Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.
Death by chocolate
Picard was sitting in Ten-Forward enjoying a relaxing evening. Sher walking into the room, pulled his attention from his cup of tea.
She noticed him stand up and walked over to his table. “Captain.”
“Please, join me.”
“Thank you.” He was the perfect gentleman. It was one of his many assets.
Ben came over to take her order. “Ask Guinan if she will make me a Death by Chocolate.” Guinan brought it out herself. She smiled as she placed it before Sher. She took a long sip. “Beautiful.” She sighed, patting Guinan on the forearm as she went back to the bar.
“How do you know Guinan?” Picard asked.
“Guinan and I have been friends for a long time.” Sher shifted the conversation, “I am glad you decided against committing DaTa. He wasn’t going crazy.”
“He gave us quite a scare.”
“As I am sure I scared him. I do apologize. He has a couple good friends here that care deeply about him. I am very impressed with the relationship he has forged with Mr. La Forge.”
“Geordi was the first person to give Data a chance. He has turned out to be a fine officer. This ship would be a different place without him.”
“I am impressed by the fact that your crew is so diverse. Other Captain’s, in my experience, have frowned upon such endeavors.”
“Everyone has something to give of him or herself. Many you just have to give them
a chance.”
“That is very noble of you. The Enterprise is an impressive ship.”
“You have an impressive ship as well.”
“Thank you.”
“The Federation built it for you I understand.”
“Yes, it was a present.”
“That is a hefty present.”
“You are fishing for details Captain, which isn’t your style. Just ask.”
“Very well.” He tugged at the bottom of his shirt as he crossed his leg right over left. “What did you do to get such an expensive gift?”
“That is much better; years of loyal service. You are given a new ship every time one under your command gets destroyed.”
“But they are not logged as mine. I am only the captain, entrusted with her and her crew. You where given a ship. As far as I can tell, you are the only person aboard her.”
“Yes, I was. Designed it and everything. It is my home away from home. I get to go so rarely.”
“Data signed the drawings.”
“He drew them for me. I have never been proficient at drawing. He is very good at it. Was.” She corrected herself.
“How did you meet Data?”
“On Omicron Theta, I was on vacation. I am sure as you know, he was created there.”
“True. I have been there, after the destruction of course.”
“Lor did a fabulous job in attracting the entity.”
“You call that fabulous?”
“I never said I agreed with the end result. Lor did what he did out of jealousy.
Jealousy is never a reason to destroy anyone. I said it was fabulous and it was.
Dr. Soong did one thing wrong; he created too many androids. Instead of learning from one mistake and destroying that mistake before creating another one, his creating bordered on madness. It was an obsession with him.”
“Do you feel he did Data an injustice by creating him?”
“No, everyone that has been around DaTa, that has gotten the privilege to know him, has been enriched by him.”
“Your accent is so different. It is soothing.”
“The effect my accent has on you depends on you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let me use DaTa as an example. My accent thrills him as it does another member of your crew. You, it calms. I have sent men into battle just by talking to them. And I really didn’t say anything inspiring either. Since we are being so personal, what is up with you and Dr. Crusher?”
“That is indeed very personal.”
“I know.”
“Beverly and I are better suited as friends.”
“Says who?”
“We agree.”
“You agree because it is safer than to explore the seriousness of your
relationship?”
“My duty, my life is here.”
“Do you see her going anyplace? And this is your life because you have chosen it to be your life. She is here on this ship beside you. Life will pull you in different directions, it’s supposed to. It is how you choose the direction that makes all the difference. Wesley views you as a father figure anyway. That is one battle you have already won.”
“It would never work.”
“It would never work because you are scare Jean-Luc. You are scared that you and Beverly will have something wonderful together. Jake is dead. You and her both know that he would want Beverly to be happy. She is happy when she is around you. Put you in a petrie-dish placed under a microscope and she would be ecstatic.” Sher winked at Picard as she left, taking her Death by Chocolate with her. Picard set there for a long time with her words rolling through his head. He did love Beverly. She was an amazing woman. If it came down to it, could he give the Enterprise up to be with her? He didn’t think he could. Loving one lady and being married to another was the difference for him.
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