Kirk was determined to meet Alyssa before she was (hopefully) released from Sickbay. He woke up early, hastening over and pretending to be on a silent inspection on his way to his destination. It wasn't much of a lie either, since he was constantly loitering and reviewing without notice. It was all part of being a rear admiral, he supposed, but all and all a good cover.

He achieved his goal in any case, greeting the wane security officer with warmth and offering to walk with her. Alyssa accepted. She saw the scheme behind his eyes and didn't argue, chatting inanely about numerous neutral topics, mostly circling around how she was feeling and why. When they reached Kirk's office, they entered quietly and pretended to be professionally talking of the same things still. When the public world closed behind them, they both breathed a sigh of relief and took their respective seats, him behind the desk and her before it.

Kirk started. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you…what?" Alyssa was confused.

"How ill you are. I knew you had that radiation poisoning…"

"Jesus Christ, Jim, what was that going to accomplish? Getting you worked up for nothing? You're not in a position to do anything. Even if I reached out, you would have stuck with our agreement."

"I see your point. Now, you taking a rest day?"

"If you're asking me out for a date, I accept. I didn't have a plan for today anyway. Nobody issued me specific discharge instruction other than to sit. I am not allowed to play with the bullies until tomorrow, when the Thyrians resume discussion."

"Good. You want to listen to a tape with me?"

"What kind of tape?" Alyssa's interest increased instantly.

Kirk took the incriminating item out of his pocket. He had kept it close to his heart since the day before in case something happened to it, trusting no one except the woman in front of him, peculiarly enough. "Do you want to hear about the Thyrians?"

She laughed. "It would be a nice change compared to watching some cadets being beaten up. The Thyrians are back at the table tomorrow. Who knows what kind of ammo they'll bring?"

He ignored the anomalous twenty-first century jargon and pulled out his portable player with a video screen. Inserting the lecture, they waited until an image appeared. While Kirk absentmindedly listened to some of it the day before, he did not study it as intently as he was now. Now, he noticed an elderly humanoid was their host, middle-aged and maybe in the sixties. His skin color matched an Earthling with some streaks of green along it, but his other features were quite alien and similar to the Thyrians, all of which stood out loudly.

The lecturer was also was nervous. The way the sweat poured down his face was an indication that something was wrong and that his upcoming recording was a mistake. Alyssa and Kirk exchanged looks as he began. She scooted closer to the admiral to get a better look.

"Hello. My name is Professor Hugh Lattimer, Doctor of Universal and Planetary History at the University of Cambridge in England, Earth. Today, I am recording the first part of a series, explaining what my mother's home planet of Thyria is…its culture, background and maybe an understanding of how warlike these people are and the threat they possess to anyone around them, the Federation included. I hope that they would be more than educational, achieving a warning to all as well.

"Thyria has a history that is as complicated as any other planet. Thousands of years ago, its first people are recorded. They may have evolved as Earth humans did from another animal or maybe some other godly form, but that remains unknown. No historian has explained these options or examined the evidence. Regardless, the people flowered and prospered in this barren world. However, their explosive rate of success retained a dark history that has remained to this day.

"From the beginning, it was decided that an elite group would rule the planet. They were called the Honored. This sort of council, consisting of ten members, met daily to pass laws, control the municipal forces and granted and denied petitions. They informed the populace of any changes and would do so publically, to the point where unity was automatic and in unison. Every mind was one, every voice to their part of the Honored.

"The Honored positions were hereditary and always passed to the most talented child or next of kin, no matter the birth order, allowing generations to pass and the same names to rule. Each person selected is set on a grueling training course from the age of five onward until the death of their trainer. If their lessons were not completed, then it is the responsibility of the others within the Honored to finish it. Usually one to two members would be elected for the task. No more than five at one point have been allowed this position. If there was more children that needed schooling, then it is to the advantage of the other family members to step up.

"With the sense of obedience instilled in the people, another is that of prerogative and secrecy. Thyria has been a society where none are trusted except those on the planet, entitled only to themselves and their achievements. Situated in a faraway and remote area millions of lightyears outside of the Milky Way Galaxy, the Zulu LXVI quadrant, they are used to their isolation. Anybody who is different, any visitors or even messages of friendship and peace…they have been disregarded, my visit included. As a result, the Federation has banned anybody from crossing anywhere near the quadrant.

"And who could blame them? The planet has large military installations located in prime locations of the planet. Their advanced sensors can detect everything – a probe, a ship, anything – and destroy it with their weapons, made from minerals and radiation from their trade partner, the planet named Synprilox. Even without their weapons, they have developed a deadly ray that would slowly poison a victim, a disease that Starfleet doctors have named Prohm's Radiation. These alone has deterred the Federation as well, especially when extending their hand for enrollment."

"Freeze," Kirk ordered sharply. He then turned to Alyssa next to him when the frame obeyed. "What do you think?"

"Mysterious," she answered. She was connecting some dots, especially after the mention of Synprilox. "As Spock would say, it is highly illogical for them to act in such a manner without beneficial gain to the many."

The admiral waved his hand, hiding behind a mask of amusement. "I agree. It puts them in a position of distrust."

"By placing us on recess and their odd behavior alone, their actions breed suspicion of conquest."

"It could be that they're tired and nosy?"

"Conspiring?"

"Readying themselves?"

"Yes, but for what, Jim? And to what purpose?"

"That remains to be seen. Want to continue?"

When Alyssa nodded consent, Kirk ordered the video to resume. It picked up where it left off, changing to a different subject. When their guest speaker talked more of the military, his voice turned dark. No longer was he lecturing as if he were an unbiased source. He spoke from his heart, where deep emotions churned and bubbled to the surface. Kirk noticed this especially when the details became more specific.

"The military is split into several branches. The first is by land and sea. Then, it goes by climates and then microclimates and even atmospheres. Each unit is manned specifically for each type, whether it is rainforests, tundra, deserts…anything all planets are able to sustain. Because the Thyrians are so secretive and resourceful, they quietly have studied all of the worlds they know of and created their forces to counter and conquer them. For if the enemy knows more than the inhabitant, then they would have the upper hand.

"Only males are allowed service in the military. It is not uncommon for a father to die and have his eldest son take his place, no matter the age. Wives are present for show only and are housed on the installments until the death of the last male. They are ordered to keep house, as it were. If a son is elected to the position of the father, then it is their responsibility to prepare them for the role. Otherwise, women have no place and no voice.

"Outside of that vocation, the genders are equal and anybody is able to work. Typically, children take on their parents' trade, although younger ones have made their own way since inheritance is always to the oldest. Building from these close units, the Honored have taken advantage of these loyal feelings, preaching integrity and obedience to the elders, even if one is an adult themselves. In short, the oldest is the head of the family and the one who makes the ultimate decisions, between who to marry, when to have children and even as small as how something is cleaned in the house.

"Mostly, this elder has an underling, their oldest child or grandchild perhaps, learning from them and handling the household problems if they are not present. They are leaned on more heavily than most. They are considered the future of Thyria, the glue that holds her society together. Without elders making decisions and brokering deals between other families, then their way of life would come undone."

After so much vague information, the speaker's tone changed from a harsh to a soft one. His features lightened, remembering something special in his life that he longed to touch. From Alyssa's standpoint, he appeared in every way to take comfort in his memories and not those he held for others. Secrets did not brood well for Professor Lattimer.

"My mother was from Thyria. As an only surviving child, she was abused by the system. Her older brother had died as a result of an accident on the base they were living on and she was blamed for the incident ever since, although it was through no fault of her own. When her father died not even a year later from guilt and shame, my grandmother was thrown off the premises and left homeless. The two petitioned to the Honored to have compensation and were denied. There was no reason for charity, they stated.

"Afterward, it took determination and cunning to sneak off of the planet, most of it planned by my mother, who wanted to the base and knew the base inside and out. While my grandmother was captured before their shuttle took off near what was their old home, my mother managed to escape and navigate the craft to the nearest starbase she could find, far enough away that nobody would catch her. She never looked back.

"While the Starfleet officers of the day were kind, they decided to keep her a state secret. Isolating her on their base, they built enough records to hide her true identity and created a position for her that would keep her out of the public eye. This she did not mind. In the meantime, she created several recordings of her life on the planet, hoping that they would someday be found and considered. Unfortunately, these tapes have long since disappeared.

"When she settled on Earth, she married and had a family, myself included. However, one by one, my siblings and their families have fallen to mysterious causes. I am the last survivor of my family as far as I am aware. My mother passed away from natural causes ten years ago. My father's body was trapped at the bottom of an ocean during an unexpected and sudden storm. My brothers and sisters…and their…their families have been shattered and broken apart, caged by a death that is coming. I highly doubt that it is the Federation though. It is the Thyrians, who seek to destroy the only person who dared to leave."

The screen went blank white for a minute. Both Alyssa and Kirk though the visual to be over. It did not seem to be an ordinary record anyway and both were not surprised it ended so early. The admiral went to turn his player off, but stilled his hand when the professor reappeared. His face was slightly red, indicating that he was upset by the events he informed his audience of, and he wiped away his tears.

"This concluded session one. The next will be stored with Starfleet's libraries as soon as possible. I hope this brief introduction was enlightening. Thank you."

It ended abruptly there. The two exchanged glances, thinking the same things. Yes, it was a short oration, but it was supposed to be a series and no others had been found by Riley. If there was supposed to be more, what happened to those tapes? Did anyone hide them or want someone not to know about Thyria? And if there weren't more made, what happened to the Professor Lattimer?

"Computer, search all databases for Professor Hugh Lattimer, University of Cambridge, England, Earth," Kirk commanded. He and Alyssa waited a moment before the results came in on the opposite machine. Before the voice could recite anything, he directed it to input the information on the console on his desk.

"Affirmative," the computer stated.

The admiral ejected the tape, pushing the player away to make more room for the larger computer that sat on his desk. Alyssa inched closer to see the screen, reading over Kirk's shoulders. She shook her head as she scanned the small paragraph. The information on this person was as short as his talk was. She could recite more from her Starfleet records and that said volumes to her career.

Professor Hugh Lattimer was the third child of ten to Pertaria of Thyria and Raymond Lattimer of London, England, Earth. He had several nieces and nephews, but he never married or had children himself. He was incorrect in saying that nobody in his immediate family survived. Alyssa and Kirk did not believe that all relations had been eliminated. A few inquisitive discoveries made on their end revealed a nephew living in San Diego.

"Under an assumed name." Kirk repeated the words on the screen incredulously. "Classified."

"Can we find out more?" Alyssa knew that they had limited time. There was a way to get to San Diego and come back, but it would cut it close. "Who has clearance?"

"Neither one of us," he admitted. The red warning that denied him access tipped him off. "Somebody else does and they're hiding something. But who? And what?"

"Thyria has become the next Pandora's Box," Alyssa said. She too saw the lack of authorization and sighed. "It's misery and woe that will befall those who discover what is underneath the lid. Only I think this'll be the first of many."

~00~

Even though she was supposed to be a hostess, Alyssa did not have time for resting, relaxing or talking when the time permitted. She attempted going back to her unit the next morning after the attack, but found herself too weak to leave the house. Instead, she contacted her men and outlined their day's duties from her bed. Her subordinates took their orders through a communicator and promised to their tasks finished without her.

In the meantime, she sat in her bedroom, staring out the nearby window as life went on without her. Before long, she became bored and called for Magda to help her bring her downstairs for breakfast. The nursemaid cornered Ryder in his room before coming to her aid, resting her in the living room near the sunshine. Her son then kept her company, munching on his meal and chatting with his mother about the things he planned on doing that day. Alyssa listened intently, adding a word here or there, and ignored the admiral as he too took his food and departed.

It was an uneventful day for both sides. Kirk came back from the palace in the evening after meeting with the chancellor and her Freedom Riders and listening to their council meeting about the farmers. He found the security officer in the same spot he left her in. As his guards rotated their shifts for the night, the admiral watched the waning green flames of the sun sink, reflecting off of her face from the glass bubble. He found a chair nearby and dragged it over.

"Penny for your thoughts," Kirk said, although currency was an almost obsolete item. He also recalled it as an old phrase that was meant to catch someone's attention.

Alyssa turned her head with a weak smile. She was slightly healed from the night before and did not seem so much like a monster. "Thinking."

"About what, might I ask?"

"Many, many things, Admiral, most of it not involving you. Don't worry about it."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Not today. Thank you for the offer though, Sir."

Kirk did not like the formality and the stiff way Alyssa talked. He saw it as a way to keep distance and to lock away the key to her heart. He felt unease, inching away and deciding that perhaps bed was the best option. It was late anyway. Although darkness lasted for a far less time on Synprilox, the hours still hung on him like a scarecrow – long, baggy and even frightening. Last night and today's problems weighed him down more. Sleep might be the answer.

Passing through the kitchen as he bid Alyssa a good night, the admiral noticed some shadows rushing back and forth. He rubbed his eyes to make sure that he wasn't seeing things. The adjustment revealed a young boy, maybe five or six years old. He was chasing a toy across the floor. When it stayed, he would wind it up and chase after it, giggling hysterically.

It was an enchanting scene. He watched the child for a while, marveling at his innocence and simplicity. When the boy noticed him though, he stopped and stood at attention like a soldier, scared that he was caught playing with something unauthorized. When Kirk reached out a hand in friendship and to let him know that it was ok, the boy nervously backed away and ran. Magda was soon yelling at him to go to bed, entering the kitchen and only catching the admiral.

She was snarky, even though Kirk was a guest. "Have you seen Ryder?"

"That was Alyssa's son?" He was amazed, ignoring the rude manner Magda spoke. He recalled the small baby that Alyssa fought to keep alive, not this dark-haired child with feelings and reason.

"Yes." Magda's features softened and she sighed. It was then that she realized that she missed the child by seconds. "He's an instigator as big as his mother, I'll admit, and very intelligent. I won't be able to school him much longer."

"Shy?"

"Very much so. He's not too trusting of others like Alyssa. While he was comfortable with me as a baby, he grew to be scared of me by the time he was eighteen Earth months old. He would hide under the bed until his mother came home every night. One morning, he stopped. He came out and asked me for breakfast."

"Food would get them running."

"Usually." Magda eyed Kirk questionably now. "How did the proceedings go?"

This put Kirk on edge. The tone had changed and the atmosphere seemed hostile between them. "What are you talking about?"

The nursemaid waved a dismissive hand. "I know why you're here, Admiral Kirk, and I do not envy you this assignment. The agreement with Synprilox is precarious at the very least. We have stood down and have handed over weapons of total mass destruction in order to have protection. We have executed our dearest enemies and have made even more. Now, with the Federation so keen on keeping us in line, I am not so sure that we can stand firm as a planet."

"You're doing as well as you can," he offered. This assessment came from what he had experienced so far and it seemed so empty. "All circumstances aside, the economy has never been better. The bartering system has continued and prospered. Your chancellor has been kind and wise, the first who has not been killed after her first term. She has been amendable to every proposal everyone have put forward and it has benefited her and your people."

"For Federation membership, yes, we have flowered. You're not here just to talk about them, Admiral. They sent you here to make sure we're not overly militant."

"As part of the original agreement, would that be wrong?"

"No, but it leaves us painted as untrustworthy and without independence."

"You resent my presence here?"

"I told you, it is a dangerous one." Magda pursed her lips together. "Starfleet officers are not very well liked here."

"I can see that. Alyssa is a prime example, it seems."

"Do not be so bitter, Admiral. Think of this as a learning experience. We would have to do the same."

"How so?"

Magda smiled this time. "Like a child, we do grow and throw off the cloak of that innocent period. However, all the same, we also tire of the parental influence over us and will seek to destroy it. Be careful with our secrets, Admiral Kirk. Last time, you did not like them as much. This time is not much different. Once you realize the power that we must face, you will see that Synprilox is as vulnerable as the day you landed all those years ago."