Since they entered, Nert didn't speak a word. Slowly, she walked inside, circled the room and stroke the orchid standing on the window sill. Deanna smiled at it, reminding Dee.
"You are different than the rest of the crew," she commented finally. Deanna looked at her curiously.
"Why do you think so?"
"It's the way you talk to me. As if you are not afraid that I would beam this entire ship into another galaxy in a blink of an eye. Or, put you in a fantasy land full of monsters?"
Deanna laughed and walked closer to her.
"I am not afraid of that, indeed. Not now anyway."
Nert was watching her with attention. "You seemed to enjoy yourself in Sherwood, though."
Troi mused. "Yes, I sort of did. But..."
"Although you could use some shooting training," She teased, but Deanna didn't smile back.
"But I wish it all wouldn't happen against our will, Q."
"Oh, you would be bored to death on this ship. I at least provided you some entertainment. Or wait, I provided you everything lately, including saving your entire existence."
"Is this what you are really about, Nert? To be needed? You must be very lonely."
Q frowned. She gave Deanna a cold stare and turned to the window. For several minutes Deanna didn't say anything, just stood behind her, looking at her back. Finally, very slowly, she took a step closer, one, after another, until she was so close that her chin almost leaned on Q's shoulder. Nert tensed, but she didn't move away.
"The room is at your disposal. I will go to sickbay now." She touched her arm again and left. Nert didn't move, or replied. After the next minutes, she sat on the couch. She looked around, seeing two beds, one clearly prepared for her. She stood up.
"It is not possible to relax over here." She grunted and walked out.
"Computer, locate Q." Picard asked as soon as he got to his quarter.
"Q is in the music room, the school section." The mechanical voice answered. He gasped with surprise. Quickly he walked back to the exit door and hesitated. The school section should be empty at this hour, what on earth could Q be doing in there? He walked out, feeling an increasing distress. But as he stood by the music room door, he stopped in amazement. He heard the piano playing. The door opened automatically and he stood in the entrance. Nert was playing on the grand piano in the corner of the room. Professionally playing, as one could say. Picard realized he knew the song. It was the air of Delilah, of the opera written by Camille Saint-Saëns in the nineteenth century. He loved classical music and it was widely known all over the Enterprise. He also knew about the music more than some of the musicologists on Earth. He himself programmed to the ship's computer a great collection of recordings, from medieval to contemporary music, but eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were his favorites. He remembered from the last time that the loss of powers didn't intact Q's memories, knowledge or intelligence. And apparently other skills as well. He also remembered Q being able to operate the ship no worse than the Enterprise officers. But this was different. It was a proof that Q studied also the Earth`s culture. The music made by humans! And it was interesting enough to perform it! He felt a wave of warmth spreading all over his body and his thought flew to the text of the song, and the opera it came from. That particular fragment was called "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix" (eng. My heart will open to your voice) and came from the second act. Q started the slow melody, where the part of Delilah mix with the theme of Samson. Samson, who, overwhelmed by Delilah beauty, got seduced and trusted her, which cost him the loss of his powers. Q's performance of that part was a true mastery. He forgot about everything, was just listening and watching the expressive movements of her arms and back, regretting he couldn't see her face. He didn't dare to move, to not interrupt that unexpected concert. But eventually the song came to an end. Q slowed down, and let the two last cords gradually fade out. Her hands were still on the keyboard when a clapping came from the other side of the room. Q straightened up, surprised. From the teacher's office came out Tatiana, the Enterprise art's teacher. They had so many children on board that the presence of the art teacher was required. Picard wasn't particularly interested in details of the education of the youngest passengers, but he remembered the last reports of counselor Troi on that matter. Tatiana returned to the ship after a few years of break and just had her first day. That reminded him that he had met her before. She was the wife of Lieutennant Jenkins, one of the eighteen victims of the first encounter with the Borg. Picard felt his pressure increased rapidly.
Nert was looking at Tatiana curiously. The woman approached her and opened her arms widely to give her a hug. Picard could see her cheeks were wet from tears. She wiped them with the one hand and reached the other towards Q.
"My husband used to play this piece. Since he passed away I wasn't able to listen to it anymore. No recordings could copy that passion he played it with, those emotions. I didn't hear them until now, coming from you. You have an amazing talent. Thank you…"
Picard had a cold shiver thinking of all possible inappropriate reactions of Q that may came any moment. But Nert was calm and even hugged her back, with a graceful bow.
"Thank you. It is a beautiful song indeed."
"I don't believe we have met, dear, are you on the Enterprise long?"
Picard paled.
"Not long, in fact I have just arrived." Q's voice was still peaceful and completely neutral. Picard was fascinated and very much wanted to see how the things may develop, but his intuition was telling this couldn't be good.
Tatiana was looking at Nert with a growing curiosity.
"But you are not one of the officers, are you? I am sure I would…"
"There you are!" Picard interrupted and walked to them with a step that seemed light and not hasty only to him. Nert rose her eyebrow, amused.
"Jean-Luc! How long have you been eavesdropping?"
Hearing his first name, Tatiana looked at her with a new respect.
"Oh, I didn't know you are the guest of the captain. I didn't mean to intrude."
"By all means you did not!" Nert said it somewhat too effusively. He knew that tone. His bad feelings got stronger.
"Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix. An interesting choice." He tried to pick a safer subject of conversation thinking how to make Tatiana go away without offending her. Nert leaned over the side of the piano, in one of her previously known, nonchalant positions.
"Pretty, isn't it? Music is probably the greatest achievement of humanity."
Picard rolled his eyes with irritation, but Tatiana brightened up again.
"It is so well said! I have always thought that way. The Starfleet is highly underestimating it. No offence, captain."
"None taken," He agreed and faced Q. "It is nice of you to think that way. But now…" But Nert didn't let him finish.
"But humans cannot be music. They perform it, listen to it, even creating it, but the sound is still outside. You know, there are entire dimensions out there where the music is like the air, out and inside of everyone, like the oxygen you breathe in?"
"It is fascinating! Do you know the music of other civilizations?"
"I know music you couldn't even dream of!"
"I would love to hear more about it! Listen, I was about to go to Ten Forward for dinner. Would you like to go with me? I mean, if you don't mind, captain? I so miss having musically talented people around."
Picard could see a spark of amusement in Q's eyes. This couldn't be good. But what could he do?
"Of course, I don't. Have a nice evening." He heard his own voice and felt his cheeks getting hot. He was almost sure that Q discreetly chuckled. Suddenly she walked towards him and for a moment was so close that her nose almost touched his ear.
"Don't worry, Jean-Luc. I'll behave myself." She whispered into his ear and followed Tatiana to the door.
His face was burning. He stayed in the music room for a few minutes longer and tried to control his own emotions. He couldn't hide his physical reactions on the current body of Q. From one side that was making him crazy, from the other, he felt… good. More alive. Excited. Full of energy.
"Damn you Q." He realized he just confirmed everything Nert previously said about human men. I am getting crazy, he rubbed his forehead. Wait a moment. That scene, that behaviour. He had seen it before. He had heard it before. Where was that? "Don't worry, Jean-Luc, I'll behave myself." Vash! A similar kind of smile, that look! The way she walked. "Damn you, Q!" He repeated. Nert was immitating Vash. Probably, to irritate him. And she did it. Was it planned? Of course, it was. As always. Q always had a plan. So, what was that plan this time? Teasing him, to remind him that Vash left him for Q years ago? Apparently, they were not together anymore. Although, who knows? He felt, he very much wanted to know it, but he couldn't ask, he wouldn't give Q this much of satisfaction. But he wanted to know if Q kept the promise. The promise to keep Vash safe. He chuckled. How and when did Q become a part of his private life? He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but it was true. He laughed out loud. This was simply too much.
"No." He composed himself. Q is an unpredictable being, never honest in her, in his intentions. The change of gender could be a part of plan after all. Does Q actually behave any different than before? With him, Q is the same as before. Ironic, patronizing, disrespectful. Challenging. Annoying. Q behaves the same toward everyone but counselor Troi. He mused. So far, Deanna was the only crew member without a closer encounter with Q. He reminded the previous visits of the entity. On Farpoint it was him Picard, under the trial. Then, there was commander Riker. There was also Amanda. He realized that her assignment to the Enterprise must have been also arranged. Was finding Dee an arrangement, too? But Dee was barely alive indeed. And Nert was without powers. Was she really? Or was she pretending? It didn't look like it, thought. And that strange closeness with Deanna Troi. Was now Betazoid under a trial? Picard felt tired. It was so confusing. He took a deep breath. "We need to stick to the facts," he thought. "And the facts are, we have one Q in a coma in the sickbay, and the other Q without powers, on board. A Q that always causes some problems, sooner or later." If he couldn't help Dee, he could at least try to maintain some control over Nert. Removing her from the ship was out of question. He got pale on a very thought what could have she done down on Earth. But being on board so long, he was sure of it, Q was getting bored. This was not good news. He pressed his communicator.
"Mister Worf, I want you to head to the Ten Forward and watch Q. Discreetly. I repeat, very discreetly. And report me immediately in case of any problems."
"Aye, Sir." He heard and came back to his quarters.
