Chapter 20
MIRROR UNIVERSE
"Target approaching spatial rift at warp 8," said the computer.
"Fifteen minutes to intercept, Captain. Do you wish a weapons assist?" asked Yar from tactical.
"No," Picard snapped. "I'll handle this."
Riker turned to wink over his shoulder at Yar.
"Aye, sir," she said, careful to mask her disappointment. Oh well... she would still serve as back-up. It was only natural for the captain to take most of the glory for himself-but that didn't make it fair. And here was Riker, gloating over his shoulder at her. She raised her chin, defiantly challenging them in her mind. She knew Troi and Riker were planning a big move. Maybe she hadn't been smart enough to figure it out earlier in the game. But if those two were planning on trying to assassinate the captain, she'd never allow that to happen.
"Entering ion pocket," the computer announced. "Expect minor disruption of navigational systems."
"This may get bumpy," Riker said from the helm. "I'll do what I can to compensate."
The bridge shuddered for a few moments, but the computer had been correct; the disruption was only temporary.
Picard grinned. "That wasn't so bad, now was it?"
PRIME UNIVERSE
Beverly brushed the baby's soft hair with her fingertips, then reluctantly pushed herself away from the crib. She turned to the nurse on the other side of the small room. "Carmen, I've set up a direct link between this room and the bridge...in case the captain needs to check in with you about the baby. I don't think he will have time, but I just want him to know she's in good hands."
The young woman approached with a soft smile. "Understood, doctor. And don't worry. Jeanette's been sleeping so much better recently, I know she'll probably just sleep through whatever...well whatever we're up against out there."
Beverly smiled, grateful for the woman's attempt at trying to reassure her. She often felt badly for the civilian crew who were often not aware of the actual peril the ship was in at any given moment. They missed out on most of the excitement as a rule. But at the moment she wasn't interested in any more peril, and almost wished she was oblivious to the mess they were heading into. She just wanted her children to be safe. But she still needed to do her job, which included ensuring the medical well-being of everyone on this ship. "I bet you're right Carmen. She'll be fine here with you. Of course I'll just be a few rooms away."
She stopped at the door and turned back. "Please keep the door locked as a rule. The captain has added some extra security personnel throughout main sickbay, so we'll all be a bit safer."
"I know, Doctor. Everyone trusts that Captain Picard will get us through any challenge," the nurse said confidently. "I hope he knows that..."
For some reason these words made Beverly blink back tears. "If he doesn't know, I'll be sure to tell him for you, the next time I see him," she said.
A few minutes later...
Beverly sat on the edge of her desk, lost in thought. Sickbay was as prepared as they would ever be, which was good, because she was having trouble concentrating. She absently touched her fingertips to her bottom lip, remembering the pressure and warmth of his mouth. She turned at the sound of footsteps, and then froze when she saw who it was. "Jack?"
Jack smiled and approached her, taking her hands in his. "I just had to see you before...well, who knows what's going to happen?"
She returned his smile, but it was more than just nerves that now left her unsure. She squeezed his hands. "Jack...aren't you supposed to be up on the bridge?"
He shrugged. "There are things more important than being on the bridge, Bev."
She frowned but said nothing, watching his face closely.
"I've been back a few days now...I just feel we haven't really been able to connect," he lowered his head and murmured into her neck.
"Jack..."
"What if we never get the chance again?" he kissed her underneath her jawline, and caressed her shoulder with his hand.
Beverly pulled back to look at him. "Are you serious? You want to have sex right now?"
Duh. "I'm not trying to pressure you," he said softly.
"Well...whether you mean to or not, I certainly feel pressured," she said keeping her voice calm. "Look, Jack...I told you, something is still not quite right."
"I know it's probably not something you typically do in your office..."
She let go of his hands and laughed, briefly bringing her hand to her forehead. "No...it's not. Look, Jack, after we come safely out of this situation today, you and I need to have a good long talk. I just-I need to be honest with you."
"About?"
She shook her head. "Not now. We both have duties to carry out."
Something odd flashed in his eyes, but then he shrugged and leaned in to kiss her.
Riker halted in the doorway, clearing his throat. "Sorry to interrupt...but Jack, you're needed on the bridge."
"Bridge." Riker leaned his head back against the wall of the turbo lift. "Look, Jack, I know you've been out of commission for some time, but the captain gave you a communicator for a reason. And you really don't answer it much."
Jack looked at him. "What's going on between my wife and Picard?" He placed his hands behind his back and fingered the tiny Ferengi weapon attached underneath his wristband. He was nervous, but not yet consumed by his nerves.
He's calling his best friend Picard now? What happened to "Jean-Luc" old buddy"? Riker glared down at him. "You're out of line, Lt. Commander."
"Am I? Well, I think Picard's the one who's out of line. I may have been gone awhile, but she's still my wife."
Riker put his hands up. "None of that involves me, so we're stopping this conversation right now. In fact, we never had this conversation." He hadn't noticed the turbo lift doors open until Captain Louvois stepped in with them.
"Captain," Riker said with a courteous smile. "Resume," he said, and the lift started upward again.
"What conversation are you pretending not to have just had?" she asked, glancing at both men. "I wouldn't mind hearing some gossip."
"That's because no one ever tells you anything, Phil. At least not until you've launched a full blown inquiry," Jack said.
Louvois rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable. Forget I said anything."
"I'll try," Jack said.
Riker shot him a warning look. Jack was lucky Louvois was so thick-skinned, and for lack of a better word, forgiving. As he watched Jack though, he saw the man was perspiring heavily.
"Mr. Crusher, are you okay?"
Jack wiped sweat from his brow. "Sure, I'm fine," he said as the doors opened to the bridge.
"Dropping out of warp, Captain," Wesley reported.
"Go to 1/4 impulse...take us to within 50,000 meters of the rift."
"Spatial rift is now confirmed on forward sensor array," Data said.
"LaForge are you reading this anomaly?"
"Yes, I am, Captain. Our little project is up and running if and when we need it."
"Very good. Stand by," said Picard.
He stared at the view screen, but could see nothing but stars. But he suddenly felt very unsettled, as though his ship was being watched. "Shields up," he snapped. He glanced over his shoulder as Riker, Jack and Louvois stepped on to the bridge.
"50,000 meters, captain," said Crusher.
"All-stop."
Jack eyed Worf and the tactical station, stepping up next to the big Klingon. God I hate Klingons. "Do you mind if I take a look at what you're doing there?" he asked in a friendly voice.
Worf glowered. "Yes, I mind. I am on duty."
Jack laughed easily, but his body was soaked with nervous sweat. "It's just been a while since I've seen anything like this. I won't get in your way, I promise."
Worf growled, which Jack decided to take as a positive. He ran one of his hands over the smooth railing, while resting his other hand underneath. Worf appeared to be ignoring him, which was ideal. Now he just had to get clear himself and wait for the chance to set off the charge which had been matched to the sample of Picard's pheromones. The device should launch from beneath the tactical station and strike Picard. He just couldn't be sure of the blast radius.
"Jack," Picard was calling to him. "Jack please come down here." He patted the seat next to the captain's chair. "Have a seat here next to me. I want to make sure you are safe."
Jack hesitated, but eventually stepped down the ramp.
MIRROR
"Target within attack range in five minutes."
"Tactical," Picard barked, and the personal weapons system descended from above his head. The neural connection snaked down from above, unfurling toward the neural port at the back of his neck. There was an electrical jolt at the base of his neck when the connection was made...it hurt like hell at first, but no one needed to know that. As the feeling dissipated he felt the cybernetic tendrils wrap around his torso, and tighten securely, as the targeting system synced with the nerves and sinews of his upper body. He relaxed into it. The recent advances to the Captain's tactical system had at first been slightly disturbing, but once he had grown accustomed to it after a few months, it was nearly comforting.
He smiled to himself. Emperor Data's recent trade deal with the Borg had cost the Empire at least 10,000 subjects; most were allegedly prisoners of the Empire, whom the Emperor had determined to be expendable. No one knew the exact numbers...and few had dared to inquire. What everyone knew was that the exchange had resulted in swift and significant advancements in cybernetics technology, as well as a tenuous alliance with the Borg. The upper ranks of the Terran Empire were consistently conveying the message that within a few years, the Empire would dominate all four Quadrants again. Picard towed the party line, but inwardly he was really waiting for his chance to capitalize on the possibly severe miscalculations of his superiors.
"Target within attack range in two minutes."
"Match his speed at 1/4 impulse."
"Visual." Picard's tactical glasses floated downward, and he caught them putting them over his eyes in one fluid motion. The yellowish lenses adjusted automatically, and zoomed in on the coordinates he anticipated his enemy to be arriving at very soon in a matter of seconds. Picard held his breath...
A familiar sleek silver shape floated gracefully into view. His breath caught in his throat. "She looks the same as us," he whispered. The Enterprise was in sight. Another Enterprise, commanded by another Picard. He nearly shouted in triumph.
Target is raising shields, reported the computer. Target has come to a stop with shields raised.
"Too cautious Picard..." Picard chuckled. "Oh this is going to be too easy! He's too timid to be me," he declared almost joyfully, adjusting the lense on his targeting module.
"Yes sir," agreed Yar from the main tactical station.
"Closing...target is within 50,000 meters, Captain," reported Yar.
"One minute to intercept. Spatial anomaly detected."
"That's our ion base," Troi said, very pleased. "It has a weak cloaking shield. Just enough for us to take our prey by surprise."
"Yes, it's a weak enough device that the ion base appears on our sensors...so as long as we can see it, I don't care," Picard murmured. Is she trying to distract me? He blinked as a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead stinging his eye inside his goggles. The neural port in the back of his neck was itching him incessantly.
Suddenly Yar shouted out from behind him. "Sir, we have trouble ahead! Some kind of mine field between us and the ion base."
Waning...warning...subspace interphase pockets detected.
"Damn," Picard whispered.
"That's not good news, Captain," Riker shouted, as the bridge began to shudder again.
"What the hell," Riker shouted. "I have to plot a course through here, this isn't going to be easy."
"Troi! You didn't say anything about any damn mines, Troi," Picard roared.
Troi jumped up out of her seat and pointed at the forward view screen. "That wasn't here last time! This is impossible."
"Clearly not," Picard snapped. He ripped the tactical goggles off of his face and sprang from his seat. "All-stop!"
Multiple subspace interphase pockets detected.
"There's supposed to be a spatial rift here," Picard said, walking toward the view screen. "I'm assuming that is why an ion base was built in this area of space in the first place."
"There is a spatial rift several thousand meters away, Captain," Yar confirmed. "However there are interphase pockets between us and the rift...if we bump one, our shields will take damage. These are very volatile...a virtual mine field sir."
Picard remained facing away. "A natural occurrence?"
"No," chimed in Riker. "If I had to guess, I'd say they were planted. By someone very skilled."
"If you had to guess...interesting choice of words from someone who I rely on for actual information, not guesses. It seems that someone intends to thwart my success," Picard said slowly. He turned around then. "Troi, you seem at a loss for words for the first time ever...do you have an explanation for this? No? Well...it seems clear that whoever placed these mines knew how important it was for us to pass by the ion base, because to do so we now have to fly through them. So...who would know this besides the people on this bridge, Troi?"
Troi shook her head, her mouth set in a thin line.
Picard laughed and tapped his temple. "Oh, if only you could read my mind right now..."
He nodded to Riker. "No matter...surely you can plot a course through the mines safely enough?"
Riker nodded. "Working on it sir..."
Warning. Unauthorized launch of runabout 238. Unauthorized launch.
Riker's jaw dropped. Oh shit.
My sentiments exactly, thought Troi. I should have known that boy would betray us.
The captain spun back around to the view screen. "Transporter range?"
"Negative, captain," said Yar. "He's moving too fast and has his shields up."
"Shuttle bay 2, what is your report," Picard demanded.
"I-I'm sorry sir...he said he was inspecting runabout 238 for Commander Riker, and-he was able to override the outer doors-"
"Who?" Picard boomed.
"Wesley Crusher, sir."
Riker stood up and turned to Yar. "Crusher is a traitor. Target that ship and fire at will."
"Belay that order," Picard shouted. "Let the boy go for now," he said in a calmer voice.
Yar complied and they all watched in silence as the runabout deftly wove through the mine field. Suddenly the craft veered to the left, there was a bright flash, and the runabout disappeared.
Yar looked up in alarm. "He just dropped off our sensors, sir."
Troi confronted Picard. "You should not have let him go!"
Picard pulled out his disruptor and leveled it at her. "Now is your chance to tell me why you suddenly care so much about the boy. You have one minute..."
Hi, thanks as always for reading and reviewing... -PP