“I don’t understand,” he said, clasping both her shoulders now. “I thought you wanted Rigel to join the Federation.”
“Because I feel it would help us change. Force us to crack down on the crime and the piracy, give us the will and the means to break the Families’ power once and for all. I’m just not so sure now that it would be good for you. And I . . .” She stepped closer into his embrace, gazing up at him. “I know that as a politician I should be selfish, should place the good of my Commission, my world, my constituents first. But . . . I can’t think only of myself when I’m with you.”
Archer learned moments later that a Zami’s lips were just as soft as a human’s, and maybe a few degrees warmer. Although he couldn’t be sure, for it had been a while since he had last felt a woman’s kiss. So he proceeded to repeat the experiment, to gather more data for the comparison.
Although by the time Sedra got him back to her room, he had long since forgotten about any other woman.
9
June 21, 2164
U.S.S. Endeavour
“HAIL PIONEER,” Captain T’Pol ordered once Endeavour dropped to impulse within Rigelian space.
Hoshi Sato moved to comply. “That’s odd,” she said after a few moments. “They’re responding . . . but from a position behind Rigel IV’s moon, and on an encrypted channel.”
“Onscreen. Encrypt our reply.”
The bearded visage of T’Pol’s erstwhile first officer appeared on the main viewer. “Welcome to Rigel, Captain T’Pol,” said Malcolm Reed. “You made good time.”
“I shall relay your compliments to Chief Engineer Romaine. What is your current status, Captain?”
Reed did not comment on her preference to get straight to business; he was habitually much the same. “We’re providing support for an infiltration down on Four. One of the target ships was tracked to a spaceport in the territory of the Corthoc Family. Lieutenant Williams is checking it out.”
T’Pol’s brows raised. “How did you arrange access to First Family airspace?” Even if Reed had deemed the situation extreme enough to warrant the risk of transporter use, the Families would still have detected the beam.
“Fortunately, the Families are far from a united front. The Commission was able to bribe one of the lesser Families, the Kanyors, who have a fierce rivalry with the neighboring Corthocs. They granted our team access to their airspace and transport onto Corthoc lands.” He gave a tight smile. “Nothing like a little dissension in the enemy ranks.”
“Indeed. May I join you aboard Pioneer? I would appreciate a fuller briefing while we await word from your armory officer.”
Reed frowned, contemplating. “Actually, Endeavour could be more useful elsewhere. One of the target ships went to Rigel VII, but the Commission is reluctant to send a ship of its own there, even in an emergency.” He grimaced. “Apparently, while the Kalar shun most modern technology, they make an exception when it comes to defending their territory. They have weaponry that can shoot down atmospheric craft.”
“Then the ship that traveled there was most likely a decoy and may have already been destroyed.”
“Possibly, but we must follow every lead.”
“Understood,” T’Pol said. “I would still like to meet with you, Captain. With your permission, I shall come aboard in a shuttlepod while Endeavour proceeds to Rigel VII.”
Reed hesitated for a moment. “Very well. Less risk of detection that way, I suppose. We’ll send you the safe approach vector.”
“Thank you, Captain.” She offered an appreciative nod, softening her expression slightly. “It will be agreeable to see you again, Malcolm.”
He paused before replying more stiffly. “And you, Captain.”
Babel Station
Archer awoke to find Sedra Hemnask sitting up in bed beside him, her knees pulled up against her bare chest, arms wrapped around her legs. She seemed lost in thought. “Hi,” he said.
She started and looked at him, relaxing her pose in a way that considerably improved his view. “Welcome back to waking,” she said.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve woken up to such a beautiful sight.”
“Always the deft-tongued diplomat,” she teased.
But before he could reach for her, she sighed and eased herself out of bed, moving to gaze out the window of her suite, which looked out on the hangar dome and the cratered landscape beyond. “Penny for your thoughts,” he ventured.
She turned to stare. “Excuse me?”
“It’s an old Earth expression. It means, what are you thinking?”