Best Destiny

by Diane Carey

  He took his father’s arm and turned him toward the door. “I don’t think I need them anymore, do you? If they need me,” he added, “they can join Starfleet.”

  Through blurring eyes, George Kirk was taking that real first look at this son of his.

  At this man.

  They walked together toward the doors of the Starbase One officers’ lounge.

  “I’ll be darned,” he murmured. “I guess they can . . . ”

  As the wide doors opened before them, they caught at the same moment a glimpse of the brass placard on the beautiful polished walnut panels. Neither mentioned the placard, but father and son felt it go by, and felt it breathe on their shoulders its blessing for the valiant of Starfleet.

  Sail forth—steer for the deep waters only,

  Reckless O soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me,

  For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,

  And we will risk the ship, ourselves, and all.

  —Walt Whitman

  EPILOGUE

  USS Enterprise 1701-A

  “This is the president. My greetings, Captain.”

  “Mr. President, hello.”

  “I must add once again our profound thanks. How many times can we thank you for your superhuman feats?”

  “Only human, Mr. President. I do have a special notice, however.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  “We’re not decommissioning this vessel, or retiring the Constitution-class of starships.”

  “We’re not? But the Admiralty—”

  “Will have to consider new facts. I have evidence that the older style of starship construction and power ratios may prove indispensable. The galaxy is only partly explored, and we can’t prudently shelve valuable capital. We will make a new decision.”

  “I see . . . very revealing, Captain. Certainly we cannot ignore your conclusions. And obviously when we needed the Enterprise this time, she was there for us—again. I risk being presumptuous, but I agree a growing Federation should not cast away our early strengths. I have authorized your command crew’s reprieves from retirement while I call a special congress of the Admiralty for you to address. I look forward to the result . . . there are those of us who cling to the Constitution-class for more than tangible reasons. We may be glad you can provide tangible reasons, sir. Visit me upon your arrival.”

  “I will, sir. I’d like you to be my guest in the officers’ lounge. There’s a plaque there I’d like to polish with my elbow.”

  “My pleasure to witness it, Captain.”

  “Thank you. Kirk out.”

  “This is Starbase One, out.”

  James Kirk drew in a deep cleansing breath, then took a moment to flick a hangnail off his thumb. All of a sudden a little piece of him was embedded in the plush carpet of the new ship’s bridge. All of a sudden it was a little more part of him than it had been a day ago.

  Ships were like that. Something had changed in the ship’s heart. Suddenly she wanted to be part of him instead of the other way around. They had saved each other’s lives, and the lives of others.

  Strange, how things could change.

  He glanced around him, at the upper deck, where McCoy stood beside Uhura, where Chekov stood beside Spock, and over to port, where Scotty was leaning on the glossy new engineering section, and all at once the ship wanted them, and wanted desperately to prove she was worthy of them.

  That light was in all their eyes, and it was in his. The let’s-fly light.

  Jim Kirk patted the arm of his command chair, and told her in his mind that the captain’s string was still in his pocket.

  “Mr. Chekov,” he said, “reverse the ship.”

  “Reverse the ship, aye. All decks responding.”

  “Mr. Spock?”

  “Captain?”

  “Bring her about . . . steady as she goes.”

  Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books

  Star Trek®: The Original Series

  Enterprise: The First Adventure • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Final Frontier • Diane Carey

  Strangers From the Sky • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Spock's World • Diane Duane

  The Lost Years • J.M. Dillard

  Probe • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Prime Directive • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Best Destiny • Diane Carey

  Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman

  Sarek • A.C. Crispin

  Federation • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Vulcan's Forge • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Mission to Horatius • Mack Reynolds

  Vulcan's Heart • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Novelizations

  Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Starfleet Academy • Diane Carey

  Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  The Ashes of Eden

  The Return

  Avenger

  Star Trek: Odyssey (contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger)

  Spectre

  Dark Victory

  Preserver

  #1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  #2 • The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #3 • The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman

  #4 • The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein

  #5 • The Prometheus Design • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #6 • The Abode of Life • Lee Correy

  #7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #8 • Black Fire • Sonni Cooper

  #9 • Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #10 • Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock

  #11 • Yesterday's Son • A.C. Crispin

  #12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman

  #13 • The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane

  #14 • The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin

  #15 • Corona • Greg Bear

  #16 • The Final Reflection • John M. Ford

  #17 • Star Trek III: The Search For Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #18 • My Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane

  #19 • The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass

  #20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah

  #21 • Uhura's Song • Janet Kagan

  #22 • Shadow Lord • Laurence Yep

  #23 • Ishmael • Barbara Hambly

  #24 • Killing Time • Della Van Hise

  #25 • Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  #26 • Pawns and Symbols • Majliss Larson

  #27 • Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard

  #28 • Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson

  #29 • Dreadnought! • Diane Carey

  #30 • Demons • J.M. Dillard

  #31 • Battlestations! • Diane Carey

  #32 • Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese

  #33 • Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein

  #34 • Dreams of the Raven • Carmen Carter

  #35 • The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood

  #36 • How Much For Just the Planet? • John M. Ford

  #37 • Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard

  #38 • The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah

  #39 • Time For Yesterday • A.C. Crispin

  #40 • Timetrap • David Dvorkin

  #41 • The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul

  #42 • Memory Prime • Gar and Judith Reeves-Stevens<
br />
  #43 • The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese

  #44 • Vulcan's Glory • D.C. Fontana

  #45 • Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman

  #46 • The Cry of the Onlies • Judy Klass

  #47 • The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar

  #48 • Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood

  #49 • The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes

  #50 • Doctor's Orders • Diane Duane

  #51 • Enemy Unseen • V.E. Mitchell

  #52 • Home is the Hunter • Dana Kramer Rolls

  #53 • Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly

  #54 • A Flag Full of Stars • Brad Ferguson

  #55 • Renegade • Gene DeWeese

  #56 • Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman

  #57 • The Rift • Peter David

  #58 • Faces of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman

  #59 • The Disinherited • Peter David

  #60 • Ice Trap • L.A. Graf

  #61 • Sanctuary • John Vornholt

  #62 • Death Count • L.A. Graf

  #63 • Shell Game • Melissa Crandall

  #64 • The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden

  #65 • Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell

  #66 • From the Depths • Victor Milan

  #67 • The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey

  #68 • Firestorm • L.A. Graf

  #69 • The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke

  #70 • Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf

  #71 • Crossroad • Barbara Hambly

  #72 • The Better Man • Howard Weinstein

  #73 • Recovery • J.M. Dillard

  #74 • The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin Flynn

  #75 • First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland

  #76 • The Captain's Daughter • Peter David

  #77 • Twilight's End • Jerry Oltion

  #78 • The Rings of Tautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #79 • Invasion! #1: First Strike • Diane Carey

  #80 • The Joy Machine • James Gunn

  #81 • Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion

  #82 • Mind Meld • John Vornholt

  #83 • Heart of the Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #84 • Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox

  #85-87 • My Brother's Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman

  #85 • Republic

  #86 • Constitution

  #87 • Enterprise

  #88 • Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #89-94 • New Earth

  #89 • Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey

  #90 • Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey

  #91 • Rough Trails • L.A. Graf

  #92 • The Flaming Arrow • Kathy and Jerry Oltion

  #93 • Thin Air • Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith

  #94 • Challenger • Diane Carey

  Star Trek: The Next Generation®

  Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah

  Vendetta • Peter David

  Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi • Peter David

  The Devil's Heart • Carmen Carter

  Dark Mirror • Diane Duane

  Q-Squared • Peter David

  Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman

  Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman

  Ship of the Line • Diane Carey

  The Best and the Brightest • Susan Wright

  Planet X • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter David

  I, Q • John de Lancie & Peter David

  The Valiant • Michael Jan Friedman

  Novelizations

  Encounter at Farpoint• David Gerrold

  Unification • Jeri Taylor

  Relics • Michael Jan Friedman

  Descent • Diane Carey

  All Good Things... • Michael Jan Friedman

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: First Contact • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard

  #1 • Ghost Ship • Diane Carey

  #2 • The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese

  #3 • The Children of Hamlin • Carmen Carter

  #4 • Survivors • Jean Lorrah

  #5 • Strike Zone • Peter David

  #6 • Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein

  #7 • Masks • John Vornholt

  #8 • The Captain's Honor • David and Daniel Dvorkin

  #9 • A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman

  #10 • A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David

  #11 • Gulliver's Fugitives • Keith Sharee

  #12 • Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger

  #13 • The Eyes of the Beholders • A.C. Crispin

  #14 • Exiles • Howard Weinstein

  #15 • Fortune's Light • Michael Jan Friedman

  #16 • Contamination • John Vornholt

  #17 • Boogeymen • Mel Gilden

  #18 • Q-In-Law • Peter David

  #19 • Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein

  #20 • Spartacus • T.L. Mancour

  #21 • Chains of Command • W.A. McCay & E.L. Flood

  #22 • Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell

  #23 • War Drums • John Vornholt

  #24 • Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton

  #25 • Grounded • David Bischoff

  #26 • The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke

  #27 • Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason

  #28 • Here There Be Dragons • John Peel

  #29 • Sins of Commission • Susan Wright

  #30 • Debtor's Planet • W.R. Thompson

  #31 • Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #32 • Requiem • Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan

  #33 • Balance of Power • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #34 • Blaze of Glory • Simon Hawke

  #35 • The Romulan Stratagem • Robert Greenberger

  #36 • Into the Nebula • Gene DeWeese

  #37 • The Last Stand • Brad Ferguson

  #38 • Dragon's Honor • Kij Johnson & Greg Cox

  #39 • Rogue Saucer • John Vornholt

  #40 • Possession • J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O'Malley

  #41 • Invasion! #2: The Soldiers of Fear • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #42 • Infiltrator • W.R. Thompson

  #43 • A Fury Scorned • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #44 • The Death of Princes • John Peel

  #45 • Intellivore • Diane Duane

  #46 • To Storm Heaven • Esther Friesner

  #47-49 • The Q Continuum • Greg Cox

  #47 • Q-Space

  #48 • Q-Zone

  #49 • Q-Strike

  #50 • Dyson Sphere • Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski

  #51-56 • Double Helix

  #51 • Infection • John Gregory Betancourt

  #52 • Vectors • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #53 • Red Sector• Diane Carey

  #54 • Quarantine • John Vornholt

  #55 • Double or Nothing • Peter David

  #56 • The First Virtue • Michael Jan Friedman & Christie Golden

  #57 • The Forgotten War • William R. Forstchen

  #58-59 • Gemworld • John Vornholt

  #58 • Gemworld #1

  #59 • Gemworld #2

  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®

  Warped • K.W. Jeter

  Legends of the Ferengi• Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe

  The Lives of Dax• Marco Palmieri, ed.

  Millennium • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  #1 • The Fall of Terok Nor

  #2 • The War of the Prophets

  #3 • Inferno />
  Novelizations

  Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  The Search• Diane Carey

  The Way of the Warrior • Diane Carey

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Trials and Tribble-ations • Diane Carey

  Far Beyond the Stars• Steve Barnes

  What You Leave Behind• Diane Carey

  #1 • Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  #2 • The Siege • Peter David

  #3 • Bloodletter • K.W. Jeter

  #4 • The Big Game • Sandy Schofield

  #5 • Fallen Heroes • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #6 • Betrayal • Lois Tilton

  #7 • Warchild • Esther Friesner

  #8 • Antimatter • John Vornholt

  #9 • Proud Helios • Melissa Scott

  #10 • Valhalla • Nathan Archer

  #11 • Devil in the Sky • Greg Cox & John Gregory Betancourt

  #12 • The Laertian Gamble • Robert Sheckley

  #13 • Station Rage • Diane Carey

  #14 • The Long Night • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #15 • Objective: Bajor • John Peel

  #16 • Invasion! #3: Time's Enemy • L.A. Graf

  #17 • The Heart of the Warrior • John Gregory Betancourt

  #18 • Saratoga • Michael Jan Friedman

  #19 • The Tempest • Susan Wright

  #20 • Wrath of the Prophets • David, Friedman & Greenberger

  #21 • Trial by Error • Mark Garland

  #22 • Vengeance • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #23 • The 34th Rule • Armin Shimerman & David R. George III

  #24-26 •Rebels • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #24 • The Conquered

  #25 • The Courageous

  #26 • The Liberated

  #27 • A Stitch in Time • Andrew J. Robinson

  Star Trek: Voyager®

  Mosaic • Jeri Taylor

  Pathways • Jeri Taylor

  Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth• D.W. "Prof" Smith

  Novelizations

  Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  Flashback • Diane Carey

  Day of Honor • Michael Jan Friedman

  Equinox • Diane Carey

  #1 • Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  #2 • The Escape • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #3 • Ragnarok • Nathan Archer

  #4 • Violations • Susan Wright

  #5 • Incident at Arbuk • John Gregory Betancourt

  #6 • The Murdered Sun • Christie Golden