Three weeks later

Kirk stood on the bridge as they ducked out of warp close to Virosa space. He was still not over Lena's death. A week ago he had broken things off with Julie for good. She understood. He didn't want to date anyone right now…perhaps when he got back to Earth, but just thinking about it gave him a stomach ache. He had taken to carrying Lena's pendant with him again, but in his pocket instead of around his neck.

"Captain", Uhura said suddenly, "We are being hailed… It's a Zezian warship."

"On screen", Kirk said darkly - he had been mentally preparing himself for this moment for weeks.

"Captain Kirk!" the Zezian Captain sneered. "I did not think you would answer my hail so brazenly. Now that we know you have thrown your lot in with the Virosa - makes sense - they are not fond of their own treaties either!"

"I'm not sure what kind of accusation that is, but you can rest assured - our offer to join the Federation is rescinded", he said venomously.

Spock looked up at him…staring intently - they had not discussed this - but Uhura looked pleased.

"I don't make alliances with those who aid our enemies, Captain!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about - your little Ensign - sitting there so innocently - broke your damn Prime Directive and gave full scans of your ship to the little blonde bitch he spent two weeks fucking."

Kirk sucked in his breath. Spock was glaring at Chekov who looked terrified.

"Prove it", he dared them.

"With pleasure…" The Zezian Captain sent over a scan of what Kirk could only assume was a Virosa ship, as well as statistics. It took him less than thirty seconds to recognize that is was primarily Federation technology - with a healthy mixing of things he guessed were from other races. The ship was armed with a slightly more advanced version of photon torpedoes.

Kirk was speechless, but Spock took over, "While the ship is similar to our own - it does not necessarily prove that we gave this to them - it could have been stolen."

"Our spies SAW him helping her!"

"Spock, how far are they?"

"Too far to attack, Captain."

"Get us to warp - Mr. Sulu."

"Done."

The Enterprise sprinted away. In the dead silence Spock's voice rang out, "Pavel Chekov, you are temporarily decommissioned and under arrest for the illegal disbursement of Federation technology to an alien species, you have the right to remain silent…"

Kirk felt the blood drain from his face as Spock continued to read Chekov the Miranda Rights. The poor kid was in shock; he had never done anything wrong in his life. This wasn't supposed to happen, but it wasn't hard to piece together. Veelia hadn't had time to break down the file - she had sent it out intact, or mostly intact. Oddly, he felt himself not regretting it, but he couldn't let Chekov take the fall - Lena was dead. He couldn't save her anyway.

"Spock - stop. Chekov didn't do this."

"Captain - there was a witness…"

"He helped her, but he didn't know it was from the Enterprise - they didn't build those ships from what he did."

"Do you have an alternative theory, then?"

"Yes…" Kirk said. "Veelia got them from the download of the ship's files I gave to Lena."

"A...download…" Spock was horrified. "Jim… what did you give her?"

"Everything… every fucking thing… I told you I knew about the war…"

"Wait!" Carol, broke in, "That's impossible - their weapons… they're from my files… Jim didn't have access to them. Lena had to have hacked us - he's just protecting her!"

"From WHAT?!" Jim shouted at her, "Lena is dead - gone. I FAILED to protect her - I left her here - in this mess. I gave to those files because… I wanted to help her, keep her safe…" he finished as a whisper. "It was the only thing I could do…"

Carol didn't back down; she wanted to clear his name… wanted to convince Spock it wasn't true. Jim was just being dramatic, "Then how the hell did she get those torpedoes, Jim?"

Jim closed his eyes, "You really ought to change your fucking password, Carol."

"Ensign Chekov - you are relieved of duty until further notice…" Spock turned to Jim, "James Tiberius Kirk you are temporarily decommissioned as Captain of this vessel and are under arrest for…"

"I got when you said it to Chekov."

"I must read you your rights."

"I've known them by heart since I was 15."

"Jim I must…"

"Just fucking book me!"

Spock looked at his friend, unable to believe what had just transpired. "Mr. Sulu", Spock said, "Please take Mr. Kirk to the brig - where he will await trial… Mr. Chekov, you are confined to your quarters until further notice - house arrest."

Spock returned to his quarters. He needed to meditate. How could Jim have acted so foolishly? Spock was now Captain of the Enterprise, as he had been once, a long time ago. It was not a position he enjoyed. Though he felt comfortable with the leadership aspect of the role, he wasn't fond of how time consuming it was. He had chosen to be a Science Officer for a reason. Jim was the Captain, one of the best Spock had ever seen or studied. But now it was looking as if he was to be Captain for the next three years as he could not see a way to reinstate Jim. He remembered how he had reacted when Nyota speculated on Jim's feelings for Lena, but he never could have imagined Jim would break so many laws, endanger the Enterprise, and potentially drag the Federation into a war. He then wondered if he would have done the same for Nyota. Jim knew about the war, and, he suspected, knew why the reason for conflict between the Zezians and the Virosa was kept secret. Jim was impulsive, but he usually had a reason behind his behavior.

Spock broke his meditative state and went to the brig. Jim was there - relaxed, and bored, lounging on a cot, while three Crewmen stood guard. "Leave us", Spock said. Jim looked up.

"I told you - I don't need my rights read to me."

"Jim… Why did you give a download of the Enterprise to Lena?"

Jim shrugged, "It doesn't matter anymore."

"It matters a great deal! Jim - I know you know why the Zezians and the Virosa are at odds. Lena must have said something to move you. I know you would never…"

"Never what, Spock? This isn't the first time I've broken the Prime Directive."

Spock couldn't argue that point, so he changed tactics, "Why will you not tell me? Perhaps you promised her, but she is dead…. You must think of yourself. Why are you protecting her, still?"

"It's complicated….Why do you even care?"

"Because I plan to hold your trial here. Three years is too long to legally keep you incarcerated without a trial. A jury will be selected….and I plan to defend you myself - get you reinstated as Captain. But I cannot do this without your full cooperation."

Jim looked up. It was a classic Spock move; arrest him, then try to get him off. He really was a good friend.

"Thanks, Spock - I …."

"You do not have to tell me now, if you wish to have time to think about it… But please… do not lie to me again, or lie by omission. I cannot help you if you do."

Jim nodded, "Thanks", he said.

Jim fiddled with the pendant Lena gave him into the night. It was much heavier than normal gold and incorporated a detailed inscriptive pattern. In the center was an amethyst stone. For some reason it felt like he was touching her when he twirled it through his fingers. She never told him what it meant, but now he was so curious. His cell was pitch-black, but he could hear his two night guards pacing in the dark. He knew they were not happy about him being in here. None of the crew was - but, there was nothing to be done.

Suddenly he heard a noise - it sounded like a body hitting the floor. Then another… his two guards were down! Silently Kirk tucked his pendant back into his pocket, and his training kicked in. Being young had its advantages - he held, and maintained - a 92nd percentile score in his combat training - just two points below Spock; his score probably accounted for why Spock had two guards. He didn't have a weapon, but he crept behind the wall, and readied himself for a fight. He saw a small light then heard someone punching numbers into the keypad for the force field that held him. It disengaged and he heard the faintest ruffle of feathers.

"Lights", a musical voice said in his ear.

The force field was down, and Veelia stood in front of him.

"Captain!" she said, "I have come to rescue you!"

"Veelia!" Kirk gasped, "What are you doing here?"

She frowned, "I just told you - rescuing you - duh."

"From what?"

"Haven't you been arrested? I saw your ship in my view screen and hacked into your systems - you were arrested, right? It would be really weird if these were your new quarters…"

"Yes - I was…. do you guys ever stop hacking into stuff? I don't understand, though. And I can't go anywhere with you."

"But you have too."

"No Veelia, I….I have to answer for this…."

She put a device on her wrist to his head, "You need to come with me." He heard it whistle -like a phaser.

"I… wait-you want to either rescue me or kill me?"

She lowered it, "UGH - you are so frustrating! You MUST come with me though - this is all my fault. Lena didn't speak to me for a month when I sent that file out as a whole - but we were out of time! And now the Zezians know you helped us! If Lena finds out that your own people have arrested you, I… Well, I will be in big trouble."

Kirk froze, "What do you mean "finds out"?"

"If it becomes apparent to her that you were arrested she might actually kill me? What part of that is confusing?"

"Lena is dead!"

"Shit! UGH - I TOLD HER to destroy it! Why doesn't she ever listen to me?"

Veelia shook her beautiful head, "I'm guessing you got the message, then. Lena recorded it months ago - She went a little crazy when you left… she was really really upset...then when the Zezians attacked, she recorded that message because she thought … well… she didn't expect to live. But she did - we took back Ya-Mo, and joined the war. She removed the message from her heart - it was a HUGE tactical error to even think about sending it, and she realized that once she came to her senses. But she kept the recording device in her room, and then the palace was destroyed, with the Zezian took out Ya-Mo - it must have triggered it. She will be livid with you when she learns you have returned to our space, though I suspect I will get the brunt of it if she realizes you were arrested because of me. SO - NOW will you let me rescue you?!"

Kirk couldn't breathe. Lena was alive! Fighting!

"How did you get me out of here - the force field…"

"Your force field is stupid. Come ON! I have a shuttle in your cargo bay - we can get out of here undetected… where are you going?!"

Kirk was running through the Enterprise, Veelia hot on his heels, her wings crashing into the curved walls of the ship, slowing her down. He pulled her onto the turbo-lift with him and pressed the button.

"Hey! This thing is going the wrong way! The cargo bay is down!"

Kirk finally took a good look at her. She was still unbelievably gorgeous, but the past year had changed her - toughened her. Her silken hair was cut shorter and fell in a simple messy braid over her shoulder. Her arms were no longer delicate, but bulging with lean muscle. She had a scar down her neck, and when she turned her head, he was startled to see that she was missing part of her ear. Most curious of all though were her wings. Instead of their translucent white, they had large patches of black on them - like Lena's.

He said to her, "What happened you your wings, Veelia?"

Her gentle violet eyes hardened - cold, "It is Zezian blood. The stains are permanent. I have… killed many. We all have."

Kirk exhaled, "We need to get Spock."

"Didn't he arrest you?"

"Yeah…"

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to…"

Kirk walked right up to Spock's door. He had promised Spock to stop lying to him. He went to call to him, but realized his com had been taken. "Shit", he said, "I don't remember his access code!"

Veelia rolled her eyes at him, "You're super cute, but kind of useless, you know?"

"I've been told that before."

She sighed and abruptly punched the keypad, causing the door to open, and swept inside in one fluid motion. Kirk followed her, only to wish a second later he'd hung back. Upon entering he heard Uhura shriek and Spock curse him out in Vulcan. He hadn't realized either one of them was so flexible, but it wasn't something he needed verified - especially since he mostly saw Spock.

Kirk turned around quickly, and Veelia looked at him admonishingly, "See we have interrupted them! We should have just left!" Veelia hadn't bothered turning around, but then, Winged Daughters were oddly comfortable with this sort of thing -he remembered how one time he and Lena had been having sex in an empty meeting room, and a male servant walked in. She ignored him, then asked Jim why he was stopping, genuinely confused.

"Sorry guys I…"

"Jim-why didn't you knock!?" Uhura screamed at him.

"SORRY!"

He felt a hand on his shoulder and Spock whirled him around - dressed.

"How did you escape your cell? What is a Winged Daughter doing here? Jim, what is going on?"

Kirk grabbed Veelia, "Tell them what you told me."

Veelia, who had been preening her feathers turned to Spock, "You force field is stupid - the security on it has a flaw-there is a loophole in the program."

"No NOT that! Lena!"

"Oh", Veelia paused, "Lena is alive."

"Impossible", Spock said.

"No", Veelia quickly filled him in. Uhura actually sat down in shock - "That's …..Oh my god."

"Yes", Veelia said, "Anyways, now that we came to tell you, I need to bring him back with me."

"He has been arrested." Spock cut in - he could be quite a killjoy.

Veelia looked frustrated, "THAT'S why I need to bring him back. Lena will kill me if you execute him for treason!"

"Wait - is that a possibility?" Kirk asked.

"Of course not Jim", Uhura cut in, "Veelia we don't execute people - it was in our culture briefing."

Veelia rolled her eyes, "Yeah… didn't read that. It doesn't matter though. He's coming with me."

Suddenly the ship rocked, and several alarms pierced the silence.

Kirk instinctively reached for his com, only to remember he didn't have it.

"Bridge to Captain Spock! We are under attack! - It's the Zezian warship. They followed us - they've sent a boarding party!"