Star Trek and all its intellectual property is owned by Paramount/CBS. No infringement intended, no profit made.

This story been beta-read by VesperRegina, to whom I offer my sincere thanks, as always.

This story contains adult sexual content. If material of this type offends you, please do not read it.


Sato

The discovery comes at the end of a long period of boredom.

Space is a large place. Exploration of it necessarily means there are weeks – occasionally months – when the ship doesn't come across anything worth inspecting; when the days start to drag a little, and ship routine becomes, well … rather routine.

Fortunately, I have my own means of escape from routine. Trip and I measure it carefully, taking care that our hours together don't become obvious; nobody knows better than I do how effective the rumor mill can be. So far, it seems that nobody's guessed about us.

Well. Almost nobody. I'm quite sure one other person knows exactly what's going on, but so far he's kept silent.

The news that a star close to our present course has a number of planets which might bear investigation makes good hearing for everyone. Even if none of them turns out to be interesting, at least they're something to look at and think about, a welcome change from the anonymous streaks of light between which the ship speeds onwards, day after day.

The captain gives the order to change course. Travis's beam in response is enough to light up the Bridge, even before T'Pol announces that one of the planets appears to be Minshara-class, and may be suitable for exploration.

I glance across the well of the Bridge, to the Tactical Station. The dark head of the officer manning it is turned towards the screen. At a guess he's already assessing possible threats, and making plans to counter them.

He has the sixth sense of a cat. He clearly feels me watching him. For just a moment his gaze flicks sideways, then it drops as it always does, taking refuge in the intricacies of the controls in front of him.

For the thousandth time, I think, What are you afraid of, Malcolm?


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