In The Sky

           “Samuels here.”

           “Archer. Ensign, I need a favor.”

            In five minutes Laurel appeared at the admiral’s door with two garments from one of the other female crew members. Both appeared to be something that would fit Riaan, one in blue and another in red. She held them up.

            “I owe you one, Laurel.” He handed her Riaan’s dress, the one with the golden birds and flowers woven in the deep purple fabric like a tapestry.

            “No problem, sir. We could all use a change of uniform about now.” Laurel smiled and winked. He didn’t acknowledge that, but it must have meant something. Without thinking he smiled and frowned at the same time as Laurel left with Riaan’s things. He quickly placed them both on the hook just inside the bathroom door and left before she had a chance to catch him.

            Six people fit comfortably around the captain’s table on Endeavour where four was the best Archer had been able to do on Enterprise. Riaan and Brannigaan sat across from Laurel and Russell, Archer and Mitchell at the ends of the table.

            “And so mission accomplished,” Mitchell said as the steward cleared plates from their table. “Glad to be headed home, Jonathan?”

            “It’s a long trip back, but I think I can say yes to that on behalf of the three of us.”

            “And Riaan, what are you taking away from all this? It had to be a shock, the last week or two,” Mitchell asked.

            “I’ve been surprised before by your admiral, so maybe not as big of a shock as you might think. Now for Branni…”

            “I love it! I’ve never seen anything so amazing before. The little ship and the big ship, and the green guys and their ship, and then the short ugly guys, and –“

            “Branni,” Riaan interrupted.

            “One day I want to have my own space ship, like you,” he said to the crew. “Are you coming back one day, because I want to go to Starfleet and be a pilot, too.”

            The adults had no replies for the youngster, and all eyes turned to Archer.

            “I don’ think you’ve seen the last of us, Branni,” Jonathan said directly to him.

            “Can I keep the uniform?” he asked. Archer looked at the captain.

            “By all means, we look forward to having you in Starfleet in a few years. Should I have O’Neal get the shuttle ready to take you back? I imagine you’ve had a day to write home about.”

            “I can shuttle them back. I don’t get a lot of flying hours in these days. It’s my pleasure,” Jonathan told them, keeping those emotions locked up his sleeve instead of on them.

            “It’s been wonderful meeting you two,” Captain Mitchell said, standing for the guests and also the admiral. Samuels and Laskin also stood and waited for the guests of honor and the admiral to leave first.

            Within an hour, Archer set the shuttle down in a field adjacent to Riaan’s home, at the edge of the dark forest. Although their world was about to join the modern age, blatant exposure to flying machines was still not a good idea. He also felt exhilarated to be the pilot now and then. He was a leader, a captain, an admiral, but first he had been a pilot, and that he was born with, and would always be.

            “Tell Laurel I appreciate the dress, and Captain Mitchell that the uniform for Branni was such a great idea.” Archer carried the boy like a sack of flour, chest to chest and his head on Jonathan’s shoulder. “I didn’t think he would fall asleep.”

            “Young people need more sleep than us who’ve learned to live without it.” They rustled through the low brush toward the back of Riaan’s home, rather than approaching it from the front. She opened an unlocked gate for them to enter. Rain had fallen during the day leaving a few puddles on the path that they managed to avoid. Archer carried the boy inside with Riaan rather than wake him.

            While Archer took Branni to his bed, Riaan put on water to make tea. He returned and saw her standing in the kitchen, without shoes, in one of Laurel’s civilian dresses made of red cotton with a dozen small black buttons down the back. Her long black tresses cascaded across her shoulder; a sweep of long bangs remained clipped above her ear. He could feel his heart in his chest, his blood pressure rising, his breathing increasing.

            “And so here we are again,” she said to him. Riaan hung finely woven baskets half the size of her hand in the ceramic cups and put a small portion of dried leaves and herbs into each one. “This has also been a memorable visit, as was last time,” she said quietly. Archer had a strange feeling in his stomach. He was not sure what it was but he thought he’d swallowed a ball of twine that was unraveling. He stepped a little closer to her.

             “I wish I didn’t have to leave, but-”

            “I know.” Riaan poured some hot water into the baskets, and looked up at Jonathan.

            “I’ll always remember you,” he said. They stood in silence together, and Jon didn’t wait another moment. He’d waited so long to touch her, to touch her lips to his, to feel her vulnerability when he held her body. Another step and he caught her, pulling her waist to touch him, and wrapping her tightly in both arms. He expected her to pull away or struggle, but she simply looked in his eyes and relaxed, raising her arms around Jonathan’s neck and waiting for his move.

            “I…I can’t betray Kellam. He was my friend.” The words were spoken but he didn’t release his grip on her. He just didn’t want to let her go. He wouldn’t let her go. He couldn’t.

            “What do you mean? He’s gone to the after world.” Jonathan released her just a bit so he could see her face more clearly. She appeared a little confused.

            “Don’t you have a…period of mourning?”

            “Two moons have risen and set. After the pyre what is left to do?” She pushed Jon back half a step, and looked at him directly. “We have to start over, Jon. Don’t you? Do you only have one marriage or lover your entire life on Earth?”

            “No…but don’t you miss him?”

            “I was not Kellam’s first wife, and he always missed her. I’ll always miss him. Time won’t change that.”

            “Then maybe…you could come live on Earth. You and Branni, I can take you with us.”

            “And then what?”

            “The possibilities are endless. The technology would astound you. If you don’t like Earth, we can always bring you back at some point. We’re on the verge of a Warp Seven engine; the travel time would be less than a moon cycle. If you do like it, stay; build a new life for you and Branni on a new world. Maybe…with me.”

            He clasped his hands lower, around her hips to keep her body intimate with his. Fools rush in. He didn’t care. Before she could answer he slid his hands towards her shoulders and leaned in; a delicious kiss met him and lingered. Like the first bite of a summer peach, the memory of their last kiss flooded back from wherever it hid for all those years. He just wanted to consume her, to carry her off and not look back. And then he released her just enough to take a breath.

            Riaan whispered, “Branni would like to go. Of course,” she added, “I’d have to go as well, in that case. And I think Kellam would be relieved to know you were looking after us. Don’t you think?”

            “So…let’s go.”