Captain's Log - Stardate 2216.041

We left the bodies of the researchers and our two men on Minara II to incinerate along with the planet, but brought up the bodies of the Vians for Bones to autopsy. May as well learn all we can about them in case we run into others of their race later.

Once Spock confirmed that he had retrieved all the data from the station's computer, I let Chekov destroy the structure. That should meet the requirement from Command that the computer be fully disabled. Time to leave - solar flares are coming more frequently.

Gem seemed utterly fascinated by the Officers Mess as she was seated next to McCoy and across from Spock. The tray in front of her was very different from the ones in front of the men. Her was covered with small samples of many different types of food. Kirk noticed that she was constantly being distracted by activity in the rest of the room. Spock had also noted that and was paying attention to when her attention was being drawn elsewhere.

"If Doctor McCoy's conjecture that the young lady's lack of vocal cords is natural, the variety of sounds that the rest of us produce may well all be new to her."

Lifting his tea, McCoy nodded agreement.

"I suppose it would be far more unusual if she did understand anything we say. The Vians certainly didn't guard anything they said around her."

That gave Kirk pause and he looked over the young empath again.

"She can hear us though, can't she?"

McCoy considered that, then sighed.

"It's difficult to say, Jim. She has the equipment for hearing, but when she reacts to us, is she reacting to what she feels coming off of us emotionally or the noises we're making? Even when something drops, is she reacting because she was startled or because she felt someone else being startled? I'll figure a way to test it. Either way, it will take an adjustment period for all of us."

Takng a sip before continuing, McCoy grumbled.

"Wish I had gotten a chance to get readings on at least one or two others of her people. That would have given me a baseline to work from. So far as I can tell, she's healthy, but I have to make a lot of assumptions. Hey, Spock - remember that question you asked me back in my cadet days about new races?"

"You mean the question regarding the proper way to categorize them? Yes. As I recall, you were openly disdainful of established Imperial protocols."

Kirk hadn't been in on that particular discussion and so leaned forward as McCoy indicated Gem.

"Would you say that a race such as Gem's would have been a boon to the Empire as a whole if we had been able to persuade them to aid us?"

"I am not sure of your point, but yes."

"My point is that one of the two inhabited worlds that will be destroyed when Minara's sun goes is most likely hers. Agreed.

"Agreed, Doctor. I see no reason why the Vians would have been in such an unstable area otherwise."

"Well then, that would mean that the Empire had already given her world a once over and decided that they had nothing of worth because their technology is more primitive than our own."

Spock went silent as he seemed to be contemplating his own cup of tea.

"I see what you are saying now, Doctor - and find that I must concur. Had a more in depth analysis been done, there is little doubt that the Empire would have put forth the resources to evacuate that planet. At the very least, they would have removed the younger members of the race."

Spock and Gem were exchanging curious looks before Spock finally addressed his next concern.

"What do you intend to do regarding informing Imperial Starfleet of her presence onboard?"

Kirk picked up a piece of toast as if studying it.

"I've already sent an encrypted communication to Admiral Pike. If all works as expected, she'll be added to our crew roster without any fuss so that she'll be official without shining a spotlight on her. After all, as Bones said, her race was deemed not interesting enough. If the Admiral can't manage to add her to the crew roster for whatever reason, she'll be listed as being under Bones' protection."

That news pleased McCoy greatly and he seemed to have a better appetite for it. For her part, Gem delicately sniffed each item on her tray and either pushed it away or sampled it. It didn't take long to note that everything with animal protein in it was what had been pushed to the side. Both Spock and McCoy made casual note of what did and didn't meet with her approval, but neither commented on it.

Picking up the apple from his own tray, Kirk took a healthy bite before turning to speak with McCoy - who didn't bother to hide his eye roll as Kirk started talking before swallowing.

"Before I forget to mention it, Bones, I'd like your nurse that's good at flaying to do that to at least one of the Vians. We can preserve it and ship it home to Pike to present to the Emperor on our behalf."

"Will do, Jim. Layali will enjoy that. Wonder how many different mounted skins the Emperor has in his collection?"

Spock didn't look up as he answered that.

"The last count that I had heard mentioned was one hundred and twenty two. It is difficult to get an exact count as very few are allowed to examine his collection as it is rumored that even allied species are included in it."

Finally swallowing his mouthful of apple, Kirk chuckled.

"I doubt that's a rumor. Pretty sure that's a fact. Say, Bones - where is Gem going to be staying? Your quarters?"

"No, my quarters are too close to Sickbay for someone like her to be comfortable there. I've got a couple of ideas though. I'll let you know if one of the pans out. Oh, and could I borrow Gaila for awhile?"

Seeing the leer that crossed Kirk's face, McCoy gave an exasperated shake of his head.

"Not for that, Jim. I need someone to be with Gem while I'm busy and not many folks onboard are stupid enough to go against an Orion."

Retrieving his mind from the gutter, Kirk gave his approval.

"Good idea. And while she's -"

Uhura's voice over the ship's intercom summoning Kirk and Spock to the Bridge interrupted whatever else Kirk was going to say. McCoy was pretty sure that was for the best.

Retaking the Science station, Spock did a quick review of the data that he had downloaded from the research station's computer.

"All the data is accounted for, Captain. There is no further need to preserve the station."

"Excellent, Mister Spock. Mister Chekov? Ready to get in a little target practice?"

Looking like a kid getting his birthday present early, Chekov looked over his settings.

"Yes, Captain. Ready and awaiting your command, sir."

"Begin. Wipe out all traces of the station."

Less than three minutes later, the station was gone. Even knowing where it had been, Spock was unable to pick up any readings that would distinguish it beyond the rapidly cooling rock. Another reading flashed an alert to Spock's screen.

"Captain, we have picking up signs of another solar flare. This one is of even greater magnitude than the last one was. At least a five on the Ritter scale."

"Nice work, Mister Chekov. Mister Sulu, plot us a course out of the system before these flares affect our gear."

"Aye, sir."

Sitting back in his chair, Kirk reflected that it was a shame that they didn't have time to see about getting a few more of Gem's people. Then again, the rest of them were unknown factors and, with the sort of powers Gem possessed, wild cards weren't coming aboard his ship.