Still, the case sh’Deslar and Sulu had built was too strong to ignore. “I’m sorry, Cadet Portia. But I can’t deny the evidence.”

She met his eyes with betrayal in hers, then turned to sh’Deslar. “Am I under arrest?”

“You’re not a civilian. You’re still bound to perform your duties as assigned by your commanding officer.” She looked to Kirk.

“However,” the admiral told Portia, “you are to be held subject to certain restrictions pending an official hearing. You’re forbidden to leave Academy grounds except under official supervision. You’re to report to me on a daily basis. And you’re not to be allowed any access to weapons or to pilot any vehicles.”

That last part seemed to be the one that hurt Portia the most. Kirk recalled Sulu telling him how well she had taken to flying.

Still, she quickly gathered herself and met his eyes again. “Fine, sir. The sooner I get to make my case at that hearing, the better. Whoever killed Rakatheema is targeting us. I won’t let that happen without a fight.”

As he met her gaze, Kirk had no doubt she was up for any fight that came her way. But would that free her or convict her? And would the rest of the Warborn share her fate?

Chapter Fifteen

U.S.S. Enterprise

Less than a day after the flare strike on the L5 community, the Enterprise had received a transmission from Rajendra Shastri of the Penthara IV colony, addressed to Nyota Uhura. “When you contacted me earlier, I knew it had to be connected to these flares, but I ignored it anyway. I let my… my personal feelings blind me to how serious the problem was. Now, after Denobula and L5… I can’t pretend anymore. I’m ready to talk.”

As it happened, the Enterprise had already been en route to Penthara IV in hopes of locating Shastri, their sole remaining lead. Captain Spock arranged with the colony’s leaders to place Shastri on their fastest interstellar craft, on course to rendezvous with the Enterprise. Twenty-nine hours later, Spock and Uhura stood in the transporter room and watched as Commander Scott beamed the man aboard. Uhura was still confused but no longer surprised by the surge of complex, intense feelings she experienced at the sight of Shastri, the same feelings that every mention of his name had evoked. She hoped his presence would resolve that mystery as well as the other, greater ones.

Rajendra Shastri was not a particularly striking presence—a man about her age, average in height, with features consistent with the South Asian origin of his name. Those features were pleasant enough, but not compelling to her. Whatever lay beneath these powerful emotions was nothing so superficial.