As mentioned, I wanted to have a Some Story Talk about the alternate endings that almost happened in Star Trek: Q-Dimensional. Some had even been written (or started) before I realized it just wasn't going to work and that the big happy family "home" ending was the best ending :)
I tried to record audio or video probably 5 times before something would distract or I wouldn't like how I said it or it would crash... so I decided I'd just write the dang thing. Of course I even had to start the writing over again when I forgot to save the draft in Locals and then it was gone. 🙃 SO... here it is at long last!
Potential Ending #1: Ace’s Closure
The story starts in Picard’s ready room where he’s replaying the day he was informed Ace was not going to being able to return home. Throughout the story, Ace's sense of “home” is questioned and challenged by Elliot, Mickey D, and some of the crew, but Ace is at a point where he seems to have accepted his fate despite it all. Even the addition of Ace and Gemini’s shuttle talk (not initially in the plans) solidifies that fact.
Then, after the reunification in Ten Forward at the end, Picard calls Ace to his ready room (I love things ending where they start). This time, there’s a video call from Captain Mullins (a nod to one of my trekkie friends - sad she didn’t get her screen time after all this!) who was one of the members of the board that decided Ace could not be returned home. She was opposed, but outvoted, and so she reports that she “may or may not have taken an unauthorized flight to Tal E” to go undercover and get information. I forget how long it takes to go through Starfleet Academy, but it’s been 2-3 years since Ace went missing; and so she finds they've set up a grave site for Ace. She also learns indirectly that his friends and family have continued on with their own next chapters without him. Ace tearfully and thankfully accepts this closure and is able to move on himself.
Why this didn’t make it: Basically, this scene felt like another ending. I had it half written before I realized it just seemed "extra" and possibly more of an epilogue than an ending. And while I did like the idea, you learn through the story that Ace actually has achieved this closure on his own, and I feel like that’s way more powerful and really shows his strength. The whole point of the story is him accepting where he is despite everything, and so I cut this scene and left it ending with he, Gemini, and the others accepting and appreciating their home.
Potential Ending #2: Gemini’s Next Generation
When Picard and Riker were discussing Gemini’s potential promotion, one of the things Riker adds is more away missions and late nights would make things harder if she and Hudson are wanting to start a family. From there, there were more little hints about this, including her seeing "her children" in the Aravasti reality and Ace’s pregnant joke (which was just going to be a joke and they’d move on to landing on the planet).
Then, as the gang reunites in Ten Forward at the end, Beverly contacts Gemini and lets her know her test results have come in, and she is pregnant! Lots of surprise and excitement ensues, and the story ends there.
Why this didn’t make it: For one, Gemini told me no, lol. When Ace makes his joke in the shuttle, instead of moving on, Gemini kept talking. She mentions she and Hudson most likely can’t have children, and then that turned into a deep discussion of the acceptance of where they both are (even Gem who at this point is just trying to save Hudson's life). Also, just dangling that “guess what!” and then ending the whole series (since I really do plan on not writing more of these) seemed kind of cheap 😀
Will Gem and Hudson have kids in the Star Trek universe? Maybe, but that’s not the focus of this story. So I removed most of the hints and let her focus on her own acceptance of her situation, and that parallels Ace's acceptance arc too.
Thus, everything worked out as it should, it just needed some working (and coaching from the characters themselves, ha) to get it the way it needed to be. I am quite proud of this and the other 2 Star Trek crossovers and had a fun time writing them.
Now to figure out what to work on next 😝