The doors swished open a few seconds later and they headed down the hallway. "Pretty soon, we'll have to put one of these in the house," Descin remarked.

Albix smiled at his father. "You're not that old yet, Father."

"Who said I was old? I shall need to save my energy for chasing your children around the fields." Albix's eyes widened, and Descin laughed.

Kirk seemed amused by their easy banter. Todar, on the other hand, appeared more interested in the crewmen who were passing through the halls. He scrutinized their faces with his usual frown, as though trying to recognize if he'd seen them before.

As they walked into the transporter room, the operator was adjusting a setting on the panel. He was a short, compact man, wearing a red uniform.

"Wardell."

The young man snapped to attention. "Sir?"

"Our guests are ready to leave now. Where's Rollins?"

"He's, uh, grabbing a bite to eat at the mess hall, sir. Asked me to cover for him for a few minutes."

Kirk nodded, and then turned to face his guests, who were walking onto the platform. "I hope this is the first of many such evenings, Descin. You and your family are always welcome on the Enterprise."

"As you are at my home, Captain Kirk." Descin bowed his head. "You have brought me joy," he said as he put one arm each around his sons.

Kirk bowed his head, and turned to Wardell. "Energ-" But he was stopped short by the strange shocked expression on the man's face. "What is it, Ensign?" he asked, confused, hands hanging slack at his sides.

In a flash, Wardell dropped behind the transporter station and whipped out his phaser. "Captain, get down!" He shot the weapon twice in the direction of the platform. Everybody ducked out of the way, falling to the floor.

Kirk froze, then got on his knees, slowly crawling towards the ensign's position. Wardell gripped the console with one white-knuckled hand, peering around the corner. He sighed with relief when Kirk reached him. "That was close, sir. I don't know how he beamed aboard, or where he came from."

Kirk looked behind them. Descin and Todar lay on their stomachs, arms over their heads. Albix was propped up on one elbow, groaning. Blood seeped from a wound on his shoulder.

Kirk put his hand on the ensign's shoulder. "Who?" he asked, even though he already suspected what was happening.

"The-the Klingon, sir." Wardell hissed. "He's holding the old man and the other one at gunpoint. I think I got him, though." He checked the setting on his phaser.

Seeing an opportunity, Kirk chopped the ensign's wrist. Wardell cried out, dropping the weapon. Kirk stuffed it in his belt and ran towards the injured man just as a security officer appeared in the doorway. He pointed to Wardell, who was still rubbing his wrist. "Take him to sickbay." The guard hoisted a struggling Wardell up and dragged him down the hallway.

The captain helped Albix to his feet as Descin came around to his other side and raised his son's arm over his shoulders. As they headed out of the room, Todar trailed them until they left. He glanced at the transporter console, then down at his hand, which had some of Albix's blood splattered on it. Making a fist, he slammed it down hard on the console with a growl.