Chapter 8 – The Answer
There was little to do but wait for the rendezvous. Mack, not knowing what Rick was really planning, dutifully sent her list to him. He smiled to himself. Yi'imspi was on the list. So, he could maintain what may or may not have been a good idea – that is, not telling Mack the absolute, God's honest truth about who the perpetrator was, until the last possible moment.
Her list was a short one. There was Yi'imspi, of course. The other people on the list were the Imvari, Grosk; Tag Shaw; the Jem'Hadar Xochar'inif; a female Witannen named Adeel; M'Belle the Caitian; and a female Klingon named Cilla – six in all. Once he'd perused the list, he sent her a short note. It just said: she's on your list.
He turned over the idea in his head. And when he was alone and certain no one could see or hear him, he contacted Carmen. "I think it's a rather reckless plan," she scolded. "However, since nothing else has worked, I imagine it's all right to give it the old college try, as it were. But if it all goes pear-shaped, we could have even more unraveling to do."
"Probably. I'll let you know how it goes."
"If I see that I'm suddenly in the Mirror again or some such, I'll know before you will."
"I suppose so. Gotta go." He tapped his left ear to close the connection.
"You talk to yourself?" It was M'Belle, the Caitian.
"Only a little. But didn't curiosity kill the cat?"
"Good thing I'm not a cat, then."
"Touché. Can I ask you a seriousish question?"
"I'll give you a seriousish answer."
"Fair enough. Do you like working here?"
"I do, very much. Mack has always been good about making us all feel comfortable and competent. There have been any number of sports that I really can't do, but she still makes me feel that I'm making an important contribution. Why do you ask? Are you thinking of joining our team, or something?"
"I'm just curious. I suppose you could say I'm a bit professionally curious. Do you think anyone is, I don't know, disgruntled at all?"
"Not that I can see. But they don't all confide in me or anything. Majira would know better than I."
"Got it. And thanks."
=/\=
Mack sent out three notes. The first one was to everyone on the Cookie, even Rick.
For anyone who doesn't know for some reason, and even for those of you who do, we are going to be rendezvousing with the Enterprise-E tomorrow. They are the flagship of the Federation fleet so the protocols are going to be off the charts. We're all adults here. I don't think I have to remind anyone to clean up and dress up and generally be on your best behavior.
For me, it's family visiting. I will try to be available, but you all know how that is.
Thank you,
Coach Mack
Then she just wrote to her inner circle: Wes, Majira, Daniya, and Crita.
The Enterprise-E's arrival of course has to do with Rick Daniels, or at least it did. But he's told me a few things. There's a lot I can't say as it's in confidence. But I do want all of you to know that he, a time traveler, isn't here by some accident or freakish coincidence. Instead, he's here deliberately. There is something very specific that he has to fix.
I am bcc'ing you all on a note I'm sending to some very specific people. Rick has made it clear they are all trustworthy except for one of the women. He can't tell me who it is yet. It's not him being coy; it's that he has to catch her in the act of doing something to alter time, but he can't let her complete the attempt. By not giving me specifics, the idea is to keep me from even unconsciously preventing her attempt. I've got to say I agree with his reasoning, weird as it may seem.
I need for all of you to be on the alert. I'm not 100% certain of how a time change looks, or even if any of us would feel it or know about it in any way. What I do want to say, though, is that our time period, our iteration, the one right now? We all have reasons to preserve it. There's Crita's wedding – and thanks everyone for getting a Daranaean game as that's perfect. There's Wes and his girl, Lakeisha, who I understand might be able to make it and finally watch us play. Daniya is nearly completely free of her debts.
And Majira hasn't told any of you yet, but she's going to be presenting a paper soon on some of the work she's been doing with Grosk. She believes she can possibly make it so a differently-gendered species such as the Imvari could successfully have offspring with more binary gender types of species. That would be an exceptional breakthrough. If her research is independently confirmed and accepted, then she will receive not only several patents, but also a bit of a part-time gig where she will be a remote professor and distinguished lecturer for Starfleet Academy's Medical School.
I have so many reasons to be proud of all of you, my dear, dear friends. Together, we will fix time with Rick, and then all of our dreams will come true.
Thank you for all that you do.
Dana
After she had sent that note, she muttered to herself, "Except for my own dream. I can't be with Marty. It's best not to think about it."
She then sent one more note; bcc'd to her inner circle and to Rick.
To: Adeel, Cilla, Grosk, M'Belle, Tag Shaw, Xochar'inif, and Yi'imspi
As you've heard me say before, there are some really interesting things on this ship. And I've been spending a lot of time telling people not to touch them or bother me or Wes, Majira, Crita, or Daniya about them. However, the truth is, I need to let more people in on these marvels. We need coverage at all times, so it makes perfect sense to expand the group of people who know. Plus, I trust all of you and I want you to know that that means I quite literally put my money where my mouth is. If you want to get added responsibilities and to know more, then naturally that will come with higher pay and more benefits. If you don't, then I understand. Please confirm yea or nay in response to this message before tomorrow morning.
Thank you.
Mack
The responses were all nearly instantaneous, and they were all in the affirmative.
=/\=
Once she had responded, Yi'imspi sent a note to her patron in Section 31.
Admiral Caul,
It seems I will be getting a closer look a lot sooner. I will keep you posted.
Agent Radiant
Then she made meditative contact with Charles VI.
"I can get in and see a lot more of the goods a lot sooner than expected."
"Theft?"
"Even better; the captain is actually inviting me to learn more about the interesting tech on board."
"How very interesting," he said. "Did you have to bribe her? Sleep with her?"
"Neither; she offered it to me freely."
"I smell a trap," he said.
"You always smell a trap. But never mind that. Just concentrate on how you'll get the superior tech you'll need to get back in power."
"And the time traveler's technology?"
"I haven't gotten such an invitation from him. But if I ever do, you'll be the first to know."
=/\=
Mack called Marty the moment she was free and explained everything to him. "Are you sure this guy is for real?" he asked.
"I believe he is. Certainly, his story makes sense even if it's not fully confirmed."
"You might never be able to confirm something like that," he allowed.
"Understood."
"Mystic, I can't wait to see you."
"I feel the same. But sheesh, Marty, is this good for us or is it just going to torture us?"
"I'd rather see you than not, but I'll admit it hurts me, too." He paused for a moment. "Dr. Crusher once told me to fight the cousin marriage law."
"I imagine you'd lose your career if you lost."
"Win or lose, I could lose it either way, actually. But I'd still do it if you could support me."
She smiled wryly. "I support you in everything. You know that. But this job is your dream and I don't want you losing it."
"Maybe I could have a different dream."
"Oh?"
"One of you and me, and a family and all that that entails."
"I'm close to past that, you know."
"Modern medicine," he said. "It can still happen."
"Yeah, I know. I just, you know, I'd rather not have test tubes. I'd rather do it the old-fashioned way."
"Now this really will be torture, Mystic."
"Sorry, I'm not thinking clearly. My mind is kind of on this sting, for lack of a better name."
"That's okay. Do think about it, all right? About how my dream can change. And how it can include you."
"You'd still need to work. I know you, Marty. You're a hard worker and it would kill you to be idle."
"You got a Tactical opening?"
"Communications, I'm afraid. But let me think about it. Once this time… thing is resolved, then I, I think you're right. It's time for the dreams to get rearranged."
"So is that a yes, that you'll marry me once we're able to, Mystic? If we ever can, that is?"
"Hell yeah, Marty. The answer is yes. The answer has always been yes."
