Chapter 4

"Now hear this. The drama rehearsal scheduled for 1430 hours has been changed to 1600—Rec area B."

The ship-wide announcement did little to boost Jamie's spirits. Even though she had a small and insignificant part in the upcoming drama production, the reminder of the practice only filled her with a feeling of being rushed.

More announcements flooded the intercom system. Jamie listened with only half an ear. Most of the announcements aboard the Enterprise had nothing to do with her.

Lt. Uhura's pleasant voice continued to pour from the speakers. "The briefing for all senior officers and department heads is scheduled to commence in ten minutes. I repeat. All senior officers and department heads report to Briefing Room One by 1400."

There was a short pause. "All personnel, attention. Because of the new situation on Deep Space Station T-12, consult your displays for updated shore leave rosters. Any scheduling conflicts with your leave time should be directed to your department head. Consult your display for further information. Bridge out."

Jamie set aside the watering device and called up the shore leave roster on the computer screen in Sulu's laboratory. She scrolled down until she came to the Ks.

"Kirk, Jamie," she read. "Shore leave canceled until further notice."

What? No fair! It's my birthday. I get shore leave all day.

Jamie slumped into the chair and stared at the screen in dismay. Sulu and Chekov had been angry with her when they'd been dressed down by the base commander, but by the time she was whisked away by the shimmering transporter, it appeared as though they'd cooled off. They'd given her a friendly wave good-bye and watched her disappear.

Those squealing traitors! Jamie huffed. They tattled, and now I'm in trouble!

Gathering up the watering device, Jamie tended to her task with renewed fervor. She wanted to be done with this before that briefing was over. She planned to be on hand when her father walked out of his meeting. She had to salvage a shore leave. She just had to!

. . . . .

Jamie was leaning against the bulkhead across from Briefing Room One, fiddling with her new toy, when the door whooshed open. A long line of department heads and senior officers left in groups of twos and threes, muttering among themselves.

"Hey, Jamie," Sulu called. "Did you get the watering done?"

Tattletale! she wanted to shout at the helmsman. But she answered in a calm voice, "Yes. Every last plant. Took me forever. Oh, you'd better check those plants with the reddish leaves. There's some kind of weird fuzz growing on them."

"It's nothing that can't wait until tonight," Sulu replied hastily. "I've got to get back to T-12. Chekov's saving my place at Bastin's, then we're going to a Tragle contest. Catch you later, Cadet."

"Sounds fun," Jamie said. "What's a tragle?"

But Sulu was gone.

She studied her puzzle cube and made another twist. Suddenly, one side began to glow a brilliant green. "I did it!" she squealed. She nearly missed the captain as he sauntered out ahead of Spock and the doctor.

"Hey, Daddy! Wait."

"Make it fast," Kirk warned as he headed toward the lift. "I've got a backlog of messages waiting for me on the bridge and a million other things to do."

Jamie ran to catch up. "I want to know why my shore leave's been canceled."

Kirk regarded Jamie with a keen look. "I'd like to say it's because you gave Sulu and Chekov too many headaches today."

Jamie hung her head. "I knew they squealed. I just knew it. Traitors."

"Sulu didn't say anything about your morning," Kirk told her. "Neither did Chekov. The reason you're staying aboard ship is because something's come up on the station. There's going to be a lot of confusion over there."

"That bari—bariat scanning?"

Kirk nodded.

"What is it?"

"Something that involves a great deal of equipment and a lot of manpower from the ship. Half the establishments will be shut down, and the other half crowded to overflowing because of it. I don't want you wandering around in the middle of it. I want you out of it and safe on the ship."

"But you promised I could have the whole day—Sulu and Chekov in the morning, and you and me this afternoon."

"The plans have changed, I'm afraid." He started toward the lift. "I'm really busy, Jamie. I've got to get up to the bridge. Let's talk about it later."

Jamie shrugged acceptance. She watched her father enter the lift, along with Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy. "Aren't you even going to wish me a happy birthday?" she called out as the lift doors shut.

They whooshed open again.

"Go on ahead," Kirk motioned to Spock and McCoy. "I'll be along in a minute." He left the lift and motioned Jamie to him. "I'm sorry. It's been an awful day. Happy birthday. Did you find something nice on the station?"

Jamie held up her Rubik's Cube and showed him the glowing side.

"Nice start," he said. "You know, don't you, that as soon as you begin to work on a new side, this one"—he pointed to the green glow—"will get mixed up."

Jamie considered for a minute. "I guess you're right. This may take longer than I thought."

Kirk laughed. "It certainly will. Those puzzle cubes are difficult to solve. Believe me. Your Uncle Sam had one, and I had a heck of a time solving it."

"Did you solve it?"

"Sam helped me out. He had a knack for puzzles."

"Maybe I do too."

Kirk handed the cube back. "I'll give you a hint. You've got one side done. Consider it the top of the cube and solve it in layers, rather than one side at a time."

Jamie furrowed her brow and studied the cube. Then she nodded. "All right. Thanks."

Kirk gave her a friendly squeeze on the shoulder. "I've really got to run, Cadet. I'll restore your shore leave privileges tomorrow when things get back to normal on the station. Besides, we wouldn't have any fun this afternoon with the confusion going on over there. I've got an idea. Let's make a date—a birthday sundae at Bastin's at 1900 hours tomorrow night. How about that?"

Jamie brightened. "Okay!"

"Enjoy the rest of the afternoon. I'll see you at supper."

"May I come up to the bridge later on, since I'm stuck on the ship this afternoon?" She gave her father her most pleading look.

Kirk reached out and ruffled her hair. "Sure. It's your birthday. Why not?"

Jamie grinned and scampered away.