Ch 14
Trip Tucker grinned at Malcolm, and repeated his request, "Can we call you Pop too?" Before anyone could answer, RJ roused himself to look solemnly at Trip. "He's MY Pop, not yours," he said bluntly. Amid the laughter, Archer added, "I guess he set you straight, Trip!"
Hoodu came racing up to the table calling his mom as he ran, and she spun in her chair to see what looked like a speeding plate of food rushing towards her. Hoodu was splattered with almost every type of edible left over from the buffet, from his head to his feet. There was potato salad on his chest, gravy dripping from his hair, chicken parmesan sauce on one sleeve and roast beef juice soaking into the other, and bits of potatoes au gratin were stuck to his pantlegs. "Mom!" He hollered, "Mom!" He skidded to a stop, the adults staring at him. "Hugh Andrew Welles," his father stood up to glare at him. "You've been in a food fight!" Hoodu grinned unabashedly. "Fooz started it!" He protested, bits of food and gravy dripping to his feet as he jumped up and down in excitement. "It wasn't my fault," he continued full speed, "Fooz ducked, and I–"
"Does this young man belong to you?" A deep voice behind the boy caused every eye to look into the face of the man striding up to their table. Everyone stood and came to attention as Admiral Forrest, also covered in food, arrived right behind Hoodu, who had the grace to now look a bit ashamed. But the boy stood his ground as he faced the tall Admiral.
Andrew took a breath, and answered, "yes sir, he's my son." "Sit down, everyone, please," the Admiral commanded, and he grabbed a vacant chair. "I should have guessed, with his red hair, that he belonged to all of you." The Admiral smiled. "Sir," Andrew tried to continue, "I am so sorry, Hugh knows better, he–" The Admiral reached out to ruffle Hoodu's hair, then looked at the gravy now smeared on his hand, and laughed out loud. "The boy has a great aim!" He told them.
"I wasn't aiming at you, honest," Hoodu was nothing if not bold. "Fooz started it, he really did," the boy glanced around the table. "And I was gonna hit him back, and I used the trajectory thing that Pop showed me–" "Pop?" Forrest asked, as all eyes riveted to Malcolm. "I am his grandfather," Malcolm admitted.
"I should have known," the Admiral replied, "The boy's a steely-eyed armory man for sure." "I didn't think Fooz would duck so quick," Hoodu continued, his voice rising, "and I sure didn't know you were behind him." "Got me right here," the man pointed to his chest, where the remains of a large sticky spoonful of green beans amondine still stuck.
"What about the rest of your uniform?" Jonathan Archer grinned at his old friend. "Well," the Admiral answered, "I couldn't let the attack go unanswered, could I? I had to retaliate!" Hoodu grinned, "You should have seen it dad, a bunch of us were throwing stuff, and the Admiral got us all!" He grinned back at Forrest, "you got really good aim, sir!"
"Oh, Admiral," Mariah said softly, "your dress uniform." "No worries," he waved her concern away, "I've already sent my aide to retrieve the spare in my office." Mariah stood and handed Dion off to her husband. "Hugh Andrew, what do you say?" Hoodu stood at the Admiral's side, and looked into his face, "Sir," the boy began, "I'm really sorry, and if you want to punish me or tell my dad how to punish me, I'll do whatever it is." Admiral Forrest looked into the big green eyes that were suddenly so serious. "Your punishment, young man," the Admiral stood up to tower over the boy, and pulled out his deep, serious voice. Hoodu stood fast, craning his neck up to keep eye contact with the Admiral, "your punishment is to obey your parents and grandparents, work hard in school, and bring that trajectory talent to starfleet someday. You're going to make a fine armory officer."
Hoodu grinned, "Oh, no I'm not!" he said adamantly, "I'm going to be captain of the Enterprise!" He pointed at the half-awake RJ. "My brother's gonna be my armory officer, he likes explosions!" RJ grinned sleepily. "Big 'splosions!" he echoed. The table erupted in laughter, and Mariah grabbed Hoodu by the arm. "Come along with me, 'captain,' and let's get you cleaned up and halfway presentable again." There were no complaints from her oldest son as they marched off the to the restroom.
"Lieutenant Welles," the Admiral returned to his seat and turned to Andrew. "I've been wanting to meet you." He glanced around the table. Andrew felt a little twinge of nerves. "You have, sir?" "Yes, in the past 2 weeks I've received three different letters of recommendation concerning you and your abilities. Each letter writer has urged me to not let starfleet lose a man of your talent and experience." Andrew stole a quick glance at Malcolm, whose face was a mask, but his eyes held a twinkle as he quickly ducked his head to look down at RJ. "I'm sorry, Admiral," Andrew answered, "But I'm not going to stay in starfleet. My family needs me, and we want to raise our children right here on earth."
The Admiral smiled, "I can understand that completely. However, you don't have to ship out into the universe to stay in starfleet. We could definitely use you right here in San Francisco, in Research and Development, the weapons and defense division." Captain Lorian spoke up, "Andrew, that might be just the thing for you." "Yep," Captain Archer agreed, smiling broadly, "it sounds perfect." Andrew's suspicions about the authors of those 3 letters was now confirmed.
"You'd keep your present rank, of course," the Admiral continued, "and we have large quarters for officers' families, right on the base. We have schools, parks, shopping, and lots of extras for children and families." The Admiral put his hand on Andrew's shoulder. "I saw that random code generator you created, the one that can be tailored to whoever is using it. Pretty ingenious." Andrew looked again at Malcolm, who gave him a little smile and a shrug. "That's the kind of thinking we need in R & D, if we are going to build our fleet, and provide the best for our crews. Think about it, Andrew, talk to your wife–"
"Talk to me about what?" Mariah walked back to the table, with Hoodu in tow. He was considerably cleaner than before, although his shirt still showed a stain, and his hair was wet. The Admiral stood up, and offered her his seat. "Your husband can tell you all about it," he answered, "I need to get back to the stuffed shirt dignitaries I have to make nice with." He looked at Hoodu, "You clean up pretty well, young man. The first order of a starfleet captain is to look sharp." Hoodu snapped to his version of attention, standing as tall as he could, beaming at the praise. "Enjoy the rest of the evening," the Admiral called out as he walked away.
"Mom," Hoodu began, but Andrew shook his head. "I think you've had enough excitement for tonight, come over here by me." Hoodu sighed but did as he was told. "Talk to me about what?" Mariah repeated. Somewhere music began to sound over the crowd, and couples moved to the center of the room to start dancing. Captain Lorian took Karyn Archer by the hand, and Trip also led T'Pol away. Captain Archer decided it was a good time to leave the family alone to discuss things, and he also excused himself.
Mariah stared expectantly at her husband. "The Admiral," Andrew began, "Wants me to stay in starfleet and accept a job here in San Francisco in their Research and Development department." Mariah's eyes widened and a smile rose on her lips. "You wouldn't have to be posted on a ship?" she asked. Andrew shook his head, "no, and we'd have an apartment on the base, and the kids could go to the school right there, and–" "And it sounds perfect," Mariah finished. She took his hand in hers. "I know if you had your druthers, you'd be on the next ship out of here." He started to protest, but she kept talking. "But you belong with us, and we belong with you." He leaned over and kissed her, causing Hoodu to giggle. "So," she continued, "This would be the best of both worlds, wouldn't it?"
"I agree," Malcolm spoke up. "We need you in starfleet, Andrew, and this is a perfect opportunity." Andrew smiled at his father. "Thanks for recommending me," he said, and Malcolm grinned. "We need the best," he said simply, "And you're the best."
Suddenly Dion started squealing, and he wiggled out of Andrew's lap. "Unka Jack! Unka Jack!" The toddler scampered towards a young man who was speeding towards them, and he leaped into the man's arms. Malcolm noted that the new addition had fiery hair that matched his daughter-in-law's. "Hey pal!" Jack grabbed Dion and tossed him into the air, then set him down to grab Hoodu next, who had launched at him. Mariah was being hugged tightly by a young woman who could have been her twin, and Andrew was shaking hands with an older man, while the lady next to him picked up Dion and gave him a big hug. The McKenzies had finally arrived from the Columbia.
"These are my in-laws," Andrew made the introductions, as everyone shook hands with Malcolm. "My brother-in-law, Jack," Malcolm noted that the boy looked barely out of his teens, "and my sister-in-law Moira." Moira's smile seemed to pour sunshine into the room, and her green eyes sparkled as she shook hands with Malcolm. She had taken the seat right next to him. "I can see the resemblance," she told him, "Andrew has your eyes, and your cheekbones."
Lorina McKenzie smiled, "It's wonderful to meet you," she added, "Andrew never let on that he knew who his father was!" She was holding Dion now, and her husband had pulled his chair up and had his arm around her shoulders. Hoodu had claimed his Uncle Jack in a tickle fight, the both of them wiggling and hooting. "It was a shock to me, too," Malcolm conceded, taking in the boisterous family that surrounded him. He still held a now-sleeping RJ on his lap. "But a lovely shock–a blessing I never expected to have," he added with a smile, as he tried to tear himself away from Moira's eyes. He didn't notice Mariah nudge Andrew and exchange a quick knowing look with him. Moira reached out to gently stroke RJ's hair, then let her hand brush Malcolm's arm, before letting it rest on the table next to his hand. "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me," Malcolm continued, "I'm a father to a son, and a grandfather to 3 beautiful boys."
Mariah laughed softly, and nudged her husband's hand. Andrew cleared his throat, and beamed at his wife. "Actually, sir," he spoke as he gazed into his wife's eyes, "you will be a grandfather to 4 children before the year is out, and this one's a girl."
The noise from this announcement woke up RJ, who frowned and looked around him, then grinned at his Aunt Moira and held his arms out to her. Malcolm transferred the boy to her lap, all the while staring at Andrew and Mariah. The older McKenzies laughed and cheered, and James patted Andrew on the back. Moira's face sparkled with delight, while Jack tickled Hoodu even more and they both chortled.
Malcolm could only stare at his son, and the woman his son had chosen to spend his life with. This was his family, he told himself, and it was growing and thriving. "Sir?" Andrew asked, "...Dad?" Malcolm reached across the table to seize Andrew's hand. "Son."