Cryptography Challenge Answer: The Stanger in the Mirror

[MikeJaffa]

TITLE: The Stranger in the Mirror
AUTHOR: MikeJaffa
SYNOPSIS: Post-TMP: Answer to the crypotography challenge: Uhura is plagued with doubts after the V’Ger incident
DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns Star Trek.

8

8

8

8

“Coming!” Uhura said as she sat up in bed. She hadn’t slept. The knocking on her door stopped. “Lights,” Uhura said.

The lights came on in Uhura’s guest room in the palace on Elas. It was almost twice the size of the bridge of the *Enterprise.* Uhura’s bed was huge with posts and curtains. Pillars, art, and wall hangings decorated the room lit by chandeliers. A balcony, its curtains open, gave a view of Mount Tekun, the mountain next to Elas’ capital city and site of the planet’s largest dilithium mine.

Uhura hinged her feet into slippers, pulled on a robe, and crossed to the door that seemed almost a kilometer away across a black marble floor. She opened the door. The Elasian servant girl on the other side of the door seemed shy and nervous.

The girl said, “Forgive the intrusion at this hour, m’lady. I did not mean to wake you.”

“It’s all right,” Uhura said with a smile. “I wasn’t sleeping anyway. What is it?”

The girl relaxed a little. “Our monitoring station has detected and recorded another transmission.”

“Can you transfer it to my tricorder?”

“They are converting the data format as we speak, m’lady.”

“All right then. Thank you for letting me know. Good night.” She closed the door.

Uhura turned away from the door and muttered, “‘M’lady.’” When Elaan had come aboard the Enterprise the first time four years earlier, during the third year of the *Enterprise’s* first five-year mission, she had literally and figuratively been a royal bitch. Now that she was the queen of the united Tellun star system, she seemed to be hellbent on overcompensating for her past misbehavior. The amount of bowing and scraping she and Spock had been on the business end of had been embarrassing before Uhura had seen her room. Only Elan’s remark that the guest room was one third the size of the room Elan had had as a little girl and Spock asking Elan that the servants be less “formal” kept Uhura from requesting that she sleep in their shuttle.

The tricorder chimed that the data transfer had been completed just as Uhura finished dressing in a white short-sleeved top, beige pants and matching shoes. She sat in one of the ornate chairs and puzzled over it.

And found nothing but frustration in the data.

Uhura muttered, “What does Spock expect me to find?” She leaned back in the chair. She opened her eyes. “I need some air.”

Lamp posts lit the vast ornate garden decorated with bushes, flowers, and short trees. Uhura found a bench next to a fountain and began to pour over the tricorder again.

A female voice from behind her said, “I, too, find the gardens comforting when I cannot sleep.”

Uhura shot to her feet. Elaan was behind her wearing a red gown with a low neckline. Though loose fitting, it did not conceal her baby bump.

“Your highness!” Uhura stammered.

“Please,” Elaan said. “If we are not to be so ‘formal,’ you may address me as Elaan and be seated. I command it,” she finished with a smile.

Uhura couldn’t stop herself from smiling back. “As you command, Elaan.”

“I did not have the opportunity to thank you for letting me use your quarters the last time I was on the *Enterprise.*”

Uhura kept her voice pleasant as she said, “You don’t mean that.”

“No, I don’t, but I have spent these last few years being drilled in etiquette and protocol, especially where guests from allied powers are concerned.”

“I could handle of that if you weren’t obviously flirting with me.”

“Was I really obvious? But you are right, I spent my life getting whatever or whoever I wanted without subtlety. And the servant girls have given me conflicting advice.”

Uhura squirmed uncomfortably and decided to change the subject. “I wasn’t sure whether to congratulate you.” Her eyes flicked towards Elan’s belly.

“Indeed,” Elan said. “Your congratulations are accepted. Part of me sees the child I’m carrying as an abomination that I should cut out of myself. And yet I also see it as a sign of how all the people of the Tellun system are my subjects now.” She looked up at the sky and pointed. “You see that blue star near the zenith? That’s Troyius. Tomorrow our planets will be at their closest approach, 48 million kilometers apart. When I was a little girl, I would sneak out here at night and dream of being the warrior queen who would wipe it from our skies. Now, I yearn to return to it. Elas does not seem like home anymore.”

“At least you know where home is,” Uhura muttered.

 

[MikeJaffa]

Uhura’s nightmares had started the night after the V’Ger encounter. She dreamed of looking in the mirror and seeing either a face she didn’t recognize or a dark-skinned humanoid with a blank face; or getting out of the turbolift and finding herself in a room she didn’t recognize instead of the bridge. She had had those dreams years before and knew what they meant.

She was eating a bowl of pasta for lunch in the cavernous rec room’s dining area when Doctor Christine Chapel came up to her table and sat down across from her.

Uhura said between mouthfuls, “I thought you didn’t eat in the mess hall.”

“I’ll make an exception for a medical issue.”

“I’m fine, Christine.”

“Are you, Nyota? As your doctor, I know you’ve been having at least three bowls of pasta every day for lunch, and I’m alarmed your diet is going in the crapper. Nobody eats perfectly around here, me included, but you’ve taken it to warp nine. As your friend, I know you only go for the carbs when you’re in a mood.”

“I’m not in a mood.”

“That sounded pretty moody.”

Uhura smiled. “I’m not in a mood.” She saw movement over Christine’s shoulder. Christine turned and looked. Kirk was leading Spock and McCoy as they carried their trays towards Uhura’s table. Kirk abruptly came to a halt. The others bunched up behind him. Kirk turned to Spock and McCoy and nodded towards another part of the dining area. The three officers trooped away from Uhura’s table.

Christine turned back to Uhura and said, “Either we’re not the cool kids anymore, or you’re in a mood.”

“I guess that makes us the nerdy chicks no one asks out.”

Christine softened. “Nyota, I could make this official, but I don’t want to. V’Ger stressed everyone, but you were hit a lot harder. What is it? Please. You can tell me, in private, if you like. I will keep it in complete confidence.”

Uhura wrestled with her reactions but stopped when she saw Kirkc, Spock, and McCoy get up from their table and move to get rid of their food. They hadn’t finished eating. Then Uhura’s wrist com chirped. A female feline voice purred out of it, “M’Ress to Uhura.”

“Go ahead, M’Ress.”

“A coded communication as arrived from Starfleet Command, Commander. It will require your authorization to decode.”

“On my way.” She got up from the table, grabbed her tray, and smiled at Christine. “I promise to make an appointment, Doc.” She turned and hurried away.

“For this I triggered my PTSD,” Christine said to the Universe in general.

8

8

The encrypted orders directed the *Enterprise* to the Tellun system, where years before, the *Enterprise* had ferried Elaan from her home world, the inner planet, Elas, to the outer planet, Troyius, where she would marry that planet’s king and bring peace to that star system. The *Enterprise* rendezvoused with a space dock Elan and Troyius were building in a halo orbit around the L2 LaGrange point between Elas and its sun, Tellun.

Petri had been Troyius’ ambassador the first time the *Enterprise* had come to the Tellun system. Now he was the prime minister of the interplanetary government ruled by Elan and her husband. The green-skinned humanoid beamed aboard with a female Vulcan, V’Kira, the Federation’s liaison with the Tellun government. She sported the Vulcan bowl haircut and gray robes with silver calligraphy on it. After exchanging pleasantries in the transporter room, Uhura joined Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, V’Kira, and Petri in the conference room part Kirk’s quarters. It was there that the reason for their mission was revealed: Antimatter had been stolen from the space dock.

V’Kira said, “Only a few billionths of a gran had been stolen, but that would be more than sufficient to destroy Elas’ capital city if it’s exposed to the atmosphere. “

Spock started to speak, but before he could, Uhura said, “That’s the least of it, Admiral. The largest dilithium mine is in Mount Tekun, just outside Elas’ capital city. If the antimatter were released in or near the mine, there would be a secondary warp plasma explosion. The subspace rupture would devastate a 125,000 square kilometer area of the planet, damage or destroy the space dock; and with Elas and Troyius at their point of closest approach, bathe Troyius in toxic levels of tetrion radiation.”

Scotty said, “Aye, and with war plasma, that’s what we can predict.”

McCoy grinned and said, “Scotty, I think she wants your job. Commander, anything to say on local diseases?”

“Bones, Scotty,” Kirk admonished, “I, for one commend Commander Uhura’s initiative. Well done, Commander.”

V’Kira said, her monotone barely concealing annoyance, “Levity under these circumstances is not logical.”

“Their emotional coping mechanisms do not detract from their effectiveness,” Spock said. He turned to Petri. “Prime minister, have investigations by the Tellun authorities produced any suspects?”

“Too many I’m afraid, Commander Spock. The political union of Elan and Troyius has not quieted the passions in some of our worlds’ inhabitants. Many extremists groups have arisen that have no qualms about using violence to achieve their aims, even Apocalyptic violence.”

“Indeed, prime minister. And yet according to Starfleet intelligence, you have remained a vocal critic of the political union even after forming the government; and there is evidence your political party is tied to one of those extremist groups.”

“My party and I renounce violence, and we have no connection to that group,” Petri said.

Scotty said, “Aye, and a good thing that is, Prime Minister. But as I understand it, your party’s…skepticism is the reason the space dock is being built at Elas’ L2 point with Tellun. And when it’s completed, it’ll use the gravitational boundary’s this star system’s Interplanetary Transport Network to alternate between its construction site and Troyius’ L1 point with Tellun. Not very convenient to build and less convenient to use.”

“I support the peace between Elas and Troyius,” Petri said. “I simply want terms that are most advantageous to both worlds. And as an engineer, Mr. Scott, you will know that using the Transport Network means a relatively small amount of fuel will be used each time the space dock is moved, even if it can take weeks or months to relocate the station. I find this arrangement equitable even if it is ‘inconvenient.’”

Kirk said, “Be that as it may, we are here to assist in solving the theft of the antimatter. V’Kira, you sent a message to Starfleet indicating you had a lead.”

“Yes, Admiral,” V’Kira said. “Troyiun security has intercepted coded transmissions that may lead us to the perpetrators. Queen Elaan chose to come to Elas to show the royal family’s support for the investigation. But since then, the investigation has reached a standstill because Troyiun security could not decode the transmission. I reported our findings to Starfleet, and they ordered the *Enterprise* to come here and assist.” She looked at Uhura. “They intimated your communications officer would be good at decoding.”

Uhura concealed her reaction and said, “I’ll do my best.”

“All right then,” Kirk said. “Mr. Spock will take the *Enterprise* to the space dock and continue the investigation from there. Lt. Uhura and I will take a shuttle to--”

Petri interrupted, “Ahhhh, Admiral, if I may, your previous encounter with Elaan makes you meeting the queen…problematic. It is a matter of some…delicacy…”

“Of course,” Kirk said. “Very well. Mr. Spock and Commander Uhura will go to Elas, and I will take the *Enterprise* to the space dock.”

As they stood to leave, Petri smiled and said, “Mr. Spock, is it too early to congratulate you?”

“Congratulate me?” Spock asked.

“Well, Mr. Spock, I assumed under Admiral Kirk, you would be elevated to the rank of captain--”

“Prime Minister,” Kirk snapped, “I am the captain of the *Enterprise.*”

“But I--” Petri caught the look on Kirk’s face. “Never mind. I will alert Elas to the shuttle’s arrival.”

8

8

When Spock and Uhura landed on Elas, the first thing that happened was a squad of beefy Elasian security guards came aboard. Uhura remarked they were “just as charming as last time” as the guards searched Uhura, Spock, and their shuttle for weapons. No weapons were found, so they were allowed to disembark.

After Spock and Uhura settled in, Uhura got to work in Elas security’s high-tech (for Elas) command center. It didn’t take her long to decode the messages: They implicated the extremist group Petri connection to, and the Klingons as well. But nothing against Petri himself.

Still, Petri, Spock, Uhura, Petri, and V’Kira were called to Elaan’s throne room. Kirk looked on from a wall screen.

“You have been a loyal supporter, Petri,” Elaan said. “In spite of our differences, you have been invaluable. But news has already leaked out on Troyius. I wonder it might be best for you to resign, or at least turn the government over to your deputy, until this affair is concluded.”

“I’m aware of the political realities, my queen, but I assure you, the government will hold. I’m confident I can continue as prime minister.”

Elaan thought for a moment, then said, “Very well, Petri. I trust your judgment. You may go.”

Petri bowed, turned, and left the room.

V’Kira said, “Your majesty, Admiral, it would seem we have the break in the case the local authorities need. I believe there is no longer a logical need for the *Enterprise’s* presence.”

Spock said, “I disagree. I am not satisfied we have learned all we can from these transmissions.”

V’Kira, said, “What more is there to be learned from these transmissions?”

“I do not know, V’Kira. But we will not know unless we look.”

Elaan said, “I have learned to trust Kirk and Spock’s judgment. I will give Spock and Uhura leave to continue their investigation for a few more days.”

More messages were intercepted in the coming days. They confirmed what they had already learned, yet Spock remained dissatisfied. Uhura kept pouring them over to find anything she might have missed. Other than a lot of signal noise, she found nothing.

She was still looking for more in the messages the night she couldn’t sleep and went into the garden where Elan found her.

 

[MikeJaffa]

“I thought you were from Earth,” Elaan said.

“It’s not that…ahhgh…” Uhura trailed off and turned away.

Elaan sat next to Uhura on the bench and said, “Clearly, you are troubled. Have you talked to anyone? A friend? Your shipmates?”

Uhura didn’t answer.

“No one?” Elaan prodded. “I see. Perhaps you need to speak to someone who is unbiased either way. If only so you are not useless to us in this investigation.”

Uhura wrestled with herself, then said, “About a year before you came aboard the *Enterprise,* we encountered an old Earth space probe called Nomad. It had changed and become infinitely more powerful. It heard me singing and erased almost my memory. I could still speak Swahili and broken English, but it took everything else. Everything. My family; my friends; meeting Spock and Christine when I came aboard the *Enterprise* as a cadet under Captain Pike – all of that is gone. Everything.

“But they reeducated me. Within two months, I was certified fit for return to duty. But as I ‘grew up’ again, I showed an aptitude for mathematics, not languages. It made me wonder if my skill was really from talent and not training I had forgotten. I had nightmares about looking in the mirror and seeing someone I didn’t recognize. They went away in time, and I settled into life on the *Enterprise.* In a sense it’s the only home I have ever known.”

“And then a few weeks ago,” Elaan said, “another ‘evolved’ Earth probe appears and threatens to kill you all and destroy Earth.”

Uhura nodded. “We’ve been joking that we hoping there aren’t any more old probes unaccounted for. But you’re right. My nightmare started again. I’m having the same doubts. Chirstine wants to help, God bless her, but no one can really understand--”

Someone started playing a stringed instrument on the other side of a wall of decorative trees. Whatever the unseen musician was playing, it sounded out of tune.

Uhura cringed. She said, “What’s that?”

Elaan smiled with embarrassment. “I believe he may have been led to believe I was ‘interviewing’ a potential lady in waiting.”

“You mean that’s a love song?”

“Yes.”

“Good grief! You are way too thirsty, sweety…your highness. At the very least you could make sure the whatever-it-is-had been tuned.”

The music stopped.

Elaan said, “Actually, it was. I believe that is one of my best minstrels.”

“Oh,” Uhura grimaced. “Open mouth, insert foot.” She turned towards the trees. “Sorry! I’m sure…Elaan liked it. She hasn’t ordered your execution…yet.” She blew out air. “Communications my ass. Math. Yeah. Bury yourself in the AI core of a star base and crunch numbers. Come up for air and a pension in twenty-five years.”

“You are being too hard on yourself.”

“Am I? How can I be the voice of the *Enterprise* in a first contact situation if I can’t appreciate a simple cultural difference. One culture’s music is another culture’s noise – noise? Noise!” She turned to the tricorder with renewed energy.

“Noise?” Elaan asked, looking over Uhura’s shoulder.

“These transmissions have had a lot of noise in their signals,” Uhura said. “I thought it was because they had poor quality equipment. But now I’m wondering, what if the noise isn’t noise? What it if it’s a second signal…”

“…or the real signal?” Elaan caught on. “Such an obvious ploy! Why didn’t I think of that?”

Uhura’s eyes flicked to Elaan’s belly. “I think you’ve had something else on your mind.”

Uhura’s thumbs worked the tricorder’s controls, and images changed on its tiny screen. Overlapping wave forms appeared on the screen and were separated.

“See that wave form?” Uhura said about one of them. “Doesn’t look completely natural, does it?”

“I’d wager it contains a digital transmission,” Elan said.

“I’ll take some of that action. The bandwidth and estimated packet size would seem to indicate a media stream.”

“Not enough for multimedia, but maybe audio only?”

“Just what I was thinking, your highness. Let’s see what we get.”

Music came out of the tiny speaker. To Uhura’s ear, it sounded worse than the Elasian love song.

Elaan didn’t like it either. She said, “I see your point about music.”

“Maybe it’s not just a tune,” Uhura said, “but another level of encryption. There are races where musical notes, math, and the alphabet are represented by the same characters. So, let’s load in Vulcan musical scales as a reference--”

“Vulcan?”

“When I was being reeducated, Christine told me Vulcans learn music and math at the same time. They sing their multiplication tables. That’s how they learn to do math so fast.”

“How does Doctor Chapel know?”

“She and Spock have a *really* long history. But anyway, loading Vulcan musical scales as a reference and putting it all through the universal translator aaaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddddd--” She broke off. Then she said, “Oh, crap.”

 

[MikeJaffa]

V’Kira looked left and right as she came out the back door of the Vulcan consulate. She saw no one in the alley. She picked up the meter long metal cylinder and walked towards the four-wheeled vehicle.

Spock came out from behind the vehicle. He said, “Genocide is not logical. And your antimatter containment device does not have a detonator or obvious release mechanism.”

V’Kira drew a small knife. She said, “Sometimes extraordinary measures must be taken to make a political statement. And I am the detonator.”

“I was wondering why you would hope to defeat another Vulcan with a knife. I imagine breaking your skin will activate an organic explosive your flesh has been impregnated with.”

“You imagine correctly, Spock.”

“You are a logic fanatic, V’Kira, like the ones who tried to kill my father and my sister.”

“I confess I was gratified when I learned that your sister had been killed, but the cause was more than sufficient.”

“As I suspected, you and your associates are irrational.”

“Hardly, Spock. We are the most rational on Vulcan. Cooperation between spacefaring civilizations is logical. The genetic and cultural dilution of species to Earth’s advantage is not.”

“Your argument is based on a false premise.”

“Incorrect. Humans founded the Federation, and every race that has joined has made compromises to suit them. Vulcan was once a rising power in the Alpha Quadrant. Since joining the Federation, we have become diminished in stature; and every year, more Vulcans are mating with members of other species. My sacrifice will awaken--”

An engine roar made V’Kira look up to see the shuttle hovering over the alley. That was all Spock needed. His hand went under the bottom of his jacket as he charged forward. The catch on the ahn-woon released with a soft click. Spock unwound it from around his waste with a flick of his wrist. The weight on end hit V’Kira’s hand, and she dropped the knife.

Air rippled under the shuttle, and a tractor beam lifted the cylinder away from the ground. The shuttle nosed up and accelerated into the sky, the cylinder following.

In the shuttle, Uhura was in the pilot’s seat with Elaan in the copilot seat.

Elaan said, “Antimatter containment seems to be holding.”

“Good. You can beam out now, Elaan. I can take it from here.”

“I am not leaving, Uhura. I have not had this much fun in years. There will be ample opportunity for my bodyguards to cocoon me when we return to Troyius.”

“What about your baby?”

“I will tell my child the tale of our adventure.”

“Assuming we do not get killed.”

“Do not trouble me with minor considerations.”

“In that case, going to warp.” The shuttle jumped to warp.

A readout got Elaan’s attention. “Containment has begun to degrade. A backup by our extremist?”

“Or the containment field doesn’t like being inside a warp bubble…Ok, it looks like we’re ten light seconds from Elas. That should be far enough. Dropping out of warp and releasing the tractor beam.”

The cylinder flew away from the shuttle. When it had shrunk to a point of light, it exploded. The shuttle’s shields flickered with the blast wave. Sparks flew from the panels in the cockpit, then the ship stabilized.

Uhura said, “Status.”

“Looks like everything is working normally,” Elaan said.

“Good. Setting a course back to Elas.”

8

8

Air rippled under the shuttle, and a tractor beam lifted the cylinder away from the ground. The shuttle nosed up and accelerated into the sky, the cylinder following.

Spock said, “The operation is over, V’Kira.”

“I can still strike a personal victory for Vulcan.” She bit her own hand hard enough to draw blood. The flesh around her hand began to glow.

Spock spoke into his wrist com: “Now, Admiral!”

V’Kira dematerialized.

In the *Enterprise’s* transporter room, Christine and a nurse stood with security guards near the transporter platform. Kirk was in the booth with Chief Janice Rand.

Rand said, “I have her, Admiral. I’ve squelched the exothermic reaction and moved the explosive molecules to the backup buffer. She’s safe to materialize.”

“Energize,” Kirk said.

V’Kira materialized, still biting her hand. Her right eyebrow raised as she realized she was neither dead nor exploding. The security guards aimed their phasers at her.

Christine said, “No boom today, V’Kira.”

V’Kira removed her hand from her mouth. “You moved the *Enterprise* into close orbit without me knowing it. I’m impressed, Admiral.”

Kirk didn’t answer.

Christine said, “Now, let’s take a look at that hand.”

8

8

“I came as soon as I heard,” Petri said as he entered the thrown room to face Elaan, Uhura, and Spock. “Your majesty is unharmed.”

“Physically, yes.” Elaan made a small gesture. Two guards by the door came to flank Petri.

“I see,” Petri said. “I thought Vulcans were immune to torture.”

Uhura said, “Actually, she was all too willing to talk. We couldn’t shut her up.”

“Vulcans,” Petri grumbled. “No offense, Mr. Spock.”

“None taken, Prime Minister.”

Elaan said, “Why, Petri? In spite of our differences, you convinced me that peace and unity between Elas and Troyius was the only hope for both our peoples. Can you really still hate me so much that you would kill yourself and put Troyius at risk?”

“It’s not personal, Elaan,” Petri said. He smiled. “There was a time when it would have warmed my heart to speak of the cause of peace. To be honest, it’s an appealing change in you. But after my king impregnated you, I came to realize that I would rather die than accept peace at any price.”

“I see,” Elaan said. “I am sorry.” She turned to the guards. “Take him away.”

8

8

The next day at noon, Elaan insisted on a small ceremony in the garden with Admiral Kirk in attendance. She hung medals around Spock and Uhura’s neck, saying she chose to do it privately to avoid embarrassing them.

She said to Spock, “I am curious as to how you concealed your ahn-woon, Spock.”

“My parents had similar questions when I was an adolescent.”

“And?”

“Vulcans are immune to torture, you highness. And there isn’t enough carrot cake in the Alpha Quadrant to buy my answer.”

“‘Carrot…cake’?” Elaan moved closer to Uhura. “Is he right in the head?”

“Oh, we manage,” Uhura teased.

“Indeed.” Elas accepted a dagger from a servant and presented it to Uhura. “Speaking of weapons, I want you to have this. I thought this had been lost years ago, but one of the servants found it. It’s the dagger I trained with when I was a girl. Take it in recognition of your bravery.”

“Thank you, Elaan.” Uhura accepted the dagger.

“Oh, and I told the minstrel his playing inspired you to solve the mystery. He was pleased he could help.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Then I had him executed!”

“WHAT!?”

Elaan grinned. “I’m joking. I did not have him executed.”

“Oh. Uh…Elaan? Your highness? Maybe you should not go into comedy. Let the jesters take care of that.”

“I will consider your advice. But I want you to keep in touch with me, to be a, what is the term, ‘pen friend’?”

“‘Pen pal,’” Uhura said.

“‘Pen pal,’ yes, to be my pen pal, especially when you are troubled.”

“I’ll do that, Elaan.”

Kirk said, “Wait a minute. I could have been blown up in the transporter room. Where’s my medal?”

“I gave you my ‘best’ years ago, James.”

“I see,” Kirk said, squirming. He cleared his throat. “Well, time to take care of one more thing. Mr. Spock. Petri was right about one thing. The *Enterprise* needs a captain, someone with the rank of captain, not a flag officer who…likes the chair. I hereby grant you a field promotion to captain, effective immediately. I will keep my flag on the *Enterprise* and command when I am aboard. But the ship is yours.” He extended his hand.

Spock didn’t react at first. Then he shook Kirk’s hand. “I will take good care of her, Jim,” he said.

8

8

Christine Chapel looked up from her desk in sickbay when Uhura came in with a tray with a tray that had two plates and two cups on it. She asked, “What is that?”

“Lunch,” Uhura said as she sat opposite Chirstine.

“Hmm,” Chapel said, looking at Uhura’s plate. “Maccaroni and cheese with a side of broccoli. That’s a step in the right direction, I suppose.” They started eating. “So, is this how you make up to me?”

“‘Make up’?”

“I’ve known you for more than ten years, but you confided in Elaan,” Chapel said with a hurt look.

“No, Christine--”

Chapel laughed. “Don’t worry about it, Nyota. You felt you would be seen by someone who didn’t have a history with you. And it seems to have done some good.”

“I don’t have my doubts anymore, that’s true,” Uhura said. “And I got a medal. And a new pen pal.”

“Oh, no. The *Enterprise* is going to have to go back in space dock. And just when I got to work without getting lost.”

“Why?”

“Scotty is going to have to widen all the corridors to make room for your swelled head.”

They laughed.

Uhura said, “I don’t think we have to bother Scotty, Christine. I think I’ll manage.”





THE END

 

[Will The Serious]

I very much enjoyed this story. The original characters are the most familiar to me, and I loved having Uhura at the center.

-Will