After his subspace conversation with Picard was over, Riker smiled and sat back in the captain's chair. It was good to be back on the bridge of a starship, and it was even better to know that Picard's mission had succeeded because of him. Picard had wallowed in grief over Data's death at Chateau Picard, and perhaps Riker had also been wallowing in grief over Thad's death on Nepenthe. But even though the pain of losing him would never truly go away, at least now he knew that the woman indirectly responsible for his death would never set foot in Federation space again.

"Sir, Admiral Picard and Dr. Jurati have just beamed down to the surface," an ensign said. "The Admiral is in critical condition."

"What?" Riker's eyes widened. Deanna had told him that Picard was dying, but he hadn't realized it would be so soon. "Beam me down." The ensign just stared at him. "Now!"

Riker beamed down to the surface of Coppelius. To his horror, he found Picard lying on the ground, Dr. Jurati cradling his head in her arms. He rushed towards Picard and knelt down beside him. Jurati stepped back to give him more space.

"Will," Picard said weakly, smiling.

"I'm here," Riker said, holding his hand and trying to smile back. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," Picard said. "Thank you… for everything."

Picard's eyes closed, and his head slumped down. Riker felt like he had been punched in the gut. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. There was only one time he had felt more grief, and that was when Thad died. He collapsed over Picard's body in a heap of sobs.

The La Sirena crew kept their distance from Riker. Perhaps because, having known Picard for a much shorter period of time, they didn't feel as entitled to mourn him as Riker did. As another one of Picard's former first officers, Riker knew he wanted to meet Raffi before he left, and ask her how she got away with calling Picard "JL". He thought that Rios, who had also lost his captain and father figure, might be able to understand what he was going through. And Elnor… Elnor was just a kid, barely older than Thad would have been if he had survived. But for now, Riker just wanted to grieve alone.

Dr. Soong walked over to the bench where Riker was sitting and sat down beside him. "My condolences," he said.

"Thank you," Riker said.

"You know," Soong said, "I have a synthetic golem in my laboratory. I was planning to use it for myself, but I could scan Picard's neural pathways and essentially upload his consciousness into a synthetic body."

"No," Riker said softly.

"I'm sorry?"

"No," Riker repeated, more firmly this time. He turned to Soong, who looked back in confusion.

"With all due respect, Captain," Soong said, "this is my choice to make. I'm giving up my chance at immortality for Admiral Picard. I don't understand. I thought you would be grateful."

"It's not your choice to make," Riker said. "It's mine."

"And why is that?" Soong demanded.

"Because," Riker said, "I am Picard's executor." He pulled out his PADD and produced the Last Will and Testament of Jean-Luc Picard. Soong read it over quickly and saw that Riker was right.

"And you're sure this is what he would have wanted?"

"I know Admiral Picard as well as any other living person does - did," Riker said. "He was 94 years old and dying from Irumodic Syndrome. He lived a long, full life, and he was at peace with death. And I know that the last thing he would have wanted is for someone else to sacrifice themselves for him. Again."

"I understand," Soong said. "You can't look at me without seeing Data. Without seeing what he did for Picard."

"No, I can't," Riker admitted.

"Picard was a light shining in a vast darkness," Soong said.

"No one knows that better than I do," Riker said.

"That light has gone out. But we can turn it on again."

"It hasn't gone out," Riker said. "It's alive in me, and in my wife, and in so many other people whose lives he touched. And as long as we keep it alive, it will never go out."

"You sound just like him, you know," Soong said.

"Good," said Riker. "You just proved my point."

Troi walked over to where Riker stood on the hill overlooking the synth settlement. She had clearly been crying. She reached out to Riker for a hug, and he hugged her back, absorbing each other's grief. Finally, they pulled apart.

"So this is where we're burying him?" she asked. "We're not taking him back to Earth?"

"I thought it would be more appropriate for him to be buried among the people he died trying to save," Riker said. "As a reminder for them that synths and organics can coexist. Besides, he was always more at home in the stars."

Troi nodded. "I suppose you're right. I'm sure he wouldn't want his grave to become a tourist attraction."

"I wish you could have been here when he died," Riker said. "To say goodbye to him."

"I'm sure you said goodbye to him for both of us," Troi said. "And for Kestra."

"The funeral is tomorrow," Riker said. "I'm supposed to give the eulogy. I don't know what to write. What can I say about the bravest and wisest and greatest person I've ever known?"

"'If I have seen farther than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,'" Troi intoned.

"Isaac Newton," Riker said.

Troi nodded. She pointed to the gravestone, and Riker saw the phrase engraved into the monument.

Riker smiled. Even in death, Picard had to be humble. But it was also true. No man is an island. A captain is nothing without his crew, and the Federation would not be possible without the hard work and sacrifices of the many, many generations that came before it.

Riker thought about the giants in the history of Earth. Zheng He. Isaac Newton. Albert Einstein. Stephen Hawking. Zefram Cochrane. Jonathan Archer. James T. Kirk. As great as he was, Picard could not have accomplished what he had without their contributions. And Riker could not have accomplished what he had without Picard. The admiral belonged to history now, just like the rest of them. And it had been an honor to stand on his shoulders.