Thursday, January 10, 2008

A Present For The Captain



Guest Poster: Beverly Crusher

I've called a meeting of the senior staff while Jean-Luc is in the holodeck.

"What is this all about, Beverly?" Ro Laren asks. The others talk among themselves in speculation as to the possible answer.

"Surely you must know." I tell them, "Next Monday on the 14th of January is Captain Picard's birthday. We have to decide what to get him."

A sound of realisation plus a few groans run around the table.

"Well, I have no idea." Riker says, "He seems to have everything."

A few more nods of agreement are seen.

"Has anyone any ideas?" I ask.

"You are closer to him than anyone else, Beverly." Deanna comments in a delicate manner. I hear a few giggles. "Perhaps it is you who have the answer?"

"I suppose you're right, Deanna." I answer, "But the opinions of others will always help."

"In the Terran Empire." T'Pol suddenly says, "Our birthday present to the Captain was that we let him live another year."

"Yes, T'Pol." I reply, "I think that situation won't apply here."



"In the Borg Cubes." Seven of Nine tells us, "If we forget the birthday of the Borg Queen, we are deactivated. She certainly gets a lot of cards that way."

"I'm sure she does!" Geordi says drily.

"We're going off course here." I remind them, "We need suggestions about what we can get the Captain."

"The Captain has always been a man of culture." Data observes, "We might need to get something very cultural."

The staff nod their heads in agreement.

"Data is right." Jadzia tells us, "What cultural item would the Captain enjoy?"

"He likes acting and plays." adds Riker.

"That's true." I answer, "We're doing well. We might be getting a solution. Is there anything in the Galactic Gazette 'For Sale' column?"

We call it up on the screen and see an interesting entry:

Do you have a holodeck? Are you a potential actor? Live out your fantasies in The Shakesperian Holoprogram. All the plays are here. You can live any role in them. The program is more real than typical programs. It's like no program you've had before!!

"That sounds perfect!" Jadzia says. All the others agree.

"Very well." I tell them, "We'll all put in for that and present him with the program when he has his party on the 14th."

We all break up to leave. Deanna holds me back to whisper something.

"What is it?" I ask.

"This program" Deanna tells me, "I have bad feelings about it."

"Don't be silly Deanna." I tell her, "What could go wrong?"

Sometimes a brash statement like that isn't a good idea.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good to here from Michele. Seems like ages or should I say light years?

Ellee Seymour said...

You should always listen to your intuition if you feel something is wrong - and I'm sure your next instalment will fill us in.

Bilbo said...

By the prickling of my thumbs,
Some holodeck malfunction this way comes...

The Curmudgeon said...

Amazing. Just when you had the Holodeck working -- at Christmas -- and now....

Anonymous said...

Galactic Gazette? What About EBAY?

Gordon said...

Hmm I seem to remember a certain hologram taking over the ship but then again that was elementary dear data...

Tawnya Shields said...

Does this program have a rating? Hopefully at best it is PG-13.:o)

Lavender said...

It does sound like an excellent gift for him - I just hope the holodeck doesnt have any of its unpredictable moments....hehehe...yeah, right! LOL

Linda said...

Ut-oh, methinks the play will soon be afoot!

Lahdeedah said...

He'll get stuck in another detective/mob novel again huh?

He LOVES those. So what if the bullets end up being real.... he'll be thrilled...

The Mistress of the Dark said...

I think ensign Britney should have been consulted. I bet she would have come up with a great b-day idea.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

MOTD, it's best not to think what sort of idea Ensign Britney would have come up with!

Ellee, you may well see what happens sometime next week after I get my birthday present.

Bilbo, methinks it is very likely.

Tawcan said...

Greetings from Michele's. Great story as usual.

Ellee Seymour said...

Wishing you a happy and safe flight this weekend captain.

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

An early "Happy Birthday" to the Captain and Happy New Year! :)

Michele sent me :)

Unknown said...

Hope you have a rocking birthday Captain!

Superman said...

I have the same kind of problem, but my friends used to give me rare alien specis oas pets, or something... Now they give me socks. I don't even wear socks.

merlyn said...

I will wish you a happy birthday now Captain as we will be away from computers on the 14th. Be well.

merly