Chapter 4
Jamie lay in bed fingering the quilt Gramma had packed for her to bring. It was an Amish quilt made up of square patches that were called, "Pathway to the Stars." The stars were yellow triangles on bright blue pieces. A long time ago, Jamie remembered going with Gramma to see the people called Amish and how strangely they lived – without computers or starships or even communicators.
"They don't like anything modern," Gramma said, "so they live the way their ancestors lived thousands of years ago."
While Jamie had enjoyed petting all the animals and talking to some of the little girls dressed strangely in long purple dresses and black aprons, wearing little white bonnets on their heads, she'd been glad to get back home. Gramma's farm wasn't as modern as the Enterprise, but Jamie knew she could never live without having a communicator. She wished someone would invent one that worked far, far out in space.
"I'd call Gramma and tell her to take me home."
But Jamie knew that communicators could only be used so far. Just like Galaxy Greetings or Sky mail. When the Enterprise was way, way, way out in the far corners of the galaxy, it was impossible to talk to anyone. Maybe if someone had invented a way to communicate with people in space, Jamie thought, she wouldn't feel so afraid of being with Daddy right now.
A couple of warm tears leaked out the corners of her eyes and dripped into her ears. Jamie sniffed and swiped the back of her hand across her nose. She tried to think happy thoughts – like being in the Holo Room with Dr. McCoy, but her mind kept thinking unhappy thoughts. It would be nice if Dr. McCoy was my daddy. He likes to talk to me and he gives plenty of hugs.
Remembering what Gramma had said that last night, Jamie let more tears dribble down her cheeks. Jamie hadn't wanted to come live on the Enterprise, even if they did allow children in space. But Gramma hugged her tight and said, "Just give your daddy a chance to love you, Jamie. He's got years and years of hugs and kisses all stored up to give you. It will all work out, I promise."
So far Jamie hadn't seen many of those hugs and kisses Daddy had stored up. Sure, when she first came aboard he'd grabbed her up and squeezed her in a big hug. He'd even kissed both her cheeks and smiled a lot. It was almost like the time he came to Earth and they had such a good time. But then right away Daddy said, "This is Nanny Banks . . ." and disappeared to his bridge or some other mysterious place on the ship. Jamie sometimes wondered what the Captain did on a starship - not that she would ask him. He was always rushing somewhere or barking an order at someone. Every time Jamie sat at the Captain's table or Daddy had her to dinner in his quarters, there was an interruption. Someone would buzz on the Com and he had to take it. Or something else would happen . . . it was always something.
I wish he could be a little bit more like Gramma.
Jamie thought about how every night Gramma came in to say goodnight. They'd talk for a few minutes about the day. This was usually the time when Jamie could confess she'd done something naughty - like broken a window or not done her homework. Gramma would always remind her what she needed to do to 'fix' her mistake. Or she might get a little stern and scold - but Jamie always figured she deserved it. Right before bed was a special time too when Jamie could ask questions that bothered her - except about Mama. Gramma never seemed to want to talk about her. "Someday your daddy can explain all that," Gramma said.
Sighing, Jamie rolled over on her side and stared at the room. Nothing was the same as home and there were strange sounds - like humming. Baxter said it was the sound the warp drive made. Staring into the dark, except for a night light shaped like a star, Jamie remembered that last goodnight talk with Gramma - the night she said Jamie had to go live on the Enterprise. It was not a good memory. I cried and cried and told her I didn't want to leave. Gramma had cried plenty too, but she promised everything would be all right with Daddy. Daddy, Gramma said, wanted her to come more than anything in the world.
"You just give him a chance," Gramma had reminded her before saying goodbye. "He loves you more than anything."
Not more than the Enterprise. Jamie whispered the words in the dark. If there was one thing Daddy loved, it was his ship. He doesn't really want me here. Jamie thought about the wish she would have made on the star in the Holo Room. I wish Daddy would come to kiss me goodnight and talk to me. Just sometimes.
Jamie rubbed harder and harder at the silky edge to the quilt. Her throat ached from holding back big, loud cries that would bring nosy Nanny Banks wanting to know what was wrong. Tomorrow, she decided, I will finish three more Orion puzzles so I can get my stuffed Tribble. It will be my friend to hold in the dark and I won't be so lonely.
Gramma said when me and Daddy were back together, we would keep each other from being lonely. I guess Gramma can be wrong like anybody else.
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Jim hid a yawn behind his hand and tried to stare unobtrusively at the ornate clock on the wall behind King Hescate's head. Late. Probably too late to get back to the ship and give Jamie a good night kiss. He sighed at failing again to end his day by making his daughter a priority. Ever since Jamie had come aboard, he'd had good intentions. He'd planned to be as attentive as possible to the little girl - to spend quality time with her each day. Too bad he'd failed miserably at making her feel welcome. The guilt had come to feel as weighted as an old style space suit he'd tried in a museum.
I wonder how Bones made out by getting her to open up.
"Isn't that correct, Captain Kirk?"
Startled out of his thoughts, Jim sat up straighter and focused on the King. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question." Or most of your rather boring, pompous soliloquy.
King Hescate did not look amused. His brows drew together in annoyance and he sighed a deep, why-me-groan. "Perhaps we are boring you, Captain Kirk?"
"Not at all."
"I asked how long before this Ambassador McCale will be in arriving." The king reached out to take a pear from a bowl of fruit passed by his rather faded, timid wife. Her royal robes dwarfed the pasty yellow woman and the sparkling tiara on her head appeared too heavy to be comfortable. "The Romulan representative has been most attentive lately. He's shown me their shipping vessels and given me a chart of their rates. .."As the king droned on, Jim sat Academy ramrod-cadet-straight and focused his attention. Although he despised the diplomacy sometimes required of being a starship Captain, he'd come to recognize the various ploys used when the Federation might be in a losing battle. Gaining the shipping rights to Mavaro would be a feat worthy of a medal - or a promotion. Not that Jim wanted a promotion, thank you very much. But he knew Ambassador McCale well enough to know the man believed in steadily climbing the ladder of success. If he arrived and Jim had let this golden opportunity slip away . . . If Mavaro shipping - of which there was enough to accumulate a wealth of profits - went to the Romulan's there'd be heads rolling. Jim didn't intend for one to be his, if there was any way to prevent it.
"Excuse me, King Hescate," Jim squared his shoulders and prepared to do a little psychological battle. "Doesn't it seem to you as if you should see what the Federation has to offer before you make a decision. Our shipping is well- known throughout the galaxy, reliable and cost effective . . ."
Hours later, head aching, he yawned and exited the Explorer with Spock, Scotty and several other officers behind him.
"Thank you all for attending a rather boring dinner. Let's just hope King Hescate was duly impressed and ripe for the picking when Ambassador McCale arrives."
Trust Spock to put things in perspective. "You have done everything you can, Captain. Starfleet cannot demand more."
Everyone crowded into the turbo lift.
"Officer's Deck." Jim yawned again. "Thanks, Spock. See you in the morning."
With various soft, "good night, Captain" following him, Jim stopped outside Jamie's quarters. Using hand recognition, surely even Nanny Banks was asleep this late, he let himself quietly into his daughter's room. As he'd expected, she was sound asleep, her fingers clenched tight around the quilt binding.
Leaning over, he kissed her gently on the cheek. To his dismay, he tasted the salt of tears.
"I'm sorry, Jamie. I don't suppose I'll ever win a Father of the Year award."
He stood watching her sleep for awhile and then quietly let himself out.
In his quarters, Bones had left a written note. A wise philosopher once said, all children need is to know they are loved. Jamie has questions, talk to her.
Just what I needed to hear - more weight to my hairshirt of guilt.
Although he was weary almost to the bone from the day, it took him a long time to fall into a fitful sleep.
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"Nanny Banks," Jamie stirred the yucky imitation oatmeal around her bowl and hoped she sounded like she might be coming down with something catching. She managed a weak, fake cough. "I don't think I feel too good."
"Oh?" Nanny felt Jamie's forehead and bent over to peer closer at her eyes. "Stick out your tongue."
Jamie did.
"You look fine to me, but we can stop by Sickbay on the way to your learning cycle."
"Um . . ." Jamie thought about that for a minute. While a visit to Sickbay might put her into the hands of one of the other two doctors onboard ship, it wasn't likely that Dr. McCoy would just ignore her. She might be able to fool Dr. Harris or Dr. Christine into thinking she didn't feel good, but Dr. McCoy wouldn't be fooled one bit. He'd know right away she was pretending to be sick so she didn't have to go to learning cycle. Then he'd probably want to know why.
The more she thought about it, the more Jamie realized that and Gramma were a lot alike. He would keep asking questions, trying to figure out why she didn't want to go. Jamie knew it wouldn't be long until he made her tell the whole story about Centauri wanting her to ask Daddy about going to Disney Mavaroon. And if I tell him . . . sooner or later Centauri would know I tattled. Jamie had enough experience with bullies to know they didn't like to be tattled on. No, going to Sickbay would not end good.
Jamie sighed. "I guess I feel okay."
Nanny Banks just shrugged and went on sending Varoom a long comchat text. Every morning she did the same thing while Jamie ate first meal. Breakfast. It's breakfast on Earth and that's what I'm gonna call it. Not any of these silly Starfleet names. For just a minute Jamie felt better until she remembered why she wanted to be sick. Now her stomach did feel all swirly and the oatmeal tossed like waves.
Centauri would be in learning cycle. Probably she would want to know what Daddy said about going to down planet. So Jamie would have to say that he hadn't said anything. Then Centauri would keep on until Jamie had to ask . . .and I don't want to.
But if I don't . . . Jamie had remembered as she got dressed this morning why one of the little girls cried when she saw Centauri. Having someone smear nasty Klingon garbutter in your hair until it had to be cut out could do that to a person. Jamie had wanted to tell Miz Balderdasian but she knew she couldn't. That would make Centauri act worse, like Liza.
Jamie sighed. Once on Earth, she'd gone to an international school where a lot of the children had fathers or mothers from Starfleet. Gramma had to be in San Francisco for a year and they'd lived in an apartment. At first Jamie liked the school, until another girl named Liza began to taunt her. It was all because Daddy was a starship Captain.
"Hey, there Kirk," Liza would say, sliding up behind Jamie in the hallways. "What's your daddy doing today? Killing anybody else's father?"
Liza's dad had been killed when a mission failed near the Antauri System. A mission where Daddy had been trying to beam everyone aboard. It hadn't been his fault some of the people - like Liza's dad - were not where they were supposed to be. Even Starfleet and most of the media reports said he wasn't to blame. But Gramma had told Jamie that some people who hated the space program were making trouble. In the end, Liza had gotten so bad, slapping Jamie for no reason or putting foul things in her lunch, that Gramma put her in a different school with a different last name. Jamie knew that Centauri could turn into another Liza real fast. Only this time, there wouldn't be anywhere to go to another school or change her name.
"Couldn't I just stay in bed today, Nanny Banks?" Jamie tried one last hope. "Maybe if I just rested?"
"If you feel that badly," she looked up from her message to Varoom, "I'd better call Sickbay. Dr. McCoy let you stay out too long last night. You should have been in sleep cycle earlier. Maybe I'd better tell the Captain. . ."
"No! Don't do that! Maybe I'll be okay if I just drink a little milk."
Thankfully, since they were near a planet and could have fresh supplies beamed or shuttled aboard ship, there was real milk. Not the kind from a cow like in Iowa, but purplish pink milk from the Mavaro Goatavo. It tasted pretty good. Jamie finished the glass under Nanny Bank's watchful eyes and even swallowed a nasty vitamin pill that gagged her as it went down.
"Are you sure you're all right? Ava will never forgive me if I let you spread something obnoxious through the rest of the children."
"I think I feel better now," Jamie smiled and tried to act fine.
In the end, Nanny Banks walked her to learning cycle and left her at the door. As usual, she stopped to talk to teacher for a few minutes. They were great friends and had joined Starfleet at the same time. Nanny Banks had told Jamie the story at least four times now.
Although Jamie hoped to stay out of Centauri's sight, she wasn't in learning cycle more than a minute when the older girl came up behind her. The girls' long, pink colored nails dug into Jamie's shoulders. "So, what did the Captain say about us going down planet? You asked him didn't you?"
"I . . .tried."
"So, what did he say."
"Um . ..well, I . . ."
Thankfully, before Jamie could finish teacher came into the room and separated everyone into groups. Jamie made plans to stay as far from Centauri as she could for the rest of the day.
Maybe I could find a way to ask Daddy about going down planet. Or maybe I could ask Dr. McCoy . . . he might listen and ask Daddy. Centauri might not be mean to me if I do what she wants.
By lunch, Jamie's head ached and her stomach hurt from trying to stay away from the older girl. As they lined up for middle meal, Centauri, with a mean gleam in her green eyes, started moving up in the line. Frantic, Jamie ran back into the classroom.
"Jamie Kirk! What are you doing out of line?"
"I forgot my sweater," She answered teacher.
"Hurry up!" Teacher had turned into who Baxter called the Ogre of the Enterprise. He told a really funny story about how every time teacher went outside the doors of the learning cycle she grew into a mean, purple eyed ogre with webbed feet. Usually Jamie laughed, but not today. "Why you children insist on trying to push the rules I will never understand. Once we learn the classroom we are to stay together until we arrive at the eating station. Centauri! Get back in line."
Ha ha.
Jamie figured Centauri had tried to either follow her or was switching places in line to get nearer. Probably so she can eat lunch with me and pester me more about going down planet.
"Hurry up, Jamie!" Teacher hissed as two crewmen in green shirts walked by. Turning away from the door, she hurried after the other students all moving in an orderly line down the corridor.
Centauri glanced over her shoulder and gave Jamie a mean, you-can't-get-away glare.
Jamie had no idea what the girl would do when she caught her. I could ask Daddy about going to the fun park and he might say yes. Then Centauri would be happy for awhile . . . but then what if she wants something else and Daddy says no? Or what if I ask him about the fun park and he says no? Jamie knew enough about bullies like Centauri to know they could make your life pretty darn miserable. Jamie figured just living on the darned old Enterprise was misery enough.
Hardly knowing what she was doing, Jamie turned and ran in the opposite direction from the other students. She would find somewhere to hide during middle meal, then go back to the classroom. If teacher put her in the solitary cubicle, that would be good. I wouldn't have to talk to Centauri.
It felt strange to walk along the corridors alone. Jamie had never been through the Enterprise without a grown up along. It felt kind of . . . nice being all alone. Better even than the Holo Room because it was real. But then Jamie got worried. Everyone on the ship knew the children's deck wasn't finished and they probably knew children shouldn't be wandering around alone. Jamie felt like a thousand eyes were staring at her, maybe even Daddy looking through one of the hidden recording devices that monitored different parts of the ship. Baxter had pointed one out to her once, cleverly disguised as a Starfleet emblem on the ceiling.
Biting her lip, Jamie had no idea where to go and hide. She could go to her quarters and pretend to be sick. But if Nanny Banks were there, she might insist on going to Sickbay. Although Jamie had a suspicion she could lie to a lot of the people on the ship and get away with it, she knew she probably couldn't fool Dr. McCoy.
If Nanny Banks wasn't in their quarters, it might be okay. But, Jamie didn't have any idea what the nanny did when she was alone. It was too risky. Where can I go? Jamie rounded a corner and ran into a bunch of crewmen - jostling and joking as they waited for the turbo lift. Probably getting ready to report for duty. Jamie stepped back around the corridor, trying to hide.
"I saw her come this way," Javik's voice said. "Where you think she went?"
Centauri's whiney voice answered. "I don't know but we'd better find her fast! For all we know she's going to tattle about me putting that teensy little Orion scorpion in her desk. It was just a joke."
Jamie shuddered, glad she hadn't opened her desk and found that ugly creature.
"They aren't poisonous," Javik answered, "just sting a little. But you should know better than to tease the Captain's kid. You beggin' to get tossed off the ship?"
"Oh, puleeeeeeeeeeese like I care." Centauri drew out the word. "Anyway, my mother's job is crucial to the tests the scientists are running when we get to Denali Base. They know the only way to keep her happy is to keep me with her. She was working a civilian job until this stupid Children in Space program opened up and she signed on the Excalibur. Where is that little brat?" Centauri muttered some Klingon curse words and ended, " . . . that Captain Kirk."
Jamie slid into a slight nook in the wall. A communicating device on the wall poked her in the back and she realized it was a challenged impairment booth. The Com was low enough to be pressed by anyone with physical disabilities. She thought about hitting the red button for emergencies but thought better of it. Daddy would not like her messing with his ship.
"We better find her soon," Javik said, "Miz B. said to hurry so no one finds out or we won't get a surprise tomorrow."
"Whopdedoo! Probably we get replicated ice cream or a Venuvian nature film. Let's try this way."
Peeking around the nook, Jamie wasn't quick enough to hide when Centauri saw her.
"There she is!"
The teens started walking down the corridor fast, practically running. Jamie turned and rounded the corner by the turbo lift and into another group of crewmen reporting for duty.
One of the men was a Leo dwarf, hardly bigger than her. Jamie stepped closer, like she was part of the group. The turbo lift swooshed open. Jamie hurried into the lift, hiding among the long legs of the normal sized crewmen and women. Peeking through their legs, she saw Centauri and Javik hurrying down the corridor waving their arms.
"Hold the turbo!" Centauri shouted.
Someone laughed and another voice overhead muttered. "Can't squeeze another sardine in this can."
The door whooshed shut as Centauri warned, "Jamie, you come back here!"
Half frightened out of her wits, Jamie followed the crew as the exited the Turbo lift laughing and talking in a jolly mood. Suddenly, she noticed where they were and realized the crew weren't reporting for duty. The lift had left them on the shuttle deck loading dock. They must be going on shore leave.
Jamie's heart pounded and her breath came in little spurts of panic. Trying to keep hidden, just until she could find a way to avoid Centauri and Javik, Jamie followed behind the dwarfen man. No one seemed to notice her. They were too excited to be getting off ship for awhile. Jamie followed them into the Explorer, Varoom's shuttle. Yes, there he was at the control's doing a last minute check of something with a data pad. Maybe I could tell him - something - and he'd call Nanny Banks to come get me.
Thinking about that idea, Jamie knew it wouldn't work. Nanny might come all right, but she'd be madder than a wet hen and rooster glued together. Then she'd have to 'report' to Daddy and . . . no, Jamie did not want that.
"Fasten your belts," Varoom called out, "Lift off in three minutes."
What can I do?
Jamie turned and started back off the shuttle. Just before she stepped out onto the loading dock, she saw the two olders coming out of the Turbo Lift. She ducked back into the shuttle before they could see her, saw the cabinets that held science equipment and squeezed inside. It was a tight fit, but Jamie pulled the doors carefully closed. Click! Oops! Did the door just do what I think it did? Jamie tried to push it open, but it was tight. I'm locked in. Slime devils!
She was ready to scream when she heard Varoom's shout. "Hey, what are you kids doing down here! No kids on the shuttledeck."
Centauri's voice answered sticky sweet, "We're looking for Jamie Kirk, have you seen her? We followed her down here. We have our teacher's permission."
"She's not here either. No kids allowed. You two scram."
The two olders grumbled but left. Jamie wanted to bang on the door and ask Varoom to let her out, but what if they were waiting? What will they do to me? The shuttle deck could be a lonely, echoing place. Daddy had given her a tour one night and seemed surprised when she told him it was scary. I sure wouldn't want to face Centauri there. Jamie bit her lip and tried to decide what to do. If someone didn't let her out soon, she'd be going on shore leave - without permission. Before she could decide, Jamie heard the steady hum of the shuttlecraft and then felt it lift off the landing deck.
Uh, oh . . . I am in big trouble now.
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A few tears slid down Jamie's cheeks as she sat in the cramped, dark equipment cabinet. It seemed to take forever for the shuttle to get to the planet, land and then for all the crew to leave. Jamie thought about waiting until everyone but Varoom had left and then banging on the door. There was nothing else to do. Daddy would be furious probably . . Jamie had seen his temper in action more than a couple of times . . . but it couldn't be helped.
But then to her surprise, she heard Varoom talking to a lady, making plans to join her for something called a cocktail. He sure sounded awful happy and the lady kept giggling. Jamie had been wondering why anyone would want to do something with a bird's tail. She was sure a cock was a kind of bird and it must have a tail. What did you do with a bird's tail? Her mind had been thinking so hard that it took a few minutes to realize there were no sounds coming from the shuttle at all. Everyone had left. Now no one would hear if she banged on the door all day. I'm scared!
In a panic, Jamie rammed her fists against the cabinet door as hard as she could and screamed. "Let me out!" Startled, she tumbled headfirst out of the cabinet as the door popped open. Bumping her head against a shuttle seat, her face turned as red as Baxter's hair. Thinking about Baxter reminded her of something he'd told her when they rode the shuttle to the ship. When a shuttle took off, everything locked into place - the cabinet doors, the seats and seat belts, even the head. After it landed and shut down, everything could be opened again.
Guess I should learn a little more about Daddy's old ship.
Now that she wasn't locked in and afraid, Jamie made a quick trip to the head, got a drink of water and thought about what to do. There was a communicator lying on a seat and she picked it up. Probably the sensible thing to do would be to call the Enterprise and ask to be beamed aboard. That's probably what she should do. And I would be in soooooooooo much trouble.
Jamie looked out the viewscreen of the shuttle before she decided. The Explorer was parked in a huge, flat parking area filled with hundreds of other shuttles, small ships, flitters, even a couple of what Jamie thought were called auto's. There had been a big historical club near the farm where people restored the machines and drove them for fun. So this must be where people who came to visit the planet left their vehicles. Jamie knew that if this was a parking area, then sooner or later a shuttle of some kind would come along to take people where they wanted to go. It had been like that on Earth, so surely it would be like that here. Sure enough, as she watched, a big purple space bus sailed along to stops with little signs. The bus would stop at the sign and people would get on. As the bus passed in front of the shuttles' viewscreen, Jamie ducked a little not to be seen and read the advertisement on the side. There was a picture of a giant roller coaster, a screaming Andorian child and a humanoid boy shouting into a bubble the words, "Disney Mavaroon - The Greatest Adventure in the Galaxy!" The fun park!
It didn't take Jamie a second to decide. She would already be in trouble for leaving the ship and coming to the planet on a shuttle. Probably she would be in trouble for not walking in a straight line and obeying Miz Balderdasian. There were probably a hundred rules she'd broken already and since she was in soooooooooooooo much trouble anyway, maybe it wouldn't matter if she got into more trouble. Maybe it wouldn't matter if she just went to look at the fun park before she used the communicator. Gramma had never taken her to a fun park. She'd said they were a total waste of time and sensibilities. Secretly, Jamie thought it was because Gramma was scared of Klingon's and most fun parks let them in now.
Thanks to Baxter, Jamie knew how to disarm the shuttle's alarm so she could get outside. When she got back to the ship, if Daddy didn't decide to kill her, she would have to let Baxter show her more interesting things about the Enterprise. Jamie walked to the nearest pink and blue sign that said "Space Bus Stop." There was a button to press to let someone know she was at Stop 2788 Donald Duck. Jamie only waited a few minutes before the giant purple bus slid to a stop, a moving walkway unfolded from the door and rolled her onboard. There were a few other people on the bus - a human family, two Rigelians and an Andorian nursemaid with several small children. Jamie thought the children might be half Vulcan but she didn't want to be rude and stare. They had cute little pointy ears like Mr. Spock.
A mechanical voice came over a speaker as the bus pulled up in front of two sparkling gateways. "You have arrived at Disney Mavaroon - The Greatest Adventure in the Galaxy. Please wait for the stairs to unroll completely before disembarking. Thank you and have a great day." The voice repeated the spiel in several other languages Jamie didn't understand before the door slid open and the stairs unrolled. Jamie was one of the first off.
The other people on the bus hurried through the sparkling gates so Jamie followed them. The gates led to a pathway between flowers and trees, some bushes shaped like creatures Jamie knew like seahorses and elephants and others she could only imagine. Cheerful, happy music played and made Jamie almost want to skip along. In the distance, she could hear shouts, laughter, screams - but not scared screams -more like people having fun screams. Maybe they were riding the whirling ride Javik said was wicked fun. Jamie couldn't wait to go inside and see! Maybe just one ride or two and she would use the communicator . . . The most luscious smells came sailing through the air too - cinnamon and strawberry, Orion cherry fizz and chocolate sprinkled Martian muffins. Jamie remembered she'd missed the middle meal and her stomach rumbled. Although she didn't like trying a lot of off world food, Martian muffins were too yummy to ignore.
The path finally ended at two other gates with people behind glass. Everyone got in line and moved through, talking to the people behind glass. Jamie could tell they were real people behind the glass and not androids or clones. Well, they could be clones - you couldn't always tell. Jamie thought maybe they were telling everyone to have a great day, just like the voice in the purple bus.
Jamie waited for the Andorian nursemaid to move through with the Vulcan children and stepped up to the speaking hole in the glass.
"Planet, please?" The humanoid with pale blue skin asked Jamie.
"Earth?"
"Thank you. More along to Gate 25. Next."
Well that was easy. Probably they just wanted to know how many people came from each planet. Jamie followed the Andorian to Gate 25. This time a guard - who looked fierce and Romulan - took something out of the nursemaid's hand, studied it and handed it back. Jamie got a look at a purple card shaped disk. As the Andorian and the Vulcan children went through a turnstile, the guard held out his hand to Jamie.
"Hello?" She said uncertainly.
"Credits or your membership card."
Jamie didn't understand right away. "I . . . don't have any credits. Well, I mean . . . I have five my daddy sent for my birthday one year but they got left in Iowa in my piggy bank. Gramma said he would probably give me more if I needed to buy anything."
The Romulan looked like he didn't understand. He repeated, "Credits or your membership card."
"I . . . I don't have any."
"Escort!" He hollered.
Before Jamie knew quite what was happening, a robotic guard grabbed her from behind, held her high enough off the ground her feet dangled and swung in the air as he whizzed back down a hidden path near the sparkling path she'd walked on before. This path was hidden behind a tall wooden fence. Jamie could hear the laughing, happy people on one side still walking toward the glass booths.
The robot took her back to the end of a path, dropped her outside a metal gate and slammed the gate shut. In four different languages, the robot shook a metal fist and said, "Entrance to Disney Mavaroon costs 30,000 credits per day. A membership card for repeat visits can be purchased at the cost of 50,000 credits per year. Lifetime membership cards are also available. A discount is made for Mavaro military, royalty and the Rigiliean Polo Team. Trying to gain entrance to the fun park by stealth or theft is a crime punishable by up to two terms of imprisonment in Mavaro's judicial system. One lapse is allowed before this crime of defrauding the good people of Disney Mavaroon is punished. Your one lapse has been noted and recorded." A recording device came out of the robotic head and scanned Jamie's face, body and the tongue sticking out of her mouth. "Leave!"
Jamie didn't know what to think except that you probably had to pay to get in the fun park. Walking away from the robot guard, her face flushed brighter red than the sun. It had been a long time since she paid credits for anything. Gramma always signed for things on a data pad bank. On the Enterprise there was a little store, but Jamie had been told just to tell the clerk to charge it to Captain Kirk. I just forgot about using credits.
She wasn't sure she understood the rest of what the robot said. Theft she knew was stealing but stealth . . . was that like those sneaky bombing ships Baxter told her about? And what the heck was a lapse? It sounded like a bug. Jamie scratched her head and rubbed up and down her arms to make sure nothing nasty and eight legged had attached itself to her. It was a relief to feel just skin and scalp.
Guess it's time to call the Enterprise. Jamie shuddered a little, not sure what to expect. She walked around the path where she'd been dumped and found that she was again near the sparkling gates and the white, shiny walkway leading into the fun park. Jamie started walking around the trees and bushes shaped like animals. At least it was nice and quiet off the path in the woods. Kind of like home. A lump formed in her throat and she blinked back tears. Jamie sat down on a little knotty piece of wood shaped like a bench. Birds called to one another and the bright, dancy music called people to enjoy life. Wish I could.
What would Daddy do? That was the question. Jamie didn't really know how he'd punish her. Now with Gramma, Jamie pretty much knew what to expect if she did certain things. Yesterday, just because she tried to talk to him, he'd taken away her recreation time. Probably this was a lot, lot worse than that. Jamie sat for a long time trying to work up the courage to use the communicator. After awhile, her bottom got sore sitting still and her legs ached to move. Standing up she walked a little way into the woods and made a discovery.
Part of the high fencing that went around the fun park had been snipped open. There was a little rut dug under the fence like some animal had snuck underneath. Jamie picked up a stick and tapped the fence - no energy field running through it or sparks would fly out.
On the other side of the fence, Jamie could see a little house like a fairy tale cottage. She watched a little while and noticed that if she leaned to the right, she could see people past the little cottage getting into a swan shaped boat. The boat would then sail into the cottage. It must be a ride of some kind and it looked like fun. By leaning to the left, Jamie could see the boats sailing out of the cottage and the people all had big smiles on their faces.
I wish . . .
Jamie wasn't really thinking about it being wrong to climb under the fence. Then. Crouching down, she managed to wiggle into the rut left by the little animal and pull herself under and through the fence. Quick as a wink, she was in the fun park. The communicator lay on the ground right outside the fence but Jamie was in too much of a hurry to pick it up. I'll come back for it later.
Smiling to herself, Jamie brushed the dust from the front of her black pants and cheerful pink shirt and started around to the front of the fairy tale cottage.
"Halt!"
Two big hairy hands stopped her in her tracks. Jamie looked up, up, up into the tallest man she had ever seen. He wore a warriorlike helmet, dark glasses and a uniform like an Earth policeman. The voice that came out of his mouth sounded like the words were being translated into English. "You have violated the laws of Mavaro by entering Disney Mavaroon by stealth. This is your second lapse. Come!"
Jamie had no choice when he clasped a bracelet around her wrists that locked her hands together.
"Come, prisoner."
I think I'm in bigger trouble now. Big, big trouble.