Jim Kirk woke up not knowing where he was, nor how he got there. However, there was a bright, hot sun shining down on him, and he was sweating. He lay there a moment on the ground wondering just how long he had been lying there. Wherever he was, it was windy and hot. Dirt was blowing in his face as he sat up. He looked around him at what was a reddish landscape that reminded him of Mars, but there were rock formations that reminded him of Utah. His head felt horrible but he realized there was a pad lying beside him.

Jim picked up the pad and turned it on to find a message. He pressed play…

Admiral Kirk, I'm sure you're very confused right now, but you're now part of a very real game. Once you activate this, you have five minutes to start moving. You don't want to know the consequences of remaining in one place too long…

The recording paused, and Jim looked around him, but he stood up and then realized his right knee was rather swollen and painful. He started walking anyway, and the recording continued…

There are a few places in this miserable landscape that contain drinkable water. In order to survive, you will have to locate them. Just remember…you're a hunted man.

Jim frowned at that as he kept moving. He wished he could remember how he arrived here and who had brought him there. A game? Perhaps the most disturbing part was a hunted man. Who was hunting him? And why? He certainly had no weapon, only the pad, and the recording was ended.

His mouth was dry already. He stopped a moment and looked around him. Where could there be water here? He realized that where there was water, there would be some sort of life…if there was any life on this planet. He was curious about what would happen if he stayed in one place for more than five minutes. Was that just a taunt, a false warning? He could not remember how he got here nor who brought him here.

Jim walked for about thirty minutes and he had to stop. He leaned on a rocky outcropping that projected a little shade from the sun. Sweat dripped off his chin as it had run down his face and head while he walked. His shirt was soaked with sweat. He knew he had to find water soon or he would not survive long sweating like this. He walked through the small canyon between the rocks which was shaded and nearly dark in some areas, and right in the darkest part, there was water. He knelt and started to drink some of the water but then he smelled it first. It did not smell funny or like it had chemicals in it, so he drank his fill. It was sure cold and tasted good. It was much cooler where he was and he wished he did not have to go back out in that hot sun but according to his tormentor, he could not stay still more than five minutes.

Jim stood up and looked around him again. He shivered as he felt the coolness of the place on his sweaty body, and he also had the feeling he was being watched. He trudged on through what seemed like a narrow canyon and soon came out into a wider area where it was much warmer. He supposed this part of the canyon held heat like the dark part held coolness. He was thinking about this situation, and he was starting to become angry at the thought of someone ordering him around for their amusement. He saw no point in his having to wander around here. He realized he could smell some sort of fragrance as well, and it smelled like flowers, but he saw no flowers around this area where he was now.

As Jim came to the end of the canyon, he could see what looked like wide-open, reddish sanded desert. In the far distance, he could see what looked like either more rocks or forest. He was not sure at the moment. Then he noticed a sign stuck on the side of the rocky canyon wall: YOUR NEW INSTRUCTIONS.

"My what!?" Jim asked. He looked around him. "I'm already tired of this game!" he yelled and heard nothing but his echoing voice in return. He reached into the hole in the rock where he could see another pad. He pulled it out and turned it on.

"Well, Admiral, you've made it further than I would have thought you would without help. Then again, you were always a showoff. You'll soon know what it is to be hunted. You best be on your toes, and if your own life isn't enough to keep you moving, take a look at the screen."

Jim scowled as he looked at the screen, and suddenly, he felt the worst rage he had ever felt as he saw a picture of Carol, his wife, and Alex, his five year old.

"They're always under pretty tight security, but there are ways. Get moving, Admiral. I know you've gotten used to telling everyone what to do but this time, you will follow orders, or your family will become pawns in this game."

The recording ended and Jim threw the pad, breaking it into pieces on the rocks. He would survive this somehow, and he would find out who was behind it. He did not recognize the voice. Someone who doesn't like authority? They think they should be in authority? Why him? As he began walking again, he was thinking. He was sure it had to be someone whom he had had under his command before…or maybe they were under his command now. No one he was close to would do something like this, so it had to be someone in the background who was bitter. He had dealt with bitter people before. He just hoped he did not end up injured this time. The fear of being hunted? Yes, he had had that fear before when he was on Delta Vega. Two creatures had chased him…wanting to eat him. He shivered at the thought of that. If it had not been for the older Spock, he would have been done for.

As Jim walked, he heard a loud, piercing sound that sounded like a creature. He looked behind him but did not see anything. He was out in the wide-open now with nothing to take cover under or behind. He thought maybe the best thing to do was run. If he could make it across this vast plain, perhaps he would be more hidden when he reached the other side. He began running and could see the rocks and even trees on the other side of this desert. His knee was protesting his running but he kept going anyway. However, the heat finally made him have to slow down. He was drenched in sweat now but the other side looked closer. He wanted to remember how he got here and who was behind this. He thought hard as he walked but he did not remember hurting his knee nor being kidnapped. Whoever was behind all this must have given him some sort of tranquilizer that affected his memory as well.

Carol Marcus Kirk sat in Jim's office waiting for him. He had been gone when she got up this morning. He had not awakened her. No one, not even Ajah, Jim's secretary knew where he was, and Ajah usually knew everything. He had not known of any early morning meetings that Jim had been going to. As Carol sat looking out the window, she felt like she was being watched. She had brought Alex along and he was running around the office.

Ajah came into the office. "I've checked everywhere," he said. "There have been no meetings this morning."

"Ajah, come over here," Carol replied.

Ajah went over to her. "Yes, Ma'am?"

"Do you ever have the feeling you're being watched?"

Ajah frowned as he looked out the window. "I have had that feeling lately, Ma'am. Do you think someone has been watching the Admiral?"

"I don't know but he's missing. Jim has never left without telling me where he's going or at least leaving a note. If he has to suddenly go out to do something, he leaves a note. Now, you don't even know where he is, and I'm concerned. And yes, I feel like someone is watching us."

Ajah's eyes began to glow with electrical charge, which was one of the side-effects of experiments he had been subjected to before Jim Kirk and his crew rescued him from Nervala Four. "I am here, and no one is going to take you out of this office if I can help it," he declared.

Carol looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, Ajah, but I'm worried about Jim."

"So am I. There are no meetings that I wouldn't know about, even if they were top secret."

"Then where is he?"

"Did he get up during the night?"

"I don't know. I must have been very tired and completely asleep because he wasn't there when I woke up this morning. I don't know what happened."

"Then something happened during the night. Perhaps security has the footage."

"Why would they not say something?"

"Good question. Obviously something weird is going on. I think you should stay here for now until we figure this out. If someone has taken the admiral, they may be watching you."

"You should inform Captain Spock about this, as well as Admiral Winston."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Ajah left the office. He supposed he could tell Spock first. He sent a message to Spock, who was on the Enterprise and also on a mission. However, he got an almost immediate reply. He turned the display on and saw Spock's familiar Vulcan face. "Ajah," he said. "Your message read: urgent. Is there a problem?"

"Yes," Ajah replied. "Admiral Kirk is missing. He disappeared some time during the night."

Spock was silent a moment. "What do you mean, disappeared?"

"Carol came to the office this morning looking for him because he was not home when she got up. No one knows where he is. There were no early meetings this morning, and no one has heard from him. Carol said that it is unlike him to leave without at least leaving her a message or waking her and telling her where he is going. I have searched for him, contacted his subordinates and have not been able to track him down."

"If you do not hear from him in the next three hours, contact me again. I will complete this mission and will return to Earth."

"Yes, Sir. Do you think I should tell Admiral Winston?"

"Yes. I believe you should."

"I will."

The transmission ended. Ajah thought perhaps he should go to Admiral Winston's office and tell him this in person, although he was always nervous when he had to go there. He would just go anyway.

Admiral Winston's office was on the top floor of the building. Ajah got into the turbo lift and came out on that floor. He stopped a moment to make sure his uniform was straight before he walked over to the secretary. "I need to see the admiral," Ajah said.

Felonia smiled. "Hi, Ajah," she replied. "What's going on?"

"Admiral Kirk is missing."

Felonia scowled. "Missing?"

"Yes. I have to talk to Admiral Winston about this."

"I'll ask if he can see you."

"Thanks."

Ajah waited while Felonia called in to Admiral Winston's office. Felonia was a Vulcan, but she was not like most Vulcan's that Ajah had met because she did not hide all her emotions. Instead, she was very sociable. She had long hair and had atypical greenish-brown eyes. Ajah had never seen a Vulcan like her, and she seemed to like his company.

Felonia soon hung up the phone. "He'll see you in a few minutes," she said. "In the meantime, you could sit and talk to me a little while."

Ajah smiled slightly and sat in the chair across from her desk. "So, what do we talk about today?" he asked.

"Anything you want. Why do you think Admiral Kirk is missing?"

"Because it's unusual for him to disappear like this without telling his wife where he's going."

"Oh." Felonia was silent a moment. "Do you think you will ever get married?"

"Maybe."

"Would you consider dating another species?"

"I might."

Felonia narrowed her eyes as she could see his slight grin. "Are you teasing me?"

"Maybe. Are you asking me out?"

"Maybe."

Ajah smiled then. "I might be a shocking date."

"You are so odd, Ajah. I've read some of your novels and I have played some of your holonovels as well."

"Are you impressed?"

"I am. You've become quite the writer. I especially enjoyed The Desert of Torment. That one was rather creepy."

"Well, I do like to dive into all sorts of genres. Some people like scary stuff, testing grounds, things like that."

"What do you think it would really be like to be stranded in the desert?"

"I actually went out to the desert when I wrote that story. It's quite accurate."

"So, you're one of those authors who actually gets into his writing."

"I try to. Do you write?"

"No. I only type what I'm told. I could never write a story."

"I've been writing since I was a child. I was always quiet, didn't have many friends, but I was somewhere else most of the time."

"You didn't like talking to other people?"

"Not much."

"You're kinda quiet now."

"Sometimes."

Just then, Felonia's intercom beeped. "Yes sir," she said as she pressed the button.

"Send Ajah in," Admiral Winston replied.

Felonia looked at Ajah. "He'll be right in, Sir."

Ajah stood up. "Wish me luck," he said.

"Good luck. So, when are we going to have a date?" Felonia asked. "Maybe we could play one of your novels."

"Maybe we could. I'll let you know."

Ajah went on to Admiral Winston's office. The admiral was sitting behind his desk. "Come on in," Winston said. "Have a seat."

Ajah sat down across from Admiral Winston and waited while the admiral finished writing something. He then looked at Ajah. "What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Sir, Admiral Kirk is missing. We wanted to know if you know where he is. Did you send him on some secret mission?"

Winston scowled at that question. "Are you questioning me, Ajah?"

"No, Sir. We just wondered if you know where he is. His wife is worried."

"I haven't sent Admiral Kirk on any secret missions. I'm not in a habit of sending people on missions and keeping their families worried. How long has he been missing?"

"We are not sure. Carol said he was gone this morning when she got up. It's not like him to simply disappear like that, Sir."

"Has anything strange happened lately?"

"Not that I am aware of."

"Who knows? Perhaps he went off to get something special for her without her knowing."

"And be gone this long, Sir?"

Admiral Winston had to admit himself that it was odd for Kirk to be out of touch. "I'll see what I can find out," he said. "In the meantime, you contact his friends and see if they know anything."

"Yes, Sir."

"Hopefully, we'll find out he's simply out doing an errand of some sort."

"Yes, Sir."

Ajah left that office and stopped at Felonia's desk as she stood up. "No luck?" she asked.

"No," Ajah replied. "The admiral doesn't even know where he is."

"You're worried too."

Ajah looked at her with his light blue eyes which were starting to glow slightly as they did when he was upset. "I am," he replied. "I'll call you." Felonia watched him leave the office. She hoped he would call.

Ajah went back down to his own office where Carol was still waiting. "Well?" she asked.

"Admiral Winston doesn't know where he is," Ajah said.

"There's something wrong."

"Well, surely security caught something if there was anything to catch."

"Right."

"I can find out something. I'll get Solan in on this. He's always wanting something different to do. But I think you should stay here until I do find something. You will be safe here."

Carol was silent a moment. "You think we're in danger?" she asked.

"I don't know, and until we do know, I would rather you and Alex would be safe."

"Thank you, Ajah."

Ajah left the office and stood outside for a few moments to figure out just what he should do first. He would contact Solan first. He knew where Solan was working at the moment so he got a transport and went over to the hangar where Solan picked up cargo to transport. Solan was busy with an inventory pad when Ajah arrived.

"Solan!" Ajah called as he entered the hangar.

Solan looked up from his pad. "Ajah, what brings you here?" he asked.

"I need to talk to you."

"Sure. What's going on? You got a day off or something?"

"No. Can we talk somewhere more private?"

Solan just looked at him a moment. "Yeah. Come on."

Ajah followed him into his ship and they stopped in the galley. "So, what's going on?" Solan asked. "Is Admiral Kirk about to go on some dangerous mission again?"

"I wish it was that," Ajah replied. "He's missing."

"Missing? What do you mean, missing?"

"He disappeared sometime during the night. This morning, Carol came to the office thinking he had come in early. Admiral Winston hasn't sent him on any missions."

"Have you checked security cameras?"

"Not yet. I'm about to try and get those. I think we need someone with some pull to get them. Spock is on a mission but he'll be back as soon as he's done with it."

"Well, why didn't you ask the Admiral to ask for them?"

"I'm not used to this sort of investigation."

"Alright. I have a run to make. Where's Carol now?"

"I told her to stay at Admiral Kirk's office. She and Alex are both there."

"That's good. I suppose they could come with me on my run, and if you get the security footage, we can study it while we're taking this shipment to Jupiter station."

"Right. Wish me luck."

"Hey, just show them your electrifying personality."

"Very funny. That's Helek who likes to do that."

"Take him with you."

"I'm not sure where he is right now. He could be on the mission with Captain Spock."

"Just do your best. I have to get this inventory sorted out and just let me know what you find."

"I'll get back to you."

Ajah left the hangar feeling rather nervous about his mission. He was one of those people who liked to stay in the background and give support, not lead a mission, but today, he had to find out for himself. He went over to the apartment complex where Admiral Kirk lived and went inside to find the security office. It was not hard to find so he went in. "Excuse me," Ajah said.

The security officer stood up. "What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I'm Ajah. I'm Admiral Kirk's personal assistant. Have you seen Admiral Kirk since yesterday?"

The officer considered that. "My shift began this morning, but I did see him come in before I left yesterday."

"Who was on duty last night?"

"That was Jarek."

"I need the security footage from last night. Admiral Kirk is missing."

"Missing?" The officer stood up and attempted to bring up the footage from the night before, but a message flashed on the computer screen: DATA UNAVAILABLE. He was puzzled by this. "Now, wait a minute. It can't be unavailable." He tried again, but got the same message. He looked at Ajah. "It looks like it has been erased."

Ajah frowned. "Who has authorization to erase data like that?" he asked.

"It takes intimate knowledge of the system."

"So anyone who can get into it could do it?"

"This is a very secure system. It would have to be done from the inside."

"Does Jarek live in this complex?"

"Jarek couldn't have done that from here."

"Then where would it have to be done?"

"From the central computer terminal. This is just a monitoring station. The data is stored there."

Ajah thought this was getting worse all the time. "So, you're telling me that someone from the central computer terminal erased this data?" he asked.

"It would have to be," the officer, whose name was Mike, answered.

"You need to report this. How do I get to the central computer terminal? Do you know anyone who works there?"

"The central computer terminal is downtown in the city security building."

"Right. And it'll be like getting through planet security to get in there. I'll see you. Like I said, report that."

Ajah went outside and took out his communicator to contact Solan. He told him what he had found out and where he had to go. "I have Carol and Alex here with me now," Solan said. "So they're safe. You should get Admiral Winston in on this."

"I guess you're right," Ajah replied. "Are you leaving now?"

"I'm leaving in about thirty minutes. Good luck and keep me informed."

"I will."

Ajah ended that transmission. He would have to contact Admiral Winston again, so he went to his own living quarters which was just a small apartment where he lived alone. He was a writer, so living alone was a choice. He went over to his own communication area and sent a message to Admiral Winston's office. Of course, Felonia answered.

"Hi, Ajah," she said with a smile.

"Hello, Felonia. I need to speak with the Admiral," Ajah said. "We have a big problem."

"Like what?"

"It's looking more and more like Admiral Kirk has been a victim of foul play."

"I'll get this message to him as soon as possible. He's in a meeting right now and can't be disturbed."

"I need Admiral Winston to get into the central computer terminal in the downtown security building. Someone deleted security footage from Admiral Kirk's building the night he was abducted. It's looking more and more like that's the case."

Felonia was taking notes and she looked very concerned. "As soon as his meeting is over, I will tell him, and he'll be in touch with you."

"Thank you. Make sure you let him know this is very urgent."

"I will, Ajah."

"By the way, I think I would like to have lunch with you sometime. I don't know how busy I'll be the next few days but, it would be nice."

Felonia smiled. "Anytime is good for me."

"I'll let you know."

Ajah ended that transmission. He had to find Helek. He would have to find where he was assigned to work, but he was usually working with some electrical power system. He supposed he could try to contact someone with personnel, and maybe they would know. He remembered that Priscilla worked in the personnel office. Maybe she could help him. He would just go there rather than trying to explain all this over a computer terminal where the message might be intercepted and heard.

As Ajah walked outside, he suddenly wondered if he was being watched too. He looked around him but did not see anyone looking in his direction particularly. He would just get a transport rather than walking. Soon, he was on his way and arrived at the personnel office quickly. He went inside after he looked around the area outside. He had an eerie feeling about this whole situation. He went inside to find a front desk with a Vulcan there as well. "May I help you?" he asked.

"Yes, I am Ajah, and I am looking for Priscilla," Ajah replied.

The Vulcan pressed a button. "Priscilla, there is someone here to see you. His name is Ajah."

"Send him on back," Priscilla replied.

The Vulcan pressed another button and a door opened. "You may proceed to room ten."

"Thank you," Ajah replied. That Vulcan was a lot like Spock in his precise way of speaking.

Ajah went down the hallway until he came to the right office. He rang the door chime. "Enter!" Priscilla said from inside.

Ajah went in and Priscilla met him with a hug. "How have you been?" she asked. "I have not seen you in quite a while."

"I am doing well," Ajah replied. "Do you know where Helek is working?"

"I can find out. Is something wrong?"

"I am afraid so." Ajah explained to her what was happening. "I need some help."

"I will be glad to help you."

"I am not sure what the course of action should be at this point. Captain Spock will be back from his mission in approximately two days, and Solan should be back in two days. I am attempting to gather all the information I can before they arrive."

"He just vanished," Priscilla said thoughtfully.

"Yes. Somehow, they even got him out of his apartment without Carol knowing it."

"This is odd. Do you think they threatened him?"

"I do not know, but whoever it is, they are very stealthy."

Priscilla typed in her computer. "Helek is working at the central power conduit," she said. She looked at him. "I'll just bet he's loving that."

"I would believe that," Ajah replied. "I have not had the need to absorb any energy lately, but I have a feeling that day is coming fast."

"Maybe. Would you like me to send him a message from here?"

"I would rather tell him in person. There is something not right about this. Someone from central security did this. It is the only way the data could have been deleted."

"I understand. When I am off work, I can come and help you."

"I will let you know."

Ajah left that office and as he walked outside, he had the same feeling of being watched. If someone was watching him, they had to be involved in this abduction. His communicator chirped as he was about to board a transport. The call was from Admiral Winston. "Yes, Sir," Ajah answered.

"I was very disturbed about the information you sent me, Ajah," Admiral Winston said. "Are you certain the data has been deleted?"

"That's what I was told, Sir."

"You know what this means, do you not?"

"I do."

"I'll give you clearance to get into that building."

"I was going to get Helek to help me since everyone else is busy. I have had the strangest feeling of being watched, Sir. I do not know if it is simply my nervousness, or if I am being watched."

"Take it easy. Perhaps you should have someone else with you, but do not let anyone else know about this."

"I have discussed it only with people I can trust."

"By the time you arrive at central security, you'll have clearance."

"Yes, Sir."

"And be careful. If someone there deleted that, they can cause you trouble if they think you are getting too close."

"Yes, Sir."

"Winston out."

The transmission ended and Ajah soon arrived at the central power conduit that powered most of the city. He went inside and asked to see Helek who was working at the central core. "It is urgent that I talk to him," Ajah said. "Admiral Winston sent me."

"I can take you to him," the attendant said.

They boarded a transport and were soon zooming through the place which was quite large, understandably. Ajah did not like the ride since it was so fast but they made it to the core where Helek was. He was surprised to see Ajah there. "What brings you down here to the working folks?" he asked with his eyes glowing.

"A big problem," Ajah replied.

Helek just stared at him a moment. "I'm listening."

"It's Admiral Kirk. We think he's been abducted."

"Abducted?"

"We need to talk about this in private."

"This is about as private as you get. No one else works this far into the core but me. It's too dangerous for those affected by electricity."

Ajah explained the situation to Helek. "I need your help," Ajah said.

"Well, if I'm going off on some mission, Admiral Winston will have to give me leave from this job or I'll be fired."

"I'm sure he will." Ajah put his hands on his hips. "Are you absorbing power down here?"

Helek smiled with his teeth even glowing. "What do you think?"

"Maybe I should power up. I have been feeling like someone is watching me all day."

Helek frowned. "I'll show you the best place."

Ajah followed him and he absorbed an ample supply of power from a relay. "That feels pretty good," he said.

"It's raw power. So, I have to tell my supervisor that I'm on a mission."

"Great. Go ahead."

Helek's supervisor did not have a problem with him going on a mission for Starfleet since he knew he was a member. They went back outside and stopped on the sidewalk. "Do you feel it?" Ajah asked.

"I do," Helek replied.

"Someone is very interested in what I am doing. Did they not think we would figure out that the Admiral was missing?"

"I don't know, but they probably just want to make sure we're not getting too close."

"Why would anyone abduct Admiral Kirk?"

"I don't know, but we have to discover some sort of trail. If that data can't be found, we may be at a dead end."

"Do not say dead."

"Sorry, but I don't know what we'll do if we can't find any clues. We should find out if any ships left out of here in a hurry last night, if anyone saw him at the depot or anywhere."

"We have a lot of work to do before Solan and Spock return from their missions in two days."

"Maybe we can have enough by then that we can all figure something out."

"We should stay together. First we will go to the central security building and find something there."

"I'm with you."