Captain's Log, stardate 2817.6. Starship Enterprise diverted from scheduled course. Purpose, to confirm discovery by Doctor Thomas Leighton of an extraordinary new synthetic food which would totally end the threat of famine on Cygnia Minor, a nearby Earth colony.

"Counselor," Spock said as they walked down the corridor, "I am sure that when we get underway again, everything will return to normal. Did she report where she was headed?"

Vivian shook her head, adjusting the hair that had fallen from her eyes.

"No, Scotty said that she left the Transporter Room, should have been at the Bridge by now. But I have a guess." She let her fingers twitch once and then consciously relaxed them. "She's been out of sorts since she saw that play."

Spock opened the door to the briefing room, and there was the Captain, frowning at a computer screen.

"Mr. Spock," she said, barely glancing at the new arrivals. "You know Doctor Leighton, don't you? Would you say he's given to fantasy?"

With a curious dart of the eyes toward the computer, Spock said, "A good, empirical research scientist. Steady, reputable, occasionally brilliant."

Kirk nodded slowly and said, "With a long memory."

Something about the wistful way she said those words piqued Vivian's curiosity, and she exchanged a look with Spock, who seemed at a loss on how to reply to this statement, which seemed to invite some kind of response.

"Starfleet doesn't record that sort of thing, Captain," Vivian said slowly. "Ship is prepared to leave orbit."

"We'll delay departure for a time," Kirk said, standing abruptly. "I'm beaming back down to the planet."

They nodded and watched her go with her swift, deliberate gait.

"You still have Bridge duty, Counselor?" Spock asked.

"Yes," she muttered. "Yes, do you want me on sensors or communications?"

"With the Captain on the surface, I would prefer communications," he said, leading her to the turbolift. "Her behavior was very distracted."

"I'm sure she has a lot on her mind," Vivian said, although silently agreeing with him. The Captain had seemed not quite herself. "I know the last time I saw a play I could think of nothing else for weeks."

Spock's lips twitched, and if it had been anyone else she would have expected a smile.

"You are fond of theatre, Counselor?"

"Shakespeare, Mr. Spock, is an excellent way to study the human psyche," she said loftily, trying to recall Ophelia's lines from childhood plays. " 'O, what a noble mind is here overthrown! The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword; the expectancy and rose of the fair state, the glass of fashion and the mould of form, the observed of all observers, quite, quite down!'"

"Hamlet, act three, scene one," Spock said. "I did not know you were interested in literature."

"Mostly, I'm not," she said with a smile. "But theatre is wonderful."

/-/

The night was quiet, and Vivian was growing bored at the comm panel, with only enough personnel on the Bridge as necessary. The only familiar face was Spock, and he sat as typical, on alert in the captain's chair. No conversation, nothing to do. Simply waiting for the Captain to return so they could continue on their scheduled course.

And then a signal came from the surface and Vivian put it through on the speakers. The voice of the Captain said, "Kirk to Enterprise."

"Bridge here, Captain," Spock replied, turning the chair to look at Vivian, who was facing the front of the Bridge already.

"Put me through to Captain Jon Daily of the Astral Queen on orbit station, and put it on scramble."

The request was odd, but Spock nodded and Vivian, and she nodded back, adjusting the signal as required.

"Captain Daily's on, sir," she said, pulling out of the signal once the two ends were connected. She turned back to the center of the Bridge, getting out of her seat and leaving the comm panel on speaker for all incoming transmission. She took out her earpiece and said softly to Spock, "Astral Queen? That's transport, isn't it?"

"Yes," Spock said softly in response. "Civilian transport. Perhaps making some sort of arrangements for Doctor Leighton."

The response was logical, sensible, but Vivian couldn't help but feel that something was not quite right. If that was all it was, why bother putting it on scramble?

"Kirk to Enterprise."

Vivian put her earpiece back and crossed to the comm panel once more.

"Bridge, Captain," she said.

"Transporter Room, ready to beam up."

Vivian made the necessary arrangements, and Spock began preparing the Bridge once more for leaving orbit. The quiet Bridge suddenly became a flurry of activity. When the Captain entered several minutes later, Spock reported, "Ready to resume course, Captain."

"I think we're due for a pickup," Kirk said, smiling a little. Vivian and Spock exchanged confused looks. Could the Astral Queen not manage whatever the Doctor needed?

"What kind?" Spock asked. "Personnel? Cargo?"

"Captain Kirk?" Vivian said, listening to the voice in her ear. "Scotty says someone named Miss Karidian is aboard and requesting permission to see you."

"Tell her to come up to the Bridge, Counselor," Kirk said, ignoring Spock's questions.

Vivian nodded and said, "Scotty, have an escort bring Miss Karidian to the Bridge."

"How did you know this lady was coming aboard?" Spock asked.

Kirk smiled and said, "I'm the Captain."

A beautiful young blonde woman entered and greeted the Captain warmly.

"Captain Kirk, I didn't think we'd be meeting again so soon."

"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you I arranged it."

Vivian quirked an eyebrow at Spock, who assumed a similar expression. There was the issue of the Astral Queen, but why?

"No," Miss Karidian responded, "but it's a delightful thought. Captain, I'm afraid we need your help. We've been stranded. It seems that our transportation has cancelled out on us."

"Can't you make other arrangements?"

"Yes, but not in time. You see, our schedule is like a chain. One break and it all collapses."

The woman was very dramatic, obviously one of the actors, but Vivian could sense a small level of deception from the Captain as well. Whatever this was, she really had orchestrated it and was still playing the role.

"It'd be a shame if that happened," Kirk said with a sad smile.

"If ever we needed a Good Samaritan," Miss Karidian said with the air of a damsel in distress.

"Well."

"I appeal to you."

Spock's eyebrows shot up as Lenore flirted rather openly for her way. Vivian's lips twitched in amusement. Vulcan's were brilliantly advanced in many ways, but socially, it seemed that lack of emotion stunted certain matters to almost archaic standards.

"The regulations are very clear about taking passengers," the Captain said with a thin veneer of regret.

"I'll make a bargain with you, Captain."

"What have you got to trade?"

"Special performance for the crew, in exchange for a lift."

Kirk lifted her eyes significantly to meet with Vivian's as she said, "You make it sound very interesting. The crew has been on patrol for a long time. They could use a break in the monotony." She raised a single eyebrow at Vivian.

Whatever the mysterious reasoning, Vivian knew well enough what was expected of her.

"Then you will do it?" Miss Karidian pressed, and Kirk raised her eyebrows at Vivian, who stepped forward.

"Captain," she said, thinking quickly, "you make a good point. I can sign this off in the record as a beneficial restorative measure for the crew. A…shore leave on the ship, if you will." Kirk nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Captain," the actress said happily. "I'm eternally grateful. I'll get the company ready. This means so much to them."

"Mr. Spock," the Captain ordered, "prepare to leave orbit as soon as the Karidian company is aboard the ship."

The visitor and her escort left the Bridge on the turbolift..

"May I inquire as to our course, Captain?" Spock said.

"Benecia Colony."

Spock's eyebrows rose again and he said, "Benecia Colony is eight light years off our course."

To Vivian's surprise, the Captain said sharply, "If my memory needs refreshing, Mr. Spock, I'll ask you for it. In the meantime, follow my orders."

Counselor's Log, stardate 2818.9. The Captain's behavior in taking on the Karidian company of actors in strange, and as of yet without explanation, but stranger still is that he has asked me to observe and report my professional opinion on Karidian and his daughter.

"Mr. Spock," the Captain said as she returned, "ETA to the Benecia Colony."

"We'll arrive stardate 2825.3, Captain," Spock said levelly, "approximately fifteen hundred Benecia time."

To Vivian's surprise, Kirk crossed to the sensors, flipping on the computer.

"Library Computer," it announced.

"Data on question submitted to personnel files," Kirk said. Vivian and Spock moved closer.

"Data being received. Kodos file of all survivors. There were nine actual eyewitnesses who can identify Kodos."

The name sounded vaguely familiar to Vivian, but it had no meaning, something she felt she should have known but had forgotten.

"Stop," Kirk said. "Give list."

"Kirk, J., presently Enterprise Captain. Leighton, T. Moulton, E., Riley, K., Earnes, D.-"

"Stop. IS that star service Lieutenant Kevin Riley?"

"Affirmative. Riley, Kevin. Presently assigned U. S. S. Enterprise communications section."

"Stop." She turned. "Mr. Spock."

"Captain," Vivian cut in, "what-"

"Lieutenant Kevin Riley in communications," the Captain said, talking over Vivian, plainly ignoring her. "I wish to have him transferred down to the engineering decks."

"He came up from Engineering, Captain," Spock informed her.

"I'm sending him back."

Vivian and Spock exchanged confused looks.

"Any explanation?" Spock asked respectfully. "He's a fine young officer. He's bound to consider this transfer disciplinary action."

"I don't wish to discuss it, Mr. Spock," Kirk said coolly. "Please follow my orders."

/-/

Spock wished to examine relevant files, things that might give him a clue as to what was bothering Jamara Kirk, but he wanted some measure of support, some confirmation from other officers that he was doing the right thing. If the Enterprise was at risk….

He went to Sickbay, where Doctor McCoy was closing up for the day, and Vivian was finishing some reports on patients. He tried to get them to listen, but even Vivian was so wrapped up in her work that she didn't appear immediately interested.

"Spock," she said, not looking up, "command is a tightrope, and often a lonely one. The best a crew can do is provide a stable net."

He raised an eyebrow and said, "Spare me your philosophic metaphors, Counselor. The Captain is acting strangely. You have seen what I have seen. I am asking if either of you have noticed this behavior and consider it odd."

McCoy, who was uncorking some brandy, said, "Negative. Did you know this is the first time in a week I've had time for a drop of the true? Would you care for a drink, Mr. Spock?"

"My father's race was spared the dubious benefits of alcohol."

"Now I know why they were conquered," McCoy muttered, and Spock did not see the point in correcting his historical inaccurate statement. There were more pressing matters. "What are you worried about, anyway? I find Jamie generally knows what she's doing."

Vivian, who had been smiling at their interaction, looked up, the smile fading from her lips as she began a fresh report.

"She does," she said slowly, "but I'll agree with Spock that something strange is happening. No doubt he recognizes the illogic of bringing the actors on board."

Doctor McCoy seemed to find this amusing, and he said, "Illogical? Did you get a look at that Juliet? That's a pretty exciting creature. Of course, Spock's…personal chemistry would prevent him from seeing that." Again, Spock chose not to correct the Doctor, but for entirely different reasons. He could recognize that Miss Karidian was attractive, in the way that he could recognize that Vivian Buckingham was attractive, he simply maintained his mental faculties in spite of this recognition. McCoy continued, "Did it ever occur to you that she simply might like the girl?"

"It occurred," Spock said, his eyes darting to Vivian, who was again looking down at her reports. "I dismissed it."

"You would," McCoy muttered, pouring a drink.

"Did you know that she suddenly transferred Lieutenant Riley to engineering?" Spock pressed.

Again, McCoy was not moved, saying, "Lots of things go on around here that I don't know, Mr. Spock. Now, she's the Captain. She can transfer whoever she pleases. You can look that up in a hundred volumes of space regulations somewhere. Alright? Come on, both of you, have a drink."

Vivian glanced up and shook her head, a strand of hair falling out of place and into her eyes with the swift motion.

"No, thank you, Bones," she said, tucking the hair back again. "I don't drink."

Spock shook his head as well, and McCoy said to Vivian, "You're welcome. But I will." He poured himself another drink and turned back to Spock. "And please, Mr. Spock, if you won't join me, don't disapprove of me. At least not until you've tried it, huh?"

Spock decided it would not be fruitful to inquire further until he'd done at least a little bit of digging. Even Vivian only seemed mildly perturbed, and so he would search on his own. But he had duties in the meantime.

He returned to the Bridge deep in thought, examining sensor information as soon as he arrived. However, after a few moments of work he frowned and turned on the computer.

"Library computer."

"Full personal dossiers on the following names," he ordered. "Doctor Thomas Leighton, Anton Karidian, Lieutenant Kevin Riley, and Captain Jamara T. Kirk."

"Accomplished, standing by."

"Correlate. Check their past histories. Report any item, any past episodes or experience they all have in common."

"Affirmative."

/-/

Spock, armed with this new information from the ship's computers, left the Bridge in the helmsman's hands and went to track down Vivian and Doctor McCoy, who were leaving Sickbay as he approached, walking to the turbolift.

"Doctor, Counselor," he said, heading them off. "I am afraid I must detain you. New information has come to my attention that I believe you need to consider. A specific disaster is a shared experience that we must discuss."

Doctor McCoy sighed and said, "I appreciate whatever concern you may have for the ship's company, Mr. Spock-"

"I will continue, Doctor," Spock said, cutting across what were sure to be emotional objections. Vivian's lips twitched at the doctor's annoyed expression, but her face was otherwise calm and unexpressive. Spock said, "According to our library banks, it started on the Earth colony of Tarsus Four, when the food supply was attacked by an exotic fungus and largely destroyed. There were over eight thousand colonists and virtually no food. And that was when Governor Kodos seized full power and declared emergency martial law."

"Yes," Vivian said slowly, her eyes flashing with recognition. She glanced over at the wall with a faraway expression. "Yes, I…I thought the name was familiar. I'd heard it years ago, in an Interstellar Historiography course."

"You may not have heard it all," Spock said. "Kodos began to separate the colonists. Some would live, be rationed whatever food was left. The remainder would be immediately put to death. Apparently he had his own theories of eugenics."

"Unfortunately, he wasn't he first," Doctor McCoy said dully.

"Perhaps not. But he was certainly among the most ruthless, to decide arbitrarily who would survive and who would not, using his own personal standards, and then to implement his decision without mercy. Children watching their parents die. Whole families destroyed. Over four thousand people. They died quickly, without pain, but they died. Relief arrived, but too late to prevent the executions. And Kodos? There was never a positive identification of his body."

"What does Karidian have to do with it?" Doctor McCoy demanded.

"His history begins almost to the day where Kodos disappeared."

Vivian narrowed her eyes at the careless mistake of the man named Karidian, or perhaps Kodos.

"Jamie thinks he's Kodos," she said softly.

"She'd better," Spock said. "There were nine eyewitnesses who survived the massacre, who'd actually seen Kodos with their own eyes. Jamara Kirk was one of them. With the exception of Riley and Captain Kirk, every other eyewitness is dead. And my library computer shows that wherever they were, on Earth, on a colony, or aboard a ship, the Karidian Company of players was somewhere near when they died."

Spock watched as Doctor McCoy and Vivian exchanged incredulous, horrified looks.

"It's unbelievable," McCoy began, but the intercom cut him off.

"Doctor McCoy to Sickbay. Medical emergency. Lieutenant Riley is dying."

Without even a moment to exchange glances, the three of them darted back down the corridor, hurrying into Sickbay to find Riley twitching and unconscious, three medical staff around him trying to deal with the situation. Vivian took an instinctive-seeming step away from the situation and Spock watched as McCoy rushed forward, giving orders to his staff and taking charge of the situation. In these moments of crisis, the clarity that McCoy exhibited reminded Spock how such an emotionally instable man could be a Chief Medical Officer on board a Starship.

Vivian's thumbs twitched and she tucked them into her fists.

"Come," Spock said softly, gesturing to Doctor McCoy's office. "We can do nothing but wait."

He sat in Doctor McCoy's chair and watched as Vivian paced the length of the office back and forth, smooth strides, calm face, natural breathing. The only indication of any emotional disturbance within her was the way she balled her fingers into fists behind her back. The fists were not tense, not as Spock had seen them before in moments when she was truly afraid, but she had been bothered by the scene in Sickbay, and he saw no reason to subject her to it further. Her mind needed to be clear as possible to aid Captain Kirk with the issue of Karidian, and she did not possess the Vulcan ability to suppress all emotion in order to achieve logical decisions.

When Sickbay quieted, Spock stood and reentered to find McCoy marking down readings, standing over an unconscious but still-breathing Lieutenant Riley. Vivian followed Spock in, her eyes darkening as she glanced at the readings. In spite of the lack of twitching and chaos, Riley was still dying.

"You've got to pull him through," Spock said firmly.

"I'm not sure I can," McCoy said, not looking at them.

There was no time for the human flaw of self-doubt and underestimation of abilities, however.

"If he dies," Spock said, taking a step forward to get McCoy to look up at him, "the only one who'll be able to identify Kodos is the Captain. And she'll be the next target."

Counselor's Log, Stardate 2819.1. Ship's officer Riley is growing worse. Doctor McCoy is doing a lab analysis in order to determine cause and antidote. The crew morale has dropped considerably and Mr. Spock, Doctor McCoy, and I fear for the Captain's safety.

Vivian refrained from pacing as she listened to Doctor McCoy making his log, knowing that her footsteps would disrupt the report, but it wasn't easy.

"As of this date," McCoy said, "lab report indicates presence of appreciable amount of tetralubisol, a highly volatile lubricant used aboard ship."

He paused the recording and scratched his cheek, thinking.

"Someone tried to poison him," Spock prompted.

"Tetralubisol is a milky substance," Bones said slowly, not meeting either of their eyes. "Someone could have gotten careless, made a mistake."

"I don't believe that and neither do you," Spock said. "I want the Captain to see that report."

"When I've finished logging it."

"No, Bones," Vivian said softly, shaking her head, feeling the loose strand of hair stick to sweat on her temple. "She needs to see it now."

With surprising lack of argument, Doctor McCoy followed Vivian and Spock to the Captain's quarters, where Vivian watched Spock buzz their arrival.

"Come," they heard Kirk said, and Vivian entered after the two men. Technically, it wasn't necessary for her to be there, but as the Captain had asked for her professional opinion, and as she was the second officer, she did have a right to be there. And Spock seemed to want her involved.

"My report on Lieutenant Riley," Doctor McCoy said, handing the Captain the PADD.

"Will he make it?" she asked, taking the report and only glancing down at it.

"He's got a good chance."

"Can we predict the same for you, Captain?" Spock said levelly. Vivian nibbled a little on the inside of her lip as Captain Kirk looked up at Spock, an eyebrow raised.

"I'm guessing it won't be the same thing twice," Vivian said softly, realizing that Jamie wasn't going to rise to a single jab, but that they needed her to speak. "This is too clever for that."

"All right, you two," Kirk said. "Let's have it."

"Lieutenant Riley was a witness," Spock said, without any further explanation. "So were you."

"Alright."

"Someone tried to kill him."

"Could have been an accident," Bones said stubbornly, but even Vivian wouldn't let his unprofessional emotion get in the way. She argued.

"Doctor, there is a time and a place to be hardheaded." He looked as though he wanted to argue back at her, but Vivian turned to Kirk and said, "Captain, Mr. Spock checked the library computer, the searches we heard you making."

"Aren't you getting a little out of line, both of you?" Captain Kirk snapped. "My personal business-"

"Is our personal business when it might interfere with the smooth operation of this ship," Spock said calmly but firmly.

"You think that happened?"

"I think it could happen."

"I don't like anyone meddling in my private affairs. Not even my second in command."

Vivian felt uncomfortable of the tone of the conversation and said, "Jamie, he's just-"

"I know what he's doing," Kirk snapped, "and I don't like it."

"It's his job, and you know it," Bones said.

But Kirk wouldn't back down. She said, "And you also know that nothing is proven."

Spock quirked an eyebrow and said, "Even in this corner of the galaxy, Captain, two plus two equals four. Almost certainly an attempt will be made to kill you. Why do you invite death?"

"I'm not," she sighed. "I'm interested in justice."

"Are you sure it's justice, Captain?" Vivian asked. "Not vengeance?"

Thankfully, Kirk sighed, "No, I'm not sure. I wish I was. I've done things I've never done before. I've placed my command in jeopardy. From here on I've got to determine whether or not Karidian is Kodos."

"He is," Spock said with such sincerity.

"You sound certain. I wish I could be. Before I accuse a man of that, I've got to be. I saw him once, twenty years ago. Men change. Memory changes. Look at him now, he's an actor. He can change his appearance. No. Logic is not enough. I've got to feel my way, make absolutely sure."

McCoy shook his head and said, "What if you decide he is Kodos? What then? Do you play God, carry his head through the corridors in triumph? That won't bring back the dead, Jamie."

"No," she said softly, "but they may rest easier."

Vivian started slightly at the intercom.

"Sickbay to Doctor McCoy."

Bones crossed the room and flipped on the intercom.

"McCoy here."

"We have the results you ordered."

"On my way."

Bones left, taking the PADD back from the Captain and hurrying out. Vivian nibbled on her lip for a moment, watching the door close again before saying, "I'm inclined to agree with Mr. Spock, Captain. If a jury were looking at this, a good counsel would have more than enough to earn a conviction. Doctor Leighton obviously murdered while the actors were on Planet Q. Now they're here and Riley is poisoned."

The Captain smiled sadly as she paced to the center of the room.

"Doc isn't so sure it was a murder attempt," she argued. "Besides, I have an idea that may prove-"

"Shh," Spock said, raising a hand. "Listen." The two women stood still, ears twitching slightly as they listened to the air. Vivian heard a sickeningly familiar sound. "Do you hear that? A low hum."

"A phaser," Kirk said, her head whipping around the room.

"On overload," Spock agreed.

Almost immediately, Spock and Vivian set to searching the quarters, disturbing cushions, moving plants, shifting books and knick knacks. The Captain crossed to her intercom instead.

"This is the Captain," she said in a clear, calm voice. "There's a phaser on overload in my quarters. If it blows, it'll take out the entire deck. Evacuate all personnel in this quadrant. Double Red Alert." She turned off the intercom and joined the other two in the search, but it was only a moment before she said, "You two get out of here."

Vivian's head jerked up from the shelf she was searching in surprise.

"But Captain, you can't-"

"Go on," Kirk demanded. "Block off this section. Hurry. I'll find it."

Reluctantly, Vivian and Spock left the room, moving out into the corridor where two crew members were passing.

"Evacuate this section," Spock ordered. "Seal it off. Clear C4 and C5."

Spock went one way, Vivian the other. No people were in her section, so sealing it off was a matter of moments, and she arrived just in time to see Kirk rushing out of her quarters with the phaser in hand. Vivian had come level with her as Kirk dropped the phaser in the pressure waste disposal across from her quarters, and Spock came back to them just in time for the blast. The force of it tossed the three of them across the corridor, and Spock flung his arm out, managing to cushion Vivian's impact with the wall. He steadied her and the three of them straightened themselves out again, Vivian tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her hands trembling just slightly.

"Mr. Spock, prepare for a voice analysis. Vivian, I want you with me," Kirk said. "I want your confirmation. It's time we paid someone a visit."

Vivian followed the Captain to the quarters assigned to Karidian and his daughter, and she followed Kirk inside, barging in on the man, reading in the quarters.

"We're overdue for our talk, aren't we?" Kirk said briskly, and the man stood, obviously disappointed at being interrupted.

"I hoped you would have respected my privacy, Captain," he said softly.

"A moment ago, we narrowly averted an explosion which would have destroyed several decks of this ship. Before that, someone tried to poison one of my crewmen."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Karidian said, and if he was acting, Vivian had to say that she was impressed with his acting ability. Either was responsible and was sorry for it, or he had someone else managing his dirty work for him.

"I'm sure you are," Kirk said, not believing him for a moment. "Are you Kodos?" Vivian blinked at this blunt approach, and Karidian seemed unfazed, but said nothing. "I asked you a question."

Karidian tilted his head a little, his hands calm on the binding of his script.

"Do you believe that I am?"

"I certainly do," Vivian said coolly.

"Then I am Kodos," he said, "if it pleases you to believe so. I am an actor. I play many parts."

Slippery, but not necessarily guilty. Vivian was annoyed that the man was playing games, whether or not he was Kodos.

"You're an actor now," Kirk pressed. "What were you twenty years ago?"

He frowned slightly and said, "Younger, Captain. Much younger."

"So was I. But I remember. Let's see if you do." Jamie produced a slip of paper and handed it to Karidian, who took it without seeing. "Read this into that communicator on the wall. It will be recorded and compared to a piece of Kodos's voice film we have in our files. This test is virtually infallible. It will tell us whether you're Karidian, or Kodos the Excecutioner." Vivian watched Kirk's unshaking hand as she turned on the communicator, speaking into it, "Ready for voice test." She backed away, raising her eyebrows at Karidian and motioning for him to cross to the communicator, which he did. "Disguising your voice will make no difference."

Karidian lifted the paper, reading as ordered, "The revolution is successful, but survival depends on drastic measures. Your continued existence represents a threat to the well-being of society." To Vivian's horror, he lowered the paper, no longer reading, but still saying the words into the communicator. "Your lives mean slow death to the more valued members of the colony. Therefore I have no alternative but to sentence you to death. Your execution is ordered. Signed, Kodos, governor of Tarsus Four."

There was a sickening pause, a long moment of silence between the three of them before Vivian stepped forward and switched off the communicator.

Kirk said, "I remembered the words. I wrote them down. You said them like you knew them. You hardly glanced at the paper."

"I learn my parts very quickly," Karidian said smoothly.

"Are you sure?" Kirk demanded. "Are you sure you didn't act this role out in front of a captive audience whom you blasted out of existence without mercy?"

"I find your use of the word mercy strangely inappropriate, Captain," Karidian said, dropping the acting pretense for a moment and engaging the women on their level. "Here you stand, the perfect symbol of our technical society. Mechanized, electronicized, and not very human. You've done away with humanity, the striving of a man to achieve greatness through his own resources."

"We've armed men with tools," Kirk said, shaking her head. "The striving for greatness continues. But Kodos-"

"Kodos," Karidian cut in, "whoever he was-"

"Is," Vivian snapped.

"Or is," Karidian said with a nod to Vivian that surprised her. "Kodos made a decision of life and death. Some had to die that others might live. You're a woman of decision, Captain. You ought to understand that."

"All I understand," Captain Kirk said coldly, "is that four thousand people were needlessly butchered."

"In order to save four thousand others. And if the supply ship hadn't come earlier than expected, this Kodos of yours might have gone down in history as a great hero."

Vivian had no doubts whatsoever, with him pretending he did not know Kodos and yet calling up details that hadn't been discussed. It was a classic case of someone speaking in imagined hypotheticals to discuss their own actions that they did not wish to be held accountable for, but which they still wished to rationalize. There was an awareness in this tactic, however, that wasn't quite consistent with madness, and so it made Vivian a bit uncomfortable.

"But he didn't," Captain Kirk maintained firmly. "And history has made its judgment."

"If you're so sure that I'm Kodos, why not kill me now?" Karidian said. "Let bloody vengeance take its final course! And see what difference it makes to this universe of yours."

A small curl of a bitter smile turned at Jamie Kirk's lips and she said, "Those beautiful words, well acted, change nothing."

"I suppose not," Karidian agreed. "They're merely tools, like this ship of yours."

Kirk shook her head, not willing to be dragged off course. She said, "There are no previous records of Anton Karidian prior to twenty years ago."

"Blood thins," Karidian said softly. "The body fails. One is finally grateful for a failing memory. I no longer treasure life, not even my own." Vivian frowned. "I am tired! And the past is a blank. Did you get everything you wanted, Captain Kirk?"

Vivian shifted onto the balls of her feet and back again.

"If I had gotten everything I wanted, you might not walk out of this room alive."

"Captain Kirk," a feminine voice said suddenly from the corner of the room, and they looked over to see Lenore Karidian entering, frowning faintly. Vivian swallowed as she crossed to her father. "You'd better rest now," she said. The three women watched the man leaving the room and Vivian blinked as Lenore snapped back around to the Captain as soon as her father had left the room. Lenore said, "There's a stain of cruelty on your shining armor, Captain. You could have spared him, and me. You talked of using tools. I was a tool, wasn't I? A tool to use against my father."

Vivian noted that the Captain looked slightly uncomfortable, but Lenore was not as fazed as one might have thought.

"In the beginning, perhaps," Kirk said frankly. "But later, I wanted it to be more than that."

"Later," Lenore snarled derisively. "Everything's always later. Later. Latest. Too late. Too late, Captain. You're like your ship, powerful and not human. There is no mercy in you."

Vivian stepped forward, hoping to spare the Captain some more difficult moments by saying in her most reasonable work voice, "If your father is Kodos, Miss Karidian, he has received more mercy than he is worthy of. And if not, then there is no harm done and you will leave the Enterprise at Benecia Colony together."

"Who are you," Lenore hissed, "either of you, to say what harm was done?"

"Who do we have to be?" Kirk said softly.

Medical Log, supplemental. Lieutenant Riley's sufficiently recovered to be discharged, but the Captain's ordered him restricted to Sickbay to prevent contact with the passenger who calls himself Karidian and who's suspected of being Kodos the Executioner and of murdering the Lieutenant's family.

Spock handed Vivan a PADD as she sat down next to him in the briefing room. She picked it up and frowned to find it blank.

"For your report on mental state," he said. "I am still correlating the results and then we can take both to the Captain."

"I can't make a complete report, Spock," she said, setting the PADD down on the table. "I didn't have any equipment. But what observations I could make I already gave the Captain."

"Those are?"

Vivian hid her hands under the table as she clasped them together. Spock already knew she was flustered by the course of events. She didn't need to remind him at such a crucial stage.

"Well, if he's an actor he's a good one," she said. "Memory could account for the way he stopped reading halfway through the paper, of course. But to take on a character so completely that he justifies the atrocities of that character without any prompting by us, that suggests that he is Kodos." She sighed while the computer continued to correlate.

"There's something more?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

Vivian shook her head and said, "I don't really know. It's just that I think he has remorse. It's something that's nearly impossible to measure even with equipment, but the things he said to us about a failing memory…. I suppose even if he feels justified in what he did, he can regret it."

"Although I have no experience with feelings of remorse and regret," Spock said slowly, "From what I understand, this is possible."

"With emotions, Mr. Spock," Vivian said with her mouth turning wryly in spite of herself, "nearly anything is possible."

"Correlation complete," the computer announced, and Spock ordered a printout of the two voice charts.

Vivian watched him carefully as his eyes scanned the two charts. She glanced down at them as well for a moment, but without being able to look at them carefully she couldn't say more than that they were very similar.

"We must see the Captain," he said, stacking the two charts. "Immediately."

Captain's Log, stardate 2819.8. Suspect under surveillance. Strategic areas under double guard. Performance of the Karidian players taking place as scheduled.

Spock laid out the two charts on the table in front of Vivian and Kirk and Vivian leaned forward to look at them more closely, frowning. Very close, but still….

"I believe we have a match, Captain," Spock said confidently.

"Not an exact match," Vivian said darkly. "Life and death, Mr. Spock, as a matter of a single decision." He frowned at her. "And when we give a machine that power of decision, we misuse our tools and we are no better than Kodos."

Spock considered her for a moment and was just opening his mouth to reply when the intercom brought in McCoy's voice, saying, "Captain Kirk, McCoy here."

"Yes, Doctor," she responded.

"Riley's gone." Vivian and Spock both turned sharply to face the Captain. "I was recording my log about Karidian and Kodos. If he overheard-"

"You've made your point, Doctor," Captain Kirk said, flipping off the intercom sharply, looking very flustered.

"Captain?" another voice said on the intercom. "Security, H deck. The weapon's locker has been broken into. One phaser is missing."

Vivian tucked a bit of hair behind her ear with a trembling hand while the Captain made an announcement.

"This is the Captain. Security two alert. Find and restrain Lieutenant Kevin Riley. He's armed and possibly headed toward the ship's theatre."

She looked up at Vivian and said, "Counselor, I may need your expertise here. Come with me."

The two women left Spock with no orders, hurrying to the ship's theatre as quickly as they could get there. They traveled in silence. When they arrived backstage, they could hear the voice of the man playing the role of Hamlet.

"Wither wilt thou lead me? Speak, I'll go no further."

"Mark me," Karidian's familiar voice declared.

"I will."

Vivian and Kirk crept across the backstage carefully, not wanting to disrupt the performance and upset people. Or perhaps more importantly, cause Riley to act without thinking first because of desperation.

"My hour is almost come," Karidian said, "when I to sulphurous and tormenting fires must render up myself."

"Speak. I am bound to hear."

"So art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear. I am thy father's spirit, doomed for a certain term to walk the night…."

Vivian lost track of the lines as she spotted Riley with the phaser, looking as though he were steeling himself for the kill. She moved forward, and the Captain, noticing her actions, followed.

"Riley," she whispered, "I'm ordering you back to Sickbay."

"He murdered my father," Riley hissed, "and my mother."

"You could be wrong," Kirk warned. "Don't throw your life away on a mistake."

"I'm not wrong."

"But that I am forbid to tell the secrets of my prison house…." Karidian's voice was strong over the sound of their backstage whisperings and Riley shook his head, despairing.

"I know that voice, that face, I know it," he said urgently. "I saw it. He murdered them."

"Thy soul, freeze thy young blood."

"It's an order," Captain Kirk whispered firmly. "Give me the weapon." Riley made no moves, but let the Captain take the phaser without a fight. "Now get back to Sickbay."

Reluctantly, but fortunately, Riley did leave, just as the applause for the end of the play roared up. Time was running short. The Captain would have to make a decision of what to do about Karidian, before someone else made it for him.

The man in question came backstage, and Vivian and Kirk lingered out of sight as Lenore came up to her father, smiling.

"It's going beautifully," she said happily. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"There was a voice out of the past haunting me," Karidian said darkly, "torturing me. There was another part I once played long ago. I never told you about it. Now that same curtain rises again. The time has come."

Vivian closed her eyes. He was Kodos. Of course he was Kodos, but now they had the admission from his own mouth, and whatever action they decided would be fully justified. She hadn't realized what a relief it would be until she heard those words.

"No, Father," Lenore said, with surprising happiness in her voice. "The time will never come. Tonight, after my performance, the last two who can harm you will be gone."

Vivian's eyes flew open again and she could feel her heart pounding.

"What are you saying?"

"There were nine," Lenore said, still smiling, still pleased. "Now there are only two, and they will be gone as soon as I – Don't look at me like that."

Indeed, her father was horrified, dismayed, even sickened, which was exactly what Vivian felt at this strange turn of events.

"What have you done?" he demanded.

"What had to be done," Lenore said simply. "They had to be silenced."

"All of them? All seven? More blood on my hands?"

"No, Father, not anymore. I'm strong, Father. It's nothing."

The voice of a stagehand announced, "Second act, three minutes."

"We'll be ready," Lenore replied. She turned to her father again, a truly insane gleam in her eyes. "Don't you see? All the ghosts are dead. I've buried them. There's no more blood on your hands."

Karidian took no comfort in her ravings, however, and he shook his head, stepping back slightly.

"Oh, my child, my child," he said despairingly. "You've left me nothing! You were the only thing in my life untouched by what I'd done."

"But you're safe now, Father," Lenore said, not understanding. Vivian thought perhaps the girl was past the point of being able to understand. "I've saved you. Now, no one can touch you."

Vivian came forward, and Kirk followed her slowly. Vivian didn't know why she did it. Karidian was in no danger, but she thought perhaps, somewhere in the back of her mind, that she could say something to help this poor woman. But she knew that words would never be enough.

"Not even Captain Kirk," Lenore said, smiling as they approached. "See Caesar come? She's awed by your greatness, your shining brightness. Bright as a blade before it is stained with blood."

"Bright as a blade," Kirk echoed sadly. "Come with us, both of you."

"Of course," Lenore said, untroubled. "After the play."

"The play is over. It's been over for twenty years."

Karidian seemed to understand, saying sadly, mostly to Vivian, "I was a soldier in a cause. There were things to be done, terrible things."

"Stop it, Father!" Lenore said, perturbed. "You have nothing to justify."

"Murder, flight, suicide, madness," he turned to his daughter sadly. "I never wanted the blood on my hands ever to stain you."

"I did it for you. I saved you."

"You murdered seven innocent men," Vivian said coldly. She had meant to use her gentle voice, her voice for patients, but instead her Bridge voice came out, and Lenore turned on her, viciously.

"They weren't innocent! They were dangerous! I would have killed a world to save him!"

The stagehand called again saying, "Curtain going up, one minute."

Captain Kirk took hold of Karidian's arm, and Karidian did not fight.

"The play, Captain," Lenore said, most insistently. "He must go on. This is the great Karidian."

"Guard," Kirk called.

The guard approached and Lenore went absolutely mad. She shrieked, "You cannot deny him his last performance!"

She grabbed the security guard's phaser, running onto the stage, facing them still.

"Lenore, don't!" Karidian cried.

"You'll never get off the ship," Kirk warned.

"It will become a floating tomb," she said loftily, "drifting through space with the soul of the great Karidian giving performances at every star he touches." Captain Kirk made to approach her, but she pointed the phaser at the Captain. "I know how to use this, Captain."

"No," Karidian said.

"Caesar, beware the ides of March," she said.

"No, child! Don't!"

Vivian watched in horror as Karidian rushed between Lenore and Kirk as she pulled the trigger of the phaser. Lenore's scream filled the air hauntingly as her father's body crumpled. Kirk rushed forward to take the phaser and Vivian held up a hand to stop the security guard from approaching Lenore, who had hurried to her father's body and kneeled over it.

"Father," she cried. "Father! O, proud death!" She was weeping. "What feast is toward in thine eternal cell, that thou, such a prince at a shot so bloodily has struck? The curtain, the curtain rises. It rises. There's no time to sleep. The play. The play. The play's the thing, wherein we'll catch the conscience of the King."

/-/

Vivian followed Doctor McCoy onto the Bridge, handing him back the PADD she'd been reviewing in the turbolift. She'd spent nearly every moment in Sickbay since Karidian's – Kodos's – death, and she felt almost relieved to be serving a shift on the Bridge. She settled into the communication seat, nodding to Spock, who looked up at her as she entered.

Doctor McCoy stepped up to the Captain's chair and frowned.

"Medical supplement to Counselor's report," he said, handing over the PADD. "She'll receive the best of care, Jamie. She remembers nothing. She even thinks her father's still alive, giving performances before cheering crowds. You really cared for her, didn't you?"

Vivian and Spock exchanged glances and he said, "Ready to leave Benecia orbit, Captain."

"Standby, Mr. Leslie," Kirk said, ignoring McCoy's question. "All channels cleared, Vivian?"

"Cleared, Captain," she said after flipping two switches.

"Whenever you're ready, Mr. Leslie."

"Leaving orbit, sir," Leslie said.

McCoy raised an eyebrow and said, "You're not going to answer my question, are you?"

"Ahead," Kirk said, "warp factor one, Mr. Leslie."

McCoy looked around at Vivian, who gave him a sad smile, and then turned to the Captain again, taking the report back.

"That's an answer," he said, before walking back off the Bridge. Vivian tried not to watch, but she couldn't help but notice the faraway look in the Captain's eyes as she gazed at the viewscreen.