As the ship neared the moon, Jim and his team could see the glowing force field that seemed to be spreading around the moon. "We have to get down there before that thing closes," Jim said.

"How do we get out?" Bones asked.

"Well, hopefully, the force field won't be there when we leave."

"Oh, great."

"What do we do about being weightless?" Anakin asked.

"I believe that force field is creating artificial gravity," Michael said. "The computer is analyzing it. That must be why they're creating it in the first place."

Jim angled the ship to get through the remaining opening of the force field, and once they were inside, he was sure the shield was exactly for that purpose. He adjusted his flight pattern. "Oh yeah, it's creating gravity alright," he said. "So, maybe we shouldn't destroy that right from the start."

"Good idea," Anakin replied. "How do we destroy their operation down there anyway?"

"Explosives."

"Jim, you have to be careful doing that," Bones said. "You could create another tiberium explosion."

"From what I've learned, once the tiberium is refined in their refinery, it won't explode. They use it for food and fuel."

"Fuel? What type of fuel?"

"How should I know? I don't know that much about it."

"Fuel? How do they make food out of it?" Anakin asked.

"Admiral, do you believe my electrical bursts could be a danger?" Ajah asked.

Jim considered that as he was trying to find a place to land. "I don't know," he said. "Just don't hit any clusters of tiberium."

"Yes Sir."

Jim found a place to land, although he was surprised that nothing was coming to try and stop them. "You think they have defenses down here?" he asked.

"Looks like they're mostly around the main base," Michael replied. "They definitely have defenses. How do we get in there?"

"We'll have to figure that out. We got into the last one."

"Yeah, but we had help from the air," Bones reminded him. "And tanks too."

"I know we had help from the air. I was in it, remember?"

"And you didn't learn anything."

"Does he always talk like this?" Michael asked.

"Yes," everyone said at the same time.

Bones glared at them. "Fine," he said. "You can gang up on me for spelling out the truth if you want!"

"We're not ganging up on you," Jim said. "Let's try to act like a team."

Korax looked at Bones as they were all heading toward the boarding ramp. "You do not have to be so sarcastic and look for the worst scenario," Korax said.

"Do you realize what we're going into?" Bones asked.

"Yes but pointing out the worst scenario does not help with morale or courage."

"I didn't know Klingons needed help with any of that."

"We are not all Klingons. You never have confidence in our missions, but we always come out on top."

"Not always. There have been plenty of times that we didn't."

"We will fight. If we do not complete this mission, there will be consequences."

"I know that, but it's still a suicide mission. We're even under a shield."

"Which will not be there once we are finished with this mission."

They activated their helmets and suits. "Don't forget we have the nano-technology too," Jim said as he pressed the glowing button on his chest. "I suppose this will help when we lose all the gravity too."

"Feels like walking around in a tin can," Bones remarked. He looked up at Korax. "And I don't want to hear your comments."

"I do not intend to make any," Korax replied. "I can imagine that that suit is very restricting." He activated his own space suit.

Jim took a deep breath before he lowered the ramp and they looked out at the barren landscape of the moon and the glowing force field above them. "Well, it sure doesn't look any different than the last time we saw it," Bones declared.

"Bones, can you just be serious?" Jim asked.

They walked out onto the gray surface of the moon. Although the force field was creating artificial gravity, they still had a light step. "I wonder how high we could jump under this?" Bones asked.

"I don't think we should find out right now," Jim said.

"How far is it to their base?"

"About a half mile."

"We've gotta walk that far in this?"

"Bones, stop complaining."

"I'm not complaining."

"Sounds like it.

As they walked, they could hear the noises of the harvesters getting louder. "You think those things have weapons on them?" Ajah asked.

"I don't know," Jim replied. "But we can assume that they do."

"What do you think a big jolt of electricity would do to them?"

Jim scowled as he considered that. "Well, it might stop it, but it might also attract a lot of attention."

"So what do we do? Get into the base? You think it will be as difficult as it was to get into the one on Earth?"

"Why would they expect someone to be on this moon trying to get in?" Bones asked.

"You're right," Jim said. "But I'm sure they're going to have some sort of defenses."

"Admiral, I will be glad to go ahead and scout to find out what they have," Korax volunteered.

"They can notice you as well as us," Jim replied.

"Klingons are known for being stealthy. They will not know I am there."

Jim was not sure how Korax would pull that off. "Okay, well, be careful," he said.

Korax nodded and moved out ahead of them. Jim and the others stopped behind one of the buildings. "It doesn't look like they have a wall around everything," Jim whispered.

"Doesn't look like they should have to worry about a wall," Bones replied. "They have that force field and a barren moon."

"So what are we going to do? Set explosives?" Michael asked.

"Most likely," Jim replied. "We don't want to be too conspicuous while we do it. Just set them and run. Set them off after we get out."

"That plan is too easy," Bones declared. "You know things never work like that."

"Yeah, but we try."

Soon, Korax came back. "They have minor defenses," he said. "They have gun turrets, some kind of tower with a storm cloud above it, and also some sort of dogs."

"A storm cloud?" Jim asked.

"Yes and it hovers over the tower and strikes anything it sees."

"Dogs," Jim said. "No doubt trained to smell something before it sees them."

"Most likely."

"How do we get past them?"

Korax frowned. "Stun them."

"I guess so."

"Which is the best way to get in there?" Jim asked.

"I believe it would be best to go between the two buildings over there," Korax said. "Although we could just go in the front gate or jump in the middle and work our way out."

Jim turned slowly and looked at Korax. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"I believe this team of yours usually makes jokes to relieve some of the tension and stress."

Jim noticed Ajah grinning slightly. "You think it's funny too?" he asked.

"It's hilarious," Ajah replied.

Bones shook his head. "You guys, do you realize what we're about to go into?" he asked.

"So? You're usually the comedian," Anakin said.

"He doesn't like anyone else taking his place in making jokes," Korax said.

"Alright," Jim interrupted before that could go any further. "Let's just concentrate on what we're doing."

They moved around to the back of the building they were beside and found the alley between it and the next building. Jim looked between the buildings, and he could see that there were more buildings outside these. He moved up to the front edge of the building and looked around the corner. He jerked his head back as he saw a guard walking along with a dog. He looked back at his team and let them know there was a guard. They stayed behind him against the wall and waited.

Jim could hear footsteps as the guard got closer. He hoped they could get past this guard without incident, but now he was not sure they could. The footsteps suddenly stopped, and Jim could hear sniffing. "You smell something, boy?" the guard asked quietly.

Jim frowned and waited. He heard the sniffing getting closer and then he heard a low growl. He was glad he had his electro-suit on because he was not sure he could get this dog without it trying to get him first. He made sure his phaser was set to stun and stood back from the corner so he could aim. He knew that dog and his partner knew they were there. Suddenly, Jim saw a paw. He aimed his phaser at it and hit it. The dog yelped and began barking loudly. Jim jumped around the corner and stunned the dog, but Anakin took care of the guard before he could fire. "That was not a dog," he said.

"Looks more like a Targ," Korax said. "It is an animal native to Kronos."

Jim blew out a breath. "That had to draw some attention, and who knows if he messaged someone," he whispered. "I think we should split up and set the charges on each building by teams."

"Admiral," Anakin said. "I don't mean to argue, but I don't think that's a good idea. There's something not right here."

"What do you mean?"

Anakin scowled. "That force field." He looked up at it. "It seems like it can see us."

Jim and the others looked up at the force field. "What do you mean?" he asked. "You think it's some sort of organic thing?"

"Or electronic."

Jim and Bones looked at each other. "Cabal," Jim said. "Scotty said he thought it was only half of him in that ship. You think he's working with the Scrin to help find that tacitus?"

"If he is, we're in big trouble," Bones declared.

"Well, we're here now, so we are going to accomplish this mission."

"How?"

"We're gonna set those charges, that's what. We have to find that force field too. If they have incorporated Cabal into it, then if we destroy it, maybe that will destroy the rest of Cabal."

"He's most likely controlling the whole system if he's in there," Michael said. "He can work against us in ways the others can't."

Jim frowned. "We still have to try because we can't get out of here without trying," he said.

"We are with you, Admiral," Ajah said.

Korax slapped his fist across his chest in salute. "We are with you."

"I'm with you too," Anakin added.

"Let's just set the charges," Jim said. He checked his pack to make sure they were all there. "I think we should split up. It will make this quicker."

"Where are we going to meet?" Anakin asked.

"Let's meet at the ship. We all need to get back there as soon as possible."

Jim gave each team three charges. "Ajah and I will take the construction yard," he said. "Anakin, you and Bones take the refinery and the other building next to it. Michael, you and Korax go for the two buildings on the far side. Just set the charges and let's get out of here as quickly as possible."

"We'll move fast," Anakin replied.

Jim and Ajah hurried to the next building. They could see the construction yard from there. "Admiral, what do you think of what Anakin told us?" Ajah asked.

"I don't know right now," Jim replied. "Let's just hurry and get this done."

"Hurry or not, you will not escape, Admiral Kirk," a voice said.

"Who said that?" Jim asked. He realized the sound was coming from his communicator, which was connected to his suit.

"You should know who it is."

Jim looked at Ajah. "Who are you talking to?" Ajah asked.

"You didn't hear that?" Jim asked.

"No."

"Let's go."

Jim hurried around the corner and over to the construction yard, and Ajah followed. "Admiral, what is going on?" Ajah asked.

Jim found the door to the construction yard which was open. He looked inside and did not see anyone, so he hurried inside. He could hear heavy machinery inside. He and Ajah found the main control center, and there were three workers there, which all looked like bugs, but they were the ones they had met before. Jim aimed at the middle window and it exploded when his

shot hit it. Ajah took out the other three. "They overload very easily," Ajah said.

Jim just stood there a moment. "There's something very weird here," he said. "Let's get this done."

They set the charges in strategic places in the building and then moved out to go on to the next. As they came around the next building, there was another guard with one of the "dogs". However, as they took those out, three more of the dogs came along. Jim barely was able to stun one of them before it attacked him. Ajah got the others. "This is getting dangerous," Ajah said.

"I agree that is not a dog," Jim said.

They continued on to the next building, but before they got there, a huge electrical impulse was fired at them. Ajah absorbed it, which caused Jim's hair to stand on end. Ajah looked for the source of the charge and then fired the surge back at it, destroying it. "Let's move," Jim said.

They went on into the building and met up with resistance but took them out quickly. "Let's get these charges set before more show up," Jim said.

"Admiral, I still feel as though I have an overload of electrical energy," Ajah said, sounding almost electronic.

"Why?"

"I do not know. Perhaps it was raw power rather than relayed."

Jim was setting the charges. "Are you okay?"

"I think so, but I feel as though I am buzzing."

Jim looked at Ajah and could see that his eyes were definitely glowing brightly. "Well, if anything else comes in that door, you have my permission to use up that energy," Jim said.

"Thank you, Sir," Ajah replied.

When the charges were set, Jim and Ajah left that building. "That was our last one," Jim said. "Let's get back to the ship and hope everyone else is on their way too."

They started moving, but Ajah stopped. "Admiral!"

Jim whirled around. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know. Something is happening." Suddenly, Ajah looked at Jim with a glare through his glowing eyes.

"Hello, Admiral Kirk. I have finally found a body that I can inhabit and control."

Jim's mouth dropped open as realization came to him. "Cabal."

"You're very perceptive. Now, I will rid this galaxy of your tampering."

"Ajah! Fight him!"

"I'm trying, Admiral!"

"Ajah, you're strong enough! He's nothing!"

Jim's shield came down as Ajah began glowing almost as bright as the sun. "Move back, Admiral!" Ajah said.

"What are you doing?" Jim asked.

"Move back!"

Jim moved back around the edge of the building. Ajah glowed even brighter, and Jim thought he heard Cabal let out a scream. "You picked the wrong person to mess with!" Ajah said. He aimed his hands up at the force field and let go the biggest energy beam that Jim had ever seen from him or Helek.

The beam spread all around the force field, and Jim thought it was short circuiting. "Ajah!" Jim yelled. "Get to the ship!"

Ajah fell to his knees. Jim ran over to him. "You have to get to the ship. I think you shorted out the force field!" he said.

Ajah managed to get to his feet, but Jim had to help him as they headed for the ship. He could hear the sounds of the force field still frying. "Did you get rid of him?" Jim asked.

"He will not bother anyone else," Ajah said.

They made it to the ship and found that the others were there also. "We need to get off the ground," Jim said. "I think that force field is about to drop…and set off those charges as soon as we're off the ground."

Anakin jumped in the pilot's seat and got the ship off the ground. Michael activated the charges, and they saw the huge explosions that destroyed the buildings that were sitting on the moon. Jim got Ajah into a seat. "Are you alright?" Jim asked.

"I do not know, Admiral," Ajah replied.

"We're gonna get you to the medical bay as soon as possible. I don't think Bones can do anything about this here. Are you sure you got rid of him?"

"Yes. He will not bother anyone else."

"How did he do that?"

"I believe he used the electrical weapon. When I absorbed it, I absorbed him as well."

"I had no idea that could happen to you."

"It is not your fault, Admiral."

Bones was scanning Ajah. "He's definitely hyper-electrified," he said. "I'll have to do some scans and tests."

They left the moon and were able to contact the base again. "How are things going now, Solan?" Jim asked.

"The battle is still going on," Solan replied. "But you definitely stopped some of it when you destroyed that base. They're still attacking Earth, but some of them are retreating through another wormhole."

"Retreating?"

"Yes. Some of them are."

"What about that…overlord?"

"He's made some threats, and he definitely hates you and McNeil, but we haven't heard from him in a while either. Presumably, he still has Kane."

"Maybe he'll take him with him. We have to get Ajah to the medical bay so Bones can treat him. He…well, he's not even sure what happened."

Jim thought about the fact that the overlord wanted that Tacitus. He looked at Ajah. "Ajah, are you certain that Cabal is gone?" he asked.

Ajah looked at him. "Why do you continue to ask me, Admiral?"

"Because Cabal wanted to find that Tacitus, and I can't figure an easier way than for him to get there through you and use your powers to…"

"I see." Ajah looked worried. "I threw him out along with the extra electricity."

Jim sat down in a seat. "I tell you: I didn't know what was going to happen there for a moment," he said.

"I knew what he was doing, and I would not allow it. I would never betray you, Admiral."

"It wouldn't have been betrayal, Ajah."

"I'm not detecting anything that looks like Cabal," Bones said. "But I'll run more tests when we get there."

Anakin guided the ship smoothly back down to Earth as they broke through the atmosphere. Jim looked down as they passed over the area where most of the fighting had been occurring. He could see that the Nod base had mostly been destroyed, but there was a lot of damage across other areas. He frowned as he thought of how much loss of life had occurred. He just hoped this conflict was over, and he intended to raise some havoc about all these secrets. He thought this would not have been such a surprise had everyone known about it.

Anakin landed the ship in the designated hangar. Jim helped Ajah to the medical bay. "I'll take care of him, Jim," Bones said.

"Good," Jim replied.

Bones watched Jim as he left. He thought he looked angry. "So, how did this happen?" Bones asked as he began scanning Ajah.

"I absorbed the electrical burst from a weapon, and Cabal came with it," Ajah replied.

Bones scowled at that. "He what?"

"He tried to use my body, but I overcame him."

"How did he do that?"

"I am not certain, but he used my electrical powers. He was able to use them against me."

"And he's gone now, right?"

"Yes, I shoved him out with a large burst of electrical energy. I am not certain that he survived."

"Well, that's good. Jim's mad, I guess."

"I think someone has some explaining to do."

Jim walked into the command center, not hiding his anger. "Solan, contact Carol," he said.

Solan sent the hail. Carol answered after a moment. "Jim," she said.

"How are things on the…space dock?" Jim asked.

"Very well. The enemy ships are thinning out, and some are retreating."

"Good. I'm back on Earth, so I'm about to try and get to the bottom of some of this."

"Don't be too angry."

"I'll try but I won't succeed."

"I love you."

"I love you too. You hurry and get back here when you get through kicking butt."

Carol laughed in spite of herself. "I will."

The transmission ended. "What are you going to do?" Solan asked as he looked up at Jim.

"I'm going to suggest that there be a hearing about this situation. Everyone should know why all this was kept a secret, because I don't think we know the half of it."

"You're gonna wait until it's all over?"

"I'm talking to Admiral Winston now." Jim leaned on the console. "Where is McNeil?"

Solan pointed at the display. "Somewhere there," he said.

"I don't see the point of having him in stasis all that time."

"Because he knew how to defeat them and what they were doing."

"It's hard to believe he was part of the experiment that developed Khan."

"You think Khan was enhanced with Tiberium?"

"Yeah, that was part of it. It all seems to make sense now. The reason Admiral Marcus wanted to wake up Khan is because he had all those secrets, and Khan blew up that lab because he knew what they were doing."

"It seems underhanded."

Jim walked away from there and found Admiral Winston. "Admiral," Jim said as he stood at attention.

"At ease," Winston replied. "It's good that you were successful on the moon."

"Yeah. Admiral, I have a lot of questions, and I think that there should be a hearing, a tribunal, so that we can get all this out into the open."

Admiral Winston frowned. "You have to realize that everything can't be just out in the open. Some of this is very dangerous."

"Admiral, if we had known about all this, we would have been better prepared."

"I realize that."

"I'm going to call for a hearing to find out why we didn't know anything about this. There could have been even worse consequences to this than what we did have. Hiding history doesn't make it go away. It just keeps people from being prepared for something that could repeat it."

"Admiral Kirk, you should just put this behind you."

"No, Admiral. I will not let this be swept under the rug like so many other things."

Admiral Winston frowned. "Are you disobeying a direct order?" he asked.

"Are you ordering me not to ask questions? Don't you think people are going to want to know why all this happened? They deserve to know."

"We don't have time for this debate right now, Kirk. Coordinate your ships."

"Yes, Sir."

Jim turned and went back to Solan. "I need to contact my fleet," he said as he sat down.

"I assume that didn't go very well," Solan replied.

"Not really."

Jim waited until he had a channel to his ships. "Attention, my fleet," he said. "Are there any damages, injuries or casualties?"

He got a report from his fleet, and there were damages that were being repaired, some injuries, but there were no casualties. Jim was glad to hear that. "Keep me posted," he said.

Jim ended that transmission and then went to the nursery where Padme was still taking care of the children. Anakin was already in there. "Daddy!" Alex said and ran to Jim.

Jim grabbed Alex and Joy up. "I missed you two," he said. He thought of how he had wondered for a while whether he would ever get back to them. He sat down on the couch with them. "So what have you two been doing?"

"Playing," Alex said. "Mrs. Padme is nice."

"I know."

"Where did you go?"

Jim considered how to answer that. "Well, I went to more than one place," he said. "I went to some strange places, and I went to the moon."

"Why did you go to the moon?"

"I had to go and stop those enemies from taking over the moon and poisoning the galaxy."

"How would they poison it?"

"By keeping that Tiberium going."

"Did they bring any to Earth?"

"Yeah, but we'll figure out how to get rid of it."

"Daddy, where did the aliens come from?"

"I don't really know, but I'm gonna be busy for a while after this."

"You mean we won't see you?"

"Not a lot, I'm afraid. You always know I love you, though, right?"

"Yes!"

Jim smiled as he hugged them. He would get to the bottom of all this, and he wanted to know if there was anything else Starfleet was hiding. He did not think this was the way to make things work.

As Jim walked out of the nursery, Carol was walking into the command center. He smiled as he saw that she looked a little disheveled. She walked over to him. "Admiral," she said.

"So did you send those bad guys running back to their own galaxy?" Jim asked.

Carol could not help but smile. "I did my part." She looked into Jim's blue eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I intend to stir up a stink in Starfleet."

"What do you mean?"

"I want to know why all this was hidden."

"Jim, you're not going to accuse Admiral Winston of being dishonest, are you?"

"I don't know, but this whole story makes more sense now. It all fits in with everything that has happened."

"I know, but you know most of it now. Why hash over it all again?"

"Do you realize what could have happened here? What if that explosion Khan created before could have set off that Tiberium? We wouldn't have even known what was happening. I don't think secrets like that are right."

"I agree with you there, but do you really think you can change all that?"

"I don't know, but I'm calling for a tribunal. I have the right to do that."

"What does Admiral Winston say?"

"He doesn't want to do it. He just wants to let it all go."

"Maybe that's best. If you destroy everyone's confidence in Starfleet, you could cause even more havoc in the galaxy. Maybe they thought it was best to hide it. Maybe they thought it would never happen again."

"But Carol, if we had all known about this, we could have been better prepared instead of having to figure out all their weapons and the dangers of tiberium."

"You do what you think is right but think about it first."

"I have been thinking about it…a lot."

"How are the kids?"

"They're fine."

"Admiral Kirk!"

Jim looked across the command center, and Admiral Winston was calling to him. Carol followed him over to the Admiral. "Sir," Jim said.

"We're receiving a transmission from the overlord," Winston said. "He wants to talk to you."

Jim went over to the viewscreen, and the overlord was already on there. "What do you want?" Jim asked.

"You have destroyed our base on the moon," the overlord said. "But I still have your Kane. He will be a great source of information for us. I will return him if you give us the Tacitus."

"He's not my Kane, and if you try to attack us again, we're going to defeat you again. I won't let you have that Tacitus."

"Oh, but I saw what happened with your electrical one. He is not completely human, and even though Cabal was mostly destroyed, he gained important information. When we meet again, you will not be victorious, Admiral Kirk. We will have the Tacitus."

"Not if I can help it," Jim replied.

The transmission ended. Jim looked at Admiral Winston. "Looks like you have made an enemy," Winston said. "He seems to be angrier at you than anyone else."

"That's alright. I've had plenty of enemies over the years."

"You certainly have."

"You think they're leaving this galaxy or is he sticking around?"

"Who can know? The only way we can know is if they show up again."

Jim frowned and looked at Admiral Winston. "All this sure does answer a whole lot of questions," he said. "I think there should be some sort of hearing about this."

"How about we just write the story? There's no need to tell it all again."

"You still want to keep secrets after all this? Don't you realize the consequences? Look what all has happened because all this about Khan and everything has been kept secret."

"Would anything have been different if you had known everything?"

"There could have been some sort of protocol. Maybe we could have kept Cabal from taking over our ship and getting to Earth and causing all this trouble, costing all these lives."

"You may be right, Kirk, but can we finish this war before we go into all that? It's not completely over yet."

Jim looked at the viewscreen. He could see that there were still battles going on, but the firing was much less than before. "I see that," he said. "But it won't be much longer. The Scrin aren't that hard to defeat. You do realize that they were the beginnings of what became the Borg?"

"How do you know anything about the Borg?"

"I just know. I have met people who encountered them, whose whole worlds were destroyed by them. You can't ignore the fact that they exist. But right now, we have to figure out what to do about the Tiberium that is here on Earth. Is it going to poison us all? What about the moon? Will it keep growing there?"

"We don't know any of that, but McNeil will know when he returns."

"Let's hope so," Jim said. "Admiral, I saw in the other timeline what tiberium can do to people. And it can do more than that."

"You need to write a full report, Admiral Kirk."

Jim wanted to say why? So, it can be hidden? But he thought he would be respectful. "Yes, Sir."

Admiral Winston paused a moment. "I know you don't like all this, but we can't change it now," he said.

"We can change it going forward."

"We'll talk about this later, Kirk. Just write the report when you have time. I don't think we're completely out of the woods yet."

"Yes, Sir."

Jim and Carol walked away and went back to where Solan was. "How is everything going?" Jim asked.

"We've had some casualties," Solan said. "But the Scrin are almost wiped off the Earth. There may be a few hundred left."

"That's too many. Are they scattering or what?"

"Not really. They seem to be regrouping and attacking again."

"Looks like they'd realize they aren't going to win."

"They can't win. It's only the drones that are left…I guess that's what you call them."

Anakin walked up then. "Those drones have human characteristics. I believe they have put themselves into machines."

"But how?" Jim asked. "They must want the Tacitus so they can perfect it."

"And be unstoppable, like those Borg you talked about."

"We cannot let that happen. I have to make sure nothing is being hidden or taken for granted again."

"You need some help?"

Jim frowned and looked at Anakin. "You mean aggressive negotiations?" he asked.

"Maybe but I can…influence people."

"I don't think we should talk about that here."

"You mean you would consider that?" Carol asked. "That's treason and mutiny."

"Carol."

"Jim. You know it is."

"I know. I don't intend to do anything like that, but I may want Anakin to see if anyone is being deceptive."

"Maybe we should try and capture one of them," Anakin suggested.

"If we can," Jim replied. "Solan, let McNeil know we need one if they can get them."

"Yes Sir," Solan said.

Anakin looked at the viewscreen. "I seem to be able to feel the Force more now than I could before we went into the mycelial network."

"That's a good thing, right?" Jim asked.

"I believe so. I just have to figure this out. I want to talk to Spock. We seem to be able to understand each other."

"Spock is very good at weighing things logically. Maybe you should talk to a counselor too."

"I don't know. I just really don't have anyone to talk to about this except Spock."

"I'm sure he'll have some insight. I have to go and see how Ajah is doing. I'll talk to you all later."

"I'm going to see the children," Carol said.

Jim walked on to the medical bay where Ajah lay on a bed. He was resting now and seemed comfortable. "You feeling okay?" Jim asked.

"I am not certain yet," Ajah replied. "I still feel rather strange. Doctor McCoy is doing tests."

"What does he think?"

"He thinks it's just residual but he's making sure. I'm glad he understands me."

"Me too. Otherwise, we'd be trying to find help on Nervala Four."

"I don't think that would work out very well."

"Have you heard from there?"

"I have. When the window was open last, I talked to my mother. She is doing well, and she says the planet has changed. I do not think I would want to go back. I enjoy being free to roam the galaxy with you and the others. I do not think I would be happy being trapped on a planet again."

"It would be difficult to adjust, I suppose."

"I am happy to continue being your assistant. I am just hoping that I will be out of here soon."

Just then, Felonia walked in. She came over to Ajah's bed. "Are you okay?" she asked. "I just learned you were here."

"I think I am," Ajah replied.

Jim smiled slightly. "I'll let you two talk," he said.

Felonia sat down on the side of the bed. "What happened?" she asked.

"Cabal tried to take me over," Ajah said.

"How?"

"I'm not sure, but he used the electrical weapon to do it. When I absorbed all that energy, he came with it."

"Oh my. Did you know that could happen?"

"No. Never experienced anything like that. Doctor McCoy is checking me for any issues though. He thinks it's just residual."

"Let's hope. You don't feel like he is trying to take you over, right?"

"No. I'm certain I got rid of him, but…" Ajah thought a moment. "There seems to be something else."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I just have to wait."

"I will wait with you."

"Okay."

Jim went over to Bones. "You sure Ajah is okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Bones said. "But I think there's something there left behind by Cabal."

"Like what? It can't take Ajah over again, right?"

"No. It's not like that. But I think Cabal left some of his information behind."

"What do you mean? Like his knowledge?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure Ajah will ever be able to access it, but it's there."

"So, he's like his brain has absorbed computer information?"

"Not like that. It's like when Spock does a mind meld."

"Oh. So, is this going to cause him problems?"

"I wouldn't think so, but I think he will eventually access that information, maybe by accident and it could be overwhelming."

"Alright. So he is going to know all that stuff that Cabal knew."

"He's gonna know some of it."

"Well, I'm gonna try and stir things up around this place once we're all out of danger."

"Don't stir it up too much. If they burn you at the stake, I'm not sure I could fix that."

"Bones." Jim shook his head. "Just take care of Ajah."

Jim walked out of the medical bay and met Helek in the corridor. "Is Ajah okay?" Helek asked. His curly blond hair had gotten even longer, and he reminded Jim of Mac somewhat.

"He's going to be fine. He's just resting and Bones is running some tests."

"Great. I'm going in there to see him."

Jim walked on. He was going to make sure things like this were not kept secret again…