Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett

Author:Christopher L. Bennett [Bennett, Christopher L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2012-07-13T17:38:01+00:00

When Picard told Ariel of Quinn’s offer, she accepted it more readily than he did. “I think it’s an excellent idea,” she said. “As a Starfleet captain you’ll be in a much better position to help my people. You can assemble your own crew, recruit the best scientists. And once we do find a way to free my people, you’ll be in a position to speak for us.”

“In what way?” he asked.

“Come on, you know I can read people. Admiral Quinn doesn’t trust me. It’s all right,” she assured him. “In his position, he has to be cautious. But there will be others like him, and it will help to have a voice supporting us on the inside.” She took his hands. “Because as advanced and powerful and immortal and all that as we may be, we will still be foundlings, out of place, unfamiliar with your galaxy. We’ll need the help of a friendly power while we get back on our feet. I can’t think of anyone better than the Federation.”

Picard smiled. “You’re very optimistic. Talking about the rescue of the Manraloth as if it were a sure thing.”

Some of her sadness showed through. “I can’t afford not to be optimistic at this point. Hope is what’s keeping me going. Well,” she added, smiling, “hope and you.”

They kissed for a while, but then he asked, “And what about afterwards? Once this mission is over, even if we succeed, Starfleet will have other duties for me. What will that mean for us?”

She stroked his head. “We can survive the occasional separation, my love. I’ll be busy too, helping my people adjust. But we will find time. And no career lasts forever,” she added with a smile laden with promise.

He harumphed. “But will you still find me desirable when I’m old and gray and you’re as perfect as you are now?”

Her arms went around him. “‘But flowers distill’d, though they with winter meet, / Leese but their show; their substance still lives sweet.’”

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