Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [60]
There were a dozen messages on her workstation, departmental bulletins, university bulletins, or notes from students. She intended to read the student notes first, but there was also a text-only message from T’Vorak, the chair of the astrophysics department: CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.
Miranda’s heart was racing. Could it be? It had been so long since she’d submitted the grant application, she had all but assumed that it had been turned down.
Miranda put through a communication to the department head. Within ten seconds, the angular features of T’Vorak appeared on her workstation’s screen.
“Doctor Kadohata, I have news that I believe you will find satisfactory,” T’Vorak said.
Her heart raced faster. “The grant came through?”
T’Vorak’s right eyebrow rose. “Indeed. Were you informed?”
Laughing, Miranda said, “No, merely a fervent hope. Oh, T’Vorak, this is wonderful news!”
“I expected you to react in such a manner.” T’Vorak looked away briefly to touch some controls on her workstation. “I am forwarding the specifics to you now. The expedition’s departure date was delayed; therefore, you will be able to complete this semester’s work. Because of that delay, they have been forced to switch to a smaller vessel.”
Miranda didn’t like the sound of that. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“Families will not be permitted.”
Nodding, Miranda said, “Thank you, T’Vorak. I’ll look at the file now.”
After T’Vorak’s face disappeared from the screen, Miranda let out a long breath. The expedition to the Ventax system was the chance of a lifetime, as Ventax’s solar flares were unique. Starfleet had constructed a base on the outskirts of the system, and Miranda had applied to be one of the civilian scientists. It’s another chance to stand on an alien world and explore the unknown.
That thought brought her up short. “Another” chance? I’ve never been off Cestus. Odd.
The application had said that families could come. Apparently, that was no longer the case.
What does it matter? All your shipboard assignments have taken you away from home. Vicenzo knew that when he met you.
Miranda blinked. Where did that thought come from?
Yet a part of her mind insisted that this was wrong, that she’d spent all her adult life on starships, exploring new worlds—that she’d set foot on dozens of alien worlds.
But that’s absurd. I’ve lived on Cestus all my life, with Vicenzo and Aoki and the twins. We met after—
Her mind seemed conflicted. Being in this office, applying for this grant, teaching at this university—all of it was just wrong somehow.
Leaning back in her chair, Doctor Miranda Kadohata wondered, Is this really the way it was meant to be?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard took a deep breath before stepping forward with the rest of his landing party.
He knew that his assuming command was probably foolhardy. That he was able to do so by counting on Worf’s unswerving loyalty and belief in his captain made Picard feel bad. However, he couldn’t just sit around waiting to see what would happen.
Not with Q involved.
Picard understood and accepted Starfleet regulations that required captains to put their own safety above all others’. He had been known to bend those rules when circumstances required. Q was a circumstance that required his direct intervention. For one thing, Q almost always dragged Picard into whatever game he was playing.
So I might as well insert myself before Q has the chance to.
As he joined his people in moving forward, he suddenly felt something horribly painful in his stomach, and he tried to scream—
—but his voice caught in his throat.
What is this place?
It took him a moment to orient himself on the uneven ground of the dig site. He waved his arms to steady himself in the thick work boots and managed to regain his balance.
“Are you all right, Jean-Luc?”
He turned around to see Professor Galen looking at him with a concerned expression. “Yes,” he said after a moment, “I’m fine, I just—” For several seconds, Jean-Luc tried to figure out where he was. I’m at the dig site, of course. Professor Galen