Today is my first day teaching Wesley to fence. I don't think he really needs more exercise but it wouldn't hurt and I'd like to spend more time with the boy and get to know him better. I should already know him as well as a parent, or at least an uncle. Jack asked me on more than one occasion, usually after a dangerous mission, that if anything should happen to him that I should take care of his wife and son. I failed him. I have loved his wife since we met, when she and Jack were dating, but I have kept my feelings to myself. It was for my friend, it was his lady love that I was in love with and later it was his wife. I suffered in silence for their sakes. Later came Wesley, I was happy for them. I wasn't sure I ever wanted a child, I don't relate to them well at all, but I was glad to be at the edges of Wesley's life, until he was about 5 years old. That was when I sent his father on an away mission that he didn't come back from. I have felt guilty about that ever since. And instead of honoring my obligation to take care of Beverly and Wesley, I ran away into the stars. Wesley has grown into an incredible young man. Extremely smart and very mature for his age, nearly adult in his behavior. He is also kind and dutiful and respectful. So, if his mother thinks he needs more exercise and I can teach him to fence and get to know him better, I will be glad to do so.

We set up the holodeck as a fencing salle. Wesley had replicated some fencing attire and I had changed into my own suit. We started with the basics. He picked them up quite quickly. He seemed to be enjoying himself. I was enjoying fencing with someone real and not a hologram, even if he was just a beginner. We faced off for about an hour before calling it quits. I showed him some training programs I had set up for him to practice without me. Then we ended the program and started to put away the equipment that we had brought with us. I feel that hologram swords can not be made to act like real swords, no matter what the engineers say. "So, how are your experiments going lately?" I asked. He's always got some school projects he working on. Very high level complicated experiments.

"Ok, sir." he replied quickly.

"Wesley," I said and then waited for him to look at me, "You don't have to call me sir, or captain, when we're not on duty. And I really would like to know about your experiments. You always seem to surprise me with what you are are interested in and how you set out to prove your theories."

He looked a bit surprised and uncomfortable. I feel responsible for his both his surprise and his discomfort. He shouldn't be surprised that I'm interested in him and his life, he should be used to me wanting to know about him. It's another reminder that I have failed to meet my friend's death request. And he feels uncomfortable taking to me. That's a normal reaction for a lower level crew member when talking to the captain but I don't want him to feel like just another crew member. I do hope these fencing lessons can bring us closer together. Hesitantly he began to tell me about his newest experiment, something about aligning the dilithium crystals cross-wise in two chambers to synchronize their harmonic resonance and possibly get more power from fewer crystals. His face was coming alive as he talked, I have always admired his exuberance for life. Suddenly, something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, Wesley looked that way at the same time I did. What in the world...? There was a bluish mist undulating in the air about 3 meters away from us. As we turned to look at it, the mist moved away. It was certainly there but only for a moment and then it vanished. "Did you see that?" he said excitedly.

"I certainly did, but what was it?" I asked. "Computer, explain the hologram program that just ran."

'No hologram program currently running.' was the computers answer.

I still believe it was a hologram. "Computer, what hologram programs have run since we ended the fencing program?"

'No hologram programs have run since that time.'

I looked at Wesley, "Did it look like a hologram to you?"

"I think it looked like a hologram, but why would anyone program a hologram of a blue mist?" he asked.

"Will you please inform Geordi of the malfunction on this holodeck and have him look into it?" I asked. I knew he would be going to engineering to work on his experiment when we were finished. He agreed and we finished putting away the equipment and left the holodeck. For a first lesson, he did very well. For a first attempt for me to get to know him, we also did fairly well. This fencing instruction could be a turning point in our relationship.

Several days later I went to the Crusher cabin for dinner as I often do. Beverly was coming out of her cabin as I arrived. "Sorry, Jean-Luc, I have to check on someone in sick bay for just a minute. Please, make yourself at home. Wesley is in his room, maybe you could set up another fencing lesson?"

I agreed with her suggestion and made my way to Wesley's room and knocked. "Come." he said. Most people say 'enter' but he used my word in answer to a knock, I liked that he wanted to emulate me.

I entered and saw Wesley studying at his desk, still in his uniform from his afternoon on the bridge. "Good evening, Wesley."

His spine straightened up and he said, "Good evening, sir! I mean, good evening." He remembered a little late not to call me sir but he did remember.

"So, how about another fencing lesson? Ready for the next level?" I asked. "We could meet tomorrow afternoon after your shift on the bridge."

He thought for a moment, "Yes, I think that would work. I did get to the holodeck once to practice with the holo-instructors."

Just then I saw it again, the blue mist! And we weren't in the holodeck so it couldn't be a hologram. Again it appeared, moved a few feet and disappeared. "Wesley, you did see that blue mist again, did you not?"

He was staring at the spot where it disappeared, "Yes, but what is it? I saw some old photographs in the computer where an error in processing could make something like that. People used to think they were ghosts but there is no such thing."

"Wesley, the game is afoot!" I exclaimed.

"A foot?" he asked wiggling his own foot.

I had to laugh, "Not that kind of foot. Afoot. One word. It means in progress. There is a game in progress and we must solve this riddle. Computer, has there been any unusual energy readings in this room in the last few moments?"

"No unusual energy readings have been detected." the computer said.

Wesley was getting into the spirit of the mystery. "Not an energy pattern? How can someone make a blue mist without energy? And where did it come from?"

"Let's both think of some ideas of what it could be and we can sort through them tomorrow after fencing, all right? For the moment, it's time for dinner. I think we should keep this our little secret, see if we can solve the puzzle ourselves. Are you in agreement?" I asked. I was quite intrigued by the mystery of the blue mist and I wanted to solve it without too much outside help, just Wesley and myself if possible.

He looked rather determined to figure this out as well. "I agree. Let's go eat, mom made lasagna." Ah, the appetite of a growing young man, I remember those days.

I was a bit disappointed that the blue mist did not appear again during our second fencing lesson. And neither of us had hit on a plausible reason for the phenomenon as of yet. For the moment we were both mystified.

A few days after that second lesson we were orbiting the 4th planet in the Kalesi system for supplies and shore leave for the crew. We would be orbiting the planet for 7 days time. Things on the bridge are very quiet when orbiting a planet for some time, just a few minor adjustments and basic surveillance are necessary. Wesley and Data were at their stations and I was in my ready room. I heard the door chime and called out, "Come." It was Wesley that entered. I had hoped he was going to offer a solution to our mystery, or suggest another lesson. I was finding myself much more at ease around the boy, actually enjoying spending time with him. Why hadn't I done this after Jack's death as he had wanted me to? Oh yes, I might have been able to overcome my aversion to children but being in Beverly's presence often and to have to control my emotions would've been too much. So, I lost the boy as well. "What can I do for you?" I asked Wesley.

"Sir, I would like to request a shuttle and permission to go to the 3rd planet for study purposes." he requested.

That's a pretty big request but not out of the question. But in order to agree I would have to be sure he would be safe in all respects. "What study purposes? And why the 3rd planet?"

"Sir, the 3rd planet has a core of iron and the surface has immense magnetic fields with large fluctuations. I would like to study the effect of those fields on my cross-aligned dilithium engine." he said still standing very still and tall.

"Wesley, at ease, please sit." I offered and he sat but still looked uncomfortable. "What is this 3rd planet like? What kind of atmosphere, terrain and life is there?"

"It is an M class planet but the magnetic fields cause frequent large electrical storms. It is a dessert planet so the storms do not produce much rain. The terrain is somewhat rocky with a number of subterranean cave systems. Because of the storms and magnetic fields there is very little vegetation and only very small life forms." he answered. Obviously, he had done his homework on the planet before stating his request. That was a wise course of action.

I still had reservations about him going but did not want to curtail his experiments. He had found some amazing things in the course of his experiments that other much more advanced scientists were studying to learn more about what he, a young man, had discovered. "How long would the experiments take and who would be accompanying you?"

He looked like he wanted to say something but then changed his mind. "I think Geordi would be the best person to come with me as he understands my experiment better than any one else. I would need about 18 hours on the surface to get all the information I would need to study. I would like to leave this afternoon, after my shift, and leave the planet at twelve hundred hours tomorrow."

I thought for a moment. This was a worthwhile experiment, and I had no objections to using Starfleet supplies for the endeavor. I had no doubt that Geordi would be willing to go and would keep Wesley safe but I had another idea for that matter. "I believe this experiment can be arranged," his eyes lit up at the prospect of going to the 3rd planet. "but Geordi will have to check the planets magnetic fields and what they may do to the shuttle and other instruments. He may have to make some modifications so things will run properly. And, you may only go if I accompany you."

He looked surprised, "You, sir?"

I gave him a steely stare, my captain's look, "Do you think I am incapable of going on this mission?"

"Oh, no, sir! I just thought you'd want to remain with the ship, maybe go down to the planet for some shore leave." he explained.

"I have no wish to lounge around making the crew uncomfortable in their shore leave. I am interested in the 3rd planet's electrical storms. I have a great respect and interest in lightening. Perhaps we can even get in a fencing lesson, with non-metal swords of course. No sense carrying a lightening rod around on that planet." I was starting to look forward to the small journey.

"Yes, sir!" he said smartly. "Shall I ask Geordi to make preparations?"

I said, "Make it so." and turned back to my computer screen, thus dismissing Wesley.

We had just finished setting up the dilithium engine on the 3rd planet. It had been an uneventful trip to the planet and it was currently storm free where we were running Wesley's experiment. Geordi had made a few adjustments to the shuttle and we would be out of communication with the Enterprise while we were on the surface. Now to look around the area a bit before setting up a camp for the night while the experiment ran and gathered data. I went exploring in one direction and Wesley in another. Suddenly the ground began to tremble and I hurried back to the shuttle. The engine was sparking and making quite a lot of noise for a dilithium engine, they are usually very quiet. The cable draining the generated energy into the ground was vibrating. I was afraid it was overloading. Just then Wesley came into view heading back to the area when the ground gave a strong shake and Wesley disappeared from sight. The tremor had caused the ground to give away over one of the planet's subterranean caves! How far had he fallen? Was he ok? I stopped the engine from running and causing more tremors and carried it back to the shuttle. I had to grab some rope before investigating Wesley's condition and location. It wouldn't do either of us any good if I caused more ground to give way and ended up down in a hole with him without a way to get out. I tied one end to the shuttle and carefully walked to the edge of the hole Wesley had fallen through. He was down about three or four meters and was quite still. Then he moved his arm and I let out the breath I hadn't known I was holding. He just seemed to be unconscious. I nearly tapped my communicator for back up help before I remembered that we were on our own until we got away from the planet's magnetic fields. I was going to have to get him up to the shuttle on my own. I got another rope and climbed down to him. I checked him over, he had a large contusion on his forehead and a few bumps and scrapes but otherwise seemed unharmed. He was mumbling and moving around some. "Wesley, can you hear me?"

"Father?" he said quietly, turning his head as if to look for the person calling him although his eyes were closed. He seemed quite agitated now.

Father? Didn't he call Jack 'dad'? "No, Wesley, it's Captain Picard." I said.

He smiled just a little bit and said with a sigh, "Father Picard" and then relaxed. My heart swelled. I don't think two words have ever had such an effect on me. He did think of me as a father figure. And I assume his relaxing after understanding that I was there with him meant that he knew I was well and that I would take care of him so he could relax and let me shoulder the responsibilities for the moment. Yes, son, I will take care of you. I tied the rope around him in a harness fashion and after climbing back to the surface I hoisted him up. I am not a young man any more and it was a bit of a struggle to accomplish my task. I was getting Wesley in a seat in the shuttle when I saw, projected on the wall of the craft, that blue mist. I was too focused on my task to pay it much attention but I did note a few things. For now I just needed to get us up away from the planet so I could contact the Enterprise.

"Picard to Enterprise" I said as soon as we were away from the planet.

"Enterprise here." I heard Data say.

"Data, please have Dr. Crusher return from the planet to sick bay and as soon as my shuttle is within transporter range please have Ensign Crusher transported directly to sick bay. He has a head injury."

Data answered, "Acknowledged." and not too long after that Wesley disappeared from my side. I didn't like having him out of my sight but I knew he was far better off on the Enterprise and with a doctor, especially one that was his mother. I continued to pilot the shuttle craft back to the ship and made my way to sick bay.

I walked into sick bay to see Wesley on a biobed with his mother and a couple nurses tending to him. "Beverly, how is he?"

She turned to me and did not look distraught, I took this as a good sign. "He's going to be all right. He has a mild concussion. What happened to him?"

The enormity of what had actually happened hit me when she asked. "He's going to be famous is what happened! It appears his experiment worked so well as to generate enough energy to cause an earthquake. The tremor caused some ground to give way and he fell about 4 meters into a hole."