Later, back at Pike's apartment and one small child appeased with ice cream, they continued the questions.
"So how did you get here?"
"Uncle Khan's yellow light machine put us here."
"Yellow light machine?"
"It made yellow light. And then there were weird people shooting at us. Uncle Khan knocked them down."
"And what happened to Uncle Khan?"
"The weird people shot him."
"Weird like us?"
"No, you're normal. They were wearing big orange suits." The child gestured with his ice cream and nearly lost some, meaning he had to stop to lick the dripping part.
Spock raised an eyebrow. "Hazmat suits? Were their faces covered with clear plastic?"
However, Jo just shrugged and licked his ice cream. "What's a hazmat suit?" he asked.
Eventually they managed to determine that:
-Khan had been attacked by people in hazmat suits
-They were previously on a section 31 base that was not located in the same time zone as San Fransisco, and that might not be on Earth.
-Pike and Kirk were 'Normals' but Jo and Khan weren't, although they weren't sure what Jo and Khan were
-Khan's last name was Singh, not Weiss
-They had mutual family who were asleep and were in Admiral Marcus' hands and endangered by him?
-Admiral Marcus had taken the child Jo away from his parents without giving a reason to the child when the child had at least one known living relative who wanted him.
-Khan was trying to do something involving the Vulcans, possibly seeking political asylum.
-Jo and Khan were both from somewhere with a warm climate, possibly India, but possibly not.
-They had arrived at the square by some sort of transporter that appeared to use Transwarp technology. Pike hadn't even known that such a device existed!
-Khan was severely injured and further information was likely to have to wait until he woke up.
It was at this point that Dr. McCoy arrived. He fussed over Jo, pronounced the kid fine physically and added a few more things to their list.
-If the boy was 31/2, then he was very advanced for his age.
-Jo had some bruises that looked to be a day or two old.
-Why did the kid bear biomarkers more normally found in GMO cows from the early 21st century?
-McCoy wanted to run further tests on the kid's genetics, but that would have to wait until he had access to a proper lab.
It was hard to know just what was going on. Pike was tempted to just call Alexander and ask him what the *$ was going on, but vetoed that idea when Kirk suggested it. If he really wanted to know what the Admiral was up to in Sector 31, he already knew he wasn't going to find out just by asking.
As soon as the Vulcan Embassy opened, they made their way there. Admiral Pike had always rather liked the Vulcan embassy, even if Sarek was a bit on the stiff side. It was beautiful and peaceful, making a change from the Academy and the students in particular. Not that there weren't undercurrents... the Vulcans had plenty of politics, even if they were handled politely and logically. And now he was about to saddle them with a three year old human. Poor Vulcans.
"Admiral Pike, Spock, Kirk." said the young Vulcan staff person who let them in. "Shall I let Ambassador Sarek know you have arrived?"
"Yes, please."
The Vulcan woman led them down a stone hallway to a waiting room, where they sat down. Except Jo, preferred to stand, alternating between peering at the historical artifacts in the display cabinets and looking around the room suspiciously.
After about five minutes wait they were all seated in Sarek's study. Pike explained the story, which received a raised eyebrow once or twice. "So I am to understand that you wish me to give this human child refuge from the head of your organization?"
"Just temporarily, until we have some idea of what is going on," said Pike.
"Will Admiral Marcus not object to this?"
"Father, this is a three year old human child, not a Vulcan one. He has no idea what is going on and has just seen his uncle almost die. He should not be trapped in the middle of this."
"Uncle Khan's not dead!" protested Jo. "You said he'd be all right. You promised!"
"Of course he isn't dead," reassured Kirk, poking Spock with his foot, presumably for being insensitive.
Sarek raised an eyebrow at Kirk and Spock's behavior. "I have no objection to the child staying here while you sort things out, if you truly believe such to be necessary. However, I am unsure what care a human child this age requires. As you pointed out, it is not the same as for a Vulcan child."
"Jim, you'll stay with Jo until the Vulcans are confident in how to look after him."
"Yes sir. But wouldn't Dr. McCoy be better? He has a child of his own."
"Me? Ambassador, do you have a genetics lab?" asked McCoy. "I need to run a few confidential tests on Jo."
"For most things, yes. Sometimes Vulcans on Earth have Vulcan-specific health issues humans know little of."
"Don't I know it. I'll stay with Jo for now, then. But after, I think I should help track down Khan in medical. Doctors talk more easily with another doctor."
"Spock, Kirk and I will be trying to determine what is going on here. You can join us once Jo is settled in, you've run the tests and got some conclusions." Pike, Kirk and Spock left, leaving McCoy with Jo and Sarek. Between them they ought to be able to look after one small boy.
About four hours later McCoy called from the hospital where he'd gone to find out about how Khan was doing. "He's gone." McCoy said bleakly. "Admiral Marcus turned up in person, demanded he be transferred and didn't tell anyone where he was taken. The doctors are complaining about protocol violations - and also about some very interesting things they noticed about Khan's DNA while he was there. I managed to get access to his records when I told them I was trying to find him at his nephew's request."
McCoy lowered his voice. "Dammit, Admiral, but I'm glad you've parked Jo with the Vulcans. We've got to do something: I think Section 31 may be trying to recreate the Augments."
Pike cursed, causing Spock to raise an eyebrow. "Marcus has taken Khan, and I don't know where." As for the speculation about the Augments, he kept that to himself for now.