TERMINUS

by Soledad

Notes: Some lines of the dialogue between Geordi and Rina are taken from the rejected earlier script of the TNG episode "Unnatural Selection", written by Mike Gray and John Mason. I find them too beautiful to remain unused.

The Enterprise's next mission takes place during the episode "Hollow Pursuits", Ensign Gibson, Lt Ballard and Christy Henshaw are canon characters.

Again, heartfelt thank to my wonderful beta, Linda Hoyland.

Chapter 10 – Epilogue

Two days later Commodore Norsen and his surviving people returned to the planet and with them went Data II. The majority of the Enterprise's off-duty crew gathered in Ten Forward to watch the ship break orbit, while the others followed the events on the respective viewscreens of their duty stations. The bridge crew of Alpha shift had the best view, of course, as always.

"I want to thank you and your crew for the help, Jean-Luc," Commodore Norsen, whose image filled every screen, said sincerely. "Please tender my thanks to Captain Saavik as well… and my condolences for losing their doctor. They left before I was able to speak to her."

"I will," Picard promised. "Are you absolutely sure that you want to stay here, Ty? Building up a new colony around the Starbase is a lot of work; and you've already served long enough."

"Which is why I'm planning to retire – here," Norsen replied. "Besides, I'll have sufficient help with the work."

"We will both continue our work here at Bynax II," the avatar, who was standing next to him, assured everyone. "That is what the Builders would want."

"I wish you good luck," Picard said. "Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to see how this new alliance may work out, we must depart on to our next mission to the Mikulak homeworld. They offered us a load of special tissue samples that could prove vital to the containment of an outbreak of Corellium fever on Nahmi IV. We must break orbit without further delay."

"The work of a Starfleet captain is never done," Commodore Norsen answered with feeling. "Godspeed then, Jean-Luc, and should you be in the neighbourhood again…"

"I'll drop by to say hello," Picard promised; then he sat down in his chair and pulled on his uniform jacket so that it would fit perfectly. "At your convenience, Number One."

"Course and speed set for the Mikulak homeworld, sir," Riker reported crisply.

Picard nodded and made a small wave with his hand as was his wont. "Engage."

Wesley's fingers danced on his console. The Enterprise cleared the Bynax system and disappeared into subspace in a flash of energy.

Geordi and Rina left Ten Forward together, heading for their respective quarters.

"Looks like you'll be going to your next assignment with a captain's commendation in your record," Geordi said conversationally. "I think you'll fit in a lot better on a Deltan vessel. In many ways they're similar to your people – and they're great explorers, too. You won't have a boring moment for the rest of your service; and you'll have the chance to learn more than on any other post."

"I know and I'm really looking forward to it," s/he replied. "I'll miss you, though. Your understanding... and the way you... see things," s/he stopped and turned to him, looking at him with wide, crystalline blue eyes. "Tell me. When you look at me, what do you see? Do you think I'm beautiful?"

"To me beauty is a constantly changing thing," Geordi replied thoughtfully. "Sometimes people have it and sometimes they don't. It all depends on their energy," he paused, unsure whether he should continue; then he remembered Worf's encouraging words and went on. "I see your energy and it's beautiful. But it comes from within."

Rina laughed. "You're the only poetic chief engineer I've ever heard of."

"And you're the most able trainee I've ever met," Geordi took hir hand and kissed it. "To quote our first officer, 'It's been a pleasure'. I'll miss you, too."

He tried to let go of hir hand but s/he wouldn't let him.

"Technically, I'm off duty," s/he said in a speculative manner.

Again, Geordi remembered Worf's not-so-subtle suggestion.

"Technically, so am I," he replied, realizing, that they had arrived at the entrance to her quarters. They looked at each other for a moment; then Rina raised an eyebrow… almost Vulcan-like.

"Maybe you'd like to come in," s/he offered. "I've got a fabulous collection of antique star drive drawings."

"Sounds riveting," Geordi said after the briefest moment of hesitation.

This was his only chance. S/he would be off the ship at the next Starbase, most likely to go into deep space for the next fifty years or so. What did he have to lose?

S/he interpreted that as a yes and keyed in hir code. The door opened. Turning around the corner, conn officer Ensign Serena Gibson arrived just in time to see them enter, embrace each other and kiss before it would close again.

"No way!" she exclaimed in shocked surprise and turned on her heels to hurry back to Ten Forward.

Judy Ballard and Christy Henshaw would never believe this!

~The End~

Soledad Cartwright at 20.06.2015.