Jersey was the largest of the Channel Islands situated 23km off the coast of Normandy, France.  Jason and Phoebe had taken a Transit Shuttle for Portsmouth to St. Helier; the Islands capital on its southern coast.  Where they hired a car and drove to the north of the island and a place called Plémont.  The doctor sat at the wheel as she had a licence to operate wheeled manually controlled vehicles of M1 Classification; whilst the young Lieutenant sat next to her in the passenger seat.

It was hard to tell how old the vehicle was, it had the style of something positively ancient and the woman who’d handed over the keys had said something about it being a copy of a Morgan, whatever that was. It was however and amazing car to drive.  The outside was a bright red and totally spotless, wood trim on the dashboard and the leather look seats felt amazing, plus with the roof retracted and the wind blowing through their hair as they whizzed along the country lanes, it was an experience never to be forgotten.

As with the car the island itself was like stepping back in time.  Apart from the odd indication of 25^th century living; the autonomous tractor ploughing in a field they’d past on the journey being one noticeable example.  The scene could have been like this four or five hundred years ago.

“There are still places in Greece that have retained their centuries old beauty.” Andrianakis half shouted above the roar of the engine. “But this place is equally breath taking.”

“Yeah.” Was the only reply she received from her passenger.

“Are you ok?” She asked him. “You’ve hardly said a word to me since the funeral.”

Jason didn’t answer and it wasn’t until about five minutes later as they pulled up outside a large building, part of which may have been a farm house many years ago; that she asked him again.

“Are any of us truly alright?” He pondered.

Phoebe was about to answer him, when a middle aged woman dressed in a purple ankle length dress, exited the main door to the building and approached the car. “You must be Mr and Mrs Devron.” She said with a smile. “I’m Monic, welcome to North Lodge.”

Jason was a little caught out by the comment and got as far as “Oh, erm!” before the doctor butted in. “We’re not married.” She noticed his face had go slightly red, the most colour it had probably seen for some time.

“Oh well, never mind.” The other woman replied. “Give it time.” She whispered under her breath.  Then a little louder again. “If you’d care to follow me and sign in at reception.”

It was as the woman turned away and begun to walk back to the lodge that Jason noticed her ears; Monic was clearly a Romulan by origin.  Whether she’d changed her name to fit in or just felt this name was easier for people to say than her given name, he could only speculate. Jason followed the woman, and Phoebe grabbed his arm just before he reached the large wooden door. “Why do people keep thinking we’re married?” She whispered in his ear. Jason had to admit; it had happened a couple of times already.  At the hotel for instance, they’d been given a double room not a pair of adjacent ones.  But that issue was soon resolved. Then the woman at the car hire place had asked how long they’d been together. May be it was just because they felt so naturally comfortable around each that other people got the impression more was going on.

They entered a kind of foyer, much like you might expect in a small hotel or guest house.  The walls had dark wood panelling to about chest height and the rest of the wall and ceiling a sort of cream colour textured paint.  A short bald headed man sat behind a desk made from the same wood, or at least a perfect approximation; if none of it was wood.  He stood up and presented the two of the with a PADD, so they could enter their details before progressing and further,

North Lodge was to all intents and purposes, was a care home.  It currently housed six residents though from what Devron had read about the place beforehand, had the capacity for eight.  All were still relatively young; under 30 in fact.  Each had been either injured in an accident or suffered a server illness which medical science had been unable to completely cure.  This place though, was far from a dumping ground and those living there had access to a wide range of facilities and help.  Some even went on to live more independently in places of their own.

Room 3 was occupied by the young man Jason had come to see.  He stood by the door a moment before knocking.  “Enter.” Came the muffled and slightly electronic voice from within the room.  Jason touched the very ordinary old fashioned door knob, but the door swung open automatically. He stepped inside and gestured Phoebe to follow him. “This is your family.” She said softly.

“You’ve come this far and know more about me than almost anyone else.” He said in way of reply. “Say hi to the original Jason Devron.”

The man in the motorised wheel chair look very much like the young man she was standing next to.  Yes they were brother, well half-brothers; but you could almost mistake them for twins.  It was no wonder even their own relatives who didn’t live on Earth and therefore hadn’t seen the young Jason Dervon since before the tragic accident didn’t even realise they’d been sitting at the funeral of their father and grandfather with a completely different man.

Two attempts had been made in the young man’s life to help him walk again.  One had been made roughly 18 months after the car crash and another some four years after that.  For whatever reason; on both occasions his body had rejected the procedure.  It was a simple fact of life, no matter how far medical technology advanced, sometimes it just didn’t work.

It was clear though from the expression on this Jason Devron’s face, that he had not let this be a setback to his life.  The Lieutenant was lost for words, he just stood there in the middle of the room a dozen or more thoughts whizzing through his mind.

“Well don’t just stand there like a spare part.” The man in the wheel chair admonished with a grin. “Give your old brother a huge.”

Old he thought, as Jason closed the gap.  There were only a few months between them. But as he put his arms around the other man, he couldn’t help but cry. “I’m sorry.” He blurted out.

“It was beyond your control,” His brother said softly. “As was the situation that put me in this thing.”  He tapped the arm of the chair lightly.  “Devron’s are fighters, so promise me you’ll get back into space and go kick some ass or whatever else needs doing.”

Jason laughed despite the tears. “I owe you and him my life, career, my entire existence.”

“Then never stop living it.”

The pair of them spent a good hour and a half chatting, Phoebe occasionally asking questions, but for the most part staying silent and just listening.  She seemed good at that.  Before leaving Jason whispered something in the other man’s ear, and he simply nodded.  Standing by the door he turned, planning on just saying a simple ‘goodbye’.  But the man in the wheel chair gave him a crisp salute which the Lieutenant returned.

In the hall outside the young Greek woman turned to Jason. “That’s one remarkable brother you’ve got there.  Makes you look at yourself and wonder what is and isn’t possible in life.”

“He’s made me more determined to get back in the command seat.” Jason announced.  “I kind of like the ‘Jax’ she’s got use through a lot.”  He was about to say something else when his gaze caught sight of someone. “Met you in the car in five, I just need a word with someone.”

As he walked away, Phoebe noticed a tall thin man wearing a light grey collarless business suit who her companion grabbed by the elbow and guided into a side-room.

“What the hell are you doing here? Jason asked sternly.

“Merely observing.” The tall ‘Q’ answered.

“Like you were observing when the Borg took control over everyone and we started killing each other?”  It was half way between a shout and a horse-whisper. “If you knew I was going to kill my Grandfather, why didn’t you stop me?”

“As I said before, this isn’t about you.” The ‘Q’ replied levelly. “Besides the Borg we’re being dealt with.”

“Did so many have to die?” Jason asked.

“Sadly, yes.  Certain events must play out as they were intended.   The Continuum cannot make huge sweeping alterations to time, especially involving the Borg.”

“Why not?”

“If I told you that Mr Devron, it would create the kind of alteration I’m doing my best to avoid.”

Jason walked around the ‘Q’ head down, slapping one fist into the palm of the other hand.  But as he looked up to continue the conversation, he found himself alone in the room.  He groaned in frustration and exited the through the door.

Phoebe was sitting on the bonnet of the car when he walked out of the Lodge a moment later. “What was that about?” She enquired standing up and opening the driver’s side door.

“Just someone I wanted a word with.” He’s tone was a little sharp, and he instantly regretted the way he’d replied. “It’s ok, shall we find a place on this Island to eat?” He asked more cheerfully.

A minute or two later they were back on the main road.