The planet Wimbledon was a breathtakingly beautiful bright green world,
with rolling hills and well-nourished grass as far as the eye could see.
Small mammals, birds and insects played about, providing the only noise on
its surface, apart from a mild spring zephyr.  The solitude of the world was
only briefly interrupted by a quiet humming noise, but to the tiny residents
of this world, it might have sounded little different than the stirring of a
hornet's nest.
     Admiral M. Robert Avenger stood at the source of the humming, dressed
out in his traditional civilian black, except for the royal purple London
Kings baseball cap atop his head.  He took in a deep breath...and sneezed
loudly, frightening several ground squirrels into hiding.  He walked slowly
forward, his black Darth Vader cape fluttering in the slight breeze caused
by his motions, finally reaching the top of a grassy knoll overlooking a
meadow with a pond.  Lost in his thoughts, he was startled by the sudden
sensation of a...presence very close by.
     "Hey there," said T'Lilith from behind him as she looped an arm lovingly
around his chest for an awkward half-hug.  "Long time, no see."
     "I have so missed you," he said as he took her into a warm embrace.  He
rejoiced in the smell of her ozone-scorched hair and instinctively began to
work the tight muscles in her lower back.  "These past few weeks have been a
lifetime..."
     "Is it over?" she asked apprehensively, holding him tightly.  She feared
his answer would be "No."
     "I tell thee truly, Admiral," he whispered in her ear.  "I know not if
the day be ours or no, for yet a many of their horsemen peer and gallop o'er
the field of Xavion."
     "The day is yours," she noted.
     "Praised be you and Nortylutilz, and not our strength for it!  What is
this world that we stand upon?"
     "You know full well they call it Wimbledon."
     "Then call we this the field of Wimbledon, fought on the day of--" [1]
     "Oh.  My.  God." cried a voice from across the glen.  "He's doing it
AGAIN!"
     The Admirals turned toward the noise, each flushing embarrassment in a
different color.  Crossfire stood there, shaking his head yet again.  Soraya
laughed with Crossfire as she romped after Jez through the grass.
     "Crossfire!" called Avenger.  "What word, my good man?
     "Would you PLEASE stop it with the Shakespeare?!?  You're driving me
crazy!!!  Sir."
     "I'll see what I can do," smiled T'Lilith, clutching one of Avenger's
arms close and lovingly running a hand up and down it.  "Do you have something
to report?"
     "We've had word from Xavion.  Admiral Bradford suggests we'd better see
it for ourselves."
     "That bad?"
     "We've won, but not without big losses."
     Avenger and T'Lilith nodded, remembering some of those that had already
been lost.
     "Admiral," continued Crossfire.  "We have also received a rather...
peculiar message from an old friend of yours."
     "Which one?" wondered Avenger, his stomach suddenly tightening.
     "Heins."  Avenger's stomach relaxed.  "He's in a casino halfway across
the galaxy.  _Volvo_'s looking for permission to retrieve him."
     "Let John have his fun for a while more.  We ought to see what kind of
help Xavion, Yoyoboq and some of these other worlds are going to need first."
     "Very good, sir."  Crossfire looked around a little.  "Nice place."
     "If you like green," said Avenger.  His eyes wandered around a bit,
eventually stopping to watch Jez and Soraya for a bit.  Suddenly, he snapped
back to look at Crossfire, then at Jez and Soraya, then back at Crossfire.
     "Zeph, if we're all down here, then who's running things up there?"
Avenger emphasized the last word with a thumb pointing straight up.
				* * * * *
     Lt. Cdr. Zortylwankoid fidgeted about in Avenger's old captain's chair,
uneasily looking around at the other parts of the bridge.  For one thing,
this chair was just too BIG for him, he realized.  For another, it was all
lumpy and had all kinds of strange devices and panels and buttons all over
its exposed surfaces.
     Strange devices and panels and buttons...  Zort's interest suddenly
perked up and a wide grin spread across his face as he began to examine the
chair thoroughly, like a greedy child below the tree on Christmas morning.
     He quickly exhausted most of his interest, but then came across a panel
with buttons marked "Wash," "Spin," "Rinse" and "Dry."  Zort fought hard and
long, but curiosity won.  His fingers stretched out to press each in turn.
     "Wash" sprayed a short stream of water directly into his face, as if
from a child's squirt gun.  "Crossfire might have made good use of that one
during a Shakespeare run," Zort muttered.  "Spin" spun the chair rapidly in
place one time.  Zort enjoyed that one and pressed it several more times
before forging on.  "Rinse" poured water over Zort's head, as if from a
hidden garden hose.  Finally, not even sure that he should try, but giving in
to temptation, pressing "Dry" promptly ejected Zort from the chair, sending
him clear over the security railing and onto the science stations before the
rather surprised chief science officer of the _USS Croutonprize_.
     "What the--?" said the startled Susan.
     "Just what I was wondering!" exclaimed Zort as he crawled across the
science stations and fell to the floor.  "Who would put an ejection button
on his froopin' chair?"
     "Maybe someone who wants to keep nosy people from messing with it?"
Susan suggested with a smile.

FADE TO CREDITS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
               STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
                       "The Perfect Game"
                     Part 19:  "After Math"

Written by The Admiral

Guest stars
	Tom Baker
	Ed Begley, Jr.
	Chris Farley
	Robert Patrick
	John Ratzenberger
	George Wendt

Special guest stars
	Kirk Douglas
	Brent Spiner as Data

Music by Jai Robichaud
Directed by Jez the Wonder Kitty

Notes:
[1] _Henry V_, Act IV, Scene VII
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     "I still can't believe she did that," said Chow.
     "The _Heisenberg_ appears to have used the Principle of Uncertainty
in its favor yet again," Data commented.  "I, for one, am glad for their...
unpredictability."
     Chow nodded, then pointed to his Ready Room.  Data followed him in.
     "What are we going to do about Euge?"
     "Lt. Yee?  Ah, that is a good question..."
				* * * * *
     Counselor Wombat entered the bridge, smiling for the first time in over
a season.  She sat down next to Captain Bundy, who could not believe what
he was seeing.
     "Counselor, you seem calmer, happier.  Is it because we won?"
     "No," Wombat said rather matter-of-factly.  "We got rid of Bruce."
				* * * * *
     "They did WHAT?" Soraya queried.
     "Did you say...hippopotamus?" Rust asked.
     "Same old Kabeta," smiled Avenger and Crossfire.
				* * * * *
     McKelvey's eyes popped open suddenly, darting about.  He tried to pull
himself upright.  He was restrained by a pair of soft hands.
     "You're not going anywhere yet," smiled Rhee.  "Icefalcon doesn't want
you moving around."
     "Where--?"  He looked about, but all he could really see was...her.
     "Sickbay.  And it's all over.  We WON."
     McKelvey relaxed -- I mean, really relaxed, for the first time in quite
a while.  Then he reached up and embraced the _Croutonprize_'s chief engineer
in a victory hug.  As he released her, she blushed.
     "You...saved my life, Sergeant-Major."
     "All in a day's work, ma'am."
     "Rhee," she said, extending a hand.  "Rhee Savan."
     He took her hand and pulled it gently to his lips, causing her to blush
yet again.
     "It's nice to meet you, Rhee."
				* * * * *
     "When are the nightmares going to stop???"  Kabeta threw aside the
bedcovers and slipped back into her uniform.
     Marching down the corridor toward Sickbay, she nearly bumped into the
captain of the _Melbourne_.
     "Captain Muirden, are you all right?"
     "Yes, Captain," he replied, happy to hear that she was pronouncing his
name correctly now.  "Had a little accident during that last series of
volleys and broke my spectacles.  Our replicators are still down, so your
good doctor was kind enough to fashion me a new pair."
     "And they look smashing," Kabeta teased.
     "Kabeta," Muirden asked.  "What hat did you pull that rabbit out of?"
     "Rabbit?" smiled Kabeta.  "It looked more like a hippopotamus to me!"
     "Well, whatever it was, it worked."  He extended a hand.  "Good show."
     She grasped his hand firmly and nodded appreciation, though she could
not help but think about Anthony.
     "Well, have to get back," said Muirden.  "Still have a lot of repairs
to do."
     Left alone with her thoughts, Kabeta became uncomfortable with them
all over again.  Then she realized that in the death of Antonius, Anthony
Morgan may have finally found peace.
     "At least that makes one of us."
     She stepped into Sickbay.
     "Ruth, do you have anything that will help me sleep?"
				* * * * *
     "Aren't you done *yet*?" Avenger whined.
     "Admiral, a large file such as this requires a significant amount of
download time.  Please be patient."
     "But, Zen...I don't want to have to deal with *that* many personnel
transfer requests."
     "Well, pardon me, Mr. Star Fleet Commander, but it's not *my* job."
     "I wish it wasn't mine."
				* * * * *
     "Leaving us?  So soon?"
     "Captain Muirden, no offense," said Tim Larkin, "but Chi and I had a
great thing going.  I'm going back to the _Chivalier_."
     "But...what about Bill Carter?"
     "Transferred out.  Think they made him a captain somewhere.  A lot of
that going around, so I'm told."
     Larkin left the bridge and went to pack.
     "So who do I have for a first officer?"  Muirden scanned the bridge and
landed on his science officer...
				* * * * *
     "We look for things," smiled Rellip.
     "Things to make King Boom-Boom go," said Yelruh proudly.
     "Things to make 'good brewskis' with," added Namreb as he downed another
of Boom-Boom's homebrews.
     "You're sure you wanted to transfer to *my* ship?" Larry asked.
     "Um..."  Neon looked around, then shrugged his shoulders.  "I guess."
				* * * * *
     "What are you going to do now, Mark?  Starbase LMC1 doesn't exist anymore
and we won't be needing you here much longer."
     "I'm going to spend a few weeks coordinating relief efforts out in this
end of the galaxy, but then...I don't know, Kabeta.  I'm sure something will
turn up."
     "Thought about going back to the LMC?"
     "Haven't you?"
     Kabeta smiled knowingly at Bradford.
     "Oh, hey, by the way," Bradford dug around inside his pocket and handed
something to Kabeta.  "Star Fleet Command told me to give you this."
     She opened her hand to find a single open square rank pip.
     "What's this?"
     "4 1/2 pips is something you don't see very often."  Mark smiled and
saluted her.  "You've been promoted, Fleet Captain."
     "Promoted?  Fleet Captain?  What?"
				* * * * *
     "Yes, Admiral?  What did you want to see me about?"  Euge was buried in
a stack of tech manuals in the midst of Harry's computer core.  Runaway Daemon
and Aedoni were also scattered about amongst the books.
     As Euge stood up to greet Data, he noticed a difference around Data's
collar.  "Full Admiral now?  Congratulations, sir."
     "There are more congratulations to give," replied Data.  "By authority of
the Commander of Star Fleet, I am here to report your promotion to the rank of
Lt. Cdr."
     "Cool," called Aedoni as she lugged a heavy piece of equipment across
the way.
     "It is good that you are here as well, Ms. t'Rllaillieu."  She looked
at her heavy load with anticipation.  Data did not catch the hint.
     "Um, Admiral, could you--?"
     "Oh.  Sorry."  Data rushed forward and lifted her heavy load with one
hand.  With his other, he handed her a solid silver crouton.
     "May I also congratulate you on your promotion to the rank of full
Lieutenant."
     "Thanks, Admiral."
     Data looked about, trying to find a place to set the load down.  She
pointed to an empty spot on the floor next to Daemon.
     "Nothing for me?" asked Daemon.
     "Well, there is this rather heavy load of computer equipment..." said
Data as he offered the pile to Daemon.
     "Gee, thanks."
				* * * * *
     "Lt. Cdr. Himle."
     "Lt. Cdr. Chuang."
     "It has a nice ring to it."
     "Yup.  Only it won't be the same without you sitting there making faces
at me."
     "We'll have to get together every once in a while for a paper shuttle
contest."
     "I'll win."
     "Excuse me," interrupted Taubman.  "I just happened to be walking by...
are you two leaving?"
     "We've been promoted," smiled Himle.
     "Transferred to new ships," explained Chuang.
     "Cool," said Taubman.
     "What about you?" asked Himle.
     "Oh, I'm retiring from the Fleet.  I found a new job.  It's in the food
and entertainment industry."
     "Really?" asked Savvie from behind the Ten Forward bar.  "Could you use
a partner?"
				* * * * *
     "Commander Larkin?  You're back?" Euge asked in surprise.
     "Cool, huh?"  Larkin wrapped his arm tightly around Chi An's shoulder.
"Chi and Tim, together again!"
     Euge rolled his eyes, as did Chow.  After Chi An had managed to untangle
himself from Larkin, he sat behind his desk and looked sternly at Euge.
     "Lieutenant Commander Yee, we need to discuss that little stunt you
pulled over Xavion."
     "Sir..?"
     "Where did you get off countermanding me and doing that weird maneuver--"
     "Captain, if I may, I anticipated that the Borg would guess at your
intentions and capture the ship in their tractor beams.  I used a variation
on Kirk 32-Theta, spiced it up with a little Courier 4-Alpha and--"
     "Saved the ship."
     "Well, er, um...yes, sir."
     Chow narrowed his eyes at Euge.  "You haven't been possessed by the
Riddler, have you?"
     "No, sir."
     "Good."  Chow reached into a desk drawer and withdrew a little box,
which he slid across the desk toward Euge.
     Euge looked down at the box curiously.
     "Well, aren't you going to open it up?" smiled Chi.
     "What is it, Chi?" Larkin squealed in mock excitement.  "An engagement
ring?"
     "Stop it!" squealed Chow.
     Euge picked up the box and slowly, reluctantly opened it.
     "A Bronze Star?" Euge gasped.
     "You earned it.  Keep on disobeying my orders like that and you'll be a
captain before you know it."
				* * * * *
     "I hear you'll be leaving us soon..."  Soraya hesitated in the doorway
of the _Croutonprize_ Ready Room.  Avenger, buried in a pile of paperwork,
charts, graphs and disks, motioned for her to enter.
     "They need somebody to run the Fleet again."
     "So who's going to be Captain here then?"
     "I don't know," smiled Avenger.  "Any ideas?"
     "No, I--"  Then she caught his eye.  "Oh..no..."
     "Why not?"
     "You just don't want to have to look for a replacement, do you?"
     "You're capable.  Why not?"
     "I..."  Soraya thought about it.  "I don't know.  No reason not to,
I guess."
     "You'll be needing a first officer."
     "Why not Crossfire?"
     "I don't know.  Maybe you'd better ask him that."
				* * * * *
     "Missy?"  hj looked in on her.  "How you doing?"
     That new science officer fellow...Jason what's-his-name was there with
her.  They were playing a game.
     "Hi, Captain," said Missy.  "I'm...myself again, I suppose."  hj didn't
believe it for a moment, but didn't say so.  Missy looked at hj with horror
in her eyes.  "Did I really--?"
     "Forget about it," said hj.  "You weren't yourself.  You had all kinds
of things in your head that weren't any part of you.  That's all over.  And
you're never going to have to worry about Borg again, anyway, from the looks
of it."
     "Good," said Jason.
     "What's that you're playing anyway?" hj asked.
     "Go," said Missy.  "Jason's teaching me how to play."
     "Hmm...."
				* * * * *
     "The Federation has successfully repelled the Borg menace," said
Ahab, dropping the latest Intelligence information onto Bloocheez's
massive desk.
     "Excellent," smiled Bloocheez.  "Perhaps it is time then."

FADE TO BLACK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next time, on
		STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
			"The Perfect Game"
		   Part 20: "And Still I Rise"

Crossfire does not get along with reporters...
Crossfire:  Go AWAY.

...but he and Kabeta have more in common than they thought.
Kabeta:  Then you do understand.

Each faces a decision...and a confrontation.
Crossfire:  Uh, me?
Soraya:  I'd give anything to have seen the look on his face.
Kleber:  I guess I've learned something from this, though.
Kabeta:  I don't know.  I just don't know.

And that's not all....
Kabeta:  Oh, but you haven't heard the kicker of the whole business.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE on the next introspective episode of ....
  STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION!