Chapter 9:

Noah Hathaway & Sean Riker

"Mom, what's taking you so long? I'm supposed to be at Washington Station in less than two hours!"

Deanna Troi-Riker laughed as she brushed her hair. "Relax, Little Prince," She said. "We're roughly 30 minutes away from the station. We'll get there in time."

Sean Corbin Riker poked his head inside his mother's room and frowned. "We're not going to get there in time if you keep brushing your hair like you have all the time in the world."

Deanna stopped brushing her hair and came over to Sean. "You've waited four years for this, you can wait 30 minutes. The Enterprise will still be at Washington Station." Sean gave the Betazoid Counselor a narrowed look before heaving a resigned sigh. "Fine, you win."

Deanna smiled and kissed her son on the cheek. "Don't worry, Jizadi," She assured. "I'll be ready in time to take you and Noah to Washington Station."

"I'll hold you to it, Mom." Sean teased. "The Captain on this Enterprise is supposed to be strict, especially when it comes to punctuality."

Deanna laughed. "I'm sure he's not that strict. Precise, maybe but not strict."

Sean went back to the main room to finish packing his things when his door chimed.

"Come in," Sean called.

A young man, about Sean's age, entered the room. He was tall and lanky, dark-skinned complexion and dark brown eyes. His dreadlocks extended to his upper-shoulders so he usually wore it in a ponytail. The boy came over to Sean, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"Sean!" He called out. "Are you ready? The Enterprise ships out soon."

"Why are you so eager to go?" Sean asked his friend.

Ensign Noah Hathaway glided to the replicator and ordered a papaya and mango juice. Once he got his juice from the replicator, Noah plopped down on the sofa.

"They say that this Enterprise is going to be the best starship to date." He replied.

"That's what they said about the other six starships named Enterprise," Sean pointed out.

Noah gave him a look. Sean just shrugged.

"Honestly, Noah," He said. "What makes the Enterprise-F different from all the others?"

"The fact that it's Explorer-Class," Noah explained. "My mom told me that this Enterprise will be sailing toward uncharted planets, thousands of light-years from the Federation."

Sean looked at Noah in disbelief. He was about to ask something when his mother intervened.

"Your friend is telling the truth," Deanna confirmed. "The Enterprise-F will be exploring on the other side of the galaxy. If it hadn't been for the rifts and wormholes in space, Starfleet wouldn't confirm this mission."

"So we're going to an unknown planet in an unknown galaxy?"

"You're scared, Riker?" Noah challenged.

Sean scoffed. "Please! My dad's the Captain of the Titan!" He quickly got up and went into his room to finish packing when he heard a familiar voice inside his head.

It's okay to admit you're scared, Jizadi.

"Will you stop prying inside my head, Mother?" Sean exclaimed. "I swear you're worse than Grandma Troi." Before he went in his room, he added: "And for the record, I am not scared. I'm just wary."

Noah laughed as he took a long sip of his juice. Deanna just shook her head.

"He may have my looks," She said. "But he has his father's personality."

It wasn't a long route to Shuttle Bay 5 but with all the anticipation and excitement of the Enterprise shipping out, Sean couldn't help but feel….somewhat apprehensive.

Deanna sensed her son's nervousness and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't be nervous, Sean."

"I'm not nervous."

He caught his mother's look. "I'm not."

Deanna was about to say something when the Turbolift came to a halt. The doors opened and two women stepped in. One woman had the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Her uniform was grey and gold, showing her as an engineer. The second woman was younger but she had the rank of Full Commander and her uniform was blue and grey. Deanna saw who it was and smiled widely.

"Molly! Kylie!" She exclaimed. "It's been awhile!"

Molly O'Brien and Kylie Ramirez both had smiles on their faces when she they entered the Turbolift. Molly came over and gave Deanna a big hug.

"Hello, Deanna." She greeted. "How've you been?"

"I've been wonderful," Deanna said. "I've heard Data chose you for Chief Engineer. Congratulations."

"Did my father tell you?"

"Actually, your mother."

Molly rolled her eyes. She can't tell her parents anything! Deanna senses her embarrassment and laughs. "It's all right, Molly." She assured. "Your parents are just proud of you."

"Trust me," Kylie added. "I know. When I told my parents I was serving aboard the Enterprise, my father told everybody aboard the Calypso and my mother asked if there were any single officers on the Enterprise."

Smiling casually, Noah strutted over to Kylie.

"You know," He said, in the flirtiest voice, imaginable. "I'm single."

"Ah…Noah," Sean began. "I don't think you should…."

"It's okay, son." Deanna assured. "Let your friend introduce himself."

The women knew how this was going to end; they just decided to play along anyway. Noah was just being charming; oblivious to what was happening. Sean shook his head. This is going to end in disaster, He thought.

"Really?" Kylie mused. "And what's your name?"

Noah smiled his "James Bond" smile. "Hathaway. Noah Hathaway. I'm a Medical Ensign on the Enterprise-F."

"Ensign, huh?"

"Yep. So, if you need any…medical attention, just come down to the Sickbay. I'll be happy see to your needs."

Molly was trying to suppress her giggles.

Sean kept his head down to hide his embarrassment.

Deanna just looked at Noah, thinking he has no chance.

"Well, I don't think that'll be necessary, Noah." Kylie said.

"You can always go to your superior officers for permission."

"No, it's not that," Kylie said. "You see, I'm one of the Enterprise-F's Senior Officers."

Noah looked at Kylie in disbelief. "You are?"

"Oh, yeah," Molly confirmed. "She's a Commander."

"B-but she's my age!" Noah exclaimed.

"She's actually a couple of years older than us." Sean whispered to Noah.

Wanting to relieve the uncomfortable tension in the room, Deanna stepped in.

"Boys, this is Chief Medical Officer Kylie Ramirez," She introduced. "And Chief Engineer Molly O'Brien. They're your Superior Officers on the Enterprise."

"So we have to report to them everyday?" Sean asked.

"Yep." Kylie and Molly replied.

Noah leaned against the Turbolift wall. "Oh my God," He groaned. "I made a pass at my boss."

"Don't feel bad, Noah." Kylie assured. "I wasn't offended. In fact, I'm kind of flattered. But don't flirt with me while at work."

"Yes, sir!" Noah saluted.

Sean and Deanna laughed.

The Turbolift came to a halt and the doors slid open, revealing Shuttle Bay 5. The five Starfleet Officers stepped out if the Turbolift and came over to a Vulcan Cadet.

"May I help you, Counselor Troi?" He asked.

"Yes, is there a Shuttlecraft going to Washington Station?" Deanna asked.

The Vulcan Cadet got out his PADD and scanned the itinerary.

"Yes," He replied. "The Chancellor will be docking out to Washington Station in less than 1 hour."

"How many passengers will be boarding?" Kylie asked.

"Eight," The Ensign replied. He scanned the itinerary. "Would you like me to read you the passenger list?"

Deanna looked at Kylie before nodding. The Vulcan pressed a button on the PADD and read off the names:

Hathaway, Noah; Ensign

K'Jai; Ensign

La Forge, Geordi; Commander

Maddox, Nina Valery; Ensign

O'Brien, Molly; Lieutenant Commander

Ramirez, Kylie Anna; Commander

Riker, Sean Corbin; Ensign

Scott, Brendan Montgomery; Lieutenant

"Does that not sound adequate?"

"Yes," Deanna confirmed. "That sounds about right. Do you know when the other passengers will get here?"

"No, I do not."

"All right. Well, do not let me hold you up." She turned to Molly and Kylie and smiled. "You girls take care of yourselves. And these two." She added, indicating to Noah and Sean.

Kylie laughed. "Don't worry, Deanna." She assured. "We'll keep them in line." Deanna smiled and started to leave when she felt her son's fear get more stronger. She turned around and saw Sean, close to tears.

"What's the matter, Sean?" She asked, coming over to him.

"Nothing." Sean replied, his voice breaking. "It's just…"

"I know you're scared, Jizadi."

"This is my first time on my own; without you and Dad around. I don't know what to do."

"Remember what I told you when you first entered the Academy?"

When Sean didn't say anything, Deanna reminded him, telepathically: You're never alone no matter where you are.

Sean nodded as he wiped the tears from his face. "What if I fail?"

"You won't," Deanna said. "You have a crew that will help you along the way. You'll be fine."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Sean engulfed his mother in a warm embrace, crying softly. Deanna put her arms around her son, gently stroking his back and hair.

"Your father and I are very proud of you, Little Prince."

"I'm gonna miss you, Mom."

"I'll miss you too, Sean. But you'll be fine. I'm not worried."

Before Sean could say anything else, he heard a loud sniffle in the background. He and Deanna turned around and saw Noah on Kylie's shoulder trying hard not to cry; and doing a terrible job at it. Kylie, for her part, was looking at Deanna, shaking her head.

"Noah?" Sean asked. "Why are you crying?"

"Because this is beautiful!" Noah cried. "It's like a Kodak Moment."

Deanna laughed. "I'm going to miss you also, Noah." She said. "You're like a second son to me and Will."

"And you and Capt. Riker are like my second parents." Noah agreed.

Sean smiled and looked back at his mother. "Tell Dad goodbye for me, okay?" He said.

Deanna kissed Sean's forehead. "I will. I love you, Sean."

"I love you, too."

Once Deanna Troi-Riker left, Sean Corbin Riker felt alone. For eighteen years, he had lived under the protection of his Starfleet parents. All his life, he had known their world of love and safety. Now, Sean was traveling in a whole new world; without his parents' presence. Of course, he spent four years in the Academy but even then, he had always felt their presence. Now, he is going to serve aboard the Enterprise, who is going several light-years away. Sean won't be able to feel his mother's presence. That scared him. Noah came over to his side, placing a hand on Sean's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Sean." Noah assured. "You're going to be fine."

"This is a whole new experience," Sean said. "It's a little…nerve wracking."

"We're on the Enterprise!" Noah exclaimed. "We're going to explore new galaxies. You're going to follow in your parents' footsteps."

Sean smiled. "Yeah. That is exhilarating, is it?"