Chapter 8 – Things Better Left Unsaid

The next morning, Jack heard a noise that didn’t make much sense to him. It almost sounded like something had gotten loose on the house. But that couldn’t be it. He had checked the house a week earlier.

“You want me to get that?” Felicia asked from her place next to him in the bed.

Jack rolled over and smiled at her. “What is it? A piece of the siding coming loose?”

Felicia laughed. “Did you get that worn out last night?”

“What?”

“Rest,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

She got out of bed, took his robe off the bathroom door and wrapped it around herself.

Jack closed his eyes a moment, wanting to fall back asleep, but he realized sunlight was streaming through the windows, and he wasn’t likely to doze off again.

“Better to get a start on the day,” he said to himself.

Felicia walked to the front door, checking the robe a last time, and once satisfied it was secure, opened the door.

A woman stood on the other side with a stern look on her face.

“Hello?” Felicia asked.

“Is Jack here?” the woman wearing a Starfleet uniform asked.

“You’re from Starfleet?”

“I’m Melissa Vargas.” The woman took a long breath. “Jack’s wife.”

Felicia took a step back, barely able to catch her breath. “Uh…”

“Is he here?”

“I’m the director of the Pierce Valley Historical Society,” she said, barely getting the words out. “Jack, Mr. McCall, and I had some things to discuss about the ranch, concerning repairs to the fence.”

“And you came here wearing a bathrobe? And one several sizes too big for you?” Melissa smiled. “You don’t have to concoct some lie to hide anything. We’re all adults here.”

Jack walked into the room. “How about we go out to the northern fence line and take lunch with us? The sun is out and…” His eyes caught sight of Melissa. The next thing he noticed was the distress in Felicia’s eyes as she turned to him.

***

“I’m sorry,” Melissa said, as she and Jack walked a path along a pond some distance from the house. “I shouldn’t have just shown up here unannounced. I put you in a horrible situation.” She turned away. “Please tell…”

“Felicia,” Jack said.

Melissa nodded. “Tell her I’m sorry for putting her in the middle of this.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

“How is it that something which came so effortlessly, seems to turn into a mess no matter how hard we try to do otherwise?” Melissa asked.

“I know,” he muttered, looking down. “We both kept how we felt about certain things hidden when we started this relationship. Not too surprising as we thought Mei had died at the time. Unfortunately, we kept that up for far too long. I know I avoided the truth about myself the most.”

“Me too,” Melissa whispered. She finally turned to him. “Do you want to continue with our marriage?”

Jack took several moments to push down the emotional reaction welling up inside him. “The one thing I know we shouldn’t do is make some heat of the moment choice about the rest of our lives. I’ve done too much of that over the years. I think it’s time I put more thought into what I do.”

“I agree,” Melissa said, several tears sliding down her face. “I know I’ve hurt you, Jack. And for that, I am so very sorry. That is the last thing I ever wanted to do.”

“I know,” Jack said with a forced smile. “And I’ve been intransigent on so many things, expecting the world, and worse you, to simply snap into my view of how things ought to be. No one should ever have that power over someone else, and they certainly shouldn’t demand it from someone they love.”

Melissa slowly walked up to him. She gently rested her head on his chest. “I do love you, Jack.”

Jack put his arms about her.

***

For two days, all Mei-Wan could get from the Federation Archaeological Council was someone to take a message. Even Andrea wasn't taking her calls. That meant things were bad.

A knock sounded at her door.

She opened it and Milbraith was there. “Mind if I come in?”

“Actually, yes, I do mind,” Mei-Wan spat.

“I think you'll want to hear this,” he said.

“I doubt that.”

He smiled. “You're probably right, but I think you would rather hear it than not.”

More than anything, she never wanted to see this man again, but she suspected he was an errand boy for those behind the dire circumstances she found herself in.

She waved him in. “You've got five minutes.”

He walked in but stood near the door.

“Get on with it,” Mei-Wan said.

“Your lease on this apartment is hereby terminated.”

“What?!” Mei-Wan screamed.

“The arrangements were through the Council and those have been suspended. You have two weeks to vacate.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“I'm just the messenger,” he said. “Also, your stipend for spending here on Kel-j'na has also been revoked. You will be allowed to purchase meals for the next week, but after that, if you intend to remain on Kel-j'na, you had best make other arrangements.”

“Okay, you've delivered your message, so get out.”

“Only part of it,” he said, his face devoid of emotion. “Starfleet has suspended your reserve status. You are as of 0800 this date, no longer on Starfleet Reserve. Also, your Starfleet Interplanetary Account has been closed pending investigation, so you won't be able to use that here on Kel-j'na either.”

Mei-Wan fell back against the wall, barely able to keep herself standing. This was more than just the Institute. Someone was out to destroy her.

“But without that, I can't set up accounts on Federation Member worlds,” she got out through shortened breaths. “I'd have to return to Earth just to be able to eat.”

“Quite true,” he said. “I do believe that was the intent. The members of your team are being informed of the same thing at this moment. Everyone including yourself will be given the opportunity to return to Earth if you wish. Otherwise, you'll have to find other means to survive on Kel-j'na.”

“And you're a part of this,” she spat. “Don't pretend to be only a messenger. The act of delivering the message makes you an accomplice.”

“I suppose it does. Pity. I'll have to agonize over my moral failing in this regard. Oh, whatever will become of me?” He forced a sarcastic smile, and turned to go.

“At least I know I was right,” she said, feeling the need to lash out at this man as the representative of those who sought to destroy her. “No one would go to all this trouble just to get rid of someone who had falsified data.”

“Very true,” he said, stopping just at the door. “You are considered dangerous. You and your work are going to be discredited.”

“How do you live with yourself?” she asked.

“By understanding that what I do in the larger scheme of history is protecting what I hold most dear. If that requires one woman's life be torn asunder so that my children's children will have a stable civilization to live their lives in, I can accept that.”

“What kind of civilization would wreck my life just to keep my findings about the Ancient Progenitors discredited?”

He turned to face her. “A civilization which will continue to exist. The non-existent sort is irrelevant no matter what high moral ground it claims to occupy.”

“The same old argument. The ends justify the means,” Mei-Wan said. “But people like you never stop to think that when that philosophy is taken to its logical end you no longer have a civilization. You've lost the very thing you thought you were protecting.”

“I really don't care what you think.”

“One day,” Mei-Wan said, taking a step toward him. “You may wish I had convinced you to turn against those you work for. Because when it comes down to it, they'll cast you aside just as easily as they did me when they decide convenience demands it.”

“I know better than to allow myself to be put in that kind of a position.”

“How? By kissing ass of everyone with power?”

He chuckled. “Good day, Doctor Lau.”

He left.

***

Mei-Wan walked into the Federation Office Building on Kel-j'na, hoping to see the Secretary General's Representative for the sector, but was told he was unavailable for the day. She pleaded her case with the receptionist, but was told to come back the next morning.

Mei-Wan did so and was handed a note which informed her that if she wanted to leave Kel-j'na, transport would be provided for her, but after five days that offer would be rescinded.

As she left, Mei-Wan found Nick standing outside the building. On reflex she ran up to him, falling into his arms.

“I'm so sorry,” she said. “I didn't know they'd take it out on all of you.”

“Don't worry about me,” Nick said. “I always find a way to survive.”

“But what about everyone else?”

“Hal punched the guy who delivered the message to him. He's been taken into custody and is going to face trial for assault. Emily found some friends on a Vulcan ship in orbit. She told me they were leaving orbit tomorrow. I'm waiting to hear back from Susan.”

“I should have followed Raymond’s advice.”

“Hell no,” Nick said. “Don't start thinking that, not now.”

She looked up at him. “But I've destroyed all your lives!”

“We could have all turned on you when they came to throw you out. We're not children, Mei.”

“But I'm responsible for you. I led the team.”

Nick smiled. “And it’s a damn good team, isn’t it?”

The moment of despair was past. Mei-Wan felt her resolve return. “We’ve got to fight this.”

“What are you going to do? Go back to Earth?”

Mei-Wan thought a moment. “There's nothing for me there. What would I do? Teach at some small college? And that's assuming they don't take away my credentials and my Academy diploma.”

“I think you're better off assuming they will. They seem to be hitting everything else,” Nick said. “But this isn’t about us. Someone wants your research erased from history.”

Mei-Wan nodded. “Then we have to find a way to keep that from happening.”

“The question is surviving until then,” he said. “How do plan on doing that here on Kel-j’na? This planet is a monetary economy.”

“There's a section of the outer part of the city where people down on their luck go,” she replied. “It's not a pleasant place, but I can make enough of a living to hold on.” Mei-Wan turned to Nick. “What about you?”

“I have been ordered off planet by the Kel-j'na government.”

“But why?!”

“I came here based on my medical credentials. Now that they're gone, the welcome mat has been rolled up and burned to ash.”

“Damn it.”

“The Capellan Ambassador to the Federation and I go way back. He's arranged to have a ship pick up me and Neelan tomorrow. We’ll stay on Capella Four until we can dig ourselves out of this mess.” He took her hand. “I tried to set it up so you could come with us, but you've been flagged for transport to Earth only. He told me he'd never seen anyone locked down like you have been. But he said he'd talk to some of the other ambassadors to see if there was something he could do.”

“Then he believes this is intentional?”

“Definitely. He's certain some very powerful people in the Federation are involved. They want you broken.”

Mei-Wan's jaw tightened, and she stood up just a little taller. “Then that's the one thing I won't let them do.”

“Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure you have only one option open to you--- returning to Earth. I'd guess they think once they've got you stuck there, they can prevent you from continuing your work. Out here, you can, if you find the means, go anywhere you want. Why does that scare them?”

“Because I might find another datacore. And a second one confirming what I said about the first would cause their entire plan to unravel.”

“I think you’re right,” Nick said, putting his arms around her. “I'll stay in touch the best I can.”

“Thank you.”

“Mei, you're going to have to do whatever it takes to survive.”

“I know.”

“I don't think you do,” Nick said, his eyes sad. “They're going to do everything they can to make your life a living hell.”

“But they won't do anything that would gain them unwanted attention. I don't think they'd try to have me killed.”

“I agree. They want you broken, not dead.” He took her hands. “But there's a lot further you could fall before they decide you're broken enough.”

“I’m a Starfleet officer. I was taught how to handle myself in tough situations,” she said with a smile.

Nick grinned and nodded. “Just remember your team is still here. We may be scattered across half the Galaxy, but we're all on your side.”

“Then I'll find some way to survive.”

Nick kissed her gently on the forehead. “I know you will.”

“Thank you, Nick. You didn't have to find me here today. I really appreciate you making the time.”

“It's not like I had anything else to do before I leave tomorrow,” he said with a grin.

Mei-Wan watched Nick walk away. A minute later, she realized the money she had wouldn’t last more than a week or so. All she had were her wits and her Starfleet survival training.

Mei-Wan walked toward the center of the city. Uncertain where the weeks ahead would take her, but determined to come out the other end with the answers she needed to defeat those who were working so hard to discredit her work.

***

At three in the afternoon Jack busied himself preparing a roast he intended on cooking that evening. He was rather proud his preparations were going so well. He was using the recipe Felicia had used for the roast last Christmas Eve.

But a few moments later, he heard a knock at the front door. When he got there, he found five Starfleet officers, two men and three women, all with rank pins indicating they were captains.

“What can I do you for you?” he asked, opening the door and stepping onto the porch while he cleaned his hands off with a dishtowel he'd brought with him.

The one standing closest to the door, a human male, took the lead. “We wondered if you were busy, and if not, if we might talk to you for a while.”

Jack frowned. “I'm retired, folks. I don't think we'd have much to...”

“Captain K'lremi suggested we come by to see you.”

“Oh?”

The man hesitated a moment. “Each of us here were recently informed about the Omega Directive, and we have some serious reservations about it. Captain K'lremi said you were the man to talk to.”

Jack could see it in their faces, the same fear he had felt when Dameron had ordered him to fire on that planet.

“Come in,” he said. “I was making supper. You're welcome to join me if you'd like.”

* * *

Dark Horizon Story and Characters Copyright ©2022 Michael Gray

* * *

GO TO STAR TREK: DARK HORIZON - ENTER PAGE