Chapter Text
The shuttle slowly descended and only when its engines had been switched off did its door open and Alex jump out and onto the sandy surface of the parking lot.
He turned around and stuck his head into the shuttle in order to look at Laurent, who was sitting in the back. "You behave on your last kindergarten day today, okay?"
The boy nodded.
Alex looked at Picard in the pilot's seat. "You have a good day, too - oh and try not to murder T'Rella...?"
"It will be difficult to restrain myself," Picard admitted, smiling slightly. "See you this afternoon."
"See you."
***********
The bar was dimly lit and also mercifully air-conditioned - not everyone was as comfortable with heat as Vulcans were, and, as efficient as hyposprays were nowadays, they could get a person only so far.
"Falk?" Alex called as soon as the door had closed behind him.
A tall man in a tux appeared from behind the bar. "Morning, Alex. You're early."
"Yeah, I know. Laurent couldn't wait to get to kindergarten - today's his last day there."
"Oh, right, you mentioned that." Falk briefly ran his hand through his long black hair. "Must be tough for the little guy to know that school starts for him soon, huh?"
"You could say that - he's dreading it," Alex sighed and walked up to the bar. "He hates having to get to know too many people at the same time, especially when it's other children. I guess we kept him isolated on the Enterprise for too long after all."
"But he had friends there," Falk objected.
"Yes, but they were either adults or teenagers. He still has no problems whatsoever with either - but other children? Takes him weeks to even talk to them."
"I wouldn't worry too much," Falk said. "School will teach him how to overcome that."
"I hope so." Alex put his hands on the bar. "Now... anything out of the ordinary last night?"
"Not really, just the usual that happens when Klingons show up."
"Oh, shit."
"Yup. There was a small delegation in here last night, and I'm just glad I could keep them from smashing the furniture after a few mugs of bloodwine."
"Sorry I wasn't there."
"It's okay, it was your night off - and now it's your turn with the early morning shift while I can go to bed," Falk yawned. "Not sure if Merlinda's gonna let me, though."
"Hmm?"
"Our shuttle's broken and I promised to be her repair assistant."
"Sounds like as if sleep isn't an option."
"Most likely not," Falk agreed and picked up a small bag. "I gotta go now, the shuttle bus arrives in ten minutes."
"See you, then."
"See you - and please, give Laurent my best."
"Will do."