Free Gemini by Mike W. Barr Page A

private—”
    â€œTonia! Oh, of course not!” The girl practically gushed with relief. “It’s so good to talk to you! I was so sorry about that silly diplomatic incident.”
    â€œOh, me, too,” said Barrows. “You know, we’re probably violating their silly ‘protocol’ right now. I just called to say I’m sorry you won’t be able to attend.”
    â€œAttend? Attend what?”
    â€œCaptain Kirk had the idea of inviting Their Royal Highnesses aboard the Enterprise for a banquet tomorrow night, to apologize for the role the Federation citizens played in the riot. But, of course that won’t happen—”
    â€œWon’t it?” said Pataal. “May I speak to you later?”
    Yeoman Barrows closed the connection, and the viewscreen in her quarters went dark. “I feel just awful,” she said, turning. “Pataal’s my friend.”
    â€œSometimes friends have to do things that may not seem very friendly, at first,” said Kirk, who had been standing out of range. “Just ask Spock and McCoy. But not in each other’s hearing.”
    * * *
    â€œCaptain Kirk?”
    â€œYes, Commissioner Roget. How are you, sir?”
    â€œVery well, thank you. I’m calling to say that Princes Abon and Delor have accepted your offer of a state dinner and tour of the Enterprise.”
    â€œI’m delighted to hear it.”
    â€œHow did you ever get through to them?”
    â€œThe shortest distance between two points,” said Kirk, innocently.
    * * *
    â€œBut what about the security issues involved, Captain?” Scotty asked, plaintively. “These people have barely discovered warp drive. Isn’t showin’ ’em engineerin’ a violation of the Prime Directive—or some-thin’?”
    â€œI’m quite familiar with the finer points of Starfleet General Order One, Scotty,” said Kirk, with no trace of irony, “but trust me, it doesn’t apply here. I know you don’t like having strangers in engineering, but it won’t be for long.”
    â€œWell, if I must,” said Scotty, with a manful shake of his head.
    â€œThat’s the spirit,” said Kirk, clapping him on the shoulder. “I knew I could count on you.”
    â€œAye, sir,” said Scotty with a sigh. “You can that,” though it could be inferred from his manner that he would rather give the visitors a peek up his kilt.
    * * *
    The night of the state dinner found Kirk in virtually every corner of the Enterprise at once. The crew often thought of him as omnipresent, but this was the first time anyone could recall him actually attempting to achieve it.
    Even Peter, who seemed to see his uncle every time he turned around. To this point, Peter Kirk had enjoyed his house arrest aboard the Enterprise, reacquainting himself with old friends and making some new ones, roaming the ship as he pleased. That all came to a stop one night when he returned to his cabin after a stint in the gym to find Kirk waiting for him.
    â€œPeter.” His uncle smiled, too quickly. “I suppose you’ve heard what’s going on tonight?”
    â€œYes, sir,” replied Peter, after a moment’s thought. He wasn’t sure if this was a trap; if so, was it better to feign ignorance or admit to the truth? Well, he had always been a bad liar.
    â€œDid you have any plans?”
    â€œUh … nothing major, sir.”
    â€œGood.” His uncle smiled the smile he used when he got his own way. “Because tonight, you’re confined to quarters.”
    â€œBut, Uncle Jim—sir,” he corrected, seeing Kirk’s smile morph instantly to a steely frown, “I had plans tonight. Lieutenant Sulu was going to show me some fencing moves, and—”
    â€œSulu’s got bridge duty—he volunteered,” added Kirk, at his nephew’s expression, which seemed more than a little