Now, folks, an emotional wrap-up. A nice private moment, with the purpose of tying up a few loose threads--and having some last analyses of our duo. It's a Spock--POV scene.
(BTW...there's a little "Peter David" moment at the very beginning. If you re-read the last line of the Donatra scene first, and then read the first line of this scene, you'll see what I mean....
)
Now...there is a reference to a notable line from "Chrysalis", specifically, Sarina's own analysis of Ezri, which she gave to Julian. If you're familiar with that ep, you may know which line I'm talking about right away.
Finally, the setting of the scene, and the mood of the atmosphere is, yes, ment to evoke the same midset of a touching scene between Kirk and Spock in STVI:TUC.
So--without further ado....
Star Trek: Aventine
A Rendezvous With Destiny
Scene 21
This is…all in all…a good day, Spock thought to himself, as he meditated in his stateroom on the
Valdore. He was lying on the bed, a single light shining on it. His fingertips were pressed together, his thumbs against his chin. He reflected on the previous week…and all he had learned.
He heard the chime, indicating someone was at the door. “Come.”
The doors opened. He saw in the doorway the silhouette of Ezri Dax. “I…hope I’m not interrupting anything, Ambassador,” she said.
Spock sat up. “Of course not, Captain.”
Ezri came in, as the doors closed behind her. She sat down on the cot, beside him. “I just…wanted to thank you, Spock. What you said to me, on that planet…all of it…it helped me a lot. I want you to know that.”
Spock nodded. “You are welcome, Ezri.”
He remembered…after Ezri had sufficiently recovered, she had offered to let him finish the meld—she had apparently felt that it was the least she could do, after all he had done for her. And so, at last, they fully understood one another…and had forged a bond deeper than friendship…rather like family.
The girl shook her head. “It’s funny…when you’ve been a counselor, like me, you tend to think that…your
own inner problems aren’t that much of a challenge—that you can deal with them yourself. But…I couldn’t. I didn’t. I just…buried it within me, told myself that…all I needed to do, once I admitted to myself what I did…was wait for the right time, and make it up to Julian. I didn’t realize how much I needed to confront those things…and talk about them, with someone else…someone I could trust.”
“Interesting. In effect, then…I had served as
your counselor.”
She turned to him, and smiled. “You know…I never thought of it, that way.”
“Neither did I. Nonetheless…I am somewhat familiar with such matters of psychology. It seems to me, that…that particular science is simply…logic, applied to the behavior of sentient beings.”
Ezri shrugged. “For the most part. But…you know it’s almost never as simple as that. I mean, if it were…it wouldn’t have been so hard for me, would it?”
Spock paused for a moment, considering this. “Perhaps not….”
“At any rate…you were a pretty good counselor—if I’m any judge.”
Spock nodded, permitting himself a small smile. “Thank you, Captain.”
Ezri tilted her head. “Have you…ever considered becoming one—for real?”
Spock felt his eyebrow shoot up. “Captain…?”
Ezri chuckled, and held up her hand. “Just kidding.”
“Undoubtedly.”
She turned away, shaking her head.
Spock watched her. This woman had gone on a great journey throughout the past week. That she could, after such a struggle, find it within her to “laugh at the days to come” was…
fascinating.
And thus…I see that regardless of what happens to this woman…regardless of whatever trials she will face…nothing
can change who she is…nothing can change the dignity, the innocence, the spirit
within her. She is…a very worthy soul…truly greater than the sum of her parts—and indeed, she is now beginning to realize this…and recognize the potential within.
Ezri turned to him. “Spock…can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“
Why did you want so much to help me?”
“Ezri…surely I had explained my reasons sufficiently.”
She shook her head. “It was more than that—more than just a desire to help a friend. Even from the beginning, you were so
interested in finding out what makes me tick. What I want to know is…why did you want so much to learn about me—and help me with the problems I faced inside?”
Spock frowned. For a while…he had no answer. Why indeed?
But then, he remembered…how he had felt, on Starbase 24—his reflections…on the state of the Federation…the state of the quadrant…and the responsibilities he faced.
Ezri frowned in concern. “Spock…?”
He sighed…and, as Ezri had done for him, so he laid out the pain within. He felt his voice breaking…as he brought out from within the strongest…emotion…that he felt.
“I…am old, Ezri. I have seen my family…and friends…grow old…and pass away. I have seen those friends who still live…move on…and find that the universe demands that they change for it. I have seen…events, now recorded in history, which changed all our lives irreversibly—some for the better, some for the worse.
“And now…I see all around me…all the suffering…all the struggles. And I feel within me, as you do, a deep regret…that there is not more that I can do.
“But, most of all, I see myself…simply growing old. And,” he sighed, “As my age increases…I fear my ability to influence the universe for the better…diminishes. There is still the unification movement…but I fear that, soon, even
that will leave me to wonder…if I have outlived my usefulness.”
Ezri stared at him, shaking her head. He could see tears forming in her eyes. “Spock…that’s not true. We
need people like you—now, more than ever. I think…I think the problem with the universe is…that there just aren’t enough people who…who want to…”
“…to ‘do the best they can’?”
Ezri nodded.
“Perhaps, Captain—perhaps….”
They said nothing for a while. But finally, Ezri smiled. “By the way…I’m still waiting for an answer.”
Spock leaned forward. “I believe you know the reason.”
“I…do?”
Spock nodded. “You have said it: the universe requires more people—such as I…and such as you. I wanted to see whether…after I, and Picard, and the rest…are gone—whether we will have left the Federation…in good hands. And indeed…it
is in good hands.” He permitted himself a smile. “
Your hands.”
Ezri chuckled, and her gaze fell for a moment. “Is
that why you said all those things to me—about greatness…and how much of an inspiration I am…and all that?”
“Yes. Ezri…
none of what I said was flattery, I assure you. It was all simple fact. The mistakes of your past cannot change that.”
Ezri sighed, and turned away. But Spock was not through.
“You see…I
do see a great potential within you—the potential to, indeed, change the universe for the better. In effect…the evening star, that provides hope…amid the darkness.”
His gaze moved to the side, as a thought suddenly occurred to him.
“In many respects,” he said, “You are quite reminiscent of
another starship captain I once knew.”
“Really? Who?”
Spock paused, to stress the moment, and replied, “I served under him for many years…and for many years now, he is gone. However…I still, and always shall, consider him…my friend.”
Ezri slowly turned to him, her eyes wide…her mouth open in a small, silent gasp. “Spock…” she whispered, “You…you’re comparing
me…to…”
Spock nodded. “James T. Kirk…
also possessed within him an…inherent desire to ‘do the best he could’—and, indeed…he too had a tendency to…” as another smile played on his face, “…to put
aside thinking—and simply ‘do’.”
Ezri shook her head, a half-smile of astonishment on her face. “But…but I…”
“You do not feel…worthy of this comparison…because of your mistakes.”
She sighed, and gave a light shrug.
“Let me state, then, that Kirk’s…instincts…often led
him to the wrong course of action, as well. However…he knew, as did I, that the consequences of indecision…would invariably have been far worse.”
Ezri blinked. “Really?”
“Yes. And furthermore…he
used these failures as experience, to assist in guiding his own judgment—
refining his instincts, as it were.”
Ezri’s gaze fell inward. She was clearly considering the meaning of what he was saying.
“Perhaps, Ezri,” Spock concluded, in a lighter tone, “You should learn to trust your instincts more often. After all, I have reason to believe that your…initial reluctance to speak to me of…your loss…was mainly out a desire to
think, rather than
do. But as I have stated, there are times for analysis…and times for instinct. And I know—that whatever the mistakes of your past…you truly possess the wisdom to know the difference.”
Ezri looked up at him. “You really think so?” she asked, in a small voice…much like that of a child, who hears from her father a heartfelt proclamation of the great ability inside her.
Spock nodded. “Yes…I do.”
Ezri glanced downward for a moment, as if in hesitation. And then—she threw her arms around him, holding him in a tight embrace.
Spock sat still, unsure of how to react.
Ezri released him…and smiled. And despite himself, Spock could not help but take note…of how beautiful she was, particularly in moments such as these, when pure joy seemed to fill…every fiber of her being.
“Thank you,” she whispered, as her eyes seemed to moisten once again.
Spock nodded, knowing that her embrace had been, more than anything else, the seal of their friendship.
* * *
