This one should be a tad bit spookier than last weeks.
Jim spotted his friend, Leonard “Bones” McCoy standing before a digital bulletin board on Starfleet campus.
“What’s up? Looking for a new roommate?” he joked.
“Well, I’m guessing that’s gonna happen pretty soon, but no. Listen to this.”
Jim smiled. “I’m listening.”
“Over the last few weeks several cadets have gone missing. They are seen one day and the next morning it is as if they have vanished. No trace of them has been found,” Bones read.
“Hmm. Yeah? Does it give any other information?”
Just then Jim felt someone’s hand touch his waist lightly. He glanced over and smiled at Spock.
“Hey you.”
Bones glanced over and barely refrained from rolling his eyes. “I should have known with you here Spock wouldn’t be far behind.”
“What are you saying, doctor?”
“Oh, don’t pay him any mind, Spock. We were just reading about the disappearances of cadets.”
Spock glanced at the board. “These are all cadets staying in the dormitories.”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
“Then it makes sense for you to move in with me now,” Spock said smoothly.
Bones snorted. “And leave me to disappear I suppose?”
Jim laughed. He turned to look at Spock. “Do you really think I should? I mean I figured I would eventually, sure, but we’ve only been official for a couple of weeks.”
“This seems an appropriate time given the recent disappearances.”
“The whole thing sounds weird to me,” Jim said, glancing back at the board. “I wonder if it’s someone’s idea of a Halloween joke.”
“I was unaware of Halloween being a time for jokes,” Spock said.
“Well, a prank.” Jim scooted closer to the board, moving Bones away with his shoulder.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just standing here.”
“Oh shush. See look.” He stabbed at the notice. “All of the cadets have been male with fair hair and blue eyes.”
Bones chortled. “That leaves me out after all.”
“That is alarming,” Spock put in.
“Hardly. This has Gary Mitchell all over it.”
“I do not understand.”
“Gary’s an asshole. Him and his buddy, Finnegan. The two of them get together and decide how to make everyone else miserable. Like my second day here, I walked through this doorway and a bucket of old fish poured all over me from above.” Jim made a face, remembering. “Those two idiots were behind it.” He narrowed his eyes at Bones. “Are you laughing?”
“Of course not, Jim,” Bones assured him.
Jim rolled his eyes. “The point is this thing is specifying “cadets” that sound just like me. I bet if we checked with someone in actual authority no such disappearances are happening.”
Bones frowned. “You could be right. I’ll check into and let you know. But I agree it’s likely those two idiots at it again. Trying to cause a panic or something.”
“Next thing you know they’ll be dressing up as the headless horseman and throwing pumpkin heads at people.” Jim patted Bones’ shoulder. “See you later.”
Bones moved off and Jim turned to Spock, who still looked troubled.
“I still believe it would be prudent for you to move off campus into my apartment,” Spock declared. “You have been spending most nights there anyway.”
“Yeah, that’s true. And for all his grumbling, I really don’t think Bones minds.” He grinned. “Okay sure.”
Spock glanced at the notice. “Are you sure it is a Halloween prank?”
“Not positive but it sounds weirdly specific.”
“Indeed. A bucket of old fish?”
“Yeah and it was really gross.”
“I will have to make myself acquainted with Mitchell and Finnegan,” Spock said, rather ominously as they walked away from the bulletin board.
Jim opened his mouth to tell Spock he didn’t really need to defend his honor, if that was the intention, but then he remembered standing there covered in smelly fish, humiliated beyond belief as the two idiots cackled like maniacs. He smiled to himself and began to plan his move to Spock’s apartment.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 