Reunion - Michael Jan Friedman [9]
Joseph-the stocky man—looked sceptical. The woman just smiled. And not a bad smile at that, Riker mused.
“I am glad you could come,” Morgen said. “All of you.”
“You couldn’t have kept us away with phaser can-nons,” said Joseph. “Please,” said Picard, “pull up a chair, won’t you? And I will try to forget that you bullied your way aboard behind my back.” Once they were all seated, Picard made the introduc-tions. “Commander Riker here is my first officer. Troi is our ship’s counselor.”
“Something we could have used on the Stargazer,” Ben Zoma pointed out. He smiled at Troi. “Of course, someone of your beauty would be welcome anywhere.”
The Betazoid took the compliment in stride. She smiled back. “Captain Ben Zoma,” Picard continued, “besides being one of the galaxy’s great flatterers, was my first exec. We served together for twenty years, if you can bring yourselves to believe that.” The dark man shook his head. “I can scarcely believe it myself.” Picard indicated the woman who had come in with Ben Zoma. “Tricia Cadwallader. The best damned communications officer a captain ever had-back in the days when there were such things as communications officers. Today she’s the second officer of the Lexington. was Riker nodded by way of a greeting. It caught her eye, and for a moment she lingered on his gaze. Then she turned to Troi. “Pleased to meet you,” she said. “Likewise,” the ship’s counselor replied.
“And last-but certainly not least—” Picard resumed, “security chief Peter Joseph— though we all know him as Pug.”
The reasoning behind the nickname was self-evident. Joseph resembled nothing so much as a bulldog.
“The genuine article,” the security chief quipped. “Accept no substitutions.”
There was laughter all around at that, and when it quieted, Riker took the opportunity to raise his glass. “I’d like to propose a toast. To Captain Morgen. May his reign be a long and fruitful one.”
There were sounds of agreement-not only from their own table, but from a number of others around them. “And,” added Morgen, “to the former officers of the Stargazer. May they never forget how fortunate they
were to have served under the legendary Jean-Luc Pi-card.” As the others drank, Picard grunted. “Legendary?” he repeated. “I’m not old enough to be legendary. his
As Troi approached the bar, Guinan shook her head in motherly fashion.
“You’re a trooper,” she told the empath. Troi smiled. “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean? Counselor, you’ve spent the last five hours listening to Stargazer stories. And now that the Lexington contingent has joined us, you’ll probably be in for another five hours” worth.” Guinan grunted. “In my book, that’s being a trooper.”
“Oh, come on,” Troi said. “I like listening to those old stories. Apart from their entertainment value, they give me insights into the captain that I’ve never had before. I can understand a little better how he became the person he is.” She glanced at the table she’d just come from, where Ben Zoma was recalling some incident involving a shuttle and a pair of Grezalian ambassadors. “You know, it’s funny. I get the feeling that Commander Riker and myself are being shown off in a way—almost as if we were his children.” Troi paused thoughtfully. “Which is not so difficult to comprehend, I suppose. Captain Picard never had any offspring of his own. Why shouldn’t he think of us as his children?” “Actually,” Guinan responded, “I think he considers you all his children-not only you and Commander Riker, but Morgen and the Stargazer people as well. And he’s pleased that all his children are enjoying an opportunity to get to know one another.” She shrugged. “It just seems a little barbaric for you to have to force yourself to stay awake.”
“1 am not forcing myself to stay awake,” the empath protested. Then, noting the way Guinan’s mouth was curling up at the corners, she added: “Besides,