Perchance To Dream Part 22

"Welcome home, Arit. Enterprise out."

Arit faded from the viewer, replaced by an orbital view of the world henceforth to be known as Mirrillon. Riker joined Picard and Deanna Troi down in the starship's command well, easing into his seat at the captain's right. "Ready to leave orbit, sir."

But before Picard could respond, a multicolored cloud of energy materialized beneath the bridge's observation dome-with one golden sparkle inside, accompanied by the faint jangle of distant chimes.

:This is Ko, Captain Picard. The Shapers wish to thank you. We look forward to sharing the World-and to meeting other new life-forms from your Federation.: "It is we who should thank you, Ko. Your willingness to embrace the unknown has given the Tenirans a second chance-and I'm sure your membership will enrich the Federation."

:Farewell, Captain.: Then Ko was gone.

The bridge intercom beeped, followed by Beverly Crusher's voice. "Sickbay to Captain Picard."

"Picard here, Doctor."

"I just wanted to let you know we've conjured that promised medical miracle."

Picard's eyebrows rose in pleasant surprise. "Oh?"

"Yes. We just finished running our lab tests, and I think we've got a promising new treatment for ridmium poisoning. If it works on people even half as well as it does on the computer models, those injured workers at the Chezrani outpost have an excellent chance for full recovery."

"Ensign Crusher," Riker said, "set course for the Chezrani system."

Wesley's practiced fingers skipped across his console. "Course set, Commander."

"Warp factor seven, Ensign," Picard said, pointing ahead. "Engage."

As the Enterprise broke out of orbit, Riker leaned forward with a mischievous glimmer in his eye. "Data, there's something that bothered me about your Thanksgiving a.n.a.logy."

The android swiveled slightly in his seat. "Oh? What was that, Commander?"

"You neglected to mention how American colonists and their descendants nearly exterminated the natives over the next couple of centuries. I've never known you to be any less than exhaustively complete in any factual report."

Data's eyebrows arched innocently. "I was, of course, aware of that unfortunate progression of historical events. But I did not believe the negative aspects of this particular account would serve a constructive purpose. So I delivered an edited version that seemed to be more ... appropriate ... for the occasion." He paused for a moment. "Was that judgment incorrect, sir?"

Riker's face spread into a smile. "Data, my friend, I couldn't have done it better myself." Then his expression turned pensive. "I just hope things work out better this time around. When you think about it, the Shapers and the Tenirans have even less in common than the American Indians and colonists did."

"That may be true, Will," Troi said, "but that could enhance the chances for harmonious coexistence. The Native Americans and the colonists wound up in compet.i.tion for the same lands and resources. Here, because the Tenirans and the Shapers are so different, they may not step on each other's toes."

"Still," Riker said, "I wonder what it would be like to have the neighbors rearranging the mountains every thousand years."

"Unusual, to say the least," Picard said with a smile. "But the Shapers have promised to move mountains carefully, and the Tenirans have promised to be an appreciative audience."

"Audience, sir?" said Data.

"Yes, Data-providing one possible answer to an age-old debate."

"What debate is that, Captain?" Troi asked.

"Do sentient beings create for creation's sake, and self-satisfaction? Or do we create to communicate and share with others? Luckily for the Tenirans, these creators wanted to share."

With the satisfaction of a man who knew well the value of a smile from Lady Luck, Picard settled back into the command seat, turned to face the main screen, and enjoyed the view as his ship swept toward the stars.