone-looking material was actually foam. It was as though someone had done an inadequate job of describing what a castle was supposed to look like to someone who had never seen one before.
Taehyung gasped and pointed towards the far side of the room, where a large throne took up the entirety of the wall. Yoongi narrowed his eyes and was able to see what Taehyung had, Jimin’s body swamped by the massive structure. He was slumped over the middle, appearing unconscious.
“Slowly,” Jungkook cautioned. “We cannot be perceived as a threat.”
Yoongi nodded while Taehyung fought to control his anger.
“Namjoon is forcing Ensign Oh to explain his method so that they can reverse engineer it,” Seokjin said quietly.
The hallway felt a million miles long as they walked across the foam floor, their steps absorbed and sound erased. As they got closer, Yoongi noticed that Jimin’s limbs were restrained to the throne with padded straps, and for some reason that made him unfathomably angry. If you liked someone, you should never want to keep them trapped. That wasn’t love, it was obsession. No doubt some of Ensign Oh’s poisonous tendencies leaked into the program that he wrote.
“Jimin?” Taehyung questioned uncertainly. Jimin’s body stirred, and he raised his head slowly to blink at them with an unfocused gaze.
“Tae?” Jimin said weakly, futilely attempting to raise his right arm. “It’s…something’s wrong with the computer,” he struggled to get the words out, even though there was nothing visibly wrong with him. “It won’t let me leave. I’ve been trying to convince it, but…”
“Some jerk put a bug in the system,” Taehyung said. “It’ll all be fixed soon.”
“Are you injured?” Jungkook asked, squeezing his hands into fists in an act of physical restraint.
“No, I…just kind of sore from…not moving…” Jimin answered. “I’ve been up here a while…”
“Is this how the dumb thing eventually interpreted the code?” Taehyung muttered. “It went from protective to a prison in the span of a few hours.”
“I don’t…I really don’t understand this place,” Jimin said hoarsely, fighting back a cough. “This shouldn’t be possible.” Yoongi was hit the realization that Jimin had probably been screaming for help for hours.
Yoongi took a few steps closer to throne, but was startled to a halt as suits of armor materialized in front of them, crossing broadswords in front of the throne. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Yoongi said. “They’re just holograms, right?”
Seokjin eyed them uncertainly. “The holodeck is capable of physically reproducing swords for fencing practice, so I’d keep my distance.”
“Thoughts, Jungkook?” Yoongi said.
“Even if I were to draw attention away, it could simply produce more,” Jungkook said.
“Right…” Yoongi sighed, looking up at the towering forms. “I just want to comfort Jimin, okay?” he said loudly, holding his hands out in front of him. “Use your sensors to scan him. He’s not doing well up there, can’t you tell? I have to be near him to make sure he’s alright.” He took a tentative step forward, and he took it as a positive sign that the holograms didn’t move. “I’m climbing up, so don’t stab me.”
Yoongi swallowed as he ducked under the overlapped blades, feeling an invisible judging eye on the back of his neck. He let out a breath as he moved beyond them, hurrying up the rest of the way until he was at Jimin’s side. He quickly knelt to examine Jimin’s wrists and ankles, frowning at the tightness of the restraints. “You doing okay, kid?”
“You know how you suggested I learn instruments?” Jimin rasped. “I think you’re going to have to teach me, because I’m never coming back in here again.”
Yoongi huffed, massaging one tense wrist in both of his hands. “That’s fine, kid, but I think my teaching might be even worse than this.” The restraints lacked the ability to adjust, and he couldn’t just pull out his phaser, lest he spook the computer. “I’ve been known to throw things at heads.”
“Lieutenant Commander?” Jimin said. “It called me ‘Prince Jimin.’ Why…why did it do that?”
By the tone in Jimin’s voice, Yoongi suspected that Jimin already knew. “Do you know an Ensign Oh?”
Jimin stiffened. “What did he do?”
“Seems like he told the computer to pay you extra attention out of some misguided sense of affection.”
Jimin sighed. “He barely graduated from the Academy. Not because he wasn’t smart, but because he was too experimental. I thought that maybe he would…settle down on assignment.”
“All those things seem like code words for creepy stalker,” Yoongi said. “After this, he’s not staying on this ship.”
“Yoongi?” Seokjin called. “It’s almost time.”
Yoongi took Jimin’s hand in his own. “We’ll get things back to normal in no time, alright?”
A sharp clink sounded, as both suits of armor turned towards Yoongi. “What—what’s happening?” Jimin said.
Yoongi looked down at their joined hands, thinking back to the hot water incident. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he repeated. “The asshole made it murderously jealous of hand-holding?”
“Lieutenant commander!” Jimin said worriedly, pulling further at his restraints.
“Yah, don’t do that,” Yoongi said, setting a hand on Jimin’s head. “I’ve just got to avoid these assholes for a few minutes.” He drew his phaser as he stepped down and away from the throne, to make sure nothing accidentally hit Jimin. “A little help, Jungkook?”
One of the suits turned its attention on Jungkook as the other moved up the stairs towards Yoongi.
Yoongi turned his phaser beam on the sword itself, heating the metal up enough to cause it to melt. He wasn’t going to pretend that he had the ability to fend off a giant suit of armor, with sword. While the computer began to generate another one, he jumped out of the way of a swinging metal fist, rolling onto the foamy floor.
He glanced up in time to see Jungkook jump on the back of the other one, which confirmed that they were, in fact, corporeal. “Yoongi!” Jimin shouted as best he could, but it was enough warning for him to roll to the side again and out of the way of the replicated battle axe. “Oh, what the fuck?” Yoongi groaned.
“They’re deleting it now!” Seokjin called.
“Tell them to hurry the fuck up!” Yoongi shouted back, narrowly dodging a downward strike that would have split his head open.
The castle began to flicker around them, the fuzzy details becoming even more pixelated as the holoscape began to break down.
“Finally!” Jimin coughed, released from his restraints but having difficulty standing up on stiff limbs.
He would have fallen, but Taehyung was there immediately to grab onto his arms and stabilize him. “Time to go, Jim,” Taehyung said, half-hauling Jimin down the steps and towards the open entryway.
Breathing heavily, Yoongi abandoned his attempts to deal with the suit of armor and followed after Taehyung, shouting for Jungkook and Seokjin to follow them out.
Jungkook quickly pulled ahead of all of them, checking outside for threats before remaining at the doors, making sure everyone was out before being the last to leave. Taehyung skidded to a stop, Jimin bumping into him, as he turned his head to stare behind them. “Yah,” he said.
The castle flickered out of existence. In a wave of bursting pixels, the sand followed, leaving the dull, matte grey of the de-activated holodeck in its wake. “Oh, thank goodness,” Jimin breathed, rubbing at his neck.
Yoongi tapped the com on his chest. “Captain, this is Lieutenant Commander Min. Do you read? We have Jimin.”
“I hear you, Yoongi. I believe we’ve repaired the issue. Ensign Oh has been consigned to the brig until we reach the next Federation starbase.”
“Good,” Yoongi snorted. “We’ll take Ji—Ensign Park to medical.”
“What? But I’m fine,” Jimin protested. Taehyung rolled his eyes and poked at Jimin’s wrist, causing the other to flinch.
“You sound like you’ve been choked by a Vendorian tentacle,” Taehyung said. “Now shut up and let the doctor give you something for it.”
Jimin sighed, glancing up at all of them through his lashes. “Thanks for…you know…saving me…again…”
“It is my duty,” Jungkook said softly. “It is good to see that you are unharmed.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Oh was on board this entire time,” Taehyung shook his head. “I would have killed him before any of this happened.”
“Ensign Kim!” Commander Seokjin chided. “Regardless, I’m also glad that you’re safe, Jimin. I’ll make a full report to the captain, so you should get some rest.” He glanced at Yoongi expectantly.
“Yeah, I…” Yoongi sighed. “Come on,” he jerked his head towards the door. “Medical. This is an order.”
“You aren’t my commanding officer,” Jimin muttered, but Yoongi’s slightly enhanced hearing still picked it up.
The ride on the lift was quiet, but Yoongi felt Jimin’s eyes on the side of his face. “Do you have something to say to me, Ensign Park?”
Jimin opened his mouth to speak, but what came out was a painful-sounding cough. Yoongi raised a hand, prepared to pat him on the back, but found himself dropping it quickly rather than following through. “I just…” Jimin finally said, “I don’t know where we stand.”
“In the turbolift,” Yoongi deadpanned. He sighed when Jimin frowned, finding that he greatly disliked that expression. “Ensign Park…Jimin…there are a lot of things that you don’t know about me. And one of them is that I joined Starfleet to complete a very specific task, towards which I direct all of my energy.”
“But you still make time to save me…” Jimin said quietly.
Yoongi blinked. “I suppose I do.”
Jimin’s frown deepened. “Do you want me to stay away from you or not?”
Yoongi considered the question. Considered the way Jimin’s hand slotted against his own, and the fear that arose every time the kid was in trouble. Considered his mission.
The lift door slid open.
“You should get to medical, Ensign Park,” Yoongi said. “And later…I’ll teach you how to play the piano.”