Crumbling Stones and Sliding Sands
Chapter 25
"Still ending, and beginning still"
William Cowper
Epilogue
The John Glenn relief ship arrived two days later. Jim greeted Captain Samantha Gagarin, many times great grand daughter of the first and great Terran Russian astronaut, Yuri Gagarin. It was somehow fitting that she was captaining the John Glenn, named for the famed American astronaut. Captain Kirk promised Chekov that he and Captain Gagarin would meet at the Sansoran Mission hand off and Chekhov was beside himself with happiness and anticipation. He'd always said it was Russia who started the impetus to venture into space.
Jim wrapped up his meetings with the Sansoran department heads, received all the final tallies, debriefed his command crew on the mission, and with a sigh of relief sent off his report to Admiral Komack. He was confident that all mission parameters and objectives had been met in spite of the earthquake. His crew and officers had performed admirably in spite of great difficulties and he felt justifiably proud of them.
Apart from the mission success, on a personal note Jim was very happy. Bones was fine, back to his lovable irascible self, and the child, Jamai, had been given a wonderfully bright future thanks to his remarkable CMO. He was also relieved that the Klingon situation had been resolved satisfactorily. All in all it had been a very successful mission.
Enterprise was scheduled to depart in 48 hours. Their new mission orders were in his ready room and had been sent to all department heads. Stellar Cartography was jumping with glee about their new orders; they were to map a new sector of the Milky Way galaxy, the Delta quadrant, which was located between 12 and 3 o'clock on the great plane of the galaxy. They had already put up a Delta Quadrant star clock face and highlighted the 6 o'clock position bisecting the Sol system where Enterprise was going. Rumor had it that a few renegade and pirate ships had ventured further out there and encountered a new and lethal species called The Borg. It was all terribly exciting and horrifying, and Mr. Spock finally had to step in to tell the cartography department to cease and desist terrifying themselves.
Governor Rual had approached Jim to ask if the Sansorans could host a celebration in honor of the Captain and the command crew. It would only be a small gathering, he told Jim; just the command crew, Dr. M'benga, nurse Chapel, Matarras and Selia and the Sansoran department heads with whom they had worked. It was the least they could do for the Enterprise crew who had helped them so much, he pleaded with Jim, his huge gray eyes begging him to agree.
Jim nodded graciously. "We'd be honored, Rual. It was our job as well as our privilege to help your people. That's part of the honor code of Star Fleet and the Federation, to help those who need us."
"Tomorrow evening, at the house then, Captain? Would that be a suitable place for you and your crew?"
"That sounds fine, Rual. I'll let everyone know. What time should we be there?
"At sunset, 1900 hours, if that's suitable for all of you."
"We'll be there."
Jim walked over to the field hospital to watch its dismantling. Bones, M'Benga, some of the medical techs and Chapel were there packing up the delicate and expensive medical equipment, the linens, and scrubs. Scotty had sent his engineering crew to take down the portable walls, windows, and doors, fold all the beds, tables, and benches, and place them in packing crates, then had them beamed back on board on the ship to holding bay. Soon the field hospital was gone, only the dirt and torn up lawn remained. McCoy came to stand by Jim. "We did some good work here, Jimmy. Casualties would've been a lot worse without your crew helpin' out"
"They're the best, Bones, no question about it, but a lot of the credit goes to you. You organized all the medical stuff, and it all worked flawlessly. Even when you weren't there. That's how good you are; you did some fine work here." Jim smiled affectionately, as McCoy ducked his head, embarrassed by the praise and he said no more.
Spock came up behind them. "Indeed, Doctor. You have given this child a bright future," he said and walked over to speak with Matarras.
Bones' blue eyes widened in shock. "Did that green elf just compliment me, Jim?"
Jim laughed. "Note the date and time, Bones. He sure did. Are you ready for the party tomorrow night?"
"I'm not much for goin' away parties, or any parties really," McCoy grumbled.
"I'm bringing the good bourbon," Jim grinned at him. "It's the one Ma gave me before we left Vulcan. She bought it for us to share."
"Wellll, alright then," McCoy grinned back. "Why didn't you say so, Jim boy, I'll be there with bells on."
It was late afternoon when they all finished and Jim piloted the shuttle back to the ship to spend the night.
After Alpha shift the next evening, Jim met his officers at the transporter pad. They were in their everyday uniforms, no uncomfortable dress uniforms for this evening; he felt everyone had earned the right to leave Sansoran duties and responsibilities behind for their last evening there and just enjoy themselves.
They beamed down to the front of the house to see every light on and the door wide open. The Sansorans had already arrived and to the Enterprise's crew delight, Jenny and Jamai were also present. The two children were playing on the floor in the kitchen. Jim and Bones could hear them chatting happily to each other. Jamai's speech was clear, and he was obviously learning vocabulary by leaps and bounds from Jenny. At the sight of the two children, Bones grinned happily at Jim, his blue eyes shining. Jim grinned back, clasping him on the shoulder, and said softly, "you did some great work there, Dr. McCoy. I'm proud of you.'
From somewhere the sound of a lilting tune was heard, and there was a delicious aroma of something cooking. Uhura and Scotty came over to them, Aadi and Matarras with them drinks in hand. "Here you are, Captain, McCoy, 'tis a bit of the good stuff for ye both," said Scotty handing them glasses of Jim's bourbon."
"Thanks, Scotty. You're an officer and a gentleman," McCoy said. "Is this the Jim Beam bourbon your mother bought you, Jim?"
"Sure is," smiled the Captain.
"Wonderful," said McCoy, sipping contently. "We should all have mothers like yours. A toast to your Ma, Jim." They all raised their glasses, and Bones said, "To Winona, 'A worthy woman... for her price is far above rubies.' "
"To Winona." They all clinked their glasses and Jim smiled his sunshine smile, well pleased at this praise of his Ma.
The crew mingled, laughed and talked and ate the delicious food. Throughout the evening each guest stopped to interact with the two children. Jamai, McCoy was happy to see, spoke easily and well, if a little shyly to every one who spoke to him. He sat down on the sofa and soon found himself with a lapful of Jenny, and Jamai her faithful shadow, sitting by his side. Uhura came to sit too. "You've hit the jackpot, Leonard, with those two here," she smiled and touched Jenny's beautiful hair.
"Sure have, darlin', on all sides," he said gallantly, looking at her lovely face. "Why don't you sing for us, Nyota. I have a yen to hear that beautiful voice of yours."
"I'll be glad to, Leonard," she answered, "if Mr. Spock will accompany me." She glanced up at the tall figure standing beside them. "I brought my lyre with me, thinking I might sing for the children if they were here and there was time." She bent and picked up the case that was on the floor beside her.
"It would be my pleasure, Lieutenant," said Spock, taking out the beautiful instrument and strumming it softly to check the tuning."
At the sound, everyone stopped talking and came over to the sofa. McCoy spoke up. "Lt. Uhura has consented to sing for us. I know y'all will enjoy it a lot. She has a very beautiful voice."
Jim came over and sat on the arm of the sofa and Jamai wiggled over to him. He picked up the child and put him on his lap to listen.
Uhura addressed the group. "I collect songs," she said. "I particularly like what we Earth citizens call folk songs. They are all very old, sometimes dating to before Terrans could read and write. A lot of them have been handed down to the present time by singers, we call bards. Long ago, they were passed on through memorization, but sometimes, someone who was literate would write the lyrics down. This one is particularly beautiful, and is called "Scarborough Fair". Mr. Spock and I have sung it many times on the ship." Spock strummed the introduction, and she began to sing in her beautiful contralto.
Scarborough Fair
"Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Remember me to the one who lives there,
For once she was a true love of mine.
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Without any seam or needlework,
Then she shall be a true love of mine.
Tell her to wash it in yonder well,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Where never sprung water or rain ever fell,
And she shall be a true lover of mine.
Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born,
Then she shall be a true lover of mine." 1
There was a moment of silent tribute for her and Spock and then everyone clapped. "That was very beautiful, Nyota," said Aadi. "Thank you for singing for us."
The Sansorans loved music, and they crowded around her and Spock to ask questions about Terran music. Uhura was in her element. Jim met Bones' blue eyes and they both smiled. Nothing made Jim happier than to see others acknowledge the competence and expertise of his crew in any area.
The party wound down to a close. The Enterprise crew drew together and said their goodbyes to the sad Sansorans. Chances were they would never see each other again. It was always bitter sweet for Jim and the crew when they parted from beings they had gotten close to on worlds where they had been welcomed. There were so many planets to visit, and they were so far apart, that it was impossible to revisit most, if not all of them.
Hugs were exchanged and Rual presented Jim with a going away gift. It was a holo of all the Sansoran Department heads surrounded by the main site rescue team. Rual had taken it right before the crew had been beamed back on board the ship.
"Thank you, Rual. It's perfect. I'll put it in a central location where all of us can enjoy it. Goodbye to all of you." Jim and the Command crew gave each of the Sansorans the traditional sign of respect, reaching out their hands and raising them to their foreheads and then bowing. The Governor and the department heads did the same and they all bowed again.
Jim spoke softly in his communicator and the Enterprise crew disappeared from Sansora.
Fin
1 "Scarborough Fair" is a traditional English ballad about the Yorkshire town of Scarborough, traced back to about 1670
A/N Once again I want to thank my friend, Carol for her help in proof reading this story. Her eagle eye catches every error that I make. Even the Microsoft spell checker is not as good as she is. Thanks, my friend!