“Well, this makes what I have to tell you a little easier. I’m leaving the Enterprise as well. I’ve been offered command of the medical ship Pasteur.” This shouldn’t have been a surprise; Beverly had in the last few years shown an interest and ability in command. But I was surprised nonetheless, and a little panicked.
“That’s wonderful,” I said. “I’m very happy for you.”
“You don’t really sound happy for me.”
“I’m sorry. Somehow, when I decided to leave the Enterprise, I didn’t think
I’d be leaving you. I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
What happened next surprised the both of us. I kissed her, and we were caught in a passionate embrace. We broke, and I looked at her, the woman who’d been in my life for so long, but always at arm’s length. The moment I had decided to be free from my ship, I realized I didn’t have to deprive myself of her any longer.
“Beverly,” I said, “will you marry me?”
1 EDITOR’S NOTE: I feel Captain Picard is in fact telling us he does know what Galen had discovered. I don’t know why he would keep it a secret, unless it might still be classified by Starfleet or the Federation.
2 EDITOR’S NOTE: In 2293, on the maiden voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise- B, Kirk had been caught in a temporal nexus, a “ribbon” of energy of unknown origin, which traveled through the Galaxy. People who’d entered it relayed accounts of having their fantasies fulfilled. A man named Dr. Tolian Soran had wanted to enter the nexus, but the only way to do that was by being on a planet that it passed over. He had to change the ribbon’s course, and had determined the only way to do that was by destroying the star in the Veridian system. Picard and Kirk defeated his plans.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“WELCOME TO VULCAN, AMBASSADOR PICARD,” T’Pring said. She was one of the members of the High Council, striking and statuesque and 154 years old. She greeted me at T’Plana-Hath spaceport in the city of ShiKahr. With her was a small entourage of Vulcan diplomats, who welcomed me to their world. ShiKahr was a beautiful ancient city, surrounded by desert and the characteristic Vulcan red rock mountains. It was home to the Federation embassy.
I was led to a waiting hover transport, and our driver took me and the other diplomats to the embassy. We sat in silence for the entire trip—there was no small talk on Vulcan. Most humans would find this awkward, but my preparations for this assignment convinced me not to give in to the impulse to “chat.” It was important that I have the respect of the Vulcans I would be dealing with, and showing human insecurities would not help. I felt ready for this new chapter.
When I informed Starfleet Command that I wanted to resign my commission, there was a flurry of protestations from every admiral that I knew. Many of them wanted me to stay, guaranteeing me a promotion, but I turned them down. I was marrying Beverly—that was my priority.
After leaving the Enterprise, Beverly and I had moved into temporary accommodations at Starfleet Headquarters, and from there we had to move quickly on our wedding plans, as she would be assuming command of her ship in a matter of weeks. We put our invitation list together. There was one name I put on the list that worried Beverly, but she finally agreed. We planned the ceremony for a few days before Beverly was to ship out.
The wedding was at my family home. Marie no longer lived there, having left after the tragedy she faced when my brother and nephew died. I didn’t expect she would return for the wedding, but she sent us a lovely note. We arrived there a few days before the wedding took place.
“It’s beautiful,” Beverly said. “Is it sad for you to be here?”
“ ‘Things without all remedy should be without regard,’ ” I said. “ ‘What’s done is done.’ ”
“Those are Shakespeare’s words,” she said. “What would you say?”
“I’d say let’s have a grand wedding.”
It was a very large affair, and I was touched at the number of crewmates and friends who made the effort to return to Earth to be a part of it. Guinan officiated; at some point in her long past, she had been a clergy, although I wasn’t sure where or for what religion. Wesley was my best man, the image of his father, which made it a little strange for both me and Beverly, but we didn’t discuss it, we just had a wonderful time, dancing and drinking. It was a truly magical day for me. I don’t know that I ever felt joy as complete and unrestrained as that day. I looked at Beverly, so happy and beautiful. I could hardly believe we would finally be together. I was 79 years old, and felt that my life was just beginning.
At the end of the reception, an elderly man I didn’t recognize walked over to me.
“It was a beautiful affair, Jean-Luc,” he said.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Have we met?” He smiled. For a brief flash, his face changed, and I was staring at Q. Another flash, and the old man returned.
“Thanks for inviting me,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure how to get you an invitation,” I said. “But I figured you always seem to be looking over my shoulder, so putting it on the list was enough. Why the disguise?”
“Guinan hates me,” Q said. “As do a few of your other friends. I didn’t want to cause a stir.”
“Thank you for coming,” I said. “And for what you did for Data.”
He smiled, and with a flash, was gone. Some might ask why I would’ve invited someone who’d been such a nuisance to me over the years. I would respond with an old aphorism: you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. And Q was, unfortunately, family. In some sense, I owed him. He had tested and tempted me; in our encounters, I was pushed to my limits, I had to be the best person I could be. It would always verify my ethics and morality, but I also had to confront some of my very serious flaws.
There were several dignitaries there, and we were honored to have the Federation president as a guest. Andrea Brand had retired from Starfleet several years before and had been elected to the Federation Council. She had the year before been elected president.
“Congratulations, Jean-Luc,” she said to me. “I was wondering if I could have a word with you in private before I leave?”
“It is my wedding, Madam President.”
“It won’t take long,” she said. We took a short walk away from the festivities. “What are your plans?”
“I haven’t made any,” I said, which was the truth. I had decided to throw myself into building a life with Beverly, and for the first time in my life was not really thinking about the future.
“I would like to appoint you Federation Ambassador to Vulcan,” she said. “There is concern that the Vulcans and the Romulans have begun secret talks regarding reunification. Your knowledge of the Vulcans would make you invaluable.” I had never considered a career in politics, but President Brand’s argument was compelling. I told her I would think it over.
The next day, I raised the subject with Beverly over breakfast.
“You’re a wonderful diplomat,” she said. “I can think of no one better for the job.”
“The problem is… we just got married.”
“I think I can arrange to be in the vicinity of Vulcan now and again,” she said. “After all, I’m the captain.”
“Already planning on abusing your authority.”
“We can’t all be as selfless as Captain Jean-Luc Picard.”
“Thank god,” I said.
I called President Brand and accepted her offer. I received a briefing and certification, and Brand arranged for Beverly to take me to Vulcan on the Pasteur.
When it was time for us to leave, I insisted on piloting the shuttle myself, just so Beverly and I could have a few more minutes alone. We landed in the Pasteur’s shuttlebay. As the rear door of the shuttle opened, I saw a large number of the crew waiting.
“Commanding officer Pasteur arriving,” I said, and the crew stood to attention. Beverly looked at me and smiled; she leaned in and gave me a kiss, then moved to the lectern to read her orders.
&n
bsp; “To Captain Beverly Picard, stardate 60768.1, you are hereby requested and required to take command of U.S.S. Pasteur as of this date. Signed Rear Admiral Kathryn Janeway, Starfleet Command.”
I smiled in awe and pride.
The few days it took to get to Vulcan were an interesting experience for me. The crew seemed to want to cater to my every need, and I couldn’t figure out whether it was because I was an ambassador or because I was married to the captain.
We made it to Vulcan, and she took me to the shuttle bay. Seeing her in command of her own ship was revelatory. She had always been a forceful presence in sickbay, but the ease with which she transferred that to the bridge was impressive. She was a remarkable woman, and I was consumed with love for her.
“Goodbye, dear,” she said. “I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” I said.
* * *
T’Pring and her diplomats took me to the Federation embassy. There was a large gathering of staff waiting to welcome me. I wasn’t used to this level of pomp and circumstance, but did my best with the introductions. T’Pring said whatever I might need, I shouldn’t hesitate to ask, that all of Vulcan welcomed me. She then left with her entourage. I let out a silent sigh of relief; I don’t think T’Pring knew that I’d mind-melded with Spock, the man she’d left at the altar.
I quickly got myself into the day-to-day routines of being an ambassador. It was complicated, bureaucratic work. I was representing the president of the Federation on this world, and Vulcan’s unique role in that Federation was more delicate than I thought. I was fortunately spared the usual ceremonies and parties that ambassadors typically had to attend—Vulcans found them “illogical.” But there were a number of other situations that would require a great deal of tact. I often found myself stuck between Federation members who wanted Vulcan help in a specific area of study or technology, and the Vulcans, who were not the most collaborative of species. There was also the Romulan–Vulcan situation, and trying to get information out of the High Council was proving to be a challenge.
I spent the most time dealing with individuals from other planets of the Federation wanting to visit Vulcan and helping them navigate Vulcan’s strict visitation and immigration laws. After a few months on the planet, I came to understand the reason for these laws: it was the most peaceful society I’d ever seen. There seemed to be no fear, no anger, no sadness. Just calm. Outsiders often proved problematic.
“I was taking my morning walk,” I said to Beverly, during one of our evening talks via subspace, “and I saw a Tellarite talking to a Vulcan woman.”
“Oh, they’re such pigs,” Beverly said.
“This may not be a secure channel, Captain. We need to be diplomatic.”
“Yes, Ambassador.”
“So the Tellarite is yelling, ‘Hey, I just want to buy you a drink.’ The Vulcan woman says she’s not thirsty. The Tellarite then says, ‘Come on, you know what I mean,’ to which the Vulcan responds, ‘If you’re inferring you wanted to use a drink to initiate a mating ritual, Vulcans mate only once every seven years.’”
“Did he buy it?” Beverly said.
“No, he said she was lying, to which she gave the usual, ‘Vulcans never lie.’”
“Which in and of itself is a lie. Was the Vulcan pretty?”
“Not as pretty as you.”
“I was just curious.” I laughed, and we ended our conversation with a promise to see each other soon. We didn’t. I didn’t blame her; she was a starship captain, and her duties kept her from any personal priorities she might have. Over the next three years, Beverly and I were together for no more than four weeks. It was an irony that we’d spent all those years together on the Enterprise, and now that we were married we barely saw each other. I didn’t have an expectation she would sacrifice her career for our marriage, but it hurt nevertheless.
My job as an ambassador settled into routine, and I found the emotional distance of the society I was in familiar; I decided I would have made a pretty good Vulcan. But I also started to get restless. Even at my advancing age I wanted a little more action in my life.
I was about to get it.
I was in my office trying to expedite passport applications for some children of an Andorian on the Federation Council, when I received a subspace call from an old friend.
“Captain Data,” I said. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” He was in my old ready room on the Enterprise- E.
“Sorry to disturb you, Ambassador,” Data said. “I’m sending you some information attached to this transmission. Please look it over.”
On my screen, a long-range scan of a star system appeared along with a familiar-looking device emitting high levels of subspace interference.
“What system is that?”
“The Hobus system,” Data said. “It is in Romulan territory.”
“It has the characteristics of the subspace engine the Denobulans built.”
“That was my supposition as well.”
“Do the Romulans have something to do with it?”
“Negative. They are in fact sending a strike force to the Hobus system.”
“The people of the Hobus system have been periodically subjugated by the Romulans,” I said.
“Perhaps they heard about the Denobulans and were looking for a means of escape.”
“But the Romulans probably assume it’s a weapon…”
“Starfleet has tried to warn them,” Data said. “The Romulans will not respond. Their strike force will be there in a matter of hours.”
“There is one person I can call,” I said. “Meanwhile, please come to Vulcan, we may need you.”
“Yes, Ambassador,” Data said. “That was my thought as well. We are already on our way.”
I left the Federation embassy. Over the years, I had been forced to develop a small intelligence network on Vulcan to gather whatever snippets of information I could on the reunification talks. I also kept tabs on the movement of the diplomat who was spearheading the discussions with Romulus, and, if my information was accurate, he was currently at the headquarters of the Vulcan High Council.
I entered the building and went right up to the receptionist.
“I want to see Ambassador Spock,” I said. The receptionist just stared at me.
“I am unaware of an Ambassador Spock…”
“Vulcans do not lie,” I said. “He’s upstairs negotiating Romulan–Vulcan reunification.” The receptionist stared at me for a while longer, then went to get help. A few minutes later, I was led into a conference room.
“Ambassador Picard,” Spock said. He stood with T’Pring. Neither one of them looked pleased to see me, but then again, that’s always hard to tell with Vulcans.
I apologized for the intrusion, then explained the situation.
“The Romulan government is still quite paranoid,” Spock said. “I sincerely doubt I can talk them out of their attack. But I will try.”
I wanted to go with him, to add my voice to his, but he didn’t invite me. I think he was probably right not to, as frustrating as it was. I went back to my office, where the passport applications were still on my desk.
When the Enterprise arrived in orbit, things picked up again. Data brought me aboard and took me to the stellar cartography room. Spock was already there, along with the ship’s first officer, Geordi.
“I was unable to convince the Romulans,” Spock said. “We will now have to pursue other options, as the situation has deteriorated.”
They showed me a map of Romulan territory. On it, a spreading mass of light was expanding from the Hobus system.
“Is that a supernova? That’s impossible, the Hobus star wasn’t nearly that old.”
“You are correct, sir,” Data said. “The Romulans attempted to destroy the subspace engine, but appear to only have damaged it. It was accidentally set off.”
“The damaged subspace engine caused the Hobus star to go supernova,” Geordi said. “A supernova that exists in both
normal space and subspace.”
“Because it exists in subspace as well, the supernova will spread far beyond the Hobus system,” Spock said. “It will consume Romulus in a matter of days.”
“And then move on to Vulcan and the rest of the Alpha Quadrant,” Geordi said.
“We must stop it.” I turned to Spock, “I remember from our meld you had an invention called ‘red matter’ which you could use…”
“Ambassador,” Data said, “we have already taken steps to carry out that plan.”
“You can’t take a Federation ship into Romulan territory,” I said. “Perhaps Geordi…”
“Already have my engineers on it,” Geordi said.
Data and Geordi had things well in hand; they had just included me out of courtesy. Data helped Spock build his red matter device, which he would use to consume the supernova. Geordi’s unmarked vessel would allow Spock to enter Romulan space without causing an interstellar incident.
On the day Spock left, I went to see him off.
“Good luck, Ambassador,” I said.
“You are aware, Picard,” Spock said, “that I do not believe in luck.”
“You are also aware,” I said, “that I know that’s not true.” I never saw him again.
* * *
“I’m afraid, Jean-Luc,” President Brand said, “I’m recalling you.”
Spock did stop the subspace supernova, but he had failed to do so before it reached Romulus. The Romulan homeworld was destroyed, and Spock was now missing, presumed dead. The Vulcan High Council blamed me; I had ignored protocol.
“I understand,” I said.
“I could’ve made a case for you ignoring protocol if Romulus had been saved,” Brand said. “But as it is, you’re to leave immediately.”
Data was still in orbit and offered to take me back to Earth. On the way, I communicated with Beverly.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “What do you think happened to Ambassador Spock?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “But I think he’s alive somewhere.”
“How do you know?”
STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JEAN-LUC PICARD Page 32