What he had thought from the plans of the building to be the most likely room for Jim to be hidden seemed to be a sauna. There was a warm scented mist filling the air. Steam vents in the floor ensured that there was no place the mist would miss. He turned to leave then saw the mat with a tightly curled naked form on it. Just for a moment he stood looking at his friend, he fought back an anger that was growing in him at those who had done this to Jim. He could see no signs of physical abuse but when he lightly touched Jim's face he felt his mind, his mind was in chaotic turmoil. Cautiously he took out his tricorder, the reading on the steam indicated a substance that was extremely hallucinogenic to humans. Any thought of a meld was out of the question. His main priority had to be to get Jim to McCoy as the doctor would know what to do for him.

"Mister Scott?"

No response. Now was not a time for the dedicated man to be engrossed in his work.

"Mister,"

"I'll be right there, dear. This repair is going to take me a mite bit longer as company has come to see what I am doing."

Collins. Spock had not counted on him appearing. Scott was, without doubt a very competent engineer, perhaps the best Spock had ever encountered, but his ability to prevaricate was no match for Jim's. He knew the Engineer had left the communicator on.

"Of course I check any reported irregularity with the transporter when it is quiet. Do ye want me to do it during an emergency? Do ye want to be the first thing I send though as a test?"

"No, no, I just thought it was an unusual time is all. Now I see that this is how you maintain your high standards. I will be beaming down tomorrow to ensure things are taken care of and ready for the others arriving the following day. I'll leave you to it."

There was two point one three minutes of silence then, "Had to make sure the blighter was well clear. Do you."

"Yes. Some attire would be beneficial."

"Beaming you now."

It had taken Spock almost all his strength to maintain his shields against the fear, confusion, and fury in Kirk. The one thing that blasted the most at his shields was the hate he felt in Jim towards him, even in his sleep a deep loathing of the Vulcan permeated.

Scott was quickly at the platform with a robe and wrapped James Kirk in it while Spock took a moment from holding his friend and strengthened his shields again before cradling the sleeping body in his arms. With Mister Scott walking ahead of them making sure the corridors were clear they were soon at Kirk's quarters and it had not surprised Spock to see McCoy waiting.

"Scotty, take Spock to my office, I'll be in as soon as I can and will let you know."

Three point eight four hours later McCoy walked into his office looking very old and very tired. Without saying a word he poured himself a drink, downed it, looked at Spock and said, "I better not find that Collins had anything to do with this. Jim is physically fine but, but they have filled him with so many hallucinogenic drugs and sedatives it will take him a few hours before he can have any visitors. Best to just let him sleep for now."

"He will be,"

McCoy smiled at him, "Give him a good sleep, Spock, some food, about twenty-four to thirty-six hours of sleep, and he should be back to the James Kirk we know. He will then know what happened to him and that whatever nightmares he has been having are nightmares. I remember at medical school trying a mild hallucinogenic and after it was worse than any hangover I have ever had. You go get some sleep," he looked directly at Spock, "Doctor's orders, Sir."

As Spock had left he paused and looked at McCoy, "Thank you for that, Doctor McCoy. I suggest you see to Mister Scott."

Collins had summoned Spock to the bridge and the first thing unusual the Vulcan noticed was that Sulu was not at his station, "I am beaming down. As you are the most senior ranking officer on the ship and Doctor McCoy says you have accepted the facts regarding Kirk, you are in command of the ship till my return. I expect to find you here when I return and Officer Sulu to still be confined to his quarters, understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

McCoy came onto the bridge after Collins had gone, saw it was just the usual five, "He's still sleeping. Had a moment of awareness and knows he is back on the ship." He looked at Spock, "I've got him in a safe room. He will be fine in time."

"Why is Mister Sulu confined to his quarters?"

There was no mistaking the looks exchanged among those on the bridge and Uhura said, "Just after he went down to check with Scotty he came up and ordered the building he had inspected to be destroyed, claiming he had permission to destroy it, Sulu and Chekov gave each other a sign and for some unknown reason there was a misfire and the torpedo went into the ocean about three hundred kilometers from the building. The Commodore almost had some sort of fit and ordered Sulu to his quarters till further notice after he had him lock us on standard orbit. He ranted on about not being sure how he could explain such an infantile error as he had everything else planned. He said he would ensure Sulu was never allowed on another ship for such an action."

Aware of the others looking at him, and controlling his growing anger at Collins, Spock looked at Chekov, Uhura, McCoy, and Scott then back at Uhura, "That will not happen. He made no mention to the Halton governing body?"

"No."

"Please get me Gowto Thap of their Security Department."

It took Uhura three attempts to locate the Director of Security.

"Mister Spock, is this about the unexpected attack on our planet? Commodore Collins said he was still investigating it when he briefly stopped by my office. He gave no immediate credible reasoning for such an action."

"That is because he ordered it, Sir. I have five senior officers and three other officers who will attest to the fact he ordered the destruction of a building of interest."

"May I interview those officers after the function tomorrow evening? It was a serious breach of trust."

"They will be here. Do not allow Commodore Collins to deny you access to them."

"Rest assured, Mister Spock, when I want to interview officers regarding matters that impact on the safety and security of Halton there is no known force that can stop me. I thank you for this information. I have noted the reluctance of the Commodore to be forthcoming with details he should have known."

"Thank you, Sir. Spock, Enterprise, out."

Precisely eighty-seven point five one minutes after beaming down Collins was back on the bridge and glaring at Spock then looked at Mister Scott, "Mister Scott, who were you talking to last night when I found you in the Transporter Room?"

"I," Scott was caught and Spock knew it.