Epilogue

PICARDRETURNED TO THE BRIDGEafter seeing Llewellyn and Vishinski off in the transporter room. It felt good to be back

aboard his ship again and in control. The nightmare was over. The ship and his crew were safe. It was the closest

they had ever come to complete disaster, but his crew had withstood the test, and with the help of the ambimorphs,

they had pulled through. However, Picard had no doubt they would have done it on their own, anyway. Valak had been

right in that regard. Perhaps he did not underestimate me, Picard thought, but he underestimated my crew.

“Have Llewellyn and Vishinski gone?” asked Riker.

Picard nodded. “Yes, they are back aboard the ark, Number One. And they have given me a complete log of their time

with the ambimorphs. It should make fascinating reading.”

Riker shook his head. “For thirty years, they’ve been away from everything they knew, and they’ll never be able to go

back home again.”

“On the contrary, Will,” Picard said with a smile. “Theyhave gone back home.”

“Sir,” said Data, “I am receiving a transmission from the ark. They are ready to get under way.”

“Activate main viewer, Mr. Data.”

The viewscreen came on, and they all watched as the huge ark began to move with a stately majesty, drifting away from

them slowly at first, towing theIndependence and theSyrinx , apparently holding them in some sort of forcefield as it

gradually accelerated, then suddenly went to warp speed and disappeared.

“I can almost imagine how Valak must feel,” Picard said. “He thought he had theEnterprise . Instead, he has lost his

own ship, and now the ambimorphs have departed with their Romulan prize. Still, he may find it a valuable experience.

Perhaps even a rewarding one.”

“It’s strange to think of ambimorphs posing as members of Starfleet,” Riker said. “And a little frightening, too. You

think we’ll ever find out who they are?”

“They have had many years to establish themselves among us,” Picard replied. “I suppose they could be anyone.” He

raised his eyebrows. “Even you, Number One.”

“My ribs would argue that one,” Riker said with a pained smile. “I can’t will them to mend. And I think an ambimorph

would have had more sense than to get into a brawl with a Romulan.”

“I thought you would have had more sense, too,” Picard said.

Riker nodded. “Well … it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“Right now I think it would be a good idea to get back to Federation space,” Picard said with a smile. “Set course

for Starbase Thirty-nine, Mr. Data, and prepare to get under way.”

“Course set, sir, zero eight nine, mark nine five.”

“Warp factor three, Mr. Data.”

“Warp factor three, sir.”

Picard leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment. He was tired, but it felt good to be back home.

“Engage,” he said.