Prologue:
Earth Year 2371
Stardate 48810.0
The Galaxy-class
starship USS Sarek entered drydock
high over the red surface of Mars. As
the gangway connected to the airlock on the starship’s dorsal, crews of medical
personnel rushed aboard, pushing anti-grav gurneys ahead of them, ready to
evacuate the casualties of the recent attempt by an alien race called the
Qualen to hijack the Federation starship and kill its entire crew.
“Don’t worry,
Sylvan. You’re going to be alright,”
Civilian Ombudsman Val’ri Raiajh said to her husband, Dr. Sylvan Xaran, as the
orderlies from Utopia Planitia lifted him onto one of the gurneys. Xaran had been one of the most badly injured
survivors of the attack, having sustained major trauma to his head, to the
point where many of the Sarek crew
had thought him dead for a time, including his wife, Raiajh. “The doctors are going to take good care of
you.”
Xaran looked up
at his wife though barely open eyelids, his look of confusion evident.
“Who…? Who…?” he mumbled.
“The Qualen did
this to you,” Raiajh replied to his assumed question as she grasped his hand
tightly in her own. “But you’re going to
be okay.”
“Who…?” Sylvan
continued to ask, looking up at Raiajh with emotionless solid black eyes. Finally he managed to get out what he had
been struggling to say, “Who… are you?”
A look of shock
covered Val’ri’s face as she suddenly realized she could barely feel the
telepathic bond she had shared with her husband since the day they married more
than four years earlier, so critical were the injuries to Xaran’s brain.
“Excuse me, Ms.
Raiajh,” one of the orderlies said as he pulled Xaran’s hand away from her
own. “We need to get Doctor Xaran into
emergency surgery as soon as possible.”
Still speechless,
Raiajh watched as the orderlies pushed her husband’s gurney toward the airlock
just as young Charissa Xaran, under the care of ship’s counselor Kethry
Sutherland, came around the corner.
“Mommy!” the
little girl cried, wrapping her arms around her mother’s legs. “Where’s Daddy? What has happened to him?”
* * *
Stardate 48848.3
Val’ri Raiajh
pressed the chime at the door of the captain’s ready room. “Come,” said a gentle-sounding female voice
from inside. The doors swished open and
Val’ri stepped in.
“You wished to
see me, Captain?” the Vulcan-Deltan woman asked.
“Yes, Val’ri,
please sit down,” Captain T’Veer, the starship’s former chief engineer and
newly assigned commanding officer said.
“How is Sylvan doing?”
“He is alive,
though he retains none of his memory since just prior to our first encounter on
the Arcturus,” Val’ri replied. “His
brain was severely injured during the Qualen attack. The doctors here have told me it was a
miracle he survived at all. He is in
need of the kind of therapy and re-training that he cannot get here at Utopia
Planitia.”
“Sylvan is
nothing if not a strong survivor,” T’Veer commented. “Do you know where he can get the kind of
therapy he requires?”
“Yes. By chance, one of his
“You are
correct,” the half-Vulcan, half-human starship commander replied. “I have need of you.” When Val’ri looked at T’Veer curiously, the
captain continued, “As you can imagine, the attack by the Qualen, as well as
the recent crew rotation, has left me somewhat short of experienced
officers. I am aware you have taken the
bridge officer’s test and are qualified on the conn. I wanted to know if you would be willing to re-activate
your commission?”
Val’ri looked
thoughtful for a moment, then started shaking her head. “I am not sure I can do that, Captain. I am currently the only elementary grade
teacher still among the crew. And with
Sylvan incapable of helping me care for Charissa, I do not believe I could
handle new duties as a bridge officer.”
“Consider this
idea,” T’Veer suggested. “If you would
be willing to reactivate your commission as a reserve officer, I would be
willing to promote you to the rank of Commander, Starfleet Reserve, and assign
you to an abbreviated watch during Gamma Shift, filling in as either conn
officer or officer of the deck as needed for a few hours each night, until I
can get some qualified officers to fill those positions on a more permanent
basis. That would allow you to both care
for your daughter and retain your position with the ship’s school. I would also be willing to provide transport
to get Sylvan to Deep Space Nine
before we re-enter the Gamma Quadrant.”
Val’ri looked
thoughtful again as she considered T’Veer’s request.
“I must discuss
your offer with Charissa,” Val’ri finally replied. “After all, my decision will affect her as
well. But I will get back to you before
we depart Utopia Planitia.”
“That would be
acceptable,” the captain agreed.
* * *
Stardate 48905.8
“Approaching DS9,” Commander Val’ri Raiajh (SFR) said
from the helm console.
“Very well. Prepare to dock,” ordered Commander V’Pier
N’Vorda, the starship’s new first officer, who was filling in on Gamma Shift
temporarily.
“DS9 has given us clearance to dock at
Upper Pylon 2,” the officer at ops informed.
Raiajh turned
around in the helm seat and looked at the shapeshifting first officer.
“Commander, may I
be relieved so I may escort my husband, Sylvan, over to the infirmary aboard DS9?”
N’Vorda nodded as
he motioned one of the lieutenants standing on the upper bridge deck to assume
the helm. Val’ri slipped out of the helm
seat and headed straight into the turbolift across the bridge. Moments later she was helping the Bajoran
chief medical officer, Rasa Palin, escort Sylvan Xaran to the transporter room.
“This is very
nice of both of you to walk me to the station,” Sylvan said to both of
them. “It wasn’t necessary for both of
you to do this.”
“Well, I will be
transferring off the Sarek while
we’re docked here,” the Bajoran physician said.
“I’m looking forward to resuming my practice in
“What about you,
Commander?” Sylvan said to Val’ri as he looked at her. “Will you be getting off the Sarek at Deep Space Nine too?”
“I’m afraid
not. I have duties to fulfill here
aboard the Sarek,” Val’ri replied,
causing Sylvan to frown.
“Oh. That’s too bad. You’ve been very friendly since my accident,
and I was hoping to have a friend aboard the station once the ship leaves.”
“You will have a
friend here,” Val’ri reassured her husband, who still did not recognize her as
his wife because of his brain injury.
“Doctor Julian Bashir is the Chief Medical Officer here. He will be the one caring for you for the
foreseeable future.”
“Julian!” Sylvan
exclaimed, recognizing the name of his close friend and
Shortly, the trio
reached the transporter room, where transporter chief Ron Giacobbe beamed them
over to the station. A short time later,
all three entered the infirmary, where an olive-skinned human man with piercing
eyes smiled as they entered.
“Sylvan! Val’ri!
It’s so very good to see you again,” Dr. Julian Bashir said.
“You’ve met
Commander Raiajh before?” Sylvan said to Bashir with a look of confusion. “I wish I could remember!”
“Doctor Rasa,
perhaps you could take Sylvan into the exam room and make him comfortable while
I speak with Doctor Bashir?” Val’ri suggested.
“Of course. Come with me, Sylvan. I’m sure Julian is going to want to examine
you himself in a moment.”
“Good bye,
Commander Raiajh,” Sylvan said, turning to look at Val’ri once more. “I hope you will stop by and visit me again
if the Sarek docks at Deep Space Nine in the future.”
“You can be sure
of it, Sylvan,” Raiajh assured him before the brain-injured man followed Rasa
into the exam area and Raiajh had a moment to fill Bashir in on the details of
her husband’s injuries.
“This must be
terrible for you, Val,” Bashir said.
“Your own husband not knowing who you are or remembering your lives
together?”
“I am hoping it
is only a temporary condition, Julian,” Val’ri replied. “And that hope is the only thing that allows
me to continue functioning normally.”
Bashir nodded in
agreement, then said, “I must run a few tests on him first, but I’m fairly
certain I can help him regain his memories.
I’ve worked with this type of brain injury before, although it may be a
bit tricky on a telepathic species like a Betazoid. I just cannot say how long it will take.”
“Please keep me
informed,” Val’ri implored. “You know
where to reach me. And Charissa and I
will visit as often as we can.”
* * *
Earth Year 2372
Stardate 49191.7
Approximately two and a half
months after the Klingon Empire attacked Cardassia and withdrew from the
Khitomer Accords.
Quark’s Bar
Starbase Deep Space Nine
He sat down at
the opposite end of the bar from Morn, and Quark came over to take his order.
“What’ll it be,
Doc?”
“Aldeberan
Whiskey,” the young doctor replied.
Quark went to get
the drink and returned with it, standing in such a way that he could both talk
to the doctor while seeing both what was happening and who was coming and going
from the establishment. “I heard the Sarek docked a little while ago. That Vulcan female with the hair will
probably come visit you again.”
“Commander
Raiajh?” he asked, but more as a statement than as a question. “I guess;
although I wonder why? She says she’s a
friend, but she’s the only one from the Sarek
who does visit with regularity. I
think she’s married though.”
“I noticed she
wears a ring that looks exactly like yours.
You keep saying you think you’re married; perhaps she’s the one you’re
married to?”
“I doubt that,
Quark.”
“Why? I see the way she looks at you. Like she’s hoping you would remember
something.”
Noticing
Commander Raiajh walk in, Quark quickly handed Dr. Xaran an isolinear rod.
“What’s this?”
the doctor asked.
“A holodeck
program;
Sensing something
familiar, Sylvan looked over and noticed Commander Raiajh walking toward
him. He said to Quark, “You’re on.”
Quark turned
around and replicated a raktajino the way the Commander liked it and set it
down in front of the seat next to Dr. Xaran.
She sat down and gave the Ferengi her thumbprint for what Xaran thought
was just the beverage and looked over at Sylvan, who was looking at the rod in
his hand.
“Hello,
Sylvan. What do you have there?”
“Hello,
Commander. Just a holodeck program that
Quark here said I would be interested in.
Nothing fancy, just a park setting similar to those found on Earth.”
“Like I told you
before, you can call me Val. Terran
parks are certainly nice for walks. If
you wish to be alone I could come back later.”
“Would you join
me? I need someone to talk to and we
don’t have another counselor here on the base.”
She sat down,
holding a padd that she brought with her and replied. “Sure.
I have some training, but it’s not something I normally do.”
Quark held out
his padd for a thumbprint. The way Dr.
Xaran asked may have been unconventional, but she did say yes.
Space,
the Final Frontier…
Star Trek:
Personal Logs
“Leviathan Rising” By Nadine B. Bach
Prologue and epilogue by PJK
The couple left
the bar area and headed up to holosuite 4 with their drinks; Val’ri still
clutching the padd she brought with her.
They activated the scene and found a park bench to sit down on, each
keeping to opposite ends of the bench.
“What’s on your mind,
Sylvan?” Raiajh asked.
“I’ve been
wondering about certain things,” he started.
Playing with the ring he wore on the third finger on his left hand he
asked, “I wear this ring, but am I actually married?”
“You are, but you
should know that. You should be able to
feel the telepathic link.”
“I feel
something, but if I’m married, then why doesn’t my wife come visit me here on
the base? She must be on the Sarek.”
“She is on the Sarek. What makes you think she hasn’t?”
“Val, you and my
daughter are the only ones from the Sarek
who have visited me.”
“That doesn’t
answer the question, Sylvan.”
“Val, you couldn’t
possibly be my wife.”
She blinked. Why would he not even consider the
possibility? “Am I that different from you that you cannot consider the possibility?”
“Women like you
don’t end up with guys like me, who are shy and usually keep to themselves.”
She looked at
him. “Sylvan, you are most definitely
not shy; at least not with me. When we
first met you never had any problems trying to talk to me. You were quite
formal when you introduced yourself, making sure I knew you were from Betazed’s
tenth house, probably trying to impress me with the fact.”
“First
impressions can be everything.”
She smiled. “I think I shocked you even more when I told
you that my mother was, when she was alive, an Ambassador to the Federation
from Delta IV. However, I liked your
straight-forward attitude, and I wanted to get to know you better.”
“Val, I think
that would shock anyone. You look
Vulcan, and at first glance one would certainly think you were. Considering I’m a doctor, even when I look at
someone for the first time, it is a bit more than a cursory glance. The first time you visited me after I came to
DS9 I knew from looking at you, you
were definitely more than just Vulcan.
Your body structure and features also identify you as Deltan. Considering that Vulcans and Deltans are so very different emotionally it could be
considered a miracle that your parents even got together in the first place.”
“Sylvan, I don’t
know anything about my father. My mother
said she never knew who he was. My
mother conceived me and my brother through in-vitro fertilization. I was just
supposed to be an experiment in a laboratory.
My genetic material was not supposed to be implanted into my mother for
gestation. Some scientist just wanted to
see if, on some off chance a Deltan and a Vulcan got together, if they could
produce viable off-spring.”
“Sorry. I hope that wasn’t a contentious point.”
“It’s fine. I don’t normally discuss it. Growing up at the Deltan Embassy wasn’t much
fun for me, between my mixed heritage and the fact I didn’t look like the other
children. At fourteen, I was grown up
enough that my mother sent me to Vulcan to study at the
“Val, that
certainly isn’t good for the psyche to think that.”
“Sylvan, I’m
confident with myself and my abilities.
The fact that I’m considered beautiful by the man who loves me and I
love in return, is more than enough.”
“So, you’re
married too?” She nodded as he
continued. “I hope your husband doesn’t
mind I dragged you into a holodeck alone.”
She smiled. “He trusts me enough to know I wouldn’t do
anything.”
His next
statement shocked her. “Considering that
my wife hasn’t come to visit me, I was thinking of asking her for a
divorce. If she truly loved me she
should take the time to at least see how I’m doing.”
She reached around
her neck and removed one of the necklaces she wore. She took his hand and placed the chain and
pendent in the palm of his hand and closed his hand around it. She then got up off the park bench walked a
few steps away and sat on her knees in the grass facing away from him.
He watched her
walk those few steps and sit in the grass.
A moment later, he noticed her shoulders moving up and down in a rhythm
that suggested that she had begun crying.
He went to look at the object she gave him. Years ago he had a pendant made that he
would give to his wife when he finally married.
She just gave him that pendant.
Why would she be wearing the pendant meant for his wife?
He saw the padd
she left on the bench. It was upside
down, but activated and there was a picture staring back at him. Looking
through it he saw pictures of the two of them as well as Charissa, and two
files. One was a copy of their marriage
license. The other, the adoption records
of Charissa and her older brother Jonathan.
The pictures portrayed
them as a happy family. He was too busy
wondering why his wife was not visiting him to even fathom the possibility that
the woman who was visiting him
was his wife. Despite her outwardly Vulcan exterior, the
emotions she was showing clearly stated she was saddened by his statement. At the same time the love he felt from her
was her love for him.
Putting the padd
back down on the bench he walked over and sat down cross legged next to
her. He took the necklace she gave him
and put it back around her neck. He then
took her in his arms and held her.
“Val, I’m
sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I
didn’t stop to think about the possibility that you actually could have been my
wife.”
“Is it that hard
to believe that the two of us fell in love and got married? Am I truly that different I don’t deserve what I have?”
She calmed down
as he held her and spoke. “Val, that’s
not fair. Everyone deserves the chance to love and be loved. You are a wonderful person and I’ve been
grateful for your visits these last few months.
I just wish I was able to remember more. I’ve only had one memory return from the
last four years in recent weeks. In fact
I’m not even sure if it’s a memory or just wishful thinking. I’m in a scene like this, a park, except its
night. Not a dark one, one that is lit
up by the brightness of the full moon.
I’m with someone and we stop and sit on a park bench. After talking for a few moments, we’re
kissing.”
“Sitting like
this?” she asks as she straddled his legs putting her arms around his neck and
looking straight into the inky black depths of his eyes.
“Exactly like
this,” he replied, putting his arms around her waist just holding her
there. While holding each other she
began running her fingers through his short dark hair. He was enjoying just being close to her like
this.
She smiled at
him. “I know it’s hard. I want more than this too. I will tell you that it is a memory. It was a memory from our first date. You were still at
“Wait… you
couldn’t have possibly served on the original Arcturus. The ship was lost
with all hands in the late 23rd century.”
“Actually I
did. When we disappeared in 2288, we
were supposed to have gone on a mission to the past, for research. Something happened and instead of going back
to 1967, we ended up re-emerging in the middle of 2367. At that time we were intercepted by the Surak.
About a day and a half later, the medical teams from the Surak, including you, toured the Arcturus. That evening I was sitting in the main rec
room aboard the Arcturus talking with
my friend Cathryn. For some reason as
the group was passing through, you and I connected telepathically for a very
brief moment. It wasn’t intentional or
anything, it just happened. However, it
got my attention. I stopped talking to
Cathryn and we just stared at each other as you passed through.”
“After you left,”
she continued, “My friend Cathryn was looking at me like I had gone mad or
something. Not surprising, as I had
never done that before. So she ever so
bluntly reminds me that I couldn’t do anything, anyway because you were human.”
“What would that
have to do with anything?”
“Everything. Despite being discouraged from dating other
Deltans and not being bound by the oath of celibacy that other Deltans who
serve in Starfleet are, I was not without restrictions. My relationship possibilities were limited to
those of telepathic races.”
“I barely fall
into that category myself.”
She smiled. “And that matters? What matters is that you and I met, fell in
love, and got married.”
“Which, despite
seeing everything I’m still having a hard time believing. I always thought the woman I would marry
would probably be Betazoid, because…” he started and trailed off leaving the
sentence unfinished.
To his amazement,
she completed what he was going to say telepathically, ‘Because you wanted to be able to have this with your wife. From the
beginning we never had any problem conversing like this. In fact, I surprised you the first time.’
‘I can imagine. I
have never been able to converse like this with anyone who wasn’t Betazoid. How…?’
‘I don’t know how, or why, I just was thankful I was able
to converse with another in this fashion.
There are times I prefer conversation in this manner. I knew I had the ability. I was able to talk to my mother this way, but
she never allowed it; reminding me that the only times Deltans used the ability
was during certain activities.’
Considering
the imagery behind the statement he stared at her with amazement wondering if
that was how he found out about her abilities.
She assured him, ‘If we had waited
for that, we would never have been more than good friends. It was after you had
asked me to have dinner with you and before I actually accepted. I had gotten a communiqué that afternoon from
my brother, and I was profoundly affected by what I saw. Seeing his face brought me face-to-face with
the reality of the time that had passed. You had passed by my cabin and sensed
my anger and we spoke about my feelings.
As I wanted to express my feelings but not wish to talk I decided to see
if we could communicate this way. It
surprised you but at the same time it was liberating for both of us.’
‘You do get a much better understanding this way as
there’s much more than just the words. Yet we seem to talk as much
non-telepathically.’
‘We do. We have
always just gone back and forth between verbal and non-verbal communication
without much thought. Those we serve with on the Sarek
have gotten used to the fact that we’ll be walking along and suddenly start
talking in the middle of the conversation.’
‘Non-telepaths must find that a bit unnerving.’
‘I guess, but I never paid any attention,’ she replied.
‘Considering that we’re married, this next
question is going to sound weird. Have
we ever…?’ he began, allowing the mental image behind his thought to supply
meaning.
She blinked. Then she remembered those silly rumors about
being intimate with Deltans. With a
mischievous grin on her face she quietly replied, “If you like we can go back
to your quarters and you can find out for yourself.”
“Julian might
object to that.”
“Julian will just
have to deal with it.” Holding the back
of his head with her hand, she leaned forward and kissed him. “It might help you remember a bit more.”
“Aside from the
wonderful experience I’m sure it would be; how would it help me remember more?”
“I’m telepathic;
you’re telepathic. You figure it out.”
“That may not
such a good idea, although it is tempting.”
“You’re probably
right. You should remember a bit more on your own first,” she replied.
“Is Charissa with
you?” he asked.
“My friend
Cathryn is watching her right now, but she’s on the Sarek”
“Can you bring
her with you tomorrow for a visit?”
“I can, she’s
wanted to see you. Right now she thinks
you’re never coming back to the Sarek
and I don’t want to tell her.”
“We can’t have
that now, can we? Does 1100 sound good? We can have lunch at the replimat.”
“1100 is
good. Please try not to act too
surprised when she calls you Daddy.”
“She calls me
Daddy? What happened to Uncle Sylvan?”
“When she first
came to live with us, she called you Uncle Sylvan and called me Val. Just Val,
not Aunt Val. After a few weeks she just
started calling us Mommy and Daddy.”
“I’m sure I’ll
start remembering that too.”
“You will.”
They continued
talking and walking around the park simulation until it turned off at the end
of the two hour block of time. During
that time he remembered a few tiny, insignificant things, but they began to add
up.
They parted ways
as she returned to the Sarek for the
evening, while he returned to the quarters assigned to him on DS9.
As he sat on the bunk he mused about his unusual Vulcan female friend.
Then suddenly the
memories about her came back to him. He
remembered that awkward way of asking her out, and of his learning that she was
a telepath and empath. He remembered sitting
on a park bench with her and they were kissing.
Not a little peck on the cheek type kiss. They were passionately kissing. Then he remembered things about her. That it was
the first time she had kissed someone that way.
Before him, she had never even thought about doing that. She never actually dated anyone. She never wanted to. Growing up she was always taunted about her
looks and her rather unique heritage. Over the next few days they talked about
things like love, marriage and family.
He remembered that rather awkward conversation that they had with
Commodore Johnson. He remembered going
with her to the Deltan Embassy upon their return to Earth and later that
evening to
He thought about
it. Was
it so wrong? Actually, it
wasn’t. For once, something felt
right. By this time it was 2200. He tapped his combadge.
“Computer, please
locate Captain T’Veer of the USS Sarek.”
“Captain T’Veer
is located in her ready room aboard the Sarek.”
He closed the
link and found his way to the bridge of the Galaxy-class starship. Along the way he was greeted by several
members of the crew who recognized him and asked how he was doing and if he was
going to be returning to the Sarek soon.
Upon arriving on
the bridge, he found Commander N’Vorda on watch.
“Greetings, Commander
N’Vorda. Permission to come aboard? I
was wondering if I could have a few moments with Captain T’Veer.”
“Good evening,
Doctor. Permission granted. It’s good to see you. Hold on, I’ll see if she has a few moments.” The shapeshifting first officer then tapped
his combadge. “Commander N’Vorda to
Captain T’Veer.”
“T’Veer.”
“Captain, Doctor
Xaran is here and was wondering if you had a few minutes to talk?”
“That would be
acceptable. Send him into my ready room.”
N’Vorda closed
the comm channel and motioned for Xaran to head over to the captain’s ready
room. As Xaran neared the doors, he
activated the door chime.
“Come,” he heard
T’Veer call from inside. He entered and
stood before the Captain. “Greetings, Doctor
Xaran. What can I do for you this
evening?”
“I wanted to
inform you that I’m ready to resume my duties on board the Sarek.”
He noticed her
raised eyebrow at his statement.
“Are you certain,
Doctor? We don’t currently have the room
to give you your own private cabin. Would
you be comfortable with your previous cabin assignment?”
Xaran smiled at
the half-Vulcan woman as he replied, “Captain, I have no problems sharing a
cabin with my wife and daughter.”
T’Veer nodded in
satisfaction at the Betazoid man’s response.
“Very well, Doctor. I’ll see what
I can do to have you reassigned back to the Sarek
before we depart DS9 in seventy-two
hours,” she said.
“Thank you,
Captain.”
T’Veer nodded,
then dismissed the doctor. As he left
the ready room, he wanted to tell Val right then and there, but decided instead
to wait until morning. When he returned
to his cabin on DS9 he sent her a recorded
message asking for her and Charissa to meet him at 0900 in the infirmary on DS9 instead of 1100 at the replimat. Then he lay down on his bed and quickly drifted
off to sleep, where he dreamed of his wife and their future together.
* * *
The following
morning at 0900, Val’ri and Charissa walked into the infirmary aboard DS9.
As he turned around from a project he had been working on for several
days, Val’ri noticed how he looked at them.
What had occurred the previous night had apparently triggered something in
Xaran’s brain, because his look said it all to her. He remembered!
Xaran stood up
and hugged Val’ri and just held onto her like he didn’t want to let her
go. While the pair were occupied,
Captain Benjamin Sisko, the station’s commander, with whom Xaran had spoken
that morning about returning to the Sarek,
walked in and stepped up to young Charissa.
He silently put his finger against his lips, signaling the little girl
to remain quiet so as to not alert her parents to his presence. Then kneeling down, he spoke quietly to her.
“Good morning,
Charissa. I’m Captain Sisko. I’m in command of this station.”
“Hello, Captain,”
Charissa said with a grin. “My Mommy and
I came to see my Daddy.”
“So I see,” Sisko
whispered. Do you want to help me with
something?” Charissa nodded hesitantly. Sisko tried to put the young girl at ease by
saying, “Don’t worry. We aren’t leaving
this room. I want to give your Daddy
something and to make it extra special I need your help.” He handed her a small hollow rank pip. “You know what this is right?” She nodded as he explained. “When I tell you to, I want you to place it
on your daddy’s collar right next to the other two he already has. Do you think you can do that?” She nodded again as he finished. “Good.
Ready?” She gave him a big smile
as he lifted Charissa up to sit on the diagnostic bed. Then out loud, Captain Sisko said, “Doctor Xaran.”
Sylvan and Val’ri
quickly separated, and Sylvan said, “Sorry, Captain Sisko.”
“Front and
center, Doctor.”
Sharing a nervous
glance with his wife, Sylvan walked over and stood in front of Captain Sisko, next
to where his daughter, Charissa, sat. Sisko
then said, “Your request to return to the Sarek
has been approved. In addition, I also
received the following from Starfleet Command; To:
Xaran, Lieutenant Sylvan. Effective
immediately, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, with
all rights and privileges accorded such rank.”
He looked over at Charissa and nodded.
She took the small hollow pip in her hand and placed it on Sylvan’s
collar next to the two solid pips located there. Captain Sisko then held out his hand to offer
his congratulations to the newly-promoted Lieutenant Commander.
Looking at both of them, he said, “You
may report aboard the Sarek at your
convenience. However, Captain T’Veer and
I need to speak to both of you in my office in Ops in one hour.”
Both Val’ri and Sylvan replied in
unison, “Yes, sir.”
“Very well. I’ll see you both in an hour. Enjoy your breakfast.”
The three family members walked over
to the replimat to have some breakfast.
Toward the end, they were joined by Val’ri’s friend, Lieutenant Cathryn
Pearson, who had agreed to watch Charissa while the couple were in their
meeting. Pearson and Charissa left the
replimat with the promise to do some shopping along the Promenade while the
young girl’s parents attended their meeting with Captains Sisko and T’Veer.
As the pair arrived in Ops, Major
Kira Nerys, the station’s Bajoran first officer, motioned for the pair to head
into Sisko’s office. They entered the
room and the doors closed behind them.
The two were greeted by the sight of not only Captains Sisko and T’Veer,
but also Admiral William Ross. As the
higher ranking officer, Raiajh took the lead.
“Commander Val’ri Raiajh, Doctor
Sylvan Xaran, reporting as ordered, Captain Sisko.”
Sisko said, “Both of you please sit
down. We have much to discuss.”
As the couple sat, Admiral Ross
spoke. “Regardless of your decision,
what we discuss here today is not to leave this room. Is that understood?”
Both replied, “Yes, sir.”
Ross continued, “Due in no small
part to our recent hostilities with the Klingons and the increasingly tense
relations with the Dominion, the Federation has designed a new class of ships,
similar to the Defiant, but on a
larger scale, known as the Leviathan-class.
With tensions high throughout the quadrant, the Federation is looking
into manning ships with volunteer crews willing to get directly into the heat
of battle. The Leviathan-class
Development Project has already seen record numbers of applicants, from both the
Starfleet Marine Corps and Starfleet Security personnel, along with others. We have asked both of you here today in the
hopes that you would be willing to volunteer to help with the first and second
phases of the project. You will be
responsible for hand picking the initial one hundred members for the crew of
the first operational vessel that, in the end, will number over one hundred and
twenty. Starfleet billeting will assign
another nineteen, primarily engineering personnel. The two of you will complete the crew
compliment.” Ross then looked directly
at Raiajh. “Val’ri, you will be in
command, but your primary job will be to act as instructor for the crew as they
are put through battle drills and simulations.
Doctor Xaran, your primary job will be to assess the medical and
psychological well-being of the crew throughout the period of training. Since she has some training in psychological
evaluation, Val’ri will be assisting you with that as well. And you will both be able to use your
telepathic ability to assess the crew.”
Ross studied both officers sitting
before him, gauging their reactions.
“It’s not the most glamorous posting
in Starfleet, but it will be beneficial to both your careers,” the Sisko
commented.
Admiral Ross continued, “Upon the
end of phase two, which will take approximately twenty-one months, you will
both be reassigned to duties on Earth, after a stay of a few weeks at Starbase
234 to prepare and present your final briefings on the Project. When you reach Earth, a position at Starfleet
Medical will be waiting for you, Doctor Xaran.
Part of these duties will include the instruction of new interns. As for you Commander Raiajh, should you
accept, this posting will include two promotions for you. The first will be in six months, upon the
completion of phase one, to the rank of captain as you assume actual command of
the Leviathan-class vessel USS Besiege
for the second phase. Upon completion of
phase two, and your subsequent reassignment to Starfleet Headquarters, you will
receive a promotion to Commodore.
Likewise, if you do accept this assignment, your current rank will transfer
from reservist to full active duty, effective immediately.”
“Would it be acceptable if Sylvan
and I discuss this offer before giving you our answer?”
Ross replied, “You may discuss it,
but I will need your answer before you leave this room. Do you need some time alone?”
“That is fine, sir. And no, you need not leave. Permission to step away from the desk?” Val’ri
asked.
“Permission granted.”
The two got up from the desk and
moved over to the end of the office, where several models decorated the tables
near Sisko’s couch, and proceeded to discuss the admiral’s offer telepathically.
‘What
do you think?’ Val’ri asked Sylvan.
‘It
certainly sounds tempting. I would love
to be able to return to Earth and have a post at Starfleet Medical.’
‘I
agree. Despite working within the
Admiralty, being on Earth will allow for us an opportunity to expand on our
family, as we have planned. The only
drawback would be that we would have to put Charissa in a boarding school for just
over a year, preferably on Earth; not Betazed itself. If Charissa was on Betazed, I’m afraid that
when we came to get her after our time on the Besiege, your mother will
have turned Charissa against me. You can’t begin to imagine how much that woman
despises me.’
‘Val,
my Mother is not that bad.’
‘Really? As part of the adoption agreement she wanted
to have the judge order that I render myself incapable of having children. She had her request made part of the court
record. Does that sound like sound like someone who likes and accepts me?’
‘I’m
sorry Val. She shouldn’t have said or even request that. I agree, perhaps a school on Earth would be
better for Charissa. Or, in the
alternative if we do place her in a school on Betazed, we make arrangements
with the school that my mother would not be allowed to visit.’
‘That
would be acceptable. Should I tell
Admiral Ross, we accept?’
‘Sounds
good, but I would like to request that when we are transferred back to Earth,
that my friend Jack also be transferred as well.’
‘I’ll
bring it up, and see what Admiral Ross says.
As a captain, I may be able to request one or two people, so it would do
no harm to broach the subject.’
The couple walked back over to
Sisko’s desk and returned to their seats.
Val’ri spoke, addressing Admiral Ross.
“We discussed the matter
Admiral. However, before we accept, I
would like to make two small requests.”
“If they are reasonable, I will see
what I can do,” Admiral Ross replied cautiously.
“The first one is, post separation from
the Besiege and the Project, regarding
our return to Earth. At the time we are
transferred, I would like to see Doctor Jacob Simmons, Jr. transferred from Jupiter Station to Starfleet Medical, as
he will be able to provide follow up treatments, as needed, to a procedure that
Doctor Bashir will be performing on me later today. The
second has to do with our assignment to the Besiege
itself. If Lieutenant Cathryn
Pearson is willing to apply to the Program, I want her to be accepted, provided
she passes the required psychological tests for such duty.”
T’Veer then spoke. “She actually has forward me an application
to this project. I was not going to approve
her request, however, as Lieutenant Pearson does not have the requisite security
training.”
“Actually, Cathryn has been training
for re-classification as a security and tactical officer, and completed her
studies only last week,” Val’ri said. “As
part of the training, both Lieutenant Toreth and I were assisted by Lieutenant
(JG) Carrie Karandanz from our security department in holodeck training
exercises. During these sessions, I
found Cathryn to be an excellent military tactician. That is something that would make her an
exceptional asset to whoever is assigned as the Besiege’s commanding officer after I leave.
She deserves this chance, Captain T’Veer. Security and tactical are areas that she
would excel in as a Starfleet officer.”
T’Veer nodded, reconsidering the
request.
“I will then forward Lieutenant
Pearson’s application. Just send me the
proof that she has completed the requisite training.”
Val’ri nodded in agreement. “You will have them by the end of today.”
Admiral Ross then continued. “Very well.
Your requests are certainly reasonable.
I will make sure that Lieutenant Pearson’s application is tagged as an
automatic acceptance, provided she passes the psychological exams, and I will
see to it that Doctor Simmons is transferred to Starfleet Medical by the
beginning of 2374.” Ross then looked
directly at Val’ri again and asked, “What kind of treatment is Doctor Bashir
providing, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Doctor Bashir is helping Doctor
Xaran and I with fertility issues. The
treatment he’s providing will aid in my ability to conceive a child. The treatment cycle is expected to take twenty-four
months. Doctor Simmons will provide any
follow up treatments that may be necessary, including but not limited to any
issues that may arise during pregnancy.
I would not have considered this assignment if I knew there was a chance
that I could not complete it.”
“That’s not unreasonable. It does help to know that you will be able to
see this assignment through to the end. Welcome
to the Leviathan-class Development Project, Commander, Doctor.”
* * *
Epilogue: Stardate
49273.9
Val’ri
Raijh and Sylvan Xaran stepped out of the runabout just after it settled to the
deck inside one of the spacedocks high in orbit over Utopia Planitia,
Mars. Through one of the large
transparent aluminum windows that looked out into the construction yard could
be seen a starship nearing completion.
The vessel could easily be mistaken for one of the new Defiant-class
ships, until the sense of scale was given away by one of the myriad
space-suited construction workers that were putting the finishing touches on
it, revealing a starship twice the size of the powerful USS Defiant.
Sylvan
stopped near the window, a low whistle emerging from his lips as he gazed at
what lay beyond.
“There
she is, Val. Your first command.”
Val’ri,
who had intended on merely entering the complex and reporting to the
shipbuilding supervisor before heading to the Besiege, paused and joined her husband.
“Impressive,”
she said, and meaning it.
Sylvan
turned to look at his wife, her eyes staring at the new starship, and he
remembered back to their first meeting, all those years before, in the rec room
aboard the original Arcturus. Then a thought occurred to him.
“Val,
considering the path your career has taken, starting as a quartermaster in the
late 23rd century, resigning your commission shortly after reaching
the 24th century, becoming a school teacher, accepting a reserve
commission back four years later, did you ever think this was where you would
eventually end up; in command of one of the most powerful starships in the
entire Federation Starfleet?”
Val’ri
looked at her husband, glad that he had finally recovered from the injuries he
had sustained and again remembered all the details of their lives, then thought
about what he had asked. It took a
moment, but she finally came up with a reply.
“Like
just about every Starfleet cadet, I dreamed of one day having a command of my
own when I attended the Academy. I was
pretty sure that was all it would ever be, a dream, especially when I resigned
my commission shortly after we were married.”
She then looked back out at the Besiege
and added, “But even in my wildest dreams, I never thought I would be
commanding a battleship during what basically amounts to a year-long training
cruise.”
The
pair exchanged one more look, culminating in shared smiles, before heading
further into the construction yard. It
took several minutes, and two turbolifts, before they reached the airlock that
connected to the starship Besiege.
“Commander
Val’ri Raiajh and Doctor Sylvan Xaran, reporting for duty as prospective
commanding officer and chief medical officer,” Raiajh said to the ensign
standing guard at the airlock entrance.
The ensign checked some information on a padd in his possession, then
with a nod tapped his combadge.
“Airlock
one to Commander McLeod.”
“McLeod,”
quickly came the reply.
“Commander,
the new CO and chief medical officer are here.”
“On
my way.”
Two
minutes later, Commander William McLeod appeared at the airlock and introduced
himself to Val’ri and Sylvan as the starship’s executive officer. He was a burley human with a thick mustache
and beard who wore his hair long, tied into a ponytail down the center of his
back in a style popular with some of the Klingons Val’ri had known while
serving aboard the Sarek. McLeod, when asked, admitted his fascination
with Klingon society and culture, particularly their code of honor, in spite of
recent hostilities between the Federation and the Empire, and how it influenced
his style of dress. He then proceeded to
lead the married couple up to the vessel’s bridge, where they could meet other
members of the command staff.
“I
pretty much designed this ship by myself,” McLeod remarked as they entered a
turbolift nearly half the size of the ones Val’ri had been used to aboard the
Galaxy-class Sarek. “I honestly thought Starfleet would put me in
charge when it came time to leave the nest.”
As
the turbolift door opened on a new deck and the trio stepped out, Val’ri
assured her new XO, “My role here is simply to be an instructor and evaluator. Once the Besiege
is launched and completes alpha space trials, ending phase one of the project,
I will only be in command for approximately a year, simulating battle
conditions and tactical situations. When
phase two is complete, during which the hand-picked crew will learn to fight
with this ship like no Starfleet crew has ever done before, and the vessel is
commissioned, I will be stepping down as its captain. Perhaps Starfleet Command already has you in
mind as my replacement? All I am
concerned with is, should war break out anytime soon, that this ship and this
crew are ready for anything that get thrown at them.”
“On
that point we can both agree,” McLeod said, pausing in the corridor to offer
Val’ri his hand. “Welcome aboard the Besiege… Captain.”
The End
Return to 2372.
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