“More or less. I think parents and children getting used to each other might be a lifelong process. But we found common ground, and things are good between us now. She’s growing so fast, learning so fast. I see my job as doing everything I can to encourage that, and to give her the space to explore life as widely as I have. To choose whatever she wants to be.”

The cadet contemplated that. “But what if she already knew what she wanted to be—knew who she was at heart—and it wasn’t permitted? Because the world she was part of wouldn’t accept it?”

Sulu considered the question. “Demora and I are lucky to live in a time when we have the freedom to choose to be whatever we want. But there were times in the past when that wasn’t the case—when society wouldn’t accept certain ways for people to be. The reason we have that freedom now is because of people back then who didn’t settle for the limits others put on them. People who embraced what they were meant to be and convinced the rest of the world to change.”

Portia absorbed that silently for a time, and Sulu let her. Noting the chronometer on the console, he spoke softly. “Looks like we’ve used up our flight time—better get back. We don’t want to keep the others waiting. But hey—we can talk about this more later, if you’d like.”

She turned to face him. “Thank you, Commander. I will consider that, and the rest of what you have said.”

She remained silent on the flight back, which gave Sulu the chance to wonder if his advice had been appropriate. It had sounded very much as if Portia was talking about embracing her role as a fighter, despite Arcturian belief and tradition. Did he have the right to encourage her to do that? Did the Federation have the right to exploit her services in that capacity when her whole subspecies had been bred to be exploited? What about the concerns people were raising about the precedent it would set for Starfleet?

All he knew was that this intense young woman was searching for identity and purpose, not unlike Demora—and not unlike himself at various times in his life. She had a right to find her own answer, whatever the larger issues.

And if the course she chose turned out to meet with resistance, he was confident she had the strength to handle it.

Kirk had to wait a week to get his meeting with Ashley Janith-Lau. McCoy hadn’t been able to make time for it until he’d succeeded in creating that vaccine for the Icorians. Even then, according to him, it had taken a fair amount of sweet-talking to bring her around.