"Semper Ex." That was our version of semper fi/par. Starfleet had called both ships and told us that indeed Romulus and Remus would talk. Starfleet said they would also carry the ball further from there. Enterprise/Excelsior had made history yet again. But...that was what we did. And as Kirk said so well at the end of the Khitomer mission - we haven't run out of history to make yet.

The crews mingled at the border; they needed it. For Amanda and Wesley it was a big homecoming of sorts; he would see his mother again; she'd also been Amanda's mentor when on the D.

JL joined me in ten forward. "The Excelsior is very similar to the last Enterprise; especially before her demise." "She's already grown on me." We sat near the massive set of expansive windows. The main recreational lounge aboard the ship was moderately trafficked at present; it was very comfortable/relaxing. "You bring a very different style of command to Starfleet, Diana." "Thanks. Can I call you JL?" He laughed. "I've never been called that before. Why not?"

We were partaking of a drink, but nothing fake or replicated. He'd brought over a bottle of the good stuff - Chateau Picard; his family's official brand. It'd been bottled in 2364; the year the D had launched. It was damned good! We'd swirled it around and smelled it before partaking of it together; but not before toasting to semper ex first! We both had a captain's mess aboard our massive ships; captain's yachts too. We could have done the whole privacy bit but I liked the fact that we celebrated openly; as captains.

Amanda wasn't wrong (she was a Q after all!); JL was definitely drawn to me. He was also lighter around me; he smiled and laughed more. He'd been through so much. He'd healed from Locutus for the most part; but the scars were still there. The deaths of his brother/nephew hadn't helped either. He had no offspring; he was the last of his line; a great line that he was proud of. I'd promised my father I'd never become a mother until becoming the next him; so that part was out. But that didn't mean that we couldn't be together, maybe, at some point...or I/Amanda could make him a demigod/immortal.

With Excelsior there were many ways to defy the odds... "Amanda Wesley and I have talked about creating another android, like Data; we were thinking 'Xon'; it's Vulcan for 'wisdom'." "That should prove interesting. None but Soong himself were truly successful with that venture." "Yeah, but with a Q we can cheat a little." "Well, power can be used for good as well as bad to be sure."

"Another thing nice about us is you don't have to worry about that temporal incursion crap anymore; or needing to rely on riddler guardians of forever either." He laughed. "That will make things a damned bit easier."

I leaned back in my chair. "You know, JL, I'm glad that we are here on this blast from the past for you; and drinking from a bottle of the good stuff from the very year it launched. This fits the very mood that I want/have for this brave crew of a thousand souls. We're getting back to what things were like before the Dominion, before the Borg; back to the 2360s again; hell, the 2260s again as well." He nodded. "Kirk's five year mission." "Yeah; often called the golden age of exploration. It's time to get back to that high mindedness again. It's time to get back to reaching for those stars and never touching them. It's about the journey; screw the destination."

"I like what I'm hearing Diana." "I want to learn more about the Tkon empire; Iconia. The ancient city around the Guardian guy. I want to hang out at memory alpha more, which everyone else considers boring. I want to map celestial phenomena at the sub quantum level. I want to visit those archaeological sites that you had to abandon because of that stupid war. I want to attend art/science symposiums around the quadrant. I want to explore the delta quadrant once Voyager gets back." He raised a brow. "They will?" "Oh yes. Amanda and I are certain of it. They will change history forever; for the better. Trust me." "Oh I do."

He leaned back looked at his wine glass and slowly turned it around on the table. "We will likely go separate ways Diana; after this. We're still helping colonists in the deep alpha quadrant." I nodded. "The admiralty promised tons of exploratory missions for Excelsior. We'll see; won't we?" He chuckled. "You'll get them." He sighed; he looked into my eyes. "You're...a most remarkable woman, Diana Prince." "It's actually Diana of Themyscira; if you want to get technical." We shared a laugh. "I'll keep that in mind." "Well, I can't order you to do it."

He grew serious. "Diana...I'm so sorry again - for Garak." "Don't be." "You both sacrificed much to help keep the peace. That is no easy thing to do. You kept your word...no matter how much it hurt." I looked out into the stars. "Yeah. We did our duty."

"Mm. I don't claim to understand how your Mount Olympus really works, or if your father really is God; but I will say this - if you are to take over for him at some point - I am glad it is you that will be doing it. If anyone could make me a religious believer; it is you."

"Jean-Luc...you're not alone. Never forget that. My science officer is a Q. Long distance communication will never be an issue for us." He laughed. "How true."

We instinctively reached out together and held hands.