Open Secrets

From the pocket of his jacket, Pe

The doctor looked down at the object in Pe

Pe

“More or less,” M’Benga said. “You focus on it to help quiet your mind and your emotions, removing barriers or distractions that might prevent you from concentrating on the reception and application of logic.”

“It seemed kind of hokey to me,” Pe

Shrugging, M’Benga said, “You’d be surprised. Vulcans are known to employ a wide range of meditational aids, from mandalas to art, music, and even games.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Handing the bronze medallion to M’Benga, Pe

M’Benga nodded in understanding as he accepted the mandala. “ Likeisn’t the right word, but I’m sure she’d appreciate it, just as I appreciate the time you’ve spent with her. You’ve told me you two weren’t especially close, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped you.”

Once more, the heart-wrenching scene of T’Pry

“I guess you could say we’ve unfinished business, Doctor,” he finally said, his eyes lingering on T’Pry

“Doctor, I’d like to travel with you to Vulcan.”

The words came out without Pe

“I don’t know if that’s appropriate,” the doctor said, frowning.

Nodding, Pe

M’Benga’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Setting aside for the moment the fact that we’re going to Vulcan,a planet not known for welcoming outsiders—particularly when it comes to anyone observing some of the more private aspects of the culture, such as medical care—how do I know I’m not going to read all about this on the Federation News Service?”

Pe

Another moment passed as M’Benga considered Pe

“Reyes’s lawyer has already deposed me,” Pe

To hell with the lot of ’em.

After a moment, his expression remaining almost Vulcan-like, M’Benga asked, “I don’t suppose you play chess, do you?”

Pe

“As I said,” M’Benga replied, “fourteen hundred hours. Docking Bay four. Pack lightly.”

“You got it,” Pe

“Don’t mention it,” M’Benga said, his attention already returned to his data slate and the preparations he was overseeing. Glancing up one final time, he added, “But if you snore, I’m kicking you out the airlock.”

15

“Gangway! Make a hole!”

Atish Khatami shouted the commands over the wail of the red-alert sirens as she sprinted down the curving corridor of Deck 5 on her way to the nearest turbolift. Ahead of her, crew members already moving to their assigned battle stations cleared the center of the hallway, some even flattening themselves against bulkheads in order to give the captain free passage. Rounding a turn, she nearly bowled over a hapless lieutenant who was trying to vacate the turbolift. The younger officer managed to dodge her and avoided being body-slammed into the wall as Khatami plunged into the lift.

“Bridge!” she called out as she gripped one of the car’s quartet of control handles and the doors closed behind her. An instant later, she felt the slight push from below as the lift began its ascent. Reaching for the comm panel just inside the door, Khatami activated the unit. “Khatami to bridge. Report.”

“Stano here,”replied the Endeavour’s first officer. “Sensors have picked up three Klingon warships at extreme range, but they’ve altered course to intercept us, and they’re coming fast. I’ve raised shields and readied weapons crews.”

The report was completed just as the turbolift slowed and the doors opened, revealing the Endeavour’s bridge. Khatami exited the lift just as Lieutenant Commander Katherine Stano glanced over her shoulder and rose from the captain’s chair.