A "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Fan-Fiction Story - by Vicky
PART VI
EXT. OPEN FIELD – Continuous
DEANNA TROI, BEVERLY CRUSHER, GEORDI LA FORGE and DATA stand in the middle of an empty field exchanging quizzical and confused expressions.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
What the hell is going on?
GEORDI LA FORGE
(Scanning the field.)
Your guess is as good as mine, Doc.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
One minute I'm running tests in the lab, the next Q appears and brings
me – us – here.
DEANNA TROI
(Hands on hips.)
Wherever "here" is ...
At the sound of his name, Q suddenly appears in front of the quartet, a mischievous smile on his face.
Q
Someone's talking about me. I can feel my ears burning.
DATA
(Taking a step forward.)
An explanation for your actions would be appropriate at this time.
Q sighs and rolls his eyes in annoyance. With a snap of his fingers, an old-fashioned blackboard appears next to Q along with four wooden school desks in front of him, each officer automatically seated in one.
Q
Today's lesson, children, will be in the humanities.
Q writes the word "humanities" on the blackboard then turns to face the small group.
Q
Although it's something I personally find pointless and, frankly, something
I detest, I've discovered that humans feel the need to dissect the cause
of their emotions.
(Glancing at Deanna.)
Or to have others do it for them. Apparently it helps you people
understand yourself more clearly ... or something like that.
(Off-handedly.)
Whatever.
DEANNA TROI
Why, Q, that's almost philosophical.
(Tilting her head and narrowing her gaze.)
Who are you and what have you done with the real Q?
Q
(Leaning on Deanna's desk.)
Funny Counselor.
(Pauses.)
Here I thought I was doing a good deed by giving the four of you a
break from the humdrum Enterprise life you insist on living.
I'm offering my services in your personal times of need but Deanna
has just ruined that opportunity for everyone.
(Throwing his hands in the air.)
She seems to think this is all a big joke.
Q smacks the top of Deanna's desk causing her to recoil from the force of his action.
DEANNA TROI
(To Q.)
I didn't say that.
Q
(Putting a hand to his chest and feigning disappointment.)
I'm hurt, Counselor, I really am.
DEANNA TROI
(Whispering to Beverly.)
What did I do?
Beverly shrugs her shoulders in response. Q stares down each officer in silence before continuing.
Q
I don't know, maybe I'll take pity on all of you. Especially
if you fail to understand the underlying meaning of this ... activity.
After all, I wouldn't want you to not learn something from this
entertaining exercise in self-reflection.
(Smiling.)
Have fun!
GEORDI LA FORGE
(His brows knit in confusion.)
I still don't understand what ...
Before La Forge can finish his sentence Q is gone, along with the blackboard and desks. Q reappears after a few moments pass.
Q
Oops, I almost forgot the best part!
Q snaps his fingers and a flash of white light surrounds the quartet. When it dissipates, Q is nowhere around and the officers are no longer dressed in their Starfleet uniforms. Beverly is wearing a blue and white gingham dress, her hair in braided pigtails. La Forge is in a raggedy jumpsuit covered with patches of various colors and has a pointed felt hat – pieces of straw are visible at his cuffs and through holes in his suit. Data is wearing a clunky suit of silver metal and an upside-down funnel on his head. Deanna is a personified lion with her hair integrated into a curly mane and her body covered with a soft brown pelage, a long tail flicking behind her.
DEANNA TROI
(Surveying her altered appearance.)
Q!
* * * * * * * * * *
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise continues on its way to Starbase 628.
JEAN-LUC PICARD (V.O.)
Captain's Log – Stardate 53823.6. It's been almost an hour since
Q made his latest appearance on the bridge. Doctor Crusher, Counselor
Troi and Commanders Data and La Forge are still missing and presumed to
be with him, although we don't know where he's taken them or what "soul-searching"
game he's subjecting them to.
* * * * * * * * * *
EXT. OPEN FIELD – Minutes After Q's Departure
The QUARTET remains in the middle of the field still adjusting to their new "situation."
DEANNA TROI
By the looks of things, I'd say Q's transformed us into his version
of the main characters from Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
(Pointing to each person in turn.)
Dorothy. The Scarecrow. The Tin Man.
Deanna pauses and takes a deep breath.
DATA
(Helpfully.)
And the Lion.
DEANNA TROI
(Frustrated smile.)
Thank you, Data.
Data nods in response. Beverly walks in a small circle surveying the surrounding landscape.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
Assuming we're correct about this scenario ...
(Smiling.)
... and I'm quite positive we are, shouldn't there be a yellow brick
road somewhere around here?
As if on cue, a yellow brick road materializes under their feet, leading toward a forested area at the edge of the clearing.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
(Gesturing to the road.)
How convenient.
DATA
I suggest we follow it.
GEORDI LA FORGE
Seems logical to me.
The group walks along the road in silence. When they reach the forest, La Forge turns around and walks backward to address the others.
GEORDI LA FORGE
The way Q was talking, there must be some sort of connection between
all of this. I mean, aside from mere entertainment for him, what
do the Oz characters have to do with anything?
DEANNA TROI
Well, the basic plot focuses on each character asking the Wizard for
something important to them, something they feel they're missing.
During the course of the journey they become friends and learn to work
together to overcome various obstacles the Wicked Witch puts in their way.
(Adding as an explanation.)
My father used to read the book to me all the time when I was a little
girl – it was one of my favorites.
GEORDI LA FORGE
But we're already friends and have a strong working rapport with each
other.
(Looking into the forest at either side of the road.)
And I don't see a Wicked Witch nearby.
DATA
Geordi is correct.
(Thinking a moment.)
What if the characters we are now portraying could provide some clues
as to Q's intent?
(To Deanna.)
What did each of them ask for?
DEANNA TROI
(Brushing her hair from her face.)
It's been years since I read the book, but, if memory serves, the Lion
asked for courage, the Scarecrow for a brain, the Tin Man for a heart and
Dorothy for a way home.
(Wry smile.)
You know, in every instance of imagining life in the Land of Oz I always
pictured myself as Dorothy.
(Turning to Beverly.)
Always.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
(Jokingly.)
The mane a bit much?
DEANNA TROI
(Pointing at Beverly.)
Something like that.
Geordi holds up his hands to stop the group.
GEORDI LA FORGE
Let's think about our situation for a second, folks. The sooner
we figure out what Q wants with us, the sooner we can get back to the Enterprise.
(Pauses.)
Okay, each of us is matches up with a specific character from a children's
novel. Each of those characters was seeking something they didn't
have.
DATA
Maybe Q is implying we are incomplete. That we are seeking something
we lack, something we need.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
(Twisting a braid between her fingers.)
As odd as it may sound, maybe Q is being a humanitarian and doing a
good deed. He did mention helping us in a time of "personal need"
and that this is a "self-reflecting" activity.
DEANNA TROI
Wait a minute!
(Quickly turning to face Beverly.)
Bev, you're Dorothy. Dorothy asked the Wizard to send her home
to Kansas. Right now you're struggling with a decision about where
your home should be – on board the Enterprise or planetside at Starfleet
Medical.
(Clapping her hands together.)
That's gotta be it!
Deanna moves in front of La Forge and puts her hands on his shoulders.
DEANNA TROI
Brain. You need a brain.
GEORDI LA FORGE
(Laughing.)
Gee, Counselor, thanks for the vote of confidence.
DEANNA TROI
(Sheepish grin.)
Sorry. But you know what I mean.
DATA
Geordi and I have been trying to upgrade the transporter system with
no luck. Would that not qualify as an intellectual endeavor?
DEANNA TROI
Yes, I believe it would.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
Two down, two to go.
(Gesturing to Data.)
What do Data and the Tin Man have in common?
DATA
(Tilting his head.)
We are both mechanical. I have been aboard a "living spaceship"
called Tin Man. Doctor Ira Graves alluded to a musical theme related
to the Tin Man in my presence.
Deanna crosses her arms and purses her lips.
DEANNA TROI
(Shaking her head.)
None of those relate to your wanting of a heart though.
La Forge removes his hat and begins pacing along the road. After a few moments he stops and smiles.
GEORDI LA FORGE
(Pointing in Data's direction.)
But Data strives to be better than he is – to be more human.
And, if you think about it from a certain perspective, having a heart is
one thing humans value. A heart's strongly associated with emotion
and romance and empathy for others.
DATA
Excellent deductions Commander.
La Forge gives Data a slight bow of thanks and puts his hat back on his head.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
(Facing Deanna.)
That leaves us with you. How does a need for courage apply to
you?
Deanna takes a couple of steps away from the group and kicks at the ground below her.
BEVERLY CRUSHER
Deanna?
DEANNA TROI
(Quietly.)
It's complicated.
(Pauses.)
I do fit the Lion's profile though. Courage is one trait I could
really use right about now.
– End Part VI –
All "known" characters (c) Paramount, Star Trek: The Next Generation and all other relevant parties. This story was written for the enjoyment of other TNG fans and is not meant to infringe upon the copyrights of any of the aforementioned individuals.