Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [207]
“I hope you wouldn’t,” Picard said, gently. “Your crew could no more be expected to anticipate this gateway technology”he gestured over his shoulder at the shimmering door“than you yourself did just a moment ago. And no more than I myself did a short while ago when Data here appeared on the bridge of my own ship.” He glanced at Data, and nodded. “But my crewman Mister Crusher has made some interesting discoveries about the gateways, and it is precisely those discoveries that Data wishes to discuss, among other matters.”
Data stepped forward, standing before the subcommander.
“Tell me, Subcommander Taris, have you ever heard of the Iconians?”
Epilogue
It was late afternoon, the sun dipping toward the western horizon, as tropical birds called their high, trilling songs from the treetops. The artificial planetoid was little more than a way station, set up here at the far side of the Gamma Quadrant, thousands upon thousands of light-years from Earth. The reach of the gateways was immense, but it was not infinite, and so travel from one edge of the Milky Way to the other was possible only by the introduction of gateway hubs every few thousand light-years. Some were positioned on planets, some on moons, still others in orbital habitats, but in some cases little pocket worlds were created. This planetoid incorporated gravity generators beneath the surface, giving it a gravitational attraction several times that which its mass would normally generate, without which an atmosphere wouldn’t have been possible. It hardly mattered to most of the travelers, who scarcely needed to breathe, but it was essential for the plants and animal life that had been seeded here, and allowed for spoken conversation, instead of just subspace communication.
A reproduction of the Garden of Versailles expanded to cover a sphere the size of a small moon. The planetoid was not simply a gateway hub, but was a place for rest and relaxation, a perfect setting for two old friends to catch up.
“Data!” A smile spread across Picard’s face as they shook hands. “How good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you, as well, Jean-Luc.” Data’s smile was no less wide, but widened even further when he added, “Or should I say, Captain?”
“How long has it been?” Picard got a far-off look in his eyes.
“I don’t think we’ve seen each other in more than a decade, but…”
“No,” Picard interrupted, shaking his head. He ran his fingers through his full, dark hair. “I mean, how long has it been since you called me 'Captain’?”
Data’s face took on a wistful look. “It’s been nearly one hundred and ten years since I had any right to do so, since I was last a member of the Enterprise’s crew.”
“One hundred and ten…?” Picard repeated in disbelief.
“You know what they say, Jean-Luc.” He grinned, and for a moment, with the white streaks he’d added to his hair, looked something like a sinister skunk. It was ironic that in an era in which death had been conquered, Data affected the signs of aging. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
Picard grinned, and clapped a hand on Data’s shoulder. “And just what are you doing for fun these days, Data? Last I’d heard you were helping Lal and Wesley Crusher with that experiment of theirs to create a time machine…”
Data shook his head. “They’re still at it, but I expect it will be a few more decades before their work bears fruit. But no, I’ve been asked to serve as Federation ambassador to the Dominion.”
Picard nodded, impressed. There was a time when he might have worried that first contact with a previously unknown alien race might lead to hostilities. The experience of the last century had changed that. Now the Federation had grown to encompass old enemies like the Romulans and the Klingons, and had evolved to the point where it was perfectly adapted for incorporating new cultures peacefully, while at the same time ensuring that those cultures did not lose their individual identities.