by Dayton Ward
“I would welcome that, Envoy, and the opportunity to return the favor.”
“Farewell, Captain.”
With the communication finished, Picard sighed, relishing the end of the long day he and his crew had endured. There still was much work to be done, of course, aboard ship as well as with the Raqilan and the Golvonek, but soon the Enterprise would be off again, ready to encounter what might be waiting out among the stars.
Exiting his ready room, he stepped onto the bridge to find Commander Worf standing in front of the center seat, reviewing something on a padd. Upon noticing Picard’s arrival, Worf nodded in his direction.“Captain.”
Seeing Taurik standing near the aft starboard turbolift alcove, his hands clasped behind his back, Picard said to Worf, “Number One, you have the bridge.” He walked toward Taurik. “Commander.”
“You wanted to see me, sir,” replied the Vulcan.
Picard gestured for Taurik to accompany him into the turbolift. After directing the car to his quarters, he turned to face the engineer. “It seems we have matters of great sensitivity to discuss, Commander.”
Nodding, Taurik replied, “Indeed. In accordance with the Temporal Prime Directive, I have completed a detailed report for transmission to the Department of Temporal Investigations. I am ready to dispatch that report on your order, sir.”
“Is there anything in there you can tell me?” Picard asked, hearing the whine of the turbolift as it slowed its descent before moving horizontally.
“No, sir. Per regulations and after careful consideration, I have determined that there is nothing with which I am at liberty to discuss with you. The only thing I can offer is my assurance that with the Raqilan weapon ship destroyed, there is very little likelihood of this information being discovered or accessed by anyone else. I have compartmentalized and encrypted the data to which I was exposed, and it has been placed in a secure archive within the main computer. That archive is accessible only to me via voice authorization and a fractal encryption key, which I will provide upon order to Temporal Investigations agents when they arrive to retrieve it. I believe I have acted in the best interests of Federation security and the well-being of the Enterprise, its crew, and you, Captain.”
Picard smiled at the engineer’s resolve. “I have no doubt about that, Commander.” He could not deny his desire to hear more, especially anything that might pertain to future events involving the Federation. He also was intrigued by more straightforward information, such as the factors that were considered by Raqilan civilian and military leaders before making the decision to construct the Arrow in the first place. Despite his own feelings, Picard knew that Taurik was doing the proper thing by isolating himself with the knowledge he had obtained.
“Have you informed Starfleet Command about the wrecked planet-destroying machine?” Taurik asked.
“Yes. A science team will be dispatched to examine it and perhaps even collect the remains for transport to one of our research facilities, as was done with the original machine. I suspect this discovery will make some small group of scientists very happy.” With the loss of the original planet killer during one of Starfleet’s final confrontations with the Borg, Starfleet research specialists had been without any examples of the ancient alien technology. There would be much celebration when it was learned that another, possibly older version of the device had been found.
Taurik was silent until the turbolift began to slow, at which time he said, “Computer, hold turbolift.” In response to his command, the car halted its horizontal motion. Taurik waited for that before returning his attention to Picard.
“Captain, I must admit to a certain degree of trepidation regarding the knowledge I possess with regard to future events. It will be . . . agreeable . . . to discuss this with Temporal Investigations, but I am troubled about how they may react and what that might mean for my status aboard the Enterprise.”
It was not an unreasonable concern, Picard knew. It was likely that DTI agents would submit Taurik to extensive debriefing sessions with an aim of learning from the Vulcan every scrap of information he had seen. They also would expend considerable effort studying the information to which he had gone to great lengths to quarantine, with special attention paid to any information pertaining to the Arrow’s temporal displacement technology. Based on what he understood of the department’s voluminous rules and procedures for handling temporal violations of any sort, there was no way to predict any lasting repercussions to Taurik.
“Whatever happens, Commander, you have my full confidence and unwavering trust. Your integrity is beyond reproach, and I will support you to the utmost of my ability.”
Taurik’s right eyebrow arched. “Thank you, Captain. Your trust is most gratifying.”
After releasing the turbolift and excusing the engineer to carry on with his evening plans, Picard made his way to his quarters. The doors were still parting when a small ball of energy leaped from the sofa at the center of the main room and rocketed toward him.
“Papa!” said René, bounding across the room to take his father’s hand. “Look! Mommy’s home.”
Picard smiled at Beverly, who had found a comfortable place sprawled across the sofa. “Welcome home.” He had been looking forward to this all evening. The events of the past days had seen fit to keep both of them focused on their duties, and then there was poor René, who seemed none the worse for wear following an extended stay with Hailan Casmir and his staff in the Enterprise’s childcare facility. Just seeing his son was enough to alleviate the stresses of the just concluded mission.
Not bothering to move from the sofa, Beverly said, “It’s good to be home.”
Though she and the away team had been back aboard the Enterprise for several hours, she had been engrossed in patient care and he had been dealing with the aftermath of the Arrow’s destruction. As such, this was the first time they had spoken to each other since her return. “Are you all right?”
“Just tired,” Beverly replied. “Nothing a week’s worth of sleep won’t cure.”
“I like the sound of that,” Picard said, taking a seat on the sofa near Beverly’s head and allowing René to climb into his lap.
Reaching up to place a hand on his leg, Beverly said, “I don’t remember exploration being this exhausting. Is it going to be this way from now on?”
“It’s not supposed to be,” Picard replied as René shifted to a comfortable position before reaching for a book lying on the end table to his right. “The excitement of finding out what happens next is supposed to make us forget all about that.”
“What happens next, Papa?” René asked.
Picard smiled. “That’s a good question, and there’s only one way to find out. We have to go and look for ourselves, don’t we?”
“Then let’s go.”
“See what I mean?” Beverly chuckled. “Exhausting.”
Unable to resist teasing her, Picard said, “Of course, I suppose the simple explanation is that we’re just getting—”
“Do not finish that sentence.” A moment later, she asked, “I was thinking about a hot bath and a glass of wine. What about you?”
“He’s going to read!” René beamed, handing Picard the book he had retrieved. For his part, Picard was eager to lose himself in the pages of a book—any book—if only for a short while. That he could share one of his most treasured pursuits with his son made the activity all the more special. Already he could feel the pressures of command slipping away, allowing him a few precious moments of respite. They would return, of course, but not just yet. René would see to that.
Recognizing the tome his son had given him, Picard could not help the wry grin he directed to his wife.
“The one with the aliens,” René said. “They crashed on Earth a long time ago, and it was a big secret. Read it, Papa.”
Rolling her eyes, Beverly threw up her hands in mock surrender.
“I’m leaving now.” She headed for the master bedroom, leaving Picard and René alone on the couch. The boy shifted his position again as he tapped the book’s cover, anxious to continue their shared adventure.
“What happens next, Papa?”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks very much to my editors at Pocket Books, who called on me to continue the adventures of Captain Picard and the Enterprise-E after the events of The Fall. One of the things I hoped to see after that miniseries was a return to exploration that is a hallmark of Star Trek, and when I was writing Peaceable Kingdoms I did my best to leave as clean a slate as possible for the next writer to take the baton for this new chapter in the story of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I had no idea at the time that I would be that writer, or else I might’ve set up things a bit differently. I mean, who doesn’t want to see Picard and the gang on vacation, solving a murder mystery on some resort planet before heading off to seek out new life and civilizations, am I right?
Hello? Bueller?
Thanks also to the incomparable Doug Drexler, whose artwork graces the cover of this book. In recent years, Mr. Drexler has created some truly beautiful art for Star Trek novels and calendars, including my personal favorite from the Star Trek: Vanguard novel series, Open Secrets. That said, I think he may have outdone himself this time. He showed me a rough version just as I was looking for that last little bit of juice to finish the manuscript. It was the perfect motivation to help me reach the finish line. You truly are a steely-eyed missile man, Mr. D!
I would be remiss in my duties if I did not offer a sincere salute and tip of my hat to renowned science fiction author Norman Spinrad. If you’re reading this part of the book first, then I won’t spoil it for you as to why I feel compelled to thank him for his inspiration.
Finally, dear reader, I offer my sincere appreciation for your continuing support of my work. I am very fortunate to do what I do, you are a big reason for that, and I remind myself of that fact each and every day. Thank you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dayton Ward has been modified to fit this medium, to write in the space allotted, and has been edited for content. Reader discretion is advised.
Visit Dayton on the web at www.daytonward.com.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: authors.simonandschuster.com/Dayton-Ward
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Pocket Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Cover design by Alan Dingman
Cover art by Doug Drexler/AliRies
ISBN 978-1-4767-8269-0
ISBN 978-1-4767-8270-6 (ebook)
CONTENTS
Historian’s Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
About the Author
