The Brave and the Bold Book Two - Keith R. A. DeCandido [48]
“Tomorrow.”
“In that case, can I interest you in a tour of the ship—maybe some coffee, a meal, even a friendly game of Go?”
Janeway laughed. “Nice try, Bob, but I’m not about to get hustled by a champion Go player. Besides, I haven’t played in years. And even at my best, I wouldn’t stand a chance against you.”
Shrugging, DeSoto said, “Well, you can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“Besides,” Janeway said, standing up, “since I am back on Earth, there’s someone I have to go see.”
DeSoto recognized the glint in Janeway’s eye. He saw it in the mirror every time he was able to get back to the Rigel colonies where his wife lived. Also rising from his chair, he offered his hand. “Well, have fun, Kathryn. Once my people report back, we’re going to be heading off to Starbase 96 in order to take some supplies to Brackin’s Planet. But I hope to get some progress reports from you on how Mr. Tuvok’s doing.”
Accepting DeSoto’s handshake vigorously, Janeway said, “I’ll do my best. Oh, and say hi to Commander Ju’les for me when you reach the starbase.”
“I will.”
With that, Janeway departed the lounge. DeSoto sighed. I was really hoping to get her into a game of Go. Need to find someone besides Dina to go up against…
Dina Voyskunsky returned to her quarters after she and the security team had beamed back up from Earth. The people at the Rector Institute had been thrilled to see them—except, of course, for the wizened old Vulcan woman T’Ramir, who simply nodded. She had apparently been studying the Zalkat Union all her life, and had been trying (mostly in vain) to learn more about the Malkus Artifacts since the first one was brought back to Earth by the Enterprise a century earlier.
Voyskunsky had hoped to visit her aunt Irina in Estonia before they had to ship out again, but she only had time to send a quick message. Dayrit had expressed a similar regret regarding his sister in the Philippines.
As she entered, she asked the computer for any personal messages. She was off duty, so any official communiques could wait.
“You have two personal correspondences. One from Irina Voyskunsky and one from Lieutenant Commander Aaron Cavit.”
She blinked. Then she smiled and sat down at her desk. “Put the message from Commander Cavit on screen.”
“Dina, it’s Aaron.” The look on Cavit’s face was one Voyskunsky hadn’t seen in a very long time: contrition. “Look, I’m sorry about how I behaved. I wasn’t expecting to see you again, and I—” He hesitated. “You were right, it was my fault. I’m the one who got cold feet on Pacifica. I guess I just wasn’t ready to deal with what it might mean for both of us, for our careers, if we kept going the way we were going and good God, listen to me, will you?” He suddenly burst into a smile. “I’ve been in bad holonovels that weren’t this overdramatic. Let me try that again.” He looked right at the viewer. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. Forgive me.” The smile came back. “How’s that?”
“Better than whining,” Voyskunsky muttered with a smile.
“Unfortunately, I’m stuck at Utopia Planitia for at least a few more weeks, and my sources tell me the Hood’s off to Starbase 96. And once we’re done here, we’ll be off to the Badlands to ferret out the Maquis. But once that’s done, I’ve got some leave time coming. The way these things usually go, it probably won’t be for another month or three, but maybe we can get together—on Pacifica or somewhere else—and see if we can make up for lost time.” He grinned, a facial expression she wouldn’t have credited him with being capable of based on his last visit. “Or, failing that, at least catch up on the last twelve years. I seem to recall your being an excellent dinner companion. What do you say? Let me know. I’ll be on Mars for quite some time.”
The screen went blank.
Voyskunsky stared at it for several seconds.
Part of her was sorely tempted not to respond. Let him twist in the wind the way I did on Pacifica. Three days I