So far, Spock had learned a few things about his nervous guards. One was named Ralf and was from New York; the other was named Grant, and was from Chicago. They had been hired by Loveless two weeks earlier, expecting a "traditional bank robbing gig", only to find themselves guarding an alien instead. Spock had learned little about Loveless from Ralf and Grant, only that he was a genius, and wanted for several crimes by the US Government. In return, Spock told them he was from a planet far outside the Solar System, and that he had been on a very important mission when he was separated from his friends; all of which wasn't far from the truth.

"I would not do that if I were you;" Spock warned. Ralf, who had been planning to poke the Vulcan with the end of his shotgun, froze.

"How'd you do that?" he gasped. Spock was sitting on the floor with his eyes closed, unmoving. After thirty minutes, Ralf decided to test if the alien was asleep. He wasn't.

"I could hear you coming;" Spock replied. "My hearing is much more acute than a normal human." He didn't mention that he could also hear some of their thoughts. The fact that he was a telepath might come in handy later on.

"What's 'acute' mean?" Grant asked.

"Sharp;" Spock said. "My hearing is better than yours."

"Oh;" Ralf and Grant said. Ralf sat back down, slightly perturbed that his chance at some fun with their prisoner had been ruined. Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the door at the top of the stairs was thrown open; causing Ralf to fall off his chair, Grant to nearly fire his gun, and Spock to open his eyes. A very happy Dr. Loveless came down the stairs.

"I want to thank you, Mr. Spock;" he said. "Your little gun is even more amazing than I thought possible! And thanks to it and some previous intelligence, I have managed to trap my greatest foes right where I want them! Now I shall finally get my revenge on James West, and he is powerless to stop me!"

"Might I ask what my role in all this is?" Spock asked.

"You don't have much of a role, I'm afraid;" Loveless said. "But, outside my plans for West, I want to know more about you. Where you come from, how you got here, your technology."

"I have told you where I am from;" Spock replied. "Also that I am not entirely sure how I arrived here. I'm afraid that I cannot tell you about technology; that would go against the Prime Directive."

"I had a feeling you'd say something like that;" Loveless said with a grin. "But I have my ways of making people talk. Take him out and bring him to my lab."

Ralf moved forward and unlocked the cell door, letting Grant in. Once Spock was out they both grabbed an arm and began to lead Spock towards the stairs. Suddenly, Spock pulled free of Grant and found the pressure point on the back of his neck, taking him down with a nerve pinch. Before Ralf could react and bring his gun up, Spock spun him around and knocked him out with another nerve pinch. Spock sprinted towards the door, when a bolt of energy surged through his body.

'Loveless had the phaser;' he realized as he fell to the ground. 'And he has figured out how to use it.'

"I couldn't help but notice this little gun has two settings;" Loveless said, standing over Spock. The Vulcan fought to stay conscious and regain control of his body, which was harder than the latter. "One is 'kill' the other is 'stun'. I've already tried out the kill setting; that's how I took care of the train rails, and an annoying witness. But I like the stun setting too." Loveless looked at the unconscious guards. "The way you took those two out was impressive. You are clearly stronger and faster than a human; I must take that into account now. But how did you do that? There were no punches thrown, they just went down after you grabbed the back of their necks. Or are you not allowed to tell me that either?" He looked down at Spock, who stared back defiantly. Loveless shrugged.

"Tori! Adam! Jack! Get down here and carry our guest up to my lab!" He smiled at Spock. "I have my ways, Spock."

W~W~W~W

"Here they come!" Kirk cried. He watched as West and Gordon approached the train. "I wonder what they found."

"Jeeze, calm down Jim;" McCoy snapped as Kirk jumped off the chair. They waited a few minutes until West and Gordon finally walked in.

"Well?" Kirk asked. He was practically bouncing up and down.

"The rails were melted alright;" West replied. "No sign of your friend, though."

"Oh." Kirk lost some of his enthusiasm.

"Look, I need to ask you two some questions;" West said. "Because I need answers. And none of this 'I can't tell you that, it's against the rules' crap. I understand that there are things you can't tell us, but I still need answers."

"I'll send a message to Colonel Richmond;" Gordon said, side-stepping West. "He's going to love this."

"Kirk, can one of your phasers really melt a steel rail?" West asked.

"Well, I'm pretty sure a phaser could do that;" Kirk replied. "I've never tried it, but I've seen phasers do some pretty crazy things to different objects. It depends on the power setting."

"Oh wow, a telegraph!" McCoy gasped as Gordon pulled the transceiver out. "My dad had one of those in his office as a decoration."

"Yes, well, this one works;" Gordon said. He tapped out a quick message and waited for the reply.

"So it is possible?" West asked.

"Yes, I believe so. But we didn't do it, if that's what you're thinking!"

"No, you were with us when it happened. Does your friend Spock have a phaser too?"

"Yes."

"You sure he wouldn't do something like this?"

"Positive;" McCoy said. "That pointy-eared bastard is a walking computer. If something is illogical, he won't do it. And melting a bunch of train rails isn't logical."

"I take that as a 'no';" West muttered, not entirely sure what Dr. McCoy was talking about. "Was there anyone else with you?"

"No, we were the only ones who fell into the portal;" Kirk said. "But this means that someone else found Spock or his phaser. We need to find them before it disrupts the timeline even further!" He looked at Gordon who had started to tap out a message. "Don't tell them about us."

Gordon looked at West, who nodded. "I don't think they would believe it anyway;" Gordon muttered. "Time travel, aliens, phasers, heck, I don't believe all of it!"

"Some how, you two and your friend fit into all this, I'm just not sure how;" West said, shaking his head. "And until they repair the rails, we're not going anywhere."

"We might be able to find out more in town;" Kirk said.

"We?" West and McCoy said.

"Well, Colonel Richmond is probably throwing a fit right now that his two best agents won't be in San Francisco in time for the banquet;" Gordon said as he put the telegraph away. "But… wait what?"

"Who said anything about 'we'?" West said, leaning in towards Kirk.

"I did;" Kirk replied, leaning towards West.

"Artie and I don't need your help."

"Well, you're going to get it anyways. Bones and I are already wrapped up in this."

"No you're not."

"Yes we are. Our friend is missing, and someone used his phaser to melt a bunch of train rails. I'd say that means we're a part of this."

"Maybe, but you are not part of the investigation."

"I have to find my First Officer! We are part of this investigation!"

"No, you're not."

"Yes, we are!"

The two were close enough at this point that their foreheads were almost touching. Gordon opened his mouth to say something, but McCoy beat him to it. The Doctor let out a sharp whistle, causing Gordon to flinch and West and Kirk to pull away from each other.

"Stop it, both of you!" McCoy shouted. "Look, West, Jim and I need to find Spock; and since you and Gordon here are also, in a way, looking for him, it makes sense that you include us in the search. Besides, we might be able to help you; my tricorder does more than just diagnosis's."

"Jim, the Doctor has a point;" Gordon said, nodding towards McCoy. "I don't see what harm would be done by letting them help. Besides, we can't keep them locked up in the train for the next few days."

Kirk smiled as West realized that he had lost the argument. "Fine;" West said. "But you two have to try and blend in. And you have to do as I say, got that Kirk?"

"Just know that I still out rank you;" Kirk muttered. "But yes, I understand, sir."

"Understood, Captain West;" McCoy replied sharply, snapping to attention. Kirk gave him a sideways glance.

"Good;" West said with a nod. "Now then, we're not going to be able to much from here, we are going to have to head into town."

"And that means a hotel;" Gordon added. He clapped his hands together. "James, my boy, this is going to be good. Come on boys, it's time to dress you space cadets up."

W~W~W~W

Spock wasn't sure how long he had lost consciousness, but he wasn't in his cell when he woke up. Instead, he was tied to a chair in the middle of some kind of laboratory. He pulled against the ropes, but was unable to free his hands or feet.

"Ah, Mr. Spock, you woke up!"

Spock looked up to find Loveless standing on the balcony above him with a lovely young woman beside him. Loveless darted down the stairs followed by the girl.

"Mr. Spock, I would like you to meet Antoinette;" Loveless said, motioning to the girl. Antoinette gasped as she noticed Spock's eyebrows and ears. "Now Antoinette, don't be rude."

"How do you do, Mr. Spock;" Antoinette said shyly, giving a short curtsey.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Antoinette;" Spock replied with a slight nod. Antoinette turned bright red and rushed off into a corner. Loveless shook his head.

"She insisted that she get to see you;" he explained. "Seems your appearance is a bit of a shock for her."

"It is for most people, sir;" Spock said. "Might I ask what is going on?"

Loveless spun around and smiled at the Vulcan. "I wish to know about you, Spock;" he said. "For starters, why are you so darn formal all the time?"

Spock's eyebrow went up. "Is it not proper to be formal, Dr. Loveless?"

"It is proper; I just find it strange that you are so formal to everyone, even the hired help." Loveless glanced over at the door, where Spock could see a guard sitting outside. "But that is beside the point. Since we both know you won't tell me anything freely, I am forced to use a bit of persuasion to get what I want." Loveless jumped up onto a stool, and pulled down a small vial of liquid. "This should do it!"

"Doctor, let me remind you that I am different from humans;" Spock said. "Neither of us knows what the affects of that liquid will be."

Loveless just shrugged as he drew some of the liquid from the vial. "Well then, let's find out, shall we? Unless you are afraid, in which case I suggest you start talking."

"Fear is an emotion;" Spock said calmly. "Emotions can be controlled."

"And you seem to be very good at that;" Loveless commented. "There, that should do it. Are you sure you won't say anything now? Like you said, the affects of this drug on you are unknown."

Spock said nothing as he prepared for what was to come. Loveless shrugged.

"Very well, be that way." Loveless pulled Spock's shirt sleeve up, and pushed the needle through the Vulcan's skin.