Read Online Gemini by Mike W. Barr - Free Book Online Page B

job.”
    â€œPerhaps they should have a chance to live a little first,” replied Kirk. There was an odd tone to his voice, one McCoy couldn’t identify. “Anything else, Doctor?” asked Kirk, as the turbolift returned for him, clearly not caring if there was anything else or not.
    And before McCoy could reply, Kirk was gone.
    McCoy returned to sickbay, feeling every bit as baffled by Kirk’s actions as Spock could have been.
    * * *
    â€œI trust you weren’t injured by any of the rioters’ activities, Mrs. Roget?” asked Kirk solicitously. “I’m sorry I had to leave so abruptly, but—”
    â€œCaptain, please, I’m married to a diplomat,” Janine Roget said with a laugh. “There’s no need to apologize for doing your duty! Remind me to tell you about the time we escaped Rigel VI with nothing on our backs but our bedclothes.”
    Kirk smiled. “I look forward to hearing it.”
    â€œIn the meantime, Captain,” said Sylvan Roget, smiling fondly at his wife as he took her place on the viewscreen, “the decision of the Nadorians on whether or not to join the Federation is only four days away, and the handover ceremony only six. We have some rather major repairs to make in Federation-Nadorian relations.”
    â€œI know. Are Their Royal Highnesses quite perturbed?”
    â€œTo my surprise, they are not,” said Roget. “While they realize the gravity of the situation, they also seem to have enjoyed it, in an anarchic kind of way.”
    â€œI don’t suppose they’ve had much in the way of action in their lives,” said Kirk.
    â€œNonetheless, the rest of their court is still quite angry over the participation of Federation citizens in the disturbance. Some sort of conciliatory gesture is in order, Captain. No one holds the Federation responsible for the riots, but—”
    â€œI should hope not,” said Kirk. “There were plenty of Nadorians citizens involved, too.”
    â€œYes, but it does behoove us to take some action to show them that we do regret the damage it has done to the cause of diplomacy.”
    â€œCan’t an apology be issued through normal diplomatic channels?”
    â€œI’ve instituted just such an apology,” said Roget, “but whether it will even reach the princes by the time the handover is to be determined is anyone’s guess. They’re quite insulated from day-to-day life, Captain.”
    â€œI’m sure.” Kirk thought for a moment. Then, as he became aware of the faint but pervasive sounds always present on the bridge—the hum and beep of consoles, the click of switches, the drone of commands given and acknowledged, the multitude of sounds that he had learned to screen out, yet that had become so familiar—it suddenly became clear to him.
    â€œCommissioner,” he said, calmly, “at the banquet, Princes Abon and Delor seemed quite interested in the day-to-day operations of the Enterprise.”
    â€œI’m sure they are, Captain. After all, their lives have been quite cloistered, not only due to their social status but to their physical condition. They’ve been denied many of the normal emotional outlets most young men have. In many ways they’re still boys.”
    â€œJust as I thought,” nodded Kirk. “I have an idea … ”
    * * *
    â€œYou’re going to invite the entire royal entourage aboard the Enterprise, Jim?”
    â€œWhy not, Bones?” Kirk poured himself a second finger of brandy, inclined the bottle toward McCoy and Spock, both of whom declined the refill, then set it down on the desk next to his bed. “Their Royal Highnesses seem very interested in the workings of the ship, isn’t that right, Spock?”
    â€œThe majority of their conversation was confined to inquiries about life aboard a starship,” said Spock.
    â€œI hope I’m not alone here,” said