Hard Crash - Christie Golden [28]
"It wasn't the ideal first contact situation. But the second contact worked out pretty well," Gold replied.
"I am being hailed by the Enterprise. They are ready to depart."
"Soloman," said Gold, very softly. "If you want to change your mind, either about Friend or about returning to your homeworld, now's the time."
"No," said Soloman firmly. "I know what I want, what I need. I can do this, and so can you, Friend," insisted Soloman. "Farewell."
"Farewell," echoed the ship. The Enterprise powered up, and Friend obediently moved into position alongside it. Both ships jumped into warp, and were gone.
Captain's personal log, supplemental We started with a dead ship, then a live ship, then a dead pilot, then a Borg. We ended up with a formal first contact that could save an entire species if it's handled right, and saw two individuals display strength and courage as they chose to stand alone. You know, Picard and the others can have their Galaxy class behemoths. I'll stick with this little vessel and its crew any day. Look what we get to do.
Gomez was surprised to see someone else awake at this hour when she entered the mess. The lighting was dim; after all, it was well past midnight. But even in this faint light, she could tell it was Duffy. He seemed as surprised, and as uncomfortable, as she. They exchanged awkward smiles.
She stood in front of the replicator for a long moment. Gomez almost didn't make the order she'd intended to make. She'd rarely requested this over the last ten years as it was. But she wanted it badly tonight.
"Cocoa, hot," she finally instructed the replicator. "With whipped cream," she added quickly, and took the steaming mug the replicator offered.
"Whipped cream, huh?" commented Duffy. "You must be having a rough night."
Gomez smiled, feeling suddenly, absurdly shy. She had wanted to be alone, to think about things, but now she was glad Duffy was here. She had always been able to talk to him before. She wondered if that, too, had changed.
"May I join you?" she asked.
"Certainly," he replied. She took the seat opposite him, and then suddenly laughed as she saw what he had ordered.
"Macaroni and cheese?"
"The ultimate comfort food. Like hot chocolate," he said, forking up another mouthful. "Just like my mother used to make, if mother had been a replicator. Good for what ails you."
Sonya took a sip, enjoying the chocolately, sugary hit of the smooth beverage on her tongue. It had been too long. Ever since "the incident," as her spilling encounter with Picard had been dubbed by some wag, she had refrained from ordering the infamous beverage in front of others.
But Duffy was more than just someone she supervised. He'd been her friend, just like Geordi had, and then, he had become something more. He was someone she could trust, someone she could drink cocoa in front of when she really needed it without fear of being teased.
What he had just said suddenly registered. "Comfort food? Why do you need comfort food?"
Now it was his turn to look away shyly. "You know."
Sonya supposed he did. It was time they talked about it, at least a little. She was tired of this unresolved business getting in the way.
"What happened with 110--I mean, Soloman, and Friend," she said softly. "Watching poor young Jaldark dying alone, in pain, while her ship kept crying for her. And Soloman teaching it how to be by itself."
He nodded, still not meeting her eyes. "It kind of brought home...."
"That we're here, but we're not together any more," Sonya finished. "I know." She gestured toward her mug. "Why do you think I'm drinking this?"
"It was one thing when you got promoted and left," said Duffy, leaning forward and talking quickly. "I mean, we said our good-byes, and we moved on."
"Yes," Sonya said. It had been hard--harder, she supposed, on Duffy than on her. She had a promotion to look forward to and provide distraction, a new ship, a new mission. He had remained on the Enterprise. Until they had both ended