Sulu was waiting for me in my quarters. He was sitting in a chair in the front room, rubbing at his eyes; my entrance had awakened him.
"How did you get in?" I asked.
He grinned. "I learned a lot about this ship during my exile. I've been waiting a long time."
I was annoyed with him. I had been more than grateful for the regular deliveries of his coffee all those months I was imprisoned, but that seemed washed away by his violating the privacy of my quarters. I stood unmoving, staring at him. As if reading my thoughts, he got to his feet and said, "I shouldn't have done it this way. Sorry. I'll go."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vClcR9YVc
I shook my head, my annoyance already fading, overwhelmed by exhaustion and the fear of losing one of the few friends I had.
"Forget it," I said. "It doesn't matter. I gave him a tired smile. "I'm glad to see you. Unfortunately, I can't offer you any food or beverage. The food system's not working, and the shelves are empty."
"That's all right," He said, reaching behind the chair he'd been sitting in when I first entered. "I came prepared." He held up a thermal pot. "All you have to provide are cups."
We sat with the pot between us, and I sipped the coffee; just as good as always.
"That meant a lot to me," I said, holding up my cup. "I was surprised you were willing to take the risks."
Sulu shrugged. "So was I, to be honest." He shrugged again. "Extreme circumstances....I don't know."
I cocked my head at him, his presence finally sinking in. I felt stupid for not realizing it earlier. "Have you already heard?" I asked.
"About the charges being dropped?" he replied, grinning.
"Yes."
He nodded.
"Who the hell's your source of information?"
Still grinning, Sulu shook his head. "Not even for you, Pavel." He paused, and breathed deeply. "I also hear you're in charge of exploring the alien starship."
"I am."
"I want to be part of it."
I stared hard at him. He was serious, as serious as I'd ever seen him. "Why?" I asked.
"I did a lot of thinking while I was in hiding. Lots of time for it. I'm sick to death of life on this ship. I mean, look at us. You and I are a couple of freaks. But the reality is, this entire ship is filled with freaks. We don't know how to live normal human lives anymore. Living from birth to death inside this hunk of metal is unnatural, and I think it's done unnatural things to us."
I was reminded of my first extended conversation with Father O'Heron, during which she'd said something very similar.
"And how is the alien ship going to help rectify that?"
"Hell, I don't know. But it's something different, and I mean really different. Whatever happens out there, good or bad or something in between, it doesn't matter, it's got to do something for us, got to change us. We had a chance to find something on Antioch. It didn't work out. All right. Now we've got another chance. An alien starship or whatever it is. Truly alien, I don't think people understand the enormity of what we've found, of what we have ahead of us, of the possibilities. I've been thinking about it a lot during the last few weeks, and sometimes I feel like my mind is going to explode. But the Executive Committee seems to be treating it like----I don't know, like we're exploring the ruins of some small abandoned colony on a nice risk-free, habitable world somewhere." He shook his head in disbelief. "That ship could swallow us whole, and it might just do that for all we know. We could find the answers to cosmological mysteries, we could find out what place we occupy in this universe, we could find the way to enteral life." 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPNplClbAJ
"We could also find our deaths," I said.
"That, too," he replied, nodding. "And I don't think we have a sense of that ship anymore. I suspect that's something we would all benefit from."
My exoskeleton vibrated, and I wanted to scream. Damn Jean-Luc! I decided I would have to see one of the neuro-techs to have the system disabled.
"I want on that ship, Pavel. I need it."
I nodded. "I don't know how much authority I'll have, but I'll see what I can do. If I can get you on, I will."
"Thank you."
He poured us fresh coffee, leaned back in the chair, and let out a sigh.
"What was it like?" I asked him.
"You mean---hiding out?" When I nodded, he smiled and said, "Let's just say it was----enlightening. What was prison like?"
"Boring."
Sulu laughed.
The exoskeleton vibrated again, and I cursed.
"What brought that on?" Sulu asked.
I explained.
"How the hell did Captain Picard talk you into that?" he asked.
I grimaced. "He didn't," I admitted. "It was my own idea. And a bad one at that."
Sulu laughed again.
"Glad you're so amused," I said. "I've got to get the damn thing disabled."
Sulu finally stopped laughing. "I know someone who can take care of it."
"Soon," I said.
He nodded. "Tonight, or first thing tomorrow. I'll arrange it."
I thanked him, then got up to look for a small bottle of whiskey I had been saving for years, waiting for just the right occasion. This seemed as good as any; I suspected the kind of special occasion I had hoped for when I was younger was never going to happen. I found the bottle, a couple of glasses, then poured some for each of us."
"That's good," Sulu said.
"It's a lot better than that stuff you usually have." I sipped at the whiskey, relishing the smooth burn licking down my throat and into my gut. I thought again about Jean-Luc and his drinking.
"I think the captain's developed a drinking problem," I said to Sulu.
He nodded. "That's what my sources tell me. If he's not careful, he'll go the way of General Wyse."
"How did General Wyse go?"
"Haven't you heard?"
"To much going on in too short a time. All I know is he's been replaced by LaForge."
"He came into a council session so far out on Passion that he couldn't speak. He'd finally gone too far. They voted him off the council, and confined him in the psychiatric ward for a hard withdrawal. He's still there, and I don't think he's ever going to get out." Sulu leaned forward. "One more thing of interest," he said. "Reg Barclay's banishment's been rescinded. Not only that, he's been reinstated on the Planning Committee."
I was reminded of Jean-Luc's clandestine meetings with Reg; I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me that Reg was betraying the insurrection. Probably because Jean-Luc had been meeting with Reg for months before I was even aware of the plans myself; even so, I'd thought Reg's sympathies were with the downsiders. I'd obviously thought wrong.
"I guess we know what happened, then," I said.
Sulu nodded. "I guess we do. That bastard!"
"Which one?" I asked. "Jean-Luc or Reg?"
Sulu just grinned.
There was a banging a the door. Jean-Luc called out my name, his voice only partly muted.
"Pavel, I know you're there! Open the door!"
I thought about ignoring him, but that would only be putting off the inevitable. I put down my glass, got up, and went to the door.
"Damn you, Pavel, what the hell was....?" His voice trailed off when he saw Sulu behind me. Jean-Luc was at a loss for words, something I had seldom, if ever, seen.
Sulu stood and said, "Think I'll be going now."
I shook my head. "No, don't." Then, to Jean-Luc. "What did you want?"
Anger flushed his face, and his almond-shaped eyes went hard. He stared at Sulu. "So! You are still aboard, little troll. I'd hoped you'd taken that damned shuttle."
"I'm still here."
Jean-Luc turned to me, furious. "We have to talk, Pavel. We need to move before anyone has second thoughts. We've got to select the exploration team, and you and I need to talk before we start choosing people. I got you out, remember? Now it's your turn."
"Fair enough," I said. "Schedule the selection meeting for three hours from now, or a little later if you must. And I'll meet you in your quarters in an hour."
"No, not there."
"Then where?"
"You know where I'll be." He turned and strode away.
I closed the door, but I didn't turn around; I stared at the dark green panel, as if somehow seeking answers in it. But then, what were the questions?
"Ah, old friends," Sulu said.
I turned around, expecting to see him grinning at me, but his expression was dead serious.
"He'll be dangerous as an enemy," Sulu said. "Better if you could somehow stay friends."
I shook my head. "It's too late for that."541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUJEM5S6ki
