Nechayev stepped out after him. "I can see that, Commander. You know, you didn't have to take me here. There were other pilots just as qualified attached to Starfleet Command."
He nodded. "I understand that, Admiral. However, the Enterprise is not due to leave Earth for another three days. I believe Commander Riker put it aptly when he said that a ship does not have much need for its second officer while it is in spacedock. And... I was curious."
She cocked her head. "Oh? About what?"
"About what a legendary officer does with his time when he is not..." he gave one of his customary pauses as he searched for the correct phrasing, "...being a legend."
She smirked and shook her head. They started toward the cabin when she stated, "Hmm... It doesn't seem like anyone is home. You're sure this is where he should be."
"These are the coordinates Centaurus Control gave us when we arrived." He gave a short pause. "If I may say so, you also did not have to make the trip. It would have been more reasonable to send a representative."
"Yes, well, as you said, I was curious." She turned her attention away from the cabin and toward the scenery surrounding it.
The cabin sat a short distance from a cliff overlooking the valley they had flown over. She walked up to the edge and gazed out over the land. From her vantagepoint, she could see the waterfall that fed the river. Looking through the trees, she noticed various forms of wildlife. "It's absolutely beautiful here."
:Thank you. I'm glad you appreciate it.:
She jumped at the sound of someone's voice. "What the hell!?" she gasped, shocked.
Data came up to her. "Is there something wrong, Admiral?"
She looked incredulously at Data. "Didn't you hear someone speak?"
He looked at her askance. "I did not hear anyone, Admiral."
Just then, their eyes caught movement upriver. Nechayev did a double take before she realized that she was seeing someone flying downriver towards them. As the figure got closer, they realized it was Apollo. He pulled up slightly and touched down lightly in front of the two stunned officers. "Greetings. Welcome to Garrovick Valley," Apollo said. As he landed, his clothing morphed from a form-fitting black jumpsuit to a conventional Starfleet uniform.
"Garrovick Valley..." Data repeated. "Ah. This was owned by Captain James T. Kirk."
Apollo smiled. "At one point, yes. Now... well, I didn't exactly inherit it; Spock did. But he had left me a standing invitation that I could use the place as often and as long as I wished."
Nechayev smiled, clearly impressed. "He certainly had a good choice of property, overlooking all this."
"Oh, this whole valley was Kirk's," Apollo said nonchalantly.
Nechayev's jaw nearly dropped to the ground. "He owned all this?" She brought her arm slowly around to encompass the whole area.
Apollo grinned. "Yup. Everything you see. From the waterfall all the way down river, to include the whole river, and the land on each side for several hundred meters. He called it Garrovick Valley after the captain he served under aboard the USS Farragut. The river was named Farragut River after that very ship."
"Intriguing," Data said in awe.
"I used to come here when I needed to think. It was the only place I felt I could find some peace," Apollo added.
"So you have been in Federation space since the time you've been on inactive duty," Nechayev said.
The captain nodded. "Oh yes. I wasn't running from anything, Admiral. But I did need to have a place I could pull myself together. I came here as soon as I put myself on inactive service."
Nechayev took another look around. "It's very peaceful here. I can understand why you would come here to think things over." She let out a sigh. "But you know why we're here."
"Of course. You're here to haul me back to Earth in chains."
Data looked confused. "I do not understand. That form of restraint has not been used in..." at a look from Nechayev, he realized he was missing something, and checked his archives. Recognition clicked in. "Ah. You were speaking figuratively. You are not actually expecting to be incarcerated upon our return to Earth."
Apollo chuckled. "Tell me Data. Do you try this hard to be funny or does it just come natural?"
Before Data could answer, Nechayev said, "Belay that, Commander. We need to get going." She gestured toward the runabout as they headed for it.
~ * ~
Upon their return to Earth, Data bid his farewell, and Apollo went with Nechayev to Starfleet Command. As they entered her office, she offered him a seat in front of her desk. He sat down, and she took her seat behind the desk. She turned on a display panel on her desk. "Starfleet has decided that during your first contact mission with those aliens, you couldn't be held responsible for the destruction of your ship. And coincidentally, we analyzed the recording of your logs. We came in contact with the aliens you faced. They are solanagen-based beings who live in a portion of subspace. We've had dealings with them on two separate occasions, neither one friendly. I think that also influenced their decision."
Apollo sat there, looking at Nechayev. "Oh. Gee, I'm really glad I can identify them now. So are you saying I've already had my board of inquiry?"
"No, I'm saying you don't need one. The board decided it wasn't necessary, for the reason I gave and for the fact that it took place so long ago."
"O... kay. So, when do I get another ship?"
She looked a little sheepish. "You don't."
"Come again? I am still a captain, right?"
"Actually, no you're not." She called something up on her display and swiveled it around so he could read it. "We found these orders in the archives; orders that could never be carried out because you went inactive." She saved him the trouble of actually reading the orders. "It's a promotion to Admiral. They went into effect shortly after your mission to Seneschal IX. I know you feel that the mission ended in failure, but the decision was based on your success rate prior to that mission. At the next starbase you were to visit, you would have basically received these orders."
He shook his head. "What kind of Starfleet rewards officers for their failures? Then again, maybe that's why they wanted to make me admiral."
Nechayev was lost. "I don't understand."
Apollo stood and started pacing. "Anyone who kept track of who's who in Starfleet back then knew who I was, and they knew that if I was promoted out of the captain's chair, it would've been the biggest mistake they could've made. I... rather hoped that Starfleet was still incapable of making that mistake. Guess I was wrong."
She shook her head. "I don't think you understand. You've been selected to fill a position. We've... we've recently had a setback a couple of years ago. The head of Starfleet Intelligence tried to take over the Federation in a military coup, using the Dominion as a scapegoat."
Apollo cackled. "A military coup from Starfleet. How rich. And you're just now filling the position?"
"Well, we've had someone in position as an interim, but to tell the truth, we haven't had any captains eligible for promotion to fill the slot."
"Oh, that is a bunch of bull. Admiral, you can't possibly tell me that there weren't any captains you could field-promote."
She shook her head again. "No, there weren't." She was starting to get a little frustrated at this captain telling her how to run things.
But he wasn't about to let up. "So suddenly, a relic from the past comes along, and Starfleet thinks 'Here's the answer to our prayers: a promotable officer. So what if he's a bit ancient?'" In a move that caused her to jump, he advanced on the desk and loudly slapped his hands on it. "Well, I hate to tell you something, Admiral, I did not come back to Starfleet so I could be stuffed behind a desk! You want someone for the position, go find someone else!" Before he gave her a chance to respond, he turned smartly on his heel, and stormed out of her office.
~ * ~
How is it I always wind up in bars, thought Apollo. After he had stormed out, he went on autopilot. His legs had taken him to a bar that, remarkably, was still there after all those years. I can drink this stuff until I drown, but I'll never get drunk. My powers see to that. Hell, I probably can't even drown either. He sighed deeply, drained his glass, and despite his thoughts, ordered another one. He half expected someone he knew to sit next to him and talk him out of his depression. Someone did take the seat next to him, but the person was unfamiliar, and once she saw Apollo's eyes, she suddenly discovered that a seat at the other end of the bar was much more comfortable. After another few minutes, he poured the contents of that glass down his throat and left the bar.
Apollo continued walking through San Francisco. A slight fog had settled, making Apollo smiled a little and wondered if it had been programmed into the weather control systems just to make him feel even worse. He approached a street lamp on the corner, where he noticed someone leaning against it. He didn't feel like company, so he changed direction to avoid that spot.
"My, but there's a foul mood if ever I saw one."
Apollo stopped and glared at the figure. His voice sounded very familiar. The man lifted his head. "You," Apollo said. "Aren't you that Crue or something."
Q opened his mouth, but then shut it again. "Nice try. I learn much more quickly than you could possibly imagine."
"All right, all right. Stop blowing your own horn. What do you want, Q?"
"My my. Such a hostile tone. And here I bring such good news. You don't have to worry about being promoted to admiral."
"Uh huh." Apollo was instantly suspicious. "I suppose you're going to tell me you used your supreme influence to make sure I remain a captain."
Q looked off to the side. "No, not really. They still want to promote you. I'm just saying you shouldn't worry about that."
"Q, I'm not in the mood for riddles. Now spill your guts or you'll start spitting out teeth."
"Ewww. Such violent analogies. How barbaric. Anyway, I'm saying you shouldn't worry about it because you're already so much more above that. Don't be held back by such mortal gestures. It's so much beneath you."
Apollo growled under his breath. "Down boy," Q said. "If you think I'm going to spell it out for you, I don't work that way. You're destined for greatness, but only if you know how to get there." Q probably would have said something else, but at that instant, much too fast for even Q to notice, Apollo's right fist came around, striking Q square in the jaw. He flew backwards, striking the lightpole. He brought up his hand to hold his mouth, and a couple of teeth dropped into his palm.
Apollo grinned evilly. "I warned you. Now, leave me alone." He turned to walk away.
A small flash appeared on Q's face, and his mouth and jaw returned to normal. "I can't believe you just hit me." He pulled himself to his full height. "I could take that. But to have you turn your back on me..." Q's voice grew steadily louder. "You shall pay for your insolence!"
Apollo stopped, the base of his skull tingling. Q continued. "Perhaps if I send you somewhere where you'll truly be alone, you'll appreciate what I'm trying to do for you." He brought his hand up, gesturing. At the same moment, Apollo spun around, thrusting his hand forward towards Q. His forcefield shot up around him. A flash of light started to form around Apollo, but then it quickly disappeared, and reformed around Q. When the flash faded, Q was gone.
Apollo dropped his shield and looked into the darkness, but could find no sign of Q. He also noticed that the fog mysteriously disappeared. Shrugging, he returned to his walk.
~ * ~
When he returned to Starfleet, Apollo noticed an elderly gentleman walk out of Nechayev's office. At first Apollo couldn't recognize him, but as Apollo got a good look at him, he was stunned. "Dr. McCoy?" he said.
The old man stopped in the hall and turned around. "Well I'll be damned," he said. "You did come back. How the hell are you?"
A look of joy spread over Apollo's face. "I'm... I'm fine. My God. I mean, don't take this wrong, but quite frankly, I never expected you to still be alive, Bones."
"Heh. Funny you should call me that... a time or two, that's how I almost ended up. And it gets harder to get up in the mornings, but I'm still kicking." McCoy jerked his thumb back towards Nechayev's office. "I understand she was trying to make you an admiral."
"Not by any say I have over it. According to her, the promotion went through years ago."
McCoy walked up to Apollo and poked him in the chest. "Now, you listen to me and you listen to me closely. No matter what they do, don't let them take you off of a starship. Starfleet can't afford it nowadays, no matter how much they'll deny it. Stick to your guns, Apollo. Don't let'em cave you in."
He turned to go, and Apollo called after him. "Leonard." McCoy stopped and turned around. Suddenly, Apollo's voice caught in his throat. "It... It's good to see you again, old friend."
"Ha! Don't try to butter me up. You may look younger than me, but you're always going to be an ancient Vulcan-wanna-be." He chuckled. "Just remember what I said." McCoy then resumed his exit.
Seeing one of Kirk's officers brought a new determination in him. He spun and headed for Nechayev's office. Upon entering, he didn't wait for either protocols or to let her speak. "Admiral, I've made up my mind. If it means I can't command a starship, then I don't want a promotion, and I don't give a damn what consequences might befall me."
Nechayev was standing there, arms crossed. "Are you finished?" she simply asked.
Apollo didn't expect her to just stand there. His fire extinguished, he replied, "Uhhh... yeah."
"Good, because I would've told you you're wasting your breath. Why do you think Admiral McCoy was here? I'm going to confer with the Admiralty. I'm pretty sure we can't stop your promotion. But... I'm also sure we could find a compromise in there somewhere." She smiled slightly.
"Oh. Well..."
"It's getting late, Admiral," she said, smiling at the use of his new title. "Why don't you get some sleep? We'll set up quarters for you this time; that way you don't have to go all the way back to Centaurus."
Apollo was totally caught off guard. He didn't know what to say. "Uhhh... yeah, right. Well then, I guess I'll be back here tomorrow morning."
"Good. I'll see you then." As he left her office, Nechayev was talking to the quartermaster to take care of Apollo's sleeping arrangements.
~ * ~
That night, Apollo slept fitfully. His dream had a weird tone to it. He was in space, holding a planet in one hand and a galaxy in another. There was an evil, maniacal look on his face. Then there was a flash, and he was hiding his eyes, flinging his celestial items behind him. He looked up at a light shining before him. Someone stood silhouetted against the light, reaching out to him... pleading with him.
He sat up quickly, bathed in a cold sweat and breathing heavily. Aside from the light he gave off, his quarters were dark. He lay back down and stared at the ceiling for the rest of the night.