The Favor
The following story line is mine. Don't try to copy it cause I'll get mad
In a like vain, Star Trek The Next Generation and all characters are the sole property of someone other than me.
"Captain" Mr. Data nodded from his position at the security panel as the Captain stepped off the turbolift.
"Mr. Data" Jean-Luc nodded back, "Status?"
"We will rendezvous with the Ambassador's ship in 36 minutes, sir" Data answered. Jean-Luc nodded and tugged on the bottom of his uniform as he walked down the incline towards the screen which showed the stars that were flying by. He took a moment to survey the bridge, glad to see everybody was busy working and everything seemed to be going as it should.
"Commander, can I see you in my ready room for a moment?" he asked of Raylyn, who was sitting where his Data normally sat.
"Aye, sir" she nodded curtly and stood.
"Number One, you have the bridge. Alert me when the Ambassador's are ready to beam over" Jean-Luc ordered as he led his daughter to his ready room.
"Something to drink?" he asked when the doors had closed.
"No, thank you, sir" she answered. She was extremely formal while on duty. Jean-Luc imagined it must be difficult, especially for the three highest ranking officers on board, to appropriately separate their personal lives and their professional. They apparently managed it, but he sincerely hoped that while he was here, he would not be forced to order any member of his family (and oddly enough he did very much consider them family) into any dangerous circumstance. He was not entirely sure he'd be able to make such a command. And he didn't like to contemplate that. There was, however, a different reason he was speaking to his daughter.
"I find myself in need of information" he told her as he sat down behind his desk. This room, at least, was exactly as it had always been. Raylyn straightened in her seat and nodded.
"Aye, sir" she said, "What do you need?" Jean-Luc sighed. He did not like having so many questions.
"I have just been told that there will be another man beaming over with the Ambassadors" he started. Raylyn looked surprised. Which surprised Jean-Luc. Surely she would know that he had a son. Or had he just dreamt what Beverly had said? For that matter, was he dreaming this whole thing?
"I need to know who Jason Vigo is" he finished. Raylyn's eyes grew to the size of saucers and a wide grin cracked across her face.
"Jace? Jace is coming here?" she laughed out loud, "Papa! You didn't tell me! This is so great!" Jean-Luc had the distinct impression that had a desk not been separating them she would have hugged him. Again.
"You have a good relationship with him?" Jean-Luc inquired.
"Oh, yeah" Raylyn nodded, hiding some her exuberance behind her professional mask, "His mother, Miranda, was fiercely independent and insisted on raising him on her own, but she recognized that you had a right to at least be in his life. Sometimes, if you could work it out, he'd visit you on your ship. A lot of those times coincided with the times I was able to get to visit, so you could say we grew up together in a manner of speaking. He's...oh...four years younger than I am, but we've always been close. He's my little brother."
"Why did no one mention him before now?" Jean-Luc asked passionately. Knowing the condition he was in, he still wondered why no one had not simply sat down with him and gone over everything he didn't know. Concise, all at once. It would have, he acknowledged, perhaps been a bit much. Raylyn, and Deanna too, being empathic, probably would have objected, even if he had asked.
"Oh, Papa" she sighed, "We see him so little anymore! I simply didn't think of it"
"Your mother mentioned that he lived on Kamor" Jean-Luc said. A harsh planet, with very little government and a lot of problems due to the Cardassian war. Was it the same here?
"Yes. Kamor V was ravaged by the war with the Borg. They survived, but just barely. The planet is...well wild. When Miranda heard about all the children who had been orphaned, she packed up and left. She organized an orphanage and ran the entire thing herself. There were...oh at least 50 kids there. She took care of every need and a few of the older ones have already grown into strong political leaders who will, hopefully, turn the planet around" Raylyn leaned back as she told the story. Jean-Luc watched her face. Her expressions changed as she spoke and Jean-Luc knew she probably told excellent bed time stories.
"When Miranda died, Jason took over. He was barely 15, but he was of legal age on Kamor. He's a damned good liar and a talented thief. He inherited Miranda's independence and stubbornness, and the Picard pride and intelligence. He turned his skills to good use and has been running the orphanage ever since. He had a hard time of it at first, adults trying to push him out, take away the lives his mother worked so hard to carve out for those kids. But he wouldn't let them. Now he's a leading member of the community. Well, more like the king tiger in a den of lions." Now she grinned again and slapped her knee, "I can't believe he's going to be here!"
"He sounds like a wonderful man" Jean-Luc admitted, "Why are there no photos of him in my quarters, with the rest?"
"Well, like I said, he's not around much. He couldn't even make it to your wedding, though he was there for mine. Come to think of it, I probably haven't actually seen him in at least two years. I took some leave just after J.W. was born and we went to Kamor but that was the last time" Jean- Luc nodded and faded off into thought. It was disturbing having to ask question after question every time something new came up. He had a son, as well as a daughter? He remembered Miranda Vigo well. She was exactly as Raylyn had described her. Their relationship had been short, but passionate. He was surprised to hear that he'd fathered her son, but he knew it was possible. It raised questions about his own reality. Had he fathered her son there, as well? A son he didn't know about? Would she have taken that boy to Kamor? How would he ever know? Raylyn had described a person Jean-Luc would be nothing but proud to have as a son, but what was he like? There were so many unknowns in this equation that Jean-Luc knew he would not find any answers until the universe gave them to him. And he didn't like that either, but there was nothing he could do about it. He had to do his best to perform for these people and not mess up their lives. He was coming up to date on the recent history which would no doubt be meshed over during the peace talks. He would be able to hold his own. But it wasn't the peace talks he was worried about. It was everything else.
"Papa?" Raylyn's voice brought him back to the present, "You've drifted off"
"I was contemplating the universe" he admitted. She grinned.
"Which one?" she asked with a quirk of her brow that Jean-Luc deftly defined as Will Riker's influence.
"Sir" her husband's voice announced, "The Ambassador's are ready to beam over" Jean-Luc followed Raylyn to the bridge.
"Number One, Mr. Data, you're with me. You have the bridge, Deanna" Troi nodded and the four of them went to the transporter room where Beverly was already awaiting them. Chief O'Brien was waiting for the signal behind the transporter console.
"Energize, Chief" Jean-Luc ordered and steeled himself for the sight of Worf as an Ambassador. Three figures materialized on the platform and Jean-Luc recognized all of them.
"Ambassador Worf" he nodded solemnly. Worf was a stickler for tradition.
"I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Welcome on board" Worf, large and scowling as ever, nodded back as he stepped down.
"Thank you, Captain. This is my mate, Ambassador Ka'lar" He motioned towards Ka'lar, who was not in Klingon dignitary garb as was her husband.
"Captain" the lovely woman nodded back, the hint of a smile that always seemed to be on her lips softening her demeanor. Ka'lar was half human, he knew, and he assumed from the light tone of her skin and the softness of her forehead ridges that she was here too. He wondered if Worf had grown up on Earth, but he daren't ask.
"This is our son, Alexander" Ka'lar introduced the small boy, just as Picard remembered him, as he followed his parents off the transporter pad.
"A pleasure" the Captain said, "Let me introduce you to my first officer, Commander William Riker" Will nodded, "My second officer, Raylyn Picard-Riker" Ray nodded, "My Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Data, and my Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Beverly Crusher" He had to remember to ask Beverly why she still went by Crusher.
The Ambassadors greeted each of them.
"We're told" Ka'lar said before Worf could stop her, "That the Enterprise is dominated by one family. Is that right?" Raylyn and Will exchanged a look.
"I'm not sure 'dominated' is the correct word" Jean-Luc answered, "But it is true that my command crew is largely constructed of members of my family" He nodded towards Raylyn, "Commander Picard-Riker is my daughter, Commander Riker is her husband" He turned the other way, "Dr. Crusher is my wife, Mr. Data is my adopted son, and our Ship's Councilor, Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi is my niece"
"How interesting" Ka'lar noted. Worf was bristling.
"We will have a meeting with the other Ambassadors later, but for now, Mr. Data will show you to your quarters" Jean-Luc told them quickly and then nodded at Data who led the Ambassador's away. Raylyn and Will immediately laughed as the doors swished shut again.
"What was that all about?" Jean-Luc demanded.
"Some people don't like the fact that the Federation's flag ship is controlled by one family" Beverly told him, "They think we're in a position to greatly influence the Federation Council and some of the more drastic ones think we're trying to turn the Federation into a dictatorship" Jean- Luc almost laughed. It would be impossible for even an entire family to do such a thing. Then again, never say never.
"Sir, Mr. Vigo is ready to transport" Chief O'Brien told him. Ah, yes. Jason. Jean-Luc took another deep breath and made ready to greet his son.
"Jace!" Raylyn shouted and didn't even wait for the young man to step of the transporter. Jason laughed loudly and twirled his older, but somewhat smaller, sister around.
"Hey, sis!" he laughed, "How're you!"
"I can't believe you're here!" she squealed like a little girl. Jason laughed again and stepped away. Jean-Luc got a good look at him. He looked so much like Miranda. He had not inherited the Picard nose, but there was something about the strength of his chin. He grinned and stepped down.
"Hey, Dad" he said and swung an arm about the Captain. Jean-Luc was slowly getting used to all this touching. He thumped his son's back, but said nothing. Jason stepped away.
"Hey, Will, how you taken care of my sister" he asked with a smile as he shook his brother-in-law's hand.
"I like to think I do a good job of it" Will answered with a smile. Jason turned the other way and put a kiss on his step mother's cheek.
"Lo, Bev. How're you?" Beverly gripped his hands and smiled.
"I'm good. How're you, taking care of yourself?"
"You know it" Jason glanced about, "Where's Deanna?"
"She's on the bridge, but don't worry" Raylyn said, "It's a Monday. Family dinner tonight" She took his elbow and started leading him towards his quarters.
"I can hardly wait!" Jason laughed, "Are those terrors of hers still causing the world grief?"
"You know it" Will answered with a laugh, "And ours isn't doing so bad for himself either"
"Oh no! How is J.W. anyway?" Jason asked. Jean-Luc was trailing along behind, content to watch the show. He was amazed by how well everyone got along. Beverly seemed very affectionate towards a young man that she might barely know, Will obviously liked him and Raylyn was nothing less than entranced with her younger half brother. Jean-Luc wondered if Wesley adored him half as much. And what relationship did he have with Deanna? He had asked about her. Which brought to mind her husband, Wyatt, who Jean-Luc had not seen yet. He wondered how they all meshed. And then he remembered what Raylyn had said just a moment ago. It was a Monday. He had not had to work through a full "family dinner" as of yet for he had woken up here on a Friday and they did not have them on Saturdays and Sundays. But they did on Mondays. He would have all the chance he needed to study how the large, extended family interacted.
It made him quiver slightly. Raylyn glanced back at him. He smiled and she went back to her discussion.
"How long can you stay, Jason?" Beverly was asking.
"At least a few weeks" the young man, Raylyn had said he was 21, answered, "I left Mecca in charge"
"Really?" Will raised a brow. Jean-Luc didn't know who Mecca was.
"She's grown into quite a woman" Jason told his brother-in-law.
"Really?" Raylyn quirked a brow now, a look different from her husband's on her face.
"Hey! No fair!" Jason wiggled a finger at his sister.
"What? I'm not doing anything" Raylyn tried to hide her knowing smile but she wasn't quite successful. They had by this time reached the quarters assigned to Jason and all filed inside. They were nice, certainly more than the Enterprise generally assigned civilian guests of little consequence. But then, the Captain's son was of consequence.
"What time is dinner?" Jason was asking, flopping his bag on a chair
"7:30" Will answered, "In holideck five" Jason gave him a quick look.
"Who's here, other than me?"
"Aunt Lwaxana" Raylyn told him with a roll of her eyes. Jason laughed. Jean-Luc sighed.
"I am sorry" he said aloud to draw their attention, "But I have a meeting with the Ambassador's to prepare for"
"Oh, sure Dad" Jason swung a hand out and Jean-Luc shook it, "I'll see you for dinner" Jean-Luc nodded and left the rest of the family to reacquaint with Jason Vigo, son of Jean-Luc Picard.
The following story line is mine. Don't try to copy it cause I'll get mad
In a like vain, Star Trek The Next Generation and all characters are the sole property of someone other than me.
"Captain" Mr. Data nodded from his position at the security panel as the Captain stepped off the turbolift.
"Mr. Data" Jean-Luc nodded back, "Status?"
"We will rendezvous with the Ambassador's ship in 36 minutes, sir" Data answered. Jean-Luc nodded and tugged on the bottom of his uniform as he walked down the incline towards the screen which showed the stars that were flying by. He took a moment to survey the bridge, glad to see everybody was busy working and everything seemed to be going as it should.
"Commander, can I see you in my ready room for a moment?" he asked of Raylyn, who was sitting where his Data normally sat.
"Aye, sir" she nodded curtly and stood.
"Number One, you have the bridge. Alert me when the Ambassador's are ready to beam over" Jean-Luc ordered as he led his daughter to his ready room.
"Something to drink?" he asked when the doors had closed.
"No, thank you, sir" she answered. She was extremely formal while on duty. Jean-Luc imagined it must be difficult, especially for the three highest ranking officers on board, to appropriately separate their personal lives and their professional. They apparently managed it, but he sincerely hoped that while he was here, he would not be forced to order any member of his family (and oddly enough he did very much consider them family) into any dangerous circumstance. He was not entirely sure he'd be able to make such a command. And he didn't like to contemplate that. There was, however, a different reason he was speaking to his daughter.
"I find myself in need of information" he told her as he sat down behind his desk. This room, at least, was exactly as it had always been. Raylyn straightened in her seat and nodded.
"Aye, sir" she said, "What do you need?" Jean-Luc sighed. He did not like having so many questions.
"I have just been told that there will be another man beaming over with the Ambassadors" he started. Raylyn looked surprised. Which surprised Jean-Luc. Surely she would know that he had a son. Or had he just dreamt what Beverly had said? For that matter, was he dreaming this whole thing?
"I need to know who Jason Vigo is" he finished. Raylyn's eyes grew to the size of saucers and a wide grin cracked across her face.
"Jace? Jace is coming here?" she laughed out loud, "Papa! You didn't tell me! This is so great!" Jean-Luc had the distinct impression that had a desk not been separating them she would have hugged him. Again.
"You have a good relationship with him?" Jean-Luc inquired.
"Oh, yeah" Raylyn nodded, hiding some her exuberance behind her professional mask, "His mother, Miranda, was fiercely independent and insisted on raising him on her own, but she recognized that you had a right to at least be in his life. Sometimes, if you could work it out, he'd visit you on your ship. A lot of those times coincided with the times I was able to get to visit, so you could say we grew up together in a manner of speaking. He's...oh...four years younger than I am, but we've always been close. He's my little brother."
"Why did no one mention him before now?" Jean-Luc asked passionately. Knowing the condition he was in, he still wondered why no one had not simply sat down with him and gone over everything he didn't know. Concise, all at once. It would have, he acknowledged, perhaps been a bit much. Raylyn, and Deanna too, being empathic, probably would have objected, even if he had asked.
"Oh, Papa" she sighed, "We see him so little anymore! I simply didn't think of it"
"Your mother mentioned that he lived on Kamor" Jean-Luc said. A harsh planet, with very little government and a lot of problems due to the Cardassian war. Was it the same here?
"Yes. Kamor V was ravaged by the war with the Borg. They survived, but just barely. The planet is...well wild. When Miranda heard about all the children who had been orphaned, she packed up and left. She organized an orphanage and ran the entire thing herself. There were...oh at least 50 kids there. She took care of every need and a few of the older ones have already grown into strong political leaders who will, hopefully, turn the planet around" Raylyn leaned back as she told the story. Jean-Luc watched her face. Her expressions changed as she spoke and Jean-Luc knew she probably told excellent bed time stories.
"When Miranda died, Jason took over. He was barely 15, but he was of legal age on Kamor. He's a damned good liar and a talented thief. He inherited Miranda's independence and stubbornness, and the Picard pride and intelligence. He turned his skills to good use and has been running the orphanage ever since. He had a hard time of it at first, adults trying to push him out, take away the lives his mother worked so hard to carve out for those kids. But he wouldn't let them. Now he's a leading member of the community. Well, more like the king tiger in a den of lions." Now she grinned again and slapped her knee, "I can't believe he's going to be here!"
"He sounds like a wonderful man" Jean-Luc admitted, "Why are there no photos of him in my quarters, with the rest?"
"Well, like I said, he's not around much. He couldn't even make it to your wedding, though he was there for mine. Come to think of it, I probably haven't actually seen him in at least two years. I took some leave just after J.W. was born and we went to Kamor but that was the last time" Jean- Luc nodded and faded off into thought. It was disturbing having to ask question after question every time something new came up. He had a son, as well as a daughter? He remembered Miranda Vigo well. She was exactly as Raylyn had described her. Their relationship had been short, but passionate. He was surprised to hear that he'd fathered her son, but he knew it was possible. It raised questions about his own reality. Had he fathered her son there, as well? A son he didn't know about? Would she have taken that boy to Kamor? How would he ever know? Raylyn had described a person Jean-Luc would be nothing but proud to have as a son, but what was he like? There were so many unknowns in this equation that Jean-Luc knew he would not find any answers until the universe gave them to him. And he didn't like that either, but there was nothing he could do about it. He had to do his best to perform for these people and not mess up their lives. He was coming up to date on the recent history which would no doubt be meshed over during the peace talks. He would be able to hold his own. But it wasn't the peace talks he was worried about. It was everything else.
"Papa?" Raylyn's voice brought him back to the present, "You've drifted off"
"I was contemplating the universe" he admitted. She grinned.
"Which one?" she asked with a quirk of her brow that Jean-Luc deftly defined as Will Riker's influence.
"Sir" her husband's voice announced, "The Ambassador's are ready to beam over" Jean-Luc followed Raylyn to the bridge.
"Number One, Mr. Data, you're with me. You have the bridge, Deanna" Troi nodded and the four of them went to the transporter room where Beverly was already awaiting them. Chief O'Brien was waiting for the signal behind the transporter console.
"Energize, Chief" Jean-Luc ordered and steeled himself for the sight of Worf as an Ambassador. Three figures materialized on the platform and Jean-Luc recognized all of them.
"Ambassador Worf" he nodded solemnly. Worf was a stickler for tradition.
"I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Welcome on board" Worf, large and scowling as ever, nodded back as he stepped down.
"Thank you, Captain. This is my mate, Ambassador Ka'lar" He motioned towards Ka'lar, who was not in Klingon dignitary garb as was her husband.
"Captain" the lovely woman nodded back, the hint of a smile that always seemed to be on her lips softening her demeanor. Ka'lar was half human, he knew, and he assumed from the light tone of her skin and the softness of her forehead ridges that she was here too. He wondered if Worf had grown up on Earth, but he daren't ask.
"This is our son, Alexander" Ka'lar introduced the small boy, just as Picard remembered him, as he followed his parents off the transporter pad.
"A pleasure" the Captain said, "Let me introduce you to my first officer, Commander William Riker" Will nodded, "My second officer, Raylyn Picard-Riker" Ray nodded, "My Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Data, and my Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Beverly Crusher" He had to remember to ask Beverly why she still went by Crusher.
The Ambassadors greeted each of them.
"We're told" Ka'lar said before Worf could stop her, "That the Enterprise is dominated by one family. Is that right?" Raylyn and Will exchanged a look.
"I'm not sure 'dominated' is the correct word" Jean-Luc answered, "But it is true that my command crew is largely constructed of members of my family" He nodded towards Raylyn, "Commander Picard-Riker is my daughter, Commander Riker is her husband" He turned the other way, "Dr. Crusher is my wife, Mr. Data is my adopted son, and our Ship's Councilor, Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi is my niece"
"How interesting" Ka'lar noted. Worf was bristling.
"We will have a meeting with the other Ambassadors later, but for now, Mr. Data will show you to your quarters" Jean-Luc told them quickly and then nodded at Data who led the Ambassador's away. Raylyn and Will immediately laughed as the doors swished shut again.
"What was that all about?" Jean-Luc demanded.
"Some people don't like the fact that the Federation's flag ship is controlled by one family" Beverly told him, "They think we're in a position to greatly influence the Federation Council and some of the more drastic ones think we're trying to turn the Federation into a dictatorship" Jean- Luc almost laughed. It would be impossible for even an entire family to do such a thing. Then again, never say never.
"Sir, Mr. Vigo is ready to transport" Chief O'Brien told him. Ah, yes. Jason. Jean-Luc took another deep breath and made ready to greet his son.
"Jace!" Raylyn shouted and didn't even wait for the young man to step of the transporter. Jason laughed loudly and twirled his older, but somewhat smaller, sister around.
"Hey, sis!" he laughed, "How're you!"
"I can't believe you're here!" she squealed like a little girl. Jason laughed again and stepped away. Jean-Luc got a good look at him. He looked so much like Miranda. He had not inherited the Picard nose, but there was something about the strength of his chin. He grinned and stepped down.
"Hey, Dad" he said and swung an arm about the Captain. Jean-Luc was slowly getting used to all this touching. He thumped his son's back, but said nothing. Jason stepped away.
"Hey, Will, how you taken care of my sister" he asked with a smile as he shook his brother-in-law's hand.
"I like to think I do a good job of it" Will answered with a smile. Jason turned the other way and put a kiss on his step mother's cheek.
"Lo, Bev. How're you?" Beverly gripped his hands and smiled.
"I'm good. How're you, taking care of yourself?"
"You know it" Jason glanced about, "Where's Deanna?"
"She's on the bridge, but don't worry" Raylyn said, "It's a Monday. Family dinner tonight" She took his elbow and started leading him towards his quarters.
"I can hardly wait!" Jason laughed, "Are those terrors of hers still causing the world grief?"
"You know it" Will answered with a laugh, "And ours isn't doing so bad for himself either"
"Oh no! How is J.W. anyway?" Jason asked. Jean-Luc was trailing along behind, content to watch the show. He was amazed by how well everyone got along. Beverly seemed very affectionate towards a young man that she might barely know, Will obviously liked him and Raylyn was nothing less than entranced with her younger half brother. Jean-Luc wondered if Wesley adored him half as much. And what relationship did he have with Deanna? He had asked about her. Which brought to mind her husband, Wyatt, who Jean-Luc had not seen yet. He wondered how they all meshed. And then he remembered what Raylyn had said just a moment ago. It was a Monday. He had not had to work through a full "family dinner" as of yet for he had woken up here on a Friday and they did not have them on Saturdays and Sundays. But they did on Mondays. He would have all the chance he needed to study how the large, extended family interacted.
It made him quiver slightly. Raylyn glanced back at him. He smiled and she went back to her discussion.
"How long can you stay, Jason?" Beverly was asking.
"At least a few weeks" the young man, Raylyn had said he was 21, answered, "I left Mecca in charge"
"Really?" Will raised a brow. Jean-Luc didn't know who Mecca was.
"She's grown into quite a woman" Jason told his brother-in-law.
"Really?" Raylyn quirked a brow now, a look different from her husband's on her face.
"Hey! No fair!" Jason wiggled a finger at his sister.
"What? I'm not doing anything" Raylyn tried to hide her knowing smile but she wasn't quite successful. They had by this time reached the quarters assigned to Jason and all filed inside. They were nice, certainly more than the Enterprise generally assigned civilian guests of little consequence. But then, the Captain's son was of consequence.
"What time is dinner?" Jason was asking, flopping his bag on a chair
"7:30" Will answered, "In holideck five" Jason gave him a quick look.
"Who's here, other than me?"
"Aunt Lwaxana" Raylyn told him with a roll of her eyes. Jason laughed. Jean-Luc sighed.
"I am sorry" he said aloud to draw their attention, "But I have a meeting with the Ambassador's to prepare for"
"Oh, sure Dad" Jason swung a hand out and Jean-Luc shook it, "I'll see you for dinner" Jean-Luc nodded and left the rest of the family to reacquaint with Jason Vigo, son of Jean-Luc Picard.