Part II 1: Journey to Tomorrow

"Our previous governor liked to use this room as his study. I figured you'd feel the same, so I left the furnishings as they were."

The housekeeper's silvery-green eyes gleamed with pride as she pushed open the heavy double doors, revealing a magnificent chamber for Spock's inspection. Antique tapestries culled from a variety of alien worlds adorned the walls, and between them sat deep bookcases stuffed full of antique tomes and scrolls. An enormous desk, its dark wood polished to mirror-like perfection, dominated the ample floor space. Directly above it, a triangular skylight revealed the dark, hazy pink of Danaaus III's humid atmosphere.

"You assumed correctly. I see no reason to interrupt the present arrangements."

"Too much for me to move around, anyway. Governor Jennings spent a lot of time in there, with his records and logbooks. Sometimes he'd look through those rare volumes on the shelves. I suppose he fancied himself a bit of a scholar. At night I'd bring him a drink called whiskey and soda. It was something from Earth, he said."

"That will not be necessary in my case."

"I thought as much. We've only had a few Vulcans live in the colony, but they were all teetotalers. Good thing, too. Those who can't hold their drink are better off not taking any in the first place. At least that's the way I feel about it." With a firm twist of her thick, blue-skinned wrists, she banged both doors shut again. "Besides, even if you were given to drink, you could get your wife to take it in there for you. One less thing for me to do."

Without waiting for an answer, she wheeled her stout body around and led him down another vast hallway and another set of double doors.

"Now this is the smallest bedroom, but it does face the garden. Governor Jennings was a bachelor, so this one suited him fine. He liked to open the windows and take the air at night."

To demonstrate, she pushed open the floor-length windows. A warm, heavy breeze, scented with exotic flora, immediately filled the room. Beyond the open panes, Spock observed a walled-in area, thickly covered with vines, shrubs, and a variety of flowering plants, all sporting the vivid colors of Danaaus III's natural botanical diversity.

"Oh, it's perfectly safe, if that's what you're wondering. The walls are too high for anyone to climb, and even if they did, the vines growing along the sides have four-inch spines. Governor Jennings liked things to be practical, not just beautiful."

"You seem to have found his administration satisfactory on many levels."

Shrugging, she closed and locked the windows. "To tell you the truth, I was surprised when he retired. When a man's that set in his ways, you'd expect him to shy away from change. But I admit I know nothing about politics. What I did like about him was that he was neat and tidy, and there was only one of him. Looking after him was almost like looking after an empty house. That'll change now, I suppose." As they left the room, she turned on him with a sudden scowl. "The Embassy says that there's a baby coming. I'd just like to point out that nothing in my contract requires me to perform those sorts of duties. If you want help with that you'll have to get one of these Danaan girls in from the village. I suppose the Embassy could recommend someone."

Spock paused to clear his throat. "Acknowledged. I'm sure the necessary details will be worked out in due course."

"Let's hope so." The woman sighed as if she could already see the dust piling up in the corners. "And when will the new governor's wife be arriving?"

"She will depart by shuttle in three days. Given the circumstances, I thought it best that I prepare the house before sending for her."

"The governor will please himself, I'm sure, but I'd be worried, letting her travel alone. Then again, I was never one to fly through space myself. Even though I'm not one of these Danaans, I was born here and never left. Feet were made to stay on the ground, I always say."

"Your concern is noted; however, I was able to secure a highly competent and trustworthy escort. I anticipate no problems in that area."

"Well, three days. I suppose I'll have plenty to do before then. A woman notices things about a house that a man wouldn't. And a pregnant woman's bound to be especially critical." She shook her head so that her elongated mound of chrome-colored hair wobbled. "I suppose I'd better get started, or I'll be here all night. Did the governor have any other questions before I go?"

"Actually, there is just one. Exactly how much time do you spend here on an average day, Mrs. Aathis?"

The housekeeper's eyes narrowed cautiously. "My contract states that I'm responsible for keeping the property in order and making sure all the necessary supplies are on hand. I'm not required to serve your meals or organize any personal effects. And I don't intend to stay on into the evenings, if that's what you were about to ask. I think a few hours in the mornings would be sufficient. If you need more help than that, you'll have to contact the Embassy."

"Understood." Spock didn't bother to hide his relief. "I trust that Zarabeth and I will learn to manage without you."

.........................................................................................................

More than six months after the Copernicus had coasted into drydock there, Michaela Taylor returned to Starbase 12, flight bag in hand, and proceeded to the North Shuttle Bay as ordered.

Zarabeth was waiting there as expected, a gold-uniformed base security officer standing at attention behind her seat. Taylor dismissed him with a nod. "I'll take over from here."

"Yes, Captain."

Taylor waited until they were alone before holding out both hands. Eight months pregnant, Zarabeth grabbed them and hauled herself to her feet. "It's good to see you," Taylor said.

"And you. You haven't changed at all-except for the captain's stripes, of course."

"Wish I could say the same about you." Taylor looked down at Zarabeth's hugely distended middle with amazement as the two of them took facing seats. "It shouldn't be long now."

"Three weeks, give or take. That's why Spock went on ahead to get the house ready and to check on the medical facilities there. I'll be glad to get settled, even if I'm not sure exactly what we'll be settling into."

"I have to admit, I never would have imagined him governing a colony. Sometimes it seemed like the crew of the Copernicus was an inconvenience to him. And there were only 75 of us."

"It had something to do with the way diplomatic appointments work. His father thought it might be a good way to prepare. Anyhow, I think he was tired of doing administrative work here, even though he never actually complained. That's not his way, as I'm sure you know."

"Unfortunately, Starfleet has never quite figured out what to do with its deactivated captains. They think a desk job will come as a relief, but for some reason they don't realize how boring it can be for someone who's spent years zipping around the galaxy at warp speed."

"I guess that's something you can look forward to as well."

"Hopefully, I won't be deactivated for a long time to come. I haven't actually been activated, for that matter, until I reach the Wellfleet and assume command."

"You must be even more nervous than I am."

"Count on it. I guarantee that my six months of captain's training has prepared me for about the first ten minutes of an actual command. But I guess I'll do what you did when you first arrived in our century-play along like you know what's happening, and just hope everyone else believes it."

"There was one big difference. I had you - and Spock - to help me understand things. You'll be on your own."

"I'll manage. And so will you. I did a little research when Spock told me about your new post. Danaaus is known as one of the easiest places to govern in the entire sector. The native population is famous for its respect for authority and order. They've had the same governor for 25 years, ever since they agreed to become a Federation colony, and the only incident of civil unrest involved where to build the governor's house - your house now. In the end, there was a peaceful compromise. And you'll be happy to know that the climate is extremely mild, almost tropical."

"Believe me, that was the first thing I asked about. If I ever see another snowflake it will be too soon."

"I can imagine. So...tell me the details. How has everything gone for you? Since we all left the Copernicus, I mean."

She could tell that Zarabeth's smile, like her obvious happiness and contentment, was genuine. "Some days are so wonderful I'm still afraid I'll suddenly find out they were all a dream. Other days are difficult, frustrating. But they're all interesting."

"I think I can guess who's responsible for some of the difficult and frustrating ones."

"Well, he did warn me. And we'll need more than a four-hour shuttle ride for me to tell you about my first trip to Vulcan."

"Something tells me you managed to hold your own, even there."

"I suppose I did all right. I'm not betraying any state secrets by telling you that my new father-in-law wasn't exactly thrilled with me. The Sarpeids always were a hot-blooded race, but I think he accepted the situation well enough. And he did arrange a second wedding for us, just to make sure that our son will have all the benefits of Vulcan citizenship, if he ever wants to claim them."

"I heard about that. It must have been quite an event."

"What I remember best was trying to learn enough Vulcan to get through the vows. It wasn't quite as easy as Spock led me to believe. Besides, it was really just a formality. The ceremony on the Copernicus - the one you organized for us - was the one that counted as far as I'm concerned."

Michaela flashed a quiet smile. "We had some fun with that, didn't we? And ordering the captain on a mandatory shore leave afterward was a master touch. It's one of a first officer's most important, and least utilized, prerogatives. Too bad you both had to miss a soil-sampling mission, but hopefully a week at one of the Federation's finest resort planets softened that particular blow."

"It did. Even Spock had to admit that, even if he wouldn't say it out loud. In fact, we came to an agreement on that trip. When we're with other people, he can be as Vulcan as he wants-in fact, I insist on it. At night, when we're alone, I take the lead. So far, we complement each other perfectly. I've come to believe that all men - all people, really - are more alike than different, whatever world they're from."

"You might be right about that. Look, I think our shuttle's finally in."

Just to the right of the waiting area, twin doors slid open to emit two Danaans, both relatively young, one male and one female. Both of them bore the characteristic features of their world, their narrow faces and gently slanted eyes marking them as native-born citizens rather than colonists. They were dressed in the civilian clothing native to their planet, simple woven tunics over dark trousers tucked into flat-heeled, ankle-high boots.

The female approached them first, her companion following at a respectful distance. She slowed a little upon noticing Zarabeth's obvious pregnancy, then quickly recovered herself and addressed them in a formal, dispassionate tone.

"We have completed the necessary preparations to launch the shuttle," she announced without preamble. "I am Janax, the navigator, and this is Naioch, the pilot. We wish to extend Captain Taylor and our new governor's wife every courtesy. If you would please board now and make yourselves comfortable, we will see to the luggage. We will arrive at Danaaus III in little more than three hours."

Taylor regarded them with open skepticism. "We're not using Starfleet pilots?"

Janax's delicate features pulled into a mild scowl. "We are attached to the Danaan embassy. I might remind the captain that we are a Federation colony, not an occupied territory. It is customary for the Danaans to conduct our own transports to and from our planet. Naioch and I are both experienced helmsmen, if that is your concern."

"I haven't been in a shuttlecraft since we were still with the Copernicus," Zarabeth recalled as they settled in at the rear of the craft. For reasons she couldn't quite define, Taylor positioned herself so that she could see the control panel over the Danaans' slender shoulders. "For some reason I never liked them. The walls seem too thin considering what is - or isn't - on the other side."

"Nothing to worry about," Taylor adjusted the headrest on the plushly cushioned seat. "I've traveled on these hundreds of times. Not as comfortable as a starship, but perfectly reliable for short trips like this one." As she settled back, she saw Janax steal a final glance at both passengers, then dart another at Naioch. He nodded a little as Janax laid in their course. "At least as far as structural concerns go," she added.

......

Spock was in the study, carefully adding some of his own antique volumes to former Governor Jennings' shelves when he paused to examine the nearest tapestry. Its woven panels depicted a primitive battle between stick-bearing autochthons and an invading force that carried a modified version of an ancient Terran crossbow, though clearly the piece had not originated on Earth.

Resolving to investigate its provenance later, he pushed the last book into place and glanced through the half-parted window screen on the other side of the shelf. From his present vantage point, he found that he could gaze directly into the walled-in garden that faced the downstairs bedroom.

If he had been in the habit of doubting his eyes, he might well have done so at that moment. Despite the housekeeper's insistence that the garden wall was impenetrable, there among the cascade of thick floral growth stood a Danaan woman, her face turned up toward the house. For the briefest of moments, her eyes met Spock's and she paused - not in fear, but rather with overt curiosity. Not only did she seem utterly unnerved at being spotted, she seemed to be courting his notice in a way he found wholly inexplicable.

Then, while he was still considering how he ought to react, she retreated into the blood-red leaves of the nearest clump of shrubbery.

By the time he reached the spot himself, she had vanished utterly. An examination of the wall revealed no crevice, trap door, or apparent route over the top.

The housekeeper was at the front of the house, gesturing to two Danaans who stood outside, struggling with an enormous trunk that Spock recognized as one they had shipped from their apartment at the Starbase. "The supply freighter just came in, sir, and beamed down some more of your things. Where would you like this?" she asked.

"Take it to the largest bedroom. My wife will sort it out when she arrives. Aathis, how many transporters are available to the general population of this colony?"

"Transporters? Absolutely none. I can't even think what kind of trouble we'd have if these Danaans started beaming themselves around here at will."

"There are some, surely."

"The only ones I know of are at the Embassy, and those are kept secure at all times. If you wished to use one, that could certainly be arranged, though we have plenty of perfectly reliable ground transportation, to be sure, if the governor wishes to travel someplace."

She was about to launch into a lengthy explanation, so he held up one hand. "It was merely a routine inquiry."

The two Danaan men struggled past them into the hall with the trunk.

"Your wife will be here soon, Governor?" one of the men asked as the other paused to realign his grip,

"I have received word that the shuttlecraft departed as scheduled. Therefore we may expect it in approximately three hours and twenty-seven minutes."

The Danaan listened thoughtfully, then suddenly turned to him with an impudent smirk Spock found most inappropriate and even somehow disquieting.

"That's not very long to wait, then," the Danaan said before moving forward with the trunk.

"Not at all," said his companion.

By the time they turned the corner by the stairs, they were both laughing.

"It's what I've been telling you all along," Aathis groused. "They're like a bunch of petulant children sometimes. You'll soon find out what that's like for yourself."

....

They'd been traveling for an hour, talking in general terms about mutual acquaintances from the Copernicus, some of whom would now serve under Taylor's new command on the Wellfleet. Eventually, Taylor paused to check her wrist chronometer and then the star chart open on her lap.

She scowled. "I don't understand this. We should have passed the Jefferson Nebula by now, but I haven't seen a sign of it. It's not the kind of thing you could miss." Leaning forward, she squinted at Janax's navigational screens and recognized none of the coordinates displayed. "What's going on? Where are we, anyway?"

"The captain is correct; we are no longer on the course originally planned," Janax replied calmly. "We are quite far off, in fact."

"Why?"

Naioch glanced at Janax, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. "It is necessary that we divert from our previously plotted route in order to provoke certain...communications with Federation authorities."

"What does that mean?"

Janax turned around to look at both passengers. Her left hand leveled a phaser at them. "It is our plan to negotiate with Starfleet for your release."

"Are you saying that we've been taken hostage?"

"If that is the way you prefer to express it. Or you may simply consider yourselves our guests on a slightly extended voyage."