Chapter 7


2278

Captain Kirk stood in the doorway of the deck three mess hall. He tapped a comm button on the wall, leaning into it. "Status, Mr. Spock..."

"As you ordered, Captain, we are heading toward the coordinates identified by Guinan. At our current speed of warp five, we should arrive in approximately thirty minutes."

"They didn't drift very far in that life pod, did they?"

"No sir. But as the Enterprise was relatively close by...they didn't have to."

"Right...Kirk out," he said, lightly hitting the panel with the side of his fist. He stepped fully into the room and was immediately accosted by the smells of starship issued meals and the laughter and conversations of his young crew. His eyes rested on the young man who had accompanied Guinan. He was sitting alone, and was alternately shoving food in his mouth, and furtively watching the regular crew members.

Kirk walked up behind Picard and put a hand on the young man's shoulder. Picard spun around as though defending against a surprise attack. Kirk very nearly missed blocking the man's elbow from hitting him below the belt. "Easy! Easy..." Red faced, Kirk walked around the table and sat down across from Picard.

Picard resumed shoving half a dinner roll into his mouth.

"Hungry?" Kirk grinned. Picard shrugged, and picked up a fork as though trying to remember what a civilized young man he really was. "Usually the meals on board my ship don't inspire that kind of interest," said Jim.

Picard glanced around and placed his fork down. "Yes, sir."

"You sound like a Starfleet Officer. But you see...there's no record of you existing."

Picard took a long drink from his water glass but said nothing.

"What's your name?"

"Jean-Luc Picard."

"Rank?"

Picard blinked twice. "Ensign."

Kirk smiled tightly. "Why did you just hesitate? If you know who you are, there's no reason to hesitate..."

"Sorry sir...my memories are still a jumble." He picked his fork up again.

Kirk took one of the bland rolls and tapped it on the table. "Do you know where you are?"

"The doctor told me I'm on board a starship," said Picard.

"That's right," said Jim. He extended his hand. "Captain James T. Kirk-"

Picard dropped his fork and stared at Kirk in undisguised awe.


2339 Earth

Ensign Jean-Luc Picard shifted uncomfortably against the trunk of the old tree he had recently claimed as his daily resting place. He dropped the book into his lap and raised his gaze to fix it on the players involved in one version of the same game of football he had been watching all week. To his annoyance, the game seemed to be in session no matter the time of day he showed up. Though not much for team sports, he would have given anything to have joined in after weeks of being denied most physical activity. Never in a million years, however, would he have admitted that to himself. He also would have never admitted that he was lonely, having left his family in France, and all of his friends had now departed for their first duty assignments, leaving him behind.

He shifted again, unable to find a spot that he could stay still in for more than five minutes. His upper back burned, and had been itching incessantly for the last two days. Quick movements and strenuous activities still frustrated him and caused him pain. Although stronger now, he still did not feel himself. During his last check up with his surgeon he had asked pointedly if the implant was healing according to schedule.

"Your progress is on target, Ensign. I understand your frustration, but your body is simply continuing its healing process," the surgeon had informed him.

He didn't hesitate. "And how long until I can be cleared for duty?"

The doctor had fixed him with a cold stare. "You'll be cleared when I determine that you are fit." Jean-Luc glared back up at him until the older man's expression softened somewhat as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Ensign Picard, a bit of advice... if you had put as much concentration and effort into staying out of harm's way as you do now in returning to active duty, you wouldn't be in this situation. You nearly died and your heart was irreparably harmed. And for what? You've been given a second chance, Picard...don't waste it."

Jean-Luc bristled, but kept his mouth shut. He'd been lucky to avoid a major inquiry by Headquarters into his brawl with the Nausiccans, and so administratively he was in the clear. The last thing he needed now was to get on the bad side of this physician, who had the authority to keep him grounded. The young ensign knew he needed to be cleared as soon as possible, so he silently warned himself to cooperate. Jean-Luc forced a thin smile; knew very well it must have appeared forced, while nodding respectfully. "Yes sir."


He blinked sweat out of his eyes, brought back to the present as a wave of self-disgust washed over him. Years of hard work and discipline had come to this; a delayed career because of an instant of poor judgement. He took in a steadying breath and shut his eyes again. The damn pain injections were making him drowsy again. He hated the loss of control. Giving in to the fatigue, he felt the rough trunk of the tree against his face as his head lolled against it. As he dozed, the enthusiastic shouts from the game faded, replaced by the booming sound of his father's voice from just weeks ago.

"I am very disappointed in you, Jean-Luc. All your fancy Starfleet education and training didn't stop you from making a fool of yourself. I suppose you still intend on traveling the stars despite your...disability?"

He had ignored the direct insult. "As soon as I've been cleared for duty...yes."

"They sent you home to recuperate...but you cannot even stand to remain here with your family for more than three days?"

"Sir, I have to get back-"

"You have tried since you were a child to distance yourself from your family, from our traditions. It seems your struggle is over and you are free."

"Father, that is not true! Just because I have aspired to something more, to be something greater-"

"Greater than who, Jean-Luc? Than me? It's not enough to aspire to be a great man, while you make foolish decisions, that nearly get you killed. You are unable to see the weakness in your own arrogance, and so you will never be great. Never."


His head jerked away from the tree, and his eyes snapped open. Pressing his palms tightly against his eyes, he shook his head, angry at his father, and even angrier at himself for dwelling on what had been inevitable since he lay at night as a youth staring up at the stars. He was leaving his old life behind, despite the objections of his father. Dropping his hands, he saw that the ball game was beginning to disperse, with the players leaving the field, shaking hands and clapping each other on the back in an overbearing display of camaraderie.

Across the park his gaze caught on a short woman who seemed to be talking to herself. She appeared human, but her clothing wasn't the current civilian style, not that he cared for such things. Inexplicably, she seemed to him be somehow alien.

Watching her gesticulate in the air at an invisible opponent made him suddenly laugh spontaneously, at her ridiculous movements. But his smile, as it often did, faded gradually into a frown. She seemed completely convinced that she was talking to another person. And yet...He shook his head again, this time with pity. "That poor woman...talking to herself, and having quite the conversation too...she must be quite ill," he murmured to himself, still watching her.

She didn't seem likely to harm herself or anyone else for that matter, so after a few more moments he turned away. She raised her voice at that moment, and he heard "..Q..." Glancing up again he saw strangely that the woman appeared suddenly frozen in place.

Alarmed, he squinted up at the sun which had seemed to disappear. The sky darkened now, even though there were no visible clouds. He shivered, but then the sun reappeared and the world seemed normal again. For some reason he felt no further alarm. He looked again at the strange woman who was now sitting in the grass. She appeared mildly confused, but unharmed physically. He gave a little shrug and picked up his book again, adjusting his back against the tree once more.


"Why weren't you playing with your friends?"

He glanced up sharply at the unexpected interruption. It was the woman he'd just been watching, and without warning, she was now standing quietly above him. She was now perfectly composed. He nearly dropped the book into his lap but caught it carefully, still holding it to his chest. Despite her human appearance, he sensed immediately that she was not so. He couldn't explain the feeling, and not one to put much stock in his own feelings, he adopted his most studied look of disinterest, hoping to convince her to leave. Jean Luc made a face. "Do I look as though I am friends with those people?"

"Actually you look like you have no friends at all. Which seems really strange since you are such an engaging and handsome fellow."

Embarrassed and annoyed he rose stiffly to his feet. "I do have friends," he insisted a little too quickly. He relaxed his grip on the book and let his hands drop to his sides. "But they're not here...at the moment," he admitted more slowly.

She smiled and looked into his eyes. "I have some business to attend to this evening," she said. "But would you like to talk again? Perhaps tomorrow."

Talk again? Frowning, Jean-Luc backed up clumsily into the tree, scraping the back of his head. "Ow! Look, I'm sorry but-"

"My name is Guinan," she said smoothly.

"Jean-Luc Picard," he said, rubbing his head and watching her with reserved suspicion as he offered his other hand almost reluctantly. She frowned and looked down at it as though such a gesture was unfamiliar to her, before returning his grip.

"A pleasure," he murmured, as he loosened his hand from her grip. "Look," he ventured again. "I don't mean to be rude, but I'm really not looking for any company right now."

"I didn't say I wanted to talk right now...I have something else to take care of first."

"I only just met you," he said cautiously.

"Isn't that the whole point? This way we can get to know each other better."

He raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Are you asking me on a date?"

"What's a date?" She watched closely as he grew even more visibly uncomfortable. She thought for a moment more and it came to her. Then she laughed. "Oh is that what you think?" She laughed and put a hand on his wrist. "First of all, if I wanted to date you, believe me you'd know it," she said with a small smile. "To put it bluntly, son...I've been around."

Jean-Luc winced. Son?

"Don't worry, I have a certain type," she said. "And you're not it," she added plainly.

Despite his immediate relief that this strange woman was not trying to proposition him, he was still mildly insulted. He scoffed. "Oh is that right?"

She nodded. "That's right. I like bald people. I find them very attractive. Don't know why...I just do."

Picard rubbed the back of this neck and laughed. "My father is completely bald," he said, touching the short hair on top of his head almost protectively. "So perhaps if you were to wait a few more years..."

She smiled. "I'll keep that in mind," she said. "But I hardly think I'm your type. You see I am very adept at figuring people out."

Jean-Luc frowned. "I'll have you know that older women are not...unfamiliar to me." He regretted his remark immediately, but she was unfazed.

Her eyes shone with amusement. "Just how old do you think I am, Mr. Picard?"

He made a reluctant face, but realized retreat now was not advisable. He kicked at the dirt with his boot. "Forty?"

She held up her index finger and laughed. "Close, very close."


"You'll find it is not so complicated after all to steal from Soran," Q's voice echoed through her head.

"But how am I supposed to locate this weapon of his?"

"Don't worry, you'll manage," Q said. And just as quickly as he had popped into her head, he popped out again and was gone.

It was now dusk, and after having a light lunch and a nap, she ventured back to Starfleet Headquarters. Q had somehow transferred all of information into her brain. Instead of it overwhelming her, however, she had been able to access the information as needed. It was as if she was simply remembering a recent visit to Starfleet Headquarters. And as all of the needed information imparted by Q was now stored in her brain, she simply walked toward a very specific and well-guarded area of the enormous campus, as though she had walked there countless times before.

She thought of the young human again. Picard. She felt drawn to him, and she hadn't wanted to befriend another person in years. He was just the kind of alien she most enjoyed Listening to...the kind who chose his words almost too carefully. Usually such regimented minds held many secrets. A Listener like Guinan could thoroughly get to know the average humanoid alien within minutes. But this human, she sensed would be a challenge. Not only was he uninterested in talking, but his innermost thoughts and emotions were guarded expertly for someone so young.

As she approached a security station her mind suddenly filled with anxiety. What if they didn't buy her story? She had little chance of getting past the guards if they weren't convinced. "Would it have killed him to have given me a Starfleet uniform?" she muttered to herself. She felt incredibly alien at that moment as though anyone observing her would automatically know she did not belong here in this place. Despite her discomfort, she raised herself up and continued her approach finally stopping in front of the security officer.

"Hello," she ventured in her friendliest voice. "I'm here to see-"

"Doctor Soran! I didn't see it was you at first, sir," the guard said, running his hand quickly over the door lock, swishing the door open.

Puzzled and alarmed, Guinan looked over her shoulder, finding no one standing behind her. When she returned her gaze to the guard, he was staring at her with clear recognition. Something she certainly did not share.

Guinan glanced down at her hands and saw that her appearance had changed drastically without her having noticed. Q! Though she had no subtle way to check her reflection, she assumed that Q had changed her physical appearance into that of Soran. Immediately changing her expression to match the arrogant one she recalled Tolian Soran perpetually wore, she sneered at the guard, "Well, be quick about it. I'm a busy man!" It was both strange and exhilarating to hear Soran's voice amplifying through her own throat.

The guard nodded anxiously. "Sorry doctor, I thought I'd seen you go up to your lab about an hour ago."

"If I was in my lab, how could I possibly be here?" She demanded rudely, walking by the perplexed guard.


Immediately hearing footsteps in the corridor, she instinctively blended into a shadowy alcove before remembering she at least looked as though she belonged here. Hesitating again as the footsteps came closer, she saw that her instincts had been correct; the approaching feet belonged to none other than Dr. Tolian Soran, who was headed right past her. She shrank further into the darkness, thankful that the corridor was not better lit. Still, she could see Soran's characteristic spiky haircut and familiar profile. Suddenly, his footsteps slowed and halted. Like her, Soran was as sensitive as any El-Aurian when it came to the presence and emotions of others.

She heard his heels turn slightly so that he was facing in her general direction. "Who's that over there?" he snapped, sounding more annoyed than fearful that he was being watched.

Guinan slowed her breathing, and remained still.

"Lights, increase by eighty percent," Soran ordered the computer and immediately the lights brightened, flooding the corridor.

Reflexively, Guinan shielded her eyes from the light. To her surprise, when she opened her eyes Soran was looking directly through her. She glanced down at her feet and saw...well she saw nothing, because she was now invisible. Q.

Still suspicious, Soran turned and stepped away. She watched as his keen mind worked things through. Satisfied finally that he was alone, he headed back toward the way she'd come in.

Eventually Soran's footsteps faded into the distance, and she allowed herself a small sigh of relief, before focusing once more on finding Soran's laboratory.