Paint and Powder

A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.

During "Redemption, Part 2", Call back to "Yesterday's Enterprise"

The blockade of Romulan space during the Klingon Civil War had hit an unexpected bump in the road: The apparent daughter of Tasha Yar, a half-Romulan, half-human commander. It was an impossibility. Tasha would have been a child at the time of that battle.

Yet Guinan insisted it was true. And as she left, Picard sat back at the head of the conference table in the lounge, contemplating the impossible.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see Enterprise. He stared at her intensely.

"You knew too?" He asked.

Enterprise let out a soft sigh.

"My memories from when I was the C... Yes, I knew," she said with a nod.

"And you never told me?" Picard asked. The Enterprise shrugged, a bit helplessly.

"I didn't want to risk changing the timeline," she said, "Temporal Prime Directive and all." She gave Picard a wry smile. "You'd think after all the time travel I've experienced, I'd be better at handling it, huh?"

Picard's grave expression didn't change. Enterprise nodded, becoming serious again.

"Yes, the other Tasha Yar was aboard the Enterprise-C," she said. "That future she came from was one where the Federation was at war with the Klingon Empire, and had been for over a decade. The Romulans, the Cardassians: Even the Tholians were all driving on us. Even on a wartime footing, the Federation couldn't keep up. Too many fronts, not enough ships. There were indications that the Borg were preparing to invade, as well. Our best projections suggested we might have to surrender to the Klingons within the next year. Maybe sooner. The Borg would have fallen upon a divided, war torn Alpha Quadrant."

"And... Sending Tasha Yar back changed that?" Picard asked. Enterprise nodded.

"Sending her and the Enterprise-C did," she confirmed. She sighed. "You remember that time, Captain. The Klingons were growing restless. Many Great Houses wanted to restart the war. Tensions were mounting, even with all that the Khitomer Accords had accomplished. Dying in orbit over Narendra-III, to try and save a Klingon colony from four warbirds..." Enterprise paused, her voice growing thick. She took a moment to compose herself.

"It was an act of sacrifice and bravery the Klingons regarded as heroic," she said firmly. "It saved us all."

Picard stared at his ship's avatar for a long, silent moment. He then looked back at the table, sighing softly.

"And the other Tasha...?" He asked.

Enterprise smiled fondly.

"She fought bravely," Enterprise said, "without her, I wouldn't have survived half as long. We brought down two warbirds... They captured her and several other survivors from the bridge, just before we finished off the third with her idea."

Picard looked expectant. Enterprise smiled grimly.

"Ramming speed," she stated.

Picard nodded, a part of him savagely approving.

"And now, her daughter is our enemy," he said.

"Maybe," Enterprise replied. Picard glanced at her, and she shrugged, "we need to have hope for the future, Captain."

Picard breathed out softly. Enterprise squeezed his shoulder. He gave her an appreciative look.

"In the end, hope is all we have," he said.

Hours later, Sela came to the Enterprise and had it out with Picard. The meeting accomplished little, only confirming what they already knew. It was obvious the Romulans were supporting the Duras, but not obvious enough. Sela gave nothing useable away.

Sela finished their meeting angrily denouncing her mother.

"My father offered her life! He gave her a home, he gave her a child, and how did she repay him?! With betrayal!" She glared out the nearby window. "They executed her."

Picard was silent, watching her with a poker face. But Enterprise knew it hurt her captain. He had lost Tasha once, to know she had been lost again...?

Sela turned her eyes back and sneered at Picard and Enterprise.

"Everything that was human died with my mother that day. All that's left is Romulan. Never forget that."

Enterprise stared back across the table, unimpressed.

"Yet you came here, alone, to talk," Enterprise said. "You told us the truth."

"How could you possibly-?" Sela demanded, but Enterprise glared back.

"I was there," the AI stated firmly, "I am the Enterprise. I knew your mother, Sela. I fought alongside her. She was willing to do anything to save the innocent. She went back in time to save a colony of strangers, to die, because it was necessary. Because it was right. And because without that sacrifice, the entire Quadrant would have fallen to the Borg."

"You can't possibly-" Sela tried, but Enterprise flickered and reappeared right in front of her. She stared into Sela's eyes, full of intensity and ancient wisdom.

"I know you think you don't believe me. I know you think you can't believe me," she stated, "but somewhere inside you is the child who still loves her mother. She knows the truth, Sela. Your mother loved you. She wanted you to have a life not defined by your heritage, not controlled by the Star Empire. One you would choose."

"You don't know anything about me," Sela snarled.

"I know enough," Enterprise replied calmly, "I know that you're defined by your mother's execution and your father's obsession. It's written all over your face, in every action you take. But that defiance, that fury, that intensity... It's all your mother's."

Enterprise paused. She took a step back from Sela. She shook her head.

"I knew your mother, Sela," she said softly, "and I can tell you everything about her. I can let you understand her. Then you can decide for yourself what she meant to you. What the human side of you means."

Enterprise held out her hand.

"Please," she said.

Sela stared at the offered hand for a long, silent moment. She looked up into the eyes of Enterprise and Picard. For a second, there was a hint of vulnerability in her face. The tiniest hint of longing.

Then the harsh, cold Romulan Commander returned, and Sela crossed her arms over her chest.

"You have six hours until the deadline remaining, Captain," she stated coldly, "I suggest you make use of them wisely."

She walked past Enterprise and Picard, out the door. As it shut tight behind her, Picard looked over at the avatar for his ship.

"For a moment," he said, "you were almost getting through to her."

Enterprise closed her eyes, and sighed.

"I'm sorry," she admitted. "I lost control. I... I have a habit of doing that, around the crewmembers I lost."

"The ones who meant the most to you?" Picard asked.

She looked over at Picard, and smiled sadly.

"I remember every one who's ever died aboard me," she admitted, "every one. Some did more than others, but... You all meant something to me. All of you."

Picard smiled back fondly.

"I'm glad the feeling is mutual," he replied.

And a bit more insight into Enterprise's character... But she won't be the only one we'll be exploring.