From: jfy@cis.ksu.edu (Joseph F. Young)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: FROM THE ARCHIVES: story/tng/ChainOfCommand.zip (part 04/04)
Date: Thu Oct 28 04:30:19 1993

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        benefit.

                                PICARD
                Status?

                                SUSAN
                We'll be entering Federation space 
                in sixteen minutes, twenty seconds, 
                Captain.

                                PICARD
                        (to Worf)
                Any sign of Tholian pursuers?

                                WORF
                No, sir.

                                PICARD
                Plot a direct course for Starbase
                2-0-9, Ensign.

                                SUSAN
                Aye, sir.  Course laid in.

                                PICARD
                Engage.


        EXT. SPACE

        The Enterprise zooms by at warp, both nacelles intact, 
        the left one still dark.


        FADE TO:

        EXT. STARBASE 2-0-9

        The Enterprise is docked at the Starbase, work crews 
        repairing the damaged port nacelle.


        INT. READY ROOM

        The chime rings.

                                PICARD
                Come.

        The door opens and Bryan steps into the room.

                                BRYAN
                Captain.

                                PICARD
                Mr. Jennings.

                                BRYAN
                I'll be leaving the ship soon, and 
                I...  I wanted to apologize.  I let 
                myself get carried away, caught up 
                in what I believe.

                                PICARD
                You needn't apologize for believing 
                what you do, Mr. Jennings.  I have 
                seen many philosophies worse than 
                yours.

                                BRYAN
                I could have killed everybody on 
                board...

                                PICARD
                Indeed, and hopefully you've 
                profited from the experience.  The 
                world is not made up of moral black 
                and whites, Mr. Jennings.  A little 
                authoritarianism is sometimes... 
                necessary.

        Bryan stands silently for a moment.  They stare at each 
        other.

                                BRYAN
                        (quietly)
                No, Captain.  I think you're wrong.

        Picard's jaw tightens.

                                PICARD
                Good-bye, Mr. Jennings.

        Bryan turns and leaves.  Long shot on Picard, deep in 
        thought.


        INT. JENNINGS' QUARTERS

        Susan is in a Starfleet uniform.  Bryan is packed and 
        ready to leave.

                                BRYAN
                I love you, Susan.

        Susan stands silently, facing away from Bryan.

                                BRYAN (CONT'D)
                Dammit, Susan.  Don't let it end 
                like this.  I made a mistake.  I 
                regret it.  What else can I do?

        Susan still doesn't acknowledge him.

                                BRYAN (CONT'D)
                Susan!

        She turns towards him.

                                SUSAN
                What else can you do?  Bryan, don't 
                you see?  You're like a child, 
                seeing things in the shadows.  
                Captain Picard is no more a tyrant 
                than you're a liberator.

        Bryan's anger boils over for just a second.

                                BRYAN
                Picard--

                                SUSAN
                --is a good man.  The kind of man I 
                used to think you were.  He's 
                practical, Bryan, and he knows where 
                the real world starts.  That's 
                something you need to learn.

        Bryan looks around and sighs.

                                BRYAN
                You're really going with them.

                                SUSAN
                Yes.  I am.

        Bryan picks up a few bags and heads to the door.  He 
        crosses the threshold and turns.

                                BRYAN
                I love you, Susan.

        The door closes between them.

                                SUSAN
                I love you, too.

                                                FADE OUT.


                                END OF ACT FIVE


                                    THE END

-- 
    Jason Snell / jsnell@ucsd.edu / Ashamed owner of a Communication BA!
 InterText - A Net Fiction Magazine - ASCII or PostScript - Mail me for info!
      "What do you think, sirs?" -- "Push the button, Frank..." --MST3K


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