Ok, so I kind of thought this story was complete because I saved poor Kirk from dying, but I went back and reread it yesterday, and realized that I had not actually resolved much of the mystery. Just laziness on my part, sorry. I am also working on a final chapter in which Jim wakes up and I will tie up any other loose ends I left. Please read and review. Thanks!

A great deal of information was gained in the twelve hours following Captain Kirk's surgery. After Pyloc had been vaporized before the bridge crew's eyes, the leader of the resistance movement had asked for an audience with Acting-Captain Spock, in order to explain the recent events. After briefing Starfleet, Spock was given orders to allow a small group of Idausian representatives to come aboard the Enterprise. Given the recent events, it was of utmost importance to the Federation that a reevaluation of the planet be done as soon as possible to see if the planet was eligible to retain its membership status.

Scotty remarked wryly that he doubted that the Federation would be so worried about Idaus if its chief export was coal rather than dillithium crystals. He didn't yet know how apropos his observation was.

The senior officers on the ship gathered in a conference room to meet the Idausian representatives. Ordinarily, meetings like this were anything but exciting, and crew members who had to attend dreaded the long hours of diplomatic pandering. This one however, was personal. They all wanted answers.

Spock, Uhura, and Scotty sat on one side of the table, and Dr. McCoy sat on the end, close to the door. He had been torn between wanting to stay at Kirk's side and his desire to be at the meeting to get the missing pieces in the puzzle that had consumed his life over the few days, and almost ended Jim's. In the end, he decided he would attend the meeting, but had left orders to be notified immediately if Jim woke up. It had only been a few hours since McCoy finished operating, so he estimated it would still be a while.

Based on what he'd heard about Pyloc, McCoy wasn't expecting anything good from the resistance leaders they were meeting with. However, the three Idausians who beamed onto the Enterprise were about as different from Pyloc as they could be. Where the Chief Decider had immediately aroused feelings of mistrust, the representatives exuded sincerity and an honest concern for the future of their people. Portent, the leader of the resistance, was taller and thinner than Pyloc, and though he still would not have been considered physically attractive to humans, his eyes were kind and earnest.

With him, he had brought Kalo, an elderly Idausian who was a spiritual leader on the planet. His pink, shapeless face was marked with wrinkles. Even with the physical differences, Dr. McCoy could recognize a serenity and quiet wisdom coming from Kalo that he had seen in countless spiritual leaders on Earth.

The third member of the party was a female by the name of Pali. She was the shortest of the three, and the only feature that distinguished her from the males was a slightly more curvy figure and a distinctly feminine voice. She had been a Decider, but had resigned and joined the resistance after the leaders of the mining class were executed without trial.

After introductions all around, the meeting commenced. Portent stood and looked solemnly at the Enterprise crew. "I would like to start by telling you how much I regret the damage that was done to your Captain Kirk by Decider Pyloc. It is well known that death by sitanium sphere is excruciating, and it pains me deeply to know that an innocent man suffered so greatly because of our world's struggles."

The other two Idausians shrugged their shoulders twice (their equivalent to human head-nodding) and murmured their own apologies. Portent took his seat.

Dr. McCoy cleared his throat and struggled to adopt a diplomatic tone. He wasn't waiting any longer to get his answers. "I am the Chief Medical Officer on this ship. What was that thing Pyloc put inside the Captain?" he asked Portent.

"Sitanium spheres were used by Deciders in historical times to assassinate rivals. Our healers long ago found ways to restore those who were afflicted by this cruel weapon so it is no longer used on our world, but unfortunately other-world physicians would have no knowledge of these methods." Portent shook his head. "It was an amazing turn of fortune that you were able to find out how to restore your Captain," he said. "You must be a skilled healer indeed."

McCoy gave a small smile at the compliment. If only Portent knew how unskilled and inept he had felt over the last few days. "I can't take all the credit," he answered. "A few years ago, there was…" Here he paused, wondering how much he should tell them. He glanced over at Spock who nodded almost imperceptibly. The doctor took this as permission to continue. "Another human was killed by one of those spheres," he said solemnly. "A woman by the name of Savender Patel. She was a member of the first team the Federation sent to your planet. A few days after she returned to Earth, she died. During the autopsy, a small metallic sphere was found. Of course, the medical examiner had no idea what the sphere was made of, but he could only conclude that it caused her death. I used the information from her medical file to help me heal our captain."

This information elicited quite a reaction from the Idausians. Portent and Kalo were visibly upset at the news that another human had suffered from their world's uniquely brutal weapon, but Pali looked absolutely horrified. "Savender Patel," she whispered, almost to herself. Then she shook herself and turned urgently to the doctor. "Healer McCoy, I met Savender when she came to Idaus. I remember her well."

Spock raised an eyebrow. "Do you recall anything that may provide an explanation for her murder?" he asked.

"I know why she was killed," Pali said regretfully. "The other Deciders and the Federation Ambassador were insistent that Idaus should become a part of the Federation at any cost. They knew that massive wealth would come from this alliance because the Federation was willing to pay a great deal for our dillithium crystals." Pali paused and took a sip of water from a glass that had been set in front of her. "The Ambassador knew that the Federation would not do business with Idaus if they knew how the miners were actually treated, so he made a deal with the Deciders. He would recount only wonderful things about our government and fix his official report so that we would be assured entry into the Federation."

"And what did the Ambassador get in return?" Scotty asked darkly.

"He has been paid a sum every time a shipment of dillithium has left our planet," Portent replied.

"Savender did not agree with the plan," Pali said sadly. "She made her feelings known to us and to your Ambassador. He told us not to worry and said he would convince her. If I'd had any idea he was going to kill her…" Her voice trailed away and she was lost in her thoughts.

Dr. McCoy felt the rage building in his chest. This Ambassador had sold a whole class of Idausians into a life not much better than slavery, killed an innocent woman to cover his tracks, and had nearly gotten Jim killed as a result of his greed. He struggled to keep his voice level, but the anger came through. "What was the Ambassador's name?"

"Ambassador Beck." Spock and Pali answered simultaneously.

"Spock," McCoy spoke through gritted teeth. "Please tell me this guy is going to pay for what he's done.

"I assure you, Doctor, that I will file a detailed report immediately, and contact the Federation authorities…"

Just then, the intercom beeped. Nurse Conway's voice filled the room. "Doctor McCoy?"

"Here."

"Captain Kirk is showing signs of coming around, Doctor."

"On my way." The doctor remembered himself just long enough to make quick apologies to the Idausians, and then ran out the door.