The evening's events began with a ritualistic dance that Jim thought was very interesting, as did Spock. "How do they bend their neck like that?" Bones asked. "They must have terribly elastic tendons, or maybe the vertebra…"

"Bones, please don't give us an anatomy lesson," Jim interrupted. "Just watch."

Bones folded his arms but he could not help but think of anatomy as he watched the dance. He could not bend like that, and he was sure Jim could not either, and he was positive that Spock could not with his stiff nature.

After the dance, Reenata began telling a story. Jim and the others listened intently as she told of a young Antaran girl who had met up with a young Denobulan boy. They became friends, but then another war came. He was required to fight, and was killed in that war.

"She supposed he was killed by someone whom she was related to, or by someone she called her friend…"

"She is speaking of herself," Tessa whispered to them.

Jim frowned. He wondered why no one had ever come to the realization that constant war only brought more heartache. "I'm going to do everything I can to help stop this conflict."

After the story, it was meal time. Jim swallowed hard. He could not help but remember the last time he ate strange meat. He had been sick for days, but he, Bones, Spock, and Chekov got in line. "Captain, are we required to eat?" Chekov asked quietly.

"No, you're not, Mister Chekov," Jim replied. "I'm the captain."

"Jim, it would not be uncouth for you to explain to them that…" Spock began.

"I'll be fine, Spock."

"But, Captain, if you are sickened by this meal, it could make our mission here more difficult."

"Relax, Spock. Even you're always throwing the Prime Directive in my face, and protocol."

"I have not meant to be throwing it in your face, Jim. I have simply tried to…"

"I know, Spock. You're my first officer, and you're supposed to make sure I don't do anything stupid."

"I would have used a different term, Jim, but yes."

They were soon at the front of the line. Bones looked over Jim's shoulder as he was taking a piece of the meat. "Doesn't look too bad," Bones said almost right in his ear.

"Don't comment on everything, Bones," Jim replied.

"What do you suppose that next dish is?"

"I don't know, but I guess it won't hurt to at least taste it."

"You never know. This species might have some enzyme in their gut that keeps…"

"Bones. No talk about the gut or any other body functions. That's an order."

Jim went on to the next dish that almost looked like worms in potatoes but he got some of it anyway. The next one looked almost like broccoli but the little green things were much larger. Then there was some sort of fruit…or that's what he thought it looked like. He had never seen a fruit like it. It was red and yellow, and shaped like a pear, but it had been peeled and sliced in a half, and there was something in the middle where the pit would have been. Jim got one of those and went to sit down. He selected a drink from the table as well and he was seated next to Reenata.

Bones sat down next to Jim, much to the disapproval of Spock who reminded him that he outranked him. "I'm sitting beside my friend if you don't mind," Bones said quietly.

Spock did not want to create a scene so he sat down on the other side of Bones. They looked at Jim who was staring at his plate with a look of dread. He realized they were looking at him. "What?" he whispered.

"You're the captain," Bones said. "You take the first bite."

"It is not in protocol that the captain has to taste new foods first," Spock pointed out.

"Who said anything about protocol?"

"You guys knock it off," Jim said. "This is bad enough without all that."

Bones watched as Jim took a bite of the meat. He squeezed his eyes shut at the taste and tried to hide his face from Reenata. "Is it that bad?" Bones whispered.

"It's worse," Jim replied and drank some of the liquid, but that felt like fire going down his throat. He almost gagged but he managed to swallow it.

"It's good, right?" Reenata asked.

Jim managed to smile. "It's very tasty," he said, trying not to gag.

"Wait till you taste the Anta fruit. It's delicious."

Jim hoped it was sweet or something besides spicy. Bland would be just fine with him right now. He started to look around at Bones but as he turned he was almost face to face with him. "What are you doing?" he asked as he was a bit startled.

"It didn't burn a hole in your esophagus, did it?" Bones asked.

"I don't think so. Wouldn't that hurt?"

Jim took a deep breath and wanted to hold his nose as he took another bite. "So, you said that we should not trust Barra," Spock said since the captain was occupied.

"Yes," Reenata replied. "He only does what is good for him. He is a traitor."

"Then why is he the leader of the Denobulans?"

"He cheated his way into power by making the people think he wanted what was best for them, and that he would try to bring peace. He has done nothing but try to take control and get what he can out of being the Supreme Governor."

"There was no election?"

"Only by the so-called elders."

"They intend to keep a leader who will not stop them from fighting. Then why did he send the captain and the doctor out to find those files?"

"I am sure he thought they would run into trouble with the Antarans before he could get out with them, and was most likely watching them the whole time."

"I told you I felt like we were being watched," Bones said.

"If he thought they were going to get away with the files, he sent them to stop them."

Jim put his hand on his side as he could feel how they stopped them. It was still very sore. He was not sure this food he was eating was going to help anything but he thought he was starting to get used to the taste. He noticed that Spock was eating it without any problems.

Jim was glad he did not get a big piece of the meat. He did not think he could choke down anymore of that. He had taken a bite of the…potatoes? He did not think it was potatoes, but it looked like yellow potatoes with something that looked like worms in it. He looked at Bones who was watching to see if he was actually going to eat that.

"I'm glad you're enjoying this," Jim said.

"I'm just wondering how much you're going to eat," Bones replied.

"Why don't you try some?"

"I'd rather not." Bones looked at Spock. "He doesn't seem to be having any problems."

"Who can decipher the Vulcan anatomy?"

After the meal, everyone sat around the fire. "What are we doing tomorrow, Captain?" Spock asked.

Jim shook his head. "I intend to confront Barra," he said. "The key to this problem is through him if he can get a backbone and do what he should."

"What if he does not want to listen?"

"I'm sure he won't but I'm going to let him know that their conflict is well-known throughout the galaxy."

"You intend to embarrass him?"

"I don't know."

Jim held his side again. "Are you okay, Jim?" Spock asked.

"I'll be fine, Spock," Jim replied. "It just hurts."

"I am not certain that you are ready for another conflict."

"I don't intend to get into anymore scraps with anyone over this."

"You must remember that this is a hostile species and they do not intend to change."

"I remember, Spock."

The fire died down and everyone drifted off to bed. Jim rolled out his…sleeping bag, or the Starfleet equivalent of one. Instead of inflating it, he lay down on it like it was. He lay there with one of his hands behind his head and the other on his side. He looked up through the trees at the stars. It was so different looking at them this way than looking at them through a viewport. Sometimes he wondered if he could see Earth and just did not know which it was. He grimaced as he thought his stomach was starting to protest about that meal he ate. He thought that drink had given him a little buzz as well.

Bones rolled out his own sleeping bag and inflated it. He did not want to sleep on the hard ground. "This is worse than camping in the Kentucky hills," he said. "How do we know whether there are wild animals out there waiting to have us for dinner?"

"Relax, Bones," Jim said, knowing that it would do no good to say that. "No one said anything about it."

Bones lay down and pulled a blanket over himself. Spock lay down on the other side of Jim, and Chekov was on the other side of Bones. "I remember camping when I was a kid," Jim said. "I would lay there and pick out star formations. I always had trouble with the Little Dipper."

"I had trouble with all of them," Bones replied. "Except Orion and the ones that were obvious. I mean, who named these things? Someone looked up one night and said Oh, that looks like a Big Dipper?"

Jim scowled at that cynicism. "Probably."

"Studying the stars is quite pleasant," Spock said. "After all, if we were not interested in them, we would not be on this mission."

"Well, it is relaxing, but fun too. I wonder if they name anything here on this planet."

"I wonder if they ever look up at them."

Jim considered that. "Are they really looking around them and enjoying their surroundings? Or are they constantly thinking about their next battle?"

"I would be worried out of my mind if I lived on this planet all the time," Bones declared.

"It is not a very pleasant place to live," Chekov said. "But there are nice people here."

Jim nodded. "There are, and they're caught up in this conflict and they want out of it."

Jim grimaced. "Bones, I think I need that treatment now before I really need it."

Bones sat up. "I wish you had said something before I got comfortable." He got his medical kit and took out a hypospray.

"Does it have to be an injection?"

"Yeah, so it will be quick."

Jim grunted as he injected him in the neck. "I hate that," he said.

Bones smiled. "Yeah I know."

Jim just looked at him as he lay back down. "You have to have the worst bedside manner I've ever seen," he said.

"Thanks."

They were all silent. Jim looked up into the stars again. They had been in space approximately three years now. Sometimes it seemed like it had been forever, but then again, it did not seem like very long. He enjoyed being in space most of the time. He had never liked being at Starfleet headquarters because he felt like everyone was watching him and judging him. He supposed he would be put in an office eventually…but maybe not. He finally began to drift to sleep and he thought he heard someone talking, maybe arguing, but he could not make out what they were saying…

During the night, Jim was suddenly awakened by someone screaming. He sat straight up but then he grimaced at the pain in his side, and his stomach did not like it very well either. Bones and the others sat up too. Then they heard the scream again. They got up as there was movement around Reenata's hut. Others were stirring as well, and then they saw several Denobulans coming into the camp.

"We have no quarrel with you!" one of the Denobulans from the camp said. "Go back to your city and leave us alone!"

"We will not allow you to continue to betray us with the enemy!"

Jim was shocked and surprised as one of the invaders shot the Denobulan who spoke. He drew his own phaser, making sure it was on stun. "Drop those weapons!" he said as Spock and the others also drew their phasers.

That action seemed to bring the whole area into chaos as the intruding Denobulans opened fire. Jim threw himself behind a tree for cover. He could hear people screaming and everyone was running and trying to get out of the way of what seemed to be turning into another battle in the ongoing war. Spock made his way over to Jim. "Captain, what do you suggest we do?" he asked. "This war is not our business."

"Yes it is!" Jim argued. "Starfleet sent us out here to try and get a peace treaty between these two, so yes, it is our business."

"They are attacking this camp for no reason."

Jim was trying to think as he saw Chekov trying to get Tessa to safety, and then he went down as he was hit by a laser blast. "Chekov!" Jim yelled. He left his hiding place, firing as he went. He hit two Denobulans and finally made it to Chekov. He got him up and into the edge of the woods.

Spock was right behind him as they were looking to see how badly Chekov was hurt. Jim took out his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise! Beam Chekov and the doctor directly to the medical bay! Now!"

"Yes, Captain," Sulu answered.

After Chekov was gone, Jim turned his glare toward the Denobulans who were attacking the camp. "We're going to capture one of them," he said. "We're going to find out who is behind all this."

Jim saw one of the Denobulans entering a hut, and he sprang into action. He tackled the being as he jumped through the door of the hut. They were in a desperate struggle. Spock was working at discouraging the other attackers.

Jim could definitely feel that pain in his side now as he struggled with the Denobulan who certainly did not give up. Jim punched him and tried to trip him but the Denobulan narrowed his eyes in what seemed like realization and then he hit Jim right in his sore side. He could not help but cry out but with that distraction, he managed to trip the Denobulan, and then he grabbed his phaser. "Don't move," he said. "I want to know who sent you here."

The Denobulan just glared at him. "What's your name?" Jim asked, but he still did not get an answer. "You're going to give us some answers."

Suddenly, Spock came through the door of the hut. "The other attackers have fled into the woods," he said.

"We have this one," Jim said. "See what you can do to get some answers out of him."

Jim held his phaser against the Denobulan's head while Spock began a mind-meld. "NO!" the Denobulan yelled.

"Don't move," Jim warned. "You've attacked a camp of innocent people, and I won't have any qualms about ending your reign of terror."

The Denobulan looked thoroughly frightened. Jim waited while Spock found out what he could. When he was done, he stood up and just looked at the Denobulan. "His name is Raynor," he said. "I must speak with you, Captain."

"Let's make sure everyone is okay first," Jim replied. "Get this guy up, and if he makes any threatening moves, shoot him."

They left that hut with the prisoner. The others in the camp were gathered in the center. Reenata was among them, and Tessa was at her side. They stood over three of their friends who had been killed in the attack. Jim went over to them. The three who were dead were among the ones who had first greeted them when they entered the camp.

Reenata looked up at Jim. "It never stops," she said. "I have spent more of my life grieving than I have being happy about anything."

"I'm sorry," Jim replied. "It shouldn't be that way."

Spock came up to them with the prisoner. "Why did you not kill him!" one of the Antarans asked. "He and his attackers have killed three of ours!"

"We captured him to find out who he is working for. We have to get to the center of the problem before we can solve it."

"How will you find this information? I will gladly torture him!"

"No. We don't torture people."

"Do not be so angry, Froda," Reenata said.

"All you ever talk about is peace!" Froda said. "And it has never come!"

"But we have more help now."

"What can they do?"

"We're still working on that," Jim said.

"Our sleep is over for now," Reenata said. "Let's make another fire."

Jim scowled at that. He remembered that the Denobulans only slept 144 hours per year. However, he definitely had to have more than that. Right now, he wanted to sleep more.

While they built another fire, Jim and Spock moved over away from the others. "Captain, as I melded with the Denobulan's mind, I found that he had an overwhelming sense of fear," Spock said. "Fear combined with uncertainty, and an anger and hostility like I have never encountered."

"Well, I guess that's what happens when you're raised to be that way," Jim replied. "What else?"

"He was terribly afraid of me, and you, but he is more afraid of Barra."

"Why?"

"I am not certain. I am assuming that Barra sent them to attack this camp, perhaps because they knew we were here."

"How would they know that?"

"That is a question that needs an answer, Captain."

"Either they're tracking us somehow or someone in this camp is informing them."

"That means that whatever course of action we decide to take should be kept between us."

Jim looked toward the others in the camp who were all gathered around the fire, which seemed to be where everything was discussed. "So who is betraying this camp? And why would the Denobulans request a mediator if they had no intention of reaching a peace agreement?"

"There is no guarantee that Barra requested the negotiation, Captain."

"Why do I suddenly feel like I am totally on the outside of the loop?" Jim asked.

"If that means that you are not in the situation that you thought you were in…I would say that we have all been deceived."

"Well, I'm getting to the bottom of this. Just give me a minute."

"Yes, Captain."

Spock moved back out toward the fire. Jim squeezed his eyes shut in a grimace, and almost sunk to the ground at the pain in his side. He groaned silently, trying not to let anyone else know of his discomfort. He knew that Denobulan had known about his previous injury and targeted it purposefully to hurt him. He had to get a hold on the pain, and he hoped it had not reopened something in there. Bones was on the ship caring for Chekov now. He moved further over into the woods and threw up everything he had eaten before that was left in his stomach. He leaned on a tree and just breathed a moment.

After a few minutes, Jim walked over to all the others who were around the fire trying his best to keep a hold on that pain, and try not to let it show. "Who requested the mediator?" he asked. "I know it wasn't Barra, but he went along with it because of image."

Rett stepped forward. "It was me," he said. "I knew Barra would take credit but I thought maybe it would bring a peaceful solution anyway."

"So you dragged us into the middle of this war thinking that we were trying to negotiate a treaty," Jim said.

"I'm sorry. I thought if the two sides could get together and talk, it would wake them up."

"I understand your desperation but now we're stuck, and there's a traitor here."

Everyone looked very surprised. "Why do you say this?" Reenata asked. "No one here would betray us."

"Someone here has been informing Barra of what we have been doing," Jim said. "No one knew we were here except the people who are here right now."

Reenata was shocked at this revelation. "They have attacked us before," she said.

"But this time, they attacked out of fear of what we were going to do."

Spock was watching the others as Jim talked to see who was looking guilty. Everyone seemed to be listening to what Jim had to say…except one who was looking quite angry.

Spock began moving around the crowd and finally came to stand right next to the agitated member. The Denobulan looked at him. "You don't seem to be very happy about this meeting," Spock said.

"What makes you say that?"

"There are ways to tell if someone is happy. Since you are standing here with your arms folded and are frowning, looking at Captain Kirk with a glare, it is logical to believe that you are not at all happy about his presence here."

The Denobulan just stared at him a moment but then started to run. However, Spock caught him before he could get into the forest. He walked him back over to Jim. "I believe this is our traitor," Spock said.

Reenata was surprised which was evident by the look on her face. "Tradax, you wouldn't dare," she said.

"I would!" Tradax said. "Denobulans and Antarans living together! It's despicable."

"They used to live together, and they will again. There are too many of us."

"You can't stop it. There are more of us than you!"

"We shall see."

Reenata walked over to Jim. "We will overthrow the government," she declared. "Will you help us, James T. Kirk?"

Jim was surprised by that declaration and that question. "Captain…" Spock began, but he stopped with a look from Jim.

Jim knew he was just going to bring up the Prime Directive. They were so far from Starfleet, however. He was not sure what they would do if they helped these people overthrow their government. "I have to confer with my crew," he said finally.

"You will not help us?" Reenata asked.

"It's not that simple," Jim replied. "We have a guide that we have to go by to handle situations. It's like rules, and we're not really allowed to interfere by helping overthrow a government."

"Even when it's the right thing to do?"

Jim just looked at her a moment. He was not sure how to answer that. "Like I said, I have to talk to my crew, especially my first officer. However, we will escort this prisoner back to Barra, and let him know that we have figured out his plan."

"Very well."

"We'll take him back to our ship as a prisoner until morning."

"We will wait to hear from you."

"And you will."

Jim and Spock stood away from the others. "Be careful," Jim said.

"Do not worry about us," Reenata replied. "I did not live to be an old woman by being careless."

Jim smiled. "You're quite a character."

"So are you, James Kirk."

Jim nodded to her and then he told Scotty to beam him, Spock, and the Denobulan to the ship. When they arrived, Jim felt relieved. "Take him to the brig," Jim said. "And come to sickbay. I'm going to check on Chekov."

"Yes, Captain," Spock replied.

Jim held his side as he walked down the corridor to sickbay. He thought he might let Bones look at his wound again while he was in there. It certainly hurt and felt terrible since that Denobulan hit him.

Bones was checking Chekov's vitals when Jim walked in. "How is he, Bones?" Jim asked.

"He's going to be fine," Bones replied.

"I need you to look at this wound. One of those Denobulans were among the ones who attacked us because he knew about my wound. He hit me."

"In that wound?"

"Yeah."

"Lay down there."

Jim lay down on a bed with a groan. Bones looked at the wound. "Sure is a lot of bruising," he said as he scanned the wound.

"I have a hard decision to make, Bones," Jim said.

"When do you not?"

"Yeah, but this one is more difficult than most. If we help them, we'll be violating the Prime Directive. If we don't help them, a lot of people are liable to get killed, and they may never be free of the chaos." Jim sighed.

"It's not our business, Jim."

"I know, but what if it was us, Bones? Wouldn't you want someone to help you?"

"There's no guarantee that you can help them. Even if you tried, they're so used to war, they might never stop."

"But they want to stop."

"Some of them do. Not all."

Jim thought as he lay there and rested. He was not one who could just turn away from someone who needed help, if he could help them. It was like Nibiru. Even though he knew he was breaking the Prime Directive, he could not just leave those people to die when there was something they could do to help them. He wondered where the humanity was in that. How could one just turn their back when they could save someone from dying? Was that not what his father had done? Gave his life for his crew? And he, himself, had almost done the same thing after their confrontation with Khan. This was a lot more complicated than that, however. This was a civilization that was consumed in an ongoing civil war.

He would think of something…