Part 16 (1/2)

”A mission well done, Lieutenant,” the captain said.

”May I say-may I- ”Permission to speak freely granted, crewman.”

”Sir, since that incident when you-defended me-all those years ago-I've been torn. Those accusations made me feel like a perpetual alien, neither human nor Romulan, someone no one dared trust. The things you said were the right things, sir, but they didn't totally hit home until- ”Until you met a certain person?” Picard said, smiling.

”Yes, sir,” Ta.r.s.es said. ”I met someone equally torn between two worlds.”

Kio sar-Bensu, lately named ruler of an entire planet, who had set her power aside in order to fulfill her quest for knowledge, only smiled.

”Well, what about you, Kio sar-Bensu?” the captain asked, smiling.

”I'm thinking of going to school on Earth for a while, Captain. Starfleet Academy, if they'll have me.”

Ta.r.s.es looked wistful. Undoubtedly he was calculating how long it would be before Enterprise returned to this sector. Quite some time, alas. Picard glanced down at the blank padd on his desk.

”Mr. Ta.r.s.es, this duty roster says you're due for some sh.o.r.e leave.” The young crewman looked confused.

”But, sir, I just had a week on-” Kio nudged him.

”Oh. Oh! Thanks-I mean, thank you, sir!”

After the two left, there seemed to be no one else waiting.

The computer told him the former High s.h.i.+vantak of Thanet wanted a word with him.