Chapter Six

...and you have wiped clean a very old stain of blood. The parting words from Antharwa, the leader of the colonists, rang through Jean Luc's mind as he walked the halls to his quarters. He had helped the people of Dorvan V leave the federation, and join Cardiaissian space. Jean Luc himself knew just how dangerous it could be to find oneself in Cardassian territory without the support of the federation to keep the law intact. It was nearly a year since he had been tortured at the hands of Gul Madred, but he couldn't help but feel uneasy about the arrangement.

Anthwara believed that Jean Luc carried a legacy of evil because of what his French ancestors had done to Native Americans nearly a thousand years ago. The whole matter had Jean Luc thinking about legacy- and what one leaves behind.

Picard had done his best - especially while in the captain's chair- to leave peace and hope in his wake whenever it were possible. He carried heavily any death of his crew, or deaths caused by his actions (or the actions of Locutus his mind added grimly).

But what would he leave behind? An old vineyard in France? A tactical maneuver named after him? Perhaps a peace treaty or two? The truth was, Jean Luc had thought for a long time now that Wesley was his legacy- as much as he could lay claim to the boy's upbringing and achievements.

So with the unease of leaving Dorvan V behind tomorrow morning, Jean Luc was even more anxious at leaving Wesley behind on the planet as well.

The traveller had come to Wesley after all this time. Apparently he is ready to begin a journey that could only be described as going to "alternate planes of existence". On one hand, he was so proud that Jack and Beverly's son had evolved beyond the normal human existence. Selfishly, on the other hand, Jean Luc did not want to see him go.

...a soft tingle emerged from the back of Jean Luc's neck as he exited the turbo lift on the deck near his quarters. Beverly. She must have let herself in to his quarters. He could only hope he could find the right things to say to her. He could not bear to add to the pain that this must be causing.

"What does that even mean, to pull yourself out of time?"

Beverley was pacing through Jean Luc's living room. She had heard her son explaining all the things happening to him, and his plans for his training with the traveller. But it didn't mean that she had to like any of it. She had come to Jean Luc's quarters to talk with him about it, but instead she was pacing, shouting and crying.

Guess I'm not as 'okay' with this as I thought I was.

Wesley had told her that when firefight had begun on the planet, that he had frozen the scene with his mind and spoken with the traveller. "I think I'm a pretty open minded person Jean Luc, but what am I supposed to say? 'Oh yes I remember the first time I froze time'", Beverly continued, wiping away a tear. "I just don't know what I am going to do? How can I possibly say goodbye to him tomorrow!?"

Jean Luc continued to sit and listen. He could tell she didn't really need an answer to any of the questions she was asking. It was almost impossible to wrap your head around the whole thing- her frustration was certainly warranted.

Jean Luc got up and handed Beverly a glass of water. He touched her shoulder and that seemed to calm her a little. Ah well, in for a penny, though Jean Luc as he pulled her into a hug.

He closed his eyes as she sniffled...and then opened them quickly again as his mind processed what was happening around him...or, more specifically, what was no longer happening around them.

The noise of the ship's engine had vanished -and the stars outside of the view port were no longer moving by as they should be. The ship should still be in orbit above Dorvan V but it was as though the Enterprise was frozen in space.

Jean Luc tapped his communicator- no result. He looked over to Beverly- she was frozen in place as if he were still holding her.

"Wesley?" Jean Luc called out tentatively.

"I'm here sir," came the reply. "I needed to speak with you before I leave tomorrow."

"Are you...causing this?" He gestured to the stars out the viewpoint.

"Yes. I hope you don't mind. I just wanted to make sure you understand what I am doing, sir."

"Wesley, I believe when you pull a man out if time, you are not longer obligated to address him as sir." Picard smiled softly. The explorer's heart within him marvelled at the experience.

"That's harder to do than you would think, si-" Wesley caught himself. "I just wanted to show you. To help you see what I can become, so you can help Mom"

Picard looked back at Beverly. Because of the alternate plane he was on right now, he couldn't feel Beverly's presence, but he did have the privilege to examine her with her knowing. She had the beautiful and terrifying Howard temper written all over her face right now. Her gentle dancer's body was held tight in her anger. Jean Luc longed to reach out and ease her pain.

"Captain, I know you care about her. You can help her while I'm gone- right?"

Picard's eyes warmed as he turned back to Wesley, "you have my word Wesley that I will look after your mother all the days of my life." Realizing himself, and what he may be revealing to the young man, Jean Luc added, "Your family has always been very important to me Wesley, I will keep the promise to help her- as long as you also make the promise to remember that this ship, this time… that your home will always be right here."

Wesley smiled, " I knew you would understand, sir...uh, I mean...thank you."

"Thank you for taking the time to help me understand. I cannot imagine what you will be doing in your training, but know that your mother and I are so happy that you have found your way...we love you." The words felt a little foreign in Jean Luc's mouth to say out loud- it had been a very long time since he had told anyone that he loved them- but he figured, if Wesley can stop time to have this conversation, the least Jean Luc could do was be honest.

"...she loves you too sir, she's just not ready to believe it yet."

As Wesley turned and walked back through the closed doors, the engine noise resumed and Jean Luc was back holding Beverly in his arms.