Chapter 34

"Data, let's test out the link-up," Geordi said, moving quickly to a work station. His hands flew deftly over the controls. He glanced up. "Let's try it without the refractive shielding first," he said, tapping a final equation into the console before stepping back. LaForge waved over a technician. "Marx, come here, we need your eyes." The man strolled over with his hands behind his back. Geordi nodded. "Just let us know what you can or can't see. Data and I will see if the doctor shows up on the rest of the frequencies," he said tapping the side of his Visor.

"Okay, sir," said Marx.

"I recommend that we run the program for only a few seconds, Geordi," Data said. "If Claudia is very sensitive to the presence of Doctor Harrow, she may suspect that we are attempting a ruse."

"Agreed," said LaForge. "Okay, here goes," he said, tapping his tricorder. Harrow instantly disappeared, and LaForge turned with a grin to Marx and Data.

"I can't see a thing," admitted Marx.

"Yet, it appears to be 96 percent effective in masking Doctor Harrow's physical presence."

"You're right, there's just enough of a shadow on the infrared wave length, to tip her off that something's not right." He touched a switch on his tricorder, and Harrow snapped back into view. "We'll need to use the refractive shield around him. That should completely mask him, at least for our purposes."

Data placed a tiny chip inside his tricorder and then placed it on the work station. "Initiate Data holo program Eve1," said Data, and the tricorder emitted a crisp multi-dimensional image of Allen Harrow in his space suit. "As Captain Picard requested, I was able to successfully integrate this holo image with Doctor Harrow's molecular trace pattern from the transporter memory banks."

"Looks just like me—in fact it is me, isn't it?" commented Harrow.

"About as close as it can get," Geordi said. "In any case, it'll do. If she runs a scan, she should read that it's you, unless she makes physical contact. The longer the holo program is exposed to the vacuum of space, the more degraded the molecular pattern will get. The good news is we'll only need a few minutes of her thinking that it's you floating out in space in distress before we power up and get the hell out of here."

Harrow looked at him. "Of course we are counting on her phasing the Eve off of the Enterprise as soon as she thinks she sees me." He paused. "How much time exactly do we need to warp away?"

Geordi tapped the smooth surface of the work station. "If all goes well, less than ten minutes. But anything can happen. And since propulsion is being controlled by Claudia it's not as though we can complete any test runs beforehand."

Harrow nodded, and averted his eyes. "I'm ready when you are," he said.

Riker turned to Deanna. "Well just a little while we'll either be thanking our lucky stars, or—"
Deanna put a hand on his arm. "Will, I don't need to hear the 'or', thank you very much."

"I'm just trying to face reality," he said tensely.

"I know," she said softly. "No matter the outcome, at least we faced it together," she said, taking his hand in hers.

He squeezed her hand and chuckled, despite the somber mood. "Still best friends?"

"Yes, always, Imzadi," she said.

"Commander Riker," came Data's disembodied voice over the communication channel. "We are ready to begin our vacation," he said.

Riker grinned. He had instructed Data to speak in code while on the comm channels to confuse Claudia in case she was using the Eve to listen in. "That's wonderful, Data. I'm looking forward to living it up," said Riker, who was in fact being very truthful, although just living would be preferable, vacation or no.

"Captain," said Riker, tapping his communicator. "Data's ready to finally let his hair down."

"Very good, Number One," came Picard's clipped tones. "I wish I could say the same. I'll be there shortly."

"Let his hair down?" Beverly stood med kit in hand, staring at him from the doorway of Wesley's room. She shook her head. "I'm not sure I want to know the details," she said. He had already told her some of the plan, and to her it seemed quite clever. Although she didn't say it to Jean-Luc, she was relieved that Allen would be safe through it all, and that he would finally be free of Claudia—that they all would be.

He motioned with his thumb toward the door. "I have to go to the bridge. We might not see each other for a while," he said. What they both knew is that they might not see each other ever again, if things did not go as planned. But they were not about to say such things right now.

Beverly nodded and smiled faintly. She struggled but her voice caught in her throat a bit. "Wesley's awake now. He's much more alert and he might even be able to eat something soon."

"Now that's a good sign," said Picard. He hesitated, before walking back towards Wesley's room. "I would like to say something to Wesley before I leave. If you don't mind of course."

Beverly was suddenly unable to speak. She simply moved out of his way, but found herself unable to take her eyes from him as he moved past her.

Wesley was sitting up in bed, propped against some pillows. Picard knelt down next to the bed. Wesley straightened slightly, and glanced up at his mother who was standing in the doorway. "Wesley," began Picard, keeping his voice low. "I have never told you how much I admire you…."

"Admire… me sir?" Wesley's mouth was agape with a dazed look of astonishment.

Picard nodded seriously. "Yes. You have gone through so much in your life already. And you have faced every challenge head on. Do you realize how rare that is?"

Wesley continued to stare at the Captain, unsure of what to say. He managed to close his mouth, attempting a more professional expression.

"You remind me very much of your father," said Picard quietly. "And yet you are your own person. Wesley…I saw the state of the dining room…and I know that you fought Claudia with all that you had in you." He reached up to his own collar and pulled one of the command pips off. He held it out to Wesley. "And so for your bravery…and what I expect will be your continued exemplary service, I hereby promote you to the full rank of Ensign, with all of the privileges and responsibilities that rank entails." He reached up and pinned the small button to Wesley's pajama collar.

Wesley looked down at it. "Sir, I don't know what to say. Except thank you," he added.

Picard smiled and stood up extending his hand and Wesley shook it. "Eventually we will get you a proper uniform, I promise," said the Captain, before turning to leave.

"Well, Jean-Luc, for what you just did for Wesley…I guess I don't know what to say either," Beverly said, as they stood at her door.

"He has earned it," he said simply. "And you don't have to say anything," he said. "You have already given me so much more than I could have asked for."

She moved in close and kissed him. "Good luck," she said forcing herself to pull away.

He smiled reassuringly, and let go of her hand. "Good luck to us all," he said, and then slipped out the door.