"I bring this hearing to order," Admiral Pike said and Jim couldn't help thinking it was a death nell to his career in Starfleet.

That Pike had been there to greet the Enterprise when she arrived had said everything to Jim. Pike was his rock in Starfleet and Pike being involved meant that, once again, the Admiral had gone to the wall for him. He doubted there would have been any hearing at all without Pike.

In Starfleet's eyes he was unfit to command, it was as simple as that and the whole hearing was likely more of a formality than anything else. If Starfleet hadn't been so short of senior officers, he was pretty sure he would already have been officially relieved of duty, Pike or no Pike. The one thing he had to be glad about was that the hearing was specifically about him, not Spock, and Nyota hadn't been mentioned in any of the official reports, so she was uninvolved.

"We are gathered to hear the case for and against whether Captain James T. Kirk should be relieved of his command of the USS Enterprise on grounds of being emotionally and physically compromised," Pike said, glancing at him only once. "This Board of Inquiry will hear all aspects of the situation and then render a decision."

"Captain Kirk is irrevocably bonded to his first officer, of course he's compromised," Admiral Trivala said from her screen in a thoroughly unimpressed tone, "the medical tests prove it. This is a waste of time and resources."

"With all due respect, Admiral," Pike said before anyone else could speak up, "there is no dispute that a bond exists, what this Board of Inquiry needs to establish is whether it presents a risk to command."

Trivala did not appear anymore impressed by that.

"If the bench is ready, I believe it is in the interest of this investigation to understand the nature of the bond in question," Pike said. "Attaché Allen, you have requested the right to speak as an expert in this subject."

Kris stood up.

"Yes, Admiral, thank you, but I would request that my bonded, Protector Lambert, present our evidence."

"Why can't you give us your own report, Attaché Allen?" Admiral Bonnet asked in a reasonable tone.

"Because, with all due respect, Admirals, we believe the only way to convey the truth is to do it in the manner of our people," Kris replied, "and while I am capable of presenting my own composition, we feel this is of such importance that Adam's voice must be heard."

"The Sonarian people use bards for all important negotiations," Pike explained to the other two Admirals.

"You wish to sing?" Trivala asked as if it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.

"If I may, Admirals," Spock put in politely. "The Sorarians have had no war on their planet for fifteen centuries thanks to their use of song. It would be most illogical to dismiss their methods simply because they are not ours."

"Thank you, Mr Spock," Pike said with a nod of his head. "If we are all in agreement, I suggest we proceed."

Jim was actually quite shocked when no one protested as Adam stood up. When Adam had assured him that Kris would make sure everyone understood, he had had no idea his two friends would go this far. The pair had to have been working non-stop since the call came in to report to the starbase. Jim knew for a fact that big presentations often took weeks to prepare for on the couple's home planet. There had been plenty of welcoming songs when the Enterprise had arrived on Sonara, but he was pretty sure those had been standard greetings. This was an entirely different matter.

Adam moved to the centre of the room and closed his eyes. For a moment there was complete silence and then Adam opened his mouth and hit a note that was low and deep. It reverberated through the chamber and Jim realised that Adam had instinctively picked the perfect place in the room for the acoustics. The standard starbase conference room wasn't exactly built with music in mind, but that didn't actually seem to make a lot of difference.

The sound was so beautiful that it took Jim a couple of seconds to realise Adam was singing actual words. It was at that point he made himself concentrate and take in what Adam was trying to convey.

The song was like no report Jim had ever heard. The words conveyed their meaning clearly, but they were so beautifully put together and the music that went with them made it impossible not to listen. Everything Kris and Adam had ever taught him about the bond was there: its significance in Sonarian society; the sacred nature of the connection; the joy it could bring; the strength it gave. Nothing was skipped or missed and the emotion that came through was breathtaking.

Adam's voice moved from the depths and soared to the heights and it took everyone in the room with it, imparting information with every note and word.

When, finally, Adam came to a stop, there was barely the sound of breathing in the room, let alone anything else and it held for several long seconds.

"Yes, well," Pike said, recovering first, "thank you Protector Lambert, that was a ... a most eye-opening experience."

Jim could only agree, and he'd known most of the information before.

"Agreed," Admiral Trivala said and she seemed to actually mean it.

Adam gave a small bow and returned to his seat. Jim did his best to convey his thanks as he met his friend's eye.

"It appears that to a Sonarian there is no doubt this bond is a wonderful thing," Admiral Bonnet said from his seat, "however, I feel I must point out that Captain Kirk is not Sonarian, no matter how his DNA may have been altered. Neither is he resident on Sonara; he is a Starfleet captain and it is to those ideals he must be held."

That brought Jim right back to reality with a thud.

"May I speak please, Admirals?" he asked, since this was his hearing.

"The board recognises Captain Kirk," Pike said before anyone could disagree.

"I am emotionally attached to Mr Spock," he said, because there was no denying it, "however, it will not interfere with my duties. Now that the initial bonding period is over, Mr Spock and myself are quite capable of going about our separate tasks with no ill effects. We have been for the past nine days before this board of inquiry was convened."

"But you have not been in any combat or stressful situations during that time," Admiral Trivala pointed out. "What would happen if Mr Spock were directly threatened in a life or death situation, can you honestly say you would put your ship and crew above him?"

Jim didn't reply, because, honestly, he didn't know.

"The Captain's silence speaks far louder than..." Bonnet started to say.

"Perhaps what we need is a demonstration," Pike said before Bonnet could conclude anything completely damning.

"What are you suggesting, Admiral Pike?" Trivala asked.

"We test our cadets with simulations," Pike replied and Jim couldn't help wondering if the admiral had had this idea up his sleeve the entire time. "We could retest Captain Kirk and Commander Spock and pending the outcome of the test, delay our verdict."

It actually sounded like a workable plan. If Jim was honest, he wanted to know what he would do as well.

"I'm sorry, Admirals," Kris said before the conversation could continue, "any simulation will be flawed."

"Would you care to explain, Attaché Allen?" Admiral Pike asked, sounding disappointed.

"We are dealing with instinctive reactions here, Sir," Kris replied and Jim listened expectantly, since he wanted to know why as well, "if Captain Kirk and Mr Spock are aware the situation is not real they will react to that not the situation as it is simulated. Any results would not be a true reflection of reality. All studies on my world have shown that reactions in real situations and lab experiments are radically different."

That rather shut that door completely and Jim didn't bother protesting, because he had given up doubting anything Kris or Adam had to say about the situation. He could not think of any other options; there seemed to be no way to tell if he was a danger to his ship without there actually being a combat situation. In fact, he might never know unless Spock somehow managed to put himself right in the middle of something.

He was pretty sure the board were at least about to suspend him from duty when Spock slowly stood.

"If I may," Spock requested and Pike simply nodded. "Admirals," Spock said, the epitome of logical calm, "I would respectfully like to remind you that Captain Kirk is a formidable captain, his insight is outstanding, his tactical abilities without question and his leadership skills are unorthodox, but effective, however, I am sure you will agree he is also unpredictable, often rash and has a worrying tendency to believe he is immortal."

Jim wasn't sure if Spock was doing such a great job of helping his case with that last part as the admirals nodded.

"I therefore put it to you, sirs, that the current state of affairs does not impair, but enhances the Captain's abilities. The Captain is quite capable of being his usual, impetuous, stubborn self, but is more likely to accept good advice when he is given it."

"But Commander Spock," Admiral Bonnet countered, "we have to consider what would happen if you were compromised. Surely you have to agree there is the possibility that that would compromise Captain Kirk as well and hence the Enterprise?"

"I do not believe so, Admirals," Spock said simply. "I am Vulcan, I believe the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Captain Kirk knows this and would hence act as a captain should no matter the danger to myself. I will reiterate, I believe the captain's current condition, far from being detrimental, is in fact the opposite."

"Thank you, Mr Spock," Admiral Pike said and Spock sat down.

Bones spoke next, going over the medical evidence and the reports on Jim's seizures. His friend did his best to point out that there had been no incidents since Spock and he had commenced a physical relationship, but Jim wasn't sure the message had got through.

It became clear his crew had been questioned, because several reports about their latest mission were read into the record, but, really, it all seemed much of a muchness to Jim. The critical points had already been covered and everything else was so much window-dressing.

"Admirals, if I may be permitted to add one more item," Spock said before the session could be concluded.

"Yes, Mr Spock," Admiral Trivala acknowledged with a nod.

"If you find it impossible to allow both the captain and myself to remain in our current positions, I would request that I be the officer reassigned. There is a position in..."

"Spock, I can't let you do that," Jim said, on his feet instantly.

There was no way he was letting Spock make such a sacrifice for him.

"Captain, it is only logical," Spock replied.

The look that Spock gave him stopped him in his tracks and the loud protest he had been about to make died. It didn't take the feelings with it, but it did make him pause.

"It's not logical to me," he said instead.

"Since the battle for Vulcan, Starfleet has been short of experienced captains," Spock explained in his annoyingly logical tone. "To lose a combat veteran captain in favour of a science officer would be illogical and I would also be unable to remain on the Enterprise if you were to be replaced. We must serve in the same place and for you to remain on the Enterprise should you be relieved of the captaincy would be impossible."

Jim wanted to argue, he really did, but he knew as well as anyone else the chaos the whole Romulan incident had caused.

"Hell, I hate it when you're right," he said and sat down, crossing his arms over his chest in resignation.

"Thank you, Mr Spock," Admiral Pike said in a terse tone, "we will take that under advisement. We will adjourn until tomorrow."