Kirk was surprised to see what was inside the box. There was a small device, which fit neatly into the palm of his hand. He had never seen the likes of it before. It was cube-shaped, with a small circular indent on the bottom and top. The former felt like a button and the latter was clear, almost like a screen. His reflection shone against the mirrored side.

Underneath, there were old papers and some discs and tapes. The documentation was solid proof of important events. Whatever Alyssa had left in the storage units was another story. What concerned Kirk more were those papers. One of them was a marriage certificate, signed by her and Kurt Hemmingway. It was dated April 29, 2010. Another was Ryder's birth certificate and the amended document from Starfleet. The last was Ali's, which he signed.

Quickly, Kirk folded these away. The other material, he'll review later. The cube was what intrigued him the most. Spock would have called it fascinating. Indeed, it was, but there was something more to it than meets the eye. From the way Alyssa concealed this important information in a trivial item that possibly held it all, the process was all and all more than that. It was interesting.

Riley found Kirk. He stood in the doorway with hesitation. "Sir, we should be going back. The fighting is beginning again."

"Not yet." Kirk put the box down and looked at the downside of the device.

"Admiral, somebody is bound to find us missing. It's against regulations unless we have security clearance."

"I think we have enough reason to be here."

Riley joined Kirk on the bed. "Sir, you've told me the history of Synprilox you knew. There's been mention that Thyria has been the cause of its demise. You also said you've had an affair with Captain Elma. What does being here have to do with the situation at hand?"

"Because Captain Elma left me things." Kirk showed him the cube and allowed him to take it into his hands. "What do you think of it, Riley?"

"It might be one of those old recorders," he replied. Now, he was intrigued. "They were pretty common maybe twenty, thirty years ago. If someone was stationed in a remote location, Starfleet required them to tape their will. Their official copy on this was then submitted to the central files. Another would be with the officer or with the closest of kin."

"Could there be anything else added to them?"

"Well, Admiral, there was infinite space on them. Sometimes, personnel also recorded their surroundings for future reference. Starfleet regulations specify that anything of value be placed in a secured location anyway. Others kept it like a diary, like a captain's log."

Above them, the lights flickered. The building shook. Kirk knew that it was a big indicator that they should get out as quickly as they could. But his time here was a luxury he could not afford to lose. This was the only chance he had to watch this recording. Alyssa had entrusted him with it for a reason. It might also help them later.

"Can you play it?" Kirk asked Riley.

"There might be some private information in there," Riley warned. He heard enough of the relationship between the two and did not want to stomp into Kirk's personal life. "Are you sure you want me in here to hear it?"

"You've come with me this far, Riley. I trust you."

The comment was enough motivation. Riley beamed with pride. With confidence, he played with the bottom circle. He spun it a few degrees clockwise and counterclockwise until it clicked and disappeared into the cube. The aide then placed it on the floor. The clear top popped up like a cone and focused on a holographic image. At first, it was blurry, but when it began clearing, Kirk recognized the location.

Synprilox!

He was devastated by what he saw. What he recalled was a thriving world. The Synprilox before him lost its vigor. The land was barren, salted by war. Bodies littered the pathways and streets, from the young to the old. The artificial weather system no longer existed. The skies displayed the usual cover, but the only prominence was the dome that covered the planet. Cracks were large and leaking grey water.

No longer were there markets screaming their fares. The farmers did not have fertile soil to cultivate. Children did not run in groups to jump and play. Synprilox was a dead planet.

The view moved through a few angles of the same tragedies until Riley and Kirk were able to see a full picture of the situation. But something jolted the two from the reverie. When a voice started the narration, Kirk almost jumped out of his seat. It was Alyssa!

She spoke a few words that sounded muffled before she apologized. "Jim – Jim, I hope you can hear me. I don't know if you'll see this or be able to bring this to the attention of the true authorities of the Federation. I don't know if I will survive or not –"

The picture cut out and was soon full of static. After a minute, it adjusted. Alyssa kneeled and played with the camera so that it better took in the commentary. Her movement indicated that time was of the essence. It was frantic and desperate. Without realizing it, Kirk's hands shook from nervous energy. He stilled them and chided himself. This must have been a year or two before. There was nothing to fear now.

"I told you years ago that Synprilox was under civil war," Alyssa continued. She stood up, upset. The audio and visual was slightly better, but it was still fuzzy. "They also looked for an enemy that nobody could find. Unity against this people and the defenses you implemented abated the fighting for a while, Jim. You helped. It was because of you that Synprilox survived a little longer. But even its own people were going to take so much before they became so selfish.

"Starfleet is aware that there have been skirmishes between us, people from other worlds and the civilians of this planet. But that's only the beginning. Efforts to make Synprilox a flourishing member of the Federation have been grounded at this point. You and I both know that the Federation had plans for Synprilox. It wasn't just that it was a dangerous place. It could have been the most functioning of all the planets. It was pure and simple greed, Jim, and no compromise in the middle.

"But that did not matter to us to begin with, Jim. Our lives together were more important. We could have stayed together and worked it out in the end. But to what end? That you would have to worry daily? That somebody would see the daughter of a celebrated officer and kidnap her? That anybody that saw my file would use Ryder against me? No. Cutting ties had been the best decision we made, even if it was painful. And all you need to know is that – that I kept my end of the bargain. I did all I could to keep Ryder and Ali safe. I don't know for how much longer though. I ask for your forgiveness.

"You probably know that Ryder is on Earth, attending the Academy. He is in safe hands. Ali and Magda have been signaling for a rescue ship. They are in our shelter. The house is destroyed. Our belongings have been sent to Kepler III by a freighter already. Starfleet vessels have been here, or so I was told. There should be one nearby. I wouldn't think you'd order them away. You never did."

Alyssa again asked exoneration for missing information and explained what happened in the ten years that Kirk had last been there. Tensions had eased slightly. Synprilox reached far and adored its new freedoms within the boundaries given to them. Starfleet and the Federation had lessened their hold because Admiral Ciana found holes in the agreements and dismissed those who had negative interests in the planet. She too began the long process of making this friendship a stronger one.

On Synprilox, Alyssa continued to inform Admiral Ciana of how unfair it was that Synprilox was placed in a position where they so unjustly treated. They were not criminals and only required protection. She monitored the situation with the radiation and continued to evacuating those interested. She also continued her role as the double agent and found out more than she cared to.

It was not the chancellor who was in control anymore. It was the Freedom Riders. The council had ties with the unknown enemy who was destroying them and pretended that it was Amelia Synprilox's fault. While she could not fault the Freedom Riders' actions because of the iniquitous treatment from the Federation, she could not side with them on their double-crossing. They had allowed the citizens to believe the worst in the wrong party and take the blame off of them. They also discreetly put Starfleet in the spotlight and painted them as the instigators of the war above their heads.

"And being placed as the wronged party made it worse," Alyssa continued. She sat down on the ground, exhausted. "It always did. Synprilox is one of ten worlds that are named by the Federation as hazardous. As such, they assign Starfleet security officers to keep order and to monitor the politics. In exchange, they enjoy the benefits of being part of a union. This is only a step closer to quarantine and severance.

"Synprilox is a prideful planet. These people are not used to being so tamed and are used to listening to those who seemed to have their interests in mind. They've also had centuries of habits – electing, tolerating and poisoning. The cycle had been broke, but it was at a high price. Once they realized that there was a better future, they took it without seeing the consequences. Eventually, the Federation tightened their leash once Admiral Ciana lost her hold….and she did eventually, when people above her head demanded her intervention to cease. Civil war picked up once more."

And that was when Alyssa detailed the atrocious events Synprilox endured. The Freedom Riders oust the chancellor and took control of Synprilox. Amelia Synprilox soon found herself homeless and without a way to support herself or service Synprilox. Used as a scapegoat, a ransom was placed on her capture. She went into hiding, seeking refuge with Starfleet and the Federation. Unfortunately, the Freedom Riders had been the recognized legitimate government and this was denied.

Alyssa was not able to help her friend. This too was another tragedy. Her services were now rendered to a group who used and abused her and her men. But she knew what the chancellor was up to. Amelia continued to attempt to rally support without her former contacts. She managed to form a following and continued her assault against her old advisers.

With so much in propaganda and rumor, Synprilox's people were fighting the fabric of their economic and social structure. Factory workers went on strike when their precious metals no longer went to non-violent products and were sold on the market for officials' greed. Municipal forces found their loyalties questioned and interrogations daily. Collective farmers soon saw their lives lost and their families compensating for a lack of crop through slave work. The marketplace's prices soars and people starved. Wages took a dive. The gap between economic classes grew.

What was worse were the Starfleet officers left behind. Without clear orders or a way to escape, each one fell one by one. It was through illness, war, the radiation, civil violence or execution that they all died. Only few had survived with Alyssa at that point and all of them had been contaminated with the radiation.

After Admiral Ciana's death in 2279, Cartwright took the helm and it worsened. Reports filtered back and forth with any more instructions. The minimal amount of work was put into their situation and silence was maintained. Eventually, Alyssa took matters into her own hands and reported Cartwright for negligence and prepared for her departure.

"But I don't think I will be able to," she concluded sadly. "Jim, nobody is still answering our calls for help. The freighter that took our belongings has not returned. I hope they were not destroyed because of our plea for help."

This was when Alyssa transformed. She no longer was no the security officer who had to use her strength and cunning anymore. This was now a scared woman and a mother that desired her child to be safe. Kirk saw the twinkle of tears in her eyes. While she wanted to live, Alyssa needed Ali to be rescued and to be there for her. There was no mistaking that emotion.

"This shall be my final will and testament," Alyssa said breathlessly. She struggled to speak. "I, Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Helene Elma, being of sound mind and body, appoint Rear Admiral James T. Kirk the holder of my estate. I leave him custody of our daughter, Alice Wionna Elma, and my son, Ryder Gregory Elma. Any of my material belongings he can disperse with as he pleases."

Suddenly, the transmission ceased and the picture was gone. Riley picked up the cube from the floor and gave it to Kirk. Some of what he heard was very personal. Bits of it he wasn't so surprised about. From what the admiral had explained, his relationship with Alyssa developed so quickly, but there wasn't much of a chance for it to continue. Time, career and political circumstances worked against them.

On the other hand, the admiral never mentioned that Ali was his daughter. Riley could tell that Kirk wasn't being kept in the dark about it. There was no outrage when Alyssa mentioned it. But it also changed a lot of things and all of it controversial.

"Sir –" Riley ventured.

"Not now," Kirk interrupted.

"Admiral, we need to leave, whether or not you want to. It's no longer safe here. You kept your promise. We can return."

"Not yet."

Riley wanted to rip his hair out. "Admiral, please. We need to go back."

Kirk was deep in thought. There was something more than this cedar box that Alyssa hid. She said that she transferred her belongings to Kepler III. It wasn't just trivial items from her home. She wouldn't mention them without reason. What were they?

It is well known within Alyssa's inner circle that she was quick enough to keep her secrets out of sight and mind. She always had an ace of spades up her sleeve. Kepler III held the rest of their answers. Kirk had to get there somehow. He knew that he could not reach it if Cartwright could help it. He would have to use other means.

Kirk rose, picking everything up. "Are the space docks still closed?"

"Nobody is allowed in and out, per Captain Elma's orders," Riley clarified. "Her second-in-command retained the order."

The admiral nodded evenly. "This can wait. We have another assignment."

Riley had an idea. Bits and pieces of the mystery came together and pointed to one person. This wasn't about Alyssa Elma or Lori Ciana anymore. Kirk was now looking at Admiral Cartwright.

"What are we doing?" Riley asked. He followed the admiral out of the bedroom.

"We wait and see," Kirk said. "There will be an opportunity. Then, we move to the next item on the list."

Riley nodded in agreement. He and Kirk continued their trek through and out of the apartment. It was trickier returning to the bunker though. Security frisked them and allowed them in. Instead of going back to the office though, they were escorted to Sickbay. Kirk saw McCoy there with Ryder and Ali and started for them, but someone stopped him.

Cartwright pointed to the material in Kirk's hands. "Been busy disobeying general orders?"

Kirk blinked. "I don't know, Lance," he said without missing a beat. "At least I wasn't busy condemning Starfleet officers to death."

~00~

It was a nightmare. Alyssa surveyed the crime scene from afar. She calculated in her mind her next move based on the information she was given. From what witnesses have stated, there were three male guests who randomly attacked. They were supposedly part of the delegations that came to Synprilox. She didn't have a list of which party they came with, but she was going to track them down. They may be gone, but they were being searched for by her men.

She knew that there was no excuse for the incident. It happened under her watch and she was going to pay for the consequences. Alyssa dreaded making the call to Earth and mentally beat herself up for being so anxious. Admiral Ciana will surely conduct disciplinary action, perhaps exiling her to Synprilox for the rest of her life instead of the nameless years, and that was never a bad thing. Alyssa never minded living on Synprilox.

The security officer closed her eyes. There, in the darkness of her sight, she worked out the first act. She recalled dozens and dozens of faceless people walking in, greeting each other and congregating in their respective corners. Then, they moved to their tables and were seated by the servants. Masks were placed on their faces and the festivities began.

The second act was dinner, the climax. Hundreds of platters graced each setting. Candles were lit. The atmosphere was light and cheery. Alyssa thought it too positive for a night celebrating the dead, but she paid no heed to her personal feelings. She only recalled how, when the food was served, some people had decided to get up and call for dancing. That wasn't traditional, but not all races could sit for long periods of time. The chancellor accepted that and gave some leeway.

Then, there was the third act. While she was away, delegating her attention elsewhere, another force moved in. Just as she and Kirk conducted their affair, the three men chose their target…and Kirk's men paid the price. They aimed for the chancellor. Her bodyguards were nowhere nearby, so the Starfleet officers took the lead. That was their fatal mistake.

And now, this was the finale. Alyssa opened her eyes. She was called down to investigate. The scene before her was a mess, even cleared of people. She bit down the bile in her throat. Two bodies and both brutally stabbed. It was a tragedy.

Kirk crept up from behind slowly and put a hand on Alyssa's shoulder. He too had watched everything from afar and thought her very distant. "Commander?"

She whirled around quickly and pushed his hand off of her. "Yes, Admiral?"

"Do you have any additional information concerning this matter?" he asked formally.

"None, Sir, but we do not have all of it yet. My men are still searching for the suspects. This place has been locked down and all guests are being patted down before departure. They each will have a guard. Reinforcements have been called for."

"Do you have my replacements, Commander?"

"No, Sir. Not yet anyway. Starfleet will be sending them shortly. For the time being, as the highest ranking officer, I will be your guard."

Kirk tried not to show his discomfort. "On whose authority?"

"Mine," Alyssa answered coldly. "If there is a state of emergency, ranking officers are to take on the role of bodyguard. I have someone to take my place. He knows the affairs of Synprilox and Kepler III as well as I do."

The admiral knew that she was right. He faced her stoically. "Is there any place we can keep low?"

"We cannot return to the Starfleet neighborhood," Alyssa said. "That area has not been cleared. For the time being, we are guests of Chancellor Synprilox and the Freedom Riders. Our rooms are on the third floor. I will be sleeping at the foot of your bed."

This was almost like a dream come true. Kirk knew it was supposed to be a professional stance. Their nights will pass like any other though. They would have to be quieter about their transgressions and watch out for the servants. It was just going to be tougher being in closer quarters.

Alyssa was thinking the same thing. "Ryder is currently locked in his room and monitored by his matron. I need to look for Magda. Will you care to join me, Admiral?"

The answer came easily. Kirk nodded. "Wouldn't it be against regulations?"

"None of them said that an admiral can't join his sentry in a search."

He agreed. After Alyssa called over some of her men to watch the area, they left the palace. They kept at a distance to deter suspicion and continued their trek. Alyssa seemed to have an idea where Magda was. She followed the roads out to the borders of the next town and stopped near a gated community. The lighting was dim here.

Kirk soon recognized this as a cemetery. Cautious, he opened the metal doorway for Alyssa and allowed her in to check the perimeter. The hinges squealed in protest as she eyed the small area carefully. The coast was clear save for a few mourners without candles. She signaled him in.

Alyssa walked through different rows, avoiding the overgrown sites and the visitors to the dead, until she reached a remote corner. This was blocked off by another gate. She opened it, peeking in. Inside, there were many headstones. All of them were simply stone circles in the barren ground, without grass or flowers, and bore names and dates alone.

This seemed to be a section unlike any other Kirk had seen though. To him, it seemed to be a place of shame. The rest of the burial grounds showed life after death and were alive with each person's memories. This part was like a dark smear on the rest of the race itself, a Christian sin almost. He could not figure out why it had to be isolated from the rest.

The pair slowly walked forward. There, they saw a lone figure standing before three resting places. Kirk thought the figure familiar and approached on his own. He waved Alyssa away to get a closer glance at the graves. When he saw the name in the dimness, he had to blink a few times to believe it.

Mycoff!

With a sickening feeling in his stomach, Kirk realized that Magda was related to the rebels of Synprilox. He stood next to her calmly though, quietly observing the stillness of death. She noticed him and Alyssa and smiled. There was nothing to indicate her inner turmoil. Indeed, she welcomed the company.

"I told you, Admiral Kirk," she said to him, waving to the graves of her family. "This planet will stab you in the back. You just have to be a little more careful."