All present did not answer Cartwright, scared about being caught in their secretive dealings. Ryder, the lowest ranking member of the group, volunteered himself to keep the limelight off of the other two. Cartwright did not want his opinion yet. He held a hand up to silence the junior officer, glancing at Kirk and Alyssa for further elaboration. The former took the lead instead.

"As you are aware, Admiral, I initially landed on Synprilox several years ago, intent on persuading them to joining the Federation and to seek protection," Kirk began. "Previously, it was reported as a mythological planet until explorers deemed it otherwise. Admiral Uriah and his crew on the Endurance discovered it. Reports until my mission have varied and been manipulated."

"I am not talking about that, Jim," Cartwright countered. "I need the information that Admiral Ciana recorded. She kept records about Synprilox."

"What information?" Alyssa asked. Nobody could tell if she was truly ignorant or played it well.

Cartwright was not convinced either way. "Captain, I am aware that Admiral Ciana used you as an agent regarding the dynamics of Synprilox. She also had you spying on the chancellor."

"Hopefully, she has found the peace she never had living," she replied reverently. Alyssa made no mention of the revelation.

"Enough of the religious sympathy, Captain. What happened on Synprilox and how did Thyria come into play?"

"I am not sure, Sir. I am aware that Thyria is here for peace and –"

Don't play stupid with me, Captain Elma. Lieutenant!"

Ryder immediately came to attention. "Admiral?"

"What do you know about Synprilox?" Cartwright barked.

"Not a lot, Sir," Ryder recounted. "I was young when I left the planet. Four years ago or so, I was accepted at the Academy. Recent events were hardly told to me. I do recall my mother and Magda being protective of me. I had to follow certain rules."

"What kind of rules?" the admiral inquired.

"My whereabouts were always noted. My mother had a system in the house that would detect my location inside and outside. When I was not indoors, this sensor would locate me within a five-mile radius. I also learned how to drive several types of vehicles in case of an emergency. The one my mother owned also had a GPS that kept track of where I was, so I couldn't sneak out driving anytime I wanted to."

"Anything that merited trips to see the chancellor? Did your mother take you to any meetings while you were schooled there?"

"Most of the time, my mother went to the palace alone. Even on medical leave, she was always working with Chancellor Synprilox. Occasionally, when the chancellor asked, I met up with her. There was nothing special about the trips though. She helped me with my schoolwork and lectured me on a few topics."

"On what subjects did Chancellor Synprilox talk about?"

"Well, she had a knack for going on and on about something and getting carried away, Sir."

"Which ones, Lieutenant?"

"Oh, mathematics and sciences usually. She liked Earth a lot and always had an opinion on plants and animals."

Kirk was getting bored with the charade. "Where is this going, Lance? This can't be about a boy's studies."

"No, but the mysteries have yet to be solved," Cartwright replied. He was obviously furious that Kirk dared to interject, using nonverbal language to get his point across. "Anybody who was a witness to the massacres conducted on Synprilox contributes to the investigation the Federation is now conducting."

"What investigation?" Alyssa's voice came out like an insulted squeak. "I was not informed there was one, Admiral."

"It seems that the Thyrians have caught our attention." The admiral also eyed Alyssa with contempt with her outburst. "We have reason to believe that they are responsible for Synprilox's destruction a year ago. As of this evening, the Federation, along with the Thyrians' claims, are being checked into."

Kirk wanted to admit everything to Cartwright right then and there. He only have to show Lori's storage device. He would have had it played, showing Cartwright that yes, Lori was involved heavily in Synprilox and documented everything – what was done and said and why. He could have confessed that the prisoner the Thyrians wanted was none other than a half breed, a grandson of their so-called escaped prisoner, and that he and Alyssa wanted nothing more than to protect him. They had reason to believe that the Thyrians meant harm…

But the way Cartwright was conducting himself made Kirk hold his tongue. He didn't trust the admiral. He had been warned several times over the years that, while Cartwright was effective and competent, suspicious activity always surrounded him. While there was no proof and he was innocent until proven guilty, Kirk will always remain wary. Oh, Cartwright was easy to work with him and it was a joy not give up specific details. Kirk wanted to keep it that way until the time was right.

"In what way are the Thyrians the blamed party?" Alyssa feigned curiosity. She played with the folds of her red skirt to keep distracted. "Have they used anything that would deter the Federation from friendship and protection?"

Cartwright glared at her. "I believe you know firsthand, Captain, what kind of weapons they use."

"We cannot say that for sure, Admiral. The Thyrians might not be the guilty ones here too. Look, all I can tell you concerning the chemical warfare is that someone was aiming a dangerous beam across Synprilox, causing damage and illness. That weapon of mass destruction also managed to eliminate Synprilox and kill thousands of its people."

"So, you know something!"

"Not exactly, Sir. I am aware that this weapon you are seeking information on is radiation based and that I, amongst several hundreds more, are afflicted with a disease with no known cure. I am curious to know why you seem to believe that this has any link with the Thyrians."

"Don't use your logic against me, Captain. You must have an idea. As a security officer, is it your duty to investigate into these matters."

"I can tell you many things, Sir. I can tell you what Admiral Ciana asked of me – that is no secret and on my public record. I'll admit that we were not on the best of terms. I can also tell you about the Synprilox refugees we've moved to Kepler III that are thriving on a community filled with dying people. I can most certainly elaborate about the last days of the planet, when their life support cracked and began to flood towns and drown thousands more."

Alyssa stared at Cartwright with the most haunted eyes Kirk had ever seen. They told him without words what she faced – the fear, desperation and panic. It also showed how traumatic it was for even Alyssa, who had dealt with tough hands since she was born. Kirk was certain that she had not just experienced a planet's complete extinction, but also heard the cries of death as she was rescued. To also have the responsibility of that survivor's guilt was a heavy burden on her shoulders.

Cartwright was not convinced, thinking it theatrics. "Captain, I can hardly call that evidence. Witness statements never stood alone."

She continued anyway, ignoring the condemnation. "Admiral, if you had any respect for the dying and dead, I beseech of you to conduct your investigation carefully. Just as I did, you will find that some stones don't need to be turned. They need to be buried." Alyssa stood up. "If there was anything else I can contribute to your search, I will let you know. However, I think this concludes our meeting. If the Federation requires my supposedly false testimony, I will be more than happy to comply…and not have some secret office gathering with you."

The jab was intentional, Kirk knew. However, Alyssa had a point. An official meeting would have been called for and conducted if the Federation would have wanted their input. An admiral didn't exactly have authority unless assigned to it by the council. And this made Kirk suspicious. He would have been informed of any changes. Cartwright had no authority over him…and was obviously hiding something and phishing for information.

Kirk made the easy decision to show his displeasure as well. He stood with the security officer when she called for the aide to bring Ali to her and caught Cartwright's eye in a warning glance. Cartwright was not pleased and said nothing in return, continuously tapping his brown fingers as they prepared to leave him. The four soon left his office as soon as respectful farewell pleasantries had been played out.

Kirk decided to join the family and make sure they got home safely. When they left the building, Riley caught up to them. The aide lived near Kirk and usually followed him in the same direction. This time, he was panicking, albeit keeping his cool until they were someplace private. Alyssa and her children noted his presence and accepted the company.

In the meantime, everybody walked silently and talked of trivial things until they were out of sight and hearing of anyone of importance. By then, Alyssa swung their direction into a restaurant and ordered a table for five. She knew a bombshell when she saw one. Riley wasn't good at keeping secrets.

Everyone settled down and continued their conversations. By the time appetizers and drinks were served, Alyssa felt that it was safe to discuss Riley's problem. She had scanned the area quickly and found Starfleet personnel of little consequence. Indeed, they were only cadets on their first outing since the term ended. They were too intoxicated to care about a small party in a dark corner.

Alyssa nudged Riley on her left. "What's going on?"

Riley looked first at Kirk for permission to speak. When the admiral nodded consent, the aide talked. "I was called to the Thyrian quarters for some errands and overheard their discussions on my way out. In short, they are planning an attack on Earth and attempting to capture their prisoner by force."

"We should alert the Federation immediately," Kirk said.

"I did," Riley protested. "They did not take it seriously since they themselves are managing their own inquiry. Any evidence presented will be considered."

"What do you mean, they didn't take it seriously?" Alyssa was incredulous.

"Admiral Nogura brought it to the proper authorities and it went right back to Admiral Cartwright, who should have given it to you. He didn't think it was worth the check since the Thyrians proved they came in peace."

"The Old Man must have been irritated."

"Rightfully so, Captain, but there's nothing Admiral Nogura can do after he's done his bit. That is not his sector. He can file a complaint to the head above Admiral Cartwright."

"And he's not in, right?"

"On vacation," Kirk confirmed. "Starbase 67, the pleasure station, to be more precise."

"What can we do?" Riley asked.

"Notify all docks," Alyssa decided. "The Thyrian ships cannot leave port. There must be a lockdown of all planets, from here to the end of the Milky Way at least, and all of them have to be on high alert. I can take care of that."

"You might be stepping on Admiral Cartwright's toes," Riley warned.

"And I am head of Starfleet security," Alyssa argued. "Nobody should gainsay me." She turned to her children next. "Ryder, you need to take your sister home and pack a bag each. Stay there. Keep all doors locked and stay away from the windows. Do no leave until instructed Admiral Kirk, Commander Riley or myself. I assume that you have no duties until your captain calls you in."

"Right." Ryder nodded.

"I can take them," Riley volunteered before Ali voiced her opinion. "It might be safer in my apartment. Would that work?"

"Yes," Alyssa and Kirk said simultaneously.

Riley blinked, surprised for the moment. He was unsure of who to address, opting finally for Alyssa. "Yes, Sir."

A waitress came with their food. All talk about the Thyrians, planet safety and lodging ceased. They ate in silence mostly, with an inane word or two thrown in. By the time the meal ended, Riley was tired. He already had to put an end to an argument between the siblings and did not look forward to preventing more. Regardless, he promised to take care of them. He took Alyssa's address and that of where Ryder was staying temporarily and left.

Alyssa allowed her credit account to be debited for the food. While she waited for the transaction to be completed, she alerted her teams via texting out a coded message. Kirk stood next to her as the two tasks were finalized. He thought of a million things he could say to her, but none of them more important than the threat they faced. It wasn't fair to think back to the twilight of the relationship, but that too passed through his mind.

He imaged his visit to Synprilox and all of the days they spent together, most of them at night in bed. Even though they had been idyll and without responsibility, they vanished with a blink of an eye. All of them would be for nothing if they didn't do something about the Thyrians. Kirk knew that Riley was flighty and impulsive, but he wasn't a liar. The story was no joke.

When the waitress stated that the account had been verified, Kirk took Alyssa by the arm outside. "San Diego?" he suggested.

Alyssa smiled, returning the gesture. "I thought you'd never ask."

~00~

Everyday was like the dawn – undrawn, exciting and exotic – and the days were tranquil. The two officers began to learn something new about each other or explore a territory previously uncharted. While they were timid at first, they soon learned to trust each other and yearn for their time together. But gossip was always rife and they had to learn discretion. It wasn't in their best interests for their careers. Thus their meeting places always changed. At night, they settled into one of the bedrooms or someplace around Alyssa's home where they could be alone and resumed their relationship.

Their day-to-day interactions were always watched and that was what made it worse. However, their actions turned heads the other way. Nobody detected that an affair was being conducted, although their eyes told each other a different story.

And it didn't matter how they spent their time. Much like the other Starfleet residences on Synprilox, Alyssa's home and yard was very private and secured and she knew everyone's activities. In addition, her neighbors were not nosy and did not look over her hedges. Even if they tried, it would be impossible. Kirk had not realized that the plants and trees extended not just to the front yard, but to the rear one as well. There, Alyssa had a tree house built for Ryder, which covered a great deal of their activities.

Kirk realized that this was a different type of relationship. He found it akin to being a starship captain. He was always exploring new words and alien creatures, but this was a totally bizarre experience and one that even he was enjoying. Alyssa was a mysterious and wonderful woman all at once. He started to see what her husband Kurt saw in her – the beauty behind her hazel eyes, the casual flip of her black and white hair and the quiet demeanor. It all made a man go insane.

On the other hand, it was difficult for Alyssa not to scream. She wanted to tell the world that she managed to put her hesitations behind her and that she was ready for love again. But she also glowed quietly because she allowed herself that luxury. With each day, she blossomed like a flower, unfolding each petal to reveal a new aspect of herself…and Kirk delighted in it. He felt so lightheaded that he could hardly contain himself.

Even her son saw the changes. Ryder was an intelligent, perceptive child. Seeing his mother happy for the first time in his life since his father's death was possibly the best that could have happened to him. He knew that Alyssa was attached to Kirk in many ways and warmed up the admiral little by little. He followed Kirk like a lost puppy and almost revered him. Each time Kirk saw the child, he was showing him something from behind his legs or asking for a story. He also led the admiral to his mother in the kitchen constantly. Alyssa was amused.

Magda was another story though. Ever since Kirk's arrival, she had been hostile and cold to the point of callousness. Her warnings about Synprilox notwithstanding, the woman was like a mother hen who was overly protective of her nest. Being near Alyssa and Ryder, especially these days, was enough to make her snap.

The admiral could not help but try to remain friendly with her, but it was frustrating to be rebuffed and ignored at best. Silent sparring and retaliation aside, he never raised the topic with Alyssa, hoping to remain friendly and positive with Magda for the sake of his visit. She was mostly a babysitter and teacher of sorts to Ryder and took responsibility of him when Alyssa was not around or ill. Alyssa trusted her too. If Kirk was to remain with her, he too had to put in that same faith.

But thinking of their budding relationship sometimes took a strange turn. Two weeks after that first night in his bedroom, Kirk found Alyssa in the obverse gardens. She was sitting on a lawn chair, sipping some herbal tea. She noticed the admiral approaching and smiled, putting her cup on a side table to her left. Her face lit up, melting away the worries.

"How was your day, Jim?" she asked. The way she rolled his name off of her tongue was less awkward than a month ago. It was as natural to her as Ryder and Magda.

"Fine, fine." The day was spent inspecting the mines and his knees were sore from the unusual amount of travel. Kirk sat in the opposite chair. "Busy day."

"I heard you were crawling underground," Alyssa observed. "I didn't think it was dignified for a high-ranking officer to get dirty with the rest of the menial work."

Kirk knew that Alyssa was teasing him and took the bait. "No," he conceded, "but somebody had to do it."

"What did you find in your journey to the center?"

"Oh, rocks, miners…what you would call the boogey man…"

Alyssa laughed. "No, no. The boogey man checks under his bed for Chuck Norris."

"What?" Kirk was utterly confused.

The security officer suddenly stopped laughing. Her face turned dark, with an embarrassed tinge. Of course, the admiral would not know about popular figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It was something of her past. Kurt used to tell her Chuck Norris jokes constantly. He told her that he had to learn one in basic training. It was a requirement before his graduation, he claimed. It was a statement that Alyssa always questioned since his eyes showed too much merriment.

"Never mind," Alyssa said quickly. "It's just a reference from a long time ago."

"A very funny one, from what I understand," the admiral commented calmly. He was interested. "Care to explain more?"

"Not now." She picked at her pajama pants, fighting back tears. Thinking about her dead husband and his antics always hurt her. "Maybe another time. There is so much to explain about that joke."

Kirk had to draw her back in. He was truly intrigued. "Is this…Chuck Norris, right? Is he a public figure from your time?"

"So to speak," Alyssa admitted. She could not help herself the way Kirk asked. "He was an actor who was the brunt of many jokes. He went along with them and used to crack a few on WoW every Monday."

"WoW?"

"World of Warcraft. It was a game."

"What kind of game?"

"There were several formats. The man one that I remember is on a computer…the old-fashioned ones anyway. A desktop or laptop mainly."

The language was lost on Kirk. He understood computers, but not what types there were, especially from centuries before. "There is so much you can teach me."

"But that's obsolete," Alyssa protested. "Why do you need to know about things from an era that is gone?"

"Because it belonged to you," Kirk replied, taking her hand into his. "It was a part of your life. I want to learn all about you, Alyssa, even the bad."

Kurt had been annoyed with the worst aspects of her life and sought to change it. He never liked the aftermath of rescuing her from her parents' home and constantly yelled at her tears. He never had patience and treated her like one of his men. For the first time, Alyssa saw this as a step. Kurt was right for her at the time she needed him. She will always love him, but their relationship would not have survived past leaving their home.

Kirk was the opposite. Even though he too had commanded many people, he treated her like an equal. This is what surprised Alyssa the most…and what she appreciated. She didn't know how to take it. However, she was already trying to keep it away from him, seeking instead to continue the conversation in a more normal manner.

"I – I – I – well," she stuttered.

Kirk put her at ease, rubbing her hand with his thumb until she stopped. "These cultural references," he began when she shut up. "Can you explain some of them now?"