7.
It was typical, he thought, of his brother to get the time wrong, or the place wrong, or the day wrong, or any of the other myriad of variables in putting together a simple trip from Oxford to Barcelona. It wasn't that hard. Take the train to London. Take the shuttle to Paris. Meet your brother at the Starfleet shuttle terminal. Show your identification. Fly to Barcelona. How difficult could it be, to someone who had been raised in deep space on the ship where his father was captain?
He paced the confines of the officer's lounge. If Jean-Guy didn't turn up on the next flight from London, they would miss the last flight from Paris to Barcelona, which meant they would have to spend the night at the Starfleet dorms, because Rose was already in Sitges for the party. He was missing an entire week of classes for this extravaganza, which he wouldn't have minded, he told himself, except that he knew – he knew – that Papi hated these things, and that with his health being so fragile, it would most likely be a recipe for disaster. The thought of his father – dignified, intelligent, proud – being put on display even as he was losing everything that he'd held important – the truth was, he was furious with Rose. Of all the stupid things to be genetic, he fretted, surprise parties was perhaps the most stupid ever.
"Are you late for a conference, Commander?"
He stopped pacing in front of the windows, and turned around, immediately bringing himself to attention when he realised the officer addressing him was a captain.
"No, sir," he answered. "Not a conference."
The captain gave him a wry smile. "Relax, Commander," she said. "Sadly, anxiety will not change the situation, whatever it is. Tamsin Diako." She offered him her hand, and, surprised, he took it.
"Alexandré Riker-Picard," he said. "And you're right, of course, sir. My irritation will not make my brother arrive on time."
If she recognised either of his fathers' names, she didn't say. "Your brother is Starfleet as well?" Diako asked. Then she said, "You can stand down, Commander. You're not on my bridge, even if you are in uniform."
He relaxed, but only slightly. He'd been accused, once, by Jean-Guy, of most likely standing to attention in his crib, and he reckoned it was as accurate a description as any. He preferred the Ambassador's reliable formality to the Admiral's spontaneity – he'd never really been able to figure out what the Admiral had wanted, and when. It had been a source of frustration for him, and irritation to the Admiral.
He did smile, however. "No, sir," he replied. "My brother is a student at Oxford University."
"Really?" Diako asked. "Sit down, Commander Riker-Picard, you're making me nervous, and I don't have a nervous disposition."
"Sir," he said, and he sat across from the seat she'd taken.
A shuttle had landed – not Jean-Guy's – and the room was suddenly filled with a clutter of officers. Several acknowledged Captain Diako politely, and then a familiar voice said, "Sascha! How are you?"
He glanced up and then rose quickly to receive a brief hug; it was Captain DeSoto, long-time friend of the Admiral's.
"I'm well, sir," he answered. Then he nodded towards Diako and said, "Captain Diako. Captain Rowan DeSoto."
"Of course," Diako said, also standing. "Good to meet you."
"I've got to run," DeSoto said, "my connection is tight. How is the Admiral?"
"The same," he answered. "Working on something big, Rose says."
"Well, that's exciting," DeSoto answered. "And the Ambassador?"
He shrugged. "Holding his own, for now. Rose is there."
"I'm off to London," DeSoto said, "but I will see you in a few days."
"Sir," he answered.
"Good to meet you, Captain," DeSoto said, and walked briskly away.
He waited a moment, for Diako to sit, and then sat down, trying not to fidget. Jean-Guy's shuttle was due to land at any time; he could only hope that his brother was actually on this one.
"You are Admiral Riker's son?" Diako asked now. "And Ambassador Picard's? I did wonder."
"Yes," he said, and then he smiled, briefly. "It can be a challenge," he admitted.
"Not many places you can go where someone doesn't know one or the other," Diako said.
"Except Oxford," Sascha answered. "For all of his faults, my brother has managed to avoid that issue."
"The one who's late?"
"The one who's always late," he said.
"The family rebel."
"In a way," he conceded.
"Does that make you the family good boy?" Her look was frank.
"No," he answered, after a moment. "I think that role belongs to my sister, the doctor."
"Interesting. Not the good boy, but not the rebel. The responsible one, though, I'd bet."
He didn't say anything. It was beginning to feel, in a strange way, like a job interview. The shuttle from London was announced, and he stood, turning towards the arrival gate.
"I'm the oldest," he answered, looking back to Captain Diako. "So the responsible one, yes."
"Ambassador Picard is ill, I understand," Diako said, but she said it in a way that was compassionate, somehow.
"Yes," he replied. "It's why the Admiral stepped down."
"Why he left the Titan, you mean," Diako said.
"He keeps his hand in. I think he's more interested in music, these days."
"He does a bit more, I think, than keep his hand in," Diako said.
He glanced at her, sharply. Then he said, "You were waiting for me."
"You'll be finishing your classes at the Academy at the end of this semester," Diako said thoughtfully. "Feel like coming to space?"
Mutely he took the chip she handed him.
"You're a little high strung, Commander," she said. "But I understand that Admiral Riker was anxiety-driven, in his posting as Robert DeSoto's First."
"You already know Captain DeSoto," he said, feeling stupid.
Diako grinned. "Here comes your brother," she replied. "Let me know, once you get settled in Spain. I'm in London for three days, and then back to San Francisco."
"Yes, sir," he said. "But -"
"I know," Diako said, laughing, "the party is this week. Have fun with that. Tell your father I said hello."
"Which one?"
"Riker, of course," she said, walking away.
Jean-Guy walked up, carrying an instrument case and a duffle, and looking as if he hadn't slept or bathed in three days.
"Have we got time to find some food?" he asked. "I'm hungry."
