Intrepid

White imprints stood out on the walls. Normally they would hold placards of vessels or unit’s the patient had served with. The old spy accepted this, his duty was done with more stealth than the cloaking device could ever imagine. It was only now that he came to recon the choices that were his life. Like many who chose the military life he considered it begun when he entered the Praetors imperial forces. He considered it done when he left. This was not the first time he had such remorse, but he had cleansed himself of his role in the civil war a long time ago. He considered it his duty it became an imperial edict. What happened in the second federation war was just that. This all was history to him. It was an earlier assignment that haunts him now. If he looked hard enough at the white spots on the wall he would see the logo of a ship that would never hang in this veterans hospital USS Intrepid.
The patient had been out of a coma for three days. Nurses worried about possible depression, yet some just thought they were musings as to how he had lived his life. Could even a spy be so reflective. Those on the staff, especially those who had served were in agreement about summoning the commander. Only the patient was surprised that it was answered.
“Do not bother toohe rise my friend,” the commander said as he entered the room. He went to the bed and embraced the patient tightly without upsetting the tubes.
“You came.”
“Why not, I am actually honored that you named me your commander of record.”
“Indeed”
“We served the Praetor with honor. Time takes its toll on us all. We are safe now. The staff told me of your thoughts on your life.”
“And you listen to this ...Prattle?”
“It is not uncommon for any man facing mortality to question. Even humans do it. I would be honored to share such musings with such a loyal soldier.”
“Only now do you acknowledge such. What was I when those messages came in about the neutral zone late in the war? I am sure then I fell far short of the perfection demanded of a Commander.”
The commander laughed. Shortly the patient broke into a smile. “You have commanded and know that such perfection can never be reached.” After a brief laugh the commander asked “What troubles you?”
“I will tell you because it doesn’t matter now and you are my Commander. It was a mission before the war. I served on a deep cover mission inside the federation that took me onboard the USS Intrepid. If not for the Romulin lack of empathic ability I would be dead along with the rest of the crew.”
“I was not aware of this, until now such details did not seem important.”
“They were not important to me. Perhaps it was in our dealings with humans that I began to wonder.”
“Wasn’t Intrepid an all Vulcan ship.”
“Yes, but we still did interact with humans of all types. Until the last mission I found them surprisingly pleasant.”
“Now I am surprised, you were always so fervent in antipathy toward humans. I could count on you to spare no quarter.”
“It was that last mission that made humans so repulsive to me. It is only now that I can see the difference with fascination.”
“How could humans be more savage than the ones we faced?”
“In war we all are capable of incredible savagery. Just look to the civil war and what we did to ourselves to understand that. What I saw was a culture that was either not at war or in eternal war. Either way and despite the facts these humans are capable of genocide. It is my only solace that they are not of this universe.”
“Not of this universe? Alternate Vulcan’s?”
“It is impossible to explain even if I have vowed silence on the subject.”
“You only damage the Praetor now with your silence. Why does this trouble you?”
“We don’t exist in this other universe.”
“I can see why this would trouble you. Do you know what has been done with your knowledge?”
“Very little, can you blame the Praetor.”
“No, but what about our Vulcan brothers. They would relish such a puzzle. Let me talk with the Praetor.” With agreement the subject was closed. The pair then spent hours talking of old times far more pleasing and frivolous.
The next day the commander checked the database on the mission in question. His mans conclusion was the same as the Praetor. The only reason why the matter wasn’t referred to the Vulcan’s surprised the commander. This would have to be confirmed that. The only way a Praetor would do this is face to face. The next day he donned the formal uniform and went to command central. He was greeted by a Centurion who confirmed the entry. The Praetor had long waited for the spy (now patient) to speak on the subject. This was owed to a loyal solder. The Centurion voiced his pleasure as well as his superiors. Such information would do wonders for relations with their distant Vulcan brothers. The Commander was given information on how to approach Ambassador Spock, as well as the delight of his superiors.

The spy approached Spock’s residence with an uneasy gait. He was not used to operating out in the open. He instinctively put his hand over the flash drive. In the past such a bulk in his pocket would be fatal, but it was designed for civilian ease of use and not concealment. Old habits die hard, many have adjusted after 45 years of post service life, but not this one. At first it seemed ridiculous, as his training in blending in kicked in. He was glad of its insignificance. As he entered the shade of the doorway he understood what any career military person would appreciate, accomplish the mission and all is forgiven. As he looked at the door he almost smiled, there was no doorbell. He knew this to be a custom unique to the Praetor. Remembering his drill instructor and his bruised knuckles he loudly knocked on the door.
The spy was surprised that Spock himself answered the door. “State your business soldier,” Spock replied more politely than any Romulan sSoldier ever would.
“I have come with information that you might consider important.”
“Regarding what?” Spock replied.
“Possibly our common heritage.”
“Indeed, please enter and be comfortable. Do you desire something to drink?”
“It is too early for Ale.”
“I do have some, but I was going to prepare myself an earth beverage called lemonade. It would seem appropriate on for such a hot day.”
“That would be sufficient” the spy replied holding his disdain for anything human. “I was not aware that that earth had such a hot climate.”
“Parts of it. There is also a high degree of humidity that magnifies the heat.” Spock handed the spy a cool glass dripping with condensation.
“Did you pick this location because of its resemblance to Vulcan?”
“Yes,” Spock replied pouring himself a glass and putting the pitcher into a cooler. He motioned to a sitting room. “I doubt you came to discuss earth climate.”
“No, what do you know of the Federation Starship Intrepid?”
Spock blanched at the mention of Intrepid. Sadly he replied, “I felt the ship die.”
The spies eyes cast down and allowed a tear. “They were my friends. I may have been a spy but if you have served on a ship, you would understand. I have shed many tears over this.”
“I have served and do understand. Forgive me though, but for a spy to feel remorse is not wise. Such intercession is usually fatal.”
“Indeed, this was the only time I made such an error. In this case…irrelevant. I may not possess Vulcan telepathy but I wan on that ship when it happened.”
“I didn’t mean to cause offense, please continue.”
“None taken, ones does not even do a normal hundred, much less in espionage with a thin skin.” He pulled out the flash drive out of his pocket. “These are the logs and other data downloaded from the database when I made my escape.”
“On behalf of Starfleet and the Federation, thank you. We are always interested in the recovery of such data, even in antiquity.”
“I reviewed it and believe it to be unaltered.”
“I look forward to reviewing it,” Spock paused “Later. Tell me your story as far as you can. One does not have to be telepathic to believe that there is more to this story than a senseless death.”
“The death of the crew was a senseless sidelight. It is all in the logs.”
“I know, however, I also value your recollection.” The pause thickened. “This is not interrogation. I am only interested in what your are willing and permitted to share.”
“It is not that, for so long I have…” he trailed off.
“Can we meld?”
“That is strictly forbidden.”
“I understand.”
“The Praetor thought so. What was it like sensing them die.”
“I would call it a sudden psychic scream. Only in this case there is less that can be done.”
“There was little I could have done either. Except for saving my Romulan hide.”
“I am glad of that. However, you do owe me and the crew of the Enterprise a debt of gratitude for destroying the entity.”
“Other than my thanks and these logs, I have nothing more to offer. What of this entity? The escape pod was very well designed but there were no sensors. I also confess that my energies were diverted else ware.” The spy smiled.
“I believe those pods course were preset.”
The spy then laughed. “Tthat was maddlingly difficult. I should have electrocuted myself before I found the override. De-activating the sensor was the real difficulty. Vulcan engineering.” The spy shook his head.
“That was of human design. The Federation values all life.”
“That is harder for me to believe than most, especially when it comes to humans.” He spoke the last word with disdain.
“The war,” Spock spoke sadly, “would make my last statement implausible.”
“No, I do agree about…..war in general I guess. I am the last person to claim innocence.” The spy mused “on the last mission we” he took a breath. “The crew of the Intrepid encountered an alternate universe.”
“Indeed, onboard Enterprise members of the crew encountered an alternate nearly parallel universe, well nearly parallel.”
“This one was also parallel I guess, the physical laws are the same and the human and Vulcan anatomy appeared to be the same. It was just the Vulcan and Romulin race was destroyed.”
“The universe Jim, uh excuse me the Enterprise crew encountered was also believed to be parallel but this one is closer to what we believe to be …reality. Should I be so bold as to ask about Klingons or other races.”
The spy chuckled “given the aggressive self destructive nature of that reality, I doubt they had a chance. For what it is worth I have no idea. There is a chance some stray waves or mention is made in the logs.”
“What of the humans?”
“I don’t know” the exasperated spy responded. “For the sake of peace, let’s just say that humans of this universe do have redeeming qualities.”
“Given the nature of the war, I value that concession.”
“The Praetor is not innocent, and neither am I. This is not an easy admission. Humans initiated peace both times.”
“I will not dispute the first. The second” Spock paused “was far more…complicated.”
The spy shook his head “The bloody stalemate.” The Spy looked directly at Spock “Are you aware how long it took for us to recover from that bloody war?”
“No”
“I include the civil war afterward.”
“To which faction did you serve?”
“Both I guess” the spy replied with contempt, then recovered “neither really, . No matter how stupid and self destructive they were….. I had to follow orders as long as I could.” He drifted off trying to find the right words “eventually I dismissed myself. They gave me a commendation eventually.”
“That would appear to be a wise solution for yourself and the Praetor. “Perhaps” the spy shook his head “What interest do you have in this internal matter?”
“I do confess, this is the first time I have encountered one who is neutral on this matter.”
“There is not much to tell about that….NONESENSE. “Except that” the spy’s eyes lit up. “We were able to make peace and not destroy ourselves.” The spy said deliberately.
“I do not understand.”
“Neither do I. You should trust the logs more than the musings of an old spy.”
“Pardon me I thought we were talking about the civil war?”
“Excuse me, I don’t know what I am talking about.”
“I give you more credit than that, while it is not certain about what.”
“Who does? As long as we exist and are sentient I guess we can contemplate. Unfortunately, I must be going.”
“That is unfortunate, thank you for the logs and your…musings. On behalf of the Federation, Humanity and myself. We have gotten the better part of the bargain.”
“Your welcome”
“Can I contact you again if I have more questions?”
“Yes, on this matter I am permitted to be completely candid.”
“I probably will.”
“Can I see myself out”
“Yes, would you like some more lemonade. ‘One for the road,’ as humans say.”
The spy nodded as Spock pulled the pitcher out of the cooler and filled the spy’s glass. The spy did see himself out as Spock began to decipher the logs of the final mission.
Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages
Of the Starship Intrepid, its five year mission
To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life
And civilizations,
To Boldly go where no one has gone before