Hey! If you like this story, R/R or I'm gonna stop posting it!
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Chapter 3
The next afternoon, Picard was getting ready for a pleasant re-treat in the holodeck. He had just gotten off duty and had brought with him a nice bottle of Scotch. As he made his way down the corridor, he unbuttoned his collar and cuffs. He sighed and re-adjusted the bottle in his arm. He needed to relax and forget the events of the past week. His thoughts were cut short when he reached the holodeck.
"Computer, run a Dixon Hill mystery. But no people this time. I want to relax."
"I'm sorry," the computer responded. "The holodeck is already in use."
"It is?" He pressed a few buttons and the holodeck screen displayed the program that was running, but it didn't tell him who was in the holodeck. "Hang it all!" He walked over to the doors and they opened. He stepped inside and found himself in a meadow of flowers with a beach over the hill.
"Computer, table #211." A simple brown table appeared and he set his Scotch and glass down on it. He scanned the beautiful setting for a black federation suit, but there wasn't one. In fact, he couldn't see anyone. "Hello? Is there anyone in here?"
Right at the bottom of the grassy knoll, Admiral Hayes sat up from lying in the flowers. She smiled. "Hello, Captain." She stood up and brought with her a basket of flowers.
Picard noted that her old-fashioned paisley dress and sunbonnet, together with her hair in a messy French braid, made her look quite fetching.
"What is this place?" he asked as he looked around.
Hayes reached him and set her basket down. "Prince Edward Island."
Picard looked beyond the hill and saw the ocean. "It's beautiful."
Hayes stood beside him and took in all of the view. "I go here to get away from it all. It helps me forget everything."
Picard grinned. "My idea of 'getting away from it all' involves Dixon Hill mysteries." They both smiled then stood there in silence for a minute or two. Picard cleared his throat. "Data sacrificed himself to save me. It was the noblest death that an officer could ask for. You should be proud of him. He saved us all."
Hayes smiled. "Thank you, Captain." She patted his shoulder. "Now, you go solve a mystery or two. Computer, end program." Her uniform came back and the room was empty and dark again. "Good-bye, Captain."
After she left, Picard picked up his Scotch and poured himself a glass. He took a swig and poured the rest back into the bottle.
"Computer, Prince Edward Island."
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Hayes made her way down to Engineering after her walk through the holodeck. She felt refreshed and happier than she had felt in days. Geordi was working on something nearby the warp core, so she walked to him.
"Hello, Commander."
Geordi turned to see Hayes standing next to him. "Hello, Admiral. What are you doing here?"
Hayes grinned. "Shouldn't you be on the bridge?"
Geordi looked scared. "Well, yes, but, um…" He realized from her grin that she was just teasing him. "It's nice to see you, Admiral."
Hayes walked over to the Engineering control panel. Geordi sensed that she needed some comfort.
"Data used to work here. He was a better engineer than I was."
Hayes smiled. "When I first met Data, he was helping my crew fix something in Engineering. I didn't know who he was and I got a little angry with him for being there. He explained the situation, so I let him do his work, but I stayed over his shoulder the whole time, asking him silly questions about the buttons and what he was fixing." She ran her fingers over the panel. "Never did understand all of these buttons and gadgets."
Geordi looked puzzled. "How can someone command a starship and not know how it works? You can't pass the ranks without knowing advanced knowledge of electronics."
"Actually, Commander, I was ship's counselor before I became a Captain. My knowledge of electronics is limited to what I learned at the Academy. And as for my passing the ranks without advanced knowledge of electronics, that's a long story." Geordi smiled. "Data intended to teach me everything about Engineering, but he never got around to it." Her eyes became so sad that Geordi had to say something.
"I could do it for him, if you want."
Hayes smiled at him. "I'd like that, Commander."
"Please, call me Geordi."
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Geordi stood next to Hayes in the holodeck. "Okay, Admiral. It's time for a test." He pressed a few buttons and started the holodeck program. A simulated Engineering deck appeared. "The warp core is overloading. What do you do?"
Hayes thought for a second then pressed a few buttons. "There!" She smiled to herself until smoke started coming from one of the walls. "Oh no! I broke it!" She hurriedly pressed more buttons and the smoke stopped.
Geordi smiled. "I'm impressed, Admiral. Even I wouldn't have been able to react that fast. You were married to an Android alright."
Hayes tried to smile, but she suddenly felt sad again. "Thank you for the lessons, Geordi."
"Any time, Admiral."
Hayes ran her fingers over the control board edge. "I'll be in Ten-Forward if you want me."
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Hayes found Picard on her way to Ten-Forward.
"Admiral," he said as he stopped her. "I was hoping that I would find you. I'm afraid I have some bad news." They walked to his ready-room to discuss it.
"What's the problem, Captain? Is there anything wrong with the ship?"
"No, actually, this concerns you."
Hayes looked surprised. "Me?"
"Yes, it seems that one of your crew members accidentally let it slip about Commander Data and the Council is trying you for lying about your marriage. They want you to report to them in two days."
"I see." She sank back into her chair and blew her bangs off of her face. "My ship is already back on Earth. It would take them two days to get here and two days to go back. I'll be late by then."
Picard put his hands on his desk. "If you will permit me to make a suggestion, I think I have a solution for this problem."
Hayes stopped biting her nail. "What is it?"
"Do you remember Captain Riker from the Baku meeting?"
"Yes, but I thought that he was a Commander."
"A week or so before the incident with Data, he married Counselor Troi and was promoted to Captain."
Hayes got a little impatient. "So?"
"I received a message from Riker twenty minutes ago and he told me that Troi is pregnant with their first child. The Titan has set a course for our position and they have invited the crew to beam onboard to celebrate. I know that some of the crew will resent me for saying this, but I have decided that I will beam onboard for the party and everyone else, including this ship, will be at your disposal." He straightened his jacket. "Now, how does that sound?"
Hayes smiled. "I think we have a deal, Captain."