Cousin Charlie (Part 4)
Nyota was sitting eating her dinner when Checkov walked in with the woman from Charlie's band. She smiled to herself as she watched him talking nonstop and they both got their food and began looking around for a table.
She held up her hand and waved. Spotting her, Checkov smiled and walked over to her with the girl following closely behind.
"Hey Uhura!" he said "This is Hailey. Can we sit with you?" The young lady smiled but didn't say anything. Nyota noticed that she seemed content to let Checkov do all the talking.
"Sure" Nyota replied. "I'll be leaving in a few minutes anyway."
She looked at the young girl. "So Hailey, what do you think of the Enterprise?"
Hailey looked around with wide eyed wonder. "It's big"
She seemed a bit shy and didn't want to say too much. It made Nyota curious.
Uhura smiled. "So...you are a part of Charlie's band. If you don't mind my asking, how old are you?"
She grinned. "I know I look young for my age. I'm twenty three. I've been with Charlie now almost ten years!"
Nyota raised an eyebrow. She didn't look a day over sixteen to her. Even so, ten years was a long time. What was Charlie doing with this child?
"Ten years? Is Charlie a relative of yours?"
Hailey looked at her and laughed. "Of course not! Charlie's the man! He doesn't have any children!"
She then turned to Checkov. "Don't forget that you're giving me a tour of the ship!"
"Of course!" Checkov said grinning.
They were looking at each other like some lovesick teenagers. Nyota would have thought that it was cute, but she was disturbed by the bit of information that Hailey had just given. She had to learn more!
"So...Hailey. How did you end up with Charlie?" she ventured.
Hailey turned back to Nyota and frowned. "I really don't want to talk about that! I don't know you well enough to discuss my private life! Why are you asking me this?"
Nyota was surprised at the hostility she heard in the girl's voice and decided to back off.
"I'm sorry. I was just making conversation. I didn't mean to offend you." The girl's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Charlie is a good person. No other man as been good to me like he has. He's everything to me."
"Of course." Nyota replied not wanting to say anymore.
Checkov looked from Hailey to Nyota. "Hailey, you'd better finish your meal if you want that quick tour. I have to get back to the bridge in thirty minutes."
Hailey looked at him and smiled. "Of course."
Checkov looked at Nyota and shrugged his shoulders in confusion over what just happened. "Hailey, Nyota is like a big sister to me. She didn't mean any harm. I'm sure Charlie might question me too once he sees us."
Hailey appeared to instantly relax. "Of course, you're right Pavel."
She turned to Nyota smiling. "I understand. You're concerned about Pavel. He's very sweet. Charlie's protective of me too. I understand now why you were concerned."
Nyota raised an eyebrow at that remark.
"I have to go." Nyota said standing. "I'll talk to you later. Enjoy your tour."
She left the table disturbed wondering what in the world was going on with Charlie.
*************************************************
Spock prepared to leave his quarters feeling calm and centered. The shock of seeing his cousin was now a past experience for him. He would remain centered in his presence.
The captain sent him a message requesting his presence at dinner. He knew that Charles would be there. He would be prepared. After all, his cousin would only be on the Enterprise for a couple of days until they reached their destination. He could be civil and polite without the two of them becoming unpleasant towards one another.
He was about to leave his quarters and return to the bridge when his door chimed. Who would be visiting him here? He was surprised when Lieutenant Uhura entered.
"Lieutenant" he said raising an eyebrow. "How may I help you?"
She seemed a bit nervous and unsure. Spock noted that her respiration had increased as well as her heart rate.
"Spock...this is a little difficult for me. I need to ask you something." She walked in somewhat unsure of how to proceed.
Spock pointed to a chair. "Sit down and proceed with your query."
She sat down and looked up at him. "How much do you know about your cousin?"
Spock became rigid and put his hands behind his back. What trouble had Charles caused already?
"I have not seen my cousin for a number of years. Why do you ask?"
Spock observed Nyota as she began clasping and unclasping her hands in her lap.
"Look Spock, I could be way of base...at least I hope I am. That girl...Hailey that is in his band is mighty young. She says she's twenty three even though she looks a lot younger. She told me that she's been with Charlie ten years! I then asked her if she was a relative of his, and she told me that she was not. She seems somewhat obsessed with him...I'm just concerned. She became upset and defensive when I asked her about the nature of their relationship."
Spock had been pacing as she talked. He stopped and walked over to her.
"You believe my cousin to be a pedophile?"
Nyota stood up. "I don't know what to think. She's been with him ten years and she called him her man. What am I supposed to think? She was with Checkov and they seemed a bit friendly and then she said that Charlie was protective of her."
Spock did not speak for a moment. Could his cousin do such a despicable thing? If what the Lieutenant was correct, then this child had been with Charles since she was thirteen! Where were her parents? Spock found this information very disturbing. He turned back to Uhura.
"Lieutenant, we cannot draw conclusions without further investigation. There may be a perfectly logical explanation. Perhaps this girl was left in his care by her parents. Did you question her as to why she was with him?"
Nyota nodded. "As I said, she became very defensive and said that Charlie was a good person. I just backed off after that."
"I will investigate this further" Spock said leading her to the door. "I appreciate your concern, Uhura."
She nodded and left his quarters and Spock headed for the bridge.
***********************************************
The captain watched as Spock walked from the lift to his station. He turned around in the captain's chair.
"Mr. Spock, I'd like a word with you" he said and then turned back around.
Spock came and stood beside him. "Yes captain?"
"Spock" Kirk said looking at him. "I'm meeting your cousin for dinner this evening and I'd like for you to be there."
Spock paused a moment and then put his hands behind his back. "Is that a request, captain or an order?"
Kirk looked up at him. "Spock...I would never order you to have dinner with me. I would hope that you would want to catch up on things with your cousin."
"We have nothing to discuss."
"I gather then that you are turning down my offer" Kirk replied.
Spock considered the situation for a moment and thought about what Uhura had said. He needed to find out about the young lady. If she was there, perhaps he would get a chance to question her.
"Will the other members of his band be there also?" Spock asked.
"Yes, I believe so. Does that really matter?" Kirk asked looking at him. He didn't want Spock to think that he would gang up on him concerning Charlie. Obviously they had some family issues to iron out. Why not have dinner together to break the ice.
"I will be there" Spock said and walked back to his station.
The captain got up and followed Spock back to his station.
"Look Spock" he said his voice low. "I don't know what's going on between you two. I'm not trying to get in your business because I respect your right to privacy. However, you know that I am your friend, and I'm available if you want to talk."
"I appreciate your concern, captain." Spock replied. "However, I do not plan to discuss my private life over dinner. If I chose to discuss my issues with Charles, I will do that privately."
The captain did not reply but returned to the captain's seat. Spock could be pretty pig headed when he had his mind made up. He decided that he would tread carefully.
Just then Bones walked onto the bridge. The captain looked up and beckoned him over.
"Are our guests settled in?" he asked looking at Bones.
"I left Charlie with his friends. I think they are comfortable. I told him that I would come back later and escort them to dinner." He looked over at Spock. "Any luck with him?"
"He's coming to dinner." Kirk replied. "Bones, I need you to remain neutral. Let Charlie and Spock work this thing out."
"Working things out requires conversation, Jim. I don't see that happening between those two. Remember Spock walked out the last time!" Bones glanced over at Spock. He was speaking in a low voice, but Bones knew that the pointy eared hobgoblin could hear a pin drop!
"Well regardless of that, I expect you to do as I have asked. Do I have to make it an order?" Kirk looked at Bones sideways.
"I hear you loud and clear, captain" Bones conceded.
Spock then walked back over to the captain's chair. He looked at Bones and folded his arms.
"I do not need you to help work things out, doctor. You should concentrate on your potions and chants that you call medicine." He raised one eyebrow and then looked at the captain.
"Captain did my cousin mention anything about his band members, the young lady in particular?"
"No not really." Kirk replied. "He introduced her and told me that her name is Hailey. Why do you ask?"
"She appears to be underage. However she told Lieutenant Uhura that she was twenty three. That fact has not been verified. Not only that she stated that she had been with Charles ten years. A thirteen year old young lady should be in school, not running around the universe in a band. I am concerned about the relationship Charles has with her."
Bones frowned up his face. "What the devil are you talking about Spock? Are you saying that you think your cousin is some sort of pervert?"
"I have said nothing of the kind, doctor. I am merely curious about the nature of the relationship."
"I am sure that the information you seek can be found out at dinner, Spock." the captain said.
He looked at Bones. "Since you seem to have befriended Charlie, perhaps you can find out what's going on. Then again, maybe she's kin to the other band members. Who knows? It could all be perfectly innocent. Let's not jump to conclusions."
Spock turned and walked back to his station and did not reply.
"I think we need some female company at the table." Kirk said. "I'm going to ask Uhura to come to the dinner also."
"That's fine" Bones said "Just don't let him turn it into some sort of witch hunt!" He then turned and walked off the bridge and the captain hoped that things would remain calm at dinner.
