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"You want me to.... pretend to be a mutineer?"
Una looked at him mildly, the rest of the room having stilled at her initial suggestion. "Yes. And we will have you cuffed and masked until the appropriate moment. To increase the stress of the situation."
The corner of Pike's mouth twitched. "Okay sure. I like it."
There was a rustle as every head in the room swiveled to look at him incredulously. He kept his eyes locked with Una's, watching as she fought a smile.
"Excellent. Hayes, Moore, get the simulation up and running. I'll prepare the security officers and Captain Pike's cuffs." Without another look at any of them, Number One stood and breezed out of the room.
With a chuckle, he stood and followed her.
Alone, in the security office, they didn't say a word as Una clicked the cuffs around his wrists. He tried not to shiver as her fingertips grazed the insides of his wrists.
"These aren't fully engaged, so you can get out of them later. Just don't tug on them too hard before the dramatic reveal."
He smiled. "And if I accidentally do?"
She looked him in the eye. "Improvise. You're good at that."
He was suddenly very aware of just how close they were standing, and how little air the room seemed to hold.
Una swallowed and looked away. "This mask shouldn't be on too long. They'll take it off of you before they leave you with the cadet." She held up the device and clicked a button. A moment later, black triangles slid out to obscure his face. In the darkness, he sighed.
"Good. Not a big fan of the dark, Number One."
He felt her fingers wrap around his wrist and tug his arms up to what he assumed was the crook of her elbow, securing his right hand there.
"Don't worry, Captain." He could hear the grin in her voice. "I've got you."