To The Journey

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine. This is an AU story.

Chapter Seventeen: The Enterprise-E

"Wow."

"That about sums it up, Data."

The Sovereign-class Enterprise was slightly smaller than her predecessor, designed more like the battle-ready Intrepid- and Defiant-class ships than the 'city in space' the old Galaxy-class had been. The ship was awe-inspiring. Brand-new and clearly ready to go. But at the same time, listening to Will and Data talking, Tasha couldn't help feeling sad. A ship was a reflection of the time in which it was built. The Enterprise-D had been built to do exactly what Starfleet had been created for: to seek out new life and new civilizations. This one was built for the fight no one wanted and everyone expected.

"May she never be used for the purpose she was designed for," Tasha said softly.

"I'll second that," Geordi said softly. "I'm still a little worried about that glitch with the emergency systems -"

"Don't be. I know the engineer who came up with the fix. She wouldn't have let this all go through unless she was completely sure it was going to work."

"All right, if you say so."

"I do." She stared out the spacedock's viewport at the ship that would be theirs. "It looks almost like a model from this angle."

"Oh, come on," Will replied.

"No, seriously. It's just hanging in space, not operating under its own power. It's perfectly pristine, having never been flown before. I think it looks like a model."

Data suddenly lifted his hand and pinched his fingers together. "Behold! I will crush the model!"

"Not if I crush it first!" Geordi chimed in.

All intelligent discussion was forgotten as the four friends reverted gleefully to a sort of momentary second childhood.

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"She's all yours." Scotty smiled at the Enterprise's senior staff. "Where's Geordi?"

"Having a personal conversation with the ship's designer." Will's years of poker must have served him well, Tasha thought, to get that one out with a straight face. She and Data locked eyes and then looked away just as quickly, trying not to burst out laughing. A rather choked sound from behind them suggested that Deanna wasn't having much more luck. Niether was Beverly, who Tasha could see out of the corner of her eye, her shoulders shaking with silent giggles.

"I dinna see what's so funny! It's perfectly common for a ship's chief engineer to confer with the designer!"

That did it. The group of five all cracked up, and even Picard sported a grin. Tasha recovered first. "Not this kind of conference, I'd bet!"

"I still dinna follow."

"Captain," Beverly gasped through her laughter, "their relationship moved beyond the professional months ago."

"You don't think they'd -"

"Give them a little credit," Tasha snickered. "They're more professional than that. But I doubt they're talking mechanics."

At that moment, Geordi joined them, triggering a fresh round of laughter which Scotty happily joined in on. He watched them all in confusion. "What? What did I miss?"

"How did your private conference go, Geordi?" Data managed to get out in an innocent tone before everyone completely lost it.

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"I see what you meant."

"What?" Tasha turned to see Geordi standing behind her.

"Oh, sorry. Just thinking out loud."

"Since it apparently involves me being right, I'd like to hear about it."

"It was awhile ago. You told me that what we had - we could never bring it back, and it just wouldn't have worked."

"And?"

"Even when I first left the Victory, I never felt quite this way. No offense."

"What way? None taken."

"Like I'm leaving part of myself behind. Make that three parts."

"You really love those kids, huh?"

"I can't explain it. They're not even my kids, but I got so used to having them around. Did I tell you Joey rolled over for the first time when I was there?"

"No."

"He did. Crawled for the first time too. Come to think of it, I've been there for most of his firsts."

"You've been there for most of him, period."

"True. But when he rolled over - I had nothing to do with making him, but I was so proud. I don't think a real father could've been more proud than I was."

"Geordi, blood isn't what's important. Those kids don't have their 'real' father anymore." She was careful to put the word in air quotes. "What they have is a man who's willing to step up and take that place. And I think that's a damn good thing of him to do."

"Thanks."

She grinned at him. "Anytime."

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"You wanted me?"

Tasha had been extremely pleased to see Jenna D'Sora's name on her security roster. A lot of the non-senior officers had accepted other positions rather than wait for a new Enterprise to be commissioned. Tasha could hardly blame them, but she wasn't really thrilled about having to start from scratch with all but a few of her team new faces. She was glad to see this one old face.

"Yes, I did. Please sit down."

The younger officer complied. "What's this about?"

"I don't know if you've heard, but Commander Worf has chosen not to join this crew. He's accepted another position."

"I hadn't heard. And I'm sorry to hear it."

"Thanks, but that's not the point. With Worf gone, I need a new Assistant Chief of Security."

"Well, yes, that makes - wait. You're not just telling me this for the heck of it, are you?"

"The job's yours if you want it."

"I do." A huge grin split her face.

"In that case, you're hired."

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"It's strange."

"What is?" Picard looked over at her from the passenger's seat of the shuttle. He'd elected to have him fly her up "for old time's sake," as he'd put it.

"Well, in some ways this isn't going to be that different from the first time we did all this. I mean it's pretty much the same people, at least senior staff-wise. But at the same time it'll be so different. Last time, I knew three people on the staff, had never actually met you, and only a few of us had ever served together. Now we've all known each other for almost eight years, during which time we've all but literally been to hell and back together."

"Speak for yourself," he interjected, and she smiled.

"We're a family now."

"Indeed we are, Captain."

"Unless I'm much mistaken, we're ready to dock."

"Already cleared."

"Bring us in, Commander."

She grinned. "Aye, Captain."

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Tasha glanced around the bridge with a smile. Except for the Lieutenant at the helm, an unfamiliar face, everyone was right where she remembered them. Picard in the Captain's chair. Will at his right hand, Deanna at his left. Data at ops. Geordi at the bridge engineering station. And though they couldn't see her, they all knew Beverly was in sickbay.

"Lieutenant, lay in a course and clear our departure," Picard said softly.

"Course laid in, we're cleared to leave."

"Make it so."

A little short, I know, but I wanted a chapter just dedicated to them getting back out into space.

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