Relics - Michael Jan Friedman [78]
Scotty held out his hands. “Yer guess is as good as mine, Captain. There’s still a lot I want to see.” He indicated Data with a tilt of his head. “Fer example, the place my friend here came from.”
“It is not difficult to find,” the android assured him.
“And a million other places,” the older man finished. He took a breath, let it out. “In fact,” he said, “I think I’d best be off.”
“So soon?” asked Crusher.
Scotty nodded. “And dinnae be tellin’ me I need to stay and rest up, Doctor. Any more of this sort of rest and they’ll be carrying me out on a stretcher.” He tilted his head. “Thouh ye’re still the prettiest physician I ever saw.”
Picard held out his hand. “I cannot convince you to stay awhile?”
“Nae likely,” Scotty told him, taking the captain’s hand and pressing it with great enthusiasm. “There’s too much to see, and nae nearly enough time to see it in.”
The captain nodded. “I understand. Bon voyage, Mr. Scott.”
“Thank you, sir.” He winked. “For everything.”
A flurry of good-byes followed, with everyone present extending their warmest wishes. Scotty shook hands with several of them. He even hugged Counselor Troi. It did Geordi’s heart good to see his partner so happy.
When it was all over, Scotty took his arm and escorted him out of earshot. Glancing back at the others, he said “They’re a good crew.”
Geordi nodded. “Yeah.”
Scott cast a last look around the shuttlebay. “And she’s a fine ship, this Enterprise. A credit to her name.” A pause. “But I’ve always found that a ship is only as good as the engineer who takes care of her. And from what I can see, she couldnae be in better hands.” He chuckled. “Not even if I were in charge.”
Geordi clapped Scott on the shoulder. “Better get a move on,” he said. “Before the captain changes his mind.”
“Aye,” said Scott. “I’ve heard that’s a captain’s prerogative.”
Getting into the shuttle, he shut the space door behind him. Geordi watched as he started the engine and gave them all a high sign. Then, as Picard himself worked the console to open the bay doors, Scotty nudged the shuttle to the brink of space-where an invisible force field separated the atmosphere in the shuttlebay from the ether.
Geordi could almost see the look in Scotty’s eyes. It was all out there, everything he could ever want. And maybe some day, he’d even find some of those old friends he’d lost track of. Spock, for instance. And McCoy. And some of the others who were still around seventy-five years later.
Of course, there was uncertainty out there as well. And disappointment, maybe. But that came with the territory.
Suddenly, as Picard made the necessary adjustments in the force field, the shuttle took off. Geordi looked on with mixed emotions as it diminished with distance, finally banking and setting a course for only Scotty knew where. Geordi knew he’d miss Scotty and the elder engineer’s stories, about everything from hang gliding to tribbles. But he was happy, very happy, for his friend.
For once again, Montgomery Scott was flying free.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue