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By Root 818 0

Forge from getting any work done with his inability to adjust to the technological changes during the seventy-five years he was away. Years later, Scotty would confess to La Forge over drinks that, had someone behaved like that in Scotty’s engine room on his Enterprise, “I would not have been nearly so patient as you were with me.” This led Scotty into one of his stories about the old days on the Enterprise, when they hooked up the M-5 computer—or, as he called it, “some useless pile’a junk”—to the ship’s engines, with tragic results.

“Geordi—how’d you like a different pair of shoes?”

La Forge frowned and looked at Riker. Based on what his optical implants were telling him, Riker’s heart rate was up a bit. Like he’s a little nervous about something. Then again, the man is getting married and getting his own command. “What do you mean, Commander?”

“I’ve got an opening for first officer on the Titan. I’d like you to fill it, if you’re interested.”

La Forge was suddenly very grateful Riker had asked him to sit down, because he probably would have had trouble keeping his footing if he was still upright. He stared at Riker for several seconds. Now that he’d asked the question, the commander’s heart rate had gone back to normal. But that’s okay, ‘cause mine just shot through the roof.

“First officer?”

Riker held up both hands. “I don’t need an answer right away—in fact, I don’t want one. I want you to think about it.”

“Sir, I don’t know if I’m—”

“Geordi, don’t tell me you’re not ready,” Riker interrupted before La Forge could say the words. “You’re past ready. Look at the good people who’ve come out of your engine room—Sonya Gomez, Reg Barclay, Miles O’Brien, Robin Lefler, Emma Bartel, Raisa Danilova, Taurik. It all speaks to good leadership, and that’s what I want in my first officer.”

La Forge did not often find himself speechless, and in fact his mouth did attempt to form words, but his brain had, as far as he could tell, short-circuited.

Riker leaned forward. “Think about it, that’s all I ask. If you refuse, I understand completely—but you are my first choice, Geordi. Let me know when you decide.” Leaning back, Riker picked the padd back up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go over the fifth draft of the guest list for the wedding.” He squinted, as if trying to remember something. “Or maybe it’s the sixth. Hell, I’ve lost track. I swear, though, we’re going to have half the Federation attending this thing.”

Finally, La Forge managed to get his mouth to move. “Thanks, Commander, I—uh—I guess I have a lot to think about.” He stood up and moved toward the door slowly, still not trusting his body to respond properly to ordinary stimulus. First officer?

After he departed Riker’s quarters, La Forge tapped his combadge. “La Forge to Data.”

“Go ahead,” said the android’s voice a moment later.

“Data, I’m gonna have to beg off dinner. Apologize to Scotty for me, but—well, something’s come up.”

“Is there anything I can do to assist, Geordi?”

As ever, La Forge was grateful for his best friend’s presence. “Eventually, probably, yeah, but for right now—I gotta deal with this alone.”

“Very well. I will convey your regrets to Captain Scott.”

“Thanks, Data. La Forge out.”

So much for counting my blessings in engineering

.

Chapter 8

Earth

“A HOLOGRAM?”

Worf was back on Earth and in the heart of Paris, sitting in Councillor Ra’ch’s office. Although she still served as president pro tem, Ra’ch steadfastly refused to use the presidential office on the top floor of the building. Unlike that of the president, councillors’ places of work on Earth were small and practical. However, while T’Latrek—the councillor whose office Worf most often visited when on Earth—displayed no personal items or decoration of any kind, Ra’ch’s office was filled with them, from the painting of the sunset over Damiano’s capital city of Iaron on the side wall to holographic representations of her mate and all three of her parents on her desk.

“Yes, Councillor,” Worf said. “I have seen the hologram with my own eyes, as well as the mobile