The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [49]
Kerajem held up a hand. He glanced over at Kara, who was thoroughly occupied by the music cube and paying them no attention. “You never know,” he said to Seletina quietly. “The situation may not become as bad as we’ve been fearing.”
His daughter blinked. “You’ve heard from the Krann?”
Her father shook his head. “No. Not the Krann.”
“Then who—?”
He gave her a small, mysterious smile. “There’s someone else, daughter. Someone who might be able to help. I think they’re friends, or they could become our friends if we’re given time to form a friendship.”
“‘Someone else’? What ‘someone else’?”
“Others. People from very far away, people not unlike us.”
“You mean, like, aliens? People from another planet?”
Kerajem nodded. “People from another star— from many other stars, explorers and scientists from many races, all working together for peaceful purposes. We met them yesterday, soon after they arrived in orbit. I’ve even been aboard their ship—I and some other members of the council, that is.”
“Their ship? In orbit?” Her jaw dropped. “You mean you’ve actually been in space?”
“Mommy, is something wrong?” Kara called.
“No, darling. Everything’s fine. You just play with the nice toy Grampa gave you, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” Seletina continued. “This is a lot to take in all at once—space people, and you being an astronaut. You know.”
“I’ll tell you all about it later,” Kerajem promised her, hoping there would be a later. “Right now, just know that their leader and his associates are talking to the Krann, trying to find a way out of this for both our peoples.”
“Can they do that?” Seletina wondered. “Do you think these aliens can actually get anywhere with the Krann?”
Kerajem saw hope dawn in his daughter’s eyes. “We’ll see,” he told her.
“It’s a miracle,” Seletina said. “I remember that Grandmother used to speak of miracles.”
“I remember, too. Maybe she had something there.” He took his daughter by the hand. “Come,” he said. “You two have to get going. I’d like you safe at the vacation house before it gets dark.”
“All right,” Seletina said reluctantly. “We’ll leave right away.” Suddenly she reached for him and hugged him as hard as she ever had in her entire life, as hard as she had right after her mother had died. “I know you’ll do your best for us all, Daddy. We’ll see you after this is over.”
“Count on it,” Kerajem told her.
Chapter Ten
THE THREE STRANGERS from the Enterprise and the seven Krann officials gathered around a long, flat table of unpolished metal that had been covered from edge to edge with a thick, beautifully woven cloth of some natural material—cotton, Picard thought, or something very much like it.
The chairs they were sitting in were simple but ergonomically correct, and they were very comfortable. Several young Krann—different ones, this time—brought in refreshments and set them in strategic locations around the table. If these hospitality workers were as nervous in the presence of Presider Hek as some of their colleagues had been that day, Picard could see no sign of it.
Troi and Worf were sitting to either side of Picard, waiting as patiently as he for the meeting to begin.
A soft chime sounded from somewhere, and Presider Hek sat a bit straighter. “We may begin now, if that’s all right with you, Jean-Luc Captain Starship Enterprise,” he said. “Forgive my sudden formality, but this is official business, and I really should address you by your title.”
Picard nodded. “As you choose, Hek Portside Hull Patcher, Presider of the Fleet Congress, but I highly value the friendship we have begun to form today, and I would deem it a great honor if you were to continue to accord us the privilege of addressing the three of us informally.”
Hek looked surprised, and then pleased. “Very well, Captain Picard. My pleasure—and, please, do the same for us, if you would.”
“Certainly, Presider.” Picard paused for a moment and then plunged in. “Presider Hek, first I would like to thank