Captains Log, supplemental.
It's been officially about a year since my crew of the USS Enterprise-D crash landed on this planet. It's been much more than a year since the crew of the Midnight Shadow crash landed on this planet.
So much has happened this year here, mostly good, to my surprise.
We were able to rebuild the small ghost town the Q found into a metropolis of life. The buildings have been rebuilt and beautified, and we've even been able to make new homes for crews and their families to comfortably live in until our rescue.
Farms and shops have been opened, plentiful and able to feed the many who live here. Quintessa led the charge on that concept, and even aided me in constructing a vineyard outside of town, by the cliff the Captain Dux Solis and I go to to clear our minds. I've even begun constructing a nice home near the vineyards for myself and my romantic companion- Q.
It's such a strange thing to say, Q, my romantic companion. My love, mon amour.
We've been pretty public now about our relationship status anymore. There's been a lot of hesitation with my crew, due to Q's chaotic nature. Many are still distrustful of him, which I can't blame them for. But I've seen no sign of my crew not trusting me because of my relationship. Well, Dr. Beverly Crusher maybe.
In other news, Lt. Geordi Laforg and Lt. Data are engaged. Huh, I'm still trying to process it. I remember being invited to the party in which the two announced their betrothal. They had talked about wanting to be with each other, no matter what, something that has stuck with me since.
Many here think we're never getting off this planet, due to our distress beacons not getting through the atmosphere. I and others think there's something blocking the signals, like a reversed beacon or something else. Whatever it is, I feel we'll find out sooner or later.
With the town thriving, my commanders, the Q, and the Thaleen commanders came together to create a council for the town. Our first meeting consisted of us creating a name for our town, one that reflected it well. Names like 'Las Enterprise' or 'Moonlight Enterprise', 'Enterprise Shadow' have been thrown around, but we ended up settling on a name that fit very well.
Joy's Beacon.
Until next time,
Captain- actually I'm not sure of that label actually anymore, Jean-Luc Picard, signing out.
The sun was starting to set in the distance, outlining the mountains around Joy's Beacon with a halo of yellow white light. The skies were being painted with a vibrant rainbow paintbrush, streaking the skies with polychromatic bands. The puffy white clouds of the day began to darken and turn to small blots of color, reflecting the changing sky.
In the distance, one could see a few Thaleen flying about, enjoying the cool air and breeze the night was bringing. They would zip around with their large, gleaming wings, the strange and beautifully lit airspace making them look as if they were shooting stars.
Up upon the cliff overlooking the bustling town was Picard and Dux, watching the Thaleen above and the people below. The town was starting to light up, thanks to the engineering teams of both crews making hydropower machines by the river to power the city.
The town was lit up by small lanterns and string lights, especially illuminating the town square where many came to congregate. The town center was full of chatter, live music, and dance, a wonderful mix of all cultures.
From above, the sounds of the city were quiet, muffled by the mountain breeze. A serene scene stretched out for miles beyond the two captains, wrapping them in comfort and peace.
Dux sat down on their haunches, letting their grown out mane flow behind them in the breeze. They wore a green uniform, lined with black and gold fabrics and tinsels. On their breast sat a small bronze badge shaped like a hoof, something made for the Thaleen crew. It matched the communicators and universal translators that the Enterprise crew still wore, which had thankfully been still working even with the crash.
Over the last year the Thaleen had helped code the translators to fit their language, one of low chortles and clicks. Their telepathic abilities helped in that, but the increased use of their abilities since their crash were wearing them out, so the universal translators were a big help.
Picard stood next to Dux, wearing a tunic fashioned from the red fabrics of the uniform he used to wear. The neckline was a dark, inky black, and he still wore his pips with pride.
The two stayed there in silence as they watched the sunset, their eyes alight with the light of the crescent sun.
"I heard there was going to be late night party tonight," Dux said, turning to Picard, their bright green blue eyes flashing, "Amare said she was going to be wearing her finest dress, i'm excited to see it,"
"Of course you are," Picard smiled, shrugging, "You're always excited to see her."
A small blush spread across Dux's face, obstructed by the fine brown and white hairs on their face.
"True that." Dux nodded.
"Are you two going to be official anytime?" Picard asked, sitting down on the dusty red ground, "There has been a lot of speculation by my commanders, especially William and Deanna."
"Maybe," Dux smirked, looking back out at the setting sun, "I want it to be a big announcement, a grand declaration of love." Dux shrugged their shoulders, "It's a Thaleen thing."
"Understood," Picard nodded, "Those types of things are really important for your people, I recall."
"Yes." Dux nodded, "We take all emotions and feelings very seriously,"
"By seriously you mean parties for everything?"
"Yes, much like humans."
"Much like us." Picard agreed, taking in a deep breath of the cool mountain air and sighing it out blissfully.
"So," Dux turned their neck to face Picard again, a silly grin on their elongated equine face, "How are things with Q?"
"Well, I suppose," Picard said, "He's recently helping out Will and Deanna with their twins, he's been infatuated by them."
"I think we all are," Dux giggled like a schoolgirl, "I went to see little Charles and L'xauna yesterday, they are really adorable."
"They are," Picard nodded, "I find it almost humorous that Will keeps calling Charles 'Trip',"
"After the chief engineer from the first Enterprise, I presume?" Dux inquired.
"Yes," Picard chuckled, "I'm surprised you know of him, or the Enterprise NX-01,"
"I got a very long history lesson from Riker," Dux said, rolling their eyes, "I learned a lot from just one discussion, not to mention the other discussion about the crew of the Enterprise NCC-1701."
"It's a good history to know," Picard said, looking up at the rapidly shifting sky, as if he was looking out for the glint of a passing starship above.
"It sure is," Dux smiled, looking up to the sky with Picard.
"But beyond that, Q and I have been apart for a bit, he's been very busy helping build our vineyard house," Picard explained, "I'm hoping to see him tonight, he said he's gotten most of the house done and wants to show it off to me."
Dux looked down and caught sight of a small blush on Picard's cheeks, rosy in the orange-gold twilight glow. He looked very happy, not stressed like he was a year ago. Dux let out a low chortle, wordless, yet a sign of contentment.
"I'm glad we all were able to make a good home here," Dux sighed, looking down upon the golden light of Joy's Beacon, "We were able to make a wonderful beacon of hope, even in our precarious situations."
"A beacon of light in these cruel lands," Picard poetically agreed.
"I've learned so much about myself, my crew, and the universe we inhabit," Dux replied, "I finally let myself love, and I've seen you do the same- all because of this little beacon of joy down there."
"Mmm hmm," Picard hummed softly.
The two stayed there, savoring the scenery stretching out into infinity. Dux gently shifted their wings around, fluffing them. The light rasping of delicate yet strong feathers echoed into the wind like the zephyr rings of a windchime, the notes dancing along the invisible staff made of cool mountain breeze.
"I think the party is going to be starting soon, Jean-Luc" Dux murmured, their voice both relaxed yet playful, coming from the bronzen translator near their strong chocolate and ivory neck. Dux stood back up, swishing their tail around with excitement. They quickly bent down and adjusted the green garment around their neck and shoulders, shifting it back into proper position with their chin and a free hoof.
They turned and looked to Picard, their eyebrows high with anticipation.
"Do you want to fly down?" they asked, spreading their wings out slightly to let the wind fluff them out, "After all, we're pretty beyond the beacon of joy, at the moment." Dux chuckled to them self.
"That would be delightful," Picard grinned, hopping onto Dux's back with the agility and grace of a terran horseback rider. He perched up on Dux's back, adjusting to make himself and the winged alien underneath him comfortable. He leaned forward and grasped Dux's neck, and squeezed his legs gently into Dux's sides, letting them know that the captain was ready.
Picard looked up, beyond Dux's towering dark horns and dusky mane. Felt Dux moved under him, stepping back away from the edge of the cliff. The Thaleen's lungs inhaled and exhaled under Picard, those deep breaths invigorating the equine captain.
Dux stopped moving backwards when they were at a proper distance for lift off, and outstretched their wings from their sides. The dark brown wings glistened in the waning light, angelic as one could be.
Picard outstretched his arm, and pointed off into the boundless horizon.
"Engage."
Dux ran, speeding as if they were at warp. Their hooves collided with the red rock under them, digging into the surface. Their wings flapped hard, propelling them into the open twilight sky. The flapping matched their heartbeat, which thundered under Picard.
Soon there was no more land, only wide open skies that were under their hooves. Their mane and tail flowed from them like water in a river, whipping around like a flag flown with pride. They let out a high whinny, singing into the bright skies with a heart of happiness.
Dux swore that they heard Picard let out a giddy 'woop', but he knew the captain perched upon their back may deny such an occurrence.
Dux angled their wings down, letting their body glide down in the direction of the town. They overlooked Joy's Beacon, watching the people underneath them busy themselves with work and fun, dancing and singing.
Dux flew around in circles above the city, soaking in their gift of flight and the blessing that the town was. Picard looked down, feeling so far away yet so close to the town and the people he loved within it.
Picard felt his pulse quicken, his lungs pausing their laborious task of inhalation. A rush of exhilaration filled him, euphoric sensations coursing through his body.
It reminded him of the first time he went to warp. The speed, the power- it was intoxicating.
He knew he had always been meant to fly.
Dux landed right outside a gorgeous two story wooden house, touching down in front of the large stone porch and wooden door. The sun was almost done setting in the distance, casting an eerily yet comforting orange glow on the completed wooden structure and the orange mountains that cradled the home and vineyards. The vineyards were almost done being constructed, and small vines were beginning to creep up the wooden posts laid to support their growth. The vineyard stretched out far, but not as large as the one's Picard used to tend to.
Picard hopped off of Dux's back, and gave their green cloaked shoulder a light pat. It was a way that he was able to tell Dux thank you, one that mirrored the action Picard used to do when he was riding the ponies on Earth and on the holodeck.
Dux let out a happy clicking noise, and turned to Picard. They bowed their head and placed it against Picard's forehead, which Picard reciprocated. It was much like a hug that close friends share, according to many Thaleen cultures.
Dux trotted away in the direction of the town that was off in the distance, on their way to the party that was being held. Picard turned to the house, walking to the open stone porch.
He looked upon the closed door in front of him, thinking about all the possible metaphors that could come from the door. The closing of his time as captain, but the possible opening of a new door in his life. But what lie behind that now-opening door, Picard didn't know. He wouldn't know until he crossed the metaphorical threshold.
The massive door opened up in front of Picard, giving Picard a sudden answer to the question of what lay ahead, both physically and beyond.
Q.
Before Picard stood Q, opening the door wide to let Picard in. He was smiling like a fool, wearing a nice and clean dark blue robe. His hair was nicely brushed back, and he smelled like warm spices and desert sands. His eyes creased up with a smile as his eyes caught Picard, standing before him in the glow of the fading sunset. Specks of light shimmered in the air, glittering fractals of dusk surrounding the captain.
If magic was real, this moment would have been full of it.
"Bienvenue chez moi mon amour," Q purred, waving Picard into the house. Picard stepped through the threshold, his eyes adjusting from the low light outside to the warmly lit interior. He looked around, finding himself being pleasantly surprised by how well decorated the place was. Handmade tables, sofas, and other furniture were nicely laid out, decorated with woven blankets and rugs, alongside salvaged light fixtures and glassware. Picard even spotted his old tea cup sitting on an end table, looking as good as new.
"Q," Picard sighed, still taking in just the sight of the living room before him, "This is wonderful," He turned to Q, who had scooted closer to the in awe man.
"It sure is," he nodded, smiling down at Picard.
"How did you pull off all of this? We finished building this place last week," Picard asked, curious about how Q was able to make their home feel more like, well, home.
"Well, it's been a long road, getting from there to here, Jean-Luc." Q chuckled, making Picard raise an eyebrow.
"I don't get it."
Q shook his head and laughed, "Don't worry about it, I did a little bartering of my skills and got us all these furnishings," Q raised a finger with an 'ahh'. "You're really going to like how our bedroom looks."
Picard nodded, feeling his cheekbones flush at what Q may be propositioning. But before he was able to respond, he felt Q put his hand on the small of his back, pushing forward into another room of the house.
He found himself standing in a nicely furnished kitchen, lit warmly and smelling like fine spices and tea. There was a stove, oven, and sink, alongside a few cupboards and drawers full of kitchenware. It was a very cozy yet fancy arrangement, luxurious and homey. There was even a jar of tea leaves sitting on one of the countertops, full of fine grey green leaves- ones that looked a lot like earl grey tea.
Picard stood in silence, taking in the place. It was perfect in his mind's eyes, full of all the things he needed to have a comfortable living. He found himself imagining walking into the kitchen in the morning, greeted by the sweet smells of honey and flour. He'd find Q in there, cooking up all sorts of pastries and baked goods, smiling to himself like a domestic husband.
It was a nice, warm thought.
It reminded Picard of home.
"It's wonderful, Q." Picard turned to Q, smiling. He felt a faint burning in the corners of his eyes, the sign that all his emotions were going to spill over any second.
Q noticed the change in composure of Picard, and in response he wrapped his arms around Picard's slim waist. He stood behind Picard, nuzzling the top of his head, holding the man in a warm embrace that matched the energy the home held. He felt Picard lean into him, sighing with contentment. He placed a kiss on Picard's cheek, savoring the magical moment.
The sun was almost done setting outside, which cast dark reds, oranges, and pinks though the large glass windows of the house and onto the walls and other surfaces. The surroundings around Picard and Q looked as if they had been painted by a master painter, carefully crafted and colored.
Q looked down at the man in his arms, breathing softly in the arms of his lover. He was a model of serenity, of command and grace.
Mon dieu, il est beau.
(scene cut for M rating- can read the full scene on Archive Of Our Own)
"That was wonderful, Jean-Luc," Q slurred, his mind foggy and intoxicated with after-sex feelings. Picard rolled over, achily, to face him. He had a soft and tired smile on his face.
"Mmm hmm," Picard hummed, slowly trying to prop himself up. He groaned lightly, shifting his hips and legs slightly.
"Are you okay mon amore?" Q asked, giving his captain lover a worried look.
"Yes," Picard groaned, "I'm just sore."
"Oh," Q nodded, sitting up to gently stroke Picard's face, "I could draw you a bath, if that may help."
Picard sat up, pondering Q's proposal. He nodded his head to signify that he would be up for that, and watched Q slip out of the bed and walk out of the room.
"How the hell did we get running water?" Picard asked himself, internally answering himself by remembering that the engineering team had installed plumbing in the city in the last months. They were extraordinary, like that.
He sat there in bed for a while, listening to the sound of running water and the quiet humming of Q from down stairs. After a little, Picard also gently got out of bed, wrapped himself in a blanket and walked down stairs gingerly.
He entered the bathroom to see Q sitting on the floor, watching water run out of a metal faucet and into a nice, large porcelain looking bathtub. Picard internally asked himself how Q had managed to get a bathtub of all things, but waved that question away. Q had his ways, of course. That was enough said and thought.
"I hope I got the temperature right," Q said, lifting his hand out of the bath. He dried it on a towel, and gestured for Picard to hop in. There was a little steam rising from the crystal clear water, adding to the ambiance. He also mentally noted to himself that there were only three lights in the room, something he noticed applied to every room in the house. He decided he would bring that up with Q later.
Picard lowered himself into the tub, letting out a deep sigh. The water was at a perfect temperature, warm and relaxing. He was unsure of how Q was able to not just get good plumbing installed, but also hot water, but he went back to noting that the engineers that constructed the plumbing for the town were amazing in what they did. The circumstances of their stranding didn't stop anyone from doing their best, after all.
He let himself lean back, enjoying the way the water helped loosen his cramping muscles. He closed his eyes, letting Q rest a hand on his shoulder and slowly work a knot out.
"Quin told me that aftercare was important," Q explained, offering Picard a sponge, "I guess you humans are fragile after sex, or something like that."
"Well when you hit my age," Picard sighed, "Your body loses some of its vitality," he lamented, "And hair, in my case."
"Pft." Q laughed, "It's not all that bad- you don't have to worry about how gross your hair gets when you're stranded on a planet with no running water or shampoo for a year," Q ran a few fingers through his dark hair, which was a little overgrown and greasy. "I envy Q-uack. He can just go for one swim and he looks good as new for a few weeks." That earned a chuckle from Picard.
"Now you're making me envious of him," Picard explained, "And didn't you turn us into swans a while ago? For one of your little tests?"
"Yes? Are you implying I should have turned you into a swan or other fowl-like creature before the crash?" Q said, raising an eyebrow, "Outside of aesthetics, it may not have aided you or your crew much in our circumstances."
"Well having wings has helped the Thaleen in their survival," Picard explained, giving Q a goofy look.
"Dux passing their time by giving you joyrides doesn't seem like it's as much of a survival thing as much as it is a fun thing." Q remarked, "don't think I haven't seen you on their back having the time of your life up there."
Picard shrugged, and placed the sponge on the edge of the bathtub. Q passed Picard a bar of soap, lovingly handmade by Quintessa, and Picard started to rub himself down with that.
"You could ask Dux or someone else for a ride sometime, if that's what you would like," Picard suggested, giving Q a knowing look, "Dux did invite us on a ride to a waterfall they found a little ways into the mountain range, if you would like."
"Is Dr. Amare going?" Q asked, smirking, "I have a feeling that if we both are being invited by Dux that it's going to be a double date of sorts."
"Perhaps." Picard responded, gesturing to a face rag. Q handed it to him, and he quickly wiped off his face, "It would make sense."
"Yeah, it would."
The next morning, Picard found himself waking up in the most comfortable bed after the most comfortable sleep he had ever had since his stranding. He awoke next to a slumbering Q, who had not awoken yet to the sunlight filtering through the large windows and skylights.
Picard slowly got up out of bed, stretching his muscles and yawning the tiredness away. He threw on his outfit, which consisted of his old black uniform pants and a red tunic fashioned from the scrapes of the red command uniform he once had. He slipped on his black heeled boots, and walked over to one of the large glass windows and drew back the curtains.
Golden morning light poured out of the window, covering the bed and the surrounding room with a lively brilliance.
"God damn it-" Q squinted, slowly awakening to the light assaulting his vision, "Jean-Luc!" Q sat up, rubbing his eyes. He shot a glare at Picard, who was much more of a morning person than Q, as Q would find out.
"Morning," Jean-Luc said, a bright smile upon his face. He grabbed his belt with a communicator and other miscellaneous tools and fastened it to his waist, and walked over to Q.
Q slid out of bed and donned a black robe that was hanging on a hook.
"So, what do you have to do today?" Q groaned, trying to wake himself up. He wished he had some coffee, the dark liquid full of caffeine that his not-so-friendly friend Captain Janeway had sworn by.
"I'm going to go meet up with Captain Solis and their First Officer Ardere for a talk, then I'm going to take a midday swim. And later tonight I don't have anything going on, so I'm just going to move my things into here." Picard explained, snapping his comm badge to his shirt.
"What's the talk about?" Q asked, referring to the first thing that Picard had on his schedule.
"Dux, T'Q, and I are thinking of making a council to well- council- Joy's Beacon while we're here- so that all three groups can all have a say in what goes on around town." Picard explained, "So, what are you up to today?"
"I'm going to be helping Quintessa repair one of her ovens, as grueling of a task that is," Q explained, "Then Dux wanted to meet up with me a little later, for some reason."
"I thought you two didn't like each other." Picard observed, "Even know they helped me acknowledge my feelings for you."
"Which I'm grateful for, but they are a bit of a…" Q's voice trailed off as he clicked his fingers a few times to help him come up with the right word, "An annoyance?"
"Maybe it's just that you two are a bit similar in personalities," Picard said, a small smile on his face, "Both of you love to guide others, and both of you have a little bit of a chaotic nature."
"I more than them." Q rolled his eyes.
"True."
Picard and Q walked down the stairs together, Q's hand interlaced with Picards. The two stopped in the kitchen, with Q offering to cook breakfast for Picard. Picard declined, since he noticed he was beginning to get late when it came to his meeting. So he rushed off, letting Q know that he would be coming back to the house later that night. Q let Picard know he'd home a little bit before Picard returned, and they two bid each other adieu.
Picard met up with T'Q and Dux outside the reconstructed town hall, holding a small pastry and a cup of freshly brewed tea in his hand, since he didn't have time to get any breakfast at his new place.
T'Q had done her hair up in gorgeous cornrows, with the long braids draping down her back and chest. They sparkled in the bright sunlight, as if they were made of pearls. She wore a shimmering white sundress, with matching white boots and rock bracelets. Her pointed ears were adorned with rocks that looked like pearls and gold, with some of the studs attached to chains draped around her earlobes.
Dux Solis also had a bit of a freshen up on their presence. They had their mane cut to a shorter length, and their mane was brushed up to give a gentle swoop. Their hair reminded Picard of hairstyles worn by beach boys and surfers he saw in San Francisco. Dux also must have waxed or polished their horns sticking up from their forehead and the smaller ones on their cheeks too, since they glistened in the sunlight. They wore their green uniform, which was draped over their chest and back elegantly.
Now Picard was starting to feel a little under dressed.
"I could have picked you up at your place, the commute would have been much faster with me flying." Dux explained cheerfully to Picard.
Picard, who was in between bites of the savory pastry, nodded.
"I'll take you up on your offer next time." he said, taking a sip of his tea. It wasn't Early Grey, but whatever blend Quintessa and her staff had done tasted very similar.
"So how is your new housing arrangement with Q going, captain?" T'Q asked, her voice as angelic as the passing clouds in the sky.
Picard swallowed his most recent bite of pastry, and responded to T'Q's inquiry.
"It's pleasant." Picard explained, "I'm slightly amazed by all Q had done to make the place feel more like…" He drifted off, his eyes looking out to the unseeable things in his mind.
"Home?" Dux asked, finishing off Picard's sentence.
"Yes," Picard sighed, feeling a slurry of strange emotions fill his chest. But he wasn't ready to express those emotions at the moment, so he decided that he would wait to bring them up with Q that night.
"That's good," T'Q dipped her head, acknowledging Picard's sentiment.
The three stood there for a moment, soaking in the warmth of the sunlight. The day was a beautiful one, one that reminded Picard of the long summer days he enjoyed as a child on Earth. He had a feeling that Dux may also have the same feelings, since Dux did tell him that the seasons of Thal were much like Earth's own seasons. Now for T'Q, Picard was unsure, since she was a Q and he didn't know if the Q also had dog days of summer like humanoids and the Thaleen. Maybe that was another thing for him to ask Q about.
But then something changed.
Dux looked up at the bright blue sky, and their expression changed. Their green blue eyes narrowed, and they craned their head up higher.
"Dux?" T'Q picked up on Dux's change, realizing something was up.
"Uh, Jean-Luc? T'Q?" Dux said, not looking away. They spread their wings like they were about to shoot up into the sky.
"What is it, Captain Solis?" T'Q asked, looking up at the sky. Picard did the same, squinting up at the bright blue beyond.
Dux lifted a hoof, pointing at a tiny white streak high up in the sky.
"That's a ship," They said, their normally relaxed tone now one that was very serious.
"I can't see anything," T'Q said.
"Oh that's for sure a ship," Dux exclaimed, their breath hitching in their throat. They knew Picard and T'Q would have difficulty seeing what they were seeing, since Thaleens had very very, very sharp eyesight.
Picard grabbed his binoculars from his belt, and put them up to his face. He pointed them towards what Dux was seeing, and gasped.
There was a ship.
"I don't recognize that ship," Picard said, handing his binoculars to T'Q, who also peered into them and lightly gasped.
"I think that's a Thaleen ship," Dux said, their long tail swishing with trepidation.
"Is it coming here?" Picard asked, his heart leaping up into his throat.
"I'm not sure," T'Q explained, "It looks like it's passing,"
One moment, Dux was standing beside the two humanoids, peering off into the sky. But in the next moment, Dux was gone, having shot off into the sky at warp speed. Picard and T'Q where thrown back, landing on the red ground in a cloud of dust.
"Dux!" Picard shouted, coughing up red dirt.
But it was useless.
Dux flapped their wings as hard as they could, pulling themselves higher and higher into the bright blue atmosphere. Their lungs were heaving, trying to draw in as much oxygen as they could, even in the thinning air. Their heart was beating quickly, becoming a roar in their sensitive Thaleen ears. Their wings forced through the air with amazing power, the muscles in their wings taunt and hardy.
They were seeing the ship so much clearer now, even with the oxygen deficient haze that was filling their eyes.
It was a Thaleen ship, much like their own.
But to Dux's dismay, it was not entering the atmosphere. In fact it was just passing the planet they were on. He saw the blue glow of the engines, the shine of the metal that made up the hull, everything. It was Thaleen, for sure.
Desperation struck the Thaleen captain, who kept flying higher and higher, despite their body protesting. Their legs flailed in a gallop, clawing at the air and clouds they were passing.
Oh Celestia, Oh Selene, give me strength. Dux prayed to their goddesses, hoping that maybe those in the life beyond may aid him.
But the dead goddesses did not hear them.
Dux climbed higher, until the air was all too thin to breathe. They cried out in pain, their voice a scream to the void of space.
The blue space was starting to fade into purples and blacks, with tiny white stars starting to show above Dux. If Dux wasn't in such a desperate place at that moment, they may have been able to appreciate the beauty around them.
The ship was so much closer now, but still far beyond the atmosphere of the planet. But Dux, in their frenzied state, wasn't thinking clearly. They knew they needed to reach that ship, no matter the cost. They needed to do that for their crew, for Picard's crew, for the Q. For all of them.
They dug deep and kept flying, internally cursing their body and mind.
But something unexpected occurred.
Dux found themselves colliding with something. It was hard, but unseeable.
Dux was thrown back from the collision, and steadied them self. They looked at the atmosphere in front of them, and saw only open sky and space. There was nothing there.
But they looked closer, and noticed that there was some sort of transparent neon blue barrier, like a force field. Dux reached out a hoof, and touched it. It was hard, impenetrable. They then tried to slam their body into it as hard as they could, but it wouldn't budge. They shrieked with anger, slamming their hooves into the barrier as hard as they could.
The corners of their vision started to turn black, but that didn't mean anything to Dux. They needed to get past the barrier. They needed to let the ship know where down there.
But soon the lack of air and the exertion caught up with Dux, and their consciousness started to quickly fade. They let out a small shriek, and began to plummet back down to the planet lifelessly.
"What are we supposed to do?" Someone shouted.
A small crowd had gathered in the plaza where Dux had kept up into the sky from. People, Thaleens, and the small group of Q had gathered there, looking up into the sky with binoculars.
Q stood beside Picard, looking up through the captain's binoculars. He was quiet, his mouth agape as he watched Dux fight with whatever invisible force there was up in the sky.
"We've got to do something," Q whispered, unable to avert his eyes from the sky or Dux.
"Like what?" Picard snapped at Q, not angry at Q but angry with the situation. He gestured to his back, "I don't have wings, you don't have wings, what can we do?"
Q exhaled sharply, concern etched on his features. He may have not liked Dux all that much, but he was still very concerned about the Thaleen who decided the best course of action was to launch up into the sky to chase a starship.
Suddenly someone screamed, and Picard yanked the goggles from Q's hands. He looked into them and noticed that Dux started falling. Their wings were not flapping, they were not fighting. They were in a free fall.
"Oh mon dieu." Picard gasped, wishing that he had wings. He couldn't look away as his friend, his K'll'ii plummeted through the atmosphere.
"Fuck this." someone shouted, and Picard and Q turned around. Behind them was Dr. Vita 'Liv' Amare, who had just thrown off her medical smock and spread her massive silver wings. She started off into a gallop, pushing aside Picard, Q, and anyone else who stood in her way. She powerfully charged though, giving herself enough power and lift to launch into the sky after her captain.
In a dart of brown and silver light, she was gone.
Amare blasted off into the sky, streaking through the blue atmosphere at breakneck speeds. She beat her wings against the winds as hard as she could, all while quickly formulating a plan in her mind to catch her falling captain. She noticed that other Thaleen were coming to her aid from behind, which she thanked the goddesses for.
I need two more of you all to come help me catch them, the rest are to help me lower them safely to the ground. She telepathically commanded her colleagues, who flew beside her, matching her almost supersonic speeds. They nodded at her, and some of them stayed back to prepare to help lower the unconscious captain to the ground.
She flew up as fast as she could, until the dark dot in her vision turned into the plummeting Thaleen captain. Amare soon got close to them, and reached out mentally.
Dux! Dux! Wake up! She telepathically shouted, watching them come even closer to them.
They were falling quickly, their back to the planet and their wings and tail flying out to the sky like a sick banner of danger. Amare bit her tongue, and realized that she was going to need to catch them as they were falling at high speeds.
She braced herself, then stopped her flight.
She watched as Dux fell past her, streaking through the sky like a meteor. She sucked in a breath, and sped after them, reaching out her legs. A couple other Thaleen crew came to her side, and joined her as they all sped after the captain.
Amare reached out mentally once again, praying to the goddesses that Dux may wake up.
Dux! Walk up!
She watched as Dux kept falling, starting to feel hopeless. She knew it was going to be hard to catch them, and she knew it was going to be really difficult.
But the goddesses were listening to the doctor.
Dux opened their eyes slowly, feeling the horrible gut wrenching feeling of falling. Their heart leapt into their throat as they weakly blinked a few times, trying to get their mind to catch up with what was going on.
Then it hit them.
They were really falling. Fast.
Dux!
Dux heard someone shouting into their mind, sounding frantic and horrified. Dux shook their head, trying to figure out who it was.
That's when they looked up to see the worried looking Dr. Amare, alongside a few more of their crew, flying after them as they plummeted.
Vita? Dux asked, feeling groggy.
Wake up you idiot! She shouted into their mind.
Dux finally found themselves back in control of their weak body. They started to spread their aching wings, slowing their fall. But they were still falling. They felt the wind whip around them, aiding in their awakening but also showing them what situation they were in.
You need to slow down!
I'm trying, Amare. Dux mentally groaned, trying to get some lift by lifting their wings and catching some air under their wings. They turned their body right side up, with their legs splayed out under them.
They heard Amare sigh with relief in their mind as they started to flap their wings weakly, and slowed their fall into a controlled landing. Amare swooped in next to them, helping them balance as they weakly steadied themself out.
And soon, all four of the captain's hooves were on the red ground, which was a much better feeling than falling out of the sky.
Picard let out a sigh of relief as he watched Dux land outside of the town beyond the large gateway, weakly stumbling around before falling to the ground next to Doctor Amare. He gestured to Q, and the two rushed out of the main square to the gateway and out to the red flat area where the Thaleens were landing.
Picard rushed to Dux's side, where Amare was looking over the weak Thaleen captain. Q stood behind him, watching on in quiet shock.
"Are they okay?" Picard asked, looking over their K'll'ii. His brow was furrowed with concern and questioning as he watched Dr. Amare check on Dux's vitals manually. She placed a hoof to their neck, feeling for some form of a pulse. One of her crew members rushed over to her and handed her the blue smock she wore, and she tossed it onto her shoulders quickly.
"They are going to be alright," she sighed, taking a Thaleen bioscanner from another one of the Thaleen crew members and palmed it in one of her wings. Picard decided to make a quick mental note that his previous assumption that Thaleen used their mouths or hooves to use objects was incorrect- they used their wings. But he pushed that thought aside to make sure that his friend, his confidant, was alright.
"That's good," Picard sighed, kneeling down to Dux's side. The Thaleen captain was laying on their side with their legs and wings spread out. They were panting deeply, drawing in as much oxygen as they could in the moment.
"I'm going to need to keep them overnight at the hospital," Amare explained, kneeling down to check on Dux's pupils. Dux flickered their eyes open, and looked up at the larger Thaleen next to them. She lowered her head and pressed her nose against Dux's forehead, letting them know wordlessly that everything was going to be okay. Dux nodded weakly, and looked over at Picard, their eyes hazy and tired.
There was a ship… They explained to Picard, their words quiet, like a hushed whisper, in Picard's mind. it was Thaleen…
Picard silently nodded in acknowledgment, and watched as Dux was carried away, back to the town that they had fled from. Silent, quiet, yet the things unsaid, the things unasked, were loud in everyone's thoughts.
Does anyone out there even know we're here?
The brilliant sunlight of the day was starting to wane, which brought along the slowing down of work and the beginning of dusk duties. The blue sky started to fade into a comforting orange, shedding soft light on the town of Joy's Beacon. Some closed up their shops, ready to go to their homes for the night, while some opened their shops for the night crowd (which mainly consisted of Thaleens, since they didn't sleep all that much). Soft music played from hidden sound systems throughout the town, adding a sweet and calm atmosphere to the bustling mountain city. String lights all around the town square flickered on, beckoning those who stayed up all night to come and enjoy each other's company in the golden light.
Picard walked around the town square, after just finishing a meeting with a few humanoid and Thaleen commanders in the town hall. He looked around at the square, the space for those to interact or to silently contemplate things. Picard found himself in the group of those silently contemplating, since the persons he would want to talk to were already at their homes readying for sleep, or in the case of Dux, in the hospital being watched over by their doctor (That they also had a crush on, which made Picard wonder how Dux was feeling about that).
Picard decided that it was going to be best to head to his house, which was a bit of a walk but that didn't dissuade him. He did need to stop at the creek on his way home, just to cool off.
He walked in the golden orange light of the falling sun, breathing in the cool crisp air. He felt the cool breeze pass by him, telling of the coming fall. He was glad that the seasons on this planet mimicked those of Earth, which made it easier to keep track of the time they spent there. Fall meant that a harvest was soon, and that the nights would be longer and the days shorter. After that, a cold but not too cold winter would come, with light snow and more opportunity to be inside and connect with those one cares for by a heater and cup of tea.
The change of seasons brought a peaceful feeling over Picard. It was familiar, and familiar was good in some regards. Sure it wasn't Burgundy France, or the USS Enterprise-D, but it still was familiar, homely.
Halfway through his walk Picard stopped at the creek that passed by between the town and his homestead. The part of the creek he stopped at was calm, casually flowing by with no rough undercurrents or dangers. It was crisp, clear, and tranquil. Many liked to bathe in the waters from time to time, to help rejuvenate themselves as if the river was the fountain of youth.
That was something that Picard found himself liking to do, too. He would take a plunge from time to time, letting the water wash away the dirt and grime of the day and to help soothe his aching joints. He decided that now would be a great time, since there was no one currently in the river, and there wasn't anything else to do at the current moment.
Picard walked down to the bank to the riverside, and stripped off his clothing after checking to make sure no one was around. He wasn't very big on communal nudity, after all.
He tossed his clothing on to a nearby rock, and walked into the cool waters. He let the tranquil waters surround his lower body, flowing around him on its way to the horizon. He lowered himself almost fully into the water, feeling the water gently lift his body and take some weight off of his aching knees and hips. He slowly started to rub his calves, letting the gentle current wash away the sweat of the day. He felt himself get carried away by the calming sensations, the water combining with the gorgeous sunset to bring a blanket of peace over the seemingly stoic captain.
"Fancy seeing you here, mon amant,"
Picard whipped around to see Q standing on the bridge over the river in the distance. He was leaning over the railing, watching Picard with a smug look on his face. He propped up his elbow on the railing, resting his chin on his knuckles. He had a silly look in his eyes, one that could mean anything and everything.
"Q!" Picard shouted, turning his bare back to the goofy god, "What in the bloody hell are you doing here?"
Q chuckled, and walked from the bridge to the banks of the river.
"I was simply walking home," Q explained, "I think I could ask you the same question, dear,"
Picard watched as Q stood on the edge of the river bank, his arms crossed and his face sporting a humored grin.
"Touché…" Picard huffed, his tone starting to soften. He looked over his shoulder again at Q, giving him a quizzical look.
"What are you doing? Are you just going to keep looking at me like some sort of a pervert?" Picard asked, shooting him a glare.
"It's not like I haven't seen you naked before, mon chéri," Q said, his voice smooth and rich, "but if you would rather I not be here, I can go- i have some stew I want to start cooking for tomorrow." He said, gesturing at his satchel full of vegetables and spices that he had picked up at the market.
"No," Picard said, shrugging his shoulders, "It's alright,"
"Okay," Q nodded, shrugging his robe off and setting the satchel on the ground, "I might as well dip my toes in while you finish up," Picard nodded in approval, and watched as Q stripped down and slowly lowered himself into the river.
"Is this something you normally do, Jean-Luc?" Q asked as he sat down fully in the water, looking at Picard with eyes full of curious light.
Picard took a moment, letting his mind bring him back to his childhood, to the chateau, to things before Starfleet.
"I haven't done this in a long time, if I'm to be honest," he began, looking to Q with a soft look in his eyes, "I used to swim in a local pond when I was a child. I would do that during the hottest times of the summer to cool off, or I would also try to jump off a platform into the pond as if I was some sort of competitive diver."
"That's pretty interesting," Q nodded, "I used to like to dive into sunspots occasionally, it was very refreshing,"
"Oh," Picard laughed heartily, "I guess there is some sort of comparison there,"
Picard turned from Q and sat back, looking up at the sky, which was filled with pinks and purples. A few light stars were starting to show in the darker purple parts, blinking to life like the eyes of a newborn babe. Picard took a deep breath in, filling his lungs with the crisp clean air around him.
He felt Q wade closer to him from behind, and put his hands on his shoulders gently. His fingers gently moved up and down his shoulder blades, sending sensual waves of energy down his back. He sighed deeply, leaning back onto Q's chest.
"I think it's getting late, Jean-Luc," Q said softly, leaning into Picard's ear, "You've had a hell of a day, I think we should head to the house soon."
"Of course," Picard exhaled, still looking up at the sky as more stars started to appear, "I just need a second."
Picard and Q sat in their shared bed, leaning back against the headboard. The lights of the room were dimmed, which made it easier to look out the window and see the stars that were sprinkled in the sky outdoors. Picard was looking out one of the large open windows from his spot on the bed, a cup of tea in his hands and a blanket over his lap. Q sat beside him, but instead of looking at the stars, Q was looking at Picard as if he was a star. His eyes were full of love and joy, going perfectly with the feeling of wonder that Picard had as he watched the night skies. He felt his heart skip a beat as Picard turned to him, his eyes soft and loving.
"How are you doing, Q?" Picard asked, sincerity rolling off his tongue with every word.
Q smiled, and took one of Picard's hands into his own.
"I'm doing well, surprisingly," Q said, giving Picard's hand a squeeze.
"Surprisingly?"
Q sighed, still smiling genuinely.
"I am surprised that I myself am doing well in this situation, after all, I have no powers and I'm stuck on some planet with a lot of strangers and old enemies- but I'm doing fine and dandy." Q explained, giving Picard a knowing wink.
"I have seen that you've adapted very well to the whole situation," Picard nodded.
"We Q are surprisingly adaptable, Johnny," Q said, looking at the window at some unseeable thing in his mind, "We purposely throw ourselves into all sorts of new situations, and since this is one that I'm thrown into not on purpose- I have the ability to adapt and make for myself a better livelihood."
"Huh," Picard said, digesting everything that Q said, "That makes sense,"
"I would figure," Q said, leaning onto Picard's shoulder, his hand still holding Picard's, "So, how are you faring, mon beau?"
Picard's breath hitched in his throat at Q's question. He was unsure how to answer, since he himself was unsure of how he was faring. He was alright, but he still longed to get off the planet and resume his life. He also almost didn't want to leave the new normal he was in, but the feeling of wanting to go back was outweighing those thoughts.
"I'm unsure, mon ciel étoilé," Picard said, looking to Q for an answer, "I'm feeling so many emotions,"
"Like?" Q asked, giving Picard a loving smile.
"Unease, fear, a need to leave this place," Picard explained, watching Q's smile turn into a frown, "Not from you of course, but from this planet. I need to get back to my old life,"
"But? I figure there's a 'but' somewhere." Q said, interested in Picard's thought process.
"Yet this place that we've made our new home," Picard explained, using the royal 'we', "feels like just that- home. I feel things are going to be d'accord. I even feel a strange sense of nostalgia that I can't pinpoint,"
"I think that's a big part of nostalgia, a feeling of comfort from the past- even from pasts that one can't recognize," Q wisely explained, "Like those memories from the pond in your childhood- good yet not due to the pain inflicted in your youth."
"Oh," Picard let out a quiet, panged noise as he tried to push back any painful childhood memories that threatened to resurface.
The two sat in silence for a little while. Picard's mind kept going to his painful past, the trauma he survived as a child, the creation of the creature that was Lotucus of Borg, the torture he endured at the hands of the Cardassians. The memories and fear swirled around in his head, threatening to spill out.
He felt one of Q's arms slip around his shoulders, a hand rubbing his arm. He felt Q begin to wrap himself around him, enveloping him in a blanket of comforting auras- one of safety, unconditional love, of understanding.
"I shouldn't be feeling safe," Picard explained, his voice hoarse from holding back too much, "but I do feel safe here, on this planet… with you." He looked to Q, who was now holding the frail captain on his lap and in his arms.
"Maybe because here, you aren't a captain. You aren't a political piece." Q said, taking Picard's chin in his hand, tilting his head back to look him in the eye. "You're just Jean-Luc. A friend, a leader, a lover."
Picard took every one of Q's words to heart. He was right after all. He didn't have to worry about fighting the next big bad here- he could just exist. He was still seen as a captain by many, but he no longer had to fear the evils coming for him as a captain. He was just a person- one of many living, working, existing, in Joy's Beacon.
"You strangely know me so well," Picard smiled, leaning into Q's embrace.
"I've been there for you, Jean-Luc, always watching out for you." Q said, gazing into his lover's eyes, full of soft, sweet affection, "I have wanted the best for you for a while, ever since I got to see who you are at Farpoint."
"And is that why there's only three lights in every room?" Picard asked genuinely, his voice full of curiosity and a hint of thankfulness.
"I figured four or five lights would be triggering to you," Q said, "But I can-"
"No," Picard shushed him, "I think it's very thoughtful of you," he placed a small kiss on Q's lips, an acknowledgement of his thankfulness to the deity and his efforts.
The two sat there in silence again, Q holding the smaller man to his chest like a prized gem, or a cuddly feline. The calm of the night surrounded them, flowing in from the open window and filling the room with serenity. Picard's mind had started to quiet, meanwhile Q's was starting to awake with queries and thoughts.
"What do you think is going to be in the future, for us?" Q asked, looking out to the open window. Picard looked up at Q, a soft smile on his face.
"I'm unsure," Picard responded, "I have to admit, I've never been this far with anyone,'' he explained, his voice tired.
"Well, what do humans do when they get to this point?" Q inquired, genuinely curious. He did know what humans did in their romantic relationships, but he really wanted to hear it straight from the Thaleen's/horse's mouth.
Picard thought for a moment, his lips pursed together. "I know some people get married, or have children, get a place of their own, grow gardens…" he muttered, looking at Q. Q pondered what Picard said, his mind going to ideas of the future.
"Are those things you want to do?" Q queried, moving out from under Picard to lay on his side. He propped himself up with an elbow so he could look Picard in the eye, and the captain emulated him, lying on his side gingerly.
"Perhaps," Picard said, a hint of dreaminess in his voice. His eyes turned soft and mellow, his formulating all sorts of futures. Good futures.
Q smiled, his heart happy to see Picard feeling some sort of enthusiasm about a life together. He wanted to know more.
"So you want to be married? To have children?" Q asked, his heart fluttering with every sweet word he said. Picard gave him a coy look.
"Do Q get married? Or have children?"
"Yes, and yes." Q said with a smile, "It's rare, but we do partake in similar traditions- like more species in the universe," Q explained. He reached over and touched the tip of Picard's nose with a fingertip. "Now back to my question- is marriage and a family on the table, so to speak?"
Picard thought long and hard about what Q was asking. Such questions in the past brought him so much internal turmoil, but they didn't any longer- not in Q's presence. It seemed natural, not something to be avoided anymore. He now had a loving lover, one who did truly care for him, one who accommodated all his trauma and triggers. The chaotic half that his calm self needed.
"Yes, those possibilities are on the table," Picard nodded, looking deep into Q's sparkling eyes. He saw something awaken in the deity's eyes, a spark of warm joy, of excitement.
"So if I proposed to you, as humans do," Q asked, his voice raising a pitch in elation, "you would say yes?"
Picard found his mechanical heart fluttering inside his chest. His breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening.
"Of course," Picard choked out, his voice trembling with overwhelming feelings, "I would."
"And what about children?" Q asked, rolling onto his back. He flicked something out from underneath a fingernail, "I thought you hated them."
"I don't hate children," Picard laughed, sort of defensively, "I just didn't want to have children due to my past."
"And what's changed? Q asked, picking up on Picard's strangely hopeful tone.
"Well, I've seen how the children acted around me on the Enterprise," Picard explained, his tone soft, "And I've recently seen how you are around Troi and Riker's twins…" His voice trailed off as Q looked to him, smiling widely, eyes sparkling in the low light.
"And?"
Picard took a deep breath in, and exhaled. "I think you would be a great parent." he softly smiled, his heart melting in his chest at the joy Q was expressing.
"And I know you will be, too." Q chuckled, leaning over to Picard to kiss his forehead.
Picard sighed happily, his mind and body beckoning him into a peaceful sleep, next to the man that went from his annoying enemy to a dear lover. The safe, loving feeling of being next to him washed over the captain, drawing him into a deep sleep full of wonderful dreams of weddings, family, and the sweetest of futures.