Kirk and company walked to the waiting shuttlecraft. He took a moment to speak to Riley, then he, Spock, Giotto, and half the security team loaded into the Galileo, piloted by Sulu. Riley, Freeman, the medical team and the rest of security boarded the Columbia and they lifted off. In a moment the installation was out of sight. They continued on the planned course for a few minutes, then veered off to the south, doubling back toward the compound. They landed side by side on a knoll behind a grove of trees, the main area about a kilometer away.

"Sensors operational, Captain," Spock reported, his eyes trained on the display before him.

Kirk nodded. "Lights out."

Both shuttles exterior navigation lights went dark.

"If your assessment of the situation is correct, we should not have a long wait." Spock did not take his eyes from the screen.

Kirk gave a grim smile. "Arnette will give us time to get away. Then she'll have to act. She'll take a flyer rather than a crawler because she knows they're running out of time."

"How did you know she was giving you the wrong coordinates?" asked Sulu.

Kirk shrugged. "Educated hunch. Someone here poisoned Jasso, who, if not her? And she allowed McCoy to be taken, probably orchestrated it. She wanted us out of the way, saw we were going in after Bones, so she sent us on a wild goose chase, knowing most of the planet is in a sensor dead area. She thinks we will waste a lot of time in the search, and by the time we figure it out, it'll be too late."

"Captain, sensor indicates a small craft leaving the compound, heading one-eight-two-point-four."

"Got her! Sulu, navigation lights out, follow her at maximum sight range." Kirk touched the communication toggle. "Riley, stay in sight range, lights out. We're underway."

Uhura, Cassady, and the security team sat in place as a flyer took off, Arnette at the controls. Uhura stood, flexing her neck, digging her fingers in to massage a kink. "Well, the Captain was right. There she goes."

"I hope they find him quick. T'Phol too." Cassady sighed. "I thought Vulcans were always truthful."

Uhura patted him on the shoulder. "In general, they are. T'Phol is half Human and exceptionally determined. This is not your fault, Cass." She looked at the others. "Why don't we grab a bite to eat?"

They heated a meal in the galley and took seats at a table in the Commons. They had just started their meals when one of the guards pushed up from his seat. "I saw something move outside." He put his hand on his phaser.

The others stood, looking through the large window. In a moment a dark shape came close, causing the guards to draw their phasers.

"Wait," Uhura said. "That is a bird. Put your weapons away." She slowly approached the window. The bird was almost touching the glass. She saw its naked looking head sweep back and forth, obviously looking for something, or someone. Cassady joined her and they stared at each other through the heavy glass.

"I think that's Piasa," Cassady said softly. "Maybe he's looking for Doc."

Uhura looked at him, eyes wide. "I think you're right." She took a deep breath. "I am going to step outside, just through the door. I'll sing to him. Maybe he will understand."

"What?" The guard stepped forward. "You can't go out there with that thing."

"They have been around before. They haven't hurt anyone. They're intelligent, and this one is Doctor McCoy's friend. I outrank you, Ensign. I'm going out. You wait inside."

She slipped into her coat and stepped out through the double door, heart beating fast. Piasa came closer to her, tilting his head as his eye fluctuated in shades of red and gold. Uhura's mouth felt dry, but she sang a little Bantu ditty, a children's rhyme. Piasa was silent for a moment, then he hummed at her, the Blackbird song. Uhura relaxed a little. "Doctor McCoy is not here. He has been taken by some bad people. Our team is on the way to rescue him." She saw movement at the perimeter fence, for the first time realizing there were others and Piasa was not alone. She swallowed and turned her attention back to Piasa.

"I hope you understand. Doctor McCoy is in trouble. Can you help him? We want to communicate with you and be friends."

Piasa took another step toward her, he was taller than she thought, and had a acrid odor that stung her nostrils. She thought he was going to touch her with his large beak, but instead he lowered his head in a sort of bow, singing her little song back to her. He backed away, and he and the group all flew away together.

Uhura watched them until they were out of sight in the growing light, then stepped back inside, shaking a bit with relief and a sort of exhilaration. The others gathered around.

"Did he understand?" Cassady asked.

She saw the light in his eyes, realizing they were all grasping at any shred of hope they could imagine.

"I believe he did," she said. ""I believe he did."