Star Trek Hunter
Episode 28: The Covenant
Scene 5: New Assignments
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28.5
New Assignments
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Kenny Dolphin awoke in a tent on the beach. T'Lon was more or less twined around him.

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"I am not returning to the U.S.S. Hunter," she said. It took a moment for them to reconfigure themselves for conversation.

"Where will you go?" Kenny asked.

"My commission expires at the end of this month and I have sufficient vacation accrued to take terminal leave."

"I am not returning the Hunter either," said Kenny. "I'm being reassigned from the Office of Judge Advocate General. They're returning me to Space Command. They're giving me an Andromeda class ship."

"Not the U.S.S. Milky Way? That would be awkward, serving under Rear Admiral Red…" T'Lon pushed Kenny over, climbed on top of him.

"It would be now," he replied. "She's committed to the polyamorous lifestyle. I'm a bit too much of a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal to manage that – at least not at close quarters. So what do you plan to do in your post-Star Fleet life?" He idly traced the scar on her right cheek, what remained of the top of her right earlobe. She closed her eyes, savoring the light caress.

"You asked me some time ago why I never got my battle scars repaired," T'Lon said. "It's because they fascinate you. And I like that." She took a deep breath, opened her eyes. Deep wells of soft brown. "It seems T'Lok's katra is finally at peace within you. And within me… So are you ready to go from a crew of 35 to commanding a starship with more than 6,000 people onboard?"

"Admiral Chekov seems to think so," said Kenny. He caressed T'Lon's back, admiring her perfect musculature. He had never seen anyone with such perfectly defined muscles – lean and limber – but smooth, protected by a healthy layer of subcutaneous fat – the body of a surfer.

"Would you happen to have an opening for a civilian contractor to provide physical fitness training and evaluation for those 6,000 people? I do have a Ph.D. in physical education…"

"I happen to know, for a fact, that I do," Kenny responded. "Brand new ship. Brand new crew. And a plum assignment – actual exploration – a five year mission to map uncharted areas in the Alpha Quadrant, specifically brown and red dwarf systems. To seek out new life and new civilizations…"

"Which ship?" T'Lon asked.

"The only Andromeda class ship that will not be named after a galaxy," said Kenny. "N.C.C. 1701… G."

T'Lon's eyebrows raised in surprise. "The U.S.S. Enterprise? Now there's a legacy to be saddled with…"

"Archer, April, Pike, Kirk, Zarlo, Decker, Spock, Harriman, Bairnson*, George, Sulu, Johnson, Garrett, Castillo, Halloway, Picard, Riker, Jellico, Bateson, LaForge, T'May…" Kenny recited.

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"Dolphin," T'Lon concluded. "So, Captain Kenneth Dolphin of the U.S.S. Enterprise…" She pushed his shoulders back into the blanket and straddled him, capturing him. Her long auburn hair spilled about his face, framing her face above his.

Kenny Dolphin caught his breath - then: "I don't understand you… You were the one arranging all those dates for me with Red… Even last week…"

T'Lon squeezed gently, causing Kenny to make an indistinct noise… "You fell in love with T'Lok the moment you first saw her."

There was no point in trying to lie to a powerful telepath. "She was the most beautiful thing I ever saw," Kenny said. "Until you smiled…"

"I never really smiled while T'Lok was alive," said T'Lon. "After she died… you and I both inherited her katra - her living spirit… I incorporated the parts I loved about her into my own personality. T'Lok understood pleasure… Especially the intense pleasure of delayed gratification… Red reminded you of me."

"There's a… She does look a little like you," said Kenny, "But the resemblance ends there…"

"She whetted your desire for me. But she could never satisfy it…"

"So all that - you pushing me into her arms… That was about delayed gratification?"

T'Lon moved her head slightly, caressing Kenny's face with her hair. "In part… The time wasn't right for us. First there was all the confusion with T'Lok's katra - how having what was left of her in your head made you uncomfortable being with me. Then there was your ambition… We really couldn't be together while I was under your command."

"So you parked me with Red?" Dolphin shook his head slightly, made an amused noise. "And now you're retrieving me from her?"

T'Lon touched Kenny's nose with hers. Kissed his lips gently. "It would be illogical to think I could take you back from Admiral Red. You never belonged to her any more than you belong to me. You have only ever belonged to yourself. Admiral Red has several lovers - male, female, other genders you are less familiar with. But you are her favorite and it is very important for you to maintain your relationship with her."

Kenny closed his eyes, laid his head back, laughed slightly. "All right, now you have me completely confused. How could that possibly be so important?" He opened his eyes, looked up at her. "And how do you know I'm her favorite?"

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"Because she's carrying your child…"

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Kenny's eyes suddenly opened wide. T'Lon relaxed on top of him. She nestled her face next to his - her cheek soft against his - her hair a silky veil across his face - just as it had been their first time together all those years ago… Her lips next to his ear… Her slightest whisper caused him to make that noise again…

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"And so am I…"

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*The list of Captains of the U.S.S. Enterprise comes from Memory Beta. I added Captain Jack Bairnson to promote fan fiction The Enterprise-B Chronicles by D. Dietz.

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