Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [1]
The intercom whistled; he winced at the twinge of pain in his back as he wheeled abruptly to punch the toggle and respond. Kirk here.
A familiar feminine voice filtered through the grid.
Uhura, Captain. I
He interrupted, I thought you were supposed to be on your way to a firewatch party, Commander.
I am, sir. He could hear her smile. But I had a few minutes left, and I wanted to spend them on duty.
Understood, Kirk said softly.
Sir, the subspace interference has eased. I was finally able to clear a channel to Starbase Twenty-three. I can even get you that visual nowbut Im warning you, the reception isnt that great.
Uhura, youre a marvel.
I know, sir.
Patch it through to my quarters. Aware of the sudden rapidity of his heartbeat, he strode over to the viewer and watched a burst of visual static on the screen.
It resolved itself into the greenish and slightly fritzed image of Carol Marcus, against a setting Jim recognized as her hospital bed on the starbase. He had visited her there once, before he was called away to what the media were already calling the Khitomer missionhis and the Enterprise-As final mission. Carol had been almost fatally wounded in an apparent Klingon attack; she had been unconscious his entire stay, and he had left fearful that he would never see her again.
He had promised himself that, if and when he had another chance to speak to her, it would be to say that he was coming home to her, never again to leave. The pain of losing the Enterprise was eased by knowing that Carol was all right, that she would be waiting for him.
Carol? The words came out in a rush. Carol, thank God, you have no idea how good it is to see you awake. When I left you, I was so afraid
She spoke at the same time. Jim. Oh, God, Jim, they said the Klingons charged you with Gorkons murder and shipped you off to that terrible prison. I was so afraid
They both broke off at the same instant and laughed gently, delightedly. It looks like you survived, Carol said at last. It was hard to tell with the bad reception, but she seemed the same shade of pastel green as her normally golden hair, as the pillows propped behind herwhich gave him the impression that she was terribly pale. Yet she seemed herself, and in her lap lay a padd; she had been sitting up working.
He grinned. Always. How about you?
Doctor tells me I can be out of here in a day, at most two. So youre really all right?
Im all right. Just out of a job, starting tomorrow. Im sitting in spacedock, Carol. Theyre decommissioning us. He tried to sound cavalier, but the heaviness came through despite his efforts.
Her smile faded; she was silent a beat, then said, Im truly sorry, Jim.
Its not like I didnt see it coming. He shrugged and managed a lighter tone. S … what are you going to be doing in a day or two?
She brightened and straightened in her seat; he fancied he detected a gleam of intensity in her eyes, the one she always got when speaking about work that was important to her. Im going to rebuild the Themis research station, Jim. Now that things with the Klingons are settling down
He cut her off. Carol, you almost died. Its time to take things easy, not to rush into a massive undertaking.
Her lip quirked with fond exasperation. Youre one to talk. How many times have you almost been killed? And still I couldnt hold you back from that damned ship of yours with a tractor beam
Well, youve got the opportunity now. He tried to keep the irony he felt from his tone. Ive got time on my hands now. And I want to spend it with you.
Well, of course. You know Im always glad to see you, Jim. But it wont be much of a vacation on Themis. Theres nothing to see except a scorched research station
Dammit, he said lightly, could you help me out a little here? Im not talking about a weekend on while you work Im talking about a honeymoon.
She released a startled little laugh, and despite fuzzy reception, seemed to color a bit. Jim, admonished,