Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [8]
Thinking back to the days following Jack’s death, Beverly thought, There’s an argument to be made that it’s more like twenty. Aloud, she just said, “Shall we continue the workout?”
Wincing, Miranda said, “Oh, bollocks, I’m sorry, love, I just got caught up in the gossiping.”
“That’s all right,” Beverly said as she started doing a split.
Maybe I am glowing, she thought as she watched Miranda try to lower herself and having less success. And why shouldn’t I be?
2
U. S. S. Titan
Gum Nebula
One day before the end of the universe
CAPTAIN WILLIAM RIKER STARED OUT THE WINDOW of his quarters, watching the unfamiliar stars go by and reveling in their mystery.
He smiled, leaning back and stretching, the muscles and bones in his shoulders creaking and cracking. It had been a long day, filled with the usual hustle and bustle of running a starship, and preparation for the star system they’d be entering the following morning. The Titan, having completed its maiden voyage to Romulus, was now on a mission of exploration to the massive Gum Nebula in the Beta Quadrant, and the day had been spent in mission briefings, inspections of long-range sensors, and other preparatory duties. Four years after the Dominion War’s end, it finally felt like Starfleet was getting back to basics: seeking out new life and going where no one had gone before.
Of course, “no one” was a relative term. They’d already found dozens of new life-forms out here and even reencountered some familiar ones. It was the assignment Riker felt he was born for.
Until he reported to the Enterprise at Farpoint Station, Will had been on the fast track to the captaincy, and no one expected him to be the first officer for more than a year or two. Yet three refused commands and fifteen years later, he was still there, still on the Enterprise—although now it was the E—still by the side of Jean-Luc Picard.
Thinking about it, he had been too gung-ho in many ways. He had the drive, he had the ambition, but Riker realized what he needed was the temperament. The officer he was fifteen years ago would’ve made an adequate captain. But the person who’d lived through all the missions was much better suited to be a ship commander.
He turned around and looked at the sleeping form of his new bride. Will Riker and Deanna Troi had been lovers on Betazed two decades ago. Reunited on the EnterpriseD, they served together as friends; it was only recently they realized they were meant to be together. They’d gotten married in two separate ceremonies: one on Earth, and a bittersweet one on Betazed, after Data’s death.
They’d gotten subspace mail the previous day, including letters from Geordi and Beverly. The Enterprise was exploring as well, surveying the Gorsach system. Good for them, Riker had thought. After their experiences with the Borg, a simpler mission would be good for morale.
The one regret Riker had was that he wasn’t there during the Borg encounter. Several times, the Enterprise had come across those cybernetic monsters, and Riker had always been there. Repressing a shudder, he remembered giving Worf the order to fire on the Borg cube, an action that—had it been successful—would have meant Picard’s death. And, as always when he remembered that day, he cursed Q for so thoughtlessly tossing the Enterprise into the Borg’s path in the first place, thus forcing him into the position of having to give an order that could have killed his captain. The death and destruction that could be laid at Q’s feet for snapping his fingers and bringing the Federation to the Borg’s undivided attention, taken in a fit of pique…
Riker sighed. It wasn’t worth getting worked up over Q, any more than it was being frustrated over an ion storm or a sun going nova. Q simply was what he was—Riker probably knew that as well as anyone, having briefly been given the power of the Q. The best they could do was weather the storm until Q decided to leave.
“You’re up.”
Looking back over at the bed, he saw Deanna’s sleepy eyes staring at him, her dark hair splayed on the pillow. Although