Spock stood, silently watching Admiral Connell's retreating back. He turned his eyes to the young woman left crumpled in the corner. "Lieutenant Montgomery," he called, afraid she'd been hurt, "do you require medical attention?" He could hear choked sobs and desperate gasps for air and quickly closed the space between them. "Lieutenant Montgomery," he said more sternly, "compose yourself." He took her by the shoulders and pulled her to her feet.

Lexxi looked at Spock for a moment before nearly leaping from his grip. "Mr. Spock!" she exclaimed.

"Lieutenant Montgomery."

"Mr. Spock, the Admiral can't court martial Captain Kirk…he's mad! Let him have me and maybe he'll…"

"We will not bargain for the Captain's career with your life."

"My life is not in danger."

"It is if Admiral Connell's current behavior continues. Such abuse often leads to death."

"Death." Lexxi chuckled almost bitterly, smoothing her rumpled skirt. "You know what, Mr. Spock? A wise man I once knew said that death is a worm we are born with. It eats away inside from that first moment of life. I'm afraid all that's left of me is a shell, and even that worm has shriveled and died."

Silence descended the room before Spock changed the subject. "You seem unwell, shall I escort you to sickbay?"

"Unwell? No, I just need to gather my thoughts. What about the captain?"

"We have a very good case against Admiral Connell concerning you."

"Me?"

"However, you will need to testify."

"Will it help Captain Kirk?"

"Most definitely."

"All right then, just let me change my clothes. I feel like a slut in this dress."

As Mr. Spock followed Lieutenant Montgomery out of the room, his right eyebrow bounced off the ceiling.

"Captain James T. Kirk…Commander…U.S.S. Enterprise."

"Captain," Admiral Connell began, "are you aware of the charges against you?"

"No, Admiral," Kirk replied, "Would you please repeat them?"

"Failure to follow a direct order from a superior officer and interference in an important mission."

"I see."

"Captain Kirk, do you recall the mission that took you to Caspia IV?"

"I do."

"What was the nature of the mission?"

"You assigned it, Admiral." Kirk couldn't hide the contempt he felt for this man.

"For the record, Captain, what was the nature of the mission?"

"We were to rescue Lieutenant Montgomery from the midst of a civil war between the colonists after the U.S.S. Aldrin was destroyed."

"And what did you do?"

"Exactly that, Admiral."

"Exactly that, Captain, until I ordered Lieutenant Montgomery's return to Earth. What did you do then?"

"It was impossible to move her at the time."

"Impossible?"

"Her condition was unstable, the prospect grave. My C.M.O. thought we might lose her if…"

"She looks fine now!" Connell paused, taking a deep breath. "You may step down, Captain Kirk." As Kirk returned to his seat, Connell scanned the room as if picking his next victim. "Dr. McCoy, would you please take the stand/'

"Doctor Leonard H. McCoy…Lieutenant Commander…Chief Medical Officer…U.S.S. Enterprise."

"Doctor, could you tell us what happened to Lieutenant Montgomery that made it impossible for her to be taken to Earth?"

"Well, I wasn't planetside, so I didn't see anything firsthand, as I understand it, they found her badly beaten and then something exploded behind her. As I think I told you before, Admiral, or maybe I told Jim…uh, the Captain, and he told you, but she had several broken ribs and facial bones along with a concussion, internal injuries, internal bleeding, third degree burns. She'd lost a lot of blood, and I didn't have anything to replace it with."

"Why?"

"Why, what?"

"Why couldn't you replace any blood, doctor? Is your sickbay inadequate?"

"Hell no!" McCoy exclaimed."

"Bones," Kirk mumbled.

"Answer the question, doctor," Connell warned.

"Lieutenant Montgomery is not human, Admiral, I thought you would know that."

"You may step down, doctor."

Suddenly, Spock spoke up. "If I may cross-examine your witness, Admiral." He stood and approached Connell.

Admiral Connell stared at Spock, thinking he'd never seen such audacity in a Vulcan, and if he had the chance, he would… "Of course, Mr. Spock."

Spock turned to McCoy, who grinned. "Dr. McCoy," Spock began, characteristically clasping his hands behind his back, "while I was still confined to sickbay, Lieutenant Montgomery awoke. Later, she was released. Why was she not then returned to Earth?"

The doctor's grin changed to a scowl. Unable to see how this was helping and not hurting, he answered, "Captain Kirk had already ordered us to Starbase 28 for shore leave."

"And Lieutenant Montgomery…"

Like a lightbulb lighting, McCoy suddenly realized where Spock was going. "I wanted to keep her under surveillance."

"For what reason?"

"Mental and emotional instability."

"Objection!" Admiral Connell roared. "What right does he have to make such assessments?"

Spock again came close to sighing. "As far as you are concerned, Admiral, every right. Doctor McCoy has had extensive experience in psychology and is considered an expert in the field by his peers."

McCoy tried to stifle the surge of pride that accompanied the Vulcan's words.

Spock continued, "Could you explain your suspicions, Doctor?"

"Of course, Mr. Spock." The doctor then glanced towards the subject of the conversation. She sat, dressed in a full, male, science blue uniform, complete with long-sleeved tunic, with her arms folded tightly across her chest and a face of disdain. 'Almost rebellious,' he thought, as he answered. "My first hint at instability was the unwillingness to fight for her life. Then her determined avoidance of conversation about her stay on Caspia IV…the incident with the shower…her refusal to let us monitor her…the lies about her physiology…the suicide attempt…you, know, self-destruction of any kind is officially enough reason to keep anyone under constant supervision." The doctor again stole a glace at Lexxi. She seemed to be fighting something—her eyes were closed and her face was twisted into a grimace. He began to worry.

"You may step down, doctor," Spock was saying.

"Oh, oh yeah." McCoy sat back in his seat.

Admiral Connell stood. "You might as well stay up there, Mr. Spock, you're next on my list."

Spock took the stand.

"Mr. Spock, why were you in sickbay?"

"I had been injured while on the planet and later collapsed."

"Collapsed? My dear Mr. Spock, I hope your okay."

"Quite." From his position, Kirk could tell Spock was becoming annoyed, but it was too subtle for anyone else to notice.

"Whatever from?" Connell's ton was sickening.

"Exhaustion from a mind meld." McCoy thought Spock was being very tolerant of questions too personal.

"A mind meld with whom?"

Why was he doing this? Lexxi asked herself. I'd go with him willingly! He doesn't have to do this…doesn't have to hurt them!

"Lieutenant Montgomery."

She knew she should tell them the truth. Let the story all out and let it be resolved. Deep inside, she knew she should. But that pesky voice that'd surfaced earlier…the one that's convinced her to make the shower too hot…to find the knife…was bothering her again…end the pain. No! Desperately, she clung to the conversation between the Admiral and Mr. Spock, tightened her grip o the reality around her, trying to keep from being a casualty in the war with herself.

"Why?"

Tell them…tell them…no, end it all!

"She had to be persuaded to live."

"I see."

"Shut up!" Lexxi could feel all eyes on her as she screamed, more to the voices in her head than anyone. Sorting through everyone's emotions flooding her heart, she swallowed and addressed the court.

"Permission to speak, Commodore?"

"Granted."

Again, Lexxi swallowed, shaking her head to clear it. "Please don't sit there discussing me like I'm some sort of specimen…none of you understand! And while I'm on the record already as a lunatic, you, Admiral, are out of your mind! You sent me on this crazy mission and they rescued me…they saved your butt! So I was gone a little longer than you liked, big deal! You don't have to…" Lexxi suddenly went sheet white and stopped talking, as if harshly ordered to, but no one had. "I'm done," she mumbled and attempted to relax. There was a great amount of confusion and surprise in the room, and direct anger from Connell. She buried her face in her arms, and felt the strong arm of the Captain around her shoulders. "It's over, Captain," she whispered to him, "…I'm gone."

"Mr. Spock," Connell spoke up, "you may step down." He smiled. "Unless, of course, you'd like to cross examine yourself."

"Negative, Admiral." Spock took his seat.

"Good."

McCoy stood and moved to Lexxi's side. "Admiral, if I may escort Lieutenant Montgomery to…"

"No."

"Sir, she's unwell. She needs to lie down."

"I'm sorry, Doctor, she's my last witness."

McCoy sat, grumbling.

"My dear," Connell turned and addressed Lexxi. "If you would, please, take the stand."

Lexxi cursed under her breath and brought her head up, standing.

"All right, kiddo," Connell began. Spock looked to McCoy with an eyebrow raised and the doctor scowled. "Let's start from the beginning, okay?"

"Yes, Admiral."

"Sweetheart, what exactly was your mission?"

Lexxi swallowed, sighed, and scowled. "Admiral, I am a Lieutenant. Please honor my rank."

"If you wish."

"I do."

"Answer my question."

"I was to intervene in the conflict between the colonists of Caspia IV and help them reach a peaceful agreement."

"Did you succeed?"

"No, Admiral."

"I see."

"You see."

Connell grew red in the face. "Don't mock me, girl!" He calmed. "Several days after your departure, I received a distress call from you."

"The Aldrin had been destroyed."

"Had it?"

"Yes!"

"Why did you call me?"

"You told me the mission was classified."

"Did I? Or was I the only one you know that would grant your request."

"Request?" Lexxi's eyes widened. He was playing with her! He was going to twist this! "What request?"

"Your request that I pull the Enterprise and assign them your rescue."

"What?!?" Damn. "I made no such request!"

Smirking, Connell produced a disk. "May I present exhibit A?" He slid the disk into the computer and a voice came over the speakers.

"Teddy? Teddy, help me! They just…they just destroyed the Aldrin! Teddy? You have to get me out of here. Get the Enterprise…Captain Kirk."

Lexxi couldn't meet Kirk's searching eyes with her own.

Connell gloated. "Sweetheart…"

"Lieutenant."

"Lieutenant. Do you deny that was your voice?"

Lexxi looked up at Admiral Connell, her expression hard. "Yes."

"It is you, Lieutenant, as recorded."

"No!"

"Yes!" Connell turned to address the Captain. "Captain Kirk, I submit to you that Lieutenant Montgomery is nothing but a lying, thieving wench guilty of seducing you and forcing you to anger me."

Commodore Wells stood, "Admiral Connell, this is getting out of hand. I suggest…"

"You suggest nothing!" Connell bellowed.

Wells quickly took his seat. Kirk glanced at him in disgust. He had had enough.

"Admiral, I thought I was the one on trial here."

"Oh you are, Captain. And I just proved your innocence. Congratulations, Kirk, you are a free man."

"Wait!" Kirk stood. "How can you be so sure about…Lieutenant Montgomery?"

"She has the ability to take your emotions and twist them. I know, she tried it on me once. I thought I loved her."