Chapter 5 – And Then There’s The Butterfly

Melissa stood across from Captain Tamika Hayden who sat at her desk in the ready room of the USS Chamberlain. Melissa still found it difficult not to think of it as Jack’s ready room, but it wasn’t. It was Captain Hayden’s ready room.

“How long until we're ready to leave orbit?” Hayden asked.

“Two hours,” Melissa reported. “The last of the crew on shore leave are in the process of returning.”

Hayden looked up at Melissa. “Stragglers?”

Melissa grinned. “A couple of the crew had a long night.”

Hayden frowned. “Make sure the crew understands that from now on, long nights are no longer allowed the day before we leave port.”

“Aye, Captain.” Melissa made a notation on the PADD in her hands.

Melissa Vargas had settled into her new position as the executive officer aboard the USS Chamberlain with relative ease. She was familiar with the ship and its crew, and that crew had been giving her an extra dose of good will after their previous captain, Jack McCall, and Melissa's husband, had been removed from his command following a set of secret hearings. Only Melissa and several of the top command staff aboard the ship had a full understanding of what had happened. Even their new captain knew little of the circumstances.

Hayden glanced up at Melissa. “I have received a request from the Judge Advocate General’s office asking that we turn over any and all materials related to the murders of Commander Kadan and Commander Purcell.”

“Why do they want…”

“They have also asked that we cease all investigation into the matter.”

Melissa frowned. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Hayden’s eyes narrowed. “And why not? They do this sort of thing all the time. And this ship will be leaving Yed Post IV in a few hours.”

“I’d still like to go over what we have and see if it leads anywhere,” Melissa said.

“I can’t stop you from doing that in your spare time, but you’re the executive officer of this ship now,” Hayden said. “Your responsibilities are to this ship and its crew.”

“Loftus and Purcell were members of this crew,” Melissa said.

“Were,” Hayden emphasized. “I understand they were friends, and that you worked with them, but this really needs to be left to the professionals.”

Melissa hesitated a moment before asking, “Was this just from the JAG office?”

“Yes,” Hayden said. “Who else would it be from?”

“I was concerned…” Melissa took a breath. “Jack and I, we suspected the murders might be related to…”

“We’ve been asked to drop our investigation,” Hayden said, interrupting. “And we shall do so.”

“Aye, Captain,” Melissa said. However, her new captain had just said she could continue during her spare time. She owed at least that much to Loftus and Purcell.

“Was there anything else we needed to address today?” Hayden asked, taking a sip from her cup of steaming coffee.

“Commander Bishop is here to see you,” Melissa said. “She's waiting.”

“She's the chief engineer, right?”

“Yes.”

Hayden nodded. “Good. I've got some things I need to talk to her about. Ask her to come up.”

Melissa touched a spot on her PADD, and a few seconds later, the doors to the ready room opened. Two women came up the stairs.

“You wanted to see me, Captain?” Kristen Bishop asked, holding a PADD in her right hand. Next to her stood Robin Nelson. Both still wore the old uniforms. Melissa knew Hayden wouldn’t be happy about that.

Hayden smiled from behind her ready room desk. “I did... but I don't remember asking you to bring Commander Nelson along.”

“I figured it would save time.”

Hayden frowned. “Save time?”

“Robin is the assistant chief engineer, so I thought instead of you telling me whatever it is, and then me telling her, it would work better to just have her come along.”

Hayden slowly nodded. “Well, I suppose it's okay, but this wasn't about anything concerning engineering exactly.”

“Really?” Kristen asked.

Hayden placed her hands on the desk. “I hear there is a bar on this ship, something called Deep Thirty-three.”

“Yes, Captain. It was set up in an empty section while the ship was still being constructed. I decided to leave it there when the ship became operational.”

“I want it removed and the section returned to its previous use.”

Bishop grinned. “The water treatment system was moved elsewhere, ma'am.”

“Then find another engineering use for the space.”

“There isn't any.”

Hayden took a long breath. “There are enough other lounges on this ship. We don't need a bar with half-finished walls, exposed conduits, and a reputation I don't want associated with my ship.”

“Reputation, Captain?”

“Yes... I have seen several reports of alcohol being manufactured and distributed from that bar.”

Bishop nodded. “I can continue the same understanding we had with Captain McCall and have a case delivered to you each month, Captain.”

Hayden shook her head. “I have no interest in such an arrangement. And McCall shouldn't have allowed it.”

“I think Jack... Captain McCall understood what the bar meant to the crew.”

Hayden's eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me I'm ignorant in this regard, Commander?”

Bishop chuckled. “I would never say such a thing. But...”

“The bar is closed as of this moment. Either you tear it down, or I'll have maintenance do it.”

“You should reconsider,” Bishop said. “The bar gives many in the crew an opportunity to feel...”

“I don't give a damn if it brings them enlightenment into the secrets of the universe! The bar goes!”

Bishop cast a quick glance at Nelson who after a moment gave a quick nod. Bishop handed Hayden the PADD. “My resignation from Starfleet.”

Hayden read through it quickly, then laughed. “This is a joke.” She looked up at Bishop. “You can't be serious.”

Nelson handed a PADD to Hayden. “Mine as well, Captain.”

“Over a bar?! Are you both insane?!”

“This is about what Starfleet did to Jack. I have been considering moving on for some time.” Kristen cast a glance at Melissa, then turned back to Hayden. “Starfleet no longer stands for the ideals it did when I signed up.” She paused for a moment. “A bit of advice, if you want to lead this crew and not just command it, you had better figure out why little things like that bar mean a lot to a crew.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Who the hell do I have to be to tell you the truth?”

Hayden shook her head. “Get off my ship.”

“With pleasure, Captain Bi...”

“Now, Kristen,” Nelson interrupted with a smile. “The captain isn't interested in the truth. No point in wasting it on her. I'm sure the truth will slam into her in its own time.”

“Both of you get out of here.”

Melissa looked at Bishop. “Kristy, don't do this. Your career...”

“Doesn't mean a damn to me anymore,” Bishop said. “The thing I can't understand is why you remain part of an organization which crucified your husband for doing the right thing. Care to explain that to me?”

Melissa cast a quick look at Hayden who remained stone-faced, glaring at Bishop. “Of course I think it was wrong, but you don't change things by running away.”

“You think that's what I'm doing?” Bishop asked with a grin.

“Isn't it?”

“Take care of yourself, Melissa,” Bishop said with a warm smile. “I will miss you.”

Bishop and Nelson left the ready room.

Hayden stood from her desk, a fierceness in her eyes Melissa hadn't seen up to this point.

“I'm going to teach this crew discipline if it's the last thing I do,” Hayden said.

***

The Athena landed on Kel-j'na, settling into its hanger. It's crew was glad to be home again, and were all in good spirits.

This is home, Mei-Wan thought. More than any other place I have lived, even more so than my parents' house back on Earth, this place is truly my home. Suddenly the thought of leaving it to teach at the Academy seemed like a mistake. There was no rush. She and Dani could take their time to decide where they wanted to settle into there new life together.

She glanced over at Dani who was picking up several large cases of equipment.

Dani looked at her and smiled.

Yes, this is home.

The team made its way to the hanger entrance, chatting amongst themselves in playful banter as they often did when returning from some trip into space.

All them stopped in their tracks as they passed through the entrance to a set of corridors. Three tall blue figures blocked their way.

The lead figure took a step forward. “Gahdani... you will come with us.”

“Joralna,” Dani said, walking up to the three figures. “What is this about?”

“We have been waiting for four days,” the blue figure which looked so like Dani said. “You were to bring us a report.”

“My report will be made along regular channels when I am ready to submit it to the council.”

“Unacceptable.” Joralna turned to Mei-Wan. “You are being distracted.”

“I am fulfilling my life,” Dani said, stepping between Mei-Wan and Joralna. “This is my path.”

“You have obligations.”

“Yes, and I am tending to them.”

“Not to our satisfaction. You were given a heavy responsibility for all of us. Your work cannot be ignored.”

“It is not ignored.”

Joralna nodded. “We require explanation.”

After several moments, Dani turned to Mei-Wan. “I must go with them.”

“I don't think that's a good idea,” Mei-Wan said.

Nick stepped forward. “You don't have to go anywhere you don't want to go.”

Dani turned to Nick. “I wish to go with them so that they might see what I have learned from all of you.”

Nick seemed confused, giving Dani a chance to turn back to Mei-Wan. “I won't be long.”

“I love you,” Mei-Wan said.

“And I love you.” Dani smiled and raised her hand to wave at Mei. “I shouldn’t be long.”

-GO TO CHAPTER 6-