Post-titles - Episode 4 Scene 2 (1st draft)

Lt Harry Kim, stared with intent through the front panel of the Danube class Runabout, as it made its descent onto the Academy’s flight deck. As the shore line of the Presidio, campus buildings and cityscape of San Fransisco drew closer, the unchanged scenery, proved to him the peninsula existed in a stasis field.

The runabout settled with the grace of a resting Inyo Mule Deer. The craft’s side door yawned, allowing in the clime of the Californian morning and forcing out the artificial, air-conditioned oxygen.

Cadets, educators, guest speakers in the form of visiting Captains, Admirals and dignitaries traversed the campus grounds and the immaculate gardens.

Three individuals stepped out onto the deck. One of them refreshed his eyes to the academy grounds, the other two having never set foot on the planet, absorbed the scene. Seven’s oldest memories as Annika on Earth proved irrelevant.

Harry, the first to disembark with a carry sack slung over one shoulder and carrying Icheb’s portable regenerator on his other, stepped out. He paused for a moment as he watched his boots, then his legs reacquaint themselves with the ground. The smell of real Earth grass carried him forward. Icheb and Seven followed without concern but Icheb looked under one of his feet attempting to understand what Harry’s manner. In many ways the arrival onto the academy grounds meant more to Harry Kim than Icheb.

Behind them their ride lifted up to ferry other passengers they flew with from the shipyard.

Harry carried authority in his stride in the desire to escort both strangers across the institution’s flight level, through the gardens to the school’s front entrance. Barely twenty minutes ago he traipsed off Voyager to board his connecting flight to Earth. The energised man marched in front of the ex-Borg after offering his official presence earlier. Harry owed it to Tuvok and couldn’t let his two friends access the campus alone.

He couldn’t spy Boothby on this walk. Reminiscing over the gardener, Harry wondered about classmates and his teaching staff. Which educators still lectured here?, he thought to himself.

In the beginning no one paid attention to the trio but with Harry’s out-dated uniform and Seven’s compression suit attention turned their way.

“Maybe we should have accepted Patterson’s offer of an escort”, Harry commented.

“I disagree, it would have drawn more attention to us”, Seven replied.

Officers and cadets alike stopped to stare, some with puzzled looks, others understood acknowledged who they were and walked on, more stayed, ignoring their duties. Nobody approached Harry’s away team and Harry put the attention to the back of his mind. Seven didn’t but noted his efficiency with getting them to where they needed to be.

Studying schematics are another thing entirely to being present. A quick thought about the dismissing Janeway’s offer of exploring 8472’s recreation of Starfleet Command and the Academy entered her mind. The uncomfortableness would be irrelevant once Icheb leaves and being in public can be minimised. She side glanced, unsure of what to make of the attention, it reminded her of her first few weeks aboard Voyager as the 140+ personnel grew comfortable with her presence. Do all 9 billion individuals on this planet have to grow comfortable with me as well? If what the Barclay hologram described is true, am I also still expected to inspire millions?, she explicated the questions to herself. No answer came. Seven considering the reset in her circumstances would have preferred her aunt’s home as the first destination. For better or for worse.

Turning to look at Icheb, she noted how he walked unfazed, and followed Harry.

“This is it, the Admissions Office”, Harry announced with a nostalgic sigh.

“Thank you Lt for bringing me, even though I knew the way”, Icheb replied.

“Sure, but I wanted to show you something no detailed drawing could explain to you”. As Harry spoke he lifted a finger to point out across the water. “While you’re here, across to the Marin Headlands, that’s where our Captain’s trial will be. I wanted to share my perspective”.

“I’m entering Starfleet, while simultaneously she might be leaving”.

“Exactly”.

Icheb re-examined the vista for a moment, turned to Harry, and thanked him a second time. He proceeded up the steps of the Admissions Office, with Seven walking with him. Harry stood back to give the pair a private moment. Behind them further up on the steps an admin made himself known and waved.

“Hello Icheb” the man welcoming him said.

Campus talk of their arrival had reached the admissions department. Seven and Icheb recognised him as one of the guests Tuvok invited to the Delta Dinner.

“I’m not leaving you on another planet nor am I saying goodbye, but this moment is still an emotional one”, Seven admitted.

“I agree it is emotional, but it will be okay, fun will now commence”.

She smiled at his last sentence and let him set off on the next stage of his life.

This is the last scene before the first time jump to the story. One last goodbye for our heroes. Again. This is a first draft. Details will change but this is the overall scope for the scene. Enjoy!