Kirk stayed in his chair at the desk behind Spock's and let him do his job. Their once barren little office became a command center more and more with the increasing level of personnel, stations, and even the underlying atmosphere. The large computer displays on the walls updated now with all the incoming information from their own investigation and the VSE. Data marched line by line and occasionally flashing to a different color: red when a record alerted of a possible hit, yellow while someone investigated the alert, and blue when it was ruled out. The record then returned to its normal color.

Spock switched to the second image and brought it up on his station. "And this one?"

Nurse Dasan leaned closer to his own screen from where he sat in one of the USS Aerfen's conference rooms. Two pairs of uniformed hips filled the space behind him on the monitor. Only their waists showed since they stood up behind his seat and the camera pickups where focused on him, but Dannan Stuart and Lauren Warfield had identified themselves at the beginning of the call.

Dasan stared hard at the image Spock had created. "No, sir, I don't think that's him either."

Kirk jerked his head to where Uhura sat monitoring the comm line. She shook her head in a silent 'no'. No one listened in on their conversation about who had come on board the Aerfen and infected Saavik. So far. Lieutenant Lynne Hoskins monitored communications on her side, in case whoever it was tried routing through an outside source to break in on the remote end of the line.

Kirk pinched his lower lip and waited. He took off the antique glasses that he had been using to read their notes, since his hazel eyes remained stubbornly immune to modern cures for poor close-up vision. He could see Spock's display without them.

"No, sir," Dasan said. He squinted his green eyes, nearly making them disappear in the planes of his pale skin. His red hair was cropped close and emphasized a large forehead that wrinkled in thought. "I don't think that's him either, Captain Spock."

"You are uncertain?"

"It's tough, sir. I only saw the Vulcan for a few seconds and the people in these pictures look a lot alike, especially from the back. It's hard narrowing it down."

Spock closed the fabricated image that displayed a Vulcan male from the rear standing next to Saavik onboard the Aerfen. That side of his display went black and reflected him flicking up a winged eyebrow.

Uhura all but whispered, "Sir, an incoming message from Subcommander Soluk." She didn't need to handle routine communications, but Starfleet Command had sent her recall orders. She had accomplished what she had come here to do and important work waited for her. She left the next day for Earth, so she made the most of today; she hated saying goodbye again.

So did Kirk.

He jammed the glasses back on and took a quick look at his station. He had set it up to pull summary data from the larger screens. The data from Commander Stron's team still flowed in.

"Subcommander, this is Kirk. What did you find?"

Soluk's bearded features filled the box that opened on Spock's station. Uhura patched the communication to Aerfen so they could hear as well. "We searched port authority files for private and commercial flights. We were unable to find records for any of the medical team leaving Vulcan for the Aerfen's location. We are continuing the search."

"Can you cross-reference the medical team's records to see if they really were on the planet?"

"We are already doing so. We will contact you with our next update. Soluk out."

A Vulcan of few words! It explained why the flow of records kept coming in from Stron's team; they already attacked the data again. Kirk checked the summary of the last search to see if it missed something he caught. It didn't. He didn't bother worrying if he bothered Soluk by suggesting something the VSE team had already thought about. If they considered it logical to confirm something they already knew when he suggested it, there was no problem. If they rolled their eyes – figuratively speaking – at illogical human behavior to mention the obvious, it wouldn't affect their work.

Spock tapped a few controls. "I will change the manner in which I exhibit the images, Nurse Dasan. You will now see them tabulated for you and you are enabled to toggle through their larger views."

"Thank you, sir. This is much better."

Leave it to the Vulcans to be so thorough that they had a full rotating view in each person's security file. Spock merely had plucked the rear angle and changed the brown healer's robes to the light gray traveling clothes Dasan had described.

Lauren Warfield dropped down into view of the camera pickups. "Why is Saavik in these?"

"Mr. Dasan saw this Vulcan in relation to Saavik. Inserting her into each image reduces the number of factors he has to recreate mentally, thereby increasing the probability they will trigger his memory of that moment. It also gives a measurement of each subject's height by displaying it in proportion to Saavik's own."

Dasan smiled. "They're very good. You got the background, even his clothes, like I remember."

"It is why I requested a detailed explanation of the event."

Dannan Stuart asked, "Has Saavik seen these?"

"She has viewed a modified set representing her point of view. It has not brought a recollection of the event."

Which is why she's with Bones now. No memories of what happened to her and that headache...

"Mr. Warfield, is there a problem?" Spock asked.

She had stood up after Spock explained about the photos and mumbled something to Dannan Stuart. She bent down again. "I said you do the whole 'I will explain this slowly so your little mind can understand it' more subtly than Saavik does."

"I never use the phrase 'little mind', Mr. Warfield, and I have more years of practice than Saavik."

Kirk stifled a grin.

Warfield nearly didn't. "That's probably it. That and -- this bending down is ridiculous! Hold on." She dragged a chair over and jostled Dasan in the process. He barely glanced over, staying focused on Spock's images instead. She plopped down into the chair, right behind his left shoulder. "There, that's better."

But Dannan Stuart stayed on her feet and crossed her arms. The Aerfen's first officer wasn't joking, not one bit, for the same reason Kirk hadn't grinned and Warfield had stopped hers. Too much depended on this and the little bit of humor in the room died.

Kirk sat forward, his arms on his knees, and darted another glance at Uhura. If she had something, she would have said so, but the captain in him made look around and take in everyone's status. She had known him a long time, so she already looked over her shoulder and caught his eyes when they flicked in her direction. She shook her head again.

They had kept quiet about monitoring the comm line, and it would take someone of Uhura's expertise to figure it out by surveying the line. Their target had already shown he didn't have that level of technical skills. They had spread the news that the Aerfen call was happening and why. It was all done with covert care so they didn't look obvious, but the killer had to know.

So where was he?

Still, if Dasan identified who had been with Saavik that day, they'd have their suspect. The young man closed down three of Spock's images. Kirk tried identifying each Vulcan without looking at the names. It was hard guessing from seeing only the back.

"It's not this one." Dasan jabbed at the first photo as he closed it. "I think he was a little taller."

Srre. Kirk checked his guess against the name on Spock's display. He was right. It made sense that Srre was clear. He had been at Gol when Saavik was infected.

"And he was slimmer than this one."

S'tvan. Right again. Spock had only included the Symmetry team's pediatrician to be thorough. They never really suspected him. He hadn't been a physician to any of the hybrid survivors in a number of years.

"And this one... the build is wrong. I don't mean this as an insult, but... is that a woman?"

Kirk blinked and then got up to stand at Spock's shoulder. It didn't help him to tell if Dasan was right, but when he glanced at the name--

I'll be--

Tu'ong.

"You are quite correct, Mr. Dasan. The Vulcan in this image is female. One with a thin build and who might have disguised herself as a male."

"Clever," Warfield muttered to herself.

"It's a good point, Captain Spock," Dasan agreed, "but it's not her. The shoulders were broader, for one thing. I'm not sure about this next one. I didn't think I saw any gray in his hair, but the rest of him is close so maybe I didn't notice the gray. Or maybe he disguised it."

Sorel. Kirk wished they could have ruled him out. He couldn't believe it was one of the healers who was responsible for Spock being safely conceived and born. But people had startled Kirk with their guilt before this.

"So that just leaves these two. It could be either one of them, I can't think of anything to narrow it down to one. It's three if you count that last one too. I'm sorry, Captain."

Sa'd and Salok. Salok was a medtech in the hospital. They hadn't thought he had the skills to create the disease, but he had matched all the other criteria.

Plus Sorel kept the question mark next to his name.

"You have no reason to apologize, Mr. Dasan," Spock said. "Dismissed."

The nurse's shoulders slumped and stayed that way, even after Warfield told him he had done a good job.

Dannan Stuart leaned down, bracing herself with one hand on the conference table. "Is that it? We're clear here."

That was their prearranged signal that Lynne Hoskins hadn't found anyone breaking into the comm line. Uhura gave one last signal: no.

Kirk faced the monitor and broke the bad news. "That's it."

But why? Why hadn't whoever it was they chased cared about what they were doing?

Because he's winning.

By a large margin. It was a sound tactical move. It showed how secure their quarry felt that he ignored what they were doing.

A bad sign.

"I'll update Hunter," Stuart said, "tell her we at least narrowed it down."

"Wait, Aerfen!" he called out before Stuart broke the connection. "Uhura, update Stron's people. Let them know to focus their search on Sa'd, Sorel, and Salok. Tell them our eyewitness narrowed it down to those three."

"Have they found anything?" Warfield asked. She moved to the edge of her chair.

"Not yet, but they're still searching. Their latest update shows they're referencing a list of names of associates, in case anyone on the medical team used one of those instead of their own. Or sent someone to act for them."

Stuart smacked a flat hand down on the conference table. It sounded loud even through the comm line. It foreshadowed the snarl in her voice, like thunder warning of a storm. "I am sick of losing to this guy."

Kirk couldn't agree more. So was he.

Spock answered her. "He is resourceful, but he has made errors. Those have already led to our eliminating the many to a mere few."

Kirk reassured her, "We've narrowed this down from the entire universe to three people on the medical team. We'll get him."

Warfield spoke in a whisper. "Before or after he kills someone else."

His stomach tightened like a fist.

She looked up as if just remembering they were there. "Sorry, I was just thinking out loud." She added, "Sirs," as an afterthought.

Lynne Hoskins came into view for the first time, slipping into Dasan's chair. "What more can we do?"

"Don't stop looking for answers," Kirk said.

Dannan stared hard through the screen. "The same to you. Aerfen out."

Uhura spun around at Stuart's signoff. "Captain!"

"It's alright, Uhura. They're worried and cut off. They didn't mean any harm." He exchanged a look with Spock. "We need to take another look at Sa'd and Sorel."

An eyebrow went up over a dark, hooded eye. "Not Salok?"

"We can't let him slip from our notice, but the other two could have created the disease, Salok couldn't."

The station signaled someone contacting them. Uhura responded out of habit. "Sirs, it's Sarek."

Sarek did not waste time. "S'tvan contacted me. He was once asked to speak on behalf of the Symmetry team at a meeting. Its topic was the damage done by insisting the hybrids be put with their families. Sa'd and Tu'ong spoke at this meeting."

Spock asked, "And the reason S'tvan did not mention this previously? Perhaps he harbored thoughts agreeing with the hybrids' detractors. He did on Hellguard."

But Kirk didn't want this bogged down with old battles. "Something made him think differently. The important thing for right now is, he gave us a valuable avenue to check out." He said to Sarek: "Sa'd and Tu'ong?"

Sarek nodded. Spock suddenly eyed his father. "Is there other news?"

Sarek spoke heavily. "Yes. Sorel was also there."

Kirk said nothing for a beat. Spock sat back in the chair and Kirk finally reached to end the call. "We'll be right there."

If purpose was the best word for the atmosphere in their office, pressure best described the air in Sorel's. It weighed heavy on everyone's shoulders like a metal press forcing them into a mold. Except for the three Vulcan healers who stood accused. They appeared as unconcerned and innocent as if they had been accused of not breathing. Right from Kirk's first charge, they dismissed the whole thing as nothing.

"We still require an explanation," Spock insisted. "Why were none of you forthcoming with this information? And why did you partake in such a function as this?"

McCoy came in and perched on the arm of a chair in the corner, saying nothing. No one knew Leonard McCoy better than Jim Kirk, but even he couldn't explain the doctor's behavior. Bones never holds his emotion back. Even Spock studied him and deliberately lifted one eyebrow. McCoy paid him no attention.

But he didn't answer Sa'd's question: "Leonard, do you wish something?"

"Just answer if it's true and then why. Because I don't understand the logic behind a doctor doing this. I kept telling Jim that from the beginning." Now the barely held restraint on his rage and disappoint peeked out in the tight skin over his cheekbones and a slight quake in his voice. "So now just explain to me why."

Sorel frowned from where he stood behind his desk and then walked around. He offered them seats, but they refused. Only the healer himself and Tu'ong sat down, side by side, in front of his desk. Sa'd already sat down in a seat off on the side. Kirk moved in front of him since Spock already stood near the other two.

His fulfilling his role of host and the organized office with all its possessions aimed at the art of healing jarred against the accusations.

"Spock, your second question, which coincides with Leonard's request," Tu'ong began, still unpeturbed, "requires more explanation so let us address it first. Sorel and I were requested to be at that meeting in a medical capacity. To assuage damage done to victim's families by the presence of a hybrid survivor within the family group."

Kirk, showing more of McCoy's anger than the doctor did, asked, "Did you give that so-called evidence?"

"Naturally," Tu'ong responded. "Because damage was done. The hybrid's existence interfered with the mourning process. Just as is noted on your own planet in such cases."

"We also noted," Sorel spoke, "on it being too early to speak on the topic. Insufficient evidence existed to give long range theories. Here is our full report, Spock. Take it for your research. We noted damage also existed in victims' families where no hybrid lived with them."

Spock looked up from the report he read. "You also gave evidence on the damage done on the hybrids themselves."

"Why would we not, Spock?" Sorel asked. His brows drew together over his obsidian eyes. "We were there in a medical capacity. We would give all evidence on all parties involved."

Tu'ong added, "We suggested it may have been preferable to establish an interim environment for the survivors as they adjusted to life here. At least the waiting period would have given both they and their families time to adjust to the situation. Afterwards, they might have been better served being adopted by other Vulcan families applying for children. However, S'tven explained this was not an option."

Sorel said, "I believe this was because of your stipulations, Spock."

If he implied censure, Spock ignored it. "It was. In defense against the original plan which would have barred the survivors from claiming they are Vulcan."

Tu'ong's expression became as unyielding as a mountain. "A wrong and illogical proposal."

"And yet, those such as S'tvan proposed it."

"Ah, S'tvan." Sorel nodded. "I believe I see now. Illogical, yes, and it is fortunate you suggested an alternative. However, one can understand the initial reticence. I can also see why these other possibilities such as those Tu'ong proposed were not considered. Your focus centered on biological recognition, not adjustment and environment."

"Do you suggest, Sorel, that the view of S'tvan and the others was well founded?"

"I have already stated, Spock, that it was illogical. I only say that I am unable to speculate on my actions and thoughts if I endured what S'tvan has: the loss of a son and daughter to such a tragedy. For that matter, anyone so important to me. Can you, Spock?"

"I can," Kirk interrupted. "I lost a son through brutality." Because of his murder, I was ready to let the entire Klingon people pay for it through their genocide. "It took Spock to show me that I was wrong in my reaction and I fought him on it."

"Exactly, James. You understand my point, and your son did not suffer the other indignities our people abided on the Romulan colony."

If David had been... forced, like the Vulcans were, could I accept that child? Could Carol? Especially right after we found out what happened to our son?

"Leonard, you have a daughter, is that true?" Sorel asked.

McCoy didn't even raise his eyes as he stared in space, probably imagining Joanna in that situation. "I do. And no, I don't know what I would do either. I know what I'd like to think, that I'd accept someone like Saavik... but I don't know."

Kirk jumped in again. "My point, Sorel, was that Spock was right in showing me how wrong I was."

"Quite correct, as I said about his pointing out the illogic of not allowing the colony's survivors to claim their Vulcan heritage." Sorel glanced from Kirk to Spock and back again. "We seem to be at cross purposes even though we agree on these points."

Spock finally spoke again. "Then let us leave them for the moment." If he did it because he was defensive about tying the hands of the Symmetry rescue, he wasn't saying so. It could be he honestly thought it best to get back to the point. Either way, he moved to Sa'd. "You haven't explained your presence at the meeting, Healer Sa'd."

"A childhood friend, Shal'haj, was lost with the Perceptor crew."

Kirk asked quickly, "And one of the survivors is his son or daughter?"

Sa'd turned to him. "Of the twenty-nine hybrids who took the genetic scan, none were his child. However, this does not change the details of his capture and death. His loss and its circumstances alone damage his family. Also, four survivors did not take the scan, two of them a possible age to be his child."

Kirk leaned in closer. "And they don't want the hybrids around as a reminder. Neither do you. That's why you went to that meeting."

But Sa'd only folded his hands. "On the contrary, Captain, the meeting's purpose was not to remove the hybrids. It was to discuss all effects on the families, both those who adjusted, and yes, those that did not. It was to seek the truth in all cases. The family of Shal'haj requested I go with them, in memory of my long friendship with him. They wanted to hear from the families who did have a hybrid child in the event Saavik and the other three sought the genetic scan."

Kirk barely kept himself from shouting. "Why didn't you tell us this when we first asked?

Sa'd was still calm. "You asked if we harbored, or did we know of anyone harboring, prejudice against the hybrids who organized into a system dedicated to taking action against the hybrids. This meeting was not such a group. Therefore, I saw no reason to mention it."

Kirk started pacing. It all fit, it was all explained. It made sense, but if a Vulcan lied, could he tell? They were masters of rationalization and explanation. Was he falling for that?

He stopped and exchanged a quick glance of agreement with Spock. "Maybe it wasn't a hate group, but I'm going to request that none of you work any longer on this project. If you're innocent, you can still see the logic of my request. We have to think of the remaining patients."

Sa'd vaulted his eyebrows while Sorel... his black eyes were unreadable. McCoy spoke, heavy and sad. "Jim, they've already been taken off the team. Everyone was except for Rrelthiz and me after the stasis chambers were shutdown. We're briefing the new medical staff."

An alert interrupted them. Spock went to Sorel's desk and read the incoming message. He looked up sharply. "The VSE Exploration has contacted the hospital. They needed to rescue the Independence. Jdehn and Mekhai have collapsed."