TITLE: Infinite Diversity

CATEGORY: Romance, AU, Drama, Hurt/Comfort

PAIRING: Original characters

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the Star Trek characters, nor do I own the characters that appear in the Captain's Table interludes. I also don't own the Captain's Table concept — merely borrowed it as a stage for this little tale.

SUMMARY: In a parallel universe, what might have happened during and after first contact between humans and Vulcans?

1 — The Captain's Table I

Personal Log, Stardate 56856.6. It has been several weeks since the failed attack planned by Shinzon and the Remans. The people of Romulus remain keen to pursue normal relations with the Federation and, to that end, I have ordered Captain Riker to travel to Romulus to begin negotiations with the new Senate. In the meantime, I have the difficult job of cheering up an old friend.

Admiral Kathryn Janeway sipped at her tea with a sigh. For six months after the return of her ship, the USS Voyager, from seven years in the Delta Quadrant, she'd drunk enough coffee — real coffee — to sink a Borg Cube. She'd actually sickened herself on the stuff, and had switched to tea.

Her companion, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, commanding officer of the USS Enterprise, looked up from his own tea. "I still miss him, Kathryn," he said.

Janeway had lost crew herself during her long Starfleet career and sympathized fully with the Captain. Lieutenant Commander Data, Starfleet's only android officer, had sacrificed himself to prevent the Scimitar's thalaron weapon being engaged. "He was a good man," she said.

Picard smiled wryly. "Whether he was good or not isn't the issue," he said. "He was a man, and one of my greatest friends."

Janeway pushed away her tea and looked out at the vista. Although every element on the vacation planet was controlled by computer, it had a beauty that could make grown men weep. "Come, Jean-Luc," she said, getting up. "I think we should go somewhere and toast Data's memory properly." He didn't move. "I could make that an order, Captain," she said mock threateningly.

"I'm at your mercy, Admiral," he replied lightly. "Far be it for me to disobey a direct order."

Janeway raised an eyebrow, recalling some of Picard's confrontations with the Admiralty. They'd become the stuff of legend amongst the lower ranks, and she was not so far away from her own days as a Captain that she couldn't sympathize. "If you say so," she said.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

They walked along the wharf in silence, Picard no doubt preoccupied with the events of several weeks previously. The Enterprise was still in spacedock, undergoing extensive repairs under the supervision of Commander La Forge and the new First Officer, Commander Madsen.

Janeway had met Geordi La Forge shortly after his promotion to Chief Engineer and again two weeks ago, and had been dismayed by the difference in him. He was usually a sunny-hearted and engaging fellow, with a ready smile. Now, although the entire command crew had been hit hard by Data's … death, he had felt it the most. He'd reached out to Data during their first days on the Enterprise, and helped him in his quest to become more human.

Picard stopped and stared at a small tavern with a sign in Risian. It translated in Standard to The Captain's Table. "I've been here before," he said. "But it wasn't on Risa."

Janeway smiled, remembering her own visit to the Captain's Table on a no-name planet in the Delta Quadrant. "I would imagine every captain in history has made his way here, Jean-Luc," she said. "And Captain Riker will soon join the ranks."

She pushed open the door, feeling that strange tingling sensation that had accompanied her previous entrance into this pub. "Shut the door!" a female Klingon snarled, disentangling her hand from that of a human's — a dark-haired male about Janeway's own age. Startlingly handsome and dressed in an old-style Starfleet uniform, he looked familiar to Janeway, but she couldn't place him.

"I'm shutting it, Hompaq," Picard declared with a small smile — they'd evidently met before.

He barked out something in Klingon and Hompaq grinned savagely at him. "I like humans," she said, slapping the male soundly on the shoulder. "You have a lot of energy for such a frail species."

Her companion's cheeks pinkened. "Well," he said, clearing his throat, "I'd better get going." He looked toward the door. "2266 awaits me, doesn't it?"

Hompaq tilted her head. "Yes," she said. "CHEGH-chew jaj-VAM jaj-KAK."

"Uhm … thanks," said the man. "I think." He walked toward the door, nodding to Janeway and Picard. "Captains," he said, then opened the door and left.

"Captain Janeway! And Picard! It's been a long time!"

The big voice belonged to Cap, the owner/bar-tender, and Janeway turned to him. "Hello, Cap," she said. "Two Saurian brandies, please."

"Coming right up."

As Cap poured the drinks, the door opened once more, and an elderly female walked in. Although dressed in Vulcan fashion, she seemed human. The woman breathed in deeply. "This brings back memories, T'Pol," she said.

Who was T'Pol? Janeway looked around, but could see no-one accompanying the new arrival. The woman looked around also. "T'Pol?" she inquired quietly.

Janeway took the drinks over to where Picard was sitting, then headed over to the woman. "Live long and prosper," she said, raising her hand in the Vulcan salute. "And welcome to The Captain's Table."

"Peace and long life," the woman said, raising her own hand. A ruby ear-ring glinted in her right ear. "My companion has gone missing."

"She's quite safe," Cap boomed out. "Only captains are given admission to this tavern."

The woman tilted her eyebrows, but did not react beyond that. In spite of the initial outburst and her human appearance, she'd evidently absorbed a great deal of the Vulcan discipline. "I see," she said evenly. "I would like … an Altair water, please," she said.

"The price of a drink is a story," Hompaq called out. "But I doubt Vulcans have enough passion to tell a good story."

"Your attempt to goad me will not work," the mysterious woman replied. The eyebrows went up again. "You are … Klingon," she added.

Hompaq bared her teeth. "I am," she said. "You're human!" she exclaimed. "Why do you wear the garb of the passionless Vulcans?"

"That's a long story," the woman said with a small smile of mischief.

This is my first Star Trek fic, so if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything. Thank you!