There was some time left for decent visiting hours. Kirk and Alyssa decided to head to San Diego together, choosing a public shuttlecraft that traveled up and down the coast for tourists. Taking off any sign that they were officers before their pick-up, they rode like common civilians and exited their transport with a friendly wave to the driver much like the other passengers. Deposited on what used to be a dirty city, they melted into the busy crowds without direction, linking their arms together like a couple.

"Where did the computer say we were supposed to go?" Alyssa was curious. She had not anticipated leaving San Francisco so quickly and regretted not telling Magda her new whereabouts. "I didn't catch the directions."

"There wasn't any specific directions," Kirk replied, stopping at a digitalized city map nearby. He peered over a few heads to try to get their bearings. He waited patiently until he and Alyssa could push through to the front. "We'll figure things out somehow. I'm very confident."

"How?" The security guard narrowly avoided some children who passed quickly underfoot. She almost tripped, balancing on Kirk's shoulder in the most unmilitary-like fashion, something he did not mind. They separated to study the diagram. "The only other clue we have is that he's part Thyrian."

"And that's our ticket." Kirk tried concentrating on the screen before him, squinting painfully. "Sometimes, isolated or unique races stick to themselves and would welcome others who have no community."

"And since this nephew of the professor's was part Thyrian, you're saying it's possible that someone took him in? That he is anonymous?"

"Yes. Can you read this for me please? I think it states that MP-250 aliens live in the next district?"

"No, that's NQ-559, Jim. You really need to get some glasses."

Kirk sighed audibly. McCoy had nagged at him for a while and he avoided that prospect for a couple of years. Disregarding Alyssa's jab, he scanned hard through the changing scenes until he found a few interesting neighborhoods that he wanted to explore. With their scant knowledge of the Thyrians, it might get them through depending on how well they played their cards. Entering as Starfleet officers would put everyone on a higher alert. Dressed as civilians, they had a chance.

He pulled Alyssa closed to him when the crowds allowed them to close the gap. "Are you ready for a long walk?"

"Do you need me to keep a checklist and check it twice?" Alyssa asked, nodding.

Kirk shook his head negatively. He was sure he had an idea of where they were going and who they were seeing. It was challenging, but he was always up to those. He again took Alyssa's arm and guided her along the teeming sidewalks. Once more pretending to be tourists much as their fellow travelers coming from San Francisco, they paraded with the loudest groups to avoid detection. While some snapped pictures, Alyssa and Kirk marveled at the sites. While close to what was Mexico, San Diego hosted more than just historical locations and seaside attractions. It was the largest city on Earth with the most diverse aliens and competed with San Francisco for that title.

For a few minutes at least, it was nice to pretend they were a loving twosome without the children tagging along. Alyssa leaned heavily on Kirk, tired from the excursion, and dreamily closed her eyes, allowing him to take control. The admiral almost felt uncomfortable with so heavy of a weight on him. However, he had to think of it another way. This was the first time in years that he and Alyssa were so close together and in public too.

It was the best cover they had, but it also made him wary. So much for those discharge directions. She's not sitting anytime soon.

For four hours until their returning shuttlecraft arrived for a pickup, they roamed through several sections of the city, pretending to be looking for a supposed lost friend or sightseeing. They inquired about the former more than the latter. Many heads shook when they were asked if a Thyrian lived amongst them. Others wondered what one was. A couple shut their door in their faces. Alyssa was apprehensive and wanted to investigate, but when it was found out by the neighbors that they were a local civilian law enforcement agency watching out for their locality, she left it alone.

Finally, they rested. Sitting on a bench waiting for their ride, they watched people mill in and out of the large awning. A few of them met loved ones with kisses and embraces, others joined the pair and chatted around them. Alyssa rested her head on Kirk's shoulder, slowly easing into his arms. He took the bait at last. He was solaced by her presence, he could not doubt that. Even after today's failure, he could still consider it a success to have her beside him.

This brought up some unwarranted emotions though. He had been so nervous and conflicted when he initially laid eyes on Alyssa. Now, with her so close and a trustworthy companion, Kirk was utterly enraptured, trapped into the easy habit of falling back in love. It went in slow motion too, just like a poison that seeped into a wound and spread through the body. The arrow had shot true. There was no stopping them from picking up where they left off.

Kirk shoved this problem to one aside, concentrating instead on helping Alyssa in and allowing her free rein of his shoulder for a pillow. Luckily, their return to San Francisco merited no attention and a quick reveille for Alyssa. This allowed them to sneak in and change in his office quickly and check in with their respective offices. After it was reported that no activity was worth recounting, Alyssa immediately headed to the daycare with Kirk tagging along just in time to meet Ali and Magda.

At their parting, Alyssa invited Kirk over to dinner, naming a time later that evening and their address. When he accepted, Magda raised an eyebrow and said nothing. She only herded Ali forward and lingered behind with Alyssa as she bid the admiral a farewell. Alyssa was slower than normal, the nursemaid noticed, and might need help walking back to their apartment. Private conversation be damned. McCoy needed to be contacted after they were home.

When everyone was out of earshot, Magda spoke. "Why are you rousing your daughter's suspicions?"

"I doubt she's figured it out yet," Alyssa confidentially said. "I think she fancies her father to be a Starfleet officer anyway."

"She could think that it's the admiral," she hissed back.

Alyssa was indifferent until that moment, bristling on the suggestion. "And? I am not admitting the truth to her yet. I cannot."

"What if she asks?"

"I'll tell her the truth. I told Ryder as much. He knows his father was an old Air Force pilot and died by someone else's hands. Destiny did not allow much choice."

"Ryder's father is a man from the distant past and also dead. Ali's father is not."

"Ryder is also aware of the circumstances, Magda. The altered records hide everything. He knows to keep his mouth shut."

"And Ali? No records are going to hide that she's the daughter of a famous officer."

"We left the truth alone for a reason, Magda. There is no trace of the admiral to Ali or Ryder. I want to keep it that way."

"Alyssa, Synprilox is gone and has been for over a year. Nobody will come after us. The Thyrians hopefully mean business."

"I cannot take that risk," the security officer softly declared. She felt herself sway as she walked. "I cannot afford to lose you, the children or him. If anyone knew you were the sister and a mother and aunt of criminals, you're a goner. Admiral Kirk…if the wrong people knew that he was the father of my daughter and the surrogate for my son, they will be used as leverage. I'll never sleep with that on my conscience."

"I think we'll worry about that when the time comes," Magda replied, taking Alyssa by the arm. Her gesture was motherly, although her motives were sneaky. "Let's go home. I'll cook dinner and you get some sleep. I think you've had enough excitement for a few days."

"What excitement? As head of Starfleet security, everyday is an adventure." Alyssa's heart raced. She felt cornered and not willing to share her day, not even to the woman she trusted the most. "There's endless possibilities."

"When I come looking for you to ask about your daughter's necessities, I should not find you missing," Magda said. "When the admiral is also not around, I am going to conclude that you're reassuming the affair."

"If only it were that easy." The security officer sighed. "We had some business to conduct."

"Without proper Starfleet uniforms? I saw you come in without them."

"We would have been deterred if we wore them."

"So, you were picking up where you left off."

"No. We were following a lead concerning the recent conference and it required us to go anonymously. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with."

Magda clucked her tongue. "So you say. What happens next when you decide to open your heart? When Ali sees through the deception? When your careful plans come to nothing and everybody knows that she's the admiral's daughter?"

Alyssa decided to use Magda's words against her. It was the best answer. "We'll see what happens. We will worry about it if anything does."

~00~

After talking with Magda so frankly, Kirk always wondered what secrets Synprilox and her people held. After all, his previous ordinary mission turned into an extraordinary one. He found out more than he wanted to about one of his officers and of her past too. When his ship navigated away, she had been assigned to that planet and her son along with her. Easily forgotten, he knew, something he told himself often enough.

Ever determined to investigate, Kirk thought that this wasn't an unpleasant experience. Other than realizing how unwelcome his presence was and aware of the cruel undercurrent, he was enjoying his stay. The exotic flowers always perfumed the air, the walkways were cleaned, the people outwardly quiet…it was idyll and quite the rest he craved. Underneath all of that though laid his answers. Magda requested that he be careful with their secrets. He intended in every way to keep that a promise and use that soporific pretense as his disguise.

The next afternoon, he decided to have lunch with the chancellor. Normally, the admiral would find a stall and haggle for some readied food with his guards, a custom that remained until today. Having some elegant company this time was a pleasant change and one he relished. He saw Amelia Synprilox all day in the most professional capacity. Maybe he would get some answers when she was off-guard and more willing to speak her mind.

"Admiral Kirk, this is a pleasant surprise," Chancellor Amelia Synprilox stated when their lunch began, promptly at noon. Luckily, save for the servants, they were alone in the dining hall. "Normally, I see you explore our wonderful planet and eat the local foods. I didn't expect your people to inquire about a meal meeting."

"It's always nice to have a change of scenery," Kirk admitted, waiting for the leader to touch her food per their customs. When she did, he started his consumption politely. "I was hoping you would also speak about the relations between the Federation and Synprilox."

"Complicated," Amelia confessed. "I wanted to wait until the latter part of your visit to bring this up, but it seems that things have come to a head."

"A Starfleet officer was brutally assaulted. I want answers."

"It is more common than you realize, Admiral Kirk. Now, have you tried the grapes? I am surprised that they have thrived on clay ground."

Kirk ignored the slight. He took the proffered plate from the servant and nibbled on his portion. He had to keep his cool, he reminded himself. This was a minor headache compared to the other missions he had to endure. The leader was trying to ease into the conversation while he was being a bull in an antique china store. He had to be more delicate about the matter than she was and not be as casual and callous as she was.

Amelia Synprilox picked up the conversation in response to his demand. "Admiral, I cannot tell you whether or not Synprilox joining the Federation was a good thing or not. However, I am reaping its benefits as best as I can, most of it the protection from our enemies and the unity in which my planet desperately yearns for."

Kirk nodded. "As it should be."

"Some people still find the events from our awakening to be an act of war against what was the norm," she continued. "It was a political and greedy move rather than a coup that destroyed the Mycoff family and one I did not take part in. Some blame me still for his execution and the eradication of his line even though my advisers had ordered the deed. Others believe that his son and nephew should have been spared out. However, the head of a serpent should be decapitated. It should not be able to rise and strike again."

"I quite agree." Kirk wasn't going to argue that point. He remembered the killings of Dawson and Jaegar Mycoff well enough. Their motives were of no consequence in the name of justice according to Synprilox authorities.

"While some things are appreciated, others are not. A military presence is one of the things my people wish would…disappear. I understand that it was part of the agreement with the Federation since we are a wild race. Indeed, many of your wonderful officers have quelled the uprisings this signing has started. It has lessened over time too. However, tongues will wag and people will use whatever means possible to protect what is theirs."

"Starfleet and the Federation have no intention of controlling Synprilox."

"Admiral, if you read the treaty carefully, you will see that they have in, as with other planets who are members too, that they have all rights to if we do not keep our end of the bargain."

Kirk played stupid in this case. "I was not aware."

"Are you truly? Did you know that any other Federation planet can declare war on us if we do not comply?"

Kirk had to stop himself, keeping a stoic face to hide his reaction. It was a true statement. However, it was only in extreme circumstances that the Federation would use their forces for the greater good and only in agreement with the others in attendance. That little fact could be manipulated and easily enough in this case. In a chaotic atmosphere such as Synprilox, anything was possible to ignite a blaze of rage and riot.

"We all have to work in harmony," Kirk said to smooth the awkward scene out. "I believe any stipulation such as that would be set by the Federation as a last resort."

The chancellor shook her head. "I would think so too. However, Admiral, we are a dangerous people. You know well enough what happens to Starfleet officers that nobody cares for."

Kirk decided to leave it there. Already, this was becoming a tense chat. He was a fool to be almost accusatory to blame the leader of Synprilox for allowing her people to attack a Starfleet officer. Best to continue the meal with lighter topics, he mused, and he changed it immediately. He inquired instead about the tours (one was scheduled tomorrow at one of the mines), when he could meet her new cabinet without arguments and any hopes she had.

This went over better and their lunch ended on a high note. It was encouraging, but not so for the Federation's position. It was more precarious than Kirk imagined. He felt another report to Lori needed to be filed, despite his anger towards her. In the evening, he resolved that he would find a time to make the communication. For the time being, he bid the chancellor a fond farewell and gratitude for her generosity. He was escorted out the doors and walked with his guards to Alyssa's house.

The rest of the day was free. Since the tour for some of the mines was the next day, he had time to shake off the political cloak and relax before facing his user on Earth. It would be a boring afternoon nonetheless until he talk with Lori. However, his safety was his concern. Making his way back, he decided that he should continue his other resolution and work little by little with Alyssa. The savageness of the incident a couple of nights ago was still seared in his mind as treacherous. It would take a while to recover.

When Kirk arrived at the house, he felt himself being pushed back by sound. He re-entered, allowing the lyrics to flow past him. It was strange, he had to admit, and very delightful. He found its source in the kitchen, where someone was cooking. The person was unaware of the admiral at the rear. When the black-haired woman turned around though, her eyes met Kirk's in shock. The gasp from her lips stilled her and the two stared at each other for a while as the notes perfumed the air with an electric shock they both did not expect.