In the Family

Chapter 5

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"My home is not far from here," Doris told them. "I walk to work every day, it's good exercise and I enjoy it very much, just looking at what has been accomplished here on Nara."

"As soon as we're inside your house, Doris, we'll search for the listening devices and disable them. We'll keep our conversation trivial until that's done."

"We'll take care of things, don't you worry yourself," Leonard assured her, looking around with pleasure. "It's a real pleasant area, Doris," Leonard commented, as they walked beside her. "Sort of reminds me of some areas in rural Georgia."

Doris nodded. "The first Terra Forming group did some of their best work here, this is where the original colonists started planting our green spaces. They had the University in mind from the beginning, and they put their hearts and souls into it to make it lush and attractive for our students. The University provides housing for the faculty, if they want to avail themselves of it, so that's where I live. The house isn't large, but it's cozy and comfortable, and perfect for my needs."

The house was indeed small, made, Jim assumed, from the local Nara stone which glowed softly in the bright sunshine. The door was painted a bright happy red and had an old fashioned brass knocker on it. Doris disabled the door security shield, opened it, and ushered them inside with a slight flourish.

Once inside, Jim saw the furnishings were definitely antique and he eyed them with deep appreciation. He'd always loved old things, furniture, books, prints, and paintings. All the Kirks loved antiques. That's why they cherished and took great care of the 150 year old Kirk farm house.

Jim's keen glance swept the room. He saw that the living room was elegantly, but simply furnished with the antique pieces that Doris had obviously brought from earth.

In the living area, there were two blue sofas and two large arm chairs upholstered in a soft blue and green plaid. Big old-fashioned floor-lamps stood beside the armchairs casting perfect reading light. The sofas were set at right angles to each other, and in their small center enclosure, sat a short round walnut tea table. On either side of the sofa were matching walnut end tables on which Doris had placed two wedgewood blue lamps with cream lampshades. They, too, were perfectly placed for reading.

In one corner of the room was a glass fronted antique barrister bookcase filled with real paper books which Jim itched to examine. The living room walls were painted a very pale celadon green, and the wooden floor was carpeted with a blue, green, and gray area rug. The window curtains were a soft pale blue, patterned with tiny gold fleur de lis. There was a small working fireplace filled with synth wood logs and on its simple wooden mantle were grouped several family holos. Jim recognized Amanda Grayson and Doris Stemple, both as young girls, Amanda, obviously the older of the two, with both girls smiling at the camera, their arms around each other's waists.

Adjacent to the living area, was a good sized kitchen with the usual appliances, a small replicator, a cooler, and a stove. There was no dining room, but in the kitchen, sat an antique drop leaf oak table with four matching chairs.

Doris led them across the living room, down a hallway, into another room. "This is my study cum office," she told them. Here, Jim saw, were many more books. Three of the walls were lined with books. "These books made up the bulk of my father's library. He collected real paper books all his life. I couldn't bear to leave them behind on Earth when I was sent here. As you can imagine it was extremely costly to bring them here by ship freight, but I'm happy they're not languishing in storage and I don't regret the cost one bit."

"I envy you your collection, Doris. I love the heft and feel of real paper books," Jim told her. "I'm slowly building a small library of paper books. My mother, Bones, and Spock have gifted me with a few books, and I treasure each and everyone of them."

The office windows were covered by handsome maroon curtains. The room would be rather dark by day, but the heavy curtains protected the books from sun light, and, under the modern lighting, the room was light filled enough. There was a plain wooden desk with a rolling desk chair on the soft grey carpet underfoot. Presently, its surface was cluttered with padds, but other than that bit of clutter, the room was neat, cozy, and inviting.

"Your home is charming, Doris. I have a deep appreciation for antiques, so does my entire family. We appreciate the work and care that went into their construction. My mother and nephew live in our 150 year old farmhouse, and for the most part, the house and furniture have stayed exactly as they were when my great grandparents lived in it."

"Thank you, Jim. Most of the furniture belonged to my parents and grandparents. I have bought very few things, antiques are usually completely out of the question on a professor's budget," Doris commented, smiling at him, obviously gratified at his appreciation.

"Cousin Doris, I notice that some of your furnishings are similar to those my mother brought from earth, which are now in our home on Vulcan."

Doris nodded. "Yes, that's so, Spock. Our mothers had very similar tastes. I'm happy Amanda is using the family furniture. Now then, except for the two bedrooms you've seen the entire house. We can see those later. May I offer you gentleman some tea?"

"That would be great, Doris," Leonard answered. "I do enjoy a cup of freshly brewed tea."

"Spock, why don't you look around while I prepare the tea? Take some good holos of the house so you can send them to Amanda? I'm certain I've never shared holos of this house with her."

"An excellent idea, cousin Doris. My mother would enjoy seeing your home."

Jim pointed to his comm. Scotty's coordinates of the listening devices were clearly marked, although it had been impossible to get an exact location from the distance of the orbiting ship. However, with the general coordinates it would not be difficult to find the listening devices.

He pointed to himself, then to the living room. Leonard and Spock nodded in understanding.

"Doris, if you don't mind, we'd enjoy seeing the rest of the house while you prepare the tea." Jim pointed to his comm, showing her that the listening devices were in three separate areas.

"Of course. Please go ahead. I'll prepare the tea and set out a variety of our delicious local cheeses along with some crackers. We are quite proud of our cheese. Our bovine population, originally brought from earth, has grown large enough that we hope to begin to export a small quantity of our artisan cheese very soon."

Jim stayed in the living room, while Leonard headed to the office, and Spock went into the two small bedrooms. His sensitive Vulcan fingers felt the tops of the closet doors, the small book shelves, and came away empty. He went to the chests of drawers and again did a thorough search of each. Again nothing. The beds were next, and finally the two small window sills. There! He'd felt something on one of the sills, something very small. He pulled it away from the sill and went to find Jim and Leonard. The three men met in the hall, Jim clutching a device in his hand. He raised an inquiring eyebrow. Leonard nodded and opened his hand. All three listening devices were accounted for.

"Tea is ready, gentleman. Please sit down." Doris set down a tray which was laden with a china teapot, matching tea cups, sugar, lemon, milk, small plates, slices of different kinds of cheese, and an assortment of crackers.

Jim showed her the three listening devices, and her eyes widened. "Milk and sugar or lemon?" She asked Jim.

"No milk, no sugar," Jim smiled at her. She filled a cup, handed it to him, and he plopped the three tiny devices into the tea. "Mr. Scott assures me the tea will disable the devices." He flipped open his comm. "Scotty?"

"Here, Sirrr. Nae need to worry, Captain. The wee beasties are disabled. You may speak freely now."

"Thanks, Scotty. Kirk out." Jim toggled his communicator again.

"Enterprise here."

"Lt. Uhura, any negative reactions to our crew visiting the planet?"

"None, Sir. From the chatter, crew and Nara citizens seem mutually happy."

"Excellent, Kirk out."

Doris Strong chuckled. "We don't get many visitors, so I'm not surprised everyone is happy to visit with your crew." She sighed softly and offered him a fresh cup of tea and a small plate for his cheese and crackers. "It's a relief to know those devices are disabled. Thank you, Jim."

"Sugar and lemon, please, Doris." Jim settled back in his chair. "We'll take these back to the ship and Scotty will pull them apart and see what he makes of them, the manufacturer, level of tech sophistication, and the origin of the electronics."

Spock had a faint furrow on his forehead. "It seems you were correct, cousin Doris. You are being spied upon, and most likely there are listening devices in your office as well. I can see how your office was vulnerable with so many beings coming in and out of it, but how did they enter your home to plant these devices?"

"I can only assume they hacked into my security shield module and disabled it to enter the house. And yes, Spock, I believe there are also listening devices in my office. I'm very careful what I say while I'm there and any conversations on my office comm. This mining corporation has very deep pockets, bribery is not something they would balk at doing."

"I'll have our tech department enhance your security shield tomorrow, Doris. They're top notch at what they do. Dr. Boyce briefed me, but I would like to hear from you. What do you see is our role here? How can we help you?" Jim asked, reaching for some of the cheese. His eyes opened wide in appreciation. "Delicious," he murmured. "Never tasted better."

Doris nodded. "Thank you, producing it has taken a lot of work from our artisan cheese makers, a lot of trial and error, but the results are well worth it. The process is now automated for consistency in order to export. To get back to your question, Jim, you have access to resources I don't have, and can never hope to have. You have contacts throughout Fleet, the Federation, and beyond. Your research capabilities on the ship are second to none and I can't begin to match your technology. It is my hope that with these contacts and resources you will be able to uncover the truth about the Antares Corporation. Finding out the truth, that their mining techniques will exploit and undermine the established and developing Naran ecology. I hope you can unearth the actual feasibility mining reports for Nara, not the white washed versions they've presented to the Federation Committee for study."

Spock looked at Jim who gave him a tiny nod.

"We will undertake the task, cousin Doris. The Captain, the doctor, and I will endeavor to investigate this Antares Corporation and discover the truth. However, we will need a plausible tale to explain our stay here on Nara."

"I've been thinking about that, Spock. My birthday is early next week. I'll put the word out that I invited you here for my 6Oth birthday celebration. Since my cousin Amanda could not attend due to Sarek's Vulcan Ambassadorial duties you have come to represent the family at the celebration."

"That's an excellent idea, Doris. Perfect excuse for us to stay here for a few days and also give the crew a few days of shore leave. Spock, I suggest you stay here at the house with Doris. It looks more natural that way. Bones and I will go back to the ship to sleep, but will be here during the day. We'll use the ship's computer to access Antares Corporation data and history. I'll also contact Gavin to see what SIS might have on the corporation. He's got contacts everywhere and access to more Intel than we do."

"Captain, I am not comfortable asking Commander Bradford to use SIS resources for a personal family issue."

Bones rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to offer a sharp retort, but Jim beat him to it.

"Spock when two Admirals, Boyce and Burnett, and the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth are concerned enough about the situation here on Nara to ask for our help, it ceases to be a personal matter."

"Yeah, Spock. And neither Admiral Boyce, Admiral Burnett, or Sarek are exactly what I'd call impulsive, "jump the gun," sort of people. So you just let Jim do what he does best, put his resources and contacts to good news."

"I do take your meaning, Doctor. It is logical to bring in Commander Bradford and his many resources. Very well, Captain, it shall be as you say."

"Thank you, Jim, this is more than I could ever hope for," Doris beamed at him. "Now then, I have some work I must attend to. Spock, I assume you have to go back to the ship to get your clothes and personal items? What do you think about the three of you meeting back here at 6:30 for drinks and a home cooked meal? It will also give me time to give Mayri instructions about the birthday party, arrange for catering, decide who to invite, send out the invitations, plan the decorations, and, of course order the birthday cake," she grinned at Leonard.

For the first time Jim saw a glimpse of the same mischievous gleam he'd seen in Amanda's eyes on board the ship, the family likeness between them now much more apparent.

"We never turn down the offer of a home cooked meal, Doris. We're happy to accept your invitation." Jim glanced at Spock and Bones who nodded their agreement.

"Good. I'm going to invite the reps from the Antares Corporation to the birthday celebration since they seem to think they're VIPs," she added thoughtfully. "It will afford you the opportunity to assess them up close and personal. I'll be very interested to see if you get the same impression of them that I did. Scripture informs us that we cannot look for grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles, and my impression is that these individuals are nothing more than thorns and thistles."

Leonard grinned. He knew the biblical reference well. His grandmother had been a staunch Southern Baptist, and he'd often sat at her feet reading the heavy McCoy family Bible to her as she rocked on her front porch. The scents of the climbing Jasmine on the front porch trellis, the lush red and pink roses in the flower bed, the white magnolia blooms from the giant tree in the front yard, and the tinkling sound of ice in her glass of sweet tea, all came back in a rush of sensory memory. Leonard's blue eyes glowed as he remembered those halcyon days of his childhood, when everything in his young life had been green and gold, when everyone he loved, loved him back, when his long summer days were filled with nothing but soft summer breezes, good food, sweet tea, and happy days of outdoor play.

Jim caught the soft reminiscent smile on Bones' face and smiled too. He loved to see Bones smiling, relaxed, and happy. His medical responsibilities on the ship were very heavy, almost as heavy as Jim's, the care of over 400 souls, watching over them constantly, keeping them healthy, mentally strong, and in top physical condition. It was a 24/7 job. Sometimes, when he saw the drawn tired face of his best friend, Jim wondered and worried, who watches over the watcher?

There was a comfortable silence as they enjoyed their tea and the delicious slivers of cheese on thin crispy crackers. Some important things had been decided and there was now a plan of action to be going on with.

Jim hated to interrupt this small interlude, but it was time they were getting back to the ship. "Spock, Bones, we'd best be getting back. Spock will need to pack a few things so he can stay here and we need to begin to research the Antares Mining Company. I also need to contact Gavin so he can begin his own investigation. Doris, Spock will come back here early to be with you in case there's any more trouble, and Bones and I will be back here for drinks and dinner at 6:30. Also, very early tomorrow morning, I think you and Spock should go to your office and have Scotty do a sweep for any listening devices. Spock will check your main comm too. If, as you say, you have your suspicions about your office, and your instincts were certainly right about your home, I have no doubt there will be listening devices planted in your office and in your main comm."

Spock nodded his agreement. "Is that agreeable, cousin Doris?"

"Most definitely. It would ease my mind a lot, Spock. Thank you, Jim, Leonard."

"We want to help," Jim responded, "and we will. We'll see you later this evening, Doris." He flipped open his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise."

"Enterprise here, Captain," came Uhura's lovely voice.

"Uhura, tell Scotty three to beam up."

"Yes, Sir."

With the usual bell like jingle, the three men were beamed up to the ship.

"Bones, I'll see you in the transporter room at 6:30," Jim said, stepping down from the transporter station. "I'm going to the briefing room to contact Gavin." He frowned. "It'll have to be an encrypted communication," he added, remembering Dr. Boyce's injunction for complete secrecy and discretion about their mission. "I'll ask Gavin to keep his investigation of the Antares Corporation on the qt."

"I agree that would be best, Captain. We cannot be too careful, especially after discovering those listening devices. Now, if you will excuse me, I, too, must go to my cabin to pack for my stay with cousin Doris. I also want to send a message to my mother advising her about cousin Doris' birthday party. She will be pleased I will be present for the celebration and representing the family. She can let Father know we are here on Nara."

"Good idea to keep your parents in the loop."

"Tell Gavin hi for me, Jim. I'm going to get a message off to Joanna telling her to have a great time with Peter and Winona and to send us some holos. I'll meet you at 6:30."

Jim entered the bridge and beckoned to Uhura. "A moment of your time, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Sir." Her relief appeared and she followed Jim in to the briefing room.

"Lieutenant, I know you have many friends and contacts all over the alpha quadrant."

"Yes, Sir. We all know each other if not in person, by voice. What do you need, Captain?"

"I'd like for you to see if there's any gossip out there about the Antares Mining Corporation." His hazel eyes lit up. "The more scurrilous the gossip, the better, Nyota. But be discreet about it, be very discreet."

Uhura's dark eyes twinkled. "Of course, Captain. You can count on me."