23

Volun-told

Only steps from Turbo Lift 2, Alexandria and Marina on "O" deck (letter O) surprise a young yeoman coming around the corner at sprint speed. He collides with Alexandria spinning her around completely. Alexandria remains on her feet but the momentum of the young man carries him off his feet and forces him to crash into the ground, in spectacular fashion, face first.

"Are you ok?" exclaims Riker.

For a moment the young man stirs in pain, but then brings himself to his feet while favouring his side.

"Are you alright?" asks Riker.

"Yes, ma'am, I am ok."

Out of an abundance of caution, Riker pulls out a medical scanner and checks the young man for injury to be sure.

"You just have minor inflammation, you'll be okay."

He lowers his head in embarrassment. Before Marina can comfort the young man emotionally, Alexandria intervenes believing she had a much better idea how to handle the situation.

"Yeoman!" she barks angrily. "Now isn't the time for Parrises Squares."

A board smile quickly replaces the look of confusion plastered over the face of the young yeoman.

"You have a name yeoman?" she asks.

The young man straightens and answers with pride. "My name is Wiley, Pete Wiley, ma'am,"

"Pete Wiley, huh," Alexandria remarks "You know, you're kinda cute."

Riker interrupts Munro by clearing her throat.

"Carry on with your duty, Yeoman Wiley."

"Yes lieutenant," replies Wiley.

As Wiley leaves, Munro winks at him.

"What are you doing?" with irritation.

"Just keeping up the morale, among other things, ma'am."

"Ensign Munro!"

But before Marina can berate the ensign, the doors of Turbo Lift 2 part revealing Jonathan within the cabin. The women glare at each other.

"Ladies," Kirk regards the two.

"Captain," they reply in unison.

"Did I miss something?"

"Nothing at all," replies Alexandria with coy smile.

=/\=

Yeoman Wiley arrives at Shuttle Bay 1 and comes to assistance of Chief Gates by taking the weight of a deck plate.

"Thank you, lad," he says.

They remove the plate and the Chief prepares to cut through the remaining plating but pauses.

"Yeomen, do you have eye protection?"

"No, sir,"

"Goodness, gracious," quips the chief engineer. "Then avert your eyes, lad."

"Yes, sir."

Sparks fly across the as the Chief cuts through the Titanium with the mining plasma cutter and expertly slices through the remaining at the end of the plating. Wiley smiles with relief.

"That should do it," Gates remarks and then keys his insignia.

"Gates to Kirk, comin."

"Go ahead chief," replies Kirk over the communicator.

"Engineering has cut through the last of the plating. We are now ready to move the energizer."

"Understood. Proceed."

"Aye Captain, Gates out."

Gates then glances over to the young man.

"Yeoman, wanna volunteer to move a volatile and radioactive piece of equipment with the propensity of exploding on the slightest of jarring."

"Absolutely, sir," enthusiastically replies Yeomen Wiley.

"The bliss of youth!" chuckles Gates.

=/\=

Jonathan exits Turbo Lift 2 with Alexandria and Marina to arrive onto the bridge. Marina and Alexandria resume their posts but Jonathan does not take the captain's chair.

"Lieutenant Commander Picard," Kirk calls out. "A moment please."

Genevieve glances over to Marina, who returns a look of dismay.

"Yes sir," she replies as she rises from the captain's chair. "Saren, you have con."

Saren takes her place in captain's chair as Genevieve follows Jonathan into the ready room.

Jonathan sits down, while Genevieve stands at the ready.

"I will lead the mission to divert the Breen away from the Enterprise,"

"No, sir, you cannot." with a stoic voice "Must I remind the Captain that he is the designated flag officer and must remain aboard the ship at all times, sir."

"I thought I called my first officer into the ready room, not my science officer."

"I take that as a compliment, sir."

"I see," Kirk sighs with disappoint. "Then I am ordering you to plan and prepare the mission you proposed."

"Who will lead the away team, sir?"

"I will make that determination."

"Excuse me?"

"'Excuse me, sir," says Kirk coldly.

Picard glares at Kirk.

"You have one hour to select and prepare a mission team…"

"No," interrupts Picard. "I will lead the mission."

"I need you on the bridge, commander."

"No, you don't!"

"Let me make myself absolutely clear, I am giving you a direct order to plan and prepare the mission …"

"NO!"

Jonathan angrily jumps out of his seat and confronts Genevieve.

"I am in command of this vessel and I am giving you a direct order. Your duty…"

"Don't lecture me about duty, Jonathan!" Picard yells back, startling Kirk.

"Due to your insubordination I have no choice but to relieve you of your position," he at her.

"The hell you will!" screams back Picard.

At that moment, Genevieve realizes what Jonathan is doing.

"You don't want me to go," she mutters.

Jonathan motions to key his insignia but Genevieve catches his hand before he can key it.

"No," she says calmly.

Jonathan lets his arm drop to his side, but carefully so as not to allow it to tremor.

"I will lead the away team," states Jonathan. "You take command of the Enterprise."

"Your place is on the bridge, you know that."

Jonathan's head drops in silent agreement.

"I have to lead the team, Jonathan," Genevieve lifts Jonathan's head to meet her eyes. I need to give the Enterprise a chance to escape."

"I can't look into their eyes and order them."

"And I can't look into yours…" says Kirk and then turns away. "Please, don't do this."

"You, have duty Jonathan… and I have mine."

Genevieve catches Jonathan and they embrace in a deep kiss. In that moment, anything was possible, even the success of a suicide mission. The moment passes and Genevieve breaks the embrace and takes a step away from him. With eyes forward, she snaps her body to attention position.

"Permission to take command of the Fibonacci, sir."

Jonathan hesitates, only prolonging the inevitability of his answer.

"Permission granted."