Chapter 10: "P's & Q's"
After failing to convince my family that he only meant to help me, Q did not visit me for the next couple of months. He didn't strike me as someone who ever gave up and I continued to anticipate his next appearance.
Since I turned seven, Mother had allowed me to walk unescorted to Data's quarters.
My android mentor spent as much time as he could, usually a couple of hours a day, tutoring me. He never mentioned Q, but he worried about the entity's next move.
As I entered Data's quarters one afternoon in October, I puzzled over the current project he had set up for me. "What is it?" I asked as I examined it from every angle. I'd never seen such a contraption. It had wooden slabs that formed narrow paths. What practical purpose could it serve?
"It is an elaborate maze," Data responded. "Scientists once built them to test the instinctual reactions of small rodents."
"Why?"
"They believed that by understanding the behavior of lower lifeforms, they could begin unlocking the mysteries of the human brain."
"Do you have any rodents?" I scanned the room, spotting Data's cat Boots lying on the sofa, licking one of his black paws. Boots was the son of a female cat named Spot, which Data had owned until she passed away. I probably had asked a dumb question, but if he didn't have any rodents, then why had he bothered building the maze?
"No. They would not survive around Boots. However, the maze will not remain in my quarters. I am sending it home with you, where you will begin training two white mice. You will document their reactions to the intricacies of the maze."
I stepped closer to the maze, studying its passageways. I wondered if the mice would enjoy the puzzles their new home would offer or would they become as annoyed with my manipulation of their lives as I had with Q's interference upon my life. Oddly, I was eager to find out.
"Can I begin the experiment today?"
"We will need to stop by the zoological lab to obtain two mice, but yes, that is my intention. I will accompany you to your quarters where I will show you how to set up the experiment and to care for the mice."
"Can I name them?"
"Of course."
Carrying my two new pets inside a small barred cage, I attempted to keep up with Data, who was having a much easier time lifting the much-larger maze. These tiny creatures were fascinating. Their cage provided them safety against predators-like Boots-and yet they were still helpless. Without someone to feed and water them, they wouldn't survive. I felt like their god.
When we stepped into the living area of my quarters, a woman was sitting on the sofa with Mother. She was older than Mother by a few years. Suddenly sensing deep sorrow and dread directed at me from this stranger, I looked pleadingly toward mother for an explanation.
"Shannara, this is Dr. Beverly Picard," Mother said. "You don't remember her, but she took care of you once when you were very sick."
"Hello," I said. "It's nice to meet you." Although I still sensed uneasiness in the room, I also was overwhelmed by the closeness between these two women. Mother had obviously known this doctor for a long time.
"Hello dear," the doctor said. "It's good to see you're doing well."
"I'm in a class by myself." All three adults laughed at my words, though I didn't understand why they found it funny. "Commander Data gives me special one-on-one tutoring."
"On Earth, they call that homeschooling," the doctor pointed out.
"Beverly and her husband have come to visit us," Mother explained. "I've invited them to dinner."
"Can Data come, too?"
"Well..."
Why was she hesitating? Data had been her friend since before I had been born. Why would she invite one friend and not another?
"Please!"
"All right." Again, she paused. "We have a serious matter to discuss, and-" she looked up at Data. "I'd value your input, Data."
"I would be delighted to offer whatever advice I can." Balancing the maze with one hand (to my amazement), the android reached out for the cage. "Meanwhile, I believe I should begin setting up your project, Shannara and allow your Mother time to talk with you." Barely glancing at him, I nodded. I feared that something horrible had happened. Why else would everyone be so tense around me? Gracefully, Data stepped into my room.
"What do we have to talk about?" I asked, confused. Mother and the doctor shared an anxious look. "Has something happened to Father?"
Mother was surprised by this question. "He's on bridge duty," she told me. "He's fine." She reached out to grasp my hands. "We don't want to worry you, Shannara. But we do have something very important to discuss with you."
I turned toward the other woman, hoping she would answer this riddle. "Why did you come here? Why didn't you just contact us through a subspace message?"
"Subspace is a great communication tool," the doctor replied. "But it could never replace the need for personal contact." I knew what she meant. So many times I'd talked with Father while he had been on an away mission, longing to have him with me.
"Yeah. It's kind of like interacting with holodeck characters. It's fun for a while, but then you want the real thing." I should have allowed them time to catch up with each other. Yet I was torn between wanting to learn more about my project from Data and the desire to learn what was happening. Mother and Dr. Picard would not to tell me any more-I could sense their fear of it-and keeping busy with my project would pass the time before dinner.
The doctor looked at me, astonished. "You weren't kidding, Deanna. You're daughter is quite intuitive. I'm sure exposure to Data has helped."
"Speaking of whom," I said, "I should see if he's got my project set up." I hastily retreated into my bedroom before the women had a chance to further embarrass me.
Data was very fast. He had already cleaned off my desk and set up the maze. "Ah good," he said. "We are ready to expose the mice to the maze. It would be best if you handle them, so they will bond with you." He slid the small cage toward me, and I peered at my two new friends. . . .Sam and Al, I had named them. Al was the one with a brown patch around his eye. I almost heard their tiny hearts beating as they scratched furtively at the cage walls. How would I convince them that they could trust me?
"This lever opens the small doorway," Data said, pressing down on a metal bar and opening the wooden door of the maze. He turned toward me and lifted the lid of the small cage.
I stared at the mice afraid to pick them up. I didn't want to hurt them. "Ahhh..."
"It is all right, Shannara. You must not be frightened of them. They will sense that and become more agitated."
"Sense! You mean they're empathic, too!" Looking into their beady little eyes, I projected positive thoughts toward them.
"Not exactly. However, they can detect certain emotions through their sense of smell."
"Oh." Reaching into the box, I lifted Sam out of the cage. The rodent squealed in protest, and I petted him gently to soothe him. After the animal calmed down, I moved him toward the open door of the maze. I was in complete control of his life! Did I have too much power? Was Q's gift, the magic of the Continuum, any worse?
"What if he doesn't like being trapped in a maze? I can't bare to do that to him!" I pulled Sam away from the maze and clutched him to my chest. He began to squeal again, louder and more frantic.
"The mice are non-sentient beings," Data explained. "Their lower intelligence does not allow them to perceive either their cage or the maze as a prison. In fact, they feel comfort in the safety of their cage."
This reminded me of when Q had brought me to the nebula. I had felt helpless and dominated, until I had realized how much control Q had given me. A part of me had enjoyed that power, especially when it had allowed me to get even with Tammy. I was scared of that part of me. I wanted to do what was right by keeping those powers hidden deep inside me.
Why was I comparing my dealings with Q to a science experiment? Many kids before me had been given science projects.
"Shannara, we need to proceed," Data prodded.
I nodded and before entertaining further doubts, pushed the mouse through the door. Data snapped the latch closed, and we watched Sam's reaction to his new surroundings. He flipped to the right, scratched at the door, and squeaked a bit before turning back to scurry frantically through the tunnel. He darted down one path only to turn around and follow another.
"Eventually, he will arrive here." Data pointed at a cubby with a food dish. "At first, you will need to supplement their diet by putting food along with water in their cage every evening until they are able to complete the maze. As for your responsibility..." He retrieved my data padd and handed it to me. "You will write daily notes describing their behavior, including if and how long it takes them to reach their food dish, how much they eat and drink and how they adapt to going back and forth between the cage and the maze."
I sat on my bed, so it was easier for me to take notes.
"You will allow the mice to attempt the maze three times a day," Data explained as he retrieved Sam from the maze and placed him back inside the cage. "After you eat your own meals is a good schedule to follow. Some mice learn to follow a maze rather quickly, while other mice require more time. Compare the behavior and learning patterns of Sam and Al. Document both their differences and similarities. Remember to check their water dispenser several times a day. They must never be without water. Their bedding must also be changed every two to three days." Data paused. "Do you have any questions?"
"May I play with them?"
"Of course. The attention will give them great pleasure. However, you must be careful not to let them run loose or to overtire them. I suggest you play with only one of them at a time.
I wondered if Q had me on a schedule.
With a nod, I jumped off my bed and went to the cage. Sam was drinking from the water dispenser, while Al was curled up in a corner. I snatched up Al and hugged him to my chest. He did not squeal as Sam had. I would note this difference later.
Data followed me out to the living area. Disappointed that Dr. Picard had left, I sat down at the table beside Mother. She was updating the files of the crew members whom she had had sessions with that morning. Data remained standing behind me.
"Mommy," I said, holding the rodent out to her. "This is Al."
I sensed that she didn't like mice much, but she smiled at Al anyway. "It's cute," she admitted.
"Data says that I'm responsible enough for a pet." Al wiggled in my hands, but I held onto him firmly.
The door to my brother's room swished open and he emerged from his afternoon nap, wiping at his sleepy eyes. As he came closer to us, he noticed my mouse and instead of climbing onto Mommy's lap, squealed at Al. Startled, the mouse jumped from my hands and darted across the room.
"Oh no! You idiot!" I screamed at Eric. My little brother began to cry and reached for Mommy. She scooped him into her arms. Fortunately, as an android, Data could move as quickly as Al and managed to corner the rodent in seconds. As Data returned Al to my arms, I scolded my brother, "You cannot play with my pets. You aren't responsible enough."
"Shannara," Mother said sternly. "Don't bully your brother. He didn't mean any harm."
Eric nearly scared my pet mouse to death and still, I was the one getting into trouble. I petted Al, calming him down as I calmed myself. "But–"
"No. I want you think about how you treated Eric. Go to your room and play quietly until dinnertime."
"I believe this has brought an end to today's schooling," Data said. "I will see you at dinner." He left our quarters.
A short while before dinner time, Mother came into my room wearing a lovely purple dress and handed me a brand-new replicated dress of my own. It had a pink rose print and lace trim. "We should dress up for our guests," she said. She was pretending to be happy, but I sensed that deep down she was very nervous. "I haven't seen them in a long time, so I want you to make them feel welcome." She did not mention the earlier incident with Eric. Had she forgotten about my punishment? She was obviously preoccupied by whatever news Dr. Picard had brought. Should I use that to my advantage?
Why had Dr. Picard and her husband come to visit us? Was someone ill? We hadn't heard from Grandma Lwaxana in a while. And then I thought of Alexander. Before he'd returned to Q'ronos, he had explained to me about some of the dangers of becoming a peacekeeper for the Klingons. How much opposition had he met? He was already fighting one battle with Mother, who was angry that he'd brought Rosa with him.
"Is Dr. Picard an important person?" I asked, accepting the dress and beginning to change.
"Yes. She is also a very close friend of mine." Mother opened my top dresser drawer and removed my hairbrush and a pink ribbon. "She and her husband have something important they need to discuss with us."
"What?"
After zipping up my dress, Mother patted the bed and we sat down together. As she brushed my hair, she answered my question. "There are some people who would like to meet you. They call themselves the Akodians. I met some of them shortly after you were born. Like you and I, they are empathic, and they have asked for permission to run some tests on you."
They were the ones who had accidentally turned on my empathic ability at birth, I realized. "Why do they want to run tests on me?" The temperature in the room seemed to rise. "What will they do to me?"
Mother grasped my arm to comfort me. "Just observe you. The Federation is petitioning for an alliance with the Akodians. Before the Akodians will agree to this alliance, however, they want reassurance that people like you and I will not develop any problems after exposure to their technology."
"Why would that happen, Mommy?"
I saw the pain in Mother's eyes, sensed her anguish. She wished she could shield me from this knowledge. Why did the Akodians wish to see me instead of Mother? Why not Grandma? I was only one-quarter Betazoid.
"They are indirectly responsible for your prematurely developed empathic abilities. Before you were born, I was exposed to some wormholes built by the Akodians. It was a very traumatic experience for the both of us. I don't want to see you -" Mother began crying before she could finish, and I grasped her hand.
"Mommy, don't be afraid," I said. I would show her I was strong and she would be proud of me. "It's just another test. Every one I've taken so far has been super easy."
Mother looked at me leerily. She doubted my bravery would be enough to get me through the test. How did I comfort her when I was uncertain myself?
"Sunshine," she said, her eyes brimming with tears. "We're not talking about a school test. There won't be a few simple options to choose from."
I nodded. "Data's taught me how to answer essays. He places me in all kinds of new situations. Sometimes, I deliberate my answers for a long time until I hit on the perfect one."
Mother's expression slowly changed as she considered this. "In a way, you are right. This evening over dinner, your father and I will discuss this matter with Dr. Picard and her husband, Captain Picard."
Openly discussing these aliens proposed tests with Father would not be easy. I was having a hard time picturing it.
"The Akodians asked the Picards to serve as liaisons and speak with us about setting up a meeting with you, so they can conduct their tests. Do you know what a liaison is?"
I shrugged. I had not heard the word before.
"A liaison is someone who is a go-between. He or she represents both sides. The Picards have informed me that allowing you to take the Akodians' tests is crucial to the Federation's forming an alliance with them."
How was that possible? I was one little girl, not an army. If I didn't meet with the Akodians, what would the consequences be? Data had had me evaluate cause and effect in many of my essays. Yet those questions were always theoretical. I'd never had to place myself in such a scenario.
"Do you want the Federation to join the Akodians, Mommy?"
She bowed her head and cupped it in her hands. "The Federation would likely benefit from it, but I'm not certain I want to work directly with any of their people."
With ambivalence, I wondered whether to ask her more about these aliens. I walked away from her to check on Sam and Al. At some point, Mother slipped out of my room without my noticing. I only realized she was gone when Q popped in, ending his prolonged absense.
"Insist on meeting with the Akodians," Q said, appearing beside my desk, wearing a red Starfleet uniform with admiral's pips. Sam and Al began squeaking and scurrying frantically. I was not startled by Q's arrival.
"I'm amazed you stayed away so long," I chided him, deliberately redirecting the subject. Yet I was curious about his reasons for wanting me to visit the Akodians."
"Time has no relevance in the Continuum. I can travel anywhere at any time I desire. Mortals can only experience such fantasies inside a holodeck."
"If the Akodians grant us use of their wormholes, we will be able to travel anywhere. Why are you welcoming the competition?"
"Oh contraire. The tiny Akodians can offer your precious Federation a trivial portion of the multiverse."
"I won't listen to you unless you explain how the Akodians fit into your plan. If I agree-"
"If you agree? Young lady, if you don't agree, you will miss out on the turning point of your life."
"I thought that was the day I met you."
"Tsk tsk."
"An answer!" I insisted, folding my arms.
"The Akodians will serve as a link. Align yourself with the Akodians, and you will become famous among your people: the little empath who braved the unknown."
I briefly contemplated the idea of becoming famous. Did famous and popular necessarily mean the same thing? "And if I become famous, how does that help you?"
"It makes me look good, of course," Q replied, standing up straight. Suddenly, he was wearing a velvet robe and a crown. "I gave you your abilities."
"The doctors said that contact with the Akodian wormhole activated my empathy."
"They may be responsible for sooner rather than later, but your capabilities reach far beyond your mother's meager empathic skills. Your potential is even greater than your grandmother's."
"I've tried to read people's minds. I can't do it!"
"You need a little nudge. Miss this opportunity and -"
"You won't be interested in me anymore?" I asked with a spark of hope in my voice.
Q's expression turned sour. "I will be severely insulted."
With a smirk, I wondered why I should care whether I insulted an obnoxious being.
He flashed out and then back in to sit on my bed, again wearing the Starfleet uniform. "Tell them you want to meet the Akodians. If not for me, then to satisfy your own curiosity."
I couldn't deny that I was incredibly curious about these aliens and their technology. "Ok," I said. "I'll talk my parents into letting me go."
"You won't regret this," Q said and disappeared.
"Wait! When will I see you again?" I looked up at the ceiling as if that was where he had gone. I was sure he heard me and yet he didn't reply. Was I actually eager for Q's next visit?
"Hello and welcome to the Rozhenkos," I said as our guests arrived. I glanced at Mother, who was smiling at my ladylike manners. "We've prepared enchiladas and Spanish rice for you," I said as though the meal had been made from scratch.
"I'm sure we will, young lady," the captain replied. He approached Father, who was standing in the corner, arms crossed and looking irritated. Father was worried, but did not outwardly express it. "Worf," the older man greeted him. "It's good to see you again."
"Likewise," Father replied.
"Your children have grown."
"Too fast. It does not seem as though Alexander should be old enough to travel on his own."
Meanwhile, Dr. Picard walked over to Mother and began a similar conversation.
The adults were tense and waiting for each other to bring up the subject of the Akodians. These friendly greetings could go on forever!
"You should let me meet these Akodians," I blurted out. The room grew silent and everyone turned toward me. "I'm not afraid of them. If the Federation wants an alliance with them, then they must be good people."
Data opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it closed when Father looked at him sternly. Had he intended to contradict me? Why would the Federation want to form an alliance with an malevolent race?
"They are good people, aren't they?"
The captain answered me. "Yes, of course they are. If they weren't, I would never have agreed to work so closely with them. I will be in charge of regulating Federation use of the wormholes as a liaison under my new ambassadorial title. While the pockets are relatively safe, someone needs to assure that they are being properly used."
"Will they let me travel through one of their wormholes?" I asked. "I bet they're beautiful."
"They are," the doctor said with a reassuring smile.
"Beauty can be deceiving," Father said. "Pockets have been responsible for destroying starships. Deanna spent months in a depression caused by the pockets. And now you're asking me to subject my daughter to its clutches!"
"Worf!" Mother snapped.
"She needs to know the truth."
I was holding my breath. So were the Picards. Why were my parents angry with each other? Neither of them wanted to let me go. Maybe they were mad at me.
"We should all sit at the table," the doctor said. "We can discuss this calmly while we eat." Slowly, both of my parents nodded and sat down at the table. As I took my seat across from them. I studied each of their faces.
We began eating in relative silence. No one wanted to shatter the truce, but ignoring the problem would never solve it. They had to agree with my decision.
"If Data comes with me," I said, playing with my food, rather than looking at them, "you wouldn't have to worry about me. He'd protect me." As an android, Data was stronger than anyone.
"Shannara, Data is the first officer of this starship," Mother reminded me. "He cannot abandon his duties."
"Actually, I have some vacation time," Data informed us.
"Yeah and it'd be a great opportunity for Data to teach me about what's out there."
"If," Father said sternly, "you were to meet the Akodians, your mother and I would accompany you."
"Does that mean I can go?"
"No!" my parents snapped in unison.
I was going nowhere with this. I glanced around the room to see if anyone was on my side. Dr. Picard was as worried about me as Mother. She thought the wormholes were beautiful, though and did not fear them. Captain Picard was eager to work with the Akodians and saw me as the key to reaching that goal. Data saw an opportunity to teach me a great lesson. How could I use all this to my advantage?
"Please think about it first! Mommy, you always tell me to consider something carefully before making a decision." I turn toward my android mentor. "If this were an essay, you would expect me to come up with a solution. Why should real life be any different? I'm tired of being stuck on a starship where the adults participate in missions and interact with alien races and the children are not allowed to see the action. "How can I learn about the galaxy if I can't see it?"
"You can see it just fine!" Father said. "You have a window in your room."
"Worf, are you looking at this from a child's viewpoint?" Picard asked.
"Jean-Luc," his wife scolded, "Let Worf and Deanna make this decision."
"Please!" I begged. 'I want a chance to see the wormhole's beauty-not just hear about it. I could learn a lot."
"The wormhole is a harbinger of emotions, Sunshine," Mother said. "Whenever I am near one, I'm effected empathically by the negative emotions of all who have been there before me. Such an exposure might be far worse for you."
Mother was genuinely worried about me, but she would worry no matter what I did. Still convinced I shouldn't pass up this opportunity, I struggled to come up with another argument.
"There's no danger involved," Picard promised. "As liaison, I could negotiate in your favor and see that your daughter's emotional and physical well being are the Akodians' number one priority."
"And I could assign a thorough report as part of her schooling," Data added.
Father let out a low growl. Although he had not given in, I sensed that he was weakening.
Mother looked at him, her complexion growing paler, and in almost a whisper said, "Worf, we can't let her go."
Standing up, Father informed us, "I will not hand my daughter over to strangers for testing!"
Sleep was not my friend that night. Several times, I got up to check on Sam and Al, removing one or the other from their cage to seek comfort from them.
What were my parents thinking? I'd exhausted all the support I could from everyone. That was, everyone who had been invited to the dinner. Was there anyone else who might help me? Mrs Dewberry? She was so kind to me, but could she persuade my parents to let me meet with the Akodians? Captain Riker? He counseled us when Q first showed an interest in me. As captain, he could be very influential.
Yes, the captain, I concluded.
With a new plan, I finally drifted off to sleep.
Mother believed I was heading for Data's quarters to hand in my first day's worth of notes on Sam and Al. I was clever enough to grab my data padd and check my assignment in front of Mother before leaving our quarters. I planned to see Data, some time today. Right now, however, was the perfect opportunity to pay the captain a visit. Hopefully, he wouldn't be angry that I'd come uninvited.
If he was in his quarters. And, if he was alone.
I pressed his door chime and was relieved to hear him reply, "come in." The door slid open and I stepped inside. Startled, he got up from his sofa, nearly spilling his drink. "Shannara, what brings you to the captain's quarters?"
"Please, don't be mad at me, sir," I said, trying not to whine. "I don't know who else to turn to."
"It's all right. Why don't you sit down and you can tell me what brought you here." He gestured toward a chair and sat back down on the sofa. I sat down, fidgeting nervously with my padd. "Do your parents know you're here?"
"Well actually, my mother thinks I've gone to Data's quarters for my daily lesson, but-" I struggled with an explanation the captain would accept. "I thought you were the best person to help me solve a problem, since you're my father's commanding officer."
"Shannara, your parents should know where you are at all times. What if they were to look for you at Data's quarters and discovered that you weren't there?"
"The computer would tell them where I am."
The captain sighed audibly. Apparently, I was missing his point. "It's up to your parents to determine where you should and should not go. Promise me that next time you venture outside your quarters, you'll get permission from one of them first."
I shrugged. "Okay." He wouldn't make me leave. If I accomplished what I had set out to do this time, I'd worry about the rules next time.
"You wanted to show me something?" He pointed at my padd.
"No. This is for Data." Although I maintained eye contact, I was uncomfortable. "He gave me an assignment yesterday. I have to care for two white mice and train them to travel through a maze. Sam and Al-that's what I named them."
"That's sweet, but I don't think you came here to tell me about your new pets."
"Not really, sir."
"The Picards are on board. They told me about your dinner conversation. I'd be willing to guess your problem has something to do with their visit. What I don't understand, however, is why you want to talk with me about it."
"They couldn't convince my parents to let me meet with the Akodians. Father's never going to give in unless-maybe-well, I thought you could talk with him."
"You want to go?"
"Oh yes! Why wouldn't I? It's an opportunity of a lifetime."
"You're only seven years old. That's awfully young to be worried about opportunities that will change your life."
The average seven-year old would be happy on a starship with two parents who still loved each other. Why was I not satisfied?
"I want the chance to venture off this starship...to see worlds."
The captain smiled warmly at me. "You'll make a fine Starfleet officer someday."
Someday...
This was so frustrating! I couldn't wait for someday far into the future when I might become a member of Starfleet. The Akodians were offering me a special pass to their world-now! How could I persuade Captain Riker?
"Shannara, as your father's commanding officer, he must abide by my standing orders as far as Starfleet matters are concerned. When it comes to family matters, Worf, your father, has the right to make those decisions. I cannot order him to let you visit the Akodians. If he believes it's unsafe for you, then we must accept his judgment. I'm sorry. Don't you think you should be meeting Data for your lessons? You can't stay here. I'm needed on the bridge. I can escort you to Data's quarters if you like."
"That's okay," I replied, getting up from the chair. "I know my way around this ship." As I walked toward the door, I silently scolded myself. I was actually getting smart with the captain! Like that would do me any good! He didn't point this out, to my relief, and I made my way out into the corridor.
What could I try next? If I didn't meet with the Akodians, according to Q, I would miss out on the greatest turning point in my life. Q wanted me to make this trip, but hatred for Q burned through Father's veins. Superior being or not, Q would never convince Father to change his mind. How then? I wondered as I stepped into Data's quarters and handed him the data padd. "Sam and Al didn't like the maze very much. They must be angry with me for making them wait so long for their food."
"One does not necessarily have to like a situation," the android replied. "Given an ultimatum, survival or death, they will ultimately learn to adapt."
"What's an ultimatum?"
"An ultimatum is a final, uncompromising demand or proposal. To receive an ultimatum, do or die, one must choose the lesser of two undesirables."
"They'll get used to it," I replied with a grin.
I began forming a new plan. By the time that day's lessons were through, I knew exactly what to say to Father. Yet I was very nervous when I strolled into our quarters and realized he had already returned from his duty shift. Don't lose your nerve, I silently advised myself.
"Hello Father," I said as I approached him. "How was your day?"
"It was stimulating," he replied.
Mother turned from the replicator, hot cocoa in hand, and raised an eyebrow. Without a word, she walked across the room and sat down beside Father. For a moment, I stood in front of them, my courage fading. I wanted this more than anything-and yet, inwardly chastised myself for conceiving to manipulate my parents. They looked to me expectantly. "Is there something you want to tell us, Sunshine?" Mother asked.
"You don't want me to make this trip, but I've been thinking about it all day." How could I make them understand that I wanted them to be proud of me? If I didn't meet with the Akodians, they might not forge the alliance. I didn't want to always be the one getting into trouble. I wanted to help my people and find a way to bring some adventure into my life at the same time.
"I have given you my final decision," Father said sternly.
"But I have not given you mine. I want to see their world, Father. I want to meet new people and learn about their cultures firsthand."
"Visiting these people is out of the question!"
"If you don't let me, how will it make you look? Captain Picard wants this alliance, for the opportunity to explore. Isn't that why you joined Starfleet, Father?" I wanted to give him one last chance to change his mind.
"When you are older, I would be greatly honored if you join Starfleet. For now, you will remain here with your mother and I."
This was not working. Nothing less than an ultimatum would work with Father. "Whom would you prefer I spend time with: the Akodians...or Q?"
"What?" Mother exclaimed.
"Either you let me take this trip to the Akodian homeworld or I will accept Q's invitation to join the Continuum."
Stunned by my unwavering ultimatum, Father stared at me, mouth agape, eyes widened in fear. Mother nearly spilled her cocoa before setting it on the coffee table. I almost took the demand back. I didn't want to frighten my parents or cause them pain.
"Bravo! Bravo!" Q said, clapping as he flashed into the room. "Shall I prepare the proverbial room?"
"You!" Father jumped up and if I weren't standing in his way, he would have attacked Q. "How have you corrupted my daughter?"
"I have done no such thing. Your daughter has reached this final ultimatum by no coaxing or otherwise influential nudging from me." Q glanced at me, smiling. "I knew you had it in you."
"He's telling the truth...and so am I."
"I'm shocked you would place your father and me in this situation!" Mother said. I sensed her disappointment.
Should I reach out to her and tell her I was bluffing? Would that ease my conscience? No, I'd come this far. There was no undoing it. My cards were played and Q was here to whisk me away if Father attempted to play a better hand.
"I'm sorry this makes both of you unhappy," I said. "But I've never wanted anything so badly. I'm tired of being stuck on this starship with nothing more exciting than a holo simulation of worlds. I want to see the real galaxy."
"You're both angry," Q said. "But you'll see reason in time." He stretched out his arms, symbolizing his meaning. "You'll realize that this little venture will become one of the many stepping stones in Shannara's life that will draw her toward her great destiny." He leaned toward me and spoke in a low voice. "You'll see more than galaxies if you stay on the right path." He flashed out.
For a long awkward moment, the three of us stared silently at one another. "Please, don't be disappointed in me," I finally said and walked into my room to pack my away bags.