Chapter 21
Morning, the Fifth Day
Ziem had a hard time getting out of her bag the next morning. When her alarm went off, she really wanted to just roll over and go back to sleep. She would have, if leaving the tent unobserved had been any less important to her. But she knew she would regret it if she didn't, so she forced herself up at dawn, slipped past her still sleeping tent mates, cleaned up, and then walked over to the fire pits for some breakfast. The chief had the watch; he was surprised to see her.
"You could sleep for another hour Sabide." He said, "There's nothing wrong with taking all the shut eye you're entitled to."
"I was ready to be up anyway sir; I thought I could relieve you." She didn't want to explain her worries about getting out of tents.
The chief nodded and said, "I understand, I am the same. Once the sun comes up I feel like I am missing something if I stay in the sack. You know Sabide, a need to be in on all the action is probably the single most common attribute I see in successful officers. I think you show great potential."
You do?" Ziem was surprised; it wasn't like the chief to dole out compliments.
"Absolutely, your attention to duty is commendable."
"I wouldn't say that sir, really it isn't." It bothered her to have her vanity mistaken for commitment. She didn't want to explain, but she didn't want praise she didn't deserve either.
Chief Giotto said kindly, "Just be assured, your dedication is noticed Sabide."
"I, um, yes sir." Ziem mumbled. She knew she should sound more enthusiastic, but couldn't. She knew she was blushing. Surely good officers didn't claim talents they didn't have? She wished she had stayed in the tent. She wondered if perhaps she should start trying to be the last one up on away missions. She would look less eager.
The chief didn't seem to notice her discomfort. "I love this time of morning," he said. He gazed around the camp and over toward the river. He continued in the same thoughtful tone, "I like the quiet. Take a look at that horizon will you? It's beautiful. I like Phadru. I don't pretend to care much for the locals, but I like the scenery. It's stark. I like watching the shadows move on it."
Ziem looked around, trying to seem interested in the landscape. She did not see much beauty in the Phadruan meadows. She just saw sand. But she didn't want to appear uninterested. So she helped herself to a mug of coffee, sipped it, and pretended to enjoy the view.
She heard laughter, and saw Chekov run up from the direction of the river. He skidded to a stop next to her, and still laughing, grabbed her arms from behind to turn her toward the river. He used her like a shield, and peered out from behind her at Geoff and Burri, who were just coming up from the same direction, also running. She spilled some coffee, but didn't mind. It made her feel included, like she was playing too. And then, she liked that he had a good grip; he was stronger than he looked.
"Hands off the lieutenant ensign." the chief said.
"Yes sir," Chekov said automatically, letting go. Peeping out from behind her he said to Geoff and Burri, "Look, Miss Sabide is here first, so she wins."
"Wins? You are saying she wins? She obviously does not win Pavel Andreievich Chekov; she was not competing, so she is not eligible to win. You do not understand even the basic rules of a race. Some genius you." Burri said angrily.
"If she doesn't win I win," Chekov laughed. "You definitely do not win Burri."
"Bah!" Burri said angrily. He shook both his fists in front of his face as he spoke. It was not a gesture Ziem had seen before, and she did not know what it meant.
"I win what?" Ziem asked.
Geoff said, "We agreed whoever got to the rations first could decide what we would drink with breakfast. You were here first, so it looks like you get to decide."
"The chief already made coffee," she said, holding up her mug.
"So really, I win!" Geoff said happily, and reached for the pot. "Bad luck for you Pav."
"Bah!" said Chekov, shaking his fists in front of his face like Burri had. He looked silly and sweet; Chief Giotto frowned at him. Ziem looked away to hide her smile. Geoff laughed so hard he spilled his coffee and had to sit down. Chekov sat down on the rock next to him and looked very pleased with himself.
Burri did not seem to enjoy the joke. He growled and said, "It sounds stupid coming from a Federation flunky servant Pavel Andreievich Chekov. You would need to be better dressed than you are to make it impressive."
Chekov patted his stained, stretched uniform top and said, "maybe, but I won the race, or Lieutenant Sabide won, or Lieutenant Hendorff won. You never won Burri."
Burri shook his hands and yelled, "Bah!" again, this time louder and more shrilly. Geoff and Pasha both copied him. Burri snarled at them and then said it again, even louder. They shook their hands at each other and snarled until one after the other, all three began to laugh.
"You are all in good moods," Ziem said.
"Yeah, and we shouldn't be. We spent the night on the ground by Burri's transport. The chief said I couldn't leave him alone, and Pav, um, Ensign Chekov didn't want to sleep in the tent anyway, so it seemed like the best thing." Geoff said. He grinned and added, "We planned to play cards, but we fell asleep too fast. The sun rising woke us up. It seemed like we were only out like seconds, I think we are all so past tired we are punch drunk."
"It is fun though," the ensign said.
"Even you're in a better mood." Ziem said to Pasha.
He replied cheerfully, "It was not possible that I could have been in a worse one." He slid over to the next rock, creating a space between him and Geoff. "Sit with us, and we can all eat together." he said, cocking his head and looking up at her like nothing would make him happier. She felt like she was too big for the rock stools, and would only look ridiculous awkwardly towering above him. But he patted the empty rock and smiled at her encouragingly. It was hard to say no to him. Ziem took a deep breath and sat down. Geoff looked surprised, but he smiled at her too, and she felt a little more comfortable.
"Burri is teaching us to swear in Phadruan." Pasha said. "It is fun Ziem, you should try it." He looked at Burri and said again, "Bah!"
"Shake your hands Pavel Andreievich Chekov, it means much less without the hands. And keep your teeth together. I have said that fifty times and you do not listen. Can you listen? You are least capable new language speaker I have ever experienced." Burri said angrily.
"You are not even close to the first person to say that Burri." said Captain Kirk. Ziem looked up; the captain seemed to have appeared as if by magic. He was standing by the table grinning at them all. She glanced at the chief uncertainly. She wasn't certain what they had decided, she wondered if she was now on duty and should have been paying more attention. She stood up, feeling guilty.
"Hello sir," she said, her voice sounded wavery again.
"At ease Sabide, hey Chekov, you are just who I wanted to see. I got you a present." the captain said as he helped himself to coffee. Chekov looked skeptical. With a flourish the captain handed him four ration packs. "Supplies arrived, and look what I took for you." he said.
"Mac and Cheese!" laughed the ensign.
"Yup, one for lunch, one for dinner, one for tomorrow's lunch, and one for tomorrow's dinner-in case we need it. Hide 'em so nobody gets jealous." He looked at Burri and Geoff and added, "Sorry guys, I didn't think. Do you want me to get anything for you?"
"Don't worry about it sir, I really don't care what we eat as long as there's lots of it. Burri's pretty much the same. Isn't that right Burri?" Geoff asked the Phadruan, who nodded and smiled, showing his pointy teeth.
"All your food is the same anyway, and small amounts like for tiny babies. I eat plenty like a Phadruan male." said Burri.
"Me too." said the captain. Pointing to Chekov he said, "But that one's picky." He looked at Ziem and added, "How about you lieutenant? Do you want anything special from supply?"
"No sir," Ziem replied. She had planned to acknowledge her inattention to duty and apologize, but seeing the captain of her starship bring lunch to an ensign had left her too astonished. She wasn't sure it was against regulations, but she didn't like the idea of superior officers giving even small gifts to their subordinates. The chief's expression made it clear that he agreed entirely.
"I love these." Chekov said happily. He opened his pack and stuffed three of the packets deep inside.
"I know you do. That's why I nabbed them for you. Just don't tell Bones."
"Dr. McCoy? Don't worry Captain Kirk, I won't. I do not want a lecture on adding variety to my diet. I do not want variety in my diet. I want to eat mac and cheese." Chekov paused and then added, "Thank you so much. You did not have to do this."
"Yeah, well, I wanted to. I owed you for not having to eat artificial salmon last night."
Chekov shook his head. "None of that was my idea." He smiled mischievously up at the captain and added, "Maybe you should thank Lieutenant Lapinski?"
The captain chuckled and said, "No, and besides, I don't think he's the macaroni and cheese type, especially not after the discussion he had with Mr. Spock. It is my experience that having Mr. Spock explain your responsibilities to you leaves you really needing something stronger, much stronger and more liquid."
"It is probably my turn next," Chekov said morosely. He looked at the ration pack and added thoughtfully. "And if that is true, perhaps I should eat this now while I can still enjoy it."
"Go ahead," said the captain. "It's yours."
The captain grabbed a breakfast off the pack and sat down on the other side of Geoff. They began talking sports. The captain wanted to know who Geoff favored in the upcoming All Earth Rugby Championship Tourney. The chief sat down too, a little unwillingly. Ziem understood, he was unhappy with the captain right now, but he got very few opportunities to discuss rugby and could not bring himself to pass one up. He and Geoff favored different teams. The captain egged them on, and the discussion got enthusiastic. Chekov ignored it, and fiddled with his rations packet.
Ziem watched disapprovingly. She was disappointed in the senior officers. She was concerned that Captain Kirk's kindness could cause real trouble. The gift might seem unimportant. Geoff did not resent it, but if he heard about it, Lieutenant Lapinski certainly would. Was it possible the captain had not noticed the tension Pasha caused the whole crew by worrying more about not offending Mr. Spock than he had about providing dinner? And this was much worse. Pasha was young, and only an ensign, Captain Kirk was their leader. Everyone looked to him for guidance. He had to know that no group benefitted from having one member considered above the others. And she knew the chief agreed with her, she felt like he should say something.
Ziem watched the men seated around the fire. Pasha was still twirling the packet, glancing occasionally at the captain, his expressive eyes full of admiration. Everyone else was arguing rugby. The chief was happily caught up in the discussion. She didn't understand how he could not care, and wondered what she was missing. She sighed, took a breakfast pack for herself, and then sat back down.
After a minute Pasha looked up at her and said quietly, "I feel foolish, first you, and now the captain."
"What?" asked Ziem.
He held out the packet for her to see. "Yesterday you brought me lunch and today the captain has. This is not fair. I have to learn to be braver about eating things I don't like."
Ziem frowned, she hadn't thought of it that way, but he was right. When she took the beef for him yesterday, she had been guilty of what she had just been faulting the captain for. And he had at least been discreet; she hadn't. She remembered hoping to provoke the lieutenants. She was in no position to judge anyone, certainly not her commander.
She was frustrated to feel a blush climb up her neck again. She wished this mission would end. It was painful. The work was not demanding. She was bored and had too much time to visit with the crew. It was not like her to get involved in their squabbles and pleasures. She was paying too much attention to them. It was interesting, but it interfered with her focus. She was ready to return to the ship where her responsibilities were clear and nothing encouraged her to make judgements.
Chekov didn't notice her reaction. He continued to turn the packet over in his hands, staring at it thoughtfully. The captain, who had jumped up to get himself more coffee, stopped to watch. He asked, "What's up Chekov? I thought you said you were going to eat that now?"
The young man looked up and said, "Captain, perhaps I should listen to Lieutenant Uhura and try to eat things I don't like."
"Perhaps you should, but listen, how about if when you do, we agree you don't give her credit for it? You know her. She doesn't need to feel any more omnipotent than she already does."
Ziem felt confused. It was almost exactly what Lieutenant Uhura had said about the captain. Did all humans feel that all other humans were too self-confident? Ziem felt like this was the sort of information that should be included in classes at the academy. It was too difficult to understand these species specific nuances if you were never taught about them.
"Also," continued Chekov, frowning at the food, "I know I was not very pleasant last night, and I am sorry."
Kirk laughed and reached out to tousle the younger man's hair. "Hey, you know you don't have to be happy all the time, right? But we do all kind of like it that you are."
Chekov rolled his eyes. The captain laughed harder.
Chief Giotto frowned. "Coffee ensign?" he asked gruffly. Ziem was reassured to think he was probably trying to distract the captain. She expected him to be disturbed when Captain Kirk was so casual with the junior officers.
Chekov looked at the chief doubtfully, and then glanced at the captain quickly before he shook his head.
The captain laughed harder and said, "That resolution didn't last very long." Chekov shrugged guiltily. Turning to the chief Kirk explained, "He doesn't like coffee, he barely even likes tea. He's really more of an apple juice kind of guy."
Chekov sighed and said, "I will start being braver about food tomorrow I guess."
As Ziem ate her breakfast the rest of the crew gradually climbed out of their tents and appeared. As they ate, a somehow completely unrumpled Mr. Spock gave the team assignments. Everyone got one, even Dr. McCoy, who interrupted Lieutenant Sascheja when she began to lecture the crew on the amounts of water required to replace fluids lost to perspiration. He said, "Any of you faint because you're too stupid to drink when you're thirsty, don't expect me to be gentle when I am fixing you." Then he picked up a tricorder and asked Lapinski, "Ready to get to?"
Burri made it clear he planned to stay around for a while. Chief Giotto absolutely refused to consider him staying in the camp without any supervision. Chekov offered to let him join his team, but Burri scoffed at the idea.
Burri said, "Walking machine across endless dirt, that is not work Pavel Andreievich Chekov. Work is cleaning courtyards of home compound after huge feast, and that is what Burri will not do. What you will do is waste your time. No one cares what silly information crew of illustrious starship Enterprise gathers. All of the Truleyphadru laugh at your crew for exposing themselves to the weather for nothing. You would do better to sit here and only pretend you went out. No one will care, no one will know. I will not take useless tricorders for a walk in the dessert."
"Well you're not staying here alone, so either get a tricorder or get driving." said Giotto.
"Bah! Some host you!" said Burri. "I wish to delay return to compound one day, just until feast is entirely cleaned up, and you insist I do idiot's task?"
"Really, I think idiot is a little strong." said Wilson mildly.
"What if I just keep him with me?" Geoff asked Giotto.
"If you want to be responsible for him, that's fine with me, just don't let him slip back here without you." replied the chief.
"Burri, do you want to go be security with me? It's fun, much better than surveying." Geoff asked the Phadruan.
"Don't talk to me like a slow witted child Geoff Hendorff. I know the difference between fun and a long walk in sun. I will go because it beats washing clan Truleyphadru vomit off stone courtyard, but I will know it's not fun." Despite his words Burri's tone implied he was quite happy to be included.
The morning passed quickly. There were so many teams in the field and Ziem enjoyed having more people to talk to. Then too, she and the other security personnel traded positions periodically, and that broke the monotony. She did suspect she enjoyed the morning more than the surveyors did, but she heard no outright complaints and saw no one slacking in their work.
The crew took a brief lunch break in the field and then went back to work. The afternoon was very hot. All afternoon the sun beat down on the crew. Dr. McCoy sent Ziem back to camp to bring extra water for the team. The parched ground crunched under foot, and the walk seemed very long.
The birds were particularly bad. The sun, or maybe the hunting they had endured over the last few days, seemed to have made them particularly skittish. The crew was all marked by their flyovers. The junior officers seemed to have grown immune to it. Ziem heard Rudolph on his comm with all the younger men, trying to get bets on who would be first hit, and who would be most hit. Some of the less experienced workers, specifically Sascheja, were very bothered by the filth.
At 1800 Mr. Spock freed the crew to return to the base camp for dinner. They dragged in slowly, listless and silent. Even the captain was subdued. Rudolph ate quickly and then fell asleep by the fire, feet stretched before him, hands clasped behind his head. He started to snore softly.
"Look at him," murmured Martin. "A perfect target for some mischief, if only I wasn't so tired myself."
Only Burri seemed unaffected by the work and weather. He talked almost constantly, complaining about the conditions, (apparently his people always rested through the middle of the day), the food (he wanted to go bird hunting, Chekov, cleaning tricorders by the fire, stared angrily with narrowed his eyes and shook his head each time it was mentioned), and then the amount of food he was served (three portions only whet his appetite).
Mr. Spock stood at the end of the meal and announced that the five crews working ten hours had managed to shave 100 man hours off the total left. He planned to return to the field and work another two hours. If all crew members of lieutenant rank or lower joined him it would greatly facilitate an early return to the ship.
Wilson, sitting by the fire, dropped his head to his hands and sighed. Everyone else matching the description Mr. Spock had given stood up wearily, and began to collect their tricorders. The captain said to let Mr. Rudolph sleep. The chief objected, but the captain insisted. He then said he would be working too. Mr. Giotto's mouth actually hung open in astonishment. Captain Kirk grabbed a tricorder and followed Mr. Spock, who had turned towards the fields immediately upon receiving his device. Lieutenant Uhura hurried to catch them. The rest of the crew members followed more slowly, exchanging unhappy looks. They were a sorry, unenthusiastic looking group.
Martin was the last officer to take a tricorder from Chekov, who then slipped one on himself. Ziem, uncertain if she should go or stay, stood a small distance off, waiting to ask the chief. Geoff stood by Chekov, waiting to walk to the field with his friend. Burri was on the other side of Chekov, and watched the exchanges with growing frustration. His friends gave him a wave as they turned to leave camp.
"Halt!" said Burri. "You cannot possibly be considering returning to the desert wasteland now! You worked through the heat of day without pause or rest."
"Just till dark." said Pasha wearily. "You don't have to come. You can stay here with Lieutenant Commander Giotto if you wish."
"We all really want to get back to our ship." added Geoff. "It will help us get there quicker if we hit it again for a couple hours. It won't be bad."
"It will be a stupid waste of time Geoff Hendorff. You will see. The elders of clan Truleyphadru told your leaders there was no need for more studies, and they know that is true. Sit and rest. Play cards. That is a good plan for evening."
"We don't really have any choice." laughed Geoff. "But like Pav said, you can stay here if you want."
"I will not stay here waiting for underdressed, allegedly senior officer to order me on fool's errand as they do you. By this time, surely the courtyard is returned to its usual splendor and all servants are returning to their quarters for evening time fun. If I drive fast I will be back in plenty time to have good, good fun." Burri said. He half closed his lashless eyes, which made him look sly, and added, "You know what fun I mean Geoff Hendorff."
"Um, no I don't." stammered Geoff, sounding suddenly shy.
"You say no? Hah! You should know there is not one thing that happens at compound home of clan that Burri does not see and know. Did you forget so soon the female with a green robe and yellow turban? I saw you leave the feast in the company of that one. What did you do if not having fun? What do you think evenings are for?"
Chekov, looking perplexed, turned to Geoff and said, "Did you really? But I thought,"
Geoff cut him off, "I am. I didn't. Shut up." Chekov closed his mouth, but looked unconvinced.
Geoff continued, "Burri, I swear to God, I just talked to that girl. That's all. I'm not saying I didn't consider it, but I'm kind of trying to get something going here. Plus the chief would have killed me."
"Too bad for you Geoff Hendorff, that one is definitely not a conversationalist." said Burri.
"Burri, do me a favor? People might get the wrong impression, so don't talk about this anymore, and especially, don't talk to the chief about it at all." said Geoff.
"Ha! You should tell your boss to stay out of your life. You are a servant, you are not dead. That female is well known to be good at fun, you were lucky to meet her. I have met her many times before, and would not actually be surprised to be meeting her again tonight and having much, much fun while you two walk wasteland in futile exercise." Burri said with satisfaction. He added after a brief pause, "This makes it easy for me to decide that now is the time that I am getting out of here.
He took a step back and posed formally with his hand over his chest. "This is goodbye servants of Federation Starship Enterprise. I will think of you always, just as you will think of me."
"Sure" said Geoff. "Well, drive safe. Nice knowing you Burri."
The Phadruan continued to stand and smile. He nodded several times, appeared to be waiting for something.
"Good bye. I too enjoyed meeting you." Chekov said. Burri still stood expectantly. After several seconds Chekov and Hendorff exchanged worried looks. After several seconds more Chekov asked, "Is there something else?"
"I am awaiting my leaving present." said Burri. "I understand your reluctance, I am a modest servant too; you are afraid your gift will be too much. Be assured, I am not inexperienced. All previous visitors have bragged of the glamor and glory of the Federation. I have been with the crew of Federation Starship Enterprise approaching four days now. I see no glory. I know you have it hidden. Suspect maybe it is in Pavel Andreievich Chekov's pack, which he never removes from his person. I like you two very much and so am giving you a chance to present me with a gift which will allow you to impress me with the magnificence of what you have."
"Well," said Geoff. "Honestly, we didn't know the custom. We haven't really got anything ready."
"Come, come, enough modesty. I am ready to receive." Burri wriggled his fingers like he could pull the unseen gift through the air himself.
Pavel and Geoff looked at each other again. Pavel reached into his pack and asked Burri uncertainly, "Have you ever tasted really good chocolate milk?"
Unexpectedly, the chief barked, "What are you doing?"
Chekov flinched and Geoff straightened to attention.
"Burri is leaving chief," explained Geoff.
"Great. Walk him to his machine and watch him go. Sabide, Chekov, get in the field." The chief did not look interested in further discussion.
"Aye sir." the three said together.
"Burri, just take the milk, you're going to like it, we gotta go." hissed Geoff.
Ziem and Chekov sprinted after the rest of the team while Geoff escorted Burri to the vehicle.
Just a little while later they were at work in the field, Pasha was watching his tricorder, and Ziem was watching him, when the brightly colored cube sped by. It looped back and stopped directly in front of them, but did not sink to the ground. It hovered in place. Dust swirled around it; alarmed, Ziem reached for her weapon. Just as she did, the vehicle's side opened and Burri leaned out. His lips and sharp teeth were stained a milky brown and his face was smeared the same color. In one hand he held his ornate universal translator; in the other he clutched the box of milk. "Pavel Andreievich Chekov!" he screamed. "I am impressed!" Then the side slammed shut and the cube shot away.