“Approaching Sector 001 now sir.” said O’Rourke briskly.
Watt sat in his command chair, the cares of the past few days etched upon his face. It was hard for him to believe that his oldest surviving relative was no more. It had been said back in the old days when he was leading Anglo-Force that he was invulnerable. There had been the time where he and Magus had single-handedly stopped the Empire from taking over DS9. He had forced an Imperial battle station back through the Bajoran wormhole. It was hard to believe that a man capable of such actions could be killed by a mere explosion.
The fact that Leacock had been arrested for the crime also disturbed him deeply. Watt had grown up with Leacock as a sort of uncle, just as Magus had been like an extra grandfather to him. Now Leacock was in custody, Magus was halfway across the galaxy, and Pops was dead.
“Message coming in from Earth, Captain.” said Amarus gently, sensing his captain’s distress.
Watt gazed round at him.
“Put it through to my Ready Room.”
Watt rose and left the bridge. Soon he was seated at his desk. The face of his ex-wife, Diane, appeared on the screen before him.
“Jim, I’m so very worry. I thought he would live forever!”
“So did I Diane.” replied Watt with a warm smile. “Are you and Simon ready to beam aboard?”
“In a few minutes. He has some news he wants you to hear. He also asked if Grandpa Phineas was with you.”
“I’m afraid not. I’ll meet you in the Gresley. Watt out.”
Watt left his Ready Room and made his way to the Gresley bar. It had always been his ex-wife’s favourite part of the ship. It was mostly deserted. As he gazed behind the bat the bottle of whisky which Magus had cast a spell on caught his eye. Ah, Magus, if only he could be here now!
His reverie was interrupted by the sound of his ex-wife and son entering. Simon had just turned sixteen, and if ever a father was proud of his son then James Watt was proud of Simon. The boy was a true child of Starfleet, his mother had at one time been a serving Starfleet officer herself. One of his godfathers was none other than Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the other was Admiral Duncan McCloud. To cap everything he had been brought into this world by Dr. Phineas Magus. Now the boy was grown, standing a good two inches taller than his father.
“So tell me, what is this news you have for me?” Watt asked.
Diane broke into a broad smile.
“I want to join Starfleet Dad!” announced the younger Watt.
All at once his father’s face visibly brightened. For the first time since the grim news had reached him he smiled his first smile.
“I am so proud of you.” he cried, grabbing his son and embracing him.
Servalan, now in Cromer, had taken rooms at the best hotel in town. She sat down in a chair, several aides and attaches around her, wanting her attention as she tried to organise James Watt’s funeral service. As they all tried to talk at the same time Servalan spoke to someone on her view screen.
“I don’t care if Londo Mollari does not want to sit next to Na’Toth! They arrived on the same ship together so they’ll have to sit together! Servalan out!”
She sat back in her chair and started to feel how exhausted she was. She had spent two days trying to organise probably the largest event ever to take place on Earth, and she had not gotten much sleep. And still her aides wanted answers and instructions from her. Finally she got up from her seat.
“Enough!” she cried. “Everyone out! I must have rest!”
All those around her were amazed by her sudden outburst, but soon realised they had to follow her orders. They soon left, leaving the new President alone in her room to get some precious rest.
The day of the memorial service arrived, and the streets of Cromer were lined with those who wished to pay their last respects to a truly great man. Many of them had not met him but knew him from his work, from the stories of his adventures, as chairman of Anglo-Force, as a Starship captain, an ambassador, and finally, as President.
Then, in the distance, the procession could be seen. An old-style horse-drawn carriage was pulled by two brown mares which were driven by a man garbed in traditional dress. The carriage moved along the street slowly, and on it’s back was a picture of the dead President. Behind the picture were countless bouquets of flowers. Behind the carriage there was a precession as far as the eye could see, a countless number of men and women who knew and had served with James Watt during his life. IN the front row walked the relative who had been named after him, Captain James Watt, as well as the C-in-C, Admiral Duncan McCloud, and the Chief of Staff Commodore Connor McCloud. The gathered crowd seemed surprised that Ambassador Magus was not in this row, and not in any other row for that matter.
Behind walked some other friends of James Watt, Captain James Watt, Guinan, Admiral Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, Admiral Albert Calevicchi, Ambassador Spock. The list of people who Watt called friend was endless, and there were many more who could not make this mammoth event.
On Babylon 5 Captain Sheridan and Commander Ivanova stood in Ops watching the I.S.N. broadcast, each choking back tears for as long as they could.
At the Utopia Planitia yards on Mars Captain Jeffery Sinclair awaited his next assignment, wishing he could have travelled to Earth to pay his respects to a man who had save his life.
On Deep Space Nine the Promenade was empty as a day of mourning was declared. In their quarters Commander Benjamin Sisko sat and watched the broadcast while his son Jake sat in silent contemplation.
On the rim of explored space Captain Jack Maynard sat on the bridge of his Explorer-class ship, thinking about the man who had obtained the command for him.
And even on Romulus, Senator Pardek watched the events unfolding light years away on Earth, sadness filling his heart.
But probably the saddest of them all was Phineas Magus. Aboard the Flying Scotsman, as it was being repaired, he sat watching the broadcast, tears streaming down his face, mourning the loss of his best friend. His companions sat nearby, keeping a sage distance, not knowing if they should comfort him.
For once the galaxy was united, united in a feeling of loss, the loss of a great man.
The precession came to a halt at the statue of James Watt that had been erected in Ferns Park in the year 2001. The huge crowd watched as President Servalan took the podium, looking beautiful in her long black dress, and looking dwarfed standing in front of the huge statue.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to pay our last respects to a truly great man. An inspirational leader, and a man who many considered a friend. None of us thought we would ever have to do this, to pay last tributes to President James Watt, who died in such a needless act of terrorism. James Watt achieved much in his long life, and overcame death many times, but on this occasion he was unable to, and it is today I ask you to pay your last respects to this great man.”
Finally she was overcome with grief. An aide comforted her and led her away from the podium.
On Babylon 5 Sheridan turned away from the screen.
“Shut it off.” he ordered. “I’ve seen enough.”
“Are you alright sir?” Ivanova asked.
Sheridan did not reply, instead walking away and leaving Ops.
On Istarix, the great wizards sat in silent thought, thinking about the loss of their old friend and powerful ally. They had thought him immortal. He was not.
Aboard the Pegasus Captain Arthur Pendragon sat watching the broadcast, a glass of brandy in his hand, trying to drown his sorrows.
And so the Earth fell silent, out of respect for a great leader, and a friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment