FIC: Circle's End, 3/16
Feb. 12th, 2007 06:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cloudy_ficTitle: Circle's End, Part Three
Author: CloudyJenn
Fandom: Enterprise
Pairings: Archer/Reed, T'Pol/Tucker
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Paramount. I am making no profit from this fanfiction.
Beta:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
qzee. Thanks!
Warnings: Still not deathfic.
Summary: Ten years after an explosion on an alien planet, Jon and Malcolm deal with two very different realities.
Author's Notes: Well, as you can see, I've lowered the number of chapters. Something got all messed up along the way, so I combined these parts. The only problem being that the next section is uber-short. 0_o Sorry about that. Anyway, here 'tis! Enjoy!
"Jon! Come in, come in."
Samuels sat behind his desk, several PADDs scattered before him on the wooden surface. His eyes looked up for a split second when Jonathan knocked before they resumed scanning something on the computer to his right. Jonathan walked into the office and sat in one of the chairs before the desk, his stomach still feeling tied up in knots from the night before.
“Sorry about that, Jon,” Samuels said as he clicked something off on the computer. “Andorians.” He rolled his eyes and Jonathan felt his nerves settle as he chuckled about the familiar problem.
“How are you?” Samuels asked, his brusque tone belied by the look of concern in his eyes. On one level, Jonathan appreciated it, but on another, he would rather keep personal emotions out of this particular negotiation. Besides, he was a grown man and could handle himself, had been handling this pain for years.
“I’m fine. I’ve heard a little bit more about the negotiation from Zhang this morning. What can you tell me?” Like Jonathan, Zhang was on the Membership Committee, but Samuels was the head of it and would most likely have the most information.
“I was contacted by their head of state late last evening, a man called Matein,” Samuels answered after a brief nod to acknowledge Jonathan’s unspoken request for impersonal professionalism. “I’m sure you remember him, Jon.”
He did. Matein was the Chancellor of the Alearan people and had been the man they’d made contact with in the first place ten years ago. A genuinely pleasant man, Matein had believed he did not have any truly powerful enemies.
Apparently, he’d been wrong.
“Yes, of course.”
Samuels accessed one of the PADDs in front of him. “As you know, they were starting their warp three tests when you first contacted them and they’ve come a hell of a long way in ten years. Their first deep space exploration vessel set out late last year and a second was commissioned last month.” He handed the PADD to Jonathan. It contained a long description of their ships as well as information about their space exploration program. “They are interested in joining the Federation for all the typical reasons, protection, trade, etc. But they also want an infrastructure.”
Jonathan looked back up at him, raising an eyebrow. “Infrastructure?”
“I know you didn’t see much other than the capital, Jon, but I’m sure you remember that Aleara was mainly an agricultural society.”
Ah, now it was beginning to make sense to Jonathan. Aleara had plenty of wealth in the government and there were several large cities on the primary continent, but much of their society seemed to live in rural villages without a great deal of access to the technology being developed at the higher levels.
“Yes, I see what you mean.” He paused, considering the information. “Are you concerned the Alearan people at large aren’t ready to be introduced into a galactic community?”
Samuels nodded. “I am. I told Matein in no uncertain terms that if I sent a delegation, we couldn’t make any promises. Their space program is ahead of the rest of the society to be sure and I want you to take that into account when you get there.”
So, he did want to send Jonathan. Well, he’d wanted impersonal professionalism. There was no good reason for Jonathan not to go and the one thing that made up his mind more than anything else was that Malcolm would want him to go, want him to do his duty.
"Another thing that worries me, obviously, is our previous encounter with them. As you know, the terrorists responsible for the attack were apprehended, but the sentiment remains in peaceful protests. Matein assures me that the rest of those still upset by the unbalance in the government were as appalled by the terrorists' actions as anyone. And the division amongst the different continents has been healed somewhat by Matein's leadership, but we need to stay aware that it still exists."
Jonathan nodded. Matein had been newly elected when they first met, one in a long line of Chancellors from the capital city, and apparently, that fact had, over the years, led to discontent amongst citizens from the poorer provinces and continents. It sounded as if Matein had made some headway where his predecessors had not. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Jonathan knew it had something to do with the explosion, with the way Matein had crushed the threat ruthlessly, but he did not allow himself to dwell on the notion.
“I’ve been studying the situation all morning and I have to say, despite my concerns, I think they could be a good addition to the Federation. They’re smart and have made a lot of strides in building up the infrastructure themselves. Matein’s set up a department within his government to find the money to bring computers and comm devices to the smaller towns and villages on the main continent. Not to sound sentimental, but they’ve got their hearts in the right place. Their space exploration program just came at a strange time in their development. If anything, I think they’d need our help to make sure all Alearans benefit from it.” He gave Jonathan a knowing smile. “The last thing I want to do is leave another culture in the dark when we can help.”
“Well, you know I can’t argue with that, Admiral,” Jonathan replied. Thinking of the negotiation from that point of view gave Jonathan a feeling of kinship with the people. Maybe, once he’d learned more, it might even give him a degree of enthusiasm for the negotiation.
“We’re meeting at 1000 hours?” Jonathan asked as he stood from the chair. Samuels nodded. Jonathan handed him back the PADD.
“I’ll see you then.”
He turned to leave, but Samuels’ voice stopped him.
“Jon? You know if there was any other way-“
“Don’t worry about it, Nathan. But thank you.”
Samuels nodded, respect and understanding in his eyes, and allowed Jonathan to leave without further comment.
********************************
“Are you sure we don’t have enough money for a land car?”
Malcolm smirked at Senara’s timid question, asked with the faintest trace of desperation. They walked together down a deserted lane, probably two or three hours from the capital where Talin would be meeting them.
“Not if you want to eat this weekend.”
She sighed. “I could be convinced to give it up for a few days, Dad. My feet are killing me.”
“You would think you haven’t spent your whole life working on your feet, elaen,” he teased lightly. “Besides, we’re almost there. Just a few more hours and you’ll be able to rest in a lovely hard bed at a ratty hotel.”
A little groan escaped Senara’s lips. “How do you make this journey so often, Dad? I’d be content to stay forever in Blaen.”
That was one very significant difference between Malcolm and his daughter. He loved Senara and had found friends amongst his fellow villagers, but if he had a choice, he and Senara would be able to travel all over Aleara, finally seeing their native planet in its entirety. But there simply wasn’t enough money for more than two or three trips to Capsin, the capital city, a year.
And of course, it would certainly make it easier for him to search for Jon. Malcolm had a feeling that, because of his difference in language and customs, he and Jon were probably from one of the smaller continents. But making that trip would cost an immeasurable fortune, money he and Senara, hell the entire village of Blaen simply didn’t have.
“I enjoy the journey myself. Get out a bit and stretch my legs.”
“Stretch your legs? Dad, we’ve been walking for two whole days!” At this point, Senara was only arguing with him for the sake of arguing. It was a way to pass the time, if nothing else.
“Well, you know, normally, I had Enterprise with me. The journey’s much faster if something with four legs is doing it for you.”
She laughed. “True! Too bad she’s older than you,” she said with a wink. Malcolm laughed along with her. Obviously, that was highly unlikely, but the truth of the matter was that Malcolm really didn’t know how old he was. The best guess he could make was that he was around forty or so.
“Yes, it’s too bad. She’ll have to be decommissioned soon.” As the words came out of his mouth, he felt a little twitch of recognition. It happened to him every now and then, when he heard something or said something that probably meant something to his past life. Frustrating, but he was used to it. He shrugged the feeling off.
They continued walking, making conversation every so often, mostly about the coming festival. As was tradition, Talin was to meet them at the Capital, along with his parents, Maera and Jahni. They’d share the evening meal and then Senara and Talin were allowed to spend the rest of the weekend together, however they wished. Malcolm didn’t know what he was going to do with himself for the remaining days, except that he would probably make more inquiries about Jon. Over all, he was looking forward to the time away from the fields in a city teeming with life, though part of him worried for Senara’s safety. She wasn’t used to big cities with a lot of people. However, Talin was rather a large man and had learned well from Malcolm; he would just have to trust them together.
The thought was not entirely comforting to Malcolm, but then, he also knew he would be quite the third wheel if he followed them around all weekend.
“You’ll be careful this weekend, right?” He asked her suddenly. She just rolled her eyes and took his arm in her own.
“Yes, Dad. I promise not to talk to strangers and keep an eye on where I’m walking.” She squeezed his arm and laid her head on his shoulder briefly. “You worry too much.”
“It’s my job to worry.” Another twitch of recognition. Malcolm sighed. They always seemed more prevalent when he was nearing Capsin, as they were the now, the giant city looming in the distance. Senara lifted her head and smiled.
“I know. You’re a good father.”
Soon enough, Malcolm and Senara were joined on their journey by more and more travelers, probably more families gathering in Capsin for the festival. An air of excitement hung over the little groups, whispers of celebrations and feasts. Senara’s face glowed with anticipation and Malcolm felt truly happy for her. If anyone deserved love, it was his daughter.
“I think when I see Talin, I shall fall apart, Dad,” Senara confessed to him later, as they walked towards the entrance to the hotel, a rundown little accommodation Malcolm hadn’t stayed at before. He pulled her into a hug before they entered and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
“You’ll do fine, elaen. Just enjoy it while it lasts, ok?”
“I promise, Father.”
*****************
Capsin was a beautiful city. Most of the buildings in the heart of the city were built from a white stone, making the towering structures glimmer in the morning sunlight. Large fountains and elegant gardens were sprinkled throughout the government sector, complete with comfortable benches and small gazebo-like buildings for citizens and tourists to use for afternoon lunches. Everywhere you looked, there were colorful street performers singing or playing exotic instruments for bits of change. Their music lent an almost mystical quality to the already otherworldly calm of Aleara’s greatest beauty.
Jonathan hated every bit of it. All he could see as he, Trip and T’Pol stepped out of the gorgeous Lawout Hotel at which they were staying for the duration of this first meeting was fire and smoke, all he could hear were the screams of frightened Alearans. Being back there gave Jonathan a constant low thrum of tension, little sparks of fear and panic which he pushed away as best he could. Every now and again, he had to brush against T’Pol’s side or grab Trip’s forearm to steady himself. Neither of his friends had yet commented on it, but nor did they pull away when he needed them.
“How long we got till that meeting?” Trip asked as he squinted around in the bright sunlight.
“About an hour,” Jonathan replied. The meeting in question was with the entirety of the official Alearan committee formed to deal with the negotiations. Matein had already welcomed them this morning in a more informal setting, though the meeting had been short. Jonathan was actually looking forward to speaking more with the kind-hearted Chancellor. He hadn’t forgotten how devastated Matein had been after the explosion, both for his own people and for Jonathan’s loss.
“Well, it’s too early for lunch. What do y’all wanna do?”
Jonathan took a deep breath before answering. “I want to visit the memorial.”
Trip, who’d lifted a hand to cover his eyes from the sun, jerked around in surprise. “Are you sure?”
Jonathan looked from Trip’s concerned expression to T’Pol’s searching gaze and nodded. “Yes, I’m sure. I just want to get that out of the way, so I won’t be thinking about it all week.”
“Alright then. Let’s go.”
It took nearly fifteen minutes to walk to where the building had been. It was rebuilt as a café several years later when the center of the government had slowly shifted east of the original building, away from the explosion site, inhabiting older buildings. When they reached the café, Jonathan was surprised by the amount of people flowing in and out of it. For some reason, he’d almost expected to see it deserted, lifeless, not thriving with electric activity.
But now that he looked at it, he was happy. It was a good thing that people could find joy in this place now.
“You know, I think there’s something weird goin’ on in this place,” Trip commented as he watched a couple making out passionately in a small garden near the café. “It seems like everyone’s going a little nuts.”
T’Pol followed his line of vision, her eyebrows rising slightly at the lip locked couple. “Indeed.”
Jonathan chuckled. “Yeah, Matein told me earlier it’s some kind of festival for couples.” He gave them a wry look. “Just what I want to see here of all places.”
Trip grinned at him. “You just can’t catch a break, can ya?”
“Malcolm would laugh, I know that much,” Jonathan shot back, his earlier gloom already lifting. He enjoyed it when Trip teased him lightly about Malcolm, not letting him slip too far back into his grief, especially right here where it had all happened.
“I would be interested in learning more about the festival,” T’Pol commented almost absently as she watched a second couple grinding slightly against each other in one of the gazebo buildings. Trip slung an arm around her shoulder.
“You know this means we can make out in public and not stand out, right?”
The look she gave him sent Jonathan into a fit of laughter. “Come on. Let’s just go and do this before I’m late for that meeting.”
They sobered up slightly as Jonathan led the way up the building, to the memorial placed on the white stone next to the door. It was a large bronze colored plaque, imprinted in Alearan words, which none of them could read. Matein had mentioned to Jonathan earlier that it quoted an old Alearan spiritual leader and contained a list of names of all those that had died and where they were from. He lifted a hand, using his forefinger to slide down the list, scanning for the name he sought. It was the last one, written in the deceased's native tongue.
Malcolm Andrew Reed of Earth
“Here he is,” Jonathan murmured. Trip and T’Pol gathered around him, both peering down at the name. Jonathan wasn’t sure what he’d expected to feel upon seeing the name, but this memorial somehow felt more real than the one back on Earth. Not in the sense that it gave Jonathan a feeling that Malcolm really was gone. He’d already felt that. More like that Malcolm had an actual connection to this place.
“Malcolm Andrew Reed of Earth,” he whispered, tracing the words. “Not exactly how I’d like for Earth to be represented here.”
Instead of the typical grief, Jonathan just felt a kind of emptiness in his chest, an overpowering feeling of loneliness. Maybe he’d grieved too much and this hollow feeling was all he was left with.
“Yeah, me either,” Trip muttered. T’Pol surprised Jonathan by reaching out her own hand to touch the word ‘earth’.
“I believe Malcolm would have preferred it to say ‘of England’,” she said in a matter of fact tone.
Twin looks of surprise bloomed on Jonathan and Trip’s faces a split second before they started laughing.
“Yeah, probably,” Trip chuckled. “No one should be that excited to be from where they’re from.” He cocked his head to the side for a second as something occurred to him. “Then again, if it were me, I’d probably want it to say, ‘of Florida’. What about you, Jonny? Of California or of New York?”
One corner of Jonathan’s mouth lifted slightly as he pondered this. “Probably of Earth,” he said softly. Sometimes Jonathan felt as if he belonged to the entire planet.
No one spoke for several moments as they continued to look at the memorial, drawing the curious glances of passing Alearans entering the café. After a bit, Trip took T’Pol’s hand and turned to her.
“Come on, T’Pol. Let’s go check out that museum you were talkin’ about earlier.” He looked to Jonathan with a gentle expression on his face. “We’ll see you, later? Lunch at the hotel?”
Jonathan nodded, trying to thank Trip silently for giving him a little time. T’Pol gave his arm a brief squeeze and then they left, walking slowly down the street together, talking quietly and looking very much like they fit in with the rest of the happy couples around them. Jonathan had never resented them for being happy, but it did seem to enhance his loneliness.
A flash of motion caught Jonathan’s eye and he turned towards it. A young couple of Alearans had stopped on the steps of the café and were now exchanging a series of quick kisses. The man noticed Jonathan looking at him before he had a chance to move his gaze back to the memorial and he smiled. There was pure joy in his eyes, breathtaking joy and when he nodded to Jonathan, clearly wanting to share his joy with the world, a jolt of bittersweet cheer warmed Jonathan’s heart. Surrounded as he was by so much open mirth, it was much easier for him to remember all the wonderful things he’d experienced with Malcolm. The couple turned away from him to walk into the café, but he barely noticed. His mind was filled with Malcolm’s face, Malcolm’s scent, Malcolm’s voice.
His eyes fell shut as the words echoed back to him across the years.
My God, Jonathan, how many jazz discs do you own? This is truly disturbing.
Come here, Porthos. Come, yes, that’s it. Come away from the nasty man; he doesn’t have your best interests at heart. Much better stay with Uncle Malcolm. I know where the good cheese is hidden.
Jonathan, I love you, but if you put your fucking cold feet on my legs again, I’m going to rip them off.
Mmmmm, that’s nice. Oh, very nice. God, I love your mouth...Ouch! Oh, teeth is it?! I’ll get you for that!
Oh my god. Oh god, yes. Yes, yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, oh my god.
Hold me, Jon.
I need you.
I love you.
“Malcolm...”
He opened his eyes again and for the first time since landing on Aleara, he felt something close to peace settle on his chest. Malcolm had died here, but as long as Jonathan could remember him so clearly, so perfectly, part of him would live on.
“I have to go now, Malcolm,” he whispered. “I’ll love you always.”
One last glance at Malcolm’s name and he left, walking quickly back towards the hotel, his mind already on the coming meeting, not realizing that he could no longer hear the screams or see the fire.
It took him little time to reach his destination and he was surprised to be met at the door by Matein himself.
“Admiral! I just happened to see you through the door on my way to the conference room. How was your morning?”
Jonathan smiled. “Fine, Chancellor. I visited the memorial. It’s really very lovely.”
“Ah yes, I only wish it could be more, but in such a busy sector, it wasn’t long before the space was bought for the café,” he said, almost apologetically. Jonathan waved away his concern.
“Sometimes, simplicity is best. Are the others here yet?”
He turned towards the conference room and Matein turned with him. “Yes, yes. Everyone is gathered, including your fellow delegates. I’m anxious to start the proceedings.”
They entered the conference room, bustling with Alearans and Terrans alike, as well as the two Vulcan members of the UFP delegation. Jonathan felt any hint of tension slip away in the face of getting the job done. This was always solid ground for him. Matein touched the side of his arm, indicating he wanted Jonathan to follow him towards a small knot of Alearans.
“Admiral, I’d like you to meet some of my most trusted ministers.” The Alearans turned to them curiously as they approached. “Good morning, fellows.” He put a hand on Jonathan’s arm. “This is Admiral Jonathan Archer. Admiral, this is Governor Ruean Bielk,” he indicated a petite woman with light blond hair. “And Governor Aermoi Ealae,” A towering man with a black mustache and a bald head. “And I’m sure you remember Governor Leoan Teilani? He has served the Alearan people for many years,” he finished, his tone somewhat alterated, becoming almost stiff, more formal.
Jonathan did remember him. The slight unassuming man with small black eyes and a nasty red scar cut along the side of his face. The governor of Trueain, where the terrorists had had their home base. The man Malcolm hadn’t trusted, even after hearing Matein praise him for his years of service.
“Of course, Governor Teilani. It’s a pleasure,” Jonathan said, not quite able to make his sincerity believable. He could only hope the Alearans hadn’t learned to read humans well yet. Teilani offered him a hand, even though it was not a common Alearan gesture.
“The pleasure is mine, Admiral. I’m happy to be meeting with you under more pleasant conditions.”
His grip was firm and commanding, hinting more to the man behind the meek exterior, the one who had gotten that scar in some unknown battle.
“As am I,” Jonathan responded. That the man had referenced the explosion at this formal meeting made Jonathan dislike him even more than he already did. He knew that the fact that Teilani was still in power probably meant he was more unpleasant than untrustworthy, but Jonathan trusted Malcolm more. He would take the advice of his tactical officer and keep an eye on the man.
“Well, shall we begin, Admiral?” Matein’s expression was open and eager; clearly, he was anxious for this to go forward. Jonathan smiled to him, this time having no problem with his sincerity.
“Gladly, Chancellor.”
********************************************
Part Four
Author: CloudyJenn
Fandom: Enterprise
Pairings: Archer/Reed, T'Pol/Tucker
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Paramount. I am making no profit from this fanfiction.
Beta:
qzee. Thanks!Warnings: Still not deathfic.
Summary: Ten years after an explosion on an alien planet, Jon and Malcolm deal with two very different realities.
Author's Notes: Well, as you can see, I've lowered the number of chapters. Something got all messed up along the way, so I combined these parts. The only problem being that the next section is uber-short. 0_o Sorry about that. Anyway, here 'tis! Enjoy!
"Jon! Come in, come in."
Samuels sat behind his desk, several PADDs scattered before him on the wooden surface. His eyes looked up for a split second when Jonathan knocked before they resumed scanning something on the computer to his right. Jonathan walked into the office and sat in one of the chairs before the desk, his stomach still feeling tied up in knots from the night before.
“Sorry about that, Jon,” Samuels said as he clicked something off on the computer. “Andorians.” He rolled his eyes and Jonathan felt his nerves settle as he chuckled about the familiar problem.
“How are you?” Samuels asked, his brusque tone belied by the look of concern in his eyes. On one level, Jonathan appreciated it, but on another, he would rather keep personal emotions out of this particular negotiation. Besides, he was a grown man and could handle himself, had been handling this pain for years.
“I’m fine. I’ve heard a little bit more about the negotiation from Zhang this morning. What can you tell me?” Like Jonathan, Zhang was on the Membership Committee, but Samuels was the head of it and would most likely have the most information.
“I was contacted by their head of state late last evening, a man called Matein,” Samuels answered after a brief nod to acknowledge Jonathan’s unspoken request for impersonal professionalism. “I’m sure you remember him, Jon.”
He did. Matein was the Chancellor of the Alearan people and had been the man they’d made contact with in the first place ten years ago. A genuinely pleasant man, Matein had believed he did not have any truly powerful enemies.
Apparently, he’d been wrong.
“Yes, of course.”
Samuels accessed one of the PADDs in front of him. “As you know, they were starting their warp three tests when you first contacted them and they’ve come a hell of a long way in ten years. Their first deep space exploration vessel set out late last year and a second was commissioned last month.” He handed the PADD to Jonathan. It contained a long description of their ships as well as information about their space exploration program. “They are interested in joining the Federation for all the typical reasons, protection, trade, etc. But they also want an infrastructure.”
Jonathan looked back up at him, raising an eyebrow. “Infrastructure?”
“I know you didn’t see much other than the capital, Jon, but I’m sure you remember that Aleara was mainly an agricultural society.”
Ah, now it was beginning to make sense to Jonathan. Aleara had plenty of wealth in the government and there were several large cities on the primary continent, but much of their society seemed to live in rural villages without a great deal of access to the technology being developed at the higher levels.
“Yes, I see what you mean.” He paused, considering the information. “Are you concerned the Alearan people at large aren’t ready to be introduced into a galactic community?”
Samuels nodded. “I am. I told Matein in no uncertain terms that if I sent a delegation, we couldn’t make any promises. Their space program is ahead of the rest of the society to be sure and I want you to take that into account when you get there.”
So, he did want to send Jonathan. Well, he’d wanted impersonal professionalism. There was no good reason for Jonathan not to go and the one thing that made up his mind more than anything else was that Malcolm would want him to go, want him to do his duty.
"Another thing that worries me, obviously, is our previous encounter with them. As you know, the terrorists responsible for the attack were apprehended, but the sentiment remains in peaceful protests. Matein assures me that the rest of those still upset by the unbalance in the government were as appalled by the terrorists' actions as anyone. And the division amongst the different continents has been healed somewhat by Matein's leadership, but we need to stay aware that it still exists."
Jonathan nodded. Matein had been newly elected when they first met, one in a long line of Chancellors from the capital city, and apparently, that fact had, over the years, led to discontent amongst citizens from the poorer provinces and continents. It sounded as if Matein had made some headway where his predecessors had not. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Jonathan knew it had something to do with the explosion, with the way Matein had crushed the threat ruthlessly, but he did not allow himself to dwell on the notion.
“I’ve been studying the situation all morning and I have to say, despite my concerns, I think they could be a good addition to the Federation. They’re smart and have made a lot of strides in building up the infrastructure themselves. Matein’s set up a department within his government to find the money to bring computers and comm devices to the smaller towns and villages on the main continent. Not to sound sentimental, but they’ve got their hearts in the right place. Their space exploration program just came at a strange time in their development. If anything, I think they’d need our help to make sure all Alearans benefit from it.” He gave Jonathan a knowing smile. “The last thing I want to do is leave another culture in the dark when we can help.”
“Well, you know I can’t argue with that, Admiral,” Jonathan replied. Thinking of the negotiation from that point of view gave Jonathan a feeling of kinship with the people. Maybe, once he’d learned more, it might even give him a degree of enthusiasm for the negotiation.
“We’re meeting at 1000 hours?” Jonathan asked as he stood from the chair. Samuels nodded. Jonathan handed him back the PADD.
“I’ll see you then.”
He turned to leave, but Samuels’ voice stopped him.
“Jon? You know if there was any other way-“
“Don’t worry about it, Nathan. But thank you.”
Samuels nodded, respect and understanding in his eyes, and allowed Jonathan to leave without further comment.
********************************
“Are you sure we don’t have enough money for a land car?”
Malcolm smirked at Senara’s timid question, asked with the faintest trace of desperation. They walked together down a deserted lane, probably two or three hours from the capital where Talin would be meeting them.
“Not if you want to eat this weekend.”
She sighed. “I could be convinced to give it up for a few days, Dad. My feet are killing me.”
“You would think you haven’t spent your whole life working on your feet, elaen,” he teased lightly. “Besides, we’re almost there. Just a few more hours and you’ll be able to rest in a lovely hard bed at a ratty hotel.”
A little groan escaped Senara’s lips. “How do you make this journey so often, Dad? I’d be content to stay forever in Blaen.”
That was one very significant difference between Malcolm and his daughter. He loved Senara and had found friends amongst his fellow villagers, but if he had a choice, he and Senara would be able to travel all over Aleara, finally seeing their native planet in its entirety. But there simply wasn’t enough money for more than two or three trips to Capsin, the capital city, a year.
And of course, it would certainly make it easier for him to search for Jon. Malcolm had a feeling that, because of his difference in language and customs, he and Jon were probably from one of the smaller continents. But making that trip would cost an immeasurable fortune, money he and Senara, hell the entire village of Blaen simply didn’t have.
“I enjoy the journey myself. Get out a bit and stretch my legs.”
“Stretch your legs? Dad, we’ve been walking for two whole days!” At this point, Senara was only arguing with him for the sake of arguing. It was a way to pass the time, if nothing else.
“Well, you know, normally, I had Enterprise with me. The journey’s much faster if something with four legs is doing it for you.”
She laughed. “True! Too bad she’s older than you,” she said with a wink. Malcolm laughed along with her. Obviously, that was highly unlikely, but the truth of the matter was that Malcolm really didn’t know how old he was. The best guess he could make was that he was around forty or so.
“Yes, it’s too bad. She’ll have to be decommissioned soon.” As the words came out of his mouth, he felt a little twitch of recognition. It happened to him every now and then, when he heard something or said something that probably meant something to his past life. Frustrating, but he was used to it. He shrugged the feeling off.
They continued walking, making conversation every so often, mostly about the coming festival. As was tradition, Talin was to meet them at the Capital, along with his parents, Maera and Jahni. They’d share the evening meal and then Senara and Talin were allowed to spend the rest of the weekend together, however they wished. Malcolm didn’t know what he was going to do with himself for the remaining days, except that he would probably make more inquiries about Jon. Over all, he was looking forward to the time away from the fields in a city teeming with life, though part of him worried for Senara’s safety. She wasn’t used to big cities with a lot of people. However, Talin was rather a large man and had learned well from Malcolm; he would just have to trust them together.
The thought was not entirely comforting to Malcolm, but then, he also knew he would be quite the third wheel if he followed them around all weekend.
“You’ll be careful this weekend, right?” He asked her suddenly. She just rolled her eyes and took his arm in her own.
“Yes, Dad. I promise not to talk to strangers and keep an eye on where I’m walking.” She squeezed his arm and laid her head on his shoulder briefly. “You worry too much.”
“It’s my job to worry.” Another twitch of recognition. Malcolm sighed. They always seemed more prevalent when he was nearing Capsin, as they were the now, the giant city looming in the distance. Senara lifted her head and smiled.
“I know. You’re a good father.”
Soon enough, Malcolm and Senara were joined on their journey by more and more travelers, probably more families gathering in Capsin for the festival. An air of excitement hung over the little groups, whispers of celebrations and feasts. Senara’s face glowed with anticipation and Malcolm felt truly happy for her. If anyone deserved love, it was his daughter.
“I think when I see Talin, I shall fall apart, Dad,” Senara confessed to him later, as they walked towards the entrance to the hotel, a rundown little accommodation Malcolm hadn’t stayed at before. He pulled her into a hug before they entered and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
“You’ll do fine, elaen. Just enjoy it while it lasts, ok?”
“I promise, Father.”
*****************
Capsin was a beautiful city. Most of the buildings in the heart of the city were built from a white stone, making the towering structures glimmer in the morning sunlight. Large fountains and elegant gardens were sprinkled throughout the government sector, complete with comfortable benches and small gazebo-like buildings for citizens and tourists to use for afternoon lunches. Everywhere you looked, there were colorful street performers singing or playing exotic instruments for bits of change. Their music lent an almost mystical quality to the already otherworldly calm of Aleara’s greatest beauty.
Jonathan hated every bit of it. All he could see as he, Trip and T’Pol stepped out of the gorgeous Lawout Hotel at which they were staying for the duration of this first meeting was fire and smoke, all he could hear were the screams of frightened Alearans. Being back there gave Jonathan a constant low thrum of tension, little sparks of fear and panic which he pushed away as best he could. Every now and again, he had to brush against T’Pol’s side or grab Trip’s forearm to steady himself. Neither of his friends had yet commented on it, but nor did they pull away when he needed them.
“How long we got till that meeting?” Trip asked as he squinted around in the bright sunlight.
“About an hour,” Jonathan replied. The meeting in question was with the entirety of the official Alearan committee formed to deal with the negotiations. Matein had already welcomed them this morning in a more informal setting, though the meeting had been short. Jonathan was actually looking forward to speaking more with the kind-hearted Chancellor. He hadn’t forgotten how devastated Matein had been after the explosion, both for his own people and for Jonathan’s loss.
“Well, it’s too early for lunch. What do y’all wanna do?”
Jonathan took a deep breath before answering. “I want to visit the memorial.”
Trip, who’d lifted a hand to cover his eyes from the sun, jerked around in surprise. “Are you sure?”
Jonathan looked from Trip’s concerned expression to T’Pol’s searching gaze and nodded. “Yes, I’m sure. I just want to get that out of the way, so I won’t be thinking about it all week.”
“Alright then. Let’s go.”
It took nearly fifteen minutes to walk to where the building had been. It was rebuilt as a café several years later when the center of the government had slowly shifted east of the original building, away from the explosion site, inhabiting older buildings. When they reached the café, Jonathan was surprised by the amount of people flowing in and out of it. For some reason, he’d almost expected to see it deserted, lifeless, not thriving with electric activity.
But now that he looked at it, he was happy. It was a good thing that people could find joy in this place now.
“You know, I think there’s something weird goin’ on in this place,” Trip commented as he watched a couple making out passionately in a small garden near the café. “It seems like everyone’s going a little nuts.”
T’Pol followed his line of vision, her eyebrows rising slightly at the lip locked couple. “Indeed.”
Jonathan chuckled. “Yeah, Matein told me earlier it’s some kind of festival for couples.” He gave them a wry look. “Just what I want to see here of all places.”
Trip grinned at him. “You just can’t catch a break, can ya?”
“Malcolm would laugh, I know that much,” Jonathan shot back, his earlier gloom already lifting. He enjoyed it when Trip teased him lightly about Malcolm, not letting him slip too far back into his grief, especially right here where it had all happened.
“I would be interested in learning more about the festival,” T’Pol commented almost absently as she watched a second couple grinding slightly against each other in one of the gazebo buildings. Trip slung an arm around her shoulder.
“You know this means we can make out in public and not stand out, right?”
The look she gave him sent Jonathan into a fit of laughter. “Come on. Let’s just go and do this before I’m late for that meeting.”
They sobered up slightly as Jonathan led the way up the building, to the memorial placed on the white stone next to the door. It was a large bronze colored plaque, imprinted in Alearan words, which none of them could read. Matein had mentioned to Jonathan earlier that it quoted an old Alearan spiritual leader and contained a list of names of all those that had died and where they were from. He lifted a hand, using his forefinger to slide down the list, scanning for the name he sought. It was the last one, written in the deceased's native tongue.
Malcolm Andrew Reed of Earth
“Here he is,” Jonathan murmured. Trip and T’Pol gathered around him, both peering down at the name. Jonathan wasn’t sure what he’d expected to feel upon seeing the name, but this memorial somehow felt more real than the one back on Earth. Not in the sense that it gave Jonathan a feeling that Malcolm really was gone. He’d already felt that. More like that Malcolm had an actual connection to this place.
“Malcolm Andrew Reed of Earth,” he whispered, tracing the words. “Not exactly how I’d like for Earth to be represented here.”
Instead of the typical grief, Jonathan just felt a kind of emptiness in his chest, an overpowering feeling of loneliness. Maybe he’d grieved too much and this hollow feeling was all he was left with.
“Yeah, me either,” Trip muttered. T’Pol surprised Jonathan by reaching out her own hand to touch the word ‘earth’.
“I believe Malcolm would have preferred it to say ‘of England’,” she said in a matter of fact tone.
Twin looks of surprise bloomed on Jonathan and Trip’s faces a split second before they started laughing.
“Yeah, probably,” Trip chuckled. “No one should be that excited to be from where they’re from.” He cocked his head to the side for a second as something occurred to him. “Then again, if it were me, I’d probably want it to say, ‘of Florida’. What about you, Jonny? Of California or of New York?”
One corner of Jonathan’s mouth lifted slightly as he pondered this. “Probably of Earth,” he said softly. Sometimes Jonathan felt as if he belonged to the entire planet.
No one spoke for several moments as they continued to look at the memorial, drawing the curious glances of passing Alearans entering the café. After a bit, Trip took T’Pol’s hand and turned to her.
“Come on, T’Pol. Let’s go check out that museum you were talkin’ about earlier.” He looked to Jonathan with a gentle expression on his face. “We’ll see you, later? Lunch at the hotel?”
Jonathan nodded, trying to thank Trip silently for giving him a little time. T’Pol gave his arm a brief squeeze and then they left, walking slowly down the street together, talking quietly and looking very much like they fit in with the rest of the happy couples around them. Jonathan had never resented them for being happy, but it did seem to enhance his loneliness.
A flash of motion caught Jonathan’s eye and he turned towards it. A young couple of Alearans had stopped on the steps of the café and were now exchanging a series of quick kisses. The man noticed Jonathan looking at him before he had a chance to move his gaze back to the memorial and he smiled. There was pure joy in his eyes, breathtaking joy and when he nodded to Jonathan, clearly wanting to share his joy with the world, a jolt of bittersweet cheer warmed Jonathan’s heart. Surrounded as he was by so much open mirth, it was much easier for him to remember all the wonderful things he’d experienced with Malcolm. The couple turned away from him to walk into the café, but he barely noticed. His mind was filled with Malcolm’s face, Malcolm’s scent, Malcolm’s voice.
His eyes fell shut as the words echoed back to him across the years.
My God, Jonathan, how many jazz discs do you own? This is truly disturbing.
Come here, Porthos. Come, yes, that’s it. Come away from the nasty man; he doesn’t have your best interests at heart. Much better stay with Uncle Malcolm. I know where the good cheese is hidden.
Jonathan, I love you, but if you put your fucking cold feet on my legs again, I’m going to rip them off.
Mmmmm, that’s nice. Oh, very nice. God, I love your mouth...Ouch! Oh, teeth is it?! I’ll get you for that!
Oh my god. Oh god, yes. Yes, yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, oh my god.
Hold me, Jon.
I need you.
I love you.
“Malcolm...”
He opened his eyes again and for the first time since landing on Aleara, he felt something close to peace settle on his chest. Malcolm had died here, but as long as Jonathan could remember him so clearly, so perfectly, part of him would live on.
“I have to go now, Malcolm,” he whispered. “I’ll love you always.”
One last glance at Malcolm’s name and he left, walking quickly back towards the hotel, his mind already on the coming meeting, not realizing that he could no longer hear the screams or see the fire.
It took him little time to reach his destination and he was surprised to be met at the door by Matein himself.
“Admiral! I just happened to see you through the door on my way to the conference room. How was your morning?”
Jonathan smiled. “Fine, Chancellor. I visited the memorial. It’s really very lovely.”
“Ah yes, I only wish it could be more, but in such a busy sector, it wasn’t long before the space was bought for the café,” he said, almost apologetically. Jonathan waved away his concern.
“Sometimes, simplicity is best. Are the others here yet?”
He turned towards the conference room and Matein turned with him. “Yes, yes. Everyone is gathered, including your fellow delegates. I’m anxious to start the proceedings.”
They entered the conference room, bustling with Alearans and Terrans alike, as well as the two Vulcan members of the UFP delegation. Jonathan felt any hint of tension slip away in the face of getting the job done. This was always solid ground for him. Matein touched the side of his arm, indicating he wanted Jonathan to follow him towards a small knot of Alearans.
“Admiral, I’d like you to meet some of my most trusted ministers.” The Alearans turned to them curiously as they approached. “Good morning, fellows.” He put a hand on Jonathan’s arm. “This is Admiral Jonathan Archer. Admiral, this is Governor Ruean Bielk,” he indicated a petite woman with light blond hair. “And Governor Aermoi Ealae,” A towering man with a black mustache and a bald head. “And I’m sure you remember Governor Leoan Teilani? He has served the Alearan people for many years,” he finished, his tone somewhat alterated, becoming almost stiff, more formal.
Jonathan did remember him. The slight unassuming man with small black eyes and a nasty red scar cut along the side of his face. The governor of Trueain, where the terrorists had had their home base. The man Malcolm hadn’t trusted, even after hearing Matein praise him for his years of service.
“Of course, Governor Teilani. It’s a pleasure,” Jonathan said, not quite able to make his sincerity believable. He could only hope the Alearans hadn’t learned to read humans well yet. Teilani offered him a hand, even though it was not a common Alearan gesture.
“The pleasure is mine, Admiral. I’m happy to be meeting with you under more pleasant conditions.”
His grip was firm and commanding, hinting more to the man behind the meek exterior, the one who had gotten that scar in some unknown battle.
“As am I,” Jonathan responded. That the man had referenced the explosion at this formal meeting made Jonathan dislike him even more than he already did. He knew that the fact that Teilani was still in power probably meant he was more unpleasant than untrustworthy, but Jonathan trusted Malcolm more. He would take the advice of his tactical officer and keep an eye on the man.
“Well, shall we begin, Admiral?” Matein’s expression was open and eager; clearly, he was anxious for this to go forward. Jonathan smiled to him, this time having no problem with his sincerity.
“Gladly, Chancellor.”
********************************************
Part Four
