Jamie woke up with a smile on her face so big it made her cheeks hurt. Stretching under her quilt, she turned over to wake Daddy. It was going to be so much fun - just like yesterday when he made breakfast for her. Today Jamie hoped he would know how to cook pancakes - which were her very favorite things to eat. Maybe he would let her come to the bridge again. This might be the best day ever on the Enterprise.
To her surprise, the big bed was empty except for her. Daddy's pillow was cold like maybe he'd been awake for a long time. Jamie's smile turned down a little. Where was he? Then she heard a noise coming from the head and figured he was probably taking his shower. The door began to swoosh open and Jamie quickly hid under her quilt. When she heard footsteps coming toward the bed, she jumped out and yelled, "Boo!"
Yeoman Barrows gave a little screech and jumped back. "What are you doing?"
The giggles died on Jamie's lips and her smile turned upside down. What is she doing here? I was hiding from Daddy and then I wanted to scare him. Suddenly, Jamie's face froze in her I-don't-care one and she knew that this morning would not be like yesterday.
"What were you doing, Jamie?"
"Nothing."
"Well, since you're awake, get up and get dressed. My instructions were to drop you off at Sickbay. Nanny Banks is being released this morning and you're to show her back to your quarters. After lunch, she will take you on to the Learning Center."
There were several things wrong with those instructions that Jamie could see. She didn't want to go in her quarters without Daddy and she didn't want to go back to school.
But there wasn't much she could do with old Yeoman Barrows staring at her.
"Where's my daddy?"
"The Captain has been up for hours and on the bridge." The Yeoman sighed as if she wished she were on the bridge too. "I'll be glad when your nanny takes over. Hurry and get dressed. Then I'll replicate some food for you."
So there went the pancakes. Jamie had eaten pancakes from the food selector - once. Nobody would eat those cardboard disks a second time.
She felt like crying. Sitting down right on the floor and just crying and crying until Yeoman Barrows got worried and called Daddy. But most likely, he wouldn't come anyway. Maybe he was already on the bridge getting hollered at by the Ambassador and losing his ship because of her. The thought twisted Jamie's stomach into a gigantic knot and she knew she wouldn't be able to eat - not even real pancakes. She knew she shouldn't be disappointed because the day had started out so awful. Daddy's a starship captain. This is how it always is. Probably I shouldn't have hoped it could be like it was on Earth when Daddy played Fizzbin and went camping. Jamie knew this was how life was supposed to be on the ship, but she wished she didn't have to believe it.
#######
Nanny Banks remembered the way back to their quarters fine. In fact, she remembered quite a lot - including the fact that Jamie was supposed to go to learning center after lunch.
Slime devils!
"I wish I could remember what happened that night," Nanny Banks said as they opened the door and stepped inside.
Taking a deep breath, Jamie stepped close behind her. Everything looked the same as always and there were no elephant men hiding in the closet or under her bed. Even though Dr. McCoy had taken the time to explain to her that she didn't need to be afraid, Jamie couldn't stop the funny way her legs trembled or her tummy turned upside down.
Right before she left Sickbay with Nanny Banks, Jamie had told Dr. McCoy she wished she didn't have to go back to her room. He didn't get mad or pretend tell her everything would be okay, to go along and be a good girl. Instead, he hunched down so he could look her right in the eyes and explained how the Security team had looked in her room and how they would be right around all the time until the bad person got caught. If she just made a little peep, someone from Security would be there right away. It helped for awhile, until Jamie wondered why no one had come this morning when she yelled boo to Yeoman Barrows. But, by then she was already on her way with Nanny Banks and there was no way to ask that question. But surely, Dr. McCoy wouldn't let her go back if someone might take her again. Would he?
Nanny Banks let Jamie build another puzzle while she walked around the quarters trying to remember things.
Only a few more puzzles to go until I get my stuffed Tribble. It wouldn't be real or warm - not like being able to sleep with Daddy, but it would be a friend. Jamie blinked back tears and told herself a stuffed animal would have to do. For some reason she sure missed Gramma a lot more today.
It didn't seem like any time at all until Nanny said it was time for middle meal . . .only she said lunch just like Jamie wished she would.
"Aren't you hungry?" Nanny Banks asked as Jamie pushed the meatloaf around on her plate. It was a very nice meatloaf, just like Gramma used to make, but Jamie's throat had swollen shut and she could only nibble. "Did you eat too much breakfast?"
"No." Because Nanny was watching, Jamie tried to nibble a little more until her throat closed up and she couldn't swallow another bite. She dreaded going back to the learning center, to facing Centauri. Even though the older girl had gotten to go to Disney Mavaro, Jamie knew that Centauri would have something else to pick at her about. It's how bullies were - just like Avi on Earth.
Trying not to cry, Jamie bit the corner of her quivering lip and blinked hard. She wished she had a daddy like other little girls - one she could run to and tell her troubles. But her daddy was way off on the bridge and maybe he didn't care that Centauri made the little children cry. Maybe all he really did care about was the Enterprise, no matter what Dr. McCoy said.
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Varoom was feeling pretty good. Even though he'd been relieved of his duties until they left Mavaro, he had no problems. He'd managed to get those sharks on Mavaro paid off - thanks to the Captain's credits - and he still had plenty more in store. So many, in fact, that he wished he could go try his hand at more of the gaming tables before they left the planet. But, he knew that was out of the question. Better not risk getting caught . . . So far Security believed he'd had sweet Caro transfer her credits to his account so they could get married. Ha, like that would ever happen!
He leaned back on his bunk, grinning at the tiles on the ceiling. Life was good. He'd paid his debts without being sent to the Mavaro Prison, he had enough for plenty of rainy days, he'd snatched the Captain's kid and returned her without anyone the wiser. It just proved what you could accomplish when you had so called hidden talents.
"Thanks old man," he chuckled at the empty air, glad his father had insisted he attend the Science Center to study computer technology before he'd sign his entry into Starfleet. "Even a flyer needs another skill," the old man had carped. Thankfully, Varoom was a whiz at computers - oh, not the normal garbage they taught - but the different ways to erase or cover information. He'd made a tidy nest egg as a student by changing grades and helping those not as intelligent pass with honors. It was a skill that came in handy many times.
Now it was helping him. No one on board the Enterprise could tie him to the brat's kidnapping. He'd erased his DNA print from every part of it. Even old Caro's brain with the memory blocker.
The com button shrilled and startled him. What the devil? He began to sweat, beads of fear popping out along his forehead. "Varoom, here."
"Varoom, you're requested to be ready to shuttle Ambassador McCale from Mavaro to the Enterprise in 0400 hours." Lt. Uhura's voice commanded.
"I'm confined to quarters," he reminded her, his heart slowing back to normal, his breath still a trace panicked. What am I worrying about? No one will ever know the Captain's kid was hidden in the shuttle while they searched. "Captain's orders until we leave orbit around Mavaro. Get O'Flynn or Quez."
"The Captain has waived that order for the time being. Ambassador McCale has asked for you instead of Lt. O'Flynn. Please proceed to the shuttle deck at once."
Go figure. Officers and Ambassador's were all a bunch of hot air if you asked him. Varoom was getting slightly bored looking at four walls anyway. He was happiest out among the stars. "On my way."
########
"Jamie, I' m so glad to see you back," Teacher welcomed her back to Learning Center. Jamie tried to smile but it wobbled into a small frown. She'd just noticed Centauri giving her a mean, mean look from inside the classroom. "Go on in and take your seat. I want to speak to your nanny for a minute."
Jamie started into the room but then stopped near the resource wall where there were old fashioned books and maps. She pretended to look at the globe, staring hard at Iowa. I wished I was home right now. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Centauri whispering something to Peter and Tina. Tina's orangish eyes widened as she stared hard at Jamie, but Peter shrugged and went back to his book. Wonder what she said about me?
Rightoutside the classroom door, Jamie could hear nanny and teacher talking. She didn't mean to listen but then she heard her name. They were talking about her too? Was everybody on the ship talking about it?
"For Jamie's sake," Nanny was saying, "I wish I could remember what happened. The Captain hasn't been angry with me, but I know he wants to find the person who did this."
"I know," teacher agreed, "he's actually put off my disciplinary hearing until things are more settled. He apologized for being so pompous and said that he knew I'd been doing my best under the circumstances."
"That's good news."
Teacher signed.
Peeking around the edge of the door Jamie saw the teacher give a tired smile and rub her forehead like her head hurt. "Maybe. Although if the rumors I heard today are true, the Children in Space program may fizzle out anyway."
"What rumors?"
"Oh didn't you hear about the Captain being in trouble with the Ambassador?" Nanny didn't remember so teacher told her about the free shipping rights. Again Jamie had a funny feeling in her stomach. "Then today, Lt. Uhura heard that the Ambassador has gotten three other higher ups in Starfleet who didn't like the Children in Space Program either to say the captain should be held responsible for this. They are saying he should lose command of the ship."
"No"
"Oh, yes."
"That's awful The captain only did it to get his daughter back. Who can argue with that?"
Teacher signed again - "You know some of those old fogies in Starfleet - they're idiots and would do anything to stop the program. they are so old school but you shouldn't worry, you'd have a position anyway as Jamie's nanny. He can't send her back until her grandmother comes to earth."
"Well," Nanny's voice got low as if she didn't want anyone to hear. "Dr. Chapel was saying that the Captain is thinking of sending Jamie to live with her other grandparents."
No - not them! I'll run away first. Jamie thought of Grandma and Grandpa Miller. Grandma could barely look at Jamie without crying and saying, "She looks so much like my beautiful Diana. I can hardly stand it." It sure didn't make Jamie feel too welcome at their house. Then Grandpa never missed a chance to say something bad about Daddy. Not that Jamie didn't agree with some of the things he said - like how Daddy was always gone and he should be around Jamie more. But after awhile, Grandpa's sour words and his stern face made Jamie wish she could go home. Living with them would be awful . . . worse even than staying on the Enterprise.
"Is he really? I was under the impression they resent the captain because their daughter. . ."
Just then Centauri came up, grabbed Jamie roughly by the arm and with a smile in teacher's direction, dragged Jamie toward the back of the class. "All right you! I just want to warn you that you better not say anything about me an' Javik letting you get on that shuttle."
"You leave me alone."
"Or what? You'll tattle.
"No, I . . ." Jamie remembered Avi on Earth and tried the idea on Centauri, "I'm part Vulcan. If you don't stop bothering me, I'll give you a Vulcan pinch. When you fall down, I'll draw all over your face with markers. The permanent ones. I'll make you look like a clown."
Javik chuckled but not in a mean way. "I would like to see this."
Centauri frowned and punched him on the arm. "You aren't half Vulcan - your parents were both human. The Captain's from Iowa and even though your mother was born on Regelius, she had human parents. Anybody can read that in the records."
"No she didn't. I'm half-Vulcan." Jamie repeated although she knew the olders didn't believe her.
"This is not true," Javik said taking Centauri's side. "You should be proud of your human heritage. The Captain is almost a legend in Starfleet. And your mother was a great historian until her tragic . . ."
"Ha!" Centauri gave a snort and stared at Jamie like she was a germ in one of Dr. McCoy's microscopes. "Proud? What's she got to be proud about? I don't know how anyone can be proud of having a father like him. If my father had let my mother be captured and taken away . . . I'd never speak to him again."
"Captured?" Jamie didn't know what Centauri meant. No one had ever told her much about her mother.
Centauri's eyes widened and her lips twisted in a wicked smile. "You don't know, do you? I guess the wonderful Captain Kirk didn't want you to know. He's trying to hide the truth about your mother. Well, let me tell you. . ."
"All right everyone," Teacher interrupted whatever Centauri planned to say. "Let's all take our seats. Jamie, you come sit near me and we'll go over some of the lessons you missed."
So Jamie couldn't even find out what Centauri meant.
########
At their afternoon recess, Jamie heard more troublesome information from Baxter. "That Ambassador who's trying to cause trouble for us is coming back today," Baxter said with a somber face. "Uncle Scotty says he just better not kill the Children in Space program or else." Baxter broke a granola bar in half and shared part with Jamie. "If he does, I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go. Got no one else to live with now."
"I'm not sure where I'd go either," Jamie said, shuddering when she remembered what Nanny had said about living with her other grandparents. I won't do it. I'll go back to the farm and hide so no one will ever find me. "It's all my fault that Ambassador's mad, if Daddy hadn't got me out of that jail . . ."
Baxter shrugged and kept chewing. Once he swallowed he said, "Well, you can't go back an' change anything. That's what Uncle Scotty said. Besides, there's a lot of people in Starfleet who didn't want kids on starships in the first place. If it wasn't about the free shipping, it would be about something else. I just hope the Captain can talk him out of bein' mad."
"What if someone explained to the Ambassador? About why Daddy gave that King the free shipping?" Jamie asked as an idea started to form in her mind. "Maybe he doesn't know why."
"Don't know. I sure won't talk to him again. He came down to inspect the Engineering rooms and I just asked if he wanted me to show him my jobs. He hollered and said something mean about kids."
Jamie didn't have any great desire to talk to the hollering Ambassador either . . . but if she could help Daddy, she would. Even though she still didn't like living on the Enterprise all that much, she got to be with Daddy. Being with him was a hundred times better than having to live with Mama's parents. Sometimes it was even fun - like having Daddy cook breakfast for her. "What time will the Ambassador get here?"
"Uncle Scotty said O400 is when Varoom is going to shuttle him over here from the planet. So a little bit after that. I'm not supposed to be anywhere near the shuttle deck when he comes. You better not be either, Jamie. He don't like kids."
"Um . . ." Jamie said with her mouth full of granola bar. If I went with Nanny maybe I could just explain. It wouldn't be right for Daddy to lose his ship because of me.
Besides, kids like Baxter wouldn't have anywhere to live. I've got to try.