"Doctor, tell her of T'Pol's de-aging experiment," a voice shouted from nearby. "Maybe she will consent!"

Sighing, the doctor nodded, "There is a way to save your life, however," he explained. "We have a process that will de-age you to the point of infancy, replace your blood type, and regenerate your organs to where they are not damaged at all. It is a risky procedure, but it may be the only way. Do you agree to do this?"

Knowing that being de-aged was better than death, even though she may never see Jonathan again, Arianne managed a weak nod. Unfortunately, all of her energy was now gone and she immediately closed her eyes.

Closing the pod, the doctor connected a tube to a hole on the side of it. He then nodded to a scientist that lingered at a nearby console. Smiling, the scientist began to work the controls at a rapid pace.

/

"...Guardian of Forever, I request thine assistance," an El-Aurian man said as he and two El-Aurian women, one of who was carrying a swaddled baby in her arms, approached the large structure. The woman not holding the child was dark-skinned and clad in purple; she was very unique

Light flashed from inside the large, rock-like structure, "Guinan, where should Rondau and us take Arianne to keep her safe from harm?" the fair-skinned woman asked the other woman.

"...I foresee a place that will help the child grow," a deep voice suddenly boomed from the rock.

The three looked at the rock curiously; a holo-image of the Golden Gate Bridge suddenly faded into view and quickly changed into a view of what looked like a high-tech college campus.

"It looks safe enough," Rondau reasoned as he studied the images. "What is that place?"

Again, the deep voice spoke, "Alas, I cannot put you there right away," it said. "I can, however, place you within distance of this location. It is the safest chance for a comfortable survival."

"Rondau, we must do this," the fair-skinned woman spoke. "From what Guinan has said, Starfleet is investigating the accident and if they find Arianne here, we will lose her."

Rondau nodded, "Guardian, come to our aid," he whispered faintly. "May God forgive us."

With a sigh, Riaa and Guinan joined hands and Rondau took his wife's hand, "This is for Arianne's future, Riaa," he said as the three carried Arianne into the structure.

"...Ensign Pike?""

Arianne opened her eyes and saw that Spock was standing over her, "You became unconscious during the meld and I broke it off for your safety," Spock explained in an unusually gentle tone. "However, I was able to view some pertinent memories."

After Amanda had returned to Vulcan, Arianne had sought Spock out to take him up on his offer to serve as a counselor to her. There were things she wanted to know and things she wanted to have healed.

Now that she was doing so, however, it became apparent that the past she knew was not complete.

"I was dying and this experimentation saved my life by regenerating me," Arianne said in a weak voice as she slowly sat up on the couch where she had laid to let Spock perform the meld. "I-"

Spock raised a hand, "You are making yourself anxious," he stated in a firm voice. "Please desist with this worrying and relax while I prepare some spice tea to calm your nerves."

"I'm just a freak, Spock," Arianne stated in a toneless voice. "Tea isn't necessary."

Spock raised an eyebrow and sat on the couch beside Arianne, "Once this gets out, nobody will want me around anymore, including my father," she continued. "I'm better off leaving."

"If you are in need of a respite from Earth, I can arrange for you to visit Vulcan-" Spock began in a surprisingly gentle voice; he was silently shocked when Arianne shook her head and scoffed.

Arianne rose from the couch, "Your mother and Ambassador Sarek should want nothing further to do with me," she said in a frightened tone. "I'm just a freak of science, Spock; not a person."

"Arianne," Spock replied, his tone one of concerned sincerity. "You are not a freak of science."

Tears came to Arianne's eyes and she turned away from Spock, "Thank you for helping me to understand where I came from," she said in a whispery voice. "I need some time to think about this."

"You have been given a chance to relive your life," Spock stated in a quiet voice. "Embrace it."

Arianne sighed, "Spock, as helpful as you are trying to be, it's not helping," she replied softly.

"It seems illogical to run away and hide simply because of this information," Spock stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Others with unique circumstances surrounding their origins cannot simply run and hide themselves from life. Life is something that cannot be avoided simply because one is afraid."

Arianne nodded and inched towards the door, "Thank you, Spock," she whispered; her voice was full of despair and her eyes full of tears. "I'll talk to you later, after I've had some time to think."

Spock raised an eyebrow, but nodded and remained silent as Arianne quickly left his dwelling.

With a sigh, he sank to the floor in a meditative pose; he wanted to help, but needed time to think.

Patient Room - Starfleet Medical - 0900

"Mmm," Jim moaned as he struggled to open his eyes. "So...numb."

Jim let out another groan as silence greeted him and opened his eyes, only to see that Leonard was sitting beside the bed. A tray holding a bowl full of applesauce sat on the portable table.

"Bones," Jim croaked weakly, suddenly realizing that it was an effort to talk. "...tired."

Leonard nodded, "I know, Jim, but you gotta start getting your strength up," he said as he tied a small 'apron' around Jim's neck; it covered the shoulder sling and cast, but it was very loose.

"What-?" Jim asked groggily. "Bones, I'm not a baby. I don't need a bib."

Ignoring Jim's protests, Leonard picked up the spoon and filled it with applesauce, "Just be quiet kid and let me feed you," he said in a firm tone. "You need the food badly."

Fighting to stay awake, Jim remained quiet as Leonard fed him and soon enough, the bowl was empty. Jim looked ready to fall back asleep, but Leonard wanted to talk to him first.

"Jim, what's the last thing you can remember?" Leonard asked as he gazed up at the overhead monitor and back down at his friend. "I know you're tired, but I'd like for you to think hard."

Jim sighed and blinked, "I was up early to go to a library before going to speak at Soval's trial," he replied in a faint voice. "Some guy came to the door...can't remember anything else."

"All right, we'll work on filling in the blanks later," Leonard stated, not wanting Jim to end up stressed enough to relapse. "You're in really good hands right now, Jim, so just relax."

Leonard carefully removed the apron from around Jim's neck, which prompted Jim to look down at his arm, "How'd I break my arm?" Jim asked in a groggy voice.

"You dislocated your shoulder AND broke your arm," Leonard replied gently. "I couldn't use bone knitters on your arm, so it has to heal naturally. Your ankles were re-broken too, but they're on the mend and your jaw was broken; hence, I had to wire your mouth shut."

Jim nodded and suddenly winced, "My head," he moaned in a weak voice. "Hurts."

Leonard nodded, but before he could get up to get a craniotherapy scanner, the door slid open and a dark-skinned woman clad in a purple dress and unusual hat silently entered the room.

Jim's eyes suddenly widened, "Madame Guinan?" he asked, his voice trembling with shock.

"Hello James," Madame Guinan replied in a gentle voice as she moved over to the left side of Jim's hospital bed; she silently gave him a reassuring glance to tell him that he wasn't alone. "Arianne let me know what happened to you and I came as soon as I could. How are you feeling?"

Jim sighed, "Very tired," he replied in a faint voice. "I can't remember how I ended up here yet."

"Well, maybe you're not supposed to remember right now," Madame Guinan said in a reassuring tone as she sat down on a stool that had been left there. "Maybe you're just supposed to heal."

"Madame Guinan, can you thank Arianne for me?" Jim asked in a weak voice. "I would, but—"

Madame Guinan nodded and patted Jim's shoulder reassuringly, "Get some rest, James," she said in a tone of gentle patience. "We can talk when you're stronger. I'll be around San Francisco for a while."

Allowing his drooping eyes to close, Jim nodded and mumbled sleepily, "Doctor McCoy, we should probably let James rest for a while," Madame Guinan said in a gentle tone. He will be just fine."

Leonard nodded and left the room with Madame Guinan, "If you know where Arianne might be, Doctor McCoy, I would enjoy visiting with her," she said as they walked down the long sterile corridor.

"Knowing Ensign Pike, she's probably either at home or at the Academy library," Leonard stated in a toneless voice, as he did not want to discuss Arianne with this stranger. "She's quite a hard worker."

Madame Guinan looked thoughtful, "If you'll point me in the direction of a good library, I think I will seek her out myself," she said in a gentle tone. "I don't wish to use up any more of your valuable time."

Leonard frowned, "I'm not even supposed to be on duty here today anyway," he replied. "I only come in on my days off if Jim ends up needing medical attention. He's very picky about who treats him."

Madame Guinan nodded, "Academy library's on limited hours for the summer, so I imagine that Arianne would go to a civilian library and stay there most of the day," Leonard continued, curious about the smile Guinan had about Jim's picky nature. "The closest one is near the civilian shuttleport and the beach."

Secretly wanting to see Arianne, Leonard offered his arm like the Southern gentleman he was raised to be. "If you'd like, I can escort you there on a shuttle and help you try and find Ensign Pike."

Giving Leonard a curious smile, Guinan took his arm and together, they left Jim to sleep peacefully.

Civilian Shuttleport – San Francisco

Enter ID information and method of payment. The screen flashed at Arianne, causing her to wince.

Swallowing hard, Arianne stepped away and jammed her hands in the pocket of her long jeans, wishing that she had dressed in something warmer to wear than boots, jeans, and a t-shirt. She had stupidly left her civilian money back at her father's house; all she wanted to do was run away to Vulcan to hide.

Unfortunately, the off-campus shuttles to Vulcan cost a pile of credits that she didn't have and if she tried to run away on an Academy shuttle, her father would want to ask her what was wrong and why.

Arianne sighed and pounded the machine with regret filling her heart; her father should have never adopted her as a baby and given her hope that everything would be normal from that point on.

Letting out a sigh, Arianne moved away from the machine and walked over to the beach that was near the shuttleport and provided a calming view for the occasional alien refugees that came to Earth.

Slipping her boots off, Arianne travelled across the sand barefoot and moved into the water; she enjoyed the feeling of the cold water lapping at her feet. It made her feel as if life was beautiful.

Legally, Arianne knew that she was Arianne Christine Pike, daughter of Christopher Pike and that any information about whatever past life she had was irrelevant. However, it was a part of her now.

The flashes of memory she had of coming aboard the Enterprise NX-01 as an officer and being greeted by a gentle Commander had been her own, Arianne realized. She had actually been a Lieutenant aboard that famous vessel and had seen both the Delphic Expanse and the infamous Xindi species.

A sharp realization suddenly came to Arianne; she didn't have to speculate on what that life was like for her back then, she could ask someone what it had been like; history books couldn't tell her that.

According to the history classes she had taken in her first two semesters, Admiral Archer had been the Captain of the NX-01 and would no doubt remember the crew of his ship, including her.

However, Arianne also knew that it would be rather awkward if she suddenly approached Admiral Archer and explained everything; he would no doubt call her crazy or even want her committed.

Maybe it would just be easier to forget that it had ever happened, Arianne thought; the people who had ensured her survival had gone to great lengths to make sure that her second chance at living was more than satisfactory. Chris Pike didn't have to adopt her either, but he had lovingly done so.

Starfleet had been kept in the dark about this and for it, Arianne was grateful. She didn't want or need the negative attention that she and her father would get if this part of her existence ever got out.

Besides, living life all over again wasn't so bad, Arianne thought; she suddenly began thinking of how her friendship with Jim had made life easier. Even now, being a person with invisible disabilities wasn't easy and her time at the University of San Francisco had reminded her that humanity still needed fixing.

Starfleet, on the other hand, welcomed people with the desire to learn and grow with open arms and found a place for them according to what they were willing to work on. It had worked for her, it had allowed Jim to blossom from a shell into a fighter, and it had allowed Doctor McCoy to flourish.

Arianne sighed and ignored the tingling feeling in her spine; she had originally viewed Leonard McCoy as a patient who had needed her help to break open his hard shell. Yes, he was still officially one of her patients who still had a lot of ground to cover, but she was beginning to have feelings for him too.

Unfortunately, Arianne doubted that Leonard would ever reciprocate those feelings due to her invisible disabilities and the fact that she would have a tough time bearing children. A distressed sigh escaped her lips.

The time spent with him as hostages on that frozen wasteland had prompted her to actually consider the possibility that they would need to eventually start living a life together. His arms around her…

Arianne sighed and moved out of the water, unaware that the sky had grown dark. Her first awareness to the brewing summer storm was the sudden rumble of thunder overhead and falling raindrops.

Her eyes wide, Arianne ran across the sand and grabbed her boots. She then ran down the footpath towards the nearest building, which happened to be the public library as it suddenly became colder.

The rain was merciless on Arianne, pounding down on her very fragile body and preventing her from moving as quickly as she wanted to. Her clothing was soon soaked and it chilled her to the bone.

As she approached the front entrance to the library, Arianne suddenly began to feel as if her body was a sandbag that needed to be dropped. It was so cold and all she wanted to do was fall asleep.

Civilian Library

Lightning flashed as Leonard and Guinan walked through the computer area; they had been at the library for nearly 20 minutes and Arianne was nowhere to be found. It was somewhat concerning.

The silence was unnerving to Leonard, as was the fact that nobody appeared to be in the vast building besides himself, Madame Guinan, and the librarian. A rainy day seemed to keep the readers away.

Now, while Guinan wandered off into a row of books to search for Arianne, Leonard found his attention slowly drawing towards a rack that contained the latest medical information stored on PADDs. Dr. Puri had specifically instructed him to use up-to-date medical information to put together the final exam.

"Miss, don't touch that data port!" an anxious voice suddenly yelled from near the entrance.

Leonard turned just in time to see a well-dressed, frail looking old man hurry away from the circular information desk towards a drenched female whose back was turned and whose hand was extended towards a touch-sensitive databank. Swallowing hard, Leonard moved over to the librarian.

"Miss, I'm a doctor," Leonard stated in a cautious tone, as he wasn't sure if this drenched individual would turn around and shoot him; he was very concerned about what type of individual would come into a public civilian library completely drenched and barefoot. "I can help you if you let me."

There was silence and Arianne turned, "Doctor McCoy?" she asked, the shock of the whole session with Spock still very fresh in her mind; she watched his expression change from concerned to shocked.

"What in heaven's name are you doing running around San Francisco barefoot and soaking wet?" Leonard asked, ignoring the gasp of the frightened librarian. "Are you trying to commit suicide?"

Arianne sighed, "I was walking on the beach and I didn't realize it was going to storm," she replied in a professional tone, quickly pretending as if nothing were bothering her. "I came in here for shelter."

"I didn't think you were supposed to be running around San Francisco like a wild horse," Leonard commented in a concerned voice. "If I remember correctly, you still need to take it easy."

Arianne glared at Leonard, but before she could offer a retort, she saw Madame Guinan emerge from the rows of bookshelves containing updated PADDs. The two women stared at each other silently.

"Madame Guinan, I need to talk to you," Arianne stated in a gentle, yet very firm tone.

Madame Guinan nodded, but Leonard frowned, "What you need to do right now is get out of those clothes, into a warm shower, and into some dry clothes that you can get some rest in."

"Arianne, perhaps you had better listen to this young man," Madame Guinan suggested in a gentle tone as she moved forward to stand beside Leonard and the librarian. "You wouldn't want to end up sick."

Leonard nodded and reached out for Arianne's hand, "Come on, let's go back to my dorm," he offered, seeing pain and pure terror in her eyes. "It was remodeled earlier this summer and now I have a full living room, kitchen, bathroom, and two beds in a separate sleeping area. Trust me, darlin; it's safe."

As Arianne looked into his hazel eyes, she suddenly thought back to the time that they had spent together on that desolate planet and also about all they had experienced together as fellow students.

"Arianne?" Leonard asked, suddenly worried that she was going into shock because of her condition.

Swallowing hard, Arianne extended her shaking hand and slipped It into Leonard's; she was surprised by his gentle grip as she allowed him to lead her from the quiet library and over to a small elevator. She was unaware that Madame Guinan was following after them out of deep concern over her health.

"This goes down to a little underground train that takes us right back to the Academy," Leonard explained in a soft voice as he pressed the button. "From there, we can arrange some transportation."

As they walked into the elevator, Arianne felt Leonard slip his arm around her and gently sit her on a small bench that was in the elevator; she rested her head on his chest and suddenly felt tired.

Unaware that Madame Guinan was watching her and Leonard interact with a curious smile on her face, Arianne promptly fell asleep.

"….I have always considered Arianne to be extraordinary and she hasn't yet proven me wrong…"

"…out of curiosity, Madame Guinan, how long have you known Ensign Pike for?"

Intense warmth was the first thing that Arianne felt as she slowly came back to awareness; she could also feel something very soft underneath her and heard nothing, save for soft classical music.

Arianne opened her eyes and immediately saw a neatly made bed across the room from where she was lying; there was a desk next to that bed that had several PADDs and a stylus stacked on top of it. She also saw her jeans and shirt folded over the small chair and her boots on the floor.

Letting out a tired sigh, Arianne sat up and, looking down, she saw that she was wearing an over-sized blue medical shirt that covered a sleeveless workout top; her legs were covered by sweatpants.

Arianne slowly moved her legs over the side of the bed, but when she started to stand, a sudden wave of dizziness caused her to sit and let a weak groan escape her lips. Her body felt so weak and sore.

Unfortunately for her, Arianne soon saw Leonard enter the room with a med-kit in hand and a very concerned expression on his tired face. "It's good to finally see you awake," he said in a gruff, yet very relieved tone. "You fell asleep in the elevator at the library and I carried you back to my dorm."

"It looks more like a fancy apartment than a dormitory," Arianne replied in a tired voice.

Leonard shrugged and, opening the med-kit, he took out a medical tricorder and scanned her with it.

"This says that you're fine, but how do you feel?" Leonard asked in a gentle voice as he looked at her.

Arianne sighed, "Very sore and weak," she replied, feeling as if she couldn't lie to Leonard at all.

"Well, I replicated you some chicken soup if you feel like eating," Leonard stated. "You've been asleep for most of the day and it's almost suppertime. Do you feel like getting up and eating?"

Arianne nodded and slowly stood up, relieved when Leonard put an arm around her, "Just walk slowly," he cautioned her as they moved towards the door. "I don't want you fainting on me now, okay?"

As they moved out of the sleeping area and into the common area, Arianne saw Madame Guinan seated on the small couch reading an old-fashioned book. Madame Guinan smiled at seeing Arianne.

"Madame Guinan, I need to talk to you," Arianne said as she was led over to the table and sat in one of the chairs by Leonard; in front of her sat a large bowl of chicken soup with a spoon in it.

As if she knew what Arianne wanted to talk about, Madame Guinan put the book down on the coffee table, stood up, and walked over to the table. Leonard, however, gave Arianne a very stern look.

"I have to go do a shift at Starfleet Medical now and while I'm gone, you had better take it easy," Leonard stated in a gruff, yet very concerned tone. "Don't do anything that will cause a relapse."

Arianne nodded and was silent as Leonard nodded goodbye to Madame Guinan and left the dormitory.

"I feel like there's some tension between you and Doctor McCoy, Arianne," Madame Guinan said in a thoughtful tone as she sat next to her former student at the table. "Do you have feelings for him?"

Arianne sighed, "I don't know," she replied in a fearful voice. "Madame Guinan, I sought counseling from a Vulcan named Spock and he initiated a mind meld with me today at my request. Because of the mind meld, I was subjected to memories involving de-aging and interaction with a Gateway of sorts."

Guinan suddenly looked extremely thoughtful, "I wasn't at the medical center on the day that the El-Aurian scientists decided to do that, but I heard about it shortly thereafter," she explained in a gentle voice. "From what they told me, you were on the verge of death and regained consciousness for only what would have been your last moment. Rondau and Riaa were friends of mine who were unable to bear children naturally and when you agreed to the procedure, they agreed to take care of you."

Arianne nodded and began to slowly eat the soup, "It wasn't long, however, before Rondau and Riaa became fearful of Starfleet interference, as most El-Aurians were at the time," Guinan continued. "I understand their fear, though, as rumors were circulating about Starfleet opening an investigation into the USS Mandarin's destruction and the deaths of her entire crew. Fear was a very justified emotion."

"What would have happened if Starfleet had actually come to El-Auria?" Arianne asked, swallowing a mouthful of soup as she spoke; she hadn't really considered the what-ifs of her life until now.

Guinan sighed, "The de-aging process had once been presented to Starfleet as a possible way of helping suicidal or overly crippled individuals," she explained gently. "Unfortunately, while it had promise to help many, the process was deemed too dangerous to pursue and talk of it was banned from Starfleet."

Arianne's eyes widened, but she remained quiet and continued to eat, "Fearful that Starfleet would come, find the de-aging process had been initialized, and take you away, Rondau and Riaa came to me for help," Madame Guinan stated in a gentle voice. "Rondau used his government-level clearance to get us in a shuttle and off the planet. I then told them of a place where all time and space was known and cherished beyond all understanding; when they asked, I told them about Planet Gateway."

"Part of what Spock found in my mind was a memory of that," Arianne explained in a knowing voice, both scared and fascinated by this 'Gateway.' "It showed you San Francisco in 2231, didn't it?"

Madame Guinan nodded, "Unfortunately, Rondau was assimilated by the Borg in El-Aurian space once we arrived in 2231," she replied in a sorrowful tone. "Despite a very close call, Riaa and I made it to Earth with you. Riaa insisted that I take the shuttle and hide somewhere on Earth, but she was injured and I knew that I couldn't just leave. I stopped at the edge of the Academy campus and let Riaa take you on to the campus after which she insisted that I leave. I heard later that she had died that very night."

"From what my father told me, I was found on the grounds on New Year's Day, 2232," Arianne stated, relieved that her father had granted her access to records pertaining to her adoption. "He was a Captain who was pegged to take command of the Kelvin once it was done, but gave it up and adopted me."

Madame Guinan smiled, "Christopher Pike is a good man," she stated. "When I first received word that I would be Amanda Grayson's replacement at the school in Des Moines, I was excited for the challenges it would bring. Once I saw you were there, however, and that you had been adopted by Chris Pike, I was immensely relieved. It meant that Rondau and Riaa's choice and Riaa's sacrifice hadn't been in vain."

"I don't want anyone to know about this," Arianne stated, suddenly feeling protective of the life, family, and friendships she had acquired since being adopted by Christopher Pike. "It would ruin everything."

Guinan nodded and gently took Arianne's hand, "I won't ever tell anyone about our discussion, but I think you should at least tell your father," she said in a gentle voice. "He will love you anyway."

"I know Doctor McCoy said to take it easy, but I just want to go talk to my father," Arianne said in a tired voice as she finished off the soup. "Commander Spock helped me to understand myself better."

Swallowing hard, Arianne stood up, "Oh, Arianne, just so you know, I'm the one who changed you out of your wet clothes and into the ones that Doctor McCoy offered," Guinan stated with a coy smile. "I was getting the feeling that you were scared he had seen you indecently. He was out of the room for it."

"I'm still feeling a bit weak, Madame Guinan," Arianne stated in a faint voice. "Can you come over to my father's office with me so I don't faint on the way? I really don't want to go back to Starfleet Medical."

Guinan smiled and stood up, "Of course," she replied, gently taking Arianne's arm. "Did you want to change back into your street clothes before we go, or would you like to come back for them later?"

"I don't want something else to worry about right now," Arianne replied softly as she leaned heavily on Guinan for support while they moved towards the door. "Doctor McCoy can keep the street clothes."

Nodding thoughtfully, Madame Guinan put an arm around Arianne's waist as they left Leonard's dormitory and began walking down the long hallway towards the nearest turbolift.

"Perhaps it would benefit you to take some physical education classes during fall semester," Guinan gently stated as they neared the lift. "It's time for you to draw on the strength of body and mind."

Arianne nodded; perhaps now that she understood why she was so different, it would be easier to accept that nothing could be changed, nothing was left unsettled, and it was now okay to move on.

The sound of the door chime caused T'Pol to look up from her PADD. With a sigh, she rose and moved over to the door that separated her and Lorian's small dwelling from the rest of the Embassy's offices.

Pressing the admittance button, T'Pol was surprised to find her former Captain and friend, Jonathan Archer, lingering outside the door in civilian clothes with a scowl on his surprisingly youthful face.

"I thought Lorian was the only one who had undergone the de-aging procedure that you invented," Jonathan said in a voice that dared her to argue with him. "I guess that really wasn't the case."

Not wanting anyone to overhear the conversation they were about to have, T'Pol pulled Jonathan inside of the living space and shut the door. "I did not know that the El-Aurians were actually capable of developing the technology that supported my theory behind it," she hissed. "I only discovered that Ensign Pike had undergone the process very recently after comparing the bio-files between her and that belonging to your lost fiancé. My determination is that they are the same person, however."

"When Starfleet finally got to El-Auria, they found no evidence of the Mandarin's crew or of any technology that could explain the process," Jonathan replied in a frustrated tone. "How is it even possible that Arianne travelled a great deal of time and distance without anything being noticed?"

T'Pol was silent for a moment and then her eyes widened; she remembered visiting the Gateway Site on Vulcan several months earlier. The structure had mentioned that history between the El-Aurian species and Starfleet had already been altered; it had also said that the one who altered it was findable.

"I have a theory that a Gateway structure was used to conceal her identity," T'Pol stated in a matter-of-fact tone as she glared at Jonathan through tired eyes. "However, I do not have enough evidence—"

Jonathan looked almost sick at this point, "You were involved in the frequent kidnappings of Cadet Kirk and Ensign Pike from Academy campus, weren't you?" he asked, swallowing hard. "Were you also involved in the kidnapping and holding of Ensign Pike and Doctor McCoy for that three month period?"

"I was not," T'Pol replied bluntly. "Lucas Reed of Section 31 was responsible for the other kidnappings."

Even though he didn't fully believe T'Pol, Jonathan sighed, "T'Pol, I recommend you come forward with this information and take whatever punishment is given to you," he said in a distressed voice. "If you do that, I'll help you through it however I can. You need to take responsibility for your actions, though."

T'Pol was silent for a few moments and then swiftly nerve pinched Jonathan. As he hit the floor, T'Pol lifted him up and carried him over to a small transporter pad that was in the corner of the sitting room.

Quickly laying him on the pad, T'Pol quickly ran over to a small console and quickly programmed a set of co-ordinates that would keep her former friend safe. She then initiated the transport.

As Jonathan de-materialized, T'Pol sighed and moved over to the communications terminal that was on the wall near the kitchen area. She activated the comm-link and typed out a very familiar number.

"I need you to transport to my dwelling as soon as is convenient," T'Pol stated in a whispery voice as a hooded figure appeared on the small screen. "Jeris is in need of assistance with his assignment."

The hooded figure was silent for a moment and then let out a small chuckle, "It shall be done, my dearest T'Pol," it replied in a gentle, rolling accent. "Mestral would have wanted no less for me."

"I shall send the co-ordinates at once," T'Pol replied as she worked at the console; she fully intended to contact Jeris for a meeting once her friend had arrived at the Embassy safe and sound.

Captain Pike's Office – Starfleet Command – 1700

It had taken three hours and several boxes of replicated tissues, but it was done. The story was told.

Balled up, heavily used tissues littered the floor of the office and Arianne was seated on the visiting couch hunched over and with her hands covering her face.

Guinan was seated next to Arianne with a reassuring arm around the terrified girl. Chris sat behind his desk looking both shocked and intrigued.

"…If you want to disown me, Captain Pike, I'll understand," Arianne stated in a trembling voice, not daring to look at Chris as she tried to calm herself down. "I sought answers from Spock about why I was having those strange memories and for that, I am grateful. My search for answers is complete."

Chris sighed, his heart going out to his distressed daughter; he had suspicions about the use of de-aging ever since Boyce had examined Arianne as a baby. However, along with the procedure being illegal according to Starfleet law, he had been quite fond of Arianne and had wanted someone to call family.

Letting out a sigh, Chris rose from his desk and walked over to the couch. He took a seat on the other side of Arianne and motioned for Guinan to let him console his daughter, which she quickly did.

"My blessed daughter," Chris said in a soothing voice as he put a fatherly arm around Arianne and drew her close to him. "How could I not love you even now? You are a very extraordinary girl and I love you even more than before this information came to light. Arianne, sweetheart, look at me please."

Arianne lifted her head and gazed at Chris, surprised to see that he had a warm, compassionate expression on his face, "What are you referring to me as Captain Pike for, kiddo?" Chris asked in an amused expression. "That's only when you're in a class I'm teaching or should you want to come serve on the Enterprise after you graduate from the Academy. You can call me Dad at any other time."

"Thank you, Dad," Arianne whispered, feeling relieved that her father would be there for her if nobody else ended up staying by her side; a sudden feeling of worry crept into her heart about Jim.

Looking up at her father, Arianne sighed, "I have to tell Jim about this," she replied in a worried voice as he released her. "We've never kept secrets from each other and I don't want to start doing that now."

"Cadet Kirk's still in bad shape," Chris stated gently. "Give him some more time to heal."

Arianne nodded; she knew that Jim was in bad shape after being kidnapped from Admiral Archer's residence and subject to thoughtless torture all for want of whatever information his captor wanted.

"While we're on the subject of time, Arianne, I need to talk to you about something," Chris stated, knowing that his news would upset her, but help her grow despite of it. "From what I hear the Enterprise is coming along nicely, but I need to go check on her and then I need to go on an international recruiting campaign for able-bodied men and women to help run the ship when it's completed. I'll be gone for about three months and I'd rather you stayed in the dorms while I'm gone. I leave at the end of August and the Command apartments aren't really for Academy cadets, you know."

Arianne swallowed hard, "I don't really know of anyone who would accept me as a roommate," she replied in a worried voice. "After all that happened this last year, I think people are afraid of me."

"I did some checking and there's a free room in a dorm in Boyce Hall," Chris stated, giving Arianne a reassuring smile. "The dorm is shared by a nursing student named Christine Chapel and a history major named Marla McGivers. I've already asked them if you could stay there and they are okay with it."

Arianne let out a sigh of relief at not having to be completely alone until Jim got better. "So, Dad, tell me and Madame Guinan more about what you'll be doing," she said in an intrigued voice as she smiled.

As Chris began to go into detail about his new assignment, Arianne looked at Madame Guinan and saw a reassuring look in her former teacher's eyes; everything would turn out okay and she would be fine.

Underworld Station Alpha - Alameda, California

Serij scowled, but remained silent as he watched T'Pol settle Lorian to sleep in a crib-like bed in the room that she had claimed for the night. "It was foolish to bring your child, T'Pol," he hissed.

"There was nobody at the Embassy to watch Lorian," T'Pol replied crisply. "I, therefore, made a plausible excuse relating to diplomatic affairs and am going to spend the night here. Both the High Command and Starfleet officials know this place as a scientific research facility, so my presence here is logical."

As T'Pol hovered over the sleeping Lorian, Serij scowled, "I do not need a baby-sitter to finish my assignment, T'Pol," he stated in a cold tone. "If you let me kill Soval, my job will be half-completed."

"You are half-Vulcan, yet you act more like a human," T'Pol replied in a tone of utter disgust. "Your carelessness has resulted in near-discovery several times, so you obviously require assistance to complete your assignment."

Serij scoffed, but before he could reply, the door to T'Pol's temporary dwelling slid open and a tall cloaked figure swept into the room and immediately stopped in front of the bed where Lorian slept. Serij gasped quietly.

The figure chuckled and lowered its hood, revealing a tan man with cold eyes and dark, slicked back hair sporting a red shirt, dark pants, and dark boots under his dark cloak. He gave T'Pol a courteous, almost charming smile.

"I am Khan Noonien Singh," the man spoke in an eloquent accent as he gave Serij a nod. "You must be Serij?"

Serij nodded politely, not wanting to incite the wrath of this mysterious stranger. "I have learned much of your tragic life story from reading Vulcan history," Khan stated in a sympathetic tone. "I, myself, have an equally tragic story, so I can sympathize. My fellow Augments and I were en route to a destination far beyond the stars and we came across the horrific sight of a starship exploding into a massive vessel as hundreds of damaged escape pods and small shuttles floated away from the wreckage. The magnitude of the wreckage must have turned us around because we awoke on Vulcan's surface."

"Augments?" Serij asked, slightly confused by the term. "Were you genetically engineered?"

Khan chuckled and gave Serij a gentle look as a parent would a very confused and lost child. "My dear young man, I was created by Mestral of Vulcan in India as an experiment long before your time," he stated in a soothing voice as he patted Serij on the shoulder reassuringly. "Mestral didn't remain on Earth for the rest of his life, choosing to expand his genetic research with the help of Noonien Soong in a place where such things were not deemed dangerous or highly illegal. Yet, I remained in India and worked diligently to earn respect and notoriety."

"I am working on arranging clearance for Khan to become an Academy Instructor this semester for a special class that will cater to those of extraordinary academic and social talent," T'Pol stated, gazing at the mystified Serij. "The class should no doubt attract they who will provide useful information. If you have the patience to listen, Khan will explain to you how you will be a useful assistant for this class."

Serij looked intrigued and fell silent as Khan again began to speak and explain about the new class and how his assistance would prove useful to its execution.

Admiral Archer's Residence – Starfleet Command Housing – 1900

The feeling of something warm and wet on his face caused Jonathan to open his eyes in a hurry.

"Porthos," Jonathan whispered, wincing as he saw his eager beagle standing before him; pain shot through his body, yet all he wanted to do was stand and return to T'Pol's to continue talking.

However, as Jonathan slowly sat up, he saw that he was on the transporter pad within his own house and quickly realized that T'Pol must have transported him home; the discussion must have finished.

There was no way he could go to Starfleet Security or JAG with the information that T'Pol and Serij had been involved with the kidnappings and attacks, as he would have to reveal the truth about Ensign Pike as well. Ensign Pike was a good girl who had already endured a lot and didn't need anymore stress.

With a sigh, Jonathan got to his feet and moved off the pad, "Porthos, if all that information T'Pol told me is true, what am I supposed to do with what I now know?" he asked in a concerned voice as he moved into the living room and sank down on to the couch. "That type of experimentation is illegal."

Porthos responded by jumping on to the couch and settling in next to Jonathan, "Both Chris and Ensign Pike would be devastated if they found out what T'Pol and I both know," Jonathan murmured as he gently stroked Porthos and slouched to relax. "I can't tell anyone about this; it would cause chaos."

Jonathan took a deep breath to relax; he could and would never tell anyone, especially Chris and Arianne Pike about what T'Pol had confided in him.

As far as he could remember, Jonathan thought, he would be one of Ensign Pike's instructors come fall term and he could just keep an eye on her there.

As Jonathan closed his eyes to rest, he knew that it was bad enough that Cadet Kirk had suffered by being exposed to an unhealthy amount of radiation at birth, served as an unwilling witness to the whole Tarsus incident, and was battered by family and civilians until his unusual enrollment at the Academy.

If the truth about Ensign Pike's past ever got out into the public, all chaos would break loose worldwide. Nobody deserved chaos, especially not Ensign Pike.

Can I please have some reviews so I can continue this story happily?