‘I’m grateful, Captain.’ Doctor Frankle looked a shadow of the man who’d stood in a Drapician townhouse and torn their thoughts from their minds now he sat slumped on the biobed. ‘Grateful and ashamed.’

‘It’s clear you weren’t acting of your own free will,’ said Valance levelly. ‘I’m just glad we could intercept you before you did more damage to life on Drapice.’ Her eyes flickered from the seated archaeologist to the approaching Winters. ‘Are we sure the circlet’s influence is gone?’

Crossing sickbay from his office, the CMO looked startled at such a direct question. ‘I can’t guarantee anything, Captain, without having studied Doctor Frankle under the circlet’s influence. But I’m detecting no abnormalities in his brain wave patterns – it perfectly matches the BCP on the doctor’s records.’

‘It wasn’t like something else was controlling me,’ Frankle groaned, though he looked relieved at the diagnosis. ‘It was like I had a whole mass of knowledge and like a… a hungering urge of what to do with it.’

‘To influence and control Drapician society,’ mused Dashell, stood next to Valance with his arms crossed. ‘Young Lieutenant Beckett’s theory would hold fruit.’

‘He warned me,’ said Frankle, looking up with weary eyes. ‘When we first found the chamber, found the box, he warned me to be careful. I thought he was just being territorial about the research.’

‘He may have been. It’s not as if he knew much more than you,’ Valance pointed out. ‘But what matters is that it’s over. We’ll let you rest, Doctor, and let Doctor Winters continue to supervise you.’

‘Please do,’ Frankle said to Winters, lying back on the biobed. ‘I want to be sure that influence is gone before I’m left alone.’

Valance and Dashell left Winters to do his work, heading out of sickbay and to the corridor. ‘Do we bring him with us?’ Dashell asked.

‘The Kingfisher’s crew won’t be staying at Drapice for long, according to Lieutenant Yorin,’ said Valance, shaking her head. ‘They’ll conclude their assessment of the site and set up the anthropological observation post to monitor any fallout of this incident, but they’ll head back to Federation territory after. They’re not equipped to handle the Vorkasi site properly.’

‘I don’t know if anyone is,’ Dashell sighed. ‘This is a site of massive significance, but it’s very close to a pre-warp settlement. There’ll have to be a whole ethical panel assembled to establish if it’s possible or reasonable to continue study without disrupting the Drapician way of life further.’

She glanced at him. ‘You sound like you want to do it.’

He shook his head. ‘It’s just one piece of the puzzle. If Beckett’s right, then there’s signs of these Vorkasi across the sector, maybe further. We’ve barely scratched the surface of old Romulan Empire territory, and now we find there was a powerful civilisation here thousands of years ago? Telepaths, with telepathic technology? Drapice is just the start.’

‘If Beckett is right,’ Valance echoed. Then she frowned. ‘Which does bring me to our next meeting. Join me in my ready room, Commander.’

When they arrived, Nate Beckett was already there, fidgeting before the empty desk as the bare bulkheads stared down at him. He was back in uniform, skin a little pink from days under the Drapician sun, and looked like a naughty student called to the headmaster’s office.

Valance had never been sure how to deal with Beckett. She found him irreverent but knew he was effective. Captain Rourke had always been very protective of him, and Davir Airex rated his talents, but she couldn’t shake the sense he had advanced in his career at least in part through his father’s connections. Nevertheless, he had an uncanny talent for being in the right place at the right time.

‘Lieutenant, please take a seat. You too, Commander.’ She marched to sit behind the desk, Dashell casually pulling up a chair while Beckett bobbed his head and looked around uncertainly before sitting.

‘Of course, Captain,’ Beckett stammered. ‘But if you’ve spoken to Doctor Frankle and Lieutenant Yorin, I’m not sure what more light I can shed on the situation…’

‘And Commander Dashell’s had your report,’ said Valance with a neutral expression, clasping her hands before her. She looked at her XO. ‘You’re confident about your conclusions?’

‘As confident as I can be,’ said the Bajoran with a casual shrug. ‘Considering we’re dealing with very rapid assessments of a hitherto-unknown piece of technology. But I’d welcome your opinion, Lieutenant?’

Beckett tilted his head, like he was waiting for a trap to close around him. ‘Of course, sir.’

‘We know some things with a high degree of certainty,’ Dashell began smoothly. ‘We know the facility included technology to conduct scans and store data, and technology to transmit. We know the technology interfaces with psionic energy – telepathy. We know that Doctor Frankle, when exposed to this technology, acted wildly outside of protocols and his known character by approaching Drapician society and presenting himself as a figure of cultural authority with a stated desire to change it.

‘Then there are the known unknowns. We don’t know how the circlet might have influenced whoever it was designed for. That alone could cast any possible theories into doubt. This might have been a malfunction of the entire undertaking. But with that caveat in mind, we have a clear theory: that whoever made this monitored Drapician society telepathically with the ultimate goal of using the knowledge gathered to influence it. To what end, I cannot say.’

Valance nodded, brow furrowed as she listened. ‘And there is no telling where else this has been done, or what else the Vorkasi have left along this frontier.’ She looked to Beckett. ‘I have a question for you, Lieutenant.’

He blinked, surprised at being focused on, still suspicious on why he was here. ‘Sure, Captain.’

‘When we confronted Frankle, you challenged him on specific points of Drapician religious scripture. How did you know any of that?’

‘Oh.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘Honestly, Captain, I didn’t. I made a guess and hoped it’d bamboozle him.’ He rushed on as Valance arched an eyebrow. ‘I mean, it seems like the circlet was only drawing on those surface-level scans of thoughts of millions and trying to extrapolate understanding of a whole society based on those simplest of takes. But it was ignoring all of the nuance and difference – possibly even the sub-cultures – that give society richness, not to mention the capacity for change. If we needed to put Frankle under duress to weaken the circlet’s hold, it didn’t seem like the biggest leap, considering everything we’d seen of Drapice and Drapician society, that challenging the role of authority might be an outside take.’

Valance glanced at Dashell at that. After a moment, the Bajoran gave a soft smile and a nod, and she drew a deep breath. ‘I expect once you’re done with the Kingfisher, Beckett, you’ll be back to Starbase 26 and the archives.’

He gave a less-enthusiastic shrug. ‘I guess so.’

‘What if you weren’t?’ She was starting to understand why Rourke had found this entertaining, teasing out these conversations.

Beckett frowned. ‘Captain?’

‘Pathfinder will be operating in this part of the galaxy for a while yet. I expect this won’t turn out to be our last encounter with Vorkasi technology, now these sectors are opening to us for the first time in Starfleet history. And we’re a science ship without as many science officers as I’d want.’ Valance straightened. ‘A posting aboard is yours, if you want it.’

His eyes widened. ‘On Pathfinder? Captain, that’d be…’ Then he hesitated. ‘Can I give it some consideration?’

‘You have until we leave Drapice,’ Valance said. ‘But I urge you to do what’s best for yourself, Lieutenant. Let me worry about staffing considerations.’ Let me worry about Thawn.

‘That’s very kind of you, ma’am…’ Beckett’s voice trailed off, and she could almost hear him point out he did, in fact, have to worry.

‘Then go think about it,’ said Valance with the faintest curl of the lip. ‘Dismissed.’

Dashell watched him leave, eyebrow raised, and turned back when the doors slid shut. ‘I thought he’d jump on that,’ he mused.

‘He will,’ said Valance. ‘He’s got some hoops to jump through first.’ Before Dashell could press that, she’d looked him in the eye. ‘I want him to be Chief Science Officer.’

Her XO’s eyebrow went higher. ‘I’m guessing this isn’t you firing me.’

‘No. Commander…’

The corners of his eyes creased. ‘Is it unacceptable, Captain, if I ask for us to drop formality in private? I’m a scientist. This is a science ship. I’d rather we work like colleagues.’ He hesitated. ‘If that’s alright with you.’

For a fluttering moment, Valance felt the urge to refuse, the instinct for her control on the situation to tighten. She let out a slow breath and nodded. ‘I think that’s reasonable, Antedy.’

His teeth shone bright in his pleased smile. ‘Then please explain, Karana. You want me solely billeted as XO?’

‘I know that’s not what you wanted. Nate Beckett is young, and would still benefit from your guidance. But that’s true of a lot of the crew. It says something how senior Lieutenant Thawn is. So many of them need mentorship and support and I want you to give it to them.’

Dashell hesitated. ‘How much of this is that you want a Chief Science Officer who can be with you in the field?’

‘I will need a science officer who can keep up in the field,’ Valance agreed bluntly. ‘But Beckett can do that as your deputy if needed. This is about me putting you to use for the good of the whole ship, not just our scientific interests.’

‘You speak like scientific interests aren’t the only thing our ship is concerned about.’

It was her turn to falter. ‘I had a message waiting for me when we came aboard. The possibility of a new assignment for Pathfinder.’ His brow furrowed, and she pressed on. ‘It wouldn’t change the bulk of our work. Continuing to uncover and understand this new frontier. But we would also be gathering information which could help strategic support on the border.’

‘Tactical analysis.’ Dashell had a look of distaste. ‘Intelligence gathering.’

‘We wouldn’t be doing that analysis,’ Valance insisted. ‘We would be conducting the appropriate sensor sweeps and sending our findings for analysis. But it might impact where we go, sometimes.’

‘You said this is a possibility of a new assignment. What assignment?’

Valance tried to keep her expression schooled as she answered. ‘Endeavour Squadron. Under Fleet Captain Jericho.’

Dashell paused at that. He frowned, but it looked thoughtful, troubled rather than frustrated. ‘I don’t mean to be impertinent, Karana, but I got the impression you came here to get away from that unit.’

‘I came here because Captain Rourke got me this posting. Captain Jericho is part of the reason it’s been hard for us to staff Pathfinder. Bringing us into his unit should make all of those logistical problems go away. We justify our work as a science ship by supporting strategic concerns.’

‘And that would increase the workload on command, and on other departments, which is why you want my attention entirely on the ship as her XO.’ He looked like he might say something else, then he nodded. ‘I’m not much one for Starfleet politics, Karana. I trust your judgement. And if the young lieutenant wants it, I’d be happy for him to be Chief Science.’

There were questions he wasn’t asking, and she wasn’t prepared to volunteer the answers. Not yet. But she felt a hint of guilt as his acceptance let her draw this to a close, and they both left the ready room not long after. He had work to get to, a science department to put in order, but her next task was more personal.

She found Gov’taj in the mess hall nearest the security offices, a much more plain, metal, rough-and-ready room than the main lounge. Security officers were more likely to snap to respectful postures a she arrived, a deference she didn’t get from the majority science staff aboard Pathfinder, and it was starting to feel uncomfortable. She waved them down as she crossed the mess hall to the burly Klingon officer sat near the window with a steaming mug of rak’tajino.

He watched her on the approach, and inclined his head to the chair opposite. ‘Captain.’ It sounded like a question.

Valance sat down and hesitated. ‘Not right now.’

‘Sister.’ Gov’taj shifted. ‘I may need you to make it clear when you are not the captain.’

‘I’m always the captain.’

‘You are also always my sister.’

‘Yes,’ she said, and saw him blink with surprise. ‘That’s what I came down here for. I had… forgotten how good it was to work with you. How easy, sometimes.’

He gave a smile that was all teeth and very sincere. ‘Standing before that circlet and its invasions, able to work together to bring Frankle down because we barely needed to think to act as one…’

‘I admit, I relied on you more than I expected. And I’m glad I could. That could have gotten nasty down there.’ She drew a slow breath. ‘It did get nasty down there.’

His brow furrowed. ‘You should not let words cast a shadow over your thoughts.’

‘Words of a telepath,’ she pointed out. ‘Words that hit us both.’ He didn’t react to that, and she was never going to pry if she wasn’t volunteering things herself. ‘Words which, about me, were true. I have been turning my back on people, and calling it… cleverness and control. Perhaps there are some easy things I can do to change that.’

Gov’taj’s fingers drummed on the metal mug. ‘Such as?’

‘Pathfinder is going to come under Fleet Captain Jericho’s command. That will affect our mission profile, we’ll be providing information to support the squadron’s strategic role as well as following our scientific mandate.’ He looked blank, and her lips twisted. ‘Captain Rourke got me here. I can’t abandon him now. If I can stay affiliated then I can be a political ally, give him support, help him in this fight…’

Her brother’s eyes dropped. ‘It is good to remember our loyalties,’ he said quietly.

‘And there are things I can do to change,’ Valance pressed gently, ‘such as you and me having a conversation.’ Now his gaze flickered up. ‘Or, multiple conversations. To talk, and to keep talking.’

This smile had less teeth, but perhaps more sincerity. ‘I would welcome this.’ He shifted his weight, suddenly off-balance, apprehensive. ‘Would you tell me, then… no. Would you get a coffee, and then tell me.’

Valance glanced to the replicator and half-rose. ‘Tell you of what?’

Gov’taj’s smile went softer. ‘The people you’re trying to not leave behind.’

Drapice IV hung at the corner of the lounge windows, a brown-blue blur with tumbling endless space beyond. Distant stars promised more secrets of a fallen empire to be discovered, and for once, discovery didn’t mean rushing off. It meant planting his feet and seeing what would happen. But first, he had to know if he was on solid ground.

Beckett didn’t feel like it as he crossed the lounge and approached the small table flush against a bulkhead, occupied even though window seats were free. That made some sense, though he had been surprised to see his target here at all. ‘Can I join you?’

The look in Thawn’s eyes made it clear she’d seen him coming, or sensed him. She tightened  her grip on her tea cup but gave a prim nod. ‘Go on.’

His legs felt ungainly as he pulled up the chair opposite. ‘I could… hell, I should cut to the chase. It’s not like we need to dissect the last few days. The last few months.’

Her nose wrinkled. ‘I’d rather not. Beckett, if you want us to part on better terms…’

‘That’s not it, exactly. Captain Valance asked me if I’d stay.’

Thawn stopped dead. ‘What did you say?’

‘That I’d think about it.’

In the silence, he saw realisation sink in. ‘Beckett, you don’t need my permission to stay on Pathfinder. I didn’t send you away from Endeavour – you chose to leave!’

‘Don’t act like that had nothing to do with you -’ But he stopped himself and closed his eyes. ‘I didn’t come here to argue. This is an opportunity. A new opportunity, and a good one. You were right. I did cut off my nose to spite my face by leaving Endeavour for Starbase 26. And I think of going back to the archives there and I hate it.’

Thawn fidgeted with her teacup. ‘You could talk to Captain Rourke.’

‘I’m done getting places by favours and favouritism,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘But Valance doesn’t pity me and Dashell doesn’t know me, and they both want me. I proved myself on my own terms these last few days. But I won’t…’ He hesitated. ‘I hate how things went down with us. But I won’t stay if it’ll make you miserable.’

‘What about making you miserable?’ She huffed and shook her head. ‘I think it’s apparent that where I am isn’t what makes a difference in whether I’m miserable or not. Frankle – Frankle and the circlet – made that rather clear.’

‘Yeah, that was a bit of a… telepathic throwdown,’ Beckett groaned.

‘I’m not saying I was wrong to leave Endeavour. I think we both needed something new, for multiple reasons. But problems don’t vanish just because I physically move.’ Her fingers ran lightly on the rim of the teacup. She always, he thought, fidgeted when she was nervous, and he tried to fight the spark in him at the idea he made her nervous. ‘This is a better place to be. And I can’t keep running.’

He nodded, swallowing down relief. ‘Good. Yes. Then I’ll stay.’

Thawn gave a stiff nod too. ‘If that’s the best career move for you.’

‘And we can be grown-up and responsible. And let the past be the past.’

‘Certainly.’

‘And be colleagues.’

‘Quite. Colleagues.’ The word hung between them, thick and heavy because it was fumbling and inaccurate. Her chin tilted up an inch. ‘This is a much better place for you to be, anyway, Beckett – really, locking yourself in the archives? That was ridiculous.’

The spark turned to the old, familiar flash of indignation she inspired in him. ‘Hey, this is really better than Ops Manager for an Obena? You’re the one who’s slumming it right now while I’ve basically wrangled a promotion.’

‘There are completely different challenges on a ship of this calibre…’

‘Yeah, smaller ones…’

And as they sat there, bickering like they’d not over the past months ripped each other inside-out, the doors to the lounge slid open for more people to come in – Riggs and Kally and Winters, whom he’d only met briefly but could stand to know better, and Harkon whom he’d always liked – and the stars seemed to shine a little brighter out the windows, and Nate Beckett started to think things might actually work out alright after all.