Back to the City

Pirates or Merchants?

               “Well, like it or not, we’re going to have to go into the town,” Archer said. “We have to take care of Kellam, and find out why the Orions are involved. Laskin said he saw a Tellarite in a bio-suit the other day, so the two of them are in on something. I intend to find out what it is.”

               “Jon, do you have any other clothes? You’re looking rather beat up.” Riaan and Jonathan sat on the sofa in the great room of her home. Brannigaan had taken to his bed earlier than usual, but it had been an exhausting night and day. Between his discovery of Jon as an alien, then the big green guys, and the travel through the forest, he nearly fell asleep at the dinner table.

               “Of course, back in the city.”

               “If we’re going to the city, you can’t look like that. Maybe you should wear some of Kellam’s garments.”

               “I…I suppose that might be a good idea. But, I think he was a lot bigger than I am.”

               “I may be a biologist but I can alter a garment.” Archer hadn’t thought about that.

               “You can cook, too. Kellam was a lucky man.” Jonathan wanted to get closer to her, simply to lend his compassion for her situation. She’d lost a baby and a husband in the span of a day. Her planet was the battlefield of two alien species, and a nuclear reactor just a short distance from home had been bombed by terrorists.

               “And I was a lucky woman.”  Her gaze drifted to the fire before them. “I’m also lucky that you’re here, for me and Branni.” Her gaze turned from the fire to Jon. “What a strange twist,” she added.

               “It’s awkward for me as well,” Jon admitted, covering his mouth with his hand, but still meeting her stare. Jonathan wasn’t accustomed to holding back, to letting someone else take the lead. He was an admiral, and one of the most revered men in Starfleet, indeed, the world. Half the quadrant of the galaxy knew of him, yet he was humbled by this woman he barely knew. “I had hoped to run into you, perhaps, when I was sent back here to investigate the reactors. It came about in an unusual way.”

               “Why don’t I pick something out for you? Come on,” she said softly, rising from her seat and leading the way to where they kept their wearables. A few tunics and trousers hung on wooden pegs and two long cloaks. “This doesn’t – didn’t quite fit Kellam anymore. Too much of my cooking,” she said with a small smile. “Try these,” and she took some items off the pegs. “Put them on, we’ll make them fit.”

               “Can I ask you something first?” Riaan raised her eyebrows.  “Where can I wash off all this dirt?”

               “Use the convenience, at the end of the hall, there,” she indicated, and meandered off to find her sewing basket. Archer wasn’t sure what she meant, but at the end of a hall was an unusual room. A large copper vessel hung from the ceiling and a smaller platter sat on a shelf under it. A basket of branch sized wood and some crude matches were next to it. He pulled the vessel down, pumped water into it, hung it back on the hook. It wasn’t hard to start a small flame under the pot to heat the water. He removed his own garments and gratefully stepped under the pot, pulling it to release some water. Not unlike camping, it was certainly better than a bath in the cold water trough outdoors.

               “It looks like I’m going to need a place to stay for the night,” Jonathan said quietly after he was done with his shower, such as it was, and dressed in Kellam’s clothes.

               “Yes, I think they will work,” Riaan said with confidence. She pinched the fabric on the sides, mentally measuring the amount to take in, and folded up the pant legs for length. Jonathan watched her focusing on the task in front of her. Something simple yet she put all her concentration into it. “Okay, take them off,” she instructed.

               “What?”  Riaan tried to hide a smile and took a cloak off a peg, tossing it at Jon. He grinned, pleased that her mood had picked up a little bit. Riaan left him standing and returned to the great room and put a few logs on the fire. When she passed Jon in the hall, he handed her the clothes. She carried them and her basket into the bedroom.

               “Goodnight, Jon,” and she shut the door.