A/N: Hello! I apologize for the delay. I was going to attempt to post a chapter every day but then Christmas happened and I got really busy. Sorry. :( But anywho, here is the next chapter. And finally the thing this story has been building up to happens! There's another note at the end of the chapter. Enjoy!

Jim followed the rest of his class into the packed lecture hall, feeling an all-encompassing numbness he hadn't experienced in years. Not since his mother explained to him that he would be living off-world for an undetermined amount of time.

He sat down easily a couple rows into the sections blocked off from public use for the students in Krestridge's class.

Just before the debate began Krestridge has assigned everyone numbers, the order in which they would debate, the first person and the last person would debate first, then go on down the line from both ends. Fortunately there was an even number of students in his class so everything worked out. Jim chose to blatantly ignore the fact that he was thirteenth in line.

The debate began and as the arguments commenced one fact became glaringly obvious; there wasn't a soul in his class that could defend Kodos. Even those desperate for a good grade had very weak points to make. Jim could tell everyone knew it as he glanced up at the nervous, sweaty faces of each of his classmates who stepped up to the podium.

The debates were over before they even began but Jim still had to scoff at the points students' arguing the defense side made. The arguments were basically the same and completely off base but it still pissed Jim off every time someone said: "Kodos did what he had to do to ensure the survival of half the colonists." Or "Sacrifices had to be made for the good of the entire colony."

Applause resounded around the full lecture hall then died down as Professor Krestridge took his place at one of the podiums to call the next pair of students. Jim knew he was up before the professor had even called his name; he'd been counting.

His debate partner, a young girl with long black hair, intense green eyes, and striking physical features named Ariana, smiled at him sadly as they walked to the front of the room together. Or perhaps it was an apologetic smile; she figured she was going to mop the floor with him. Too bad Jim wasn't planning on allowing her to get that far.

He was ninety-nine percent certain he imagined the way the entire lecture hall quieted as he took his place on stage, students and faculty alike leaning so far forward they appeared as if they would tumble from their seats at the tinniest of breezes. Still, even imagined tension did nothing to quell the butterflies waging war in his stomach.

The word "begin" had just left Krestridge's mouth; Jim's opponent had barely opened her mouth to begin her argument when Jim's sure, strong voice sliced through the building tension as easily as a hot knife through butter.

"Governor Kodos was a monster. And there is no way in hell I am defending his actions."

Mummers of shock spread like wildfire through the audience.

Krestridge stood from his seat off to the side of the room, "Cadet!" He thundered, face already turning red with anger.

"Jim what are you doing?" Ariana whispered, wide green eyes staring at her classmate as if he were insane.

"Not defending the devil." Jim replied, giving her an apologetic glance before focusing his gaze back on his now captivated audience. "Students' shouldn't have to defend an evil man's actions. Kodos' name shouldn't even be remembered! We should be learning about the survivors and most importantly, remembering those who were murdered, not the man who murdered them."

"Cadet Kirk," Krestridge called, his voice calm yet angered. "Seeing as how you have not prepared the assigned material I am going to have to request you take your seat."

Jim scoffed a little at that, by the Professor's tone Jim doubted the man was requesting him to do anything. It sounded more like commanding.

"With all due respect sir, I am arguing a point. It's just not the point you want to hear." Jim refocused his attention to the crowd, "Governor Kodos-"

"That man," Krestridge began, but Jim wasn't going to give him any ground.

"That man," The word was spit as if it were poison, "destroyed families. Fathers, daughters, mothers, sons, it didn't matter to him! All these excuses about Kodos acting in the best interest of the colony is complete bullshit."

"Cadet!"

"We shouldn't be forced to argue an opinion we don't agree with!" Jim interrupted.

"As captain you will be faced with many scenarios you don't agree with and you won't be able to change them!" Krestridge's face was beet-red, spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted at Jim, hands flying in large, wild gestures.

Jim shook his head vehemently, "I refuse to believe that!"

Krestridge took a deep, calming breath through his nose before speaking, his voice significantly softer than before. "We will discuss this complete disregard of your assignment at a later date. Until such a point in time, I do not want to see your face in my class, is that understood?"

Jim glared coldly at Krestridge, his chest heaving. For a moment it appeared to the crowd as if there was going to be a physical confrontation. The tension reached an all-out high and not even a cricket would've dared to shatter the silence that had befallen the hall.

Then suddenly it was over. Jim shook his head in frustration then stalked out of the room, the heavy wooden door slamming loudly behind him.

The mass of students sat in a disbelieving silence for a moment after Jim had left before an uproar of voices took over, even the faculty were conversing loudly with one another.

Ariana glanced questioningly at Krestridge, still standing awkwardly behind her podium. Krestridge appeared to be at a complete loss as to what he could do to quiet the hoard in front on him.

With all the excited discussions about what had just happened, no one even noticed a lone figure stand and exit the same way Jim had fled.

McCoy glanced around the empty hallway with a heavy sigh. He'd known something was up the minute Jim had stepped up to the podium. He'd actually known something had been going on for the past three weeks; he'd just refused to really push Jim for some answers. Unfortunately now Leonard was fairly certain he knew exactly what had been rubbing Jim the wrong way. He just wished he was wrong.

McCoy wasn't surprised to find an empty foyer, Jim having long since retreated down any one of the numerous side hallways in the linguistics building.

'Okay.' McCoy thought, glancing around at a bit of a loss. 'If I were Jim, where would I be hiding?' He had to think about things logically. Jim would've certainly wanted to go somewhere secluded, but he most likely wouldn't have left the building. He ran the risk of running into too many people that way.

So where was the most secluded area in the entire linguistics building?

'Duh.' McCoy very nearly slapped his forehead when he finally thought of it. He felt so stupid that he hadn't thought of it sooner. The Klingon Wing. Hardly anyone was ever down there, only the professor and the crazy few who actually took that class. If Jim wasn't there he had most likely been eaten by the mythical alien dragon-cow hybrid that was supposedly living under the campus. And if he had been eaten by that thing then there was really nothing Leonard could do.

A/N: So, I tried to throw in a little humor at the end there with the whole, dragon-cow thing. I fought with myself a lot over that little tid-bit but I eventually decided to leave it (obviously) for a line in the next chapter! Sorry if it seems random or out of place. Fun fact, it was actually inspired by a university very near me; there are myths/jokes about a dragon living under the campus. But then I was like, this is Star Fleet; it can't be a normal dragon. So, dragon-cow hybrid! Anywho, thanks for your continued support, feedback is greatly appreciated, until next time!