<div class="floatleft">(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/e/e8/Picard2379.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120311033504&amp;path-prefix=en)</div><strong>Character Name:</strong>Jean-Luc Picard<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Starfleet Academy, Arik Soong's Office<br/><strong>Tagging/Mentioning:</strong>Arik Soong<br/><strong>NSFW Warning:</strong><br/><br/><hr/>There was a chime at Arik's door and when the new Captain gave permission for whoever it was to enter, the door opened with the blink if an eye swiftness one had become accustomed too.  Still because the doors opened so fast there were times it made one do a double take as to who it was really behind the door, especially when they were near legendary in the annuals of Starfleet as the person outside the door.  He was old, perhaps getting to the point of mandatory retirement.  Four pips were adorning his collar making his rank equal to Arik's, but the sheer magnitude of command and leadership experience from this man.<br/><br/>It was said when Captain Janeway returned from the Delta Quadrant on board<em>Voyager</em>she had enough of "the chair" as it was called and put in for promotion.  The man here never went that route though if he had it would be very easy to imagine a solid gold boarder surrounding three or four of those rank pips, making him a Vice Admiral at least.  No he never went for promotion, preferring to stay in "the chair".  It was said during his debriefing of "The Nexus" incident where he met up with another legend of Starfleet, James Kirk, that Kirk had passed along some advice.<em>"Don't! Don't let them promote you. Don't let them transfer you. Don't let them do *anything* that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you're there... you can make a difference."</em>And none could argue this man had made a difference.<br/><br/>He steps into the office, an easy smile upon his face a he takes those few strides so he would be close to Arik, offering the Android his hand as he spoke in a light and easy voice which might take one a back.  For as much as this man had seen and done, it would seem like there should be more to his voice, a mark one could feel, notice and touch.  Yet perhaps it was the point for as much of an impact this man has had upon the history of the galaxy, he still human.<strong>"Arik Soong I hope?  I am Jean-Luc Picard of the <em>Enterprise</em>.  I had hoped I caught you in time before you left for your first assignment."</strong><br/><br/>