Episode 1: Una Needs You

The announcement chime sounded. Pike closed a three-dimensional image hovering above his desk then pulled his previously discarded gold uniform tunic over its black undershirt. "Come."

Via the hallway door, Aalin entered the ready room. She walked to his side, laid her right arm across his shoulder, leaned down and kissed his cheek. A faint hint of her favorite lily of the valley perfume lingered and comforted. "It's late. Come to bed."

"Work," was the mumbled reply as he sorted neatly placed PADDs and data cassettes into new tidy stacks.

"Playing Minecraft: Romulan Neutral Zone or trying to best the updated flight simulator the inspection team installed?" she asked as her fingers stroked the back of his neck.

His eyes looked to the side meeting hers.

A smile preceded her explanation, "Half-spoken monosyllables are one of your tells." She leaned against the desk, facing him. "And I think you are avoiding me."

When he didn't respond, Aalin continued, "Yes, you picked a fight during breakfast which descended into, shall we say, raised voices."

"I checked the universal translator, you called me a jackass," he said.

Her fingers lingered after smoothing back a stray lock of his hair. "Actually I said you were behaving like a stubborn back end of horse. The computer interpreted that otherwise. Anyhow, I don't think your desire for a row this morning was about, and I quote, 'books and papers littering every surface of our quarters' nor 'piles of clothes on the bathroom floor' and not only do I maintain one bra does not constitute a pile, but you are the one who tossed it there after so deftly removing it last night. However I do accept responsibility for the mess on the kitchen table."

She paused. "Since my big-hearted, neatnik husband usually picks up after me without complaint before my commanding officer springs a snap inspection, I submit this morning's argument was about other weights on your mind than annoyance with me."

Her index finger pressed against his lips halting any response. "You may have started our fight, but I joined it; I too wanted to exorcise frustrations with Una's arrest. So let's be adults, remember we are each other's safe place, and skip the unnecessary 'I'm sorrys.'"

Chris placed his hands on the sides of her waist. "Have I mentioned I love you?"

"Not today, but then I was ratty this morning."

"Your opinions were vivid and lengthy," he said while trailing a finger across her collarbone, shoulder, and down an arm. His slightly bemused expression reminded this critique was a tease.

"I'm the daughter of a civil rights litigator and have four siblings. Mounting a robust counterargument is a survival skill in our family." Her nose brushed his before whispering near his ear, "And you carry my heart." His lips curved up; his eyes smiled. In one graceful motion she reached behind her back and clasped his hands releasing them after an affectionate squeeze, then scooted onto the desk's surface. "Did you talk to Una? Has she changed her mind about my father representing her? He thinks the time is ripe for a test case, believes Earth's stranglehold on Federation policy is a point of frustration with other member species who wish permitting within their local laws situational DNA and RNA correction, and that Human opinion is shifting in favor of a more moderate interpretation of our total genetic engineering ban."

"Yes." Chris' hand scrubbed his chin. "And no. She won't risk his defending her rippling back on you."

"Unlikely, but nothing I can't manage."

"She won't yield."

Aalin said in a tone mixed with regard and tenderness. "Una is resolute and a caretaker of all." Her hand rested on his cheek. "Reminds of a certain captain I know."

"She believes the judge advocate general may offer a plea deal," he said.

"You talked her out of it?"

"I lodged my fervent protest." His voice rose in volume. "Her resigning in disgrace benefits no one, certainly not the fleet." The punch left his tone and his shoulders drooped. "Losing her is ..." he swallowed, "unimaginable."

"She is important to me as well," Aalin said softly.

"Una and I have battled foes back-to-back, explored known and unknown space, held ship and crew together with little more than hope and promise more times than I care to recall. She knows my embarrassments, my failures, my secrets, and I thought I knew hers. Alone she's carried fear of discovery. Why didn't she trust me to share the burden?"

"I think you know the answer to that."

He scoffed. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"In a way, by keeping private counsel of her species, Una followed the gentle way of her people, adapting to accommodate a chosen home without inflicting harm."

"That should be the crux of her defense. Wait. Dangling a lesser punishment is curious …" Chris' voice drifted. Then strengthened. "Damn it. Focused on the inevitable requirement she resign I missed the bigger question."

"Which is?"

He began pacing the room. "Why offer a plea deal? Una's case isn't proving her perjury, it's about discipline for misrepresenting her species on an application for commission in Starfleet. Why hide under the rug an example of the consequences of breaking a rule? What does the brass gain by avoiding a trial?"

Aalin's brow creased as she considered his words. "No public and on the record discussion of the reasonableness, the constitutionality of banning a genetically modified being from Starfleet. A conversation that cannot and will not be contained to military court."

Chris stopped in front of her. His hand gestured. "Exactly. That's their Achilles' heel. And at the very least puts Una in front rank position during any bargain negotiations. Why did you roll your eyes? Oh, front rank means …"

"Best starting position in a horse race. We've been married five years; how could I not know such a basic equestrian fact? So switch to plan B?"

"A version of it." His thumb pressed a recessed button. "Flight deck duty officer. Status of the shuttle I requested?"

"Will be ready at 0600, sir. As you ordered."

"Very good. Captain out."

"You're leaving?"

"The attorney your father recommended isn't returning our calls. I'm going to bring her here," he said.

"Willingly?"

"Ideally."

Aalin looked up and held his gaze. "I see. So plan B is now a boy scout hail Mary."

His arms wrapped around her waist. "Funny, Una echoed the label."

"We both know you well." Placing a hand on his chest, she increased the distance between them. "Chris, that nebula is a dangerous place."

"In, chat, out. Back in three days, tops," he said in a confident tone.

"You should have someone watching your back," she insisted. "Take Isak."

"He's on Ionia Prime, too far to get here in time."

"John?"

"Settling his daughter into university."

"Spock?" she suggested.

"Need him to look after Enterprise during my absence."

"When did you last hear from La'an?"

"A month ago. She's following a promising lead in reuniting Oriana with her parents."

He took Aalin's hands in his, lifted them and deposited a kiss. "You have nothing to worry about I'll be fine."

"If I had a credit for each time you uttered those words …"

"You'd have a couple of credits." Chris flashed the dimples.

A pronounced eye roll responded.

"Go on, let's have the second half of this discussion," he prompted.

Her hands smoothed the uniform tunic over his shoulders and chest. "You mean where I insist on tagging along and you lapse into bossy mode and say absolutely not?" Aalin shook her head. "Una needs the best of and all of your focus and energy now. My going with you doesn't serve that, you'd be watching out for me. Go take care of our friend. Be safe. Come home."

He retrieved two mugs from the replicator and handed one to her.

"Green tea?" she asked.

"Which we shared when you first came on board, each day during a late evening chat. I looked forward to those." His tone turned rueful. "We've lost this habit amidst duty and familiarity. I think we should reclaim it, a little piece of every day where our relationship is the absolute priority. Like we did in those early months of friendship. Our time for things taken for granted is bounded; every minute is precious." He paused; his eyes fluttered as his head bobbed slightly. "I'm not morose. Rather cognizant."

Aalin sipped the tea until her emotions steadied. Believing no future was irrevocable until it arrived was her crutch as they navigated living with his choice on Boreth; recently Chris had become adamant not only was the future awaiting him unalterable, but he would take no action which might change it. Instead she focused on what he needed, reassurance their relationship would survive his accident and flourish. "I'd like that."

A comfortable silence embraced the room. He crooked his arm. "Shall we?"

She slid off the desk and looped her arm through his. "Is my knight angling for a proper send off before his righteous quest?"

His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Absolutely. Is it working?"

"When hasn't it?"