Suddenly Spock found himself in his bedroom, dressing his usual robe, laying on his bed. Everything was as it should be, so that all the time he had spent seemed to be a dream. But it was not.
It was real. And Spock could still feel a slight fresh on his cheek, the memory of a touch which for too long he had tryed to reach; and his eye, which for hours had been hidden and secured under the eye patch, now annoyed him, suddenly receiving the dim light of the candles on the bedside table.
Now he knew. He knew who called him, he knew the one he himself was looking for.
He knew.
"Hey there. So, how was your night?" Trelane asked, after appearing out of nowhere and sitting on the edge at the end of the bed. His legs crossed and holding in his hands a glass containing a red liquid, probably some strange kind of wine.
"You knew..."
"Of course. Otherwise why would I have brought you there?" He said smiling.
"How can this be to your advantage?"
"Advantage? No advantage. Only pure, personal pleasure."
"You used me. This was your plan. And you used my weaknesses to reach your purpose; I congratulate you on your success." Spock said, in part seriously honoring the alien's willfulness, in part accusing him.
"Come on, we both gained something, am I wrong? I, hopeless romantic," He continued after sipping from his glass "Made sure that two soulmates like you could meet. I could compete with Cupid!" He elogiated himself, leaping up and bringing up a bow and a quiver full of arrows; he shot one of them and then made them disappear and went on with his speech "As a matter of fact, I would say I'm even better than him. Plus, think of it this way: in a few days, I'll get bored observing your miserable life; in return, you two lovebirds'll continue your amorous skirmishes. What do you say?"
"I say there will be no, as you call them, 'amorous skirmishes'."
"Why not?" Trelane asked surprised.
"Because my father will prevent me from seeing him..." He stood up and went to the door. "Now that he is aware of my disobedience."
Spock opened the door and faced his father's rigid, stern gaze.
"Spock, how did you dare disobey me?" He asked, incresing slightly the tone of his voice.
"I'll suffer the consequences." replied Spock, who, after meeting Jim, could not feel guilty for what he had done.
"Oh, I was completely unaware of him." Tralene commented ironically. "I'm so sorry!" He added more melodramatically.
And then he was gone.
"Spock, you owe me an explanation. At once." His father ordered, after seing the stranger dissolve.
Having explained to his father what happened, Sarek had to use every ounce of his Vulcan blood to stay calm; in vain, Amanda tried to mediate between her two men, first giving reason to one, then taking the other side, pointing out as both of them had made their mistakes and how their conduct had crossed the line. When the situation became unmanageable, Amanda raised her voice and hushed her family.
"Now listen to me, you two. You are father and son, and love each other, as much as you can and want to admit it. Then, no more 'logic' and stop arguing! I decide now. Spock, go back to you room; my husband, we go to bed. And tomorrow morning we'll clarify the matter. Right?"
The two men looked at each other.
"Emotional." Spock said.
"Yes, she's always been." Sarek agreed.
"Oh, are you allying against me? Go, all in bed. I refuse to listen to reason." She ordered with a high voice, pointing with both her arms in the direction of their rooms.
And immediately the two men obeyed.

Kirk stood still for a few seconds; his eyes were pointed at the science officer's station direction where, just before, was that mysterious man. And that enthusiasm, that private, reassuring atmosphere which had enveloped the entire Bridge, had made him feel complete, which for a few moments had satiated his thirst for curiousity and need had vanished with him. He wondered if all of that was only a dream. But his soul denied that possibility.
Kirk sat on the Captain chair, holding the eye patch tight in his fist. He turned it over in his fingers sensing his softness, the sensation caused by the tissue rubbed against skin; with his fingertips, he was still able to feel its warmth.
But all this was nothing compared to what he's been able to touch just before. Because he'd been able to touch the one who belonged to him, the one to which he had and wanted to give himself; because never before he had under his hands a creature with such strong, elegant features, with eyes so dark that he could lose himself in them, but illuminated with that light which could drive him back to the surface. He did not give importance to the fact that that voice, which has long -too long- made him be infatuated, had a masculine timbre, because what he was looking for went beyond those kind of barriers, and because what had been in front of him turned out to be so unique and inimitable that Kirk himself had to be astonished that such a creature had chosen him.
He was left to reflect about what an immense gift he had recieved, between the silence of the Bridge and the feeble noises which every now and then, to remind him his ship was now ready to depart, were made by the consoles around him.
He didn't go to the recreation room 1 throughout all the night; that was not the time to immerge himself in festivities and to smile to that mass of people already corrupted by alcohol. His mind was busied in other arguments; plans which didn't leave space to other thoughts. He was going to find that man; he was going to bring him back aboard the Enterprise because the mission needed him... and Kirk needed him too.
While he was trying to find a way to reach his purpose, the turbolift's doors opened and a security officer entered the Bridge, to inform him of the end of the ball and the resulting beaming down of all the officers directly at the Academy.
"Admiral Komack asked me to ask you this question; were you able to find a science officer?" The red-shirt concluded.
"I'll talk to him in person, thank you. Inform the Admiral I'm going to join him immediately to discuss about it. And inform the transporter room I'll be there within a few minutes and to prepare my landing coordinates." Kirk ordered, before exiting from the Bridge and going to his new quarters to change his clothes and look breafly in his computer database.
"Yes sir."

"Admiral." The blonde man greeted with a slight nod.
"Captain Kirk, I didn't want to deny you this meeting, but don't you think it's a bit late in the night?" Komack asked, while sitting composed behind his desk.
"Yes, I realize. But I have a really important issue to which remedy. It's about my Science Officer."
"Sit down, Kirk, sit down. Explain." He invited.
The new Captain of the Enterprise settled himself in front of the Admiral and started to speak, mantaining constant eye contact to underline how much this matter was delicate and important to him.
"I've found the right person for the job." He said. He paused briefly to gather up his thoughts, then continued. "The problem is I don't know who he is."
Komack was amazed by that statement.
"You don't know... who he is? I undestand it was a masked ball and his appearence could have been hidden to you, but your duty was to test our cadets. It was implied you had to ask them their name!" He reprimended him, raising his voice.
"That's exactly the first thing I've wanted to know, Sir. The fact is that his name is not in the list of the event attendees."
"That's not possible."
"I know. Invitations were sent only to the aspirant officers at the Academy, and no one else could have intercepted one of them. In this way only ourselves could be aware of the past event and no one could infiltrate on board the ship. And yet..."
"What was his name?"
"Spock."
"Spock? What kind of name is it? No, 'Spock' has ever been accepted to the Academy."
"Nevertheless, I'm telling the truth." Kirk said, hating to be taken for a liar.
"Listen, Kirk, your ship departs in three days. And the crew has to be complete. If you've not been able to find a suitable Science Officer, we'll find it for you."
"But I have found my Officer!" Kirk rebuted, standing up and laying his hands on the desk.
"Please, Captain, sit down and remain calm." Komack apostrophised him, remaining as much as possible composed. "Tell me, in which way are you going to find this phantomatic Officer? Advance a solution, and I'll give you three days to bring him back aboard the ship." He offered, joining his hands and laying them on his chest.
"Reasoning, the only possibility is that 'Spock' is a false name. And, before you ask, no, I don't know why the hell an aspirant officer would have the need to hide himself behind such an expedient. But I can bet my life on it that he is the right man for this job; therefore I intend to bring him here. And, because, as we said, no one besides the cadets at the Academy could have set foot on board my ship, it's obvious we have to look among them."
"And how do you intend to do it?" Komack asked, skeptical.
"I'll summon them one by one. And when I'll have him in front of me, I'll recognize him." Kirk replied, convinced more than he'd ever been.
"I have to say I have little hope in your plan and yours seems to me a vain search. But I promised you a chance, therefore you'll have it."
"Thank you, Sir." Kirk said, standing up and going towards the door to start his hunting as soon as possible.
"And... Captain." The Admiral called him.
Kirk stopped and turned.
"Captain, I see your great enthusiasm, but please... go to sleep. You can begin your interviews tomorrow morning. I think this is not the right time."
Kirk said nothing, but nodded and left.
He went quickly to bed, hoping time would pass faster and convinced his plan was going to work.

"James... James..." The voice called him, that voice to which now he could give a face. "James... come to me. Come and take me..." It invoked him from afar.
"Where are you?" The blonde man asked, seeing nothing but darkness around himself.
"Follow me... come to me..." It went on to incite.
Suddenly a green light, the same one that for many nights had guided him throughout his dreams, reappeard. And as it had done so many times before, it conduced him at the foot of a mountain. Kirk climbed it, using his hands and feet, pushing up with all his strength, not allowing his fatigue to stop him, nor to slow him down; and when, finally, he arrived to the top, the light was there in all his brilliance. Kirk approached it slowly, fearing to frighten it. He held out his right hand. Step after step his body begun to be enveloped by that light, and Kirk felt like someone was embracing him; his fingers brushed something, something velvety and warm. And he recognized him. Straining his view, he was able to catch a glimpse of that face, impassive, but rich of sweetness. His hand was now entirely lying on that flat cheek.

The following day, Kirk woke up early and immediately started to browse the list of the invitees. He checked them one by one, spoke and joked with them, but the one he was looking for was not there. After reaching half of the list, doubt about finding his man started creeping in him. But immediately, he reminded himself of the dream he made that very night and the flame of his enthusiasm started to burn again, even more strongly.
His mind was so lost in his search that even hunger, thirst and fatigue weren't able to dent his determination.
And when, around dinner time, he finished to inspect every single officer and found out none of them had the slightest resemblance to Spock, even this didn't discourage him. Convinced of his actions, he returned to his quarters and went to his computer, checking any data transciption mistakes and any hidden files.

"Admiral Komack," Kirk said just entered in the office and without waiting for his superior to greet him "My plan didn't produce any positive results. I've interrogated every officer at the Academy. But there was nothing I could do. He's not here."
"So, do you surrender?" Komack asked, looking up from the pile of cards to which he was working.
"No." Kirk replied with eyes full of conviction.
"No? What more are you going to do?"
"I see you haven't paid attention to my words. I said I've met the officers here, at the Academy, not all those who are registered to it."
Komack looked at him perplexed.
"Being Captain offers some privilegies, as you know, and I know how to take advantage of them. I've found out there is a man I've not had the privilege to meet."
"I understand who you mean: Ambassador Sarek's son, am I right?"
"Precisely." Kirk replied, pleased with himself.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Captain, but he wasn't here last night. His father explicitly prohibited him to take part at the event. And Vulcans are not used to disobey their parents." Komack said, going back to work.
"Vulcans maybe not. But he is half human."
"Kirk, come to the point. What are you driving at?" The Admiral asked, having no time to spare in chit chat.
"I ask your permission to go to Vulcan."
"Permission denied." Komack replied, without looking up from his cards.
"Why?"
"Because it's useless."
"I have two days more, and it's a sufficient time to go there and come back with my Science Officer ready to leave for the mission." Kirk replied stubborn.
"What makes you think this Vulcan is your 'Spock'?" Komack asked, now looking Kirk in the eyes and waiting for him to give a convincing answer.
"I can't explain it, but I am sure of it." Kirk replied, for the first time at a loss for words.
"It doesn't seem to me a sufficient motivation." He said crossing his arms.
"I can't say more. You have to trust me."
"Y'know, Captain Kirk, there are a lot of people who bet on you. They think you are the Starfleet youngster..."
"I know, and I'm proud of their trust."
"...they admire your perspicacity and your innate talent for command, your strategic intelligence and your ongoing commitment, your courage and the way you behave in front of risks and danger. But above all this, what hit them is your instinct. It won't be proper to contain just your best quality. So... I allow you to board. But remember this: two days, not more."
"Thank you. Forty-eight hours will be more than sufficient."