Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Deleted Scene- Deanna on Turbolift

The universe seems to be coming to an end as I kneel here before the gods and beg for their mercy in the turbolift.  To take away the pain of being violated. Not just now, but also on the night of my wedding as I made love to my Imzadi, in his mind and one with him. I feel all has been lost and there's no way to get any of it back.  I feel so horrible because I could not block the Viceroy out of my mind.  I tried, oh gods I tried, but I just couldn't.  He would not leave no matter how hard I tried to block him out of my mind.  I failed.  I failed myself and my Imzadi.

All seems lost as we take on this Nemesis that taunts and terrorizes all of us.  The trauma this Viceroy has put me through is far worse than the previous violation I experienced long ago and now it's too painful to talk about either one.  I pray the gods forgive my inability to block him out of my mind.

Oh, how I pray the gods of Betazed save us from all of this.  To bring back the peace I once had as I relate to my beloved Imzadi.  Nothing will ever be the same again.  When I touch his mind, I fear the unreality the Viceroy inflicted on me will return.  It felt so real, even though I know it was not real.  If only my abilities were not so weak.  If only I were a stronger empath or even a telepath, like my mother.  Then this would not have happened.

Yet it was not my fault.  I did nothing to let this happen, so I pray the gods give me strength to retaliate against this vile force of evil, when and if the time comes.  I also pray that when the opportunity comes, that he remembers me and he feels what I felt.  That he feels the lingering pain I feel and the revenge of the gods of Betazed for his horrid act.

I pray the gods evoke their justice on this man for violating my marriage bed and interrupting a most intimate moment with my Imzadi.  I pray that I once again feel the comfort and security I once felt with my Imzadi when I am in his mind.  That this terrible act of mind rape never happens again.

Lastly, I pray the gods take away the pain of the mental anguish that was left behind from this sinister transgression of my mind.  The worst thing to do in the opinion of all Betazoids.  The evilest act of all and when the gods take their revenge, I hope the Viceroy never forgets.

Chapter Text

Remember Me!

"Remember me!"  [You son of a bitch!]  "Now!" Deanna exclaimed with vengeance.

I never said the middle part out loud, but I thought it and I know he heard it.  I desperately searched mentally for him in hopes to get my revenge.  I got it too.  I didn't kill him, but I wish I had.

However, that's my human side speaking.  My Betazoid side would never allow for that.  No, I'll leave that for my Imzadi to do, for I know he wants a piece of that Viceroy too, for doing what he did to me.  The gods of Betazed are with me. In good faith!

---------------------------

There is that asshole son of a bitch!” Will thought angrily to himself. “I'll get him for doing what he did to my wife!

I take one look at Worf and as though he can read my mind, he nods.  His nod said a lot in a Klingon way.  The nod was saying, "You go ahead and take the Right of Vengeance."

That's what I intend to do too.  I go after the bastard and then I catch up with him. 

His ass is mine and he's going to pay!  It's kick ass time now, you son of a bitch! Fuck with my wife, will you!

Fighting ensues between Will and the Viceroy.

I never felt so much pleasure to see a man fall to his death.  As I watch the Viceroy fall to his death, I don't try to reach my hand out to help him up to safety.  Instead, I try to kick his grip off of my leg.

He falls and on the inside, I shout, “YES!"

The man is gone now, but we still have another Nemesis to fight.  I go back to where my wife and crew members are.  I don't have time to tell Deanna that the creep is dead, but I know, in my mind, she knows.  I must go back into action again.

Chapter Text

Data's Last Big Hurrah

Data's gangster voice: I had a plan to save the captain's bacon, as they say. It was a dangerous one, but if anyone could carry it out, it was I, Data.

I gave Geordi the go ahead to release the force field and out I went.

“Cannonball! I love being an android!”

I flew through space with the greatest of ease, until I saw that I was coming close to Shinzon's ship.

"Ah, this could hurt!" I thought as I flew closer to the monstrous space vehicle.

I readjusted myself ever so slightly so I could grasp a pole to brace myself on the ship.

"Hum, that was easy. Now, on to save my beloved captain and adopted father. It’s funny how such a mentor can replace one's late parents. He's a wonderful stepdad. Too bad he does not realize that he has been like a father to me. This is my last goodbye to everyone."

Chapter Text

Picard's POV of His Crew

As I sit here talking to B-4, I realize he is just a child.  An android who is nothing more than a child.  Much like Data may have been when he was first activated.  B-4 has no comprehension of life.  He is very naive, but in the right hands he could be molded and taught to deal with life and all its problems.

Molded.  I contemplate the word and it dawns on me, that's what occurred to Data.  I, more or less, molded him.  Raised him like a son.  He was part of my family.  My adopted son, so to speak.  I had a part in raising him.  Pinocchio, as Will called him.  I, with the other members of my so-called family, taught him what it was like to be human.  We taught him how to relate to others and treated him like family.

Now, his loss hits me like losing a son and I sit here talking to his, quote, brother.  Could it be possible for me to take B-4 under my wing?  Could I somehow adopt him like a son, much like I did Data.  A second chance at fatherhood.

Alas, I had others to help me teach Data.  Others who helped me guide him.  I can't do it by myself.

I had Beverly, who is now on her way to become head of Starfleet Medical.  Would she be willing to assist me with this child android?  I wish I had not let her go.  At least not without asking her to marry me.  I love that woman.  It's probably too late for that too.

I had Will, who was a bit of a practical joker.  His pulling my new first officer's leg was a grand example of that.  I'll miss him sorely.

I just remembered the song Will was talking about. The song Data whistled.  Will told me long ago about his first meeting in the holodeck with Data, who was whistling "Pop Goes the Weasel".  Yes! That was it!

Picard snickers at the recalling of the memory of Will's retelling of the story.

Then there's Deanna.  My rock of sanity.  Or was.  Now, she's Will's Rock of Sanity.   She's Will's new ship’s counselor.  I rather enjoyed her reading my feelings.  I never had to voice them.  She always knew my feelings and knew just when to help me sort out those feelings.  She will make a good ship's counselor for Will.  She is like a daughter and Will like a son to me. I wish her and Will all the best.

I had three adopted children.  I have now lost one to death and the other two have left the nest.  It seems empty around here without them.

Even more so without my soul mate.  Oh, yes.  Beverly was my soul mate.  I loved her since the day I met her.  Now she's gone.  Or is she?  Is it too late for me to ask her the one question I have always wanted to ask her or would she turn me down just as she turned me down years ago about even starting a relationship.  I now realize we do have a relationship.  We have always had one.  Not your usual relationship, but still a relationship.

We shared everything with each other.  Will we still?  She knows me like a book.  Inside and out.  There is not a thing she does not know about me.

Then there's her son, Wesley.  He was very much a son to me.  I actually did take a hand in raising him.  He returned long enough to be at Will and Deanna's wedding. Now, he's gone back to travel with the Traveler.

Lastly, there's Geordi and Worf.

Worf will probably return to DS9.  Geordi will probably also move on to better opportunities and the nest will seem even more empty.

However, with B-4 before me, I am reminded that there is a possibility for new children.  Not my own of course, but like my own.  B-4 reminds me of the new crew members I am getting.  I'll still miss Data, Deanna, Will, Worf, and Beverly, but I have the opportunity of acquiring a new extended family.

Extended family.  How can one have an extended family when they have no family?  I lost my immediate family to a fire long ago.  I have no family!

Or do I? Isn't family what you make it?

I have not lost Deanna and Will to another ship, but rather I am seeing them grow into people of their own right.  Just like a father would see his offspring spread their wings and go into the world on their own.

Yes, I am a proud father.  Figuratively of course.  The two of them make me very proud.  I'm so very happy that they got married and acquired a ship of their own.  I can now see what my influence has done for them.  I'm sure they will call me from time to time.

And as long as I stay in touch with Beverly there is still hope.  Hope that one day I will have a wife.  Maybe no children of my very own, but I'll have a wife.

However, I still feel a great loss.  One that feels like I have lost a child.  Then I look at B-4 and wonder.  Could he be a second chance at feeling like a father?  A second chance of having the feeling that I am shaping someone's life for bigger and better things, just as I have Will, Deanna, and Data's?

As I talk to him, he sounds like a child of about three.  There's that word again.

"Why?"

He's asked that question so many times.  Instead of being irritated with him and wanting to find his off button, I smile.  I smile because I want to explain why the universe is vast.  Why there is death and why people move on to other places.  I want to teach him everything.

Now I'm being called back to the Bridge.  I hate to leave him by himself.  I stand behind him for a few minutes.  He's singing an old song.  Ole Yellow Eyes sung it many times.  B-4 has the same yellow eyes.  He could almost be Data's twin brother, except for the age difference.

As he sings and hums the song, he curiously observes an object.  I could tell him what it is, just as I tell him the words to the song, but given time, I think he can learn what the object he holds is.  Even with all its circuitry.

There's so much I can teach B-4.  Just like a father teaches his son. Maybe, just maybe, I'll get that opportunity. 

I also hope Data felt like he was a son to me.  May he rest in peace.