by John S. Drew
“All good things take time, Director,” Gomez said with a smile. “But when it’s done, you can make this resort even better.”
Tonais’s eyes lit up. “Yes. We can make this better. I never liked the rugs in the main reception area or the way the lights hung and the shape of the aqua pool. This is fantastic. Bander! Come with me! We have a great deal of work ahead of us.”
Tonais didn’t look back or say good-bye as he walked off. Bander gave one look to the two Starfleet officers before walking off. He stopped and shrugged. “We have a great deal of work ahead of us? Who is he kidding?” Bander turned and walked away, muttering to himself.
“Commander.” Pattie tapped Gomez on the shoulder and pointed toward the approaching Eddie and Ray Johnson.
Ray stepped up to Gomez and extended a hand. “Commander, I want to thank you for helping in rescuing my boy.”
“Dad!” Eddie said, his voice tinged with warning.
“I think it’s safe to say that Eddie helped rescue everyone, sir,” Gomez said, winking at the young man and bringing a tinge of red to his face.
“Thank you,” Eddie replied softly.
“Well, in any case, now that the conference is over, I’m going to take some time off. I’ve done all the work I can on the warp coil for now. I think it’s time I work on my relationship with my son.” Ray placed an arm around Eddie’s shoulder.
“I’d like that, Dad,” Eddie said, looking up at his father with a grin. “Have you seen Sparky, Commander?”
“It and its parents have been busy helping to restore power to areas of the region and by dispersing any residual storms that the weather system couldn’t handle. But everything’s under control now. I would imagine they’re ready to return to their home.”
“Oh,” Eddie said quietly. He turned to walk off, but stopped at the appearance of three glowing humanoid forms. “Sparky!”
EDDIE, MY FRIEND. IT IS TIME TO RETURN.
“For me too,” Eddie said. “Will I ever see you again?”
I THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE. I CAN SEND YOU MESSAGES THROUGH YOUR SUBSPACE CARRIER SYSTEM. AND SOMEDAY, YOU CAN VISIT ME WHEN YOU COMMAND YOUR STARSHIP.
“You really think I can do it?” Eddie asked.
MY FRIEND, I BELIEVE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT. I WILL MISS YOU.
“I’ll miss you too.” Eddie tried hard not to let the tears in his eyes fall.
Sparky took a step back to his parents.
“Thank you for your help,” Gomez said.
WE ARE SORRY FOR THE PROBLEMS OUR OFFSPRING CAUSED.
Gomez looked about and shrugged slightly. “Boys will be boys. Have a safe trip home. And make sure you avoid any ram scoop collectors.”
FAREWELL, COMMANDER GOMEZ. the three said in unison as they faded away.
Gomez’s combadge chirped sharply.
“Commander Gomez.” Shabalala’s voice came from the small device. “We’re reading the departure of the three energy beings.”
“That’s right, Tony,” Gomez said.
“Commander, Captain Gold has requested that if you have completed your duties planetside, you are to report to the transporter room to help in one more engineering task.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“He didn’t say. He’s already on his way to the transporter room and I’m leaving as soon as my relief gets here.”
Gomez looked to Pattie, who only shook her head. “Don’t look at me.”
“All right,” Sonya said, “alert the transporter room to beam us up.”
She turned to the Johnsons. “Good-bye, Professor Johnson, Eddie.”
“Good-bye,” they said in unison.
She offered a friendly wave as the transporter beam gathered around them and they faded away.
Gomez materialized into darkness. She had no clue what was going on. And apparently neither did Corsi, Stevens, Wong, Shabalala, or Haznedl, who had just gathered in the transporter room several seconds earlier. Wong was the quietest of the bunch, which led Gomez to believe he might know.
“All right,” she said. “Now can you tell me what’s going on?”
“Lights,” Wong called out.
Gomez blinked, startled by the sudden brightness around her. It took her a moment to adjust to the illumination. She let out a gasp as her vision cleared.
The crew was aboard the bridge of a luxury yacht. Gomez recognized the leather trim around the seating in the rear of the cabin. She stepped over and ran a hand along the surface of one of the seats.
“Andorian leather.” Gomez smiled.
“This has to be a Starstream-line yacht,” Stevens said.
Corsi looked at Stevens and chuckled. “All the engineering knowledge at your disposal and you determine that based on the type of leather on the seats.”
Stevens shrugged. “Sometimes it’s not about the technology. Only Starstream yachts use Andorian leather for their interiors.”
“That’s one of the reasons I chose this particular vessel,” Wong said. “I also like the fact that she gets up to warp one-point-five.”
“It’s beautiful, Songmin,” Haznedl said.
“Congratulations.” Shabalala offered a hand to shake.
The doors to the cabin opened and Nancy Conlon entered. “Well, I’ve inspected the engine room. It’s a bit cramped down there, but everything’s in order. I also took care of that little bit of business you asked me about, Songmin.”
“Thank you,” he replied.
“Well, Wong,” Gold said, giving a slight tap on the shoulder to the da Vinci’s helmsman, “what say we take your yacht out for a little spin?”
Wong grinned. “Yes, sir.”
Gold held out a hand. “Oh, no. The only ‘sir’ here is you.” He straightened himself at attention. “Permission to take her out of orbit, sir?”
Wong nodded. “Granted.” He gestured to the leather seats in the rear of the cabin. “If you’d all take your seats, please, we’ll get under way.”
Gomez noted Corsi limping ever so slightly. The security chief’s ankle had been broken in her fight with the Gorn and although Lense had healed the break neatly, it was going to be a day or two before Corsi could put her full weight on it.
So much for paradise, Gomez thought. Quite a few of us have some scars from it. Thank goodness they’re not permanent.
Gomez stepped forward and offered a salute to Wong. “Captain, I would like to assist, er, the captain.”
Wong laughed. “Take your station.”
Gold and Gomez settled into the conn and ops positions. Wong stepped up behind them.
From the communications board, Stevens said, “I have Risan Control for you, sir.”
“Risan Control—” Wong paused for a moment. “—this is the pleasure yacht Nagus, requesting permission to depart.” Wong could swear he could feel the wind hitting his back from the quickly raised eyebrows of those behind him.
“Granted, Nagus. Have a safe and pleasant trip.”
“Mr. Gold…” Wong said, feeling a little self-conscious as he said it.
Gold picked up on it immediately. “If you want the center seat for good someday, son, you’re going to have to get used to it.”
“Yes, sir,” Wong replied and then caught himself. “Take us out.”
David Gold tapped a series of instructions into his console. The yacht hummed to life and tilted slightly as it moved into escape orbit.
“We’ll be clear and free to navigate in one minute,” Gomez reported.
“Give me an image of the hull, please,” Wong asked.
“Switching visual,” Gomez said.
The viewscreen showed the greenish-blue color of the hull. Emblazoned across the side was the name, NAGUS.
“It looks great,” Wong said with pride. “Thanks, Nancy.”
“My pleasure,” she said as she took a seat with the others in the rear. “This is a fine yacht you have. Although I’m curious about the name.”
“I figured I should acknowledge how
I obtained this craft. I won some latinum playing the Ferengi stock market.”
“Be careful the nagus doesn’t try to tax you for using his name,” Corsi teased. “I’m sure there’s some kind of Rule of Acquisition that covers it.”
“Escape orbit achieved,” Gold said.
“Let’s get a look at Risa,” Wong said.
“Aye, sir,” Gomez said.
The viewscreen changed again and the main continent on Risa came into view. Its deep green landscape was charred somewhat now due to the extreme storms of recent days.
“It’s such a shame,” Shabalala said. “Risa is such a beautiful world.”
“And it will be again,” Gold replied. “It’s just going to take some time. Just like everything else that’s worth having.” His console chirped. “Warp power at your command, sir.”
“Let’s take her to half impulse,” Wong suggested. “We’ll cruise out of the system and then take her to warp.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Gold said.
“So how about a tour?” Haznedl asked.
“Sure,” Wong said. “Mr. Gold, take us to warp one as soon as we clear the system.”
“Course, Captain?” Gold asked with a smile.
Wong looked out into space and nodded. “How about the nebula? We can check in with Sparky and his parents.”
“Nice choice,” Gold replied, tapping in the commands to make it so.
The Nagus pulled away from Risa and the orbiting da Vinci, gathering speed as it traveled. Wong stared out one of the viewports that lined the walls of the bridge and admired the view of the departing starship.
Haznedl stepped up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. “This will make a nice retirement vessel someday.”
“Yes, it will.” Wong smiled as he took the ops officer’s arm and crooked it in his. “Someday.”
About the Author
JOHN S. DREW has been a doorman, librarian assistant, waiter, bartender, restaurant manager, and is currently earning his Masters in Secondary Education to become an English teacher. He has written stories that he hopes people will enjoy in the areas of Doctor Who and Spider-Man. He also has a number of audio dramas to his credit. To learn more about this man than you might care to know, check out his website at www.drewshi.com.
Coming Next Month:
Star Trek™: S.C.E. #44
Where Time Stands Still
by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore
Before the twenty-fourth-century adventures of David Gold, Sonya Gomez, and the crew of the U.S.S. da Vinci, came the more rough-and-tumble Starfleet Corps of Engineers of the twenty-third century. In the wake of an incident involving the Starship Enterprise and the infamous Delta Triangle, Commander Mahmud al-Khaled and the crew of the rundown U.S.S. Lovell must “open” the Triangle—and also find a lost generation ship that was last seen entering the phenomenon.
A gripping new twenty-third-century drama in the tradition of Foundations!
COMING IN SEPTEMBER 2004
FROM POCKET BOOKS!