Chapter Text
"Careful, Papa Jean-Luc."
"I saw it, thank you." Picard slowly stepped over a rather bizarre-looking rock and then followed his son deeper into the cave.
"You really don't have to be here, you know," Laurent remarked and swung his flashlight around in order to look at the walls.
"And miss this?" Picard protested. "This cave could be one of the most profound archeological findings in the past twenty years!"
"Yes, but you've been in here with me every day since we came here last week. Don't you think you should have a look at what's happening at the embassy?"
"Last time I called there was nothing of relevance on my desk - look at those markings! I can't wait to find out what they mean!"
"Neither can I - but, unlike you, I'm actually studying archeology." Laurent turned around and looked at his father. "I don't want you to lose your job because of my university projects."
Picard waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. I've put T'Rella in charge - she always enjoys it when I'm not there." He pointed his flashlight further up the wall. "I've been meaning to talk to you about this symbol here..."
**********
Alex looked at the glasses on the bar and sighed deeply.
"Hey, Al."
He looked up, surprised. "Oh. Hey, Falk."
"Something wrong?"
Alex took one of the glasses and began to inspect it. "It's nothing, really."
"Come on, you know you can tell me. Marriage problems?"
"Mmm."
"Ah. I'm on the right track." Falk pulled up one of the bar stools and sat down. "Talk to me, bartender."
Alex put the glass down. "I'm worried about Jean-Luc. I had a feeling his love for archeology would come out in full force once Laurent started his studies, but I underestimated the real impact it's having on him. He accompanies Laurent to almost every excavation site these days - he's doing that right now, in fact."
"Is that bad?"
"Laurent says it's alright as long as he doesn't interfere too much but somehow I don't think he really means that - he just doesn't want to hurt Jean-Luc. It's a very delicate situation."
"How so?"
"Jean-Luc almost became an archeologist when he was around Laurent's age, but eventually he decided to pursue his Starfleet career. He never really let go of the archeology idea, though - and now it feels like as if he's desperately trying to make that old dream of his come true through Laurent."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"I've tried, but it's no use. He claims he just wants to 'have a look'." Alex sighed. "And, to make things even worse, he's now also neglecting his duties at the embassy. He says there isn't much to do but I'm not sure I believe him."
"He might be telling the truth," Falk said. "Rumor has it there's going to be a change soon."
Alex frowned. "Change? What change? I haven't heard any rumors."
"You're getting old," Falk teased. "Word is that the position of Federation Ambassador to Vulcan is going to be axed. It's beyond me why they kept it for so long anyway - it's a relic from a past when tensions between Vulcan and the rest of the Federation were high, but these days things are going as smoothly as they possibly can."
"Do you think -"
The small console at the back of the bar beeped. "Alexander Picard, you have one priority message."
Alex turned around and walked up to the console. "This is Alexander Picard."
"Voice print verified. Stand by."
The screen changed and a message appeared.
Alex read it and then quickly grabbed his tuxedo jacket that he had put over a chair earlier.
"Al? What is it?" Falk asked, concerned - the look on his old classmate's face was one of utter shock.
"There's been an accident at the excavation site. Jean-Luc has been hurt."
"Is it serious?"
"I don't know." Alex put on the jacket. "I need to take the next shuttle to the university's infirmary."
Falk stood up from his bar stool. "You don't have to wait for a shuttle at this time of night. I'll take you."
"What about the bar?"
"Screw the bar."