"Captain, this is an outrage! I requested your help!" The crew of the Enterprise had never seen Succoth this angry. The normally soft-spoken leader had turned a bright purple color in the face as soon Picard had informed him Marquess was no longer on board.

"Prime Minister," Picard said, "Doyen Benar assured me his sister acted hastily, involving the police. He gave the items in question to Marquess without her knowledge. No crime was committed. Therefore, there was no reason to hold him. He departed the solar system five minutes ago."

"That was not your decision to make, Picard," Major Duqaunt stepped in. He was tall -for a Ke'Narian - with slick black fur. His tone was arrogant and clipped. "A travesty in justice has been committed here.

The police officer turned to Doyen Benar, "Doyen, how could you permit such a thing to happen? The unknowable name of the Divine One means justice; you taught me that when I was a little child."

"It means his justice, my son," Benar said slowly, "And that can be as hard to understand as his unknowable name."

The major straightened his shoulders. "The law is the law. And that means the same thing. I will find him, and when I do, 9430 will be brought to justice. To do anything otherwise, would be a grave offense against the Divine One."

Doyen Benar wondered where he had failed with Duqaunt.

Captain's Log Stardate 44598.9: Prime Minister Succoth of the Ke'Nari has calmed down and agreed to discuss a possible treaty with the Federation when the next Starfleet vessel arrives. He and Doyen Benar returned to the surface. Major Duqaunt, however, left the system in a small shuttle. He seems determined to hunt down Marquess at all costs in the name of justice. However, Marquess' shuttle has a higher warp capability and an hour's head start. So far, we have heard nothing from either vessel. In any case, the Enterprise has been ordered to Malcor III, a world almost ready for first contact.

The large warp engines on the Enterprise started to glow as the ship broke out of Kenara Prime's orbit. The hull seemed to stretch for a moment, as the engines tore through normal space. Then, all that remained was a streak of blue light, as the ship jumped to warp.

Picard was sitting at his desk in his ready room, juggling pads while he researched what was known of the Malcorians. The door chime sounded. He looked up, "Come."

Data stepped in. "Sir, I am… puzzled… about our experience with the Ke'Nari."

Picard set his pad down on the desk, "In what way, Data?"

"I do not understand Doyen Benar's actions. Nor do I understand why Major Duqaunt elected to pursue Marquess."

Picard smiled, "I'm not sure I understand their actions, either, Data, but I do understand their motivations… Data, are you familiar with the French epic Les Miserables?"

The android tilted his head as he accessed the information, "Ah, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. First published in 1862… It is in my files, sir," he said, "although I have never chosen to seriously study it."

"I suggest you do, Data. It will tell you at least as much about human nature as Shakespeare."

"But, sir, neither Benar nor Duqaunt are human."

"Data," Picard said. "In the words of James T. Kirk, 'Everybody's human.'"

"Yes, sir," said Data, looking more puzzled than ever. He exited the ready room.

Picard looked down at all the notes in front of him. Instead of resuming his study, he moved over to the wall, where he kept several of his old-fashioned bound books. Finding the thick volume he was looking for, he sat down and began reading about a kindly man of God, the Bishop of Digne, and Jean Valjean, the ex-convict whose life he saved.