Data sat in the empty Crew Lounge.

As always, the android's placid, neutral expression still somehow manages to convey his wonder, curiosity and idiosyncratic zest for life.

Picard arrived with a very old bottle of wine.

"I've been saving this. Chateau Picard 2267. Batten down the hatches..." he said and carefully uncorked the treasured bottle. "They say a vintner's history is in every glass. The soil he came from. His past as well as his hopes for the future."

He poured two glasses of the wine, then raised his glass, a toast.

"So... To happy endings."

"To happy endings." Data said.

Picard carefully took a tiny sip, savored the flavor and finally swallowed enjoying it.

Data mimicked Picard. Taking a tiny sip, and savoring the flavor and finally swallowing.

"Sir. I noticed an interesting confluence of emotion at the wedding. I am familiar with the human concept of tears through laughter and its inverse, laughter through tears, but I could not help wondering about the human capacity for expressing both pleasure and sadness simultaneously." he said.

"I understand why it would seem confusing. Certain human rituals like weddings, birthdays or funerals evoke strong and very complex emotions. These rites carry great weight with us because they denote the passage of time."

"And you were particularly aware of this feeling because Commander Riker will be leaving to assume command of the Titan?"

"Will and Deanna joining the Titan. Dr. Crusher going to Starfleet Medical..."

"And this makes you sad?"

"Well. I suppose it does a bit. I'm very happy for them, of course, but I'm going to miss them. The ship will seem... incomplete without them."

"That is because you have a familiarity with them. You can predict specific reactions and behavior and are comfortable in that knowledge."

"Yes. And, frankly, I envy them as well. They've made important choices; they're going to have great challenges ahead of them. New worlds to conquer..."

Then Data took another sip of wine.

"Seeing Will and Deanna today made me think about some of the choices I've made in my own life. Devoting myself to Starfleet... Not marrying or having children... All the choices that led me here."

Data thought about it.

"The choices I made have led me here as well. This is the only home I have ever known. I cannot foresee a reason for leaving." he said.

"You never know what's over the horizon, Data. Before too long you'll be offered a command of your own." Data looked at him; he had never really considered this.

"If I were... I believe my memory engrams would sense the absence of your specific reactions and behavior. I would, miss you."

Picard smiled.

"Now, you make a toast."

"To new worlds..."

"New worlds. Yes Data, brave new worlds..."

Then they drank.

In Romulan senate corridor was flickering braziers dimly illuminate the cold, martial splendor of a Senate corridor.

Commander Donatra and commoner Suran stride through the corridor.

Suran is an elder Romulan officer, respected and tenacious and Donatra is a mature, beautiful woman.

"The fleet commanders are nervous. They've agreed to remain at their given coordinates and await his orders. But they're anxious to know what's going on here." Suran said.

"I don't blame them. We can't keep them in the dark forever." Donatra said.

A voice, from the shadows:

"But in darkness, there is strength." Vi

Donatra and Suran stopped and the Viceroy stepped from the shadows.

He was a terrifying sight. A powerful, monstrous alien creature; a tall, ashen-skinned ectomorph who bears a disturbing resemblance to the original Nosferatu. He is vampiric and lethal. He is a Reman.

"Don't you agree?

Then he lead them along the corridor.

In the senate chamber Romulan crest, an imposing bird-of-prey was clutching a planet in either claw, not unlike the KAOS emblem from "Get Smart," that dominates a wall. As we hear:

"Consider it The great symbol of the Empire... But the bird-of-prey holds planets. Romulus, Remus. Their destinies conjoined..." Shinzon said coming into sight.

He's a dynamic young human in his twenties. Very handsome with pale, almost white skin and shining, golden hair. He wears a striking Reman military uniform.

He stands in the center of the eerily deserted chamber. The entire floor is a large star chart.

"Yet for generations one of those planets has been without a voice. We will be silent no longer."

Senator Tal'Aura and two other Romulan commanders sat down.

Cadres of Shinzon's fearsome Reman warriors stand around the chamber. They are his sinister children of the night. Even more chilling now in the flickering torch light. It's like something out of Tim Burton.

Donatra and Suran enter the chamber with Shinzon's Viceroy.

"Join us, Commanders. Now what's the disposition of the fleet?"

"They're holding position." Suran said.

"And?"

"They will obey, Praetor." he said bowing down.

"It's imperative we retain their allegiance or our great mission will be strangled before it can truly draw breath. They support your intentions, sir. But they require evidence of your... sincerity." Donatra said.

Shinzon looked at her and decided to respond with benevolence. He smiles.

"And they'll have it." he said and began to pace over the star chart. "Tell the fleet that the days of negotiation and diplomacy are over. The Almighty Federation will fall before us. As I promised you."

Then he stood on the area of the map that denotes the Neutral Zone between the Romulan Empire and the Federation.

"The time we have dreamed of is at hand. The time... of conquest." he said and started to laugh.

He carefully stepped into the area of the map marked with the Federation symbol and looked down at the star chart.

"Cut off the dragon's head and it cannot strike back.

Donatra watched him carefully. Something in his quiet words disturbed her.

"How many Warbirds will you need?" Suran asked.

"None."

They look at him, stunned.

"Praetor. You have the whole fleet at your disposal. They supported the coup, they'll follow you." Suran said.

"The Scimitar will serve my needs."

"But surely -"

"I came this far alone..." then Shinzon looked at his Reman warriors. "We came this far alone. We require no assistance from the fleet. Now leave me to my thoughts."

The Commanders and Senator Tal'Aura rose and left. Shinzon looked to his Viceroy.

"Are we prepared?" he asked.

"Yes, Praetor." she said.

"So many years for this moment." then he looked up at Viceroy and smiled. "Bring him to me."