Without a trace of the fear that Spock had seen, he watched his Captain exit the turbo lift. As he walked down the short corridor to the bridge, he saw him gain confidence just from the knowledge that he would not be abandoned. They would stand by him as none had before.

Spock felt his lips twitch. He sent his love down the thin thread that connected him to Jim, watching as he shivered briefly before he returned the feeling. Spock reveled in the feeling for a few brief moments before he himself hurried after Jim. He needed to be briefed as well. There was no point in delaying the matter. He'd much rather be there when Jim was told all of the details. It always paid off to be prepared. So prepared he would be.

Admiral Pike began as soon as he was through the doors. Apparently he had waited until they were all there. In fact, Jim insisted that nothing be kept from his command crew. They deserved to know seeing as they worked with him day in and day out. As they heard what he had gone through, each made a silent resolution to keep him safe. They would give their lives for him if it meant he didn't have to suffer again.

Even if their dying brought to him suffering as well, it would not be for lack of trying. He deserved their love, all that they were. Uhura sighed as she stood stretching, ignoring the way all the men eyed her, including Pike. "Sir, I do have a question… What makes you think Kodos is alive?"

Here Pike looked at them all gravely, "He's been attacking the survivors of Tarsus. None of the Nine yet, but we have no doubt it will come soon. Jim is the only one that can do this… He's the only one of the Nine who has become a full-fledged Starfleet officer. There's literally no one else. All of the others are civilians, or in the Academy. I cannot pull them for this mission, that would compromise their identities as to the public."

Jim slowly nodded, he had figured as much. There wasn't a whole lot that could be done in all reality, they would go to where he had last been spotted and investigate, perhaps even follow some leads before heading to Tarsus IV to see if there were any signs of the damned man. "Yes sir. I understand sir. This is what you want us to do, just to be completely clear. You want us to investigate the satellite he was last seen at, see if anyone remembers the old asshole, he is sort of hard to forget… As much of a zealot as he is… He was probably spewing something along the lines of I should have killed them all, the population was doomed anyway…" Here he trailed off noting the looks aimed at him. He just shrugged before continuing, "What? I lived with the asshole for way too damned long! Now, as I was saying… See if there are any clues there, if not move on to Tarsus and see if he is trying to recreate what happened there once more."

Pike looked at Jim, studying him for a few moments before he replied, "Yes Jim, that's exactly what we want you to do. However, do not and I repeat, do not engage him if you find him! Leave that to us. Do you understand me James Kirk?"

Jim glared at him, anger coursing through his body. How could they ask that of him? To see the man who had killed so many of his friends, his aunt, his uncle… As he was starting to plot the way to kill Kodos himself without the Admiralty knowing just what had happened, he felt the cool and logical presence of Spock at the outer edges of his mind, cooling his anger to bearable levels. He sent his bond-mate a quick half exasperated half grateful grimace of a smile.

"Sir, yes sir. I'll do what I have to do to get you that information… Without killing Kodos." Jim could feel the bile rising in his throat, he swallowed it down. He was an adult now. He would not let Kodos rule his actions anymore, he was a Captain in Starfleet. Kodos would not win. Not now. He had too much to lose, too many people depending on him to stay strong, just as he had stayed strong for the children he had rescued.