"That's a snap, all right," Kirk agreed, "but then, you don't know what she's been doing to his pet computer. In fact, I can only guess...."
By the time the lift drew to bridge level, Jim Kirk had filled him in on what little he knew of the flags in Spock's computer. "D'you know," McCoy said, "the way he's been watchin' her, I was half expectin' her to jump up and go 'Boo!' at him. So here you are tellin' me she already has.... Well, that explains his behavior, but I'm sorry I missed seein' it."
"Cheer up, Bones. Maybe he hasn't found all her surprises yet."
The doors hissed open and they walked onto the bridge. McCoy reveled in the welcoming hellos and came at last to Chekov, who doffed his rakish nonregulation cap and offered a jaunty smile and a stubbly growth of new hair for his examination. "You're a lucky man, Mr. Chekov. You'll be back in shape in no time," McCoy told him and added, chuckling to himself, "Blew it up his nose. That woman should have cards printed: 'Dr. Evan Wilson, Imaginative Medicine A Specialty."'
Sulu grinned at him. "Speaking of imaginative," he said, "is there really such a thing as the organ of Zuckerkandl, or have I been had?"
"The organ of Zuckerkandl? I'd say only one doctor in fifty even knows it exists. Am I bein' tested, Mr. Sulu?" McCoy eyed him suspiciously.
After a long, equally suspicious look back, Sulu said to Chekov, "It could be a conspiracy. I wouldn't put it past her to con Dr. McCoy into confirming it for her...."
From his console, Spock said, "Your conspiracy theory, Mr. Sulu, is unfounded. While it is a difficult reference to locate, the Starfleet medical library computers also confirm the existence of such an organ in the human anatomy."
"Evan," said McCoy and, smiling broadly at Spock, he added, "I see why you didn't want her assistance, Spock. Any computer she queries is automatically suspect. At least, that's what I hear from Jim. Put her in the one-in-fifty category and leave it at that."
"Your estimate, Doctor, is conservative almost to the point of inaccuracy."
McCoy raised an eyebrow. "If I were Evan, I'd take that as a compliment. Bein' McCoy, I'm goin' to chalk it up as one of your usual slurs, Spock."
"Captain," Uhura cut through, "I have Starfleet, sir. New orders."
"On the screen, Lieutenant."
Kirk listened with a growing sense of satisfaction: first came the general commendation his crew so richly deserved; second, the announcement of three weeks' much-needed shore leave, also richly deserved; third and best...
"...You are to report back to Eeiauo, to pick up and transport an Eeiauoan delegation to Sivao. A list of delegates follows."
They would all welcome the chance to see the outcome of the meeting between the two worlds, he knew. The name Sunfall of Ennien topped the list of delegates, and Jim Kirk could feel the radiance of Uhura's smile without turning.
When the screen blanked and he did turn, he found her smile had diminished. Pressing her earpiece to her ear, Uhura said, "Additional orders coming in from Starfleet Command, sir, for Dr. Wilson," then she held up her hand for a moment's grace. Spock stepped to his station and scrutinized his computer. It was odd, Kirk thought, but no odder than most of Spock's behavior concerning the doctor, and he let it pass without comment. Uhura lowered her hand and, frowning slightly, said, "She's to report to Laurel Station immediately."
"Immediately?" he repeated, taken aback, and McCoy muttered, "Starfleet," as if it were a word not used in polite company. Kirk said, "That's hardly fair. Ask them if they can wait three weeks."
Uhura brightened and returned to her console. But before she could translate his words into a formal request, Spock said, "One moment, Lieutenant," and she paused, startled by the command implicit in his tone. Spock went on, "Captain, if you will permit an observation? I believe Dr. Wilson has been anticipating these orders for some time now. She would no doubt appreciate your intention, but she would hardly consider the result a kindness."
McCoy studied him, then grinned to lighten the question: "Tryin' to get rid of her, Spock?"
"No, Doctor."
Kirk could read nothing in his face. I trust his judgment, he thought, and, waving a hand at Uhura, he said, "Let it go, Lieutenant. Pass the orders on to Dr. Wilson." Then he thought, I'm not so sure I trust his judgment on this one subject however, and added, subduing McCoy with a stare, "If she squawks, I'll place the request."
But she did not squawk. Shortly thereafter she announced herself ready for departure. Jim Kirk eased his way through the thinning crowd of well-wishers on the shuttlecraft deck and found her, like her skiff, poised for departure. Spock was right, he thought, she's been waiting for this. "That anxious to leave us, Evan?" he asked, voicing it for the rest.
She shook her head; the smile she gave him was rueful. "No, Captain, not that. I haven't had so much fun in a long time, or met so many people I liked all in one place." She clasped both hands on her quarterstaff, the one that had served them all so well on Sivao, and leaned her cheek against it. "But you don't need me anymore," and glancing up at Spock, she once again produced that wicked grin of hers, and added, "And even a Vulcan's patience won't last forever."
McCoy guffawed. "All the more reason to stay, Evan-give us something' to look forward to! From what I've seen, you might just be the person to get through that stubborn front...."
Evan Wilson laughed and held out the quarterstaff to him. "For you, Leonard, in case you ever have to contend with a Vulcan patient." McCoy hesitated, taking the offer as a joke, but she pressed the staff into his hands. She hugged Uhura and Chapel, kissed Scotty and Sulu each on the cheek.
Chekov doffed his cap and held out his hand. Reddening self-consciously under the stubbly scalp his gallantry exposed, he said, "Good-bye, sair. We'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Pavel," she said. "May I give you one last bit of medical advice, for safety's sake?"
Surprised, Chekov said, "Of course."
She leaned conspiratorially close to say: "Please take care when you get planetside. Women are going to be lining up to speak to you- and a great many of them will not be satisfied with speaking. Just be sure you get some rest between times." With that, she took his extended hand, pulled him toward her and gave him a kiss on the cheek as well. Chekov ducked his head, at once flustered and reassured.
"Don't I get a kiss too?" McCoy protested, "Seems to me a quarterstaff is hardly a fair trade...." Laughing, Evan stood on her toes to kiss him. "That's better," said McCoy, looking smug, then he added, "How about Jim? He could use a lift in morale, too, Doctor."
Jim Kirk grinned in anticipation as she turned his way. But, once again, he got the unexpected. Evan Wilson snapped to attention, saluted crisply and said, "Captain, it's been a pleasure to serve with you." Her blue eyes were bright with mischief. He returned the salute in kind and said, "The pleasure was mine, Dr. Wilson," and waited to see what she would do next.
She turned to Brightspot and said, "Hug?" Brightspot coiled her tail and cautiously embraced Evan, while McCoy gave her an outraged look on Kirk's behalf. Then Evan held Brightspot out at arm's length and said softly, "Don't forget, Brightspot."
Brightspot wrapped her tail around Evan's arm. "I won't, Tail-Kinker; I don't. I'll see you at Ennien."
Evan Wilson nodded- and came at last to Spock. He stared down at her, the look on his face unreadable. It was a long moment before she spoke and, when she did, it was as if she took refuge in the formal language: "I regret we had no time for our experiments in the physiological effects of the Vulcan memory reading process. I have left detailed notes of my experience in the medical log. They are subjective, of course, but they may be of some use in suggesting an approach to formal research. Perhaps you and Dr. McCoy might-" She broke off suddenly but did not take her eyes from his face.
"Perhaps," he said, "although you would have been the better subject."
"I like that, Spock," said McCoy acidly.
Uncharacteristically, Spock made no response to McCoy. Still looking at Wilson, he said, "Thank you, Tail-Kinker to-Ennien. I have learned a great deal from our encounter."
"So have I," she said. "Next time I'll be ready for you." The silence drew out between them, but no one dared to speak. "Mr. Spock," she said again, "Thank you for...everything. I owe you." Reddening suddenly, she looked away. "Clear the deck, people! Jamie and I have to be on our way!" She started for the skiff.
Last to the hatch in his reluctance to see her leave, Kirk paused before clearing the shuttlecraft deck. And, as he turned for one final glimpse of her, Evan Wilson shouted, "Hey, Jim!" and raced toward him. He was so surprised when she leapt to throw her arms around his neck that he caught and held her purely by reflex. She kissed him soundly on the cheek. Then, laughing, she lowered herself to the deck, much like one of Catchclaw's children scrambling down, threw her head back to look challengingly into his eyes and said, "I'll see you again, Jim- you may not see me, but I'll see you!" She gave one last wicked grin, turned again and darted back to her ship.
"Much better," said McCoy, lounging smugly just outside the hatch. He and Kirk exchanged grins.
"A proper good-bye," agreed Kirk.
From the airlock of her skiff, Evan Wilson yelled, "Hey, Leonard, shut the door! Were you born in a barn?"
"Yeah," McCoy yelled back, as Kirk stepped hastily past him, "and every time I hear a donkey bray, I get homesick!" At that, Evan crowed with delight and blew them each a kiss.
Kirk himself dogged the hatch, then followed the others to the observation bay to watch as the Dr. James Barry slipped from the shuttlecraft deck and sped away. Scott said to Sulu, "Y'see, laddie, Orsay didna once touch th' tractor beams. She's a fine captain, is th' lass, as b'fits her Jamie."
Kirk, who had been treated to a loving description of "her Jamie," knew high praise when he heard it, but he saw that her performance only bewildered Spock further. Quietly, he said, "About the pulsars, Spock, I can explain that- later."
"Indeed? I should be most grateful."
Something in Spock's expression made Jim Kirk look twice. Had it been anyone but Spock, he'd have thought him in need of cheering. Illogical or not, he found he could not shake the peculiar sensation and, as he walked to the lift beside his first officer, he acted on it, deliberately drawing from Evan Wilson's bag of tricks. "Well," he began, "I guess that wraps up all the loose ends but one. I never found out the answer, and now I suppose I never will."
He waited for Spock's query, got it. "Nothing important, Spock"- he waved his hand nonchalantly- "just a riddle she posed me." He had Spock's full attention now, so he laughed and set the final hook: "I had intended to ask you, to see what you could make of it."
"By all means, ask. I would be most interested to hear this 'riddle'."
"The first time we met, I asked Evan why she had taken up saber as a hobby, and she said 'for the same reason I took up quarterstaff and eating with chopsticks.' Make any sense to you, Spock, or is it as illogical as it sounds?" But as he asked, he realized the answer lay in her willingness to learn anything and everything, from Sivaoan emergency medicine to chipping out a spearhead.
"Illogical, Captain? Hardly," Spock said.
Kirk was taken aback: Spock clearly saw the riddle as a riddle and had found his own solution. "You mean there is some connection I'm missing? Saber, quarterstaff, chopsticks?"
"There is."
Kirk waited for him to expand on that. When he did not, Kirk eyed him warily and, in the time-honored tradition of the riddle, patiently repeated his query, "All right, Spock, I'll bite: why would she take up saber, quarterstaff and eating with chopsticks?"
"To extend her reach."
Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott found himself looking forward to his extended shore leave with somewhat mixed feelings. He had hoped to do a great deal of carousing with McCoy and Wilson- and to introduce Rushlight to the delights of their company. But Rushlight had remained on Eeiauo, looking after his newfound kin. Well, they had more need of a bard; Scotty could hardly begrudge them that. He did begrudge Starfleet's decision to transfer Evan without giving her leave, though, and he much resented being deprived of her company.
He answered the door absently and found himself staring at Uhura.
"May I come in for a moment, Mr. Scott?"
"0' course, lass. Sit down. What can I do for ye?"
She remained standing, shyly. She said, "You did it already, Mr. Scott. It was your idea to use Sunfall's songs to find Sivao. I...I wanted to thank you."
"Lass," he said, admonishing, "ye did all th' work: ye an' Mr. Spock...."
"I still-" She broke off, began again. "Mr. Scott, were you serious when you said you'd like to hear me sing those songs? The ribald ones, I mean?" she added.
