Everyone has settled into the Hope, and each of us now has our own
padds with downloadable books. I myself use one with an earpiece, which
gives me verbal output. Each one of us has hiding places as well for
them, hiding places undetectable by sensor sweep. My years in Starfleet
learning security systems has paid off here. I know best how to
circumnavigate obstacles that in another reality I helped implement. My
sightlessness is not much of a handicap with the mind touch, as I can
convey to T'Pau what to look for and she is doing as much of the
programming as am I.
As soon as we clear Starbase 324, I shall resume work on the device to
neutralize the collars. I do not dare do so as long as we are around
other humans. We must all play our parts--we the servile and competent
slaves, Hiroko the haughty Mistress. To that end, I spend much time
kneeling at her side as if I am a toy for her amusement.
This, humans understand. If there are pockets of humans
sympathetic to the cause of freedom for slaves, they are not in
evidence. I cannot locate even rumors of them on StarNet. Yet I cannot
even risk looking when we are on Starbase in dock. All vessels are
scanned frequently and I want no hint of illegal activity to surface.
Tes and Deezen are able to scurry around the Base among other slaves
also working to load cargo, or run errands for their various
owners. They manage to mingle and make friends and listen at the
lowest levels for rumors and hints of rumors. T'Pel stays on board with
T'Amanda. There is a certain risk that slaves can be stolen and they
more than the Andorians are at risk for such, T'Amanda being unmarked
and untraceable. Even Tes and Deezen must be careful. But this may be
the only time any of us are able to meet with slaves used to travel
with their owners, slaves who may have access to information that might
be teased out.
When Tes and Deezen return, they have some news. There are rumored to
be colonies near the very system that the slave ship was scanning when
I was first thrown into this universe, in the opposite direction of the
voyage to Hiroko's home world. There is a system that Terrans in my
universe have named The Briar Patch; it's near the Cardassian system. I
do not know if it's so-called here but the stars have not changed, at
least. There are some habitable worlds in that system, and it's hard
for the Imperial starships to get through or even into. They usually
avoid it.
And the rumors state that there is a rebel base there. In all my
monitoring of Imperial chatter, I have not found evidence that the
planets I know have been even discovered here. It is a chance that
might be worth taking. But it is up to Hiroko. We will be unarmed in
the main, though Hiroko has managed to secure some older model personal
phasers, which are hidden in the bulkhead. But aside from Hope's
deflective screens, she is unarmed and will have to rely on evading
trouble. There is no way to outfit her with even minimal weapons
without engaging Imperial interest. Our official itinerary will not
take us near any danger. That will come when we veer from our filed
headings, which we hope to do very soon.
She has also put together a medical kit with supplies for each of us,
including a medical tricorder. I have asked her if she can procure a
general issue one for scanning. She is going to try to do so, but says
that supplies of such things are very limited here, and I should not
get my hopes up. She was only able to procure the hand phasers through
the black market. It is good she has maintained her friendships with
some of the more questionable elements from her youth.
I also remind her that there may be supplies that will be needed on any
voyage that may include becoming refugees. I have put together a small
list--sewing supplies, which cannot be readily found, and some basic
tools. More than that we dare not be seen procuring.
At last we are away again. I am uneasy about the lack of weapons. I am
left wondering if there is any chance of Hiroko having contacts outside
Imperial jurisdiction. But she says she does not. We shall have to be
extremely careful.
I can now monitor "my" computer station. My back doors are proving
invaluable. It is certainly true that war is imminent if the
subspace chatter means anything at all, as I suspect it does. Hope is
small enough that she is easily able to keep to the less traveled areas
in the borderlands. I have advised that Hiroko take our journey in
hops, using uninhabited systems to shield ourselves from detection by
either official Imperial starships of any class, and possible potential
enemies.
In fact, nearly every possible encounter could be an enemy. There are
pirates; there are systems with no love for the Terran Empire, and
there are rogue vessels of many descriptions. I am alert. I have the
computer running automated scanners and converting the input to audio.
I now wear an earpiece constantly. I do not even sleep without it,
unless T'Pau is monitoring for me.
We have agreed to sleep in alternate shifts. I am not certain even
Hiroko understands the gravity of what we do. Of necessity, once we
enter the disputed space which is the Briar Patch, if the hazards do
not claim us, all beings' hands may be against one or all of us. We are
relying heavily on what the emotional species call "luck". I do not
believe in "luck", though I am reminded occasionally that the friend
who may be lost to me for all time and space did himself claim to rely
heavily upon it.
But there are no hard data to either support or deny the existence of
the rebel groups we seek. Also there is no guarantee that should we
find them, that Hiroko would be safe among them, either. I will not
abandon her now that she has put her entire life and legacy on the line
in order to attempt to make us safe.
All we can do is continue, as it is our best hope.
We are skirting Cardassian space. I can find no information on the
Cardassians here, though where I come from they are an argumentative
species. I am constantly scanning for other ships. So far, once again,
random chance seems to be operating in our favor. I have taught Deezen
how to monitor the sensors; this frees me to meditate from time to
time.
I am finding it easier to slip into the Third Level despite the
smallness of our quarters. We Vulcans take our meditations in shifts as
well, and the resultant alertness is paying off; we have discovered
some intriguing information in the communications of the starships as I
managed to infiltrate their encryption. We may be headed in the right
area; the rebels do exist, according to snippets of communiques. Right
now they are being ignored; the war with the Rihannsu is consuming much
of their attention. But there are indications that if they did not have
that distraction, they would be converging on the Briar Patch in order
to try to wipe out the rebellion colonies.
About them in particular, I can learn nothing save that they exist;
there are a few Class M planets in the systems within it; if we can
find the base we can apply for asylum and perhaps ensure Hiroko's
safety by trading information they cannot have about Imperial forces
and assets.
We have completed the first leg of our journey. We weave our way
through one of the asteroid belts that comprise the border of the next
area we need to transit. We are hiding on one of the larger asteroids
and shut down as we had sensor readings indicating a large craft in the
vicinity; fortunately, though it has Imperial markings, it proves to be
a sparsely manned ore freighter in transit through this area, and
monitoring its subspace transmissions proves it is only traveling
through.
We wait until there is no trace of it before resuming our travels. My
knowledge of the star systems in this area is enabling us to navigate
without detection. Hiroko must do the actual piloting; fortunately that
is not a problem for her.
I suggest we stop on an ice moon circling a large planet circling a
nearly cold star where we can begin to plot out our course through
nearby McAllister C-5 Nebula, in this universe named after some other
astronomer. We can expect some fluctuations as we begin to journey
through what in my universe is Son'a space--here, the Son'a were wiped
out by the Terrans and the Klingons, long since. The space appears to
be uninhabited by intelligent lifeforms at present. But we must not be
complacent.
And once we enter the Patch, we shall be unable to travel at warp
speed. That will handicap us further; fortunately, it will also
similarly handicap any possible pursuers. So we stop, secure the sensor
web, maintain a dampening field in case we have missed anything, and
take turns at watch. I want to take my turn, but my comrades overrule
me, pointing out that it is easier for the sighted to monitor sensors
and be ready to block our own life readings, which otherwise might give
us away.
Instead, I look after T'Amanda, taking some time to teach her now that
I can do so openly. I am still teaching her that in the presence of any
other being aside from our small band, and any other human than Hiroko,
she must not speak in the People's tongue, and she understands this
necessity. In many ways she is more ordered and disciplined than I was
as a toddler, from my own memories. I make certain she understands that
she has my approval. That is the one thing my father always withheld
from me. I know it was for my own good; it still stings yet, illogical
though that is.
T'Amanda will not lack for paternal affection. I believe that is as
necessary to a Vulcan child as it is for any child. Within the family,
its cause is sufficient.
When we sleep, she is cradled in my arms. She has told me she feels safe, thus; it is illogical, but so do I.
I believe some things transcend logic, though I do not yet understand that.
When we wake, Hiroko is in the small bridge keeping watch, and T'Amanda
and I join her. She asks to hold the child, and I cannot refuse. While
she is holding her, I go to the replicator and dial for small salads
and pieces of fruit for my daughter. Hiroko feeds her and begins to
speak to me.
"Spock, I hope I'm not out of line, here, but I have noticed that T'Pel
seems less than happy even when you two are together. Is there anything
I can help with?"
I sigh. Hiroko is most perceptive for a human. I remember another who
also showed that kind of perception."I do not believe there is anything
you can do, Mistress. I am experiencing--difficulties. But they are of
a personal nature. I do not know how you can help. It is something I
must work through."
How can I tell her that I believe I am sa-ka-ashausu, one attracted to
my own gender? I am bonded to a woman. It is a lifelong bond, and it
cannot be broken. I must simply learn to overcome my inclinations, so I
can do my duties to she who is my wife. It is not her fault that she
has bonded to to me; my ignorance of my own nature can hardly be an
excuse. I am a poor husband, but I will try to do better. My appetite
gone, I pretend to eat, that T'Amanda might not notice. "Is my daughter
eating her food?"
"Yes, father," comes the baby voice. "I eat. Father eat."
"You'd better set a good example, Spock. Children are most perceptive.
I think you will find they watch us closely, we adults, and imitate
what we do, not what we say."
I raise an eyebrow. "Indeed." Perhaps I shall take to eating in
private, if I can. T'Pel often scolds me for not eating "enough", and I
do not wish to give my daughter some of the habits I have. She needs to
consume sufficient nourishment for her growth. Sighing at the
necessity, I consume my salad. When we are finished, Hiroko sends
T'Amanda to me and takes my dish for recycling. When she comes back,
she is serious again.
"Spock, I know we've talked only a little about this, but I need you to
know. If anything happens to me, and you and the others are taken, I
have made arrangements for a cousin to take you, and as long as you are
all maintained in the household and cared for, an annuity will be given
to my cousin. Her slaves are content, at least and she and her husband
do not own factories, farms, or mines. You will not have to ever fear
an owner like my brother or worse."
"Mistress. I am grateful. It is quite possibly the best that could
happen to slaves. But I find I am less willing to submit myself to
bondage again. To have my daughter grow up under those conditions, as
good as you can try to make them, would likely be difficult if not
impossible. I shall endeavor to find us a way so that will not happen."
I hand T'Amanda one of the real books Hiroko has brought for our use;
she sits down at my feet, engrossed.
I steeple my fingers. "We do need to speak of future possibilities, Mistress."
Hiroko interrupts me."Couldn't you call me Hiroko, Spock? I would rather be your friend than your owner."
"I am flattered, Mistress. But it is quite impossible until and unless
we achieve our goal. I must not become habituated to illegal
familiarities. For you, it is a reminder of a distance you would rather
not have. For us, it is our life. Please understand that."
I hear a small sigh, undoubtedly not meant to be heard at all. "I will try, Spock. I want to be your friend."
"You have been and continue to be a good friend to us. To me. But we
are not yet free of the Imperial yoke; nor are you. We must all
remember that."
I pull a datachip from my sleeve. "This is a starchart that is not
illegal for a human to own. It details some of the difficulties we will
encounter once we enter the Briar Patch space. There are enormous
amounts of anomalies inside the system and travel is difficult even
without the added possibility of encountering hostile beings. I have
marked two possible systems within a few days travel even at one
quarter impulse, which is what we will have to maintain inside the
Patch, due to the ambient metaphasic radiation there. I have marked
them; they are known in my own universe."
Mind melds with Hiroko have already told her where I am from
originally. There have been few secrets from us for some time. I fully
trust her now, and have since T'Pau melded with her first.
"These worlds," I continue,"were uninhabited for a long time. It is my
hope that they either remain so, or that one of them is the location of
a rebel colony or base. Either way, we shall likely be able to remain
undetected for some time. Perhaps for all time, if the Rihannsu win the
war. They were not interested in this space in my own universe. It was
too difficult through which to travel." I again fold my hands, having
handed the chip to Hiroko."Be certain you want this. It will be
incredibly lonely for you; likely you'll be among hostiles who will
resent your humanity. I have nearly completed a device to render
collars unusable; we may be able to use this technology as a bargaining
chip to keep you alive and healthy. But I will be as unable to protect
you as I am to protect my child and my wife from Imperial edicts and
oppression. There
is an alternative. Within a day's travel is one of the last borderline
star systems; there is a small moon with a breathable atmosphere and
small animal and plant life. You could drop us off there and go back
home without us, if you'd rather."
I can hear Hiroko shift in her seat as she answers me, "Were I to come
back without you, and no record of your sale, they'd mark you as
runaways, Spock. They'd go after you, and when they found you, you'd be
destroyed. I can't risk that, now I know what special people you all
are. I can't live that kind of lie. If there are rebels they want to
kill me, would they not be justified?" Hasn't it been my kind
responsible for their misery? No, Spock. In for a penny, in for a
pound."
I cannot fault her loyalty.