Author's Note: For further details behind the conversation between Captains Rodenko and Akinola, I refer you to DavidFalkayn's "Blood Cries."
Chapter Twenty-four
Stardate 54259.1 (15 April 2377)
USS Bluefin
Sector 04341 – Near the Lesser Riven nebula
Delta Simms reclined on her bunk, head propped on fist, watching the fluffy, gray cat scarf down some cat food. A slight smile graced Simms' face, but her eyes seemed distant.
She had checked the ship's database to discover the cat's owner, with no success. Only two other pet cats were registered - a Siamese female to Ensign Vashtee, and an orange Tabby male to Petty Officer Girard. This cat did not fit either description, but she had double-checked with both Vashtee and Girard to find their cats were safe and secure in their quarters.
"So, where did you come from, my fuzzy little stowaway?" Simms murmurred. Certainly, it was not unheard of for the occassional animal to sneak aboard ships at ports. Cats were particularly notorious for doing so. This feline probably belonged to someone on Echo station.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Delta did not think so. She felt an odd connection to the cat, as if they shared some deep, dark secret.
That's completely absurd! thought Delta. It's just someone's pet who decided to hitch a ride on a cutter. I bet his owner's worried sick over him.
An idea struck Delta. She could clear this up once and for all! Rising from her bed, she walked to her desk and seated herself before the terminal.
"Computer, do you, ah, register a cat in my quarters?"
"Affirmative. A 'Felis Catus' male, weighing 4.12 kilograms of the breed, Himalayan, approximately two years, eight months of age. . ."
"Yes, yes, that's enough computer," she said with a hint of asperity. She hesitated before asking her next question.
"Computer, how long has this cat been on board the Bluefin?"
"The indicated Felis Catus has been on board for three hours, twelve minutes, 38 seconds," replied the computer.
Delta blinked in surprise. "Computer, we're in deep space. How is that possible? Did it transport in from another vessel?"
"No such transport is recorded in the transporter logs."
"Then explain how a dad-burn cat appeared onboard out of nowhere!"
"Unable to comply. Insufficient data," replied the computer in a reasonable tone.
Delta turned back to stare at the cat who was busy grooming a paw. It stopped and stared back at Simms with inscrutable green eyes, it's fluffy gray tail swishing slowly.
"Meowr?" - What? it seemed to ask.
"Kitty, you got some 'splainin' to do!"
* * *
Stardate 54259.1 (15 April 2377)
USS Scamp
Sector 04341 – Near the Lesser Riven nebula
"Sit down, Joseph - please!" implored Captain Rodenko as he absently brushed fragments of broken glass into a pile on his desk.
Feeling somewhat abashed, Akinola lowered himself back into the leather guest chair.
"Boris, I'm sorry . . ."
Rodenko brushed aside the apology. "Pah! Think nothing of it. I should have been more circumspect in my approach. But I assure you, my friend - I am not mocking you in the least. I swear to you as an officer that I did indeed travel to the 23rd century little more than a month ago."
Akinola shook his head in bewilderment. "Damn, Boris . . . I believe you, but . . ." He snorted in bemusement. "It makes me realize how crazy my story must sound."
"Indeed," replied the Russian, dryly. "In fact, that is why I had not planned on sharing this mission with you. But, considering what you've experienced, I thought it might help you regain a sense of perspective."
"You have my complete attention," said Akinola, settling back in the chair.
Rodenko nodded. "Unfortunately, I cannot go into many details - much of what transpired is classified Ultraviolet under the Temporal Prime Directive. You are cleared high enough that I can fill you in on a few of the basic details, with the understanding that you cannot share this with anyone - are you agreeable to this?"
Akinola nodded. "Yes, of course."
"Very well. At some point, Admiral Bateson may fill you in on more details - that will be his call."
"Morgan was aware of this?"
Rodenko smiled. "More than aware - he was directly involved. Our 'ring leader' you might say." His smile faded as a memory, apparently not a good one, crossed his face. "It began when Captain Elizabeth Shelby's runabout, the Seine, was caught in a wave of Chroniton particles and she was thrown back to the 2260's, where she was picked up by the USS Lexington."
Akinola's eyes widened. "The Lexington? That was Robert Wesley's ship at the time. And wasn't he . . .?"
The Russian skipper nodded. "Elizaveta's grandfather."
Akinola shook his head in wonder, trying to process the ramifications of such a meeting. He suddenly looked up sharply. "And Morgan . . . he was serving on the Lex back then too, wasn't he?"
Again, Boris nodded.
"Lord, what a cluster-frak!" exclaimed the Nigerian captain.
Rodenko smiled wanly. "Joseph, you have no idea . . ."
* * *
Akinola listened with rapt attention as Captain Rodenko shared the basics of their rescue of Captain Shelby, though he left out the account of the Blood-wraith, the Orb of Renascence, and the Gem of K'Tesh.
"So you actually commanded the Sutherland while Shelby was in command of the Lexington?" Akinola chuckled. "I'm amazed the time-line survived intact!"
"Da," agreed Rodenko, affably, "and now you and Captain Shelby have some things in common."
Akinola looked doubtful. "Boris, I can't imagine Shelby and I having much of anything in common, except for the uniform and commanding a ship."
"Oh, but you do! Both of you have traveled through time to meet your relatives! Elizaveta met her grandparents and you met your parents."
Akinola had no reply to that.
* * *
Stardate 54259.2 (15 April 2377)
USS Bluefin
Sector 04341 – Near the Lesser Riven nebula
Senior Chief Solly Brin looked at the stack of PADDs waiting on his desk and sighed. Right now, he couldn't concentrate on requisitions and reports. The headache had passed but he still felt muzzy-headed, as if he were not yet completely awake.
Deciding a workout might clear his head, he changed into his work-out gear and headed toward the ship's gym for some reps on the magnetic-resistance machines.
Climbing the ladder up a level, he rounded the corridor . . .
. . . and came face-to-face with K'lira.
For a moment, neither said a word, caught in the awkwardness of the moment. Finally, Solly managed a weak smile.
"Sorry Lieutenant." He made to move past her, but she reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Wait . . ."
Solly looked at the slender green hand that firmly clasped his upper arm, then into the eyes of his adoptive daughter. He swallowed, unsure of what to do or say.
"Look," she began, her voice tremulous and uncertain, "I'm still struggling to deal with what happened between you and me, but, well . . . I appreciate you opening up to me. I know that was hard for you . . ."
Solly nearly said, "What are you talking about?" when a shadow of a memory crossed his mind, causing him to hold his tongue. K'lira continued.
"I'm still pissed off at you - and I can't get my head around how your brain works - but . . ."
Impulsively, she gave him a brief, fierce hug. She quickly stepped back and stared at him, tears glistening in her eyes.
"I don't know where we stand, Solly," she continued, "and I don't know if we can ever go back to the way things were. But maybe, we can start from here?" The last, she said in an imploring manner that caused Solly's heart to ache.
His throat tight, the burly Red Orion looked down at his near-daughter and nodded with a crooked smile.
"Yeah. We can do that, I think."
She nodded quickly, grinning in an almost mirror fashion. "Okay. That's good then." She looked around, suddenly self-conscious. "Um, I better go - my duty shift starts in five minutes and I can't afford to be late." She began to move off quickly.
"K'lira!" Solly suddenly called after her. She stopped, her expression both hopeful and apprehensive.
"Yes?"
Solly nodded at her. "Have a good shift!"
Her face suddenly broke into a smile he had not seen in more than four years and she relaxed visibly as she walked backwards toward the turbo-lift.
"Yeah - okay. I will!" She turned quickly and moved to the lift, disappearing from Solly's view.
Solly stood in the corridor staring after her for a few moments. His brow knitted momentarily in confusion, then he shrugged.
"Frak it!" he said, grinning, then turned toward the gym.
* * *
Stardate 54259.4 (15 April 2377)
USS Bluefin
Sector 04341 – Near the Lesser Riven nebula
Captain Akinola sat in the near darkness of his ready room listening to the soothing refrains of 20th century Terran jazz. He closed his eyes as the Duke Ellington orchestra poured out "Take the A Train" like a smooth, sweet nectar. As the final notes faded, he opened his eyes and took a sip of coffee from the steaming mug on his desk. His eyes fell on the holo-cube of his family, taken oh, so many years ago on a rare vacation to Earth. He smiled at the sight of his mother and father and a small trickle of moisture traced a path along the crow's feet at the corner of his right eye.
He turned his attention toward his desk terminal and spoke.
"Computer, open personal log - new entry - scramble and encrypt. Akinola gamma oh seven three three."
The computer made a high pitched bleep, then said, "Acknowledged - you may record when ready."
Akinola nodded absently to himself. He picked up the small Borg artifact, twisting it between his fingers, and began . . .
END
* * *
