It was no Enterprise, but it would do for now

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

With no layout of the ship to go by, and no escort for now, Picard was winding his own way through the strange living ship, learning and memorizing the hallways and doors, teaching himself where every section led, and what awaited at the end of each corridor. It was difficult work, but it gave the older captain something to do to keep himself occupied while the current command staff began the easy transition between COs.

"Certainly a remarkable ship," Picard remarked, running one hand against a wall curiously. "I've little doubt her crew is equally remarkable, if half of what Captain Bennet says is true."

Comments

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid, Captain, that I'm still not insulted." Now that, that was a flash of humor. Almost.

"I am...still adjusting to seeing the stars without land."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that can be difficult to grow accustomed to, if I remember right. Several of my crew back home were born on Luna, so they had a rather ... unique perspective of what the night sky should look like."

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

"Hazy, cloudy, and full of buildings, as far as I know of late."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"That's all changed in my time, Inspector," he said in return, "since pollution, as you know it, is all but gone from Earth's atmosphere. The sky is clear and fresh, though in major cities, the buildings are still present."

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure it's of great importance and beauty to some. The sky is the sky, it seems to me; Perhaps not now. I imagine I will look at it differently, now, should I return to Paris."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"I think most of us will have a newfound appreciation for home when we return, Inspector Javert."

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps. I've never been an enthusiast for it before now."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

Picard couldn't really think of anything to say to that. Lacking an enthusiasm for the earth just seemed ... odd.

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

Javert had...never really been attached to any of it. "Paris ought to get by without me-- or burn to the ground, but that is the way of Paris."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Your Paris, perhaps, Inspector."

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

"Yes, my Paris. She is still a volatile, criminally rife, disgusting place. Apparently that becomes unusual in the future, at least somewhat. Frankly, I doubt the capacity for humankind to overcome their baser, ugly proclivities." He says, blank-faced.

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Humanity evolves, Inspector. It takes us a while to get there, but we better ourselves beyond the desires of greed and bigotry. ...for the most part, at least. Like every rule, there are exceptions, but humanity has come far since your time."

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

"If you insist, Captain."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"I do, Inspector. Humanity in my time is not the same violent, war-like race you know in your day. Crime is practically non-existent, and most of the world's diseases have been cured. It's not paradise, but it's better than what we had."

[asluciferfell.livejournal.com]

"There will always be criminals and scum, Captain, no matter how idyllic the world becomes." Javert sounds slightly unsure of himself, remembering when he last misjudged the issue; He has to remember that he is not always right, after all, and gray areas ore prolific rather than nonexistent.

"There will be criminals, and there will be the police who guard against them." He sounds more confident, now, as if he's reassuring himself.

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps so," Picard replied, content to play the cryptic every now and then.