Once he was certain that Spock was sleeping McCoy thought over what Knight and Bayliss had said. They had been getting back to the beam up location, Kirk and Spock had the discs with the information, Spock was carrying them. They had been attacked by the indigenous people with crude weapons. Spock had been struck by one of the bullets and Jim and yelled for Knight and Bayliss to grab him as Kirk had tried to find a way to slow their pursuers. Kirk had ordered the beam up and was less than a meter from the site when he was struck at least twice. They saw him get shot and saw him fall into the flooded river. He tried to calm himself by believing somehow that green-blooded hobgoblin would find a way but he had heard the reports, the orders, while Spock had still been in a healing trance. A relief captain was to take command, they were barred from going too Valtron. When a new captain was appointed they would be informed but till then it was to be situation normal.

Normal was not sitting in a briefing room with Spock just out of Sickbay meeting the relief Captain. Normal was not trying to accept this man as their new Captain. Normal was not being on the Enterprise not captained by James T. Kirk.

The trip from Valtron had been a very depressing one as the whole crew had threatened mutiny and only Chief Engineer Scott taking command the way he did calmed things and kept the crew together. When McCoy had watched him he had seen how the Scotsman was only just containing his fury at having to have left Kirk without fully ascertaining his condition. McCoy stopped himself. Dammit, he was starting to talk like that blasted Vulcan. That was what Uhura had pointed out, that it could have been worse as they could have lost them both.

It had been on their second day at Star Base Nine that a Captain Barren Travis came aboard and Spock was there to meet him. For a few hours Spock and Travis were alone in a briefing room and the bridge crew waited. It was never mentioned, never talked about, but they knew what affected on of them affected them all as they were that close a group. There had been a look of concern when Mister Scott as asked to report to the briefing room.

When the Chief Engineer walked into the room he immediately looked at Spock and the Vulcan gave him a reassuring nod, "Captain Travis this is Chief Engineer Montgonery Scott. Mister Scott, it seems there is an uncompleted notation on your report. You state that one Officer Ton was to have six days stand down because of all the hours he had worked during that viral attack that struck many of crew who were directly or indirectly exposed to the virus."

"Aye, he was the one to step up so others to fully recover. Tis the lad's way. Sir."

"That may be, Mister Scott," Travis looked at the Engineer and said, "But you should have

confirmed that he was back on duty at this morning's shift."

"I was about to go check if the lad was feeling poorly as he did not report and it is not like Stan not to report in."

It was only a slight movement but the Vulcan saw Travis suddenly sit up and looked right at Miser Scott. "You say the man's name is Stan Ton and he is in Engineering?"

"And the finest asset you could find. If he were a tad more conventional he could almost be a better miracle worker than I am reputed to be but what he does is, well, it is just magic. If you'll excuse me I'll go get the lad and put him ta work."

While Mister Scott was gone Spock studied Captain Travis as they walked back to the bridge. He had only met the man once before when Captain Pike had been Captain of the Enterprise and then it had only been part of what Humans called meet-n-greet. The man had aged well and progressed well and was known to be a peace maker of a captain who was very direct while Kirk was also known as a peace maker of a captain but was not as bluntly direct. There had been something about the way Captain Travis said, "Stan Ton." that made Spock study the Human more. So many times he had seen a similar look about Jim, one of mentally questioning himself about an action, reaching a decision, and being ready to take action.

The Engineer walked back onto the bridge shaking his head. "I do nae understand it. The lad were no place he usually goes when not in Engineering. It is like he disappeared."

In a voice lower and softer than Human ears would detect Spock heard Travis say to himself, "Stan Ton. Stan Ton of course." Then the Captain looked at Spock, I want to see just the Chief Engineer, the First Officer, the Navigator, the Helmsman, the Communications Officer, and the Chief Medical Officer in this secure briefing room now." He had paused and looked around the bridge then looked back at Officer Hensley, "You have the con, you know what that means?

"Yes, yes Sir."

When the young officer looked at Spock, as though for confirmation, the Vulcan said "Officer Hensley, we will be in Briefing Room One should there be anything out of the ordinary. You have been on the bridge many times and shown promise, consider this an assessment test."

There was an obvious release of tension in the man as he nodded, "Thank you, Sir."

Once they were all in the briefing room Spock was aware of the others looking from him to Travis then back at him. He had always known they would follow his lead but that simple gesture reaffirmed their total belief in him. He was also aware of how McCoy was watching him as he had been against him going to the bridge let alone coming to this.

Before anybody said anything Travis activated the electronic blocker, and the six from the bridge looked at one another. Whatever this was about was clearly just for them to know about.

"I know that you will have heard of my record and my reputation. I am very different from Captain Kirk in a great many ways and yet in others ways we are very alike. We are both extremely loyal to our crew and our friends. I need to know about this missing officer, this Stan Ton."

Just for a moment Spock thought it unusual to have been sequestered away from the bridge to tell him about a missing officer but something about the man was so like Jim Kirk that Spock nodded, "As memory serves he has been on the Enterprise for just over ten years, he was an officer requested by Captain Christopher Pike as a leading general hand. He was exceptionally,"

"I do not mean to be rude, Mister Spock, but I was more interested in him as a person, what he looked like, what were his interests, what his mannerisms were."

Only having known and studied the five others did Spock notice a change, a shift from them just watching Travis to almost suspicious alertness. It was most unusual to be asked about the appearance and gesticulations of a fellow officer.

"I'd put him as the Human equal to Mister Spock in knowledge although his was more of the hands-on hard learned type. He asked a lot of questions, was eager to try new things, and while emotional he kept them fairly well controlled." McCoy briefly looked at the Vulcan First Officer and met the dark eyes that were looking at him, "He and Mister Spock could have some very interesting and entertaining debates about so many different things. Although he more than met Starfleet's requirements I am aware that there was a delay in getting his medical records as, for some reason, Doctor Piper had not finished updating his when I took over. I'd say he was slightly taller than Mister Spock and a few pounds heavier. Muscular but not to the extent he would have to workout every day to stay that way. He could seem totally relaxed yet you were aware he was watching everything. He could be very vocal and joking one minute then serious and deathly silent the next. That used to drive Jim, Captain Kirk, to distraction. That quick switch of his. The way his whole persona would flick. Was often what he needed when this one," McCoy looked at Spock, "was staying in Sickbay as it almost always got the needed reaction."

"So he knew Kirk on more than just a rank relationship?"

"Aye, he was the one who would often bring the captain, Doctor McCoy and myself back home if we had enjoyed a wee mite too much to drink while ashore without another knowing. I nay knew what he made us drink but t'was better for the head than any of McCoy's potions."

McCoy had nodded, "And whatever it was did not show up on any of the analysis I later did so was obviously a natural substance."

"And he was noticed missing when?"

There it had been again, that tone Spock could not quite name but could tell from looking at the others that they had not noticed it. They would most likely just think he was asking the routine questions but Spock was certain there was something else. When he looked at McCoy he saw how, about the blue eyes that met and held his gaze, the man had some doubts as well. Clearly McCoy had also heard that Travis had asked about Ton being noticed as missing not reported as missing.

Even as he said it Spock was aware that he was doing what Jim would have called playing a hunch, "He was not reported as missing until Mister Scott informed us just,."

Travis looked at him and Spock realized the man knew he had deliberately stated that, "When and where was he last seen?"

"Officer Ton had a remarkable ability to, what you Humans call disappear in plain sight." Spock did not break eye contact as he knew he and Travis were having a conversation the others were not a part of. "It has seemed most unusual that he has not been in to Sickbay to see me as he did make it almost a routine to visit those in Sickbay after encounters on visits to planets, bases, or stations. I have been kept in Sickbay from the time I was beamed aboard until Doctor McCoy cleared me just prior to your arrival so I have no information of when he was last seen."

"He relieved for me when I helped Knight and Bayliss get Mister Spock to Sickbay when they beamed up." Spock saw a look of almost shock on the Scotsman's face when he looked at him, "I left him there as Saunders had not arrived. I got back and Saunders was late. I did nay think about it but now I remember the room was empty and the switches were set wrong."

"Wrong?"

"Aye, they, they indicated a beam down but that is nae possible."

There was just a slight change in McCoy's posture that let Spock know he was thinking the same. Then Travis voiced what those there was thinking, "I believe in this case it was not only possible but also it is what happened."

For a moment there was something in that room that neither Spock nor McCoy could name but when they looked at each other they knew it was there, that it was there and that the others also were aware of it.

"Valston?" McCoy finally said the word and saw the agreement in the dark eyes looking into him. The damned fool had tried to do what he wanted to. But there was no way one man could have beamed himself down.

Spock looked back at Travis who had clearly not missed the look he had exchanged with McCoy. He was acutely aware of the others looking at him, aware that they would follow his lead.

Captain Travis looked at each one of the six Enterprise senior officers before him in a very steady way and they each knew he was about to say something that perhaps should not be said but that had to be said as they all knew it, all felt it. "I am taking this ship to Valston."

McCoy looked from Travis to Spock and saw the slow nod. That canny Vulcan knew something, there was something about Travis and his interest in Ton.

"Sir, with all due respect our orders," Spock started but Travis's look silenced him. It was so like a look he would have expected from Kirk.

"I am well aware of your orders, Mister Spock. They were very clear in stating that none of the crew who served aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Captain James T Kirk was to return to Valston and that you six in particular were not to return to Valston."

"Then you are aware that by taking the Enterprise back to Valston you are in violation of those orders."

"Going strictly by the orders from Command just how am I in violation of them when none of the crew who served aboard will return to Valston?"

For a moment the Vulcan looked at the man. Clearly he planned to go to Valston for reasons unknown and was putting the entire crew at risk as they were forbidden to return to Valston. Returning there would, no. Spock had seen it.

Although most people could not glean any changes to a Vulcan's expressions clearly Travis had as he nodded, "Nobody from this ship apart from myself and a few others will be on the planet. We are the only ones who will go to Valston. The crew who served under Captain Kirk will remain in orbit around Valston but will not go to Valston. There is a difference, Mister Spock, a very big difference."

"But we will be going to Valston, correct?" Chekov started.

"Yes, you will be going to Valston space, in an orbit around Valston but you will not be going down to the planet."

"Do you believe Captain Kirk to still be alive?" Spock looked at the man and saw how the grey eyes looked back at him.

"I believe, for reasons I will not go into, that he could be. Right now I need secure contact with Captain Malls on the Venture and Captain Jenkins on the Laneone." As Spock looked at the man he could see that Travis knew those other senior captains, ones who, like Travis, were about ten years older than Jim and who had all faced the first major Klingon offensive against the border, the offensive that had surprised the Klingons and made them aware of the capabilities of the Federation to protect its borders.