Fic: "The Needs of the Few" (12/23)
Title: "The Needs of the Few"
Canon characters/Pairing(s): Kirk & McCoy, Pike, Finney
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 6,205
Warnings: Foul language, political situations, military stuff.
Summary: As cadets on a summer internship, Kirk and McCoy are supposed to keep their eyes open and their mouths shut. As far as Bones is concerned, that’s just plain wrong on Jim Kirk, but Jim seems determined to follow orders and fall in line for a change. After all, they’ve both seen enough trouble in two years at the Academy, and this is the Peace Mission of Axanar. However, when a mystery starts to weave itself around the mission, and the senior officers don’t seem interested in investigating, how far can Kirk and McCoy let it go?
Notes: We're on a roll now! This is a short chapter, but that's because we're just about ready for things to become really interesting. Chapters should start coming more regularly. :D
Previous chapters: One, Two, Three, Four(A), Four(B), Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven
Chapter 12
“Why is it always us?” Bones groaned as he slumped into his armchair. “We’re just a couple of goddamned cadets on a goddamned internship on a goddamned backwater colony planet!” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, tossing his forearm across his face to block out the light.
Jim watched him from just inside the door of Bones’ quarters. He kicked off his boots and spared a moment to line them up by the door. “Because we’ve got a spectacular talent for being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he deadpanned, then walked slowly to the other armchair. “Besides...” He dropped into the chair with a huff. “We’ve never been just cadets.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“Come on, Bones... you’re a doctor, dammit, not a cadet!”
Bones dropped his forearm from his face and glared. “I will end you.”
“You’d miss me too much.”
“Like a hangnail.” He sighed, then leaned forward in the chair with yet another groan, resting his elbows heavily on his knees. “I don’t know what to make of this, Jim.”
“Well, I know what the command staff is making of it,” Jim said, not bothering to hide his bitterness. “It was supposed to be my turn to take a shift inside Parliament chambers tomorrow. I was going to get to see the actual talks. Instead, we’re going on a tour of the city.”
Bones raised a harshly critical eyebrow at him. “Considering that there’s an unconscious Vulcan ambassador in Sickbay and a Betazoid doctor with a gaping hole in his memory, I’d figure that thinking about your own damned opportunities would be a little lower on the priority list.”
The flash of guilt only made the bitterness well up like bile in Jim’s throat. “I’m not... what I mean is... they’re probably going to be discussing these events in there. It would be a chance to see how all of this is affecting the talks, and what the people in charge are really thinking. I want to know what they’re saying, and I know you want to know, too.”
With a reluctant grimace, Bones nodded. “Okay, I’ll give you that.”
They were silent for a moment. Jim stared at his feet. “What did you learn at the Araxian clinic today?”
Another moment of silence. “That I like them,” came the flat, blunt response. Jim almost prodded for more information, but Bones seemed like he still had more to say, and would say it when he felt like it. Another moment passed. “I like them because they’re the damned polar opposite of everything that hit me wrong about the Axanar. I like them because they don’t act like the Axanar.”
“They don’t?” Jim furrowed his eyebrows. That made no sense. Sure, there had been differences, but really, from what Jim had seen, they seemed a lot more similar than different. But the Zhitoran had said they had been different, and that something had changed. “Not even a little bit?”
“Not at all,” Bones said. “In fact, it’s almost hard to believe they came from the same parent race. Or that they’d want to come back together.”
Jim shook his head. “But they are rejoining each other. They’re coming into the Federation together. Araxis offered Axanar its dilithium! So... if they don’t want to come back together... Bones, are you sure?”
Bones didn’t move. “I’m not sure of a goddamned thing anymore, Jim. The guy I was talking to is one of the original settlers who was born on Axanar.” He shrugged. “Maybe the older generation still holds a grudge, and it’s the younger folks who want to reconnect with the old planet.”
Based on the tone of his voice, Jim was certain that Bones didn’t believe a word of that. “Now tell me what you really think.”
For a moment, Bones said nothing. Jim waited, and finally, Bones looked up at him. “Jim... they changed their genetic structure so they’d be a whole different species.”
“What?”
But Bones held up a hand, silencing him. “Their whole culture is different. Egalitarian. Democratic. None of that protection and subservience bullshit. And... they created a mutation that eliminated the metabolic pathway for methane. Makes them more metabolically stable in atmospheres without methane. And hell, if you look twice, you can see it changed their skin color, just a bit.”
“But... genetic engineering...” Jim started to say, shaking his head in dismay.
“I know, Jim. It grates me the wrong way, too, but... I talked to a patient who was born on Araxis with the artificial mutation. If the rest of them are anything like this guy, then the younger folks know what their founders did to them, and they’re proud of it.” He let out a long, slow breath as he leaned back in his armchair again. “Also... nobody was talking about the negotiations. They’re avoiding the topic. It’s as if it wasn’t even happening.”
Jim felt a shudder work up his spine. “That doesn’t make sense. It’s the biggest thing that’s happened on that planet in years. Everyone should be talking about it.”
“I know. That’s what makes this whole thing...” He gave a humorless laugh. “Damned peculiar.”
“That does seem to be the theme,” Jim said vaguely before fixing Bones with a look. “Bones, I know you got distracted with T’Val, but do you remember I said the Zhitoran had told me something?”
Bones raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? What was that all about? Those folks were the ones hunting the Axanar, weren’t they?”
“They were.” Jim considered his words. “Well... the Zhitorans considered the Araxians sentient... but not the Axanar... until very recently.”
It was Bones’ turn to look shocked, and he sat upright like he’d been pinched. “How the devil do you explain that?”
“Search me,” Jim said with a shrug. “Ask the Zhitoran. The guy practically spoke in riddles. But... I think I figured it out.”
“Oh really now? Enlighten me.”
Jim swallowed tightly. “He said it was a matter of definition: the Zhitoran definition of sentience. And if I take all of what he said and step back, it sounds like the Zhitorans had to change their definition of sentience to include the Axanar... after they’d already considered the Araxians sentient.”
Bones’ face instantly morphed into a scowl. “Just how the hell do they figure --”
“Hold on, that’s not everything,” Jim said, cutting him off. “He said the Zhitorans admired the Araxians for their differences from the Axanar. He spoke really highly of them. He said they were noble, strong... independent. He talked about how they’d left the Axanar culture of slavery and subservience... and yeah, he really didn’t speak well of the Axanar. But then, he said they were similar now. Well, I said they were similar, and he told me I was right.”
“But they’re not similar,” Bones protested. “I mean, are you kidding me? Have you even met any of the Araxians?”
“Well yeah. I met their security forces, and the staff working the welcoming reception in the Parliament building. I met a couple of their representatives, too.”
Bones was giving him an odd look. “Did you meet the Prime Minister?”
Jim forced an uncomfortable laugh. “Not really. I mean, I saw him with the official welcoming party, but I haven’t talked to him. Why?”
But Bones was shaking his head. “Jim... you met a bunch of people tightly clustered around the official leadership. I met a bunch of people in a medical clinic, including housekeepers, patients, medics, and even a very chatty secretary. Heh. He could have given my Aunt Betty a run for her money. And I’ll tell you, if the Araxians I met were typical, they’re nothing like the Axanar.”
Jim shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well... the ones I met weren’t quite as subservient, and nobody tried to give me pieces of buildings this time, but they seemed nervous in a different way, and didn’t... what?”
Bones was still shaking his head, now with an expression of complete dismay. “Jim, we’re seeing different parts of the puzzle here. We have to be. And there are missing pieces everywhere. Brex’s memory. T’Val... goddammit, I ran every test I could, and it looks like the exact same thing that happened to Brex. T’Val was the best shot we had at recovering Brex’s memory before the mission was over, and now -”
“It’s like someone took her out of the equation before she could help Doctor Brex,” Jim finished.
Bones nodded. “Sure looks like it. And before you ask, yes, I voiced my concerns to Doctor Brex, Doctor Singh, and directly to the Captain and his Security Chief. And no, I have no idea what they’re going to do with the information.”
Jim stared at Bones, then past Bones’ shoulder at the wall. Finally, he slumped back into the armchair. “And here we are... blind, deaf, and dumb, with a few puzzle pieces to play with, and no big picture.”
Bones slouched back in his own chair with a grunt.
“Big picture...” Jim said softly to himself, then to Bones, “I never finished telling you what I thought the conclusion was.”
“Go for it.”
Jim braced himself mentally. “The Araxians and the Axanar are similar because the Araxians are reverting back to the Axanar ways.”
“But I... wait.” His eyes widened. “I almost forgot. How could I have forgotten this? Jethan said something like that, early in the day, before we got to the clinic.”
Jim felt a strange sensation work through his chest. Something breathless and not entirely pleasant. “What did he say?”
Bones’ eyes were distant as he tried to recall the words. “Something about... when opposite forces come together... something has to yield.” Then he shook his head angrily. “But... I don’t buy it, Jim! The folks I talked to sure didn’t sound like they were interested in behaving like the Axanar! Jethan spent half of the day preachin’ the virtues of democracy and egalitarianism, and I didn’t see much dissent from the other folks around the clinic. So I don’t know or care if the folks you met around Parliament were acting like Axanar. The ones I met seem to like being Araxian just fine.”
But Jim shook his head, feeling the strange sensation in his chest settle into something hardened and angry as the scattered puzzle pieces finally snapped together in his mind. “But Bones... don’t you see?” His voice sounded distant to his own ears. “I never said they were doing it willingly.”
*********
“Kirk, there had better be a damned good reason why I’m awake at 0200.”
Captain Pike certainly looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. And Jim knew what time it was, because all ships in Starfleet had their chronometers set to the same time as Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco. He was going to regret this later, he knew, but he had to report.
“You told me to report in if something was happening.”
“Yes, I did. Through normal comm channels. At normal hours.” Pike shook his head and scrubbed his hands roughly over his face. “How did you get a Priority Two comm channel at this hour of the night? For that matter, how did you get a Priority Two comm channel at all?”
“I learned a lot when I worked a rotation in the communications lab.” In truth, he’d traded twenty days of water shower rations for this. Sonic showers worked well enough, even if he hated them. He briefly pulled his lower lip between his teeth, trying to figure out how to broach the topic.
Pike must have noticed his hesitation. The man was really good at reading people, and despite the fact that Jim knew he could be a thorn in the Captain’s side on occasion, Pike seemed to like him. His posture softened. “It’s okay, Kirk. If you had to comm me at this hour, I’m going to guess it’s important. So instead of keeping me in suspense, spill the beans already.”
Jim nodded to himself - full disclosure - and plowed into it. “Doctor Brex woke up, but he’s lost his telepathic ability and a chunk of his memory. And now, Ambassador T’Val has fallen into a coma just like the one Brex was in. She had been planning to help the doctor regain his memories, but she just passed out, right in the middle of the square in front of Parliament. Same thing as Brex - they can’t find anything wrong with her.”
“Just a minute, Kirk -” Pike started, but Jim kept going.
“That’s only the start of it, sir. There’s something weird going on with the Araxians... like they’ve got two entirely different cultures on one planet. One of the Araxians said something that makes me think their culture is reverting back to the Axanar ways, and I don’t think it’s a willing transition. The people in their Parliament are acting like the Axanar, but the rest of them are... completely different, sir. Bones described them as democratic. Egalitarian. Oh, and Bones said they’re different species now. The Araxians changed their genetics.”
“They genetically engineered their whole species?” Pike asked vaguely.
Jim kept talking. “It’s got to be tied in together, sir. This all started after the Axanar boarded the Athena. The only person around who would have a chance of seeing through any sort of deception is Doctor Brex, the only full telepath on the crew, but he currently has a lower psi score than I do, which was pathetic if you remember. Parliament is holding a restricted session until further notice, and I have no idea what’s going on.” Jim had blurted it all out so fast that he’d run out of wind, and he sucked in a deep breath and finished, “Sir.”
Pike stared at him.
“I’m sorry, too much?”
Pike closed his eyes and shook his head slowly for a moment before looking back at Jim. “How much of this is classified?”
Jim shrugged, as if to say, Classified? How should I know? “Sir, I’m a cadet on a Priority Two channel with a Starfleet captain. If I know something, it’s nothing a captain can’t know, and the channel is secure. I checked the regulations.”
A gleam, something like pride mixed with chagrin, flashed across Pike’s face. “This is why you’re trouble, Kirk. You know the regulations... and how to manipulate them.”
Jim had to struggle to keep himself from looking smug. “Actually, Cadet McCoy is even better at it than I am.”
Pike raised an eyebrow. “Really? I wasn’t aware of that.”
“That’s how good he is.”
Pike nodded slowly. “I’ll have to remember that. So... down to business. You said, first of all, that the Axanar and Araxians are different species?”
“That’s what McCoy told me. He got to examine one of the Araxians. The Araxian doctor - they’re called Medics here - told him that it was an intentional mutation, designed early on by their scientists.”
Pike seemed to be digesting this carefully, his eyes focused just below and to the left of the screen. “And the Araxians seem to have two cultures?”
“That’s what we’re seeing. The Araxians in political positions and working around Parliament seem to behave like the Axanar. I thought it was just because they were being formal, but McCoy doesn’t think so. He worked with the Araxians in the medical facility all day, and that’s a formal setting, but... he said they’re nothing like that. No rank structure. No...” Jim hesitated.
“Just say it.”
“No servitude.” When Pike didn’t say anything, Jim pressed on. “I know I have no proof, but I think somehow the merge between the Araxians and the Axanar is creating a clash of cultures, and somehow, the Araxian culture is getting subjugated to the Axanar. The Zhitoran Ambassador and one of the Araxians both said things that support that theory, and with everything else going on, I don’t think we can ignore it.”
Pike didn’t even seem to react, still staring below the screen, deep in thought. “Okay. Anything else of relevance?”
Jim couldn’t understand why Pike wasn’t reacting more strongly to this. “No, sir, but I don’t know if Captain Porter is -”
“Hold it there, Kirk.” Pike raised a hand to stop him. “No speculation about what the captain is doing. I already told you that. You need to trust the officers in positions above you. And because I’m a captain and you’re a cadet, there are things I can’t tell you.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Do you, now? Good then. It’ll make this easier.”
Jim didn’t like the sound of that.
“I didn’t know everything you just told me. There’s some new information there. I’m assuming you gave full disclosure to your chain of command.”
“Of course I did, but -”
“Then you need to let them do their jobs. I’ll send a communique to Captain Porter in the morning. And no, I’m not going to tell him it’s because of you. I’ll tell him that I’m just calling as the Commandant, checking in on all the cadets.”
“But what about -”
“And you’re going to do whatever they tell you to do, because you’re a cadet. I want you to put your best instincts to work, but you will not act on your own. Do you read me?”
“Yes, sir, I wasn’t planning to do anything. You told me to be a cadet, and that’s what I’m doing. But all of this... what’s going on... it can’t be normal. I’m worried about -”
“Jim... it’s space. It’s Starfleet. There’s no such thing as normal. There will always be something unusual, unexpected, and inexplicable out there. It’s part of the job.” His expression softened again. “I know you’ve had some experiences above and beyond most Starfleet cadets, but you can’t always be in the middle of everything. Sometimes, all you can do is to play your part. This time, your part is to be a cadet, and nothing more. Now, I fully expect you to be one of the best and brightest cadets, so don’t let me down there... but let your superiors handle this. I think, if anything, that’s what you most needed to learn on this internship. Learn to be a subordinate.”
Jim forced a melancholy smile. “Isn’t that what Commander Toland tried to teach me two years ago?”
Pike actually chuckled. “Did the lesson stick?”
“I’m still not sure, sir.”
“Well... we’ll find out when I receive your full assessment from Lieutenant Finney and Commander Shao, won’t I?”
“Yes, sir,” Jim said, trying not to sound sullen. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected from Pike, but he felt as though he wasn’t getting it.
“Good. And now... it’s 0215 in the morning, and I have a meeting at 0800 with the full Academy command staff, so you hit the bunk, and I’ll do the same.”
“Yes, sir,” he repeated.
“And Kirk? Make me proud.”
That caused an unexpected flutter in Jim’s stomach, but all he said was, “Aye, sir.”
“Good. Pike out.”
The screen went blank, leaving Jim by himself in the tiny comm room. He didn’t move for nearly a half hour.
*********
Jim was starting to wonder if bad weather existed on Araxis. Sure, he’d studied the climate, and this region had more than adequate annual rainfall. They just happened to be in the dry season right now. With the bright blue skies and wispy clouds, it was hard to argue with the timing.
On the other hand, he’d love to argue with just about everything else right now.
They’d beamed down about a kilometer northwest of Parliament Square to meet their tour guide for the day. The street was almost deserted. Jim supposed it had something to do with increased security. The Araxian they met had introduced himself as Nraxhan, Sub-Minister of Infrastructure. Jim figured it was a fancy term for “not important enough to be in the meeting.” He was rambling on about the various sights they’d see on their walking tour. A historical bridge, the first house built on the planet, the water pumping station, the power plant, and the Archive Museum. All very interesting.
Jim didn’t care. He wanted to get into that meeting at Parliament. He wanted to know what the hell was going on. He wanted to investigate what had happened to Brex and T’Val, because he knew it had to be tied to whatever was going on with the Araxians and Axanar.
Instead, he was going to be a good cadet, just like Pike wanted. He was going to follow Nraxhan around the city, play the part of the junior diplomat, ask inconsequential questions, and let the real officers do their jobs. There was no need for heroics, no need to stick his neck out. Maybe, someday, he’d even get used to the idea.
He looked over at Lieutenant Finney, who was standing comfortably at ease, with his hands folded below the small of his back. He was the picture of the perfect young Starfleet officer. Smiling mildly and enjoying an easy mission.
Jim knew better.
“I understand, Kirk,” he’d said last night in the debriefing. “And... I think you’re right. Or, at least, you could be right. But you’ve done all the right things already. You told me, you told Lieutenant Gaynes, and we’ve briefed Captain Porter.”
“But what happens if... well, if something happens?” The question had sounded stupid to his own ears, but at least Finney hadn’t mocked him for it.
“I know what you mean, and... we’ll just have to be ready for anything. But isn’t that what we’re trained for? Believe me, I’m suspicious, too. You keep your eyes open, and I’ll keep my eyes open. But for now... trust the Captain, and... play it casual.”
So Finney was playing it casual. It was a convincing act, too.
Jim looked over to the side, where Bones was doing a piss-poor job of looking casual. He narrowed his eyes just slightly at Jim, who replied with the barest of nods.
They were splitting up the cadets. Add that to the growing list of things Jim really didn’t like at the moment. Thinking he was doing them a favor, their tour guide had looked into the cadets’ specialties, and concluded that a doctor and a biochemist wouldn’t be nearly as interested in infrastructure, so they were going on a tour of the research facilities. Bones had made a sarcastic quip about getting to see them after all, but then he’d fallen silent. So Bones and Hererra would go see the science research facilities, while Jim, Wilcox, Nadeau, Liu, and Buhari went on the grand tour of the city.
No, Jim didn’t like this at all.
“... and once we’ve concluded our tour of the power generator and turbine station, we’ll return through the Archives, where historical artifacts are kept, and the Museum, which details the history of the colony. The Museum building has grown each year as new additions house new chapters of the colony’s history.”
“Does the Museum have anything from Axanar?” Nadeau suddenly asked.
Jim felt the tension level rise exponentially, with its epicenter fixed squarely on Nraxhan.
“Records from Axanar are kept in the Archive,” their guide said stiffly, “not in the Museum. However, the Araxians may now have reason to retrieve the old records once again.”
Jim frowned at that. It could simply be a different use of Standard... after all, the Axanar had only widely used Standard for a decade, since the Battle. That meant the Araxians had used it even less. But still... it sounded as though this individual was referring to the Araxians as them. Not in so many words, but it always sounded as though Nraxhan was speaking of the Araxians as though he wasn’t one of them. A glance over at Finney didn’t reveal anything; the man was still smiling casually, not showing anything out of the ordinary.
“So,” Nraxhan said firmly, “the guide for your bioscience cadets has arrived, and here we shall part ways.”
An Araxian in what Jim guessed was a research robe had approached them. “I’ve been told that I will be escorting some of the finest young minds of the Federation!” he said cheerfully. “Who might they be?”
Bones, to Jim’s shocked amusement, snorted. “I’m not exactly young, and the jury is still out on the other part... but I guess I’m coming along for the ride.”
Finney scowled. “Cadet McCoy, if you don’t want to be here -”
“Ah, delightful!” the Araxian scientist exclaimed, ignoring Finney. “I’ve been told that humans appreciate this sort of humor. Sarcasm, correct?”
Bones raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between Finney and the Araxian. “Uh... yes, sir. Always happy to entertain.”
Finney was still scowling, but it was clear that the breach of protocol hadn’t caused a problem. If the situation had been any different, Jim swore he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from snickering hysterically. The Araxian reminded Jim of an old schoolteacher he’d had once, when he was seven years old. He’d been a grandfatherly man with a wild tuft of white hair and an inextinguishable joy for everything he taught. He’d been the man who had fueled Jim’s insatiable curiosity about everything the world had to offer. That curiosity had almost been snuffed out as he’d gotten older... but never completely.
Jim liked this guy. He found himself wishing he was going with Bones on the science tour.
The Araxian scientist beamed. “Excellent! Oh, yes, excellent. I am called Rhexen. Please, come with me. So much to see! Years of research! Oh, I can’t wait to show you.” Without another word, he began walking off.
Bones looked around. “Guess we should follow him.”
Hererra nodded, grinning. “Doesn’t sound like such a bad deal, does it?”
Bones’ eyes fixed on Jim’s. “Not too bad at all,” is what his mouth said. His eyes, however, said, Jim, be careful.
Jim knew that look too well. He gave a nod in reply, and he knew Bones would understand his message. You too, Bones.
Then they were gone.
“Okay, cadets!” Finney said with enthusiasm that sounded real enough. “You joined Starfleet to seek out new life forms and new civilizations, and here we are! Let’s get a move on.”
The group began to move, following Nraxhan as the stuffy Sub-Minister began rambling on about local architecture on their way to the oldest house in the city. He was set on protocol, fixated on rank, and determined to impress the group. He seemed a lot like an Axanar, now that Jim was thinking about it. Of course, that was ridiculous. He was a ranking official in the Araxian government. Still... he sure seemed like a perfect example of what Kerz had been talking about, and Jim was absolutely convinced that the two groups were more similar than not.
But then... Rhexen. The old scientist. If he was typical of an Araxian, then Jim was starting to see what Bones meant.
Hiding his grimace behind a feigned look of polite interest, Jim followed the group of cadets down the street.
*********
“You’re one of the founders, aren’t you?” Leonard asked as he kept pace with Rhexen’s energetic footsteps.
“Why, yes,” came the startled reply. “Did you guess because of my age?”
“Well, to be honest, I can’t even begin to guess age on an Araxian,” Leonard said, even though he could tell that Rhexen was far from young. “But... you remind me of someone I met yesterday.”
“Oh I do? Well, I must say, all you Terrans look alike to me, aside from the differing colors of fur on your heads, so perhaps we Araxians look alike to you.” Before Leonard could start to explain who Rhexen reminded him of, the old Araxian launched into an enthusiastic discussion of Araxis’ history of scientific research, and how the pursuit of knowledge had been opened to everyone, regardless of their parentage or background.
Yeah, he reminded Leonard of Jethan, and listening to the old Araxian solidified in his mind that the Araxians were as different from the Axanar as they possibly could be. Again, he wondered how these two groups could possibly come back together.
As they walked, Rhexen continued to pile on information, but Leonard found himself distracted by something else. Aside from a couple of pedestrians, the streets were almost empty. It was the middle of the day, so perhaps people were at work. It was possible that the Araxians had tightened security around the center of the city, given the concerns regarding the conference. Whatever the reason, it was noticeably quiet.
Before he knew it, they were at the entrance to the research complex. Leonard had been there briefly yesterday, before Jethan took him to the medical facility, but he hadn’t had a chance to look around. It was a beautiful campus that took up an entire city block, with large buildings and a wide open quad in the middle full of plant life and park benches. As much as he’d enjoyed his day with Jethan, Leonard realized he’d almost missed quite the experience of seeing the research facility, and he was really looking forward to this.
Rhexen was rubbing his hands together, his face alight with the glee of a child on his birthday as he surveyed the campus. “I think... we should begin with our biochemical engineering department. We’ve developed a new method of protein manipulation in the past few years, using short-range magnetic fields to manipulate molecular dipoles. We can actually construct new compounds without needing to adhere to the old rules of organic chemical reactions. It’s most extraordinary! Let me show you how it works.”
Hererra was grinning ear to ear as he looked over at McCoy. “Come on, Doc. This is gonna be fun.”
Leonard had to admit, he was inclined to agree.
Almost four hours later, Leonard had been thoroughly impressed, and had decided that if he couldn’t retire on Earth, he wanted to live on Araxis someday. In the very least, he’d take a sabbatical from Starfleet there to do some research. Their dedication and enthusiasm for science, and just the general feel he was getting from their society... it was wonderful. Who wouldn’t like that?
Still, as they toured the campus, Leonard got the impression that there should be more people in a facility of that size. The buildings felt oddly vacant, despite the number of researchers present. It just added to Leonard’s sense that the city was more empty than it should be.
Rhexen decided to break for a mid-day meal, and the three of them settled on a pair of benches in the quad with some sort of vegetable and dumpling dish they’d picked up at a local vendor. Damn, even the food was good. Still, Leonard had something that had been gnawing at him.
“Rhexen... what was it like for researchers back on Axanar?”
The Araxian’s two-tined fork stopped halfway to his mouth. Slowly, he set the utensil back down. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Leonard said, knowing he needed to tread carefully, “you left Axanar. And the way you talk about the research around here, and how the pursuit of knowledge is open to everyone, I’m guessing it was different back on Axanar.”
Rhexen sighed and put down his food container. “Yes, it was different. Very different. On Axanar, researchers needed protection. We supplied technology, but the pursuit of knowledge itself wasn’t considered an art of protection. Therefore, we fell under the umbrella of servitude to the government if we wanted to be part of the research community.” He shook his head. “As a result, the best and the brightest seldom wanted to become scientists. Research suffered for this.”
“Were a lot of the founders in the field of science?”
He smiled wistfully. “Yes. We were.” Then he gave Leonard a searching look. “How did you really know I was one of the founders?”
Perceptive sonofabitch, Leonard thought with admiration. “Honestly? Your skin tone... it’s different from the other Araxians. It’s the Axanar skin tone.”
Rhexen blinked. “Ah, so you know about that, do you?”
“Know about what?” Hererra cut in.
Rhexen started to answer, but Bones cut him off. “The younger generations of Araxians have a quirky mutation. Causes a slightly different skin tone.”
No point in telling the kid about something that was probably being debated at the highest levels over in the Parliament building at that very moment. When he’d reported the information about the genetic engineering, it had caused an immediate reaction amongst the people in the briefing room back on the ship. He was pretty damned sure it was part of what they were hashing out right now, behind the closed doors or Parliament.
Rhexen’s expression made it clear that he knew Leonard probably had more of the story, but he said nothing.
“Weird,” Hererra said. “I’m not much of a geneticist, but... isn’t it strange for a mutation to become so widespread in such a short period of time? Or is it a response to the new environment?”
Dammit, Leonard hated to lie, especially to another scientist. “Something like that,” he said with an awkward shrug.
“I must ask, young Terran, where did you discover this?”
No point in lying there. “I spent yesterday with Medic Jethan. Do you know him?”
Rhexen took a moment to respond. “Aaah, yes, I know Jethan. I’ve known him for a long time. One of the finest amongst us. We’ve been good friends for two-hundred and twenty-nine years.” He smiled. “Before you ask, I am far older. Three-hundred and thirty of our years. I believe that is slightly over four-hundred-and-five of your years. I’ve lived a good, long life. Yes... a good long life.”
Hererra’s mouth was hanging open, ever so slightly. Leonard elbowed him before asking, “How did you meet Jethan?”
Rhexen’s smile became wistful. “Back on Axanar. He was a student of mine - a biochemist before he chose to pursue the study of medicine.”
“But medics were highly respected on Axanar,” Leonard said, leading the conversation. “Is that why Jethan switched careers?”
“Ah, no. Not at all,” Rhexen said proudly. “He was a medic who wanted to serve, not to be served. Not in a manner of... well... not in a position of forced servitude, but because he wanted to take care of his fellow beings. He had no desire for his patients to be indebted to him. I taught him well.”
Leonard nodded slowly. “And that’s why he left Axanar and became an Araxian founder, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
Something was telling Leonard that if he was ever going to ask this question, this was the time to do it. “Do the Araxians want to rejoin the Axanar?”
Rhexen’s expression closed off. “We do what we must, McCoy. Our charter, our philosophy, our way of life... we’ve sworn to it.” He looked up at a local chronometer on a post in the center of the square. Leonard couldn’t read the symbols, but Rhexen must have liked what he saw, because he looked pleased and nodded. “Ah, yes, we’ve sworn to it. And... I must apologize... you must understand... there is no animosity against the Federation. It is... unfortunate. Highly unfortunate. I liked the Terrans I met yesterday on their tour. I like you, cadets. I wish for minimal incidental damage to you and your colleagues, but we must reclaim control of our planet.”
Leonard’s blood suddenly ran ice cold. His face felt numb. Everything he’d seen and learned in the past few days swirled around in his head, congealing into the only possible answer. “The Araxians don’t want to rejoin the Axanar.”
“No, young Terran. We do not.”
“But your leaders! They offered the dilithium! I thought this has been in the works for ten years...” Leonard’s voice trailed off as Rhexen shook his head.
“Not ten years. Fifty years. They started coming fifty years ago. We should have known at the time. Yes, we should have known, and stopped it when it first began... but we never expected... never anticipated what they would do.” His face hardened. “But we shall fix it now. We did it once, and we shall do it again.”
“Do what?” Leonard asked, feeling his heart pounding just a bit too hard.
A gleeful and fervent spark lit Rhexen’s face. “Revolution, dear friend. Revolution.”
And then, the sky exploded.
*********
To Chapter 13
Canon characters/Pairing(s): Kirk & McCoy, Pike, Finney
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 6,205
Warnings: Foul language, political situations, military stuff.
Summary: As cadets on a summer internship, Kirk and McCoy are supposed to keep their eyes open and their mouths shut. As far as Bones is concerned, that’s just plain wrong on Jim Kirk, but Jim seems determined to follow orders and fall in line for a change. After all, they’ve both seen enough trouble in two years at the Academy, and this is the Peace Mission of Axanar. However, when a mystery starts to weave itself around the mission, and the senior officers don’t seem interested in investigating, how far can Kirk and McCoy let it go?
Notes: We're on a roll now! This is a short chapter, but that's because we're just about ready for things to become really interesting. Chapters should start coming more regularly. :D
Previous chapters: One, Two, Three, Four(A), Four(B), Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven
Chapter 12
“Why is it always us?” Bones groaned as he slumped into his armchair. “We’re just a couple of goddamned cadets on a goddamned internship on a goddamned backwater colony planet!” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, tossing his forearm across his face to block out the light.
Jim watched him from just inside the door of Bones’ quarters. He kicked off his boots and spared a moment to line them up by the door. “Because we’ve got a spectacular talent for being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he deadpanned, then walked slowly to the other armchair. “Besides...” He dropped into the chair with a huff. “We’ve never been just cadets.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“Come on, Bones... you’re a doctor, dammit, not a cadet!”
Bones dropped his forearm from his face and glared. “I will end you.”
“You’d miss me too much.”
“Like a hangnail.” He sighed, then leaned forward in the chair with yet another groan, resting his elbows heavily on his knees. “I don’t know what to make of this, Jim.”
“Well, I know what the command staff is making of it,” Jim said, not bothering to hide his bitterness. “It was supposed to be my turn to take a shift inside Parliament chambers tomorrow. I was going to get to see the actual talks. Instead, we’re going on a tour of the city.”
Bones raised a harshly critical eyebrow at him. “Considering that there’s an unconscious Vulcan ambassador in Sickbay and a Betazoid doctor with a gaping hole in his memory, I’d figure that thinking about your own damned opportunities would be a little lower on the priority list.”
The flash of guilt only made the bitterness well up like bile in Jim’s throat. “I’m not... what I mean is... they’re probably going to be discussing these events in there. It would be a chance to see how all of this is affecting the talks, and what the people in charge are really thinking. I want to know what they’re saying, and I know you want to know, too.”
With a reluctant grimace, Bones nodded. “Okay, I’ll give you that.”
They were silent for a moment. Jim stared at his feet. “What did you learn at the Araxian clinic today?”
Another moment of silence. “That I like them,” came the flat, blunt response. Jim almost prodded for more information, but Bones seemed like he still had more to say, and would say it when he felt like it. Another moment passed. “I like them because they’re the damned polar opposite of everything that hit me wrong about the Axanar. I like them because they don’t act like the Axanar.”
“They don’t?” Jim furrowed his eyebrows. That made no sense. Sure, there had been differences, but really, from what Jim had seen, they seemed a lot more similar than different. But the Zhitoran had said they had been different, and that something had changed. “Not even a little bit?”
“Not at all,” Bones said. “In fact, it’s almost hard to believe they came from the same parent race. Or that they’d want to come back together.”
Jim shook his head. “But they are rejoining each other. They’re coming into the Federation together. Araxis offered Axanar its dilithium! So... if they don’t want to come back together... Bones, are you sure?”
Bones didn’t move. “I’m not sure of a goddamned thing anymore, Jim. The guy I was talking to is one of the original settlers who was born on Axanar.” He shrugged. “Maybe the older generation still holds a grudge, and it’s the younger folks who want to reconnect with the old planet.”
Based on the tone of his voice, Jim was certain that Bones didn’t believe a word of that. “Now tell me what you really think.”
For a moment, Bones said nothing. Jim waited, and finally, Bones looked up at him. “Jim... they changed their genetic structure so they’d be a whole different species.”
“What?”
But Bones held up a hand, silencing him. “Their whole culture is different. Egalitarian. Democratic. None of that protection and subservience bullshit. And... they created a mutation that eliminated the metabolic pathway for methane. Makes them more metabolically stable in atmospheres without methane. And hell, if you look twice, you can see it changed their skin color, just a bit.”
“But... genetic engineering...” Jim started to say, shaking his head in dismay.
“I know, Jim. It grates me the wrong way, too, but... I talked to a patient who was born on Araxis with the artificial mutation. If the rest of them are anything like this guy, then the younger folks know what their founders did to them, and they’re proud of it.” He let out a long, slow breath as he leaned back in his armchair again. “Also... nobody was talking about the negotiations. They’re avoiding the topic. It’s as if it wasn’t even happening.”
Jim felt a shudder work up his spine. “That doesn’t make sense. It’s the biggest thing that’s happened on that planet in years. Everyone should be talking about it.”
“I know. That’s what makes this whole thing...” He gave a humorless laugh. “Damned peculiar.”
“That does seem to be the theme,” Jim said vaguely before fixing Bones with a look. “Bones, I know you got distracted with T’Val, but do you remember I said the Zhitoran had told me something?”
Bones raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? What was that all about? Those folks were the ones hunting the Axanar, weren’t they?”
“They were.” Jim considered his words. “Well... the Zhitorans considered the Araxians sentient... but not the Axanar... until very recently.”
It was Bones’ turn to look shocked, and he sat upright like he’d been pinched. “How the devil do you explain that?”
“Search me,” Jim said with a shrug. “Ask the Zhitoran. The guy practically spoke in riddles. But... I think I figured it out.”
“Oh really now? Enlighten me.”
Jim swallowed tightly. “He said it was a matter of definition: the Zhitoran definition of sentience. And if I take all of what he said and step back, it sounds like the Zhitorans had to change their definition of sentience to include the Axanar... after they’d already considered the Araxians sentient.”
Bones’ face instantly morphed into a scowl. “Just how the hell do they figure --”
“Hold on, that’s not everything,” Jim said, cutting him off. “He said the Zhitorans admired the Araxians for their differences from the Axanar. He spoke really highly of them. He said they were noble, strong... independent. He talked about how they’d left the Axanar culture of slavery and subservience... and yeah, he really didn’t speak well of the Axanar. But then, he said they were similar now. Well, I said they were similar, and he told me I was right.”
“But they’re not similar,” Bones protested. “I mean, are you kidding me? Have you even met any of the Araxians?”
“Well yeah. I met their security forces, and the staff working the welcoming reception in the Parliament building. I met a couple of their representatives, too.”
Bones was giving him an odd look. “Did you meet the Prime Minister?”
Jim forced an uncomfortable laugh. “Not really. I mean, I saw him with the official welcoming party, but I haven’t talked to him. Why?”
But Bones was shaking his head. “Jim... you met a bunch of people tightly clustered around the official leadership. I met a bunch of people in a medical clinic, including housekeepers, patients, medics, and even a very chatty secretary. Heh. He could have given my Aunt Betty a run for her money. And I’ll tell you, if the Araxians I met were typical, they’re nothing like the Axanar.”
Jim shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well... the ones I met weren’t quite as subservient, and nobody tried to give me pieces of buildings this time, but they seemed nervous in a different way, and didn’t... what?”
Bones was still shaking his head, now with an expression of complete dismay. “Jim, we’re seeing different parts of the puzzle here. We have to be. And there are missing pieces everywhere. Brex’s memory. T’Val... goddammit, I ran every test I could, and it looks like the exact same thing that happened to Brex. T’Val was the best shot we had at recovering Brex’s memory before the mission was over, and now -”
“It’s like someone took her out of the equation before she could help Doctor Brex,” Jim finished.
Bones nodded. “Sure looks like it. And before you ask, yes, I voiced my concerns to Doctor Brex, Doctor Singh, and directly to the Captain and his Security Chief. And no, I have no idea what they’re going to do with the information.”
Jim stared at Bones, then past Bones’ shoulder at the wall. Finally, he slumped back into the armchair. “And here we are... blind, deaf, and dumb, with a few puzzle pieces to play with, and no big picture.”
Bones slouched back in his own chair with a grunt.
“Big picture...” Jim said softly to himself, then to Bones, “I never finished telling you what I thought the conclusion was.”
“Go for it.”
Jim braced himself mentally. “The Araxians and the Axanar are similar because the Araxians are reverting back to the Axanar ways.”
“But I... wait.” His eyes widened. “I almost forgot. How could I have forgotten this? Jethan said something like that, early in the day, before we got to the clinic.”
Jim felt a strange sensation work through his chest. Something breathless and not entirely pleasant. “What did he say?”
Bones’ eyes were distant as he tried to recall the words. “Something about... when opposite forces come together... something has to yield.” Then he shook his head angrily. “But... I don’t buy it, Jim! The folks I talked to sure didn’t sound like they were interested in behaving like the Axanar! Jethan spent half of the day preachin’ the virtues of democracy and egalitarianism, and I didn’t see much dissent from the other folks around the clinic. So I don’t know or care if the folks you met around Parliament were acting like Axanar. The ones I met seem to like being Araxian just fine.”
But Jim shook his head, feeling the strange sensation in his chest settle into something hardened and angry as the scattered puzzle pieces finally snapped together in his mind. “But Bones... don’t you see?” His voice sounded distant to his own ears. “I never said they were doing it willingly.”
*********
“Kirk, there had better be a damned good reason why I’m awake at 0200.”
Captain Pike certainly looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. And Jim knew what time it was, because all ships in Starfleet had their chronometers set to the same time as Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco. He was going to regret this later, he knew, but he had to report.
“You told me to report in if something was happening.”
“Yes, I did. Through normal comm channels. At normal hours.” Pike shook his head and scrubbed his hands roughly over his face. “How did you get a Priority Two comm channel at this hour of the night? For that matter, how did you get a Priority Two comm channel at all?”
“I learned a lot when I worked a rotation in the communications lab.” In truth, he’d traded twenty days of water shower rations for this. Sonic showers worked well enough, even if he hated them. He briefly pulled his lower lip between his teeth, trying to figure out how to broach the topic.
Pike must have noticed his hesitation. The man was really good at reading people, and despite the fact that Jim knew he could be a thorn in the Captain’s side on occasion, Pike seemed to like him. His posture softened. “It’s okay, Kirk. If you had to comm me at this hour, I’m going to guess it’s important. So instead of keeping me in suspense, spill the beans already.”
Jim nodded to himself - full disclosure - and plowed into it. “Doctor Brex woke up, but he’s lost his telepathic ability and a chunk of his memory. And now, Ambassador T’Val has fallen into a coma just like the one Brex was in. She had been planning to help the doctor regain his memories, but she just passed out, right in the middle of the square in front of Parliament. Same thing as Brex - they can’t find anything wrong with her.”
“Just a minute, Kirk -” Pike started, but Jim kept going.
“That’s only the start of it, sir. There’s something weird going on with the Araxians... like they’ve got two entirely different cultures on one planet. One of the Araxians said something that makes me think their culture is reverting back to the Axanar ways, and I don’t think it’s a willing transition. The people in their Parliament are acting like the Axanar, but the rest of them are... completely different, sir. Bones described them as democratic. Egalitarian. Oh, and Bones said they’re different species now. The Araxians changed their genetics.”
“They genetically engineered their whole species?” Pike asked vaguely.
Jim kept talking. “It’s got to be tied in together, sir. This all started after the Axanar boarded the Athena. The only person around who would have a chance of seeing through any sort of deception is Doctor Brex, the only full telepath on the crew, but he currently has a lower psi score than I do, which was pathetic if you remember. Parliament is holding a restricted session until further notice, and I have no idea what’s going on.” Jim had blurted it all out so fast that he’d run out of wind, and he sucked in a deep breath and finished, “Sir.”
Pike stared at him.
“I’m sorry, too much?”
Pike closed his eyes and shook his head slowly for a moment before looking back at Jim. “How much of this is classified?”
Jim shrugged, as if to say, Classified? How should I know? “Sir, I’m a cadet on a Priority Two channel with a Starfleet captain. If I know something, it’s nothing a captain can’t know, and the channel is secure. I checked the regulations.”
A gleam, something like pride mixed with chagrin, flashed across Pike’s face. “This is why you’re trouble, Kirk. You know the regulations... and how to manipulate them.”
Jim had to struggle to keep himself from looking smug. “Actually, Cadet McCoy is even better at it than I am.”
Pike raised an eyebrow. “Really? I wasn’t aware of that.”
“That’s how good he is.”
Pike nodded slowly. “I’ll have to remember that. So... down to business. You said, first of all, that the Axanar and Araxians are different species?”
“That’s what McCoy told me. He got to examine one of the Araxians. The Araxian doctor - they’re called Medics here - told him that it was an intentional mutation, designed early on by their scientists.”
Pike seemed to be digesting this carefully, his eyes focused just below and to the left of the screen. “And the Araxians seem to have two cultures?”
“That’s what we’re seeing. The Araxians in political positions and working around Parliament seem to behave like the Axanar. I thought it was just because they were being formal, but McCoy doesn’t think so. He worked with the Araxians in the medical facility all day, and that’s a formal setting, but... he said they’re nothing like that. No rank structure. No...” Jim hesitated.
“Just say it.”
“No servitude.” When Pike didn’t say anything, Jim pressed on. “I know I have no proof, but I think somehow the merge between the Araxians and the Axanar is creating a clash of cultures, and somehow, the Araxian culture is getting subjugated to the Axanar. The Zhitoran Ambassador and one of the Araxians both said things that support that theory, and with everything else going on, I don’t think we can ignore it.”
Pike didn’t even seem to react, still staring below the screen, deep in thought. “Okay. Anything else of relevance?”
Jim couldn’t understand why Pike wasn’t reacting more strongly to this. “No, sir, but I don’t know if Captain Porter is -”
“Hold it there, Kirk.” Pike raised a hand to stop him. “No speculation about what the captain is doing. I already told you that. You need to trust the officers in positions above you. And because I’m a captain and you’re a cadet, there are things I can’t tell you.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Do you, now? Good then. It’ll make this easier.”
Jim didn’t like the sound of that.
“I didn’t know everything you just told me. There’s some new information there. I’m assuming you gave full disclosure to your chain of command.”
“Of course I did, but -”
“Then you need to let them do their jobs. I’ll send a communique to Captain Porter in the morning. And no, I’m not going to tell him it’s because of you. I’ll tell him that I’m just calling as the Commandant, checking in on all the cadets.”
“But what about -”
“And you’re going to do whatever they tell you to do, because you’re a cadet. I want you to put your best instincts to work, but you will not act on your own. Do you read me?”
“Yes, sir, I wasn’t planning to do anything. You told me to be a cadet, and that’s what I’m doing. But all of this... what’s going on... it can’t be normal. I’m worried about -”
“Jim... it’s space. It’s Starfleet. There’s no such thing as normal. There will always be something unusual, unexpected, and inexplicable out there. It’s part of the job.” His expression softened again. “I know you’ve had some experiences above and beyond most Starfleet cadets, but you can’t always be in the middle of everything. Sometimes, all you can do is to play your part. This time, your part is to be a cadet, and nothing more. Now, I fully expect you to be one of the best and brightest cadets, so don’t let me down there... but let your superiors handle this. I think, if anything, that’s what you most needed to learn on this internship. Learn to be a subordinate.”
Jim forced a melancholy smile. “Isn’t that what Commander Toland tried to teach me two years ago?”
Pike actually chuckled. “Did the lesson stick?”
“I’m still not sure, sir.”
“Well... we’ll find out when I receive your full assessment from Lieutenant Finney and Commander Shao, won’t I?”
“Yes, sir,” Jim said, trying not to sound sullen. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected from Pike, but he felt as though he wasn’t getting it.
“Good. And now... it’s 0215 in the morning, and I have a meeting at 0800 with the full Academy command staff, so you hit the bunk, and I’ll do the same.”
“Yes, sir,” he repeated.
“And Kirk? Make me proud.”
That caused an unexpected flutter in Jim’s stomach, but all he said was, “Aye, sir.”
“Good. Pike out.”
The screen went blank, leaving Jim by himself in the tiny comm room. He didn’t move for nearly a half hour.
*********
Jim was starting to wonder if bad weather existed on Araxis. Sure, he’d studied the climate, and this region had more than adequate annual rainfall. They just happened to be in the dry season right now. With the bright blue skies and wispy clouds, it was hard to argue with the timing.
On the other hand, he’d love to argue with just about everything else right now.
They’d beamed down about a kilometer northwest of Parliament Square to meet their tour guide for the day. The street was almost deserted. Jim supposed it had something to do with increased security. The Araxian they met had introduced himself as Nraxhan, Sub-Minister of Infrastructure. Jim figured it was a fancy term for “not important enough to be in the meeting.” He was rambling on about the various sights they’d see on their walking tour. A historical bridge, the first house built on the planet, the water pumping station, the power plant, and the Archive Museum. All very interesting.
Jim didn’t care. He wanted to get into that meeting at Parliament. He wanted to know what the hell was going on. He wanted to investigate what had happened to Brex and T’Val, because he knew it had to be tied to whatever was going on with the Araxians and Axanar.
Instead, he was going to be a good cadet, just like Pike wanted. He was going to follow Nraxhan around the city, play the part of the junior diplomat, ask inconsequential questions, and let the real officers do their jobs. There was no need for heroics, no need to stick his neck out. Maybe, someday, he’d even get used to the idea.
He looked over at Lieutenant Finney, who was standing comfortably at ease, with his hands folded below the small of his back. He was the picture of the perfect young Starfleet officer. Smiling mildly and enjoying an easy mission.
Jim knew better.
“I understand, Kirk,” he’d said last night in the debriefing. “And... I think you’re right. Or, at least, you could be right. But you’ve done all the right things already. You told me, you told Lieutenant Gaynes, and we’ve briefed Captain Porter.”
“But what happens if... well, if something happens?” The question had sounded stupid to his own ears, but at least Finney hadn’t mocked him for it.
“I know what you mean, and... we’ll just have to be ready for anything. But isn’t that what we’re trained for? Believe me, I’m suspicious, too. You keep your eyes open, and I’ll keep my eyes open. But for now... trust the Captain, and... play it casual.”
So Finney was playing it casual. It was a convincing act, too.
Jim looked over to the side, where Bones was doing a piss-poor job of looking casual. He narrowed his eyes just slightly at Jim, who replied with the barest of nods.
They were splitting up the cadets. Add that to the growing list of things Jim really didn’t like at the moment. Thinking he was doing them a favor, their tour guide had looked into the cadets’ specialties, and concluded that a doctor and a biochemist wouldn’t be nearly as interested in infrastructure, so they were going on a tour of the research facilities. Bones had made a sarcastic quip about getting to see them after all, but then he’d fallen silent. So Bones and Hererra would go see the science research facilities, while Jim, Wilcox, Nadeau, Liu, and Buhari went on the grand tour of the city.
No, Jim didn’t like this at all.
“... and once we’ve concluded our tour of the power generator and turbine station, we’ll return through the Archives, where historical artifacts are kept, and the Museum, which details the history of the colony. The Museum building has grown each year as new additions house new chapters of the colony’s history.”
“Does the Museum have anything from Axanar?” Nadeau suddenly asked.
Jim felt the tension level rise exponentially, with its epicenter fixed squarely on Nraxhan.
“Records from Axanar are kept in the Archive,” their guide said stiffly, “not in the Museum. However, the Araxians may now have reason to retrieve the old records once again.”
Jim frowned at that. It could simply be a different use of Standard... after all, the Axanar had only widely used Standard for a decade, since the Battle. That meant the Araxians had used it even less. But still... it sounded as though this individual was referring to the Araxians as them. Not in so many words, but it always sounded as though Nraxhan was speaking of the Araxians as though he wasn’t one of them. A glance over at Finney didn’t reveal anything; the man was still smiling casually, not showing anything out of the ordinary.
“So,” Nraxhan said firmly, “the guide for your bioscience cadets has arrived, and here we shall part ways.”
An Araxian in what Jim guessed was a research robe had approached them. “I’ve been told that I will be escorting some of the finest young minds of the Federation!” he said cheerfully. “Who might they be?”
Bones, to Jim’s shocked amusement, snorted. “I’m not exactly young, and the jury is still out on the other part... but I guess I’m coming along for the ride.”
Finney scowled. “Cadet McCoy, if you don’t want to be here -”
“Ah, delightful!” the Araxian scientist exclaimed, ignoring Finney. “I’ve been told that humans appreciate this sort of humor. Sarcasm, correct?”
Bones raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between Finney and the Araxian. “Uh... yes, sir. Always happy to entertain.”
Finney was still scowling, but it was clear that the breach of protocol hadn’t caused a problem. If the situation had been any different, Jim swore he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from snickering hysterically. The Araxian reminded Jim of an old schoolteacher he’d had once, when he was seven years old. He’d been a grandfatherly man with a wild tuft of white hair and an inextinguishable joy for everything he taught. He’d been the man who had fueled Jim’s insatiable curiosity about everything the world had to offer. That curiosity had almost been snuffed out as he’d gotten older... but never completely.
Jim liked this guy. He found himself wishing he was going with Bones on the science tour.
The Araxian scientist beamed. “Excellent! Oh, yes, excellent. I am called Rhexen. Please, come with me. So much to see! Years of research! Oh, I can’t wait to show you.” Without another word, he began walking off.
Bones looked around. “Guess we should follow him.”
Hererra nodded, grinning. “Doesn’t sound like such a bad deal, does it?”
Bones’ eyes fixed on Jim’s. “Not too bad at all,” is what his mouth said. His eyes, however, said, Jim, be careful.
Jim knew that look too well. He gave a nod in reply, and he knew Bones would understand his message. You too, Bones.
Then they were gone.
“Okay, cadets!” Finney said with enthusiasm that sounded real enough. “You joined Starfleet to seek out new life forms and new civilizations, and here we are! Let’s get a move on.”
The group began to move, following Nraxhan as the stuffy Sub-Minister began rambling on about local architecture on their way to the oldest house in the city. He was set on protocol, fixated on rank, and determined to impress the group. He seemed a lot like an Axanar, now that Jim was thinking about it. Of course, that was ridiculous. He was a ranking official in the Araxian government. Still... he sure seemed like a perfect example of what Kerz had been talking about, and Jim was absolutely convinced that the two groups were more similar than not.
But then... Rhexen. The old scientist. If he was typical of an Araxian, then Jim was starting to see what Bones meant.
Hiding his grimace behind a feigned look of polite interest, Jim followed the group of cadets down the street.
*********
“You’re one of the founders, aren’t you?” Leonard asked as he kept pace with Rhexen’s energetic footsteps.
“Why, yes,” came the startled reply. “Did you guess because of my age?”
“Well, to be honest, I can’t even begin to guess age on an Araxian,” Leonard said, even though he could tell that Rhexen was far from young. “But... you remind me of someone I met yesterday.”
“Oh I do? Well, I must say, all you Terrans look alike to me, aside from the differing colors of fur on your heads, so perhaps we Araxians look alike to you.” Before Leonard could start to explain who Rhexen reminded him of, the old Araxian launched into an enthusiastic discussion of Araxis’ history of scientific research, and how the pursuit of knowledge had been opened to everyone, regardless of their parentage or background.
Yeah, he reminded Leonard of Jethan, and listening to the old Araxian solidified in his mind that the Araxians were as different from the Axanar as they possibly could be. Again, he wondered how these two groups could possibly come back together.
As they walked, Rhexen continued to pile on information, but Leonard found himself distracted by something else. Aside from a couple of pedestrians, the streets were almost empty. It was the middle of the day, so perhaps people were at work. It was possible that the Araxians had tightened security around the center of the city, given the concerns regarding the conference. Whatever the reason, it was noticeably quiet.
Before he knew it, they were at the entrance to the research complex. Leonard had been there briefly yesterday, before Jethan took him to the medical facility, but he hadn’t had a chance to look around. It was a beautiful campus that took up an entire city block, with large buildings and a wide open quad in the middle full of plant life and park benches. As much as he’d enjoyed his day with Jethan, Leonard realized he’d almost missed quite the experience of seeing the research facility, and he was really looking forward to this.
Rhexen was rubbing his hands together, his face alight with the glee of a child on his birthday as he surveyed the campus. “I think... we should begin with our biochemical engineering department. We’ve developed a new method of protein manipulation in the past few years, using short-range magnetic fields to manipulate molecular dipoles. We can actually construct new compounds without needing to adhere to the old rules of organic chemical reactions. It’s most extraordinary! Let me show you how it works.”
Hererra was grinning ear to ear as he looked over at McCoy. “Come on, Doc. This is gonna be fun.”
Leonard had to admit, he was inclined to agree.
Almost four hours later, Leonard had been thoroughly impressed, and had decided that if he couldn’t retire on Earth, he wanted to live on Araxis someday. In the very least, he’d take a sabbatical from Starfleet there to do some research. Their dedication and enthusiasm for science, and just the general feel he was getting from their society... it was wonderful. Who wouldn’t like that?
Still, as they toured the campus, Leonard got the impression that there should be more people in a facility of that size. The buildings felt oddly vacant, despite the number of researchers present. It just added to Leonard’s sense that the city was more empty than it should be.
Rhexen decided to break for a mid-day meal, and the three of them settled on a pair of benches in the quad with some sort of vegetable and dumpling dish they’d picked up at a local vendor. Damn, even the food was good. Still, Leonard had something that had been gnawing at him.
“Rhexen... what was it like for researchers back on Axanar?”
The Araxian’s two-tined fork stopped halfway to his mouth. Slowly, he set the utensil back down. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Leonard said, knowing he needed to tread carefully, “you left Axanar. And the way you talk about the research around here, and how the pursuit of knowledge is open to everyone, I’m guessing it was different back on Axanar.”
Rhexen sighed and put down his food container. “Yes, it was different. Very different. On Axanar, researchers needed protection. We supplied technology, but the pursuit of knowledge itself wasn’t considered an art of protection. Therefore, we fell under the umbrella of servitude to the government if we wanted to be part of the research community.” He shook his head. “As a result, the best and the brightest seldom wanted to become scientists. Research suffered for this.”
“Were a lot of the founders in the field of science?”
He smiled wistfully. “Yes. We were.” Then he gave Leonard a searching look. “How did you really know I was one of the founders?”
Perceptive sonofabitch, Leonard thought with admiration. “Honestly? Your skin tone... it’s different from the other Araxians. It’s the Axanar skin tone.”
Rhexen blinked. “Ah, so you know about that, do you?”
“Know about what?” Hererra cut in.
Rhexen started to answer, but Bones cut him off. “The younger generations of Araxians have a quirky mutation. Causes a slightly different skin tone.”
No point in telling the kid about something that was probably being debated at the highest levels over in the Parliament building at that very moment. When he’d reported the information about the genetic engineering, it had caused an immediate reaction amongst the people in the briefing room back on the ship. He was pretty damned sure it was part of what they were hashing out right now, behind the closed doors or Parliament.
Rhexen’s expression made it clear that he knew Leonard probably had more of the story, but he said nothing.
“Weird,” Hererra said. “I’m not much of a geneticist, but... isn’t it strange for a mutation to become so widespread in such a short period of time? Or is it a response to the new environment?”
Dammit, Leonard hated to lie, especially to another scientist. “Something like that,” he said with an awkward shrug.
“I must ask, young Terran, where did you discover this?”
No point in lying there. “I spent yesterday with Medic Jethan. Do you know him?”
Rhexen took a moment to respond. “Aaah, yes, I know Jethan. I’ve known him for a long time. One of the finest amongst us. We’ve been good friends for two-hundred and twenty-nine years.” He smiled. “Before you ask, I am far older. Three-hundred and thirty of our years. I believe that is slightly over four-hundred-and-five of your years. I’ve lived a good, long life. Yes... a good long life.”
Hererra’s mouth was hanging open, ever so slightly. Leonard elbowed him before asking, “How did you meet Jethan?”
Rhexen’s smile became wistful. “Back on Axanar. He was a student of mine - a biochemist before he chose to pursue the study of medicine.”
“But medics were highly respected on Axanar,” Leonard said, leading the conversation. “Is that why Jethan switched careers?”
“Ah, no. Not at all,” Rhexen said proudly. “He was a medic who wanted to serve, not to be served. Not in a manner of... well... not in a position of forced servitude, but because he wanted to take care of his fellow beings. He had no desire for his patients to be indebted to him. I taught him well.”
Leonard nodded slowly. “And that’s why he left Axanar and became an Araxian founder, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
Something was telling Leonard that if he was ever going to ask this question, this was the time to do it. “Do the Araxians want to rejoin the Axanar?”
Rhexen’s expression closed off. “We do what we must, McCoy. Our charter, our philosophy, our way of life... we’ve sworn to it.” He looked up at a local chronometer on a post in the center of the square. Leonard couldn’t read the symbols, but Rhexen must have liked what he saw, because he looked pleased and nodded. “Ah, yes, we’ve sworn to it. And... I must apologize... you must understand... there is no animosity against the Federation. It is... unfortunate. Highly unfortunate. I liked the Terrans I met yesterday on their tour. I like you, cadets. I wish for minimal incidental damage to you and your colleagues, but we must reclaim control of our planet.”
Leonard’s blood suddenly ran ice cold. His face felt numb. Everything he’d seen and learned in the past few days swirled around in his head, congealing into the only possible answer. “The Araxians don’t want to rejoin the Axanar.”
“No, young Terran. We do not.”
“But your leaders! They offered the dilithium! I thought this has been in the works for ten years...” Leonard’s voice trailed off as Rhexen shook his head.
“Not ten years. Fifty years. They started coming fifty years ago. We should have known at the time. Yes, we should have known, and stopped it when it first began... but we never expected... never anticipated what they would do.” His face hardened. “But we shall fix it now. We did it once, and we shall do it again.”
“Do what?” Leonard asked, feeling his heart pounding just a bit too hard.
A gleeful and fervent spark lit Rhexen’s face. “Revolution, dear friend. Revolution.”
And then, the sky exploded.
*********
To Chapter 13