[ The matter drops in favor of the far more immediate question, and Jim blinks, caught off guard. Of all the things he might have expected Claude to impart - well, suffice it to say, that wasn't really on his list. It does move the goalpost of addressing the elephant in the room closer, however, so at least that's something. Jim still doesn't know how Claude escaped the oubliette, and for a moment he has to wonder - was he found there? Had Jim and Spock accidentally left him a sitting duck?
Christ, he hopes not.

Jim leans forward, forearms braced on his knees, one hand dangling his drink below them. He's heard of people coming back to life here but - Jim's never met anyone in specific that's been upfront about their personal experience. He himself died and came back, during a mission back home - but there were extenuating circumstances, and he doesn't exactly talk about it much himself. ] Spock and I were alone. We were - trying to curb it, trapping people instead of - yeah.

[ If they had been completely untethered, let loose to kill indiscriminately...Jim doesn't even want to think about it. It wouldn't have been pretty. Spock took Peter down with a single touch, and anyone solely human? It would have been utter carnage. ]

From one necromancee to another, it definitely counts. [ Jim's gaze falls over Claude, unable to stop himself, but Claude doesn't have any visible injuries Jim can detect. ] I'm so sorry, Claude. What happened?