Chapter 28: "Enterprise Express"
As I flashed back into my room, I wondered how much time had passed in this universe. Universe. I would never again be able to say the word without thinking how spurious it sounded.
I had not slept. While I was gone, only a day had passed inside the Continuum, but certainly long enough that I should require sleep. So why wasn't I tired? Maybe Q required no sleep, I mused, thinking about what more I could accomplish with the extra time. I walked up to the chronometer and was shocked by the readout. I'd been gone from the Enterprise for thirteen months! And it was not morning; it was late in the evening. So much for extra time.
Sam and Al were stirring in their cage. I fed them while I thought about what I should do. Peering down at them, I sensed they were in good health and spirits. Mother had probably been caring for them in my absence. Mother, I thought as a pang of homesickness overcame me. Why should I feel this way when from my perspective only a day had passed? How had my family faired during my long, thirteen-month absence?
Realizing I shouldn't walk up to my parents without a warning, I slipped into an existence between their verse and the threads. This would allow me to wander among the crew without being seen. My parents might have long ago lost hope of seeing me again. They had had to carry on with their lives at some point.
I entered the living area and listened to their after-dinner conversation. They were sitting on the sofa talking about a confrontation they had had with some species called the Kezniak. I had never heard of this race, but from my parents' conversation, I gathered that they weren't a people much for diplomacy. I listened for an hour, during which I was never mentioned. I didn't probe either of their thoughts, afraid I was not there either.
Slipping out of my parents' quarters, I moved on to the bridge where I learned more about the Kesniak from Data and the captain. They were a militant race bent on concurring the galaxy. I was doubtful that they would prove any fiercer than either the Klingons or the Romulans, but I was nonetheless intrigued enough to want to learn more. Starfleet had first encountered them not long after my departure when one of their vessels had inadvertently revealed the pocket wormhole technology to these aliens.
Listening to Riker and Data, I learned that this situation reminded the captain of the events that led up to the Klingons achieving warp capability. Surely the Kesniak were not a formidable enemy. I would have to learn more about them.
Riker exited the bridge, and Data, left in charge, assumed the command chair. Remaining invisible, I took the first officer's chair. Staring into Data's face, I longed to speak to my mentor. If Data were alone in his quarters, I would materialize before him. Since he was an android, he could best handle my return and could ease the news of my arrival to others.
When his shift ended a few hours later, I followed Data off the bridge and into his quarters. I Q-Flashed several meters behind him, eager to finally speak to someone. Startled, he turned to face me. It was good that he did not have a heart or I would surely have sent him to sickbay.
"Shannara! I cannot believe my eyes!" he said, using one of the many cliches he'd picked up from living with humans over the years. "We had thought that Q would never permit you to return to this universe." Quickly closing the gap between us, he placed his arms around me.
I welcomed his embrace, so relieved to make contact with someone other than a Q. "I'm happy to see you, too. I've missed you so much! Yet to me, it seems as though I've only been gone a couple of days. Time does not pass inside the Continuum as it does here," I explained. "I wasn't aware that I was aging rapidly until right before I returned. For the past several hours, I've been floating between this ship and the threads, looking for an opening. I've been afraid to approach anyone. How do I explain why I've been gone so long? My parents believe that I deserted them and have already moved on with their lives. I was listening to them last evening and they didn't even mention me once! It was almost as though they've forgotten about me."
"Let me talk with them," Data offered. "I will tell them that you have returned. It will not be as difficult as you fear. And I am certain they will be more than eager to welcome you back into their lives...as I am. They have not forgotten about you." Clutching my wrist, he stared at me as though not yet believing I was standing there. "Stay in my quarters until I return for you."
"All right. Thank you, Data."
After he left, I sat down at his console and tapped into the database. I had more than a year's worth of events to catch up on. I learned that all Starfleet vessels had been granted passage through the pocket wormholes only days after I had left for the Continuum and that much of the Delta Quadrant had since been mapped. I read through countless logs by a dozen or more Starfleet captains, enthralled by the details of many new cultures. Most of the recent entries went in to details about the Kezniak, first encountered by the U.S.S. Erie.
My research was interrupted when Data returned with my parents.
"Oh my God! It's true!" Mother exclaimed as she rushed over to me. Of course, she would never have believed that Data would lie to her, but so much time had passed that the long wait had long ago dulled any hopes of my return.
"I'm so sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to–" I could not finish as tears overcame me.
"We're so happy to see you," Mother replied, wrapping her arms around me. "Aren't we, Worf?"
I peered up at Father, sensing a strange ambivalence coming from him. He didn't know whether he could trust me. He feared that my allegiance to the Continuum would persuade me to betray him again. I would have to work hard to regain his trust in me.
"Worf," Mother continued as she stood to her full height, while leaving an arm wrapped around my waist. "Please, welcome our daughter home." I sensed a different ambivalence in her, for she was struggling between her loyalty to me and to my father.
Father momentarily gritted his teeth before stepping forward. "Have you returned for good?" he asked.
"I cannot make any promises where Q is concerned," I said, biting my lip. Q was certainly not done with me, probably never would be. "Do any of us have control during one of his games?"
"Before you left, you said that Q would only take you to the Continuum if you went willingly. Did you or did you not go willingly?"
"I went to save Eric!"
My cheeks grew warm as I thought about my little brother. How had Eric's brief stay inside the Continuum affected him? Had he been trapped in a black verse or one as equally terrifying? I couldn't imagine the nightmares he'd had during my absence. Although Eric had suffered due to Q's actions, I was still overwhelmed by guilt as though I somehow could have prevented his trip to the Continuum. Maybe I unwittingly encouraged Q to take my brother. He had believed that by snatching Eric he could get me to admit that I wanted to join the Continuum. Now I felt a strong need to compensate for whatever anguish had befallen my brother.
"Eric did not suffer from his day inside the Continuum," Father told me. "He suffered from your long absence."
"We all did," Mother acknowledged. "We thought you had abandoned us."
"But I didn't mean to. Only a day passed for me inside the Continuum while thirteen months passed over here. If I had known how to control time. . .I never would have let you suffer as you did."
"If I may interject," Data said. "Eric was failing at his studies, but he has shown remarkable improvement over the past three months. He has learned to adjust to Shannara's absence. Will he not also learn to adjust to her return? Will not we all?"
Unlike Eric, I had enjoyed my time inside the Continuum. I had unlocked the mystery of the black verse and had solved every riddle the Q had brought before me. If Mother or Father found out I had grown to appreciate being a Q, they would be devastated and our family might be forever shattered.
Yet despite this fear, I couldn't denounce the Continuum. I was more afraid of what the Q would do if I violated my probation then how my family would receive me the next time I returned from the Continuum. A thousand years! How would I ever survive that long?
"Tell me that you will never again join Q willingly," Father pleaded, "and we will take you back into our home as though you were never absent."
"I cannot promise anything," I said solemnly.
A long, frightening moment passed until Mother spoke up. "Worf, she's our daughter," she said. "We can't turn our back on her."
"We will go home then," Father acknowledged. Without looking back at me, he walked past Mother and excited Data's quarters.
Although Mother did look at me, her expression was mixed with both longing and bitterness. She wanted to accept me back into her loving arms, but she resented that I had willingly left her to travel with Q. She held out a hand and lightly touched me on the cheek, then turned and followed Father's footsteps.
I wanted to go with them, to at least try to resume a life resembling what we had had before. First, I needed to acknowledge my mentor's help. "Thank you, Data," I said.
"It was my pleasure," he responded. "Your parents will come around in time. Do not be a stranger, Shannara. Remember, I will always be here to offer you advice and guidance."
"I will remember."
"Eric, someone is here to see you," Mother said, stepping into my brother's room ahead of me.
"Shannara!" he exclaimed, jumping up from the floor where he had a pile of toys scattered about. He rushed toward me and wrapped his arms around me. "I thought I lost you!" He tightened his grip and held on to me as though he thought I would evaporate in his arms.
"I'm not lost, Eric," I told him. "I'm here now."
"It was all my fault that you went away. If I hadn't of agreed to go with that man, you wouldn't have had to trade yourself for me. I was so stupid!"
I gently pulled away from my brother so I could look him in the eyes. He had grown quite a bit since I had last seen him. I'd missed so much of his personal growth as well.
"Eric, it wasn't your fault. None of it was. The Q are very manipulative and Q used you to get at me. I want you to tell yourself that you're not to blame and that you shouldn't feel guilty. I'm the one who should apologize to you. I'm sorry for staying away so long and for making you worry about me."
"Oh Shannara, I'm so happy you're back! Please, don't ever go away again!"
Biting at my lower lip, I refrained from making a promise I probably could not keep. Undoubtedly, I would go away again. What if more time passed when I next traveled over to the Continuum? What if my brother was a grown man after my next trip? I had missed a year of his life already. I could have been around to help him learn to read or to memorize his math facts.
"Eric, I can't–"
"Shannara," Mother interrupted. "Surely you have control over this Q-flashing. If your loyalties lie in the right place, you'll stay where you belong."
I turned toward her, looking her squarely in the eyes. She couldn't sense the doubt in me! "Oh...you're right." I didn't want to tell her I'd never leave, for one day I would betray that promise. I couldn't tell her that my loyalties didn't entirely lie with her and Father; that I'd felt an affinity for Q for a long time. "I love all of you," I said, reaching behind me to grasp Eric's hand. "And although it seemed like only a couple of days to me, I really missed you." My words felt so awkward, but I was determined to plunge forward and reestablish my place within this family. "Let's celebrate my return. Why don't we plan a lovely dinner and you invite your friends. Eric can even invite Brett if he wants."
"Yay! A party!" Eric exclaimed.
I sensed chagrin in Mother. She was a bit perturbed that I'd assumed her role by suggesting a party. "Shannara, I wish that were possible, but your father and I must attend a diplomatic conference this evening. We want very much to spend time with you, but we have our duties."
"Duties? If you really cared that I'm back, you would ask Captain Riker to assign someone else to this conference." As soon as the words were out, I regretted them. "I'm sorry." I averted my eyes to the floor. "I shouldn't expect everything to stop just because I've returned."
"I'm glad you're mature enough to see reason. This conference is vital in establishing Starfleet strategy in dealing with a new enemy, the Kezniak."
"The aliens who used the wormhole technology," I said before realizing that I was admitting to having spied on the crew before materializing on board.
"Yes." She fixed me with a suspicious look. "How much do you know about them?"
"Everything in the computer's database," I replied, making a quick recovery. "I read it while Data went to tell you and Father that I'd returned. Mother, may I attend this conference?"
"Yeah, me too! Me too!" Eric piped up.
"No! That wouldn't be appropriate. Why would you even ask such a thing?"
Before I answered, I thought about how I'd once been allowed to participate in the mapping of the Delta Quadrant. Now after spending time in an alternate verse among a species of superior beings, I was not allowed to attend a simple conference. The irony did not escape me. "I thought it would be an opportunity to learn more about diplomacy." I paused. "It could help if I ever pursue a career in Starfleet." I had no intention of ever joining the Academy, but shielded that from Mother.
"Shannara, even if I thought it would be beneficial to have you there, I don't have the authority to approve it."
"But you're friends with Captain Riker, right? I'm sure if you talk to him, you can convince him to let me attend."
Mother placed her hands on her hips. "Look, I was devastated when you didn't return from the Continuum and yes, I'm frightened that you will go back and never return again. But if I allow myself to be intimidated by you, then our roles will forever be reversed. You are a Q and I am a mortal being, but I am still your mother and I expect you to show me the respect I deserve. This conference is between Akodians and Starfleet officers and children should stay at home where they belong."
I was stunned by Mother's sudden bravado. Until this moment, I'd been sensing deep apprehension within her. "All right," I said in a squeaky voice. "We can always do something together as a family tomorrow."
"Good and we shall. Lieutenant Miller will be arriving shortly to stay with you and Eric until we return." Mother held her arms out to me. "Now give me a hug and tell me you missed me as much as I did you."
I accepted her embrace, not fighting the tears. Great, I thought. I just came back from a year inside the Continuum and now I need a babysitter.
When Mother left the room, Eric asked, "Shannara, want to play a game?"
Before I wouldn't have even tolerated playing a game with Eric. Now, I welcomed him like hot cinnamon rolls in the morning. I produced a game of Kot-is-Skot from his closet and we sat down on the floor to enjoy our play. During the middle of our second game, Mother poked her head inside to let us know that Lieutenant Miller had arrived and that she and Father were leaving for the conference. She was pleased that Eric and I were getting along. For a while, I tried not to think about the Kezniak conference. After winning three games against my little brother, however, I longed for a challenge.
"Eric, would you mind playing against the computer for a while?" I asked.
"Why? Where are you going?"
"You're better off not knowing. That way you won't get into trouble." Quickly, I left his room before he could protest.
"Is everything all right?" Miller asked from the sofa.
"Fine," I said barely acknowledging her before retreating to my own room. Once the door closed behind me, I made myself invisible, then I Q-flashed off the Enterprise.
I flashed into the large auditorium where the conference was being held and scanned the crowd for my parents. Many species were represented here, most of them Federation members. On the far right side, I spotted my parents sitting with Captain Riker, Commanders Data and La Forge and Lieutenant Berlitz. I approached them.
The volume in the auditorium was loud as the attendees talked among themselves. I nearly reached the Enterprise crew before I grasped what they were saying. I wished I could make myself visible and actively participate in their discussion. I didn't understand what was so wrong about my being here.
"If we're not able to resolve this matter soon," Riker said, "the Akodians may terminate access to the wormholes."
"You don't think it's that serious, do you?" Mother asked.
"The Kezniak are a vicious, barbaric race," Father mumbled. "They don't care who they destroy to build their empire."
"Sounds a lot like Klingon history," La Forge commented.
"To close down the wormholes," Data began, "would require enormous effort. Although many of them would collapse by destroying the larger wormholes, which channel them, some would require individual detonation. I believe the Akodians would be wise to find another solution to this conflict."
"It is better for them to destroy the wormholes than for the Kezniak to destroy this galaxy!" Father argued.
Certainly, Father was exaggerating. The Kezniak couldn't be more of a threat than the Klingons ever had been. Then again, there were a lot of delegates at this conference.
Ambassador Picard stepped out onto the stage followed by an Akodian delegate. The room quickly quieted down as everyone raptly waited for Picard to speak. "Thank you all for coming here tonight," he said. "As you know, the Kezniak have proven uncooperative in the fair use of the Akodian wormholes. With Akodian sanction, I've made several proposals to the Kezniak, which I believe were compliant with Federation directives. The Kezniak have continued to prove quite hostile. They are an irrational coalition; one which I believe will quickly go asunder as fighting among themselves escalates. However, we cannot presume that we have the luxury of waiting for them to undo themselves.
"After long hours of debate, the Akodian high council and myself have masterminded a plan to prevent the Kezniak from becoming a powerful nemesis. We will aggressively guard every wormhole in the galaxy."
This caused a commotion among the audience. Many attempted to ask questions as though their voice would be heard above all the others. Picard held up a hand to silence them and slowly the room quieted down.
Picard then turned toward the delegate on stage with him. "Kelnik, perhaps you can enlighten our colleagues as to how we can make this possible."
The Akodian cleared his throat. He was nervous. "Greetings," he began. "We will begin by selecting our best armored warships. Then we will strategically place them near each of our bridge wormholes. The bridge between the pockets will be constantly monitored. Any unauthorized starships will be detained–by force if necessary. Hopefully, we will keep casualties at a minimum, but our main objective is to stop all non-sanctioned use of the wormholes." He nodded for Picard to take over again.
"As you must imagine, this will be quite an undertaking. However, we believe that the Federation is strong enough and vast enough to overpower our new enemy. We represent many races as you can witness here, now, in this room. We will not retreat. We will not lose our freedom to travel peacefully and efficiently among the quadrants."
This warranted an elevated applause. Everyone believed that the Kezniak would soon be defeated and that their wormhole privileges were no longer in jeopardy. Maybe they were right. Maybe the Kezniak would prove an easy enemy to defeat. I couldn't help wondering, though, whether the Kezniak weren't justified in planning their own counterattack.
I looked toward Captain Riker, who was clapping as vigorously as everyone else. Still, he was uncertain about the outcome of this conflict. He didn't want to see the wormholes systematically collapsed, but feared that the Kezniak would somehow continue to dominate less-advanced civilizations while the wormholes remained open.
I scanned the emotions of the crowd and found others who feared the same. And as the applause died down and Picard and Kelnik began to take questions from the audience, I didn't sense even a gradual decrease in their apprehension.
I peered into Mother's face. I could have taken care of the Kezniak problem with one click of my fingers, If only Mother would let me use the power of the Q.
If they would trust the Q and not see them as their enemy, then the Kezniak would not exist in the multiverse.
Having heard enough, I Q-flashed back to my bedroom and once again becoming visible, I ventured out to find my brother. Might as well beat him at a few more games of Kot-is-skot.
