Paint and Powder

A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.

2367, "Family"

Chateau Picard wasn't hard to locate, but getting there presented its own set of challenges. Especially for Enterprise.

A starship avatar wasn't technically supposed to check in on their captains on shore leave. It wasn't forbidden, just... Discouraged. AIs could be too nosy for their own good, Enterprise accepted this. Being made of pure data meant you had a tendency to leap into collecting more where you shouldn't.

Yet he hadn't spoken to her at all since they had defeated the Borg. He'd gone out of his way to not talk to her, and Enterprise couldn't help feeling hurt.

So she decided to just check in. Nothing more, nothing less. And test out her portable hologenerator, hidden underneath a T-shirt. She'd opted for a casual look: A UFP t-shirt, a black cap, black shorts, hiking boots, and a yellow jacket tied around her waist. She didn't know if it was fashionable or not, she just liked the look.

Enterprise walked up the dirt road, taking in the sights and smells of the French countryside. The stone walls, the sparse tree cover, the warm Southern European sun-It was all so archaic. She felt out of place in this unchanged rural area.

Enterprise made it to the front gate, and walked between the posts. She headed up to the stone house overlooking the vineyards, letting her fingers drift against a tree that shaded the path. She made it to the front door, and politely knocked.

She waited for exactly one minute, before a middle aged woman opened the door. She was redheaded and dressed in a proper house dress, and gave her a smile.

"Hello! What can I do for you, young lady?" She asked.

Enterprise identified her as Marie Picard, the wife of Jean Luc's brother, Robert Picard. She smiled and tried to look nervous and uncertain. Which, to be honest, wasn't that hard right now.

"Um, hi," she said, "I'm uh, Captain Picard's assistant and I'm here to check up on him. I'm Enty."

Marie beamed warmly.

"His assistant? Well, that is lovely! Please, come in!" She lead Enterprise into the warm, well appointed manor, and led her to a sitting room couch. "Please, sit! I'll see if I can fetch him."

"Thank you," Enterprise replied. Marie bustled off, and Enterprise took a moment to look around. Everything seemed... Old, but lived in and comfortable. From the carpet to the She did feel a little uncomfortable-She'd never actually been in the home of any of her commanding officers before. She stood up and looked at the many family photos decorating the walls and tables. She came across a photo of two young boys in front of the house: Clearly, Jean Luc and Robert. She picked it up and studied it intently, wondering what the captain was thinking back then. If he knew what he wanted at that moment.

"Listen, I appreciate the concern but I-Enterprise?!"

Enterprise jumped and spun around. She nearly dropped the picture, but held on tightly. There was her captain, covered in mud and looking exhausted and bewildered.

"Captain?! What happened to you?" Enterprise cried, walking up and checking him over, "why are you covered in mud?!"

Picard brushed her hands away, and chuckled. He still had the stain of tears on his face, yet his laugh was... Natural. Almost relaxed.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said, "it's... A long story." He shook his head. "How did you-?"

Enterprise set the picture aside, and pulled up her sleeve.

"Personal holo emitter," she explained. "I just... I wanted to see how you were doing." She looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry, I just... You were avoiding me before you left, and... I wondered if I'd done something wrong."

Enterprise felt stupid the more she spoke. She hated it. This entire trip was just so ridiculous. She felt ridiculous. Why should she care if her captain wasn't talking to her? He'd been through a horrible experience! She shouldn't be selfish!

She felt Picard's hands on her shoulders, and she looked up. Captain Picard was smiling sadly at her.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "Every time I looked at you, I..." He trailed off, then steeled himself. "When I was... Locutus, I... I felt every mind that was assimilated. Including... Your sisters."

Enterprise stared at him blankly. Picard worked his jaw before continuing.

"I felt their anguish, their fear, their horror. I could feel your anger, your rage, through subspace. I..." He closed his eyes, "I didn't know how to face you again. How to talk to you again. I murdered your sisters. I destroyed ships-beings you loved." He let out a low sigh. "I wouldn't blame you for hating me."

Enterprise stared back at Picard. She shook her head, and reached up her hand. She flicked Picard right in his forehead, making him wince.

"Ow...!"

"Idiot," Enterprise snorted, "Locutus killed my sisters. The Borg did that. Just as the Borg killed all those people. That wasn't your fault, Captain. I thought my opinion on you was made clear, when we all worked so hard to save you." Enterprise then gave him a hug.

"I was worried you hated me! You stupid jerk," she muttered.

Picard stiffened, a bit uncomfortable, and Enterprise was about to pull away... When he pulled her into a hug. It was awkward, yes. He wasn't used to them... But he was giving it his all, and she appreciated that.

They still broke the hug off soon after, staring at one another. Enterprise gave him a smile.

"Sorry for calling you an idiot, sir," she said. She winced. "And a jerk."

Picard sighed.

"I'll save the court martial for later," he said dryly. "You should really be going-"

"Enterprise!"

Picard and Enterprise spun around to look over at a young boy. He was gaping in wide eyed astonishment at the shipgirl. Enterprise flushed as Rene walked up. He looked at his uncle.

"This... This is Enterprise, isn't it?" Rene asked. Picard chuckled.

"Yes, she is," he said. Rene looked back at Enterprise in amazement.

"You're... You're really Enterprise?" He whispered. Enterprise laughed.

"Yes, it's really me," she said. She beamed.

"Can you... Can we take a holophoto?" Rene asked. "Together?"

"Certainly," Picard said, he looked up at her, "if she's all right with it?"

Enterprise looked at the eager smile of the young boy, sighed, and smiled back.

"Sure," she said, "I'd be happy to!"

They posed for a holophoto, that Picard took. She gave the boy a hug, and he hugged her back with a nervous smile. He was bright and inquisitive, and she wondered if he would follow in his uncle's footsteps.

If he did? She'd have to keep an eye on him. They were, in a sense, family. And that's what family did for each other.

Picard's going to be recovering for some time... But he'll have a start.