XVIII.
Exhausted and dead tired, the five humans left the police station. By now, it was four o'clock in the morning, and just as they were stepping onto the street, two police cars at full speed, sirens howling, passed them by. However, they paid no attention, but were astonished to find Kenara was waiting for them. Beverly introduced her to Riker, Data, and Wesley, and she didn't fail to notice that Kenara's eyes were fixing on her son. Wesley didn't notice, too lost in thought about the final meeting with Tinaj, who said his goodbyes to him and his mother, with the words that he would be happy to see them both again.
Kenara chased them all into her vehicle. It was a bit cramped, but her house wasn't too far away. Although she had not enjoyed Crusher's and LaForge's brief visit in the afternoon, she didn't have the heart to leave the five people to their fate in the middle of the night and provided them with lodging - and a snack.
"Don't drink anything green," LaForge warned the young Crusher, as he was digging into the prepared delicacies.
Ten minutes later, they squeezed into a room Kenara made available to them. Geordi and Beverly reported what had happened at the castle, but couldn't provide any further details on how the Freres had responded to the reappearance of the chalice.
Wesley laughed as LaForge told him what the chalice actually looked like. "It's unbelievable what kind of an influence such a little abomination can execute," Geordi finished his remarks.
He fell silent as Kenara suddenly entered the room. Had she heard his last comment? Her eyes betrayed nothing; however, something more important seemed to concern her.
"Another attack was perpetrated on President Ktorn tonight," she said without introduction. "He survived but the leader of Les Allias is dead." For a moment, nobody knew what to say.
"Then it's over now?" Wesley asked, interrupting the silence.
#
Picard, Troi and the rest of the archaeologists were having breakfast together in the dining room when Goffryn came in and dropped the bomb.
"The leader of Les Allias is dead," he announced. "She tried to do an attempt on the life of the president tonight but was stopped."
Picard paused in his motion and involuntarily stroked his neck where he had been strangled by her only three days ago. Deanna sensed his reaction without him having to say a word.
Behind Goffryn's back, Brother Ishtay entered the hall. He looked from Picard to Larusso and then to Goffryn.
"Her death will leave a big impact on the rest of the organization," he said, thrusting his hands into the pockets of his robe. "Anyway, I've talked to my colleagues." He sat down at the table with the archaeologists and looked at them seriously one by one. "We have decided to hand the chalice over to the government. I think, especially after the recent incident, it is exactly the right time."
Goffryn nodded in agreement, looking at Picard and Larusso for confirmation.
"Agreed," Larusso said, knowing that there was no other choice anyway. The chalice belonged to the Freres and they had the sole right to decide how to proceed with it.
"We'll wait a few days until the dust has settled in the city," Ishtay continued. "If you like, you can be our guests for the time being." The archaeologists murmured their approval, but Picard shook his head.
"I would rather go downtown and meet my officers," he said firmly.
"Of course," Goffryn replied. "No problem. They are all safe at Kenara's." Deanna raised her eyebrows in surprise and Picard let out a relieved sigh. "It's a long story," Goffryn explained, "but I'm sure your officers can tell you that much better than I."
#
Three hours later, Picard and Troi were reunited with their colleagues in Kenara's living room. Kenara was not thrilled that seven strangers now romped in her hideaway.
"Basically we're done here, right?" LaForge stated. "The chalice is back, the secret is revealed, Les Allias is unguided." Kenara nodded eagerly, hoping she would soon have her home to herself again, but Picard disagreed.
"Not quite. I would like to witness the handover of the chalice to the government," he said, taking a sip of water. Kenara had spared them with green drinks this time. "You don't have to stay here, anyway. You've already done enough for me," he added softly.
Riker straightened his shoulders. "I think we can spare a couple of more days," he said, nodding at his colleagues cheerfully. He had no doubt Beverly would agree, but the others stated their approval as well. Kenara feared that she had to house the group for several days, but Picard dispelled her concerns.
"We will move to a hotel," he decided, getting up. His eyes fell on the crumpled photo behind the withered plant. "Isn't that President Ktorn?" he asked, surprised.
Kenara got up quickly in an attempt to snatch the photo out of his hand Picard had picked up out of an impulse, but she missed as he turned and held it up to the light. "And the little girl...," he stopped mid-sentence. All eyes were fixed on Kenara, who snorted, annoyed.
"Yes, that little girl is me," she finally admitted. "President Ktorn is my father."
Picard was taken aback, but Kenara wasn't to make any further comments. "I believe you wanted to move to a hotel?" she said curtly, retrieving the photo from him.
"Your father was almost killed tonight," Deanna said. "And you are sitting here with us, calmly as if nothing had happened?"
"I owe you no explanation," Kenara replied, nodding toward the door. The officers had no choice but to pack their bags. At the threshold, Picard turned around once more.
"Don't you want to be present when the chalice is handed over?" As an answer, she slammed the door in his face.
#
The next two days, the officers actually spent sightseeing and doing tours to the neighboring cities. Picard brought a generous sum and an apology to the Tauran, whom they had stolen the vehicle. He expected the man's anger, but instead he accepted his gesture of indemnity with unexpected friendliness and even offered him a free tour of the Tauran Museum of Local History, where he worked as the director. Beverly accompanied him, but was bored to tears after a short time by the Tauran's extensive tales. The captain, on the other hand, was thrilled.
"You are aware that you owe me something now," she remarked five hours later, when she and Jean-Luc had taken their seats in a small café.
"Whatever you want," he countered generously. Beverly smiled mysteriously and Picard realized he had just sealed his fate in one of her next plays. He closed his eyes in defeat.
#
Will and Deanna rented a vehicle, this time legally, and drove to the next town, that claimed to own the most beautiful botanical garden on Taurus.
"It can't be any more beautiful than the one on Betazed," Riker said, but gave in to Deanna's urge. Together, they strolled through the huge compound and marveled about the many different types of cacti. Some of them glittered in an unnatural way.
"Is this one for real?" Deanna whispered awestruck as they stopped in front of a sparkling plant.
"Sure," came a voice behind them that sounded familiar to Deanna. "That's a Juss Genera."
Roger Larusso smiled warmly at the two officers as he recognized Troi. He introduced himself to her companion.
"So," he said. "You are Jean-Luc's first officer. He told me all about you."
"Really?" Will replied cheerfully. "I hope he has not spilled all my secrets."
"Don't worry," Larusso assured jovially. "Your secrets are safe with me. Come on, I'll show you some very special exotic plants." With that, he abruptly ended Riker's and Troi's intimate togetherness.
#
At the Tauran Flight Museum Geordi, Data, and Wesley inspected the first spacecraft Taurus had released into space a hundred and fifty years ago.
"Unbelievable, that's how humanity started too, right?" Wesley whispered awestruck, barely resisting the temptation to touch the model.
Data nodded and took the occasion to celebrate a long monologue about the beginnings of interstellar space travel on Earth.
"Yes, Data," Wesley cut him short, exasperated after a few minutes. "I do know all that. The question was more of a rhetorical nature."
"Ah," Data said curtly, and seemed to pout.
Wesley had not missed the reaction. "Are you mad?" he asked, stunned.
"Mad?" the android echoed. It only took a fraction of a second to consult his internal memory. "Insulted, offended, hurt, miffed, huffy." He turned his gaze back to the young Crusher. "Yes, you could be right."
"I'm sorry, Data," he apologized. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Wesley never thought this could be possible. His mother had told him about the emotion chip, but he really couldn't wrap his mind around it.
"I forgive you, Wesley," Data replied magnanimously, nodding affably to him. LaForge gave Wesley an amused look. "I think Data is pulling your leg," he chuckled as he noticed the frown on Wesley's face.
Confused, Wesley realized that the android was laughing, too. It still sounded not quite natural, but much more authentic than a few years back and since he had no other choice, he joined in the laughter.