“Captain!”
Kirk, who had just taken a refill of scotch on the rocks from the cheery female Bolian bartender, cringed. Oh, no. It couldn’t be. Not here, not now—The Bolian winced sympathetically.
“Ooh, that bad, huh, sweetie?” she whispered.
“Yep,” Kirk said quietly, forcing his features into a pleasant expression. He turned around. “I didn’t expect—”
He should have seen the bone-crushing hug coming, but he didn’t, and all the air rushed out of his lungs in a whoosh.
“Are you surprised to see me?” Skalli chirped.
He stretched his lips into a rictus of a smile. “ ‘Surprised’ doesn’t even begin to describe it,” he said.
She let him go and jumped up and down, her large ears flapping excitedly. The other soon-to-be colonists, including both nephews and his old Enterprise crewmen, stared.
Kirk ignored them. “It was ... kind of you to come see me off,” he said.
Skalli laughed. “I’m not here to see you off, Captain. I’m here to join the colony!”
“What?” Kirk realized he had raised his voice and [66] quickly lowered it to a more conversational tone. “Skalli, you don’t mean to tell me you dropped out of the Academy to follow me?”
“I sure did!”
He groped for words. “Skalli, you’re putting your whole future at risk. You want to be an ambassador. You’ll get so much out of Starfleet Academy that will—”
“I can always reenroll later,” she said, dismissing his argument.
“How did you even find out about this?” Kirk had kept news of his departure close to his chest. Only a few people knew.
“Well, when I learned that you weren’t going to be teaching next semester, I got worried. I went to our embassy and had someone find out what was going on. Then I got to thinking, well, Skalli, why don’t you go along with the colony? There are so many reasons for me to go! For one thing, you’re getting older, and who knows how much longer you’ll be around for me to learn from.”
“Thank you, Skalli, I feel so much better now.”
She beamed, clearly not recognizing sarcasm when she heard it, and continued. “And second, what a unique chance to really learn from and bond with such a variety of people! Finally, it’s almost in my own backyard. I’ll get the chance to meet a Falorian!”
Her revelation distracted him from the innocent insult she’d delivered earlier. “You’re in neighboring star systems and you’ve never met a Falorian?”
“Never. We’re ... a bit distant, the Huanni and the Falorians.”
[67] Kirk was now completely alert. “Were there hostilities between your people in the past?”
“Oh, no. Neither of us is an aggressive people.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought of violence. “That’s another reason I wanted to join the colony—their ideology is so profound. Technology can mean lasting peace, ways to help people, grow better crops, and provide shelter. It doesn’t have to lead to war. Why do we always have to manufacture weapons? Why—”
Kirk steered her back to the subject of Huanni and Falorian relations. “It’s hard for me to understand that two species in neighboring star systems didn’t interact without there being some hostility between them.”
Skalli sighed. “There was contact, many centuries ago. We developed on the same world—my world—but the Falorians wanted their own planet. So they left, went to another hospitable planet the next system over, and became Falorians. As I understand it everyone was pretty annoyed with everyone else, so there followed a custom of noncontact. Now that we have applied to the Federation and they are considering it too, though, we’ll have something to talk about!”
Her expression had been unhappy when she began speaking, but by the end she had brightened back to her normal, almost unbearably cheerful self. Kirk didn’t know whether to be pleased or regretful; the sad Skalli was much quieter.
The tinkling of a bell sounded, and the buzz of conversation in the hall quieted. Alexander and Julius were at the front of the room. Alexander stood behind a podium, while Julius hung back, off to the side and slightly [68] behind his brother. Not for the first time, Kirk wondered at the difference between the three of his nephews. There was a definite physical resemblance between them all, but there the similarities stopped. Each had his own distinct personality.
Alexander almost glowed. Even when he tried to look more serious, it appeared as though it was impossible for him to wipe a delighted smile off his face.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “I hope you’ve been enjoying the event thus far. We’ll be heading in to dinner soon, but before we do, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your faith in Project Sanctuary. This has been a dream that my brother Julius Kirk and I have shared for many years. It’s taken a lot of work, and the road has been far from easy. But we’ve done it.
“In approximately two weeks we will arrive on the prettiest planet I think I’ve ever laid eyes on. We will enjoy the natural beauty of Sanctuary. We will do our best not to despoil this lovely place. But we will also gracefully welcome her gifts. Those gifts, combined with our own skills and technology, will bring forth a society that exemplifies the best the civilized worlds have to offer. Nature and technology do not have to be opposed. Peace and progress can go hand in hand, if the minds and hearts of those who create them will it so.
“You’ll have plenty of time to meet and get to know one another when we depart. The Mayflower II departs spacedock at oh-eight-hundred sharp. We’ll all be eager to get underway and we won’t be happy to wait for stragglers, so be on time!”
[69] He grinned, and the crowd chuckled kindly, not so much at Alex’s humor as at his obvious excitement and eagerness.
“Before we sit down for dinner, there is someone I’d particularly like to thank. Uncle Jim, where are you?”
Damn, Kirk thought. More living legend nonsense. Nonetheless, he forced a smile on his face and waved. Alex’s lit up even more, if such a thing was possible.
“Folks, I’d like to introduce you to my uncle, James T. Kirk. Most of you have heard of him. I’m delighted to say that he will be joining us for at least a few months. Let’s see what we can do to convince him to stay longer, shall we?”
And to Kirk’s utter chagrin, Alex began to applaud. Julius joined in. For an uncomfortable moment, they were the only ones clapping, but slowly the others started to applaud as well, though with an obvious lack of enthusiasm. Kirk smiled graciously, waved a bit, and waited for the noise to subside.
He was beginning to regret this. He had a feeling he was in for a long several months.
Despite Alex’s warning, the Mayflower II left spacedock late at 0934. It settled into a steady warp five and soon left the Sol system behind.
Shortly afterward, a cloaked Klingon bird-of-prey, careful to keep its presence undetected, began to follow.
Chapter Seven
KIRK HADN’T BEEN ABOARD for fifteen minutes when the trouble started. He, Scott, and Chekov were unpacking in the cramped quarters that would serve as home for the duration of the trip. None of the three had shared such close quarters with anyone else for a long time, and there was much joking and bumping of elbows. They left the door open and at one point Scott was looking down the corridor.
“Ah, looks like there’s someone coming to see us,” he remarked.
Kirk’s head came up. “Female?”
“Aye.”
Kirk swore, underneath his breath. Would Skalli never leave him alone? He backed off to the side and said in a whisper, “Tell her I’m not here.” Damn it, she ought to at least let him unpack before she came to harass him.
Scott and Chekov looked at him oddly, then Scott shrugged. He stepped into the doorway and leaned [71] against the frame, effectively blocking Skalli’s entrance. Kirk flattened himself against a wall.
“Hey,” said a voice that was definitely not Skalli’s. “Name’s Kate Gallagher.”
“The captain
’s not here,” Scott said, and at the same time, Kirk stepped forward to greet the new visitor. There was an awkward silence. Kirk smiled faintly, embarrassed at having been caught trying to duck someone.
The human female who stood just outside the doorway had short brown hair, wore the loose khaki pants and white sleeveless shirt that served as an informal uniform here, and had no jewelry or cosmetics on. Her frame was lean and wiry, and judging by the collection of freckles on her face she’d spent a lot of time in the sun. She stuck out a callused hand.
Kirk hesitated for just a moment at the incredible informality, realized he’d better get used to it, and shook the proffered hand. “I’m Jim Kirk.”
“Yeah, I know. Looks like you are here after all. Nice to meet—” Gallagher broke off in midsentence, staring past Kirk at the half-unpacked suitcase on the cot.
“Is there a problem?” Kirk asked.
“Yeah,” she said, as if he were stupid. Gallagher pointed at the phaser. “That. We don’t allow weapons. I’m surprised you were able to smuggle it aboard.”
Kirk bridled at the implication that he had sneaked the weapon on. “Alex knows I have it. He gave us special permission.” The ship, of course, had ample defense technology, but regarding additional weapons Alex had made it clear that as far as he was concerned there was [72] no need for them, not even to protect themselves from the planet’s native creatures, and to arrive in a place called Sanctuary bristling with tools of violence would only send the wrong message to the Falorians. Kirk’s nephew had relented, very reluctantly, for the three Starfleet men only because Kirk had told him that he and his two friends would either have handheld phasers or they wouldn’t come.
“This is a peaceful mission,” Gallagher said, her eyes going hard and flinty. “We don’t need weapons where we’re going. Biggest predator there is a miyanlak. It’s about the size of a coyote and very shy.”
“Look, Kate,” Kirk began in a placating tone, but Gallagher had obviously found something else about which to wax wroth.
“Oh, my God,” she said, “is that fur?” She pointed at something furry and plaid in Scott’s bag.
“Aye, that’s rabbit fur. It’s a sporran,” Scott said defensively. “It’s been passed down in my family for almost two hundred years. It’s part of my formal dress uniform.”
Kate laughed, but it wasn’t a friendly sound. She crossed her hands over her chest in a defensive posture. “You know, I was going to give you guys the benefit of the doubt. I thought you’d at least try to respect our beliefs, work with us. You bring weapons, dead animals—I just don’t know.”
She turned and stalked out. Kirk stared after her, hardly believing the whirlwind of rudeness and aggression that had just swept through the tiny cabin.
“Well,” Chekov said, “I feel so welcome now.”
[73] “Ah,” Scott said, as if he’d just figured that out. “That’s Kate then, is it?”
“What do you know about her? Other than that she’s blunter than a Klingon,” Kirk asked.
“Great lover of peace, that one. And beasties. I remember reading her bio—she’s devoted to figuring out ways to protect endangered species. Can’t suppose I blame the lassie. In this day and age, we don’t need to make coats out o’ their fur. But I tell you, Captain, this wee bunny would have been dead a long time ago o’ natural causes.”
“Don’t let her get to you, Scotty. We knew we’d rub some people the wrong way. I’m sure that once we get to know these people, it’ll all work out.”
He was sure of nothing of the sort.
During the trip, the old Enterprise crew members did indeed get to know some of the colonists. A few seemed approachable: Dr. Leah Cohen, an oceanographer; Alys Harper, a linguist and communications expert; the head geologist Mark Veta; and Dr. Theodore Simon, the medical doctor for the colony. Others, like Gallagher, the Talgart botanist Mattkah, and the taciturn engineer Kevin Talbot, seemed to take an instant and permanent dislike to the three Starfleet officers. The rest fell into a swirl of names and faces that never particularly stood out. They would come to the mess hall, eat quickly, and scurry back to their quarters.
The only exceptions were, of course, Skalli, who ambushed Kirk for chats repeatedly, and Alex. Alexander alone sought out his uncle and his friends. When he was with Kirk, the others all relaxed and risked [74] friendly smiles and hellos. They followed his lead almost like dogs awaiting commands from their master. They might clash with one another—and Kirk was witness to a few arguments, particularly between Mattkah and Gallagher—but they all turned toward Alex like flowers to the sun. Kirk realized that Alex was, like George Washington on Earth in the eighteenth century, the “indispensable man.” One thing he seemed to do with ease was bring disparate people together and focus them on a mutually beneficial goal.
Kirk, Scott, and Chekov found themselves seeking out one another’s company almost constantly. At first, Kirk thought it was his imagination, but when both Scott and Chekov ruefully reported their own litany of polite refusals and occasional downright snubs, Kirk realized something he should have seen before: Among this group of peace-loving scientists and engineers, Starfleet’s comparatively martial presence just wasn’t welcome,
“How ironic,” Kirk mused over lunch one day. As usual, he, Chekov, and Scotty were sitting by themselves. “I can’t count the number of times that I’ve said the words ‘we mean you no harm’ or ‘we are a peaceful people’ in various alien encounters over the years, but that seems to count for nothing here.”
“When I was first officer aboard the Reliant,” Chekov said, “I had to work closely with the scientific types. They are not easy to get to know, but they are good people.”
“And an engineer is an engineer,” Scott said between mouthfuls of reconstituted stew-like substance. [75] “Scientist, Starfleet, peace lover, what have you. Scratch the surface of an engineer, and you’ll find a heart of dilithium.” His eyes crinkled at his joke, and even Kirk smiled a little.
“I’m certain we’ll find that we have more in common than we think once we reach Sanctuary and get to work,” Kirk said. “We’ll be living together, working alongside one another. Our differences won’t seem so great once we’re working toward a common goal.”
He knew his voice rang with assurance, but he had his doubts. And he was to be proved right.
The enormous transport that was the Mayflower II settled with surprising gentleness on the planet’s surface. Kirk had had plenty of time alone to familiarize himself with what to expect.
Sanctuary was a Class-M planet, with all of the attendant climates that usually included. They had landed in the northern hemisphere in a temperate zone that would be pleasantly warm in the summers and occasionally snowy in the winters. Small teams utilizing the single shuttle called the Drake would explore in detail other climates, some of which, such as the desert area with its deadly sandstorms, were hostile indeed. That in-depth level of exploration and possible expansion was slated for what the colonists called Year Two. Today, the landing, was Day One of Year One. Kirk thought this new numbering of days and years was a bit silly, but the colonists liked it, so he said nothing.
There would be plenty of time to settle in before the winter approached; it was late spring, and when Kirk [76] stepped out onto Sanctuary’s soil for the first time, the smells that teased his nostrils made him smile. For the first time since they’d left Earth, he felt excited and hopeful about the project’s success again. It was truly a beautiful place.
Standing ready to greet them were six beings that Kirk assumed were Falorians. Standing Crane had been right. They did resemble the Huanni, which of course made sense if indeed both species had originated on the same planet, as Skalli had said. But they were different, too; stockier, less animated in their movements. He smiled and automatically stepped forward, but a gentle hand on his arm stayed him.
“Julius has had the dealings with the Falorians, Uncle Jim,” Alex said softly. “He should be the one to addr
ess them first.”
Of course, Alex was right. “Sorry,” Kirk said. “Old habits die hard.”
He stood next to Alex, taking his cues from his nephew, as the colonists, all 108 of them, exited the Mayflower II. He expected them to form a line, but instead they all clustered together, talking animatedly. Kirk frowned to himself. This was hardly the way to greet one’s host. A more formal appearance was called for. He bit his tongue.
Julius was the last one out. Kirk was certain this wasn’t accidental. The young man ran lightly down the steps and stretched out a hand to one of the Falorians.
“Kal-Tor Lissan,” Julius said. “It is good to see you again.”
“And you, Julius Kirk,” the Falorian leader said [77] politely. Kirk assumed Kal-Tor was a title, but not a military one, much like “chieftain” or “leader” or “head.” “We have long looked forward to this day.”
Lissan was speaking with Julius, but his large, dark eyes were scanning the crowd. “Permit me to introduce my brother,” Julius said. “Alexander, this is Kal-Tor Lissan, the person I’ve been in negotiations with.”
“Julius speaks of you often and highly, Kal-Tor,” Alex said, stepping forward to shake the alien’s hand. “We are so grateful that you have entrusted us with Sanctuary. We will take good care of her.”
“I’m certain you will,” Lissan replied politely. His eyes fell upon Kirk. “Forgive me, but ... do I detect a family resemblance with this person here as well?”
“You do,” Alex said. “This is my uncle, Captain James T. Kirk.”
“Ah,” Lissan said, nodding. “Even out here on the edge of Federation space, we have heard of the famous Captain Kirk. We are honored to have you here, Captain.”
“It’s an honor to be here, Kal-Tor,” Kirk replied. “I understand you are in negotiations to join the Federation. I wish you every success. You have shown good faith thus far.”
Lissan seemed flattered and inclined his head. “We are eager to become a part of such a fine organization of worlds. Your people will see that we have much to offer.” His eyes narrowed a little as he regarded Skalli, who was practically jumping up and down. “I see that you have brought a neighbor. What is your name, Huanni child?”
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