Chapter 12: Jumping Timeline

Over the next six months things for Wesley and Beverly Crusher changed. Wesley traveled back to Earth from the Titan for his mother's marriage. Wesley knew after talking to his mom years ago that she was deeply in love with a Trill who died. Odan was transferred to another Trill who a month ago had died and was transferred to an irresistibly striking younger Trill who worked at Beverly Crusher's new job on Earth at Star Fleet Medical.

A man watching from over the planet without any assistance from a spacecraft smiled to himself. Q found this time in the timeline interesting also, but lets jump ahead to where the timeline is presently in human reality. "Oh yes, the Briar Patch."

Not long after that, Allisa took a Federation position in the Briar Patch. Her duties were to counsel the officers who are visiting in order to heal themselves in a colony close to Adije's home. Renee Picard, Shinzon, was transferred there in order to heal from his old burn scars from when he was caught in a fire as a child (at least that is what the file said). One month after Allisa's new posting, Chakotay was found on a star base with his memories of being abducted erased. Seven and Allisa were able to assist in his healing at the Briar Patch. Seven had never felt so lonely when she believed Captain Chakotay to be dead. After his recovery, they professed their undying love for each other.

A few weeks after Chakotay and Seven announced their wedding, Ba'el joined Spock's opening talks with the Remans to the Federation and most of the known humanoid life forms. They were trying to bring a time of unification closer, as Picard allowed for his promotion as Admiral. He was then to be posted at the Briar Patch. His new duty was to be based on his previous work in the Briar Patch, which was a high priority for the Federation for its healing powers on visitors. Riker would take up post as commander of the Enterprise with his lovely wife, Troi, next to him once they reached the Briar Patch.

Picard arrived on the Enterprise and beamed down to the welcoming arms of Adije. He had just left his beloved Adije with Allisa to make the final preparations for the party, when he found Renee, Shinzon. They spent several hours catching up. After lunch, Picard left Renee, Shinzon, to go to his new house by himself. Picard gazed at the grapevines that had been sent to his new home from his home on Earth that were now flourishing. He knew Riker and Deanna would be showing up at the planet soon. They would also be bringing a few officers who needed healing from the planet rings. Picard inspected his new sizable home and thought of the past.

Picard heard someone singing from behind him at the veranda and he froze. "Never saw the sun shining so bright, Never saw things going so right, Noticing the days, Hurrying by-when you're in love, My how they fly!" A second voice chimed in then a third then a fourth, "Blue skies smiling at me, Nothing but blue skies do I see. Bluebirds singing a song, Nothing but bluebirds all day long."

Picard turned to see William Riker Troi and Deanna Troi walking hand in hand toward him. When they got close enough they pointed toward the house. Deanna spoke up, "We were given a present from Spock just last week."

Picard smiled and turned to see what they pointed at. It was Data and B4 walking up to him. Picard ran to Data and gave him a bear hug. "Your alive!" There were tears of joy flowing from Picard's eyes. A constant pain in his heart was healed. When the Borg took Data years ago, he did not give up on finding him. When Data was wounded on the Briar Patch, Picard stopped an enemy from killing him out right because Data was defective. Picard was told Data had hostages and was destroying things.

Picard had said he would try to capture Data to fix him, but if he failed then he would kill Data himself. Picard thought that if Data had to be destroyed it would be better coming from a friend. He managed with the help of Worf, to attach their shuttlecraft to Data's. They were plummeting to the ground at high speeds and Worf said they would have to detach in order to live. Picard then said to the risk of his and Worf's life, "I'm not letting go of him." They barely managed to turn the craft upward then capture Data and restore him.

Now, here once again in the Briar Patch, Data smiled knowing his emotion chip was not activated. Picard pulled back to look his old friend in the face and seen tears in Data's eyes as well. "Data it seams your emotion chip is working over time." Picard thumped Data on the shoulder and shook his head still not fully comprehending how this was all possible and hoping it was not a dream.

B-4 took a step closer and patted Data and Picard on the back, "And I am alive as well." Everyone started laughing. Deanna wiped a few joyful tears out of her own eyes. Will put his arm around her waist and gave her a squeeze.

Data smiled even more and looked at Picard, "I have not activated my emotion chip since before the altercation with Shinzon. You see. I have been evolving over the years even when I was back in Star Fleet Academy. I offered to go to the Scimitar in your place to try and stop Shinzon, and you would not allow me. If you remember, Deanna took my arm and told me to let you go."

Data looked directly into Picard's eyes. "I could not leave it at that. You have never let me go, so I could not let you go. I left the Enterprise for the Scimitar knowing I would not return. I felt…I felt joy knowing I could save you, the Enterprise and Earth using my life."

They were speechless as they watched the android that was brought back to life it seamed. Data kept looking at Picard, "When I entered the Scimitar, I found you with Shinzon. There was a rail that had stuck through Shinzon and it was pressing against your chest. You were holding it up only an inch away from your skin and the weight of Shinzon was causing your hands to shake. He was trying to strangle you, but you could not let go of the rail to stop him. I heard Shinzon say he was glad you both were together and your destinies complete. He wanted you both to die from his own creation of hate, but I knew my life in an act of compassion could bring you life. I transported you away. Then I said good bye to you, thinking my life would then end with meaning."

Picard found his voice and his eyes slightly glassed over as he remembered, "You were like a dream…a wish to life. Then you transported me away with the ETU, there was so much I could not say. There was no time."

Data looked off into the distance over the garden, "After I fired on the thalaron matrix, I opened all of my memories over the years of my friends. I did so to have the experience humans have spoke of seeing their lives flash before their eyes just before death. I watched the fire engulf my body and had the sensation of incinerating. Then I opened my eyes, to see I was just transported aboard a Romulan War Bird. I was restrained in a force field as I made repairs to myself. The ship then left keeping it a secret to Donatra that they had me. All threw the time I was a captive, I was happy knowing all of you were alive. The Romulans did not understand my smiling and singing nor did they like it. They took me because they thought I would be useful helping them with an alien artifact's codes.

Deanna and Will watched the two talking as they stood under a tree that had intricate wind chimes that looked like water. Deanna's eyes overflowed with tears when they stopped talking. Both of them could see the emotions in their eyes emanating, all that there was no time to speak of before on the Scimitar.

Feelings of happiness washed over them all except for B-4 who at this point was playing with a birdbath. He was looking at a hologram of a little yellow bird that was drinking. "Little birdie." He tried to pet it and was unsuccessful. "Why can I not touch the little birdie?"

Data looked at B-4 like a parent would to a child, "Because it is a hologram and has no mass."

B-4 looked at the yellow bird again, "Why would they want a fake bird?"

Data looked at Deanna then back to B-4, "I will tell you later."

B-4 kept trying to touch the little yellow bird, "Little birdie…pretty birdie…"

Data then looked at Picard bringing refreshments. "He keeps asking me why and asking redundant kinds of questions about how things function. I try to remind myself that he is just becoming aware of his surroundings. It is hard not to feel slightly annoyed at times."

Picard smiled trying not to and looked at Riker who looked at Deanna. They answered in unison, "Really." Deanna put her hand over her mouth and tried to hide her laugh. Riker let out a loud laugh and slapped Data on the back. Picard chuckled then looked at B-4 remembering how exhausting Data was when they first met. He remembered, as did Riker and Deanna after years Picard had finally told him to shut up while at Deanna and Riker's wedding causing the guests to erupt in laughter.

Deanna, Will, Picard and Data walked to the veranda and sat down at a lovely table with a perfect view of the garden. B-4 continued to explore. Data explained in detail to Picard how a Romulan ship had taken him and remained trapped with them until a week ago when he spoke to Ba'el and Spock. The Romulans had apparently opened talks and decided in the name of cooperation to fix certain wrongs with the Federation and the Remans.

Data told how some of the leaders mentioned as much to Donatra then told her they had Data. Data recounted seeing the young and attractive Romulan woman, Donatra, storm into the vicinity demanding his immediate release. One of the guards grabbed her arm and she punched him out in the floor. "She had the Romulan in charge of the project and a few others who helped him imprisoned. She was apparently angry with them for taking me and not helping them fight Shinzon. She took me to Spock and Ba'el."

"I told them not to inform Star Fleet till I arrived here, because I wanted to see the shock on everyone's faces when they discovered I am alive. Deanna almost fell and Riker thought I was Lore." They continued to smile. "Now that I have successfully surprised you, B-4 has agreed to stay aboard the Enterprise during the wedding. I am going in his place then at the reception after all the activities, I will have him beam down and we will go back to the reception together. I can not wait to see Geordi's face." Over the next few hours Data spoke to Picard of what he found and DNA codes he deciphered but hid from the Romulans.

Picard then told Data that they had found Shinzon in the transporter and healed him as best they could. Data had a look of anger till Picard explained he was now called Renee and taking the place of his nephew. Picard told them how much Shinzon had changed and was becoming human as well. Data listened quietly as Picard told of an assassination plot on Shinzon. And how at the end Q showed up. The group determined after the wedding they would meet aboard the Enterprise and use the computers to see if they could find out what the codes on the artifact was for.

Four young boys came running into the yard. One of them who Picard remembered was Data's playing friend. He was a little boy who had tried to teach Data to play and have fun each day back when they were evacuating Adije's town to the mountain caves. "Hi Data, want to play before the wedding?"

Data smiled, "I would enjoy that very much. Could my brother B-4 join us?"

The little boy smiled, "Sure, we are going to the lake. I wanted to show you the new water slides we made."

Data turned to the group at the table; "I have to go play. I will see you all at the wedding." He turned and walked over to B-4 and the kids followed.

Data took B-4 by the arm lightly, "B-4 we have been invited to the lake. It is time to go play."

B-4 looked puzzled, "Why?"

Data looked at the kids who stopped at the road, "Because I have been invited to a recreational activity and I have asked them if you could go as well."

B-4 looked at the kids, "Why?"

At this point Riker and Deanna were snickering. Picard on the other hand raised both his eyebrows.

Data started to look concerned, "Because I want you to see how to play with others and interact. "

B-4 looked at the kids who were laughing at him and Data's conversation. "But why?"

Data had a vague look of annoyance then smiled and looked back to Picard, "B-4?"

B-4 looked at Data and answered slowly as he always did, "Yes?"

Data smiled again, "Shut up. We are going to go play."

Picard smiled at the two androids off running with the children, "I believe he got that phrase from me." They sat laughing looking at the group depart and were thankful their friend was alive.

That night Admiral Janeway married Seven and Chakotay at the Briar Patch. Allisa had a banquet prepared in advance and after the joyful wedding they relaxed and had fun. Almost all the members of the Enterprise, Voyager and Titan were there along with members of the Federation who Picard had been in contact with over the years. Picard stood at the front of a table with Beverly, Odan, Adije, and Wesley. He seen Allisa and Renee (Shinzon, who had medically altered his scalp to grow hair which with his human qualities caused a splendid illusion of Renee) at another massive Federation table with Guinan, Seven, Chakotay, Admiral Janeway and Tuvok. Also at that table was Thomas Paris who was married to B'Elanna Torres (a half human half Klingon female), Harry, Kim, Kes, and Neelix. At still another table was Benjamin and Jake Sisko, Kira Nerys, the new Dax, Bashir, O'Bryan, a newly returned Odo who watched Quark to make sure he did not get into any trouble.

Closer to Picard was the table that Riker, Troi, Data (pretending to be B-4), Worf, Ro Laren, Montgomery Scott, Spock, Ba'el, Lwaxana and her new husband was at. Vash (who Picard was sure was only eyeing his medallion), Madden, Polaski, Thadiun Okona, the Traveler, Paulera, Sergio, Damerin, Sealt, Commander Geordi and his new girlfriend (a recent widow) Dr. Leah Brahms who was the new director of the Daystrom Institute were at a 'U' shaped table. The list went on. Donatra also had the reception on her main view screen watching per Data and Seven's request. Kunak and Vernaka also watched from their cloaked ship.

Picard raised his glass, as did they all, "To new beginnings, friends who life would be unbearable without. As my brother Robert always said, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Federation moves forward in unions like this one, into the future. To freedom, life and new worlds!" Over ten thousand faces smiled on the planet and through communications lines over the Federation and the new Unification Union and spoke back the words in unison, "New Worlds."

Seven and Chakotay stood and kissed with a passion of heat the entire crowd could feel. The people on the planet and the others on communications cheered. Seven then looked next to Picard, "I would like a lost friend to join us once more…" B-4 turned and Data stepped out from behind him and smiled at the crowd who only cheered all the more.

Picard was hiding a feeling of uncertainty to come at the meeting after dinner. Once they all beamed up to the Enterprise they began the discussion. Picard remembered a few words of Shinzon, "No race should be slaves to another or live in a state of constant terror." They were all aware of the way the Romulans treated the Remans. There was another race besides the Dominion who were changelings and they had started with their plan at killing Shinzon. The new changelings were infiltrating cities on hundreds of planets and blowing up important buildings or killing an important person. So far they had only made one attack per planet. A lot of the different planets and races were suspicious that there were no changelings, but their normal rivals were taking advantage of the situation.

Picard spoke to his close friends about plans of defense and remembered words he had heard himself speak before in the face of another evil that also wanted all humanoid life terminated. Picard started the meeting with those, "And like a thousand other commanders on a thousand other battlefields throughout history, I wait for the Dawn."

At that moment an ensign ran into the Ready Room, "There was an explosion down on the planet! A Romulan and a Reman ship just decloaked off the port side!"

Not to worry this is not the end…

To be continued in my next fiction, 'Full Stop.'

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