Author's Note: This is not the end of the story. Just the end of "Act 1". Alot more will follow, and posted in the same story
• A couple nights later.
Will knows the instant Command has finished discussing his request for the refit, and subsequent shore leave. It only took a couple days to process. Meaning their either really impressed, or the more likely, extremely pissed.
The nightshift contacts him, in his quarters. "Bridge to Captain Riker."
"Riker, here."
"Message from Admiral Wayler, sir."
Will glances over at the slightly ajar door of Jean-Luc's room. It's been hours since the boy fell asleep, but Will would rather not have Jean-Luc stumble in on this. Who knows what kind of damage that would do.
Because, Will's fairly certain this won't be a courtesy call. No, this is definitely a "dressing down, annoyed with you, if not questioning your promotion" call. And if Jean-Luc overhears anything, he'll shoulder the blame onto himself. Then internalize it, and make himself sick with worry.
Which is something Will can understand, Jean-Luc was like that even as an adult. However, he disagrees with it. He'll not have Jean-Luc blame himself like that, not over something that clearly is in need of fixing.
"Sir?" Jiwuhl's voice presses. "Should I tell them you're unavailable?"
Will touches his combadge. "No, put it through to my quarters."
He hurries over to Jean-Luc's bedroom and quickly, but quietly, closes the door shut. It's the best he can do on short notice. He'd much rather take this call elsewhere, but Wayler's probably already upset, to put it lightly. So Will needs to answer now.
Will then seats himself at his desk, and turns on his terminal. He tries to make his voice as pleasant as possible. "Admiral."
Wayler glares. "You are not setting yourself a good reputation, Captain."
Will folds his hands tightly together on the desk. "I understand, sir, but-"
"I'm not sure you do," Wayler interrupts, leaning forward. "What is Command supposed to think? You want 4 months of shore leave, for an intense refit. All so a… Teen Recreation Center, can be built."
Will straightens. "I would hope Command would see the benefits of engendering social practice, and discipline, for our teenagers on board."
"Need I remind you, Captain, you're on a two-year mission."
"Yes, sir, but we saw a discrepancy and thought to correct it, before we got too far underway."
There, that sounds pretty good, if Will does say so himself. Picard would be proud.
Wayler only glowers more. "And just how new is this discrepancy? Why did we not hear of it from Captain Picard?"
Will goes to reply, but never gets the chance.
"Is it because of a certain new ward you've acquired?" Wayler hypothesizes. "Perhaps, Command would be best served if they removed this distraction from you."
Will feels his own gaze start to harden, along with his spine stiffening. How dare they accuse him like this. He didn't acquire Jean-Luc, nor is he being distracted by him. If anything, he's become better for it. He's more grounded, less cocky, and he's finding himself starting to enjoy the day-to-day run of a starship. He… Will takes a deep breath, and holds back his initial retort.
He won't do anyone any good, if he blows up at the first critique. Of course, Command is worried. They just lost their 'golden boy'. They're panicked. Captain Picard was the answer to a lot of people's hopes, especially with this Dominion War looming on the horizon. And now, they have to settle for second best. Him.
That pricks a bit, if Will's being honest. He's a good officer. He shouldn't need to prove himself like this. But, then, Picard did leave some very large shoes to fill. Regardless that he's still here, only younger.
"I respectfully disagree, sir," Will says.
"I'm sure you do." Wayler leans back against his chair.
"Is Command saying I'm compromised?"
"Tell me why they shouldn't."
Will gathers his thoughts, sends a prayer up to whatever deity is listening, and forges on. "The Enterprise is a Galaxy class starship, sir. It houses over thirty different species, and their families. Command put a lot into selling that. We're one of two ships like this in the Fleet. What are people supposed to think, when they realize we somehow forgot to accommodate their teenagers?"
Wayler's lips twitch up a bit. "Continue."
"We've done all right, up til now, sir, but it's becoming obvious that there's very little the older children can do onboard, that's productive anyway."
"Picard never deemed this important, not until it directly affected him."
"That doesn't change the facts," Will says firmly.
"No, it doesn't, but let's also face these facts, Riker. Being a teenager isn't as exciting as being a starship captain. This is just another way for Picard to shine." Wayler raises an eyebrow. "Don't think Command didn't notice that little detail, when they read your proposal."
"Respectfully, sir," Will counters. "No one ever brought this up to Captain Picard. I checked the records. There's nothing there. No one lodged a complaint, or made any suggestions for improving the teenagers' dilemma. Had there been, I know Picard would've done something about it."
"Is that so?"
"Yes," Will answers, gripping his hands together tighter. "The facts support it."
Wayler relaxes his posture a bit. "Our research supports that too."
"Sir?" Will frowns. It sounds as if they're doing a 360 degree turn, from where Wayler was headed a second ago. Sometimes, he hasn't any idea of how these Admirals think.
Wayler smirks. "Had to test you, Will. It's a pretty big role you've stepped into, after all. Command was worried Picard might still be too big an influence on you."
Will, again, stuffs down his first reaction to anger. He doesn't like his character being questioned, even if it makes sense. "Of course, sir."
"Command thinks you and Jean-Luc have a point," Wayler says. He glances down at something. "Therefore, they're willing to compromise with you."
Wayler throws a fast ball, "In return for these upgrades, and extended shore leave, the Enterprise will be sent to Deep Space 9."
"Sir!" Will starts. He'd imagined a longer mission, but to be sent so close to the Dominion? They've children on board! It makes no sense to build the kids better resources for play, and then to endanger them like this.
"Stand down, Captain," Wayler snaps. "If everything goes according to plan. You'll be leading a fleet into the Gamma Quadrant. Accompanied by Ambassador Spock, on a mobile station. Officially to negotiate trade agreements and explore. But the Federation will also want you to build Bridges. Make yourself known to the locals, be a good Samaritan."
"... how long will we be gone?" Riker needed to know.
"... approximately 60 years."
Riker gapes. unable to process that.
"Remember Captain, with the rejuve pods, This will be no different then any other long term mission. It merely allows us to devote more resources to exploration.
"You'll go through the worm hole, and travel the long way back. Leading a top of the line fleet, of every known space fairing race, in the Alpha and Beta Quadrant.
"Perhaps… perhaps it would be best, to leave the children and their families at Starbase 43, sir."
"Negative. We need those officers for this mission. And over the decades, you'll need those children to serve, as Officers."
Will doesn't like this. Not one bit. The ramifications of effectively making the Enterprise, a generational vessel... but he vaguely understood the logic. If Starfleet wanted to explore the Gamma quadrant, in this much detail... they need to plan a cruise through it. And starting at the other side of the worm hole, would avoid the need to backtrack, on the return home. Effectively reducing travel time by half.
"What about the Dominion?" Riker dared ask.
"The worm hole aliens promised to move the entrance to the Worm hole, to just Outside the Dominion's territory. Within a neutral zone. Between the dominion, and a more benevolent civilizations."
Riker blinked, "There are other civilizations in the Gamma Quadrant?"
"It isn't that different then the other Quadrants," The Admiral shrugged. "The Gamma Quadrant is broken up into 7 territories. And the Worm Hole aliens offered to put us in touch with another species of interest."
Will gulped, "What caused this change. I thought they didn't care about our 'tribal feuds'."
"You can thank Cadet Crusher." The Admiral smirked.
"Wesley?"
"That's right. Apparently he 'advanced our technological level beyond projected parameters'... according to the Q, we weren't supposed to figure out eternal youth for another few thousand years. Making the 'test' against the Dominion, meaningless."
"THAT WAS A TEST!!! Thousands have died!!!"
The Admiral sighed, "I'm aware, Captain. Trust me, I'm aware... But thankfully, Young Crusher broke their scales. The Q said they had to cancel all test, for our species. We're officially under some cosmic jurisdiction, of the Worm Hole Aliens, and they want us to 'guide their Emissary through the Gamma Quadrant'. Something they didn't have planned for thousands of years. But now think we're ready."
"Just because Wesley figured out Rejuve Pods?" Riker was stupefied.
"Not just that, apparently Cadet Crusher is the first sign, our species is evolving into 'higher beings'. Being some kind of "Proto-Deity", as they call him. He's the reason so many of these lifeforms have flocked to us, in recent years. And he's the reason for all the bloody test. He's also accelerating faster then these self proclaimed 'gods' can keep up with. And they want him in the Gamma Quadrant.
"It helps Cadet Crusher, is a damn genius with nanites. His first project, at Starfleet Academy, involved using self replicating nanobots, to build a single person ship, in three days. We've just recently perfected the technology. So we can build entire starships in 6 weeks. Plus a week to program the ship, install the warp engine, and a Dilithium power source."
"How is that possible?" Riker gaped.
"The nanites work like our most top of the line Replicators. Converting energy into matter. Each nanite can make a thousand nanites a second. Which, in turn, each make a thousand more.
"So even though they are small, they can make trillions an hour. They are even solar powered. And can turn themselves into complicated circuitry. Everything from terminals, new age holodecks, and even force fields. The only thing they can't make is Transporters, anti-matter, or Dilithium. As a fail safe, the machines programming is handled separately.
"The Galaxy Class Mark 2's, will be outfitted with holo emitters, to create up to a dozen disposable: Medical, Security, and Tactical programs. Each capable of appearing in a thousand places at once. All but 5 officers, in each department, will be transferred to other ships in your fleet. While lifeforms, from most of known space, will be serving on this ships. Under Starfleet officers."
"We want Starfleet to focus mostly on: command, the sciences, engineering, and diplomacy.
"I'll send you the files on the Galaxy Class Mark 2's. Your own ship, will be outfitted to perform at their level, and hopefully better. You'll need it."
Wayler nods. "Your renovations shouldn't take more then a few months. We'll also, as you suggested, look to outfit other Galaxy Class Starships, with this facility. While you're there, the base will also upgrade your weapons, targeting systems, along with your shields, holo emitters, and give you a superior communication array. So you'll still be in touch with the Alpha Quadrant."
That does nothing to ease Will's gut. If anything, it gets worse. Why would Command feel the need to improve the Enterprise so much, for a true diplomatic mission, if not, because they foresee them getting into a fight?
He takes a shaky breath. "Will there be anything else, sir?"
"No." Wayler signs off, and the screen goes black.
Will sits there for a long time. How's he supposed to justify this to the crew? Most of them will not like this at all. He doesn't like it!
Putting aside the abrupt nature, the many families on board will be justly worried about bringing their children directly into Dominion Territory. New Teen Center, or not. Will foresees quite a few transfer requests coming onto his desk in the next week or two. Transfers he'll have to deny, if Wayler is anything to go by.
Will groans.
Did Command already have this plan for the Enterprise? Probably. Otherwise, they wouldn't have jumped so quickly to accept his proposal.
Will sighs.
Mulling over this won't do anything, other than give him more Counseling sessions and headaches. So, instead, he pulls up a blank page on his Terminal and dictates a request for adult volunteers for supervising this Teen Center.
"Starfleet Command has approved the construction of a new "Children's District". Including many areas purely for older children and teenagers. We have been given orders to park at Star Base 'Deep Space 9', to receive the refit. During that time, any adults willing, and able, to volunteer for supervision duty of the Center, please report to me for an interview."
He's too tired to think of anything else right now. It's concise enough. He hopes. Thinks? Will sits up and reads over his paragraph. It's got plenty of relevant data. Any other questions can be asked when he interviews the volunteers.
"Computer, send this out ship-wide to all available civilian adults, and those with teenagers." He finishes.
The computer chirps in compliance.
Will goes off to bed.
• The Following Morning:
It doesn't take long for his terminal to be backlogged with requests and demands for clarification, along with volunteer offerings.
"Sir, I respectfully request a transfer," Lieutenant Hur'ai says, her orange fur bristling slightly. Her blue uniform only enhances her green, catlike eyes. She's barely sitting on the edge of her seat.
Will eyes her growing claws – something her species does involuntarily when angry. "Denied, I'm afraid. Command wants all hands-on-deck."
"I've two kits." Hur-ai's claws continue to grow – they're two inches at this point. "I will not endanger them like this."
Will stifles a sigh. "I understand your feelings on the matter, but Command is firm on this"
A low growl emanates from her clenched teeth. Will narrows his eyes. He'll be patient up to a point, but he can't accept outright challenges to his command. Unintended as it probably is, Hur'ai just issued a slight defiance to his authority. He can't let that slide. "Care to enunciate that again, Lieutenant?"
She jerks, eyes widening in seeming surprise. She glances down at her claws, retracting them fast. She seems to shrink in on herself. "Apologies, sir, I…I just don't like this."
"None of us do," Will allows himself to say. "But we all knew what we signed on for, when we enlisted."
"Yessir." Her ears flatten back.
"Dismissed." Will glances at his datapad. "Please, send in Mr. Sakatulk on your way out."
The door slides shut with a hiss behind Hur-ai's flicking tail. Will rolls his shoulders around, trying to ease the tension building in them. He just manages to crack his back before the door hisses open.
A tall, reptilian humanoid glides through, long grey robes hiding any indication of gender. Will wonders if the species does that on purpose, hiding their gender. He can't know for sure, and asking might insult them.
Sakatulk nods. "Captain."
"Mr. Sakatulk, please, take a seat." Will gestures to the chair opposite of his desk.
The Selay almost slithers into it.
"It says here," Will begins. "You want to volunteer for the Teen Center."
"Yesss," Sakatulk replies. "I wasss a Hatchery Guardian on my planet."
Will places his pad on the desk and sits back. "Tell me a bit about that."
"It isss different," Sakatulk begins, his snake-like hood flaring a bit. "Humansss retain companionship with their offspring. They keep their young close with them."
"The Selay don't do this?" Will asks, crossing his legs into a more comfortable position.
"No." Sakatulk's hood flares more. "The young are given over to a hatchery, where Guardiansss watch over them until they are old enough to choose a Clutch."
"I take it a Clutch is a sort of Apprenticeship?" Will says, a vague memory from his background searches popping up.
"Yesss, and no." Sakatulk's tongue flicks out twice. "Once chosen, that Clutch adoptsss the youngling."
"Do the children ever see their parents again?"
"Of course, though most are never asss close asss you Humansss are."
Will nods. "And you say that you were a Hatchery Guardian? Is that why you volunteered?"
"Yesss." Sakatulk's white teeth flash as his mouth widens into a grin. "It hasss been yearsss since I last watched over younglingsss. I would be honored if chosssen for thisss task."
"How do you feel about discipline?"
Sakatulk's hood flattens to his head. "In general, we do believe in corporal punishment, but only asss a last resort. It isss something that shouldn't be used asss a first recourse. Children are to be nurtured, not frightened."
"A tough love mixed with patience formula then."
"Indeed."
"And if you ever found yourself using corporal punishment?"
"I would, of course, contact the parentsss or guardiansss at once."
Will nods, picking up his pad again. "Very good. Thank you for your time, Mr. Sakatulk. We'll contact you, should your request progress further."
"Thank you, Captain." Sakatulk rises smoothly, dips his head again, and leaves with the same slithering grace he'd entered.
Will scans his next appointment, and winces. Beverly Crusher. Oh, this will be an interesting visit, if her request is anything to go by. The stiffer her tone, the angrier she is. Will sighs, cracking his neck. Once more to the breach then.
• Later that day.
Picard is waiting for him, the second Will steps into their quarters. Will had received a message he had skipped school today... communications say they had to stop him, multiple times, from calling the Admiralty Board.
Will wants to throttle his naughty little backside, but the boy is clearly terrified.
"Number One!?" a small voice asks once Riker steps through the doorway.
Will does his best not to rage. The boy has clearly earned another spanking... but Deanna went over how he should go about that. This isn't military discipline to an acting ensign. This is a panicking child, that went too far, and acted impulsively.
Riker needs to make sure the boy understands, he doesn't have the Admirals on speed dial anymore. He certainly can't try to call them, complaining about orders, behind Will's back.
Jean-Luc's standing by the entryway like some forlorn puppy, waiting to be kicked. Will sighs, as he comes inside. Sitting on the couch, he gives Jean-Luc a very clear order to sit next to him. The boy flinches at the tone. But thankfully, he quickly obeys.
Riker doesn't say anything, trying to figure out how to start this conversation. Jean-Luc's got to be more nervous than Will's ever seen him. "Jean-Luc? Is everything all right?" Will finds himself asking.
"Yes. I…" Jean-Luc scuffs the carpet a bit, with the toe of his boot, before he suddenly straightens his shoulders and looks Will dead in the eye. "I want to help with attack maneuvers, and strategies against the Dominion Fleets."
Will's mind sort of fritzes out for a few seconds. When he comes back to himself – and, yes, he checked the computer logs, he wasn't 'out' for more than four seconds – Jean-Luc's shoulders are hunched.
"I've got valuable insights that the Federation could utilize," Jean-Luc says, although it somehow sounds like he's trying to convince Will of this fact, instead of stating it.
"I know that, Jean-Luc, but right now we don't know enough about the Dominion to really have any idea how to specialize our defenses."
"But then, I could look over the relevant data."
Will feels his eyebrows start to lower, and he struggles to keep his emotions in check.
"I thought you were looking forward to trying Deep Space 9's hoverboard court." Will says.
Jean-Luc shakes his head. "This is more important."
"I see." Will eyes.
"I'd like to contribute to this War, Number One." Jean-Luc's eyes are a bit misty. "I can't laze about like a child."
"You are a child."
"Only in body. In mind, I am much the same man. It behooves me to act like it."
Will does frown now. "Jean-Luc, what's prompted this?"
"You promised I could contribute to planning strategies."
"And you will, but AFTER, we actually get things ready. We don't even have a program for Assistant Officers, yet. Regardless, school will always be more important."
Jean-Luc actually rolls his eyes, "Come now, Number One, I hardly need Schooling. I already completed my officers training, with Masters in archeology and engineering."
"I won't be satisfied until you have Doctorates." Will glares. "And I'm going to set up a conference, to discuss setting you up with more classes you haven't studied before. In fact, earlier today, after she informed me you skipped, I gave your teacher permission to spank you, if you act up in her class again."
It's important to give Jean-Luc warning of what to expect, Deanna says, and it's clear Jean-Luc doesn't realize he'd be in trouble for not taking school seriously.
"WILL!!!" Jean-Luc gapes.
"You're teacher told me you aren't participating in class activities. Another thing she'll start tanning you for." Will begins listing. "You'll also get it for any grade lower then a "C". On the bare if it's an F." Jean-Luc's eyes widened in horror. "And on the bare for skipping a single class. God help you if you skip the whole day, like you did today."
Jean-Luc looked like he was going to cry again.
Riker reigns in his temper, and assures, "I'll let it slide today, cuz you didn't realize how important I hold your schooling. I'm not trying to just give a place to play. I want you to take this opportunity, most people would kill for, to higher your education. Understand?"
Picard hesitantly nods... too scared by the idea of a bare spanking.
"All rules, you'd expect of a tween, now apply to you. I want to make that clear. No staying up passed 11PM. No fighting, unless it's supervised spars. No sex until your 16. and definitely no drinking, or cannabis use, until you're 21."
"You'll beat me for all of that!!!" Jean-Luc gapes.
"No... I'll never 'beat' you. And you don't have to worry about spankings for those rules either. Except drinking, sex, and pot. You'll normally just be put on restriction. That sound fair."
Jean-Luc visibly relaxes. And those punishments being marked as less serious then anything involving school... heightened how highly Riker regarded his education.
Riker proved this by adding. "And Jean-Luc, if you dare catch a spanking at school. You can expect to be grounded the moment I hear about it. We clear?"
The boy quickly nodded his head.
"And if you ever, even SUGGEST, to the communication officers, about contacting the admiralty board. They have strict instructions to bare your hide right there, and tan you within an inch of your life!!! I can't believe you tried to go over my head like that!!!"
Jean-Luc flinch, "That wasn't my intention..." he weakly tried.
"I want your word. You will never undermine my authority like that again," Riker wags a stern finger. "You knew full well how that will be seen to the crew! And what if the communication officers had actually put you through!!! All that would accomplish is have them question my promotion!!!" Riker forces himself to stop. When he realizes he's yelling.
Jean-Luc whimpers. "You said you weren't going to spa- Punish me."
Will takes in a breath. "You're right, I did say I wouldn't spank you... I'm also too mad, too avoid possibly injuring you... so you're grounded. No novels for a week. Bring me your data pad."
Jean-Luc gulps back tears. but leaves the room to find his pad... the notion Riker is too angry, to risk using Corporal Punishment... that thought hurts more then if the man had beaten him black and blue.
• Three days Later.
"Captain, you have a high priority, personal call, from Robert Picard." says a voice over the inter-comm.
Will groans, having just gotten into bed for the night. Imagining one more angry guardian... although this one he plans to tell to shove it, if he tries to take Jean-Luc. A reminder that Jean-Luc is actively scared of the man, may be required. A low blow, but Jean-Luc has already made it clear, he would prefer to go on a potentially generational long journey. Then return to Earth.
"Send it to my screen," Riker orders, still not looking forward to this talk.
Surprisingly, it's three faces that greet him.
"Permission to come onboard, Captain!" screams a little boy, that must be Jean-Luc's little nephew, René.
Will can't understand what the boy is asking... beyond the silliness children are prone too. "You have to clear it with your parents first." he passes the buck.
"Already been cleared," Robert informed. "We spent the last few days discussing it..." it slowly sinks in as he's talking. "and, with your permission, we'll shut down the vineyard. We'll have a caretaker insure the plants don't overgrow, and the house stays clean. So Jean-Luc and René can reopen it, whenever they choose to retire... but I'll likely be dead before we get back."
"With the rejuve pod. You'll likely be working on the Vineyard yourself... if your sure about this. I can assign you to the new farming deck, they're installing. We're supposed to grow our own food, to limit Replicator use. It's mostly going to be left in the hands of civilians.
"We'll be growing genetically engineered plants. That provide all nutritional needs for every species. They come in a couple dozen flavors, with textures like cherries. We'll get a harvest once every three months. The idea is, we'll turn them into jam and drinks, sealed in reusable jars to preserve them.
"Your experience running a vineyard would greatly help with that... even if the objective isn't to ferment these the berries, we could still use your help in caring for the vines... if your interested."