Winning Love by Daylight

Prologue

     The bridge of the Enterprise was dimmer than usual. 
Marrissa sat in the center seat.  The red alert siren began, but
the typical bustle that accompanied it was not there, for all the
crew was Borg. Even Marrissa was Borg.  In a monotone voice,
Shayna announced, "Intruders on all decks."
     A Star Fleet Officer beamed into the middle of the room.  In
the dim light, Marrissa could not identify the officer.  The Star
Fleet Officer opened fire.  Alexander was vaporized.  The light
of his destruction momentarily revealed the Officer's face.  It
was Marrissa.  Marrissa-borg could do nothing as Marrissa-Star
Fleet took down each of her remaining friends in turn.  First was
her sister Jackie, the young computer genius who wanted to follow
Marrissa's footsteps.   Lynn followed, the young girl turned Star
Fleet pilot vaporized at her post.  Shayna, the friend and
practical joker who had been keeping Marrissa laughing for years,
was blasted back from her tactical station. Clara, Marrissa's
friend and confidant, was next to go.  Finally Jay, all vaporized
and Marrissa could do nothing but scream, as each blast
illuminated the laughing face of Marrissa-Star Fleet.
     She woke up, safe in her husband's arms.  "Another
nightmare, Marrissa?" Jay asked.
     Marrissa wanted to deny it but couldn't.  She wanted the
comfort of her husband's embrace, he would not let her deny what
she had gone though.  She nodded.
     "Borg or Georgia," Jay asked, pulling her closer.
     "Borg."
     "I suppose you don't want to see Martin and don't want to
talk about it?" Jay asked.  "You know you're going to have to
sooner or later."
     "Later," Marrissa mumbled, falling into a deep dreamless
sleep in her husband's arms, knowing she was protected.


Chapter One
Feb 9, 2383. USS Enterprise.

     Doctor Jackson Johnson had gathered the command crew of the
Enterprise, sans the Captain in his office.  All of them knew why
they were gathered there.  "Ladies and Gentleman, this meeting
isn't going to be easy," the Doctor said.  "As per Star Fleet
Regulations, I am recommending that our Captain be relieved of
duty and be sent on a vacation, while receiving counseling to
deal with recent events and her changing life.  Comments?"
     "This has never happened to Marrissa before," Alex said. 
"I'm not sure how she'll take it."
     "It's about time," Clara said.  "She should have taken time
off as soon as the war ended.  She needs time to get to know
Sara."
     "She needs to deal with her time as Queen of the Borg,"
Martin Sussex said.  "Jay has told me about her nightmares about
it."
     "I don't think she should be given time off alone," Jessica
Gordon said.  "I know my sister-in-law, she needs the support of
her husband if she's going to get though this."
     "You've been silent, Jay," Doctor Johnson said.  "What do
you think?"
     "My wife needs to get away from this ship," Jay said.  "But,
all her friends and support is here, I'm not sure how she'll
recover without that support."
     "May I suggest, that you and the Captain go to Essex,"
Martin said.  "I'll take some leave and join you there to help
out when she's ready.  I'm sure you can convince your father-in-
law to leave the Enterprise nearby.  Essex is a strategic target,
and with the Romulan renegades out there, it does need
protection."
     "Very well," Jay said.  "I will see about getting the
Enterprise assigned to protect Essex.  Then we'll relieve
Marrissa of command, and I'll hand command over to Clara.  We'll
spend whatever time is necessary to help Marrissa recover on
Essex.  Martin, if you've got leave time, spend some of it on
Essex, but not at Halifax Castle.  I think she needs some
distance and time to think."
     "I'll stay at the Royal Hunting Lodge.  It's not real close
to your place, but nothing is," Martin said.
     "Everyone for say Aye," Jay asked.  Everyone stated Aye.  "I
think that's everyone.  Doctor, I'll call you when I finish
talking to Fleet Admiral Picard.  Dismissed."

     Marrissa was holding her daughter tightly to her breasts. 
Sara didn't appear to mind, but to Jay, this was another bad
sign.  Before the Borg attack, Marrissa had been a lot more
relaxed around her newborn daughter.  Now she wouldn't let the
little girl out of her sight.  In fact, he was having a hard time
leaving as well, as Marrissa seemed to want him to be around
constantly, as if she was afraid something would happen to him. 
That was it.  Finally, Jay had realized why Marrissa was behaving
like that.  She was afraid.  The Borg had used Sara to get to
Marrissa so they could make her their new queen.  Sara had been
down in the ship's nursery, being taken care of by the
Enterprise's professional staff.  Jay knew that Marrissa had felt
uncomfortable leaving Sara in the nursery.  Having the baby
kidnaped and used as a pawn to capture Marrissa, that had to have
been the last straw.
     "Marrissa," Jay began, sliding up beside his wife.
     "Yes, Jay," Marrissa said, totally engrossed in watching her
daughter.
     "You need a vacation," Jay said.  "Correction, we need a
vacation."
     "You know how unlikely that is," Marrissa said.  "There are
still Romulan renegades running around, and two of the four Nova
Class ships are in for completion."
     "Actually, I just talked to your father, and he's authorized
a little vacation for us," Jay said, embracing Marrissa from
behind.  "We can leave Clara in command and spend some time away
from the ship on Essex."
     "I don't need a vacation," Marrissa said, switching the
breast that Sara was drinking from.     "Yes you do," Jay said,
silencing his wife's protests with a kiss.  "And you have no
choice in the matter.  We've relieved you of duty effect five
minutes ago.  I handed command over to Clara, who ordered a
course to Essex.  We'll arrive in four hours.  When we get there,
we will beam down to that nice castle of yours, where you will
spend at least the next couple of weeks relaxing.  You will also
spend some time talking to Martin about your recent experience. 
I know you've been skipping your sessions with him."
     "Yes, Jay," Marrissa said submissively.  "Why don't you ever
ask me if I want time off?"
     "Because, my love, if I didn't take the initiative to make
you take a vacation, you never would," Jay said.  "You would do
the same for me, if I needed even half as bad as you do. 
Marrissa, you've been deteriorating ever since we got back from
our little Borg adventure.  If you don't take some time off you
might not be able to command, and I know how much that center
seat means ..."
     "Jay," Marrissa interrupted, putting Sara in her crib for
the first time that day.  "What would I do with out you?"
     "Go crazy, most likely," Jay said, pulling Marrissa back
into his embrace.


Chapter Two

     Marrissa carefully studied the young lady that Queen
Victoria had hired to watch over her daughter.  The girl was
wearing a standard navy blue nanny's uniform that was somehow
familiar to Marrissa.  She had an air confidence to her, and
according to her resume was very qualified to watch little Sara. 
Marrissa wasn't sure though.  Actually, to be perfectly honest,
she wasn't sure she wanted anyone other than family taking care
of her daughter.  She had promised Jay though, and Marrissa
wasn't one to go back on her promises.
     "Miss Halifax, you've applied to be my daughter's nanny,"
Marrissa stated, drawing up to her full 63 inches.  "What makes
you think you'd do a good job?"
     "I am experienced in childcare, and I love the job," Serena
said.
     "You understand that this is a temporary job, that will end
as soon as I return to the Enterprise," Marrissa said.
     "Yes, ma'am," Serena responded.  "If you don't mind, I'd
like to meet my charge.  And remember, I get Tuesday and Thursday
afternoons off."
     This take charge attitude pleased Marrissa.  She liked
officers that took charge.  True she usually wasn't the one
bossed around, but Marrissa found that she didn't mind the
thought of this young lady watching her daughter.  She seemed
almost like family.

     Marrissa stood outside the nursery.  Serena was inside with
Sara, and appeared to be getting along well.  So far, Serena had
changed diapers twice, sung that ridiculous Achy Breaky  song
that Sara wouldn't go to sleep without, and fed the little girl
once.  Marrissa had been standing outside the nursery for quite
some time.  
     Jay had also been observing his wife.  This had been the
longest Marrissa had stayed away from Sara since the Borg took
her.  It was a promising sign.  He snuck up behind her and
embraced her, kissing her neck. "Now that we've got some one to
watch Sara, what do you say we go on a date?" he asked.
     Marrissa seemed to be trying to find an excuse.  She really
didn't want to leave her daughter.  There wasn't one though.
"Okay."
     It wasn't the most enthusiastic response that Jay had ever
gotten, but it would do.  "Let's go down to that private beach of
yours."
     "Jay, I'd have to get a swimsuit first," Marrissa said, as
Jay pulled her away from the nursery door.
     "Who says you need a swimsuit?" Jay said.  "It is a private
beach, after all."

The Next Day Around Noon.

     Martin and Jay were walking though the garden below the
nursery.  The two had met up after Jay and Marrissa had made an
unscheduled return to the Enterprise.  Jay bore the reason for
that return, in the form of a sling holding his right arm.
     "So, Jay, tell me why you returned to the Enterprise?"
Martin asked.
     "I was helping Marrissa up the twelve foot cliff above the
beach, when she slipped," Jay explained, walking by trellis
covered in blue morning glories.  "In the process of preventing
her from falling back onto the beach, I pulled my arm out of the
socket."
     "And what were you doing on the beach so early in the
morning?" Martin asked, stopping to look at some small purple
flowers.
     "Watching the sunrise," Jay said, adjusting his sling.
     "Oh, and how did you manage to get down to the beach before
sunrise." Martin asked, moving on down the slate path.
     "We were there all night," Jay replied, a smile covering his
face, as he remembered the previous night.
     "Oh, so you spent the night on a beach," Martin said.
     "Well, I always wanted to try a moonlight romance," Jay
said.  "Marrissa certainly enjoyed it."
     "Speaking of Marrissa, how is she doing?" Martin asked,
checking out the holly bush, before moving toward the castle
keep.
     "Well, she's a little better," Jay replied.  "It took a
little convincing to get her to leave Sara behind with Miss
Halifax, but once she got back and saw that Sara was okay, she's
not been quite so possessive of her.  In fact, she spent an hour
with Sara, then left for the North Tower."
     "What's in the North Tower?" Martin asked.
     "Marrissa's popular art collection," Jay replied, pausing by
the maze entrance.  "Her buyers just bought an original Neon
Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth Poster, and she's trying to
find the perfect place to display it."
     "Is that movie any good?" Martin asked.  "I'm not into
anime, so I have no idea."
     "It's good, but I wouldn't take Shayna to see it," Jay said. 
"She's more into shows like Oh My Goddess."
     Martin stopped at the remains of a gargoyle.  "Jay, aren't
the gargoyles suppose to be on the castle?"
     "They are, I wonder how that one ended up there," Jay said. 
"I hope we don't have a structural problem.  I'll call the
architect later."

Chapter Three

     Marrissa stood in the torpedo bay on the Georgia.  It was
filled with torpedo casings holding a representative sample of
the crew of the Georgia.  Not a single member of that crew had
survived, although the ship had.  The traditional dirge of a
bagpipe playing "Amazing Grace" began as one by one, the coffins
were launched out into space, toward the inferno of a nearby
star.
     Suddenly Marrissa was on the bridge of the Georgia, an
insubstantial observer to the last minutes of the ship's crew. 
Helpless to stop the images, she watched as the crew died one by
one, leaving a young girl, who had taken the helm when her own
mother had died, to execute her Captain, her father's last
orders.  As the last Romulan Warbird exploded on the screen, the
young dark haired girl died, a victim of a shard of console
embedded in her stomach.  
     Then Marrissa was before the young girl's coffin.  "Mary
Celeste Kinsmore 2370 - 2382" it was engraved.  It opened, and a
twelve year old Marrissa was inside, dressed in the dress uniform
she had worn back in 2370.  Marrissa turned to avoid the view of
herself in a coffin, only to discover Jay in a coffin.  She
turned again.  Her daughter lay dead inside a torpedo casing. 
Marrissa screamed, she wanted to get out of wherever she was, she
wanted to be safe.
     She awoke alone. Marrissa had fallen asleep in the North
Tower watching anime.  In particular, episode 24 of Neon Genesis
Evangelion.  She shook off the last vestiges of sleep.  Heedless
of danger, she sprinted down the staircase to the courtyard
between the tower and the Castle Keep.  She bounded across the
moonlit court yard. Then inside, she took another flight of
stairs two, sometimes three steps at a time.  Down the corridor
she rushed, bursting though the doors of the nursery.  There she
stopped.
     Her baby lay content in her crib.  At the sudden approach of
her mother, Sara opened her eyes, awake but quiet.  Marrissa
picked her up, and moved to take a seat in Jay's Mother's old
rocking chair.  Once there, tears began running down her cheeks. 
Sara looked up at here mother in puzzlement.  Her mother usually
was happy to hold her.
     From behind the two, came Jay's voice.  "I was wondering
when you would come in from the tower," Jay said.
     Marrissa looked up at her husband who was now kneeling
beside the rocking chair.  "I needed some time alone," she said,
before looking back at her baby girl.
     "I know," Jay replied.  "What cause you to run in here so
quick?  I haven't seen you go so fast since you took command of
the Endeavor."
     Marrissa smiled at the memory.  "I had to go fast back then.
Taking command of a ship when a planetary government has decided
that it's to be destroyed didn't allow for a orderly walk to the
bridge."
     "So, what's bothering you?" Jay asked.
     "It's that dream about the Georgia again," Marrissa said.
     "Marrissa, it's time you get some help," Jay said, taking
Sara out of his wife's arms.  "You'll never get over it if you
don't, and I don't want to see you hurting like this anymore."
     "Okay," Marrissa snuffled.  "I'll talk to Martin tomorrow
afternoon."
     "Good," Jay said, placing Sara back in her crib.  "Now come
to bed."
     "Why do have a feeling I'm not going to get much sleep
tonight?" Marrissa remarked, as Jay walked beside her on the way
to their bedroom.
     "I don't know," Jay replied, picking up his wife in his
arms.  "Perhaps it's the famous woman's intuition?"  
     "Are you trying to give Sara a younger sibling?" Marrissa
asked as they entered the bedroom.
     "Perhaps I'm just making sure you get to the bedroom instead
of stopping by your office to work on something," Jay replied. 
"Either way, you will end up spending the night in my arms."
     "Ah, my favorite way to avoid bad dreams," Marrissa
murmured, as Jay lowered her onto the bed. 

     Next afternoon, while Jay was out spending time with Martin,
Marrissa asked Serena to join her and Sara on a walk through the
nearby woods.  It was a well maintained, paved path, that made it
fairly easy to push Sara's pram.  The old Victorian style pram
was modeled after one that several of Marrissa's ancestors in the
House of Windsor, had used back in the early part of the
twentieth century.   Every so often, the path opened into a
clearing with a bench in it.  It was at one of these benches that
Marrissa and Serena stopped. 
     Serena looked at her charge.  Sara, spotting the familiar
face, raised her arms, reaching out, urging Serena to take her
out of the pram. As Serena picked up Sara, she said, "I believe
Sara wants to see more of the world than her carriage allows."
     "You're so good with my Sara," Marrissa said.  "I'll never
be able to take as good of care of her as you do."
     "Nonsense, ma'am," Serena said.  "You just lack experience. 
I've been taking care of my younger brothers and sisters since I
was ten, and I assure you I didn't start out perfect."
     "No, you just ended up practically perfect in every way,"
Marrissa smiled.  Then frowning, continued.  "I'm always afraid
I'll do something wrong, and hurt Sara.  I never really got to
deal a lot with babies.  I was thirteen when Jackie was born and
a little too wrapped up in my Security Chief's job to do much
babysitting.  And when I did end up babysitting her, I almost
killed her with an ice cream sundae."
     "Ma'am, children aren't that fragile," Serena said.  "You
can make some mistakes and they won't go bad, or have some sort
of defect as a result."  Then Serena smiled.  "Of course, if you
saw my attempt at making a strudel this morning, you know that
food can."
     Marrissa laughed, remembering how the pastry had exploded,
sending flour all over the kitchen.  Sara heard her mother's
laugh and quickly located her.  She once again held out her
little arms, asking for her mother's warmth.
     "I think Sara wants you to hold her," Serena said, handing
Sara carefully over to her mother.
     Sara smiled widely as her mother settled her into her arms. 
"You know, when ever I hold Sara, it's like the rest of the world
is gone, and it's just us two, in our own little world," Marrissa
mused.  "Somehow, holding her makes me feel appreciated and
loved.  I know she loves me, and I love her.  During the last
part of the war, I use to bring her with me to meetings, just so
I would have that good feeling to look forward to, to retreat to
for a little while, when the news was bad.  Especially when it
was like when we discovered the Georgia."
     Marrissa shuttered, as she remembered the Georgia.  Every
man, woman, and child been killed on that ship.  The image that
stuck in the minds of everyone, the image representing the crew
of that ship, was that of the girl at the helm.  The girl was
only twelve.  Death had frozen her at the helm, her hands poised
to make evasive maneuvers.  Her body was only marred by one
jagged piece of console which was stuck in her belly, and her
jump suit only stained by a single trail of blood going from that
piece of console down between her legs.  Only one other thing
made her look dead, her eyes which were filled with horror and
determination.  No one who saw her ever forgot her, the last
person to die on the Georgia.   But that wasn't what made
Marrissa remember her.  Marrissa knew that if it had been the
Enterprise in the Georgia's place a dozen years earlier, she
would have been the girl at the helm, not Mary Celeste Kinsmore.
     Marrissa held her daughter closer.  "Sara makes life worth
living," Marrissa said.  "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't
have here."
     They all sat in silence for a while as Marrissa held her
daughter in her arms.

     The Moon Kingdom Restaurant was a traveling restaurant. It
was on Essex for the graduation of cadets from Star Fleet's
Fighter School.  At least that was the cover.  Alexis and Kasey
didn't spend all their time in the Kitchen.  "Lunch crowd is
coming in," Alexis said as she entered the kitchen.  "Looks like
it's going to be a busy one."
     "You should have been here yesterday," Kasey said.
     "Hey, I don't control when the enemy attacks," Alexis
replied.  "You better start seeing what they want."  Alexis
started to set up the Kitchen for the lunch rush as Kasey went
into the dinning room.
     The dining room served as shuttle bay when the ship was in
space, but after four hours of hard work it was turned into a
eight table wood paneled eating establishment, complete with
brass lighting fixtures and tile floor.
     Two young men entered the establishment, taking a seat at
the table farthest from the door. Kasey pulled out her order PADD
and walked over to them.  Kasey identified them as her uncle Jay
and his friend Martin.  She had to hide that knowledge though, as
in this time, she had not met them.  Okay, she had, but only as a
year old baby.  "Welcome to the Moon Kingdom, I'm Kasey, I'll be
your waitress this afternoon.  May I take your order?" she asked.
     "I'd like the Moon Princess Pasta," Martin said. "Milk for
the drink, and a side of bread sticks."
     "I'll have the Sea of Tranquility Soup and Toasted Cheese
Sandwich," Jay said. "Root Beer for the drink, no sides."
     "Very well, gentlemen," Kasey said before returning to the
Kitchen.
     "So, she's finally decided to come talk to me about those
dreams," Martin said.  "I was beginning to wonder if she ever
would."
     "Marrissa's always been self-reliant," Jay said.  "It's hard
to get her to admit that she needs help.  Generally, I don't ask
and just provide the help.  It's easier on us both that way.  She
doesn't have to ask, and I don't have to see her struggling to
get something done after turning my help down."
     "I'm surprised that hasn't impeded her command abilities
before," Martin said.
     "Oh, she knows how to delegate when it comes to her command,
it's just that she hasn't learnt to apply that to her personal
life," Jay replied. "You should have heard her after we hired
Serena to help take care of Sara.  Here she was, having exhausted
herself for the last three months taking care of the baby,
complaining that she didn't need the help."
     "That could have contributed to the problem," Martin said. 
"At her heart, Marrissa can be a very insecure person.  You
remember her title collecting when she was between twelve and
thirteen?"
     "You mean Lieutenant Marrissa Amber Picard, Princess of
Halifax, Heir to the throne of Essex, Supervising Officer of the
Kid's Crew program, Chief of Security on the Enterprise," Jay
recited.  "Did I leave any out?"
     "I don't think so," Martin said.  "She's always wanted to be
some one.  And as for her relationship with close friends, well,
Lord have mercy anyone who harms her friends, her officers or her
ship, because no one else is going to stop her from punishing
them."
     "That's the truth," Jay said.  "I think it is to her
advantage sometimes.  We've got one of the most loyal crews in
Star Fleet.  When Marrissa asks for volunteers, the line
stretches from the Forward lounge to the Aft Shuttle Bay."
     "Anyway, Marrissa is going to have to face the fact that
there are some things beyond her control," Martin said, as a
monster appeared just outside the restaurant's door.  He was
facing away from the door, so he didn't see it.
     Jay had.  "You mean like rampaging monsters planning to ruin
restaurants?" Jay said, with a note of fear.
     "That would be an example, but your imagination must really
be working overtime if that's what you thought of first," Martin
said calmly.
     "Well, considering one is about to bust though the door,"
Jay said, as the door was pulled off the restaurant by the brute
force of the water elemental like monster. 
     Martin turned around.  "I wish I could say you were
hallucinating," he said.
     "Die, Jay Gordon," the monster said, tossing the door toward
Jay.  Jay and Martin jumped out of their chairs and the door
missed them, but shattered the table.
     "Mars Fire Ignite!" came a cry.  It was from a young part
Klingon girl dressed in a sailor fuku who stood in the doorway to
the Kitchen.  The left arm of the monster vaporized.
     "Mercury Bubbles, blast!" was a second called attack, but
not as successful. Other than a concessive blow backwards, the
charge from the red-haired Sailor Mercury who stood at where the
door to the outside had been, had little effect on the monster.
     Sailor Mercury's visor covered her face, as Mars let lose
another Fireball.  Mars's second attack took out the monster's
other arm, but the first arm was already growing back.  "Mars,
target the left heal," Mercury ordered.
     "You got it," Mars responded.  "Mars Fire Ignite!"  The fire
ball left her clasped hands and sped toward the monster who was
rushing Sailor Mercury.  The impact vaporized the whole body,
just centimeters before the monster would have impacted Mercury.
     The two Sailor Scouts exited the restaurant, leaving Jay and
Martin behind a table.  "Jay?" Martin asked.
     "Yes, Martin?" Jay replied, peering over the table top.
     "Were we just attacked by a being made of water which was
destroyed by two Sailor Scouts out of one of Marrissa's Anime
shows?" Martin asked.
     "It appears so," Jay said.
     "I hope we don't have to file a report on this, because Star
Fleet is going to think we are crazy," Martin said.
     "Not you, you're a trusted Ship's Counselor with a clean
psychological profile," Jay said.  "As for me, they expect
strange reports from Star Fleet Captains."

Chapter Four

     Usually, Martin Sussex worked in his own office on the
Enterprise.  It was an office that he had spent much time making
it comfortable and one which encouraged people to relax.  It also
reflected his personality, with the tan velvet couches
accessorized with red and white check blankets with frills and
blue pillows.  He had his guitar for entertaining the younger
visitors (and occasionally a few older ones).   His books were at
his side and he knew about his patients before they entered the
door.
     Not this time though.  Of course he knew Marrissa, but not
as a patient.  He'd done her yearly fitness of command reviews,
but they were quite shallow, since it was assumed that by the
time a person made Captain any serious neuroses would have
already surfaced, and Marrissa had managed to avoid any major
trauma, until the Borg, that is.  In the case of Marrissa, she'd
gone too fast, and never really had a full evaluation, but as
long as she did her job, Star Fleet really didn't care.  Martin
did care, and he wished he had done a better job.  Martin had
entered College at 14, graduated with his Doctorate in Psychology
at 19. With another year at the Academy he had been assigned as
Ship's Counselor on the Endeavor, before moving to the Enterprise
with Marrissa.  He had two years to help Marrissa before she
broke down.  Two years to prevent it.  He didn't.
     So now he was here on Marrissa's turf, up in the transparent
dome at the top of the North Tower of Halifax Castle.  Marrissa
was laying back on a lounge, starring up at the sky, where
several fighter craft were undergoing test maneuvers.  Martin was
perched on a nearby lounge, quite uncomfortable, actually, but
then again, his comfort wasn't important here.  "Marrissa, I
can't do anything for you if you just sit there and watch the
clouds and fighter craft," Martin said.
     "Martin, do you think I make my friends do things that they
wouldn't normally do?" Marrissa asked.  "I mean everyone of them
followed me into Star Fleet.  I arranged for them to serve with
me.  Maybe they would be better off if I hadn't."
     "What makes you think they would?" Martin asked, curious as
to the sudden question.
     "When was the last time someone questioned my orders?"
Marrissa said.  "When was the last time one of my officers left
my command?" 
     "Marrissa, you have a gift for command," Martin replied. 
"In tactics, there are few people considered your equal.  You
inspire loyalty in those you command.  Everyone of your officers
knows that you won't risk them if it weren't something that you
couldn't do.  And if it isn't something you could do, then they
know they were sent because you know they can pull it off."
     "You sound like one of those academy professors spouting the
attributes of a good Captain," Marrissa said.  "Every time I send
an officer out, I worry.  I'm never sure some tactic I'm trying
is going to work.  I may project the appearance of confidence,
but it is just that, an appearance."
     "I'm no Academy Professor," Martin said.  "As a member of
your crew, and the one that has to keep track of these things, I
can safely say that your crew admires you, respects you, and are
glad they are under your command."
     "Oh, yeah," Marrissa said.  "Lets see, I've got under my
command, a younger sister who is crazy enough to want to follow
in my footsteps serving as my Computer Security Officer."
     "She worships you, and you've always dealt with her even-
handedly," Martin said.
     "Then there is Shayna, ship's practical joker," Marrissa
said.  "I must have been insane when I made her my Security
Chief.  Not only is her primary background Engineering, but a
clown like her ..."
     "You know, some had similar objections when you became
Security Chief back on the Enterprise-E," Martin said.  "You did
a fine job, and so has Shayna.  True, she had a hard time
adjusting to the new position, but she's doing well now.  I'd say
the respect of such a person would be notable.  And you have
hers."
     "But I'm not worthy of that respect," Marrissa said, almost
shouting.  "I'm just a young lady, who has been married just
under a year, has a baby girl she's trying to learn how to take
care of, all while trying to run a Starship.  I've got all these
titles, jobs, and duties to perform and I just wonder, is there
anything else?  Am I just those titles, just those duties.  When
all those are taken away, is there anything left?"
     "Marrissa, you have done a lot for your friends and the
Federation," Martin began.  "You've spent most of your life
helping others and never really taken the time get to know
yourself.  Perhaps it's time you did.  You've got enough leave
time for your whole command crew, and even if you didn't, I'd
make sure you took some.  You've got a nanny who can watch over
Sara, and Jay can stand some time alone as well.  Pack up that
backpack of yours, and spend some time out in the wilderness,
camping.  I've heard how you enjoyed it when you were younger, so
I think it would be a good place for you to start."
     "If you think it will help," Marrissa said, tentatively.
     "It will help, but only as much as you let it," Martin said. 
"Just spend some quiet time thinking about your life.  And after
a couple days, we'll talk again."
     "Okay."

     "Are you sure this camping idea is a good one," Jay asked
Martin as they sat in the living room of Halifax Castle, sampling
wine.
     "She needs time to get to know herself again, without all
the responsibilities," Martin said.  She's been in a position of
responsibility, putting others before herself, since she was
twelve."
     "A little before that," Jay said.  "You forgot that first
command."
     "Oh yes, the famous first Kid's Crew mission," Martin said. 
"By the way, I never found out how you met Marrissa."
     "It's actually rather embarrassing," Jay said.
     "Oh really," Martin said.
     "But I guess you'll keep prying until you find out about
it," Jay said.
     "Most certainly, it's my duty as Ship's Counselor," Martin
said.
     "Well, I was five, almost six, and Marrissa had just turned
seven at the time," Jay began.

     The Enterprise was new to me, and I was out exploring the
deck near my families quarters.  Marrissa lived on the deck
above, and was going around the corner.  Her father called for
her to come back and clean her room.  She looked back, said no,
and stepped into an open access hatch, falling down to my floor. 
Normally, you'd expect her to get some injuries from this fall. 
She did, but I got more.  You see, I was directly below the
access hatch when she fell.  I got knocked to the floor as she
landed on me, breaking my leg. 
     Marrissa was horrified that she hurt me.  She picked me up
and rushed me to sickbay.  No easy task since at the time I was
fifty pounds to her forty-one, Marrissa always was on the short
side.  When she got there, she insisted that they care for me
before she would let them look at her.  After treating my leg,
they checked her, and determined that she had carried me half way
around the ship with a broken arm. 
     While we spent the next four hours in Sickbay, we began to
get to know each other.  Meanwhile, Doctor Crusher went to find
out who left the hatch open.  When I got home, my father told me
that the Ensign who had left the hatch open had a cataloging job
to do in Sickbay, so I guess he was well punished.  I was
surprised that Marrissa spent the week grounded.  She later
confided to me that it was probably a good thing, but at the
time, well she wasn't very happy about it.

     "So that's how I met Marrissa," Jay said.  "Not the most
romantic way to met your future wife, but I can say that she just
dropped in on me."


Chapter Five

     Marrissa stood on the top of Mount Hilary.  She had always
wanted to climb this mountain near Londonderry, but never really
had the time.  It was known for it's view of the Capital and now,
the Star Fleet Fighter Training School.  The new palace, with
it's purple glass dome was easy to pick out from the city.
     Here she was, up on top of a mountain, and she didn't know
who she was.  But then again many mountain climbers didn't know
that.  It was a long standing tradition on many worlds for a
person to climb a mountain to find themselves.  Marrissa sat on
top of the mountain, and began to think.
     Who was she?  Was she a Star Fleet Officer?  Was she a
princess?  Was she a wife?  Was she a mother?  Yes she was all of
those, but without those titles, those jobs, those
responsibilities,  Who was she?
     The purple glass dome of the Palace caught her attention
again.  She was heir to this planet, one thing that she hadn't
had any chance to get out of.  After all, you had to be born a
princess.  Hopefully, Queen Victoria's upcoming marriage would be
a fruitful one, and she wouldn't have the possibility of
ascending the throne hanging over her head for much longer.
     Being a Princess wasn't something that she could change, and
Marrissa didn't think it really defined her.  After all, she just
used the title, once, twice, maybe three times a year.  
     Now, a Star Fleet Officer, that she'd been since she was
twelve.  At first the position had been a way of following in
both her biological and adopted parents footsteps.  Then she
found that she enjoyed the job.  
     Oh it was a lot of work, but it was interesting.  There was
always something new and different going on.  When things got
boring, Marrissa had, in the past, just asked for another
assignment, working toward her goal of becoming Captain of the
Enterprise.  When she found piloting starships lacking challenge,
she applied for the post of Chief of Security.  Marrissa was sure
her father was going to have a fit when she somehow managed to
get the post.  How she got the post was still a mystery to her. 
Then there was the post as Fighter Commander.  That had been
Marrissa's favorite post until she got command of a starship. 
Piloting, tactics, and command, it had everything.  Now she was
Captain, USS Enterprise, she'd met her goal.  But what was there
left as a Star Fleet Officer?  Marrissa was fairly confident that
she could hold the Captaincy of the Enterprise as long as she was
fit to do so, but did she want to?  She certainly didn't want to
take a desk job.  Her two months in command of Star Fleet, and
the last three months as Military Governor of Romulus had taught
her that.  That was a job she was going to do everything in her
power to finish quickly.
     Like it or not, she was now a mother.  Sara had not been
planned.  But Marrissa hadn't chosen to prevent herself from
becoming pregnant either.  She'd never really thought about it
before, but she wanted to have children with Jay.  If for no
other reason than to have something to remember him by if Jay
were to fall in the line of duty.  No doubt about it, Star Fleet
Duty was hazardous, and of the posts in the Command Staff of an
exploring Starship, only Chief of Security had a higher death
rate than Jay's post of First Officer.
     Was that enough reason to have a child, and was it her only
reason?  Marrissa didn't think that having a child as a
remembrance was a good reason to have children.  She loved Sara. 
When Marrissa picked up her little baby girl she felt a wave of
contentment descend on her.  She found great joy in doing the
simple things necessary to take care of her baby.  Okay, she
didn't like changing diapers, but she didn't like mediating and
she took on that duty as a Captain enough times.
     Sara was not going to be an only child if Marrissa had
anything to say about it.  Marrissa wished she had another
sibling, someone to share the good and bad things that had
happened to her with.  She felt that no one could know what it
felt like to lose their parents like she had. A little brother or
sister would have.
     Marrissa looked forward to when Sara got older.  There was a
lot she'd like to share with her daughter.  Marrissa really
hadn't had a Mom since hers had died before her twelfth birthday,
but the memories of those times still loomed large.  The make-up
lessons, the discussions of what she'd done in school, and
learning how to cook, it all brought memories that Marrissa
wanted to share with her own children someday.
     Of course, Marrissa wanted to be able to do this with Jay. 
Clara had expected her to marry Jay for a long time.  Jay had
always been there for her, and she'd tried to return the favor. 
However, Marrissa seemed to need Jay more than Jay needed
Marrissa. That had been one of the reasons that Marrissa
occasionally pushed Jay away.  She had felt that she wasn't
giving back enough into the relationship.  Jay felt otherwise.  
     When Marrissa had problems with her replacement as Fighter
Commander, Jay had been there to listen.  Jay helped her through
her guilt when Jackie had nearly died as a result of the vanilla
ice cream Marrissa had given her.  The only thing she had helped
Jay with was when his parents had died.  Somehow that didn't
compare with all the things he'd done  What Marrissa had done to
deserve such a nice guy like Jay, she didn't know. 
     A cold breeze ruffled Marrissa's hair, and her stomach
growled with hunger.  It was time to go back to her camp.  She
took one last look at the view, then descended from the mountain
peak.

     Jay Gordon was walking along the shore.  The red sand beach
was unique in his experience.  It was the exact color of the
panties that Marrissa always wore. He missed Marrissa.  She'd
always been in his life.  Back when they first met, she had made
quite an impression.  He had a broken leg as a result of her
unexpected drop in on him, and she a broken arm.  Still, she had
stopped by every day, walking nearly the whole width of the
saucer section to find out how he was doing.  It was an example
that Jay had tried to follow.  Marrissa had been there for him,
and he wanted to be able to do the same. 
     Then Marrissa introduced him to the joys of command.  Okay,
duties of command, not all of them were joys.  He found that he
had a genuine ability for organization and tactics.  Not as good
as Marrissa, but not everyone could be perfect.  
     It was not until about a month after Marrissa's parents had
died that he learnt how far from perfection Marrissa was.  The
science fair had been one of the areas that he and Marrissa had
constantly been tops in.  He had won the contest five times, and
Marrissa four.  But then again she had only entered it four
times.  They weren't in the same division, the fourteen months
between them usually assured them of that.  That time had been
Marrissa's last entry, and his third.  Marrissa had a rather good
project on subspace strings, and won rather easily.  Until
Captain Picard had called Marrissa daughter, Jay had never seen
Marrissa cry.  She had broken down and cried in the Captain's
gentle yet inexperienced embrace.  He felt real compassion for
his friend, and tried to be there for her.  Jay had talked with
Counselor Troi about Marrissa.  He'd followed her advice, trying
to keep Marrissa involved, though her relentless organization and
drilling the Kid's crew though that period was driving his other
friends insane.  It wasn't until the Captain took Marrissa to
Earth for that vacation that she began to recover.
     Marrissa had come back from that trip with her ensign's pip,
and probably set her whole command crew's careers in motion with
that one choice.  Jay wasn't complaining about that.  Star Fleet
had brought him many things he wouldn't have gotten otherwise. 
True, he was now a twenty-three year old Star Fleet Captain, not
a usual path, but he could say that he had no regrets in his
career to date.  Even that six month stint in the Judge Advocate
General's Office had been good for his career, though some hadn't
liked dealing with a thirteen-fourteen year old Chief
Investigating Officer.  It gave Jay new insight on Marrissa's
time as Chief of Security, the one post of hers that he hadn't
had.
     In some ways, Jay had followed in Marrissa's footsteps.  The
only real difference in their posts was that when he was a
Lieutenant, he'd been Chief of Operations, and Marrissa had been
Chief of Security.  But then, Marrissa's parents had been
Security Officers, and Jay's father had been his predecessor in
Operations.  Jay didn't mind following in Marrissa's path.  Once
he had decided to pursue Marrissa romantically back when they
were on the Stargazer, he knew that one of them would have to out
rank the other, and in addition to having a earlier start,
Marrissa was just plain more talented.  Marrissa had never said
that, though, and always asked Jay's opinion in meetings.  
     Marrissa tried to share as many of the burdens of command
that she could, and as a result, Jay had learnt quite a bit about
being Captain.  Once Marrissa had returned from maternity leave,
he'd been offered his own command.  But she was his life, there
was no way he was going to leave her.  Plus, they were a family
now.  
     Little Sara had been an unexpected surprise.  Not that it
made her any less welcome.  Jay remembered the first time he'd
held his daughter.  She seemed so fragile and small.  And when
Marrissa held her daughter, her entire being changed.  She no
longer wore the mask of command that Jay had only occasionally
got her to drop.  It was as if her whole being centered on the
little girl in her arms.  Sometimes he found it amusing when
Marrissa talked in baby talk to her little girl.  Here was the
woman who negotiated with leaders, defeated vast fleets of enemy
starships, and ran a tight starship, talking nonsense to the
little girl sucking on her breasts.
     But then again, Marrissa was almost a different person when
she was off duty.  Back when they were dating, Marrissa always
let Jay take the lead.  It had surprised him a first.  But he
quickly realized that Marrissa had a need to be pampered and
protected.  As Captain, she tried to hide that need.  After all,
she was in charge.  But in that first five year mission on the
Endeavor, Jay began to notice how a simple thing like taking
Marrissa out for dinner could remove her from the pressures of
command and allow her to recover from them.  And when he
protected her, charging into battle, there was no person more
grateful.  Back when they were children on the Enterprise-D,
Marrissa was always the person to chose the program on the
holodeck.  Now, she rarely did.  As long as it was fun, Marrissa
was eager to try whatever Jay suggested.  That Forbidden City
Concubine program had been especially well received during the
first couple months of their marriage.
     Jay heard the bells from the chapel.  It was time to get
back.  Alexander, Martin, Patterson and Doctor Johnson were
coming over for poker tonight.


Chapter Six

     Marrissa dropped her backpack in the front hall.  She'd
walked all the way from Londonderry, a good seven miles.  Her
three days on Mount Hilary had been rather relaxing.  She had
decided a lot of things up in the clear mountain air, and had
lots of things she had to do as a result. However, there was only
one thing she wanted to do now.  There was this lovely hot tub
out on the terrace near the living room, and she was going to
spend the rest of the day in it.  She headed towards the terrace,
after taking off her boots and socks.  As she walked, she
stripped out of her clothes.  After all, this was her house, and
if Jay saw her nude, maybe he'd be willing to give her one of
those massages that he was so good at.  And if that lead to
something else, so be it.
     "Going somewhere, Mara?" Jay said as she stepped on to the
terrace.  She was down to her panties, her small, red, lace,
panties.
     "In to that hot tub to get some of the aches and pains out,"
Marrissa said, slowly removing her panties.
     "Mind if I join you?" Jay asked.
     "I'd be disappointed if you didn't," Marrissa said.
     "I take it that you'll need the tender caresses of Gordon
Massage Inc.," Jay said, stripping off the dark blue and green
jumpsuit he'd been wearing.
     Marrissa spent some time admiring Jay's well developed
muscles.  She would have never guessed he would turn out like
this when she first met him.  Then again, he had been only five,
and at just turned seven, she wasn't exactly looking at men that
way yet.  Marrissa lowered herself into the churning hot water. 
It felt so good.  She could feel the aches and pains melt away. 
Jay took up a seat across from her.  He began to massage her
right leg.  She moaned her approval.
     "So, Marrissa, how was the trip?" Jay asked.
     "Relaxing," Marrissa said.  "I hiked all the way up to the
top of Mount Hilary, and the view was wonderful.  You can see
everything from Londonderry to the Fighter School from there."
     "Whose idea was it to put up that school in black gothic
stone?" Jay asked, switching legs  "I've always wondered."
     "I understand the gothic air traffic control tower was
Admiral Sinok's idea," Marrissa said.  "Everything else followed
that building.  He's really big on having our bases look like
they've been there forever.  And you have to admit that it looks
like it's been there longer than Londonderry does."
     "Marrissa, it looks like it's been there longer than London
has been on Earth," Jay replied.  "I'm sure that taking in the
views wasn't all you did."
     "No, I did lots of thinking, and even tried my hand at
fishing," Marrissa said.  "I didn't catch anything though."
     "I've never done that before," Jay mused.  "Come sit on my
lap so I can do your back."
     "Neither had I," Marrissa said, as Jay massaged her back. 
"When I was little, my dad did a little fishing when we went
camping, but I was never really interested.  Too caught up in the
horses, I think.  Ahhh, that feels good."
     "With all the practice I've gotten, I'd hope it felt good,"
Jay said.  
     "Yeah, I did ask for one every night when I was in my last
couple months carrying Sara," Marrissa remarked.  "I probably
should have gone up to check on her first."
     "Are you planning on going back to stressing yourself over
every minute you miss with her?" Jay asked, worried.
     "I know I can't be there every minute of the day," Marrissa
said.  "It's just that I love taking care of her.  When I hold
her, I feel like I've done something right, something good, and
nothing else matters."
     "It wasn't until that first time I saw you holding Sara to
your breasts that I saw you really relax," Jay said.
     "You aren't that different," Marrissa responded, sitting
back against Jay.  "I'd like to see what those Ensigns who call
you 'Mr. Grueling' would say when they see you playing with Sara. 
And I think you should be shot for using 'Achy Breaky Heart' to
put her to sleep."
     "It works," Jay defended, putting his arms around his wife.
     "I don't understand the appeal of the piece," Marrissa said.
     "Apparently, Sara does," Jay concluded.

     Early the next morning, Jay woke up Marrissa with a kiss. 
"Rise and shine."
     Marrissa took a look at the bedside clock.  "It's 0600
hours.  Let me go back to sleep."  She turned over and pulled the
covers over her head.
     Jay yanked off the covers.  "Oh no you're not.  If I have to
get up to get ready for that damned Most High and Noble Order of
the Heroic Defenders of Essex, you are going to join me. 
Besides, I need help to get into that ridiculous armor that you
insist that I wear for it."
     "It happens to be an exact replica of Henry VII's formal
armor."  Marrissa said, giving up trying to sleep and going to
her closet.  "And stop adding descriptions to the Noble Order of
the Defenders of Essex.  It's not like they need any more."
     "Yes, your highness," Jay replied, as he pulled her back
against him, showing that she wasn't really that high.  "Tell me
again why I have to run it this year."
     "Because Clara's Father is on the other side of the
Federation, and you are the highest ranking male member of the
Royal Family."  Marrissa escaped from his embrace, and pulled out
a blue dress.  "Do you think this will do?"
     "What about Martin?" Jay replied, putting on the garments
that went under his armored chest plate.  "And I'd go with
something more formal.  Try that 13th century Princess outfit."
     "Martin is only a Earl," Marrissa replied.  "You on the
other hand, are a Royal Duke, and husband of the current heir to
the throne.  Until Victoria marries William next month, there is
no more senior male.  The dark green one or the light violet one?
     "The green one, though the violet one does bring out your
eyes.  You know, all these Royal titles can really get annoying
sometimes."
     "I've given up on complaining about accidents of birth."

     Marrissa was enjoying being the pretty face this time. 
Usually she had some sort of speech to give, or had to talk with
some ambassador.  This time, all the words were Jay's.  The Noble
Order of the Defenders of Essex was a male order, all the females
in the chapel were mainly there for the socializing afterwards. 
Taking one of the 128 positions in the order was a high honor,
and very rarely did less than a hundred attend the annual
meeting.  She could see her father across the aisle with the
Doctor.  She knew that there would be a conversation after the
meeting.  Hmmm, Jay was adding to the name again.  A quick elbow
cut it short, and bruised Marrissa due to the polished steel
armor plate Jay was wearing.  Fortunately for Jay, the ceremony
was rather short.  Unfortunately for Marrissa, the ceremony was
being followed by a long reception in her main hall.
     As the ceremony ended, Jay took Marrissa's arm, and led her
out the chapel doors.  The day had suddenly cleared from the
storm clouds which had been threatening earlier.  The morning
doves cooed from their perches around the slate covered court
yard as they walked around to the main castle entrance, that of
the great hall, the hundred five members and their ladies
following them in procession.  They entered the high oak arched
chamber, and took up positions by the door to greet their guests
     The first was the oldest member of the order; Frederick
James, fifth Duke of Holbrook.  The white haired gentleman was
escorting his granddaughter, his wife had pasted away some years
earlier.  Frederick shook Jay's hand.  "Excellent play on the
order's name, Most High Noble and Penitent Order of the Valiant
and Courageous Defenders of the Most Holy Planet of Essex indeed. 
I don't think I've heard so much humor ejected in these meetings
since the late King George was in his youth.  I must encourage
Tory to do have you do these things more often."
     "Now, Father, you shouldn't refer to the Queen like that,"
his dark haired granddaughter remarked, trying to lead him past
the couple.
     "I'll refer to my god daughter any way I please, and Tory
wants me to call her that," Frederick said, as his granddaughter
lead him away.
     Several more couples went by with just a hand shake and a
greeting.  One old lady treated Jay with a menacing glare.  It
seemed his conduct wasn't appreciated by all.  A couple of the
ladies were asking Marrissa about her daughter.  All and all, it
was a rather easy beginning.  Martin arrived with Shayna as his
escort.
     "Tell me again, why you couldn't do this?" Jay asked.
     "Because you out rank me, and it was the Queen's idea, and
she out ranks both of us," Martin replied.  "Besides, you did a
good job."
     "Oh, renaming the order wasn't enough to prevent me from
doing it again?" Jay replied.
     "I told you, Jay, that you'd get stuck with stuff like this
when you married me," Marrissa said.
     "Yes, Mara, but you said I could have fun with it," Jay
replied.  "I'll talk to you later, Martin."
     Next up was Fleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, Commander, Star
Fleet.  Actually, they were just getting into the military
contingent.  A third of the order was in Star Fleet, and he'd
seen the most grins during the ceremony from them.  Of course, he
still couldn't read his father-in-law's expression.  Some said
that while on duty, Cmdr Star Fleet had the definition of a poker
face.  The only reason why the 'on duty' label was there, was due
to the lunches he had with his children at the Admiralty.
     "Good Afternoon, Jay," Jean-Luc said.  "How is the leave
going?"
     "It's been a welcome repose, sir," Jay replied.  "May I hope
that some emergency doesn't end it soon?"
     "I'm not sure that I can stop that, Jay," Jean-Luc said,
allowing a trace of tension into his brow.  "It looks like we may
have some problems on Romulus, but that's a problem we can handle
later.  Enjoy your leave and your daughter while you can.  They
grow up all too soon."
     "If you'd like to see Sara, she's in the nursery," Jay said. 
"Lynn says that she's bring Jackie down later."
     "I don't suppose you've read Jackie's letter of protest?"
Jean-Luc said.
     "Jackie is protesting something? I've never heard her
complain before," Jay replied.
     "Apparently, Clara made her Acting Chief Engineer," Jean-Luc
said.  "She's not happy."
     "Let me guess, you're letting it go until Marrissa gets
back," Jay said.
     "No one is filling Marrissa's top posts until she gets
back," Jean-Luc said.  "I'm not going to get involved in it."
     "Good idea," Jay said.  "Check out the wine.  It's the new
Essex Hanover '75.  Marrissa says it's nearly as good as the
'47."
     "I'll have to check it out."

     Marrissa was chatting with the Duke of Holbrook when she
spied her sister entering the room.  She was wearing a nice green
dress, with a rather short cascading skirt.  It appeared to be
one of Garek's works.  Jackie was proceeding purposefully across
the room.  Her eyes made contact with Marrissa, and Marrissa
decided that she better talk to her soon.
     "Excuse me, your grace, but I believe that my little sister
needs to have a word with me," Marrissa said.
     "Go right ahead, I want to get a word with Sir Jay," the
Duke said.  "Your husband is a real treasure.  Don't let him get
away."
     "I have no intention of doing so," Marrissa replied, before
heading towards her sister.
     They met by one of the window seats.  "Marrissa, you've got
to help me," Jackie said.
     "What's the problem?" Marrissa asked, as she sat down in the
window seat.
     "Commander Sutter-Rozhenko decided to make me acting Chief
Engineer while she was in command," Jackie began.  "I protested. 
I'm just not ready for that yet, but she made me do it.  It was
okay for a while, but now I've got two section chiefs feuding
over territory, another isn't listening to any of my suggestions. 
The whole department is falling to pieces around me and I don't
know what to do."
     "I just heard about your initial letter of protest,"
Marrissa said.  "And frankly, I'm surprised you've lasted this
long.  I plan on reprimanding Clara for putting you in this
position when I get back, but that doesn't help you now, does
it?"
     Jackie shook her head morosely.  
     "It's Vigat and Dudley fighting over territory again,
right?" Marrissa said.  Jackie nodded.  "Well, chose a dividing
line, and stick to it.  Clara probably has one listed.  She
really gets tired of them going after each other.  She's been
complaining about those two since I took command of the Endeavor. 
As for Reed, if he doesn't listen to orders, then relieve him, or
stop him from doing anything else until he follows orders."
     "But they won't listen to me, I'm only thirteen," Jackie
said.
     "Jackie, when I was thirteen I was Chief CONN officer on the
Enterprise-D," Marrissa said.  "By the time I turned fourteen, I
was Chief of Security on her successor.  Age does not matter. 
Ability and rank do.  You are simply the best Computer Security
Officer the Enterprise has ever had."
     "I'm the only one this Enterprise has had," Jackie
interrupted.
     "That may be so, but you still deserve the post as one of
Clara's five Assistants," Marrissa continued.  "I don't know why
you were made Acting Chief, but I do know that you can do it. 
You directed a whole team of Star Fleet cryptographers during the
war.  Jackie, you've shown your talents in the area of
leadership.  Not much, but just enough for the Command Team to
take notice.  You'll probably be put though many command tasks in
the next couple years.  We may even decide to send you to Command
School some time down the road."
     "Really?" Jackie said, perking up.
     "Really," Marrissa said.  "You may not have come through the
unique events that lead to my quick path to command, but that may
be for the better.  I was always too driven, and I think it's
caused me some problems.  Then again, Star Fleet went though two
wars during the first five years of my career."
     "You had problems?" Jackie asked.
     "Of course I did," Marrissa said.  "My career hasn't been
all smooth sailing up the river of rank.  In fact, I think my
rapid promotions in rank caused the most trouble.  With you, we
can afford to take some time.  And I promise you, if you have any
problems, you can always come to me."
     "Thank you Marrissa," Jackie said.
     "Oh, and one thing, anything you ask with my proper name,
it's unofficial, and private," Marrissa said.  "Include the rank,
and I take official notice and act as such.  It's a simple way I
use to separate the two roles."
     "I understand," Jackie said.  "Now if you'll excuse me, I've
got a father who managed to forget my last birthday."
     "How did he manage to do that?" Marrissa said.  "I think
it's the first time he's missed any important date."
     "That's what I intend to find out," Jackie said.  "I think
Captain Gleason is looking for you." 
     "I'll head the other way then.  If I hear that Arnez V story
again I'll die of boredom."


Epilogue

     It didn't take Marrissa long to get back into the swing of
things on the Enterprise.  No sooner than after she had gotten
Sara to sleep back on the Enterprise, was she beginning to handle
some of those things that had been left undone in her absence. 
Most of that was paperwork.  She hoped to get most of it done by
the time she returned to Romulas.
     First thing she handled were the big things.  That being the
Chief of Operations job.  She noted that her father had finally
found a replacement for her there, but Vice Admiral Data wouldn't
be free for another week.  She moved the Second Fleet from Vulcan
to Betazed, and forwarded Commodore La Forge's complaints about
still being in command to her father.  Then the First Fleet job,
which she was going to have to keep, that didn't please Marrissa. 
Promote Commander Ikari to fill the Captaincy of the Evangelical. 
Transfer Lieutenant Commander Saotome to be his First Officer. 
Hopefully that would be a good team.  
     After an hour, she got to the Enterprise.  First up,
complaint from Lieutenant junior grade Jacqueline Picard,
regarding temporary posting as Chief Engineer.  Attached note
from acting Captain Clarrissa Sutter-Rozhenko explaining the
action.  Attached evaluation of acting First Officer, Alexander
Rozhenko of Lieutenant Picard as Chief Engineer.  Slightly above
average marks, with notable improvement towards the end of
assignment.  Hmmm, reasoning looks solid, but better candidates
where available.  Then again, that would have taken the Chief of
Security over, no that wouldn't have worked.  Jackie seemed to
have done fine, but a warning to Clara was warranted.  Schedule
an appointment for tomorrow.
     Marrissa was deep into reviewing the logs made in her
absence, by the time Jay got back to their quarters.  He'd been
stuck reviewing cadets at the Fighter Academy with Marrissa's
father.  Not really the most exciting task, but not really that
boring either.  Jay snuck up behind Marrissa.  "Boo."
     Marrissa jumped in her chair.  "Don't do that!" she
exclaimed.
     Jay embraced her.  "Don't do what," he said, before kissing
her.
     "Scare me that way," Marrissa said.  Then she noticed the
tricorder in his hand.  "What's that for?"
     "I found it on the floor next to the replicator," Jay said. 
"Clara must have left it when she upgraded our replicator's
memory."
     Marrissa looked at the read out, turning it so it scanned
her better.  "Jay, you are a rotten liar," she said, reading the
results.
     "So, you're upset with the results of our time off?" Jay
asked, taking the tricorder and dropping it to the desk.  He
turned her around.
     "Not really, I just wanted a little more time between
children," Marrissa said.  "Just tell me one thing, did this
figure into the timing of you forcing my time off the
Enterprise."
     "No, you needed it.  This," Jay said, hugging her, "is
merely a bonus."
     "You wouldn't say that if you had to have them," Marrissa
said.
     "This from the girl who once told me that she enjoyed it and
wanted a dozen of them?" Jay asked.
     "I love children, and want lots of them," Marrissa
clarified.  "I don't like most of the process of having them. 
Especially the last couple of months."
     "This time, I promise you won't have to fight a war during
them," Jay said.
     "When did you be acquire the gift of precognition?" Marrissa
asked, moving in to kiss him.  All further conversation was lost
to other tasks, until, of course, Sara woke up crying.


Characters, in Order of Appearance.

Marrissa Amber Picard, Admiral
     Captain of the Enterprise NCC-1701-F, married to Jay, mother
to Sara
Jay Alan Gordon, Captain
     First Officer of the Enterprise NCC-1701-F, married to
Marrissa, father of Sara
Jackson Johnson, Doctor
     Chief Medical Officer, Enterprise NCC-1701-F
Alexander Rozhenko
     Chief of Operations, USS Enterprise NCC-1701-F
Clara Sutter-Rozhenko
     Chief Engineer, Acting Captain, USS Enterprise NCC-1701-F
Martin Sussex
     Ship's Counselor
Jessica Gordon
     Assistant Fighter Commander, USS Enterprise NCC-1701-F,
sister of Jay.
Mary Celeste Kinsmore
     Last person to die on the USS Georgia, age 12
Sara Picard
     baby daughter of Jay and Marrissa
Serena Halifax
     Nanny of Sara Picard
Kasey
     Sailor Mercury
Alexis
     Sailor Mars
Frederick James
     Duke of Holbrook
and his granddaughter

Jean-Luc Picard
     Commanding Admiral Star Fleet, father of Marrissa and
Jackie.
Jacqueline Marie Picard
     Acting Chief Engineer, USS Enterprise, sister of Marrissa