"Mentor"

written by

Michael Gray

Jack McCall paused a moment. He had expected this debriefing to follow the pattern of all the others, but unlike those mind-numbing exercises in recitation and accusation, this room was empty except for two chairs and a table. He sat in the one at the center of the poorly lit, burgundy walled, windowless office and stared at the seat behind the featureless metal desk.

Just as Jack began to settle into his own seat, the lone door swung open and an angular-faced Asian man sauntered toward the remaining chair.

"Sorry I'm running a little late today, Captain McCall."

Jack chuckled.

"Did I say something funny?" the man asked as he placed a single PADD on the desk before sitting down.

"It just struck me as humorous that someone from Temporal Investigations could be late, considering how your entire life is consumed with matters of time," Jack said with a smirk as he sat up in his chair.

"We keep track of changes to time and all attempts to alter it. Our predictive abilities are just as poor as anyone else's."

Jack gave a short nod. Everything about the man across from him seemed out of place. He was younger than Jack, probably mid-thirties as best as he could tell, and a few inches shorter. His bright blue suit was far more colorful than the usual drab browns and dull blues Temporal Investigators usually wore. But his eyes revealed an intensity Jack hadn't seen in those who'd interviewed him before.

"My name is Belvedere," the jet-black-haired Asian said. "John Thomas Belvedere."

"Belvedere?" Jack couldn't help letting out a short laugh. "And the reason I'm supposed to believe that's your real name is?"

"Because I told you?"

"Uh huh," Jack murmured.

"In the end I suppose it doesn't matter." Belvedere's gaze remained transfixed on Jack. "Perhaps we can leave my identity to another time, and get to the reason we're here: your last debriefing before we turn you back over to Starfleet."

Jack let out a sigh of relief at that. He was more than ready to put all of this time travel business behind him. He wanted to move on with his life, no matter what form that life took.

"We have only a few minor points to clear up." Belvedere touched a control on the PADD. "You told the other investigators that Khalid Dasari helped you return to our century."

"Yes, that's correct."

"Yet, we both know Khalid Dasari has been dead for nearly five years. How do you explain that?"

"It was my impression that when I met him in the twenty-first century it was, for him, before he came to the twenty-fourth."

"And yet you did not inform him about his impending death here in our time."

"No."

"Why not?"

"From my point of view his death had already happened, and as you know, Starfleet officers are under orders not to tamper with the timeline."

"Was that the only reason?"

Jack took a long breath. "No. Dasari had been manipulating time and all of us, so frankly, I didn't feel I owed him anything."

Belvedere gave a short nod, but never took his piercing brown eyes off Jack. "What do you think he was up to?"

"Khalid Dasari?" Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Hell if I know. He wasn't going out of his way to provide us with many answers."

"In her report, your wife stated she believed Dasari had brought you to the twenty-first century to deal with the threat posed by two Zeparans you met there."

"Ex-wife," Jack corrected.

"What?" For the first time, Belvedere appeared caught off guard by one of Jack's responses.

"We're getting divorced."

Belvedere's next reaction puzzled Jack.

Now that the surprise of the moment had evaporated, he seemed to be doing his best not to smile. "My condolences, Captain. Ending a marriage is never an easy thing."

Finding it hard to believe Belvedere really gave a damn, Jack's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I've heard that."

"Do you agree with Mei-Wan's statement?" Belvedere asked, returning to the matter at hand.

"It is the answer Dasari gave us, but I'm a little reluctant to accept it on face value."

Belvedere leaned forward a few inches in his seat. "Would it add weight to her conclusion if I told you that the week before coming to pick Mei-Wan up for transport to Kel-j'na your father, Admiral Jeremiah McCall, had been in negotiations with Xaphon, the leader of the Zeparan military?"

Jack's eyes widened. "I wasn't aware of that."

Belvedere's face now showed no hint of emotion. "Your father was near to completing an agreement between the Zeparans and the Federation which would have expanded our exploratory boundaries in the Kel-j'na Region as well as given us an ally in holding back aggressors like the Levalum and the Naitr'm." Belvedere folded his hands on the desk. "But with your father's capture and the destruction of his ship, those negotiations came to an end. The Federation has been trying to resume them, but the Zeparans tell us they fear the reason for Jeremiah's demise is that we have attracted the attention of someone they'd rather avoid."

"Which I'd say is fairly accurate," Jack replied.

"We believe one possibility is that Dasari, or whoever he works for, has some reason to want to influence the Federation's relationship with the Zeparans. Whether for good or bad, we don't yet know."

Jack frowned. "Considering what I know of Dasari and his daughter, I'd focus my attention on 'bad' if I were you."

"You'd be surprised how often things are not as they appear when it comes to time travel, Captain." Belvedere stared at him for several seconds. "However, from what I've read of your encounters with Ahwi Dasari I am forced to admit you may indeed be correct. I do hope the next time you have an opportunity to capture her that you will be able to keep her or at least keep her from erasing the data you collect on her."

"She did have a distinct technological advantage the last time she was aboard the Chamberlain," Jack said. He didn't like his crew being blamed for losing the Dasari girl.

"True, but now that you're aware of her technology, I'd hope you'd be able to find a way to overcome that advantage and bring her back to us the next time." Belvedere paused a moment, rolling some deep thought over in his mind. "Temporal Investigations would very much enjoy the opportunity to interrogate Ahwi."

Based on the look in Belvedere's eyes, Jack wondered if allowing that to happen would be such a great idea. "If I do capture her again, I'll turn her over to Starfleet. What they do after that is up to them."

"Of course." Belvedere touched a control on his PADD. "Is there anything else you wish to add before we bring this to a close, Captain?"

Jack thought for several seconds. "No."

"You don't like Temporal Investigations, do you?" Belvedere asked with an intense stare.

Jack chuckled. "I seriously doubt you care one way or another about my answer to that question."

"Despite our well deserved reputation for being rather anal retentive, we are just as normal as anyone else." The Asian man picked up the PADD off the desk. "Our work helps guarantee the existence everyone takes for granted. I do think we deserve a little consideration for that."

Jack stood. "It might have helped my opinion of your organization if I'd been treated as someone who'd been caught up in something beyond his control, rather than being interrogated as a criminal out to destroy the timeline."

"Our need was for information, Captain. Experience has taught us our methods are the best way to acquire that information." Belvedere leaned back in his chair. "We also had to be sure you were the Jack McCall of our timeline and not some invader from another."

"I take it as far as you are concerned I am?"

"If you weren't, you wouldn't be allowed to leave this facility today," Belvedere said with a quiet laugh that gave Jack a moment of pause.

Jack made his way to the door, glad to put Belvedere and Temporal Investigations well behind him.

"Until next time, Captain McCall." Belvedere stood from his own chair.

Jack paused as the door opened before him. "If I have anything to say about it, there won't ever be a next time." A moment later he was gone.

Belvedere made his way around the desk. "You won't have any say in it, Jack." He paused a moment to smile. "But then life can be that way sometimes, can't it?"

***

The leathery skin on Cyrus Wakernaggle's face stretched out to form a crooked smile. "That is certainly good to hear."

Belvedere gave the older man a quick grin. "I thought you'd be pleased."

But Admiral Bartholomew James was not so quickly placated. "Just because you're signing off on Jack McCall doesn't mean Starfleet has to." The gray-haired man's eyes narrowed a moment as he sat behind his desk. "Do try to remember that."

Wakernaggle took a sip from his glass of whiskey. "Do you have some personal reason for keeping Jack from his duties, Bart?"

"I'm the CinC of Starfleet. I don't need to have a reason."

Belvedere took a deep breath, his patience was waning rapidly. "McCall should be given back his command. I do speak for Temporal Investigations on this matter."

"I agree," Cyrus blurted out, his enthusiasm nearly choking him on his whiskey. "Despite his many failings, Jack McCall still has great potential... potential which can be put to very good use by those willing to take advantage of the opportunities before them."

"I'm not so sure," Admiral James grumbled. "Five years away from a starship..."

"The Chamberlain will be in orbit for minor refits for the next three weeks, correct?" Belvedere asked.

"Yes."

"Then give him a retraining schedule under the supervision of his counselor and Admiral Hancock. That should give McCall enough time to become reacquainted with his ship. If he can't or won't apply himself, then that's his problem, not ours." He took a step toward James. "But we do insist you give him the opportunity."

James stared at the Asian man. "Don't threaten me, Belvedere. You wouldn't enjoy my response."

Belvedere bowed his head ever so slightly and smiled. "It was not a threat, Admiral. Simply our interest in not having this temporal incident interfere any more than it already has with the normal flow of events within the timeline."

James let only the hint of a grin cross his face. Belvedere had recognized James's authority and for the Admiral that would do as an apology... for now. He could afford to give Temporal Investigations what they wanted despite his reservations.

Bartholomew James touched a control on his desk. "Maggie, get me Admiral Hancock please."

"Right away, Admiral." a deep female voice replied through the intercom.

He turned to Belvedere. "I do hope someday Temporal Investigations will see fit to inform Starfleet about its reasons for this."

"Perhaps one day." He turned and left.

"I don't like him," James said, turning to Ambassador Wakernaggle.

"What does it matter if we like him? He's useful. You know how difficult it is to make alliances with anyone from Temporal Investigations."

James stood, his mind now on other matters. "I'd rather Hancock didn't find you here with me."

Wakernaggle smiled. "Of course. Shall I see you for dinner?"

"No. I've got a meeting with Nilos Barlon tonight."

"The Bajoran ambassador?" Cyrus asked with a frown. "Whatever for?"

"He's another man with potential which may someday be put to very good use."

***

Jack sat on an old wooden bench a short distance away from Starfleet Headquarters, watching several small sailing vessels make their way across San Francisco Bay bathed in light from the noonday sun. He'd been there for nearly an hour, trying to decide if he really wanted to go back to the life he'd known before being thrown back to the nineteenth century. By his reckoning that had been five years ago, while for everyone else it had only been three months.

He closed his eyes as the breeze off the bay surrounded him in cool comfort. He remembered how he'd go out on his ranch in Nebraska and enjoy a very different kind of wind, but one just as soothing to his soul.

"I never remember you being one to go find a quiet place to get away from everything."

Jack smiled, but didn't open his eyes. "I've found taking the time to enjoy nature is something I really enjoy."

Admiral Christopher Hancock nodded and sat down on the bench next to Jack. "I'm glad you had a good reason to miss our appointment."

The admiral's sarcasm wasn't lost on Jack. "It's certainly a lot better than telling you I'm not sure if I want to return to duty."

"I doubt I would have reacted well to that."

"Then I did us both a favor."

Hancock looked out at bay. "You could at least wait until I tell you if Starfleet intends to give you back your command before you go off brooding about whether you want it or not."

"I take it that means I've got something to brood about?" Jack asked with a smirk.

"You'll have to polish up your command skills a little first, but as long as your ship's counselor and I certify you fit for duty you've got the Chamberlain back."

Jack only nodded and leaned forward, staring down at the ground.

"Well, you could at least pretend to be excited for my sake," Hancock said, the breeze blowing his thinning gray hair about. "After all, I'm the poor guy who has to rearrange his schedule to accommodate your reorientation."

Jack smiled and turned to the admiral. "Thank you, sir. I do appreciate all you've done."

"Somehow I sense a 'but' coming."

Jack returned his gaze to the bay. "Not really. I know I belong back on the Chamberlain. I'm just wondering how much longer I want to make my life aboard starships." He took a long, deep breath. "I guess I'm considering the other options I have available to me."

"I wouldn't worry about that if I were you." The admiral leaned back. "When you've put in enough time, you'll make admiral and have your choice of assignments."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jack's head spun around to face Hancock. "Who said anything about me wanting to be an admiral?"

"Come on, Jack. You're Jeremiah's son. You've got a legacy to follow."

"The hell I do," Jack said, standing. He walked across the grass to a railing, looking out over the bay.

A minute later, Hancock made his way to where Jack stood. "You are not going to simply walk away from what your father has worked so hard to give you."

"It's my career we're talking about, remember?"

"Do you think you got here all on your own?" Hancock sighed as he leaned against the heavy metal railing. "You could have been part of the elite of Starfleet, Jack. You've got an innate greatness to you. But instead you pissed your Academy years away, content with being average."

"Spare me, please, Chris. I heard enough of that elite garbage from my father."

Hancock grabbed Jack's shoulder and pulled the younger man around to face him. "Evidently it never sank in!"

"It didn't sink in because I chose not to believe it." Jack stared at the admiral, noticing something in his eyes he didn't like. "What does any of this have to do with my dad?"

"Though he'd never have admitted it, you've been a big disappointment to Jeremiah." Hancock glared at Jack. "And if it hadn't been for him and me looking out for your ass, you damn well would have never made captain. We were trying to make you into something."

Jack's eyes reflected the fury burning in his heart. Finally the truth he'd always been afraid to acknowledge had been shoved into his face.  He could no longer ignore how it brought into question everything he'd ever claimed as an accomplishment. "I never asked for any of that."

"Jeremiah did it out of love for his son, and I did it out of loyalty to your father."

"I wasn't born to be some trophy for either of you." He took a short breath. "Look, I appreciate whatever help you've given me, but this is my life." Jack stepped up just inches from Hancock. "I don't need you looking out for me any longer. I'll make my own way now."

The admiral refused to back down, but instead smiled. "Do you have any idea what that's going to mean to you? Are you sure about making your own way?"

"Completely and absolutely," Jack said.

"Fine." Hancock stepped back from him. "You're on your own from here on out."

"Good." Jack smiled with supreme satisfaction.

"We'll see how good it is after you've gotten yourself into one of your usual messes."

"If I do get myself into one, it will be my mess, and from this point forward, I'll get myself out of it."

"I wish I knew what the hell's gotten into you." Hancock shook his head with a sigh. "But if you want it like this, then that's how it'll be. I've had my fill of carrying your ass." He took a deep breath and straightened his back. "Report to my office in one hour to go over your reorientation schedule, Captain McCall. I'll expect you to be there on time."

"Yes, sir," Jack said as formally as he could muster.

Hancock turned smartly and began to make his way back to Starfleet Headquarters.

"Don't expect me to come crawling back, begging forgiveness six months or a year from now, Admiral. I'm not that kind of man anymore."

Hancock stopped, but kept his back to the Chamberlain's captain. "Then you're a fool."

"At least I won't be someone else's fool any longer."

Hancock gave a contemptuous snort and stalked off.

Jack took a full load of air into his lungs and enjoyed the salty fragrance it brought with it. He let the wind envelope him as it rushed past, doing its best to move him from his place at the railing, but failing.

Jack McCall wasn't sure where his life was headed, but he was certain of one thing: it was going to be his life on his terms, just as it had been on a small ranch in Nebraska back in the 1870s.

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Dark Horizon Story and Characters Copyright ©2005 Michael Gray

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