Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [81]
TPol nodded, a look of concern threatening to overwhelm her usual Vulcan stoicism. “Help is coming, Trip. In the meantime, please be careful.
He smiled at the dream-image of the woman with whom hed once thought he might build a future. But he knew enough about nostalgia and wish-fulfillment fantasies to resist believing that she was really communicating with him telepathically and in real time across all the boundless light-years that separated them.
And he knew enough about life not to expect any hairbreadth rescues or other miracles to intervene on his behalf.
“I promise to wear my mittens until the cavalry comes, he said, not quite suppressing an ironic smile.
She raised an eyebrow in a classic expression of Vulcan perplexity. “Stay safe, Trip, she said after a seemingly uncertain pause. “And remain vigilant.
I know, Trip thought wistfully. I guess I still love you, too.
The real world returned to Trip in a disorienting rush of sensation. “Cunaehr! a stern male was shouting into his ear, startling him back into wakefulness. The fathomless white expanse around him vanished like fog, taking TPol with it. The face of Centurion Terix, whose aquiline features were creased with both concern and frustration, now nearly filled his vision.
“I had feared you dead for a moment, Terix said, releasing his grip on Trips bulky Romulan travel robes and backing away to his own nearby barstool.
Trip allowed his gaze to drift momentarily around the crowded, noisy, and dimly illuminated gambling establishment that surrounded them both as he regained his psychological bearings. The barstool that had somehow kept him from tipping over backward during his apparently brief episodehe no longer felt entirely certain that it had been a mere dream or hallucinationreminded him that the seat hadnt been designed with the Terran backside in mind. That single tangible reality jolted him the rest of the way back into the real world.
“Im fine, Terix, Trip said. “Just a little tired, thats all. It was a long flight out here.
“Sleep during the flight next time, Cunaehr, the centurion said in a low growl. “I didnt bring you all the way to the Empires southern galactic limits for you to doze off while so much work still lies ahead of us.
Right, Trip thought as he discreetly eyed the telltale bulge beneath Terixs otherwise unassuming dark travel robes. I should just take a catnap right next to a man whos convinced that Im a Vulcan spy. He knew that the centurions deliberately nonmartial garment was intended to conceal both a disruptor pistol and a razor-sharp military Honor Blade, though he didnt think it was accomplishing that objective particularly well with regard to either weaponand that was to say nothing about Terixs aggressive stance.
He wondered which Terix would grab first, the gun or the blade, once he decided that he finally had an adequate excuse to follow his instincts.
“Id be happy to get started, Terix, Trip said. “Im just hoping not to die of sheer boredom while were sitting around waiting for our contact to turn up.
Terixs eyes narrowed dangerously. “Be patient, Cunaehr. And remain alert.
Trip nodded as he reached toward the bar on which hed set his now half-empty mug. His first impression of the surprisingly potent blue ale had been that it probably ought to be illegal. The sip he took now only confirmed that initial opinion.
Several more minutes passed, during which Trip ever so slowly drained his glass. “What makes you so sure were even waiting in the right place, Terix? he said as he contemplated whether or not ordering a refill would make him more or less likely to experience another vivid hallucination.
“This place is more a frontier outpost than an established colony, Cunaehr. Therefore relatively few places like this exist on all of Cheron, since the Rihannsu population here numbers