Captain's Glory

  “You’ve got to admit all those things worked out pretty well,” McCoy said.

  “If they hadn’t, Doctor,” Spock added gravely, “then I doubt we’d be gathered here to discuss their advantageous results.”

  Kirk thought that over. “So you’re saying things only make sense in hindsight?”

  Spock tilted his head in thought. “I’m suggesting you’ve asked a question that cannot be answered.”

  “That’s a depressing thought for the day,” McCoy complained.

  Kirk smiled, glad of the company of his friends. “Look at it this way, Bones: As long as there’re unanswered questions, there’ll always be something new to find out. Can you think of a better reason to get out of bed in the morning?”

  Neither Spock nor McCoy could argue with that.

  “So are you going to find out what the admiral has in mind for us next?” McCoy asked.

  Kirk grinned, threw his arms around his friends, started walking with them to the arch and all the adventures that still lay ahead.

  “Actually,” he said, “I’ve been working on this new idea….”

  He told them all about it on the way back to the Belle Rêve.

  It was a good one.

  And within the hour they were back with Montgomery Scott, where they all belonged.

  At warp among the stars. Their mission continuing.

  As it always would.