That evening, Jim West was ready and met Admiral Kirk in the transporter room, obviously not wearing his uniform. Artie was there as well. "I thought maybe I should go with him," Artie said.

"You can be in the bar," Jim replied. "But don't let anyone know the two of you are together. Two strangers in there like that after they know we're around trying to find him would be too suspicious. Just be careful and let me know when you have the tracker on him."

"Yes, Sir," West said.

Artie and West stepped onto the transporter pad. "Good luck," Jim said. He looked at Scotty. "Energize."

Artie and West were soon down on the planet in an area where most no one would see them transport. It was dark on the planet so they had no trouble getting into the town unnoticed. They found the right bar and went inside one at a time. Artie got himself a drink and sat at a back table while Jim West sat at the bar talking to the bartender.

"You wouldn't happen to be with that starship I hear is orbiting the planet, would you?" she asked.

"Hey, do I look like I'm part of a starship crew?" West asked.

"I don't know. The ones who came in here before were sure good-looking."

"Do you ask questions like this to all the patrons of this establishment?"

"No. Just the ones who look like they don't belong."

West frowned slightly at that. He had tried to blend in, but he thought maybe that was impossible. "Why do I look like I don't belong?" he asked.

"For one thing, I've never seen you here before, and another, you don't look like a ship pilot."

"Maybe I'm just not your typical pilot." West thought about Solan, and he did not think he was so different than him. Why would this woman be able to pick him out of a crowd? Then again, he was not doing much to hide. He supposed he should get away from the bar. "If you'll excuse me…"

"I didn't mean to run you off," the bartender replied.

"Oh no. I'm just going to mingle."

West moved away from the bar taking his drink with him. He found a table where a card game was going on, so he watched that for a few minutes. When that game was over, he joined the card game himself. He was not sure what Admiral Kirk would think of him joining a game, but he thought it was pretty good cover.

As the night went on, Artie moved to another area of the bar to play a game. They had not seen Admiral Simmons yet, but that soon changed as they saw him come in. Jim West glanced up from the cards he was holding seeing Admiral Simmons making his way over to the bar, not without greeting a few people first. West wondered who they were and whether they were a part of Starfleet. Did they know this admiral was wanted? West glanced at Artie who scowled slightly.

West looked at his cards once again. He did not have a very good hand, but he was a great bluffer. He took a chance and traded two cards. While he was playing that hand, he kept an eye on where Admiral Simmons was, and he realized he was coming over to that table.

"How's the game?" Simmons asked loudly.

"Not bad," one of the players answered. "You joining us, Admiral?"

West tried not to let on about that, but he wondered just who all around there knew this person. Did they know he was wanted? He knew now that Admiral Kirk had been wise not to try and arrest him there in town.

"Sure I'm joining you!" Admiral Simmons said as he set a bottle of liquor on the table and pulled up a chair right beside West.

Jim West made himself not look smug or smile at his luck. Artie was watching from across the room. He could hardly believe it. He knew West would get that tracker on the admiral now and he would never know it.

As the game progressed, the admiral got more cantankerous and loud. He was drinking a lot and he had even won a hand. West had pretended to drop something and had attached the tracker on him without even seeming to hesitate. The admiral finally became belligerent and was escorted outside as usual.

Jim Kirk stood in the shadows watching with a glare. He was well-hidden and had been watching to see if Mac came into town, but he had not seen him. Mac would be hard to miss with his size. He watched Admiral Simmons weave his way out of the bar, but someone was driving him when he got onto his bike. Jim was surprised. He went around to the back of the building and took out his communicator. "Scotty, beam me up," he said.

Jim was soon standing on the transporter pad not looking happy at all. "Did you find him, Sir?" Scotty asked as Jim walked over to him.

"Yeah, I did, Scotty," Jim replied. "I didn't see Mac though. Just keep tabs on our two down there and track the admiral. He's on the move."

"Yes, Sir."

Jim walked out of the transporter room and went to the Bridge. Spock was sitting in the captain's chair. "I assume our quarry is on the move," Spock said.

"He is," Jim replied.

"Mister West did well."

"I knew he would. Now, all we do is wait."

"Admiral, you may have the chair if you wish. I will retire for the evening until you need me."

"Go ahead, Spock. Good night."

Spock stopped at the lift doors as he looked back at his friend who seemed very quiet. He knew how angry Jim had been about Admiral Simmons's betrayal.

"Lieutenant Jarvis, bring up the tracker on the viewscreen," Jim said as he sat in the chair.

The display was soon showing on the viewscreen. He could see the tracker moving away from the town. They would soon know right where Admiral Simmons was staying on that planet. Jim wanted to wait until morning so the admiral would be sober and know well what was going on.

Later, the signal stopped and Jim stood in front of the viewscreen. "So, that's where he's staying," he said. "Have those coordinates ready in the morning, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Sir," Lieutenant Jarvis said.

Jim left the Bridge. He would get some rest so he would be ready for this in the morning. West and Artie had returned to the ship but he would not disturb them tonight. It would all end tomorrow…

The next morning, Jim was up early, but when he went out into the corridor, Solan and Priscilla were waiting for him. "Well, I guess you two are ready to go," he said.

"We are," Solan replied. "What's your plan?"

"I'm gonna have Scotty transport us down close to where he's staying and we'll go from there. Not much else we can plan until we see the place."

Solan, Priscilla, Ajah, and Korax were going down this time. Korax had not gone down to the planet before because he would be too noticeable. Doctor McCoy would be going as well. They were transported down to the planet not far from the abode of Admiral Anthony Simmons. Jim looked at the portable tracker and could see the blinking red light that indicated the location of their quarry. "It's that way," Jim whispered.

They moved toward the signal of the tracker finding that the shelter the admiral lived in was not really what one would call a house. It was built of stone, but it had an open front and a back way out. Jim and the others came toward the front of the shelter. They hid behind some rocks.

"Admiral Simmons!" Jim called.

"What do you want Admiral Kirk? I've been expecting you!"

Jim frowned. "You're under arrest, Admiral! Whether you come along of your own will or whether we have to force you, you're coming with us!"

Simmons laughed. "You're not taking me anywhere of my own free will, Kirk, so I suggest you start trying to take me by force! I'll enjoy this challenge!"

"Admiral, you're not gonna get away from us! Don't make me have to kill you!"

"Those are strong words coming from someone like you, Kirk!"

Jim had not noticed that Priscilla was making her way around the rocks to get to the back of the shelter, and neither did anyone else until they saw her at the edge of the shelter. Solan was alarmed knowing that she had never been in a situation like this, but he stayed still not wanting to give her away.

Jim almost lost his train of thought. "Admiral, come on out!" he said.

"Why? So you can arrest me?" Simmons asked. "Why don't we have a good old man to man fight?"

"That's not gonna happen!"

"I will fight him, Admiral," Korax said quietly.

"No. No one is going to fight anyone."

Jim could see that Priscilla had gone around the edge of the abode. He knew she most likely intended to sneak in through the back door, but he also knew that they had no idea where Mac was, nor who else was around there.

Simmons finally came into view only slightly so he could see Jim. "Kirk, are you sure you don't wanta settle this like men?" he asked.

"Your idea of settling it like men isn't the same as mine," Jim replied. "You're an admiral. You should give this up so you won't have to be humiliated on top of everything else! Why did you do it? You could at least tell me that!"

"I'm sure you know everything now! You know that Mac is my son! I wouldn't see him suffer anymore because of you! So I used you to free him! He risked his life to get you out of that prison! You did nothing to help him!"

Jim had known it would come back to this. "Admiral, he betrayed us! I couldn't help him!"

"You could have! You were angry because of your girlfriend!"

"I was angry because he betrayed us and he did nothing to help her! She trusted him!"

"She did trust me," another voice said that they clearly recognized as Mac. "She even trusted me when she and Solan were out searching for clues, but I didn't have anything to do with Admiral Fern taking her as a hostage. You knew that, Admiral Kirk!"

"I cannot change anything that happened!" Jim declared. "You would have gone to prison no matter what I said! Mac, if your bail has been paid and you're a free man, you shouldn't be in this! You'll end up in prison again!"

"I don't think so, but what do I have anyway? You ruined my life."

"We can stay out here all day," Jim said. "You're not leaving here unless it's as a prisoner."

"I found your little tracker, Admiral Kirk," Simmons said. "It's not attached to me now so if you try to transport me, your crew will get an unwelcome surprise."

Jim frowned. He had considered trying to transport the tracker and what it was attached to. He looked at Ajah and Solan. "We have to have some sort of plan," he whispered.

"What about Priscilla?" Solan asked.

Jim looked toward the shelter. Wherever Priscilla was now, they could not see her. However, just as he thought that, she appeared in the back doorway. Solan almost stood up as he saw her, but there was no time to warn her that Mac was there. But it was not Mac who acted, it was Admiral Simmons who turned and fired at her.

Solan did stand up then as all he could do was scream, "NO!"

Jim realized Simmons was about to take Solan out, but he fired first. Simmons fell, and Jim saw Mac going out the back door of the shelter at the same time he saw Solan running for Priscilla. Jim ran after him and stood beside Solan as he fell beside Priscilla.

"I love you my sweet Solan," Priscilla said as she touched his face.

Bones was there scanning as they heard the beep become one long one. They hated hearing Solan's grief, but Jim had to go after Mac. He ran out the back door of the shelter, but just as he got out there, Mac was waiting for him and grabbed him. He drew back his now metal-strengthened hand to punch Jim, but then someone grabbed his hand.

Mac looked into the glowing, swirling eyes of Ajah. "Let go of him or I will end you right here," Ajah said sounding rather electronic.

Mac could see that Ajah meant every word so he let go of Jim. Ajah glared at him and then gave him a small shock that knocked him out. He looked at Jim. "You didn't kill him, did you?" Jim asked.

"No," Ajah said. "But I'll bet he will have some trouble with that new hand."

"Stop!" someone yelled.

Ajah and Jim whirled around and saw Mira, Admiral Simmons' daughter standing there aiming a blaster at them. "Just surrender now," Jim said.

"Don't think that I can't take care of your electrical friend there!" Mira replied. "You killed my father!"

"He killed one of my people! You have no idea what's going on here!"

"Yes, I do! You betrayed my brother too!"

"You're wrong! He betrayed us!"

"He's right!" someone else said.

Jim saw Zander coming around the side of the shelter. "Mira, stop right now," Zander said. "I don't want to lose you too!"

"How can you turn on our family like that?" Mira asked.

"I haven't! Admiral Kirk is telling you the truth! I was there!"

Mira looked at her brother. "Listen to me," Zander said. "Come on."

She looked back toward Jim and Ajah. Jim could see her confusion, but he said nothing. Zander stepped up behind her. "You're not part of this," he said. "Come on, Mira. We'll bury our father later. Right now, we have to have a long talk."

"Go with him," Jim said.

Mira gave up and went with Zander. Jim blew out a breath. "Put cuffs on Mac," he said. "We'll take him back to the ship."

Korax stood in the doorway of the shelter. "It seems this is over," he said looking sadder than normal.

Jim frowned. "How is Solan?"

"Our friend is grieving."

Jim went back into the abode where Priscilla's body lay with Solan still there. Bones looked at Jim with tears in his own eyes. Jim did not know what to say. "Let's transport back to the ship," he said quietly. He took out his communicator. "Scotty."

"Yes sir," Scotty answered.

"Transport us back to the ship with one prisoner."

"Yes, Sir."

They were all soon appearing on the transporter pad. Scotty stood up as he saw Priscilla's body lying on the pad. Solan ran from the transporter room. Spock was there as well. Jim hurried over to him. "Spock, take care of this," he said.

"Yes, Sir," Spock replied.

Jim ran from the transporter room, but he did not see Solan in the corridor. Where would he go? "His ship!"

Jim ran to the shuttle bay where Solan's ship was. He did not see Solan but he figured he was already aboard. He ran up the boarding ramp, and just as he got in the corridor of the ship, Solan was coming from the latrine. Jim could see the grief on Solan's face, and he grabbed him in a tight embrace. Solan practically collapsed sobbing, and Jim held him up.

"I don't think I can make it through this, Admiral," Solan said.

Jim was not sure what to say. "Yes, you can. We're gonna help you. You're not alone."

Just then, Scotty came running in. He could hear his friend's grief as he sobbed. They finally just sat down in the floor. Jim wiped tears off his own face. He could see that Solan was in shock. Bones came in next, and he just sat down with the others wishing he could take his friend's grief away. "He just shot her," Solan said.

Jim pressed the bridge of his nose. "I'm so sorry, Solan," he said. "I shouldn't have let her go."

"Don't say that. She wanted to go." Solan folded his arms wishing he could escape this grief. "She always wanted to go on missions." He wiped tears out of his eyes. "You guys don't have to stay here with me. Admiral, I know you have things you have to do. I think I want to be alone for a while."

Jim frowned. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Solan nodded. "Yeah. I won't leave the Enterprise. I promise."

"If you're sure, but I'll be back to check on you later."

Jim stood up feeling like he was abandoning his friend. "I don't want to abandon you," he said.

"You're not," Solan replied. "Let me have some time alone."

Bones was not sure he wanted to leave Solan alone either, but he knew most people wanted time alone when they lost someone they cared about. He stood up. "I want you to come to the medical bay later," he said. "Will you?"

"I don't know," Solan said. "I can't promise."

Jim and Bones walked out of the ship. "I don't like leaving him alone like that," Bones said.

"I don't either," Jim replied. "But I have to get some things done. I'm coming back later."

"Right. I guess I should go and check on Mac too."

"Make sure there's a guard on him."

"I will."

Jim went on out of the shuttle bay just as Scotty was leaving Solan's ship. He did not like leaving his friend to grieve alone either but he had to get the Enterprise ready to leave the system.

Jim went to his own quarters where Carol was waiting for him. He just hugged her to him. "I heard what happened," she said.

"I don't know how to comfort him, Carol," Jim replied.

"I don't suppose you can. It takes time."

The door chime sounded. Jim went over to the door, and Spock was there. "Jim, am I interrupting?" he asked.

"No," Jim said. "Come on in."

"What do you intend to do with Mac?"

Jim considered that. "I'm not sure right now. He didn't escape this time. He really didn't try to help his father. He didn't kill Priscilla."

"Should we turn him loose?"

"We could transport him back down to the planet and let him bury his father along with his brother and sister."

"If that is what you think is best, Admiral." Spock paused a moment. "I assume we will have a funeral for Priscilla."

Jim nodded. "Probably when we get back to Earth. I don't think Solan can bear it right now."

"I am not certain that it is better to wait."

"In this case, I think it is, Spock."

"When will we be leaving this system?"

"I have to contact Headquarters and let Admiral Winston know what happened," Jim said. "We'll stay here in orbit until all that's done."

"Yes, Admiral. Is Solan aboard his ship?"

"Yeah. He wants to be alone for a while."

"I understand. I will inform the crew that we will be staying here for the time being."

"Thanks."

Spock left, and Jim just stood there feeling like he had no idea what to do next. "I'll talk to you later, Carol," he said.

"Jim, wait a moment," Carol said. She kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too. I have to get busy."

Carol watched him leave. She knew he was blaming himself for Priscilla's death.

Jim went to the Bridge. "Uhura, send a message to Admiral Winston that I need to talk to him," he said. "I'll take it in the conference room."

"Yes Sir," Uhura replied.

Jim took out his communicator as he headed for the conference room. "Ajah."

"Yes, Sir," Ajah replied promptly.

"I need you in the conference room."

"I'll be right there, Sir."

Jim went into the conference room and sat down. He just stared out the viewport at the planet below them. Soon, Ajah came in. He had changed into what he usually wore in the office. "Come on and sit down, Ajah," Jim said.

Ajah sat across the table from Jim wondering if he was angry at him for shocking Mac, but he had brought a pad with him. Jim was silent a moment. "Thanks for stopping Mac," he said first. "I'm sure I'd be in severe pain right now if not for you."

"You're welcome, Sir," Ajah replied. "I hope you're not angry at me for shocking him."

"No. It made it a lot easier to get him under control. But, I need you to make a report for me to send to Admiral Winston."

"Yes, Sir."

"You know most everything. You know what to do."

"I do. Admiral, how is Solan?"

Jim sighed. "I don't know. I'm gonna check on him later."

Jim just sat there while Ajah began working on the report. He made sure to get all the dates and times right and made out a very detailed report about everything that happened. While he was working on that, Admiral Winston answered Jim's call.

"Admiral," Jim said as Admiral Winston appeared on the screen.

"Admiral Kirk," Winston replied. "I assume you've completed your mission."

"Yes, Sir, but I'm afraid Admiral Simmons is dead."

"Well, I would have liked him brought back alive, but I know sometimes things don't work like we want. I'm sure you'll have a report for me soon."

"Yes, Sir."

Winston paused a moment. "You seem rather quiet, Admiral Kirk."

"Sir, Priscilla was killed on this mission."

Winston frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"She and Solan…had just gotten married the first day of our trip."

"I see. Give him my condolences."

"Yes, Sir. We'll be back to Earth as soon as possible."

"The government of Voca Five was aware of your mission, but you should let them know this as well," Winston said. "Let them know you are leaving."

"Sir, there are a few other things you don't know. We found out that Mac is Admiral Simmons' son, and he was here."

Winston frowned. "How is he out of prison?" he asked.

"His father paid his way out with the bounty, and he also purchased him a prosthetic hand."

"Was he involved in this?"

Jim paused a moment. "Not really, Sir. He was there, but he didn't really try to help his father."

Winston considered that statement. "Are you sure you're telling me everything?"

"If I forgot anything, Sir, it'll be in the report."

"Good. I'll see you when you get back to Earth. Winston out."

Jim watched the screen go blank. He leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. Ajah continued to work on the report but he glanced at Jim as he just stared out the portal.

Jim did not want to talk to the officials on Voca Five, but he supposed he would have to anyway since Admiral Winston told him to. He pressed the intercom button. "Uhura, hail the planet," he said.

"Yes, Sir," Uhura replied.

"I wanta talk to Admiral John Spears."

"Yes, Sir."

"Just send it to the conference room."

Jim ended the transmission and sat there waiting. He soon got a response as he saw the intercom light blinking. He pressed the button and a blond man, whom Jim had never seen, appeared on the screen, but he could plainly see the insignia on the man's uniform. "Admiral Spears?" he said.

"Admiral Kirk, I presume?" Admiral Spears said with a bold, booming voice.

"Yes, Sir."

"I presume your mission is completed."

"Yes, Sir."

"I'd like a report about that mission since it took place on my planet."

"I'll get it to you, Sir."

"I'd also like to meet you in person if that's possible."

"When would you want to meet?"

"I think I'd like to see your ship, Admiral Kirk. Let's have dinner tonight."

"Yes, Sir. You don't mind if I have my wife present?"

"Absolutely not. I'll let you know when I'm ready to transport later today."

"Yes, Sir."

The transmission ended, and Jim blew out a breath. "Wow, I thought I might ought to stand at attention, Sir," Ajah said.

"Me too, Ajah," Jim replied. "I guess I have to prepare to receive an admiral."

"I'll have this report done for you by then, Sir."

"Thank you, Ajah. You can go on to your quarters if you like. I'll look at it later."

"Yes, Sir."

Jim left the conference room and went to his quarters. He wanted to go back to Solan's ship, but right now, he had to prepare to meet this admiral, who was a higher ranking admiral than he.