Uhura moved out of his arms and gave him a tired smile. She looked good, though. She wore black slacks and a camel-colored sweater with big gold hoops in her ears.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Jim told her.
“Same.”
He gestured to the table. “Join me?”
Uhura nodded. “Let me just get my drink.”
He slid into the booth and a minute or two later she came back carrying what looked like an orange soda. She sat across from him and gestured to the drink beside him.
“Shirley Temple?”
“I’m here with my mother. She stopped drinking a while back. She’s joining me shortly.” He picked up his whiskey sour. “Where’s Spock?”
She stared at him just as she brought the orange drink to her lips. “Spock and I aren’t together anymore.”
He frowned. “You aren’t?”
“We’re divorced. Last year.” She shook her head. “Didn’t he tell you?”
“We don’t keep in contact,” he admitted softly.
Uhura closed her eyes briefly. “Who told you about Pavel passing if it wasn’t Spock?”
“Admiral M’Benga. On-on behalf of Bones.”
She lowered her gaze, eyes sad. When she looked back at him there was just the barest wet sheen there.
“It was a simple enough divorce. No kids. No bond.”
“You guys didn’t get bonded on New Vulcan?”
Uhura rolled her eyes. “No. And I can’t believe you don’t know that either. We were going to, after you married us, that was the plan. But the Elders on New Vulcan said we weren’t mentally compatible.” She grimaced. “After that Spock retreated even farther away from me. We should never have forced the marriage, but I guess we all thought that was the thing to do at the time. Have one moment of joy after everything. Trouble was the feelings we once had for each other couldn’t be recreated no matter how hard we tried. And we did try.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, and he was. He’d wanted it to work between them after it hadn’t worked between him and Spock.
“You really should talk to him, Jim.”
He ignored that and forced a smile. “How are you doing then? I’m guessing you’re going somewhere since you’re here at the bay.”
She brightened. “I’m going to Alonder 2. I might not be with Starfleet anymore, but I took a position as a communications director with the Federation’s President. She’s sending me to Alonder 2 for a conference related to their possibly becoming part of the United Federation of Planets. Do you know it?”
“I’ve heard of it and its richness of minerals.”
“Which is why they are desirable to join.” An announcement came over the speakers and she began to scoot out of the booth. “And that’s me. We should really get together soon, Jim. I know how difficult it’s been with the others, but I’d like to keep in touch.”
He nodded. “Okay. Take care of yourself, Nyota.”
“You too. And talk to Spock.”
She hurried off then just as his mother came through the swinging doors of the bar. She glanced back at the way Uhura had gone and then joined Jim at the table.
“Was that Commander Uhura?”
“Former Commander Uhura, yeah. She works for the President now and is off to Alonder 2.”
His mom nodded. “I’ve got our bags packed and already on the shuttle for Orion.” She picked up her Shirley Temple. “Paperwork is in order too. And I have a shot for you.”
He finished off his whiskey sour. “A shot?”
“Orion pheromones can be dangerous and you’re a magnet for attractive members of both genders no matter the species as well as a magnet for danger.” She pulled out a syringe from her purse. “Stick out your arm.”
“Is this really necessary?” But he stuck out his arm, and she pushed up his sleeve and pressed the needle in.
“We need to stay focused on the mission, Jim. Get those kids and get out.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 