ON
The winds whipped over the plains, bringing with them a brisk, biting
cold. Even in the summer months, the Rocky Mountains or Wyoming
weren't exactly balmy.
Jack Archer reined in his mount, a beautiful blood bay stallion
named Bonfire. He just sat there for a few minutes, breathing deep of
the sharp mountain air. He looked back down the valley towards the
ranch. He raised a hand to shade his eyes from the sunlight. He was
surprised to see he'd left the old homestead too far for his eyesight
to see.
He looked up towards the mountains. They were all still there,
the peaks he remembered from his boyhood. Kyrie, Thunderer, Excelsior,
Epsilon, Lindbergh and Torry Peak. Nothing had changed. These
mountains had been here long before Jack Archer had walked the Earth,
and they would be here long after Jack Archer was dust. The mountains
were immortal. They were eternal.
It was amazing how small one could feel up here. As had happened
as a child, he felt the most awesome sense of loneliness. One could
honestly believe that they were alone in the world. He breathed deep
again, enjoying it, almost craving it. He'd been away for far too
long. No matter where he went, nothing could ever replace these
feelings, these sensations. This was home.
Inside the pocket of his jacket, his commbadge chirped. Jack
sighed. As with all good things, this experience too was destined to
end. He grasped the reins with one hand, and, using his mouth to help,
pulled off his glove on the other. He reached inside and pulled out
the badge and pressed it. +Archer here.+
+Admiral
Ross here Captain. Well, we followed your directions from Larame, and
we even used a ground car as opposed to a transporter so as not to
violate the Protected Environmental Area codes. So......here we
are......at an admittedly beautiful and rustic horse ranch. Only one
thing is missing Captain. You.+
Archer
suppressed a chuckle. He'd known going for the ride was taking a big
chance, but he hadn't been able to resist. Besides, after the meeting,
he doubted he would be in the mood to go. Besides, moments like this
in life were few and far between. They were too precious to pass up. +Understood
sir. I apologize. I lost track of time. Have one of the ranch hands
let you into the house. I'll be back as soon as I can. Archer out.+
He pocketed the badge and pulled his
glove back on. He grasped the reins in both hands and whirled his
mount around. "HAHHH!!!! HAHHH!!!!"
The
blood bay stallion half-reared, whinnying and snorting before breaking
into a fierce gallop back towards the ranch. Sod and earth flew up
from Bonfire's thundering hooves. The wind stung Archer's eyes, making
them tear. It was an wonderfully exhilarating ride back to the ranch.
Once there, Jack dismounted and handed the reins to old Robby who had
worked here since before Jack's family had owned it. "Give him a
good rub down Robby. He's earned it."
The old farm hand nodded, leading the
lathered stallion away. "Right n' reckon he did there young Mister
Archer. He's a right beauty this'n is." Jack watched the old man
and the young horse make their way towards the barn. "Robby, make
sure that when the fall sales come that he isn't on the list to go."
Robby nodded and waved. "Already done made sure o' that Young
Jack."
Smiling, Archer made his way towards the house. He could see
smoke curling up from the chimney. Someone had started a fire. He
stepped up on the porch and opened the door.
Inside the house, there waited Admiral William Ross of Starfleet
Command, Commodore Kaylan Zen, Commodore Lukas Fyrstk, Commander Anni
and Lieutenant Commander Tavor. The tall Captain strode into the
living room, pulling off his gloves and heavy riding jacket. "Sorry
I'm late. I hope you've all made yourselves at home. I've prepared
rooms for all of you, and dinner will be ready in a few hours. And yes
Mr. Tavor, we have a very nice vegetarian dish cooking for you.
Eggplant Parmesan. Old Betty, our housekeeper, is without doubt the
world's best cook."
Lukas rose from in front of the fire place. He had just finished
putting another log on the fire. The room was just getting warm enough
to make him comfortable. He replaced the protective covering over the
front and turn to look at Jack Archer.
Tavor glanced at Archer and responded with only a raised eyebrow. He
was annoyed and irritated and doing his best to control it. After the
meeting at the Fleetyards and the approval of 'his' ship, he had
expected to return back to the Patriot. The headache was coming back
and he did not want to be here.
Kaylan had been relaxed on a soft-as-hide brown leather couch
facing the stone fireplace, a small pillow tucked under her arm as she
leaned on it staring into the flames. She wore a heather grey
lambswool v-neck sweater, slightly too large, and blue jeans that had
been offered to her upon arrival. After feeling the chill of the air,
she had gladly accepted. Kaylan had been deep in thought until she
heard Archer's voice. She stood up and her hands pulled down on the
sleeves of the sweater until only her finger tips showed. She wrapped
her arms around herself and walked over to stand next to William Ross.
Ross nodded, taking another sip
of his scotch. "Very
nice place Jack. Good location, good booze, good smells from the
kitchen. Now that we've gotten all that out of the way, can we please
get down to business??"
Archer frowned. Being a
Starfleet Officer, he was used to respecting his senior officers.
However, this was his home. "By
all means Admiral. Considering the nature of the business we're
discussing, I thought a neutral setting away from the eyes and ears of
our modern civilization was in order. I thought a more relaxed
atmosphere might help us. Perhaps I was mistaken."
Jack glanced over at Tavor. "Oh, and Commander, loose the
attitude. You're still on my naughty list for that mind meld stunt
back at DS13."
Kaylan laid a hand gently on Ross' arm closest to her in reminding
him to relax. They had been friends for a long time and she knew how
strained he had been the past year and a half. And this T'Kil threat
had them all nerved up....it seemed that the past year they took turns
calming and reassuring each other. Archer's short fuse concerned her
as well as Tavor's uncharacteristic demeanor. The diplomatic skills of
a past host came through now. She quickly took in again the rustic,
but comfortable feel of Archer's home. The room they were in was wood
finished, filled with wood and leather furnishings. An Indian-looking
throw blanket was thrown over the back of the couch she had been so
very relaxed on, as well as on a few comfortable chairs around the
room. An Indian looking tapestry hung on one wall, more western type
decorations on others; nothing was overly done. The floors were of
stone with heavy throw rugs, coloured in various shades of wood, and
earthen tones. She smiled at Archer, "Captain,
you have a lovely and comfortable home. We all have been a bit
strained and I feel the atmosphere is perfect here." She put a
hand on her stomach, " How about we commence with the meeting before
those good smells from the kitchen distract us even more."
Ross wasn't happy at the moment. The
ride out here had grated on his nerves. The cold hadn't helped. "Might
I say the same for you Captain Archer. I don't like cloak and danger
tactics."
Archer took a deep breath. "Well......considering
how this entire T'Kil business was handled up till now, you could've
surprised me."
Kaylan walked away from Ross towards Lukas and let out a breath,
giving Anni a frustrated _expression_ on her way. So much for diplomacy.
He held up his hand just as Ross was about to start. "Admiral,
let's drop all of this. As far as I know, this meeting was supposed to
be to discuss some new information that Commodore Fyrstk has
uncovered. Now, as I haven't been made aware of it yet, perhaps we
should set aside all our differences and get to the matters at hand."
Ross stared at him for a moment,
then nodded. He took another sip of his drink, then put the glass
down. "Agreed." He looked over at Kaylan and Lukas. "Now,
as far as I know, neither the Captain nor the two Commanders have heard
this yet. So how about we start at the beginning??"
Off
Commodore Lukas Fyrstk
Commanding Officer, USS Eagle
Commodore Kayla Zen
Starfleet Command, NPC played by Dr Dominie
Captain Jackson Archer
Commanding Officer, USS Patriot
Admiral William Ross
Starfleet Command, NPC