Chapter 3

Jack strode down the hallways of the Federation's Paris annex, ready to do business. He had received a message from Nechayev earlier, saying something about an opportunity at Starfleet Command, but he'd been too distracted to read it. For the morning briefing, he'd read the reports and the Klingons were clearly alarmed by the loss of two of their colonies recently. The Cardassians had recently demanded a renegotiation of territory but had refused to reveal the motivations for this. He wondered if there was a connection. Had the Cardassians experienced similar losses recently? Always eager to expand their resources at any cost, the Cardassians were even more dangerous when desperate.

He didn't have to wonder for too long, because when he stepped into the dark meeting room, Alison, his aide was waiting for him with a very tense but composed expression.

He looked at his watch and found he was a bit early.

"Good morning, Vice-Chancellor," said Alison standing when he entered the room.

Despite her diplomatic background, Alison had graduated from Starfleet Academy several years ago, and the military discipline was evident. She was an attractive woman, but Jack was more interested in her abilities, which were substantial.

"Morning. At ease," he said grumpily, sitting down at the table. He grabbed a waiting glass of water, downed it, and then reached for a cup of coffee. "So, what have we got?"

"We've got about ten minutes before the meeting starts sir, so one major issue, and then a few minor ones..." She waved her hand over the tabletop and a hologram was activated between them at eye-level. It showed a map of the known galaxy, with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma quadrants clearly displayed. "As you are aware, sir, both the Cardassians and Klingons have approached the Federation this week with concerns about their territories." She reached out to focus on the Alpha quadrant. "It seems we also have reason to be concerned, Vice-Chancellor."

Jack slowly stood up, staring into what seemed to be a blank patch, where an entire star system should have been. He touched the spot on the hologram and said, "Computer, details on this area."

An anomaly appeared at stardate 4625.3. Anomaly is 22 parsecs in diameter, covering the Natal star system.

"Federation colonies there?"

Affirmative. That area is home to the colonies Julius I, II, and III.

"Substance and origin of this anomaly?"

Unknown.

Jack sat back down and looked at Alison. "Any word from the colonies?"

"Starfleet Security made efforts to reach out to colony authorities this morning, sir. No response yet."

"Population?"

"Roughly ten thousand inhabitants among all colonies."

"Well, we need to take steps right away-"

"Starfleet Command has already deployed a ship to that region to investigate."

He steepled his fingers, trying not to let the surge of adrenaline shake him. As a starship captain, he would have had an outlet. Here, he was just becoming tenser by the moment. "Make sure I get a direct report." He closed his eyes briefly. "You said there were minor issues as well?"

Alison suddenly appeared uncomfortable. "Some of the witnesses for Tuesday's hearings have been... reluctant to cooperate."

His throat tightened at the thought of seeing Beverly again in this context. He'd tried to contact her multiple times to give her a heads up that she would be served, but she hadn't been answering her calls. He'd considered flying to Jamaica to see her in person, but knew it was a bad idea for many reasons. "As long as they're all here when they need to be, they don't need to be happy about it."

After the meeting, in which the Klingon ambassador had made some interesting proposals, Jack, Alison, and Chancellor Makon sat in silence for a few moments.

Makon was an Andorian, who, for Andorians, was on the easy-going side. He had been Chancellor for the last decade, with Jack having been elected as his second just two years prior. They complemented each other well, but at the same time, Makon didn't seem interested in getting out of the way anytime soon to make room for Jack Crusher. A year ago, that had bothered Jack; now, not so much. His political ambitions had taken him to the very top, and yet now events had happened that had changed him, and he didn't appear to be returning to normalcy.

His time on the Q planet, which had lasted a few weeks, seemed instead to have been an entire lifetime. He and most of the other Enterprise crew had been infected by a sentient virus, and while he had been under the command of that virus, he had been unable to fully exercise his own will. Yet he had done many things that he had wanted to; things that had given him pleasure which at the time had seemed like true happiness. Now, living as himself again, he felt empty. He had admitted this feeling only to one other person. Beverly had also struggled after their return to Earth, and they spent months trying secretly to regain access to the feelings of euphoria and the connection they had shared while bonded with the virus. Although they hadn't intended to, it had resulted in further alienating Jean-Luc, who had responded in a reprehensible fashion. The way in which he attempted to exact revenge was unforgivable, and yet, Jack witnessed Beverly try to forgive him.

But it didn't work, and things got worse, in part because of actions Jack took that he now admitted had been wrong. The worst part of it all, for Jack, had been the impact on Wesley, who would never be the same. Wesley became closed off, even disdainful toward the three of them, and left for Starfleet Academy. While at the Academy, Wesley's knowledge about the universe and his ability to soak in any information he wanted to, reached superhuman proportions, while his emotional age seemed to regress. Jean-Luc had explained it away as residual effects from Wesley's brief contact with the power of the Q. He said Wesley's difficulties would lessen, but they didn't. Wesley graduated from the Academy in an unprecedented eighteen months. By the time that had happened, Jean-Luc had disappeared and hadn't been seen since. Wesley took the odd step of joining Starfleet Intelligence, causing him to cut off communication almost entirely with Jack and Beverly.

Makon was talking from the viewscreen, and Jack forced himself out of his disturbing memories. "Alison, would you leave us alone for a few minutes?" The Chancellor requested.

Alison nodded with a curt smile. "Of course, Chancellor. I will be out in the hallway if you need me."

When she was gone, Makon turned his full attention to Jack, and he didn't look pleased. "Jack, my assistant messaged me this morning, indicating you contacted a witness to tip them off about the upcoming hearings. Is that correct?"

Jack paused. Shit. "Yes," he admitted. "But I didn't actually make contact with her."

"Let us be clear that this was your spouse...?"

"Ex-spouse," Jack clarified. " But as I said, I never actually talked to her. I left her a message...maybe a few messages."

"Semantics!" The Andorian's antennae flattened on his head with disappointment. "Why would you do such a thing, knowing you will need to be present to hear testimony? Unless your intent was to sabotage your own investigation!"

Surprised, Jack slapped his chest. "My investigation? This wasn't my idea, and I've been kept in the dark on this!"

Makon grew very still. "Really...well I just assumed that you were well aware of the motivations behind this."

"I know that a man, a man I haven't seen in person, by the way, showed up about a month ago at Command in San Francisco, and said that he had information that could save our galaxy from some vague threat. And I know that this man claims that Jean-Luc needs to be located as soon as possible. Aside from that, Chancellor, I don't know what you're talking about."

Chancellor Makon's blue-ish skin grew two shades darker. "This investigation was not only pushed on us by Starfleet Intelligence-but the person who is spearheading this effort is your son, Vice-Chancellor."

When Jack left the meeting with Makon, he finally listened to the message Admiral Nechayev had sent him. "As you probably already know Mr. Vice-Chancellor, events are taking place in our galaxy which will require more than your political skills. We need starship captains, Jack. If you're interested, I have an opportunity that in my opinion, you would be a fool to turn down. And no hard feelings about that subpoena. I know you're doing what you believe is right Jack. You always do. Let's talk more on Tuesday.

Seeing Felix again gave Beverly a sense of calm and reassurance. She'd been on and off with Jack for twenty years and had come very close to marrying Jean-Luc, and committing her life to him, only to finally come to terms with the fact that he was a stranger to her. Felix was easier to be with than any other person she'd dated, and they shared a whole career in common. He looked out for her, and was very protective, but knew when to back off; he had learned that the hard way with her. She enjoyed her time with Felix, but had made clear she was not in this for a lifetime relationship. She knew it would be unfair to be dishonest with him when he seemed so much to care for her. He had had an affair with her, causing the break up of his relationship with Alyssa Ogawa, her friend, and colleague. He claimed that they had been on a break when this happened, but judging by Alyssa's reaction, that hadn't been the case. At times, she felt guilty about her actions, but she knew that she had changed, and not for the better.

Her experience with the viral entities had left her confused. After leaving the Q planet, she had never quite felt herself again. This confusion only enhanced the turmoil that had transpired within her and all around her after they returned to Earth. Her relationship to Felix, whether he knew it or not, was part of that confusion, that turmoil. She had physical needs that it sometimes seemed could not be satiated and trouble managing her emotions. She had obsessive tendencies she hadn't had before and frighteningly vivid dreams. Lately, she had headaches. Headaches that were not alleviated by medication.

An hour earlier, he'd pulled a used hypospray out of his pocket, quietly confronting her. They'd been down this road before. "It's prescribed," she had insisted. "What do you want from me, Felix? It makes me feel better. Trust me, the real me isn't fun to be around right now."

"And why's that?"

"You know why...we've talked about this before."

"This is more than depression, Beverly-and that would be bad enough. If you think you are experiencing residual symptoms from that virus, we should get you back to Medical and have you properly treated."

"Who do you think you're talking to?" She had shouted at him, coming close to smashing an antique plate on the counter. "I am the foremost expert on extraterrestrial pathogens at Starfleet Medical, Felix. I've traveled through space studying lifeform after lifeform, and if I can't treat my self, then no one can!"

Now, calmer and with a glass of wine in her hand she stood in Felix's kitchen, finishing up a dinner that she had partially made with local ingredients, and partially replicated. "I think I may have broken your grandmother's replicator, Felix," she called over her shoulder. "Sorry."

"It's okay," he said, from the couch where he was reading a book. "I meant to tell you it was already pretty much shot when you moved in here."

"Ha. Anyway, dinner's ready," she said, carrying two shallow bowls to the table. She set them down carefully, suddenly feeling wonderful that someone else was here to share dinner with her.

He joined her, grabbing her hand and giving her a kiss before sitting down. "This is wonderful, thank you."

She sat down across from him and fiddled with her spoon for a minute, while she watched him try his stew. "I'm sorry about what I said to you before. You've been so gracious to me, letting me stay here in your family's beautiful home. And you...you're such a kind, beautiful man-"

"Beverly," he said, taking her hand. "I love you. And if you need to yell at me because you are hurting, that's okay."

She put her palms over her face. "Felix, I've told you...I can't-"

"I know. You don't have to love me back, Beverly. And you don't have to tell me you love me to make me feel better," he said softly. "Now, can we eat this wonderful stew you cooked?"

When dinner was over, Beverly sat back in her chair, feeling her head dizzy from the wine. "I know this is a weird request, but can you help me go through my messages tomorrow?"

"I was joking about you not returning calls," said Felix.

"Yes, well, I haven't returned anyone's calls, and haven't checked my messages in days."

He laughed. "Shit. Okay." He cleared his throat and stood up from the table, grabbing his plate then hers. He tossed them into the waste recycler before turning back around to find her standing there. There was a longing in her eyes that he knew came from someplace very deep within. A place where he might never be able to travel, because someone else had, and had left his mark there forever.

Gradually, the longing turned into lustful amusement. "Felix?"

"Hmm?"

She tugged at his waist. "Let's go to bed."

2367 Summer

She stood in her doorway and moved aside as he moved by her stealthily. There was guilt written on his face, but also something more telling; failure.

"Where have you been?" she demanded. "You've been gone for three days! I've been worried sick."

"Have you?" Jean-Luc spun slowly back around to watch her with his probing expression.

"Yes." She walked to him and grasped his shoulders, kissing him. He didn't respond, so she kissed him harder. She started to undress and then began to do the same to him, but he backed away. "What's the matter?" she whispered into his neck. "You don't want me anymore?"

He pulled back to look at her. "I wish it were that simple." He started to close up her shirt, and she hit him across the face. He put his hand up defensively but walked away to the other side of the room. He held out his palm. "Stop. Don't come any closer. Not until I tell you what I've done..."

Thanks for reading and always love to see your commentary/reviews. Peace out! -PP