Enid wandered down the hall leading to the transporter room but found a wide balcony that offered an expansive view of the Vulcan landscape. The Vulcan sun was harsh. Too harsh for Enid's skin. She pulled the cowl Aylin designed for her to serve as a hood over her head and walked out. The delicate white linen fabric was light enough so that she wouldn't be bothered by the weight on her head but thick enough to provide protection for her scalp and forehead. She had applied sunscreen before leaving the Gi'halidrl. She liked the smell of the new formulation Yumuen developed, it was very similar to the fragrance Aylin had created for her but the cream stung when it was first applied. It wasn't supposed to but Enid often had unexpected responses to ordinary things. Yumuen promised to work on it. Vulcan might not be the only planet they visited that had harsh conditions.

She climbed up on the stone balustrade and sat with her legs dangling over the side. It was a long way down to the piazza below and several Vulcans had registered alarm at her precarious perch. She could hear them. The snake leaf dulled the music but she found if she could evoke strong emotions, she could hear something even if it was faint. And Vulcans had strong emotions although they suppressed them. That usually took a split second or so. Before they did, she could hear a few bars. Right now they were worried she was going to hurt herself. They thought she was mentally unstable! There was a steady stream of Vulcans looking up, becoming alarmed, then repressing the emotion. Enid tried to think of what the sound reminded her of. Missy used to make a snack called popcorn. Yes! That was it. The Vulcans sounded like Missy making popcorn!

"Enid, what are you doing?" Enid heard Elnor call out to her. He too was feeling strongly that Enid was going to hurt herself. Could she have some fun with him? She stood on the balustrade and launched into a routine she used to do on the balance beam. Elnor's discomfort increased delightfully. In addition to being afraid for her, he was confused. The rail was wider than a traditional Federation beam and certainly more level than Romulan beams were. Enid saw no reason for Elnor to be worried. Behind him stood Captain Rios and Dr. Jurati. They were anxious but their emotions weren't as strong as the young Romulan. Human emotions never were. She didn't hear music from them.

"Hold on kid," Rios said. He took hold of Elnor's upper arm. "You could make her fall." Elnor had been creeping closer to Enid in hopes of snatching her off the ledge. Vulcan security had also gathered at the entrance to the balcony. They didn't know what to do and were starting to give her a headache trying to figure it out so she performed a back handspring double full dismount landing solidly on both feet. Elnor grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the edge, interrupting the sweet decrescendo of relief she was feeling from the Vulcans.

"Give me a break." Enid shook herself free. Her cowl had come off on the back flip so she retrieved it from the ground.

"You could have fallen." Elnor wore his familiar scowl. Enid had never heard Elnor laugh. "What was that about?"

"Just having fun." Enid found a chair and plopped into it. The Vulcan security agents retreated without a word, leaving Enid, Elnor, Agnes, and Rios on the balcony alone. Enid studied the landscape acutely aware of her audience.

"That was dangerous," Rios said. He and Agnes took the seats flanking her. Elnor remained standing.

"For some…" Enid shrugged and stood again walking towards the edge again. This time she rested her hands on the rail and focused on the horizon. "I think Missy was wrong."

"About what?" Elnor asked. He stood next to, and slightly behind her, ready to act if she tried to mount the railing again.

"I don't think there is a benevolent creator."

Rios stood and walked to stand by Enid, opposite of Elnor. "What is your reason for this epiphany?" Enid turned around. The two men were awfully close to her. They were still afraid but she had grown bored with that feeling. She moved away from the railing.

"Vulcan is so ugly." Enid gestured to the red sky. "Romulus was beautiful. So beautiful. What kind of God would allow such beauty to be destroyed and leave this hot rocky mess?"

"You never saw Romulus," Elnor said.

"But I have more than a hundred million memories of the world." Enid closed her eyes and took a long deep breath. She smiled as she exhaled. "Do you remember what Romulus looked like?" Enid asked Elnor this question even though she knew the answer. Elnor winced. When did Enid become mean? She knew he didn't remember Romulus. He didn't remember his parents either. Sometimes he wondered if his parents had died before or after the supernova.

"Let's go looking!" Enid took him by the hand. Elnor looked around. He wasn't on Vulcan but stood on a beach looking out at the waves. Enid led him along a path over a dune. They stopped under a large oak, twisted with age.

"Where are we?"

"Where do you think?" Enid rolled her eyes. She reached up and brushed his temple with her hand.

"What is your game, Enid?" He captured her hand in his.

"You want to know if your parents were killed in the supernova. If they were, I would know." Elnor allowed Enid to touch him. He watched as she closed her eyes and threw back her head. The wind picked up tossing her hair over her shoulders and into his face. He inhaled the scent but couldn't quite place it. It was nice, he thought. Finally she opened her eyes.

"They're not here," she announced retreating.

"Then they must have died before. Murdered by the Tal Shiar probably."

"At the risk of sounding Vulcan, that's an illogical conclusion. Your parents could very well be alive."

"Then where are they?" Elnor looked away from her then something caught his eye. A black figure was walking towards them from the field. It was closing in unnaturally fast. "What is that?"

"Narek," Enid said. Her eyes sparkled as she felt his anger rising. "He's mad you're here," she whispered in his ear before ducked behind him. Narek knew she was teasing, not hiding, but Elnor interpreted it differently. He readied himself for a fight.

"He knows his parents aren't here so he can leave." Narek squared up to the younger Romulan.

"I believe I'm here at the young lady's pleasure." Elnor matched Narek's posture. Enid unsuccessfully tried to suppress a giggle.

"This is a dangerous game you're playing, Enid. If I killed Elnor, you'd be sorry."

"As if…" Elnor widened his stance. He wasn't sure how this would work inside Enid's mind but he'd find out if he had to.

"You have no idea what is going on here." Narek did. He understood it was not Enid's fault. It was the medication. Yumuen cautioned that they may be a month before she adjusted to the new formulation. It had only been a few weeks and if today were any indication, it was not going to work out. But today was a bad day to judge, he told himself. She was out of sorts from the trip to Vulcan.

"Enid, you don't have to do what he says," Elnor said without taking his eyes off Narek.

"Fine!" Enid didn't want Elnor hurt or dead. She just wanted the music back. The trio found themselves on the balcony again. Vulcan security was back. They had followed Narek after he stormed away from the lab. Picard and Soji followed as well since Yumuen suggested a break. Enid looked around at the growing crowd. "I want to go home!" She stormed off. Narek followed her. Vulcan security followed without interfering.

"That was intense," Agnes said after they were gone. Picard looked down the hallway where the couple had once been. Enid did not seem as well adjusted as Plutarch indicated. Had Plutarch been lying, or was he unaware of his daughter's difficulties? Or was Plutarch lying to himself? Later, Picard contacted the Gi'halidrl about the corps. Narek agreed that the dead Romulan should be scanned but did not want the body taken to Coppelius.

"Can it be done somewhere more neutral?" Narek asked. He was in the command chair on the bridge of the Gi'halidrl. Enid's seat was empty. She was resting in their quarters. The new formulation not only had behavioral side effects but made her drowsy for a few hours after administration.

"Coppelicans are not a threat to Enid," Soji interjected.

"Enid feels differently." Narek sat up in his chair and smoothed his shirt.

"Do you always tell Enid what to do?" Elnor snapped.

"Please tell the boy that the grown ups are talking," Narek said to Picard.

"Let's try to stay focused," Picard said. Elnor took a seat.

"I believe the technology could be portable," Soji said. "I'll have to check with Arcana, but we could bring it somewhere." It was decided that the parties would rendezvous at Vashti. Plutarch wanted his daughter to talk with the refugees there anyway. He wanted her opinion as to which would be suitable for resettlement on Surruk and which he would have to find other homes for. Ordinarily Lorlani would handle this but she had just given birth to her son. Baby Narek was dependent on her.

"It's agreed then." Picard was glad to have more opportunity to figure out the mystery that was unfolding before him. What was going on with Enid? Was she really safe with the Romulans after all?