Chapter Thirteen
USS Endurance
Stardate 54191.2
Standard Orbit around N'ilmuta III
Captain's Log, Stardate 54191.2. The Endurance remains in orbit around N'ilmuta III as we continue to scan and map the planet. The death of Corpsman Zhiang has cast a pall over the exploration of this planet, but I'm proud of the perseverance of the science team, particularly Lt. Pascal, who has led the effort so ably in Commander T'Vel's absence. His suggestion to use the shuttles for low altitude scans was a good one - it allowed us to gather valuable data while minimizing risk.
We held a memorial service for Zhiang yesterday. Attendance was far more than I anticipated, seeing as how the crew is still getting to know one another. I must confess, my eulogy felt canned and contrived - I did not know the young woman - but it seemed to help. At least, Counselor Shain believes so. I hope she's right. I've dictated a letter to her parents, though they won't receive it until we return in five years. For now, they're blissfully unaware that their daughter is dead.
This morning we will break orbit and head to N'ilmuta IV. It will be the first M-class planet we'll visit in this galaxy. Hopefully, the cost won't be as high as our first planetary contact.
Yeager saved the entry and went to the replicator in his ready room.
"Coffee - Colombian dark," he said. The door annunciator chimed softly. "Come in!" he responded.
The wood-paneled doors slid open and Commander T'Vel entered. "Captain Yeager, I wish to report for duty," she said in an even tone.
Yeager removed the coffee mug from the replicator. "It's good to see you up and around, Commander. Can I offer you some tea?"
"No, thank you." She hesitated slightly. "There is a matter of concern which I need to discuss with you." Though her voice was still even, Yeager thought he detected tension in her demeanor.
Yeager sat in the high-backed desk chair and gestured to one of the guest chairs opposite him. "Please - have a seat Commander. What's on your mind?"
T'Vel sat stiffly, almost at attention, in the proffered chair. Her gaze was intense. "I have come to present myself for disciplinary action. My failure to anticipate potential dangers on the planet contributed to Lt. O'Reilley's injuries and Corpsman Zhiang's death."
"So you figure this is all your fault, huh?" asked Yeager as he sipped the hot coffee.
"I planned the mission. I ignored Commander Pralax's advice to bring along a full security detail. And I led the away team. I would say, that makes me responsible."
Yeager placed his mug on the desk and regarded T'Vel for several moments without speaking. Finally, he pursed his lips and blew out pent-up breath. "I'm afraid your logic is faulty, Commander."
T'Vel's eyebrow shot up so fast, Yeager thought he heard an audible 'snap.' "Indeed?" she rejoined cooly, her tone indicating she had taken offense.
Yeager smiled and picked up his mug. "At ease, Commander. My point is - as Captain of this ship, and the one who approved your plan, the responsibility is mine."
"Nonetheless . . ."
"Commander," interrupted Yeager, "While you were in a coma, I've had time to think about this at length. Believe me, I've considered your role and the actions of each member of the landing party. I've read Pralax's report and spoke to each member of the landing party, except for O'Reilley. Did you know that Dr. Menendez credits you with saving her life?"
T'Vel looked surprised. "No, I was unaware of that."
"According to the good doctor, you pushed her out of the path of several large boulders, incurring injury yourself. And Pralax said, after careful reflection, that additional security personnel wouldn't have been any help. So, in the end, it was just bad luck that cost Zhiang her life, Commander."
T'Vel did not look convinced. "Captain . . . if I had conducted more preliminary scans . . ."
"You might have known about that rock creature. Or . . . you might not. Who's to say? How could you have predicted its behavior?" He leaned forward. "T'Vel, we've got a lot more exploring to do the next five years. I imagine we'll make some more mistakes and lose some more people. I hope to God I'm wrong, but, well . . ." he sat back, his mouth tight. "That's just being realistic."
T'Vel nodded. Her expression had softened. When she spoke, her voice was quiet. "Captain . . . I've never lost a crew member under my command before. It is much more . . . difficult . . . than I anticipated."
A muscle in Yeager's jaw twitched. He looked out the viewport to avoid the Vulcan woman's gaze. "Yeah," he agreed. "It always is, T'Vel."
She stood and turned to leave, sensing the conversation was at an end. As she approached the door, she hesitated and turned.
"I grieve with thee," she said, then left the ready room.
Yeager took a sip of coffee. "Thanks," he said to the now-empty room.
* * *
Yeager entered sick bay and was met by a young Indian doctor with brown skin and unruly black hair. The doctor smiled upon seeing the Captain, revealing perfect white teeth, and approached him with an outstretched hand.
"Ah, Captain Yeager! So good to finally meet you - I am Ravi Pumjey."
Yeager smiled at the shorter man as they shook hands. "Glad to meet you, Doctor. Is Dr. Menendez in?"
Dr. Pumjey shook his head apologetically. "No sir. She worked back to back shifts and just left five minutes ago. I believe she planned on stopping by "Camelot" before retiring to her quarters."
Yeager nodded. "I just wanted to see how Lt. O'Reilley was doing."
Pumjey produced a padd from the pocket of his lab coat. "His improvement is remarkable, Captain! The nanoprobes have repaired the damage to his spinal cord as well as the damage to his spleen and heart. The osteo-regenerators have healed his fractures quite nicely, too. He's still under sedation, but we hope to bring him out of that today or tomorrow and begin rehabilitation therapy. His outlook is most promising - I imagine he'll be fit for duty in three or four weeks, barring any setback."
Yeager felt as if a weight had lifted from him. "Thank you, Doctor. That's the best news I've heard all day!"
Pumjey beamed. "Always happy to convey good news! Was there anything else, Captain?"
"No, no - carry on, Doctor. And thanks again!" He left sickbay and entered a nearby turbo-lift.
"Deck two," he began, then hesitated. "No - Computer, belay that! Deck nine." The lift began moving swiftly and silently.
* * *
Camelot was nearly empty this early during alpha shift. Yeager spotted Dr. Menendez seated at the same table where he had noticed her before. He took a quick breath, then moved purposefully in her direction.
As before, Dr. Menendez was perusing a padd. Before her was a coffee mug and the remainder of a piece of grapefruit. A piece of wheat toast lay untouched on her plate.
"Mind if I join you, Doctor?"
Dr. Menendez set aside her padd and gazed at Yeager with her lovely, dark eyes, a bemused expression on her face.
"I seldom experience deja vous, Captain, but didn't we just do this a few days ago? And didn't you depart as suddenly as you appeared?"
Yeager sat across from Menendez, a sheepish grin on his face. "Um, yeah - sorry about that!" A steward suddenly appeared with a cup of coffee. Yeager nodded in thanks, then turned back to the doctor. "I wanted to apologize for running out like that. When you mentioned Yvonne it just, well . . . it just caught me off-guard."
She regarded him a moment, then smiled. "Apology accepted, Captain."
"Please, call me Jesse. I hate waving my rank around at breakfast."
She laughed. It was a pleasant, light sound. "I suppose, then, it's only fair for you to call me 'Lori.'"
Yeager smiled. He felt better than he had in days.
* * *
"Report!" Yeager barked as he walked onto the bridge.
"Ready for departure on your order," replied Commander Tamura.
"Thank you, Commander. Helm, take us out of orbit and on course for the fourth planet in the system. Ahead, one-half impulse."
"Aye, sir," replied Lt. Kosciusko. The Polish helmsman's slim fingers moved quickly across her control board, as the Endurance broke free from the gravity well of the gray world below. "We're clear of the planet and on-course for N'ilmuta IV. Estimated arrival, four hours, seventeen minutes."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Commander Tamura, assemble the senior staff in one hour. And be sure that Protector K'Lnthra is in attendance."
Tamura nodded. "I'll take care of it."
* * *
The dark ship followed the Endurance, undetected by the Federation vessel. It moved through a plane of existence slightly out of phase with the Andromeda galaxy and completely invisible to the sensors of the starship.
"K'Lnthra is on that ship, Jar'Kuhl," said D'Rehln, his aura a fire of dark purple, his eyes dark, obsidian orbs.
"I know," said the other Dark H'lranthian. His aura was a deep, scarlet shimmer - indicating both disquiet and anger. "She still holds to useless ideals of light, life and peace." He paused, "All illusions, D'Rehln. All vapor."
"Why did she bring these beings here?"
Jar'Kuhl's aura rippled slightly, shifting from scarlet to a darker shade. "I do not yet know. To make such a journey, knowing . . ." His voice trailed off.
"What do you wish to do?"
Jar'Kuhl turned his gaze to his companion, his eyes dark as oil slicks. "We continue to observe . . . for now. Let us see what sort of beings these are before bestowing the gift of darkness."
"And if K'Lnthra or the other Protectors intervene?"
"Most assuredly, they will intervene, D'Rehln. It is what they do. It is what you and I would have done . . . once. They refuse to grasp the truth - that entropy is our destiny." He was silent again for a time. D'Rehln knew better than to interrupt. Finally, Jar'Kuhl spoke again, his voice seemed to echo through their black vessel and his aura darkled, seeming to absorb the faint illumination of the ship.
"My daughter will come to see the truth and embrace the darkness of entropy with us. If not, she will simply cease to be, as will all who cling to the illusion of life."
* * *
