"Open your mouth and say 'ah'."

Karnth blinked spots out of her eyes as Dr. McCoy turned his miniature flashlight off. Watching the doctor come towards her with a flat board like object, Karnth could not help but raise her eyebrows. "Aren't these kind of…uh…archaic diagnostic methods Doctor?"

Karnth glanced up to see blue eyes dancing. "Well true, you probably wouldn't find this little baby here at any high tech doctor's office," McCoy agreed, his Southern drawl exaggerated. "But you are dealing with an ole country doctor from the state of Georgia. I like to go by tried and true methods."

"I see." Karnth glanced around the ceiling as he inserted the tool in her mouth, making the appropriate noise. And a starship's surgical bay doesn't count as a 'high tech doctor's office' because…? Suddenly Karnth gagged and erupted into a coughing fit, pushing McCoy away.

"Whoops!" He laughed, turning to jot some notes in his databoard. "Looks like I reached a little too deep there!"

Obviously. Wiping tears away, Karnth gave him a winning smile. "Not at all, sir! Whatever gave you that idea?" Immediately wincing at herself, she quickly apologized. "Sorry, sir. My mother would probably have grabbed me by the ear for my insolent comment, especially to another Healer."

Doctor McCoy gestured for Karnth to put her clothing back on. Finally! Jumping down off the diagnostic table, she followed him to his office, putting her dress back on.

"Your mother was a doctor then?" McCoy asked casually as he sat down, turning his computer on from standby. Karnth sat in the only seat available.

"Mhm. She wanted me to be one too, but I get a little nervous in doctor's offices. She was always a little disappointed I didn't follow her steps. She is over it now though." Karnth paused, wondering at the ease the doctor radiated. Not that Karnth considered herself the type of person to keep her personal life under wraps, personnel file aside. She felt comfortable talking about her past. But this "ole country doctor" as McCoy fashioned himself, radiated comfortable, safe emotions, which she picked up on.

"You're missing out," McCoy smiled, to which Karnth slightly shuddered. Laughing at her, he turned to his computer console, sliding a disk in. Glancing between her test results of the exam and the computer monitor, he spoke.

"Seems like you are perfectly healthy, according to these baseline records of your last exam on Niona, and your first exam when you entered the Federation." His voice trailed and got quieter as he read over her various doctor tests.

"Well that is good news. Am I officially cleared for duty?" Karnth asked, eager to get out of the surgical bay. The instruments on the wall behind the doctor were making the hairs on her skin raise. They looked like torture devices! Trying to ignore the creepy feeling, she kept her eyes on the doctor. After a minute it became clear that McCoy had not heard her. "Doctor!" She spoke loudly.

"What? Oh! Yes, you are cleared for duty, your free to report to the Captain." As Karnth gave a sigh of relief and started to rise, McCoy spoke again, sharp eyes back on his computer monitor. "You know, I really have to extend my gratitude to the people of your planet for being so forthcoming about your physiology. This is all fascinating!"

Karnth gave a weary grin and sat back down, waiting for the particulars. She did not have to wait long.

"It is especially interesting how your blood is silver based. There are no records of any other species having their blood based on silver." McCoy looked over at her, and Karnth could see the excitement at new knowledge on his face.

Amused, she told him the story of how her blood set off the weapons detectors when she first had a private audience with the Federation President. "It took them all day to realize that it was my blood that set off the alarm! They spent over an hour searching for weapons both on my person and in my person." Karnth's face scrunched up at the memory. "That was an exhausting day."

McCoy laughed, absolutely delighted. "How did they finally realize it?"

Karnth shook her head, remembering. "They refused to believe the medical information that I provided them when I first arrived, but finally one scientist decided to just see if what was in the report panned out. Apparently he had an anniversary dinner that evening he couldn't miss." Karnth shrugged, smiling back at the doctor. "So they ran blood tests and saw that my blood is indeed based on silver."

"That's amazing. It says here that when in contact with oxygen, your blood is a silvery blue."

Nodding she confirmed that, "Yes, and when it isn't in contact with oxygen it is silver." Looking at the chronometer on his desk she stood. "Sorry sir, but I need to report to the bridge. The files I gave you this morning has all the information about my species if you are curious to know more medically."

Blushing slightly, McCoy stood. "I should be the one to apologize. Sometimes I can get wrapped up into something when I first encounter it." He extended his hand to her. Grasping it, Karnth looked up as McCoy said, "Welcome aboard Karnth. I think you'll make a great addition to the crew."

Smiling Karnth thanked him, turning away and moving quickly to the door. "Oh and Yeoman!"

Karnth looked back over her shoulder, biting her lip when she glanced again at the chronometer. Looking up at the doctor she saw compassion and friendliness in his eyes. "If you need anything, just give a holler."

Nodding, she left his office. As she passed through the doors of Sick Bay into the corridor, she could see him already immersed in her medical files.

*****

I'm late. I'm late. It was like a mantra in Karnth's mind as she cursed the turbolift. Turbo my ears. She mentally mumbled. For some reason she was as nervous as when she first started out in Starfleet, as if she did not have years of experience under her belt. Blowing air out her lips she shifted from foot to foot. She really did not want to be late. She did not want the Captain to pay more attention to her than necessary. She already knew he would be watching her, what with the time gaps in her personnel file combined with last night's display. This was the Captain Kirk, someone who even she admired in the field. She knew he would do some digging around about her – it was what she would do after all. It was not as if she were a criminal or anything. She had just requested that certain aspects of her past be closed to everyone except those who were admirals and higher. She was upset enough about what happened at the time, and certainly did not want anyone to give her sympathy, or engage her in conversation about it. So Starfleet granted her request. Case closed. Unless Kirk started looking around.

Finally the turbolift doors opened to reveal the Bridge. Rushing down the steps to the Captain's chair, she stood straight and said, "Chief Yeoman Lieutenant Karnth, sir, reporting for duty."

"Acknowledged." Kirk said, glancing at her from his databoard. "And in the future yeoman, you don't need to stand on ceremony. We have a relaxed bridge crew here. Relaxed, but diligent." Karnth sighed as she realized that Kirk was not about to give her a hard time for being a couple minutes late.

Kirk passed his signed databoard to Karnth. "I see your physical went well." He smiled, before looking at the viewscreen, watching the planet rotate beneath them.

"Yes sir. All fit for duty." Karnth ascended the stairs, and walked to the Science station. Spock stood as she passed him the databoard, waiting as he signed his name under the Captain's, and the time he came on duty. Karnth signed her own information quickly before moving amongst the Bridge crew, in order of rank, signing everyone in for duty. Returning to the Captain's chair she was about to ask if he wanted coffee when Uhura spoke from the Communications station.

"Sir, there is an urgent message from the planet below. Commodore Weston is hailing."

Glancing quizzically at Uhura, Kirk ordered, "Hailing frequencies open."

"Yes sir." Uhura's dark fingers danced across the board. "Open sir. On screen."

A heavy feeling settled in Karnth's stomach when she saw the Commodore's face come on visual. Usually Weston brought mind that jolly man that children in San Francisco always adored, St. Nicolas, but right now there was no happiness in his face. There was a scowl on his forehead above snapping eyes, and his mouth was set in a grim line. "Captain," he said, by way of greeting.

Kirk nodded back. "Commodore Weston."

Even though the Commodore was on the planet surface, Karnth could see the tension radiating off of him. Oh no. She thought, remember those feelings she picked up on last night. Biting her lip she unconsciously stepped forward.

"I'll be brief," Weston boomed out. That is never a good sign, thought Karnth quickly. "The head of the delegation from Lentare is missing."

Karnth just about dropped her databoard as Kirk stood up out of his chair. "What happened?" Kirk asked.

"Unknown. Jetla's Undersecretary Metkat entered Jetla's quarters when Jetla did not respond to knocks on his door. Finding him no where, Metkat panicked and ran out into the hall way, informing the security detail outside Jetla's rooms, who in turn contacted me. Now, due to the Lentaran's tendency to…over react, the security detail was directed to searching the house and grounds, but they found nothing."

Karnth released a breath she forgot she was holding. Missing? She supposed now the Lentaran's had legitimate reasoning to be paranoid. Only this will make it much worse. Karnth watched the Captain as he furrowed his brow in thought, a scowl rivaling the Commodore's. Kirk looked up at the view screen. "What are your orders, sir?"

Nodding, Weston replied, "You are to investigate this disappearance. I'll be relocating the Lentarans to a safer place on the planet, and dealing with the bureaucratic side of things, so don't you worry about that. Just find Jetla, Kirk. We can't afford to lose the newest members of the Federation not even 24 hours after their inauguration ceremony."

Standing stiffly, Kirk nodded. Karnth turned her mind inward, already trying to figure out what actually happened. She had posted security details right outside Jetla's quarters to appease his people as to his safety. What ever happened must have happened exclusively within Jetla's rooms. Or else the security team would have known.

"Mr. Spock, Yeoman Karnth, follow me to the Transporter Room. Uhura, contact Dr. McCoy and have him meet us there," Kirk snapped out, gliding to the turbolift. Briskly Karnth followed Spock into the lift, pausing briefly to pass Uhura the databoard. As soon as she was in, Kirk gave the deck before turning to her.

"That place was teeming with security," he stated, looking carefully at her. Karnth nodded, nibbling at her lip. I wonder where he is going with this. "Why do you think someone was able to go missing when that place was teeming with security?"

Karnth frowned at the insinuation. "I posted security personnel at every corner and intersection of those corridors and wings. I posted a guard right outside the Ambassador's rooms. I had men in the downstairs. So I do not know how someone was able to go missing when that place was teeming with security. Sir."

Kirk had raise his eyes slightly at her self-defensive tone. "I don't mean any slight against you Lieutenant. The opposite actually, I wanted to ask you because you were the one in charge, and knew the strategic placement of all the security. I wanted your honest assessment."

Karnth felt absolutely mortified, and knew that growing heat in her cheeks showed it. Lowering her eyes, she bit her lip again. "I'm sorry Captain. I must have misunderstood the question." She looked up, expecting condemnation along Kirk's golden features, but found only understanding. Kirk smiled a little as the turbolift opened again.

Striding out he asked to everyone, "So how does one disappear in a place covered with security at every angle?"

Karnth kept her eyes straight ahead, determined not to open her mouth so she could keep her foot out of it. After a beat Spock said, "One would assume transporters," he commented as the doors to the Transporter Room swept open before them. "But, it would be unwise to speculate without evidence."

As they gathered on the transporter pads, Karnth struggled inwardly, her urge to not put her foot in her mouth battling with her urge to be helpful. Pretty quickly actually, the urge to be helpful won out. "Captain," she began as they dematerialized.

Once again she opened her eyes to see the great stone house before her. Again, people were bustling about, but the air was different – no longer the hectic, though excited, tone of yesterday morning as people rushed about preparing the Hall for that night's celebrations. Instead, it held an urgent tension, with underlying suspicion. Suffocating.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Kirk replied, squinting at her in the bright sunlight. Karnth turned towards her crewmates. "Well, sir. And this is no disrespect meant to Mr. Spock, but transportation is not capable on this planet. That is to say, unauthorized transportation."

Kirk raised his eyebrows, surprised. "I didn't know that. Who authorizes transportation?"

"The Council. They are the ruling circle of the planet. I found out when I tried to arrange for this Hall to be prepared for the diplomatic celebrations. That's why there were shuttlecraft all over the place. The people of this planet do not trust transporter technology."

"Sounds like my home away from home!" McCoy announced jubilantly, grinning at all of them. Kirk smirked as Spock stared straight ahead, steadfastly ignoring the doctor. Karnth, not knowing what to say, chose to follow Spock's example and did not say anything.

"Well," Kirk began, amusement leaving his face as he turned back to the task at hand. "That is certainly useful to know. Do you know anything else that may be of use?"

"Scanners are –" both Spock and Karnth started to say. Promptly shutting her mouth, Karnth reminded herself that she was a Yeoman. She was here to record. On that note, she started the data recorder going as Spock finished what they were both trying to say.

"Scanners are inoperable beyond surface scanning. You can scan the planet to find general geological findings and other physical characteristics of the planet, but you cannot do pinpoint scanning either from orbit, or on planetside."

Kirk's face darkened a little in frustration. "That is hardly helpful information Spock."

One of Spock's dark eyebrows flew up to his hairline in surprise. "Indeed? I had thought to mention it in order to not waste time in figuring out the uselessness of our scanning technology, so that would be put to better use." He looked around at them, almost as if confused. "Lieutenant Karnth also found it worth mentioning Captain."

Karnth looked sharply at Spock, opening her mouth in amused shock. Kirk looked up at the sky as McCoy closed his eyes and shook his head. "That isn't what Jim meant Spock…" the doctor informed the Vulcan in an exhausted tone. It was clear to Karnth that McCoy often tried to explain to Spock the intricacies of language and intent.

"Really? What did you mean Captain?"

"Not important," Kirk said firmly. In those simple words Karnth could see how he was able to be such a competent leader. "What is important is this missing Ambassador. Now lets go up to his chamber and see what we can gather."

Karnth followed the Captain as he went through the grand doors and up the staircase, taking everything in. Try as she might, she could discern nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing was out of place, which was a little creepy.

Going up more stairs, they found the main wing in which the Lentaran delegation spent the night. Walking down a couple corridors, they found Jetla's room, guarded by some of Kirk's security. Kirk nodded to them, passing through the doorway.

Karnth looked around quickly, taking it all in with one sweep of her eyes. Just like below, everything was in its place. No sign of a struggle at all. Karnth brought out her data recorder and started taking photos of the room, trailing behind Kirk.

Kirk first inspected the floor, but seeing no marks, he turned to Jetla's bed. "It doesn't look like this bed has been slept in at all. There is still a complimentary flower on the pillow. Nice touch Karnth."

Karnth shrugged as she aimed her data recorder at the bed. "We had more flower than we needed. I wasn't about to let them go to waste," she replied as she snapped a picture. She followed Kirk to the adjoining door.

"Where does this door lead?" Kirk asked.

"Undersecretary Metkat's room, sir," Karnth replied.

"Looks like we found our first person to question," Kirk stated as Karnth snapped a picture of the adjoining doorway.

"Captain, look here." Karnth turned towards Spock's voice. He and Doctor McCoy were by the desk, bent over something on its surface. Kirk walked briskly over. "What did you find, Mr. Spock?"

Karnth quickly aimed her data recorder and took another photo. The desk was devoid of any personal objects. "There appears to be blood. It is a dark red liquid substance, and it smells like copper, much like human blood smells," Spock reported. Moving forward, Karnth took a close up shot of the liquid before backing away, making triple-sure the voice recorder was still going.

"Take a sample of that Bones, and analyze it in the lab. We will first ascertain what the substance is, and if it is blood, figure out to whom it belongs. Clear everyone?"

McCoy nodded as Spock answered, "Affirmative." Karnth remained silent though, looking closer at the substance. It was a tiny pool of liquid, but it had what looked like an edge to it, making the blot resemble a half moon. Karnth took yet another picture. "Captain," she said distractedly. "I believe there were papers here when this liquid was spilt."

"What makes you say that, Yeoman?" Spock inquired, bending down to look closer. Kirk hovered above them, as Dr. McCoy craned around Karnth's shoulder.

Very carefully, Karnth extended a pale finger, stopping centimeters away from the liquid. "See this?" she asked as she traced the phantom edge. "It's too straight to be naturally formed. I would say there were papers here and that some of the liquid in this blot landed on them. Someone, for some reason, took these papers away, and when the blood congealed, it expanded only a little, still having that almost straight-edge look."

Kirk whistled, impressed. I had not noticed that Lieutenant, good work! Between the keen observations of yourself AND Mr. Spock, we'll have this figured out in no time." Karnth smiled as Kirk went on. "Now, why removed papers? Where are they? And who took them?"

"Maybe the Ambassador was kidnapped," McCoy supplied.

"How are the investigations coming Kirk?" a voice boomed out behind them. All four jumped as they straightened, landing painfully on each other's toes. Turning toward the doorway, they stepped away from each other as Kirk moved towards Commodore Weston.

"We are already making progress, sir. We believe Ambassador Jetla was kidnapped," Kirk replied, face grim.

Weston pursed his lips. "Not exactly the kind of progress I'd like to hear, but I suppose progress is progress. What are you going to do now?"

"Figure out if this substance we found was blood, and if it belonged to Jetla. Then, start initial interrogations. You are more than welcome to sit in, sir," Kirk offered, sensing the Commodore was taking this as a personal slight.

Commodore Weston released a wolf-like grin. "I wouldn't dream of passing up that opportunity. When do you want to start?"

Kirk flipped open his communicator, replying, "We need to run these tests first, and get our data we've collected so far into the computers for analysis. I do have a question though," Kirk told Weston lightly. "Was anything removed from this desk at all?"

"No, why?" Weston looked closely at Kirk, furrowing his brow. Karnth prepared herself for a verbal lashing. She knew that look. It was the only warning signal from the man before he laid into someone. "I don't like what you are insinuating Captain. Not one bit."

Holding up his hands placatingly, Kirk smiled a winning smile that did not quite reach his golden eyes. "No insinuation meant, Commodore. Just trying to ascertain facts."

"My people aren't incompetent, Captain, they know when to not touch things." Before Kirk could reply, Weston continued. "So, it is not our people you need to worry about."

"Never said it was, Commodore. But this is an investigation, and sensitive questions will have to be asked and answered. You can understand that, sir, and sympathize." Karnth looked at Kirk with raised eyebrows, then at Commodore Weston. She could not help but be impressed, it took some serious courage to stand up to Weston, and prevent an explosion, which Karnth could see was imminent. Karnth paid attention to the fact that Kirk knew how to work people, and tucked that information in the back of her mind for later contemplation.

Weston stood for a few minutes, quietly observing Kirk with intense eyes. Kirk stared right back, stubborn dominance etched into every line of his body. Slowly, Weston started to nod, and, to Karnth's immense surprise – as if she could not be surprised enough that day – Weston held out his hand for Kirk. Stepping forward, Kirk grasped it in his own. "Indeed I can, Kirk. Indeed I can." A moment seemed to pass between them, before they released each other's hands.

"Let me know when you plan on starting the interrogations, so I can be there," Weston ordered.

Kirk nodded, "Of course, Commodore."

Again Weston nodded, and swept out of the room. There was a quiet pause as they processed what they had just seen. McCoy was the first to break the silence.

"I'm surprised that didn't turn into a pissing contest Jim." Amusement was clear in McCoy's voice.

Kirk shrugged, running his hand through his hair, pushing stray strands back. "He put me in charge of the investigations. I just wanted to show him how unbiased we are." He lifted his communicator to his mouth. "Kirk to Enterprise. Four to beam up."

*****

"I'm sorry, Captain Kirk. I can't help you – what is in Lieutenant Karnth's personnel file is all there is to see." Admiral Nogura looked at Kirk sympathetically. Kirk tried not to let his frustrations show through his eyes. It had taken some time to get Admiral Nogura on the commlinks, but all that effort was proving useless.

"Sir, this is a matter of security. There is a situation with the diplomats from Lentare, and you want me to accept a Yeoman who is missing information in her personnel file? She poses a security risk," Kirk set his jaw stubbornly. He wanted this information, and he will find it.

At this point all sympathy Nogura was showing for Kirk vanished, replaced with irritation. "It saddens me to think you have so little faith in the institution under whose banner you sail, Captain. You really think Starfleet would put a security risk on your ship? Yes, I know her full personnel file, so let me assure you, though I shouldn't have to Captain, that she is a perfectly reliable and suitable crewman." Kirk grimaced at the sharp tones in Admiral Nogura's voice, and tried not to look away when he said "Captain" so scathingly, like a slap in the face. "But since you insist on information you are not privy to, and have no right to, I will tell you this: she specifically requested parts of her personnel file be kept confidential to all except high ranking personnel. So, for the last time. Let it go."

Kirk sighed, knowing he was temporarily defeated. "Yes sir."

Nogura nodded. "Good. Now don't go annoying other officers of higher rank than you for information. You wont like the consequences. Nogura out."

Kirk sat back in his chair, gazing at without seeing his personal computer, his mind dissecting what was just told to him, and what was just inadvertently revealed to him.