EPILOGUE

Picard entered Ten-Forward just in time to see the Starship Gettysburg come about in space.

Describing a graceful arc, the vessel moved away from the Enterprise under impulse power only. Then, once it was clear of the larger vessel, it switched to its warp drive and sped off like a shot, its nacelles emitting blue streamers of high-energy plasma.

Crossing the lounge, he joined McCoy, Scotty, and Data, who had gathered at an observation port to observe Ambassador Spock’s departure. And well they might, he thought. After all, the hopes and dreams of two worlds traveled with the Vulcan.

Data turned to Picard. He looked surprised.

“I believe I have experienced a premonition, sir.”

“Indeed,” Captain Scott replied. “And what sort o’ premonition is that, laddie?”

“I have the distinct impression that we will see Ambassador Spock again,” the android informed them.

Scott chuckled and clapped Data on the shoulder. “I would nae be surprised, Commander. Nae one wee bit. After all, the ambassador has a habit of returning from places ye dinnae expect him to return from.”

Picard understood the reference. After all, he’d had the advantage of mind-melding with Sarek shortly before the Vulcan’s demise—so he was something of an authority on Spock’s life and death.

McCoy’s blue eyes glinted wistfully with reflected starlight. “You know,” he rasped, “if Spock’s father could see his son today, he’d be proud. Damned proud.”

Picard looked at him, wondering half-seriously if the admiral had somehow developed telepathy. “No doubt he would,” the captain remarked.

McCoy returned Picard’s scrutiny. “I guess I owe you an apology,” he told the captain. “You knew what you were doing all along, didn’t you? And I was a cranky old fool, who couldn’t—”

Picard held up a peremptory hand. “I don’t know about that,” he countered.

McCoy’s wispy white brows lowered a notch. “What?”

“I’m not certain I entirely agree,” the younger man maintained. “To my mind, it was the decisive action we took that ultimately made our mission a success. The kind of action that you were advocating all along, Admiral.”

McCoy smiled as he saw what the captain was getting at. “Tact and toughness. I suppose you’ve got to have both options in your arsenal if you’re going to command a starship these days.”

Picard smiled back. “I suppose you do.”

Together they watched the points of light that stood in the direction of the Neutral Zone. The stars seemed to shiver, as if with anticipation of a renewed bond between Romulans and Vulcans.

Of course it might take a lifetime for Spock to bring the two races together again. It might not happen at all.

But, the captain mused, if he and Admiral McCoy could work out their differences, nothing in the universe was absolutely impossible.