~ By Laura Cynthia Chambers
Albix stood up from the bed as Grace rushed into the room. She embraced him, the folds of his long orange robe brushing her bare knees. “They told me what happened last night. How awful it must have been for you!” She held him at arm’s length, assessing his face and color, worried. “What’s wrong with everyone?” she asked, shaking her head and sitting on the edge of his bed.
He lowered himself down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder, rubbing her arm gently. “Shhh…it’s over now. Don’t think about it.” He turned to look at her. “Did you get any sleep at all last night?”
Grace laughed lightly. “Are you worried about me? You’re the one who’s had two attempts on his life in one night.”
He nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry you had to watch.” He looked away briefly, then stood up slowly, taking her by the hand. “Father’s giving your captain a tour of our orchard today so he can see the manufacturing process for breesin. Want to come along? I can show you some of the places I used to play as a boy.”
She looked at the ground as they walked out the door past a security guard. “I’d love to, but I’m on duty in-“
“Not if I have anything to say about it.” McCoy stepped out of the room next to Albix’s, a clipboard in hand. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant, I’ve already spoken to the captain about giving you a break and he agrees with me. You two just have a nice, relaxing day together, you hear?” He nodded at the two of them and headed for his office.
Albix smiled. “You were saying?”
Grace returned it, leaning forward to kiss him lightly. “Let’s go.”
Somebody cleared their throat, and they broke their kiss to see Riley standing in the doorway McCoy had just exited. Albix, started, stopped in his tracks, looking at the young man. He returned the stare, his eyes having lost the fear and rage that had been in them last night. Instead, he looked downright embarrassed.
“Good morning,” Riley muttered. “I, uh, hope I didn’t hurt you too badly…last night. Because I really did see a serpent trying to kill her when I-“
Albix held up one hand to silence him. “It’s all right. I have no right to hold it against you, considering my own failings.”
Surprise rounded Riley’s eyes. “Seriously? No hard feelings? ‘Cause I think even I’d hate me for it.” He held out his hand to the Agapean, who took it, and they shook hands. “You’re okay. See ya, Gracie.” He headed out the main entrance ahead of them.
* * *
Grace and Albix wandered lazily hand in hand through the breesa orchards, stopping occasionally to pluck ripe fruit from trees here and there, depositing them in a small basket that he carried strapped to his chest. He’d whisper something in her ear, and she’d answer, leaning in closer to him. A half-eaten breesa hung low in her free hand.
Further off down the orchard, Descin introduced Kirk and Spock to a man who was pruning one of the trees with a small knife. He climbed down his ladder and pulled a branch out of a large tangled pile to show them. Kirk turned it around in his hands, passing it to Spock who studied it closely, peeling back some of the bark to see the wood underneath.
Albix took a few leaves from a branch and sprinkled them in Grace’s hair. She laughed and batted them away, stumbling backwards onto the ground. She pulled him down with her and they both laughed together, gazing up at the sky.
Kirk, Spock, and Descin walked into a small outbuilding that housed a fruit press. They listened as he explained how it worked, showing them various levers and cranks.
Grace and Albix sat next to a small creek, their bare feet dangling in the cool water. She sighed, turning her face to the sun, a floppy straw hat on her head.
Kirk and Spock both sampled sliced breesa fruit from a small platter on a table in the pressing shed, seeming to enjoy it. Descin smiled in approval. A small insect buzzed around their heads, and Kirk waved and batted at it, while Spock stood stoically.
Grace slept peacefully, her head resting against Albix’s shoulder. He too was napping, his arm protectively wrapped around her. They were both leaning against the back of a wooden bench next to the main doorway of his house.
* * *
Todar stepped out the door, shading his eyes as he scanned the horizon for his father. A ledger was sandwiched under his arm. He caught a glimpse of the couple out of the corner of his eye. Frowning at them, he reached for a small box clipped to the belt of his burgundy tunic and clicked it on. “Father. We need to discuss the budget for hiring the harvest workers. Can you come now?”
“I will be along shortly, son,” Descin replied.
“Good.” Todar turned off the radio and, glaring once more at his brother and Grace, stalked into the house.
Descin replaced his radio and turned to Kirk and Spock. “Captain, if you’ll pardon me. I have some business matters to handle. It shouldn’t be too long.”
Kirk sat down on a small three legged stool. “Take all the time you need. I hope, though, that you and your sons would do me the honor of being my dinner guests tonight.” He stroked his cheek with one finger, his gaze downwards. “I understand if you wish to refuse, in light of what happened-“
“Not at all, Captain,” Descin interrupted. “We would be happy to accept your invitation.” He hurried away, his footsteps slapping the ground. He almost ran into McCoy, who watched him for a few seconds before coming inside and leaning against the wall.
Pointing in the direction of the old man, McCoy turned to Kirk and Spock. “That man is an enigma.”
Kirk held the platter out to McCoy, who took a slice and ate it. “Really? I thought he was Agapean.”
McCoy frowned. “You know what I mean.”
Kirk shook his head. “Actually, I don’t. Why don’t you enlighten us?”
“Okay, case in point; I practically had to throw him out of sickbay last night so I could tend to Albix. Yet when I contacted him about the incident with Courtney last night, want to guess what he asked me?” He paused. “After I assured him his son was well, he asked about her condition.”
“Perhaps he was being kind.” Kirk suggested.
“He asked about Riley, too. Now I don’t know about you, but if my son was nearly murdered by some raving strangers, I don’t think I’d be feeling very warm and fuzzy about them.”
“I find it stranger that you are taking note of his seemingly irrational behavior, Doctor.” Spock remarked. “All while laying aside your duty as a physician, albeit in a hypothetical situation.”
McCoy opened his mouth to say something, but Kirk interrupted him. “That reminds me, Doctor. I heard you were the one who stopped Sonya. How is she?”
McCoy let out a deep breath, his shoulders falling. “Lucid, but no conscious memory of her actions, which is probably a good thing. I’m still keeping her under observation for the next little while.” He rubbed his eyes. “That woman scared me half to death, Jim. Do you know what she tried to do? A hypo full of salemboline. If I hadn’t stopped her, she’d have probably given him the whole thing.” McCoy wiped his brow with his sleeve. “You just don’t come back from that.” He put his hands on his hips. “What on Earth is happening to them? There is absolutely nothing in that breesin that could do this.”
Spock had been standing off to the side, lost in thought. He turned to face McCoy. “There is another possibility. Have you tested the samples yourself?”
McCoy fisted his hands at his sides. “Weren’t you listening at all? I just said-“
“I was referring to ingestion.” The Vulcan paced forward two steps. “It is not fatally poisonous, or else Riley and Courtney would have died.”
“Well, no. I’m not generally in the habit of drinking my medical samples.” McCoy crossed his arms over his chest, making a face. Kirk grimaced.
“While a revolting prospect in most cases, it may be the only way we can determine what we are dealing with.” Spock suggested. “Although I already have my suspicions.”
“Of course you do.” McCoy sighed.