BEVERLY (on viewscreen)
You can' t imagine them, Jean Luc. They're kids! All with advance degrees in
xenobiology and out to conquer every disease in the quadrant.
PICARD
(smiles) Reminds me of a young doctor I used to know...
BEVERLY (on viewscreen)
They're running me ragged. Nothing but question day
and night ...I love it! Come to dinner and I’ll tell you all about it. There's a
Bajoran band at the officer's mess.
PICARD
Not tonight, I have work here.
BEVERLY (on viewscreen)
Soon then. I’ll save the last dance for you.- Nemesis
Starfleet Medical HQ, San Francisco, May 16th, 2380
The soft chiming coming from the computer monitor brought Beverly out of her half-dozing state. Belatedly, she realized that she had been asleep for more than an hour, having nodded off a few paragraphs into the latest medical update from Deep Space 3’s Chief Medical Officer Rualla Jabir. Rubbing her eyes, Beverly blearily glanced over to the monitor on her desk, her eyes scanning the information on it, catching the sender and location.
From: U.S.S Enterprise, NCC-1701-E
Jean-Luc Picard, Captain, Commanding Officer
The timestamp indicated that it had been recorded 2 hours earlier, and sent at roughly the same time. Curious, and with something nagging at the back of her mind, she activated the transmission, which showed Jean-Luc sitting at his desk, a look of…sereneness on it. Considering what the crew had gone through over the past year, and more importantly over the last few months and weeks, Beverly took it to be a good sign. The message began to play.
“Beverly, I want to apologize for not talking directly with you over subspace, but the Enterprise is underway and I didn’t have any time.” Pausing the message, Beverly placed her hands on her face, covering it before slowly lowering them to her lips. “I forgot that the Enterprise launching today,” she said, her voice muffled from her hands. That must have been what that nagging feeling was. Feeling guilty for not remembering, she resumed the playback. “We’ve been ordered to begin a mapping expedition of Cardassian space, with assistance from Captain T’Rample and her ship, as well as Gul Macet and his.” The excitement in his voice was palpable. Beverly smiled as she remembered him once asking “Does anyone remember when we used to be explorers?” Now he would get to explore finally, after helping to put out all the Federation’s brushfires, and after losing a close friend and watching his ship crippled. At the thought of Data, Beverly’s smile dimmed. Looking back over to Jean-Luc, she resumed listening to the message. “…and we’ll be arriving back in Federation space about 2 weeks from now, and with luck we can get back to Earth 4 days after that.”
Pausing briefly, Jean-Luc shifted in his seat, before speaking again. “I seem to recall your last conversation with me, something about a Bajoran band at the officer’s mess. I would be…delighted if you would allow me to accept your offer of that last dance. I don’t expect an immediate answer,” he said hurriedly, before pulling back a little. “However, I think it will be fun for both of us.” An indistinct voice was heard in the background, and Jean-Luc sighed before looking back at the screen. “We’re detaching from the repair dock now. We won’t be leaving the system until after our tests, which should be completed about 3 hours from now. I hope to be in contact with you. Picard out.” The screen reverted back to the Starfleet Medical symbol.
Beverly’s mind began to whirl, thinking of all the possibilities and meanings of his message. She remembered the conversation he mentioned very well, because of the slight disappointment she’d had when he said no. That “last dance” comment had been a way for her to get him to commit to something down the road. As she began to think about her reply, the console chirped.
=^=Tsavo to all Department Heads. Staff meeting in 5 minutes. Repeat, staff meeting in 5 minutes=^=
“Crap!” With a slight groan, Beverly grabbed her PADD and the other things she’d need for the meeting. Her mind still on Jean-Luc’s message, she paused for a moment and recorded a quick response, before sending it and leaving the room.
~U.S.S Enterprise, outer edge of the Sol System~
“Helm, slow to one-quarter impulse,” Captain Jean-Luc Picard ordered, eyes focused on the viewscreen. It showed the starry expanse in front of the Sovereign-class starship, poised on the edge of the star system, ready to depart and go exploring. Leaning forward, hands steepled in front of him, Jean-Luc was thinking about the message he’d sent to Beverly. Thinking about dancing, and a moonlit night. Thinking about Will and Deanna’s wedding reception in Alaska. And thinking about the continuing mission of the Enterprise. He was about to give the order to go to warp when Worf, stationed at the tactical console, looked up. “Captain, there is a message for you. It appears to have been sent from Earth.” Sighing, Jean-Luc rose from the command chair. “It’s probably a message from Starfleet Command amending our mission. Send it to my ready room. You have the bridge, Mr. Worf.”
Walking through the door, he settled into the chair behind his desk. “Computer, play message.” When he saw Beverly’s face on the screen, he sat up straighter. Her face looked tired, but content. She reached up and pushed some hair out of her eyes. “Jean-Luc, I just finished reviewing your message. I think it’s wonderful that your first mission out of spacedock is an exploration one. And you’ll do great in Cardassian space, especially with people like Captain T’Rample and Gul Macet.” Stopping to take a breath, she looked back up, her voice softer. “And I’ll be here, waiting for that last dance we promised each other. Crusher out.”
The screen reverted to the Federation symbol, the starscape with two laurel branches on either side. Blinking once, Jean-Luc rose from behind his desk, a smile on his face. Going back out to the bridge, he headed for his chair, which Worf had vacated upon hearing the ready room doors open. Sitting down, Jean-Luc looked around the bridge, at the crew members waiting for his order. “Helm, prepare to give me maximum warp.” Thoughts of exploration and dancing with Beverly entwined in his head, his features softened. “Let’s see what’s out there.” And with a command, the Enterprise leapt into warp speed, an exploration mission ahead of it and the promise of a dance behind it.
You can' t imagine them, Jean Luc. They're kids! All with advance degrees in
xenobiology and out to conquer every disease in the quadrant.
PICARD
(smiles) Reminds me of a young doctor I used to know...
BEVERLY (on viewscreen)
They're running me ragged. Nothing but question day
and night ...I love it! Come to dinner and I’ll tell you all about it. There's a
Bajoran band at the officer's mess.
PICARD
Not tonight, I have work here.
BEVERLY (on viewscreen)
Soon then. I’ll save the last dance for you.- Nemesis
Starfleet Medical HQ, San Francisco, May 16th, 2380
The soft chiming coming from the computer monitor brought Beverly out of her half-dozing state. Belatedly, she realized that she had been asleep for more than an hour, having nodded off a few paragraphs into the latest medical update from Deep Space 3’s Chief Medical Officer Rualla Jabir. Rubbing her eyes, Beverly blearily glanced over to the monitor on her desk, her eyes scanning the information on it, catching the sender and location.
From: U.S.S Enterprise, NCC-1701-E
Jean-Luc Picard, Captain, Commanding Officer
The timestamp indicated that it had been recorded 2 hours earlier, and sent at roughly the same time. Curious, and with something nagging at the back of her mind, she activated the transmission, which showed Jean-Luc sitting at his desk, a look of…sereneness on it. Considering what the crew had gone through over the past year, and more importantly over the last few months and weeks, Beverly took it to be a good sign. The message began to play.
“Beverly, I want to apologize for not talking directly with you over subspace, but the Enterprise is underway and I didn’t have any time.” Pausing the message, Beverly placed her hands on her face, covering it before slowly lowering them to her lips. “I forgot that the Enterprise launching today,” she said, her voice muffled from her hands. That must have been what that nagging feeling was. Feeling guilty for not remembering, she resumed the playback. “We’ve been ordered to begin a mapping expedition of Cardassian space, with assistance from Captain T’Rample and her ship, as well as Gul Macet and his.” The excitement in his voice was palpable. Beverly smiled as she remembered him once asking “Does anyone remember when we used to be explorers?” Now he would get to explore finally, after helping to put out all the Federation’s brushfires, and after losing a close friend and watching his ship crippled. At the thought of Data, Beverly’s smile dimmed. Looking back over to Jean-Luc, she resumed listening to the message. “…and we’ll be arriving back in Federation space about 2 weeks from now, and with luck we can get back to Earth 4 days after that.”
Pausing briefly, Jean-Luc shifted in his seat, before speaking again. “I seem to recall your last conversation with me, something about a Bajoran band at the officer’s mess. I would be…delighted if you would allow me to accept your offer of that last dance. I don’t expect an immediate answer,” he said hurriedly, before pulling back a little. “However, I think it will be fun for both of us.” An indistinct voice was heard in the background, and Jean-Luc sighed before looking back at the screen. “We’re detaching from the repair dock now. We won’t be leaving the system until after our tests, which should be completed about 3 hours from now. I hope to be in contact with you. Picard out.” The screen reverted back to the Starfleet Medical symbol.
Beverly’s mind began to whirl, thinking of all the possibilities and meanings of his message. She remembered the conversation he mentioned very well, because of the slight disappointment she’d had when he said no. That “last dance” comment had been a way for her to get him to commit to something down the road. As she began to think about her reply, the console chirped.
=^=Tsavo to all Department Heads. Staff meeting in 5 minutes. Repeat, staff meeting in 5 minutes=^=
“Crap!” With a slight groan, Beverly grabbed her PADD and the other things she’d need for the meeting. Her mind still on Jean-Luc’s message, she paused for a moment and recorded a quick response, before sending it and leaving the room.
~U.S.S Enterprise, outer edge of the Sol System~
“Helm, slow to one-quarter impulse,” Captain Jean-Luc Picard ordered, eyes focused on the viewscreen. It showed the starry expanse in front of the Sovereign-class starship, poised on the edge of the star system, ready to depart and go exploring. Leaning forward, hands steepled in front of him, Jean-Luc was thinking about the message he’d sent to Beverly. Thinking about dancing, and a moonlit night. Thinking about Will and Deanna’s wedding reception in Alaska. And thinking about the continuing mission of the Enterprise. He was about to give the order to go to warp when Worf, stationed at the tactical console, looked up. “Captain, there is a message for you. It appears to have been sent from Earth.” Sighing, Jean-Luc rose from the command chair. “It’s probably a message from Starfleet Command amending our mission. Send it to my ready room. You have the bridge, Mr. Worf.”
Walking through the door, he settled into the chair behind his desk. “Computer, play message.” When he saw Beverly’s face on the screen, he sat up straighter. Her face looked tired, but content. She reached up and pushed some hair out of her eyes. “Jean-Luc, I just finished reviewing your message. I think it’s wonderful that your first mission out of spacedock is an exploration one. And you’ll do great in Cardassian space, especially with people like Captain T’Rample and Gul Macet.” Stopping to take a breath, she looked back up, her voice softer. “And I’ll be here, waiting for that last dance we promised each other. Crusher out.”
The screen reverted to the Federation symbol, the starscape with two laurel branches on either side. Blinking once, Jean-Luc rose from behind his desk, a smile on his face. Going back out to the bridge, he headed for his chair, which Worf had vacated upon hearing the ready room doors open. Sitting down, Jean-Luc looked around the bridge, at the crew members waiting for his order. “Helm, prepare to give me maximum warp.” Thoughts of exploration and dancing with Beverly entwined in his head, his features softened. “Let’s see what’s out there.” And with a command, the Enterprise leapt into warp speed, an exploration mission ahead of it and the promise of a dance behind it.
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