Star Trek: Ascension -Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

The battle-scarred Enterprise sails towards the Earth ahead with the Defiant and the Gorr flanking her on either side.

"Captain's log, star date eleven three zero zero five point two. With Earth in sight our mission is over. The Dominion device will soon be transferred to the Daestrom Institute with a complete report of our experiences with it and Lt. Alden. Perhaps they will find a way to help him. As for me, this is my final entry as the captain of the Enterprise. So many years and experiences with this ship and her predecessor, so much shared and said, now I find that I have no words sufficient to express my gratitude. Like so many who have walked these corridors only to move on, I look forward to what lies ahead.

"I would like to note my recommendation of Captain Riker as my replacement. The Enterprise and her crew are in need of his services, and he is in need of hers, for here is home and family. A place to return to."

*

Picard and Crusher sit at the breakfast table in his quarters as they have done for so many years. Although this morning he is in his dress uniform as he pours tea, as is Dr. Crusher who listens attentively to his story.

"In the end we had to use the same ruse on Lt. Alden that Moriarty had used on us to gain control of the Enterprise D."

"Make Lt. Alden believe when he reappeared that he had returned to the same matrix program," she follows.

"Precisely," Picard replies, falling silent and looking into his tea.

Crusher recognizes the pensive look on his face. "Nervous?"

"Yes," he answers simply, "but not for the reason you're thinking."

"Indeed?" she says with a bemused tone.

Picard smiles, as if she knows what he is about to say despite the fact that he himself has not worked out the words. "Beverly, all these years serving together, you have been a true and faithful companion. I wonder if you would consider taking a substantial amount of time off from your duties?"

Beverly looks back at him with a wide, coy expression, "I'd have to have a very good reason."

Picard reaches across the small table and takes Beverly's hand, looking into her eyes, "Would marriage be sufficient?"

"Jean-Luc, are you proposing?" she asks quietly.

"I believe I am."

Crusher sets down the teacup she has been steadying herself with and lays her hand over his and smiles warmly. "It's about time."

*

As the Enterprise glides over the bright blue face of the Earth, Picard and Crusher walk hand in hand towards cargo bay one. The doors open to reveal a crowd standing on either side of the door in dress uniform and a deck absorbed in music. The entire bay has been decorated with silver and gold balloons and streamers with tables dressed and set and surrounded by crew and civilian alike. At the end of the cargo bay a long table dressed in silver and white sits in front of the face of Earth on the other side of the transparent force field. Behind the table stand the officers who have gone from being comrades to friends to family; Will and Troi, Worf, Geordi, Wesley, Guinnan, and at the podium at the end of the table Admiral Janeway. As he and Beverly enter, he notices that there are three empty seats at the center of the table. Suddenly the assembly stands, and the room is filled with applauds and as Dvorak's Prague Waltzes begins to play.

Picard and Beverly proceed down the center of the gathering, still hand in hand, and are approached by a young man in dress uniform carrying a tray with three glasses.

"Champagne, sir?"

"Thank you," the captain says routinely with a polite smile. It is only when he reaches for the glasses that he notices the young man's yellow eyes and the three pips on his collar. "Data!"

The young man with yellow eyes smiles back at the captain, "Atticus Data, sir. It means father-like, originating in the…"

Picard takes the tray him and hands it off to a crewman strategically placed nearby and draws Data into a long embrace. "I look forward to getting to know you... Atticus."

As he withdraws Beverly wraps her arms around Data with tears and a kiss on the ear like a mother who has found a lost child. At the end of the embrace Data and ushers them toward the long table where Troi and several others are welling with tears. Beverly takes Picard's hand and Data's arm and they accept their champagne from the attending ensign and make their way through the happy procession to where the table party stands with flutes raised.

Taking their places at the table Picard looks out over gathering, seeing so many who have moved on and left an empty place inside of him without his realizing. Miles and Keiko O'Brien share a table with two lovely young ladies, one who seems a copy of Keiko while the other has her father's curly hair and fair complexion. Picard nods his glass slightly to say hello as the applause stretch out for what seems to him an exorbitant amount of time. Dr. Polaski and the new Moriarty share a table with a bandaged and bruised, but smiling happily, Commander Barclay. Dr. Ogawa stands beside her husband and son while at the tables around her are Levelle, Torak, and the other members of the command crew who have served with this captain since they were junior officers.

At the podium Admiral Janeway taps her glass, looking to the gathering ruefully. Picard is thankful to hear the assembly subdued but is prodded by Beverly to remain standing as the admiral begins to speak.

"It has been nearly a century since Starfleet has said farewell to a captain whose name has, and will remain, synonymous with legend. For those who have had the great privilege of serving with him your feelings of loss are shared by all Starfleet." She turns to face him with her flute raised, "Jean-Luc Picard, your service to the Federation has been of such caliber that any words I could use to honor that service would be lacking. So, I will say only this: You can retire, but you can't hide. Cheers."

The assembly breaks into laughter and applauds, raising their flutes with smatterings of 'cheers' throughout. Picard smiles and nods graciously, hoping to take his seat after the initial toast and is again stayed on his feet by Riker tapping on his own glass and looking at Picard. But this moment, he feels, is the true honor.

"I know I speak for everyone here when I try to express how great an honor it's been serving with you. Through conflict, diplomacy, the loss of friends, the exploration of space you have been an anchor, a compass, and a refuge. You've imparted your own strength to each of us and each of us is a better person for it. Wherever our paths lead there will never be distance between us, and on that point we are comforted and able to give you to retirement and your new adventures. Bon voyage, my friend!"

The assembly echoes the bon voyage, raising their flutes. Their applause grow louder as Picard is moved to reply and gestures toward his friends. "The honor has truly been mine. As I stand at the end of this journey, I must admit to having looked back wishing that certain things had turned out differently. Then a wise man suggested that perhaps I was looking in the wrong direction. Good advice," his audience chuckles and he looks to Atticus sitting beside him with a grateful smile.

Data's new face is unfamiliar except for the yellow eyes that have somehow retained the wisdom of their past life. Geordi sits on the other side of him with welling eyes and his generous smile. Will wears a choked smile while Deanna wipes away tears. He turns to his right where he is met by Beverly's bright gaze with Wesley beaming at her side. Worf sits beyond them wearing his brusque sentimentality. Guinan nods warmly and wisely at the end of the table as her face widens into a bright, nurturing smile.

Captain Picard turns again to those before him. "It can be said that a captain is the sum of his crew, which leaves his legacy in the hands of those with whom he has served. For therein lies the greatness, not in one, but in all." He lifts his flute to the assembly and then drinks with them and to them in his heart. Lowering his glass, he looks and gestures to his surroundings. "I remember when I was first assigned the Enterprise…"

THE END