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Something to Hope For

            “This is Captain Mitchell. All officers report to the bridge.”

            Archer had finished building up an energy reserve in the mess hall. By this time of the day shift he was more alone than in a crowd. He glanced out the window and noticed a familiar pattern in the stars. They were home.

            With a long stride bordering on a jog he headed for the bridge. The turbo door opened and he stepped out into a crowd of a dozen people all gaping at the view screen. Floating against the black of space Earth glowed like a blue and white marble, the moon a little pearl glowing in the sunlight from behind them.

            “We’ll be docking in 10 minutes. All ashore who’s going ashore,” Mitchell said. The bridge burst out in applause and cheers. The blue and white ball grew larger and it’s companion more defined. The admiral stepped over to the lady in the green dress. The sight of Earth never lost its excitement.

            “It's lovely,” she whispered to Jon. “So much is water, how can 10 billion people live there, it’s amazing.”

            “It’s a bit crowded, but people don’t have so many children anymore, so the population has stabilized over the last few decades.”

            The features of Earth began to reveal themselves; her continents, weather disturbances, seas, snow on the southern hemispheres, a little ice cap on the northern pole appeared and welcomed the crew of Endeavour home. Excitement buzzed and bounced among the crew as everyone took their stations and brought the star ship into the lacy cradle of space dock.

            The shuttle pod delivered Admiral Archer, Doctor Riaan, Brannigaan, Commander Sato, and Mia to the east landing pad in front of Starfleet headquarters. The kids jumped out first, Hoshi, then Riaan and Jonathan. The sun was still high and a brisk ocean breeze blew across the courtyard ruffling the blue flag of Starfleet at the top of a pole. Riaan’s dress fluttered around her feet as the party walked towards the building. Dozens of people meandered on the meticulously groomed grounds. Buildings of cement and glass rose like pyramids in every direction. Riaan looked around as did Branni, in awe of the spectacle of Starfleet. They climbed the steps and entered the main administrative building.

            One of the first things to greet them inside was a huge oil painting of Jonathan Archer. Sato had seen it dozens of times, Archer even more. He tried not to look but Riaan touched his shoulder.

            “Admiral Jon, is that you?” Branni asked. He looked down at the boy and nodded twice. They continued across the expansive room towards the reception counter. More paintings hung conspicuously on the walls between the pillars, including the NX-01 Enterprise and NX-02 Columbia, Zephram Cochran and The Phoenix. Riaan, Branni, and Mia looked around with wide eyes. People from many worlds wandered here, dashed over there, some wore uniforms or Starfleet Academy attire. The cosmopolitan population seemed to blend seamlessly, quietly.

            “Admiral Archer, always a pleasure,” the reception secretary called and stood up. A few others walking around the lobby also turned to look at Starfleet’s most famous officer when they heard his name. “And Commander Sato, greetings!” The woman behind the expansive desk was mature and smartly dressed in civilian clothes. Archer didn’t remember her name but he did recognize her from the past.

            “Admiral, Commander, they’re expecting you in the briefing room. May I escort your guests to the rec area?”

            Riaan, Branni, and Mia all followed the woman in the opposite direction. They chatted about something on the way, but Archer couldn’t hear it.

            “Admiral, I’m so happy for you,” Sato said as they walked together to down a long hall.

            “You mean Riaan?”

            “Of course I mean the doctor. You’re a cute couple. It’s about time, too.”

            “Well, I guess it’s not a secret, at least not anymore,” he chuckled. They continued their walk to the briefing room, turning a corner to another corridor.

            “It will be all over Starfleet in 24 hours,” she teased him, poking her senior officer gently in the ribs. “It’s good, Admiral. I'm not sure anyone has ever seen you quite like this.” 

            "Like what, exactly?" He looked down at her, given he was at least 20 cm taller than she was. Hoshi kept walking, but looked up at Archer with a wide smile. 

             "In love."

             

            “Jon, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the sun set over an ocean, not like this. The city is lit up, the sky is all pink and gold, and the water looks like your eyes.”

            They stood together outside of the Jonathan’s apartment building while Brannigaan raced up the beach. Riaan wore Jon’s coat, but she still shivered a little. He stood behind her and pulled her long hair into a single pony and laid it over her left shoulder. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist to share a little more heat to keep her on the boardwalk another minute or two. It was easy for Jon to huddle his face on her neck and shoulder and kiss the salt air off her skin.

            “It’s hard to believe I’m here,” Riaan said. “I never saw anything this beautiful on Akal, and certainly not on that last planet where…“

            “Where something happened that changed my life,” Jonathan said quietly in her ear. “Hey, call Brannigaan and let’s get inside. My place was set up for one when I left. We’ve got a little work to do.”

            Brannigaan ran up some wooden steps from the beach towards the building. Riaan put her arm around his shoulder.

            “Mom, Jon, it’s amazing down there. Little animals live in the rocks, and the water is cold but feet like it, and you can see the big bridge from one end to another. And –“

            “Slow down, child, there will be plenty of time for everything. But it’s been a long day; I’m ready to eat and go to bed.”

            Jonathan pushed some numbers on a keypad and they all entered the tall foyer of trees and stone. They walked towards the lift together. Jonathan called the elevator; he looked down at the statue of Porthos, and smiled to himself. When they reached the top, he also entered some numbers on the keypad next to his door. He swung the door inward and caught Riaan by the hand standing in the passageway.

            “This is an old custom.” He bent down just a bit and picked Riaan up as if she might have been nothing more than a small bird. She instinctively grasped around his neck He stepped into the doorway and kissed her gently.

            “Why’d you do that, Jon?” Brannigaan asked. He looked intently at the two of them.

            “Here on Earth, a man carries the woman he loves through the doorway of the first home they share together.” Once inside he set her on her feet, and Brannigaan darted in behind them. Several small cargo containers blocked the path to the balcony where the last beams of sunlight said goodbye to San Francisco.

            “They’re certainly efficient,” Riaan remarked.

            “No one disappoints here. It’s Starfleet and I’m an admiral.”