Riley had not been able to come up with a lot of material from the library about the Thyrians. There were a few older tapes that Kirk listened to and some papers read with little interest. It was all the same information and by different people. He had Riley return all but one tape. It was a speech from thirty years ago, made by a professor born and raised on Earth. The admiral began listening to it and decided to stop after the speaker began describing Thyria as warlike and manipulative.

The admiral found this a clue and absconded the tape, hiding it in his back pocket. To Riley, he pretended that there was nothing new and instructed him to leave him alone for the rest of the afternoon. The aide, his hands full of tapes and old papers from the libraries, rolled his eyes. He wasn't one for disrespect, but Kirk could see that the younger man was annoyed about the lack of attention to the paperwork. He resolved to acquiesce Riley at a later point. He had more important business to attend to.

When his office was deserted, Kirk snuck out as casually as he could. His destination had been the Federation daycare center. While it was utilized as a place where officers, visitors and other delegates left their children, it also was a sort of school. The matron was in charge of any instruction her charges had, designated by another teacher or a parent, and a team split the various children up. He knew that Alyssa left Magda in charge of Ali there.

Kirk was determined to make one trip there, if only to satisfy his curiosity and to tell the young girl about her mother. But the problem was that he did not know where the so-called daycare was. He nonchalantly flipped the question here and there concerning its whereabouts and followed vague instructions from his conversations. Soon, the admiral found himself near a hallway where the noise echoed loudly. He covered his ears and approached.

A million voices bounced around Kirk, growing louder the closer he came. When he entered the designated entranceway without an announcement, he was surrounded by children of all aliens, races, colors and creeds, yelling for his name and lording over him like mini tyrants. All of them tried taking him down, pulling at his uniform and dragging his hands away from his face.

The admiral managed to escape with his life (as he saw it) and soon came face-to-face with the head of the department. She was flabbergasted that Kirk would stoop so low as to visit. After her shock, they exchanged the usual pleasantries. He explained his reasoning for being there, excusing himself profoundly that he did not send somebody ahead to warn of his call. However, he felt he was personally responsible for bringing news of a parent to a child.

"I understand, Admiral," the headmistress said nervously. She twisted her red uniform in-between her fingers in a gesture that indicated she was trying not to scream irrationally. "Do you think it's wise though? Alice is quite…well, she's wiser than her years merit and might take your kindness the wrong way. She also has a nursemaid that is constantly in attendance. She can take care of bringing the news to Alice."

"I think I can handle an eleven-year-old child," Kirk replied confidently. He did not believe that one child could cause so much trouble. "Is her nursemaid with her now?"

"Nearby," she confirmed. "Magda Mycoff is highly protective of Alice too, Admiral. Be careful."

Kirk wanted to laugh. He had dealt with Magda before. He thought back to when his relationship with Alyssa began. That dominating woman was behind them constantly, worrying about her and what he would do to destroy her. Kirk had the reputation of being a ladies' man already and that preceded him. What that nursemaid could not understand was that heartbreak was something that was always in the stars for him, either for him or for the women he loved. He could not help it.

The older woman allowed him to pass and search for Ali. Kirk easily found her and Magda in a few minutes at a table with some Vulcans and Ferengi. Ali was silently reading in a stillness that startled Kirk. He studied her for a minute, stunned by her appearance. She was very petite and thin like her mother. Her ash blonde hair took him aback. When she turned to him, averting her sight from an old paper tome she was reading, he saw the haunted hazel eyes of Alyssa behind the face of freckles dotted across her youthful cheeks.

She was very astute in realizing his importance, putting the book to one side and standing in attention. When Magda noticed the change, she copied her charge and whispered something in Ali's ear. The girl disregarded it and waved her watcher away. Then, Ali put her hands behind her back in a gesture similar to Kirk's own when he was thinking or facing anyone with a problem. She did not pace. She observed him on her own, her face stoic and unreadable as the hazel eyes raked him up and down.

Although admiring Ali, Kirk found a worthy opponent in this child and saw immediately that the warning he was given was not because she was a stereotypically difficult girl. She was extremely intelligent, an adult in the mind and body of an eleven-year-old. She would use any tools she had in order to defeat him. Any weakness she sought and found would be used against him without discrimination.

"Admiral," Ali greeted cordially. She approached him without fear. "What brings you here? How is my mother?"

"Better than she was," Kirk replied carefully. "She is currently in Sickbay with Doctor McCoy."

Ali did not betray any worry. If she did, she hid it well. "Oh?"

"She fainted while on duty," Kirk explained slowly. He did not feel it necessary to add that it was partially his fault. "She is resting now. You'll see her tonight when you go home."

"I see. Do you know when the cadets will be released from the Academy?"

Kirk found it strange that Ali was flippant about her mother and changed the topic so quickly. "Possibly no later than the end of this week. Some of them are being transferred to ships or here until they are called to more permanent stations. Some might be on leave until their permanent duty station. Why are you asking?"

"I was hoping to see my brother soon. He would also want to see Mom too."

"I understand."

"If I may be so bold, Admiral, I believe you understand more than you're leading on. Do you have any information about Ryder specifically?"

"Honestly, I have nothing more than what I told you. I would advise that you use the usual channels to communicate with Ryder."

"As the daughter of a security officer, especially the head of the whole department, surely you are aware that I am restricted in my movements?"

"Any family member would be if someone was so high-ranking."

"My mother isn't a normal person. I assume that she has done several things for Starfleet and it has trickled down to me."

Kirk found that he had no words for Ali. His admiration turned to amazement. She was very forward, he had to admit to himself, and very much aware of what was going on and why. She was leading him somewhere, a trap as he saw it. He had to continue to keep on his toes though. He reminded himself that Ali did not need to be privy to every sordid facet, although she was keen in finding details best kept secret, no matter what they are. He also had to tell himself that this trip was supposed to appear explanatory, not out of inquisitiveness.

But Ali isn't going to allow me to finish. Why?

"Do we have someplace we can talk alone?" Kirk suggested. "Surely, you don't want the other kids to know your family's business?"

Ali tilted her head to one side in a calm interest like Kirk said something outlandish and she was shocked by the revelation. She nodded her agreement eventually, motioning with her hand a side room. He followed her lead (Magda shot him daggers from her eyes seeing the action) and they ended up in a small cafeteria. Nobody was around except for a janitor cleaning up a mess left by toddlers. They would not be heard above the din.

"No, I do not like people talking about us," Ali began as she and Kirk sat down. She folded her hands together meticulously. "Mom, Ryder, Magda and I are a unique family. I do not know many who live as we do."

"What do you mean?" Kirk decided to play stupid for the moment.

"Something is different about Mom's career with Starfleet," Ali insisted. "I've lived in Synprilox my whole life. Sometimes, we stayed on Keplar III, maybe for a few months. But I picked up on some things. For example, most career officers are transferred many times, usually within five years or so. My mother was ordered to remain on Synprilox. Why? It was very dangerous."

Kirk tried justifying the issue to brush the issue under the rug with the little information he had. "Starfleet was trying to stabilize Synprilox and wanted prevent war above all." He was appalled that Ali knew so much. "Your mother knew the planet well. They depended on her expertise."

"Even at the risk of our lives?"

"If it was to ensure peace, then I am certain that Starfleet would have made an escape route for you and your family. Your mother also knows her duty. She would have sacrificed her life, especially to save you. If Starfleet did not provide a way out, she would have ensured your safety."

"Ryder was already gone. He went to the Academy a couple of year ago. Me, Magda and Mom? There was nothing planned. We had been abandoned, Admiral. We were lucky that someone heard Mom's distress signal two days before the planet exploded. When we were picked up, we had seconds left before we would have drowned. How can you be so sure that Starfleet would have saved us? That there was some escape plan?"

"Did you not get rescued? Are you not sitting before me, having a chat?"

Ali eyed Kirk suspiciously. "You knew about this."

"I actually did not." Kirk chuckled. He was having some fun now. "I learned about this recently and most of it by your own admittance."

"But you know my mother."

"As a matter of fact, I did acquaint myself with her a long time ago."

"How?"

"She was assigned to my ship almost twenty years ago. I was captain of the Enterprise."

"You were a captain?"

"Then, yes. Your mother was one of my many security officers."

"What happened? How did she get reassigned from the Enterprise to Synprilox?"

"It's a long story, Alice."

"Ali." The girl's face was stubborn. "And I don't come from Wonderland either."

Kirk tried not to laugh again. A smile betrayed his amusement. "I'm sorry, Ali. As I've said, it's a long story. Many things happened between then and now."

"Can you tell me anything?"

"I would not think it wise."

"Why?"

"This is something for your mother to tell you. I would be disrespecting her otherwise."

Ali blew out some frustrated air. "Then, you must have known my father."

Kirk did not expect this comment to hit him so hard. The shock was obvious on his face as he looked at Ali with eyes that displayed his surprise and dismay. He controlled himself though. He was the adult between the two of them, not her.

"I do," he admitted slowly. "He was an officer on the same ship."

"Can you tell me who he is?" For the first time, Ali was acting her age. She was also desperate for facts she did not need.

"No," Kirk responded gently. "What I can tell you is that he and your mother loved each other very much. For reasons of their own, they had to separate and continue their respective careers. It was better that you stayed with your mother, they decided."

Ali was confused and close to tears. "Why? Why wouldn't he stay with Mom if they both loved each other?"

"Because in Starfleet, there is always a sense of duty and obligation and the urge to save who is close to you at the risk of your own soul," Kirk explained sternly. "Your parents understood that. They did not want anyone to have knowledge of their relationship. To have that would mean leverage and the two of them could not afford to lose each other…and you and Ryder as well."

~00~

Kirk had spent his first night on Synprilox outdoors. He woke up a few hours later with the rising green sun. The flames warmed his face as it reflected through the glass bubble. Opening his eyes, he watched the dawn break and stretched his limbs. He was so stiff from sitting in a chair all night and could not get up. He continued his exercises, enjoying the unique view.

Alyssa came out a few minutes later with two mugs and handed one to Kirk. It was filled with black coffee. "Good morning, Admiral."

"Morning." He groaned when his neck creaked in protest. "Have any advice for the newcomer, Commander?"

"Don't sleep outside in a lawn chair?" Alyssa sipped from her cup as she seated herself next to him. "Enjoy the caffeine while we have it?"

Kirk sniffed the liquid before partaking, grateful for simple graces. "How did you obtain this?"

"Trade ships stop in once in a while. Some of them carry goodies from Earth. I bartered for a few pounds of coffee beans. I don't drink it often, but I do save it for special occasions."

"Is this one of them?"

"I would not venture to guess, Sir. I must say that I am appreciative of any company that passes through."

"Have you had many visitors?"

"Doctor McCoy comes by once in a while. Since his so-called retirement some months ago, I have not heard from him. Uhura came here a couple of years ago with Chekov and Sulu. Chekov came by himself a few times afterward. There were a few embassies that have been established here. Sometimes, random Starfleet brass come in."

Kirk was highly surprised, he found. "That's it?" He was incredulous that so few made Synprilox a pit stop.

"Yes, Sir." Alyssa put her cup down on the ground next to her feet. "I have hardly interacted with anyone past my men, some of the inhabitants of Synprilox and Keplar III and my own family."

"Other than your son, who do you have?" The admiral was curious. He ignored the mention of another planet for the moment.

"I have a live-in nursemaid and companion," she replied casually. "Her name is Magda. She came highly recommended and has proven herself trustworthy and kind."

"You never remarried? No boyfriend on the side?"

"No! I have no time for that nonsense. Why should I?"

Kirk was tickled by the answer. It took all of his power not to laugh at Alyssa. However, once she saw her mistaken outburst, she immediately repeatedly apologized to him, stating that it was not her intention to be so disrespectful.

He waved her words away. He did not want her to say how sorry she was. He wanted to get deeper into her heart and try to be a friend. Gods know that his own people from the Enterprise were far away and the new company he courted dove deep into desk work. Alyssa was different and seemed true to herself.

"Commander, I am not just here on inspection," Kirk interrupted. "I am hoping to get to know you better. I remember you from so long ago and how you saved us. We are in hopefully better circumstances. There should be no friction."

"What do you mean?" Alyssa's heart was in her throat. She did not expect Kirk to be this kind.

"We don't need to be formal. And it's Alyssa, right?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Jim. You can still call me Jim."

Alyssa had been uncomfortable calling the admiral by his first name, even on the Enterprise. She also felt flattered that someone would reach so far as to make a friend out of her. She never asked for them. McCoy had been the first. Chekov was next, younger and always true, no matter how distant he became. Now, Admiral Kirk, when he had forgotten about her? What did he want?

It was a surprise, albeit she was hesitant. She showed her pleasure through her smile, picking up her coffee and taking another sip. Kirk was pleased to see Alyssa so amendable to the suggestion. It was like a flower opening up. A layer was peeling away. It led to that hurt from the night before. He was getting closer.

"All right, Jim," Alyssa finally said. "I think I can still manage that."