Chapter 5

Beverly picked up a half eaten piece of toast and jam, and gave it a half-hearted sniff before dropping it back on her plate. Her usually vigorous appetite had mostly left her.

"Everything okay, Mom?" Wesley munched his own breakfast while studying his data pad.

"Hmm? Yes, I'm fine," she said. "Just thinking."

"Do you know why we're still docked at Star base 773?"

"No," she said, looking over at him. "I figured you would have all the inside information, since you were up on the bridge yesterday."

Wesley shrugged and put down what he was reading. "I don't know really. But both the Captain and Commander Riker were acting really tense about it. Even Data seemed weird."

"Data, weird? Never..."

"Seriously, they were meeting with an Admiral in the conference room around 0700 yesterday morning. The Admiral left alone and returned to the base, and the Captain, Commander Riker, and Commander Data came out a while later. Like I said, the Captain seemed tense. Anyway, that's all I know."

"Huh," Beverly gave a short laugh. "Jean-Luc has been nothing but tense for the last two months. I can't blame him. He's still struggling to get back to the way he was."

"He seems healthier physically," Wesley said.

"He is…he's made remarkable progress." She picked up her toast and took a small bite before looking at her son. "Did he say anything to you about his daughter the other night?"

Wesley shrugged. "He just wanted to make sure I'm okay with everything."

"Which you are," she said giving him a small wink. "And of course it means so much to me that you are. What else?"

"He...I think he really wants to help take care of her. But you know how he is about kids."

She raised her eyebrows and nodded. "He did come by again last night again though...I'm sure it will get easier."

"Maybe I should move to my own quarters," Wesley said suddenly after a long pause.

She pushed her saucer away from her. "Where is this coming from?"

He sighed. "It's just that in the next six months I hope to be going off to the Academy. As long as I score high enough on these entry exams, I should be all set."

I really cannot think about him leaving. Not right now. "And?"

"And…it might be nice to see what living on my own will be like."

She reached out to grab his hand. "Okay, but does it have to be right this minute? I know she's driving you crazy with being up all night. But you have to admit, it's nice that you and Jeanette and I can be a family."

"Don't forget the Captain," Wesley said, taking a sip from his glass of milk.

She sighed and let go of his hand. "What are you getting at?"

"No, I just mean he's part of the family now too after all."

She felt her face grow warm and she looked down at the table. "He's Jeanette's father, yes...but I told you, Wes, he and I are simply good friends. Despite what your mysterious ship-wide sources are telling you."

He shook his head. "I'm over that, Mom. It's none of my business. But…for friends you seem to argue a lot."

"Friendly arguments between friends, Wes," she said with a small laugh.

"Right," he said, laughing too.

When Riker stepped into Picard's ready room later that morning, he saw that the Captain's chair was turned away from the door. He thought he'd heard the Captain signal his approval for Riker to enter, but perhaps he hadn't heard anything at all.

"Data tells me he's almost done with the analysis on those voice transmissions we heard yesterday morning. And, as you requested, here are the crew rotations for this month, sir." Riker held the data pad out for longer than he felt was reasonable, before clasping his hands in front of him.

The captain didn't turn the chair to face him, and for a moment he had the horrible feeling that when he did turn around it would be not Picard but Locutus, fixing him in his sights. He still had nightmares about those events which had almost spelled the end of Riker and the rest of the crew...in fact a devastating invasion of the Earth had been averted only at the last minute because some part of Picard had been able to communicate with Data, putting the Borg to "sleep".

Ultimately they had been spared...physically. But he knew it would be some time before he could sleep through the night without hearing himself give the order to collide with the Borg cube. And he would never be able to forget the coldly cruel alteration of Picard into Locutus. Will tried to shake his morbid thoughts. The Captain was back with them now.

Picard who had a ship to command, was doing his best to give the appearance of control. Yet, Riker could see that for Picard, the transformation back to himself again was taking some time. The captain, although still healing, seemed to be making consistent progress in returning to form. Since his return from the Borg, it wasn't unusual for Picard to become silently lost in thought for stretches at a time. When Riker had mentioned this to Deanna with concern on his mind, she had reassured him that this was part of his healing process.

"He's taking stock," she'd explained. "Of what?" Will had asked. "Everything," Deanna had replied. "Imagine your mind and body being enslaved in the way the Borg manipulated the Captain in a single minded program over which he had no control or say in the matter. Now suddenly his mind and body have been freed and he must do his best to learn everything about who he was before. No doubt he is finding that he can never be quite the same. And...he may not want to be."

"Sir...Captain, are you alright?" Suddenly it occurred to Riker...was he sleeping?

Still turned away in the chair, the captain's head jerked forward slightly. "Alright! I'll go and get her this time. Just hold on..." he cried out hoarsely.

"Sir?"

Emerging from his dream, Picard spun the chair toward Riker, rubbing his fatigued eyes. "Sorry Riker. I must have dozed off." He yawned and covered his face with his hands. Riker noticed with relief that he had regained his normal skin tone, and looked strong again; no longer a pale shell of a man. "I haven't been getting very much sleep lately," he admitted, yawning again. He finally took the report from Riker, blinking down at it with blurry eyes.

Sounds like Beverly is giving him instructions even while he is sleeping. Riker smiled and sat down on the couch across from him. "Sorry to hear that sir. I have a feeling I won't be taking us off topic when I ask you how things are going with little Jeanette?"

Picard raised an eyebrow. Little Jeanette? Was Riker really asking him a question related to child care? Was there anyone on board who did not know about the baby? Picard shot Riker a look. "Well, to summarize...no sleep," he said tiredly, returning to the report. Momentarily he handed the data pad back to Will. "Very good, thank you."

They can't possibly be sharing quarters. Don't push it Riker...none of my business. "Have I told you that I happen to love babies, sir?" Riker said breaking into a wide smile.

Picard looked at him sourly. He decided against asking Riker just how long he had known his daughter's name. He wasn't sure he would have liked the answer. "You know...it's never come up for us in conversation before, Commander. I can hardly imagine why not..." he added dryly.

Riker leaned back on the couch and his smile faded gradually as he regarded the captain. "I just want to let you know sir, that if you need anything...anything at all."

Picard glared at him, but when he realized Riker was no longer pulling his leg, he relaxed somewhat. "I appreciate that Commander. And...I will be sure to tell Doctor Crusher that you may possess some helpful cross-training as a babysitter."

Riker laughed and then rubbed his chin. "Sir, I'm just dying to beam down to that star base, and find out why we're really here."

"Me too, Number One," Picard admitted. "But for now, we'll have to carry out our own discreet inquiry, until we have the go ahead. You said Data has the report ready?"

"Yes, sir, he's in conference room one."

As it turned out, Data wasn't quite ready after all. When Picard and Riker entered the room, he was staring vacantly toward the door and moving his lips soundlessly. "Data…what seems to be the problem?"

The synthetic muscles in Data's jaw twitched oddly, and he turned to the captain. "No problem at all, sir. I am simply completing a program I intend to run for you and Commander Riker momentarily. As you requested, I attempted to isolate and enhance the audio of the segment, and believe I have achieved the best possible version available." He blinked rapidly and his mouth clamped shut. "There, the program is finished."

Picard raised his eyebrows and glanced at Riker. "Please proceed, Mr. Data."

Data's eyes went slightly vacant again, and his mouth opened as though in mid-sentence. His vocal chords emitted a strange buzzing tone, and then abruptly they heard these words:

"The Operation is underway," said Riker's voice. The tone wasn't quite right though.

"Understood, Billy-boy," said an unmistakable Picard. But the uncharacteristic sneer was downright hateful. "Now you can go back to planning your mutiny. Don't worry…we'll see this one through for the Empire whether I have your loyalties or not."

"This is a young man's game, Picard," said Will's voice. "Your day is coming, but it doesn't mean we don't still have some use for each other."

"Younger men than you have found themselves groveling and crawling away in agony at the mere mention of my name, Riker. And eventually you'll do the same if you keep up your games. Besides, I'll never be too old to take what I want even if it's yours. Just ask Troi."

"You can't take what I'd gladly give away at this point, Picard. She's betrayed me too many times to count. So have your fun, but then I'd suggest you watch your back with her. She's liable to stick a long knife into that mechanical heart of yours."

"Your concern is duly noted, Number One...now you said the traps are set. Now we simply await our prey."

"What about the Doctor? She's bound to find out, and then what? We're no good, exposed, Picard."

"Leave her to me...I still have some influence over her."

They heard Riker laughing harshly. "Those days are gone, Picard. She doesn't need you anymore."

"She doesn't need anyone, Billy, which could be the Empire's downfall-but then that's why we have our little alliance now, isn't it?"

Momentarily, Data's eyes lost their fixed stare, and his mouth shut rather mechanically. He blinked at Picard and Riker who stood together in stunned silence. "Data," Picard said eventually. "How…close are these voices to our own? The Admiral said they were being 'authenticated', however I am quite certain that the man speaking is not me."

"And it sure as hell isn't me," said Riker. "Nothing those two said even made any sense at all to me."

"Likewise," said Picard. "In any case, it is not us."

Data didn't hesitate. "The voices are your own, within a reasonable measurement of 98.9 percent accuracy."

"Still that leaves some margin for error, Data. Couldn't someone have manipulated our real voices or simply fabricated them in some way?"

Data nodded. "It is certainly possible sir," he conceded. "If one were to obtain a sample of your voices, a highly accurate reproduction could certainly be made even with rudimentary technology. However, I would suggest based on the limited evidence that this conversation took place in real time, and was not a recording."

Riker exhaled loudly and rubbed his forehead. "I don't get it. This is bizarre."

Picard straightened. "And what is this Empire they were discussing? I have no intention of waiting until I am briefed again...let's look into this further."

Riker nodded curtly in agreement. "Yes sir."