Starting Over
Part 2 of 3
by Rob Morris; rob4654@webtv.net
Thus far : The End of 'Generations' finds Jean-Luc Picard dead. StarFleet,
owing to its many recent losses, persuades a reluctant, somewhat unsure but
very much alive James T. Kirk to assume command of The Enterprise-E. While
saddened, the crew of the D is behind him, with the notable exception of a
grief-stricken Beverly Crusher. Now, Captain Sisko has asked Kirk to intervene
in events that correspond to the ones we know as "Way Of The Warrior". But just
how rusty is our hero?
Chapter 2 - A Crusher Blow
Whatever one can say about Wesley Crusher, his love for and devotion to his
mother was unquestioned. Just as great as that was
his admiration for Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Though his odd training with the
Traveller had him out of touch for over a year, the instant he heard of
Picard's death, he was on board the Enterprise-E. He appeared on the Bridge. At
first, he thought he had come to the wrong place.
"Excuse me, Captain Kirk. I'm still getting the hang of time-travel. Is this
even the right reality?"
Will Riker stepped forward.
"Its all right, Wes. Captain Kirk is alive, and is commanding this ship. Its
a long story, as you might imagine. Bottom line : Your Mother Needs You. Go to
her."
"That's why I'm here, Commander. But first, I have to say something. Captain
Kirk, sir. My mother's accusations are baseless. I went back to the last
moments on Verdian III. It could have gone either way. Both of you could have
made it, or neither of you. Sadly, the presence of the Nexus precluded my
intervention. I was only able to observe."
Kirk appreciated Wesley's words.
"Comfort her first and foremost, Mister Crusher. But maybe you could work on
persuading her that I'm not the Enemy? I don't wish to lose her, or affect her
career, but this is becoming intolerable."
"I will try, sir. But as you yourself just said, she is my first concern. By
the way, my compliments to your family, sir."
"Well, thank you, Wesley. But why do you say that?"
"I just came from an alternate reality where your nephew, Peter, is...well,
lets say he's up against it."
"It...being?"
"Nasty, sir."
"Peter was a good kid. In fact, I've heard tell that all the young people
associated with Enterprise are quite good, Mister Crusher. When your travels
are done, think about maybe coming back."
"I will, Captain."
"Call me Jim."
With that, Wesley vanished and reappeared outside his mother's cabin. He was
dreading this, even more so after an earlier mistake placed him in a world
where Picard had lived. He hoped that the Wesley Crusher of that zone would
forgive him and the confusion he caused. Then again, the nature of time and
space probably meant he had already been paid back.
"Come in."
"Mom?"
"Ohh, Wesley!"
She embraced her son like he was a life preserver. For hours they talked of
Jean Luc-Picard, and of the grief his loss engendered. Then, they talked of
more recent events.
"Wes, I'm so glad you're here. Now, we'll go back to Veridian III, and get
the proof we need."
"Mom? Proof? What Proof?"
"Why, isn't it obvious? The proof that Kirk murdered Jean-Luc."
"Mom, I already went to Veridian III--at the time it all happened. Its all
like Jim--like Captain Kirk said. Besides, didn't they debrief the living hell
out of him when he got back to Earth? They wanted to be sure he was who he said
he was."
Beverly turned away, now clearly upset.
"Oh, its him all right. Same old MO. They build a new Enterprise, he shows up
and kicks out its rightful Captain. Will Riker trained for seven years for this
job, and now, one of Kirk's old cronies..."
Wesley cut her off.
"First off, that scenario is maybe true of the V'ger Incident, but the
others strain logic just a bit. And, may I remind you, Admiral Uhura is your
friend, too, since long before Kirk returned. Aren't you going to give your
friend and former instructor the benefit of the doubt?"
That suggestion did not go over well.
"She is not my friend, Kirk is not my Captain, and you ARE NOT MY SON!!!!!"
She raised her hand to slap him, but found it frozen in mid-air, unable to
move. She stared at it in horror. Wesley had her cold.
"And You Are Not My Mother. You overplayed. Crusher to Security."
"Worf here. Greetings, Wesley. But why do you call?"
"Mister Worf...we have an intruder. And a kidnapping."
Later, behind a brig force-field, Beverly stood defiant.
"Good job, Kirk. You've turned even my son against me. Bravo!"
Kirk stared at her with new eyes.
"Mister Crusher, if you would, show us your mother after the passage of 8
hours."
"Gladly, Captain."
Angrily, Wes gestured and did as he was asked. As they all expected,
'Beverly Crusher' dissolved into a pile of goo. Worf was more than livid.
"A Shapeshifter---aboard MY Ship? Captain, you have my sincerest
apologies--and my resignation. I have failed in my duty."
Kirk smiled, finding a sincere Klingon apology almost amusing, despite
himself.
"Mister Worf, what is StarFleet's test for detecting these shapeshifters?"
"We are to check for blood, since shapeshifters have none."
"Who administers those tests?"
"Why, The Chief Medical...I see your point sir. But failure is still
failure. There are supposed to be safeguards, even for this."
"That's one concern, Worf. But my concerns right now are getting to Deep
Space Nine and finding out where this young man's mother is, if she's...if we
can find her."
Wesley closed his eyes, as though hearing some unseen words.
"There's no need, Captain. The Traveller has found her, and brought her back
to Earth. She's understandably not in the best shape right about now. They must
have taken her there, last time, while she was in seclusion."
Riker nodded grimly.
"Makes sense. They took someone in mourning, whose extreme behavior would be
chalked up to grief. But Wes, the Traveller invaded a Dominion Prison Camp?"
Wes smiled.
"Let's just say--Will, that there are a lot more Jem'Hadar and Vorta infants
than there were a few hours ago. Everyone, if you'll excuse me, I'm for Earth
and my real Mother."
Understandably anxious to get back, Wesley vanished. Worf then noticed
something.
"He forgot to remove the Changeling from temporal stasis."
Kirk shook his head.
"No, Mister Worf, somehow I don't believe he just forgot."
As Kirk pondered where to get a new CMO, Worf looked hard at his failure
with the shapeshifter, and made a choice.
"Come in."
"Am I disturbing you, Deanna?"
"Not at all, Worf. I just spoke to Beverly over sub-space. She's hurting, to
be sure, but seems to be improving, especially with Wesley there. She doesn't
want the Captain's heart anymore, thankfully. What do you think of him?"
Worf frowned.
"His title to my people best translates as 'Beloved Nemesis', or 'The Enemy
For Whom We Pray'. A great man, by any standard. But I failed him, Deanna. Just
as I failed Doctor Crusher. Just as I am destined, it seems, to fail you."
"Not that alternate future again. Worf, so many things have changed. We lost
the D, we lost Captain Picard, and now maybe Beverly. I don't know if a single
one of those things will come to pass."
"In that future, Commander Riker blamed me for your death. There must be a
reason for that, a basis that he used to assign that blame. So I am taking the
next step to ensure that future remains an alternate one."
Deanna sensed what was next, but pretended not to.
"What is that step, Worf?"
"You will always be dear to me, and I hope we will always be friends. But as
lovers, we are done. I wish you well. This is for both our sakes."
He moved to leave, but was blocked. Deanna was near to crying.
"The hell it's for both our sakes! You just don't want to be hurt again, like
you were when K'ehlyr was murdered! You just want to wrap up that Klingon Heart
of yours in armor, locked away from all potential for anything, good or bad.
You Are A Coward!"
Worf looked down at her. He was somewhat hurt, but mostly sorry.
"Because of what we had and who you are, I will allow you to survive that
statement."
"Get Out."
Deanna sat. She didn't cry, but she felt lower than she had in a good while.
She talked to herself.
"Is there any way this day could possibly get any worse?"
"You have an incoming message."
"Troi here."
"Weeelll, hello, Little One! I'll be stopping at DS9 before you pull out,
and I've arranged a week-long visit with you on board your new ship. Isn't that
lovely? Hmmm?"
"Terrific, mother. I'll look forward to seeing you."
The screen went blank.
"Computer, when is my shift?"
"In 4.5 hours."
"Computer, Lock The Door."
"Door Locked."
"Sound Dampeners On Max."
"Sound Dampeners On."
"Hold all non-urgent messages."
"Messages held."
Deanna stretched her neck, let it pivot all about, then rubbed her
throat. In the lotus position she sat, gathered herself, and closed her eyes.
She then opened her eyes and serenely let out the single most blood-curdling
scream of all time.
As the ship made final approach for Deep Space Nine, Kirk sat in his quarters
and stared at the gift the crew gave him. It was a portrait of himself as he
was 100 years before. Each day, he began to leave for his duty shift with these
words to the young Captain in the painting.
"Just what in the hell do you think you're looking at?"
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Next : DS9
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