"The deal is struck then?"
"Yes, let's do this."
The two being sitting in their very own limbo look down at the ship, the one who is male waves his hand and a multicolored wall begins to form in front of the ship called Enterprise.
"You see how they panic, you have no chance," He chuckles as the female looks thoughtfully at the ship.
"Are you going to leave them waiting Q?" Without another word Q waves his hand again and with a bright light they disappear.
They instantly materialize inside the ship called Enterprise. The many different beings look at them in astonishment. Q and the female from before are in different clothing from Earth's early Shakespearean century.
"Thou art notified that thy kind hath infiltrated the galaxy too far already. Thou art directed to return to thine own solar system immediately." The female from before looks at the ship's crew remembering her own days on a ship. Time has changed many things since then. The captain of the ship steps forward to confront Q.
"That's quite a directive, Would you mind identifying what you are?"
"We call ourselves the Q, Or thou mayest call me that. It's all much the same thing." Already she admired the captain's ability to keep a calm head. Not many would after their ship had been taken captive. She suddenly looks at a humanoid female and withdrawals into herself. It would not do to have her thoughts in the open any more. She'd have to be careful. The turbo lift doors open and two cadets try to walk out. Another wall appears similar to the one that stopped the Enterprise, and the turbo lift doors close. "I present myself to thee as a fellow ship captain, that thou mayest better understand me. Go back whence thou camest." A male human points a phaser at Q, "Stay where thou art!" Before the boy can do anything he is encased in ice.
As the boy falls over, a male with a peculiarly tinted skin rushes to him and checks his pulse. The captain is soon beside him.
"Data, call medics." The humanoid female from before looks in horror
"He's frozen!" Prying the phaser from the frozen boys hand he aggressively walks toward Q.
"He would not have injured you. Do you recognize this, the stun setting?" Q smirks as he answers,
"Knowing human's as thou dost, Captain, wouldst thou be captured helpless by them?" Now, go back. Or thou shalt most certainly die."
A med team came in and took the boy from the bridge giving everyone time to watch each other. Careful observation of the bridge had given the female being a good idea of what each crew member was. Three of them were human, the captain, the frozen boy, and the blonde woman running tactical. There was a Klingon which was very strange to her, there had never been one on a star fleet crew before. At least not when she was a crew member. The humanoid female who had noticed her before she did not think was only human, she had felt her mind for a second before retreating into herself. No, more likely a betazoid. Lastly there was the male with the strange skin that the captain had called Data, he certainly looked human in every other regard, but his skin was so much paler than any other human she'd seen before, and she could not feel his mind, it was very strange to her. Q once again began speaking condescendingly at the captain.
"Captain, thy little centuries go by so rapidly. Perhaps thou will better understand this." Q transforms with a flash and changes into a US army uniform from Earths' 20th century. "Actually, the issue at stake is patriotism, you must return to your world and put an end to the Commies. All it takes are a few good men." The captain looks at him in disbelief
"What? That nonsense is centuries behind us."
"But you can't deny that you're still a dangerous, savage child race." The captains frustration mounts.
"Most certainly I deny it! I agree we still were when humans wore costumes like that 400 years ago.
"At which time, you slaughtered millions in silly arguments about how to divide the resources of your little world. And 400 years before that you were murdering each other in quarrels over tribal god images. Since then there are no indications that humans will ever change" The captain was taken aback, but still continued to defend his race.
"But even when we wore costumes like that, we'd already started to make rapid progress."
"Oh, yeah? Do you want to review your rapid progress?" Another bright flash of light and Q has changed into another military uniform from Earth's 21st century. "Rapid progress, where humans learned to control their military with drugs."
"Sir," The Klingon cuts in, "Sick bay reports that Lieutenant Torres' condition is better."
"Oh, concern for one's fellow comrade." Q laughs, "How touching," The Klingon glares at Q
"And now a personal request sir, permission to clean up the bridge." The Klingon looks at the blonde woman to back him up.
"Lieutenant Worf is right sir, as security chief, I can't just stand here and let-"
"Yes you can Lieutenant Yar." The captain cuts her off, she immediately falls silent. Q pulls up a cord giving a drug to each nostril.
"Oh better," he sarcastically taunts, "Then later, on finally reaching deep space, humans of course found enemies to fight out there, too. And to broaden those struggles, you again found allies for still more murdering. The same old story all over again." The captain seems to reach an understanding, and replies.
"No, the same old story is the one we're meeting now. Self-righteous life-forms who are eager not to learn, but to prosecute to judge anything they don't understand or can't tolerate!" Q bewilderingly looks at the female being.
"What an interesting idea. Prosecute and judge," She nods at him "Suppose it turns out we understand you humans only too well."
"We've no fear of what the true facts about us will reveal." Q only gets more excited,
"Facts about you? Splendid, splendid captain. You're a veritable fountain of good ideas. There are preparations to make, but when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed exactly as you suggest." And with a flash of light he is gone.
"Sir," Lieutenant Worf steps forward, "respectfully submit our only choice is to fight."
"Fight or try to escape" Lieutenant Yar reaffirms. The captains eyes land on the female being, he notices her pointed ears. She's still wearing the Shakespearean dress from when she first arrived.
"What are you still doing here?" She lifts her eyebrows
"I'm here to advise, and right now, I'd say your original plan is a good one. You should carry it out as soon as possible." The captain obviously wants to say more, but he turns away from her
"From this point on no station, I repeat no station is to make use of transmitted message or intercom." He glances at the being. "We'll try and take them by surprise, Let's see what this Galaxy-class starship can do." He begins giving orders, her respect for him mounts with each command. They prepare for maximum acceleration, and the feeling is so familiar that she has a hard time not slipping into her past. The captain finally looks to her again,
"What do you mean, you're here to advise?" She smirks at him, and looks down at her dress.
"Do you have a change of clothes, Q always leaves me in the most awkward outfits." His anger and fear apparent she continues, "fine, Q and I happen to have a small wager. I believe that you will be able to survive this experience. He wants to condemn you as savages, if you survive I win." The captain's abhorrence shows on his face.
"Engine room ready sir." Lieutenant Worf announces
"The board shows green Captain, all go." The woman the captain referred to as Counselor adds.
"Standby," he turns away from the female. "Engage." As the ship peels away from the wall the captain looks back to her
"Your here because of a bet?" The female nods, then gestures behind her
"Just so you know he's chasing after you."
"And how would you know that?" He seems more surprised than angry now.
"I know Q pretty well." The Conn begins giving the velocity, but she continues.
"Captain I believe now will be the only time we'll have to plan before the trial." He raises his eyebrows,
"The trial?"
"Yes Captain, I believe it will be from the 21st century considering that Q wants to throw the worst of humanity into your face."
"The Post Atomic Horror?" He cringes,
"The hostile is now giving chase sir, accelerating fast." Lieutenant Yar announces, her voice near panic.
"Captain, now is the best time to separate. Take advantage of his dramatics." The captain looks at the Counselor,
"Counselor, can you tell me if she-"
"Sir, I haven't been able to feel her since the first few minutes she came on board." The female being laughs.
"That's my fault Counselor Troi, I happen to be very adept at shielding my mind from intruders." The Captain looks at her, then back to the Counselor.
"I think she is telepathic." She replies to his unasked question.
"Hostile is now beginning to overtake us sir." The blonde woman at tactical states.
"Captain, you should separate now, I would like to have as many people out of Q's way as possible."
"Shall I put the hostile on the main viewer?" Data asks
"Reverse angle," the Captain affirms, the screen transitions to the back of the ship where the crew can see Q's wall chasing them.
"Captain, he is omnipotent, the only reason he hasn't stalled your ship is to increase your terror. He wants you to be as frightened as possible when the trial starts. Take control and get your people to safety." The captain looks again to the Counselor, and when she doesn't answer he stands up.
"Arm aft photon torpedos, and prepare for emergency saucer sep. You will command the saucer section Lieutenant." He looks pointedly at Worf.
The Klingon stands from his station, "I am a Klingon sir, for me to seek escape when my Captain goes into battle-"
"You are a Starfleet officer, Lieutenant!" The Captain cuts him off,
"Aye, sir." The transition is immediate. As the Klingon moves towards the Captains chair, Lieutenant Yar, Counselor Troi, Data, and the Captain move towards the turbo lift. The female being follows them.
"May I join you Captain?" He looks towards his crew,
"Give me one reason why I should trust you." She smirks
"You shouldn't trust me Captain, but I'll give you three reasons why you should let me help. I've know Q for at least a century, I know my way around most starships, and as you humans say you should keep you friends close and you enemies closer; and I could be either." He finally nods and she steps into the turbo lift hoisting her dress above her ankles.
The unlikely group takes long quick steps to the battle bridge the captain giving orders without missing a step. They're joined at the battle bridge by a human male who sits in the Conn. After everyone is settled the Captain looks again to the strange female being.
"I'm kind of serious this time, are there any clothes on this ship, this stupid dress is not light."
"Who are you?" She takes the time to look at each of the crew members, then focuses on the Captain.
"You can call me T'ileka. It's not my given name, but I think it will do for now." The ship begins its countdown to the saucer separation. Very slowly the ship begins to split into two parts, the front saucer section moving ahead, and the Battleship slowing. After getting enough distance between them, the Battleship peels away from the saucer and proceeds towards Q's coordinates.
"Let's come to a stop," the Captain pointedly avoids T'ileka, the Battleship stills.
"Captain, we need to talk about the trial." The Captain doesn't look at T'ileka, instead focusing on the front of the ship.
"He will accuse you of being a savage race, and make no mistake the trial will not be fair."
"What," he sighs, "do you suppose we do."
"In some way we have to prove that humans are no longer savage. If you can avoid saying guilty it would make my job easier, but I dare not hope for that. I'm trying to think of a way to stop the trial in its tracks, but your best bet has to come from an act that even Q cannot deny." The Counselor cuts her off
"Your not making any sense."
"Of course I am, you are not understanding. Shut up and try to retain some information." The crew looks at her bewildered.
"Since we only have 42 seconds you must stall until I can come up with something." The captain stands,
"Commander, signal the following in all languages and on all frequencies: We surrender. State that we are not asking for any terms or conditions." The crew stares dismayed while T'ileka nods. They wait for the unknown. Quickly the Q's wall encases them, and all except for the male human at the Conn are transported to the court.
They stand in front of a crowd of humans in rags jeering at them. The crew looks at them in astonishment, T'ileka steps off the stage, and stands by the wall unmoving. Gunshots go off in rapid succession, silencing the crowd. A dwarf rings a bell and a man announces, "The prisoners will ALL stand." Cautiously the Captain puts his hand out to stop his crew, then sits down. The defiance is met with boos,
"Historically intriguing Captain," Data wonderingly states, "Very, very accurate."
"Mid 21st century, The post-atomic horror." The Captain although dismayed also looks around in awe.
"All present stand and make respectful attention to honored judge!" As if hypnotized the crowd stands, very slowly a chair moves towards the crew, and as the chair gets closer they all realize it is Q.
"At least we're acquainted with the judge Captain." Data remarks, T'ileka glances at him a ghost of a smile on her lips before looking forward again expressionless to the judge. Q reaches the room and waves individually to each side of the room and the crowd sits. A soldier shooting his gun steps forward.
"Attention!" They don't move "On your feet, Attention!" He shoots at their feet. Lieutenant Yar steps forward and hook kicks him in the head, in seconds he's on his back with Lieutenant Yar standing over him. The crowd cheers hysterically.
"You are out of order!" Q calls. A different soldier walks up to him, and as he takes a last snort of his addiction he is shot in the stomach. "The prisoners will not be harmed, until they're found guilty." He looks at the soldier, "Dispose of that." The dead man is drug away, the captain reaches out to the Lieutenant and glares at Q
"Can we assume you mean this will be a fair trial?"
"Yes, absolutely equitable." T'ileka moves to the center of the room
"That is not true" Q glares at her, "Tell them the truth, or I will not accept the original boundaries." There is a long silence they stare at each other, "do you want to renegotiate Q? I'm already holding you to keeping them intact until the verdict" Q chuckles.
"Very well, this trial will not be fair, in celebration to how completely unfair your species is." T'ileka steps back to her original position. The Captain bewildered sits with the rest of his crew. A man steps forward
"Before this gracious court now appear these prisoners to answer for the multiple and grievous savageries of the species." He glances towards the crew, "How plead you criminals?"
"Objection, your honor" Data stands "In the year 2036 the United Nations declared that no Earth citizen could be made to answer for the crimes of his race or forbears."
"Objection denied!" Q answers "This is court is of the year 2079, by which time more rapid progress had caused all United Earth nonsense to be abolished." Data sits only to be replaced by Lieutenant Yar,
"Tasha No!" The Captain exclaims
"I must, because I grew up in a world that allowed things like this court, and it was people like these that saved me from it!" Her eyes are filled with angry tears, "This court should get down on its knees to what Star Fleet is! What it represents!" Q leans forward, but before anything can happen T'ileka jumps forward.
"The prisoners will not be harmed!"
"She-"
"Told the truth! and it is not proper cause for retaliation. Come now Q you want these nice people to respect you." There is a long minute of silence before Q leans back rolling his eyes,
"Continuing these proceedings I must caution you that legal trickery is not permitted, this is a-"
"Court of fact!" The captain finishes for him, "We know our past even when we're ashamed of it. I recognize this court system as the one that agreed with that line from Shakespeare: 'kill all the lawyers'"
"Which was done," Q smirks
"Leading to the rule guilty until proven innocent."
"Of course. Bringing the innocent to trial would be unfair. You will now answer the charge of being a grievously savage race."
"Grievously savage could mean anything, I will answer only specific charges." Q chuckles at him
"Are you certain you want a full disclosure of human ugliness, so be it fool. Present the charges!" The man from before holds out a tablet.
"Criminal, you will read the charges to the court." The Captain takes the tablet reading over it before handing it back and defiantly glaring at Q
"I see no charges against us, your honor." The crowd begins howling,
"You are out of order!" T'ileka snaps her eyes to Q only to see the soldiers walk up and hold their guns to the heads of Counselor Troi and Data. "Soldiers, you will press those triggers if this criminal answers with any word other than guilty. Criminal how plead you" T'ileka steps forward but says nothing looking at the Captain, he slowly meets Q's eyes before answering
"Guilty" The crowd cheers, "We agree there is evidence to support the courts contention that humans have been savage, therefore I say TEST US!" T'ileka smiles "Test whether this presently true of humans."
"I see, I see. And so, you petition the court to accept you and your comrades as proof of what humanity has become?" T'ileka steps back against the wall and stares into seemingly nothing.
"There must be many ways we can be tested. We have a long mission ahead of us."
"Another brilliant suggestion Captain, but your test hardly requires a long mission." Q leans forward again, "Your immediate destination offers far more challenge. Yes, this Farpoint Station will be an excellent test." The crowd is silent, the man announces
"All present respectfully stand." The Captain motions for his crew to stand.
"This court is adjourned to allow the criminals to be tested." Q states
"This honorable court is adjourned." Q's chair moves back from the court and before he disappears he speaks low, but all of them can hear him clearly.
"You may find that you are not nearly clever enough to deal with what lies ahead for you." A flash of light blinds them and they are transported to the BattleShip. "It may have been better to accept sentence here." The ship is in motion and the human at the Conn is calmly navigating. Data looks at his station
"What is present course Conn?"
"It's what it's been all along, sir. Direct heading to Farpoint Station."
"Congratulations Captain, that was well played." The Conn looks at T'ileka then at the captain.
"I'm sorry, did I miss something." The Captain ignores him and stares pointedly at T'ileka
"T'ileka, are you a Vulcan?" She laughs hysterically
"Yes, obviously," she sarcastically puts her hands up and moves her arms robotically. "I pretend to feel nothing, because it is log-i-cal."
"Fine then, what or who are you." T'ileka chuckles to herself
"That's my business, and not yours." The Captain shakes his head,
"How did you meet Q," this time T'ileka shakes her head
"Captain Picard, I'm not willing to talk about myself. It wastes time that we could use against Q." Disgusted he sighs and glances at Troi,
"Counselor would you get T'ileka some clothes and show her to a conference room? Lieutenant Yar, will you assign a security team to that room?" They both nod and all three of them walk to the turbo lift. As T'ileka steps in she smirks at Data,
"I knew your creator," He eyes her inquisitively. "If you ever want to talk about him. Come find me."
…
"You said you've known Q for at least a century."
"Yes," T'ileka looks across the table at Counselor Troi, the Captain is standing to the side.
"Can you tell us how long." T'ileka smirks
"Now that Counselor, I honestly can't, imagine trying to keep track of time when every other day your on a different planet or maybe on the same planet 2,000 years before. I gave up trying to keep track within in the first 20 years."
"Look, you've refused a medical exam. You won't tell us your name, or even your species. How can we trust you if-"
"Counselor, I'm wanted on several worlds. Do you really think I give out my name frequently"
"You could be an apparition sent by Q to lead us the wrong way."
"That is very unlikely considering all factors." She sighs annoyed "Captain we're wasting time, I need all the information you have on Farpoint if we're going to try and figure this out."
"And you shall have it, as soon as you answer one," he pauses, "Of our questions."
"Look, I'll tell you anything about Q or the millions of things I've seen with him, but my identity stays with me."
"You have said, very bluntly that you are here because of a wager. We are paying the price for that! You shouldn't wonder at us questioning your motives. All we need is a show of trust." She laughs
"Well Captain, I don't trust easily. If I did, I would have been dead long ago."
"Very well," he motions to the Counselor and she stands up. "We'll leave you to contemplate." They walk towards the door.
"Captain," They both look back at her, "I'm your best shot at winning this." The Captain sighs
"And we are yours." The door shuts behind them. The Captain looks at Counselor Troi.
"Captain, I believe that she is telling the truth." He shrugs,
"You cannot sense anything from her?"
"Glimpses every now and then, but they're very strange. She only lets her guard down to sense the thoughts of others. I'm more likely to be sensing your mind then hers." He shakes his head
"I cannot put my crew in her hands,"
"She represented us well at the trial. I know that she gave something up for Tasha's life."
"How?" The Counselor walks towards the turbo life.
"When she was debating with Q, I could sense her mind. I realized that they were negotiating telepathically, Q was satisfied in the end." The captain begins walking towards the turbo lift.
"I can't be sure of her, I know she has no morals and no integrity. We'll wait until she decides to give us more information."
"Aye sir."
…
T'ileka sits in a corner of the room back straight and her eyes closed, Her mind drifts going from each security team member then across to the bridge crew. Finally settling on Lieutenant Yar, she waits and listens to the hum of her mind. Yar is tense, focusing on building the best defensive plans for the future. T'ileka tries to glean more information, but finds that the Lieutenant is more focused on the ship then Farpoint or even Q. T'ileka moves to the Conn only to find that he is completely absorbed in a calculus equation. T'ileka moves on, after leaving a suggestion for the Conn, she tries to feel for the strange being called Data. There was nothing next to the Conn where he should have been, but she had the feeling that he was there. T'ileka retreated back into herself careful to avoid the Counselor. Finally, sure that she was safe she stood again and went to the door. It opens to the security team,
"If you wouldn't mind relaying a message to the Captain, I would like you to tell him that I would be absolutely ecstatic," She stretched the word with a roll of her eyes "If he came and wanted to have a little chat about the imminent danger to his ship and crew. Thank you," she walked away from the door. The room is too quiet, and she tries to push against it.
"I hope you're enjoying this Q." With no answer she sat in one of the chairs and reached for the tablet in the center. The words flashed at her "Password" with a darting thought to steal it from the captains mind she slid the tablet away. She stared at the dark walls, remembering how long she'd stayed alone before, just waiting for anything to happen. T'ileka pushed the dark thoughts away, and tried to concentrate on her goal. What is the best way to get the Captain to trust her without telling him anything about her. The silence in the room becoming deafening,
"The Captain wants a show of faith," no talking out loud didn't help it only sharpened the realization that there was no one to answer, no one. T'ileka went back to the corner of the room. Instead of opening her mind she closed it completely. Trying to count her breath, and leave the outside world behind. It worked for a long time, but meditating could not stop the walls from closing in and the everlasting loneliness to surround her. When she at last lost concentration she could only feel the emptiness.
…
Data walked through the ships hallways thinking about T'ileka, how could she know his creator? He didn't even know who it was. She could be lying of course, but to what end. He had to know. Data stops in front of the security team,
"I would like to speak to T'ileka" The team steps aside and Data walks in, but doesn't see her. "Security!" He looks around the table and T'ileka is sitting in the corner of the room in the fetal position shaking.
A Lieutenant steps towards her, and touches her arm. In an instant she strikes hitting his Adams apple. The rest of the team steps up, she stands with her back against the wall. Her eyes wide and uncomprehending. They take their phasers and set them to stun while they're distracted T'ileka kicks one out of a cadets hand and with a swift hand hits his nose. She moves to the next one and sweeps his legs out from under him before kicking him in the ribs. A sickening snap is heard before she turns to the last of security. He shoots her with his phaser, she steps back and takes the blast with her arms, before rushing forward. He shoots again, but she dodges before gracefully leaping and kicking him in the chest.
Data touches his communicator, "Security to the conference room." T'ileka looks towards him and gets in a defensive position. "T'ileka?" She blinks a moment before backing towards the wall, Data takes a slow step forward phaser pointed at her, and she charges. She spins in midair aiming for Data's head, but he grabs her foot stopping all her momentum. She falls to the ground where Data awkwardly hugs her trapping her arms against her body, and wraps his legs around her waist.
The first Lieutenant stands up coughing and croaks out something unintelligible. T'ileka struggles against Data, but his arms do not budge.
"Kal-tor hal-tor t' me e'shua" Lieutenant Yar leads a security team in, she takes a quick glance around before touching her communicator.
"Medical to the conference room, multiple injuries." She designates a team member to each injured man then walks towards Data.
"T'ileka," T'ileka has stilled and stares intensely at the arms wrapped around her. Data's voice is so monotone you would think he was remarking on the weather. "T'ileka, you are not in danger." She does nothing but stare and he looks at Lieutenant Yar.
"What happened?" He shakes his head,
"I don't know," with a sudden burst of energy T'ileka tries to escape, but to no avail.
"Stop this!" Lieutenant Yar yells, but Data interrupts her.
"T'ileka, you are on the starship Enterprise." Her head snaps up
"That's impossible," she hisses. Encouraged he continues
"Listen, you can hear the hum of the ship." T'ileka stills, the medical team comes in. Yar calls the Lieutenant towards her. She takes a hypo spray off her hip and puts it up to T'ileka's arm.
…
"I would like to try and talk to her and feel her out." A young male human stands in front of the Captain.
"I have a feeling you would get along, but I don't think so. It's on her to make the first move now. I've told her my terms."
"Captain Picard,"
"Yes,"
"Captain, T'ileka is now in the Med Bay, the Doctor says she had a panic attack." The Captain looks up to the young male human
"Well Commander it seems you'll get to meet her now." They both walk out of the Captain's ready room to the bridge. "Counselor, please join us." The three of them make their way to the Med Bay. Inside T'ileka is asleep with a human female standing over her watching her vitals carefully. When she looks up at the visitors the Captain is startled.
"Dr. Crusher?" She smiles at him before glancing at each member of the crew.
"Captain," he walks up to her the Commander glances at the Captain with a raised eyebrow
"Please tell us about your patient Dr." The Captain glances down at T'ileka,
"Well the security team brought her in sedated, she's asleep."
"She was violent?" The Dr. nods
"Oh yes, you can look at your injured security in a minute. I've been watching her vitals, and it seems like she simply freaked out in your conference room. The Data said he found her curled up on the floor then she attacked them for no reason."
"What is her species?" The Dr. smiles slightly
"That's the thing, she's definitely half Vulcan, but there's something else there. I don't know what it is yet." The captain touches the bands on her wrists and ankles,
"Can you wake her?" She nods and grabs a hypo spray, after administering it she steps back. T'ileka's eyes open wide with fright,
"T'ileka, it's ok" T'ileka locks eyes with the Counselor their minds connect for half a second before T'ileka withdraws into herself and takes a deep breath.
"Illogical," she mutters to herself before meeting eyes with the Dr. "Would you please remove these restraints?" She nods and presses a button, T'ileka sits up and looks at the crew in front of her.
"I don't know you," She pauses "Commander Riker." The Commander looks to the Captain,
"Would you mind telling us why you attacked my security team?" She laughs lightly
"Is that what I did, I'm sorry Captain. I have a deep hatred for captivity. While I can't complain about your treatment." She chuckles to herself, "I'm afraid I can't promise the same reaction won't happen again."
"But that reaction could only be justified by PTSD."
T'ileka rolls her eyes, "Don't know what to say Doc."
The Captain shakes his head, "So you are Vulcan," the Dr. snaps her fingers
"Found it, one of your parents was a Betazoid." Everyone looks at T'ileka expectantly.
"Oh no," she sarcastically wails "You've found me out." She winks at them, "Do you blame me for keeping it from you. Everyone wants to know how my parents got together, and the funny thing is that I have no idea." The Counselor steps forward,
"How can we stop this from happening again?"
"Just give me someone to talk to, something to do." The Captain looks from the Counselor to Dr. Crusher.
"Very well, Dr. can she walk?" Dr. Crusher nods "Security escort T'ileka to the Counselors ready room." The teams follows T'ileka's long strides out of the room. "Counselor will you try talking to her again before we leave for the planet."
"Of course, but Captain I believe she will respond best to you." She follows the security team which had been doubled since the incident.
In the ready room the T'ileka makes herself comfortable on the couch, "Are you to probe my thoughts Counselor? You know how well that went the last time." The Counselor sits down across from her and sighs.
"Of course not, I can't sense thoughts. Only strong emotions."
"And what have you sensed from me?" The Counselor shakes her head,
"Not much, Enough to know you're being deceptive."
"And that surprises you?" The Counselor and T'ileka stare at each other. "Counselor you know not all Vulcans are the same right."
"Of course, but most that I have met are disgusted with dishonesty." T'ileka smirks,
"Like I said we're not all the same, I knew this one Vulcan who-" She stops herself mid sentence, "well, lets just say he was different."
"Tell me about him." The Counselor smiles, "You don't have to say any names, but if you talk to me about him I have more reason to recommend things to the captain." T'ileka scoffs
"Please, this is getting ridiculous. I'm not going to lay on your couch and wine about my hardships."
"Why? Why is so important that you keep your past private. I'm just asking for the absolute smallest amount you can give. No names, no dates, no locations." T'ileka raises her eyebrows,
"Because it's not your business. I have no wish to give you any advantage over me." Troi smiles,
"Is that what you believe about me, or everyone?" T'ileka raises her eyebrows
"If you must know about my past, you have to earn it."
"How?"
"Do you love the Commander?" Troi starts, before closing her eyes.
"A story for a story then?" T'ileka settles in her chair, and leans across the table.
"Sounds like a trade." There's a long silence as Troi thinks on her past, deciding what to tell and what to keep hidden. T'ileka laughs, "That's a terrible story! Oh I'm so sorry, you just had your little heart set on him." Troi stands up
"Then you must keep your mind open while you tell yours. If you must know all of mine, then I must know whether yours is true." T'ileka nods
"Sounds fair to me, just a warning I have very strong emotions." Troi adjusts to T'ileka'a mind feeling her strange alien emotions, she knows that T'ileka is holding back.
"Well then, how did you meet?"
"On a starship, he was a crew member, and I was an agent of sorts. I was transferred to investigate claims that the ship was infiltrated by an enemy at the time, it was a hard mission."
Troi waits patiently not saying anything. T'ileka gives a small smile. "I was trained well however, and nobody knew. The crew thought me odd at first, they only knew one other Vulcan and that was him. He was what you would call a proper Vulcan, stolid no emotions whatsoever. I was looking for an enemy, so I did everything in my power to make everyone comfortable around me. To trust me."
Another pause, Troi resists her urge to reach toward T'ileka. She had been right about her own emotions. They were very strong, almost overwhelming. Curiously there was something there that was very like Vulcan control over them, and as you would have expected with any Vulcan T'ileka's emotions never showed on her face. "Everyone except him, I knew from the moment I met him he would rather die than betray his ship. So I made him the must uncomfortable a Vulcan can be, I teased him laughed at him. He was very proper, and extremely confused. Soon it changed from general teasing to flirting."
Troi laughed, but only because it seemed right to. Everything T'ileka was feeling was so complex that Troi had to sort through it all individually. Guilt, pain, jealousy, hatred but most of all love. More love than she had ever felt from Riker. "I'd be all like 'my love you must not look at me so in front of the crew.' He'd say something like 'it is logical to look at you when we are having a conversation.' I'd laugh loudly, and try to embarrass him. Of course he was embarrassed, but he would never admit it. I'll always remember the day that I realized I loved him. It was going similarly while we worked alone, and I told him that it would be scandalous to show our love for each other now. He told me that it would. It was the first time he had played along. I said nothing else for a week, avoided him all I could. You understand, this could have compromised my mission. I had been there for months and found nothing, but I had to be thorough. He walked up to me one day while I was working, I nodded at him. He stopped in front of me, he told me he was going to do something scandalous.
Troi fidgeted in her seat, there was no mistaking T'ileka's emotions now. It was so profound, so pure. T'ileka looked at Troi before reigning in her mind so that Troi could only feel the bare emotions. Troi was grateful, she nodded at her to continue. "We let the captain know we were dating, and I had to leave shortly after."
"Good story, really liked the ending."
"What else do you expect, your ending was just as sad." Troi stopped herself from continuing, and stood up. "What do you think of me now?"
"I know you have a heart, I think you have morals, I wonder if maybe you have more at stake then your silly bet." T'ileka chuckled
"You got that from a story?" Troi nods, and turns towards the door. T'ileka leans back against her chair and watches her go.
Moments after Troi leaves Data walks in. He stops and looks intently at T'ileka. "Data, we haven't formally met."
"I did not think it was necessary for me to introduce myself."
T'ileka gives a soft smile, "It's not, I suppose you have questions?"
"Yes,"
T'ileka looks intently at him watching his every move, "You blink, but you do not need to."
"Nor do I need to breathe, but when I make the motions humans become more comfortable."
"You have trained yourself well, but there is more you can do to seem human." She stops herself, "I'm sorry, that was rude of me. I guess you would be more interested in Dr. Soong?"
"Yes, but I do not understand how what you said was rude. I would be interested in learning how to better imitate humans." T'ileka leans forward and gestures for Data to sit across from her.
"It's rude because we don't know each other very well, and for me to begin with how you could improve yourself is uncommon in humans. They take their time getting to know people." Data stops and thinks for a moment then nods.
"I understand, who is Dr. Soong?"
"I believe he's your creator, you look just like him. I'm surprised you never met him."
"I do not know where I came from, Star Fleet found me 26 years ago on Omicron Theta." T'ileka raised her eyebrows,
"And you haven't known where you came from all these years?" Data shakes his head, "Well, then we have a lot to talk about.
…
"Commander Data, please meet Admiral McCoy in Medical bay."
"You'd better go, I suppose I'm stuck here until the Captain makes a decision?" Data stands and goes to the door.
"No, you are restricted to the civilian parts of the ship, and are to be accompanied by a security team at all times." T'ileka's eyes narrow,
"I suppose no chance I could peek at engineering?"
"I would suppose not, but I will ask the captain." T'ileka stands and follows him out the door
"Well then, I shall try these fancy holodecks while I have the chance." Data nods as the door opens,
"There's one three doors down on your left."
"Thanks" T'ileka walks confidently down the hallway, with the security team following her. She did not care a bit about the holodecks, but her mind was wandering about the name. McCoy, T'ileka stepped to the control panel looking at the options.
"What would you like to see?" The computer's soothing voice asked, without missing a beat she answered
"Do you have any serene rivers"
"Loading program, would you like to enter?"
"Yes" the doors open, and there was indeed a serene river. She looked at the security team, "Can I go in by myself?" They shake their heads. Sighing T'ileka walks in and finds a nice patch of grass to sit on. She closes her eyes and reaches out with her mind, past the security team, and into the hallway. Looking and listening for the one name, McCoy. She moves from mind to mind, looking with their senses. The medical bay was ahead, a young woman was looking towards it. She made another leap, and was looking directly at the door. The woman was walking towards the door, when it opened to Data and Dr. McCoy. T'ileka slowly entered his mind, it was him. The very same man she had seen so many years ago. They had never met, but she knew him. He was talking about the teleports, she sat there debating. He knew him, he knew him when he was alive. Perhaps, no she could never ask him, but would it be a terrible idea to just see him. It was completely illogical, but ever since she had been around Q logic had been turned on its head. It couldn't hurt to just see him, her time was running short. Before she could second guess herself she stood up and walked out of the holodeck. Data and the Admiral were walking towards her,
"Ah, speak of the devil."
She looks straight at him, careful to portray nothing a Vulcan wouldn't. "Admiral, it is nice to meet you."
Data glances at her before turning back to McCoy, "Admiral, this is T'ileka, she is a visitor on our ship."
McCoy squints at her, "Visitor?"
"Yes Admiral, just passing through."
"From the way you greeted me just now, I could've sworn you were Star Fleet." T'ileka becomes conscious that she is standing at attention. "Not just any Cadet either, that's old school."
She relaxes her shoulders, "Yes, my father was Star Fleet and he taught us everything he knew. He wanted us to be apart of StarFleet more than anything."
McCoy squints harder, "What kept you from it?"
"Another opportunity." A glance at Data told her there was no way any of this had escaped him.
"Shame," he stares at her for a long time before shaking his head. "Come on, I'm not getting any younger." T'ileka walks away mentally scolding herself for her weakness. The security team close behind her.
…
"Captain, I believe she's telling the truth. Once more I believe she hasn't lied to us once, at least not outwardly." The Captain shakes his head,
"How?" Troi stops herself and thinks a moment,
"It's just a theory, but when you asked if she was a Vulcan she reacted as if she were being sarcastic. It is deception within itself, but in her mind she never lied. She told us she was a Vulcan. Dishonesty is crude and evil in Vulcan culture, perhaps this is how she tries to stay true to her morals while following her mission."
"Her mission?"
"Yes Captain, we are her mission. She feels it as strongly as if we were her family. It was just a moment, but I felt her desperation. For some reason she feels that she has to act untrustworthy to be able to save us."
"Captain Picard," a communicator goes off
"Yes?"
"T'ileka has requested another audience with you, and the chance to listen as you go to Far-point Station."
"Thank you." Picard looks at the Counselor, then to Commander Riker.
"Let's go down to the planet, you both heard Q, we now have 24 hours before judgement is concluded."
…
Commander Riker follows the computers voice, going over the meeting with Groppler Zorn.
"And if you would like to enter?"
"I would," he unsuccessfully tries to keep the annoyance out of his voice. He still had so many questions, would a machine be able to answer any of them. His thoughts are knocked out of his head before he can continue his mental conversation. It was beautiful, exactly like a river on Earth. "Hello!" He calls out, there is no response. A few of his full length steps takes him to the river bank, a few careful leaps take across to the other side where he can hear whistling. A girl in a yellow shirt leans against a tree looking towards T'ileka, and who Riker assumed was Data. Spread across the forest is six different members of security. Riker looks again at the girl, she's smiling softly and her eyes sparkle with amusement. Synchronized T'ileka and Data begin whistling at the same time, the tune of "pop goes the weasel" floods the area. When they get to a higher note, Data suddenly goes out of tune. T'ileka says something inaudibly to Data, and stands to wave Riker over.
"I didn't mean to intrude."
"None at all Commander, we were only practicing."
"There's some puzzles down on the-" He stops to watch Data stand abruptly, "Down on the planet that the Captain wants answered. He suggested I take you with me on the away team that I'll be leading."
"I shall endeavor to function adequately, sir." T'ileka cringes,
"Yes," Riker glances at T'ileka who meets his eyes with emotionless stare. All three of them make their way across the river, "T'ileka, I've been meaning to talk to you"
"Most people do," Riker raises his eyebrows.
"Um, I was wondering, if you knew anything about Star Fleet."
"I do." He stops and looks towards Data who is looking at T'ileka. Both waiting for her to continue.
"Um, what do you know?" Riker takes a slow step forward
"Everything, you know" Once again Riker stops in front of her. This time she audibly sighs,
"Ok, what do you know about things magically appearing when you want them."
"Sounds like this holodeck, creates what ever you want out of energy."
"But the Bandi don't have that kind of technology."
"How do you know, from what I've heard they created this space station exactly to your needs. Incredibly convenient isn't it." Riker halts to look back at her, without missing a beat she steps around them to the river bank.
"Commander Riker! Commander Riker isn't this great, this is one of the simple patterns. They've got thousands more, Some you just can't believe." A young male crosses the river,
"Careful, the next rock is loose!" The warning comes too late and the boy falls into the river. "Wesley!" Using the quickest possible route Data rushes down to the river and pulls the boy out with one arm.
Wesley exclaims in awe at Data, he's set down on the shore and Riker and him strike up a conversation about the holodecks. T'ileka stays with Data as they make their way towards the arch.
The doors open to Captain Picard who cannot seem to stop staring at Wesley's soaking form. "Mr. Data has agreed to join me on the away team, Captain."
"Very good, Commander." Picard glares at the pool slowly spreading on the floor.
"Sir, maybe I should get something to wipe this water up?" Wesley's face turns a bright red,
"Good idea,"
"Captain, I would like to speak with you about Farpoint." T'ileka looks falls in step with Picard.
"I've heard, I've also hear some rather strange stories about you."
"I'm sure,"
"Yes, a Dr. Noonien Soong has been thoroughly researched by Commander Data."
"An old associate of mine,"
"Naturally, Data has also mentioned that you seem to have a firm grasp of StarFleet conduct."
"It's not hard to pick up on military-"
"Which was of course followed by a message from the Admiral himself."
"Puzzling, I only spoke to him for a moment."
"Yes, he said if I didn't try to convince you to join StarFleet he would withdrawal his positive report."
"I'm sure he was joking Captain." T'ileka forced some sarcasm in her tone, but the retort still fell flat. The Captain's intent stare would have made any other man look down in shame. T'ileka met his with the utmost contempt she could muster, and it was almost enough. "What's your point." She sighed
"I have three assumptions, one is that you follow Vulcan morals to the best of your ability" T'ileka rolls her eyes, "Second I believe you were at least a Star Fleet Commander at one time." A short pause, T'ileka considers her options. "Finally I believe you are being held captive by Q" T'ileka stands for a long time, two minutes pass by with each looking intently at the other.
"Well Captain, I can tell you that you are two for three. That's all I'm willing to say about it, if you wish to continue our discourse I'll tell you my price." Picard nods
"I wish to go down to the plan-"
"Not possible, I will not put my away team in any more danger. You'll have to compromise with having a comm so you can listen." T'ileka nods this time,
"Then you'll have to bring me up to speed,"
"Yes, follow me" The both walk with long strides to the Turbo lift. Two security team members try to join them. Captain Picard puts up his hand, they wait for their next chance. "Bridge." The turbo lift whooshes upward, Picard looks towards the ceiling, "Stop,"
"Question Captain?"
"Yes, I would like something from you. A story as Counselor Troi put it,"
"She got a special deal, and I was feeling sentimental." The Captain nodded,
"No names, just tell me why you're so concerned with keeping your identity a secret." T'ileka looks into his eyes, her mind through his for a second. The Captain jerks back,
"Sorry, I just wanted to find something to make you understand." She stands back against the wall, "Captain, imagine for a moment that your brother was gone. He didn't die he was taken from you, but you knew he was alive and you search for him and you cry over him and you search some more. Everyday that he was gone, you felt the hole inside yourself. The part of you which could not live without him, it seemed to become more empty." Her face is composed and her voice emotionless, "You ruin your life for him, while everyone tells you he's gone you continue to search for any way you can. Then one day you find you no longer have the drive to find him. You give up, you grieve for him and you forget him as you should. You only time you think on him is in the vineyards, you remember him as he was." Her voice never changes, but the emotion it evokes becomes somewhat overwhelming to Captain Picard
"I believe you've found a poor example, my brother and I-"
"No, I found the perfect example" Captain Picard shakes his head, "Now imagine that you heard a whisper that he was alive. You start the search up again so full of hope that you see your beloved brother yet inevitably you will be disappointed when you can't find him." The air inside the turbo lift seems thick, and the Captain is inside his own story, feeling all the guilt of never going to see his brother after all these years. "There's no way to find me. I couldn't do that. Not to my father, not to my crew, if there's even a chance that any of them are still alive. No, I will not take it I won't let them go through that pain again." She takes a small step toward Captain Picard, "Do you understand now Captain?" He sighs recovering from his reverie,
"Yes, I understand." He looks up at the ceiling, "Resume" The rest of the ride is a silent one.
The doors opened, and Lieutenant Worf follows them into the Captain's Ready Room. Picard reaches into his desk and pulls out a com, he taps it
"Commander Riker can you confirm?"
"Yes, Captain loud and clear." He slides it over to T'ileka.
"So did you know Q made another visit 5 hours ago?" T'ileka shakes her head, "Well he came to inform us that we had twenty-four hours before our trial ended." We went to Farpoint. Riker's report is in on the screen. Step outside when you've finished.
"Thank you Captain."
…
"What the hell?" Captain Picard glares at Wesley who is anxiously looking outside the Turbo lift. "Children are not allowed on the Bridge!" Dr. Crusher walks out
"Permission to report to the Captain?"
"Dr. Crusher." T'ileka looks up, she finds the extreme emotions which were before emanating from Counselor Troi now coming directly from the Captain.
"Captain," The Dr.'s gentleness leaves her voice "Sir, my son is not on the Bridge. He merely accompanied me on the turbo lift." T'ileka knew this sound. The fierce protective motherly nature she never had to keep her safe.
"Your son?" The Captain shakes his head in disbelief.
"His name's Wesley. You last saw him years ago when-" The Doctor cuts herself off, trying to keep the tears out of her eyes.
"Well, as long as he's here." Picard fumbles for words "I, um, I knew your father Wesley." He shrugs and looks at the bridge for something then gives a small smile, "Want to look around?" Wesley walks around looking like he's in a dream,"But don't touch anything!" The Captain's sharp voice rings out. T'ileka doesn't have to feel Wesley's mind, his entire personality floats around him for all to read. It's a truly beautiful one as well. He doesn't need anything to learn, only encourage him, and he will be a wonderful student. "Try it out?" The Captain gestures to his chair. T'ileka turns back to the screen in front of her, consciously ignoring Wesley's passion. Farpoint was built in a matter of months according to these records,
"Perimeter Alert Captain!"Wesley exclaims,
"Wesley!" Dr. Crusher chides him,
"I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"Get off the Bridge, both of you." T'ileka reaches out with her mind to find the disturbance. There is nothing for a moment, but then the emotions poor into her. There are no thoughts, only images and the emotions that come with them. Anger, and the thirst for revenge.
"T'ileka?" She looks up at the captain, realizing her fist is clenched. "Are you alright?"
"Captain, there firing on Farpoint Station!" Worf interrupts her answer.
"Bring photon torpedoes to ready."
"Wait sir, they're hitting the old Bandi city, not Farpoint Station." T'ileka looks carefully at the ship above them, then down below.
"Enterprise, Enterprise come in. Help us, please! What shall we do?
"Tune that down!" "Commander Riker, come in. Can you hear me?" T'ileka looks once again to the ship,
"Riker, it's not technology its-" With a flash of light she disappears,
"It's what?" Riker responds, Captain Picard looks at the chair where she once was,
"I'm afraid our adviser has suddenly disappeared, what did she mean technology?" Picard goes to her screen to see what she was looking at, only minor information on the Bandi.
"I don't know Captain?"
"Commander, on the holodeck you and T'ileka considered the possibility of the Bandi having more advanced technology then we originally thought. Some which could possibly be like our holodecks," Data states simply,
"That right! She must have realized something,"
"Well while we're thinking about what is not technology would you object to your Captain ordering a clearly illegal kidnapping?"
"No objection, sir"
…
"Q!"
"Is that emotion I hear in your voice?" Q casually leans on what seems like nothing, and T'ileka creates her own chair from the mass of black smoke
"After all the practice I've had you should be surprised."
"I wouldn't know, I haven't been watching you this Picard provides far more interest."
"You must know that you have broken our agreement."
"On the contrary, we agreed you could help them. Telling them the answer is not helping." Q turns to face her, "Besides this is much more amusing." T'ileka only glares, "Well if it makes you feel better, we're going back. Only if you can keep your mouth shut." T'ileka rolls it over in her mind,
"If you don't tell them my name, I won't speak to them." Q cocks his head sideways
"Why would you care?"
"It's my condition."
"Fine, No mind tricks either,"
"Of course not." Q smiles
"Well then, no further delay," A flash of light and they're back on the ship. Q in his judge robes, and T'ileka in her own traditional Vulcan robes.
"Typical, so typical. Savage life-forms never follow even their own rules."
"T'ileka? The hell is going on!"
"She won't speak to you Captain. No matter I provide more stimulating conversation any way." T'ileka makes eye contact with the Captain and shakes her head. "Interesting that order about phasers"
"We've no idea of who is on that vessel, my order was a routine safety precaution."
"Really? No idea of what it represents? The meaning of that vessel is as plain , as plain as the noses on your ugly little primate faces."
"God Damn Q, if you only came to taunt them-"
"You've already agreed, you can't go back on your word now." T'ileka looks away, but doesn't retort.
"And Captain! If you were truly civilized wouldn't you be doing something about the casualties happening down there."
"Captain to CMO. Are you reading any of this?" Picard looks at Q with satisfaction
"Medical teams already preparing to beam down Captain." Dr. Crusher responds
"Compliments on that Dr. Any Questions?" T'ileka looks at Q with what some would call smugness. Q rolls his eyes, "Starfleet people are trained to render aid and assistance whenever-"
"But not trained in clear thinking." Q for the first time notices something about the room, it was full of animosity, and hatred. Not directed at him though.
"Let's consider your thoughts. You call us savages and yet you knew those people down there were going to be killed. It is your conduct that is uncivilized." Worf stands from his post.
"Sir their firing on the planet again." Q leans towards T'ileka, and under his breath asks
"Why do all these people hate you?" T'ileka walks away from him
"We have no ship control, sir! It's gone." Worf tries his control panel in a panic
"Seriously Q, this is blatant interference." T'ileka takes three purposeful strides so that she is in Q's face
"Have you forgotten already?"
"I'm not talking to them, I'm talking to you!"
"Well then, do speak to me about why half this ship despises you."
"We can talk about that off the ship."
"First Officer to Enterprise. We've lost Zorn." Riker interrupts them "Something like a transporter beam seems to have snatched him away. Question, sir. Could I be this Q?" Q ignores Picard's glance, but T'ileka shakes her head at him.
"Every other group worshiped you by the time you-" T'ileka cuts Q off,
"They didn't know me, these people could." They look at the crew, who is unabashedly staring at them.
We'll finish this later," Q turns away from T'ileka.
"Captain, suddenly I'm sensing something else." Everyone looks at Counselor Troi "Satisfaction Enormous satisfaction."
"From the same source as before?"
"No, that was on the planet. This is much closer."
"Excellent, Counselor. He's such a dullard isn't he?" T'ileka looks at the captain, to see if he understands any of it. There is nothing in his eyes to suggest so,
"Captain, from Transporter Room: First Officer and Mr. Data have beamed aboard."
"Excellent also, perhaps with more of these little minds helping-" Captain Picard cuts him off,
"That is enough dammit!" His anger pervades the room, subtly a small blanket of calm pervades his mind. He straightens out his shirt and faces Q head on,
"Have you forgotten we have an agreement."
"An agreement which you are, at this moment, breaking by taking over our vessel interfering with my decisions." His confidence transfers to his crew, they mirror his stance. Commander Riker, and Data enter through the turbo lift,
"I'm merely trying to assist a pitiful species, but perhaps I will leave if Commander Riker provides me with some amusement."
"T'ileka? What the hell were you saying?"
"She won't tell us anything," Riker narrows his eyes then focuses on Q,
"Do nothing that he asks," Q smirks,
"But I ask so little, and it's so necessary if you're to solve all this." "Beam over there with your what do you call it? Your 'away team'?" T'ileka looks to Riker, and willing him with her eyes to agree. He meets her glance and nods.
"I'll risk none of my crew on that unknown."
"You should already know what you'll find there, but perhaps it's too adult a puzzle for you."
"With all respect, Captain, I want to beam over there."
"You show promise, my good fellow." Q's compliment falls short when Riker shrugs it away,
"Have you understood any part of what he's tried to tell you? Humanity is no longer a savage race."
"But you must still prove that." And with a flash they're both gone.
...
"You underestimate them," T'ileka sits on the ground where they can see Riker's crew getting ready for transport.
"You lied to them," Q stands over her eyes in the same place
"I had to, they can't know" he smirks
"And how much does it mean to you," T'ileka doesn't answer, but Q laughs
"Well, this endeavor wasn't a total waste then," His smirk only grows with time. T'ileka feels his anticipation and can only dread the next moments. He waves his hand, and with a flash they both disappear, Q appears on the ship. T'ileka is nowhere to be found,
"Your time is up Captain." Q smugly stands in a Captains Starfleet uniform,
"Transporter Chief do you have their coordinates?" Picard waits "Transporter Chief!"
"He can't hear you, Captain" Q states simply, but the smugness pervades his tone.
"Transporter Chief come in!" Captain Picard begins walking towards Q he pleads, "I've people in trouble over there, Q." A small smile barely registers on Q's face and he turns and sits in the Captain's chair. Everyone walks forward to stop him,
"Everyone at ease. That's an order." The Captain's voice is firm but still respectful as he pleads again, "Q, my people are in trouble. Let me help them, please." There is only an awful silence from Q as he meets the Captain's eyes with no sympathy. Captain Picard lets go of all his pride, "I'll do whatever you say!" A purple light appears on the Bridge and the away team with Groppler Zorn appear,
"You'll do whatever I say?"
"Seems I did make that bargain." Captain Picard imagines a life like T'ileka's and winces,
"The agreement isn't valid, sir. It wasn't Q that saved us." Counselor Troi steps forward
"Save yourself. It may attack you now." Q appeals to the Captain's fear, but there is laughing which he quickly silences.
"It was that which sent us back, Captain" Riker states,
"Yes sir. It is not merely a vessel, somehow it is alive."
"She lies! Destroy it while you have a chance. Make phasers and photon torpedos ready." Q tries again,
"No, do nothing he demands." Captain Picard concentrates on the away team,
"Captain that thing was killing my people!" Groppler Zorn screeches,
"Was there a reason?" The Captain takes a step towards Zorn,
"It is an unknown, Captain. Isn't that enough?" Q stands from the chair, and Captain Picard looks up at him with contempt."
"Where is T'ileka?"
"Out and about, why?" Q snorts,
"Well, she could tell you that the unknown is what brings us out here." Q doesn't answer, "She was of course apart of Starfleet"
"I think your predicament is more pressing," Q laughs,
"No, because we already know what happens now." He turns to the away team, "Groppler you found something on your planet, something which could create the space station. Much like our holodecks do." Riker's eyes light up,
"Of course, not technology. A creature, an alien." Captain Picard nods to him,
"Lieutenant Yar, rig main phaser banks to deliver an energy beam
"On the viewer, Captain." Yar stares at the view screen
"Groppler, you captured something like that, didn't you?"
"Warn my people please, to leave Farpoint Station immediately!" Zorn glances back towards the creature, fear in his eyes.
"He lies, Captain. Shouldn't you let his people die?" Captain Picard turns on his heel to face Q,
"Transmit the message: Leave Farpoint Station immediately." He glares at Q,
"Then it was a pair of creatures I was sensing. One down there in grief and pain, the other up hear, filled with anger." Counselor Troi's eyes are glassy feeling the emotion of the creatures, she whips her head behind her looking at the chair.
"And firing not on the new space station, but on the Bandi and their city." Data stares at the creature,
"Attacking those who had captured," the Captain stops and chuckles to himself, "Captured its mate."
"Energy beam ready, sir." Yar states
"Lock it in on Farpoint Station engage when ready. Now Q, where have you hidden T'ileka?" Captain Picard continue's to glare,
"Why does it matter?"
"Oh, it matters more than you know. We owe her thanks and I'd like to deliver them personally."
"You respect someone who won't even tell you their own name?" Captain Picard shakes his head,
"I respect her because she's done everything within her power to help my crew."
"Getting feedback on the beam, sir." Yar interrupts
"Discontinue it." Picard keeps his eyes on Q,
"She did give up something for us?" Q only stares
"On what conditions does she stay with you?" Q laughs
"Please ask her yourself," T'ileka materializes in the seat from before.
"Congratulations Captain, I underestimated you." Q waves away her praise, she sighs before continuing, "If you must know why I'm hear it is very simple. I had two choices. Die with my crew, or go with Q and live." Q possessively puts an arm around her shoulder,
"So, as you can see Captain. She is here on her own terms." Picard shakes his head,
"That can't be the whole story. You may believe that you are not breaking your Vulcan code by omitting the whole truth. A lie of omission is just as bad, and your deceit would be enough to make any Vulcan despise you." T'ileka sighs and walks away from Q,
"I already know this, I despise myself sometimes for what I've had to become." She walks away, "Captain, you should be very proud of your conduct, and your crew. I hope we will never see you again." Q laughs again,
"Of course we will," she shakes her head, but the Captain ignores him.
"What did you do?" She glances back, Q smirks behind her.
"The same thing you did." And with a flash they were gone