Message from Ambassador Mizu

[Keb 0]

Keb pulled her shirt off in the darkness of her room as soon as the door closed after her shift. “Computer, lights,” she said, reaching into her closet for something more comfortable. Perhaps something more feminine, too; she was planning to catch Faldek for a meal. She picked a soft blue dress that draped over her figure, let her hair down, and then checked her room console as she brushed it into gentle curls.

 

There was a reply subspace message, marked private, from her father. Ambassador Mizu’s graying beard and eyes that were curved just like his daughter’s came into focus on the console screen. But he wasn’t smiling.

 

“Keb, your mother and I just got your message. I ought to start with congratulations and so forth, but I’m really very concerned about this. Are you absolutely sure that this Cardassian is a suitable match for you? How much of his culture are you familiar with? His history? While you’ve sent a few messages about him before this, I must say your news came as quite a shock.”

 

Her father’s recorded image paused as he collected his thoughts. “I don’t really want to pry into your personal business, Keb, but given recent events in the Cardassian system and some of my dealings with their representatives to Starfleet in the past, I felt I had to look into this. I’ve found Beran Faldek’s personnel files—it’s really quite disturbing. I haven’t shown your mother yet. She’s been fluttering between consternation that you haven’t introduced your fiancé properly yet and plans for the wedding, but I know she’s worried about who he is, too. I think you should read the files I’ve enclosed; it contains some classified information, which I’ve been given permission to release to you. If you’re going to marry the man, you have every right to know it. I’ll respect whatever decision you make, of course, but I believe it ought to be an informed decision.”

 

Keb glanced at the attached files with dread. “Your mother and I love you very much, and we want you to be happy. Be careful out there and come see us soon. Dad out.”

 

The image froze, and Keb looked at her father’s face, biting her lip. Beran had been honest with her, hadn’t he? With everything he’d already told her, what could he be lying about? And yet, wasn’t it a betrayal of his trust to read those files? Her natural curiosity was battling with her affections, both for her family and for him.

 

She hadn’t been sure she wanted to have a counseling session, but her father had just made it even more imperative. She decided to wait before looking at the files, at the very least. She downloaded them onto a small data crystal, just in case someone hacked her files for some reason, and strung it into a necklace. Tucking it under the collar of her dress, she closed her father’s message, nervously twirled her ring around her finger, and left her room.