"Change of Address"
Lt. Benedict T'Kal - Chief of Security
Location: USS Windsor
Stardate 57902.05
***
The Ready Room door hissed shut.
"At ease, Lieutenant." The French syllables of Genevieve St.Claire's voice
softened as she waved to the seat opposite her desk. "Please sit down." The
tall dark haired Security Chief stepped further into her room. The Captain
of the Windsor had seen the half Bajoran officer blossom over the last six
months. He seemed to have shaken off the troubles of his past.
T'Kal nodded and smiled in return. As he sat he sighed and gave his captain
a sheepish look. "I'm sorry it's worked out this way," he said.
She shrugged. "It was inevitable." She reached across her desk and picked up
a padd. Tapping it thoughtfully with two manicured fingers she swiveled in
her chair until she could glance out of the view port at the receding
stars. The Windsor was deep inside Romulan space and heading further out.
They were heading into unexplored territory at last.
St.Claire turned back to gaze into T'Kal's violet eyes. He had a presence
that she could feel - the Bajorans called it pagh. He sat waiting for her to
continue. It was his troubled past that had brought them to this. His
transfer from the Windsor had been approved on compassionate grounds. She
couldn't blame him - he wanted to stay within the Federation so that he
could search for his son. That too had been a revelation.
She had lost three of her best officers to transfers. The Ashbury's had gone
as a consequence of Samantha's trauma - understandable. Benedict T'Kal would
be sorely missed. His eyes were no longer haunted. He'd been hardened by his
losses. Genevieve knew that he'd found a soulmate in Tebrianne Bancroft -
the Chief Helm officer of the Windsor until she had been murdered by a
criminal on a mining colony at the start of the Windsor's mission. Marco had
gotten away - Benedict had been devastated by her death. Now he had
discovered that he had a son - by one of the science officers that had been
on the Windsor and had left a while ago. It seemed that T'Kal had been
totally unaware of it - and still kept the details to himself. Benedict
T'Kal was a very private person.
"I am sorry to lose you, Ben," she smiled and passed over the padd. "You'll
have to pass on my regards to Samantha and Michael Ashbury. It seems that
you are bound for the Hikaru Sulu."
Benedict nodded. "I will," he replied. "I am sorry to leave, Captain - I
really am." He shook his head and the raven pony tail flicked at his
shoulder. "It is a matter of family." His words were heavy with finality. He
had come to terms with the fact that he had a son. Now he had to find him.
He would be the son that he and Teb could never have had together. It was
duty. Obligation. His Japanese father would have approved of his course of
action. His Bajoran mother would have understood his heart.
St.Claire nodded. "The Romulan vessel Tra' Pah will take you back to the
Federation. Have a good voyage." She did not envy him the trip aboard a
Romulan vessel, but the Romulan Ambassador on the Windsor's diplomatic party
had kindly arranged it.
"Thank you, Captain." He stood and came to attention. Nodded and swivelled to
the door. It let him out with a soft hiss and Genevieve went back to
studying Commander Valiant's readiness reports.
***Five months later***
Benedict T'Kal stepped up to the transporter pad and nodded to the Romulan
Officer that had accompanied him. "Thank you, Centurion," he said in flawless
Romulan. There were still a few things that surprised him. The language had
been a gift from Tebrianne's memories and their mind melding - she had been
half Romulan. "I appreciate your many kindnesses these last few months."
The Romulan smiled. "I have found our conversations to be stimulating. Live
long - and prosper, Lieutenant T'Kal."
"You also, Centurion La'N."
"Energize," Centurion La'N ordered.
The Warbird barely remained at station before activating its cloak and
vanishing from the sensors of the USS Belfast. The two vessels had met at
the Romulan border for the unusual transfer.
On the transporter pad of the Belfast a bemused Commander Sorrensen, the XO
of the ship grinned at the newly materialised Starfleet Officer and said,
"I'm sure you've a few good stories to tell, Lieutenant...like how the
Romulan Star Empire handles Starfleet transfers..."
Benedict laughed. "Compliments are to be delivered to the captain, sir.
Thanks for picking me up." He picked up his kit bag. "My things were
transferred?"
"If you mean a bloody great two handed claymore sword and a collection of
assorted weaponry - yes. What are you...a collector?"
"Sort of, sir..." Benedict smiled. "I'd kill for a decent meal - the Romulan
replicators were not the best at Human, Bajoran or Klingon foods."
"Klingon?" Sorrensen grimaced.
"An acquired taste..." Benedict grinned. Just like Klingon women - it took a
while to get used to them. Benedict's first wife had been Klingon. It was
her name that he carried with honor in the Bajoran fashion - husbands taking
the names of their wives. Benedict was a proud member of the House of T'Kal
and he always wore a Kut'luch at his belt. The gold and black dagger was a
sign of his House and a memorable gift from Alyessa's father after Benedict
had proven that she had regained her honor after being captured by
Cardassians on Bajor. Benedict and Alyessa had been freedom fighters in
both the Bajoran resistance and later, the Maquis. Benedict had been able
to join Starfleet after Alyessa's death.
"You will be joining the Hikaru Sulu at Risa, Lieutenant," Sorrensen grinned.
The Belfast was passing through the Risan system on her way to Earth. "I'm
sure Risa will be a pleasant experience after five months aboard a Romulan
warship."
"Yes, sir, I'm sure it will." Benedict had already passed word of his
impending arrival to a contact in Federation space. He had business to
conduct and a duty to perform. Business with the Orion Syndicate was a very
touchy thing indeed - especially if it involved killing one of its members.
Tebrianne's death was yet to be avenged.