Captain Picard’s face twisted with outrage. “What do you mean?”
“I mean what I said–he is too different now. He cannot be returned to his home planet.”
He set his hands on the desk between himself and the unconcerned admiral. “But he was en route to his planet before the crash!”
“Crash or not, that flight was illegal.”
“His being taken from his planet in the first place was illegal! His genetic manipulation was illegal! This entire incident was a clear violation of the Prime Directive!”
“And we, as the Federation, cannot further violate it by returning him in such a state! I would hope you understand the importance of upholding the Directive, Captain.”
The captain of the Enterprise scowled at the admiral’s mildly accusatory tone. “Then, what will you have me do, Garrison? Discard him like the rest of the universe has done?”
“We are not ‘discarding;’ we are protecting. Think of what will happen if he is returned to his pre-warp home world, seemingly back from the dead with a power he’s never had before. They will worship him like a god!”
“We don’t know that–”
“Picard, I am sorry,” Admiral Garrison interrupted him forcefully. “But the council’s decision stands. Michael Gallagher must not be returned to his home planet, and any attempts at doing so would be made in opposition to the Prime Directive–to be punished by law.”
Captain Picard shut his eyes. “Then, where shall he go?”
“You may do with him what you will,” the Admiral scooted back in his chair in order to stand. “Considering you have a full-blooded Aravasti on board, I would assume he would be more comfortable aboard your ship.”
For the first time in their discussion, Jean-Luc’s grimace began to loosen. “You would allow him to stay aboard the Enterprise?”
“If you wish for him to,” Garrison had already turned around. “The council will allow it.”
“If he wishes to,” Jean-Luc stood up, “and I will allow it.”
“Then, this meeting is concluded.”
As the two men stood, the recording on the computer screen concluded, ending with an image of Starfleet’s insignia.
Jean-Luc sighed and closed the viewer. Their conversation seemed like it had just happened yesterday; but, as he lifted a tablet with a list of the day’s bridge personnel, a certain name reminded him of just how much time had passed–and he couldn’t help but find a smile.
The door chime rang.
He looked up. “Come.”
The door slid open to reveal Commander William Riker, and he nodded as he entered the room. “Good morning, Captain. I’m here to go over the shift change starting today.”
“Ah yes, I was just reviewing it,” Jean-Luc lifted the tablet in his hand. “I see a few new ensigns on this list.”
“Yes, sir,” Riker swung his leg over the back of the chair before sitting down. “We’ve got Ensign Davis on Science I, Officer Crenshaw on Science II, Ensign Maddox on Engineering, and Ensign Gallagher on flight control.”
Jean-Luc’s smile widened. “Ensign Gallagher?”
“Yes, sir,” the commander was also grinning. “He’s finally made it.”
“Not that I had any doubt,” the captain sat back to cross his arms. “He’s about as hard-working and as stubborn as a certain commander I picked up in Farpoint.”
“I’ll accept the compliment,” Will leaned in.

Jean-Luc returned his eyes to the screen. “I see Lieutenant Rowlett is the sole security officer on this shift?”
“Yes, sir,” Will nodded. “Lieutenant Worf and I have been discussing a possible promotion for her.”
“You have?”
“He wishes to make her his true second-in-command; the best way to do that is to promote her to Lieutenant Commander.”
“That would be a lot more responsibility for her.”
“Worf has discussed that with her; it would mean more responsiveness to emergencies, potentially more late nights and away missions… and that’s only after she’s passed the required tests.”
The captain folded his hands. “Do you feel she is ready?”
“She seems willing to do whatever it takes,” he paused, cocking an eyebrow, “also like a certain Commander I know.”
Jean-Luc shook his head. “And, you believe assigning her on her own will allow her to prove her capabilities?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then, I suppose I will leave the shift personnel as you have set it,” the captain stood. “Though I will admit: I’m not sure the Enterprise is ready for a second–or a third–Will Riker.”
“Trust me, Captain,” Will smirked as the two started for the door, “our Aravasti officers are most certainly paving their own way.”
–
In the turbolift, a young man in a red uniform with a single golden pip on the right side of his collar stared wide-eyed at the door. The lights from the passing floors lit the sides of his face in a rolling sequence. His tan hair was short with parted bangs falling just above his ears, and he used his fingers to brush the patch of white hair on the right side of his face back into place.
“Nervous?” The woman beside him smiled.
“Nope.” He replied, green eyes still on the door. “Anxious, maybe–excited–but not nervous.”
The woman grinned wider and turned toward the door herself. She was in a yellow-gold uniform with two golden pips on her collar. Her two-toned brown and white hair fell to her shoulders and framed the glasses that rested on her nose. “That’s good,” she nodded. “Since this is your first shift on the bridge, you’ll get some grace from the others. We’ve all been there.”
“Sure.”
“You already know Data, Deanna, and Geordi, and of course Will.”
“Yep.”
“You've obviously met the captain before; but don’t expect him to go easy on you.”
“I’m not expecting it,” he glanced at her.
She nodded again. “Good. As long as you obey commands, you’ll be fine. And I’ll be at tactical this shift, so I can help if needed.”
His eyes narrowed as a smirk tugged at his lips. “Thanks, Mom,” he offered with exaggerated sarcasm.
“Hey,” the woman sneered back, “I know they determined we’re genetically similar enough for us to be related–but I am not your mom! And I’m only two years older than you!”
“Then you can stop mothering me about this!” he nudged her side with his elbow. “I’m going to be fine!”
“I’m just trying to help!” She elbowed him back. “This is a big day for you!”
“I think I know!” He shoved her with his knee, only to be wedged in the side with her fist.
The turbolift door opened with a hiss to reveal the ship’s bridge. Captain Picard and Commander Riker stood near the door, with the vastness of space–and all other eyes–behind them.
Ace Gallagher and Gemini Rowlett were frozen with various body parts in the air or pressed into the other. They snapped back into attention quickly.
“Ensign Michael Gallagher reporting for duty, sir–captain! Reporting for duty, captain!” Ace stiffened and raised his chin as part of his announcement.
“At ease, Ensign,” Jean-Luc offered plainly. “You may take your place at the helm.” He turned to Gemini. “And you have all of tactical.”
Her eyes lightened behind her glasses. “Yes, sir.” She nodded and filed inside.
Before the captain turned around, he offered a faint smile a moment later. “Welcome to the Bridge.”
As Ace stepped upon the blue-gray carpet on the bridge, he was impressed with how seamlessly the shift change occurred. As Gemini took her place at tactical, the officers previously at the role stepped away and filled into positions at the science stations behind her. As he walked down the ramp toward the helm, Lieutenant Commander Data rose from the captain’s chair and stepped up to the front left chair. That officer had already vacated the space before Data arrived, and when the officer got up from the front right chair, he was ready to sit down and fill it.
A sort of exhilaration filled his chest as he found himself at the helm of the USS Enterprise. Before him, the wide expanse of space filled the viewscreen as stars rolled slowly past. He looked down at the control panel, finding the layout exactly as he had studied. He glanced over his shoulder, finding the captain and commander taking their places at command beside the already seated Counselor Deanna Troi.
Will gave him a nod, and behind him, Gemini shot him a thumbs-up.
Ace grinned and returned forward.
“Commander Data, has Engineering received all the data they were looking for in this sector?”
“Yes, Captain,” the android beside Ace tapped his fingers across the screen. “The last of the scans were completed at oh-four-hundred hours. We are ready to continue to the next sector.”
“Then, that is what we shall do. Helm, set the course to the Hilcom Sector Four at a heading of oh-eighty, mark one-hundred seventy-nine.”
Ace nearly leapt in his seat when he heard the command. “Course is set for Hilcom Sector Four!” He confirmed after inputting the directions.
“Prepare to jump to warp eight.”
“Warp is set, sir–Captain!”
Jean-Luc glanced at Will. The latter was practically beaming, and the former smirked and shook his head.
The captain sat back in his chair and raised his hand with two fingers pointed ahead.
“Engage.”
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before!

- Gemini and Ace - in the SAME STORY?? Yes, and oh my goodness are they a lot of fun together.
- This Ace is picked up from "The Outlier" alternate universe, but this story should explain enough without needing to read it.