DISCLAIMER: The Star Trek characters are the property of Paramount Studios, Inc and Viacom. The story contents are the creation and property of Djinn and are copyright (c) 2001 by Djinn. This story is Rated PG-13.
Never a Dull Moment
(Part 2)
by Djinn
Confidence is the feeling
you have before you understand the situation.
-- Unknown
Christine found Kehmak in one
of the shops across from the new Dabo parlor.
The Klingon was deciding between two leather outfits. When Christine walked up she turned to her. "Good.
A woman's opinion. Which is more
attractive?"
"Well," Christine
took in the plunging neckline on both.
"I think either would be."
Kehmak shook the hangers in
impatience. "Yes but do you like
the one with the long skirt with the sword slit and the armored boots? Or is the one with the pants and hidden knife
scabbard more to your liking?"
"You know," she
said as she made a helpless face.
"I'm over my head here. I'm
sure Colonel Kerr could tell you right away which was better." She touched the nearest one. "I think this one is best with your
coloring."
Kehmak considered. "You are right. More flattering and has hidden weapons. What could be better?" She turned for the shopkeeper, threw him the
one she wanted. "Wrap it up and
throw in those armored boots as well."
Christine looked at the
clothing. It all seemed to have some
sort of battle purpose.
Kehmak laughed at the
expressions the other woman was making.
"He is doing quite a good business with the rest of the
delegations. It is just the Federation
that wishes to walk around unprotected."
She walked back to the shopkeeper.
He smiled ingratiatingly and
said, "What is your name?"
"What difference does it
make? I'm paying in latinum."
"I need it to register
the knives."
Kehmak sighed and told him
her name.
He wrote it in large letters
across one of the packages then slid the bundle into a wall slot.
"Hey! Was that my dress?"
He handed her a larger
package. "Oh no, madam. That was your knives. This is your dress and boots."
Her voice dropped
dangerously, "Where did you just send my knives?"
"To the spaceport of
course. Weapons of any kind are
forbidden in Kandikrand. You can pick
them up when you leave. Have a nice day."
Christine took the Klingons
arm and tugged gently. "Kehmak,
let's go now, okay?"
The other woman allowed her
to lead her out of the shop all the while breathing heavily and staring
banefully at the shopkeeper. As soon as
they were out of his sight though she turned back to Christine. "Damn.
I thought I'd found a way to beat their stupid system." She laughed as she watched Christine's
face. "You thought I was going to
hurt him didn't you? Oh you are funny,
Christine." She slapped her on the
back, nearly rupturing several vertebrae.
She saw Christine's look of pain and shot her a contrite look. "Sorry.
Here sit down, I will buy you a raktajino with extra cream."
Christine sat for several
minutes just trying to breathe. The
waiter looked at her in some concern so she smiled gamely until he left with
their order.
"Are you all
right?"
Christine sat back gingerly. Nothing seemed to be broken. She took a deep breath, let it out. It didn't hurt. "I'm ok."
"You are sure? I would hate for word to get out that I
injured a member of an opposing delegation." Kehmak smiled in amusement.
"It's our little secret." Christine sipped gingerly at the steaming
beverage the waiter brought them and was delighted to find it stronger and more
robust than cappuccino.
"You like it?"
"It's good." Christine leaned back in her chair.
Kehmak did the same. They sat there for several minutes drinking
silently before the Klingon turned to her.
"Christine?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you not think
diplomacy is boring?"
"Excruciatingly." She could feel her lips tilting upwards into
a crooked grin.
"How many days is this
supposed to drag on?"
"Hard to say."
"Try."
"I don't know? I've never done this before."
"At least you have your
warrior to amuse you."
"Who, Kerr?"
"Yes. I would not mind having him to amuse
me." Kehmak shot her a leering
glance.
"Hands off."
"See you are possessive
of your man."
Christine laughed. "He's not my man. I just don't want to see him broken."
"Well if he is not your
man, then who is?"
Christine shrugged, trying to
be casual. "No one at the
moment."
"Kerr is a warrior. You should choose him."
"Uh huh."
"I see no one better in
your party. Two scrawny humans and a
couple of Vulcans," she made a spitting sound. "But you like your Captain Spock, don't
you?"
"We're friends,
yes." She laughed when Kehmak
looked at her disapprovingly. "We
have served together for a long time."
"And although he is not
a warrior, he is a hero to your people as well as many of mine. So, you prefer him?" Clearly the Klingon found this hard to
believe.
"I didn't say
that." She had to find a way to
distract Kehmak from this topic.
"So how are we going to pass the time?"
"You are changing the
subject."
"Yes, I am."
"Well, we are having a
small get-together tomorrow at that restaurant." She pointed across the square with her
elbow. "He has agreed to make
Klingon foods and serve blood wine."
"Good idea. A party.
What's the occasion?"
"Mak'chak wants to
celebrate his day of first blood."
"His what?"
Kehmak looked at her as if
her education had been deficient.
"The day he first drew blood.
In battle. I gather you have
nothing similar."
"No. But it sounds very honorable."
"It is. Not as important as the Day of Honor and some
houses don't even consider it a very important rite of passage, but we like to mark
it. Actually we like any occasion to
drink blood wine and eat heart of targh and gagh." Kehmak signaled the waiter to bring two more
raktajinos. "You should come."
"I should?"
"Yes. Mak'chak likes you. I can tell.
And I enjoy your company. And if
you cannot find a man to meet your fancy among your own people, perhaps one of
our unattached warriors..." she trailed off suggestively.
"It's ok. I'm happy with the choices I've got
now." She smiled at the waiter as he
set her drink in front of her.
"Speaking of
choices..."
Christine turned to see Kerr
sauntering up to their table.
"Ladies. May I join you?"
Kehmak looked at him
suspiciously. "You smell like a
Ferengi."
"And that, I take it, is
a bad thing?" He pulled out a
chair.
"They are without
honor. Scheming, slimy little
creatures."
"They aren't slimy. Their skin is actually quite dry."
Two pairs of eyes were
suddenly focused on him.
"You learn a lot as a
Dabo girl," he said innocently as he sat down across from the Klingon.
"You were a girl at one
time?" Kehmak was clearly confused.
"Don't pay attention to
him. He speaks nonsense." Christine turned to Kerr. "So did you win?"
He grinned widely. "That is such a stupid question. Of course I won." He smiled at Kehmak. "And she thought I couldn't support
her."
Kehmak grinned back at
him. "Your par'machai is fortunate
to have such a provider. And one wise
enough not to spill his winnings all over the table as many would be tempted to
do. On the other hand, how does one know
you are not just full of empty boasts to cover the dishonor of your loss?"
He patted the chest of his
uniform softly.
Christine heard a distinct
clink-clink. "Just how many secret
pockets did you sew into that uniform, Colonel?"
"I'm sworn to
secrecy." When she rolled her eyes
he leaned in close, putting an arm around her.
"I put the special in special forces, doll."
"I'm going to be
sick." She laughed but did not push
him away.
"Hey, is that
Raktajino?" He turned pleading eyes
to her.
She pushed the cup over to
him. "Here, take it. I don't need a second one anyway."
"Bless you, my
child," he teased as he took a long sip of the drink. "Oh god, I love these things."
Kehmak had been watching them
with interest. She suddenly spoke softly
to Kerr in Klingon. Christine thought
she heard the parma word again. Kerr
turned serious as he answered at some length.
Kehmak looked at Christine, then back at Kerr. "I have tried to tell her there is more
honor in preferring a warrior."
"Kehmak," there was
a warning note in Kerr's voice.
The Klingon sighed. "I do not understand."
A new voice sounded behind
them. "Surak says that admitting
ignorance is the first step to wisdom."
To Christine's ear, Sovar's voice seemed overly smug as he walked up to
the table.
"Kahless says that
Surak's mother was a..."
"Kehmak!" Kerr stood up rapidly.
The Klingon woman stood
too. She spit several words at him in Klingon.
He answered back.
She pushed him.
He pushed back.
They stared intently at each
other for several long moments. Then
abruptly she sat down. "It is not
right."
Kerr sat down too. "Right or wrong, you will leave it
alone."
She nodded abruptly, clearly
angry.
"Fascinating." Spock had come to stand behind Sovar.
Christine wondered how much
of the scene he had witnessed, and if he understood what he had seen any better
than she did.
"Your facility with the
Klingon language and culture is not included in your file, Colonel. An oversight on someone's part?"
"Probably,
Sir." Kerr's tone was light again.
"As much as I hate to
break up this exchange of...whatever it is you are exchanging, I need the
delegation back at the lodging."
Spock was at his most gracious.
"Of course,
Sir." Kerr nodded to Kehmak. "Good day."
She nodded back then turned
to Chapel. "You will come to the
party tomorrow?"
Christine grinned. "Wouldn't miss it." Both Spock and Kerr looked at her in disapproval. She dialed her grin down a notch. "I mean I'll try to make it if time
allows."
"Of course." Kehmak nodded to the Vulcans and Kerr,
clasped Christine's arm briefly in hers, then left.
Christine turned to the
men. "So. We should get going, yes?" Without waiting for them, she turned on her
heel and started off toward their temporary home.
********************************
They found Troi and Penhallon
already waiting for them at the lodging.
"Had the bad luck to
wander right into Spock and Sovar," Penhallon explained to Kerr. "Ah well, the young ladies agreed to
meet us tomorrow as well so all is not lost."
Christine was about to launch
a caustic comment when she realized she was feeling just as lazy. Being locked out of the negotiations had
seriously dented her work ethic. She
tried to gather her professional persona up as she asked, "So how did the
day go?"
"As you would
expect. The check-in period was held up
because the person in charge decided that the Cardassians had tampered with
their entrance books. We were all forced
to wait while they retrieved a special scanner that in the end determined the
books were fine. The negotiations
started with a speech from their Minister of Trade. A very long speech." Spock nearly sighed. "Once he left, we spent an hour going
over the administrative policies and then it was time to break for lunch, which
was provided at our cost of course, in the basement, which was locked and no
one seemed to have the access code. How
long was our wait at that place, Sovar?"
"Thirty minutes,
Sir."
"Yes. When we finally returned to the conference
room the negotiations started in earnest.
Or would have if any of us had known we were required to prepare a
prospectus responding to a naturalist group's contention that dilithium mining,
no matter how it is handled, will damage the Felstraran ecosystem. We were given an hour to write the response
before anything else could begin."
Sovar shook his head. "It was a difficult task since none of
us have any first-hand knowledge of the ecosystem. It was indeed fortunate that I had downloaded
what information we did have from the Federation central records into the
tricorder."
"At this point, the
Cardassian delegation, clearly tired of the unceasing bureaucracy, rose and in
a great show of disdain, left the building."
Troi looked puzzled. "I thought it was locked?"
"Apparently the proctor
in charge of that particular door believed it prudent to not try to keep two
very angry Cardassians in the room."
Kerr laughed softly. "Can't say I blame him."
"Nor I." Spock agreed.
"The representatives from the non-aligned worlds also rose and left
the building after making an impassioned speech that the Felstraran red tape
and inefficiencies was designed to keep out their smaller systems. The remaining delegations began to make
headway in the two hours that remained."
"Although we kept
hearing a distant pounding sound," Sovar noted.
Spock's nodded. "Apparently the non-aligned worlds were
only trying to make a statement and were most chagrined to find themselves left
out of the proceedings." He waited
for the laughter to die down. "We
did not get very far this afternoon, but I think we were able to see at least
the initial positions of the four remaining delegations."
"So more of the same
tomorrow?" Troi asked.
"Yes. I regret that there is not more for you to do
during the day. But we have much work to
accomplish tonight. Mr. Sovar?"
The research head handed out
several padds. "During the course
of the discussions we came up with many issues and questions. We will all be needed to research
these."
Christine looked at the
questions Sovar had given her: What is
available from the local databanks on the Felstraran agricultural sector and
how does it differ from what is in the Federation dbs? Can you determine the current Felstraran
protocols for disposal of hazardous and/or toxic waste/byproducts? How advanced is the Felstraran medical sector
and in what areas would you consider it most lacking? Well, this would take all night. She hoped they could order dinner in.
"We'll need your
responses back before you retire tonight.
Please bring them to my or Sovar's room when you are done." Spock waited for questions. When there were none, he dismissed them.
Christine lost herself in the
research and was surprised to hear a chime on her door. When she opened it she saw Spock with a tray
of food.
"I doubt that you have
eaten. I have brought you some
dinner."
She glanced at the
chrono. Four hours had gone by. "Thanks.
Did you bring enough for two?"
"I am meeting the
Romulan Ambassador for a late meal. And
I have research of my own to finish. I
will leave you to yours." He smiled
gently at her and was gone.
She ate the meal while she
finished answering the first two questions.
The medical sector question occupied the rest of her evening as she
abandoned herself to discovering this planet's approach to healing and disease. By the time she finished she was yawning
frequently. She closed up the padds and
walked down the hall to deliver them to Spock's rooms. He came out the door just as she reached for
the chime.
"Thank you,
Christine." He glanced at the data
briefly as he stood in the doorway.
"Very complete as I would expect from you." His eyes were amused.
"Not much else to do
here," she grinned. "I see you
are on your way out. Do you have any
instructions for tomorrow?"
"Yes. Explore Kandrikand. See if you and Colonel Kerr can get to the outskirts
of this area. Without breaking any
rules, try to find out what makes this Potemkin Village run and perhaps find
what lies beyond."
"Potemkin?"
He gave her a despairing
look. "It is from your
history. Look it up."
She nodded contritely. "So you want us to try to unearth the
true Felstrar's Colony?"
"If you can. And you may not be able to. But at least try. And have Commanders Troi and Penhallon
attempt to learn more from their local contacts."
"You mean their local
babes."
"As I said," he
ignored her grin, "anything they can learn could be of use to us."
She nodded. "I'll pass on your instructions. Somehow, I don't think that they will find it
a hardship."
"Excellent." He walked back into the room and set the
padds down on the nearest table, then joined her again in the hall. Closing the door behind him, he murmured good
night and set off quickly down the hall.
"Good night,
Spock," she said to his departing back.
********************************
The delegation met in the
lobby in time to bid Spock and Sovar good luck and get their marching orders
from Christine.
Troi seemed about to
laugh. "So you want us to just keep
doing what we were doing yesterday?
Sitting with three lovely women and enjoying good food and drink?"
Christine nodded. "Try to get them to talk about the
things we don't know. Like their cities,
or well anything I guess. We really don't
know much at all about this place."
"We'll do our
best." Penhallon checked his
chrono. "What time do you want us
back here?"
After agreeing to meet back
in time to rendezvous with Spock and Sovar, the group went out to find some
breakfast before heading out on their separate tasks. They were all finishing up their food when
several Felstrarans approached.
"What now?"
Penhallon mused.
"Entrance
books?" The Felstraran did not seem
overly concerned with being polite.
They handed their documents
over to the man, who passed them outside to another official.
"Is there a
problem?" Christine shot him a warm
smile.
"Just routine,
ma'am." He turned to take back the
books from his colleague. They conferred
briefly then he handed the books back to the group. He gave them a forced smile. "Can't be too careful."
"Of what?" Troi
mused after the men moved on.
"We've gone from red tape to harassment? I really don't like this place."
"Yeah. Me either," Kerr agreed.
********************************
"Ok, now
push." Christine felt herself being
propelled upwards and grabbed frantically at the top of the wall. Her hand came down on broken glass. "Oh shit!" She pulled away in time to avoid being
severely cut but with nothing to hold onto she began to fall back down as
quickly as she had ascended. Kerr
managed to catch her waist and ease her the rest of the way.
"What the hell
happened?"
She inspected her hand, then
started digging out the few shards that had lodged in her flesh. "They obviously don't want us going out
that way." She heard a ripping sound
and saw Kerr holding a piece of cloth.
"Which pocket was that?"
"One of the cleaner
ones." He inspected her hand and
then wrapped it. "I don't suppose
you managed to see anything else did you?"
"I saw a fence beyond
this one, looked like it might have been wired.
And then a whole lot of nothing.
Just like at the landing site."
She pulled her hand away.
"That's fine, Randall. It's
not that bad."
He sat down heavily on the
grass. "So what do we
know?" He pulled out a stalk of
some sort of weed and began to strip it while he talked. "Either these people are totally
paranoid or they are doing something in their cities they really don't want us
to know about."
"Maybe they've
discovered something here that they want to keep to themselves. Like the fountain of youth."
He looked at her skeptically.
"It could happen."
"Uh-huh." He tossed the weed aside and rose in one
smooth movement. "Well, I doubt
that we are going to find anything else out here. Let's keep exploring the town."
"There's not much more
town to explore," she groused as she followed him back to one of the
secondary streets.
"Excuse me," it was
the Felstraran from before. "What
are you doing back here?"
"Just out for a
walk," Kerr said easily.
The man walked over to
Christine. "You weren't injured
this morning."
"I cut myself at breakfast. After you left. It was a pastry accident."
The man looked at her
suspiciously. "A pastry
accident?"
She smiled in what she hoped
was a perfect mix of innocence and stupidity.
"Hard to believe huh? I mean
they look so safe. But I was holding one
in my hand like so, and I decided to cut it and well I just wasn't thinking
because if you cut it when you are holding it like this you can't help but cut
into your own hand. And that's what I
did."
Kerr nodded support. "Saw it with my own eyes. Those things should come with little warning
stickers or something."
The man looked at them both
as if he couldn't believe they were representatives of an important
intergalactic federation. "Sorry to
hear you find our food dangerous."
He pointed at the bandage.
"You do realize it's still bleeding? There's a medic next to the official
Felstraran souvenir shop, why don't you stop in and get a little less primitive
treatment."
"Thanks, we
will." Kerr grabbed Christine's
good hand and pulled her away.
"Actually, it is
starting to throb. Good thing the cuts
more or less line up, we won't have to change our story. We'll just stop in, get it treated, and be on
our way. I mean how long can this
take?"
An hour later they were still
sitting in the waiting room. "I
could have bled to death by now. Several
times." Christine fumed. "I'm sorry, Randall. I'm holding up the mission."
"Wasn't really much of a
mission anyway." He looked up from
the padd he was reading. "Do you
know that every single article in this thing is at least five years old?"
They both perked up when the
door to the clinic opened and a nurse beckoned her forward. "Commander Chapel?"
Christine followed her to the
exam room and explained the breakfast mishap.
The nurse pursed her lips.
"Is there something wrong?" Christine asked.
"No. Or there won't be once we finish. Let's see..." the woman reached into a
drawer and started to rifle through forms.
She pulled a few out then dug around in another drawer, finally coming
out with a writing implement. She
started handing the papers to Christine.
"Accident report. Release of
liability for the restaurant owner.
Release of liability for this clinic.
Agreement to pay for medical treatment.
Medical history form. And a customer service survey." She rose.
"By the time you get those completed the doctor should be back from
lunch."
Christine looked at the forms
in dismay. Her stomach rumbled, reminded
her that she was getting hungry. She
began to fill in the forms, not sure if she or Kerr had the worst of it. True to the nurse's word, the doctor came in
just as she finished the last form.
"So, I hear you cut
yourself." The woman smiled at
Christine, the first genuine smile that she had received from a native. "Commander Chapel is it. Let's have a look at that hand." She unwrapped the bandage and studied the
wounds. Then she reached over and picked
out a small piece of glass. Her eyes met
Christine's. "So along with this
tragic pastry accident you also broke your water glass?"
"Is there another form
to fill out if I say yes?"
The woman laughed. "No.
We just add that to the ones you've already finished."
"Then yes."
The woman reached for the
forms and wrote in the new information.
"Well you've missed lunch but I shudder to think how you will get
safely through dinner, Commander."
Christine smiled sheepishly.
The doctor reached for a
bottle of liquid. "This is going to
sting a little." She held
Christine's hand over a basin and poured some of the liquid over the wounds.
Christine's hand felt as if
it was on fire. "A little?"
she gasped.
"Okay, a lot. But we
hate to say that going in." The
doctor waited for the liquid to evaporate then ripped open a package of some
sort of malleable material. She
carefully placed it over the wounds.
Christine felt a cooling
sensation, then the feeling of the bandage molding itself to her skin.
"There you
go." She handed Christine a small
packet of cream. "It won't come off
unless you use this. Leave it on for at
least five days or until you get back to your ship if you have a better way to
heal it."
Christine clenched her hand
gingerly and was pleased to feel no discomfort.
"Thanks."
She followed the doctor out and
joined Randall, who was staring at the ceiling and reciting something. "You done?" he asked hopefully.
Once out in the fresh air he
inspected her hand. "I was worried
they'd lost you on the table or something." He pulled out his tricorder and ran a quick
scan of the bandage. At her look he
shrugged. "Can't be too
careful. No bugs."
"No, it was sterile when
she put it on."
He shook his head. "Those aren't the kind of bugs I
meant."
"You can take the man
out of security..." she teased.
"What were you doing when I came out?"
"First I counted the
little holes in the ceiling. Then I
tried to remember all seven verses of the Federation Hymn. Finally I resorted to listing all the things
I don't like to eat. It's an old trick I
learned to try to fool my stomach into thinking it's not hungry. You do realize we missed lunch?"
"Believe me, I
know. Maybe we could grab something in
the square?"
"Something to drink
yeah. But they don't serve food again
until dinner. I asked the
receptionist."
"Well, the raktajinos
are on me then."
"You're on."
They ordered the drinks at
one of the bars and even cajoled a few cookies out of the proprietor. As they walked out to the tables, Christine
looked around the square. "Business
must be off for your friends?"
Kerr followed her gaze to
where the Ferengi were sitting dejectedly as their Dabo tables stood
empty. "Come on."
The Ferengi watched as they
approached. Kom shook his head, "No
business today."
"What happened?"
Christine asked.
"Felstrarans are awful,
horrible people. Do you know that
hyu-mann?" He looked at her
sorrowfully. "Last night we were
fined for running an unlicensed business.
Fines we can handle, just part of the cost of doing business, although
my leader has no doubt already lodged a formal protest. Anyway, we came back here and set up for
tonight and the entire time their gambling and liquor officials sat right over
there and watched us. Then, when we are
all done, they tell us that the Dabo tables have to be packed up and out in an
hour or they will confiscate them."
He pointed to the elaborate set up.
"It took four of us three hours to put them up." He hung his head dolefully. "It's the Dabo girls that know how to
move them around, that's part of their job.
But we couldn't bring any of our own girls and the ones we hired here
don't know how. We'll never make it in
time."
Kerr slapped him on the
back. "Kom, my friend. What if I told you I might know where you
could find a Dabo girl? Would it be
worth some latinum to you?"
The Ferengi brightened and
looked at Christine. "You will help
us."
Kerr laughed. "No, my friend, I'm afraid she has to
meet with our delegation head." He
pushed her in the direction of their residence.
"I'll catch up with you later," he told her with a wink then
turned back to the Ferengi. "No, I
was thinking of someone a little more, ummm, masculine."
"You?" the Ferengi
asked in some horror.
"Me." Kerr gave him a mercenary smile. "Now, how much you figure that should
cost you?"
She could still hear them
haggling when she rounded the corner.
********************************
Christine looked up from the
chair in the lobby as Spock and Sovar walked in.
"Where is Colonel
Kerr?"
"He's with the
Ferengi." She ignored their curious
looks. "Penhallon and Troi are
still out too."
Spock did not look overly
concerned. "I take it you want to
debrief me now, since you are lying in wait?"
She grinned. "Well, there's this party..."
"Say no more. Sovar your assistance was invaluable
today."
"Thank you,
Sir." He bowed slightly to Spock,
then to Christine.
"Commander."
"Mr. Sovar." She smiled at him. As soon as he disappeared up the stairs she
turned to Spock eagerly. "About
this party. It is being thrown by the
Klingons. You should come. I'm sure they would wish you to be
there. The emissary of peace and all
that." She gave him her best smile.
"As tempting as that is,
I'm afraid I have other plans. But I am
sure you will make an excellent ambassador to the Klingons." He sat in a chair across from her. "Now, what did you discover on your spy
mission? And how did you injure
yourself?"
She quickly apprised him of
what had happened and what little they had found out.
He nodded thoughtfully. "I did not expect more, Christine. I doubt that Penhallon and Troi will have any
additional information to bring to bear."
He steepled his fingers. "It
may be immaterial at this point anyway.
We could very well end up with this planet whether we like it or
not."
She laughed at the sourness
of his expression. "Why?"
"Simply by being the
last to leave the table. I very much
doubt that the Klingons will tolerate much more of this planet's unique version
of service. And the Ferengi were complaining
about some rather substantial fines."
"Yeah, we heard about
those. So that just leaves us and the
Romulans?"
"So it would seem."
"Perhaps you can ask the
Ambassador when you dine with him tonight?" When he did not react, she continued. "I find it somewhat odd that you would
turn down the Klingon's invitation yet accept his?"
He looked at her evenly. "I was not invited by the Klingons, you
were. I am not needed there."
She studied him for a moment,
willing herself to let it go. Finally
she blurted out, "Do you even care how the negotiations are going,
Spock?" At his look of surprise,
she continued. "I mean really? Because as far as I can tell, the only thing
that seems important to you is resuming your discussions with
Pardek." She began to pace. "Which I find odd, considering that you
keep telling me they are inconsequential."
"Are you saying I am not
doing my job?"
"No, I'm sure you are
doing your job. You are nothing but a
professional and Mr. Sovar wouldn't look as calm as he does if you were not
fully engaged. I just don't think that
getting the dilithium is your highest priority on this mission."
"I am merely enjoying
the opportunity to have a free and open discussion with Ambassador Pardek. Given the closed nature of his society, such
interaction is unlikely to come along again.
Perhaps you are feeling left out.
I am sorry that I have not been able to include you in our talks, but I
believe the addition of a stranger would serve to restrict the Ambassador's
willingness to speak freely."
"Will Sovar be joining
you?"
"No he will not. Are you jealous, Christine? And if so, of what?"
She laughed off the
suggestion. "Of course I'm not
jealous. I just don't understand why you
are spending so much time with the enemy."
His face grew cold. "If it bothers you that much, Commander,
then I suggest you report me to Star Fleet Command for espionage."
She tried to backtrack. "I didn't mean..."
He rose suddenly from his
chair. "I think this conversation
has gone as far as it can. Enjoy your
party, Commander."
Oh that was smooth, Chapel,
she thought miserably.
********************************
Her mood had not lightened by
the time she reached the restaurant. She
heard the noise and music and laughter and suddenly wanted no part of it. She was about to turn away when a familiar
voice rang out.
"Christine? Why are you standing out there? Come in." Kehmak came out holding a glass of dark red
wine in both hands. "Here, this
will help whatever is wrong."
"I'm not so sure,"
Christine replied but she took a deep drink.
The taste was sweet and bitter at the same time. The wine had been warmed. "This is blood wine?"
"Yes. There is baqghol if that is not to your
liking."
"No. This is good." Christine sipped again, trying to go
easy. Her stomach was empty and she
didn't know how strong this wine was.
"You drink deep of blood
wine or not at all, Christine. Mak'chak
will be offended if he sees you take so tentatively of his
generosity."
The general was suddenly
behind them. "Why will I be
offended, Kehmak?" It was obvious
that he had already enjoyed a great deal of the wine. He turned to Christine and scowled at
her. When she did not look away he broke
into raucous laughter. "Ah you are
a tough one! I like you."
He raised his hand and
Christine feared for her spine but instead of pounding her he put his arm
around her and leaned in close.
"Let me tell you,
zilm'kach, why you could not possibly offend me." He pulled her into the room, toward the other
Klingons. "I am beyond
offense. I have put up with more here
than any Klingon should ever have to.
And tonight we celebrate that we will not take it ANYMORE!"
He finished with a roar and
Christine was sure she lost partial hearing in the ear closest to his
mouth.
He let her go and began to
circle the group. "Yes, we are
going home and no inducement in this or any other galaxy will make us
stay! We will not be treated with
disrespect! We will not stand in any
more lines or fill out any more forms!
We are warriors! We are
Klingons!"
At his words the other
Klingons raised their glasses and shouted approval.
Kehmak sat on the table next
to Christine. She whispered, "If
you think this is impressive, just wait till he gives the targh
speech." She leaned back and grabbed
a pitcher of wine from the end of the table.
"More?"
Christine nodded and hopped
up on the table next to her.
"And we are here for
more important things too. For it is my
day of first blood. On this day,"
he punctuated the word with a heavy fist on the table that caused the plates to
jump, "forty-five years ago, I blooded my first worthy opponent. I see fit to honor that day. Who is with me?"
This time Christine joined in
with the shouts of support. She felt
unaccountably pleased when Kehmak beamed approval. They both drank deeply.
"Then let us eat and
drink and make merry. For tomorrow some
of us," he nodded sarcastically to Christine, "will be allowed to
leave this cursed planet!"
Again the Klingons and
Christine cheered.
Mak'chak pounded three times
on the door leading to the kitchen. A
parade of waiters loaded with trays emerged and marched to the table. They placed the dishes down with a flourish. When they lifted the lids, some very strange
smells emerged.
Christine swallowed hard at
the sight before her. The food looked
like worms...and they were still moving.
A warm voice sounded in her
ear. "It's gagh, and whatever you
do, don't try it."
She turned to see Kerr
sitting next to her. "You shouldn't
be here. They might get offended."
He shook his head. "Kehmak saw me packing up the Ferengi,
told me to join you. Unless you
mind?"
She knocked her shoulder up
against his arm. "Of course I don't
mind." She turned to Kehmak. "Hey, look who's here."
The Klingon woman nodded to
him. "Grakht, throw me another
glass," she yelled at the Klingon closest to the table holding the barrel
of blood wine. She easily caught the
glass and filled it from the pitcher.
She handed it to Kerr with a mischievous look. "Better catch up, Colonel. We are already far ahead of you."
He smiled, downed the glass,
and handed it back for more.
"Wow," Christine
laughed.
"Very impressive,"
Kehmak grinned as she poured him another.
"You are really quite attractive...for a human." She slid off the table. "Come it is time to eat."
Christine hissed desperately
to Kerr, "Is any of this edible?"
"Sure, just follow my
lead." He pushed ahead of her and
began to quietly list off the dishes as he filled up his plate. "Heart of targh, blood pie, ooh slimy
tongue balls."
"You're kidding
right?"
He shook his head. "No, these are great, don't let the name
throw you off."
By the time they got through
the line her plate was full. Kerr let
her slip past him to sit across from Kehmak, then he took the seat next to her.
Trying not to look as
squeamish as she felt Christine took a taste of the tongue ball. Then another.
She looked over at Kerr.
"Good huh?" he
smiled.
She smiled back.
"I wouldn't steer you
wrong, Chapel."
"I'm learning that,
Kerr."
"Have some more
wine," Kehmak ordered as she filled both of their glasses. "Mak'chak is beginning the targh
speech."
Their host launched into an
impassioned story in Klingon while at the same time digging into his meal. He punctuated some of his points with his
knife and Christine worried that those nearest him might end up wearing part of
his food but it never happened. Kerr
softly translated for her and she found herself laughing along with the others
even though she was getting the tale second hand. By the time he finished talking she was done
with her meal.
Mak'chak slammed his fist
down. "Music!"
One of the Klingons rose and
fiddled with the restaurant's sound system.
Loud music blared. Christine
could detect no discernible melody in the cacophonous shrieks and deep bass
drumming.
Kehmak's face lit up. "Dancing. I love dancing. You two will have to dance."
Christine felt her face grow
hot. "We don't know your
dances."
Kehmak smiled evilly. "Somehow I think that the Colonel
does. If you won't dance with him I
will." She rose and moved around
the table. Rubbing her body sinuously against
Kerr, she looked challengingly at Christine.
"Unless you don't like seeing your par'machai with someone
else?" She began to play with
Kerr's hair. "So soft..."
Christine glared at her and
hissed, "Back off. I will dance
with him."
They were interrupted by
Mak'chak. "What are you doing,
Kehmak? You know it is tradition for the
host and hostess to dance first."
"Hostess?"
Christine asked in some confusion.
"You two are married?"
"Did I forget to mention
that?" Kehmak laughed. "Silly
me." She untwined herself from Kerr
and moved away with Mak'chak.
Christine turned to
Kerr. "You knew?"
He shrugged. "Most of the crews on a ship are from
the same house. I figured she was
related to him in some way. So you want
to dance?"
She watched the two Klingons
move. There was no space between their
bodies. "Are you sure that's what
they are doing?"
He laughed and pulled her up
when the music changed rhythms.
"First song is over. Come
on." He pulled her to him. Very close to him.
She tried to dance but found
herself too self-conscious.
"Christine," he
breathed into her ear.
"Relax." He began to
rub her back gently. "Close your
eyes. Feel the music. Let it in."
Christine did as he
said. For a few minutes she knew nothing
except the dismal feeling of discomfort.
Then she began to hear a pattern in the bass beats. Without realizing she was doing it, she
pushed her body into his in time to the drums.
"Yes." His hands moved lower.
She gave herself over to the
sounds and the rush from the blood wine.
She could feel him against every part of her. She felt as if she was drowning. They stayed like that as the music changed
and changed again. Her hands began to
roam, following his lead.
"Christine," he
murmured. "So sweet. So strong."
Christine looked up to see
Kehmak watching them from across the room.
The woman smiled then moved her head up to kiss her husband.
"What does that word
mean? Parma...?"
"Par'machai? It means lovers."
"Kehmak calls us
that?"
He laughed softly into her
hair. "Maybe she knows something we
don't."
She felt heady with the
wine. "Maybe." His arms pulled her closer; she could feel
his strength, reveled in it. "My
warrior," she whispered.
His lips found the skin near
her ear. "Always."
She groaned, and heard him
make the same sound. The wine was making
the edges of the world fuzzy. All that
mattered was this closeness. Touching
and being touched. She needed it, needed
him. Wanted him. She groaned again.
And as he turned her in the
dance she opened her eyes for a moment and found herself looking out on the
square and at a familiar figure. Spock
did not look in as he and Pardek walked past the restaurant. Spock.
She could feel her whole body stiffen.
Kerr loosed his hold a
bit. "Christine?" When she did not answer, he pulled back to
look at her. "What's wrong?" He eased her out of the hot room and into the
fresh air. "Are you sick?"
She shook her head as she sat
down on the patio. "Can't do
this," she mumbled. She suddenly
felt very dizzy.
"Can't do what?"
"This."
Kehmak came out. "Is she ill?"
Kerr shrugged helplessly.
"Get her some
water." Kehmak suggested, and as he
went to the kitchen she studied Christine.
Turning she followed the direction of Christine's gaze and saw Spock and
Pardek as they walked away. She pulled
Christine's face away from the sight.
Shook her head, gently chiding the human. "I have seen pictures of your planet,
Christine. You have a bright sun. It fills the sky but it is very far
away. You have a moon too. It is very beautiful and much closer. But you cannot see the moon until the sun disappears. So it is with you, my friend."
Christine looked at her in
confusion.
"You are drunk,
Christine. It is not important
now."
Kerr approached with the
water and handed Kehmak the glass. She
held it to the other woman's lips.
"I'm sorry," Christine
said brokenly.
"Sorry is for
weaklings. Can you walk?"
Christine stood, took a few
steps. "I can."
"Good. You go now, back to your lodging. But take this." She pulled two rings from her fingers. She handed one to Kerr and slid the other onto
Christine's finger. "If you ever
find yourself on my planet you will be welcome." She clasped arms with Christine then turned
to Kerr. "Watch over her."
"With my
life."
She watched them go, smiling
to herself as she noticed Kerr automatically matching his step to
Christine's.
Mak'chak joined her on the
patio. "Did you have success,
wife?"
She looked up at him,
allowing her tenderness to show. "I
don't know."
********************************
Christine kept one foot
moving in front of the other. She tried
to ignore the funny spinning sensation.
Kerr stopped. "Are you going to be all right?"
She nodded. "Let's just keep going."
"Right."
"I'm sorry. The wine..."
"Sure. Don't worry about it."
"Yeah."
They passed the Cardassian
lodging, darkened now.
"The Ferengi left today
too," he told her.
"Can't say I blame
them. This world stinks."
"You tell 'em,
tiger."
She grinned. "I will, I...." She trailed off. Suddenly, she just wanted to go to sleep.
Several minutes later, she
wasn't really sure how long or how they got there, they were at her door. She palmed it open and turned to see him
watching her with concern. She smiled
and before she could think better of it reached out to stroke his cheek. "My warrior."
His closed his eyes under her
touch. Then whispered, "Goodnight,
Christine."
She nodded and stumbled back
into the room, letting the door fall closed by itself. She tried to get her uniform open but found
the fastenings too complicated. To hell
with it, she thought as she fell on the bed.
She was asleep in minutes.
********************************
Christine awoke to a vicious
pounding, only part of which was coming from inside her head. "Oh what now?" she muttered as she
padded to the door. "Spock?"
"The Felstrarans have
declared that we are all to be included in the negotiations today. I need you downstairs at once."
She tried to ignore the pain
in her head. "Okay." Tearing off her clothes as she went, she
stepped in the shower just long enough to clean her hair and body then dried
off hurriedly. She pulled on her uniform
and boots and grabbing her padds and a handful of hair clips, she ran out the
door and down the hall. Her head
throbbed each time she put a foot down.
"Christine, hold up a
sec."
She turned to see Kerr
jogging down the hall. He stopped long
enough to hand her two yellow and orange capsules. "You look like hell, let those dissolve
in your mouth," he instructed as he set off again.
She hurried to catch up. "What are these?"
"They'll make you feel
better."
She took the capsules. A few seconds later she started to feel less
fuzzy. "These aren't regulation,
Colonel. Nothing I have in my dispensary
works this fast."
"Yeah, but they work
don't they? Something I picked up on,
well I can't really tell you where. But
we analyzed and copied them and now they are standard issue for certain kinds
of missions." He became suddenly
very serious and enunciated each word slowly.
"But you never heard of them."
"Heard of what?"
He grinned at her as they
took the stairs.
They reached Spock about five
minutes before Troi and Penhallon showed up.
Spock led them off immediately, briefing them as they went. "I'm sorry you won't have time for
breakfast. Let me explain what has
happened. As expected the Klingons and
the Ferengi have withdrawn from the negotiations. That, and the earlier departure of the
Cardassian and non-aligned contingents, means that only the Romulans and us are
left. While we are both ready to sign a
treaty of protection in exchange for mining rights for the dilithium and other
minerals, neither of our worlds is ready to do this without a better understanding
of what we are protecting."
Troi smiled. "We want to see the rest of the
planet."
"Indeed." Spock motioned them into the building where
the discussions were being held.
"That is as far as we have progressed. I believe their demands that we assemble our
entire delegation was an attempt on their part to play for time."
Penhallon sniffed in
disbelief. "They couldn't possibly
have thought we would sign a treaty without knowing what is going on here? The way they cover up all but the most basic
facts of Felstraran life, they could be hiding slave labor camps, or who knows
what else."
"Precisely." Spock took a seat next to Sovar. The rest dragged chairs from around the room
and joined them. "I do not believe
we will find out anything on this trip.
The best we can hope for is to start down the road to a settlement of
some sort." He trailed off as the
Felstraran trade representative stepped up to the podium.
For the next few hours the
Romulans and Federation representatives argued with their hosts on the
necessity of full access to the colony.
The Felstrarans seemed equally determined to protect their privacy.
Pardek stood up
suddenly. "Mr. Ambassador, this has
gone on long enough," the Romulan shouted.
"The Federation may be content to dicker with you but the Romulan
Empire is now out of patience. You have
heard our terms and they are far more generous than those of my esteemed
colleague. However, if you wish to
benefit from them you will give up this attempt at cloaking your society and
prepare at once to receive official Romulan visitors in your capitol. I await your answer."
The Felstraran began to
speak, launching into another impassioned diatribe about the need to protect
his world's culture from contamination.
"Enough!" The Romulan spat. "You wish all the benefits of protection
and none of the duties. While my empire
would welcome a new source of dilithium, I am afraid the price of dealing with
you and your endless lines and forms is not worth it." He turned to Spock, nodded gravely. "I wish you well Ambassador Spock. I do not think that anyone will benefit from
trade with this world."
"Ambassador
Pardek." Spock inclined his head
graciously. A look seemed to pass
between them, then the Romulan Ambassador swept out of the room, followed
closely by his subordinates.
"Well then I guess the
Federation has won this round," the Felstraran smiled nervously. "I have a treaty ready for
signing."
Spock countered, "I am
afraid it will not be that easy, sir.
There are a great many things you will need to agree to, including a
full Federation inspection, before any document between us can be
signed." He motioned to Sovar who
pulled out a padd. "I have prepared
an interim document, laying out what the Federation requires of you and what we
are prepared to give in return. By
signing it you agree to allow a dialogue to start, nothing more."
The Felstraran shook his head
violently. "We offer only access to
the dilithium."
Spock's eyes nearly gleamed
as he stood up. "Ambassador, you
have alienated three of the most powerful empires in this quadrant. I do not think it would be an overstatement
to say that they dislike you very much.
If you do not sign the agreement with us, you will find yourself
alone. Just how long do you think you
can survive without protection?" He
rose and signaled Christine and the rest to follow him.
"Wait."
Spock kept walking.
"Stop."
Spock did not slow.
"We'll sign."
Spock stopped. "A logical decision, Ambassador. I applaud it." He waited for the Felstraran to come to
him.
The man stomped slowly up the
stairs. When he reached the group he
held out his hand for the padd and began to read. At the third paragraph he looked up in
protest, "Surprise inspections? We cannot
allow you free access to our world any time you wish."
"You must or there will
be no treaty. The contact with your
populace will be limited. But you must
see that the Federation will sign no treaties without ascertaining that you are
not in violation of any of our guiding principals. If you wish to be xenophobic and insular that
is your business. But we must make sure
that you are not hiding something. In
any case, the inspection teams can work that out with the trade ministry. It is up to us to begin the process. Will you sign or not?"
The Felstraran quickly read
through the rest of the document.
"What is this? 'The
Federation shall not be required to undergo onerous Felstraran bureaucratic
policies or practices.' Everyone that
arrives here is treated the same."
"That is no longer
acceptable. When my people and I leave
her today, I want it to be with the bare minimum of paperwork. The same will apply to those who come after
us. We will not put up with your
slowdowns, ill treatment, and inefficiencies."
The Ambassador looked ready
to balk.
Spock slowly raised an
eyebrow. Then he held his hand out for
the padd. His eyes met the Felstraran
and locked. He did not look away first.
"Fine. We will have things to add." The man signed the padd then handed it
back.
"I have no doubt of
that. Good day sir." Spock handed the padd to Sovar. "Mr. Sovar, see that the Felstraran
trade ministry gets a copy of that."
And with that he swept out much as the Romulan had.
"Man, he's good,"
Kerr whispered to Christine.
She smiled. "Yeah, he really is."
********************************
Checking out both at the
lodging and at the spaceport was surprisingly uneventful.
"Evidently the
Felstrarans have taken me at my word," Spock mused. "To be truthful I was not sure they
would."
Kerr laughed. "I wouldn't want to mess with you,
Sir."
But by the time they had
settled back onboard, the Felstraran Trade Ministry had sent a list of demands
for the inspections. Spock had Saldusta
forward them on to Star Fleet Command.
She had to do it in several takes.
"You knew they wouldn't
sit idle," Christine said as she sat in Spock's office. "They must have been prepared for this
eventuality. No way they could have prepared
this many screens worth in the last few hours."
"I believe you are
right." Spock leaned back. "I am not unsatisfied with the
outcome."
"Does that mean
Diplomatic is throwing a party?" she teased.
"Indeed. I believe that we are."
"Great. We can finally break in those
facilities."
He let his expression relax
into an almost smile. "Did you
enjoy your first diplomatic mission, Christine?"
Her mind flew guiltily back
to the Klingon party, dancing with Kerr, almost doing other things with
Kerr. "It was interesting,"
she replied, aiming for nonchalant.
"I commend you and
Colonel Kerr on your ability to interact with the Klingons. You should perhaps consider a posting there
someday." He looked at her
seriously. "I know that you think
that I did not care about the Klingons but I was gratified to see our two
parties mingling socially. It tells me
that all I worked for has indeed come to pass."
"No one could deny that,
Spock."
"Now," he gestured
toward her hand, "perhaps you should visit sickbay before you go to the
party?"
"You're
right." She got up and headed for
the door. Looking back she asked,
"Will I see you there?"
He already had his head
buried in the waiting padds. "Of
course."
********************************
Carpenter walked up as
Christine used the cream to remove the Felstraran bandage. "I didn't realize diplomatic duty was so
hazardous?"
Christine laughed as she held
the dermal regenerator against her palm.
"It is when you are with Colonel Kerr."
Carpenter smiled
suggestively. "With him how?"
"That's not what I
meant." Christine knew she was
blushing.
"Whatever you say,
Commander." Carpenter patted her on
the shoulder. "Good to have you
back, Christine."
"It's good to be back,
Delynn. I'll see you at the party?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
Flashing her a smile,
Christine put the regenerator away and left sickbay, heading down the hall to
the lift. When it arrived, Kerr and
other marines were already in it. A space
appeared next to him without her really seeing which of his people had
moved. He looked at her hand. "No bandage."
She held it up. "Nope.
All better."
His tone was extremely
casual. "Glad to hear it."
They walked together to the
reception room. All the doors were open
and the huge room was filled with officers and crew enjoying themselves.
Kerr nodded toward the food
tables. "Nice spread. Ritsuko's outdone herself."
"I don't know. It's not gagh." She smiled wickedly.
He pulled Christine back a
little. "Yeah. Speaking of that. I was hoping that we could get together
later. Maybe talk about what we almost
started the other night?"
She felt the color rise on
her cheeks. "I..." She looked down in embarrassment. "I'm sorry about that. I...we...should never..."
Kerr backed off a bit. "Sure.
It's no problem." He looked
over to where Spock stood with Sovar.
"That's where you really want to be isn't it?"
"Randall..."
He shook his head. "No.
It's okay, Christine. I've known
the score here. I've always known the score." For a moment his eyes showed his
disappointment, then they went dead as he damped down all emotion. He turned and walked away, managing to leave
the party without anyone noticing.
Damn. She resisted the urge to follow him. He was right.
She wanted to be with Spock.
Didn't she?
She pushed through the
crowds, finally making her way to Spock's side.
He and Sovar immediately stopped talking. She felt a brief surge of annoyance. "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?"
Sovar's reply was smooth. "Not at all Commander, the Captain and I
were just ending our discussion."
"Hmm, from my
perspective," she knew her words were laced with irritation but she didn't
care. "It looked like you were
having a great little talk and I just put a premature end to it." She turned to Spock. "But what could you possibly be talking
about that you couldn't share with the First Officer?"
"Oh look," Sovar
said somewhat desperately, "I believe Commander Penhallon needs my
assistance."
She snorted in derision. "Somehow I doubt that. But by all means don't let me keep
you." As the younger Vulcan hurried
away, she turned back to Spock.
"More cryptic conversations.
I never realized that diplomatic missions could be so hush-hush. Especially once they were finished."
He looked back at her, his
expression serene. "There is
nothing about this mission that I am keeping from you, Christine." He motioned to the buffet. "Did you try Lt. Ritsuko's sushi
rolls? I believe these are the ones you
said I might like."
She allowed him to lead her
to the table. She tried to relax as he
speculated what mission Star Fleet would send them on next, and when they would
finally tell them.
"They're probably still
reeling from all the conditions the Felstrarans wanted to put on the
inspections."
"Undoubtedly," he
agreed.
"I wish they'd tell us
though. I want to get away from this
planet." She had a horrible
thought. "You don't suppose they'd
make us do the inspections, do you?"
He shook his head with rather
more force than usual. "It would be
an illogical and inefficient use of our time."
She chuckled. "Plus you will protest."
"I will."
She looked around the room;
saw many of her friends and colleagues.
One face was missing.
"Where's Nako?"
"I called her when we
returned. She says she does not feel
well."
"Still? Maybe I should check on her?" She moved to put her plate down.
His hand reached out, stopped
her. "She will call you if she
needs help. Nako is not shy about such
things. And she values her privacy
nearly as much as I do." His look
was gentle, but still a warning.
They ate for a while in
silence and Christine searched for something else to talk about. The arrival of other crewmembers saved her
the effort and she allowed herself to drift away from his group. She was surprised to realize that she did not
want to be there any longer, that she had had enough of parties and
people. She craved somewhere more
tranquil and thought immediately of the rose garden. A few minutes later she was heading down the
corridor for the lift.
But once in the garden she
found that despite her best efforts at finding some calm center, her bad mood
was taking a stronger hold on her. She
gave up the meditation; just lay on the grass, soaking up the smells and small
sounds of the rose garden. She heard his
steps long before his voice sounded out.
"I wondered where you
had gone."
She did not open her eyes as
she answered him. "I was tired of
the noise and confusion."
"You? I thought you thrived on such chaotic
exuberance?"
She sat up. "Yeah.
Me too."
"I also needed some time
to myself." Spock stood uncertainly
at the door to the garden. His face was
in shadows but she could sense his hesitation.
"You can come in. I won't bite." She knew her voice was bitter.
He approached slowly. "I did not think you would." He took in her quick scowl. "Have I offended you in some way?"
She stared at him a long
moment. Resisting the urge to respond in
some caustic way she pushed herself off the grass and walked over to the
viewport.
"Christine?"
She sighed. "Don't mind me, Spock. I'm just in a mood."
"So I gather. Have I contributed to it?"
"You?" She laughed, the sound was mocking. She tried to feel remorse, failed. She let another heavy sigh escape.
He walked to stand next to
her, his shoulder nearly touching hers.
"What is it?"
She did not answer for a long
time. Just as she sensed he was about to
turn away she said in a soft voice, "What did you and Pardek talk
about?"
His answer was quick,
practiced. "Things of a diplomatic
nature. Nothing that would interest
you."
"What kind of things of
a diplomatic nature?"
He turned to look at
her. "Why this sudden interest in
my conversations with the head of the Romulan delegation? Or do you still think me a spy?" His tone was light, but there seemed to be
something more serious underneath.
"You just seemed so
animated. I haven't seen you that
interested in anything since..."
"Since?"
"Since Jim
died." She turned to him. "You spent so much time with
Pardek."
"As you spent a great
deal of time with the Klingons and Ferengi, yet you do not see me grilling you
about what you spoke of with them."
Damn the man. He was so good at this, ever the
diplomat. "You had that look."
His eyebrow rose slowly. "What look would that be?"
"The one you used to get
when you and Kirk and McCoy were working on something, plotting something. I learned to recognize it even if I was never
involved. Never allowed to be
involved." She could feel her hands
clenching tightly.
"Christine, you are
angry at me and I am unsure why."
"Just tell me what you
spoke of."
"I cannot. I am sorry."
She felt shoulders she did
not realize she had tensed slump in defeat.
"I believe there was a time that you would have told me."
His voice sounded
irritated. "I doubt that is
true."
"I think you would have
at least considered telling me. Before
Jim died."
"Everything is not about
Jim." He began to walk away from
her.
She spun. Called to his departing back. "He didn't die alone out there. He took part of you with him."
Spock froze.
"The part of you that
trusted. The part of you that
loved."
He did not turn. "Those are human emotions. You do neither of us any credit by this
tirade, Christine. I am going to retire
now." He started to walk again.
"I miss you,
Spock." She had not intended to
have this conversation, to say these words, even though she had felt this way
ever since Kirk died. Now it was too
late, she forged ahead, "I need that part of you back."
He did not slow but his words
were clearly meant to carry back to her.
"We are doing fine without it."
"Commander Chapel and
the Captain are doing fine. Will
continue to do fine. But Christine and
Spock...they aren't going to make it.
Don't you see that?"
"You are tired,
Christine. Get some sleep." His stride did not falter as he left the
garden.
She watched the entrance for
a long time. Sat quietly, mind
processing. What they had was good. She should value the way they had cemented
this working relationship. Theirs was an
easy rapport that would endure as long as she did not demand more from him than
he could give. It would have to be enough...and
for Commander Chapel it was. For
Christine, however, it just wouldn't do.
Her steps were slow and
measured as she left the gardens. She
did not question the impulse that led her to the turbolift, that prompted her
to request Deck 9. She did not question
what she would say when she got to his door.
She did not hesitate to ring for entry.
The door opened and Kerr
stood looking at her. He tilted his head
and pursed his lips as he studied her.
"Didn't expect to see you again this soon."
"Yeah. Me neither." She tried to smile, felt it die before it
reached her eyes. "Got any
gagh?"
His eyes narrowed, he stood
unmoving. Then he took pity on her and motioned her into the room. She sat in the nearest chair.
He perched on the one across
from her. "Something happen?"
"Yes. No."
He waited for her to
explain.
She took a long breath but
when she tried to talk she found herself at a loss for words.
He let out a sigh, stood and
walked away from her. A minute later he
was back, handing her a glass.
"It's single malt. Go easy
on it."
She sipped at the drink. Staring down at the golden liquor she
whispered, "I thought I knew how it was all going to play out."
He didn't say anything, just
stood down looking at her, taking small sips from his own glass.
"I was supposed to be
with him, and you...you weren't even supposed to be an issue." She looked up at him finally. "I've loved him forever, Randall. I thought I was over it and I'd really moved
on and then we got this assignment and he seemed so interested in me. All those old feelings came back. In the days between that silly team training
and Kirk's death, we shared so much. It
seemed like everything was coming together perfectly."
He still said nothing.
She took another sip. "But then you showed up. We had such fun together. And Kirk died. Spock...Spock hasn't been the same. And you were there for me. Every time I needed someone, you were there
for me."
He shrugged. "Just doing my part." He threw back the rest of his drink. "You know..." he punctuated his
words with stabbing motions of the glass, "it really doesn't feel good
coming in second." He walked back
to the small galley and poured himself another glass. "You want more?"
She rose and moved over to
him. "Sure," she said as she
handed him the glass. She moved closer
to him as he poured.
"Go back and sit down,
you're distracting me."
"Maybe that's what I'm
trying to do."
He took the glass from her
with a quick motion. "I'm not
playing this tonight. Get out."
She shook her head.
"I've already lost once,
Christine. Don't compound it by offering
me what's left over."
She reached over and calmly
took back the glass. Sipping from it she
met his angry gaze fearlessly. "You
never lost, Randall. Never."
"Funny." He moved around her, flopped into the chair,
took a deep swallow of his scotch.
"It doesn't feel that way."
She followed him and stood in
front of him. "Look at my
eyes." When he ignored her, she
placed her drink on the table and leaned over him, hands on the arms of his
chair, face dangerously close to his own.
"Damn it, Randall, look at my eyes."
He did. "They're blue. They're beautiful."
"Exactly." She stood up in triumph.
"Either you're way too
tired or I am, because this is making no sense."
"Yes it is. Look at my eyes." She reached down and smoothed back his
hair. His brow was furrowed. "I haven't cried."
He was silent.
"I haven't cried over
this. It hurts yes. But I haven't lost my friend, Spock, the
Captain of this ship. I just lost the
possibility that one day he might be more to me." She moved her hand down to his cheek. "And I find that it doesn't bother me
nearly as much as I thought it would."
He sat like a stone, his eyes
searching hers for any sign of falseness.
She took his drink, placed it
next to her own. "But if you kick
me out of here, Randall. If you tell me
to go. Then I can guarantee that these
eyes will be red in the morning."
"Don't do this to me,
Christine." He tried to get up but
she pushed him back down.
She knew he could move her
aside in a second if he wanted to. He
did not appear to want to. She moved
closer. "If you don't want me to
stay?" She moved her fingers over
his lips, allowed herself to play.
"Just tell me."
His eyes closed as she
watched him. Then they opened
again. They were fierce. "I love you."
She leaned in to kiss
him. "And I love you. I was just too caught up in what might have
been to see what was standing right in front of me."
His mouth resisted her for a
moment, then he pulled her to him, his strength threatening to hurt her. But he eased his hold on her as soon as she
was settled in his lap.
"I'm not going to share you." His tone was rebellious.
"Neanderthal. Not sure I like that." She grinned at him. "He's still the Captain, and he's my
friend. You'll have to share me with him
as far as those relationships demand."
He nodded. "That far and no more." He kissed her soundly for several
minutes. Then he pushed her out of his
lap and to her feet.
She looked at him in surprise
as he rose too.
He grinned at her
wolfishly. "You have two choices,
Commander. Either you leave now and eat
breakfast with me in the morning."
She smiled. "Or?"
"Or you stay," he
was already pulling her toward the bedroom, "and eat breakfast with me in
the morning."
"See this is why we're
so perfect together," she said laughing.
"You knew the important thing was breakfast and as long as that is
included I'll..." she never got the chance to answer before his mouth
covered hers and they forgot about anything but each other for the rest of the
night.
FIN