Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [62]
“Thank you, Ms. Ubuntu,” Thelin acknowledged. “If you would, please, I really must speak to President Roth immediately.”
“I’m sorry, Captain…but that isn’t possible.”
Thelin briefly closed his eyes and took a deep breath in an effort to relax his frayed nerves. “Ms. Ubuntu, we’ve risked a great deal here today. I merely ask this one small courtesy. Please.”
The woman looked down and sobbed mournfully before responding. “Captain…President Roth experienced a massive coronary attack during the escape. You can’t speak to him. He’s dead.”
6
Five Years Later
Saavik rose from the bed she had shared with David the night before as the Vulcan sun pounded its hot morning rays through the window. Tossing her long hair away from the front of her face, she looked about the room for her clothing and personal effects and gathered them together, taking them with her as she walked toward the door to the adjacent bathroom.
From under heavy eyelids that struggled to remain open, David watched her from the bed, admiring as always her shapely curves and graceful movements. Her visits had grown more infrequent-in fact, this was only the third time they had spent the night together since her appointment as the Federation ambassador to Romulus about a year earlier, and, sadly, this particular liaison would be all too brief. She was due to return to the embassy on Romulus later that day.
After a few minutes she emerged, fully dressed and smartly primped. In the past, David had often wondered why, given the absence of any logical explanation, Vulcan women always seemed to invest a lot of time and energy into their physical appearance. But now knowing Saavik so intimately, he was beginning to believe that beauty just came very naturally to them, without their having to expend much effort.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile, his voice deep and throaty from the effects of sleep.
“Good morning,” she replied warmly. She had long since learned to embrace human greeting customs and to stop questioning the logic of them. “Did you sleep well?”
“Not nearly enough,” he said, rubbing his eyes. He looked over at the chronometer on the stand next to the bed. “Geez, is it really that early?”
“My shuttle is due to depart in the early afternoon.” She sat down next to him on his side of the bed and they clasped their hands together. By now, David was accustomed enough to his artificial hand that he didn’t have to worry about accidentally crushing hers.
David looked deep into her eyes. “Don’t go,” he said.
Saavik raised an eyebrow. “I have my responsibilities, David. But I’m not leaving just yet. I thought we might share breakfast together.”
“I’d like that,” he replied. “We haven’t had much time to talk.”
Saavik gave him a sidelong glance with a mischievous grin as she stood up. “You didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk last night.”
“Yeah, I know,” David said as he tossed aside the bedsheets and swung his legs over the edge. “Sorry, that was my human lack of emotional control.”
“Indeed,” she agreed, as she picked up a tote bag from the floor and set it upon a small table near the door.
David dressed while Saavik packed a few scattered items in the bag. “So tell me,” he inquired, “what inside information have you heard about the war effort lately?”
She briefly gave him a puzzled look. “Why do you presume I would know anything more than you?”
“Oh, c’mon!” David laughed. “You’re in the employ of the Federation diplomatic service. I’m just a disgraced scientist turned social worker.”
“You underrate your value to the cause, especially given your level of dedication.” She zipped the bag shut and turned to face him, leaning against the table. “I do know that Admiral th’Valrass has just returned from a very successful series of campaigns in the Archanis sector. Several Klingon military bases were completely destroyed.”
“Well, good