((Chapter heading is from the R.E.M. song Electron Blue.))

Epilogue

Adventure Rings

The Covenant was on the way to Starbase 10. Vulcan government didn't care one bit about what would happen to Terik, so when Starfleet had asked to take him into custody they had agreed. Two more Vulcans had come forth and admitted participation in the conspiracy and feeding the drug to unsuspecting people. Their judgment would be a comparatively mild one. They seemed to regret what had happened and Jim was certain deep down they were ashamed of falling for the lies of a Romulan spy.

The starbase was close to the Romulan Neutral Zone, which was from where Ndaga had wanted Tilak to return him to his people. He would still see that this was done, even if all he had was a corpse. Jim had feared an incident, but according to Ndaga the news that the man was dead had caused nothing but a shrug. Jim was still uncertain if Tilak, whatever his real name might be, was indeed a criminal in the Romulans' eyes or a spy ordered into Federation space, but Spock insisted that chances were he had merely tried to achieve something that would grant him a pardon.

The door to the mess opened and revealed Bones. He'd been delayed because of some incident with Terik in the brig. Jim gave him a questioning look from across the room. Bones made a face and dragged his thumb over his throat. 'Dead,' he said when he reached the other three at their table.

'What? Why?' Jim asked. Bones snorted, obviously unfazed by the incident.

'Flipped the off switch? Ask me. Went into a trance and died. I'd think he's decided that nothing good can come of the court martial he was facing. A life in prison on some planet far off in the middle of no-where didn't seem like a nice lookout for him.'

'Understandable,' Spock said.

'Then we have … nothing,' Jim muttered. Bones poked a finger at Jim's chest.

'Ah, but we do. He talked a lot, apparently guessed he was being recorded. He wants the tapes to be delivered to Vulcan to serve as a lecture. Kept going on how Vulcans aren't supposed to mix with other species, how he really acted for the greater good and how all this is a horrible injustice inflicted upon him and that people should listen and be grateful for his sacrifice.'

'If I didn't know better, I'd say he, too, got that drug from Tilak,' T'Kray said quietly.

'Yeah. Sounded like it, but it seems he really believed this. I'm tempted to think he had some mental illness or other. Anyway, I say we give the tapes to the VSA. They'll do as they see fit.'

'Anything else he said?'

'Well, listen to them if you're into the pathetic ruminations of a fanatic. I think he had no idea that Tilak was a Romulan. That shook him. Didn't do anything to change his views, though.'

'Vulcan right wing radicals … If you'd told me such a thing exists I'd never have believed it.'

'It shouldn't exist and under normal circumstances the three that were there would never have acted on their ideas,' T'Kray said. 'Two of them understand that they were in error, only Terik never realised how wrong he was.' She smiled faintly. 'The one I challenged at the lecture actually sent me a formal apology.'

'You think there's hope for them?'

'Indeed.'

'How's Charika? Any permanent damage?' Bones smiled.

'No, he's good. Poor man. Any woman getting involved with him isn't going to have any complaints.' Jim shook his head. Judging by the look on Bones's face he knew that he meant something more specific than he let on.

'How serious is this thing between him and Sereli Zh'Rane? And why do you know and I didn't?' Bones's eyes were sparkling with mischief.

'Charika's extended family for me, remember? You don't have to know everything. And I'd say it's pretty serious. Oh, speaking of Charika … he asked me why a spy would pick a false name that's a xenophobic idiom.' Jim snorted. He'd forgotten that bit. 'I told him it's a fairly recent idiom.' He grew serious again. 'What happens now? We really don't have much, even with the tapes.' Jim sighed and raised his hands.

'No, but the string pullers are both gone. It won't happen again, and that was what we wanted to make sure of. Personally, I can't say that I regret that they died. Only that Terik got to choose how. Oh, and you're in for a promotion, Bones. The ugly nickname will have to wait.' Two sets of Vulcan eyebrows rose in unison. Jim laughed, especially when Bones's eyes widened in what looked like shock.

'What am I being promoted for? Do they know what happened down there?' T'Kray rolled her eyes.

'You saved seventeen lives down there, and without you, more people would have been drugged and, as a consequence, they'd have died. Two perished, yes, but they would have anyway.'

'Four.'

'You can't go counting the one whose treatment you never sanctioned or Sinek. Starfleet command has received a very thorough report from the VSA concerning everything that happened in that lab. You deserve this, not a nickname. What nickname, anyway?' Jim pursed his lips.

'One that I'll never allow anyone to give Doctor McCoy, and that includes you, Bones. Anyway, we won't have much time to dwell on it. We'll reach Starbase 10 in two days, and then we're off to an asteroid that has suddenly developed an atmosphere.'

'That is impossible,' Spock said with a frown. Jim beamed at him.

'That's why we're going to take a good hard look. Sounds like a simple, safe mission.' Bones looked at him in mock terror.

'If you say that, we're all doomed.'

((So, this is it. It is no more, has ceased to be, is expired and gone to meet … well, not precisely Doctor Chapman. I had a hell of a lot of fun getting all this out of my system, it's been there for years and years and now I can rest in peace and once more continue working on an actual book I'm planning to get out one day.

This was my first science fiction story ever, and I now know that I can do that, too, if I put my mind to it. I also know it's a hell of a lot of work, but almost all my writing is.

I often end with a cliff-hanger, but this deserved a conclusion. If I forgot anything, please do tell me!

Now, off you go! Nothing more to see here!

Shoo!))