β
Vaughn brushed at his neat, silvery beard, smiling. βI want to learn, βJean-Luc. I want to explore, and live in each moment, and feel excited about my experiencesβnot because I want to recapture that blush of youth, but because itβs what Iβve always wanted, and Iβm too damned old to put it off for one more minute.β βCome, my friends, βtis not too late to seek a newer world,β Picard thought, smiling back at him. βDoes this mean youβre leaving Starfleet?β Vaughn shook his head. βI donβt know. βAnd the amazing thing is, I donβt know if it actually matters. If what I want to do doesnβt fit in with Starfleetβs agenda, Iβll leave.β βBravo, Elias,β Picard said warmly, amusedly considering Starfleetβs reaction to the news that one of their most capable officers, with clearance that probably went higher than the captain dared to speculate, might be quitting in order to find himself.
β
β
S.D. Perry (Twist of Faith (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine))