*
Disclaimer: ST:TNG and all related characters owned by Paramount. No copyright
infringement is intended.
Summary: Of exotic birds, bruised yet unbroken bows, and arrows of destiny.
*
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams…" Arthur
O'Shaughnessy
*
"And you cross this relay with that relay, and twist that cord…and then if
it won't work, shoot the bastard."
Brows lifting slightly, Deanna Troi stared at the departing back of one
Zephrame Cochrane, fingers drumming the console before her. "But then we won't
be able to communicate during the launch!" She called after him, sighing as he
shrugged and moved on, back towards the Phoenix.
"Will, I'll kill you for this." She muttered softly, reflecting back on the
order that had put her here, doing…what? Operations, command, communications?
All of them? There was no method at all to Cochrane's madness. "It must be
punishment." She decided rather loudly, ears still ringing, even after nearly a
full night and a hypospray. "For the tequila. I would much rather just get a
formal reprimand. I've been a good girl; I can bear another few of those."
Faint, very familiar laughter came through the headset. "That's what they all
say, until gamma shift duty."
"Perhaps." Opting for lofty condescension, the counselor turned back to her
buttons and switches.
"C'mon, Imzadi." Will Riker's tones held definitive charm, even through the
primitive communications system. "You'll practically be launching the Phoenix
yourself. We do what you say, when you say."
"Only after you say what to say and when to say it." She pointed out, faint
smiling edging nonetheless.
"Oh, boy." Cochrane's complaining tones broke in. "Do you need a better
distraction, Dina, my dear?"
"Deanna. And no, I think the Commander…"
"Dina." The voice faded briefly, and then returned, scuffling noises filling
the background. "You know, I've got one. Just wait a minute or two, you'll have
all the distraction a sober mind can handle." His voice rose again, clearly
directed somewhere within the shuttle. "Archie, get outta here, you scamp. Go
find Dina, that beautiful half-alien I told you 'bout."
"You didn't!" Geordi's voice broke in indignantly. "What did we tell you about
keeping all this quiet?"
"He was probably drunk." Riker muttered, and she could just imagine the head
shake that accompanied the remark.
"Gentlemen, the damage is done, and the com is still open." The beautiful
half-alien said patiently, propping her chin on a lightly balled fist.
"Zephrame, just who is Archie?"
"Oh." The signal wavered, distracted tones breaking through after a long
moment. "Just some grubby urchin who lives 'round here, fancies himself the
next great Hawkings or the like. You can listen to him for a while,
sweetheart."
"Just hold onto your badge and listen to us as well, Counselor." La Forge
added.
"Of course, boys." Kicking her feet up on top of the table, Troi glanced
towards the doorway, straightening swiftly as a small…grubby indeed…figure
hurtled in. Somehow, he skidded to a halt mere inches from her recently planted
toes. Smiling, she held out a hand. "You must be Archie."
"Hello." The word ended with a faint wheeze, the child's eyes dilated. "You're
her."
"Most of my friends call me Deanna."
"The alien." He continued as if she hadn't spoken, fingers clawing excitedly
at his frayed jacket. "It must be 'mazing to be an alien, even part alien."
"Not so very different from being human or part human, I would think." She
took a wiry arm in hand, urging him to take a cup of water from the nearby
supply and seating him firmly on the floor. "Archie, you don't really believe
in aliens, do you? Hasn't Doctor Cochrane…exaggerated…things before to
you?"
"You're not even a little alien?" Disappointment was rife in the boy's
cock-eyed stance and low voice.
"Well…" Resolve somewhat weakened by the threatening devastation on his
face, she sighed. "If an alien was on Earth right now, he or she or it most
certainly wouldn't want to advertise the fact unless they were a
troublemaker…"
"I see. Sure I see." The sandy-haired child stood and reached dirty fingers up
to pat across her face, staring steadily into her eyes, his own glowing and
bright. "It's a secret, then."
"Counselor." Riker's voice warned unexpectedly, and she jumped slightly,
fingers clamping down on her communicator badge.
"Will, what am I supposed to say?" She began in exasperation, gently moving
the small fingers away and laughing briefly. "He is a budding Hawkings, you
know…"
"Aw, leave her alone, for crying out loud, Archie." Cochrane's tones overrode
them both. "I bet you're pawing her like that kitten I found you last
Christmas. If the kitten didn't like it, Dina won't either. She's not your
science experiment."
The boy leapt back guiltily, embarrassment slowly crawling up his cheeks.
"Sorry, ma'am."
"It's perfectly all right." Standing, she stretched slightly, carefully
watching her guest out of the corner of one eye. His eyes were edging towards
the data flashing across the terminal screen, and she could practically hear
the calculations running through his young mind. The feelings of curiosity and
excitement he radiated were impossible to miss. Hawkings indeed. Shaking her
head, she caught his shoulder with a hand, speaking lightly into the headset.
"Commander, I think Archie and I may go on a walk. Lock the files?"
"Fine." Riker responded, huffing. "Enjoy your relaxation, Counselor."
"I wish I could put in a hand with the Phoenix." She sympathized, though it
wasn't entirely true. The mind of Archie seemed far more interesting an
exploration at the moment.
"Take a hike."
Smiling, she cut off the signal and locked down the computer, taking the boy's
hand. They made way out of the cramped and disorganized operations center
quickly, Archie practically tugging her towards the less occupied sector of the
camp.
After a few moments of silent walking, her mind began to drift from the warm,
slightly sticky fingers meshed with her own, instead focusing on the
surroundings.
It's a primitive culture…
Pausing, she let the heat from a nearby bonfire soak into chilled skin,
marveling at the comfort it brought.
Archie tugged impatiently at her arm. "Don't you have heat where you live?"
"Yes, but packaged." She murmured absently, sparing a wistful glance back.
"It's all packaged."
"You sure must get paid a lot, then." The flames lit up his eyes. "Nobody
around here can afford much tech. The Doc is probably the richest man I've ever
known."
"We don't work to benefit ourselves." Realizing how odd the concept must seem
to a child of the era, she drew him to a halt. "And while some of us do have
money, it's considered an unnecessary vanity."
"Around here there is no money to get, and if there ever is nobody is
ashamed." Archie said simply. "Everybody works to survive."
And so they did as well, in certain fashions. Mind flickering back to the war
and all it's many and myriad costs, she shook her head, deliberately drawing
them to a halt meters away from the crowds, and dropping all pretenses. He was
far too intelligent for them. "Do you work to survive on your own?"
"I have my parents." He looked belligerent for a moment. "They love me. It's
just hard. Mama helps Doc Cochrane, and Dad…travels. He tries to find better
ways for us."
"I'm certain that they're wonderful people." Soothing his anger, she smiled
down. "Perhaps I could speak to them."
"They're busy."
"Archie." Inserting a proper tone of command and concern into her words, Troi
knelt, forcing his gaze. "Tell me the truth. Does Doctor Cochrane realize that
you have no one?"
"My mothers only been missing since the last attack." His voice quivered
faintly, and then strengthened. "And Dad sometimes stays gone for weeks on end.
It's only been a couple of months. Not very much longer than the usual. I can
take care of myself for now."
"And if they don't return to you?" Voice gentle, she caught his chin in her
palm. "The least you can do is inform the Doctor, Archie. He would gladly care
for you."
"He's so busy, and Lily has so much to think of…" The boy sighed, eyes
reflecting tired resignation. Suddenly, he grabbed for her hands, voice rising.
"I can go with you."
"No, Archie…"
"I already know everything. I know what you are, I know 'bout the ship, and
contact, and what can I hurt there that I won't hurt here? I trust you, Deanna;
I like you, please…"
"You don't know everything." Turning, she closed her eyes. "You belong here.
You can do everything here that you couldn't there. Do you understand how
special a child you are, Archie?"
"I just want to get away from here."
"And when I was a little girl I just wanted to stay home." Rubbing his head,
the counselor stared thoughtfully up into the darkened sky. "I was frightened
to leave it. My father died among the stars. I didn't want the same to ever
happen to me. And so I took the safe route…I thought myself so wise, on the
path to terrestrial happiness and safety."
"What happened?" The boy stared up at her, eyes full of quizzical curiosity.
"I met someone." Laughing softly, briefly, she grabbed for his hand, picking
up their path briskly. "And he taught me not to be afraid of what I was, and
what I could be. I loved him, and he left me. But I couldn't forget all that he
had given me…and when the time came, I wasn't afraid to fulfill my destiny.
I never could have been happy doing anything else."
"But it's so bad down here."
"It gets better, Archie." Reflecting upon her years among the stars, with
Enterprise and her crew, Troi smiled. "It only gets better." Kneeling, she drew
him close, briefly and poignantly remembering a child of too many years passed.
Only a ghost, part of the speckled loom of her life. "Perhaps we should
reintroduce ourselves." She held out a hand. "Commander Deanna Troi."
"Archie. Just John Archer."
"Just John." She brushed a tear from his cheek. "I can assure you that you are
anything but."
Suddenly, loudly, her communicator badge trilled, startling them
apart. Backing away gently, she tapped it, studying her companion. "Troi here."
"Time to rock and roll, Dina dear." Cochrane's exuberant, albeit
slurred tones rang through before Riker's chuckle overtook control.
"Ready to greet the future, Imzadi?"
"Any time, Imzadi." She shared a small smile with Archie,
grasping his hand as they turned to head back. "Any time."
FIN
Disclaimer: ST:TNG and all related characters owned by Paramount. No copyright
infringement is intended.
Summary: Of exotic birds, bruised yet unbroken bows, and arrows of destiny.
*
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams…" Arthur
O'Shaughnessy
*
"And you cross this relay with that relay, and twist that cord…and then if
it won't work, shoot the bastard."
Brows lifting slightly, Deanna Troi stared at the departing back of one
Zephrame Cochrane, fingers drumming the console before her. "But then we won't
be able to communicate during the launch!" She called after him, sighing as he
shrugged and moved on, back towards the Phoenix.
"Will, I'll kill you for this." She muttered softly, reflecting back on the
order that had put her here, doing…what? Operations, command, communications?
All of them? There was no method at all to Cochrane's madness. "It must be
punishment." She decided rather loudly, ears still ringing, even after nearly a
full night and a hypospray. "For the tequila. I would much rather just get a
formal reprimand. I've been a good girl; I can bear another few of those."
Faint, very familiar laughter came through the headset. "That's what they all
say, until gamma shift duty."
"Perhaps." Opting for lofty condescension, the counselor turned back to her
buttons and switches.
"C'mon, Imzadi." Will Riker's tones held definitive charm, even through the
primitive communications system. "You'll practically be launching the Phoenix
yourself. We do what you say, when you say."
"Only after you say what to say and when to say it." She pointed out, faint
smiling edging nonetheless.
"Oh, boy." Cochrane's complaining tones broke in. "Do you need a better
distraction, Dina, my dear?"
"Deanna. And no, I think the Commander…"
"Dina." The voice faded briefly, and then returned, scuffling noises filling
the background. "You know, I've got one. Just wait a minute or two, you'll have
all the distraction a sober mind can handle." His voice rose again, clearly
directed somewhere within the shuttle. "Archie, get outta here, you scamp. Go
find Dina, that beautiful half-alien I told you 'bout."
"You didn't!" Geordi's voice broke in indignantly. "What did we tell you about
keeping all this quiet?"
"He was probably drunk." Riker muttered, and she could just imagine the head
shake that accompanied the remark.
"Gentlemen, the damage is done, and the com is still open." The beautiful
half-alien said patiently, propping her chin on a lightly balled fist.
"Zephrame, just who is Archie?"
"Oh." The signal wavered, distracted tones breaking through after a long
moment. "Just some grubby urchin who lives 'round here, fancies himself the
next great Hawkings or the like. You can listen to him for a while,
sweetheart."
"Just hold onto your badge and listen to us as well, Counselor." La Forge
added.
"Of course, boys." Kicking her feet up on top of the table, Troi glanced
towards the doorway, straightening swiftly as a small…grubby indeed…figure
hurtled in. Somehow, he skidded to a halt mere inches from her recently planted
toes. Smiling, she held out a hand. "You must be Archie."
"Hello." The word ended with a faint wheeze, the child's eyes dilated. "You're
her."
"Most of my friends call me Deanna."
"The alien." He continued as if she hadn't spoken, fingers clawing excitedly
at his frayed jacket. "It must be 'mazing to be an alien, even part alien."
"Not so very different from being human or part human, I would think." She
took a wiry arm in hand, urging him to take a cup of water from the nearby
supply and seating him firmly on the floor. "Archie, you don't really believe
in aliens, do you? Hasn't Doctor Cochrane…exaggerated…things before to
you?"
"You're not even a little alien?" Disappointment was rife in the boy's
cock-eyed stance and low voice.
"Well…" Resolve somewhat weakened by the threatening devastation on his
face, she sighed. "If an alien was on Earth right now, he or she or it most
certainly wouldn't want to advertise the fact unless they were a
troublemaker…"
"I see. Sure I see." The sandy-haired child stood and reached dirty fingers up
to pat across her face, staring steadily into her eyes, his own glowing and
bright. "It's a secret, then."
"Counselor." Riker's voice warned unexpectedly, and she jumped slightly,
fingers clamping down on her communicator badge.
"Will, what am I supposed to say?" She began in exasperation, gently moving
the small fingers away and laughing briefly. "He is a budding Hawkings, you
know…"
"Aw, leave her alone, for crying out loud, Archie." Cochrane's tones overrode
them both. "I bet you're pawing her like that kitten I found you last
Christmas. If the kitten didn't like it, Dina won't either. She's not your
science experiment."
The boy leapt back guiltily, embarrassment slowly crawling up his cheeks.
"Sorry, ma'am."
"It's perfectly all right." Standing, she stretched slightly, carefully
watching her guest out of the corner of one eye. His eyes were edging towards
the data flashing across the terminal screen, and she could practically hear
the calculations running through his young mind. The feelings of curiosity and
excitement he radiated were impossible to miss. Hawkings indeed. Shaking her
head, she caught his shoulder with a hand, speaking lightly into the headset.
"Commander, I think Archie and I may go on a walk. Lock the files?"
"Fine." Riker responded, huffing. "Enjoy your relaxation, Counselor."
"I wish I could put in a hand with the Phoenix." She sympathized, though it
wasn't entirely true. The mind of Archie seemed far more interesting an
exploration at the moment.
"Take a hike."
Smiling, she cut off the signal and locked down the computer, taking the boy's
hand. They made way out of the cramped and disorganized operations center
quickly, Archie practically tugging her towards the less occupied sector of the
camp.
After a few moments of silent walking, her mind began to drift from the warm,
slightly sticky fingers meshed with her own, instead focusing on the
surroundings.
It's a primitive culture…
Pausing, she let the heat from a nearby bonfire soak into chilled skin,
marveling at the comfort it brought.
Archie tugged impatiently at her arm. "Don't you have heat where you live?"
"Yes, but packaged." She murmured absently, sparing a wistful glance back.
"It's all packaged."
"You sure must get paid a lot, then." The flames lit up his eyes. "Nobody
around here can afford much tech. The Doc is probably the richest man I've ever
known."
"We don't work to benefit ourselves." Realizing how odd the concept must seem
to a child of the era, she drew him to a halt. "And while some of us do have
money, it's considered an unnecessary vanity."
"Around here there is no money to get, and if there ever is nobody is
ashamed." Archie said simply. "Everybody works to survive."
And so they did as well, in certain fashions. Mind flickering back to the war
and all it's many and myriad costs, she shook her head, deliberately drawing
them to a halt meters away from the crowds, and dropping all pretenses. He was
far too intelligent for them. "Do you work to survive on your own?"
"I have my parents." He looked belligerent for a moment. "They love me. It's
just hard. Mama helps Doc Cochrane, and Dad…travels. He tries to find better
ways for us."
"I'm certain that they're wonderful people." Soothing his anger, she smiled
down. "Perhaps I could speak to them."
"They're busy."
"Archie." Inserting a proper tone of command and concern into her words, Troi
knelt, forcing his gaze. "Tell me the truth. Does Doctor Cochrane realize that
you have no one?"
"My mothers only been missing since the last attack." His voice quivered
faintly, and then strengthened. "And Dad sometimes stays gone for weeks on end.
It's only been a couple of months. Not very much longer than the usual. I can
take care of myself for now."
"And if they don't return to you?" Voice gentle, she caught his chin in her
palm. "The least you can do is inform the Doctor, Archie. He would gladly care
for you."
"He's so busy, and Lily has so much to think of…" The boy sighed, eyes
reflecting tired resignation. Suddenly, he grabbed for her hands, voice rising.
"I can go with you."
"No, Archie…"
"I already know everything. I know what you are, I know 'bout the ship, and
contact, and what can I hurt there that I won't hurt here? I trust you, Deanna;
I like you, please…"
"You don't know everything." Turning, she closed her eyes. "You belong here.
You can do everything here that you couldn't there. Do you understand how
special a child you are, Archie?"
"I just want to get away from here."
"And when I was a little girl I just wanted to stay home." Rubbing his head,
the counselor stared thoughtfully up into the darkened sky. "I was frightened
to leave it. My father died among the stars. I didn't want the same to ever
happen to me. And so I took the safe route…I thought myself so wise, on the
path to terrestrial happiness and safety."
"What happened?" The boy stared up at her, eyes full of quizzical curiosity.
"I met someone." Laughing softly, briefly, she grabbed for his hand, picking
up their path briskly. "And he taught me not to be afraid of what I was, and
what I could be. I loved him, and he left me. But I couldn't forget all that he
had given me…and when the time came, I wasn't afraid to fulfill my destiny.
I never could have been happy doing anything else."
"But it's so bad down here."
"It gets better, Archie." Reflecting upon her years among the stars, with
Enterprise and her crew, Troi smiled. "It only gets better." Kneeling, she drew
him close, briefly and poignantly remembering a child of too many years passed.
Only a ghost, part of the speckled loom of her life. "Perhaps we should
reintroduce ourselves." She held out a hand. "Commander Deanna Troi."
"Archie. Just John Archer."
"Just John." She brushed a tear from his cheek. "I can assure you that you are
anything but."
Suddenly, loudly, her communicator badge trilled, startling them
apart. Backing away gently, she tapped it, studying her companion. "Troi here."
"Time to rock and roll, Dina dear." Cochrane's exuberant, albeit
slurred tones rang through before Riker's chuckle overtook control.
"Ready to greet the future, Imzadi?"
"Any time, Imzadi." She shared a small smile with Archie,
grasping his hand as they turned to head back. "Any time."
FIN