DISCLAIMER: I do not own Star Trek: Enterprise or any of its characters. I make no money off this story, only a tremendous sense of self worth.
AUTHORESS' NOTE: This story takes place during the forth season of Enterprise, after 'Observer Effect' but before 'Babel One'. Alright, I caved. This part officially drags the story into AU territory, but only in so much as Commander Tucker isn't meant to die in 'These Are the Voyages'. Other than that, I'm not going any further into AU.
Living Beyond
Part 9C
By Arianwen P.F. Everett
"So, what are your plans for the future?" Captain Jonathan Archer asked the women at the table. Having been returned by Daniels to the dinner table he'd been attempting to sit down at, Archer found himself being shaken out of his stupor by Trip, then quickly regrouped himself to start fixing history for the future of Star Fleet. Not that men like Daniels deserved such a future, but Jonathan Archer knew in his gut by now that this Federation would ultimately do far more good than harm, save far more lives than it let get 'pruned', so he had to serve its ends.
"Grow my business, I guess. Talnuse and I plan to start a family someday, but right now, the station is growing. If this pace keeps up, I might franchise to other stations and planets," Amitana explained, imaging a future of outlets throughout the galaxy.
"I'm content to continue working with Doctor Dakon. The work is challenging and as Ami said, the station is growing. When Doctor Dakon eventually leaves Kotook, I'll likely be able to get a job working for another physician, and I'll have his recommendation," Balasara explained, taking a bite of her favorite casserole. Her mother had done another fine job of this meal and she so rarely had a filling meal, with all the snack foods she now consumed to manage the erratic schedule her boss kept.
"Earth has had a nursing shortage for centuries. You could make even better money there, with a more regular schedule," Trip offered, having done some research after Phlox's prediction of Dakon's staff being severely overworked.
"I could never leave Kotook," Balasara explained succinctly.
"Aplacians prefer to die where they're born. Moving around, while common to both Humans and Vulcans, is virtually unheard of among our mother's people," Maranda explained, smiling at Captain Archer. He truly was as dynamic as she remembered from her childhood, even more so, without the weight of old age upon him. Wondering just how dynamic, she slowly snaked her leg out under the table, caressing his calf with the tips of her toes. He suddenly withdrew it, straightening himself in his chair. Maranda couldn't help but chuckle.
"Are you feeling alright, Captain?" T'Pol asked, having noticed her commanding officer's sudden jolting at the table.
"I'm fine. NOTHING to worry about," Archer replied, holding Maranda's eyes in an attempt to let her know that nothing was going to happen between them.
Nodding with acceptance, Maranda took a sip of her wine before speaking. "As for my plans, I too have decided to remain on Kotook the rest of my days. However, I'm enjoying the influx of new visitors. Hopefully I'll get a chance to speak with your Mr. Reed before your ship leaves. I sent him an invitation to lunch as soon as you docked, but he claimed he was too busy. Perhaps you can get him to relent, Captain, I'd love to pick his brain on what he's learned this past year. Aplacian security forces rarely dealt with off-world criminals when our people were still planet bound, so when I inherited the title of senior constable, I started implementing several Star Fleet and Maco procedural mandates to augment what traditional practices lack."
"I'll speak with Malcolm; see what I can do," Archer offered congenially, not wanting to embarrass anyone at the table.
"Thank you, Captain," Maranda said, smiling once more. Archer obviously wasn't interested in her, but again, he was being a gentleman about it. Why couldn't she meet such a man who was interested? Oh, she'd written of Aplacian men long ago. The only one that would consider marrying a hybrid was Talnuse and only because he lived and died by Amitana's word since the two of them were kids. Amitana probably thought it had more to do with Talnuse's orphaned status, but Maranda read people better than her sister, even without harnessing her telepathic skills, merely by observing them. Maranda was certain that even if her brother-in-law had had a mother, he would have defied her to marry Ami if it had been necessary. Not that Maranda had ever wanted Talnuse for herself, but it was a pity that Amitana didn't appreciate the good man she had.
"And what about you, Jomala?" Archer asked, finally getting to speak with the girl he had meant the question for. Perhaps if he could get her talking about the future, it would become more real to her, and her plans realistic.
"My ship will be complete in approximately three months. I'll be leaving Kotook as soon as it's ready and I have enough provisions and supplies to begin my journey," Jomala answered noncommittally.
"Have you decided on a crew yet?" Archer asked, tackling one of Daniels mentioned scenarios.
"I plan to start out alone. Like Maranda told you, Aplacians generally do not move around. I've met some potentials from the recent visitors to the station, but they're either spoken for by a fleet or are more interested in commerce than exploration," Jomala explained. It was a long shot, but maybe Archer would help her find a crew of her own.
"You know, Star Fleet is always looking for new recruits and unlike most fleets, they're quite open to nonhuman members. In fact they're looking to expand the fleet's diversity," Archer commented.
"Yeah! Maybe after you graduate from the academy, you could come work with me and T'Pol on Enterprise!" Trip Tucker proclaimed happily. Having his granddaughter working with them would be out of sight, especially if she was good enough to build a Warp 6.9 engine all by herself.
"No offense, but I don't think I'm Star Fleet material. I'm an engineer," Jomala explained calmly.
"And what does that make me, a duck?" Trip shot back, a bit insulted by Jomala's statement.
"Duck… oh, water fowl, like in the Ugly Duckling… No, no, what I meant was, I'm not interested in being a Star Fleet engineer, that's all. I mean, Star Fleet has its ideals and its values and it represents a planetary government and all Star Fleet members have to conform to that, to rules set up to promote those ideas and values, and serve that planetary government. I have my own ideas and values, and I don't have a species to or a home planet to be tied to. I just don't think I'd make a good Star Fleet officer. I do make a good engineer. That's all I meant," Jomala explained, trying to put her feelings into words. She respected Star Fleet, but she didn't want to be part of it.
Archer sighed, this was going to be harder than he thought. When he and his officers returned to Enterprise, he would inform them of Daniels' information, maybe even call a general staff meeting if T'Pol and Trip agreed. They had a lot of work to do.