Prologue

	It had become deathly still in Enterprise-E's bar.  The bar had
been full of activity.  Everyone was still there, but they were all staring
at Lieutenant Ferguson Calgary and Lieutenant Marrissa Picard.  Lieutenant
Calgary was La Forge's new second assistant.  Picard was the Chief of
Security.  As for why they were being stared at, that was Calgary's fault.
He had just insulted Picard by questioning her right to hold her position,
insinuating that she had got the position because her father was Captain.
But that was not why Marrissa was mad at him.
	" Don't call me that.  My name is Marrissa Amber Picard.  My title
is Princess.  My rank is Lieutenant.  My job is Chief of Security,"
Marrissa began, standing up from her seat.  "I'd appreciate it if you would
call me by any name or title that I am entitled to use instead of Risa"
	"Oh the poor little baroness can't stand a nickname," Calgary
sneered back.
	"If you're going for royal titles, it's Princess," Marrissa
responded.
	"Oh I'm not, Miss Ensign."
	"Lieutenant."
	"I stand corrected, Miss Insecurity."
	"I don't have to listen to this."
	"No, you don't," Calgary shot back.  "You can go hide behind those
titles of yours.  Tell me Risa, is their anything under them?"
	Marrissa glared at Calgary.  She raised her hand as if she was
going to slap him, but apparently decided against it.  Marrissa turned away
and walked out of the bar.
	From over on the other side of the bar, Commander William T. Riker
moved out of the shadows.  "Mr. Calgary, you've got some explaining to
do..."

	 Marrissa sat in her room lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She had been unable to get Calgary's last words out of her mind.  Was there
nothing to her without her titles?
	Lately, it seemed like that was true.  She did nothing but work.
She hadn't had any time off since she had boarded the Enterprise-E, some
three months ago.
	Her off duty hours were filled with classes and Kid's Crew
business.  In fact that night had been the first time she had gotten to the
Enterprise-E's bar.
	Marrissa couldn't remember doing something not associated with her
jobs since she had become Chief of Security.  All the other senior officers
had spare time to do other things, why didn't she?

	 Prince Avery, son of King Robert of Ellosia, was riding among the
fields of Suppor.  They were part of the Earldom which he held title to, as
heir to the throne, not that the job meant much.  His father always told
him that there would be a time when he'd wish he still was just the heir.
As Avery saw it, being Crown Prince had very little to recommend it.  He
was expected to know everything his father knew, but could do nothing about
it.  He had no choice in his eventual bride.
	 Though he preferred the oldest daughter of the Duchess of
Castrome.  Unfortunately, the thirteen-year-old Lady was not considered
high on the list for the sixteen-year-old Prince.  The Duchess had little
influence in court, while the other Dukes, who had been around since his
Father took the throne, did.  The Dukes were putting forward various
foreign Princesses. The Duke of Armedge had suggested Princess Clotilda of
Janvart, a hulk of a woman who some said slept in full armor.  The Duke of
Avtra was always spouting the merits of Princess Fay of Grimall.  Avery had
met Princess Fay, during a peace negotiation a couple years back.  The
fragile health of the tiny little girl would never survive the sea voyage
across the straights of Astra, much less the month long journey from her
home, besides, she was too quiet for his tastes.  The Duke of Fasstime was
set on Avery's marriage to Queen Kaitlin of Dinath.  The match with someone
three times his age was not something he wanted to dwell on.
	There were times when Avery wished his father had never chosen to
take the throne.  Avery sighed, it wasn't likely that another starship
would crash and her crew take over.  He looked up to see the first star of
the night rising ... it was time to head back to Odyssey

--
Stephen Ratliff

"But let him Dream" - Robert Picard, TNG's "Family"