He thought about the way his life had been only a week earlier. He hardly had any friends then—he didn’t even know anybody’s name! Now everybody said hello to him. He was going to a concert tonight with Megan, and tomorrow he was going to a football game with Jenna. Women were still something of a mystery, but at least they were a friendly mystery.
Now if he could just find time to study!
“La Forge!” called a cranky voice.
Geordi jumped and checked his feet. “I’m not walking on the liverwort!” he answered.
“I know you’re not,” said Boothby. The old gardener strode up to him and smiled. “In fact, I hear you walk on water now.”
“That’s not true,” said Geordi, shaking his head. “Does everybody on campus know about it?”
“That you won Capture the Flag?” asked Boothby. “Of course they know. I heard you took a bunch of losers and molded them into a Iighting force to be reckoned with.”
“Bah,” scoffed Geordi. “I just got lucky. I chose those people just to prove a point. They’re the ones who did it, not me.”
Boothby shrugged. “Nevertheless, they’ll be watching you now. They’ll expect more from you. They’ll want to get you on the fast track to a command post.”
Geordi moaned. “I don’t want to command—I want to be an engineer, or a navigator.”
“Maybe you’ll command an engineering department,” said Boothby. “Next to the Bridge, that’s the most important part of a starship.”
Geordi nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, maybe.”
The old man squinted, as if he was remembering something. “Years ago, there was another cadet who was having trouble at the Academy until he won a parrises squares tournament. His name was Picard.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. You haven’t heard about him yet, but you will. Listen, La Forge, don’t let them push you into anything. You’re still the master of your own fate.”
The young cadet shrugged. “I never felt that way before—like I was the master of my own fate.”
“Well, you proved that you are,” said Boothby. “You made them notice you, and that’s a rare achievement here. Unless it’s for something bad.”
Geordi chuckled. “I’m not complaining. It was a good experience for all of us.”
“Just remember one thing,” growled Boothby.
“Yes?”
“Stay off my liverwort.”
About the Author
JOHN VORNHOLT was born in Marion, Ohio, and knew he wanted to write science fiction when he discovered Doc Savage novels and the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. But somehow he wrote nonfiction and television scripts for many years, including animated series such as Dennis the Menace, Ghostbusters, and Super Mario Brothers. He was also an actor and playwright, with several published plays to his credit.
John didn’t get back to his first love—writing SF—until 1989 with the publication of his first Star Trek Next Generation novel, Masks. He wrote two more, Contamination and War Drums; a classic Trek novel, Sanctuary; and a Deep Space Nine novel, Antimatter. For young readers, he’s also written nonfiction books and the novel How to Sneak into the Girls’ Locker Room.
John lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife, Nancy, his children, Sarah and Eric, and his dog, Bessie.
About the Illustrator
TODD CAMERON HAMILTON is a self-taught artist who has resided all his life in Chicago, Illinois. He has been a professional illustrator for the past ten years, specializing in fantasy, science fiction, and horror. His original works grace many private and corporate collections. He has co-authored two novels and several short stories. When not drawing, painting, or writing, his interests include metalsmithing, puppetry, and teaching.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Starfleet Academy #4: Capture the Flag Page 9
