AN: The big chapter! I hope I you all like it! Please let me know via reviews. They keep me happy and happy writers work faster. I absolutely welcome ideas and requests so please let me know what you think. I'm sorry it took so long to update but I wanted to finish my other story 'Misplaced'. Thank you so much for being patient!

tishbing

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Charlotte watched the blond woman go into Dr. McCoy's office with a frown. Something was off with her. She looked out at the medbay from the confines of their ward and saw Kevin Riley in the corner calibrating a scanner. She tapped against the transparent glass and he looked up in response, moving over to her. Charlotte ran back to her bed and grabbed her PADD and indicated he do the same, pointing to her ears to explain she couldn't hear. She was thankful he was quick on the uptake and retrieved his own PADD, quick to send her a message.

KRiley: Hey, C.J. You ok? I heard what happened. I'm heartbroken about Tom.

CJones: Me too. I'm fine but I was wondering if you know who the woman who just went into McCoy's office was? I saw her outside the labs before and I know I've seen her before.

Riley's face became puzzled as he looked up at Charlotte. Almost like she was crazy.

KRiley: Yes. You've seen her. She came to see me after I got sick. She's Lenore Karidian, the captain's yeoman. She works in communications. She's the one who made it possible for me to be here for my internship. She's really nice. Why?

Charlotte felt the air leave her lungs, like she had been punched. The past two incidents made sense but other things started sliding into place that made her start to feel sick. She was the one who organized the paperwork for the leaves and away missions. She knew where she was on Earth three weeks ago. She worked in communications so it was possible she had contacted Michael to have her killed.

She quickly typed out another message.

CJones: Kev, you need to tell Spock and the captain about her visiting you after the attack and tell them that I saw her outside the labs. If she really worked for communications then she wouldn't have had on an engineering jumpsuit and be working on the doors! She might have my messages stopped. I need you to tell them in case I can't get through. I think she's the one.

Kevin paled and shook his head.

KRiley: The one what? What attack? It was a replicator malfunction and your lab explosion was an accident.

Charlotte sighed and shook her own head. Riley swallowed drily as he watched her type.

CJones: No Kevin. I think that she was setting us up to kill us. The Tarsus survivors. I don't know why, though. Don't you think it's strange that she, a lowly yeoman, worked so hard to get you here on your internship? That there were four out of the nine onboard the Enterprise? And that accidents have happened to three of us that were nearly fatal to two and fatal to one?

He looked like he was going to throw up. Riley's hands started to shake and he looked at Charlotte with wide, fearful eyes to which she nodded and tapped at her PADD. The evidence was clear. All it needed was for the pieces to be put together before anyone else got hurt.

KRiley: You're right. I'll go now.

Jim Kirk couldn't focus on the task that was disturbing him. He needed to organize the relief teams to Cygnia. He had put through his calls to Earth and Taurus VI for the deaths to be investigated a second time and to Evelyn Eames' fiancé. He was hoping that Jeremy would have the answers he was seeking.

Teams of crewmembers were scattered around the cargo bay like ants on a picnic. Each group was absorbed in it's task, oblivious to the problems currently plaguing their captain and first officer. He was reviewing the final inventory lists when his comms went off.

"Kirk here."

Uhura's voice came over the speakers.

"Captain, I believe that I might have found something and also you have a transmission that's about to come through from Earth."

"On my way."

He snapped the lid down on his communicator and strode out of the bay to the bridge.

Once he was on the bridge, Lieutenant Uhura's face was screwed tight. Her eyes bright with anxiety as she glanced around nervously and Kirk knew she had found something particularly disturbing. He swept an arm out to indicate his ready room so that what she had to say would remain private. She walked in front of him and he could see how tense she was with her careful strides, her hands tightly gripping a PADD in front of her like a shield.

"Lieutenant? What have you found?"

He leaned a hip on the corner of his desk, though his posture was relaxed and confident, he didn't feel it. She obviously wasn't fooled either.

"Captain...I didn't find much but what I did find was...disturbing. I found several text only transmissions that were sent from my station. The reason they weren't recovered sooner was because we were looking for deleted files. These were simply moved into a subfolder."

Uhura handed him the folder and he scanned the files. He frowned as the scope of what he was seeing was hitting him. There were several monetary transactions from a numbered nameless bank account to a ferengi account dated several months ago with the notation power cells for Taurus VI. Another transaction to Michael Jacobs with a text only transmission detailing Ensign Jones' locations for her shoreleave. Subsequent transmissions from Jacobs detailing that he couldn't complete their deal, that he loved Jones and wouldn't kill her but that he would make sure she disappeared.

He noticed that he was only seeing half of the conversations. The outgoing responses were still absent. He continued reading and saw transmissions from Planet Q with Thomas Leighton's biographical information, another from Earth with Evelyn Eames and Maria Sanchez's information with limited medical files attached.

Further along there was a short note.

My darling,

You have done well in keeping me safe. Daniel Moulton met his true fate some months ago on my last visit to the Mars colony. I know that you are soon to be leaving for Zeti-4 and the Zenitians want a survey of the sixth planet in their system. I noticed an interesting effect of the sixth planet. It drains the power of electrical systems and any probe sent in will crash to the surface. You said Jones was a nurse and scientist. Get her on that mission. If the shuttle crashes, her demise will be seen as an accident. I have faith in you.

There was no signature. It left a cold feeling in his chest at the casual mention of Daniel's murder and the methodical plotting of a second. He saw several more bank transfers in increasingly larger amounts to Orion accounts and those he couldn't place.

"Anything else?" He asked.

Uhura shook her head. "That's all I could find so far. I'm still looking, though.

He gave a tight smile of thanks and slid into his chair to access his computer.

"Thanks, Uhura. Send a copy of this to Spock and keep looking. I need to know who is behind these transmissions."

She gave a terse nod and retrieved her PADD from the captain.

"You also have a transmission from Earth. From a Jeremy White. I've encrypted it just in case and set it up to record. He says he was Evelyn Eames' fiancé."

He smiled at Uhura's thoroughness and she left him as he hit the accept button on his computer. His screen lit up with an image of a young blond man, his green eyes were red-rimmed and he had the look of defeated heartbreak.

"Hi, Jeremy. How are you?" He asked cautiously.

The man on the screen bit his lip and wrung his hands together but his voice was surprisingly calm.

"Jim. I saw that you got the police to re-open Evelyn's case. Thank you."

He didn't know what to say to that so he asked a question he'd been wondering.

"Jeremy, was there anything Evie said or did recently that was out of character for her? Did she send or receive any messages that were out of the ordinary?"

Kirk couldn't help leaning forward in his chair as Jeremy paused, deep in thought.

"Uh...yeah. We went to a play about a week before she died. She was upset by it. It was just an acting troupe passing through performing Shakespeare's works but she was frantic about the leader of the group. Didn't you get her messages?" White frowned at the screen and Kirk returned the look.

"No. What messages?"

He felt his pulse accelerate and he moved closer to the screen, his backside now hovering over his chair rather than in it. He was so focused on his conversation, he failed to hear his door opening.

"The messages said that Anton Karidian, leader of the Karidian Players, was the mass murderer Governor Kodos, also known as Kodos the Executioner."

The feel of cold metal in the shape of a phaser muzzle at the back of his head caused him to freeze. His screen shut off as the transmission failed but he didn't miss the look of horror on Jeremy's face before the video cut off.

"Very good, Captain."

He didn't need to hear the high-pitched voice to recognize just who had the gun. His question of who their killer was had been answered by Jeremy. The only revelations had been that there had been two killers, a father-daughter team and that it was Kodos himself that was finishing what he had started thirteen years ago.

He tensed his body as the phaser dug in harder forcing his head to tilt.

"Nuh-uh, captain. One false move and I will blow your ship. As you have no doubt seen, I am exceptionally talented at explosives and computer programming. This virus can be triggered by the press of a button, a button that I happen to have in my other hand. If you value the lives of your crew you'll follow my instructions to the letter. Three lives in exchange for over four hundred."

He snarled his disgust at her words but didn't fight.

"You mean five lives, not three. Jones is pregnant with twins."

She snorted but didn't so much as waver.

"A sad situation but unavoidable. We will collect Jones and Riley and take a shuttle off of this ship. From there I will detonate the ship to with an antimatter explosion, killing everyone aboard."

Kirk's hands tightened into fists but he didn't move. She was truly insane. His comm started beeping at his hip but he couldn't answer it.

"But Lenore, Why? You'll kill yourself too?"

She laughed a much higher laugh, almost hysterical in it's tone and it set his teeth on edge, only furthering his knowledge that she was willing to do what she threatened.

"It doesn't matter. I would die a thousand times to save him, his shining brightness, as bright as a blade before it is stained by blood. The great Karidian, his gift was meant for the universe and you nine were a danger to him. There were nine and now there are three. Soon to be no more."

Kirk listened to her declarations, the ravings of a mad woman in silence. His fear for his crew's safety keeping him in check.

"Now. Let's go, captain. My final performance is at hand."

Spock finalized the preparations for the shuttles and supplies to be sent to Cygnia Minor. He was going over the relief roster when he saw Cadet Riley rushing across the bay towards him, his face pale and anxious. He skidded to a stop in front of the Vulcan and Spock stood up straight and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Cadet? I do believe that you are assigned to sickbay, are you not?" He said evenly.

"Sir, Charlotte sent me and together we think we figured out who is behind this." He said breathlessly.

Spock became aware of some of the other officers stopping their work and watching them so he took a hold of the younger man's arm and steered him to a corner out of earshot.

"What have you discovered?" He asked pointedly.

"It's Yeoman Lenore Karidian. Charlotte and I think it fits. She has access to communications and Charlotte says that she saw her outside the doors to the lab before the explosion. She was also the reason for my being here." The brunette finished uneasily.

Spock's communicator started beeping. He frowned at the display. He pulled it off his belt and McCoy's voice filtered out.

"Spock? I think I've got a lead. I just finished the crew evals. Can you come down here?"

"Acknowledged, Doctor. I will inform the captain as well."

He cut off the connection and tried hailing the captain only to go unanswered. An uneasy feeling filled him as he tried a second and third time. Riley started to bounce with nervous energy at Spock's continued attempts.

He stopped his efforts and changed his tactics.

"Spock to security."

"Security here."

"There has been a murderer identified. She may have the captain. It is Yeoman Lenore Karidian. She may be armed and is considered extremely dangerous."

"Aye, sir."

Spock turned to Riley.

"We must get to the sickbay. That is likely her next stop. We must arm ourselves."

Riley didn't even hesitate and they ran out the doors.

Charlotte could make out sounds by now. It was 0600 ships time and they were due to be arriving at the colony soon. She knew the staff had been up all gamma shift doing last minute preparations and she had wanted to help but was still in quarantine. She watched as the sickbay was emptying of staff in an organized swarm leaving only Dr. McCoy and T'Peni in his office. They were deep in discussion and the way in which they were holding themselves only made her more nervous.

"What do you think they're talking about?"

Charlotte jumped at Sulu's loud whisper. She'd become used to the silence but since T'Peni's removal of the bandages around her ears, even small noises made her jump. Mrs. Leighton was deep asleep. She had had to be sedated again as a panic attack had started to interfere with her cardiac rhythms.

"I think they're talking about Leighton's killer." She whispered.

Sulu was about to respond when the captain came through the doors with Lenore Karidian close behind him. Her eyes were wild and one hand held a phaser at the young captain's back while the other held a small, black, palm-sized box with a button. The security officers that had been stationed outside the medical bay followed in, weapons trained on Karidian but even from her distance in the quarantined room, Charlotte could see the unsure glances the men were shooting Kirk. The commotion in the bay brought the two doctors out of the office.

"Doctor McCoy, I'm so glad you're still here after our little chat since only the CMO can open the quarantine chamber to release the occupants." Karidian smiled as she talked and it sent shivers down Charlotte's spine.

McCoy's body snapped straight and he raised a hand answer but Spock and Riley burst through the doors, immediately raising phasers towards the woman and her hostage. Karidian smiled wider, showing an impressive array of white teeth as if this was exactly what she had planned. Spock glanced over at her for a moment but then his focus switched to the captain.

"Yeoman, I suggest you put down your weapon. Your odds of escape are at zero percent." Spock ordered.

Karidian laughed.

"Tut tut...I think not. Tell them why they need to listen to me, captain."

Kirk looked around the people assembled and spoke.

"She has a device that will send a computer virus designed to destabilize the warp core and cause a breach."

The woman held up the small black box to show them and Charlotte felt her stomach clench in fear. Sulu stiffened next to her. She leaned close to him and whispered.

"Is that possible?"

He swallowed nervously.

"Yes."

Charlottes turned her attention back to the situation unfolding. Karidian seemed to be glowing with confidence at Kirk's statement. McCoy and Spock exchanged tense looks.

"Now, I want everyone to drop their weapons and move away." She waited while they obeyed and her voice turned sickly sweet.

"Kevin, dear, you can come here and stand next to your captain."

Riley looked at Spock who nodded that he should comply with the demand. Riley took a deep breath and stepped away from the vulcan and two-man security team, taking his place next to Kirk.

"Good boy." She cooed and then she addressed McCoy. "Now the other one." She snapped.

McCoy paled but slowly went to Charlotte's door and typed in the code to unseal the door. His hands lingered for a moment longer than necessary before moving away and the door opened. Sulu gripped her arm tightly with a whispered "No." but at Karidian's wave with the device she dully marched forward in line with Kirk and Riley.

"Thank you, gentlemen. We will be leaving now. If you try anything I will hit this button and Spock?" She waited a beat until she received his gaze.

"This is a case where the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

Spock frowned slightly and Charlotte could feel Spock's disgust at Karidian mentioning one of Surak's edicts to justify her actions through their link.

"Your actions, however, are not logical."

"Oh, they are. Their deaths were meant to happen long ago. Do you remember Kirk? 'The revolution is successful. But survival depends on drastic measures. Your continued existence represents a threat to the well-being of society. 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 so ordered, signed Kodos, Governor of Tarsus IV'."

She eyed the trio in front of her with a look that was reminiscent of a parent explaining a solution to a frustrated child. Like it should make sense to them and they should be ok with being murdered as she parroted her father's words from so long ago.

"Don't you see? Your lives represent a risk to my father. And now to the Enterprise."

Kirk glared back at her, an incredulous laugh burst out of his mouth.

"Your father was a murderer! A psychopathic, sick bastard who killed whole families because of his twisted eugenics beliefs!" He spat with as much vitriol as he could muster. Her chest puffed in indignation and her face flushed.

"My father was and still is a great man! It is people like you that are so small minded and primitive thinking that you fail to comprehend his greatness!" She was practically shouting, color high on her cheeks.

Charlotte saw Spock edge away towards Sulu but his eyes were fully trained on them. It was then that she realized what Kirk was doing. He was distracting her.

"We're so primitive that we three managed to elude your father's sentence of death for thirteen years!" He countered.

Her anger was rapidly escalating and her hands started to shake. Charlotte started to fear that whatever Spock was planning, it had better be sped up. Her face twisted and she continued to argue with Kirk. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Spock whisper something to Sulu who slowly moved off to the side and picked up a PADD, typing. It went unseen by the woman who was focused exclusively on Kirk.

"You may have noticed that your time has come. It may have taken a long time but it is now."

Charlotte felt a tug in her mind and pulled her gaze to Spock who was watching her with wide brown eyes. She could feel his fear but she could also sense his confidence. She heard his voice in her mind.

"When I say 'now', pull yourself, Riley and the captain to the ground."

She twitched her head to let him know she understood and she moved closer to the arguing pair, Kirk on one side and Riley on her other. Karidian was positively screaming at Kirk and failed to notice McCoy and T'Peni moving closer behind her. Charlotte could feel her breathing quicken in anticipation and Riley twitched next to her aware that something was going on.

Suddenly, the ship jerked. A loud voice screamed in her mind 'NOW!' as the lights went off. She grabbed a handful of Riley's uniform in her right hand and Kirk's in her left and pulled down hard, falling to the ground. She stared blindly in the dark and heard a scuffle in front of her. She pulled on the two men, moving away from the sound. Kirk tried to pull away but she tightened her grip and grunted as she pulled harder. Perhaps he sensed her desperation at getting away because both of the men in her grip started moving with her. Charlotte heard a scream of anger and frustration and then silence.

The emergency lights finally came on, bathing the bay in a pale orange glow. Charlotte saw McCoy and T'Peni holding down a now unconscious Karidian. Charlotte released Kirk and Riley who immediately stood and ran over to retrieve the phaser and black box. Charlotte slumped against the wall and breathed a sigh of relief.

Kirk held the box and faced Spock who was walking over to Charlotte. He laid a hand on her shoulder, a silent way to check she was alright and she waved him off. Satisfied at her dismissal he went to the captain. Kirk let out a shaky laugh and clapped Spock on the back.

"Fast thinking, Spock. How did you do it?"

Spock raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"It was only logical to shut down the warp core and all systems that were likely tied into Miss Karidian's device. This way, even if she activated it, it would not be able to function. Lieutenant Sulu was able to send a message, using Ensign Jones' PADD to engineering."

Charlotte stayed sitting on the floor, her legs felt like jelly and she didn't trust herself to stand. She watched as McCoy and T'Peni lifted Karidian onto a biobed and activated the restraints and then they came over to her.

"Charlotte, you ok?" McCoy offered a hand to help her up and she accepted it and was stunned slightly when he pulled her into a hug. She relaxed into his embrace and sagged slightly. The weight of what just happened hitting her.

"Did you know it was her when you finished her eval?" She mumbled into his shoulder.

He pulled back and looked at her with a sad look in his eyes, regret prominent.

"I suspected. She was too confident in her answers to my questions. They were too textbook perfect but I didn't have enough to hold her."

Charlotte nodded. Psychological evaluations were rarely definitive but they were usually a good indicator that something was off. She watched the blond woman sleep for a moment. She felt a small sense of pity for her. Her father had twisted her and shaped her into the pathetically insane creature that she was today. She had truly believed that what she was doing was right.

"She's going to be sent to the Tantalus medical facility where she'll get the help that she needs. She won't hurt anyone ever again." McCoy told her.

Charlotte felt Spock come up next to her and lay a hand at the small of her back.

"And a warrant will be issued for her father, Anton Karidian as soon as we have communications."

She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her chest. Riley smiled tensely but she could see that he was glad that that portion of his past was being put to rest. Kirk had an arm around the cadet talking to him. She was glad it was over.