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it?”
    Spock shook his head. “No, Captain, once their rampage had been halted, they seemed bereft of direction and purpose. This would tally with the supposition that they were being used.”
    â€œIf they had been able to injure the princes or any of the dignitaries present, it would have played hell with the negotiations,” said McCoy.
    â€œThank you, Doctor,” said Kirk. He rose and headed for the doorway, pivoting there to wag an index finger at Peter. “You’re to consider yourself under house arrest, young man. You’re not to leave the ship without my permission, is that understood?”
    â€œYes, sir,” said Peter, contritely.
    â€œCan you beat that?” said Kirk, to Spock and McCoy, as they headed for the turbolift. “He was spying on the rioters.”
    â€œQuite a chip off the old block,” said McCoy.
    â€œHe is that,” agreed Kirk. “His father would have been proud of him.”
    â€œGentlemen,” said Spock, in a tone of mild astonishment, “am I to understand that you tolerate this type of conduct? Had the boy been caught or injured, or worse, the negotiations with the Nadorians could have been severely set back.”
    â€œOf course, Spock,” said Kirk. “But he showed initiative and creativity.”
    â€œAnd gumption,” added McCoy, chin lifted in Spock’s direction. “File it under ‘illogical comma very,’ Mr. Spock.”
    â€œThat file is quite sizable, Doctor, but I believe I have room for yet another entry.”
    â€œSpock,” asked Kirk, “why were we caught unaware by the princes’ conjoined state? I gave our file a quick scan and there’s no mention of it.”
    â€œI was almost taken by surprise myself,” said Spock, ignoring, if he even saw, McCoy’s dry glance at Kirk, “and discussed this matter with Regent Lonal. It seems that the princes, and the Nadorian people, are quite concerned with being perceived by the rest of the Federation as a ‘normal’ people, and did not wish us to prejudge them on the basis of the princes’ conjoined status.” Spock looked at McCoy, who had snorted loudly. “I quite agree, Doctor, that the term ‘normal’ means little, given the physical variegations of sentient beings present in the galaxy’s inhabited planets, but such logic often holds little sway where emotion is concerned—as you should well be aware from personal experience. Even among their own people, the princes restrict their public appearances; most of the Federation citizens were unaware of the princes’ unique nature.”
    â€œAnd tonight’s banquet was deemed to be their ‘coming-out party’?” asked Kirk. “The place where we got a good look at them? I hoped they’d hold a better opinion of us than that.”
    â€œWell, the first date’s over,” said McCoy. “If they’re going to join the Federation, it’s going to have to be ‘warts and all.’”
    â€œBucolically stated, but at its essence, correct,” said Spock.
    * * *
    â€œJim, a word?” asked McCoy as the turbolift doors opened.
    Kirk glanced at Spock. “I’ll be right up.” Spock nodded as he gripped the lift handle, and was gone.
    â€œWhat’s the trouble, Bones? I’ve got a lot of diplomacy to practice.”
    â€œWhat was that business about using only experienced security hands for riot control—‘no rookies’?”
    â€œDo I have to explain my command decisions to you?” asked Kirk.
    â€œDon’t answer a question with a question!” said McCoy, biting off the words angrily. “If more security troops had beamed down, the riot might have been contained with no injuries whatsoever.”
    â€œExcept on the part of the security staff, had that ever occurred to you?”
    â€œOf course it did, Jim. But it’s part of their