Chapter 6 - Some Enchanted Evening
"Hey Mei!" Cindy Zachary's voice reverberated against the metal walls of the chamber.
Mei-Wan spun about from the display she'd been examining and saw the young girl bounding across the ancient floor, her father a number of feet behind, trying to keep up.
"What are you doing back down here?"
"I came to see you." Cindy peered past Mei-Wan. "What you working on? You find another machine?"
"Nothing new just yet."
"I want to see more recordings of the lady speaking the funny language."
Duncan Zachary smiled behind his daughter. "I'm afraid it's all she's talked about this evening."
Mei-Wan grinned. Cindy reminded her so much of herself when she was a child: the unrelenting curiosity and the need to explore the unknown. "I'm afraid I have to be a lot more careful from here on out, Cindy. I wouldn't want to turn something on which might hurt people."
The girl frowned. "Watching a hologram doesn't hurt anybody."
Her father shook his head and turned to Mei-Wan. "We can't stay long..."
"But Dad..."
"But Dad, nothing. You have to get your sleep." His voice was firm, but not harsh. "Anyway..." He looked back to Mei-Wan. "I just wanted to see if there was anything you needed from the ship. I figured you'd probably spend the night down here like usual."
"Actually, I was thinking I'd go back to the ship before too long."
Zachary's brow raised in surprise. "And here I thought I'd had you figured out a long time ago." He grinned. "But then, I suppose choosing between this site and our operations officer can't be an easy one for you."
Mei-Wan smiled only to hide the truth that she was glad the site was here to give her an excuse to avoid Nakano. "Todd understands this is important to me, but I don't know how much rest I'd get staying here the night. There's just too much to investigate and explore."
"For the next two weeks at least."
"Then the captain confirmed the Ravenscroft is coming?"
Zachary gave a slow nod. "Seems this Hoffman didn't give it a second thought before agreeing to come."
Anything to build his career, Mei-Wan told herself. But then she wasn't the person to make that accusation. The very same thing had driven her on Hel'yra and put such a strain on her marriage to Jack.
"How do you want to go about handing things over to the Ravenscroft, Mei?"
"Uh... actually, it would probably work best if everything went through you," Mei-Wan suggested. She had no desire to see friends who had died on the Ravenscroft in her world. And she certainly didn't want to see Kyle Hoffman.
"However you want to do it is fine with me." Zachary gently took Cindy's hand. "We better get going. I told Cindy we'd get something to eat down here before we returned to the ship. Goodnight, Mei."
"Goodnight," Mei-Wan said as the two of them walked away. But before they reached the exit, "Duncan?"
Zachary turned his head back to her. "Yeah?"
"Thanks for supporting me with the captain. I really appreciate it."
He smiled wide. "I wouldn't have felt right keeping you from a discovery like this."
"Thank you."
Zachary and his daughter left Mei-Wan and the other members of the Archaeology Section to continue their work.
***
Several hours later, still immersed in the artifacts of the Ancient Progenitors, Mei-Wan felt a gentle tapping at her shoulder.
"I sure would like to hear how you talked the captain into letting you come back down here, Mei."
She spun about to find Todd standing behind her wearing a wide smile on his face. "Oh, hi."
He frowned. "'Oh, hi' is all I get?"
She smiled. "Sorry, I was..."
"Buried in your work." He grinned. "I'm used to it." He pulled up a chair next to the display unit she had been working on. "Find anything interesting yet?"
Mei-Wan looked at him a moment, distracted by the expression on his face and a memory. They were together in a café on a world with a bright green sky. The same interested look was on his face and then a moment later, a smile. She could feel the warm breeze on her skin, the warmth from the sun overhead, and stronger than anything else, the happiness she was consumed with.
After several seconds she realized she was smiling.
"What?" he asked. "I say something particularly funny?"
"No," she answered, still smiling. "Just... I was remembering us somewhere and you looking at me the same way."
He gently ran his fingers through her dark hair. "I hope I'll always make you happy."
Her pleased expression remained as she returned to studying the artifact she had been working with.
"I hear there's going to be a meeting of Dalvani religious leaders tomorrow to discuss this place."
Mei-Wan rolled her eyes. "I can only imagine what that will be like."
"The captain wanted you to go and talk with them, but I told her that might not be a very good idea, considering your tendency to be less than tactful when it comes to matters of belief."
The question of religion had never been an emotional flash point with Mei-Wan. She couldn't think of why it would be for her counterpart in this timeline. Of course, it might be another aspect of her life she simply hadn't paid that much attention to.
She shook her head, realizing she had waited far too long to say anything. "Thanks for getting me out of it. I'd much rather spend my time here working on the artifacts we've found."
Todd did a double take at her and grinned. "What no railing against the stupidity of religion? No references to simple-minded natives?" He chuckled. "You're becoming far more tolerant as time goes by."
"I'm just really involved with everything here, Todd. Sorry."
"Don't apologize. I actually like it." He rubbed her shoulders gently. "You could use a more laid back attitude sometimes."
She turned to him. "Only sometimes?"
He slid his arms around her waist "Well, I guess there are times your passions have their place."
She knew where this was heading, but found it far more difficult than she had expected to resist his advances. Being in his arms felt so good. When his lips touched hers, she surrendered to the growing desire within her.
Todd's hands pulled her closer to him. Her breathing became almost frantic as their kiss continued. She felt him caressing her back, going ever lower on her body.
Mei-Wan gently nudged him away. "Uh, this isn't exactly the most private place on the planet."
Todd looked into her eyes. "That's never stopped us before," he said with a desirous look.
"There is a set of security guards just ten feet beyond the entrance."
He glanced over at the opening to the chamber and frowned. "I suppose you're right." He released her from his embrace. "How about we get something to eat?"
Mei-Wan smiled. "That was a quick change."
"After sex what's more basic than food?"
***
Columns of smoke poured out from behind the counter, billowing upwards toward the high ceiling, taking with them the rich aroma of broiling meat into the seating area of the small restaurant Mei-Wan found herself in. Todd had assured her this was one of the best on the planet and completely safe for humans. She didn't doubt him, but the smells filling the place, while more than enticing, weren't very familiar to her.
"The hargala is supposed to taste like beef according to Commander Gilbert."
Mei-Wan didn't even glance up from the large folded sheets of what appeared to be some sort of paper, but with a much rougher texture. They contained listings of the eatery's offerings. "Who?" she asked absentmindedly, still reading.
"Arlene Gilbert." Todd shook his head. "How about returning to the present and leaving the Ancient Progenitors behind for a little while, okay?"
Mei-Wan forced a smile. She had to be more careful about names Todd mentioned. She considered it probably wouldn't hurt to go over the crew roster again. "Sorry, I guess it's hard to keep my mind off such an incredible discovery."
"It's a big day for you. You should enjoy it."
She wished she could tell him what really concerned her, but the Ancient Progenitors would have to do for the time being.
Todd's eyes brightened up. "I almost forgot. I got confirmation on tickets for the Organian Dream concert! We're in the third row, can you believe it?"
Fortunately in this case she did know what he was talking about, at least as far knowing about Organian Dream. The Klingon-Human fusion band had been extremely popular throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants for the last decade. It pleased Mei-Wan to know they existed in this version of reality as well.
"That's great," she said, thinking better of asking when and where the concert would be.
Todd chuckled. "Look, you don't have to pretend to like them, Mei."
"But..." She stopped herself. Obviously this was one case where she and her counterpart differed. "I'm happy for you."
He gave her a cautious glance. "No trying to get out of it?"
She smiled. "Of course not. It'll be fun." That much she did know. She and Jack had gone to an Organian Dream concert just after they'd married.
Todd's caution faded. "Just because they're my favorite group doesn't mean you have to go."
"After today, I owe you."
He nodded. "Then a month from now, assuming we keep our schedule for getting back to Earth, you and I will be sitting in the third row of a concert hall."
"That sounds great." She returned to perusing the menu. "There are so many choices. It's going to be difficult for me to pick just one."
Todd watched her closely for several seconds. "That's the problem with choices; when you make one it always closes off other possibilities."
Mei-Wan slowly looked up at him. "Is that supposed to have some meaning beyond what I'm going to eat?"
"I've been wondering if you're having second thoughts about us."
She could see the fear in his eyes. "Why would I do that?"
"It just seems you're a little reluctant to make a choice about our future."
"You will have to admit a lot has been going on today."
"I'm not talking about today, Mei. For the past couple months you've been dodging me every time this comes up." His frustration had remained buried too long and now demanded a hearing. "This garbage with Li-Na and your parents is really beginning to worry me."
Something in her couldn’t stand to see him hurting like this. He wasn't just worried. He was scared he was losing her. Mei-Wan wanted to keep a healthy distance emotionally between them, but she didn't want to change any aspect of her counterpart's life.
She slid her hand across the table and gently closed it around his. "Don't let it worry you."
"Then tell me what's going on. Why have you been so distant today? I've gotten the impression you're holding something back."
Her heart raced. He had noticed. She did her best to calm her own fears. Of course he noticed, she told herself. It would be crazy to think he wouldn't. Just stay in control, Mei. Don't do anything stupid.
"I'll admit the interference from my family is making me think a lot more about you and I, but I don't believe that's necessarily a bad thing." She liked that. This might give her the opportunity she needed to put the relationship on hold.
"I guess it depends on where your thoughts are leading." He sighed. "And if you're simply giving in to their pressure."
Mei-Wan grasped his hand tighter. "No. I'm not going to give in to anything."
His eyes stared at her with a stern look in them. "Mei, I'd really like to believe that, but ever since your sister transferred to the Chamberlain, our life together has become..."
She could feel his hand trembling in hers. "Todd, please believe me, I just need some time to sort things out, that's all."
He shook his head. "I don't think that's going to help."
"Would you rather we get married and me be unsure about us?"
"No."
"Then let me have a chance to work this out." She smiled at him. "You know how I am once I've made my mind up about something."
He chuckled. "Yeah. I saw an example of that earlier today."
"Thanks a lot," she said with a mock frown.
"You bring whole worlds to a standstill."
She rolled her eyes and returned to her menu. "You know there might be some people in here still sore about that. You don’t want to get me killed do you?"
"Then I'd have the opportunity to rescue my true love from a rampaging horde," he said with a snicker. "You'd enjoy that."
"The rampaging horde part is what worries me."
Todd picked up the glass of water in front of him and looked into it. "I just need something to let me know this is going to work out, Mei."
"Look, just give me some time. I'm going to be tied up with exploring the site for the next two weeks anyway."
"How much time are you asking for?"
"A few weeks at most." Mei-Wan hoped that would be enough time for she and Hank Evans to get back to their own reality. If not, she'd have to figure out something new.
"A few weeks?" He stared into his water glass again.
"I know it's a lot to ask..."
He smiled and looked at her. "For anyone else, it would be, but for you, I can wait, Mei. I think you’re more than worth it."
She held his hand again. "Thank you, Todd. I promise, once this has been worked out, you'll have the woman you fell in love with back again."
Their waiter walked up and asked what they'd like to have. As Todd discussed their orders, Mei-Wan hoped the promise she had just made would be one she could keep, for Todd's sake and her own.
***
Over the next two weeks, Mei-Wan spent most of her time at the Ancient Progenitor site on Dalvanax Two. It was what was expected of her, but that wasn't the only reason she dug into it with such intensity. There were secrets here she might not have access to back in her own reality. She was determined to discover all she could in the time she had.
By the time the Ravenscroft did arrive, Mei-Wan had made one discovery she hadn't expected. According to the Ancient Progenitor records she uncovered, the device had not been originally constructed by them, but by another species referred to only as the "Caretakers." There wasn't any detailed information on this other species, just that they had been around a lot longer than the Ancient Progenitors and obviously had technology superior to their own.
Outside of that surprise, there was little else at the site she hadn't seen on Hel'yra.
Todd came down to the surface every evening once his own duties were done and took her to dinner. She worried at first that he would use their excursions into the heart of the city to bring up their relationship, but true to his word, Todd only brought up things from his day or some bit of ship's gossip. Mei-Wan enjoyed the time they spent together and more and more, found it difficult to say goodbye each evening.
He evidently noticed her trouble and suggested one day that they meet earlier. After their meal he walked her to a set of hills just outside the city where they sat together watching the sunset. They talked about music, art, and archaeology, convincing her there was far more than just being an operations officer to his life. Just as the sun went down he put his arm around her and they kissed, but he never pressured her any further.
One evening as they walked through the city streets, back to the Ancient Progenitor site, Mei-Wan found herself staring at Todd, a smile on her face and wondering what a life with him might be like. She hadn't really thought about anyone that way since she'd met Jack and before him had only indulged in idle fantasies about men she admired or was attracted to, but had no relationship with.
She kept telling herself she was only reacting to the love he had for Mei-Wan Lau, not Mei-Wan McCall. But as the days went past, that distinction became harder for her to see. He was talking to her, holding her hand, smiling at her with the kind of warmth a man only showed to the woman he loved. His affection for her was so intoxicating, she nearly asked him if they could go back to the ship and spend the night together. She caught herself before she had asked, but a part of her regretted not returning with him.
If her time with Todd was enjoyable, her historical searches were just the opposite. She had made it back through the late twenty-second century and so far, nothing seemed out of place or odd except for small details here and there which she was certain were effects of the change, but not its cause. Mei-Wan was not looking forward to reading records from the Romulan War, but it was as likely a place as any to find the source of the time change.
Once the two weeks had passed, and the Fashod Emperor's ship entered the system, the Chamberlain went to warp, headed for Kel-j'na, the Tartarus wormhole, and finally a course for Earth. Dalvanax Two and the secrets it held would be something she could only read reports about, not make the discoveries herself. The scientist and explorer part of her personality agonized over leaving despite how much she told herself it was necessary.
But once her work on the surface was done she found it more difficult to avoid Todd. She craved the time with him. Her growing feelings were becoming difficult to ignore.
