Sorry it's so late and short but I've been very busy and ill for the past three weeks. Therefore I've not been able to get anything done because of it. So thanks for your patience.

Classes seemed to drag by for all of them. They were concerned, they were interested and they were in need of a lead. To them they felt like they could help make a difference. Possibly shed light on the situation and help cease they issues that were facing them.

Pavel politely listened as his teacher droned on about Quantum Physics. Usually he was completely entranced in this lesson. Every idea was new and interesting. He often imagined himself using these skills to help him. Once or twice he had been caught day dreaming about such in class but he was completely engaged. He knew the answers; not that he didn't for other lessons.

But there was just something absolutely fascinating about this one subject, and he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Sulu had changed this though, he had information. Information that they needed in order to work out what to do. Bones had caught Kirk after second lesson; mentioning something about another person being dragged in. Kicking and screaming. Bleeding and vomiting.

He'd told them how the victim was rushed to the 'isolation rooms'; rooms only used when someone had an illness that could be spread. Did that mean that this could be spread with close contact? If so how were they to stop the spread? Was it possible that they could predict who was next? Who had had the closest contact with the newest victim moments before they had been rushed in.

Could the medical staff be at risk? Bones could be in harms way but how were they meant to act upon that.

He really really needed this school day to be over. Now.

A glance at Kirk showed that he too held the same opinion. His eyes were constantly darting towards the clock. On any other day he would have laughed. He usually only did this when he had a date. Conscious about seeming cool and collected before meeting them. Turning up on time or early. Anything to further portray how much of a nice kind gentlemen he was. Sometimes using Chekov as a 'Wingman'.

So he'd get out early, only sometimes his impatience gained some unwanted attention. Usually a couple jerks who quiz him but they didn't matter. It was the teacher that could cause issues. They could authorize detentions, keeping him back for an hour if they believed you needed extra help. More like they didn't pay attention and the teacher wanted them to suffer.

All teachers had this at their disposal. Not all used it as freely as the Quantum Physics substitute teacher, whom they currently had, or the dreaded Mr Kire.

So when this substitute was staring at Kirk, Pavel could kind of guess that they were going to comment on it. It was a tell-tale sign around the world. If a teacher is staring at you whilst your not doing as they say or not paying attention then you're in the bad books.

Said teacher cleared their throat, obviously trying to be subtle about their distaste for this students lack of attention. However, the little throat clearing only got the attention of the rest of the entire class and not the person who they were aiming for.

Typical isn't it that that is the outcome.

And yeah maybe he could somehow have informed him earlier, perhaps just nudged him. But the teacher was watching him like a hawk, and Kirk was two seats over. That means he'd have to push the guy next to him hard enough to push Kirk. That's a stupid idea.

Another clearing of the throat and still he didn't pay attention. So the teacher decided to do it the way that always felt like you were being put on a pedestal... in front of everyone...wearing a dunces hat...whilst everyone watched you in utter astonishment...usually whilst the teacher lectured you.

Not that this has ever happened before, maybe not so exaggerated.

Did he mention that the teacher had an almost completely emotionless voice, yeah that's why everyone was nearly nodding off.

He spoke loud and clear though, very authoritative too. Pronouncing every syllable with ease and knowledge. His back was straight like a metal pole and his pointy ears showed that he was a Vulcan. A race that Pavel knew were know for their intellect and their emotionless natures. This one came off as a little different though, not that others could tell. It wasn't much of a give away but Pavel swore that sometimes when something really shocking or funny or someone was just disrespectful that he could see a flash of emotion filter through his eyes. Sometimes even a twitch of his lips was spotted; usually indicating a frown or a smile at a joke.

"Cadet Kirk, may I ask why you seem to have lost interest with the class? Quantum Physics is an absolutely essential subject and by missing a lesson you could render yourself in trouble. Catching up will be difficult. So by daydreaming, as you people call it. You are putting your education at risk, it is a highly illogical decision to make."

Kirk, who had been paying close attention to this man's every word, spoke, "No offence, sir. But I am fully capable of passing this class with ease. If you check my file you'll see proof of just that."

The teacher straightened his back ever further, which seemed almost impossible to do, and replied, "I know of your past scores and your achievements, Cadet, but that doesn't put you any higher than others within this class. You are still learning and have no prior knowledge of this subject otherwise why would you be in a school. A place of learning."

Okay, Pavel was impressed with this teacher. He was acting in a way he'd never expect. He was arguing back. Or, as said teacher would say in years to come, that he was only partaking in a spot of debating over proper conduct.

A common occurrence between these two individuals; it sometimes lead to very elaborate plans to be held that always pulled them out of sticky situations. Something that still managed to baffle Pavel. It never worked when he tried, never.

This being the first time he witnessed this occurrence meant that, unlike all the times in the future, he actually paid close attention. Much like every other student within the class. He was sure he heard two student making a bet on who'd win this argument; those kids always bet on things though. He wasn't joking. They bet on everything.

But enough about that, back to what was going on right now.

Kirk countered Spock, no one really gave him his status name before his actual one, "I am well aware of where I am, sir. And I am sorry that I haven't been to your expectation. But I have other matters on my mind that need more thought to be put towards then than that of this lesson."

Spock, "Care to elaborate for me and the class, Cadet?"

Personally Pavel didn't quite like the way that he said Cadet. He made it seem pathetic or distasteful, if that makes sense.

Glancing around deliberately, Kirk smirked at Pavel before answering, "Not particularly, sir. And I thought that you as an academic would take into consideration the fact that by having this argument with me right now that you were taking precious moments of learning away from the other students. People's who's main reasoning for being in this room is that they do in fact wish to learn. Although probably from a teacher with a bit more emotion."

"I understand your point, Cadet. All be it you know I am a Vulcan someone without emotion so your final point was completely flawed and unjust." Pausing as he walked back to the desk at the front, he continued, "We shall continue the class, but I expect to see you after class. Is that understood, Cadet?"

Kirk agreed but both were thinking the same. Perfect, more time taken away from seeing Sulu for his lead; also a joint opinion on the way he said Cadet.

You could tell how he viewed them for sure.

Being ever faithful, Pavel waited for his sort of brother outside Spock's office. He had made Kirk follow him all the way across the school. Of which no other teacher did. If they wished to speak privately with a student they spoke to them once all the other students had vacated the classroom. It was almost as equally as private as his office. Sure the door didn't lock but still it was private and didn't involved them trekking half way across the school for a small telling off.

Perhaps that's why he does it, speculated Pavel as he tapped his foot impatiently. They needed to go. It was the end of the day, finally.

Sulu, Uhura and McCoy would be waiting for them. Outside of their room too. So they'd just be standing in a corridor outside of their room getting funny looks from strangers. Someone might tell them about Kirk having a run in with Spock, the only benefit of being in a school where news travels fast.

What if he went ahead, to explain the situation. Surely Kirk would make an educated guess as to where he went. Hopefully he'd think that yes Pavel got tired of waiting and went to tell the others.

But what if he didn't, the broken nose the other day had had him in a fit of rage. What if he jumped to conclusions like he usually did? Some of his conclusions were nearly right, only sometimes.

If he jumped to conclusions on this though he could get into further trouble. Staying here became an even better idea. He'd stay here, bored.

When his jiggling he tended to do returned he tried a technique that McCoy had mentioned to him. He let his mind begin to come up with scenarios and be creative. Little stories to distract himself. Cool plans for pranks or just conversations. Things that kept him rooted and occupied. His jiggling stopped and time passed faster.

So fast that he didn't notice when Kirk finally emerged from within Spock's classroom. Not until Kirk patted him on the shoulder, declaring that they "Should best head off" saying that the other would be "getting impatient".

He briefly mentioned Spock and what he thought about him but best move away from that topic for now. It wasn't exactly pleasant.

A ten minute power walk ensured before they came across their room. McCoy and Uhura yelled at them from down the corridor until they both got to them, then continued to yell at them further as they unlocked the door and went inside. All the while persistently complaining about having to wait and the situation being important. And not just a little this was life risking important stuff.

Uhura had taken a little break to hug Pavel, whispering soothingly, "I know it's probably not your fault you're late. I'm sorry for yelling."

Then she went back to yelling; Pavel left confused. He knew they weren't late because of him. Why on earth was he comforted? He knew he was innocent. It was Kirk who decided to antagonize the teacher.

He just needed them to stop complaining now. It was annoying and sure a little concerning/scary the way in which they were going on. He couldn't imagine how Sulu was taking this all. He didn't even know them. He'd heard of them. Chekov the Whizkid as Pike calls him, Uhura the best in xenolinguistics in all the school, Kirk the son of a Captain that saved 800 hundred lives (correct me if I got that wrong), and lastly Bones. Bones was the most experienced and determined Doctor that they had.

People knew of them as the smartest and youngest in their fields. Therefore when in a room with them then you'd probably expect them to conduct themselves correctly and calmly. To be able to work things out quickly and efficiently.

What you actually got was the complete opposite; especially seeing as Uhura didn't really like Kirk.

However, when Pavel took in how Sulu was taking this chaotic sight he was mildly surprised. He wasn't appalled or shocked. He looked excited and amused. Like he was at complete ease and that this sight was normal for the Academy's finest.

Maybe it was. Maybe this is what people expect, scratch that because there is no way people see this when they look at them. No way.

A throat clear, another one, except this one wasn't by some interfering teacher but by Sulu, "Do you want me to tell you?"

That shut them up, thank goodness. Pavel wasn't sure how much more bickering he could listen to. He was the teenager; doesn't society say that he should be the one constantly emotional and bickering and storming off in huff's. Yet here he was calm watching a bunch of fully grown adults argue. Well not all had matured mentally, hint hint Kirk.

Thank goodness for Sulu.

Sulu began, "Anyway the information I have about this thing is it isn't a virus or an illness. I think it's a living organism but it's not from planet Earth. This is because I knew the guy first infected. I was with him when he was infected. I think anyway."

"We had been taking a trip off earth, some guy agreed to take us. He told us firmly that it would be completely safe. Nothing could go wrong. And he took us to this planet...I forget what it's called but it wasn't one of the restricted or flagged planets. All signs showed that if was safe to step foot on and everything."

"But my friend, Greg, he found something whilst we were looking around. There was nothing else really to do there. All that surrounded us were trees and bushes and stuff. So looking around didn't seem dangerous. To be honest none of it did. Not even when he found something. It was this box shaped thing. It was lodged between this boulder and a tree. Tightly shoved in the tiny space."

Taking a deep breath, he continued, "That should have been a sign to us. There was nothing else around us so some box shouldn't have been there either. But Greg was interested, told me to stop being whiny and man up. Long story short, he opened it. We didn't see anything inside at first."

"But then there was something, black smoke. It filled the box and we closed it before any could escape. We left it on the planet. We thought if we left it hidden and kept far away nothing bad could come about. I noticed that some of the smoke left a power on Greg's hand though. That must have been where he was contaminated from but..."

Kirk cut him off, "Wait but I thought you said it wasn't a virus that it was a living organism of some sort that had done this, deliberately?"

Sulu nodded, "That's the thing. We left this box locked and hidden on that planet. When the deaths started happening, well, we told Pike. He took me back there and we searched all over that area. The box wasn't there and there was blood. A lot of blood. Deep footprints too."

"Pike is guessing that someone is using the smoke, or whatever it is, to hurt people." Sulu rubbed his eyes, bowing his head, "And I was the one who first found it. I feel responsible. So I am helping you fix this. No matter what."

This chapter is slightly longer as I felt it needed to be seeing as I left it so long without updating. Hope you're enjoying the little mystery and that I'm not boring you. Reviews are taken into account. So Thank you a lot for any given