**Dinner with the Officers**
Captain Picard needed some time to sort out the situation. His guests were understandably angry, a common feeling among anyone forced to deal with Q and his games. He offered a suggestion that might put them at ease.
"Perhaps you'd like to retire to your room until dinner?" Picard asked Logan.
Logan was annoyed with the situation and got the distinct impression he was being dismissed. He gave a grunt and a snort, but Dani spoke up.
"That sounds nice," she said. "I think we could use a breather."
"I'll have the ensign show you…" Picard started to say but Logan interrupted.
"I can find it," Logan said gruffly as he grabbed Dani's hand and headed out the door.
Picard stared at the door a moment before heading into Dr. Crusher's office. He sat down in front of her desk and sighed. Beverly never looked up from her screen, but stared in utter disbelief at her findings.
"Come and look at this," she said.
He stepped around and looked over her shoulder at the image on the screen. It was a human skeleton, covered in metal plates.
"Hmmm," he said thoughtfully.
"Wait until I show you his wife's readings," she said as she punched a few keys. "She's human, but her DNA has been drastically tampered with. I'm having difficulty even breaking down the components for study. They were not lying to us."
Deanna, who had been standing in the doorway, spoke up, "I told you."
"Where do we go from here?" Picard asked, more to himself than to them.
"They don't trust us," Deanna said. "We rate only slightly higher than Q to them right now."
"Well, that's not a very good comparison," Picard said with a smirk. "Perhaps we should have another meeting with the other officers to discuss a course of action. Beverly, I'd like you to present your findings." He glanced through the window to Guinan who was waiting patiently for him to get back to her. He frowned and sighed as he strode out to speak to her.
"I believe they are no threat," Guinan said quickly. "Unless you treat them like enemies."
"They are guests," Picard said. "Tell me what you know about them."
"Mutants are like anyone else, some are good, and some are bad. These two are the good variety," she said. "While I was on earth during the early 21st century, I found that most humans hated them… feared them. About the time I left, all mutants suddenly seemed to disappear, and no one seemed to notice. It was as if they never existed at all."
"But you noticed," Picard pressed.
"Changes in the time space continuum do not sneak up on me," Guinan said with a wise smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bar to run." She headed right out the door without another word.
Picard just shook his head. What could have happened to them? How does an entire race of people just disappear from existence?
*****
Back in their quarters, Logan and Dani settle in for the rest of the afternoon. Dani sat on the couch while Logan stalked around the room with a scowl on his face. She knew better than to try to make small talk, so she waited for him to collect his thoughts.
"Have you noticed anything about that captain?" Logan asked.
"You mean how familiar he seems? Yes, he reminds me of Charles," Dani said. "I like him; he seems to be an open minded deep thinker."
Logan frowned. "You're a softy, Dani. I think we are wasting our time here. I want to talk to that damned Q again."
"I don't think that will get us anywhere," Dani said seriously. "He is obviously too powerful to be threatened by us, and he finds our situation entertaining."
Logan sat down on the couch beside her and growled angrily. "I noticed."
"Let's just try to relax until dinner. Maybe they will have found something by then," Dani said optimistically.
Logan sat in silence for a moment, and then a smile slowly formed on his face. He turned to her with a cocked brow, "I'm not in a relaxed mood, but maybe you could help me with that."
Dani smirked at him, "Really? What did you have in mind?"
"Well, we've never been in space before, it's sexy, don't you think?" Logan asked as he pulled her into his arms and stood up. He crossed the room and set her on the bed.
Dani grabbed the zipper on the front of his Xmen uniform and started to unzip it provocatively slowly. Logan watched her with fire in his eyes until her hand neared his groin. He growled, grabbed her hand and placed it on his bear chest.
"Don't tease me baby," he rasped as he gently took her face in his hands and kissed her.
Dani orbed their uniforms off and wrapped her arms around him. They had a couple of hours to kill, and this was just what they needed, a pleasant distraction.
*****
"Thank you all for getting here so quickly," Picard said as he took his seat at the head of the conference table. "Dr. Crusher will share her medical findings of our guests."
"If you will observe the skeletal structure of Logan, you can see that he has extensive metal reinforcements implanted. The forearms house three blades each that extend from between the knuckles. His DNA shows many differences, though he is human. His ability to heal is staggering. His wife's DNA is obviously the product of extensive gene splicing. Her body metabolizes raw energy at the cellular level," Dr. Crusher said.
"It's all true?" Riker asked in disbelief.
"I assure you they have been truthful with us. They told me the enhancements were not voluntary, they were forced on them," Deanna said.
"So, the time travel, the story about their family… is all true?" Geordi asked.
"We are treating the story as fact until evidence shows otherwise," Picard said. "Cdr. Data, what have you been able to find out about our elusive Captain Jervis?"
"He's been spotted at several space ports all over this sector. There is no obvious pattern, I am checking with several other sources and waiting for a response," Data said.
"Well, stay with it and inform me as soon as you know anything definite," Picard said. "We'll adjourn for now. I'll see you all at dinner."
*****
It was nearly 1900 hours when Logan and Dani finally got dressed for dinner. Dani was finishing up her hair when their door beeped.
"I guess that's a knock," Dani said over her shoulder.
Logan frowned, but answered. He opened the door and found himself facing a young teenage boy.
"I'm Ensign Wesley Crusher," he said. "I was sent to escort you to Dinner."
"You're a little young aren't you?" Logan said bluntly.
Dani joined them in the doorway and smiled at the young man. "We're ready, Ensign, lead the way."
Wesley gave her a nod and said, "Right this way." He led them to the turbo lift and gave the order, "Deck seven."
As they stood in the turbo lift, Wesley tried not to stare at their uniforms, but he was curious. As a member of the bridge crew he was often privy to more than most, but not this time. He was surprised he'd even been invited to the dinner.
Logan noticed him staring and just sighed. Teenage curiosity was nothing new, so he decided to get it over with.
"Go ahead and ask," Logan said gruffly.
"I'm sorry," Wesley said. "Ask what?"
"Whatever it is that has you staring at my wife," Logan said.
"I beg your pardon," Wesley said. "It's just your uniforms, they are unusual. What does the 'X' stand for?"
"Xmen," Dani answered. "You wouldn't be familiar with that, but that's what it stands for."
"What does it mean?" Wesley pressed, annoyed by the condescending attitude.
"Professor Charles Xavier, or Professor X as he's sometimes called," Logan said. "He founded the Xmen, the X is for him."
The turbo lift opened and Wesley regarded them thoughtfully. "So you are…"
"Mutants, kid," Logan interrupted. "It ain't a dirty word, just a fact. Now, which way to dinner?"
Wesley led the rest of the way to the dining room. The door opened, and it was obvious that everyone else had arrived. The captain greeted them at the door.
"Thank you Mr. Crusher," Picard said, dismissing him. "Welcome Logan and Danielle. I hope you found your quarters comfortable."
"Yes, thank you," Dani said.
Logan just looked at the captain suspiciously and came out with the harsh questions first. "Did your doctor find anything interesting? Perhaps we're walking time bombs?"
Dani elbowed him in the ribs and Logan growled, but didn't even flinch.
"My wife is more polite than I am, but I don't care. I want to know what's going on," Logan said angrily.
"We are following up on several leads concerning Captain Jervis. We hope to have something definite by the conclusion of dinner," Picard said. "If you would like to take your seats, I believe the chef is ready to serve."
Logan frowned but gave a curt nod. He pulled out the chair for Dani and then sat beside her. When everyone was seated, the meal was served. First the servers brought out a salad and nothing looked remotely familiar to Logan or Dani. The lettuce, if you could call it that, was blue, and it was covered in strange cut vegetables in bizarre shades of pink, orange and purple. Logan cocked a brow and wrinkled his nose disapprovingly and poked at it with his fork. Dani just studied it like some science project. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying it, and Commander Riker just offered an explanation of the ingredients.
"Rygus twelve has an excellent collection of vegetables with flavors that are far more interesting than those on earth. The salad includes blue cress, pink bulbs, orange freck roots, and the purple ones are a squash," Riker said. "Try it, the dressing is quite good."
Dani boldly took a bite and pondered the flavors as she chewed. Logan watched her in fascination and waited for her verdict. She looked at Logan with a flat expression and said, "Taste it."
"What do you think?" he asked.
Dani frowned, "You take on an army all by yourself without flinching, but you're too chicken to taste a salad without reassurance? Taste it, Wolverine!"
Logan glanced around, and everyone tried to look like they weren't waiting for him to try it, but he knew they were. He took a bite and then smirked. "It'll pass for salad," he said.
Dani smiled in triumph. "You have succeeded in broadening our horizons, captain," Dani said with a smile. "Thank you."
"I'm glad you approve, just wait until you try the Tolerian pasta," Picard said with a smile.
The second course was served and everyone started to relax and talk. Riker was intrigued by their guests and finally decided to ask his questions.
"So, your wife mentioned that you are a soldier?" Riker queried.
"No, I only fight them occasionally," Logan said, trying not to look annoyed by the naïve question. "I'm a mutant."
"What exactly are the Xmen?" Worf asked suspiciously.
"I'm sorry, what was your job around here?" Logan asked the angry alien.
"Security," Worf said firmly.
"Don't trust us, eh?" Logan said with a smirk.
Picard cleared his throat and Worf glanced at him but Logan interrupted.
"No, that's okay. I'll answer that. When mutants started emerging on earth, people were afraid of us. They were threatened by our abilities and they wanted us all destroyed or locked up. Some mutants were understanding of that reaction, and tried to work within the system to change that, like Professor Xavier. But some mutants had been so mistreated that they were angry and bitter and met hatred with hatred. Xavier founded the Xmen to keep the peace for the sake of both sides," Logan said. He paused and looked at his plate. He could swear he saw the noodles moving. "So, is it supposed to look like this?"
"So, did you change things? Was there peace?" Picard asked.
Logan looked at the captain with a serious expression, "Eventually there was tolerance."
Dani put a hand on Logan's arm and he sighed and returned his attention to his food.
"So, what is it you can do?" Wesley asked Dani.
"I can absorb and redirect energy," she said lightly. "It's complicated."
"Oh, just show the kid," Logan said with a chuckle.
"Not in here," Dani said. "I might fry one of their computers or something."
"No, not that," Logan said. "Do something else."
Dani frowned, but it was obvious everyone was anxious for a demonstration. She glanced around the room and saw an empty chair. She orbed it around the room a few times and then put it back. She had everyone's attention, and she suddenly blushed, completely embarrassed.
"I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…" she stammered and then started to glow, but Logan grabbed her hand.
"Hey! Don't disappear on me," Logan said firmly. Dani's glow faded and Logan continued. "He asked for it, didn't he?"
"Yes, that was a most impressive demonstration," Picard said. "Now, what do you think of the sauce?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"It's just fine," Logan said.
There was a brief pause in the conversation, and then suddenly, Logan vanished. Dani leapt from her seat and backed away from the table.
"What the hell is going on? Where's Logan?" she demanded.
Picard was on his feet and barking orders. "Security, do a sweep of the ship for our guest, and any intruders…" his words trailed off suddenly when Q appeared in Logan's vacant chair.
"Don't bother," Q said. "He's gone."
Dani didn't blink, she just shot Q with a bolt of energy, but he simply reached out and caught it.
"Oh, really! Is that any way to treat me? I came to help you," Q said as he stood to face her.
"Q, what is going on?" Picard demanded. "I've had enough of your games."
"No more games," Q said firmly. "Play time is over. The continuum wants this matter resolved, and I have been given the order to do just that, however I deem fit."
"Then do it," Picard said.
"It's not that simple," Q said. "I will have to have a little help with this one."
Picard frowned but looked at the panicked expression on Dani's face and just sighed in defeat. "What do you need?"
"Just her," Q said as he pointed at Dani. He looked her in the eye and just asked, "What are you willing to do to save them, not just your husband, but all of them?"
"I would give my life," Dani said firmly. "Just tell me what I have to do."
Q gave her a serious nod and he and Dani disappeared from the dining room.
Picard just stood staring at the place where they stood. "Well, that is that."
Deanna was still reeling from the exchange. Q was holding back some information, she just knew it. "Perhaps for us," she said, "But what about them?"
*****
Dani found herself standing on a sand dune on a cold, unpleasant night. Q was standing beside her and he just pointed to a cliff just ahead.
"What's there?" she asked. "Is that where they all are?"
"Most of them, those who have not been sold off as slaves," Q said bluntly.
"Then let's free them and then we can go find the others," Dani said as she started marching toward the cliff.
Q watched her is silence for a moment and then appeared in front of her. "There is another solution," he said. "You could simply prevent this from ever happening."
"How?" she asked seriously.
"By changing the event that caused this timeline in the first place," Q said lightly.
"What event caused all this trouble?" she asked.
Q looked at her seriously and said, "Your birth."
"What?"
"You were created to destroy the mutants," Q said. "When that plan failed, they were simply removed instead."
Dani stared at the ground in shock. What would she be willing to do? Die? Never exist?
"You can prevent it, if you are willing," Q said. "The choice must be yours. That was my only condition."
"And what will happen if I do?" she asked with a lump in her throat.
"Everyone will go on as though nothing happened. You will not be born, and they will never know you, but they will live as they were meant to," she said.
"And Logan?" she asked. "What of him?"
"His life will not include you," Q said bluntly.
Dani closed her eyes and cringed. It was too painful to consider, but there was no other choice to make. "Then let's get this over with."
Q gave her a nod, and the pair disappeared. Q was certain of her answer, but her willingness to sacrifice herself still impressed him. It was one quality among humans that was admirable. He would take her back to the beginning and set things right. Then he'd gladly get his hands on the renegade Q that started this whole mess in the first place.
