Chapter 6

Jim would never forget the first time he met Governor Kodos. There were some things in life that just leaves a deep imprint, and this was one of them even discounting the things to come. Things at that point in time, nobody could have imagined.

Kodos accepted Mrs. Kimura's recommendation. She asked him to stay after class a week later. She handed him a PADD with a generic congratulatory letter followed by a statement that he would be contacted soon, which ended up being a whole month later. Naturally, his friends found out about it. News traveled fast in a small town. However, Jim didn't doubt that Mrs. Kimura didn't mention it at home, and Aiko just overheard. They teased him relentlessly at first.

"You better not forget about us Jane." Thomas had said.

"I heard they get better food," Jack added. Jack wasn't a fan of communal food. "It's like a cafeteria without choices." Everyone ate the same food every day, and there was only so many ways to cook potatoes or broccoli.

Eli punched Jack in the arm. "That's stupid." Eli's mother worked in the government building. She was a receptionist. Eli was infatuated by politics and its intricacies. Jim could tell that Eli was still annoyed that Mrs. Kimura hadn't chosen him for the apprenticeship.

Jennifer, always the diplomatic, simply stated "Mrs. Kimura didn't even choose Aiko. It's not like Jane actively lobbied, and you can't deny she isn't smart."

"Seriously, she never pays attention in class and always gets the best scores," Thomas added. They still sat next to each other in class. Thomas would always kick Jim's chair if Mrs. Kimura called on him, which had gotten rarer and rarer over time. Jim always knew the answers despite never paying attention. He only paid attention during xenolinguisitics, and even in that subject he was better than anyone else in the class.

That stopped Eli from grumbling further. He couldn't deny that Jim wasn't brilliant and didn't deserve it.

The invitation was sent through the PADD that contained the initial introduction and congratulatory letters. It came in the morning as he was getting ready for school. By then he had been sharing a room with Kevin for nearly two months. He hadn't realized just how much of a hindrance sharing a room was. The partition helped; however, Kevin had the uncanny ability to suddenly appear on his side of the partition. To prevent awkward questions, he started sleeping with his clothes on and changing in the bathroom. He had forgotten about that PADD by then. He only glanced at it that morning since he was running late and had accidentally knocked over his stack of PADDs as he was grabbing the ones for class.

He blinked at the words that appeared on the screen: 'new message'. It was first time the PADD had received anything. He read the message quickly. It was a simple, short message requesting his presence at a gala function in celebration of a successful planting and settlement season. He was even scheduled for an appointment with the settlement's tailor. "Fuck me," Jim muttered tossing the PADD back on the desk.

When he appeared for breakfast, it seemed both Joan and Tom had already been notified. They weren't political people. They were simple Starfleet officers. Jim had realized within the first week. They weren't like his mother who had climbed high in the ranks of Starfleet, or his father who was one of the youngest first officers and acting captains before his untimely death. It seemed not everyone in Starfleet was ambitious.

They told him to have fun and don't feel intimidated.

"Don't forget to still be a kid," Joan said as she passed him his cereal.

"Nobody is forcing you to grow up," Thomas added. His initial trepidation had long evaporated.

When he arrived at the tailor after school, he had come up with a thousand different excuses for not wearing a dress. He was not going to wear one of those frilly dresses with lace and trimmings that his cousins and aunts wore. Even his mother wore one long ago. He had seen his parents' wedding picture.

He was greeted by an aging old lady. She was wearing a pair of large specs. It surprised Jim. Nobody wore glasses anymore. She clicked her teeth together at the sight of him. "Jane Davis?" she asked. She seemed annoyed as if he was taking up her time.

Jim nodded.

"You're late. I don't like my clients to be late."

He glanced at the clock. He was barely a minute late. He almost opened his mouth to protest but decided against it. He was in her territory now. She studied him for a long period of time. She circled him as if he was animal or a car for purchase, or maybe more appropriately a piece of artwork to be admired and critique. She clicked her teeth together.

"A little scrawny." She tapped his shoulder blades.

He let out a startled cry when she unrolled a measuring tape around his chest. She seemed most displeased when she read the numbers.

"They always give me the hardest cases." She sighed before rolling the tape measure back up. "A diamond in the rough, they don't call me a visionary for nothing." She stepped in front of him. She placed her hand under his chin and tilted his neck back. She rotated his head back and forth. He wondered what she was looking for. "It's okay sweetheart. Mademoiselle Turner will make you into a princess." She smiled, revealing a set of perfectly straight pearl white teeth.

He most decidedly was not going to be a princess.

She pulled back.

"You have stunning blue eyes. I think a blue dress." She twirled around on the balls of her high heels. She looked like a woman on a mission or even a lion about to pounce on its prey.

It would be the train wreck of all train wrecks. "I would rather wear slacks." Jim countered.

She pivoted back around. She narrowed her eyes. "That's highly… inappropriate for such an occasion." She looked physically wounded. "I make the best dresses. Everyone in the Federation wants my dresses."

Jim was tempted to ask how she ended up on Tarsus IV then of all places. Tarsus was definitely not a place for a tailor. Tarsus was hot, dusty, and everything inevitably became covered in sand. Everyone wore thin layers of clothes that could be washed and dried easily in the baking hot sun.

He instead countered with a more diplomatic approach. "Even in Starfleet, men have the option of wearing dresses for their uniforms. Why can't I have the same option?"

The tailor blinked at him before laughing. "Clever child, I can see why they want you. Alright, a nice blue tie and a black, striped suit, the nice traditional choice, it seems to suit you."

She drew him to off shoot room. There were mirrors on three of the four walls. His blazing blue eyes, dirty blond hair, and lanky body were projected on all three mirrors. He had been avoiding looking at himself in the mirror for almost his entire life. Now, standing in that room as the tailor wandered off to find a suit for him he became aware of all of his imperfections. He tugged at the collar of his t-shirt. The scars that extended throughout his back peeped out. They were the scars that he had received from Frank before he started fighting back.

Tailor Turner returned moments later. She was carrying a large stack of clothes. "Put them on," she said simply. She hung the clothes on the clips that extended along the one wall without a mirror before leaving. Jim ran his fingers through the clothes. They were better than any clothes he had ever own before. They were better than even the clothes that his mother used to dress him in on Sundays and for special occasions. There were blue sequins embedded into the cuff links of the suit. There was an intricate design embroidered into the blue tie.

The pants and undershirt fit almost perfectly. The jacket was near perfect. He did struggle with the tie. It seemed by then Mrs. Turner must have grown impatient for she burst into the room. She seemed to flash ten shades of happiness when she saw him. She clapped her hands delightfully. "Yes, yes… almost perfect."

He wasn't sure how she measured perfection. He ended up staying at the tailor shop for hours. Fuck, by the time she was finally satisfied, the suit that he ended up with was almost nothing like the one he had initially tried on. The only thing that stayed constant was the color of the suit and the tie.

It was nightfall when she finally let him leave his shop. "You'll be the star of the party, child," she said proudly. He didn't want to star in any party. In fact, he didn't even want to go anymore. He was tried from standing. He just wanted to go to sleep.

When he finally reached Kodos' residence, he was surprised how large and different it was from the other residences on Tarsus. Instead of all the other houses that were made from a mixture of clay and sand, this house seemed to be made from brick and steel building structures. It looked like it had been transported straight from Earth. The closer he got the clearer the differences became. Fuck… there was even a swimming pool in the backyard. It was a fucking 'pool party'.

Before he could even knock on the door, it opened for him. There was a man at the door. He seemed displeased. He was holding a PADD. He looked at Jim with his beady, black eyes. "Jane?" He stated more than ask.

"Yes?"

"You're late."

"Sorry?"

"Governor Kodos does not like tardiness." He stated. "Come."

Jim nodded.

"I am Taylor Smith, our gracious governor's first aide."

Jim was tempted to ask if Kodos had more aides.

He was lead through the house. It was actually more of a mansion. It reminded him of the old houses from the 18th century plays that he read. There was even replicated vintage furniture in almost every room. He could identify the stark resemblances to the Shakespearean plays that he had read. He wondered if Kodos was a fan of Shakespeare. Hell, there was even a drawing room with a grand piano in the center.

He was lead thru the back door and into the outdoors patio where the swimming pool was. There were lanterns hanging on all the arches. There was a large grill in the center where stacks of steaks, pork, chicken, fish and a wide assortment of vegetables were currently cooking. He wondered where this food came from. It is vastly different from the daily communal rations that all the families were assigned every day. It looked so delicious and juicy though. He wasn't sure when the last time he had steak was. There were small groups of people standing and talking together in the backyard. They all looked like important people. He never felt more out of place.

"Come. Governor Kodos particularly want to meet you again." The aide set his hand on Jim's shoulder and directed him to the back of the garden.

Unlike all the other faceless people, as they approached the main table, Jim could immediately pick out who was Kodos without being introduced. Kodos was a man of presence. He was one of those men who filled whatever room he was in. He was wearing a deep blood red suit that clashed dramatically with his receding red hair. His red mustache curled into two sharp red tips. He was currently engaged in an animated conversation with a dainty woman in a pale purple strapless dress.

The aide pulled him to a halt before they reached the table. He cleared his throat. Kodos looked up. He looked annoyed. "Governor," he stated.

Kodos blinked. "Yes…" He waved his hand.

"I brought your newest protégé…"

Kodos looked at him. He looked at him with his dark brown eyes. They seemed to be peering deep into his soul. They reminded him so much of Frank in so many ways that he wanted to step back, say he changed his mind, and run away. Kodos smiled at him, or what Jim guessed could pass as a smile.

"Jane," Kodos said enthusiastically. He pushed the woman who he was talking to away before standing up. "Of course." His smile widened. "Come, sit, dine with me." He placed his hand on the chair that his female companion had vacated. He patted the cushion. The aide pushed his forward.

"Don't keep the governor waiting," he hissed.

Jim stumbled in his dress shoes at the force. However he managed to catch himself. It seemed nobody noticed. He slipped into the chair. Kodos smiled. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Err…"

"Fetch us two wines." He snapped his fingers. Jim wondered how any of the waiters could possibly hear. It seemed the aide wondered the same thing. So when Kodos' eyes narrowed and snapped his finger again before speaking, this time his voice was less pleasant. "Well, wine."

The aide nodded. His face turned a bright, tomato shade of red. The aide must have suddenly realized that Kodos was addressing him. Jim watched him disappear into the crowd. Jim felt Kodos place his hand on his shoulder. Even through the many layers of cloth Kodos' hand felt cold. He looked up at Kodos. Kodos smiled down at him. "How are you enjoying the party?"

"It's … pleasant, especially the food."

Kodos laughed. "Yes, the food is grand."

"Not at all like the communal food," Jim added.

"No, of course not, I had it shipped from Earth." Kodos smiled. It didn't reach his eyes though. "And my house?"

"It's very large."

"You're not very direct."

"I..."

Kodos smiled, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. They were so sharp like crocodile teeth. Kodos set his hand on Jim's arm. It was so large and massive over Jim's own thin, scrawny arm. Despite the padding in his suit, he still felt small and insignificant. "I like that." He patted his arm again. "I've been assured by many people here that you are the smartest child here. That you will make a fine replacement when I'm too old to lead our colony."

Jim wasn't sure how to respond. He had never been praised so highly.

"My house… it's inspired by an old Shakespearean play…"

"Macbeth." The word slipped from Jim's lips before he could stop it.

He saw Kodos' eyes widen. "My, my… I have never met a child or even many adults in this day and age who still knows the classics. Have you read many? I have a whole library of books. Come," Kodos grabbed Jim's arm and literally pulled him up. It seemed only then that Kodos noticed what he was wearing. "How ever did you manage to convince our divine tailor to let you come in a suit? She loves her dresses."

Jim shrugged. "It wasn't hard."

"You are a smart child." At that moment, the aide returned bearing two large wine glasses. Kodos plucked them from the aide's hands and waved him away lazily. Jim watched him march away. He saw the lingering hatred in his eyes that was directed at him. He guessed he had just made his first enemy. He had lasted longer than ever before.

Kodos maneuvered him along. He was a graceful man. Jim could easily see how he had risen to the position he was currently holding. He was young and ambitious. Kodos led him back into his house. They stopped in the drawing room where the grand piano was. "My mother used to play when I was a child. Do you play?"

Jim shook his head. His grandmother used to play. She tried teaching him when he was little. He was too impatient to sit on the bench for long, so she gave up. Sam, Sam who was always more patient than he was, learned to play beautifully, but that was before Frank. Before Sam started lashing out at the world, before he ran away from home.

"That's too bad." Kodos grip tightened. "Maybe, we could find someone to teach you. "A successful ruler needs to be well versed." Later, Jim would wonder why at that moment when Kodos said 'ruler', it didn't cause warning lights to flash through his head. Maybe it was the wine he was sipping. It was making his head dizzy, or maybe it was the lights. They were so hot and stifling.

Kodos glided him along. They stopped in front of a set of double oak doors. Kodos seemed to positively radiate with excitement. "This is my favorite room in the house. I hope someday you will also grow to love it." He pressed his hand against the sensor. Jim watched as it lit up. It was almost as if it was the ancient meeting the present. The sensor lit up. The doors swung open.

Jim let out a large gasp. Within the room were rows and rows of books… real books. Jim had never seen a real book before. Everything he had read he had downloaded onto his PADD. Kodos set his hand on Jim's shoulder. "This is my collection. It holds the wonders and secrets of the past."

Jim couldn't think of a response.

Kodos led him inside. It seemed Kodos had a purpose. They walked through many aisles before stopping at a bookshelf crammed full of large tombs. Kodos reached for a book. It was large and thick. There was a picture of a man during one of the darker days of Earth's history. "Adolf Hitler, he's a great and powerful man."

Great was not the word Jim would use to describe Hitler. History described Hitler as anything but great.

"He was a visionary. He believed in the creation of a superior race. What do you think about a world where only the best, the strongest, and the brightest live?" Kodos asked. He seemed to be positively fondling the book. "Don't you grow tired of talking to the average person? They don't understand us. They only pull us back, prevent us from reaching our fullest potential."

Kodos seemed to be positively glimmering with excitement as if he had met a kindred spirit. At that moment, Jim should have grown concerned, but the wine was so strong, and Kodos' voice was smoothing as he started reading passages of Hitler's words.

By the end of summer, Jim found himself spending more and more time in Kodos' library of ancient treasures. There were many days when he wouldn't return to the Riley's house. One of Kodos' servants would set a plate of food outside the library for him. He ate lavishly. It seemed Kodos wasn't subjugated to the same communal food supply as everyone else in the colony.

So, when he finally did wander into the Riley's house and found Kevin crying, he really had no idea. The little boy was all alone. He wondered where his parents had gotten to. They rarely left him alone.

Jim sat down beside the boy. "Kevin, what's wrong?" He really wondered if Kevin would tell him. He had been spending so much time at Kodos' mansion that they never really formed a strong bond. Kevin still asked him to read him bedtime stories the nights that he did come back tho. Kevin had long conceded the point that books weren't boring.

Kevin let out a sob before looking up at Jim. "My pumpkin," he muttered.

Jim blinked, confused. "What happened to your pumpkin?"

"It's sick," Kevin let out a larger sob. "Mommy says we have to cut it off. It's dying."