Chapter 22

Loxus smoothed down his grey uniform before stepping into Commodore North's office.

He had no idea why the Commodore had asked to see him. He had started to grow paranoid on the way up that perhaps his disposal of Technician Keller had been discovered. There were no surveillance devices in the drydock control room, but maybe someone had checked the console's activity log and seen him deliberately withdraw the docking umbilical.

If that was the case, could he bluff his way out of the subsequent enquiries?

"Ah, Lieutenant Sylor," said North, at his desk. He pointed his hand to the chair opposite him. "Please, have a seat."

There were no security guards present, a good sign.

"You asked to see me, Commodore?" he said as he seated his slender frame, remaining rigidly Vulcan.

"Yes," North said plainly. The two of them sat in silence for what seemed to Loxus like slightly too long.

North eventually continued. "As you know, Lieutenant Garrison will no longer be serving with us… So we need a new Chief Comm Officer."

Loxus raised his eyebrows, concealing his surprise at both the reason for the meeting as well as North's veiled offer.

"Are you… suggesting me, sir?"

"I am. I realise that your time in the exchange program will be up in a few months, at which point the Vulcan Defence Force will reassign you and we can find another suitable replacement, but I thought why not make the best use of your skills while you're here?

"Our people are competent, certainly, but no one has your level of field experience in communications management as well as linguistics."

Loxus considered this offer. It would give him increased control over base communications - in fact, communications for the whole sector - which would further aid his intel-gathering mission.

"I've spoken with Lieutenant Commander McQueen, and she's happy to release you from her department, if you accept," said North.

Another bonus, Loxus thought.

"What do you say, Lieutenant?"

Loxus tipped his head stoically. "That would be… acceptable."

T'Ling waited in the main reception area on Level 1, the cold air once again assaulting her old bones. This time its bite stung deeper after everything she'd been through.

Dr. Heidelburg emerged from the turbolift with his MACO escort. His ship back to Earth was in orbit - T'Ling knew this because she'd cleared Dehner and Garrison for transport - and the doctor was to be shuttled up as well.

His head was hung wearily, but he perked up somewhat when he saw her. She nodded to the MACO, indicating to give her and Heidelburg some time to talk.

He spoke first. "Frau Dokter, I must sincerely apologise. I have misled you, endangered your patients and you, and forced you to undertake a very personal experience with the melding. I am so sorry. I did not intend for these woes to befall you."

T'Ling nodded. She had needed some sort of closure to her experiences over the past few days, and, while Heidelburg's apology did not absolve him, she also sought to offer him some comfort.

"I do not agree with your methods, Doctor," she said, "but I do understand your intent. You were trying to advance your species' potential and knowledge. And your work was indeed… intriguing. Perhaps you will be allowed to continue your research in prison. In a more legitimate capacity, of course."

Heidelburg let out a small, humourless laugh. "Maybe they will let me share a cell with Arik Soong, ja? We can work together."

T'Ling raised an eyebrow. "I have indeed noticed that a great deal of Human scientists have been arrested. Galileo, Freud, Turing… Now though, they are only remembered for their contributions to their respective fields. In time, perhaps your work will also be given the recognition it deserves."

"I hope so," said Heidelburg with a far-off look in his eyes. "But not for my sake… For Jamal Duke's. He does not deserve to be remembered as a fool. He was a great man. I would be nothing without him."

"I'm sure that history will reflect his contributions, and yours. The names Duke and Heidelburg will come to be positively associated with Human psychology."

He smiled and nodded. "What about you? Will you keep up your mind-meld practice?"

T'Ling shifted on her feet. "If I find sufficient time."

"Don't close off that part of your heritage just because it is difficult, T'Ling. Just as a lot of Humans struggled against the law for scientific truth, a lot of Vulcans fought to bring that part of your shared past to light. It's part of who you are."

"I will… consider it," she said.

They each shared a knowing look before Heidelburg was taken away. T'Ling stayed in the reception for a few moments afterwards.

Back in her office, T'Ling still pondered Heidelburg's words regarding melding.

She had found it easier each time she had melded with the Humans, even in Garrison's troubled mind.

Her husband had died without ever knowing the truth about melding and, since the Reformation, she had often wondered what his thoughts would be on the subject now.

Even before, when the topic of melders had come up, he had never spoken negatively of them, saying only that 'logic is not a single path, but one with many branches.' He was always open-minded like that.

He would want her to embrace melding.

She started looking up information on the practice in the Vulcan database, when her door chime sounded.

"Enter."

It was Guardsman Threv, looking apprehensive as usual.

"Guardsman," she acknowledged. "Is there something I can help you with?"

The Andorian shifted nervously. "Um, I hope so. I was… I was interested in, uh…" He shook his head, his antennae twitching, as if it was actually painful to get the words out.

"Guardsman?"

"I think I might need therapy."

She was pleased to see that she was not the only one keeping an open mind.