"When The Magic Ends"

written by

Michael Gray

Melissa pulled fingers through strands of dark hair. More seemed gray. Was it a curse of genetics, or was command taking its toll?

He stirred.

Melissa smiled, moving her hand from his head to his chest. "You're up."

Jack rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Why? What time is it?"

"Eight hundred."

Melissa had already placed her hands on his shoulders to keep him from leaping out of bed.

"I have to get to the bridge!"

She leaned, her face only inches from his. "Don't worry, Captain. A couple of hours ago I told Negev you were taking the day off."

"I can't do that."

"You have for the last hour." Her lips touched his. Rough, warm. "Your responsibilities have taken you from me enough times. The universe won't end if I get you for a day."

He sat up and grinned. "This ship can be a jealous woman. You sure you want to get on the old girl's bad side?"

"I'll take my chances."

Melissa sank into the warmth of his embrace as he lifted her atop him.

She loved everything about this man. From the dark aroma of his sweat to the inviting roughness of his skin, there was nothing about him that she didn't find attractive. No, attractive wasn't the right word--- hypnotic was more the effect he had on her.

But more than any of his physical attributes, it was the way he made love to her that had sealed her fate. Together, they entered a different universe where their hearts beat in unison. Their minds were one.

All her girlhood dreams of love had been fulfilled by this man. Melissa Vargas knew she was destined to spend the rest of her life with Jack McCall. She'd had other lovers, but never that certainty with any of them. With most it had never even been a possibility.

Time stopped as Jack's spell began weaving its enchantment into her soul. These journeys into eternity made her life worth living.

***

Jack had persuaded Melissa half a day off was all he could give, and reluctantly she'd agreed with his reasons, but only after securing from him a promise of a full day off within the next week.

By twelve hundred they were both in uniform and seated in the large conference room on Deck One with the other senior officers of the Chamberlain.

After the usual round of status reports, Jack finally got down to new business.

"This evening at eighteen hundred there will be a celebration for two officers leaving us for greener pastures."

Everyone stirred from their report induced slumber.

"I received word late last night that Commanders Lak Negev and Paul Falco have both been promoted to the rank of captain, and assigned their own commands."

The green-skinned M'naran woman, Akala Wilmarza, smiled wide and threw her arms around Negev as the room blossomed into cheers and congratulations for the next few minutes.

Once things had calmed, Jack turned to the men of honor.

"I do hope you'll restrain any enthusiasm about leaving this ship until after you're gone."

Chuckles erupted from around the table.

"But in all seriousness, you've both been crucial to the success this vessel has laid claim to since it left the shipyard," Jack said. "You go with the respect and best wishes from a captain and crew who have benefited from serving with you."

"Thank you, sir," Lak said.

"Likewise, Captain," Falco said. Then he grinned. "As this party tonight is our farewell, can we assume real alcohol and not that synthetic crud will be on tap for the evening?"

Jack smiled. "So ordered."

After a few more minutes of jovial banter, the meeting broke, leaving Jack with his ship's counselor.

"What can I do for you, Akala?"

"It's a sensitive matter, sir," she said, leaning against the conference table. "Please understand I've very much enjoyed my time here, serving under your command, but I..."

He placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. The Office of Personnel rejected a request for your transfer to the Shikai."

"But I didn't make a request," Akala said, confused. "I didn't even know about Lak being given that command until now."

"I put through the transfer for you as soon as I saw Mr. Negev's orders. I had a feeling you'd request it anyway."

She smiled. "Am I that predictable, sir?"

"Not at all," Jack said. "But it's been hard to miss how you and Lak..."

Akala laughed.

"I just wish I had been successful in getting you the transfer."

"Me too." She began to leave the room. "Thank you for trying, Jack."

***

Melissa stood in Shuttlebay Three as a small craft floated to a rest on the deck. The bright arc of the planet Kel-j'na hung in the space beyond the shielded entrance of the bay, filling her view and her mind with thoughts of what she left behind on that world. In the core of her heart where the little blonde girl who loved to run through tall grass and chase butterflies on warm afternoons still lived, Melissa held on tight to the idea Mei-Wan was still her friend, but the adult she'd grown into knew there wasn't much chance the two women would ever truly be close again.

Melissa wanted to scream.

But duty kept her from that indulgence.

The officers disembarking from the shuttle formed a line between Melissa and the craft. She eyed each of them only a moment.

"Welcome to the starship Chamberlain. I am Lieutenant Commander Melissa Vargas, the operations officer." She paused as the male ensign who'd accompanied her handed each of the new arrivals a PADD. "Along with a copy of your orders that Mr. Newman is giving you, you will find your room assignment, your immediate superior's name, and your first duty shift."

She turned. "Now if you'll accompany me, our chief medical officer is expecting you."

***

Melissa waited in the corridor outside Sickbay on Deck Thirteen for one of her charges. A Vulcan woman with short, black hair exited Sickbay and walked up to Melissa. "Doctor Preston has certified me fit for duty, Commander."

Melissa gave only a nod and began strolling down the corridor. Lieutenant Commander T'Nel followed.

Once inside a turbolift, Melissa turned to her. "You should probably know that our last tactical officer was close to the captain."

"I am aware they had served together before."

"Hank Evans was very much a father figure for Captain McCall."

"Noted."

Melissa exhaled a little too loudly. "Look, I'm just letting you know so if there's any trouble with the two of you adjusting..."

"I assure you, Commander Vargas, there will not be a problem as far as I am concerned. I will fulfill my duties as prescribed by Starfleet."

"I just didn't want you to take it personally if the captain takes a while getting used to you at tactical."

T'Nel turned to Melissa. "Captain McCall should not allow emotional attachment to his previous tactical officer to intrude upon my serving in that capacity."

"Humans have a tendency to allow emotional attachments to intrude on a lot of things. It's part of what makes us who we are."

T'Nel seemed to hesitate only a moment. "Let us set aside our positions on this ship, and our commissions as Starfleet officers for the moment."

Melissa's curiosity overrode her irritation at this woman's brashness. "Okay."

"You are a Vulcan, as am I."

"I'm half-human."

T'Nel didn't skip a beat. "How can you deny what you are and deny the path of logic?"

Melissa shook her head. "I'm not having this conversation, especially with you."

"I can help you find your path."

"I doubt it," Melissa said. "Computer, resume."

The lift started again.

"I had been told of your stubbornness."

Melissa grinned at that. "In case you can't tell, I'm rather proud of it."

T'Nel raised an eyebrow. "I was asked to give you a message."

"Look, I was raised as a human, and frankly I have no interest in..."

"Your mother has requested you visit her on Vulcan."

Of all the things Melissa expected to hear this day, this year, this life, that was indeed the last. "I have no mother."

"As you are humanoid, and as far as I am aware were not the result of cloning, you had a female parent. And your mother, T'Lil, requests your presence on Vulcan."

"She can request all she wants until Vulcan freezes over. I'm not going."

"You are being illogical. You have substantial leave built up, and the request is reasonable."

"I'm not going to waste one moment of leave on a woman who couldn't give me a single day of her life." The lift stopped and the door opened. "As far as I am concerned, this conversation is over, Commander T'Nel."

Melissa walked ahead into the corridor. T'Nel followed a short distance, then stopped.

"You are lost, Commander Vargas."

***

An hour later, Jack McCall stood on the bridge of his ship, awaiting clearance from Kel-j'na control to take the Chamberlain into the wormhole, tunneling through thirty thousand light years of space in mere seconds. He glanced back to see their new tactical officer, T'Nel at... he almost thought "Hank's station," but it was hers now.

"Sir," Lak Negev touched a control on the panel next to his seat. "I'm showing a minor fluctuation in warp core power output."

Melissa leaped up from her post at operations to the unoccupied engineering console to Jack's left. He waited as her fingers danced across it.

"It's small," she said. "But it will have an impact on warp efficiency."

"McCall to Engineering."

"Bishop here," from the intercom, "I see it."

Jack grinned at his chief engineer's answer to his unspoken question. "Should we delay leaving the Kel-j'na Region until you nail this down, Kristy?"

A few seconds of silence, then, "No, we can work on it in transit."

"Very well." Jack turned to face forward again. "Mr. s'Felis, take us in." Jack sat in his command chair and watched as normal space opened up before them.

***

Something had gone terribly wrong.

A gnawing chill covered her skin as if she were sinking in cold tar. Nothing she did produced the warmth she sought.

Where is he?

The fog of dream lifted from her mind and Melissa rolled over in bed, seeking the man she loved, but he wasn't there. She pulled a sheet off the bed to cover her bare skin and walked toward the door.

She hesitated at the sound of voices. One was his, the other a woman she didn't recognize. Suddenly a pang of jealousy welled up in her heart.

That's absurd, she told herself. Jack loves me.

She and Jack had come back to their quarters for lunch which had ended with the two of them in bed. She glanced over at a clock, seeing only an hour and a half had passed.

Melissa touched the door control and walked through.

In the living room stood Jack and his chief staff officer, Celeste Purcell. The short-haired brunette appeared agitated about something. Neither had noticed Melissa yet.

"Are you sure?" Jack asked. "Could this be some crazy drill that Starfleet..."

"No, sir," Purcell replied. "I've confirmed the messages and the situation."

Jack looked as if he'd been given a weight too heavy to bear. "Keep me informed."

"But sir, perhaps we should move now."

"I won't arrest someone who hasn't done anything to require it."

Purcell pushed on. "Captain, conspiring to..."

"Being the recipient of a coded message isn't evidence of taking part in a conspiracy. If it were, you'd have to arrest me as well," Jack said. "No, I won't move without more evidence."

Purcell appeared less than pleased. "Aye, sir." She left.

As the door closed, Jack turned to Melissa, but his face told her his mind was a thousand light years away as he barely reacted to her presence.

"Jack, what is it?"

"I just received several messages from Starfleet."

"Is there trouble again with the Romulans?"

"Uh... no," Jack murmured, seemingly not concerned with the possibility of war with that belligerent empire. "No, nothing like that. It's the Baku."

Melissa let out the breath she'd been holding, and landed in a nearby couch. "So what is it now? They want even Starfleet out of their system?" Melissa had little use for the Baku or their isolationism. They lived on a paradise of a world which had given them long life and perfect health. Their reluctance to share their good fortune with anyone else had always troubled her.

"Refugees from the plague on Darmathus Six have requested permission to temporarily settle on the far side of the Baku world. They're the last of their kind and will die out in a month if a cure for the plague isn't found. The healing properties of the Baku world appears to be their last hope."

"And the Baku have refused their request just as they do everyone else, right?" Melissa asked with an intentional tone of disgust in her voice.

"Yes," Jack said, leaning back in his chair. "But the Federation Council has taken up the plea of the refugees since Darmathus was and legally still is a Federation member. The most recent information indicates the Council intends to vote on a measure which would allow the Darmathians access to the Baku's world."

Melissa couldn't help smiling. "Good."

Jack's frown worsened. "No, it's not."

"Jack they horde the benefits of that planet! Let's not forget, that isn't their homeworld, and they only use a few hundred square kilometers of the surface."

"It's not that."

"Then what?"

"I..."

Melissa seeing Jack was distressed, kneeled down next to his chair and took his hand. "What is it?"

"I have received a coded message from... from another captain I know." He paused as if uncertain he wanted to continue. "She told me a group of starships are preparing to go to the Baku world to defend it if the Council votes to allow what she called a usurpation of Baku sovereignty." He turned to Melissa. "They've asked me to bring the Chamberlain to join them."

Melissa now understood his dilemma. "That would mean you'd be openly defying a vote of the Council."

"Exactly."

After more of a minute of silence between the two of them, Melissa held his hand and asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I... I don't know yet." He turned away from her. "I have been asked to violate orders, which is bad enough, but to violate something which has come to a vote in the Council..."

"But there's still a chance it won't come to that, right? I mean... the Council did decide against relocating the Baku."

"But that was a much clearer question. The Council made the right choice then. This is a matter of life versus sovereignty and I... I know where my heart would lead, but I don't know if that's the right choice."

Melissa stood and wrapped her arms around the man she loved. "I'm here for you , Jack."

He didn't respond to her embrace. "Is there something else?" she asked.

"I'm not the only one on this ship who received a coded message about this."

"Why would anyone else be involved?"

"This other person has been asked to take command from me if I don't agree to protect the Baku."

Melissa asked, "Who?"

***

"Are they insane?" Akala couldn't believe she was even having this conversation, and worse, having to contemplate its ramifications. "Going against some admiral who's lost his way is one thing, but the Federation Council..."

"It wouldn't be the first time the Council has made a wrong decision." Lak Negev set his fork down. "We can't sit idly by as the Baku are invaded."

The playful mood she'd started the afternoon with had evaporated as suddenly as liquid nitrogen on hot metal. It had been replaced by a growing sense that her world was unraveling. "I just can't believe there's no other way out of this."

Lak folded his hands over his now empty plate. "The Baku are a sovereign people. That sovereignty is about to be violated by the Council. I see little recourse other than to stand against their wrong decision."

"A little academic, don't you think? You don't command this ship. So how do you intend to make this stand?"

Lak stared at her for several moments as if trying to divine her thoughts. Akala didn't like it.

"I have been informed that Captain McCall has received a coded transmission by others who see this for the wrong it is. He has been asked to stand with us."

"And if he refuses?"

"Then I will..."

"Don't say it," Akala pleaded. "Please don't put me in this position."

"The Council is about to place us all there. It is up to each of us to make our choice. Will we stand for justice, or for political expediency?"

"Some might call it a choice between stubbornness and genocide."

"The Baku have been violated before. It is understandable that they would view any entry to their world as the first step toward taking it from them."

"But at the expense of an entire people and culture?"

"If the Baku cannot say no, then they have no choice at all."

Akala felt the walls of her quarters collapsing around her. She feared the direction Lak seemed headed. "But your career? Your upcoming command?"

"Both worth sacrificing if the cause is just."

"And the people who'll be caught in the middle, what about them?"

"Each person will have to make their own choice." He stood and walked over to the window. "I only hope they'll make the right one."

Akala closed her eyes. "You're asking me to throw my life away for a cause I don't believe in."

Lak spun about to face her. "How can you believe in anything else? Once the Federation does this, where will it end? Whose world will be next?"

"And what of the Darmathians? Your choice would condemn them to extinction."

"The plague that wiped out their people is no one's fault. But how we react to save them is our responsibility. The ends do not justify the means."

"And does your end justify mutiny?"

"You act as if Jack McCall is incapable of making the same choice I have."

Akala looked up at the person she had fallen in love with over the past many months. How she had missed this side of his personality? "I honestly don't know how he will choose."

"Then until we know, you have nothing to worry about."

But Akala didn't believe that.

***

The reception that evening was more muted than Jack would have expected. Everyone appeared to be enjoying the occasion, giving warm congratulations to both Negev and Falco, but the hushed conversations at the edges of the large lounge made it less of a celebration.

Melissa strolled up to him, a glass in each hand. She offered one to him. "You okay?"

Jack forced a smile as he took his glass. "Sure."

Melissa frowned. "Don't lie to me, Captain."

He lowered his voice. "Anything about this party seem odd to you?"

She took a moment to look about. "Other than a hundred and fifty people crammed into a lounge not meant to hold more than ninety, no."

He sipped his scotch. "Maybe I'm hallucinating."

She rubbed his shoulder. "Or maybe you're projecting your own mood onto everyone else."

"Who me?" he said with a grin. "Any ideas about how to use our couple of weeks leave once we arrive at Starbase 577?"

"Definitely."

Jack looked into her eyes, those bright, life-filled portals into the soul of the woman he loved. For the moment, his mood lifted. She'd had that effect on him ever since that first night she'd come to his quarters.

"Okay, aside from that."

"There's more than that?"

Jack was about to respond when Kristen Bishop approached them. "Captain, Commander."

Jack gave a nod. "Any news on that power fluctuation with the warp drive?"

Bishop took a long drink from her own glass. "I'm having my people go over the entire system, but so far nothing. I'm beginning to wonder if it had something to do with the wormhole."

"It won't delay our arrival at 577 will it?"

"It shouldn't."

Jack let a grin cross his face. "This must really have you stumped if I can't get a more definitive answer than that."

"More worried than stumped. This problem is reminding me a lot of the trouble we had with these Oceana class ships when they left the shipyards."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, Kristy," Melissa said. "You always do."

Bishop smiled, but then frowned as she took another drink. "I thought this was supposed to be real booze."

"It is," Jack replied.

"According to who?"

"Everyone else seems to be enjoying it," Melissa said.

"You look at the faces of these people lately? This feels more like a wake than a celebration," Bishop said.

Jack turned to Melissa. "See, it's not just me."

Before Melissa could come up with a pithy reply, everyone in the lounge turned to an explosion of sound named Paul Falco.

"That's bullshit and you know it!" Falco howled at Lak Negev who stood only a few feet away. "We follow the orders we're given through the chain of command! We throw that away, and we're just a band of pirates!"

"No, we keep ourselves from being pirates by standing on principle even when our orders say to do otherwise!"

"I'd have expected that kind of sanctimonious crap from a Vulcan, but an Andorian?!"

Lak started toward the Falco, the other man's insult had hit its target. But Akala grabbed Negev's arm, stopping him from turning the verbal melee into a physical one. "The Baku are a sovereign people, my inebriated human friend. If you hadn't been inhaling so much drink this evening you'd have the sense to realize that fact!"

A single mention of the Baku was all Jack needed to tell him this was going to degenerate further if these two officers continued their debate.

"Gentlemen," Jack murmured as he walked up to Falco and Negev. "I don't think this is the time or place to be discussing this particular issue."

That seemed to snap them out of it. Both turned to Jack.

"I know you're supposed to be the center of attention tonight, but don't you think this is taking things a bit far?" Jack asked with a smile.

Falco mumbled something, but Negev ignored him in favor of responding to Jack. "Quite right, Captain. My apologies."

Akala tugged at Negev's arm to get him to follow her to the bar.

"This isn't over, Lak," Falco stated.

Negev looked over his shoulder. "More than you know."

Jack watched Falco sneer at Negev as he headed toward the bar.

"You should know better than to start an argument with an Andorian."

Falco exhaled before taking another drink. "I just can't believe they're giving a starship to him if he thinks he can chuck the chain of command whenever he damn well feels like it."

"It wasn't too long ago you had your doubts about my place in your chain of command, Paul."

"You improved," Falco said with a smile as he made his way to a group of people talking to Lee McGuire.

Melissa joined Jack. "You put a quick stop to that."

"My worry is this is only the beginning of something I won't be able to stop."

***

"I can't believe you did that!"

Negev rubbed Akala's shoulders. "Hopefully everyone is just as confused as you are."

She spun around to face him. "That was intentional?!"

Negev leaned back into the couch. "I needed to gauge where the rest of the crew was. After Falco mentioned he'd heard about the deliberations in the Council, I thought it was the perfect opportunity."

"You used him."

"He was more than willing to argue the point."

Akala was glad she'd waited to chide him until they'd returned to her quarters. She doubted he'd have opened up like this in the corridor. "What the hell are you up to?"

"Preparation... just in case."

She feared pushing further. "Can't we put all this aside for now? In two weeks we'll be at Starbase 577. Two weeks after that, you'll leave for your next assignment." She leaned toward him. "I'd very much like to spend that time focused on us."

"Events may not allow for that."

"No," she nearly shouted. "Let the rest of the galaxy deal with this. I'm supposed to be the woman you love, remember?"

"You are, Akala. But you know I can't leave this burden for someone when it's rightly mine to bear."

She rose from the couch. "I'm going to bed."

"I'll be in soon."

"Please, Lak. Come with me now."

"I have some communications to deal with." He stood and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I won't be long."

Akala stormed off to the bedroom, more afraid than angry. She wanted to scream at the universe for not letting her go with Lak to his new command, and for now taking what little time they had left together.

But more than that, she was afraid she was learning things about Lak Negev that she might one day wish she'd never found out.

***

Jack McCall sat in the outer room of his quarters, letting the minutes of the night tick away like the final drops of blood from a pierced wrist. Across from him, the illuminated display of the Baku system stood a silent sentinel over the field of battle in his mind. His heart cried out for someone to take this from him, but in this garden of dread, all were silent.

And so his thoughts fought ever forward. Too many lives were at stake to simply go with his gut feeling. He had to be sure this was the right course.

He ran his hand over the rough cloth material of the chair's armrest. Centuries ago, an actual person would have crafted this piece of furniture he relaxed in, but this particular chair came out of the massive replicators at the Delta Ophiuchus Shipyards. It was exactly like every other chair created from the same pattern, down to its very molecules. Somewhere along the way, someone had decided such precise conformity was a good thing.

Not good... efficient.

That's what bothered him. Was he taking the efficient way out? Was he conforming to what was expected?

He smiled as his hand found a flaw in the fabric. He looked at it and realized it hadn't been a replication error, there were safeguards against such things in this world they'd created. No, it had been caused by two years of him absentmindedly running his hand back and forth over the same few inches.

Even in the most mundane of activities, life wouldn't allow conformity to endure.

Jack had made his mark even on this chair. Now the question was what kind of mark would he make on the Baku issue before him.

The man he'd been after graduating the Academy would have done everything not to leave a mark.

But he'd buried that man back in the nineteenth century.

He'd coasted through too much of his life. It was time to stand for something--- his own stand, his own choice.

***

Lak Negev stood at the mirror, adjusting his uniform. The next few days would be eventful if his sources were correct, and they inevitably were. A wave of change was about to wash over the Federation, and Lak would be at the epicenter of the quake which produced that wave. He hoped in its wake it would cleanse the Federation Council of the arrogance it had possessed for far too long.

He heard Akala come up behind him, wearing only a silk robe.

"You seem to be in a good mood," she said.

He could tell she was trying to be pleasant, despite how late he'd been up before coming to bed. "Indeed I am."

She hesitated a moment. "Please, talk to the captain before you do anything."

Why had she continued to question his ability to handle this? If Starfleet trusted him enough to command a starship, why couldn't she? "When the time is right, I will speak to McCall," he told her. "We're waiting to see if the Council votes to locate the Darmathians on the Baku world. If they do, we will act."

"We?"

He turned to face her. "If McCall doesn't see the obvious truth, there are several officers who will join me in taking command of this ship. The internal sensor systems go through a routine maintenance phase on a rotating schedule. Assuming the Council votes in three days, we will one way or the other, take the ship in four."

"This is insane. There has to be another way."

"That's up to McCall. I will not stand idly by as the Baku have their planet stolen from them."

Akala embraced him. "Please Lak, I love you. Don't do this."

"How can you ask me to turn from what we both know is right?"

She released him. "Not all of us are as sure as you are."

"You don't have to be. You just have to choose the right side when the time comes."

"And for those who don't choose your side?" she asked.

"Don't doubt this, Akala..." He leaned toward her. "I will do everything in my power to prevent this injustice from occurring. Those who stand in the way will suffer the consequences." He walked toward the door. "I hope you know I will only do what I must."

***

Jack watched Melissa eat her breakfast. The aroma of the freshly replicated scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast she ate was inviting, but he had no appetite.

"You're quiet."

"Hmmm?"

She smiled. "Something on your mind."

"You could say that."

"Our leave?"

He shook his head. "Sorry."

"I'll try not to take that personally," Melissa said with frown. "You made up your mind yet on this Baku thing?"

Jack's eyes gazed at her. "Yes."

"Then what's with all the brooding?"

"What comes after my intentions become known. I need to find a way to stay Negev's hand. He's the key to this."

"You could arrest him."

"A little tough at this point without a charge."

"The rulebook again?" she asked with a grin.

Jack loved her all the more for the attempts to lighten his mood. This morning, he couldn't bring himself to join in.

"You know, we could just grab a shuttle and start our leave early," Melissa said in a soft voice that told him she was only half-joking.

But before she could say more, the door chime sounded.

"Enter," Jack said as he rose from the table.

Akala, still only wearing her robe, made her way into Jack's quarters.

"Counselor?"

"Captain, I'm not sure how much I should say to you, but I thought you needed to know." She closed her eyes and turned away from Jack. "I don't know if I can do this."

"Do what?"

"Lak... Commander Negev, he plans to..." She turned to face Jack. "Have you made a decision about the Baku?"

"As I'm not on the Federation Council, I don't know if..."

"Sir, I know about the message you received. You should know I'm fully aware of the messages Lak has gotten."

"I see," Jack said as Melissa joined him. "Yes, I have made my decision."

"Would you mind telling me, Captain?"

"Considering you relationship with Mr. Negev, I don't think that would be wise."

"Damn it, Jack! I know what he's planning! If you don't side with the Baku he intends to take this ship!"

Jack nodded, but otherwise didn't react.

"You're rather calm about the prospect of a mutiny."

"I've suspected he might be leaning that way."

"You need to know what he has planned," Akala said. "He has several officers who..."

"No."

"What?" she asked, taking a step back.

"I won't do that to him."

"Sir, as a member of your crew, I have an obligation to inform you of any threat to the chain of command."

Jack walked up to her. "You have an obligation to the man you share a bed with not to betray him. And I have an obligation not to take advantage of your relationship with him."

"But..."

"No."

"He will take this ship and use it to defend the Baku."

"Perhaps he will. But I won't use you to stop him, even if you're willing to do so."

"But Captain, you can't..."

"Leave... now."

"Doesn't losing your ship matter to you?"

"More than you can know. But there's something that matters more: my own sense of integrity." He took a step toward her. "I may lose this ship, my command, my career, the history of the Galaxy may be forever changed, but I will not do this to Lak."

"But you'll lose."

"Winning isn't the issue, it never is. The question always is are we going to remain true to ourselves? Will we stand upon those principles we speak of so highly and condemn others for not following, or will we prove we're just like the opportunistic, self-serving monsters who say they had no choice but to do what they did?" He paused but a moment. "I have a choice, and I've made it."

Several tears rolled down Akala's green-skinned cheeks. It seemed something inside her had broken with Jack's words. "And I've betrayed the first man I've loved in years." She turned and lumbered out of Jack's quarters without another word.

Melissa came up beside him. "You sure about this?"

"No," he said with a smile. "I think only zealots are ever truly sure about anything. It's what allows them to kill in so many names and causes."

"What about love?" she asked with a grin.

Jack took her in his arms. "Zealotry in love is no sin." He leaned down to kiss her, but a thought crossed his mind. "I know you would do just about anything to defend me, but if this thing turns ugly, if Negev does take the ship, I need you to promise that you won't kill anyone to either rescue me, or take the ship back."

"Jack, I..."

"I need this, Melissa."

She hesitated for several seconds. "Okay. I promise." She grinned. "But people will get hurt."

Jack didn't share her humorous attitude. "These people are our shipmates, people we depend on for our lives day in and day out. If we find ourselves at odds with them, that's one thing, but it shouldn't ever get to the point of killing."

She gave him a gentle kiss. "You're different. Ever since you came back."

"The universe had to leave me in the past for five years to drill it into my skull that the ends don't justify the means, and I still slip on occasion. It's hard for me to look on anyone else who hasn't gotten that message with anything but sympathy."

"What now?"

Jack took a deep breath and addressed the ship's comm system. "Mr. Negev, would you please meet me in my ready room in thirty minutes?"

Melissa's eyes widened as the comm came to life.

"Yes, Captain. Negev out." came the reply over the speaker.

Melissa started toward the bedroom. "Give me a minute to get my uniform on."

"No, I'm going alone."

She stopped in her tracks and turned to him. "But you're going to arrest him... right?"

"Not if I can help it," Jack said walking up and placing his hands on her shoulders. "The last thing I want to do is destroy Negev's career in Starfleet."

"He's disobeying orders."

"No he hasn't. The Council has yet to issue any orders concerning the Darmathians."

"But he..."

"He's made an error in judgment because he's caught up in the emotionalism and apparent rightness of his cause." Jack smiled. "Negev is a good officer, and he'll make a good captain, but he just needs help seeing past this moment."

Melissa shook her head. "Don't allow your own emotionalism to blind you to what needs to be done."

"What are you talking about?"

"You see yourself in him, don't you? Or at least how you used to be."

"No. Lak Negev is a far better officer than I ever was." He started for the door. "Lak and I are going to have this out," Jack said. "But the time and place are going to be one of my choosing, and not in the heat of battle."

***

Starring at the stars out the window, Jack heard Negev enter. An Academy lecture on tactics came to mind...

Use your opponent's arrogance against him. Go to the heart of his pride, find a weakness, and crush his arrogance. With your opponent broken and adrift, you will find an opportunity to deliver the killing blow.

No, Lak Negev wasn't an opponent. He was a fellow officer, and if they'd not been captain and XO, they might have been friends.

This wasn't a battle, but an attempt to convince someone the course they'd chosen was the wrong one. Compassion and sense were the guides through this.

"You asked to see me, Captain?"

Jack turned and smiled. "Yes, take a seat, Lak."

Both sat, watching each other in silence. Lak didn't betray even a hint of what he was up to. Jack had to admire him for that.

"It appears we have a problem," Jack said.

"What is that, sir?"

"I will not take this ship to prevent the settlement of the Darmathians on the far side of the Baku homeworld."

Negev did his best not to react, but Jack noticed his first officer's antennae twitch as they always did when he was nervous.

"Furthermore, I can't allow you to take command of this ship from me as your associates have asked you to do."

Negev went from nervous to defiant in a millisecond. "I would urge you to reconsider your position, Captain McCall, for the sake of... the Federation."

"I'm sorry, but for the sake of the Federation, I'm choosing life."

"It's not that simple, Captain. The sovereignty of the Baku is at stake."

"Only in the abstract. The Darmathians will be on the other side of the planet. The Baku won't even notice them."

"This time," Negev said. "But if this is allowed to happen, what about the next time, and the time after that? Where will it stop? How many refugees will they be forced to accept on their world before it is no longer their world?"

"The Darmathians will die if they aren't allowed on that world."

Negev took a breath and relaxed. It appeared to Jack that Negev felt he had the situation well in hand.

"I am a little surprised you would side with Falco on this issue. While he's a good enough officer, he has a habit of following whatever orders are given him without much question."

"You'd be surprised at how tenacious he can be in the face of orders he doesn't agree with," Jack said.. "But the issue isn't whose side I take. It is a matter of weighing what is at stake. In my mind, the extinction of an entire species wins over Baku sovereignty."

Lak leaned forward. "So you live by the principle of the ends justifies the means."

Jack shook his head. "If I did, I'd have waited and set a trap for when you put your plan into action."

Negev chuckled. "Please, Captain, while I think you are resourceful at times, you could not possibly have known what plans, if any I have."

Jack leaned forward. "Really?"

Negev seemed to run a thousand possibilities through his mind all at once. "You're bluffing."

"Try me."

Negev watched Jack closely. "Whatever you think you know..."

"Actually, I know very little at this point. I refused to accept certain information offered to me."

Negev's eyes widened. "What? Why? If you knew... why would you refuse to learn the details?"

"Because the ends don't justify the means for me."

Negev rose from his seat and paced behind the chair he'd been in. He stopped to look at Jack. "Captain, the Baku have a right to make decisions about their world."

Jack stood. "I agree... I don't see how allowing a few thousand Darmathians to settle on the far side of the planet takes that away from them except in some abstract sense."

Negev stared at him.

"I know it's thin," Jack said, walking over to Negev. "But sometimes that's all the commander of a starship has to hang onto. What the CO needs from his officers is to trust that he's doing the right thing even if they're not sure."

"I'm more than not sure."

"I know. In that case, you have to trust that we, the Federation, can get this right." Jack stopped only a few feet away from Lak. "The whole point of the Federation is that we can work out our differences without resorting to violence. If you and I can't do that, here on this ship, then maybe it's time to give up that dream of a better world."

"But why is it that world never seems arrive?"

"The ideals of the Federation are the goals we aim for. Even if we don't achieve them, we're pointed the right direction."

"You need to understand that even if I don't go through with this, there are others who will."

Jack smiled. "I'd been thinking about that. Your co-conspirators made a critical mistake asking me to join them without knowing how I'd come down on the issue."

"That's why I'm here."

"It's not a question of placement, but timing. I have records of all the communications we've both received over the last week. If those are reported to Starfleet command before the Council takes its vote, all of you will be placed in the position of either being arrested for the conspiracy or being forced to take this ship now. But then it won't be a mutiny for your cause, just one to save your own skin."

Negev's confidence visibly evaporated. This was the most dangerous time in their conversation. Jack had turned his first officer from a man on a mission to a trapped and desperate one.

"I assume there is a third alternative."

Jack breathed a sigh of relief. Negev's tactical thinking kicked in instead of his Andorian aggressiveness. He might yet have the makings of a fine starship commander. "Those records could be misplaced. Considering how they were encoded, it wouldn't be too big a surprise if there was trouble archiving them."

Negev nodded. "And from me?"

"Your word that any talk of mutiny ends here, that no matter how the council votes, no matter what I do in response, this ship will remain mine to command."

"My word is sufficient?"

"Despite our many differences, I have always believed you to be honorable. If I have your word as a Starfleet Officer, that is more than sufficient for me."

Negev, appearing more relieved than defeated, extended his hand. "You have my word as a Starfleet Officer, Captain... that any action which would take your command away will not only be set aside, but that I will make certain no one else will take such action."

Jack took his hand. "Thank you... Captain Negev."

Negev made his way to the stairs leading out of Jack's ready room, but stopped a moment. "I learned something today."

"What's that?" Jack asked.

"I have never given you the credit you are truly due. For that, I apologize, sir."

"I wouldn't worry about that. I've got a lot of credit to make up for, credit handed to me by people who thought they were doing me a favor, credit I didn't earn. I figure it'll take some time to balance that account."

Negev turned to leave. "I'll be on the bridge, sir."

Jack returned to the window he'd been staring out before Negev arrived.

***

Jack smiled as Melissa joined him on the bed, but suspected her arrival would put an end to the reading he had been desperately trying to finish.

She grinned, but remained silent.

"Okay," he said, setting aside the PADD. "What is it?"

"Just thinking..." She began as she put her arm around him. "How would you feel about me being your next executive officer?"

Jack rolled over to face her. He'd been expecting this conversation ever since Negev's new orders had come in. "I'd be in favor of anything that advanced your career."

She frowned. "Sounds like there's a 'but' coming."

"Starfleet is not going to ignore the fact of our relationship, especially now that we're engaged. They're libel to think long and hard before letting a couple be CO and XO on the same ship."

"You don't think I could do the job?"

He smiled. "I know you could. Starfleet may have another opinion."

She flopped back onto the bed. "And here I thought my biggest hurdle was going to be convincing you."

"I will admit that I am mildly apprehensive about the prospect, but that's due to my past experiences with this sort of thing."

"Mei?"

Jack nodded. "But I hope I've changed a lot since then."

"Then you'd be okay with it?"

"Of course." He leaned toward her. "You might want to check with Admiral Grant before submitting a request to the Office of Personnel. Not only could he give you some good advice on how to approach this, but he might know who within Personnel would be the best one to speak to."

"Thanks. I'll do that first thing in the morning." She gave Jack a quick kiss. "Think I can pull you away from your reading?"

Jack took a breath as she began removing his clothes. "Do I have a choice?"

She sat up. "Well, if you're not interested..."

He pulled her back to him. "Interest is never the problem."

But the spell which began to spin its web about Jack and Melissa broke as the bed fell out from under them like some wild animal refusing to be tamed.

Alarm klaxons blared as gravity returned.

"Bridge!" Jack called out as he made his way across the floor to Melissa. "You okay?"

"I think so," she told him as they both cautiously stood to their feet.

"Negev here," finally came the call from the Chamberlain's bridge.

"Are we under attack?" Jack asked.

"Negative," Negev reported. "We've dropped out of warp... rather violently."

There was no denying that last part. Melissa could already feel the places she'd be sporting bruises for the next several days.

"Get the senior staff together for a meeting in fifteen minutes. Let Bishop know I'm going to want answers." Jack turned to Melissa. "I told you this ship was a jealous woman."

"Don't count me out just yet."

***

"The synchronization system isn't functioning properly," Kristy Bishop told the assembled senior officers of the Chamberlain. "The configuration the Vedala gave us simply doesn't work any longer, and so far, no variation on their program will allow our multiple warp cores to work together."

Jack let out a long breath. "What's our best speed?"

"We're holding steady at warp three."

"Have you made contact with any of the other Oceana class ships?"

Bishop gave a quick nod. "The same thing happened on the other three at the exact same moment."

Melissa frowned. "Perhaps the Vedala did more than just give us a synchronization procedure for our engines."

"You think they were actively tending our engine systems?" Kyle Hoffman asked with a chuckle. "Or perhaps you're suggesting they cast a magic spell which now that the Vedala are gone, has worn off."

"I've not yet heard your explanation... science officer," Melissa said with enough sarcasm to fill the room. Of course Hoffman had no explanation. He never did unless it came right up and bit him on the ass. Or as Melissa had heard rumored, unless one of his underlings in the science department came up with one which he could then take credit for.

If she became the executive officer of this ship, one of her first duties was to find out why Hoffman was still here, and then do everything she could to get rid of the toad.

"The cause is less important than what we do about it," Negev said.

"Exactly," Jack replied. "Obviously Starbase 577 is out of the question." He turned to Bishop. "Considering our engine difficulties, there appears to be only one option."

"Sir, I don't think..."

Jack didn't let her finish. He turned to Negev. "Set a course for Delta Ophiuchus."

As the meeting broke up a few minutes later, Melissa noticed Jack and Negev look at each other and start to laugh.

Considering how close the two men had come to fighting over control of the now wounded Chamberlain, she somehow suspected the universe was laughing harder than either of them.

***

It had taken three weeks for the Chamberlain to reach the Delta Ophiuchus shipyard, but now that it was safely nestled inside the cocoon of a spacedock, most of its major systems offline, members of the crew were using the opportunity of extended repairs to take a well deserved break. Akala Wilmarza was no exception.

She'd managed to not only convince Jack McCall to let her take two extra weeks leave, but she and Lak were getting transport on the Nebula class USS Manning. They'd finally get the opportunity to work on problems in their relationship before Lak was scheduled to take command of his ship.

Lak had asked her to meet him in the main concourse of the spacedock facility housing the Chamberlain. He didn't explain why, but she was certain he had a good reason.

Once they settled in for their trip on the Manning, she'd tell him about going to McCall and what she'd almost done. He'd be angry. He was an Andorian after all. But she knew once they talked it out, things would be right between them again.

She had to believe that. Akala loved him too much to think otherwise.

Lak finally walked down the ramp from the Chamberlain. But she instantly knew something was wrong by the way his antennae were leaning back.

"You should return to the ship," he said, and immediately started to walk away.

She grabbed his arm, not thinking how he might react. "Why? What's wrong?"

He looked at where she held him. "Do you mind?"

"What's this about?"

Then his eyes bore down on her. "You were the one, weren't you? The one who told McCall what I had planned."

She turned from him, unable to meet his eyes. "I went to him, but he wouldn't let me tell him anything. He said he wouldn't do that to you."

Lak spun her around so forcefully she half-expected his fist, but what she got instead was far worse. "You betrayed me! You betrayed what I believe in!"

"I couldn't just stand by and let you destroy your career! You were going to mutiny!" She made sure she said that last part softly enough so no one else in the crowded corridor overheard.

"I was standing on principle, something I would expect the woman I love to respect."

"Lak, I did it because I love you!"

"No, you don't love me, and you certainly don't believe in me." He pulled his backpack up onto his shoulder. "I never want to see you again."

With that he turned and walked away.

Akala couldn't speak, she couldn't think. She fell to the deck and wept, knowing she had wronged the man she loved, and knowing he'd never again hold her in his arms.

***

Melissa entered Jack's quarters excited about a restaurant she'd decided to take him to on the nearby spacedock. They'd have a wonderful dinner, go dancing, and then come back to the ship and enjoy themselves even more.

But when she found Jack slumped down in the couch, staring off into space, a PADD in his right hand, she knew her plans for the evening weren't going to come to pass.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she sat down next to him.

He didn't say a word, but handed her the PADD.

Melissa read it:

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ATTENTION: COMMANDER USS CHAMBERLAIN

FROM: COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STARFLEET

RE: OCEANA CLASS ENGINEERING SYSTEM

BY ORDER OF C-IN-C STARFLEET THIS STARDATE, ALL OCEANA CLASS VESSELS ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO THE NEAREST DOCK FACILITY WHERE THEIR ENGINE SYSTEMS WILL BE OVERHAULED FOR THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS.

IF AFTER THAT PERIOD OF TIME THE ENGINE DESIGN CANNOT BE MADE FUNCTIONAL, ALL OCEANA CLASS STARSHIPS WILL BE MOTHBALLED INDEFINITELY, AND THEIR CREWS REASSIGNED.

ADMIRAL BARTHOLOMEW JAMES

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STARFLEET

STARFLEET COMMAND

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Melissa didn't speak, but instead leaned over and put her arms around the captain of a ship which might never again sail the stars.

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Dark Horizon Story and Characters Copyright ©2007 Michael Gray

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