Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [82]
Counselor? Are you all right? Data seemed unharmed, but his hair was tousled, his eyes wide with shock.
She nodded, even though her legs trembled beneath her, and grimaced at another stab of pain in her rib and the complaints issuing from torn muscles in her shoulders. Blessedly, the ship was silent and still, the ground beneath her feet solid.
The bridge was veiled in smoke from smoldering consoles but, strangely, no longer as dark. She squinted at the glare, and realized that rays of light filtered through the haze. At first she thought that auxiliary lighting had miraculously been restored; and then she gazed upward, beyond the layer of smoke, at the sunlight shining through the shattered dome above the bridge. As she watched, two birds perched on the edge and stared down at those below.
I think weve landed, Troi whisperedto no one. Data had already moved off and was helping others to their feet. She turned and saw Worf behind her, pushing himself to a sitting position on the deck; clearly, he had been thrown over the tactical console.
And then she saw Riker, lying face-up and motionless on the deck near the overturned command chair. His head was cocked at an odd angle, his eyes open and staring blankly up at the shattered dome.
My GodWill! She ran to him, seized by the dreadful certainty that he was dead, and fell to her knees.
Im all right, he croaked. Just enjoying the view … He sat up slowly, gingerly. Report …
Data emerged from the haze with Worf beside him. All systems are off-line, sir, the android said. I do not know how the rest of the ship has fared. But there are no casualties on the bridge. Only minor injuries.
Good, Riker said. He reached for the back of the overturned command chair and, ignoring Data and Trois offers of assistance, pulled himself up. Evacuate the bridge and organize all able-bodied personnel into search-and-rescue parties.
Aye, sir. Data turned and headed for the emergency exit; Worf and Troi followed.
In midstride she hesitated, dizzied not by the physical aftershock from the collision, but by the mental ghost of a separate present. Reality wavered; in her minds eye, the bridge abruptly darkened.
The shock wave, she thought, with sudden swift panic, hearing in her imagination a silent rumble, and raised her face toward the shattered dome.
Birds warbled, basking in the warm sunlight; the sky was bright and still. She drew a breath and shuddered, releasing the phantom image and the fear. For some incomprehensible reason, she felt as she had when the captain had first told her grimly of a future which excluded her: that she had been given a second chance at life.
Deanna? Will took a step toward her, his smoke-smudged brow furrowed. Are you all right?
Worf and Data stopped, turned to look back at her.
She gazed at them, seeing the concern in their eyes, in Wills, and was overwhelmed with gratitude to be alive and surrounded by the friends she loved; overwhelmed by the preciousness of the moment.
Yes, she answered softly, when at last she found her voice, and smiled. Yes, Will … everythings just fine.
Kirk he buried beneath the shade of an ancient tree, in a spot with a view of the jungle and the sky. By the time he set the last rock atop the captains grave, that sky had reddened, and deepened to purplish twilight; against the tree-and mountain-studded horizon, the flaming Veridian sun had slipped low, its streaming rays painting the graves white stones tiger-lily orange.
The long task done, Picard retrieved Kirks command insignia pin from his pocket and set it reverently at the head of the grave.
In the first moment he had realized Kirk was dying, he had felt almost unbearable guilt; it was he who had urged Kirk to give up eternal happiness