Paradise is only as good as you make it

[DaveJohnson 0]

Paradise is only as good as you make it

A Log by Lt David Johnson

 

David stood in his morning robe on the balcony of Rebecca’s winter home in Concord, New Hampshire watching as the sun rose over the snowy peaks of the New England mountain range. Instead of going to Riza or one of the other, “pleasure,” planets, he and Rebecca had chosen to stay on Earth for their honeymoon so they could enjoy it without millions of tourists from every corner of the galaxy. David always liked peace and quiet so when the two were discussing their honeymoon plans he had suggested that they go somewhere where there wouldn’t be a lot of people and Rebecca concurred. She had spent many winter’s at the house that they were staying which had been in her family for many generations when had been a child. Snow blanketed the area where they were staying but thanks to the planetary weather control center there would be no snowstorms like the ones that David’s great, great, great grandfather who had served under Captain Sulu on the U.S.S Excelsior had described in his journals

 

As David stood there just looking out at all he could see Rebecca walked out onto the balcony to join him. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. David turned his head toward her, smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “Good morning,” he said, still smiling. “Isn’t it so peaceful?” Rebecca asked him as she looked out at the snowy fields and trees with him. “Yes it is,” David said, “It’s funny, all my friends said we should go somewhere more…exotic. But, even though this may not be “planet paradise,” somehow seems even better.” Rebecca chuckled, “I think paradise is only as good as you make it sweetheart, and so long as we enjoy it, make the most of it, it will be better. Besides, I wouldn’t trade this place for any other place in the World”

 

On that note the two walked back into their hotel room, got dressed and headed out into the woods for a winter stroll. They walked through quite a different environment than what they had been accustomed to for the past five or in Rebecca’s case six years since they had started their Starfleet training at the academy. Instead of classrooms, bulkheads, conduits and starships they saw trees, flowers and animals. They eat from a picnic basket instead of from a replicator and that night they watched the glow of the stars and the moon in the sky which was better for David than the glow of the warp core back on the Republic. As the two gazed at the stars from the balcony on Rebecca's house David turned to Rebecca, “Amazing isn’t it?” Rebecca looked at him, “What is?” she asked. “Just being back on Earth, in this environment, away from Starfleet, the pressures of work, it’s really intoxicating,” he said. “I guess it is,” she replied, “No matter how many generations of my have visited this quaint little place nothing ever changes here. I have always been one for new adventures but its nice having a place like this to come to when I need to relax, and now it’s even better.” “And why is that?” David asked. “Because you’re here with me silly,” Rebecca replied as the two chuckled.

 

The next day the two traveled into town which had not changed much since Rebecca’s family had purchased their home there. Oh sure there was a transporter site, a few private shuttlecraft but nevertheless it was serene compared to battling the Borg or the Dominion. As they walked along the narrow streets they encountered a small antique shop. David had always had a fondness for antiques so he went inside while Rebecca went to get some ice-cream. Inside we’re artifacts that were two hundred, three hundred, even four hundred years old. Some were from when Starfleet was still in its infancy while others were from a time before it even existed. As he searched through the shop he came across something which caught his attention. It was a map of the United States of America circa 2000. David eyes widened as he looked at the map with all the states and he realized that for people back then this was as close to the UFP as they would have ever gotten. He knew that the unity which had existed back then and the unity of the Federation was much like the unity which existed between himself and Rebecca. Since it interested him and he needed a few things to decorate his new quarters he bought it and then headed out to meet Rebecca for some ice-cream.

 

The couple had just a few days left to enjoy their honeymoon before heading back to McKinley Station and heading towards the Republic using the same shuttle David had used to get to McKinley with the ducks 10 days earlier. First, Rebecca needed to send her request to Admiral BluRox and get it approved while David contacted Starfleet command and find out where the ship was and if possible speak to the Admiral. Though he had only been gone for less than two weeks he knew that a lot could have happened and he hoped that there was a Republic for him to go back to, along with his new wife, who he hoped would also be the newest member of the crew.

Edited November 15, 2006 by DaveJohnson