STAR TREK: PHASE ONE

The Dance

Moscow

Mikael's mansion…

The festivities at the large Chekov mansion had finally kicked into gear as Nadya made her grand entrance down the spiral stairway. The live music started to play various waltzes as the guests danced.

Gary watched from afar while standing next to Nadya's father. He was a famous Cosmonaut and came from a very wealthy family as well. And it was he who had invited Gary Mitchell.

"Your daughter is quite stunning, Mikael." Gary said as he sipped from a glass of champagne.

Gary had met Mikael Chekov a few times in the past at gatherings of present and past space goers. Gary never had the chance to meet Nadya before until meeting her at the United States Agency training facility in England.

Mikael Chekov was a very down to earth individual. His years as a celebrated Cosmonaut meant that he was very much in shape for a man in his fifties.

"I trust your Colonel Pike is aware that you are here?" Mikael asked. "From what I remember, Christopher was quite strict in terms knowing where his men were."

Gary nodded. "Yes he knows I'm here," Gary said with a smile. "I had to sign a form promising that I would drink only so much, and that I also had to keep an eye on your daughter. You can call me an overpriced designated driver."

"Yes," Mikael, "But I suppose keeping an eye on my daughter comes easy to you."

Gary nodded. "Your daughter is very beautiful, Mikael. So is your wife," Gary added, "I think we know where your daughter gets her looks," Gary added with a smile.

"In case you are wondering," Mikael said as they both watched Nadya and Ivan share a waltz. "That man my daughter is dancing with, Ivan Solovyov, means nothing to her."

"You could have fooled me," Gary said as he enjoyed a pastry with caviar. "By the way, this caviar is great."

"Only the finest for my daughter's coming home celebration," Mikael said. "But I assure you, that although she has known Ivan since she was a child, they never grew that close. It's not as if my wife, Tamara, hasn't tried to get them to fall in love over the years; it just never happened."

"And why is that?" Gary asked as he observed the large cache of guests, most of whom made a point of acknowledging Mikael as they passed by.

"My wife is a survivor, and a fighter," Mikael said. "At the time I met her, I was a very single man, if you know what I mean. I had my pick of the litter, you might say."

"It's funny how being a celebrity astronaut, or cosmonaut, has that effect on women," Gary said with a very knowing smile.

"No truer words have been spoken," Mikael said with a wink as he too sipped on champagne. "But as my health has begun to show the signs of wear and tear from being a cosmonaut, my wife is trying her hardest to find our daughter a family to marry into."

"So I take it Ivan is wealthy," Gary concluded.

"Very," Mikael replied. "But trust me when I tell you this, my daughter has no need to marry into a family; to a man she doesn't love. I have taken great care to make sure that she is well taken care of when my time on Earth comes to an end."

"They do look stunning together," Gary said as he continued to watch Nadya and Ivan dance from afar.

"Mr. Mitchell," Mikael said softly, "my wife and daughter have never seen eye to eye on how Nadya should live her life. To Nadya, all of this," Mikael said in reference to the wealth and mansion, "means nothing. The only reason I am as wealthy as I am is due to my family. I inherited my stature, as will Nadya. But thankfully, like me, it is not what drives her. It does drive my wife."

"What does this have to do with me?" Gary asked.

"My daughter likes you. I like you. You are a normal person who does not put this," again he motioned to the mansion around them, "ahead of this." He placed his hand on his own heart. "My wife, the cold bitch that she is, will try to corrupt any children Nadya has. I cannot allow that. I believe that a man like you could stand up to my wife."

Oh you have no idea, Gary thought to himself.

"Mikael, are you asking me to propose to your daughter?" Gary asked.

"Consider it at least," Mikael said. "Trust me when I tell that my wife over there," he directed Gary's attention to Tamara who was clear across the ballroom, "has had this same conversation with Ivan. But I happen to know from very credible sources that Ivan likes men more than he does women. My wife has been trying to convert the poor chap his entire life. She has taken him to her bed on more than one occasion; I have it all on video tape, of course. But, no matter, the man doesn't love my daughter. He just wants to align his name with my family name. He is more like my wife than my daughter or my son Pavel."

"Do you even love your wife?" Gary asked with a smile.

Mikael spoke softly, knowing the sensitive nature of the conversation. The directness, and cocky talk of two men like he and Gary, was natural and, in its own way, built mutual respect.

"I will not lie; I married Tamara for the sex, and it was wild and wonderful while it lasted. And now I am paying the price for putting sex in front of love. You would do well to remember that love is more important than anything," Mikael insisted.

Gary wanted to tell Mikael that his daughter had a creature living inside her. A creature that would adapt to her feelings and desires over time, while slowly infusing her with its own desires and instincts. He wanted to tell Mikael that if Nadya didn't love Ivan, more than likely the creature inside of her would cause her to kill him.

As Gary watched Nadya in all of her beauty, as Mikael drifted over to other guests, he could feel his own desire growing for Nadya. With the wink of an eye he could destroy the creature inside of Nadya, but he didn't.

The curious, dark part of his soul, wanted to see how the Russian family's soap-opera would play out with a daughter who, more or less, might become nothing more than a flesh eating vampire. Ivan could find himself in a pool of blood; Gary liked that possibility very much for Ivan.

Gary looked at his watch. He thought for a moment. He had flown to Moscow Russia, which was a three hour flight from San Francisco, and had only arrived an hour before coming to the mansion. The news about the abduction of Little David, Carol's and James's son was very troubling. James wanted to keep the situation quiet, fearing reprisals against the child if news of the abduction became known. Gary agreed. James vowed to quietly find who ever had taken the baby, and make them face justice.

Gary wanted to find who had taken the child and kill them; as well as any children they had as well.

Gary's return flight to San Francisco was not for another hour. And he was instructed by Colonel Pike to be sure Chekov returned with him, due to the new training schedule. But Gary was her Captain now, and could disregard the Colonel's wishes, and allow her to stay longer. As he wondered whether or not to bring Nadya back with him, his growing ability to read other people's thoughts was gnawing at him as well.

It was very easy to read Ivan's thoughts. Although Ivan was dancing with Nadya, Ivan's aroused thoughts were aimed at the male friend who had come with him to the mansion. Mikael was right; Ivan liked men and there was nothing wrong with that, Gary agreed. But it proved Mikael's belief that the arranged marriage his wife was hoping for between Nadya and Ivan was indeed for stature; not for love.

But Gary could also sense the growing hatred inside of Nadya. No doubt it was being augmented by the creature inside of her. Gary knew where it was headed; Ivan's death unless Gary put a stop to it. Gary set his glass down and went over to Mikael.

"Mikael," Gary said to Mikael Chekov, who was standing with other guests, "I must take my leave of you." Gary said, trying to sound proper. "I will take what you said to heart."

"That is all I ask," Mikael said with a warm, fatherly smile. "You tell your Colonel Pike that he still owes me a dinner in a fine city of New York, and that I intend to collect on that debt the next time I am in America."

Gary left and headed out of the main entrance. Maybe he should have told Mikael that his daughter would no doubt kill Ivan on this night. Maybe he should have taken Nadya, as he was ordered to do, back with him to San Francisco to spare her possible entanglement with the law. Gary smiled a fiendish smile as he sat down in a taxicab that pulled up to where he stood on the curb.

Continued…