Title: Full Reverse

Chapter 1: New Crew

Warnings: Language, Sexual Situations, AU

A/N: I have changed the name from Man within the Changing to Full Reverse. I have also made some structural and plot changes to combine all ideas into one. The first two chapters are mainly background to the new characters with flashes of Shinzon that will appear in Chapter 3. (Edit of some information - 2013)

While reluctantly opening his eyes from a vividly enjoyable dream about wind filled trees on a bright summer's day and a humming bird his beloved showed him on her planet, he awoke to his quarter's familiarity. He closed his eyes again and envisioned his soon to be vacation far from technology's grasp and the Federation for that matter. His trance was obliterated by the familiar musical sound of the computer's chime above his now after the Briar Patch more youthful half-dressed body. Picard looked up to the ceiling and took a deep breath.

"Excuse me, Captain?" announced a hesitant voice.

"Picard here." Jean-Luc rolled over to the edge of his sizeable bed and sat with his hands folded staring up at the darkened ceiling.

"We are entering the outer aspect of the Federation space and the Travidia is requesting permission to transport additional crew to our ship and return to base," said the new first officer with increasing amounts of false self-confidence.

"Very well Mr. Madden, I will be in transporter room 2 momentarily, Picard out." Picard added while rising to his feet and pausing to look in the mirror. Yes, Troi was right when she said he was looking younger and healthier than ever.

"Have to go back to the Briar Patch at the first opportunity. I must continue this rejuvenation and clarification of thought that Adije spoke of. I look 10 years younger." He would value the time spent relaxing along with her companionship of course. He instinctively raised his hand to the small necklace that once held a medallion that Adije gave him just before he disembarked from her gorgeous seemingly technology free planet.

The intricately designed medallion that was temporarily removed from the thin chain was (till Data's death) always worn about his neck close to his heart as instructed. The gift was a source of affection and renewing life. After a month of wearing the medallion, he contacted Adije to ask her if there was any thing special about the medallion. Her slight smile confirmed all that he had wondered.

She spoke few words compared to her usually lengthy explanations, "The medallion is called a Piontry. We use them whenever we leave the planet to keep the effects of the planet perpetual. Using ones DNA we can adjust its contents for life forms individually to alter cells to about the age desired to digress back to. If another wears it, the pendant will not be successful. I understand you will be in receipt of a present shortly". Picard's expression of amazement dissipated when she stated. "What do you think I have been doing these past hundred years that I have not even learned to swim?"

He then remembered their laugh at that inside joke of theirs. It was what the mutineer children of her planet had sought after. There was a concentration in the rings of their planet that renewed living cells and enhances mental telepathy and telekinesis. This was the very technology the youths tried to take over the settlement for. The formula was not perfected and unstable in its liquid form, so the elders continued testing and the youth became inpatient and tried to steal it by force and were expelled.

After getting geared up for his obligation at the transporter room, he received a small package that Adije had sent to him. He had asked for it to be brought to him immediately upon its arrival. He gasped audibly when he opened the parcel. It was a solution to the dilemma he had been brooding this past month. At the first opening, he would take it to who required it so badly.

While walking to the transporter room, Picard felt his psyche wondering over his ship repairs that had taken place and the future. After what felt like time without end, the Enterprise was repaired and refit with the state-of-the-art ergonomics and back to the fleet. 'It has taken us forever for repairs and to travel to these outer reaches of the Federation and soon into the Denab System. After that, I will be off to a vacation at the Briar Patch,' he contemplated.

"What will be?" Picard whispered to himself as he straightened his uniform, 'Whatever shall I find...' Smiling to himself. He turned and quickened his velocity out the turbolift door and down the corridor to the transporter room 2. He felt a surge of a new sense of curiosity at what he is about to delve into and the new crew that will liven things up a bit with their new insight. Most of his life he longed for that vastness of deep space and archeological findings. He longed to view objects of long past races of explorers and ancient civilizations and now he was off to such an adventure. True he was only doing a preliminary survey of the planetary alignments and sensor readings, but his ship was the first to penetrate this system from the Federation and obtain readings. Admiral Janeway had made that possible along with his soon to be vacation for obvious reasons.

Picard pondered that the only reason he was able to explore such an unknown system like this briefly was because there was a momentary alignment of various races in the Federation with its neighbors. The Federation council originally wanted him to head up the debates and talks with the Romulan and Remans. A secondary reason was all the new crew members aboard his ship. They needed more experience at operations before flying into Romulan space he had told Janeway to explain to the council. He also nodded and one was returned at the understanding of the other reason that was hidden and the only ones that knew about it was Riker, Janeway and himself.

Yes, he needed a rest from what happened between him and Shinzon he told himself. But Picard was given an alien object that was recovered in Earth's solar system. Janeway seen to it he was the one to take it to the area of space marked on the object. The artifact was of a material they could not identify, but they could identify the star markings on its outer hull, the Denab System. They only thing the Federation knew about it was there are moments when a high frequency wave is emitted from the device. When the wave is being heard by the instruments, there are unexplained voices reported by the scientists. They concluded the object was unsafe to keep in the Solar System of Earth and to take it to the coordinated marked on it. Picard thought it might even be a probe or a first contact device of an unknown alien race.

Janeway strategically placed Riker in Romulan/Reman space to keep his eyes open to any potential developments and report back to Janeway and Picard. He understood their communiqués might not be secure, so they kept up pretences and included personal information that was directly related to their personal agenda that would not be understood by outsiders. Riker let it known that the Romulans/Remans also found an alien object similar to the one they had found near Earth. He suggested the Romulans and Remans could not decipher the sound in order to get any information or its significance. At first the Remans thought it to be a Romulan trap and the Romulans thought the same of the Remans. They agreed to allow both sides to examine the object at the same time.

Picard spoke while pausing at a port looking up to the stars. "I would like to see the Briar Patch again..." He mused over his promise to one of its occupants, his beloved Adije that he would return very soon to take his vacation time. He had received several communications from her. He remembered their hours worth of conversation before the Shinzon episode. He missed her calmness and her affection, but then again he would soon again wear her affection close to his heart on a necklace. He moved his hand up his now more muscular abdomen and felt the thin necklace where the medallion should have been on his chest. He would have to retrieve the medallion once it was possible. He remembered telling her as soon as he completed a few things in this new system he would be on his way to see her once again. He also let her know he was bringing a passenger that needs her skill and the subtle peace of her planet.

This made him think of Data and his adventure pretending to be child on that lovely planet. He thought of Troi and Riker that are gone now to Romulan space. Picard mused, 'Riker and Troi sent that consoling communication from the parameter of Romulan/Reman space.' While he contemplated the things they told him about the talks with the Romulans and his soon to be new ship's Counselor Allisa Vendalla.

Picard entered the transporter room and gave a nod to the transporter chief to proceed with the initial transport of the first group of new crew. He stepped forward and began with the pleasantries of welcoming the new members to his ship. He paid special attention to the new ship's counselor Allisa as they walked alone to her living quarters.

Picard raised his left eyebrow with an awareness of her exquisiteness and persona. He remembered her picture from the dossier. It did not do her justice he noticed. "Yes, I received word from Mr. Worf and Counselor Troi that there would be a last minute change and that you would be joining our crew instead of Ms. Caldwell per Troi's request." He gestured toward the turbolift for her to cross the threshold.

He remembered Troi mentioning her in the communication she had dispatched a dear friend and called her a breath of spring air. 'Yes, Deanna is still watching out for me by sending one of her old friends to console the ship at this juncture of change. She can read my thoughts, so I had better change the subject for now or attempt blocking her entry into my mind.' He thought to himself as the doors closed.

With a nervous energy and quivering inside at the chance to counsel the Enterprise crew, but a calm professional exterior produced for the moment, "I'm taking Councilor Deanna Troi's place on the ship as counselor for as long as you desire or require me to." She attempted to convey calmness while keeping her enthusiasm inside at meeting the renowned Captain Jean-Luc Picard that Deanna had told her about over the past 5 years. Allisa pondered over the fact that Captain Picard had no previous knowledge that Deanna had been grooming her to take her position when she left. She started clasping and unclasping her hands while shifting her feet. Picard noticed her slight uneasiness.

Allisa realized standing this close to Captain Picard of the Enterprise for the first time brought up Deanna's ordeal with Picard's young clone, Shinzon. Once Deanna told her the story about Shinzon and him trying to seduce her in her mind, Allisa was haunted by the thought of a telepathic lover with a zest for the unusual. Allisa had begged for the experience of knowing in a personal way the workings of the ship. Deanna had allowed Allisa to delve into her memory in order to see/feel, basically experience her life on the ship. What Allisa did was view and experience the altercations with Shinzon as if it happened to her. Deanna thought she was accessing her thoughts of the ship and crew not Shinzon.

The memories started taking over her reality as she assumed Deanna's role with Shinzon in her mind. She stood with a blank look on her face staring at the turbolift doors while inside her mind she was reliving Deanna's haunting memory. She found herself saying in her mind, "Your not here." Yes, haunting was the right word that described Shinzon of Remus.

The voice of Shinzon was dark and sinuous from all around the turbolift beckoning her to allow herself to experience him fully, "Very logical, Deanna, but your heart doesn't constrain itself to mere logic…"

Her breathing quickened as she felt Shinzon's hands exploring her body and pulling her tiny frame close to his muscular yet slender body. She could hear her own heart start to flutter in her trance but in reality her heart and breathing had slowed. She was now inside the memory.

His voice echoed hauntingly next to her ear with the warmth of his breath teasing her senses, "Your heart longs to discover me. To know me…to leave this all behind and be with me."

Allisa felt herself in her mind thrown against the turbolift wall. The sheer violence of his passion she was unaccustomed to. She realized one of the things she longed for was Shinzon to call her by her own name. For him to know her in her individuality and want her more then he wanted Deanna. Shinzon slammed his body against hers making her breath leave her lungs as she fought for air remembering this was all in her mind.

Allisa opened her eyes only inches from Shinzon's and melted in desire to have such a man. Not just his body, but to have him as an Imzadi…a beloved eternal. To be with a man who was capable of such horrific acts and passion dissipated her memory of her ex who was always in control and boring. She could see in him the little boy he once had been, young and hopeful. She wished Deanna had her wedding earlier as scheduled so she would have been the one to meet Shinzon. She was sure she could have found the humanity within and brought it to the surface. Allisa thought with sheer force of will and love she could have rescued him from the horror life had dealt him. Deanna Troi was deeply in love with her Imzadi since they had met on Betazed when he saved her and Allisa's sister's life. Riker had run from the commitment Deanna offered, and she caught him in the end as she thought she could have captured Shinzon.

"I can feel your desire, Deanna…" Shinzon hissed with hunger looking into her eyes. "I can feel your hunger to know the Reman ways…the old ways…Don't fear what you desire…"

Allisa reveled in the experience knowing she was standing next to Picard in a turbolift. She was so distracted by Shinzon she forgot what was to happen next. The face and body of Shinzon's viceroy materialized before her eyes and she shuttered in fear and broke the trance. In reality, she only shook a second and pretended to be changing her stance for Picard's benefit. She looked slightly at Picard and felt attracted to him thinking he looked younger in person. He was a very knowledgeably Captain in charge of the flagship of the Federation. His accomplishments were legendary that every young man in Star Fleet tried to duplicate. She found him to be most of the qualities she looked for in men. He was the way that Shinzon could have been if he was only given love and time.

Then the image of the clone, Shinzon, came to her mind again. She was lost in thought, 'What old Reman ways was Shinzon talking about?' She knew she could not have Shinzon for he was gone now. He was Picard's clone. She looked into Picard's mind to see if she could feel what kind of a man he would be to her since she could not have Shinzon. Picard had been a very passionate man with the women he chose to have relationships with, but private. She seen his relationship to Adije and thought him once again unattainable as all the women in Star Fleet found him. The thought of wanting a man because you found his clone to be so haunting, made Allisa's training as a counselor bring her out of her thoughts.

Allisa looked again into Picard's conscious thoughts. She was shocked and almost choked. She felt a reflection of her thoughts about Deanna's memories of Shinzon and her thoughts of having Picard as her potential man inside of Picard's thoughts. Was it possible…had he read her mind the entire time she has been in the turbolift? Her face turned red, and he turned to look at her this time.

His eyebrow was raised and he straightened his shirt by tugging it down as he looked at her. "So Deanna has told you a great deal more then she informed me she told you. Deanna told me of your parting with your intended on Betazoid and for that I am sorry. I can assure you I prefer not to have romantic interludes with the women under my command. Which means anyone on his ship is free not to think I am trying to give favors to any of the females on any bias. I have made a few mistakes in the past and I am determined not to do so again."

She told herself to try to maintain a dedication to duty that she knew from her readings and Deanna that he preferred in his crew. Flashes of thoughts of missing Deanna, Will Riker, Data, and Beverly started reaching her mind from Picard as his thoughts started to dwell in the past. She heard an old thought of his now dead clone, Shinzon, and how his age was just few years younger than his new counselor was.

She caught a glimpse or a thought he had the day he did battle with his clone. 'It is a shame to die so young and with such potential' he paused and thought inside the depths of his soul. Picard's mood elevated as he placed his hand on his pants pocket. What was it she felt from him? It was hope at the situation. These feelings from Picard momentarily confused Allisa.

Allisa looked into Picard's thoughts. She seen his experience while he was in a coma and alien probe placed him in. He lived out the rest of his life in an interactive world that was once the alien's home world. The probe was intended to let those who found it see their lives and understand them. He was in the coma for 25 minutes, but he lived a lifetime. He had a wife and a daughter he loved. He also had a flute he loved to play. When he awoke from the virtual world in his mind from the probe, he found he still had the flute. He kept the flute in memory of the loved ones that he knew were not real, but they had been as real to him as his life on the Enterprise. The experience had left him wanting to change his life and have a family. And there he was again in Picard's thoughts…his clone.

Allisa slightly smiled at the mental picture Picard had of his younger clone. He was an attractive youth with a scar upon his upper lip. He had deeply expressional eyes and a bald-head that left Allisa wishing she could run her hand over it. She tipped her head to one side with a squinted eye and raising her other eyebrow in a moment of epiphany. This caused her brilliant large green eyes to glow next to her auburn hair with an incandescence and understanding of a Betazed woman.

"Romulan space of all places." Picard said matter of fact aloud to the amusement of the new councilor, Allisa, who was in the turbolift with him alone at this point reading his hidden thoughts.

"Excuse me sir?" She inquired while trying to mask the fact that she now knew the speculation Deanna made of Riker's thoughts and told her in greatest of confidences was true.

Picard turned to see the new crewmember glancing at him from the side then faced him with a look of complete understanding toward his situation. To him it felt like he was talking to Deanna again. He felt an utter drop of the Captain façade to a man in need of understanding, "You know my thoughts. You are a Betazed woman. You can hear thoughts better than Deanna. I feel/know you are listening to them now..."

Then in a whisper, "Tell me what you hear." Picard had felt a close tie with this empathic councilor from the moment she boarded the ship. He was trying to ignore her previous thoughts of him in a romantic manner. Deanna told him in the communication that she was briefed on the situation of the death of Data and Shinzon. Deanna said she was fully trustworthy as if it were she or Riker aboard the ship. He felt Deanna's trust in her and a confidence as if the young girl was older beyond that of her 24-year-old physical body.

Allisa not understanding how the human captain could feel her telepathic use of reading his mind, "Romulan space was a hard place for you to face again so soon after what has happened with you and shall I say...the Romulans and the Remans. And besides, you have a matter that needs attending along with the alien object."

Picard lowered his gaze to the floor of the turbolift that he had commanded to stop and said softly, "So much has changed. There have been so many lost opportunities. I have had so many dreams in my life that has been shattered to the wind. Every dream I have had is like a growing plant within a garden that was all but totally stomped out by one ambition. My commitment to duty is a large statue of the emblem of the Federation and it has stomped the dreams out. Only recently I found the garden expands and allow for the dreams to grow again. I can admit to you a few of them have grown up like vines upon the statue."

Allisa felt a need for a furthering in the conversation and reached out with her mind for a new thought in Picard's inner emotions, "When you entered the coma caused by the probe the statue disappeared and you felt only the plants and flowers. You were brought back and landed on the statue of your duty. You felt cheated and confused, but you now feel at peace like you did on the day you left Adije when you played the flute for her in the garden. You are joyful at the chance to explore and having new crew aboard, but miss the older members who are now gone. You never had a son and your nephew, Renee, died years ago leaving you with an emptiness of family. Now you have hope. Hope from your medallion, Adije and another source you keep hidden…even I can not read."

Picard lost control and allowed a tear to run down his face to the floor. Picard admitted, "As this tear falls to the floor, so fell the Picard name to the vary dust when my nephew died. I never thought I would be given an opportunity like the one I have now, but it demands change." Picard stared at the wall for a moment. Could he leave Star Fleet or take the Admiral position?

Allisa continued, "Then there was Shinzon of Remus. He was a spark of hope that the name would continue and a chance at having your own family. Now you have the medallion, you will continue to be more youthful. The thought of having children with Adije has been on the tip of your mind…embrace the love…welcome this new opportunity." Allisa put her delicate hand upon the captain's shoulder and he welcomed the empathy she felt toward him as he commanded the turbolift to continue.

The turbolift doors opened and Picard once again became ship Captain Picard and silently escorted the young counselor to her living chamber for a look around. He then proceeded to familiarize her with her counseling area near by and her schedule.

Once they entered her new counseling area, she turned to him with clarity in her glowing emerald green eyes, "It is good that you decided not to be the one to go initiate the talks. Taking a rest is what Deanna said you needed. I feel you know you need it too. A rest and a time to speak to those who need you after you finish this other business is needed. You have given so much to the Federation and duty. You need to take time for yourself and your own agendas."

Picard stared into Allisa's brilliant eyes and knew she understood his secret and nodded, "There is to be a dinner tomorrow night for the new senior crew at 1900 hours. Will you join us?"

Allisa in a formal voice, "I would be pleased to attend."

Picard, once again in his captain role, "Very well then, I will leave you to unpack your things. Geordi, our chief engineer, will be by momentarily to give you a tour of our ship. Good day and see you tomorrow." Picard turned down the corridor and left her to Geordi's care. There was someone else's care who he needed to attend to in his private rooms that adjourn his living chambers. He now possessed what he thought would remedy the situation.

Allisa finalized, "Good day to you as well, captain." She said to him the second he turned from her room and then she looked around her new counseling area. She was talented at even a young age back on Betazed her home planet. She took on the instruction of the Betazed ways at an early age and progressed through the ranks. She had several communications from her old friend Deanna Troi about the adventures she had on the Enterprise. It appealed to her in part because she had been so isolated on Betazed. Now it was her off to explore the never ending depths of space. She only hopped she continued to keep the fact of her partial heritage a secret. Her family had kept her partially separated from the others on Betazed for that very reason. She knew if anyone found out, her family's lives were forfeit and hers as well.

She paused in a brief moment of pain knowing she had left her life on Betazed behind. "There were always to be changes in life," she was told by her ex-fiancé she left behind to never see again. He was intolerable of her decision to serve aboard the Enterprise and told her he relinquished the bond of marriage the day she left.

"Yes, let's make some changes." She exclaimed to the empty room. There were a few changes she thought to make, once settling in on the new ship. Looking for her own Riker to protect/love her and changing the counseling areas to her liking would be her first plan. She had traveled aboard ships as a passenger, but never a crew before.

The computer chirped and Allisa responded half stunned with her eyes large and glowing, "Enter."

"Hi, Counselor Vendalla, my name is Geordi and I'm going to be giving you a tour of the ship if you are ready." Geordi gestured toward the hallway. He paused as her perfume brushed his senses as she exited her counseling area. Allisa could feel his reaction to her.

She sized him up with ease in a moment: composed, intelligent, attentive, secluded, use to influence and authority. Yes, those were all traits she admired, but she also sensed a lack of zeal. She also felt insecurity where women were concerned. She contemplated existence with a man who did not experience as much passion as she. Her mind thought back to her ex-fiancé. 'No, that will not due.' She welcomed the chance to travel around the ship and to grasp people's thoughts and explore for information within them of Picard's undisclosed plans.

Allisa wondered where the alien object was being kept on board, "Where I wonder." Allisa stared at the map of the ship.

Geordi interrupting her reflection, "We are right here," as he pointed to the screen. He believed her to find the complexity of the floor plans of a Galaxy Class Star Ship to be overwhelming. 'How little he knew.' She thought.

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