Chapter 2

USS Hood

"Will...Will...Will…" she repeated. She groaned sleepily and poked him in the shoulder again, but a loud snort from him just confirmed how asleep he really was. How he couldn't hear the incessant and completely distinctive beeping she had no idea, but somehow she was always the first to wake up. Finally she said directly into his year using her best bridge voice: "You have an incoming message from Starfleet Command." Of course, that did it.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm awake," he declared, pushing himself up to a sitting position. He rubbed his eyes. And then turned and looked over his shoulder at his wife, who had already settled back under the covers. "Thanks babe," he said, getting to his feet and stretching.

"Anytime," mumbled Deanna and turned over drowsily in an attempt to go back to sleep.

Will walked over to his communications console and waved his palm over the blinking green light, answering the call. He leaned his lanky frame down to stare into the screen expectantly.

"Captain Riker," said the petite but severe looking woman who appeared on the screen a moment later. "I hope I didn't wake you." He couldn't help but note the obvious lack of concern in her tone.

"No, Admiral Nechayev. It's a pleasure as always to see you."

She ignored his attempt at charm. "Good," she confirmed. "Sleep is for the unambitious."

With Nechayev every word was a potential jab. What a wonderful way to wake up in the early, early morning. Riker could summon no suitable response to this, so he remained silent and rubbed his chin, where he had recently shaved off his beard. Deanna seemed exuberant that it was gone, but he realized now it had helped him think. Or at least, it had helped him to have the appearance of thinking.

"Let me get right to the point Riker," the Admiral said. "It's happened again."

Damn. Unfortunately he knew exactly what "it" she was talking about.

"Again?" was all he could manage, as images from the last discovery entered his mind.

She nodded. "Right under our noses- in fact, not far from where you are now. The planet is Delvora in the Hydra system," she said.

"So we are the closest ship then..." Why were so many incidents of this kind happening in the Neutral Zone?

"Yes. Take the Hood and investigate. Get yourselves in and out of there as quickly as you can and then proceed to the coordinates I am transmitting to you right now. I must stress that all we want out of this is more information Riker, and quickly."

"Yes sir. Will we be following the same procedures for survivors, Admiral?"

She fixed him with a pointed look. "Based on your last encounter, Captain, are you honestly expecting any survivors?" She didn't even wait for him to answer before signing off.

He stood there for a moment and began the task of mental preparation for the next mission. When he turned around, Deanna was sitting up in bed, wide awake, and he saw his own fears reflected in her eyes.

Elsewhere…

He was afraid it would hurt, and it did. Not so much the physical pain, but the humiliation of losing something he did not deserve to lose. To add insult to injury, the Q had dropped him down somewhere, naked. He shut his eyes, refusing to look at his flawed, human body. He wasn't about to waste one of only three chances to use his power in order to fashion himself some clothes.

In truth, he no longer had anything resembling shame or even the slightest inhibition. He simply resented any reminder of his mortality. No longer able to shimmer away in a point of light if he so wished, or to transform into anything else that he chose, left him dismayed.

He looked around him, and saw what had happened. Of course he had seen their work before, which meant he was most likely the only living thing plant or animal, left on this planet. He had seen this kind of devastation before. He had even prevented it on occasion.

But what now, and why here? What could the Q possibly intend him to do? Somehow the cold of this planet was making it difficult to use his vast intellect. He started shivering. Of all the outrages! He crouched down hugged his knees, leaning his side against a craggy rock. "Ow!" His skin was too sensitive for this harsh environment. It was like being born all over again except he didn't want to be born again….

"Q! This isn't the slightest bit amusing!" The wind whistling through his ears was the only answer to his complaints. His teeth chattered now at an alarming rate.

He struggled to focus his mind over the many discomforts of his newly mortal body. Should he use his power to leave the planet? Did the Q want him to bring back the inhabitants of this planet? Did they want him to be selfish, or noble? What would it take to please them?

And then, as if things could not get worse, with nowhere to hide, it began to rain. He ducked his head. It was not a cool misty rain from his childhood, but a heavy, black polluted rain, caused no doubt by the horrendous set of events which had just taken place on this planet. He crouched down lower, hugging his knees and felt the rain pelting his naked back. And for the first time in what seemed like eons, he felt the numbing sensation of cold.

The Continuum

"What game are you playing with the human now, Q?"

"No game at all. He has been released as was ordered."

"He is still not aware of the one truth we kept from him."

"Had we told him that truth, he might never have stayed with us for so long," said Q.

"He is so completely blind that even when confronted with it, he will not accept it. He may even believe it to be a lie."

"That may be so. He has believed himself to be all-knowing for so very long. He no longer appreciates the things that used to make him human."

"We did what had to be done," said Q.

"That is true," said Q.

2365 Paris, Earth

"Marie, I want to thank you again for taking on this responsibility. I will feel so much better knowing that while I am gone, you will be looking after the school."

Marie Picard reached across the table in the small café, and squeezed Beverly Crusher's hand affectionately. "How many times do I have to tell you, Beverly? You are family."

Beverly smiled. "I know, I know, but…you've always been there for me, and your friendship has meant so much."

Marie laughed. "You sound as though you are going away forever, my dear."

Beverly laughed and glanced at the time almost guiltily. She had to be back at Starfleet Medical Academy within a half hour, which wasn't necessarily a problem, except that she didn't want to rush her lunch with Marie. In truth it was mostly a business lunch, for Marie had agreed recently to oversee some operations matters for the Picard Academy for Archeology, which was based here in Paris. A school for which, Beverly was the Chancellor.

Luckily for her it was a post largely in name only, since she shared her time between working as a doctor at Starfleet Medical and teaching classes at Starfleet Medical Academy, both of which were in San Francisco, and extremely time- consuming. But the P.A.A., now in its fifth year was a project close to her heart, and one she had kept afloat long enough that it had started gaining in prestige in a city of many universities.

Ultimately, she believed Marie would have no problems while she was away. "There are so many wonderful administrators and staff at the P.A.A., Marie, and you can rely on them for as much as you need. And of course, I want you to keep me informed, and let me know if there is anything you need."

Marie laughed. "Of course," she said. "But you must know I have no intention of bothering you…" she trailed off, not sure how to get this across to Beverly without upsetting her.

Beverly smiled. "Yes, but—" Marie took her hand.

"Beverly…you have been taking care of so many people for so long…Wesley, Jack, your patients and students…even the memory of Jean-Luc. For goodness sake you created a school in his name—a school which I know he would have truly loved." Beverly looked down at her hands as Marie spoke. "But Beverly, perhaps it is time for you to take good care of yourself, and not worry so much about others. They can take care of themselves."

She took one of the older commuter shuttles back home from Paris, and it took her almost ten minutes to return to San Francisco. She didn't mind the delay, because it allowed her to think about what Marie had said, and to let it settle in that she was really leaving; returning to the Enterprise. She did miss Wesley an incredible amount, and couldn't wait to see him. The amount of guilt she felt from leaving him almost a year ago ate at her every day. And she missed Jack…but she wasn't quite sure what Jack expected from her. She still had the divorce documents in her possession, and having shown them to him once, she knew she didn't have to wave them in his face again to make her point. It was his expectations she wasn't sure about. She wasn't sure if she could live up to his expectations anymore, and not sure if she wanted to.

She couldn't lie to herself. There had been other people she had been attracted to since leaving Jack, but she hadn't ever gone down that road too far. They were still married after all, and part of her would always feel loyal to Jack. They had simply grown apart. One year ago, she had simply had enough, no longer willing to put up with his insecurities about a career which, in her mind should have satisfied his ambitions. But she had loved Jack for so long that she was willing to try to grow close to him again. She was willing to try because she owed it to what they used to mean to each other.

Strangely, she also missed the ship, and of course the crew she had gotten to know well enough in the year before she left. Landing the Enterprise, the new flagship of the fleet, had been the pinnacle of Jack's career. He had been overjoyed, and now two years into it, it still seemed like it had been the right move for him. She was very proud of him. And a large part of her now realized she missed the adventure and even the danger of being in space. And so overall, as she arrived at Starfleet Medical shuttle dock, she considered that she was happy, and knew that she wanted to stay that way.

"Wes I can't wait to see you. To think that tomorrow evening I will be leaving for the Enterprise…."

Wesley smiled back at her from her view screen. "I know, I can't believe it either. I mean talking with you over subspace is great and all, but…" he trailed off and looked away.

"I know, Wes," she said softly. "It's not the same. I miss laughing with you…." She brightened. "So any news on the girlfriend front? How's Anna?"

"Mom, she broke up with me last week, I already told you that," he reminded her sullenly.

She shrugged. "It's her loss. To tell you the truth I wasn't that crazy about her anyway, Wesley. She wasn't good enough for you."

"Mom! You never even met her."

"Well…I could tell even over subspace she wasn't good enough for you."

He made a face.

"I don't mean to make light of it, Wes. I would like to hear more about it when I get there."

"Sure," he said, having no intentions of telling his mother anything more about his love life, or lack thereof.

"Okay, I've got to finish packing, but will see you in less than thirty-six hours okay? Love you."

"Love you too, Mom. Goodnight." The screen turned to black, just as her front door chimed. She turned and walked to the door, and although she knew who was visiting, she suddenly felt somber. She realized that as much as she wanted to see Walker before she left, she really didn't want to say goodbye to yet another person she loved.

And, she desperately hoped he would not bring up the subject of Jean-Luc. It was that time of year when she, Jack and Walker thought of Jean-Luc the most. Tomorrow would mark the eleventh anniversary of his disappearance, and she had no desire to think about it right now.

"Come in," she called out, realizing that she had kept Walker waiting a little too long.

Walker Keel waltzed in, a bottle of champagne tucked in the crook of his arm. "Ready to celebrate?"

She laughed, and snatched the bottle from him gently. "Can't wait to get rid of me, huh?" she said grabbing two glasses from the cabinet.

"Oh no, I will miss you like crazy, Beverly. You know I would follow you in a second if I could tear myself away from my duties," he added.

"Oh, is being head of Starfleet Academy keeping you busy or something?"

He shrugged and sat down in a big armchair with a sigh. She sat down across from him and leaned back against the couch. "I told my son I was going to finish packing, but instead I'm wasting my time with you, Walker," she said, sipping from her glass.

"Do you know how many women have said as much to me in my lifetime?"

Oh boy, not the no one is ever going to love me, sob story, she thought. But a slow smile spread over Walker's face. She knew that look. "You need something from me don't you?" she demanded.

"I'm getting married…again," he clarified. "And I need you to be the best man…or woman or whatever they are calling it these days."

"Oh, congratulations, how wonderful!" She jumped up and gave him a kiss. "Of course I will be your best…person." Suddenly she looked uncertain as she regarded him. "Is it…"

Walker's upper lip twitched. "It's Natalie," he said in irritation. "The same woman I have been with for the past six months."

"Oh, right," she said cheerily, trying to appear as though she knew for certain who that was. The fact was that Walker had been married several times, and he fell into and out of relationships more quickly than anyone else she had ever known. "Don't worry, I'm up to the challenge."

Walker patted her knee. "This will be my fifth marriage Beverly. I know how to choose best people, believe me. I have no doubt you will do a wonderful job. Anyway, as they say…the fifth time is the charm."

"No one says that, Walker…."

He grew more serious, and took a big drink from his glass. "Man, I am going to miss you. Got the posting all sorted out, right?"

"Yes, at least for now I'm going to be working in sick bay as a kind of fellow-continuing some of the same projects I have been working on at Medical. In fact, I am bringing Dr. Farmer with me to keep me on track."

Walker nearly spit his drink out. "Felix Farmer? Your assistant for the past six months?"

She frowned at his reaction. "Of course, yes, Felix. Why?"

"Beverly, come on, don't tell me you don't know?" She shook her head, puzzled. "Beverly he's got a huge crush on you…"

Beverly blushed but when she thought it over for a moment, she supposed it was possible, but she said only, "how ridiculous."

Walker winked and pointed at her. "You'll see," he warned good naturedly.

Beverly rolled her eyes. "Right. Anyway," she said, trying to change the subject, "I am really looking forward to working with the CMO again, Dr. Cho."

Walker broke into another big grin. "Oh yeah, Mark Cho is brilliant. But he's not named Cho anymore…he just got married, according to Jack. Name's LaForge now…"

Now it was Beverly's turn to choke on her drink. "What? He and Geordi got married?" Beverly shook her head in astonishment, and wiped wine off her knee. "Well, Geordi finally sorted out his love life…that's terrific. I'm happy for him," she said.

Walked laughed and settled back into the chair, now loosened up from the champagne. "Okay, enough revelations," he said, as if he hadn't been the one to do the revealing.

"Okay," she laughed. "What do you want to talk about?" She watched him for a moment, and he watched her, and suddenly the mood dropped significantly. Oh no, she thought.

Walker wiped a hand over his eyes, and she could tell he was becoming emotional. It only took a few drinks for him to get this way. Actually, it didn't take any drinks at all, for him to get this way. "I just miss him around this time of year Bev. I just think about how he always knew how to do the right thing—always was so solid." He looked up at Beverly with suddenly red-rimmed eyes. "You still miss him too don't you?"

"Every minute of every day," she whispered.