Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [7]
Im Captain John Hardman. The current commander of the Enterprise directed a polite nod at each of the retired officers. Id like to welcome you all aboard.
Its our pleasure. Despite his discomfort, Kirks smile warmed genuinely. Harriman seemed to him painfully young, painfully eager, painfully earnest about his first commandno doubt exactly the way a certain James T. Kirk had been when he had first taken command of a ship called Enterprise. And while Harriman was doing a fair job of hiding his nervousness, he did not quite succeed in masking his awe of the men who stood before him.
I just want you to know how excited we all are to have a group of living legends with us on our maiden voyage, Harriman said. I remember reading about your missions when I was in grade school.
Scott and Chekov stiffened; Harrimans expression grew embarrassed as he realized his gaffe. His panic was so sincere that Kirks lips quirked in amusement. Well, he said easily, may we have a look around?
Please. Harriman gestured at the gleaming bridge, plainly relieved at the rescue. Please …
Demora! Chekovs face brightened with sudden pleasure as he caught a familiar face among the sea of uniforms in the background. He headed off as the other three ceremoniously made their way toward the conn.
This is the new command chair, Harriman explained unnecessarily to his two politely attentive guests.
He laid a proud hand on the armrest. If you take a look at the comm panel, youll see a number of small but significant improvements over the Enterprise-A …
He droned on for a moment; Scott seemed raptly attentive, but Kirk did not hear. Hardman and Scott quickly moved on to the helm, but Kirk lingered a moment to rest his hand enviously upon the back of the new captains chair.
It seemed wrong that another man should sit here; wrong that Bones and Spock should not be here, standing in their customary places beside him. He felt an abrupt, odd sense of discomfort, and flashed again on the memory of his last night as captain of the Enterprise, and the sudden chill he had felt when Spock and McCoy confessed they were going their separate ways.
… even as I was falling, I knew I wouldnt die … because the two of you were with me …
Stop, he told himself firmly. He was being maudlin, self-pitying againyet he could not quite shake the eerie sense of premonition prompted by dreams.
So, Captain … someone said.
He jerked his head up to see a reporter with a padd. In the same breezy tone, she continued, This is the first Starship Enterprise in thirty years without James T. Kirk in command. How do you feel about that?
How the hell do you expect me to feel? he wanted to say, angered by her casualness. This ship was my lifewas everything. And now …
Instead, he drew a breath and summoned back the frozen smile. Just fine. Im glad to be here to send her on her way.
He tried to step past her, to join Hardman and Scott, but she angled into his path, blocking escape.
And what have you been doing since you retired? Ive been … keeping busy. Trapped, he paused and tried to catch Harrimans eye, but the young captain and Scott were enthusiastically discussing the redesigned helm.
Excuse me, Captain, Chekov called, with sufficient command authority that the journalist backed off.
Kirk shot him a look of gratitude.
Chekov gave a knowing smile, then gestured with obvious pride at the officer beside hima young Terran woman whose oddly familiar golden face and dark eyes were framed by a shoulder-length sweep of ebony hair. Id like you to meet the helmsman of the Enterprise-B.
Dont I know you? Kirk was on the verge of asking, but Chekov continued:
Ensign Demora SuluCaptain James Kirk.
Kirks lips parted in astonishment; for a moment, he just stared as the ensign offered her hand and said, with unmistakably Suluish confidence and good humor, Its a pleasure to meet you, sir. My fathers told me some … Her eyes took on a faint