Defiant,Vaughn knew, had departed from the world of the thoughtscape, and now continued on its journey through the Gamma Quadrant. He had felt uncomfortable leaving the Inamuri, and a couple of the crew had actually volunteered to stay behind. Saganhad now been repaired, and the volunteers had suggested remaining in orbit about the thoughtscape until the science team arrived from Starfleet. Vaughn had been impressed by the offers, but there would have been little point in being here until a direct and safe method of communication could be devised, and Defiantsimply did not have the resources to be able to do that.
Vaughn picked up the padd again and started to reread what he had written, but his mind quickly wandered. He was anxious to see Prynn. He had not had any contact with his daughter since he had walked away from her on the planet’s surface, headed for the pulse. Actually,Vaughn thought, that might not be true.He remembered his feeling that the energy surrounding the planet had somehow connected everything on it. He had never sensed a direct connection with her, although he had felt some sort of a link with her through her dreams. If she was willing, he would talk with her about that, and about whatever experiences she might have had during their ordeal.
Ultimately, though, Vaughn wanted to express to Prynn his newfound understanding of how he had failed her. He hoped, now more than ever, that they could work toward a reconciliation. They would need to delve into what had happened in their lives and in their relationship, and into how and why they had become separated. It would probably not be easy, he knew, but they would have to search for answers together. For him, their circumstances had changed, and he hoped that they could be changed for her too. But in the two days he had spent in the medical bay after regaining consciousness, Prynn had not visited or contacted him once, and so he had decided not to force matters with her. Perhaps after they returned to Deep Space 9, he could—
The door chime sounded. “Come,” he said. Across the room, the door slid open to reveal his daughter.
“Prynn,” Vaughn said, stunned to see her. He stood from the chair, dropping the padd onto it. She stepped into the room, and Vaughn felt suddenly awkward, and even lost. He thought, Connect,but he could not find the right words to begin.
“Dad,” Prynn said, and he realized that she had not called him that in years. He saw tears in her eyes, and he started toward her. She raced forward too, and they threw their arms about each other, hugging tightly. “I’m so glad you’re all right,” she said.
Tears pooled in Vaughn’s own eyes. “Oh, Prynn, Prynn,” he said. “I’m so sorry.” He meant it in a way he never had before, although he knew that she would not know that. He felt his daughter’s body shaking as she wept. He cried with her, and they held each other like that for a long time.
When they parted, he looked into her eyes in a way he had not been able to for so long. He reached up to the side of her face and brushed away a tear. “Your eye,” he said, remembering that the last time he had seen her, the white had been injured and discolored.
“Dr. Bashir,” she began, but did not finish the thought. “I couldn’t see you in the medical bay because…this…” She made a motion that seemed to include the two of them, their tears, the intensity and importance of this moment, and he understood that she had wanted this reunion to be private.
“I know,” Vaughn said. “It’s all right. I’m just glad that you’re here now.”
“I am too.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again, knowing that she would mistakenly think that he was apologizing for Ruriko’s death. “After your mother died…I should have been there for you.” He did not expect her to understand immediately. “When we were—”
“I know,” she interrupted. “Dad, I know. I don’t blame you for what happened to Mom. But I see now that I needed you back then, and when you weren’t there…” She let her words trail off. “But I understand what happened…you lost Mom too.”
“Yes,” Vaughn agreed, “but I’m your father. I failed you, and I’m sorry.”
“I know,” she said. “But you’re here now. And I still need you.”
“I need you too, Prynn,” Vaughn said, and he pulled her close once more. When they parted this time, she smiled, and all at once, Vaughn felt connected to his daughter again. There were so many things that they needed to search through together, to understand together.
They sat down and talked for hours, as they had not done in a very long time.
Finally, Vaughn had begun to explore.
CONTINUES IN
MISSION: GAMMA BOOK TWO
THIS GRAY SPIRIT
About the Author
David R. George III was born and raised in the unparalleled city of New York, New York. David’s previous contributions to the world of Star Trekinclude a Voyagerepisode, “Prime Factors,” and a Deep Space Ninenovel, The 34th Rule.He will also be writing one of the entries in the upcoming The Lost Eraseries of Treknovels. Additionally, he is hard at work on both a mainstream novel and a film screenplay.
David received a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, with majors in Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computing, and minors in philosophy and writing. From Clemson University, he earned a Master of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences, with concentrations in Operations Research and Scientific Computing. The original research he carried out for his master’s thesis was in the area of Artificial Intelligence.
David has lived all over the United States. In addition to his time in New York City, upstate New York, and South Carolina, he has called Kansas, Washington, and both northern and southern California home. David plays baseball and racquetball regularly, and he and his beautiful wife, Karen, love to travel, dance, and play softball together. They are ardent film watchers, avid readers, and enthusiastic New York Mets fans. They currently reside in southern California, in a house with no children and no pets, although they do manage to keep several thriving houseplants.
Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books
Star Trek®
Enterprise: The First Adventure• Vonda N. McIntyre
Strangers From the Sky• Margaret Wander Bonanno
Final Frontier• Diane Carey
Spock’s World• Diane Duane
The Lost Years• J.M. Dillard
Prime Directive• Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Probe• Margaret Wander Bonanno
Best Destiny• Diane Carey
Shadows on the Sun• Michael Jan Friedman
Sarek• A.C. Crispin
Federation• Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Vulcan’s Forge• Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz