Captain Jean-Luc Picard was a legend in his own time. He had commanded three starships and his tenure with each one was legendary. Those who knew him closely would tell say that he was just a mortal man, with quirks and weaknesses like any sentient being in the United Federation of Planets. When asked for an example, his circle of friends might smile and mention that when assuming control of the Galaxy class USS Enterprise 1701-D good captain had commented that he was 'uncomfortable with children'. One can only the imagine the surprise of those who were aware of this little quirk when almost sixteen years later, as commanding officer of the Sovereign class USS Enterprise 1701-E, Captain Jean-Luc Picard filed adoption papers and became a single parent.
"Are you sure about this?" asked his first officer Commander Martin Madden. Madden was a brown haired human male in his forties.
"Please, I'm responsible for almost a thousand lives on board this ship; I can take responsibility for one more," Picard sniffed as he glanced around the 'ready room' that served as both an office and spare quarters. Located just off the bridge, it made more sense to spend his time here than in the office suite on deck four.
"Yeah but we don't even know that he is 'alive'," Madden pointed out. When he saw the stern look Picard gave him he added. "Not in the way that Commander Data was! Commander Data was a fully sentient intelligent being with all the rights and privileges of a citizen of the Federation, and B4 is well… We don't know if he qualifies as an actual person yet."
"Relax Martin," Picard said. Captain Picard and Martin Madden were on a first name basis. Picard called Madden 'Martin' and Madden called Picard 'Captain'. "I'm sure that the Daystrom Institute's lawyers will do their best to take him away from me. With luck he'll be out of your hair in no time."
Martin blushed at that remark. Unlike Martin Madden, Jean-Luc Picard didn't have any hair. The first officer cleared his throat and started again. "I know now that the political situation has finally stabilized Star Fleet is allowing families back on board these explorer ships, but are you sure you're ready to have a family?"
"I'm not getting any younger," Picard shrugged as he gave an ironic smile. Picard was decades older than Madden, but thanks to medical advances made since the discovery of warp drive only appeared a decade older. Indeed, Picard's slender form was still athletic and more than capable of passing the physical requirements to serve in Star Fleet. He studied Madden closely. "I'm impressed Number One. You're not thinking of B4 as some science project. You're thinking of him as an orphan child."
"I'm thinking that I don't know which one he is," Madden admitted. "He's…" he searched for a diplomatic way to describe the android. B4 physically resembled Picard's friend and shipmate Commander Data who had heroically sacrificed himself to save the Enterprise and destroy a doomsday weapon that could wipe all life off a planet with one shot. There was talk of the android posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor. The problem was that B4 acted like a slow learning child with the strength to bend steel in his hands. There was an old, old, Earth term for such a being: Frankenstein's Monster. "He's um… special," he smiled apologetically.
"I know," Picard nodded. "That's why I know I'm going to lose when the Daystrom Institute's lawyers arrive unless I can make some progress with him. I don't want to turn him over to a bunch of unfeeling scientists who will treat him as an object. If he's got a chance at becoming a person, I want to give it to him. I owe it to his brother. And I owe it to myself."
"He's like Data's ghost isn't he sir?" Madden guessed.
"He's a very nice ghost Number One," Picard protested gently.
"Still. Being a single parent," Madden scratched his head, "and of a 'special' child too. You don't back away from challenges, do you? So if you're the father who is he going to have for a mother?"
"Geordi," Picard winked, "but don't tell him that. He still thinks he's the father."
Their wry laughter was interrupted by a chime from Picard's combadge. "Captain?" a deep voice rumbled as the captain pressed a hidden stud on the badge.
"Yes Mister Worf, what is it?" Picard asked in his 'stage voice'.
"You have a visitor waiting to beam aboard," the burly Klingon on the bridge informed him. "I have been informed that there is someone from the Judge Advocate General that wishes to speak to you on a legal matter. It concerns a matter of adoption."
"Well here it is," Picard rose from his chair. "I've been waiting for this. Time to gird my loins for battle. I'll see you at my Waterloo Number One. Keep this ship afloat in the meantime."
"Will do, Cap'n," Madden shrugged as he followed him out of the ready room.
Picard had decided to meet the legal delegation in the transporter room rather than keep them waiting. If he could convince them that there was no need to take B4 away it would improve his chances of keeping Data's long lost brother, and being adversarial wouldn't help. No, it would be much better to be as pleasant and cooperative as possible and wait for them to pick a fight first.
The transporter pad hummed to life as a tall masculine figure appeared in a shower of sparks. Stepping from the pad was a tall broad-shouldered handsome man in a Starfleet uniform. "Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb of the Judge Advocate General," he announced as he stood at attention. "Permission to come aboard sir?"
"Granted," Picard raised an eyebrow. For a second there he expected the young man to salute.
"Captain Picard," Commander Rabb smiled as he walked forward and shook the captain's hand. "This is indeed an honor sir!"
"Indeed," Picard was somewhat unbalanced by the young man's sudden familiar behavior until he remembered that he was dealing with a lawyer. Just because the man resembled a young Will Riker with a subtle twang in his voice didn't mean this fellow was his friend. "Welcome aboard the Enterprise, Commander Rabb," Picard smiled. "Please make yourself at home during your stay," he added.
"I hope I'm not intruding," Rabb gave an apologetic gesture. "To be honest it's an honor to finally meet you sir. Are you encountering any difficulties letting children on board again?"
"Not at all," Picard said with exaggerated nonchalance. "I commanded this ship's predecessor. You're probably too young to remember but back then it was a standard practice for crews to bring their families aboard these large explorer ships. I commanded the Enterprise D for seven years you know."
"Scuttlebutt said that you weren't a hundred percent comfortable with children in those days," Rabb mentioned.
"You know better than to listen to scuttlebutt, Commander," Picard countered. "I'm sure the record of Acting Ensign Crusher would dispel such rumors."
"That's right," Rabb smiled. "He was the child of your Chief Medical Officer wasn't he? I'm glad to hear that you're comfortable with children who are um… mature for their age."
"Yes I'm quite comfortable with children Mister Rabb," Picard smiled in triumph. He apparently scored a valuable point against the Daystrom Institute. Either that or Rabb was appointed as his advocate and not the Institute's. "I'm completely at ease with the idea of raising a gifted child on board. Particularly one who is my dear friend's only surviving relative."
Rabb seemed surprised, if not visibly relieved. "I'm glad to hear that." His grin was wider, almost celebratory. "I was under the impression that it might be hard to convince you to take on this awesome responsibility."
Awesome responsibility? Were they having the same conversation? It was almost as if Commander Rabb was trying to convince him to keep B4! Better smile and take 'yes' for an answer. Besides, after that tragic incident on the Romulan border, Picard felt that the universe owed him. Data may be gone, but at least he could keep B4. "Er um, yes," Picard nodded uncomfortably. "I assure you I'm ready. I'm ready to accept the awesome responsibility of raising a juvenile android. I've accepted responsibility all my life and I am not about to back down now."
"That's fantastic sir! I can't wait to bring her aboard," Rabb nodded at the enlisted Andorian at the transporter controls. "Go ahead and beam her over," he said.
"Excuse me?" asked a flustered Picard. "Beam who over?" Was he going to bring over someone from child services? Or was it an expert from the Daystrom Institute who could confirm B4's health?
The transporter pad was filled with a shower of sparks as a short brunette woman in her late twenties appeared. Without any makeup, her face looked pale and washed out. Her hair was in a pageboy cut and she wore maroon and bluish-gray civilian clothing that was in style ten years ago. Although she had a ladylike poise to her, she walked slightly stiltedly over to him and set down her luggage to extend her hand to the gaping Picard. "Hello again captain. I understand that you are my new stepfather."
"I don't believe it!" Picard gasped. "Lal?"
In the vast reaches of space, the starship Enterprise drifted through the heavens…
Space…the final frontier… These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission, to explore strange new worlds…to seek out new life and civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before…
Star Trek: The Next Generation's New Voyages
Starring Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Also starring
Enya Brennan as Doctor Maya
Nicola Bryant as Counselor Jennifer Ayeka
Levar Burton as Commander Geordi La Forge
Steven Culp as Commander Martin Madden
Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Commander Worf
Brent Spiner as Commander Data
Garrett Wang as Lieutenant Harry Kim
Guest Starring Aaron Eisenberg as Lieutenant Nog
David James Elliot as Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb Jr.
Jonathan Frakes as Captain William Riker
Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan
John M. Jackson as Admiral A.J. Chegwidden
Gates McFadden as Captain Beverly Crusher
Colm Meany as Master Chief Miles O'Brien
Leonard Nimoy as Ambassador Spock
Marina Sirtis as Commander Deanna Riker
Hallie Todd as Lal
JAG and Star Trek and all related material are © Paramount Studios. This story has been written solely for entertainment. The views expressed herein do not necessarily express the opinions of Paramount Studios, the author, or this website.
Captain Picard Single Father
By Galaxy1001D
Chapter One: Welcome Aboard
The wounded Enterprise E was being repaired in a metal cage of massive ribbed scaffolding that orbited the Earth.
Captain's personal log, Stardate 57021.5. It seems that my desire to be a single parent for an android worked out all too well.
"Make yourself at home Commander," Picard said as they walked into his office.
"Thank you sir," Rabb said as he and Lal followed him. "I'm sure you have some questions but it seems that Commander Data has already filled you in."
"On the contrary quite the opposite Commander," Picard corrected him as he walked over to the replicator installed in the wall. "Tea: Earl Gray, hot. Can I get you anything?"
"I'm fine thanks," Rabb said before he glanced at the android girl. "Lal?"
The android turned her head and regarded Rabb with an empty unfocused look. "I do not require refreshment at this time."
Picard had a feeling that he should have ordered something more 'medicinal' but he didn't feel that it was appropriate to drink alcoholic beverages while on duty and certainly not in front of a minor. He took a sip and sat down behind his desk. "As I was saying: This is quite a surprise to say the least. I must say I'm quite surprised to see Miss Lal in such good health."
"I don't understand," Rabb frowned politely.
"That makes two of us Commander," Picard looked at Lal uncomfortably before hitting his combadge. "Picard to Counselor Ayeka. May I see you in my office please?"
"Right away captain!" a female bird like voice chirped. Picard resisted an urge to clean his ear. That woman's voice was so high pitched that it gave him a headache. The doors slid open and in walked a statuesque young woman wearing a tight silvery cat suit. Her purple hair was in a pageboy haircut. Her body reminded Picard of the holosimulations of Commander T'pol or Seven of Nine but her round girlish face and ice blue eyes gave her a childish innocence that seemed for appropriate for a schoolgirl, not an officer. "Counselor Ayeka reporting for duty, Cap'n!"
"Do you have to do that every time you enter my office, counselor?" Picard asked wearily. Ensign Ayeka might have been a treat for the eyes but she was murder on the ears.
"Sorry sir," the young ensign gulped. "The Enterprise is my first assignment and I want to make a good impression."
"Please ensign, you're trying too hard," Picard smiled with fatherly patience. He shook his head at the irony of consoling the counselor. The girl seemed greener than an Orion Slave Girl. She certainly had the body of one. "This is Miss Lal. She'll be staying with us. Find some quarters for her and see that her luggage is sent there. In the meantime why don't you give her a tour of the ship?" He was quite aware that was a job for a yeoman and not an officer but right now he didn't care.
"Yes sir!" Ayeka chirped enthusiastically. "Right away sir! Miss Lal? This way."
Lal followed the young counselor out without a word.
"That's your ship's counselor?" Rabb smiled. It was obvious that he didn't know whether to pity Picard or to envy him.
"My last counselor got married and transferred to her husband's ship," Picard shrugged. "Hazards of the service, I suppose. Now Mister Rabb, I have some questions. The last I knew, Miss Lal suffered a massive cascade failure in her neural net. That was back in stardate 43657 wasn't it? Over thirteen years ago."
"Ah, well before she 'died' Commander Data transferred Lal's memories and experiences into his own brain, ensuring a part of her would live on. Five years ago during the Dominion War he decided construct a daughter and downloaded Lal's information into his new creation. I guess you could call her 'Lal Two'."
"Data had a daughter?" Picard said incredulously. "Another one? Without telling me? Where has she been all this time?"
"She's been at the Daystrom Technological Institute being taken care of by professional caregivers," Rabb explained uncomfortably. "It was the best he could do being deployed in deep space for so long. It was different when I was in the academy. Officers could bring their families along on big ships like this one. Now that they can again I may take the plunge and have a family myself someday."
"Mm," Picard nodded but he was only half listening. He supposed it made sense for Data to construct an offspring when the War against the Dominion officially started. When faced with impending mortality, the logical thing to do was create a successor. He shouldn't have been surprised. But why hadn't Data told him about her? Since transferring to the Enterprise E, they had become quite close. He hated to admit it, but it stung that Data hadn't felt the need to share something so important. It made him question how well he had really known him.
Picard looked up when he realized that Rabb had finished talking. "So where do I fit in all this?"
"Well Captain," Rabb gave an apologetic smile. "In Commander Data's will, he left his daughter in your custody. I guess he looked up to you as a father figure."
"In my custody?" Picard repeated as he tried to process all this. That explained that bizarre conversation in the transporter room. "In my… legal custody? As a stepdaughter?"
"Why yes sir," Rabb nodded. "I thought you knew. You said you were ready to accept the 'awesome responsibility of raising a juvenile android'."
"I meant uh… another juvenile android," Picard confessed. "Commander Rabb, I think it's time you met B4."
"Before what?" Rabb asked.
Next: Counseling Session