Crossover - Michael Jan Friedman [105]
“And now?” asked his student, obviously captivated by this turn in the conversation.
“Now,” said Spock, “I realize that Vulcans and Romulans have a great deal to teach each other. And any worthwhile reunification effort will have to combine the best qualities of both peoples.”
Skrasis smiled, no doubt pleased by his master’s conclusion. “I will have to remember that,” he responded.
“Well,” McCoy interjected, “I’d say we’re making some progress here. If the ambassador’s sampling Romulan emotion, I don’t think human emotion can be too far behind. Pretty soon, we’ll have him singing ‘Row Your Boat’ like Enrico Caruso.”
“I do not believe I will ever do that,” the Vulcan demurred.
“Sure you will,” the admiral assured him. “After you’ve gotten settled, we’ll spend some time on Earth. Visit Starfleet headquarters, that sort of thing. Remind you of those human qualities you’ve been missing the last few years.”
“Aye,” Scott chimed in. “We’ll visit the captain’s monument, if ye like.”
Spock looked at him askance. “His … monument?”
The Scotsman nodded. “They built it on the land where he grew up, right in the middle of a cornfield. Paid for with private funds, too. There’s a history of his exploits engraved in the stone beneath his likeness and
well
” The former chief engineer went ruddy with embarrassment. “There’s a bit there about each of us,” he went on. “Ye especially, sir.”
The Vulcan acknowledged the information with a nod. He was glad that his friend Jim had not gone unremembered by the people of Earth, for whom he had sacrificed so much.
Spock would very much have liked to see this monument. Unfortunately it would not be possible to do so. He said as much.
McCoy balked at the Vulcan’s response. “What are you talking about?” His eyes widened suddenly. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on going back to Romulus?”
“Indeed,” Spock replied, “that is precisely what I intend to do. I have already made the necessary arrangements with Captain Picard.”
“But it was near impossible to get ye out,” Scott declared. “Getting ye back in could be twice as hard.”
“No,” the Vulcan disagreed. “There is a network I helped establish, which from time to time smuggles Romulan dissenters out of the Empire. I will employ the same network to smuggle myself and my students back to Romulus.”
“You can’t do this,” the admiral insisted. “Not at your age. You’re too old to go risking your life in that den of snakes.”
“Aye,” said Scott. “Ye’ve done enough, sir. Ye’ve done more than enough. Let someone else lead the unificationists.”
But Spock shook his head resolutely from side to side. “If I am truly as old as you claim, gentlemen, there is little time for me to leave the galaxy better than when I entered it. And I cannot imagine a greater legacy than to have played a part in reunification.
“Besides,” he went on, “two brave and resourceful men put their lives on the line to preserve the leader of the unification movement. How can I allow such an effort to be wasted?”
McCoy swallowed. His eyes seemed to take on a liquid cast. “You’re a damned fool, Spock. Still.” He paused. “But I’ll be rooting for you just the same.”
“As will I,” agreed Scott. “And we’ll meet again, Mister Spock. Ye can bet the whole blasted Romulan Empire on that.”
Inwardly the Vulcan smiled at his friend’s optimism. “I would not be so foolish as to accept that wager,” he replied simply.
For a moment or two, silence reigned on the bridge. It was Skrasis who finally ended it.
“Our time here is short, Teacher. How may I be of service to you?”
Spock turned to him. “You may help me repair the science station.”
After all, like McCoy and Scott, the science station was an old comrade—one he would miss when he returned to Romulus.
EPILOGUE
Picard entered Ten-Forward just in time to see the Starship Gettysburg come about in space.
Describing a graceful arc, the vessel moved away from the Enterprise under impulse power only. Then, once it was clear of the larger vessel, it switched to its warp drive and