Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [26]
Its … well … Geordi sighed. Its hard to explain, Data. He leaned forward to offer a hand to Worf, who had made it to the top of the ladder. Dripping but with soggy officers hat proudly in hand, the Klingon stepped over the railing onto the deck. He was followed soon after by a very wetand very unamusedBeverly Crusher.
Flanked by his second-in-command, Picard made his way up to the quarterdeck, then turned to address his crew.
Well, now that were all aboard … He paused to smile. Number One, bring the ship before the wind. Lets see whats out there.
Aye, aye, sir. Will directed his gaze to Deanna Troi.
Take the wheel, Commander.
Troi quickly climbed the steps up to the quarterdeck and took her place behind the ships wheel as Riker shouted, All hands make sail! Topgallants and courses! Stand by the braces!
Picard watched with pure pleasure as his crew sprang into action, unfurling sails and trimming yardarms. I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, he quoted, then released a contented sigh. Imagine what it was like, Will. No engines … no computers … just the wind, the sea, and the stars to guide you.
Rikers lips quirked with amusement. Bad food … brutal discipline … He paused, then delivered the killer blow. No women …
Picard shook his head, smiling; but before he could retort, the computer interrupted. Bridge to Captain Picard …
Picard here.
There is a personal message for you from Earth. Picard sighed again, this time with mild annoyance at the interruption. Put it through down here. He turned back toward Riker. It was freedom, Will. No ties … And the best thing about a life at sea was that they couldnt reach you.
He headed toward the bow, still smiling. He had no inkling what the message might be about, but whatever it was, he would deal with it quickly and return to his companions on the holodeck. He was grateful for todays festivities; they served to remind him of his great good fortune in being able to lead the life he had always wanted, that of a starship captain.
He passed a few crew members hanging high up on the yardarm, and called up, grinning: Look alive there! And then, as he reached the bow: Computer, arch.
On the forecastle, an arch opened onto a bank of computer panels. Picard stepped through and cheerfully activated a monitorwithout an instants hesitation, he would remember later, or the faintest premonition of the horror to come.
It was Deanna Troi who first felt that something was wrong. She had been reveling in the good spirits shared by the crewmost notably the captain, who of everyone seemed most to appreciate the historical scenario she had suggested for the promotion ceremony, and Worf, who despite his outward Klingon reserve had been genuinely touched by his crewmates regard.
Yet as she stood at the ships wheel, she sensed a sudden, overwhelming surge of emotion, so raw and strong that at first she was too dazed to identify it. For an instant, she clutched the wheel and forced herself to breathe calmly; only then could she distance herself enough to analyze it.
Grief, mixed with horror. So strongly reminiscent of what she had felt when her father had died that the proximity of it was deeply disturbing.
She looked toward the bow, and saw Picard standing in the archway. At the shock on his slack, ashen face, she turned toward the crew member standing next to her and said, Here. Take the wheel. She did not explain, but moved inconspicuously, so as not to draw attention to herself or the captain; an emotion this devastating demanded extreme tact, extreme privacy.
She hurried down the quarterdeck steps toward the arch; toward Picard, who stood staring at an invisible sight far beyond the monitor in front of him, his lips slightly parted, his eyes narrowed with unspeakable pain.
Troi hesitated at a respectful distance. Captain, she said, so quietly that none but Picard would hear, are you all right?
For a moment, Picard did not answer; for a moment, he seemed not to hear. And then he seemed to retrieve his mind from a very great distance to focus it on the