Chapter 3 – Third Door On The Left
Jack stepped out of the shuttle Zaylie had piloted down to the primary Baku village. Jack had never been here before, but already found the warm air with it's lack of industrial pollution very agreeable.
This was a real world where people lived a genuine life.
He made his way into the central part of the Baku village.
I could get used to living here.
He knew that feeling was partly a result of the strange rings that encircled this world, giving those who walked the surface perfect health and long life. But he wouldn't be here long enough to receive the full effect, just a hint.
He saw a few members of his crew had already availed themselves of shore leave. Good. Some of them needed the kind of rest this world could provide. Too bad they wouldn't be here for very long.
Jack made his way to the designated building, a meeting place that appeared to his eyes a sort of tavern.
“I could use a stiff drink about now,” he murmured to himself. “I wonder what kind of mess you've gotten yourself into now, Mei,” his mind returning to what had brought him and his crew here. “And what kind of mess you're about to get me into.”
Jack stopped a moment, caught off guard by the sight of a Cardassian in a Starfleet uniform. He was a full commander.
Then Jack remembered. Dameron's XO.
The Cardassian regarded Jack a moment, grinned, then waved him forward. “Third door on the left.”
Jack nodded and then entered the third door.
“Ah,” a man in his sixties said with just enough of a syrupy accent to his voice, communicating the pleasure of a predator about to pull prey into its jaw. “Captain McCall, do come in.”
Commodore Stuart Dameron stood tall, a lean man who possessed an innate ability to command those within the sound of his voice. But this was the kind of man Jack knew to always be on guard against. If you let them, they'd drag you into a deep ditch you'd never crawl out of.
“I was told you were going to...”
“Omega.”
Jack stopped, frozen at the prospect of the conversation to come, and the dire circumstances now facing him and his crew.
“Aye, sir,” Jack said, back to business. “What are my orders?”
“You are to proceed to the Geryon system. The fourth planet has a high probability of having developed Omega technology. You are to investigate, and take all necessary actions to eliminate that threat.”
Jack, like all Starfleet captains or higher, had a basic understanding of the implications of a society possessing a working ability to control the Omega molecule, and he also was aware of the implications of his duty under the Omega Directive, one of the most secret of orders given to a starship commander.
“You understand the implications of what's being asked of you?”
“I know what the Directive requires,” Jack said. “That doesn't mean I have to like it.”
Dameron smiled. “Cyrus said you could be... complicated.”
“If he meant that I struggle with some of the more morally ambiguous requirements of sitting in the center seat, yes.”
A chuckle erupted from somewhere deep within Dameron. “Life is so much more interesting when you can see those struggles as opportunities for interesting directions in one's life.”
“I don't see the possibility of extinguishing an entire culture as an opportunity for anything except sadness and many sleepless nights where I'm haunted by what I've done.”
“Are you having doubts about your willingness to do what your duty requires?”
Jack rolled that around in his mind a moment. He could pass on this mission. The Directive did allow for that given the circumstances. He suspected that was what Dameron was here for, to be the gate keeper on this one. But he also suspected they called in the Chamberlain because its primary weapon system had the ability to fulfill the mission quickly.
He didn't like the idea of leaving this to someone else who wouldn't struggle with the moral question involved, nor the idea that Dameron might transfer his command to the Chamberlain, and do it himself.
“No, sir,” Jack answered. “I'm fully up to what might be required.”
Dameron smiled. “Good.”
“I was told Mei-Wan was somehow involved with this.”
“Yes, Dr. Lau and her archaeological team were reported to have entered the same system. We're not sure what the reason for their doing so was,” he said. “However, whatever their reason it is not to interfere with the fulfillment of your mission. Omega always takes priority.”
So Mei-Wan was the bait to pull him into this.
“As per the directive, don't inform your crew until you or your main computer has confirmed the existence of Omega technology, and then only inform them of the minimum necessary to complete the mission.” Dameron leaned forward. “But once confirmed, do not delay. You cannot risk leaving Omega in the hands of anyone.”
“I understand, Commodore.”
***
Zaylie Burton remained close to the shuttle. She wasn't scheduled for shore leave until eight hours later, so she couldn't enjoy herself as some of her other Chamberlain crewmates were doing. She had just noticed some walk past where the shuttle was stationed.
A familiar face strolled her way.
“A whole planet to enjoy and you spend your time standing next to a shuttle?” Kadan Loftus asked with a wide grin.
“I'm on duty,” Zaylie said with a shrug. “I brought the captain down.”
“Bringing one's captain down isn't a career building move.”
Zaylie was confused a moment, then caught her meaning. “No, I mean I...”
“I know what you meant, ” Loftus said. “I was teasing.”
Zaylie relaxed with a smile of her own. “You on leave?”
“Four hours.”
“And you still wear your uniform?”
“I didn't want to waste time changing. I've heard they've got some interesting food here.”
“I'll have to look into that when my leave commences,” Zaylie said.
Loftus frowned. “The captain is a pretty good pilot on his own. Why'd he asked you to do this?”
Zaylie started to figit. “Well...”
“You saw the Virginia in orbit, and offered to be his pilot.” It wasn't a question.
“Something like that.”
“You know what they say about curiosity and cats.”
“The captain gave me that lecture already.”
Loftus smiled. “So?”
“So what?”
“Have you learned anything yet?”
“I figured you might know.”
“I'm as in the dark as much as you are,” Loftus said.
“Isn't that odd for a captain to keep something like this from his XO?”
“Usually, yes,” Loftus replied. “That makes it all the more intriguing.”
“Given he hasn't talked to you about it, or even...”
Burton's comm badge chirped. She tapped it.
“Burton here.”
Over the badge came Jack's voice.
“Lieutenant, I'm going to be a while, so why don't you take an hour of leave now. I'll let you know when I'm ready to go.”
“Are you sure, sir,” Zaylie said. “If you need me to...”
“Shore leave, Zaylie. That's an order.”
“Aye, sir.”
She tapped it again.
“Want to come along with me as I seek out new menu items and strange concoctions?” Loftus asked.
***
Jack watched the new arrival strut across the room. He had to fight back the reaction to defend himself. He kept telling himself, while there was an incredible resemblance, this Zeparan couldn't be the same one he'd met in Earth's past.
Jack and Dameron had both sat at a table in the tavern when the Commodore had suddenly announced they would be joined for dinner.
“May I introduce Xaphon, the Chief Imperator of the Zeparan Alliance,” Dameron said as the tall green female folded the wings on her back and settled into a seat at the end of the table.
“Captain McCall,” she said with a smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
It was the same voice! Jack was certain! This was the same Zeparan he had encountered in Earth's early twenty-first century. She had the same bio-mechanical implants covering her skin, the same cold mechanical eyes.
But she was dead.
No, she would be dead. That had to be her future, his past.
Jack offered his hand.
“Is there a problem, Captain?” Xaphon asked, her eyes narrowing.
“No,” he said quickly. “I... I was surprised by your wings. Are they functional?”
“Oh, yes,” Xaphon said. “We can achieve high speed in flight. Our history tells of great battles won in the air.”
Dameron motioned to the lone attendant in the tavern who then walked off toward a door.
“I thought we might speak of a variety of things over our meal,” Dameron said.
Jack nodded.
“I must admit to admiring you before this meeting, Captain.” Xaphon said. “Because of your father.”
“My father?”
“Jeremiah McCall had been working with us, more specifically me, on a treaty between my people and a variety of our neighbors. I came to respect him,” Xaphon said in a way which suggested respect was not something she gave often or easily. “And he spoke of you. He saw such potential in you.”
The attendant brought over a cask of drink and three glasses.
“Ah!” Dameron said. “The Baku are quiet exquisite vintners. I think you will both find this particular sample of their labors extremely enjoyable.”
He opened the cork on the cask and began to pour a bright red liquid into their glasses.
“Now that Commodore Dameron is close to concluding the treaty your father began, I see nothing but a very profitable relationship between your Federation and the Zeparan people,” Xaphon said as Dameron offered her a glass.
“I'm glad to hear that,” Jack said, taking his own glass from Dameron. Though Jack's previous experience with Xaphon made him very much doubt it. That version of this being was insane with revenge... revenge directed at Jack. But perhaps that future wasn't set for Xaphon.
Jack considered the possibility that he might change the course of her life, and his.
The Commodore smiled and held his glass up to the other two. “To the future.”
