The 22nd Century

            Archer entered his temporary quarters, noting that they were at least as nice as his Captain’s quarters on Enterprise, maybe just a touch smaller, but nevertheless comfortable with the classic Starfleet touch. A private lavatory was a luxury after the last month on Akal. Hot water on command, Turkish towels, even a mirror to shave in front of. He scratched hard at the remaining crest until it came loose and then off. The other side of his head still had a large gash, but it was healing on its own. He took a quick inventory of some of the other injuries he’d sustained during the bomb blast. Nothing a couple of aspirin wouldn’t take care of.

            In the wardrobe Archer found a work suit with admiral’s pips, stripes, and patches in a darker blue than the uniforms of the 50s, but still primarily one piece collar to floor with more pockets than he could find uses for. He tucked a communicator into his sleeve pocket, and pulled on a new pair of boots before he headed out to the mess hall. As he strode the corridor each crewman he passed nodded in respect.

            He entered the mess hall and 20 officers and crew leapt to their feet at attention.

            “As you were, everyone.” He glanced around and found Riaan and Branni at a table near a window, transfixed on the image of their blue and green planet floating against the blackness of space. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he said coming to stand with them. Riaan turned and took a step back. She looked at the admiral, dressed so differently, crisp and formal. “Are you alright?”

            “I’m not used to seeing you like this,” she stammered. “You look so commanding.”

            “It’s amazing what a hot shower and clean uniform can do,” he whispered.

            “Admiral Jon!” Branni shouted when he saw his formerly untailored ally suddenly transformed into someone else. The dining Starfleet personnel turned to see what the excitement was about, but went back to their meals a moment later.

            “I never imagined our world was so beautiful, all the swirls of white and blue, the green and the mountain ranges!”

            “And the sky is black, not blue. Like it’s always night time here,” the boy said.

            “If you can tear yourselves away from the window, I’ll show you a few other things that are almost as amazing. Come on,” Jonathan said, landing a gentle fist on the boy’s shoulder, and encouraging his mother to follow with a tilt of his head.

            “We have quite a few interesting things on our ships. There’s stellar cartography and astrometrics, engineering, the bridge, of course, the launch bay, transporters, the weapons ports and armory, sick bay, plus crew quarters, and we have an exercise facility, and the galley. It’s an entire city in the sky,” he boasted.

            “We must seem downright primitive.”

            “Akal has been launched into the electricity age, but the reasons were not ethical. It goes against our mission to interfere in the natural course of development. Now that it’s here, though, you’ll have to learn to work with it, and I think if the Tellarites and Orions can come to an agreement with the Tammalynnia government, you will be okay in the long run. Skipped a couple of steps, but I’m not too worried.”

            In Engineering, Brannigaan stared in disbelief at the massive warp reactor, the panels and panels of displays, buttons, and work stations. The engine throbbed quietly while they orbited the planet, marking time at Archer’s request for these two visitors.

            “So what is next for you, Jon? Do you want me to call you ‘admiral’?” Jonathan laughed aloud at her question.

            “Only people under my command call me that. You shouldn’t. I like Jon, or if you’re mad at me you can call me Jonathan Beckett like my mother and I’ll know I’m in trouble.” Riaan smiled, then looked away. “And you,” he said, leaning over a bit to be more at Brannigaan’s eye level, “just Jon is fine.”

            The turbolift opened, and before the trio the bridge was alive with excitement.

            “Admiral on the bridge!” shouted the helmsman. Every one stood quickly.

            “As you were,” Archer told them, and the tension faded. “Captain Mitchell, may we take a self-guided tour or perhaps one of your officers would like to show Brannigaan what all the stations are for.” The captain understood Archer’s request and took Brannigaan in hand himself. A captain didn’t have a lot of responsibility or duties while orbiting a planet.

            “I’d like you,” Archer said to Riaan, “to meet the ship’s doctor. I think you’ll be impressed with the medical facility. You can pick her brain and maybe take something helpful back to Akal.” Archer led Riaan slowly to the infirmary, hoping not to rush the few minutes he had with her.

            “Jon, if it’s okay with you, perhaps I could clean up some before dinner, visit the doctor later? It’s been a busy couple of days and I must look a sight.”

            “Come with me, then.” He led her back to his quarters on the lower deck. The planet was visible from the one large window inside. “Here you are – everything you need should be at your reach. Just push this to turn the water on or off.”

            “Really?”

            “Really.” Archer left Riaan alone, reluctantly. The sweetness of her smile, her honesty, and the intensity of her gaze when her chocolate eyes locked with his blue-jade stare left no doubt in his mind or his body that he still wanted her. He wanted to hold her, breathe her, feel her body fit up against his own.

            Archer had a great deal of self-control from years of experience at not only the negotiating table, but at outwitting his enemies, and serving many years with righteous Vulcans. Patience had been hard earned, and with it the wisdom to speak honestly or not at all. With a resolute breath he picked up a PADD and sat down at the desk to read while he waited for Riaan. The only thing on his mind, however, was how to fan the ember in his heart without getting burned.

            A moment later he sat up and punched a button on the intercom.