"Captain? I have a question about-"

"Not now," he snapped.

Elle stopped in her tracks and stared after him, stunned. "Bones must've cut his caffeine consumption," she decided after a second, and left her question in favor of a video game with Sulu and the other pilots.

She saw the captain at lunch the next day. He scowled through his entire meal and downed three cups of coffee in twenty minutes. Elle decided whoever wrote 'discretion is the better part of valor' was a genius. "Is it quarter evals or something?" she asked Lt. Martine.

Martine shook her head. "That was last month. Maybe he just needs a vacation." She stretched her neck. "We all do, don't we, cherie?"

"Oui," Elle agreed, which was the extent of her French vocabulary, besides, "hon hon baguette."

The day after that, it was literature time. Hopefully some Sherlock Holmes would be calming. Elle opened the story and got ahead, just to see what was going to happen.

Kirk never came. Yeoman Rand came instead, fifteen minutes later. "Sorry, sweetheart, the captain can't make it tonight."

Elle stared at her, dismayed. "What, why not?"

Rand sighed, and that told you a lot about the state of the universe of the yeomen were sighing irritably. "Never you mind," she said, and gave Elle a hug.

Elle hugged her tightly. "Maybe he's hormonal?" Elle suggested.

Rand snorted. "I wouldn't be surprised." She kissed Elle's cheek. "I don't have time myself, but Yeoman Davdison is a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, if you'd like to go rustle him out of his hidey hole in Logistics. He's off-shift in five minutes."

"Sure," Elle said, dragging herself out of the comfy chair.

Logistics was in the depths of Operations offices, where all the huge schedules took virtual form and all shifts were coordinated. Every time someone traded shifts with someone else, and everytime there was a call for different specialists, all these things were routed through Logistics and kept up to date. If there was an onboard invasion, this is where the security teams would be route from, depending on where they were. It was cool, watching all all the biosigns flit about the giant virtual tank. It figured, that whoever worked here had to have Sherlockian levels of observation.

"Um, excuse me, Yeoman Davidson?"

He craned his neck out of his giant ergonomic chair. "Elle?"

"Yeah. Hi. Um, Captain Kirk isn't available to do my literature lesson with me, so... it's Sherlock Holmes, and Yeoman Rand said..."

"I would love to read Sherlock Holmes with you," he said.

Elle smiled, relieved. "Cool."

-/\-

"Good morning, captain-"

"No."

Elle watched this interaction with dread. That was not normal captainly behavior. He was being a jerk, and even if he was in a terrible bad mood, he wouldn't take it out on his crew. On Spock and Bones, maybe, but not random ensigns.

She went over to where Uhura and Scotty were having a not-date. "Hey."

"Hey, sugar," Uhura said, squeezing her in a side hug. "How are you doing this morning?"

"Confused," Elle said, glancing in the direction of the bridge.

Scotty gave her a sympathetic look. "Aye, lass. I think we're all of us getting to that point, tired-wise."

Elle chewed on her lip. "Should I ask him?"

Both officers grimaced. "I don't think you should poke the bear, sweetheart," Uhura said. "Let Mr. Spock handle it."

"He's just sitting there and taking it," Elle pointed out.

"True," Scotty said. "This wouldn't happen to be an episode, lass?"

"I don't know," Elle said, tilting her head. "I don't think so, but, maybe? I'll think about it."

"Do that, and get back to us, but don't worry about it," Uhura said. "Captain Kirk is a grown man who can manage his own emotions. You just focus on your own tasks, all right?"

"Okay." Elle sat with them to finish breakfast and went on her way to class. Was this an episode?

That evening she decided to seriously think about it. Thinking led to meditation, and she figured Spock would be pleased she was taking the logical approach to order her thoughts. She counted off adventures in her head. If Spock's Brain was last then what was next? Romulans, right? But they weren't anywhere near Romulan space.

"How did that episode go again?" she asked Simba.

The tribble trilled peacably.

She closed her eyes and concentrated. Neutral zone, awesome Romulan commander with the hots for Spock, Kirk fake-dies, he comes back with the ears... Wait a second. How did they get to the Romulan Neutral Zone in the first place?

Elle's eyes widened as she realized the answer. "Simba," she whispered in a hushed tone. "That's now. This is now. This is happening now. He's building up his craziness on orders. He's not really going nuts."

Simba feigned surprise.

"What do I do?" she hissed, tugging at her hair in frustration. "Should I say something? Should I not say anything? I have to say something, I can't not. That way he knows this is an episode. Right?"

Simba didn't offer an opinion.

"Right?" Elle asked, poking at it gently.

Simba wiggled.

"Right," Elle said firmly. She pulled her shoes on and marched down to Captain Kirk's quarters. She rang the chime.

"Enter," he snapped.

She entered cautiously and stood at faux parade rest.

His back was to her as he worked on the computer. "Bones, if you try and foist any more headache pills on me, I'm going to-"

"Uh, captain," Elle interrupted him.

He stopped abruptly and he turned around. "What is it?" he asked, wary.

She cleared her throat. "I know what you're doing," she said.

"And what am I doing?" he asked in that mild, even tone that all mothers and starship captains had, the one that said you would be getting a time-out if you stepped over the line.

Elle stepped over the line. "Cloaking device," she said.

He lost all color in his face. "You should not know about this," he said stiffly, and scrubbed both hands over his eyes. "You really should not about that."

"It's an episode, I can't help it," Elle replied.

His jaw worked silently as he regarded her. "That's why you had me speak to Cale," he said.

"Yes, sir."

He sighed, deep enough to exhale all the tension in his frame. He folded his arms and regarded her with a crooked smile. "I should've known you'd catch on sooner or later," he said, and held out an arm. "C'mere."

She hugged him gratefully.

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm sorry for bailing on our literature lesson," he said. "Who'd you read with?"

"Ensign Davidson in Logistics," Elle said. "He's a fan."

Kirk huffed a laugh. "That figures." He smiled at her. "So. What are we going to do about you knowing the most highly-classified mission that the Enterprise has received to date? We'll have to let Spock know you know, of course," he said, folding his arms and tapping his chin with his fist.

"I'll just pretend I don't know," Elle said.

"You're going to have to," he said. "If anything goes wrong, Star Fleet has to have complete plausible deniability." He frowned. "And if we don't make it out of there, if the Enterprise really does get captured and we go through prisoner intake..." he grimaced. "You cannot be in the hands of the Romulans."

Elle's eyes widened.

"I might have to send you to my parents, after all," he said.

"No!" she exclaimed. "It all works out, we get the thing. You don't have to send me away."

Kirk frowned at her. "Elle, this is serious. Do you know what would happen if they discovered you?"

Elle wrapped her arms around her midsection protectively. "They'd probably use a mind-sifter and take everything I know out of my brain and use it to bring down the Federation, the Klingons, and everyone else in this galaxy."

"Exactly," he said grimly. "I cannot allow that to happen to you."

"This is a top secret urgent mission, though, you can't just reroute for me," Elle protested.

"I can, and I will," he said. "A cloaking device is one thing, knowledge of the future supersedes that." He shook his head. "No. I've decided. You're going to have to go somewhere else during the rest of this mission."

Elle scowled. Trying to change James T. Kirk's mind once he'd made a decision was useless, and she knew it. "Fine," she said. "Where are you sending me?"

In answer he went to the bathroom and knocked on the adjoining door. "Hey, Spock, join us for a moment?" he said, at normal volume.

Spock entered the room a few seconds later. "Captain, Elle," he greeted.

"She knows, Spock," Kirk said, giving him a significant look.

Spock's eyebrows went up. "This is an episode?"

"Yeah."

"That is concerning," Spock said.

"Well, it is spies and drama," Elle said. "Great episode material."

Spock looked unimpressed. "Considering the depths of operational security, I cannot see this ever being unclassified."

"Wait till we become allies," Elle said dryly. "All kinds of fun stuff comes out."

Both men looked alarmed. "Moving on," Kirk said, after a moment, "Elle cannot be in Romulan space, we need to figure out where to place her for the duration of this mission."

"Starbase 67 is in a stable place, and has a competent commander," Spock said, after a second.

"Merely competent?" Kirk asked, a smile quirking his lips.

"Starbases are not usually given to dynamic commanders," Spock replied primly.

Elle grinned to herself.

"We could, of course, send Elle to Earth, or to my parents on Vulcan," Spock said. "My mother would probably be thrilled to host you."

"That'd take weeks," Elle said. "I'd get there and have to come right back."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Kirk asked. "You could have a break on Earth or Vulcan for a while and meet up with us later."

Elle glared at him.

He laughed. "Okay, we won't do that. You think you could handle three weeks on a starbase?"

"Do they have wifi?"

"Yes."

Elle gave him a thumbs-up. "Then I'm good."

"All right. We'll swing by 67 and get you set up, and then go back to our general heading." Kirk frowned. "I migth be able to spin this for the act."

"I don't like it," Elle said.

"I know. Me either. But the crew has to have complete deniability as well," Kirk said, frowning. He rubbed at his forehead. "They're Star Fleet officers. They'll understand."

Elle sighed. "I guess."

He wrapped an arm around her. "You know if I do snap at you, it's not real, right?"

"I know."

"Good. Thank you."

She mustered up a smile. "Yeah."

He ruffled her hair. "Now go on and pack for your mini-vacation."

"Yes, sir. Night. Night, Spock."

"Sleep well," they chorused.

Elle went back to her quarters. "Well," she told Simba, "I was responsible, and it backfired horribly. I have to go somewhere else while you guys get all the fun." She went to bed. "I'll pack in the morning."

0800, chime at the door.

Elle dragged herself out of bed. "Enter," she called.

Kirk came in, looking murderous. "Star Fleet said no," he said. "You have to stay, or apparently the Romulans will get suspicious."

Elle stifled a yawn into her sleeve. "So don't pack?"

"Don't pack," he confirmed. "You're stuck here."

She patted him on the arm. "Don't worry, you're a great actor. It's gonna go fine."

"I hope you're right."

-/\-

"So?"

Elle looked up at Uhura's expectant gaze. "Huh?"

"So is this an episode?" Uhura asked.

Elle blanched. "Uhhhhhhh..." She took a heaping spoonful of oatmeal. "I don't really recognize it," she mumbled through her food apologetically. True, from a certain point of view. Ish.

"Oh." Uhura sighed. "So it's something else."

Elle shrugged. "Sorry I can't tell you anything."

"It's not your fault."

-/\-

The next week was torture. "I don't like keeping secrets," Elle complained, as she and Spock met for meditation practice.

"It is regrettable that you have had to take part in this," Spock said, frowning. "However, it does mean that the crew will be safe from questioning."

"I know," Elle said, and sighed. "Okay, enough complaining. I'm ready."

Spock placed his hands at her temples. "Tonight we will work on strengthening your mental shields, in anticipation of our mission."

"You think something's gonna happen?" Elle asked.

"Consider the odds," Spock told her.

"Good point."

-/\-

With excellent timing, Elle managed to be on the bridge speaking to Sulu about botany when the captain gave the order to cross into the neutral zone.

Elle stiffened as the tension ratcheted up a thousand percent.

"Sir," Sulu said cautiously. "Now entering Romulans space."

Scotty came onto the bridge and went over to Uhura. "Lieutenant, when did the order come through?"

"Order?"

"From Starfleet. The order to enter the Neutral Zone."

Uhura shook her head. "There's been no order I know of, Mister Scott."

Scotty gaped. "Surely the Captain couldn't be doing this on his own authority." They both turned and looked at Elle.

She grimaced at them and held her hands up.

"If you two have complaints, you can bring them out into the open," Kirk snapped.

The red alert began to whoop as a ship entered visual range. "Is that a Klingon ship?" Scotty asked. "But it couldn't be, not in this area."

"The Romulans are buying Klingon ships," Elle told him.

Kirk turned to look at her sharply. "Cut the chatter," he snapped. "Sound Red Alert. Man battle stations. Stand by main phasers."

"A second ship has appeared," Spock reported. "Correction, there are now three. We are surrounded."

Elle stood, frozen, staring at the three ships on screen. She didn't want to leave and miss seeing the Romulans, but she didn't want to be seen, eiter. She sidled over to the aux engineering and other aux consoles, safely out of camera pickup range.

"Captain Kirk, I'm receiving a class two signal from the Romulan vessel," Uhura reported.

The viewscreen lit up with the Romulan subcommander's face. "You have been identified as the star ship Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk last known to be in command."

Elle watched as Kirk played the arrogant nonchalant commander.

"You have one hour," Tal repeated, and he cut the channel.

"One hour," Kirk repeated. "Scotty, Spock, McCoy to the briefing room." He, Spock, and Scotty left.

Sulu moved into the command chair. "Elle," he said. "What's going on?"

Elle just raised her hands. "Romulans?" she said, grimacing. "Sorry."

They were only in there for five minutes before Uhura's console beeped. "Bridge to Captain Kirk. The Romulan lead vessel is signalling again, sir."

Kirk, Spock, and Scotty came back to the bridge. "Put him on," Kirk said, plopping into his chair.

"The commander wishes to see you and your first officer aboard this vessel," Tal said. "It is felt this matter requires discussion."

"Why should we walk right into your hands?" Kirk retorted.

"Two of my officers will beam aboard your vessel as exchange hostages while you are here." Tal raised an eyebrow. "The commander also wishes to meet your daughter. You will bring her."

Everyone on the bridge froze. Elle's eyes widened and she stared across the bridge at Captain Kirk. She wasn't in camera range, how did they know?

Kirk's face expressed surprise for only a fraction of a second. "I don't have a daughter," he replied. "Your intelligence is faulty."

Tal seemed amused. "You don't have a daughter?" He smirked. "Then you single-handedly convinced your fleet to allow a civilian minor on your ship as a constant presence for what reason?"

That was so classified. Oh, people were gonna be fired left and right if they survived this. Elle swallowed her nerves. Not good, not good.

Kirk stayed silent.

"You will bring her with you," Tal said. "Or we will send across boarding parties. We want your ship. Your crew, we don't need."

"What does your commander want with the girl?" Kirk asked sharply.

"Curiosity," Tal replied. "And, as a bargaining chip. You wouldn't do anything, rash, while she was on an enemy ship, would you captain?"

Kirk visibly fumed for a moment. "What security can you offer me for the girl's safety?" he asked.

Tal sobered. "We value the lives of our children," he said sharply. "She will not be harmed."

Elle could practically see the cogs turning in the captain's mind. I'll be fine, she said silently.

"Come, captain, you are the ones who violated our territory. Should it not be we who distrust your motives? However, we agree to simultaneous exchange."

Kirk set his jaw. "Give us your transporter co-ordinates. We're beaming aboard."

Tal nodded, and the channel closed.

"Sir, you cannot allow Elle into Romulan hands," Spock said urgently.

"I made my decision," Kirk barked. "Elle, you're with us."

She moved over to stand with Kirk and Spock.

"Sir," Scotty protested.

"Your protest will be noted in the log," Kirk told him. "Let's go."

They got in the turbolift, everyone frowning. Elle tried not to hyperventilate. This was not how this was supposed to go. She took a deep breath and tried to remember what Spock had said about reinforcing her mental shields.

Scotty rushed ahead of them to prepare the transporter personally. Kirk snagged Elle's elbow and slowed them down. "I'm sorry," he said, "there's no way around it if we want this to go the way we planned. I need you to be very brave and very careful, understand? You're thirteen, you don't know anything about Romulans, you hear me?"

Elle nodded. She was too terrified to be scared.

"Good. First thing, I'm going to try and get them to send you back to the Enterprise. If that doesn't work..."

"I'll play the tantrum card?" Elle suggested. "They don't have space to keep bratty teenagers."

"Stay with Spock, if anything happens," Kirk ordered.

"Yes, sir." She mustered up a brave smile. "It's gonna be okay."

He gave her a quick smile, and they entered the transporter room. "One final order, Engineer Scott. If we do not return, the Enterprise must not be taken. If the Romulans attempt it, you're to fight, and if necessary, destroy yourselves. Is that clear?"

Scotty nodded. "Perfectly clear."

"Energize."

The world faded in and out with a sparkle, and Elle was standing in a Romulan warbird.