Orion's Hounds

Will thought about it. “That purity…it never lasts, though, does it?”

“No,” she admitted. “But it’s a good place to start from. A lot of it can be kept, cultivated, nurtured. And sometimes…even some of what’s been lost can be gotten back.”

“So are you saying you’re ready for that challenge?”

“After all I’ve done, all I’ve learned in my life, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. And who knows if it’ll last, Will? How many times have we almost lost each other? How many times before we even got around to admitting what we had? We’ve waited long enough as it is.”

She could tell the prospect excited him, moved him. But still he hesitated, and of course she knew why. “Would it even be appropriate?” he asked. “Starfleet had enough trouble with a captain and his wife serving on the same crew. How great a conflict of interest could there be if my own child were on board?”

“I don’t see any conflict. Your job as captain is to protect your ship, your crew.”

“But if I kept worrying about my baby, let it keep me from making a sacrifice I had to make…”

“How is it any different if it’s the Bolajis’ baby, or Alyssa’s son?” She held his gaze significantly. “How is it any different from being willing to sacrifice me? We’ve both proven ourselves willing to make such hard choices.”

He said nothing for a while, frowning. She offered another thought. “For the Pa’haquel, this is the way it’s always been. Their ships are their homes, their families. They constantly put their children and loved ones in harm’s way. And they accept it.”

“Because they had to. Because they led a harsh life.”

“Come look at the ruins of my mother’s house on Betazed and tell me there’s any life that doesn’t pose the same risks. What matters is to do what good you can while you have the chance. True, it could be taken from you, negated at any time. But it might not. And if you don’t even try because you’re afraid it won’t last…”

“Right. I understand.”

She studied him. “Will…you haven’t said if youwant a baby.”

“Can’t you tell?”

“Not the point. Will, do you want to have a baby? I’m not asking you to commit to trying, I just want to know what you feelabout it.”

After a moment, he softened, smiled. “Dea

She snuggled up against him again, kissed him softly. “Thank you.” Then they kissed again, for a much longer time. “So is that a yes?”

He pursed his lips. “Call it an agreement in principle. There are still a lot of things we need to decide—and there are definitely people we should talk to.”

It was a long time before Christine Vale responded. “I think…I’d be okay with that.”

Riker was surprised. “It wouldn’t bother you? A captain having to deal with being a father as well?”

She studied him. “I think you’ve proven that you can balance those responsibilities. To be honest, you do it better than I could. I know that now. Yeah, there probably were some personal motives behind your decisions with the star-jellies. But you and Dea

She smirked. “Of course, being a father can be a full-time job. I wouldn’t even think of letting you do it if you didn’t have a really amazing first officer to pick up the slack.”

Riker smiled back. “I do, don’t I? In more ways than one, Christine. Thanks.”

He led her out of the ready room and back to the bridge. “Of course we aren’t going to jump into it right away. There’s still a lot to work out.”

“Sure, I understand.”

“Right now, we have a mission to get back to,” he went on, pitching his voice for the bridge at large. “We’ve still got a lot of Bubblegum to chew.” He ignored the groans that ensued. “Ensign Lavena, prepare to break orbit.”

“Aye, sir. Course?”

Vale exchanged a look with him. “You know, after this marathon run to the Vela Association, we’re a lot farther out from the Federation than we were scheduled to be by now. Should we go back, pick up charting where we left off?”

Riker thought it over as he took his seat. He traded a look with Dea

THE VOYAGES OF THE

STARSHIP TITAN

WILL CONTINUE

About the Author

At the age of five and a half, Christopher L. Be

Christopher’s published works include “Aggravated Vehicular Genocide” in the November 1998 Analog;“Among the Wild Cybers of Cybele” in the December 2000 Analog; Star Trek: S.C.E. #29—Aftermath;“…Loved I Not Honor More” in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Prophecy and Changeanthology; his first novel, Star Trek: Ex Machina;and “Brief Candle” in the Star Trek: Voyager—Distant Shoresanthology. More information and cat pictures can be found at http://home.fuse.net/ChristopherLBe

The author is not the same Christopher Be