~ By Laura Cynthia Chambers 

Grace walked down the hallway, a look of concern on her face. She passed by several crew members, including two security officers who looked up once as she hurried by them, then returned to their conversation. She spied Albix’s guest quarters on the left side of the hall, and stood outside his room for a few seconds, smoothing her uniform. Then she raised her right hand to press the door chime.

“Come in,” a muffled voice from the other side called softly.

She entered, surveying the dark grey walls; the comfortable bed covered in red checked sheets; an abstract painting of swirls in dark blue and muted yellow to the left of the window. A small peach rectangular table stood on two wide posts. Albix sat in a soft white chair with a low back, staring down at the tabletop. A dish of thick brown vegetable beef stew sat steaming before him as he absent-mindedly stirred it with a spoon.

Grace pulled out the other chair across from him and sat down. “No matter how long you stare at your dinner, you’ll never be able to eat it with your eyes.”

 He looked up at her, confused. “What?”

She shook her head, smiling sadly. “Nothing….just something my mom used to say.” Grace swallowed hard, twisting her hands in front of her. “You haven’t touched your dinner. What’s the matter?”

He dropped the spoon and sighed deeply. “I’m not hungry right now.”

“I suppose that makes sense. Your stomach’s probably shrunk from not getting enough for a while.” She looked up at him, her eyes soft.

“No, that’s not why.” Albix slumped forward, dejected, and pushed the dish out of the way. 

Grace put her hand on top of his. “Tell me.”

“I-I just…he didn’t even want to speak to me.” Albix covered his face with both hands. 

“He asked about you, didn’t he?”

“Yes. But that’s all. I mean, I expected him to be surprised. Angry, even.”  He picked up the green glass of water next to him and drank it half down. “But indifferent?” He groaned. “This was a really bad idea. As though I could just come back home and pick up where I left off.” Albix paused, thinking. “It’s almost harvest season again. I may not be able to return as a son, but he always needs seasonal workers to pick the breesa. Even if he doesn’t care anymore, maybe he will allow me that much.”

“He cares. T-trust me.”  A single tear ran down Grace’s cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand, sniffling. “I know.”

“Are you okay?” He looked at her curiously, for the first time focusing on something other than his own pain.

“Yeah. Albix…listen to me. Do you know how fortunate you are?” She sat back in her chair. “I was an only child growing up. Daddy’s girl and Starfleet brat. We bounced from starbase to starbase, but somehow he and Mom always managed to make it feel like home for me.” She sighed. “There was never any question about my destiny.  Four years of Academy and then a nice safe posting on the Julius.” Albix frowned. “Transport ship. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good craft and all, but traveling the same regularly scheduled route over and over again? I wanted adventure. Much like you did.”

Albix rested his chin on his hand. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

She ran her hand through her hair. “Yeah, I did. I requested reassignment to the Reliant and got it. When I tried to tell my parents the news, my mother was thrilled for me. But my father…” She swallowed hard. “He was not happy. The captain of the Julius was a good friend of his, and the position a coveted one. We had words with each other. I-I told him if he didn’t think I was grown up enough to make my own choices, then I didn’t want anything to do with him. He was so hurt…I think, but he yelled at me to go then.” She drew in a shuddering breath. “S-so I-I did. I-I j-just wish I’d gone about it another way.”

“Then you do understand.” He looked at her with sympathy.

“Yes,” she whispered, a faraway look in her eyes. “More than you know. Not long after I left them, my parents retired to the Syndas III colony. Two days after they moved in, a massive volcanic eruption destroyed the settlement. Without warning, everything was gone.” 

Albix reached across the table and touched her arm. “Oh, Grace…”

Grace returned her gaze to him. “What I’d give to see them again. To apologize. I don’t have that chance any more. But you do. Take it.”

The wall communicator chirped. Albix jumped, looking around for the source of the sound. Grace stood and walked over to the wall, pressing the switch. “Berlin here.”

“This is Spock, Lieutenant. Please inform Mr. Baras that we have arrived at Agapea and will be transporting down in fifteen minutes.” 

“Understood, sir. Berlin out.” She pressed the off switch and looked over her shoulder at Albix, who was now seated on the edge of his bed. “It’s going to be just fine. You’ll see.”

* * *

The landing party consisting of Kirk, Spock, Albix, Berlin and two security officers materialized in the middle of a field. It was early evening. Several large fruit trees stood planted in even rows. Long green leaves trailed down from the branches, and clusters of blue tear drop shaped fruit hung heavily in clusters.  A stack of bushel baskets sat next to one, tipped over.

Kirk stared off into the distance, surveying the gently sloping valley. Several small natural rock formations had been left in place, instead of being removed to make way for the orchard. As Albix spoke quietly to Berlin, she squeezed his hand. 

Spock pointed in the opposite direction of Kirk’s perusal. A large house, spacious but not overly pretentious, stood about 50 feet away. Light filled all the windows; the sounds of conversation and music spilled outside.  “Captain. I believe that is where we are expected.” He looked at Albix, who nodded once.

The door burst open, and a large man hurried along a cobblestone pathway towards them. He was not a young man; his hair was gray and his face was lined with age. But his eyes were as bright with wonder as a little boy’s.

 The security officers reached for their weapons, but Kirk waved them off. He stepped forward and extended a hand towards the man. “Descin Baras, I presume? I’m Captain Kirk; you contacted-“ He cut himself off as the old man swept past Kirk and nearly collided with Albix, taking him in a tight embrace. Kirk and Spock shared surprised looks with each other and the security detail. Grace backed away two steps, smiling at the scene before her.

Tears streamed down Descin’s face as he looked on the son he hadn’t seen in years. “My boy. Oh, my dear, dear boy. I thought I’d never see you again.” He buried his face in his son’s shoulder.  “My son…” he murmured softly.

Albix was weeping, too, relief evident in his eyes. “Father…I’m so sorry…”

Descin pulled back, grabbing his son by the arms. “I know, son. I know you are.” He smiled, and lifted a corner of his reddish-brown robe to wipe his eyes. “Look at us…watering the breesa with our tears,” he chuckled. He slipped his arm around Albix’s shoulders, looking around at the others as though noticing them for the first time. “Captain, my apologies. Having my son back has made me forget all about hospitality.”

Kirk smiled warmly. “That’s quite alright.” Spock nodded. 

“Yes, well, as I said before, you and your crew are welcome to join in the festivities.” He turned to his son again, looking at him with deep love. “As soon as I heard you were coming home, I invited all of our friends and neighbours to the house for a celebration. Such short notice, but most of them have already arrived.” 

“And Todar?” Albix’s question hung in the air for a few seconds.

For the first time, the joy that radiated from Descin’s face dimmed a little. “I expect him home later. He does not know yet.” He dropped his gaze, but then recovered quickly. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you as well. Come, come, I had Hesla lay out some fine clothes for you.” Steering his son towards the house, he walked ahead of the others, Berlin next to Albix. Stopping once to look over his shoulder, he called back to them. “There’s plenty of food and drink, so you needn’t worry about taking advantage of me.”

“Thank you, that’s very generous. I’ll be sure to let them know.” Kirk flipped his communicator open, as Spock’s gaze darted between the retreating figures and the captain. “Kirk to Enterprise.”

Uhura answered. “Receiving. Go ahead, Captain.”

“Make the following shipwide announcement; all off-duty personnel be advised that they are welcome to attend a celebration here on Agapea, given in honor of our guest’s homecoming.” 

“Understood. Will so advise.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Kirk shut the communicator and turned to Spock, throwing his arm over the first officer’s shoulder, grinning. Spock frowned, and Kirk’s smile faded.  He narrowed his eyes at Spock. “Something wrong?”

“No, sir.” He pressed his lips together. “I was merely struck by the way Descin greeted Albix.”

Kirk tipped his head to the side, amused. “You were struck? He almost knocked me over getting to him.”

They headed down the pathway side by side.

“You misunderstand me, sir.” Spock continued. “It was as though he had done nothing wrong whatsoever. Surely his father would hold such grievous errors against him.”

“It’s called a second chance, Spock. Haven’t you ever been given one before?” Kirk asked.

“I have rarely required such, as I generally consider the consequences of my decisions before acting. Forgiveness is a human concept; the releasing of grudges due to past wrongs. There is no emotion involved when we deny somebody a chance, only logic; it would be most irrational to expect different results from the same person.”

Kirk held up one finger. “Ah, but that’s just it; he’s not the same person he was before.”

Spock considered this briefly. “Perhaps you are right, Captain.”

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