Dr. Crusher's Quarters, Deck 7, Enterprise.

Wesley got up on schedule and rubbed the last bits of sleep out of his eyes.  Well, here it goes, thought Wesley to himself.  He got out of his bed and decided simply to get dressed.  He decided to use his cadet's uniform.  When he got through dressing, he went through the usual necessities.  He left his room to find his mother's medikit gone.  She would, he mused.  She would leave without first giving me advice.  He sighed and left his mother's quarters.  He would go somewhere else for breakfast.

            * * *

            Main Bridge.

            The android second officer of the ship was in command, and Riker was about to come in to relieve him.  However, Data's attention remained fixed to his present duties.  He paid attention to everything that went on, every sound in the background.  As an android, he was never bored. . . but when his brother tried recently to make Data join him. . . Data almost despised the incident, in the way an emotionless android could.  Sometimes, it seemed he felt something.  However, he said that he could never feel emotions.  His crewmates soon realised that that was a statement from his programming, that he couldn't overcome that conclusion.  He looked back at the turbolift as its door opened.  Will Riker arrived on the bridge, and Data respectfully stood.  Riker, with his usual enthusiasm stepped down the ramp to the command centre.  "At ease, Data," said Riker.  "I relieve you."

            "I stand relieved, sir," said Data.  More quietly, he asked, "Would you mind if I went to feed Spot?"

            "Not at all," said the first officer.  "Go ahead."

            "Thank you, sir," the android said.  He went to the other turbolift and entered it.  On the aft turbolift, Wesley Crusher arrived.  He strode down to the first officer and sat in the first officer's chair as Riker sat in the captain's chair.

            "Good morning, Wesley," said Riker.

            "Good morning, Commander," said Wesley.

            Riker asked, "Did Captain Picard tell you about the set-up, with you learning about the senior positions by acting as that officer for a 24-hour period under the appointed officer's supervision?"

            "Yes," responded Wesley.  His excitement was increasing.  Keep quiet, you darned adrenaline! he thought.  I don't need you!

            "Well," said the first officer, "first, you are to practice the first officer's position.  I. . ."  The aft turbolift opened once more.  This time, it let out Worf, who went over to the Tactical position in his usual Klingon manner.  He nodded to the officer who had been there, relieving him.  He made the usual adjustments with the computer.

            The forward turbolift opened.  Counsellor Deanna Troi arrived on the Bridge and was accompanied by the captain.  Riker stood as Picard took the captain's seat and Troi took hers.  When Wesley was about to get out of the first officer's seat, Riker motioned him not to bother.  Riker went to sit on the seat at the extreme right of the command horseshoe.  "Well," said Riker, "you've just begun, Wes.  For 24 hours, you are acting first officer of this ship."  Riker smiled.  "We will add any time you take up in the session with Counsellor Troi, as well as any sleeping time."

            "Thank you," said Wesley.  He felt himself becoming suddenly apprehensive.  Cool down, he thought.  Getting excited doesn't help any.  He sighed.  That was better.  He felt the apprehension just recede.  Thank you.  He was still being battered by others' emotions, but it was much easier now.  Then, he felt something.  "Lieutenant Worf,. . ."

            He had begun too late.  An intership communication signal sounded.  Worf tapped open the line.  "This is Lt. Worf," he snapped.

            It was the head primary-school teacher.  "Lt. Worf," said the lady's ever-pleasant voice, "Alexander didn't show up for class as scheduled.  Is something the matter?"

            "Not that I know of," said the security chief.  He almost felt embarrassed; almost the entire Bridge crew was looking at him.  "I'll look for him."

            "Thank you," said the teacher.  The line snapped shut.  Checking his readings, Worf mumbled a few weak Klingon curses under his breath.

            "Wait!" said Wesley, getting up.  "I can sense it. . . where he is. . . with whom. . ."

            "Where?" asked Troi.  She was proud; already, Wesley could distinguish people's thoughts.

            However, she was almost enraged when she heard Wesley's answer. . . not enraged at the cadet, of course.  "He's in Holodeck 3 with your mother, Counsellor."

            * * *

            Holodeck 3.

            The holodeck doors opened, and Wesley, Troi, and Worf stepped in.  Same program she used last time, mused Troi.  God, I love the mud-baths, but I believe that they are inappropriate for children as young as Alexander.  Of course, that's my point of view.

            Worf frowned.  As far as he was concerned, the whole place could just drop dead.  He hated the atmosphere this place portrayed.  It was not that of a warrior.

            Of the trio, only Wesley really found this place attractive.  He was young-minded enough to love having fun in this place, but he was also adult enough not to get caught up in it. . . not at this moment.  No time now, he mused.  He led the way in.  They were stopped almost immediately by a floating ball that was supposed to provoke a smile.  It affected Wesley immediately; after a moment, it affected Troi.  However, the impatient warrior Worf just smacked it.  It popped, and Wesley and Troi were very amused.

            Farther in, they saw a number of strange displays. . . and each of them got progressively stranger.  One was a pair of twins who always argued.  Wesley wondered if he would have interacted that way had he had a twin brother or sister.  He chose not to persist in thinking about it.  Wesley led the way inward to the mud-baths, where, sure enough, Lwaxana Troi and Alexander were lazily sitting. . . naked, with the more private parts hidden by the mud.  Alexander was dark-skinned and much like a human ten-to-twelve-year-old, but for the bony ridge on his head that defined him as a part-Klingon.  He had dark hair, like his father.

            "So," said Lwaxana, "if he had really meant it, why didn't he tell you this morning?"

            Alexander's answer was cut off by Deanna Troi's sternly saying, "Mother!"  Lwaxana and Alexander look up and see Deanna, Worf, and Wesley.

            "Oh, hi, Little One!" said Lwaxana.  "Would you care to join us?"

            "Mother," said Troi, "we have a few things to discuss."

            "Oh, it's ghastly!" exclaimed Lwaxana.  "How they stuck you in a standard duty uniform!  Oh, that's simply awful!  It doesn't show a single line."

            Worf glared at his son.  "Why aren't you in school, Alexander?" he asked, hiding his impatience.

            "You didn't tell me to go this morning," said Alexander.

            "That doesn't mean that you are excused from going!" said the security chief.  "I thought I made it clear. . ."  And, within seconds, the two Klingons were arguing.  Deanna Troi was barking something about responsibility to her mother, who kept replying that it was only for orderly minds.  Wesley couldn't stand it.  It was battering his mind more than his ears.

            "OKAY, PEOPLE!!!" shouted the temporary second-in-command.  "THAT SHALL BE ENOUGH!!!"  The four shut up and looked at Wesley.  "Thank you.  Now, I believe I can resolve this for the moment."  He turned to Worf, knowing how to handle him.  He knew that one did not use kid gloves when dealing with adult male Klingons.  "Worf, return to your duty station."  Worf nodded.

            "Aye," said the Klingon, recognising Wesley's authority over him. . . albeit temporary, "sir."  The Klingon left.  Wesley turned to Alexander.

            "Alexander," said Wesley softly, "in order to avoid bickering with your father, I think it would be wisest to go to school as you should."

            "He didn't tell me to this morning," said Alexander.  Wesley sighed; he had never had such arguments with his mom.  They had understood what each other wanted and was expected to do, and they worked on that.

            Wes softly continued, "Well, I'm certain he means for you to go to school every day.  So, I think you should leave."  He grinned.  "Besides, your teacher and friends probably miss you."

            "Yes, sir," said the young Klingon.  He's more like a human, mused Wesley.  But he is torn between two societies, like his father.  Alexander got out and got properly attired.  Then, he left dejectedly.

            "Starfleet's affecting you, Wes," said Lwaxana.  "It's turning you into a. . ."

            "Please Mrs. Troi?" begged Wesley.  "Just try not to cause any more trouble between Worf and Alexander."

            "Okay," said Lwaxana.  "But Starfleet Academy's making you stuffy."

            Wesley smiled.  "I was just handling a dispute, madam.  That is one thing Starfleet teaches us Command types to do."

            "Please, mother?" begged the counsellor.  Her mother was really getting on her nerves.

            Lwaxana said, "Right."

            * * *

            Main Bridge.

            Wesley was sitting in the captain's chair.  Picard was off in his Ready-Room.  Worf was looming over Tactical like a hawk hunting for prey, ready to strike when he found it.  He was not terribly happy with Wesley, but then he would have felt the same way towards any other human superior who did what Wesley had just done.  "Sir," said Worf, "we are nearing the first-detected class-M planet since leaving the Q-gate."

            "Well," said Wesley, "I think we should stop by, eh?"  He inadvertently turned to the permanent first officer, who nodded in agreement.  Wesley tapped open a comm-line.  "Crusher to Captain Picard."

            "This is Picard," replied Picard.  "Go ahead."

            "Sir," said Crusher, "since we have left Q's gate, we have not detected any class-M planets until now.  I think we should take a look."

            Picard said, "I agree.  When will we reach it?"  Wesley looked at Data.

            "If we remain at present course and speed," said the android second officer, "we will arrive in approximately twelve minutes."

            "I want us in orbit around that planet in fourteen," said Picard.  "Picard out."

            * * *

            Picard stepped out of the Ready-Room to find the Bridge working at great efficiency.  He's done very well with the more passive duties, mused Picard.  We'll see if he can handle more active ones.  Wesley stood to move to the first officer's chair and to allow Picard the captain's chair.

            "We are approaching the planet, Captain," said Crusher.  "In four minutes, we will be in orbit around it."  Picard sat in the command chair and Wesley sat in the first officer's chair.

            "Very good," said Picard.  He wanted to be cautious not to show too much confidence in the young man yet.  He did not want to swell Wesley's head.  "Can you handle an away-mission, Acting Commander Crusher?"

            Wesley smiled at the embellishment of the rank.  "Aye, sir," he said confidently.

            Despite himself, Picard smiled.  Just right, he mused.  He turned to Troi.  "What is your opinion, Counsellor?"

            "Good idea," said she.  "I'll keep my mental waves attuned to him, though.  At the first sign of mental stress, we should pull him back to the ship."  Wesley nodded, as did Picard.

            "Very well," said Picard.  "We'll try to establish contact before you and your away team are beamed down, Mr. Crusher.  That way, you'll know whether to send a full away team or a slim away team."  Wesley nodded.

            In four minutes, the Enterprise established an orbit about the planet.  The whole solar system was way too familiar.  In one respect, it had the same number of planets with the same type of terrain and relative distances from each other as the Sol System - the solar system with the human homeworld, Earth.  In another respect, between the fifth and fourth planet, there was an asteroid belt, exactly - except with minor, minor differences - like the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter of Earth's solar system.

            The third planet was the class-M planet.  It was revealed to have the exact same type and shape of terrain and oceans that the humans' Earth would have in 50 millennia.  All this was extremely disturbing.  It appeared that some massive disaster had eliminated much of the human civilisation aeons ago.  What that disaster was, no one could guess; it was likely that not even the present inhabitants could tell them.

            They scanned the planet, and they found that there were some structures, two of which indicated Federation-level technology or higher.  One was in the area corresponding to Africa in the area corresponding to Egypt.  Another was in the area corresponding to the Himalayas.  Yet another, one of the ones with Federation-level technology, was in the area corresponding to Arabia; and a final, the other with Federation-level technology, was in an area at the base of Mount Ararat.  Somewhat disconcerting.

            "The systems of the structures in Turkey and Arabia are linked to a vast subspace communications network throughout the galaxy," said Data.  "I believe that these people are developed enough that we may contact them, sir.  I suggest the structure at the mountain resembling Ararat.  It has greater power, and I detect more humanoids there than at the structure in the area resembling Arabia."

            "According to what I read of their communication systems," said Worf, "they speak our English.  Very unusual."

            "How convenient," said Picard.  "Open hailing frequencies, Mr. Worf, to the structure at the mountain resembling Ararat."  Worf did so.

            "Hailing frequencies open, sir," said Worf.

            Picard thought for a moment.  He then announced, "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise.  Please respond."