Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [69]
And then he straightened, and took his hand away.
Matthew bounded off into the other room.
Picard turned. Guinan, he said with sudden urgency, can I leave the nexus?
She blinked, astounded. Why would you want to leave?
Can I?
Yes, she allowed slowly. Where would you go?
He hesitated, confused. I dont understand.
I told you, time has no meaning here. If you leave, you can go anywhere … any time.
A faint smile spread over his face. I know exactly where I want to goand when. Back to that mountaintop on Veridian Threebefore Soran put out the star. I have to stop him. He hesitated. Only tell me before I go … Only a part of you is here. So youre also on the ship. If youre still here … then the ship is all right, isnt it? It must have outrun the shock wave.
All traces of the smile ebbed from her face; she gazed at him solemnly a time before answering, No, Jean-Luc.
He closed his eyes again as the sound of Roberts laughter wafted from the dining room once more. When he could speak again, he whispered, Then its done. Im going back.
She laid a hand gently on his forearm. What makes you think things will be any different this time? What if you fail again?
Youre right. He straightened, squared his shoulders. Ill need help. Guinanwill you come back with me? Together, we could
I cant leave. Im already there, remember?
He bowed his head in frustration, casting about for some other option, some other way; when he looked up, Guinan was smiling enigmatically.
But I know just the guy …
My God, McCoy breathed with delight, peering through the cracked doorway. Theyre all out there, Jim. It looks like a Starfleet retiree convention.
James Kirk gazed another second through his transparent bedroom wall at the glittering view of San Francisco Bay at night. Boats twinkled as they skimmed across the water, which lay black against an indigo sky. He turned, smiling. Spock made it?
The doctor, his nose pressed to the crack in the door, wore the expression of kid sneaking a peek at the presents under the tree before Christmas morning. He seemed to have grown younger in recent years; grandparenthood and retirement sat well with him. His hair was still completely silvered, but the shadows beneath his eyes seemed to have eased, the lines on his brow to be less deeply etched. He made it, all right. Sitting right up front. Scottys there with himand Uhura and Chekov. He crinkled his forehead, squinting. But whos the woman sitting on his other side?
Woman? Jim strode over to the doctors side.
Youre kidding …
Tall woman. Reddish hair. You mean shes no relation? McCoy angled aside to let Jim take a look.
He put one eye to the crack and stared. Beyond, the spacious living room had been cleared of its usual furniture and garlanded with white roses and gardenias; a small podium had been set at one end, and in front of it stood rows of chairsall of them occupied. It was a room he had also loved, but had never appreciated as much as this moment, when it was filled with those who were most important to him. He grinned at the sight of his friends in the front row; all of them looked as rested and content as McCoy. Even Spock, who appeared as always ageless, without a single wrinkle or strand of gray. The Vulcan sat one seat from the aisle, with Scott on one sideand the mysterious woman on the other. She was human, striking, lean and light-eyed, with a long veil of copper-gold hair that fell straight to her shoulders. As Jim watched, she leaned over and whispered something into Spocks ear; the Vulcan listened attentively, impassively, then nodded.
Ill be damned, Jim said softly, and grinned with pure pleasure. He asked if he could bring a friend …
A friend? The doctor pushed him aside in order to take a second look. You mean he brought a date?
I didnt say that, Jim protested, quite unable to erase the smile on his lips; not just because of Spock and the woman, but because of everything: the fact that it was his wedding day, and he was here with McCoy, in this wonderful place … Youre jumping to conclusions, as usual.