All The King's Horses

by Stephen Ratliff

Marrissa Stories #3. Marrissa recovers from the death of her parents.

Title: All the King's Horses
Author: Stephen Ratliff (sratliff@runet.edu)
Series: TNG Marrissa Stories #3

by Stephen Ratliff

Author's Notes

Well ladies and gentlemen, it's time for yet another Marrissa
Story. This one is set between "Battle for Bajor" and "Cadet Cruise."
It's written in response to several complaints I've received in the
almost four years since I posted the original versions of those works.
Four years, it's been long time. I first started "Enterprized"
in study-hall in March of 1993. When I arrived at Radford University, I
discovered alt.startrek.creative. I started posting "Enterprized" on
November of 1993. "A Gul's Revenge," which later became "Battle for
Bajor," began posting in February of 1994. Since then I've put out an
average of three works every year. (Six in the past year.)
This will be my fifteenth work, beginning what I hope is a
productive fifth and finial year at Radford University. There are more
Marrissa Stories out there. I've got a list of ideas pages long, and
occasionally a new idea will come, like "The Captain and the Doctor,"
that just flows out without stopping.
"All the King's Horses" uses many references to thoroughbred
horse racing, in particular the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the
Belmont Stakes. While the form of the races have maintained the same
shape, some rules have been bent for the purpose of storytelling. No
trainer in his or her right mind would let an untried jockey race their
horse in a Triple Crown race, but fortunately, mine is not left-handed.
:)

Stephen Ratliff.

Some pronunciations

Since this story is set in France, some names are pronounced differently
that they are else where. The following is a short guide.

Robert RO-ber
Boucher BOO-shay


Prologue

Rene was under the Oak tree behind the Picard Family vineyard.
He was looking for his uncle's shuttle. Rene looked forward to his
Uncle Jean-Luc's visit. It had been nearly three and a half years since
the Captain of the Enterprise had set foot in his boyhood home.
At the time Rene had been a young boy of twelve. It was the
first time he had met his Uncle, the famous Captain of the Enterprise, a
man he had idolized. Now he was a youth of sixteen. He had gained
nearly a half a foot in height. His hair had darkened somewhat from the
blond of his childhood.
While Rene still wished for a career in Star Fleet, he had other
interests now. He had a job as an exercise rider at the local stables.
Rene also had a steady girl friend. He blushed, as he remembered their
last date.
He had heard that his uncle was bringing his new adopted
daughter to see his home. Rene wondered what this Marrissa would look
like. He doubted that she wasn't human, although the name did sound
like something a Betaziod would use. All he really knew was that she
was about twelve years old.
Would she have black hair and green eyes like his Isabelle? Or
would she be a blonde with blue eyes. Well he'd soon find out, as Rene
spied the shuttlecraft approaching the vineyard. Uncle Jean-Luc would
probably park near town and walk, but that wouldn't stop Rene from
rushing to tell his parents.


Chapter One
Day One

Captain Picard stepped out of the shuttle. When Marrissa had
suggested the front door, he just couldn't resist parking the shuttle as
close as possible to the front gate. Jean-Luc had dreamed about that
when he was little. Of course he was a famous Star Fleet captain
returning from defending the Federation from some vile enemy, not
bringing his newly adopted daughter home to see the family.
Marrissa was hiding behind him. It probably was a good idea.
From out of the house came Robert Picard. Jean-Luc was glad Marrissa
didn't know French as Robert's language was not exactly polite.
Finally Robert noticed Captain Picard with Marrissa clinging
behind him. "Oh it's you Jean- Luc," he said.
"You sound disappointed," Jean-Luc remarked.
"I was looking forward to yelling at the shuttle's pilot, but I
see you drove yourself," Robert said as his son and wife came out.
Marie was carrying her nine-month-old daughter.
"I'll move the shuttle later," Jean-Luc said. "May I introduce
my daughter, Marrissa? Marrissa this is your uncle Robert; his wife
Marie, the best cook in France; your nephew Rene; and in Marie's arms is
little Theresa."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Marrissa," Marie said. "You must
be tired after your long journey."
"Yeah," Marrissa responded. "He told me to take the helm for a
couple hours and slept for eight."
"She was supposed to wake me," Jean-Luc replied to the unspoken
question.
"In any case, perhaps you'd like to see you see your room,"
Marie responded. "If I know Robert and Jean-Luc, they will want to
check the wines before they come in."
Marrissa picked up her suitcase and followed Marie into the
house, Rene on her tail.

The room was larger than any bedroom Marrissa had ever seen.
The walls were a pale pink with walnut paneled wainscot. There was a
matching dresser and mirror. But what had Marrissa's attention was the
big bed with a white lacy canopy. She'd never seen such a bed. "This
is mine?" she asked.
"Whenever you visit," Marie confirmed. "The closet is over
here. If you need any help, just shout. Rene is down the hall, third
door on the right. Your father will be right across the hall. Lunch
will be in a half an hour."
After Marie left, Marrissa did what she had always wanted to do
with a bed like the one in this room. She plopped right on it. She
decided that she had been right as she stretched out. It was a nice
soft bed. For a couple of minutes she enjoyed the feel of the soft
bedspread and mattress. The she got up and smoothed out the bed. She
picked up her suitcase and put her shirts and slacks away. Finally she
pulled out a photo. It wasn't of her dead parents . . . that was still
a painful memory. This was a picture of her and Captain Picard on the
archeological field trip they had taken. Then sighing, she set out to
find the dining room.

Marrissa took her seat next to her father and across from Rene.
Marie and Robert were at the opposite ends of the table. Theresa was in
a high chair next to her mother. The table was covered with a smooth
white linen cloth and on it sat a feast. Chicken breasts basted in
butter was the main course. There were steaming hot mashed potatoes,
green peas, and cauliflower in a yellow cheese sauce. A basket full of
fresh French bread completed the setting. Marrissa bowed her head as
the blessing was said, smelling the wonderful smells of a home cooked
dinner.
"So Robert, how is business?" Jean-Luc asked, passing the
potatoes to Marrissa.
"Fairly good," Robert responded, taking the bread from Rene.
"Fairly good, Robert?" Marie remarked. "Booming is more like
it. Star Fleet business alone is twice it was last year."
"It's amazing what giving one bottle of wine to Admiral Necheyev
can do," Jean-Luc remarked. "In the past year, I haven't visited a
captain and not been offered some of the '49. It's a good vintage."
"The '50 is better, but I don't think that any year will beat
'33," Robert remarked.
"Perhaps," Jean-Luc replied. "I really want to see how the '63
turns out. It was father's last pressing, and each year seems to get
better, but we taste no wine before it's time."
"You may have a point," Robert conceded. "'33 was Grandfather's
last after all. Did you hear about Rene's job?"
"I noticed his name in the employee list at the stables,"
Jean-Luc said. "So Rene, how are you enjoying being an exercise rider
at Stargazer Stables?"
"I'm enjoying it, Uncle," Rene responded. "Mister White tells
me that Richard, Isabelle, and I have a chance to become the new jockey
now that Maurice has retired."
"How are this year's prospects?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Macedonian is fast out of the gate, but slows," Rene responded.
"In the Stars and Mistress of the Stars are too slow. Warp Speed is the
best of them, but a little slow in crowds."
"Well Mikey will cure what ails them," Jean-Luc remarked. "I'm
purchasing a new one to join the stable this afternoon. I'll be over
tomorrow to watch them exercise and perhaps a half-mile race."
"I'll miss the horses when I go off to the Academy next year,"
Rene commented. "So Marrissa, what do you do in your spare time?"
"Not much," Marrissa responded, blushing. "I study a lot."
"Marrissa has one the last three science fairs for her age on
the Enterprise," Jean-Luc remarked proudly, much to Marrissa's
embarrassment.
"So you're a scientist," Marie assumed. "I expect you spend a
lot of time in the Enterprise's labs."
"Not recently," Marrissa said, beginning to feel a little more
comfortable. "I spend too much time working on starship tactics."
"Following in Jean-Luc's footsteps, I see," Robert remarked. "I
wish my son would follow in mine."
"Not again," Rene sighed, looking up towards the ceiling as if
he was praying for divine intervention to change the topic.
"When I was his age, I was already a fair wine tester, and spent
hours tending the vines," Robert remarked, shaking his fork full of
chicken at his son.
"As I recall, you grumbled tough most of the vine tending,"
Jean-Luc remembered. "And as for the wine testing, you had to be almost
drunk before you could identify the wine."
"I never got drunk tasting wine," Robert responded.
"Oh no brother, you never got drunk," Jean-Luc replied, a
twinkle in his eye. "You just fell into the wine cellar and broken your
arm."
"I was distracted," Robert remarked.
"By the wine," Jean-Luc insisted, tapping the side of his
wineglass.
"No, by Francine DeBarque," Robert stated.
"Oh, so Francine just happened to walk by," Jean-Luc remarked.
"I remember Francine," Marie said. "She was a grade ahead of
me. Blond hair, blue eyes, she had all the boys chasing after her. She
looked a lot like Marrissa."
"I've got violet eyes," Marrissa replied. "And I certainly
don't have boys chasing me."
"Give them time Marrissa, you're only twelve," Marie stated.
Jean-Luc looked startled. "Is there something wrong, Jean-Luc?"
"I remember Francine," Jean-Luc responded. "If boys come after
Marrissa like they did Francine, I don't know how I'll protect her."
"Dad don't worry," Marrissa reassured, calling him dad for the
first time. "If any boy bothers me, I'll just tell him who my father is
and they'll leave."
"I have that reputation among children," Jean-Luc asked. "And
I'm not worried about the boys you don't like."
"You don't do anything that could get the Captain against you,"
Marrissa said. "My friends thought I was crazy when I set out to get
you as my mentor. They said I was risking my time on the ship."

After dinner, Marrissa explored the vineyard. Her new uncle
Robert showed her the winepress and bottler. Rene showed her the wine
cellar. She got her first taste of wine, which she didn't like.
Afterwards, she visited the library. The selection of books was
enormous. One whole section of the wall contained just books for
children her age. There was Dixon's Hardy Boys, Kreene's Nancy Drew,
and even some Three Investagators. Marrissa pulled out one of the Nancy
Drew books, Nancy Drew and the Crumbling Wall, and opened it. It was a
first edition! Marrissa knew that those were very rare and this one was
in almost mint condition after four centuries. She curled up in a
nearby chair and began to read it, careful not to damage it.
After a while her father came in. "Anything interesting?" he
asked.
"Just a Nancy Drew I haven't read," Marrissa replied without
looking up.
"Enjoy," the Captain said, picking up a copy of the unabridged
Shakespeare. He turned to The Taming of the Shrew, and sat down on the
couch.
Then Rene came in. He pulled out one of the Hardy Boys books
and sat in the chair on the other end of the couch. Robert joined them
in the library to work on some account statements on his desk near the
windows.
Then Rene and Marrissa yawned, one after another. "If you are
tired, you should go to bed," Robert remarked.
"Quite right," Jean-Luc seconded.
"Just another chapter," Marrissa and Rene replied in unison.
"Humph," Robert responded.
Soon the books slipped from Marrissa's and Rene's hands as they
fell asleep. The thump of the books hitting the floor alerted their
parents. Jean-Luc looked over at Marrissa who was curled up in the
chair with a smile on her face. She was dreaming of solving the mystery
she had just begun reading.
"I think I'll carry Marrissa to her room," Jean-Luc whispered to
his brother. "I don't want to disturb her sleep. She's had so little
of it with the nightmares of her parents deaths."
"I wouldn't get into a habit of it," Robert whispered back.
"Twelve-year-olds are heavy. I intend to wake up Rene when I finish the
accounting."
"It's not that far to her room," Jean-Luc dismissed.
"Rene's is even closer, but you don't see me carrying him,"
Robert said, as Jean-Luc gently lifted Marrissa from her chair.

Jean-Luc carried Marrissa down the hall to her room. He opened
the door and brought her over to the bed. He careful stripped her of
her outer garments and slid her under the covers. Then he moved to the
door. He paused there, looking back at the sleeping girl. Robert was
right that she was heavy, but standing here at the door looking at
Marrissa sleeping peaceful for once, some how Jean- Luc knew that she
was worth every ounce.


Chapter Two
Day Two
Early Morning

Marrissa yawned as she entered the kitchen. It was ten o'clock.
She was wearing blue jeans and a black T-shirt with the Enterprise
printed on it. Her father had been up since dawn. "Good Morning,"
Jean-Luc Picard greeted. "Still sleepy I see."
"I'm catching up on sleep," Marrissa replied. "Where is
everyone?"
"Marie took Theresa in for her checkup," Jean-Luc responded.
"Robert is tending the vines and Rene is over at the stables exercising
horses."
"What are you going to do today?" Marrissa asked.
"I think I'll go into town and see if any thing changed in the
last three years," Jean-Luc said. "Would you like to join me?"
"Any shops in town?" Marrissa asked. "I'm short on shirts."

The town of Labarre was not very big. It was dominated by two
buildings; the town hall, a four-story gray building in the Renaissance
style; and the white Gothic style Catholic Church. Several small shops
alternated with town houses between the two. As they passed the church
an old priest in a black priest's shirt came out and said, "Good
Morning, Jean-Luc."
"Father Francis, I didn't know you had left San Francisco,"
Jean-Luc remarked. "Did the Cadets finally get to you?"
"It was time to move to a less stressful post," Father Francis
said. "So when Father Pierre died last fall, I asked for his post."
"Who's in charge in San Francisco now?" Jean-Luc asked. "I had
assumed that you took over the Archdiocese since Archbishop Carson
became Pope."
"I declined the post. I'm too old to be running around with
Cadets and consoling Admirals," Father Francis said. "Bishop Hanson of
Alpha Centauri got the post. Who is this young companion of yours?"
"Oh, this is my newly adopted daughter Marrissa," Jean-Luc said.
"Marrissa, this is Father Francis. He was my confessor during my
Academy days."
"Pleased to meet you Father Francis," Marrissa said.
"Pleased to meet you, young Marrissa," Father Francis responded.
"So Jean-Luc, where are you off to today. Is it the restaurants, the
parks, or the bars?"
"The T-shirt shop," Jean-Luc remarked. "Marrissa didn't pack
enough."
"Mind if I join you?" the priest asked. "I'm leading a retreat
of seminarians and I've got to get some T-shirts as well."

A brass bell rang when Jean-Luc, Marrissa, and Father Francis
entered the shop. A heavy oak counter ran across the back of the shop.
In the front of the shop were several racks of finished shirts. As one
of them appeared to contain shirts around her size, Marrissa walked over
to it and began to look through it. Jean-Luc stood behind her near the
door. Father Francis walked over to the counter. As he reached it, a
black-haired man came out from behind the curtain in the back of the
shop.
"Good morning Father," he said.
"Good morning, Philippe," Father Francis said. "I have to
purchase thirty T-shirts for a retreat."
"I'll go get my religious designs," Philippe excused himself.
Father Francis turned back to look at Marrissa and Jean-Luc as
he waited for Philippe's return. Marrissa had just pulled out a light
blue shirt with the town hall and Saint Andrew's in the foreground.
Rows of grape vines stretched out behind the buildings and Jean-Luc's
head was painted above them. With a mischievous grin, Marrissa turned
around and asked, holding it up against her chest, "What do you think?"
Jean-Luc looked at the shirt. He read the inscription below the
picture, "I visited Labarre, France, Home of Captain Picard." His eyes
looked up to the ceiling, "What possessed Philippe to create such a
shirt."
"You don't like it?" Marrissa asked, careful to keep her
laughter out of her voice.
"Marrissa, I'd like to have it burnt," Jean-Luc said in a
monotone.
"Good, because I think its trash," Marrissa said. "Now this one
is much more to my tastes." She pulled out a red shirt with black
shoulders. Across the shirt in silver letters was written 'Future
Star Fleet Officer.'
"Nice choice," Jean-Luc said.
Meanwhile, Philippe had returned and laid out the book of
designs. "What would you like to start with?"
"A cross, Latin I think," the priest said. "And an inscription,
'seminarian retreat 2370 Rome' and I need some sort of slogan, but
one escapes me for the moment."
"How about Expectant Father," Marrissa said from across the
room, grinning. All eyes turned to her. "Well they are about to become
priests, and that is what you call priests."
"Expectant Father . . . I like it," Father Francis responded
after a moment. He pointed to a particular design and continued,
"Philippe, I like this one. Put the event here and 'Expectant
Father' right below it in larger type. I'd like it in black with white
print."
Meanwhile Marrissa had picked out a couple T-shirts. Jean-Luc
paid for them and the two walked back to the vineyard.

Marie was sweeping the walk when they got there. She looked up
and said, "Marrissa, Rene wants to know if you'd accompany him to the
stables."
"Yes," Marrissa responded.
"He's in his room at the moment," Marie remarked. "Go tell
him." Marrissa skipped into the house. When Marrissa was inside, Marie
spoke up again, "You've got a very happy young girl, Jean-Luc."
"You wouldn't have said that if you'd seen her before we left
the Enterprise," Jean-Luc responded. "She was positively depressed.
Her parent's death hit her hard, but the moment we left the ship, she
perked up."
"Then don't expect it to last," Marie said.
"Oh?"
"Right now she's seeing something new. It keeps her mind off
her sorrow. Eventually she will remember again."
"I had hoped the nightmares and depression were over."
"They will be diminished, but only time will heal."
"I've had many officers die under my command, and had to tell
many of their children of their parent's death before. Until Marrissa,
I don't think I really had any idea how it affected them though."
"You have a daughter now, Jean-Luc. That changes everything."


Chapter Three
Day Two
Midday

Marrissa knocked on Rene's door. "Come in," Rene's voice said.
Marrissa entered. The room was white walled where pictures of starships
and starship Captains inter-spaced with the occasional horse picture
wasn't covering. There was a single bed with a black bedspread under
the window. There was a dresser, a book case, and a desk; all made of
walnut. All available surfaces were covered with model starships. Rene
was working on a model of the Enterprise-C. He had the stardrive
section complete except for the warp engines which he was fastening the
red tips on.
"Did you make all of these?" Marrissa asked.
"From kits," Rene said proudly. "I started with the
Enterprise-D over there." He pointed to the model on the dresser.
"Then I did the Stargazer. When the Nebula came out I did it. I was
finished before they commissioned the second ship. Then I started on
the rest of the Enterprises, but I haven't had as much time since I got
the job at the stables."
"I know how that is," Marrissa commented.
"Oh?"
"Jay Gordon and I started a club, after we were trapped in the
turbolift with Captain Picard, to learn how to command and run the ship
and have some fun doing it," Marrissa began. "We decided that whoever
had the highest time in a recently retired Academy scenario would be in
charge. I lasted longer . . . so I have to makes sure everything is
ready for our twice weekly meeting."
"How did you end up trapped in the turbolift with Uncle
Jean-Luc?" Rene asked.
"It was a couple of years ago," Marrissa began. "I had just won
the science fair for the first time. Everyone in my class wanted to
win. The prize was a tour of the ship by the Captain. Captain Picard
was a hero to most of them, but at the time I needed the A. My father
had told me that if I got an A, he would take me camping, and I love
camping. So I worked and studied until I had the best project I'd ever
done. I won and Counselor Troi brought me, Jay Gordon, and Patterson
Supra to the bridge to claim our prize."
"I was so nervous that I couldn't even look up to see the
Captain. It was my first time on the bridge, and all I saw of it was
the carpet and the Captain Picard's boots."
"When we got in the turbolift, he asked us about our science
projects. Jay and Patterson told him about their projects. Then the
Captain asked about mine. I gathered up my courage and looked up at
him. Just as I was about to tell him, my science project struck."
"Your science project ran amuck on the Enterprise?" Rene
interrupted.
"No, my science project was an analyst of quantum filament
distribution and movement. That day, two hit the Enterprise. Anyway
the turbolift started to fall, and Jay, Patterson, and I started to
scream. The Captain stated the obvious, and only made things worse."
"Finally the lift stopped. We were on spread out on the floor
of the lift and he had a broken ankle. The Captain tried to contact
someone, but communications were out. Jay stated that 'they're all
dead.' This was enough to get us all crying. The Captain tried to
reassure us and told us to 'stop crying.' We only got louder."
"Then he hit upon the idea of appointing us his crew. He made
Patterson his Executive Officer in charge of radishes, Jay was his
Science Officer, and he appointed me his First Officer, his Number One.
I had never been selected for anything before. I had always been the
shy little girl in the back of the room. I still have those two rank
pips in my jewelry box."
"Anyway he enlisted us to check on the safety clamps. Jay
reported that one was broken. The Captain explained the need for us to
leave, telling us to leave him behind. After a couple comments from Jay
and Patterson, I summoned up my courage and told him that we all were
going or were all staying. He agreed, but told me it was mutiny."
"We chained ourselves together with some optical cabling and
climbed up the shaft. When the turbolift gave way, we got a little
scared. So he asked me if I knew a song. All I could think of was a
lame tune called 'The Laughing Vulcan and his Dog.' The Captain
didn't know it and suggested 'Frere Jacques.' So we sang that until
we reached a door that would open."
"So that's it?" Rene asked.
"No, later we made a plaque to give to the Captain," Marrissa
said. "Counselor Troi brought us to the Bridge to give it to the
Captain. Commander Riker was in command. He made a comment that the
Counselor couldn't stay away from the command chair. Apparently she'd
been in command during the disaster."
"The Ship's Counselor in command?" Rene interrupted.
"It's not a usual situation," Marrissa said. "Anyway, she
replied, that she wasn't 'cut out for the big chair' but said that
First Officer might be more to her liking, citing its lack of real
qualifications. Then Riker called the Captain to the Bridge. We
presented him with the plaque and he promised to finish the tour. As he
left the bridge, he said 'You have the Bridge, Number One.'
Automatically both Commander Riker and I said 'Aye sir.' He turned
back to me and I laughed nervously. He winked at me and left the
bridge."
Rene looked at his clock and said, "Its time for me to depart
for the stables, would you like to come along?"
"Yes," Marrissa responded.
"Can you ride?" Rene asked as they exited his room.
"I qualified as level seven on the Day-Lucas jockey
qualifications scenario," Marrissa said.
"That's only one below my qualifications," Rene said amazed.
"What got a starship resident like you interested in horse racing?"
"Well to tell the truth I started out trying to prove that I was
old enough to ride my own horse the next time my family went on a
camping trip," Marrissa explained as they walked down stairs and out the
door "I was ten years old and determined to show that I was the best.
So I asked for the hardest program. It took me two months to get past
level two, and I just got to level seven last week."
"Then we don't have to worry about anything," Rene commented.
"Worry?" Marrissa asked.
"We're short one rider this week," Rene said. "Mike, the
trainer, wants to test the horses to see how they function in a crowd.
Five horses aren't really enough to see how a horse runs, but six is a
lot better."

Rene arrived at Stargazer Stables' trainer's office. The head
trainer, Michael White was behind his desk, stitching a bridle. He was
man of about sixty with white hair. He was wearing an old faded red
sweat shirt with the words "U.S.S. Stargazer Engineering, Lesser is
better" written across the front. "Reporting for duty sir," Rene
announced.
"You're not a Cadet yet, Rene," the man responded looking up
from his work.
"Sorry Mike," Rene said. "May I introduce my new cousin,
Marrissa?"
"Good afternoon, Marrissa," Mike responded. "You said you might
have a solution to our shortage of jockeys for today's test race, Rene?"
"Yes, Marrissa," Rene said.
Mike surveyed the young girl. She was almost five feet tall,
and her bearing was quite regal. Something about her reminded him of
the Princess Royal of Great Britain who had recently tried to purchase
several of the stable's stock. Physically, Mike could see no reason why
she couldn't ride horses, but more than that would be required before
she rode his horses. "Marrissa, do you have any riding experience?"
Mike asked.
"I've been riding horses since I was eight, sir," Marrissa said.
"I recently tested myself on the Day-Lucas program and received a rating
of seven."
"Can I look at those records?" Mike asked. He had known only a
couple at her age that had those qualifications.
"If you have a com link, I should be able to pull a copy from
the Enterprise," Marrissa said. Mike gestured over to a console in the
back the office, nearly covered with paper. Marrissa moved some of it
aside and quickly made the necessary connections. She had mail, but
ignored it. "There you go sir."
"Marrissa, stop calling me sir," Mike ordered. "I haven't been
Chief Engineer on a starship for longer than you've been alive." He
took her place at the console and looked over the record. Her pose in
the saddle was a natural one. It showed no sign of artificial training.
He liked that. She controlled her horse, not letting it get away from
her, and she moved though the pack quite easily.
"Not bad," he commented after he finished reviewing the record.
"Marrissa, you'll ride the new filly, Lady Stargazer. Rene, I believe
you like Macedonian."
"Is Richard riding Warp Speed again?" Rene asked.
"Yes."
"You really should let Isabelle try Warp Speed," Rene suggested.
"Rene, leave the assignments to me," Mike stated.

As Marrissa and Rene waited for their turns to be lead into the
starter's gate, Rene told her about the others they would be racing.
"In gate one is Warp Speed, ridden by Richard," Rene began. "In two is
Insignia, the horse that won the Preakness this year with our retired
jockey Maurice aboard."
"I watched him win the Derby," Marrissa stated. "But I thought
this was just two-year-olds."
"Insignia is in to help push the horses it do better, and we
don't have that many two year- olds," Rene said. "Anyway, in gate three
is Jean on In the Stars. Fourth is Mistress of the Stars ridden by
Isabelle. I'll be in the fifth gate, and you'll be in gate six."
"I'll try not to cut you off," Marrissa said, nervously.
"You'll be lucky to stay within a length," Rene remarked as
Macedonian was lead into the gate.

Over by the finish line, Mike was joined by Captain Jean-Luc
Picard. "Which gate is Rene?" he asked as he head his horse, Mercutio
up to the rail.
"He's in 5," Mike said. "Your Marrissa is in 6." Then he
pushed a button on his remote. The gates opened and he began calling
the race. "And they're off. Macedonian leads out of the gate with Warp
Speed close behind. Insignia's third followed by In the Stars and
Mistress of the Stars. Lady Stargazer brings up the rear. Lady
Stargazer passes In the Stars and Mistress as they go around the turn.
On the backstretch, Insignia and Warp Speed are battling it out with
Macedonian, a close third. Coming on fast is Lady Stargazer, she takes
third as they enter the finial turn. Down the stretch they come. Lady
Stargazer comes up on the outside of Warp Speed and Insignia who is
falling back. As they come to the wire it's Lady Stargazer by a head
over Warp Speed. Macedonian finishes third over Insignia. Mistress of
the Stars edges out In the Stars for fifth.
"Good call, Mikey," Jean-Luc Picard remarked. "It looks like we
may have two good Derby horses this year."
"That makes my job even harder," Mike said. "There seems to be
a jockey shortage."
"Richard looks good," Jean-Luc commented.
"He pushes his horse a little too much," Mike said. "And I'm
afraid he's the local bully as well. I've told him to stop and if he
tries to beat up his sister Isabelle or Rene one more time, I'm firing
him no matter how much I need a jockey."
Then Marrissa came up leading Lady Stargazer. "Did you see the
race," She asked.
"Yes I did, Marrissa," Jean-Luc replied. "You rode well."
Marrissa blushed.


Chapter Four
Day Two
Late Afternoon

Marrissa and Rene walked down a wide path in the forest beside
the stables. "How did you get interested in horses, Rene?" Marrissa
asked.
"At first it was just job to get my father off my back," Rene
said. "He kept pushing me to get a job. After a while though, I found
myself enjoying it."
"You're good," Marrissa said. "You just shot out of the gate."
"That's Macedonian. He's always been fast out of the gate,"
Rene said. "He just lacks staying power. If you want to see a real
jockey, look at Isabelle or Maurice."
"If Isabelle is so good, why is she riding Mistress," Marrissa
asked.
"Well I've been trying to get Mike to assign her to a better
horse, but he won't listen," Rene said. "Our assignments have been
stable since Jean was hired after the Belmont Stakes."
They came to clearing with the swimming hole in it. It was a
rock lined pool, rather deep at one end. Looked natural, but some how
Marrissa knew it wasn't. A rock bowl filled with water on a hilltop
wasn't natural in any forest, no matter how it looked.
"It's swimming time," Rene said.
"But I didn't bring my swimming suit," Marrissa protested.
"Neither did I," Rene said, pulling his shirt over his head.
"Just strip down to your underwear. That's what Isabelle does."

After stripping down to their underwear, Rene and Marrissa dived
into the pool. Rene's dive was clean, having almost no splash.
Marrissa's, however, was more of a belly flop than a dive. When they
both came up, Rene commented, "You need to work on that dive."
"I know," Marrissa stated, treading water, "but I haven't had
the time. I'd rather spend my time in the water playing tag."
"Tag," Rene commented. "That wouldn't be fair."
"Oh, you're it," Marrissa said, swimming away. They swam back
and forth as first Marrissa then Rene was tagged.
Suddenly from the shore came a voice. "Oh look, the lovers are
playing tag again." Rene and Marrissa stopped and looked to the edge of
the swimming hole. Richard was there with their clothes in his hands.
"But Rene is with a new girl. I wonder if Isabelle knows."
"She's my cousin," Rene returned.
"Keeping it in the family, I see," Richard sneered.
"Just put the clothes down and leave us alone," Rene pleaded.
Marrissa treaded water next to him, worried about her own clothes.
"In the pond maybe," Richard said, pulling out Rene's red shirt.
"Not my jersey," Rene cried out. The jersey joined Marrissa and
Rene in the water.
Richard smiled. "Too bad, it's all wet now." He pulled out
Marrissa's black Enterprise T- shirt and tossed it in.
Marrissa called back, "I wouldn't have done that if I were you."
"So the little girl is threatening me, now," Richard said. "I'm
scared now."
Suddenly Richard found himself in a headlock. From behind his
left ear came his sister Isabelle's voice, "Drop the clothes, Rich." He
dropped them. Isabelle released her grip and Richard grabbed her arm
and threw her.
"Ow," Isabelle exclaimed as landed on the rock edge of the
swimming hole. Meanwhile, Rene and Marrissa had climbed out of the
swimming hole. Rene rushed to Isabelle's side. This left Marrissa to
face Richard.
They lined up about a yard a part. Richard was a little more
than six foot tall. His black hair was cropped short. He was wearing
the Stargazer Stables jockey outfit which consisted of black pants, and
a red shirt with a back line across the upper chest and a white star
like the command insignia of the old Enterprise in the center. He was
well muscled and had an air of arrogant confidence.
Standing four feet ten in height, Marrissa was the opposite.
Her wet blond hair was slick to her back. The water had made her
underwear translucent which made her look naked and vulnerable. To
Richard she was easy pickings.
"So you want to challenge me, little girl," Richard stated.
"I want you to dive in and retrieve Rene and my shirts,"
Marrissa said. "Fighting you is very low on my list of wants."
Richard closed the distance between the two. He placed his
finger between her breasts punctuating each word with a poke. "I think
you are just a little girl who wants to run home to her mommy."
That was the last straw. Marrissa grabbed his arm with both
hands and swung around him around with all her strength. She released
him on a course to the swimming hole. He splashed into the water. As
he landed, Marrissa whispered, "I wish I could."
Richard sputtered and splashed out of the water. He rushed
towards the little girl who stared out, her mind occupied on other
things. Richard was stopped by a loud voice, "Richard Boucher, don't
you dare lay a hand on my daughter."
Captain Jean-Luc Picard stood astride a white stallion at the
edge of the clearing. His brother Robert was beside him on a gray mare.
"Mr. Boucher I see your bulling isn't limited to my son." Robert began.
"You seem to like attacking your own sister and other little girls as
well. Your father may have dismissed your bullying as 'boys will be
boys,' but I don't think he'll be able to dismiss this. I'm surprised
you still have a job if this is how you normally act."
"If I have anything to say about it, and as a thirty percent
owner of the stables, I do, he just lost it," Jean-Luc Picard said.
"You can't do that," Richard sputtered.
"Mikey was about to give you notice," Jean-Luc informed. "You
are a disgrace to the stables and the uniform you wear. Now go get
those shirts you threw in the swimming hole. Then we are going to the
stables so you can clean out your locker."

Jean-Luc and young Richard met Robert at the vineyard gate.
Together they set out to the Boucher's house. Richard walked ahead of
the two men, his shoulders slumped and his head down. Richard could
almost hear his funeral march. Behind him Jean-Luc and Robert Picard
walked stern- faced.
"How are the children?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Isabelle had a sprained ankle and a hairline fracture of her
arm," Robert said. "Rene is giving her tender loving care as usual.
Marie is talking to Marrissa. She's in her room crying."
"I'll have to talk to her when I get back," Jean-Luc commented.
"I'm afraid she's not yet gotten over her parent's deaths. Counselor
Troi suggested that we get away from the ship. She said time and a
little distraction should help her."
"I think Marrissa wasn't the only reason your Counselor Troi
wanted you to take a vacation," Robert said.
"Not this time, Robert," Jean-Luc replied as they turned into
the Boucher's driveway. They came up to the door and Robert rang the
bell. It played the first nine notes of a funeral dirge.
Mr. Boucher opened the door. He was a tall stout man with
thinning black hair. He saw his son standing dejectedly in front of the
two men and immediately his face took on a stern expression.
"Philippe, we'd like to talk to you about your son," Robert
said.

The parlor had dark walnut paneling and it's one bay window was
covered by red velvet curtains. There was a long dark red couch with
walnut arms and two matching chairs. Mr. Boucher pointed at one of the
chairs and Richard sat in it stiffly. He took the other one and
Jean-Luc and Robert sat on the couch. "What are you accusing my son of
doing?" Mr. Boucher asked.
"Your son has been bulling people," Jean-Luc stated.
"Boys will be boys," Mr. Boucher said.
"Philippe, there is bullying, and then there is terrorizing.
Your son has been doing the later," Robert replied.
"Today he began by throwing Rene and my Marrissa's shirts in the
swimming hole," Jean- Luc elaborated. "Then he threw your daughter
after she got the clothes away from him. And finally he took on my
daughter. If I hadn't arrived, he could have done serious harm.
Marrissa is only twelve."
"How are they," Philippe Boucher said, suddenly concerned.
"Rene wasn't harmed, this time," Robert began. "Isabelle broke
her arm, and Marrissa was scared out of her wits.
"So Isabelle got hurt," Philippe remarked. "What did I tell you
about beating up on your sister, boy." He glared at his son, who sunk
back in his chair.
"Not just this time," Robert said. "I asked my wife how long
this has been going on. Marie tells me that she's been treating
Isabelle and Rene for cuts and bruises for the better part of a year."
"You have my assurance that Richard will be severely punished,"
Mr. Boucher said. "If it wasn't for his job, I'd be shipping him off to
military school."
"I'm afraid Richard is no longer employed by Stargazer Stables,"
Captain Picard said. "His attitude, unlike his sister's, has been less
than satisfactory. He also conducted his last attack in uniform. So he
has been dismissed." He turned to address Richard. "When you wear a
uniform, your conduct reflects on the whole organization. You are
expected to act accordingly."
"Listen and learn from the Captain," Mr. Boucher said to the
still cowering Richard. "You'll be spending at least the next two years
in uniform, and by God you'll learn to respect it."
"If you'll excuse us, we better check on our own children again,
now that you have been informed," Robert said.
"Can you keep Isabelle for the next couple weeks?" Philippe
Boucher asked. "If Richard follows his usual path, he'll try to beat up
Isabelle for revenge. I had thought he had grown out of it, but I see
he had just gotten better at hiding it. It's going to take me that long
to get Richard away."
"I'll see to her while you handle your son," Robert said.


Chapter Five
Day Four
Just before Noon
Day Five
Early Morning

Marrissa walked into town alone. She was tired of people trying
to cheer her up. He parents were dead and no amount of fun was going to
change that. After a little wandering, she found herself outside the
church. After looking at the white Gothic stone exterior, she pulled
open the door and walked in.
The entryway was paneled in a yellow gold wood, and the floor
was a white and black chessboard pattern. Marrissa continued though it
to the sanctuary .
She looked up to the dark blue ceiling which arched above her.
Each arch was gilded with gold and stars sparkled on it. Her eyes were
pulled down to the stain glass windows. A shepherd carrying a lamb
adorned one, a lady holding a baby with a halo another. Finally her
attention was drawn to the altar.
It was backed with a house-like facade, with six candles on it.
A robed man was encased in it's center, and it was flanked by angels.
Three chairs were arranged below it. Above it was an almost three
dimensional painting of a man on a cross. A podium stood on the left.
The altar itself was an intricately carved marble affair with a plain
white linen cloth covering it.
While Marrissa had been taking in the scene, she had been
walking forward, her heals clicking on the black and white tile. She
placed her hand on the edge of the pew which was made of the same wood
as the paneling in the entryway. She pulled down the kneeler and
kneeled in the pew. Then remembering a gesture that she had once seen
her mother do in the ship's chapel, she did the sign of the cross.
As she kneeled, Marrissa's tears flowed. She remembered how her
mother always insisted that she say her prayers before she went to bed.
She remembered her mother's laughter at her father's jokes. She
remembered her father's cooking on camping trips. She remembered hiking
and riding with her father in Yellowstone and Yosemite. She remembered
the loss.
Suddenly Marrissa heard a man's voice say, "What troubles you,
child?" She looked up to discover a man in his sixties dressed in white.
He was wearing a simple gold Latin cross over his chest. A white skull
cap covered his head. Something about the man's kind expression made
Marrissa willing to open up.
She slid over to allow the man to sit down, and began to talk,
"A couple of weeks ago, my parents were killed on some mission. They
won't tell me where or how. Only that it was painless and they didn't
suffer. I don't care about how . . . I just want to know why!"
"That isn't why your crying now, is it?" the man asked.
"No, it's not," Marrissa sobbed.
"Then why?"
"Because I've been having fun since my new father brought me
here," Marrissa said in a rush. "My parents just died. I'm not
supposed to be having fun any more."
"You are young," the man responded. "Your parents would not want
you to live your life in sorrow."
"How can to you say that," Marrissa said. "You didn't know my
parents."
"I've know many parents since I entered the priesthood," the man
said. "I've never known a single one who wanted their children to grow
up anything less than happy."
"Who are you," Marrissa asked.
"I'm Father Gregory Carson," the man responded. "And you are?"
"Marrissa Picard," Marrissa replied. "You wouldn't be Pope
Gregory would you?"
"Actually, yes," Father Gregory confirmed, "but I'd prefer it if
you'd call me Father Gregory. I've really gotten feed up with all this
Holy Father business. . ."
From behind him, came Father Frances's voice, completing the
thought, "you just became Pope, not God."
"Father Frances, have you met Marrissa?" the Pope said, turning
back to the priest in the pew behind them.
"Her father and I are old acquaintances," Father Frances
remarked.
"I should be going," Marrissa said.
"If you don't have anything, Marrissa," the Pope said. "Father
Frances and I would like you to join us."
"I don't want to be intruding," Marrissa demurred.
"You won't be," Father Frances responded. "Gregory and I would
enjoy the company. We've heard each other's stories so many times that
we can finish them after the first sentence. It would be nice to have
company as both a fresh audience and source of stories."
"I really don't have much to tell," Marrissa said.
"Nonsense," Father Frances responded. "You've spent your life
on Starships. Surely you have tales like none we earthbound priests
do."
"Have you been to LaRue's, Marrissa?" Pope Gregory asked.
"No Father," Marrissa replied.

After eating lunch with the two priests, Marrissa returned to
the vineyard alone. She'd figured that by now the Captain has missed
her. She was right. "Marrissa Amber, where have you been. You missed
lunch," Jean-Luc Picard said, with the practiced sternness of a Star
Fleet Captain as she moved to open the door. Her father was outside
the door. Marrissa was surprised that she hadn't seen him standing
there.
"Sorry sir," Marrissa said.
"Well Marie left some sandwich materials for you," Jean-Luc
said.
"I already ate," Marrissa replied. "Father Frances and Pope
Gregory invited me to eat with them."
"And I'm suppose to believe that you ate lunch with the Holy
Father?" Jean Luc responded in disbelief. "And I suppose Kai Opaka is
coming to dinner."
"I wouldn't know about the Kai," Father Frances said, from
behind Jean-Luc. "As for the Pope however, I can confirm that."
"Father Frances, what brings you to the vineyard?" Jean-Luc
asked.
"I need more wine for Sunday's Masses," Father Frances said.
"And I was sure no one would believe that Marrissa ate lunch with the
Pope."
"Point," Jean-Luc said. "Marrissa, Isabelle wanted to talk to
you."
"Aye, sir," Marrissa responded escaping into the house.
"She calls you sir?" Father Frances said after the door closed
behind Marrissa.
"Its what she's comfortable with," Jean-Luc said, dismissing the
subject. "Now what type of wine where you thinking of?"
"Nothing expensive, just something ..."

Marrissa knocked on the door of the room which Isabelle was
staying. "Enter," Isabelle's voice said. She opened the door. The
room Isabelle was staying in was furnished in much the same way as
Marrissa's but in pink instead of white. Isabelle was arrayed on the
bed like she had just plopped down. Her face had a dejected expression
that extended to the rest of her body.
"You look more depressed than I was," Marrissa stated. "What
happened?"
"My Dad was just here," Isabelle said. "I've got to stay here
another week until Richard's new school opens. Apparently he doesn't
think I can fend for myself so he exiled me here."
"You could be exiled worse places," Marrissa said. "Rua Penta,
for example, known throughout the Galaxy as the alien's graveyard."
"That might be an improvement," Isabelle returned.
"The vineyard isn't so bad," Marrissa said. "The beds are
comfortable. The Food is excellent. Plus, you get to spend time with
Rene, who obviously loves you."
"You really think Rene loves me?" Isabelle inquired.
"Its written on his face every time you enter the room,"
Marrissa said. "I thought you knew."
"Great, a twelve year old can tell me the answer to a question
I've been asking myself for ages," Isabelle said. "I must be blind.
You have no idea how many time I've asked myself if Rene really likes
me."
"Have you ever told Rene that you love him?" Marrissa asked.
"Not really," Isabelle replied.
"If there is one thing I've learnt from the last month,"
Marrissa began, "its to tell the people you love while you still can. I
never said goodbye to my parents when they left. I was too busy getting
ready for my first command." Tears began to form in Marrissa's eyes.
"You couldn't have been in command," Isabelle said. "You're
only twelve."
"That can be an advantage sometimes," Marrissa replied
forgetting her momentary sadness as she talked. "For instance there was
this Cardassian Gul who decided that the Enterprise saucer section under
my command was an easy target. He failed to consider the tactical
officer who gets caught for playing video games in class." Marrissa
smiled.
"What did you do to him?" Isabelle asked.
"I disabled his ship and had an inscription carved on his hull."
"What?"
"'I was beaten by a bunch of kids.'" Marrissa concluded.
"You carved that in his hull," Isabelle exclaimed. "What
possessed you to do that?"
"I know it was stupid, but I wanted to be remembered and that
Gul had made me mad," Marrissa responded.
There was a knock on Isabelle's open door. The two girls turned
to find Rene standing in the doorway. "It's time for us to go to the
Stables, Belle."
"I'll be right down, Rene," Isabelle said. "I have to change."

Marrissa sat out under an oak tree outside the vineyard house.
It was early morning. The sun was rising over the grape vine covered
hillsides. A light fog hugged the bases of the hills, making them seem
to float. She looked at the golden glow that ran along the hillsides
with wonder.
"Good Morning Marrissa," Jean-Luc said, as he came up beside
her. "Up early for a change, I see."
"It's not often that I'm on a planet," Marrissa explained. "So
I try to see at least one sunrise and sunset. It's a lot easier to get
up for a sunrise when you aren't sleeping on a really soft and
comfortable bed, though."
"True. Are you enjoying your vacation?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Yes, but I still want to get back to the Enterprise soon,"
Marrissa said. "The sunrise maybe grand, but I miss the stars streaking
by my bedroom window."
"The stars are a great pull on your soul, but it is comforting
to have a planet to come home to," Jean-Luc replied.
"I've never really felt at home on a planet," Marrissa said.
"I've lived on Galaxy Class Starships since I was two and can't remember
much before that. Planets have always been places to visit. I live in
the stars."
"Perhaps someday you will find a planet to call home," Jean-Luc
responded. "Meanwhile, Admiral Necheyev is cutting our vacation short.
She wants me to evaluate a ship load of cadets. We have to leave Monday
morning."


Chapter Six
Interlude and the Kentucky Derby

After spending almost a two weeks at the Picard Family Vineyard,
Marrissa and Jean-Luc Picard left to return to the Enterprise, by way of
a cadet cruise on the Maine. Marrissa remembered her time in France
with fondness. She wrote to her cousin Rene and his girlfriend Isabelle
weekly.
Meanwhile, Marrissa entered Star Fleet with the field
rank of Ensign. She had many adventures before being promoted to
Lieutenant junior grade. She was quite amused when she discovered that
her new rank was not a temporary rank, like her Ensign's rank had been.

Warp Speed and Lady Stargazer began their racing career as
two-year-olds. In their first race, the Star Fleet Invitational (only
stables owned by Star Fleet members or former members invited) finishing
one two. Rene rode Warp Speed, and Isabelle rode Lady Stargazer. They
alternated winning in their next seven starts. Finally it was time for
the Kentucky Derby. Since the Enterprise was out cruising near the
Romulan border, Jean-Luc and Marrissa were unable to see it in person.

Commander William T. Riker entered Holodeck Two. It was
programmed to mimic a box in the Skye Terrace at Churchill Downs.
Captain Picard was seated by his daughter, who had her best friend Clara
was next to her. Counselor Troi and Doctor Crusher were standing by the
rail in the front with binoculars, looking at the jockeys aboard there
horses. Worf was over to one side, reading the Daily Racing Form. Data
was talking to Geordi in the back of the box.
Captain Picard looked back to see who had entered. "Glad to you
could come, Number One," he said.
"I had to make sure Beta Shift had reported in," Riker
explained. "I assume you are rooting for Warp Speed."
"He is, I like Lady Stargazer," Marrissa interrupted.
"They both come from the same stables," Picard said. "Why she
favors Lady over their cousin's ride I don't know."
"I've ridden Lady Stargazer," Marrissa said. "She's faster and
Isabelle is a better Jockey."
"Is that your opinion?" Picard asked.
"No even Rene will tell you that Isabelle is better," Marrissa
said. "And you've seen Lady beat Warp."
"Worf, who do you favor?" Riker asked.
"Code of Honor from Kah'less Stables," Worf stated. "He won the
Santa Anita Derby."
Suddenly trumpets began to play "My Old Kentucky Home." When
the tune ended, the horses began to stream onto the track. "Mister
Data, analyst of the horses as they come out please."
"In the post position, is From the Stars from Calumet Farm,"
Data began. "No wins in five starts. Jockey Ryan James is a five year
veteran."
"In the second gate is Quarterdeck Breed from Kirk Stables. He
has one win in six starts. Jockey Sirvok won last year's Belmont Stakes
aboard Vulcan's Glory."
"Cheating Insignia out of a Triple Crown," Picard interrupted.
"I was unaware of any cheating on behalf of Ambassador Spock's
horse," Data said.
"Never mind, Data."
"Aye sir. In gate three is Warp Speed from Stargazer Stables.
He has won four of his last eight. Rene Picard is a first year jockey."
"Romulan Dawn is in gate four. He has two wins in seven starts.
Neale Davidson, from Silicon Stables, is a ten year veteran."
"Viper from Greenhill Farm is in gate five. He has three wins
in eight starts. Timothy Epperly is a rookie jockey."
"Lady Stargazer from Stargazer Stables is in the sixth gate.
She has four wins in eight starts and is the only filly in the field.
Her jockey, Isabelle Boucher, is also a rookie."
"In the seventh gate is Code of Honor owned by the Klingon
Ambassador. Code of Honor has two wins in four starts. His jockey,
Korrath, is a fifteen year veteran."
"Gate eight holds Prime Directive from Kansas State Farm. He
has four wins in four starts. Jockey Joe Young is a five year veteran."
"Harriman's Redemption, ridden by Tod Wels, is in gate nine. He
has a win in five starts."
"Kirk's Bane from Styles Stables is in the tenth gate. Mark
Green has ridden him to three wins in five starts."
"Vengeful Return has scratched."
"Mister Data, any interesting facts on the field?" Picard asked.
"This is the youngest field of jockeys to be assembled in a
hundred years. A filly has never won the triple crown, but has won the
Derby twenty times," Data informed as the last horse entered the gate.
"Mister Data, will you call the race for us?" Picard asked.
"Aye sir," Data said. The bell rang, and Data began calling.
"And they are off. Warp Speed leads out of the gate with Quarterdeck
close behind. At the quarter pole, Warp Speed leads with Romulan Dawn
close behind. Viper has failed to exit the gate. Lady Stargazer is
coming on strong. Into the turn Warp Speed leads with a battle for
second shaping up between Quarterdeck, Romulan, and Lady. On the as
they come down the backstretch, Lady Stargazer pulls ahead of Romulan
and Quarterdeck, who continue to fight it out for third. Code of Honor
holds fifth with Directive, Harriman, and Kirk's fighting for sixth.
Lady Stargazer pulls along side Warp Speed as they enter the final turn.
Neck and neck they go around the turn. A length back, Romulan Dawn has
a head on Quarterdeck Breed. Down the stretch they come. Lady and Warp
are battling in out for the lead, as they approach the wire. It's Lady
Stargazer by a nose. The judges have signaled a photo finish. Warp
Speed finishes second followed by Romulan Dawn a half a length back.
The rest of the finish order is: Quarterdeck Breed, back a length; Code
of Honor, two lengths; Kirk's Bane, two and a half; Harriman's
Redemption, two and three quarters; Prime Directive, two and five
eighths; From the Stars, at five lengths; Viper, failed to start."
"Excellent call, Mister Data," Captain Picard said.
"It looks like Marrissa knows what she's talking about," Riker
commented.
"I just took Rene's word," Marrissa said. "The Question is, who
will win the Preakness. Warp Speed and Lady Stargazer have been
alternating until now. If Lady can hold a streak, we could have that
filly crowned."


Chapter Seven
Preakness and Life

The Preakness was over. Once again, Lady Stargazer and Warp
Speed had finished one two. Isabelle fingered the ring Rene had given
her after the Derby, as she watched the two horses being loaded in the
transport. Rene slipped behind her, and she melted into his embrace.
"I see my lady is basking in the glow of her victory," he whispered in
Isabelle's ear.
"I'd rather be with you than those reporters," Isabelle replied.
"Have you told your father of your finish yet?"
"No, I'm waiting until I get home," Rene replied. "Have you had
dinner yet?"
"Of coarse not," Isabelle responded. "Do you know of a good
spot?"
"It so happens that I have reservations for two at the County
Fare Inn," Rene said.
"Planning ahead again?" Isabelle asked.
"Since the day after the Derby," Rene replied. "Would you care
to join me for dinner, Belle?"
"Certainly," Isabelle replied.

From the balcony in the church, Isabelle remember that last
night with Rene. How he had joked with her about her horse. The feel
of his hand on hers, the look of love from across the table, the
memories brought tears to her eyes as she looked at her fiancee's coffin
beside his father's.
"Isabelle?" a woman's voice said. Isabelle turned to discover
Rene's mother Marie, dressed all in black. "What are you doing up here?"
"I had to come..." Isabelle started, then trailed off.
"I know, you and Rene were really close," Marie said, then
noticed the ring that Isabelle had been fingering. "I had no idea how
close. When did Rene propose?"
"After the Kentucky Derby," Isabelle said, her mind going back
to that moment.

Derby officials had assigned rooms to all the jockeys in the
derby a couple of nights before. Rene and Isabelle had been paired up
in the same room. Apparently in Kentucky Rene was a girls name and they
had assumed that both jockeys from Stargazer Stables were girls. Rene
and Isabelle were not complaining . . . except for the fact that the
room had two twin beds.
The room had a nice view of the Ohio River from its balcony. It
was to this balcony that Rene called her to after she had finished
showering following the Derby. She was wearing a simple pink night gown
when he called her. Rene was in his tuxedo. Isabelle had felt
underdressed, but Rene had assured her that she looked beautiful. A
bottle of wine was by the table, some of the '33 from it's label. A
light snack was arrayed on the table.
She'd asked him why the setup, expecting it to be a
congratulatory dinner for her Derby victory. Instead he pulled out a
small box and handed it to her. She opened it to discover a diamond
ring. He asked her to marry him, and she accepted.

"And he never told me," Marie said, bringing Isabelle back to
the present. "Isabelle, Star Fleet is going to take care of Rene's
funeral since he had been accepted as a Cadet. Traditionally they
present their banner to the widow or nearest living relative. I
think you should receive it."
Isabelle's eyes filled with tears for the uncountedth time that
day, though not with sorrow this time, as she nodded her acceptance of
the honor. She followed Marie down from the choir loft. She had to
ready her few words about Rene. She was determined that he be
remembered. If not for her, but for others.

Saint Andrew's was quiet, despite all the people who had
gathered to remember Robert and Rene Picard. No members of the press
where present, at the request of the family. Marrissa had never seen so
many black outfits. She and her father had both chosen to wear their
Star Fleet dress uniforms. Marrissa considered it appropriate, Rene had
been accepted to the Academy, which had been his dream, after all.
Doctor Crusher had just entered with Isabelle Boucher. The Doctor was
wearing more traditional mourning attire, as was Isabelle.
Jean-Luc Picard took the podium to eulogize his late brother.
His tears were banished for the moment by his sense of duty, and his
sorrow hidden by his Captain's poker face. "My brother Robert Maurice
Picard, was well known around here as a noted proprietor of the Picard
Family Vineyard. His classmates in school knew him as somewhat of a
bully, but generally a good person. To me, he was my big brother, my
tormenter, my confidant, my trouble, my help, my enemy, my friend. He
was everything a little brother could want or didn't want."
"Robert was one of the main reasons I joined Star Fleet. Some
will tell you it was because he and our father were stuck in the past,
and I looked for the future, saying there must be more. Well if this is
true, then it was because of Robert. My classmates will remember that I
was almost always at the head of my class. That was because of Robert.
He had had a hard time in school and was determined that his little
brother was not going to have the same problems. He once locked me in
my room to finish my science project while telling father that I had
stayed after class."
"Many of you don't know, and I'd appreciate if it doesn't get
back to my crew, Doctor, Marrissa, that I failed my first attempt at
getting into the academy. I was devastated at when I received the news.
I felt I was doomed to live forever in the vineyard, and I wanted more.
Robert found me crying in the wine cellar, the tear stained letter
before me. He comforted me, and encouraged me to try again the next
year."
"Over the years I have gotten discouraged many times, but there
was always Robert, willing to talk, or even beat some sense into me. I
got lots of bruises with my hardheadedness, but Robert was always there,
even after the feud between my father and I started after I lost the
Stargazer. I missed my father's funeral. The Enterprise was too far
from Earth at the time. Which for a while created a gap, which I
regretted. His wife kept me informed though, and when I needed some
sense kicked into me following Wolf 359, Robert was ready and waiting."
"Robert was many things, a son, a husband, a father, a wine
expert, a traditionalist, but for me he filled a most important role, he
was my brother."
Jean-Luc Picard had held his tears back until he finished his
speech, but could hold them no longer. They flowed as he returned to
his seat. Marrissa put her arms around him, and tried to comfort her
father.
Next, Isabelle took the podium. She placed her handwritten
notes before her, took a deep breath and began. "I'm not sure when I
first met Rene. His mother has a picture of me stealing his pacifier,
so I guess I've known him all my life. We grew up together. We shared
our hopes, our dreams, our lives."
"Rene wanted to be a Star Fleet Officer ever since I can
remember. He wanted to follow his uncle Jean-Luc to the stars, some day
commanding his own starship, his own Stargazer or Enterprise. He had
been accepted to the Academy, and was to begin this fall. But tragedy
cut his life short."
"But we are not gathered here to remember the tragedy, and I
know Rene wouldn't want to be remembered that way. Rene was many
things. He made model starships and planned to major in Engineering at
the Academy. He rode horses for Stargazer Stables. Abroad Warp Speed,
he won four races, and finished second in six more, most notably, the
Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He helped out his father in the
vineyard, and his mother in the kitchen. His French Bread was the best
I ever tasted."
"Rene was also my best friend and confidant. He helped me with
my math, and I helped him with history. We shared secrets, and stood up
for one another. He was my boy friend for four years, and proposed to
me after the Derby. He was always there for me. Now he is gone. I'll
miss him."
"However, I'll try not to remember the tragedy that took him
away. I'll try to remember the dreamer who fell asleep looking at the
stars, dreaming of starships and adventures. I'll remember the young
man astride his stallion who raced me and my horse across the field and
around the track. I'll remember the games of tag at the swimming hole,
and the telling of dreams around the fire place, of the adventures we
hoped to leave. Perhaps I'll be a little sad at the memory, but I'll
remember the good times, the dreamer, the companion, and the friend."
With that, Isabelle broke down and cried. Jean-Luc got up and
helped his late nephew's fiancee down from the podium to her seat next
to Marrissa.

The mood at the vineyard was somber. Robert and Rene Picard had
been buried in Saint Andrew's Cemetery. Marie existed between bouts of
tears, and Jean-Luc wasn't much better. Little Theresa could not
understand what had happened and probably wouldn't remember her father
or brother. That fact brought tears to Marie and Jean-Luc's eyes every
time their eyes chanced upon her. This left Theresa confused and she
retreated into Marrissa's arms.
Marrissa had been spared grief. She had only known Robert and
Rene for one brief month the previous year. True she liked Rene, but
his death paled in comparison to the deaths of her own parents, some
eleven months before.
Attempting to escape the grief stricken, Marrissa took Theresa
out in her stroller. As she pushed her down the road toward the stables
and town, she asked, "Do you want to see the horses, Theresa?"
"'Ne's horses?" Theresa inquired.
"Yes, Theresa," Marrissa responded, pushing the stroller down
the tree-lined, brick covered road. The sun was shining and the birds
singing a happy tune.
"'Resa love 'orses," Theresa said after a moment.
They entered the stables to discover an argument in progress.
Loud voices drew Marrissa and Theresa to the trainer's office. One
thing was for sure, Isabelle wasn't drowning herself in sorrows, and
neither was Mike.
"I am not letting you risk you child ridding on some foolish
mission to remember your boy friend," Mike argued as Marrissa and
Theresa looked in the door. Isabelle was facing away from the door,
dressed in her jockey's uniform. Mike was standing up behind his desk,
in his usual sweat shirt and jeans.
"Doctor Crusher says that I should have no problem riding in the
Belmont," Isabelle replied.
"Doctor Crusher is a starship doctor. She has no experience
dealing with the rigors of horse racing," Mike replied.
"I beg to differ," Marrissa said as she leaned in the door
frame.
"Marrissa, when did you get here?" Isabelle asked, turning back
to face her.
"About 'risking your child,'" Marrissa responded, looking at
her fingernails. "Now as for the good Doctor's experience with horse
racing. Starship Doctors, by their very nature, must be prepared for
anything, with a holodeck on ship especially. I don't know how many
times I've injured myself in the holodeck riding horses, and I know my
Dad has been knocked off his horse a couple times."
"But she's never treated a pregnant jockey before, has she?"
Mike retorted.
"There is a first time for everything," Marrissa said. "But the
Doctor will not give an OK to do anything if their is even the slightest
chance of harm. I know, she's kept me out of several missions, or at
least tried to."
"Humph, I'm willing to bet that if Doctor Crusher had objected,
Isabelle wouldn't have told me about it until after the Belmont," Mike
remarked.
"You're probably right," Isabelle responded. "Now can I switch
to Warp Speed?"
"Go ahead," Mike said, sitting back down in his chair. "It will
probably be easier to find a jockey for a possible Triple Crown winner
anyway. Not that I think any of the current crop of free jockeys are
any good. I'd rather have Marrissa ride her."
"I am available," Marrissa replied. "But somehow I think that
you would prefer a jockey who wasn't in her first real race. I do know
the horse, and I've had a lot of time on the holodeck racing. (I do it
to relieve stress.) I think you'd want more in such a situation though."
"They'll probably call me insane, but after what happened at the
Preakness, I'm not going to use those jockeys," Mike began.
"I heard that five of the horses involved will never race
again," Marrissa said.
"Right," Mike said. "Anyway, I'll take you up on your offer.
You'll ride Lady Stargazer. I expect that you all will not disappoint
me. I want one of those horses in the winners circle."
"That shouldn't be too hard," Marrissa said. "Isabelle, who is
left for us to worry about?"
"Seven horses are currently scheduled, but in my opinion,
Quarterdeck breed is the only real threat," Isabelle said.
"So you say," Mike replied.
"Hey, I was right about Kirk's Bane in the Preakness," Isabelle
defended. "That horse was too sick to race, and the jockey and trainer
were fools. But you said it was pre-race jitters and the horse
collapsed in the first turn."
"So I missed some signs," Mike said. "Anyway, what are we going
to do with you after the Belmont? Their will come a time when you won't
be able to race. I'm still short on jockeys, and I doubt Marrissa will
be able to cover too many races."
"Probably just the Belmont," Marrissa confirmed. Theresa was
getting anxious now, pulling at Marrissa's arm toward the horse stalls."
"We can figure that out later," Isabelle dismissed. "I think we
better take Theresa to see the horses now, though. If we don't she's
libel to sneak out and we'll find her hugging Macedonian's leg again."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Marrissa said. "I mean he could step on
the poor girl with out knowing."
"Not Theresa, she's got those horses following her like newborn
colts," Mike dismissed. "I'm willing to bet she has several carrots for
Warp Speed in that stroller."
Theresa pulled out a carrot from behind her back, and said,
"'Resa love 'orses."


Chapter Eight
The Belmont

Marrissa put on the jockey's uniform on in the hastily assembled
ladies locker room. Even though Isabelle had become the first active
female jockey in years last fall, Belmont hadn't returned the locker
room from it's storage duties until Isabelle won the Derby. Marrissa
was quite nervous, she had not really expected Mike to let her ride Lady
Stargazer, the Derby and Preakness winner. It was quite ridiculous. A
girl not even a teenager, riding a horse that had a chance at winning
the triple crown. A girl who had never raced in a real race, riding a
horse that was favored to win the race, or at least had been until Mike
had announced the jockey change.
"Relax, Marrissa," Isabelle said, placing an arm around her
fellow female jockey. "It's only a race."
"Only the last race in the triple crown, and I'm riding a horse
who could win it," Marrissa said, putting her helmet over her hair,
which had been tightly braided up. "I'm afraid I'll drop right off the
horse."
"The only dropping you have to worry about is the dead weight
you're going to have to carry to your horse," Isabelle smiled. "I've
seen you working with Lady. You're good. You have a rapport with that
horse, but then again Lady never liked male jockeys, except for maybe
Rene, and he had to work with her awhile."
"Dead weight?" Marrissa questioned.
"What is added to your horse to make all the horses carry the
same weight," Isabelle explained. "You weight how much?"
"101 pounds," Marrissa said.
"I'm a 115 with what Doctor Crusher insisted I put in the past
couple weeks," Isabelle said. "112 is my ideal. Fillies carry 121
pounds; colts, 126. That means you will carry twenty-two pounds of dead
weight and I'll carry eleven. I hope you can carry that much."
"How far?" Marrissa asked.
"Just from the weight room to the paddock," Isabelle said. "Now
we better hurry if we want to beat the boys to the weight room. You
don't want to go though what I did at the Star Fleet Stakes."
"You won that race, didn't you?" Marrissa inquired as the exited
the locker room.
"Yes, and I could have charged half of the jockeys with sexual
harassment," Isabelle replied. "Rene and I were the last two jockeys to
arrive, and we suffered several insults. Finally Rene had enough. He
walked over to the Klingon jockey and asked him if he could barrow his
d'k tahg. When Korrath replied, 'Why don't you have you're own
knife?' He responded, that he did, but his trainer wouldn't let him
keep it around the horses. In any case, the p'lahk in the Calumet Farm
jersey had dishonored his," and Isabelle tripped over the word,
"par-ma-ki, what ever that means, and he though a cut jersey would be
appropriate."
"The word means mate, or beloved," Marrissa explained, then at
Isabelle's inquiring look, she continued. "I've got a Klingon friend,
Alexander Rozhenko. He'll be up in the box with the rest of the
Enterprise command crew. So what did Rene do?"
"Well, while he was talking with Korrath, the jockey from
Calumet Farm left for his horse," Isabelle said. "Korrath thought it
was a shame. Rene suggested that instead of the blue stripes on his
uniform, the Calumet rider would prefer yellow. I thought the whole
thing was ridiculous."
The two arrived at the weight room to discover that one jockey
had arrived before them. It was the Klingon jockey, who rode Code of
Honor. "Greetings, honorable warriors," Korrath said. "My condolences
on your recent loss, Lady Isabelle. I hope Rene son of Robert is now in
Sto-Vo-Kor racing his enemies until they tire under the pace he sets.
He was a most honorable opponent."
"Thank you, Korrath," Isabelle said, surprised at the sediments
expressed by the Klingon rider.
Then Korrath turned to Marrissa and said, "You are the
Arbitrator's heir, Marrissa, daughter of Captain Picard?" Marrissa
nodded. "A most honorable line. Give your enemies no quarter, and may
you always be victorious ... preferable not against me of coarse."
"Q'pla, to you as well, Korrath, son of Lomec, of the house of
Garog," Marrissa replied. "Shall we get this weighing out of the way?
I'd like to get to my horse as soon as I can."
"Eager to go into battle, Lieutenant?" Korrath asked, as
Marrissa ascended the scales to be weighed.
"No, afraid if I wait too long, I won't have the nerve to do
it," Marrissa responded, then she laughed. "Here I am, having fought in
battles, commanded starships, and I'm afraid of a horse race."
"There is no shame in feeling fear," Korrath replied. "Rather,
it is not feeling fear that worries me. For if I do not feel fear, then
there is no challenge in life. For a Klingon, a life with out challenge
is one without honor, such a life is not worth while."
"True, son of Lomec," Marrissa said, getting down from the scale
and picking up her weights. "I shall see you on the track. Q'pla."
Marrissa sat on Lady Stargazer as they loaded her into gate
seven which closed behind her locking her in with her horse. Isabelle
on Warp Speed was two gates closer to the post. To her inside was We'll
Always Have Paris, ridden by a Betaziod named Fryr Draken. There was no
one on her outside, as a result of disaster caused by Kirk's Bane in the
Preakness which had end the careers of five horses and killed two
including Kirk's Bane.
The gates opened and Marrissa urged Lady Stargazer forward...

Up in the stands, the crew of the Enterprise had gathered.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard eagerly pointed at the gates, looking for his
daughter and her horse to emerge. Doctor Crusher was at his side, the
engagement ring he had given her glistening in the sun. Commander Riker
stood with Data La Forge and Worf, going over the odds. Troi stood back
from it all, wondering at how much of a turn around recent times had been.
Captain Picard had been distraught over his brothers and nephew's
deaths. Then the barrier between the Captain and the Doctor broke down.
Now the two were acting like love birds, which really annoyed Worf.
Deanna smiled as the bell rang and the race began.
The announcer yelled out, "And they're off. Warp Speed leads
out of the gate, with Quarterdeck breed on his inside. Lady Stargazer
comes in from the outside. Code of Honor is next, with Romulan Dawn not
far behind. Orphan trails the field. As they head into the turn, Warp
Speed remains in the lead, but Quarterdeck has dropped to third, Code of
Honor racing along side him. We'll always have Paris has moved into
fifth. Down the back stretch, Warp Speed and Lady Stargazer have pulled
a length on the field. A battle is shaping up between Code of Honor and
Quarterdeck, they're neck and neck all the way down the stretch. Orphan
is now fighting with Paris for fifth, with Romulan Dawn fading fast.
Into the final turn, Lady takes first from Warp, who takes it back
again. Code of Honor takes third firmly from Quarterdeck as Quarterdeck
breed stumbles, but recovers. Down the stretch they come, Lady leads
Warp, and now Warp Lady, they are neck and neck as they come to the
line. It's Lady Stargazer by a head over Warp Speed. And here comes
the rest of the field lead by Code of Honor. We'll always have Paris
takes fourth, followed by Orphan and Quarterdeck breed. Romulan Dawn
has collapsed on the back stretch."
"Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, shall we go congratulate Marrissa?"
Jean-Luc Picard suggested to his crew, smiling.
"I don't see why not," Doctor Crusher said.
As Marrissa walked her horse to cool Lady Stargazer off before
heading to the winner's circle, she approached Isabelle, who was doing
the same with Warp Speed. "Isabelle, would you accompany me to the
winner's circle?" she asked.
"That's not done," Isabelle dismissed.
"Why not?" Marrissa said drawing up along side.
"You won the race," Isabelle said. "You deserve the glory."
"Normally, I'd agree, but Lady just won the Triple Crown,"
Marrissa stated. "You rode her though the first two of the races you
have to win. You deserve the trophy."
"You know I don't think about that, a horse has never won the
Triple Crown with more than one jockey riding her," Isabelle mused.
"Alright, on one condition, you get me out of the winner's circle
without having to run the press gauntlet."
"My communicator is under the uniform, and Clara is taking a
shift at Space Dock Transporter Control," Marrissa informed, as the two
rode toward the winner's circle.

"As Governor of the State of New York, it gives me great
pleasure to award Lady Stargazer of Stargazer Stables and her jockeys,
Isabelle Boucher and Marrissa Picard, this trophy for winning the
Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown," a tall man proclaimed, drawing out
the moment way too long in Marrissa's opinion. "The whole state of New
York is proud to host this race every year and will remember this year's
contest between stable mates with great fondness."
At last the presentation was over, Marrissa embraced her father,
and his command crew formed around her and the two horses. This made
the press take a step back to take some pictures, as the trainer,
Michael White grabbed Lady Stargazer's leads, and Alexander, Warp Speed.
Then Marrissa tapped the communicator attached to her bra strap through
her clothes and ordered, "Lieutenant Picard to Space Dock Transporter
Control, ready to beam up."

Epilogue
Return to Normal

Clara watched as the two horses, and the former Enterprise staff
materialized on her pad. The eleven year old Ensign had volunteered for
the shift at the Space Dock. She really didn't expect to get an
assignment, or even duty time. Duty time would help her when her father
got an assignment. She wanted to be of some use on the next starship
she was on. So when Marrissa suggested that she enquire about
substituting during the Belmont, she'd jumped at the chance. True she
did miss the race, but she was sure that she'd be hearing about it from
Marrissa for years to come.
Her relief had just arrived, so Clara yielded the controls after
setting the location and joined the group on the pad. Captain Jean-Luc
Picard ordered, "Beam us down, Chief."
They materialized in the dark Stargazer Stables court yard. Two
young boys came out of the darkness. "Jean, Francis, take Warp and Lady
to their stalls," the trainer ordered. "I want them both rubbed down
and fed. I don't want to see you at the party until that's done."
"Yes, Mike," Jean replied.
"We won't let you down sir," Francis said.
"Don't call me sir," Mike replied. "You sound like damn
Cadets."
As they walked down the darkened lane to the Picard Vineyard,
Clara and Alexander moved to Marrissa's side. "Who is that, Marrissa?"
Clara inquired.
"Where did you father find him?" Alexander asked.
"He's the trainer at the stables," Marrissa replied. "He
basically runs the stables. I don't know where Dad found him."
"I believe I can answer that," Captain Picard said, appearing
from behind them. "Mikey was my first Chief Engineer. When he retired,
I and some other members of the crew set him up as horse trainer, a job
he had always said he was more suited for. Clara, you might want to ask
him about his time on the Stargazer. He doesn't get many young
Engineers close to France." Then he retreated back to rejoin the slower
moving adults.

Marie Picard greeted them at the door to the Picard Vineyard
house. "Welcome back," she said. "A buffet has been set up in the
dining room, and you'll find the wine in the library. I put Theresa to
sleep on the third floor, so as long as you don't get too rowdy, we
shouldn't have trouble."
"I promise you, Marie, we won't get loud until morning,"
Jean-Luc Picard remarked.
"You better not," Marie responded.
"Mrs. Picard," Isabelle interrupted.
"What is it Isabelle?" Marie asked.
"May I have a word with you, alone?" Isabelle asked.
As Marie drew Isabelle to the kitchen, Jean-Luc remarked to
Doctor Crusher, "I wonder what that was about?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, Jean-Luc," the Doctor replied.
"Just don't give Isabelle any wine."
"Beverly, in France, there is only one reason to refuse wine..."
Jean-Luc began. Then his eyes widened as he realized, "You don't mean
that Rene got. . ."
"Just so," Beverly confirmed.
"You mean that you let her ride, knowing," Jean-Luc said.
"There was no real danger, Jean-Luc," Beverly said. "Not at
this . . ."
Conversation was suddenly interrupted as the door burst open to
reveal Phillippe Boucher. Isabelle's father had looked better, to put
it mildly. He staggered into the room, his hair and clothes a mess. He
reeked of alcohol. "Where is my daughter?" he slurred.
"Isabelle is talking to Marie in the kitchen," the Captain said.
"But you are in no condition to go anywhere."
"Got to find out who dishonored her," Mr. Boucher said. "Can't
have two bad children, Louise would have never stood for it." He lunged
for the kitchen, only to find himself sprawled over a coffee table.
"Nobody dishonored Isabelle," Mike said as Mr. Boucher forced
himself to stand. "She just got honored for winning the Triple Crown."
"Not that way," Mr. Boucher said, as pulled a pamphlet out of
his back pocket. It was titled dealing with the early stages of
pregnancy.
"Mr. Boucher, she was engaged to Rene before he died," Marrissa
put in, approaching the drunken father, but she was restrained from
getting too close, by Commander Riker's arm.
"I never heard of such a thing," Mr. Boucher replied. "You
lie."
At that, Isabelle appeared in the Kitchen doorway. She stared
at her father, who could bearly stand. Her eyes looked up at the
ceiling and then she spoke up, softy yet loud, "She does not, father."
"Isabelle," he exclaimed turning to face her. He took a few
trembling steps towards her. "Tell me it's not true. Tell me that that
boy didn't dishonor my daughter."
"Rene was every bit a gentlemen," Isabelle said. "But I am
bearing his child, and we were engaged."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Mr. Boucher asked.
"Because, I was afraid of your reaction," Isabelle said. "Rene
wanted to announce our engagement right away, but I insisted we wait
until at least after the Belmont. I was afraid you'd forbid it, force
me to stay away from him."
"You're right, I forbid it," Mr. Boucher said. "I don't want
you around the Picards or the Stables. I can see I was wrong to let you
work there. You'll come home with me right now and you will not be
having that perverted Picard's baby."
"No," Isabelle said, still softly.
"What did you say, Isabelle Delunca Boucher?" Mr. Boucher said,
his voice tinged with drunken anger.
"No," Isabelle said, getting louder. "I will not let you ruin
my life. I've managed to salvage it after Rene's death. Sometimes only
the fact that I'm carrying his child or the duties at the stable have
made feel alive again. I will not let you ruin that. And the Picards
have every right to see me. I am not leaving, Father. There is nothing
you can do to stop that."
Isabelle stood in the doorway staring at her father, and the
room descended into silence. Then Mr. Boucher broke the silence,
"Isabelle you're coming with me if I have to carry you."
"Not in the shape you're in, Father," Isabelle replied. She
turned and walked into the dining room. Her father attempted to follow,
but Worf blocked him.
Mr. Boucher looked up at the towering Klingon and involuntarily
gulped. "I believe the young lady wants to be alone," Worf said. Mr.
Boucher trembled.
"I believe you are right, Worf," Jean-Luc Picard remarked. "Why
don't you and Data help Mr. Boucher home."
"As you wish, Captain," Worf replied, hoping that Mr. Boucher
would put up a fight.

Marrissa found Isabelle sitting in the corner of the Dining
Room. Isabelle's eyes were red, as if she'd been crying, and she was
curled up in a dining room chair. "Are you coming back to the party?"
Marrissa asked.
"Is my father gone?" Isabelle asked, placing her feet back on
the floor, but not making a move to leave the room.
"Yes, Commanders Worf and Data took him home," Marrissa said.
"Hopefully he'll make more sense in the morning."
"I doubt it," Isabelle smiled, standing up. "He may have
announced his decision while he was drunk, but he'll stand by it when
he's sober. Dad's remarkable stubuarnant."
"I think it's a trait of all parents, especially fathers,"
Marrissa replied. "Are you ready to come back now?"
"Just let me get some of that strange red fruit juice," Isabelle
said, walking over to the table. "I forgot what Mrs. Picard said it
was, but it has no alcohol."
"It's strawberry juice, my favorite," Marrissa replied. The two
girls walked back towards the living room to rejoin the party.

Captain Picard surveyed the room. Commander Riker and Counselor
Troi were talking in one corner of the room. Beverly, Marie, and young
Isabelle were standing by the kitchen door, probably talking about
babies. Marrissa, Clara, and Alexander were sitting on the sofa next to
the fireplace. Jean-Luc smiled, knowing his daughter, she was probably
discussing some sort of tactics, either that or some sort of show she'd
found in her recent discovery of Japanese Animation. Geordi LaForge was
chatting with Mikey White, telling about the problems each had had as
Chief Engineer on a starship.
Worf and Data appeared at the doorway, having taken Isabelle's
father home. Data approached the Captain. "Captain, Commander Worf and
I delivered Mr. Boucher home," he said. "Father Francis met us on the
way over. He said that he would take care of Mr. Boucher."
"Understood, Data," Jean-Luc Picard said, then he turned to the
room at large. He tapped on his wine glass, producing a loud chime,
about a G above middle C. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have an
announcement."
The room quieted and everyone turned to face the Captain. "On
my way to our box at the Belmont, I ran into Admiral Necheyev," he
began, smiling. "She informed me that Star Fleet intends to commission
a new Enterprise." He paused a moment for that to sink in. "They
intend to ask me to command her again, and I'd like all of my crew to
join me. The official announcement and orders are due to arrive
tomorrow."
"That's wonderful, Jean-Luc," the Doctor replied.
"What class of ship do we get?" La Forge inquired.
"She'll be a Sovereign Class, the second off the line," Jean-Luc
Picard said, then he turned to the Counselor with a twinkle in his eye.
"And Counselor, I'm not letting you drive it until you can fly it better
than my daughter."

The End.