Chapter 21

2367 The Aldrin

Data and Commander Obi stepped carefully into Dr. Mayer's quarters, phasers at the ready. A tight-lipped security officer followed them along with Geordi LaForge.

To say the least, things were in disarray. "Wow," quipped LaForge. "Looks like someone had a tantrum in here."

Commander Obi turned to give the engineer a decidedly threatening stare, but said nothing. "Man, he looks like the athletic big brother I never had…and I'm sort of glad I never had," thought LaForge. "Because he kind of looks as though he wants to kick my ass right now."

Patrick Obi turned back to Data. "That's CASU right there," said Patrick pointing to a nondescript metal box about a meter high, sitting next to a table.

"Ah," Data said simply, approaching the motionless object and scanning it with his tricorder.

"Looks more like a suitcase than a robot," Geordi said. He scanned the scientist's quarters with his VISOR and then his gaze fell on the table top next to CASU. "Nobody move," he said quickly pointing at a small object on the table.

The security officer took a step forward, but Commander Obi put a hand on the man's chest. "Didn't you hear LaForge? Stay still! Now what is it?" he demanded from Geordi.

Finally some support. "It's CASU's operating chip, from the looks of it…wouldn't you agree, Data?"

"Yes, Geordi. But I fail to see the reason for your heightened level of concern."

"That's because you don't see it like I do," Geordi said emphatically. "Someone pulled the chip from CASU knowing that to do so would trigger a self-destruct mechanism within CASU. CASU's control chip is also a detonator. I take it this is no typical robot," he added, looking at Obi.

"No, certainly not. Can we destroy it?" Obi asked. Patrick stared at the chip as though he hoped his gaze would make the problem go away. He couldn't believe that Johana Mayer would have been that desperate to not only risk herself to stop Captain Riker, but also to run the risk of killing anyone who tried to interfere with her. He had thought she cared about him, but perhaps not.

After all her talk about her father, she hadn't trusted him enough to confide in him about her plans to confront Riker. Not that he would have ever assisted her; in fact he would have done his best to stop her. But despite his disgust with what she had done, her failings now made her seem more human and attractive to him. It didn't make sense, but few things did lately.

"The chip?" Geordi replied. "No, not safely—I mean we could destroy it remotely, but we'd run the risk of destroying CASU in the process—along with this entire corridor," said Geordi.

"Goddamn," Obi ran his palm over the top of his short hair. "We can't leave it here either. It could blow when we least expect it."

"Sir, I recommend allowing me to attempt to disarm the self-destruct device."

"Data!" LaForge threw his hands up. "We can't let you risk yourself in that way."

"No one else is capable of disarming CASU, Geordi. And as Commander Obi has stated, to leave it here unattended would be just as dangerous."

Obi looked closely at Data. "Data I recognize that I'm in command here, but I want this to be your choice. It's a very dangerous venture. And we can't afford to lose another talented officer like you."

"Thank you, Commander. But I accept the risks."

Obi nodded. "Very well then. Please proceed."

2367 In Earth's Orbit

"All systems online and operating at optimal levels, Captain," reported Worf," apparently more than happy to be back at his old post.

"Thank you, Mr. Worf."

"What are you planning, Jean-Luc?" Mary asked him as he walked around the bridge of the Enterprise.

He felt as though there was a spring inside of him, and that if he simply focused it properly he could use the coiled energy to his advantage. Picard turned to regard his new unlikely crew mate, who stood alongside Worf. "I intend to use the Malkatan weapon Worf is holding in his hand- against the Malkatans in defense of the Earth."

"I thought you wanted to find Beverly and to see your child," she said.

"I do, and of course that plan hasn't changed at all," he said somewhat defensively. "And now that we have warp capability I will be able to leave and see her within hours instead of days. But I think we all agree we must make a stand against the Malkatans, and we must do so before they realize that we've recaptured one of our ships."

"What do you have in mind?" Worf asked, leaning over the railing. The deactivated Malkatan weapon sat next to him on top of the tactical station.

Picard gestured toward the small metallic ball which they all knew held a massive power. "We use that against the Malkatans. Do we have anything on board that can propel such a device?"

Worf harrumphed. "We can use it to arm a photon torpedo tube, Captain."

"Very good," agreed Picard. "Make it so. Meanwhile I shall see if I can de-attach the ship from the Malkatan plasma beams."

Worf nodded and grabbed the Malkatan weapon in his hand, while Picard walked up to take the tactical station.

Mary walked past him and knelt down beside the prone body of Captain Jellico. She looked up suddenly. "He's moving...he's alive, Jean Luc!"

"Good," said Picard. "There should be an emergency med kit on the wall to your right. Unfortunately that will have to be the extent of our medical assistance," he said studying the tactical panel. He knew he didn't sound very sympathetic to the fallen Captain Jellico. The fact was that he was not sympathetic in the least. He was no more understanding of Jellico, losing his ship and falling under the mind control of the Malkatan invaders, than he had been of himself months ago when he was abducted by the Borg and used as a pawn of destruction.

"Lucky for him physical his wounds don't seem so bad," Mary reported. "Not that you seem too concerned," she added pointedly, squinting up at him, as Jellico began to regain consciousness.

"I certainly hope he lives," Picard murmured, decidedly more interested in studying the tactical panel. The stream of plasma electricity that connected the Enterprise to the other eight starships under Malkatan control seemed less powerful than it had been prior to their ambush of the two Malkatans on the bridge. The other factor was Jellico…perhaps when he was released from the beam here on the bridge it had somehow affected the beam outside in space. He frowned, trying to puzzle through the problem.

Mary was now helping Jellico to sit up slowly. She propped him up against the base of the helm. His eyes remained closed so she turned back to Picard. "You know…I think I liked you better before we got back on your ship," she commented.

Picard looked up. "Pardon?"

Mary put her hands on her hips. "Down on Earth you were a real hero, getting into the dirt with everyone else…leading the way. And on the shuttle you declared your love for Beverly—showed some real emotion. But up here…well you're a real tight-ass. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Picard made a face. "Actually, no. At least… not to my face," he added slowly.

"Not even Beverly?"

Picard pursed his lips and rolled his eyes up at the ceiling. "No…not even Beverly."

"Well, trust me she's thought it," the old woman assured him.

"Now look here—"

"You remind me of my second husband."

"Second? Not the first?" he quipped.

"Oh, he was something to look at, but the ego on that man! Well as you can imagine he was compensating for other deficiencies."

"I would rather not imagine what those might be, Mary, thank you," he said dryly.

"Suit yourself." Mary shook her head and returned to aiding the still dazed Captain Jellico.

Picard shook his head now that she was distracted again and turned back to his work. He typed a code into the computer quickly. The panel buzzed at him, denying him access again. Dammit. "Computer," he called out. "Do you recognize me?" he asked.

"You are currently catalogued as an unidentified human male, five feet ten inches tall, one hundred seventy-three pounds—"

"Thank you, Computer. You may now substitute this profile for that of Captain Jean-Luc Picard."

The computer paused and he could feel Mary once again staring at him, this time with growing amusement. "You are requesting to utilize the security profile ofCaptain Jean-Luc Picard, commanding officer of the USS Stargazer NCC-2893 Constellation Class Star Cruiser reported missing in action in 2355 and presumed killed the same year at age thirty-six years, six months, thirteen days."

Picard took a deep breath, trying to access some degree of patience. "Yes," he said tightly.

"Please place your palm on the nearest console. Accessing…accessing… acknowledged, Captain Picard. Welcome aboard."

"Thank you," he said. He quickly began to input data again, and was beginning to see a pattern in the energy fields tethering the ships together. And then the console buzzed at him again. He slammed his hand on the console. "Why—what is it now?" he demanded through clenched teeth.

"Security access denied."

He angrily punched in an alternate code. "Access denied. The security profile you are attempting to use expired in 2355. Please contact Starfleet Security to update your security profile," the computer informed him calmly. Picard spun and walked away in the opposite direction.

Walking to the wall, he tapped at the communications console. "Progress Mr. Worf?"

"Yes, sir…I believe your idea will work…in theory. However we will not be able to test it for obvious reasons as we only have one of these weapons to fire."

Picard smiled. "That's fine, Worf. Good work. Please return to the bridge when you're finished."

"Aye sir."

When he turned back around, he made eye contact with Mary. "Now was that really necessary?" she asked. "Making sure the ship's computer knows who you are?"

"Yes, of course it was necessary," he snapped.

"Are you sure it wasn't your ego getting in the way again, son? You can't stand that your beloved ship doesn't love you back, is that it?"

"No that is not it! And can't you see that I am trying to work here?"

She snorted. "Son, if you think I'm distracting, just wait until your kids are running all over this bridge, asking to be picked up while you are trying to map a star system, or whatever it is you usually do on these ships, when you're not fighting Malkatans."

Picard went pale. "Kids?"

"Oh… I understand you think you're just having one baby. That's how it always starts," she said. "But before you know it, Captain you are going to be changing one baby's diapers while your two year old bangs you on the knee with a broken data pad, over and over…."

"Don't be silly," said Picard quickly, but he could feel a stress headache coming on.

"Once you're married, now that is when the real fun starts. If you or Beverly want advice son, just ask me. I've been through it five times."

Jean-Luc let his arms drop to his sides. "Marriage?" He stared at her. Would Beverly even want to be married to him? He hadn't even considered it. He had been so busy with planning on how to overcome the Malkatans and also manage to find Beverly that he had hardly considered what would happen once the baby was born, much less anything after that. Perhaps it was understandable since he continued to phase and his life seemed always to hang in the balance.

In addition, the more time he spent with Mary the more he wondered how she had convinced someone to marry her, not just once but five times. He remembered the popcorn. He should have known when she pulled out the bag of popcorn and when she made instant friends with Data's hell cat, that she was trouble. But suddenly he was snapped out of his pre-parental anxiety by the groans of Captain Jellico.

Picard left his station and walked toward Mary and her now waking patient. Suddenly Jellico's eyes snapped open and looked at him unfocused. "Who the hell are you, and what are you doing on my ship?" Captain Jellico demanded groggily.