Finally, I'm back after a long wait! I want to thank anyone who might still be waiting for updates. I hope to post regular updates going forward until this story is complete. Thanks again for sticking around! Comments and/or complaints are welcome!

The crawler ride back to the compound was grim, returning to base with only more questions and no fugitives in custody. Kirk snapped his communicator closed, scrubbing a hand across his face in frustration as check-ins with the Enterprise and planet-side team reported no sign of McCoy. Giotto and Freeman were in the seat across from him, studying a series of topographical and site maps and making notations. Kirk leaned forward, glancing at the area covered by the ground team, now ranging over a kilometer from the base. Giotto looked up at him, eyes bleak.

"You don't think he's out there," Kirk said abruptly. "I'm willing to entertain any theory you might have. But first, tell me more about the situation with the bird creatures."

Giotto relayed everything he could remember. Kirk listened silently as the security officer spoke, his telling concise and factual, almost devoid of personal inflection, an articulate and detailed report from a trained observer. Giotto finished, waiting.

Kirk turned the pieces over in his mind for a moment, perplexed and a little disturbed. His friend had always been reticent about his personal life, but never had that secretiveness manifested when duty was concerned. He recalled the doctor's certainty that the avain creatures were sentient moments after seeing one through a window. At the time, he thought it was a hunch; McCoy had them from time to time, and more often than not they were right. Over the years, Kirk had come to accept that insight as simply a part of who McCoy was. Now he wondered, could another force have been into play?

He returned his attention to Giotto. "So Chapel believes the birds are dangerous animals, and Uhura is questioning whether they have telepathic ability. McCoy couldn't or wouldn't say. What do you think? Was he withholding information? If so, what? And could these creatures be linked- somehow- to his disappearance?"

"Sir," Giotto took a deep breath. "He hasn't been quite himself since we arrived. He seemed," Giotto hesitated, "turned inward somehow, like he was wrestling with a problem he couldn't solve." He looked down briefly before meeting Kirk's eyes again. "If Doc was hiding something, he thought it had no bearing on this mission or the team's safety. He would never compromise any being in that way, much less one of his own crew," he added firmly.

"No one except himself, maybe. You were outside when he treated the creature. Did you see or feel anything that might suggest they were telepathic?"

"No, not at the time. Later, though, when he and T'Phol met Piasa in the woods, that seemed too coincidental to be random. Uhura thought Piasa sent a message to him. Maybe she's right. Or maybe he sent a call to Piasa without realizing. If he wasn't Human, I could believe he's an empath. T'Phol indicated she couldn't detect any communication attempt during her encounter." Giotto paused. "If McCoy has told anyone more, it would be T'Phol."

Kirk's eyes narrowed. "I intend to talk with Miss Grayson when we arrive at base. Earlier you put out the idea Bones could have been kidnapped. Thoughts?"

Giotto spread his hands. "I can't think of any reason he would have broken his word to stay inside other than a patient in need or his being forcibly removed. Cassady, I believe, questioned what was so intriguing here millenia ago. Perhaps that's still of interest to someone. Maybe someone thinks McCoy has information..."

"And one common denominator would be the birds."

"And the Andorian fugitives," put in Freeman. "Don't forget the fake Vartheb expressed some unkind sentiments about Doctor McCoy following the defkato incident. And they're still at large. They could be anywhere."

"Yes. On a planet that's over fifty percent sensor blind. They could be anywhere."


It was a few hours until planet dawn when the crawler pulled into the compound. Inside Uhura was still at the impromptu communication station, listening through her earpiece. Chapel was seated at a table, a cup of neglected tea untouched before her. Cassady was on a bench, leaning a shoulder against the wall almost dozing. He woke as they entered, and straightened.

"Any news?" Kirk asked.

Uhura removed her earpiece, shaking her head. "No, Sir. Nothing from SAR, and Enterprise reports almost eighty percent of the clear areas scanned. Nothing."

"Get Arnette and Jasso. I want to see them now." He glanced around. "Where is T'Phol?"

"In her quarters working with the Moog," Cassady answered.

Kirk turned to Freeman. "Give your men a break. You and Commander Giotto stay. I need your observational skills focused on those two. I have some hard questions, and I want answers."

Uhura spoke. "Captain, Arnette is on her way, but Jasso is not answering the comm."

Kirk jerked a thumb toward Cassady. "Go wake Jasso, tell him I want to see him now."

Cassady hurried down Long Hall toward Jasso's quarters, meeting Arnette on her way to the common area. She nodded but didn't speak. He arrived at Jasso's room. None of the doors had chimes or comm interface, so he knocked, softly at first, then harder. He called Jasso's name several times with no results. He tried the handle, but the door was locked. He made his way back up the hall, deciding to check Jasso's office before giving up. He knocked, and upon receiving no response he tried the knob. The door swung open.

Jasso was sprawled on the floor behind his desk. Cassady knelt beside him, feeling for a pulse. He flipped his communicator open.

"Captain Kirk? This is Cassady. Captain?"

"Kirk here," came the quick reply.

"Medical emergency, Sir, in Jasso's office. I- I think he's dead."

"We'll be right there."

Kirk sprung into a quick trot, Chapel on his heels with a medikit. The others followed the short distance to Jasso's office. Chapel moved in front, scanner in hand. She made a quick pass, studying the readout before looking up.

"Respiratory and circulatory failure, but he's not dead yet. We need to get him to sickbay immediately. Have Doctor Sanchez standing by with a crash cart."

Kirk opened his communicator, Scott answered and within a few seconds Chapel disappeared in the flurry of transporter sparkles with her patient. Kirk ordered a guard to accompany them before breaking contact. He looked at the others. Cassady appeared pale and shaken. Kirk spoke to him first, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Good job, Mister Cassady. Your finding him quickly may have just saved his life."

Cassady swallowed. "Thank you, Sir."

Arnette appeared as cool and collected as ever. If she was upset, or even concerned, Kirk could detect no sign.

"I have some questions for you, Miss Arnette. But first we need to secure this room and lock down the compound. How many people are in the building now?"

Arnette did a quick calculation. "Minus your people and Jasso, there should be ten."

Kirk nodded at Freeman. "Break's over. Post guards at every entrance. Secure this room, bring down a forensics team."

Freeman moved to the side, already on his communicator. Kirk and the others returned to the common area. While Uhura checked her communication console Kirk turned to Cassady.

"Go ask Miss Grayson to join us. She can bring her Moog in here if needed."

Cassady nodded, heading for their quarters. T'Phol's door was closed, but he could hear the Moog playing softly. He knocked.

"T'Phol?" He knocked again, louder, feeling his stomach clenching into a knot when there was no answer. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door, staring into the empty room where the Moog played, unattended. Leaving the door wide, he checked the other rooms before opening his communicator.

Outside the rain was turning to snow.