Part 22 (2/2)
”So what'd ye do?” asked Scotty.
The younger man rubbed his hands together. ”Well,” he said, ”it was suckling power directly from the s.h.i.+p's fusion reactors. So Doctor Brahms and I ...”
”Doctor Brahms?” repeated Scotty. ”And who's that?” He winked. ”Someone special, I'd wager, by the way ye said her name.”
Geordi blushed. ”She's married. And besides, that's another story entirely. Anyway, we changed the power frequency from twenty-one centimeters to point-oh-two centimeters...”
Scotty had already caught on. ”Ye soured the milk, did ye?”
”That's right,” Geordi confirmed. ”How did you know?”
His companion shrugged. ”They say that great minds think alike. And I ask ye now, who am I to argue with 'em?”
They laughed at that. But just seconds later, Scott's smile seemed to fade a bit. He put his hand on Geordi's shoulder.
”Ye know,” he said, ”in a way, I envy you.”
”Envy me?” replied La Forge. ”You're the one who's a living legend.”
Scott shook his head. ”It's always better to be on yer way than arrivin',” he declared. ”The journey's always sweeter than its end.”
”Come on,” Geordi told him. ”Don't go all nostalgic on me now.”
The older man shrugged. ”Enjoy these times, Geordi. Ye're the chief engineer of a stars.h.i.+p. It's a time of yer life that'll never come again. And once it's gone, it's gone for good.”
The engineer of the Enterprise-no-suffix took his hand back and sighed. As he looked ahead, a slight frown crossed his face. ”Not that retirement is so bad,” he commented. ”I hear the Norpin Five colony is very... er, quiet this time o' year.”
Geordi stopped in front of the shuttlebay doors. Scott stopped too, a little surprised.
”I thought ye were going to buy me a drink in Ten-Forward,” he said. ”Dinnae tell me ye're withdrawin' yer offer.”
The younger man smiled. ”I changed my mind.”
Indicating the doors, which slid aside at his approach, he led the way into the shuttle bay. Consumed with curiosity, Scott followed.
He wasn't disappointed, either. Not a single bit.
Picard, Riker, Worf, Dr. Crusher, Troi and Data were all standing beside a large, gleaming shuttlecraft. On its side, in an elegant, flowing script, there was but one word. A name Christopher.
The craft's s.p.a.ce door was open. Stunned, Scott looked it over, then glanced back at his friends.
”Does this mean what I think it means?”
Riker chuckled. ”That all depends on what you think it means.”
”For instance,” said Picard, ”if you think it means we're making a gift of it to you ...”
”Then you are correct,” Worf finished.
The captain looked at him, a little taken aback at his enthusiasm.
The Klingon straightened. ”Sorry, sir.”
Scott shook his head. ”Ye're going to give me one of your shuttles?” For once, he was at a loss for words.
Picard smiled warmly. ”Call it... an extended loan. Since you lost your s.h.i.+p while saving ours, it seemed only fair to supply you with another one.”
The older man grunted appreciatively. ”It was a fine thought.”
”I agree,” the captain replied. ”Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for it. It was actuall y Counselor Troi's idea.”
”Actually,” said the empath, ”it was Ensign Kane's. Let us give credit where credit is due.”
Scott looked at her. ”Ah, la.s.s.” He took her hands in his. ”Can ye ever forgive me fer the way I spoke to you?”
”Oh,” she said, smiling impishly, ”I don't know. Perhaps with time, I'll get over it.”
”I'm sure ye will,” Scotty told her, returning her smile. ”I'm sure ye will.”
Riker slapped the shuttle's metal skin. ”She's not much to look at,” he commented, ”and she's not as roomy as a stars.h.i.+p. Or even a transport, for that matter.”
”Lad,” said Scotty, ”every woman has her own charms and her own beauty. Ye just have to know where to look.”
Geordi leaned close to his fellow engineer. ”It's a little slow, you know. But it'll get you to the Norpin Five colony.” He paused. ”That is, if that's where you really want to go.”
Scotty considered the s.h.i.+p ... and very slowly, a change came over his features. He seemed different. Rejuvenated, Geordi thought.
Turning to La Forge, Scott smiled his brightest smile yet. ”The Norpin Five colony is where old men go to retire, laddie. Maybe I'll end up there someday -but not just yet.”
”Oh?” said Picard. ”Where do you intend to go?”
Scotty held out his hands. ”Yer guess is as good as mine, Captain. There's still a lot I want to see.” He indicated Data with a tilt of his head. ”Fer example, the place my friend here came from.”
”It is not difficult to find,” the android a.s.sured him.
”And a million other places,” the older man finished. He took a breath, let it out. ”In fact,” he said, ”I think I'd best be off.”
”So soon?” asked Crusher.
Scotty nodded. ”And dinnae be tellin' me I need to stay and rest up, Doctor. Any more of this sort of rest and they'll be carrying me out on a stretcher.” He tilted his head. ”Thouh ye're still the prettiest physician I ever saw.”
Picard held out his hand. ”I cannot convince you to stay awhile?”
”Nae likely,” Scotty told him, taking the captain's hand and pressing it with great enthusiasm. ”There's too much to see, and nae nearly enough time to see it in.”
<script>