Star Trek: TNG Indstinguishable From Magic by David A McIntee Page A

“Transferred? Off the
Enterprise?”
    “Temporarily attached to the
Challenger,”
Picard emphasized. “I’m sorry, perhaps that was a poor choice of words on my part. Starfleet believes that you have valuable skills and experience that will make you uniquely qualified for this mission. Aside from being the
Enterprise
’s chief engineer of many years’ standing, you have experience with the technology of other eras. You even had a hand in Earth’s very first warp vessel, the
Phoenix.”
    Geordi spread his hands in an appeal. “I know I’ve seen and done some things, but being chief engineer on the
Enterprise
is where I always wanted to be. It’s taken me years—”
    “And Starfleet appreciates that, but Command also wants the best person for the job on
Intrepid.”
Picard’s expression lightened, a twinkle appearing in his eye. “And, to be fair, I read in your report that it was you yourself who insisted that such a mission be formed.”
    “That’s true enough, but—”
    “Geordi,” Picard said, dropping the mask entirely, “letme ask you one question. Would you be happy never setting foot on
Intrepid
again?”
    Geordi took a deep breath, remembering the conversation he and Picard had had aboard
Intrepid
. He knew Picard remembered it too. “No. No, I’d love to be able to take her apart and put her back together again. Feel the decking vibrate when her warp core comes on line . . .”
    “So would I,” Picard said softly, “but I’m not being offered the opportunity.” His tone and expression lightened. “There’s one other point I ought to mention. The request for you to join the team was made by an old friend of yours, Montgomery Scott.”
    “Scotty?!” That was better news. It had been a while since Geordi had seen the legendary miracle worker.
    “Challenger
is Mister Scott’s pet project, a starship retrofitted as an engineering test-bed. It seems that he’s been following your career and he’d like to involve you in the
Challenger
’s mission.” Geordi didn’t reply, because he didn’t need to. He knew the captain could read his conflict. He wanted to breathe
Intrepid
’s air, but didn’t want to leave
Enterprise
to her own devices. She was, after all, the one lady he could rely on to always be there for him. “Geordi, I won’t order you to go, but I would say, as your friend, that if you don’t, you will probably beat yourself over the head with it for the rest of your life.”
    “‘Beat yourself over the head’? The captain actually said that?” Worf sounded as much surprised as amused. He was sitting next to Geordi at the bartop to one side of the Riding Club, with a range of drinks and snacks in front of them.
    “Yes,” Geordi confirmed.
    “Impressive. I do not believe the captain has ever used such terminology with me.” Worf moved some ofhis snack onto a smaller saucer. Some of it tried to squirm back off.
    “What are you doing?”
    “A warrior shares his rations.” Geordi was momentarily baffled, then the realization made him grin. “You mean Spot.”
    “The sharing of a kill is an important ritual,” Worf said solemnly. “But you did not sit here to discuss Spot. I can see the indecision in your face, and hear it in your voice.”
    “I dunno, Worf. It’s . . . I mean, it’ll be great to see Scotty again, and the
Challenger
is doing some great work, but the
Enterprise
is home.”
    “Home is merely where you live.”
    “Well, that’s true, but—”
    “Geordi,” Worf said, with surprising gentleness, “I understand how it can be difficult to leave a posting, even for a period of detached duty. But, in my experience, it simply means that the return to duty on the
Enterprise
is so much—”
    “Sweeter? You mean a change is as good as a rest?”
    Worf nodded. “Exactly. If you want to look at it from the view of duty, it is your duty to do what is best for Starfleet. And Starfleet thinks you are best used elsewhere. They are honoring you and your