A Case of the Starship Enterprise

"Sir, the USS Hudson is ready to beam aboard their passengers," announced lieutenant Worf as his hands continued to dart across the panel of bright lights expertly. The captain stood and straightened his uniform. "Tell O'Brien to prepare to beam them aboard to transporter room three. Commander Riker, come with me. You have the bridge Mr Data." The two star fleet officers headed to the turbo lift and upon entering ordered their destination.

"Sir, who are these people exactly?" asked Riker curiously. The whole rendezvous with the Hudson had been kept very quiet; lots of priority one channel conversations going on and the Captain had been sworn to secrecy. Picard sighed, this was supposed to be on a need to know basis but he supposed that Riker was his first officer, if anybody needed to know it was him. "You know I like to keep you informed Riker, I tell you everything I believe is relevant when it comes to the ship."

"Yes sir, that is true."

"Well, I can't tell you why these people are coming but I'll tell you who they are. There's Commander Lestrade of Starfleet Intelligence and Dr John Watson, he used to be the chief medical officer on the USS Allisto before being wounded and transferred to Starfleet Medical." The two men stepped out of the turbo lift as the doors slid open.

"Sir, I thought you said that three people were coming?"

"Ah yes, the third one is a bit of a mystery to me I'm afraid. A Mr Sherlock Holmes, not a part of Starfleet. I looked him up and could find nothing in his file. He's apparently aiding in the, ah, investigations."

"Does he have clearance?"

"Approved by Admiral Holmes himself." They walked into the transporter room and nodded to O'Brien and activated the transporter. "I do not want him on the bridge unless he is accompanied by either the Commander or the doctor."

"Good thinking," Riker smiled. He did like mysteries and this one sounded pretty intriguing.

Two men of roughly the same stature and one man towering above them both materialised before them. The first of the shorter men had white hair and kind eyes though he looked exhausted as did the sandy haired man. They both were surrounded by luggage whereas the much taller one had only the long coat he was wearing. He jumped off the pad with something of a childish glee about him and took in his surroundings, at first ignoring the other people in the room as if deeming them unimportant. After a few moments he spun on his heels to face the transporter. "John, I have never been on a Galaxy Class Starship before," he said at a lightning pace.

"I know Sherlock," replied the sandy haired man. "You felt the need to remind us both every five minutes for the whole journey. I know you're excited but please try to act somewhat decently." Suddenly he spun back around to face the men in Starfleet uniforms. Instead of greeting them his eyes flickered over them all for a few seconds, unnerving them all.

"Oh, come on, don't be doing that please," Lestrade practically begged as he attempted to carry all his bags off the transporter pad at the same time as John.

"Oh no, it's quite alright," appeased Picard ever trying to be the gentleman and diplomat. He held out his hand in order for Sherlock to shake it but the detective did not take up the invitation. He was far too busy staring intently at the captain so he slowly withdrew his hand, ever so slightly confused and unnerved. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard, welcome to the USS Enterprise."

"I am aware that of what ship this is, the reason I am here and not on another ship or even still in London is because this is the USS Enterprise but thank you for pointing out the obvious." At this both Riker and Picard glanced at each other, neither of them knowing quite what to say. Before either of them got a chance to say anything Sherlock was speaking again.

"This really is fascinating."

"What's that," asked John, slightly out of breath from moving the luggage. He was more than a little annoyed that only one of the bags were his and one was Lestrade's. The rest of it was science equipment and whatever other bizarre things Sherlock had deemed necessary. John even had to pack his clothes for him as he deemed it too boring for him to bother to do. "No need to help me, thanks for offering though." Then at Sherlock's confused expression he added, "Sarcasm."

"This is quite extraordinary."

"What is it then?" Barked Picard already fed up with Sherlock's manner.

"You used to be a Borg."

"Sherlock!" Both John and Lestrade reprimanded as soon as the words were out of the man's mouth. Picard rubbed his nose. He thought he'd managed to keep that a secret from everyone except those he trusted. Riker, however, was much less reserved than Picard on the matter. Suddenly he was up in Sherlock's personal space, dWorfed by the man but still managed not to look ridiculous due to the detective's distinctive lack of body mass.

"Who the hell told you that he demanded?" almost reaching for the man's coat collar and shaking him but managed to resist.

"Commander," came the warning voice of the Captain and he backed off to his place next to Picard.

"Just one look at his face told me that. There is slight scarring, concordant with the shape of the typical Borg eye coverings, what they are for I have not been made privy to but I have seen plenty of pictures. They really are a fascinating species, anything you could tell me about them Captain would be invaluable, especially with your first-hand experience."

"That's enough Sherlock," ordered John, the Star Fleet Officer in him coming through. "I am so sorry Captain; he just likes to show off his intelligence and doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut." Lestrade nodded in agreement. Picard smiled in an attempt to keep the peace, the diplomat in him coming through.

"When that intelligence is used in the right context I can imagine that it is very useful."

"That is true," added Lestrade. "Just unfortunately he can't turn it off so in the wrong situations it is very detrimental."

"Commander Riker, would you be kind enough to show these men to their quarters?"

"Could we get shown round the ship first?" asked Sherlock excitedly.

"If it's all the same to you I'd like dispose of these bags first since you obviously do not feel the need to help in any way even though this is mostly your stuff," commented John angrily. Sherlock nodded and the men turned their attention back to the captain who looked slightly bemused.

"Riker has informed me that he has not yet finished his duties so Chief O'Brien will be escorting you to your quarters."

"Sir?"

"You heard what I said O'Brien, you know where they are staying. I will send someone along shortly to give you a tour of the ship." With that both Riker and Picard left the transporter room, trying to stifle a laugh and the misfortune of the transporter chief.

"So Commander, what duties are you yet to perform?" asked the captain as they stepped into the turbo lift and ordered it to the bridge, no longer trying to hold back the laugh from earlier.

"Well I still need to sit in my chair on the bridge."

"Oh yes, very important that one."

"Can I ask you a question sir?"

"Of course number one."

"What do you think of him? How the hell did he know what happened to you?"
"Ah, I don't know. He's obviously very good at what he does but I don't think he'll be all that great at anything else."

When they arrived back at the bridge the two officers wordlessly took their places at their posts. It didn't take Picard long to catch the look Deanna was giving him, it was an odd mixture of confusion, concern and amusement. "Is everything alright Captain?" she probed cautiously.

"Yes Counsellor, it's just one of our guests is not what you would describe as normal. In fact I was hoping you and Mr Worf wouldn't mind going to their quarters and then giving them a tour of the ship."

"What do you mean by him not being normal?" asked Worf as he stepped away from his post and towards the turbo lift, Deanna in tow."

"Don't worry, you'll see."