A Star Trek Next Generation based fan fiction novel

Reginald Barclay discovers that space is not the final frontier

Where No Man has Gone Before

Chapter 9:

Last Time:

We were in the captains briefing room, after having changed into some appropriate clothes. The captain and Data were also
present. Will was saying, "So, what you're saying is, that, a goddess, from ancient Earth legend, just whisked you off of
the ship, to her garden for a quiet chat and some lemonade." Shaking his head.

There was no evidence to support our story, other than having been missing from the ship, and the ring that Freya had made
for Geordi to give to me, for our engagement. Data had finished scanning the ring during our narrative of the adventure we'd
had.

The captain asked Data for his findings. Data said, "Sir, the reading I get from the ring, are unlike anything I have ever
seen. I am at a loss to explain it, other than those given by Regina and Geordi."

The captain looked around the table at all of us, "Well, I guess we'll just have to accept that for now. It's not like we
can do anything about it anyway. So, I should say, Congratulations to Regina and Geordi."

And Now:

Captain Picard

After we congratulated Regina and Geordi, we all went to carry on with our day. As I headed for the bridge with Will and
Deanna, I contemplated what this all meant. Some how, people from our distant past, viewed or lives as a form of
entertainment. Truly astonishing!

As the turbolift doors opened upon the bridge, I was told of an incoming message from SFC. I said, "On screen." As we took
our places, Admiral Marcia Meldal-Johnsan's face appeared on the screen. "Admiral Meldal-Johnsan, what do I owe this honor
to?"

"Marcia, please captain." The admiral smiled, "Jean-Luc, I know you and your crew are somewhat between missions at the
moment, and I have a favor to request, to divert course to check out a planet for us. What do you say?"

"It would be our pleasure Admiral, Marcia. What, pray, is the nature of the assignment? Serious?"

The admiral smiles again, "No, nothing truly serious. Just a matter of inspection prior to a diplomatic envoy for admittance
to the Federation. You know better than most, that the Federation needs all the aligned worlds we can get right now. So this
is important. Just do your regular fine job and report back when you can. The information will be sent, with an old crew
member of yours. Thanks Jean-Luc, Starfleet out."

Will and Deanna looked at me, Will said it for all of us, "I wonder who it will be?"

Deanna said, "The admiral was giving off a sense of amusement. So I'm sure it will be someone we all can look forward to
seeing again."

All I said was, "Well then, it will sort itself out soon enough. Let's try to finish what we have to do here while we can."

******************************

On a lonely shuttlecraft, a day and a half away from a rendezvous with the Enterprise, a gloomy presence, stoically brooded
over the reception he would receive when he got there.

******************************

Regina

It was all happening so fast. Meeting with Freya, the Freya, out of ancient Norse mythology. It all seemed almost surreal in
a way, not that I could deny the existence of magic. Me of all people, who had been transformed by magic, to be the person I
was always meant to be. Oh, yes! I did believe in magic. And as my life evolved, more people began to believe as well.

Actually, my life was literally filled with magic. I had the most amazing friends, that cared for and supported me more than
I had a right to expect. That and I had found love. What could be more magical than being in love with your best friend. And
the love I felt from Geordi was all encompassing, like my own person forcefield against any possible harm.

This morning at the senior officers' meeting, we were told by the captain that we were expecting to meet with someone for a
new mission, one of diplomatic importance. Nothing else was said.

Later in the day, all senior staff was called to the briefing room. Geordi and I left for the meeting, pondering who and
what this new mission was all about. We were the last to arrive, to a room of people greeting our new arrival. He was
surrounded by people and I couldn't see anything other than dark hair in a ponytail. He was very tall, too.

At the sound of our entrance, the small crowd parted as the guest turned. In a very, unladylike display, I shrieked, "Warf!"
I actually ran to him and threw my arms around him in a great big hug. "Worf, I'm so happy to see you again!"

Now, you don't often see Warf completely thrown for more than a second. He politely returned the hug, then said, "Excuse me
young lady, but are you sure you know me?" Everyone laughed so hard, and poor Warf, feeling like he was the butt of some
epic prank, just says, "Could someone, please explain what is so funny!"

Smiling, Geordi says, "Worf, may I introduce to you, Lt. Regina Barclay, as you can surmise, she already knows you." With a
smirk and a twinkle in his eye.

"I know a Lt. Reg Barclay. I'm sure I would remember this young lady, had I met her before." Looking sideways at me, "You
look a little like Reg, but...."

Stepping back, putting my hands on my hips, I state quite calmly, "That's because I was Reg, now it's Regina. It's a long
story, so later." He looks around the room at everyone present, still thinking this is all a big joke. Finally closing his
sight on Data, who just nods.

******************************

Warf

Taking the data pad, I give it to Data, who transfers the information to the viewing screen. All the members of the senior
staff take a seat, I notice that Regina sits very close to Geordi. The look in the chief engineer's eyes and his body
language suggest there is something that I'm missing. And Barclay's, her's is one of supreme contentment. Still looking at
the two of them, "Have you two wedded?" Hardly believing what I was asking.

Regina blushed, while Geordi smiled and took her hand in his, "I proposed and she accepted, we still have to set the date
though. I hope you can be there when the time comes."

With complete candor, "It would be my honor to witness, two friends bond their lives together. Nothing will prevent me from
being there."

I carried on with the briefing with what little information as I had. "As you can see, our mission is to a new planet to be
accepted into the Federation. Little is known about this world, other than it is sometimes referred to as, The Gaming World,
which seems at odds to the physical characteristics of the planet."

"The planet is fairly believed to be a median class M world, with diverse climates over the four main continents. Pre-
industrial in nature, but with some sophisticated technology, a vast contradiction. Lastly, it is believed that real magic
is possible there."

I got many looks from those present, except for Regina and Geordi, they accept that at face value. "One last thing, we will
be meeting on planet by members of a group referred to as 'The Family', though the number and value of these individuals is
not clear at this time. All I was told was that they were not from this world, but from Earth and could help where any magic
might be involved."

The captain shares a look between himself and Riker, Deanna, Dr Crusher, Regina and Geordi. Still looking at the last two,
he asks, "Is it possible this could refer to your new friends?"

Geordi and Regina both start, but Geordi continued, "Sir, it's possible, but nothing was said to us when we talked to the
family."

Regina adds, "But given that they are not from our time, we can't know whether they were before or after what is to come.
Chances are, they may subscribe to the same as our Temporal Prime Directive."

Now I had no idea what they were talking about.

******************************

Regina

It was now beginning to look as though we were going to meet up with some of Freya'a family again, and I just couldn't be
happier. I think Geordi was more pleased than I was, but it was hard to tell. Ever since he and I became a thing, he always
had the biggest smile on his face, but I was no better. We had each, finally found the 'one', that one person in the whole
crazy universe that was our destiny.

The meeting broke up and most went their own ways, leaving Geordi and I with Worf, Deanna and Will. We said good day to
Beverly and the captain and headed for Ten Forward, deciding it was time to fill Worf in on what all had happened.

An hour later, Worf looked at all of us like we were completely insane, but he said, "If it were any other people telling
this story, I would call them bold faced liars, to their faces, but not to you four." Thinking and shaking his head,
"However, it does seem to stretch the bounds of belief."

*******************************

Geordi and I were on the bridge when the ship was hailed by a very small, unusual vessel. The captain had it put on screen,
"Greeting, I am Captain Jean-Luc Pecard, of the starship Enterprise. How can we be of assistance?"

What we all saw on the screen was three women, apparently of human origin. The youngest of the three looked somewhat
familiar, she is about sixteen years of age. The other two appeared to be 22 and 26 years old. The oldest of the three
spoke, "Captain Pecard, it is truly an honor to meet you sir. I am Seraphina, with me are my daughter Gloria and
granddaughter Lucy, we are from the Family. We thought we'd show up a little early, if you don't mind?"

The youngest, Lucy, said, "Hi Regina, Hi Geordi, it's so nice to see you again, it's been a while."

The captain looked at us, motioning us forward. I said, "Lucy? We only saw you a few days ago, you were a little girl then.
What has happened?"

Seraphina says, "All we be explained shortly. Permission to come aboard captain?" The captain merely nodded.

With that, their vessel disappeared, and the three appeared on the bridge, much in the manor of Q, but without the flashy
theatrics he was so fond of. Lucy was instantly hugging me, like I was a long missed relative. I said, "My, what a pretty
young woman you've grown up to be." She blushed quite red with the compliment.

She looked between Geordi and I, then gave him a hug just as big as mine. Geordi says, "I agree, if my heart wasn't already
taken with Regina, I'd have to really consider you."

Lucy said, "I saw into your heart before Geordi, and I know you're just teasing me. You only love Regina, and that's why I
love you so much." She blushed, "both of you!"

The captain asked, "A very unusual shuttle craft, very small. What did you do with it?"

Seraphina smiled, "Oh, the car? I hope you don't mind, I put in one of the mostly empty shuttle bays. You're welcome to have
a look at it, we borrowed it from Lucy's cousin Katie. It is more than it appears." The captain thanked her with a slight
confused look on his face.

Just then Worf enters the bridge, "Captain, there is what appears to our scans to be a vintage 2015 Ford Mustang automobile,
that just appeared in shuttle bay 4." Worf finally takes notice of our guests. The captain makes introductions all around.

End of Chapter 9