Chapter 14

Christine was escorted out to the prison yard for her exercise time. The yard was outdoors, made mostly of asphalt with a weight pile on one side, and a large oval track painted into the middle of the black ground. Most of the inmates used this time for socializing, not for physical exertion. The benches placed on the sides of the asphalt were filled with people of different groups talking in their native tongues. It looked almost like an elementary school yard, except that the beings were older and more diverse. Christine saw life forms from many different planets. She could identify most of them.

Christine ignored their stares and began to run on the asphalt track. It felt good to feel the cool, moist, dense, San Francisco air in her lungs. She had breathed the atmosphere of hundreds of Class M planets, but San Francisco's oxygen would always be her favorite. Thud, thud, thud, her feet rhythmically hit the black pavement.

Christine was in good shape and moved quickly across the black tarred surface. She had been in great physical condition on the Enterprise. Starfleet required that all the crew maintain optimal fitness. Christine had raised her athletic prowess to an even higher level after she joined the Goleean Liberation. The training provided by the group had been amazingly thorough and effective. She remembered how Greink made her run with an impossibly heavy backpack on the large indoor training course. At first she wasn't very good. She was quickly killed by the holographic enemies that lurked everywhere on the simulated battlefield. She was a quick study, however. Soon, she was adept at choosing and discharging the right weapon to kill anything that was put in her path. Christine smiled to herself. She had taken quite a twisted career path, starting as a Starfleet nurse who joined to find her lost love, then becoming a highly educated Starfleet officer and physician, moving on to become a trained insurgent, and finally now ending it all, as a prison inmate.

As she ran in the prison yard, Christine's thoughts did not stay focused on her Goleean Liberation training. All Christine could think about was Number One. She had to find out if her sister was really alive. Of course, Christine knew that if Spock was right and Number One was actually on Talos IV, she would never have a family reunion. Everyone in Starfleet was aware of General Order 7. It provided that under penalty of death, no vessel was allowed to visit Talos IV.

Christine pondered why her sister would go to the forbidden planet. She knew little about her sister's time on the Enterprise. By the time her sister had made Lieutenant and was assigned to the Enterprise, their relationship had already started to unravel.

Christine knew of Number One's exploits on Talos IV from her own time at the academy and onboard the Enterprise. Everyone in Starfleet knew the story. The Enterprise had gone to the Talos Star Group to investigate a distress signal. The Talosians, who had incredibly strong telepathic abilities, tried to force Number One, Captain Pike and another female yeoman to stay on the planet. They wanted the two women to become Pike's mates. Of course, the crewmates found this unacceptable.

Number One put her hand laser on overload. She was willing to kill herself, Captain Pike and the yeoman, rather than remain enslaved on Talos IV. Seeing this, the Talosians realized that humans were not suited to being held captive. The Talosians released them. Number One had been willing to give her life to get away from Talos IV. Why would she ever go back there?

Of course, many years later Pike returned to Talos to live out the rest of his life. The Captain had been tragically injured saving the lives of others. When Spock heard of the accident, he took Pike back to the forbidden planet on a mission of compassion. By doing so, the Vulcan broke General Order 7 and had jeopardized his own life. Fortunately, everything had been resolved satisfactory in that case. Spock was exonerated and continued his Starfleet career. Pike was allowed to remain on Talos IV. Through telepathy, the Talosians provided him the illusion that he was living out an idyllic life in perfect health with the beautiful Orion woman, Vina.

Christine couldn't conceive of any lasting connection between Talos IV, Captain Pike and Number One. Then again, she didn't know much at all about Number One's time on the Enterprise. She didn't even know why Number One decided to retire from Starfleet. It pained her that she knew so little about her sister's life. She couldn't even get the puzzle pieces out of the box, much less put them together. They had once been so close. They were everything to each other. It was no mystery to Christine what had started their estrangement. Sadly, like so many other women, they had let a man come between them. A man named Dr. Roger Korby.

The thought of Roger caused Christine to do a stutter-step on the track. Once upon a time, she believed he was her soul mate. Handsome, extremely intelligent, sometimes brooding, and always unbelievably sexy, she thought he was her Heathcliff. After she learned the fate of her sisters, Christine refused to relate anything in her real life to the book Wuthering Heights. It bothered her that a novel she had cherished reading also meant something to her evil mother. She wanted to have no connection with that awful, murdering bitch, Gretchen Schnell.

Seventeen and in love, Christine's fantasies returned to her favorite gothic romance. She decided it wasn't Emily Bronte's fault that her mom had become a psychopath. Catherine and Heathcliff had loved in the moors centuries before Gretchen Schnell had been born. She was not going to let any of her past hardships interfere with her new relationship. Christine decided she was Catherine, Roger was Heathcliff, and misty San Francisco was the moorlands. There would be one difference between her story and Catherine's. Christine knew her story would have a happy ending. Roger and Christine did not face any of the societal pressures that tore Catherine and Heathcliff apart. In the twenty-third century, she and Roger could marry. Unlike when she was younger, the seventeen year old Christine didn't think about how the divorce rate for first marriages was over 50%. Statistics aren't romantic. She believed that she and Roger would live, love, raise a family and grow old together.

Christine chuckled at her naïveté. How could she have been so blind? What had she been thinking? She thought back to when she and Roger first met. She was a first year undergrad at Stanford. Her time at college had been happy for her. She loved the campus. The stately old brick buildings with red tile were reminiscent of ancient California from the Spaniard period. The huge library was a delight to explore. Like all the facilities, it had a historic exterior, but the inside was equipped with every amenity. Earth's fastest computers accessed the school's massive database of research papers and periodicals. There were comfortable study pods and sound proofed conference rooms. To her delight, there were also stacks and stacks of real printed and bound books.

She enjoyed her classes and teachers. She was getting along well with her classmates and had some great friends. It really felt like a fresh start for her after all the previous unpleasantness. She finally felt clean. She had a new name, Christine Chapel and a fresh start at life.

Dr. Roger Korby was her instructor. The introductory class in Medical Archeology was an elective that she felt fortunate to get into. Roger was already a hugely respected scientist. He was universally famous. There was a buzz all over the campus when he joined the faculty. It was an ostrich-sized feather in the mortar cap of the already prestigious university.

At first, Christine was a student like all the others. She captured Roger's attention with the first research paper she turned in. It was an analysis of the medical ostraca of Deir el-Medina. Her premise was that some of the cures that the Egyptians documented on the tablets which were believed by other scientists only to be 'magical' components actually were truly medicinal. One of Christine's examples was the black and red eye paints that were used to cure blindness in ancient Egypt. The pigments in the black and red paints contained lycotects which are used in the 22nd century to treat many types of fungal eye infections.

Roger told Christine that he was impressed with her scientific mind and hired her on as an assistant. Of course, Christine was flattered. Working alongside Roger and his colleague Brownie, Christine found herself noticing Roger's manly cologne, delicate hands and strong mind.

Soon, she wasn't so nervous around him. He became Roger rather than Dr. Korby. She noticed that he stood very close to her as they set up the lab equipment together. Sometimes, his hand would brush up on hers when they were working. She noticed that he would not be quick to pull his hand away. She could feel that he was interested in her and she had definitely reciprocated the feeling. He was a true genius. She found his scientific mind irresistibly sexy.

When he asked her out to dinner one evening, Christine thought nothing of the significant age difference between them. She immediately accepted. They had a lovely time. Roger talked easily about his life on Long Island, with his two brothers and one sister. He asked Christine about her relatives. She deflected the questions. Christine never spoke of her family.

Christine remembered Roger looking at her with a twinkle in his eye.

"Christine, you know you can't win, don't you?" Roger said in a seductive voice.

"What am I trying to win, Roger?" Christine coyly asked.

"You are a woman of mystery and I've spent my whole career solving mysteries," Roger answered as he rubbed the back of his hand against hers, "You don't stand a chance. You might as well just spill it all to me now."

"Spill what, Roger? There really isn't much to tell. I'm from San Francisco. I have a wonderful, older sister. She's a scientist in Starfleet. Right now, she's at the academy for officer's training. Most likely, she'll be heading into deep space as the chief science officer on a Constitution-class vessel. I'm so proud of her. I'd really like you two to meet. I think you'd like each other very much. Other than that, there's not much to know."

"Oh, I have a feeling there's much more to Ms. Christine Chapel than that. I read your paper. It would have been exceptional if it had been written by a graduate student. For an undergrad to have such a grasp of medicine, science, linguistics and archeology is unheard of. You say your sister is a scientist? That makes sense, but I have a feeling there's more than two scientists in your family tree."

Christine remembered her distress with how this conversation was heading. Distract, deflect, and deny, Christine recalled how she searched for a way to change the subject. She decided to answer with a half truth and hoped he wouldn't pursue it further.

"Yes, Roger you're right. I come from a family of scientists and educators. I was one of many."

Thankfully there were no more questions that evening. Eventually, Christine let Roger know all of her. But, it didn't happen on that first dinner date.

~~~OOO~~~

Christine had believed that the party she threw to introduce Roger to Number One went well. Number One brought some guy she knew from Academy. He seemed nice, but Christine could tell there was no romance in the relationship. Roger brought his assistant Brownie. Christine made a simple meal of lasagna, garlic bread and tiramisu for dessert. Roger and Number One talked about Starfleet, the politics of Starfleet, space exploration in general, and the politics in academia. Christine and Number One's date tried to keep up with the fast paced conversation. They joined in when they could. Brownie was amiable and interjected with a light-hearted joke every now and then.

After the guests politely made their exit, Christine felt warm and happy. She knew that her little party had been successful. Christine whistled a tune and did a little dance while she cleaned up a bit, before going to bed. Her arabesque with plate in hand was interrupted when Number One stomped into the room.

"What the fuck, Chris? Seriously, what the fuck are you thinking?"

Christine's mood deflated as quickly as a cold soufflé.

"What, One? Did I do something wrong? I thought the party went wonderfully?"

Everything had gone so well, Christine was at a loss as to why her sister was so angry.

"Did I forget to arm the security panel after our guests left? I'm sorry. I'll go do it now."

Christine moved to leave the kitchen, but Number One rose up her hand to stop her.

"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd swear you were still on spores."

Number One stared at Christine, anger in her eyes. Christine looked back, tears beginning to form in hers. Christine was shocked. They had put that whole incident behind them long ago. Neither of them ever spoke of it. Why would Number One say something so cruel? Chris' immediate urge was to strike back at her sister. She wanted to remind her that the monastery had been her idea. But, Christine realized that this would just escalate the anger. The last thing she wanted to do was fight with Number One, especially after having a great evening with Roger. She really just wanted to go to bed and dream of Roger's intelligent words and sweet caresses. She knew however, that Number One wasn't going to let whatever was troubling her go for another day. They would have to talk it out.

Trying to remain calm she began, "That's a cheap shot and you know it. Why don't you just tell me why you're so angry?"

Christine gestured to the kitchen table. They both went over and sat at facing chairs.

Number One was trying to regain her composure, but she was obviously very upset.

"Look Chris, I was excited when you invited me to have dinner with Dr. Roger Korby. Do you know that his work is required reading at the academy? I really respected him. I thought it was amazing that you were working with such a brilliant scientist.

But, I thought he was your professor, not your boyfriend. When he started playing with your hair and rubbing his old man lips all over your sweet face, I almost threw up! Chris, please tell me that you're not sleeping with him!"

Christine honestly answered, "Not yet."

"Good, remember you're not eighteen. I could have him prosecuted."

"Yes, but you won't. You don't have time for court. You'll go off into deep space and leave me alone, again."

Number One's head jerked back a bit like she'd been hit by an invisible glove.

"Christine, I've taken care of you for a long time. I'll always love you and be your sister, but I can't be your mother. You're almost grown. I have a right to live my own life. I know you've been through a lot, but so have I. I've gotten over it and moved on. I can't understand why you keep messing your life up, again and again."

"But I have moved on. I'm at Stanford. I'm getting straight A's. I'm dating a wonderful man. What am I doing that is so horrible?"

"Can't you see that this 'wonderful man' is just your replacement for Mama Gretchen? It's like you want her back. The way he complained about Starfleet for not allowing him the use of a ship for his research. It was so ridiculous! A ship and crew like he wanted would be worth billions! Then, he kept complaining that he was so underappreciated by all the other scientists and administrators at Stanford. He said that no one could begin to understand his worth. Can't you see how much that sounded like Schnell?

You know, I thought meeting Dr. Korby would be like meeting a modern day Indiana Jones. Instead it was Dr. Frankenstein and Igor who walked into my apartment tonight. I mean, what's with that dude, Brownie? Fawning after Korby, and agreeing with everything he said. Making stupid little jokes when he was afraid I was getting the better of his boss. I don't know why you can't see it, Christine!"

Christine was angry at the attack on her man. She decided that if Number One wanted to fight, she'd hit back, hard.

"What I see, is how you haven't gotten over Mama Gretchen. You're jealous because I can get men and you can't. Mama Gretchen taught you to hate men and you learned your lesson well. In fact you learned it so well, that you'll never find the love and happiness that I have. I'm tired; I'm going to go to bed."

Christine was surprised that Number One did not come back with an angry retort.

She simply said, "Goodnight, Christine. Remember, I do love you. You know, something I've learned in Starfleet is that even if it seems like there is no hope left at all, often times there is room for second, third and even fourth chances. Time and space are unfathomable by man. Always keep your mind open."

Christine uttered under her breath, "Weirdo."

Then she turned around and went into the bedroom they shared.

After that night, the two sisters remained civil. But, Number One and Christine's relationship was never as close as it had been before.