Chapter 4

Jack waited as patiently as possible for the subspace connection to be made. He tapped his fingers nervously on his thigh. Apart from clear audio and visual, he had low expectations that the rest of this call would go well.

"Hi Dad," said the young man broadcasting from a secure channel from somewhere out in space. Not yet 21 years old, Wesley had made a name for himself in various circles already. Coming from a family that had been in the news more than most had probably helped him gain notoriety, but Jack also gave his son plenty of credit, for all it was worth.

"Hello, son."

"I'm pretty busy, Dad. How can I help you?"

"Wes, I'll get right to the point...there's an investigation going on into the disappearance of Jean-Luc."

"And?"

"And...I'm told that you are promoting this investigation."

"Your information is solid," said Wesley, looking somewhat bored. His gaze flicked away, distracted by something or someone in his periphery.

"I-is this some kind of way to get back at us for everything-"

"Look at you, making this about our dysfunctional family."

"Well...isn't it? If you wanted to find Jean-Luc, why ask us? You know we have no idea where he's gone."

"The only things I know are based on evidence. The things you tell me are most likely lies until proven."

Ouch. "Listen, have you thought about your mother-"

"Dad, has she thought about me? I know she hasn't thought about you."

"Your mother's been through a lot, Wes."

"Newsflash. Dad... what do you want? An apology for asking you questions you don't want to answer?"

"I don't have the answers you are looking for, Wes!"

"This is bigger than you and me, this is about a threat to our galaxy. Digging up a little family dirt and causing some discomfort is a small price to pay."

"I'm sorry that you couldn't say goodbye to Jean-Luc. I know you must miss him."

"No. I don't miss him and I don't care about him. He has valuable information that's all. This is why we need to find him before it's too late."

Jack was chilled by his son's cold tone and expression. "Who is telling you all this?"

"Dad, read the background a little closer. Look at the statement from the anonymous witness. Figure it out, because he won't be anonymous for too much longer, and then you're going to feel extremely stupid."

Beverly tossed the sheet away, and let all of her weight fall forward onto Felix. Their breathing was synchronized, as everything else had been between them. The morning breeze played upon her naked back, but the weather was already humid. After a few minutes, she rolled off of him and lay staring up at the ceiling. Eventually catching her breath, she turned her head to look at him. His eyes were closed and he was smiling. "You could have just told me about your posting by calling me," she said softly. "Why did you really come to see me?"

He opened his eyes and then shifted onto his side, resting on his elbow. "Besides you not answering your calls...I wanted to see you." He touched under her chin with his other hand. "Is that okay?"

"Of course...and I'm happy you showed up. But I am getting the sense that there is something more."

He bit his bottom lip. "There are two CMO positions onboard the Excelsior. I was hoping you might apply to be my colleague."

She frowned. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. The Excelsior is like the Enterprise on performance enhancers. It's essentially the size of two galaxy class starships and has two huge hospitals...like a small city." He trailed off, seeing her expression change. She didn't like talking about the Enterprise and he knew this. "The deadline for application is the end of next week, so you still have some time to research it and decide. I just...I thought it might be a great opportunity for you to-"

"To move on?" She looked at him with a deadpan expression before allowing a small smile to breakthrough. "I don't know, Felix. To a degree it's tempting, but it's a big decision." She sighed up at the ceiling. "Not that there is anything or anyone to tie me here on Earth anymore." Her heart grew cold at the thought of her estranged son and her forever damaged relationship with Jack. "I do miss the adventure," she said quietly, almost to herself. She looked at him again. "Who's the captain?"

"They haven't picked anyone yet."

"Hmph." She sat up in bed. "Well, it's something to think about." She got up and pulled on a nightgown. "I'll think about it when I'm in the shower," she promised over her shoulder.

Felix was attempting to fix the food replicator at least well enough to program some coffee when he heard the security system go off. Moving quickly to the view screen which showed his outside walkway, he saw a blonde man wearing a security uniform heading for his front door. Something about the man-made him immediately suspicious, but he didn't keep weapons in the house, and the man was wearing a Starfleet uniform. He approached the door and hit the intercom. "Can I help you?"

"Doctor Farmer?"

"That's me," he said. "I'm not expecting any visitors, and I'm not dressed for company."

"I don't mind," the man said mildly. "I have some very important information for Doctor Crusher."

Felix hit the door control and it slid open. He leaned into the doorframe. "Who are you?"

The man's eyes lingered on Felix's bare chest for longer than seemed appropriate for a security officer. "John Talbot," the man said eventually.

"Doctor Howard is unavailable at the moment."

"So I heard," said Talbot with a small smirk.

Felix's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"Your bedroom windows are open," said Talbot, pulling a tablet out of his neat uniform. "It's fine that she's unavailable. I just need to leave this with an adult. Which you certainly are..." He turned and walked briskly away to a waiting small craft, hovering above Felix's lawn.

Felix swore when he read the small screen. Steeling himself, he headed back into the house.

Beverly moved her wet hair away from her face and peered at the tablet intently. She scanned it a few times, before tossing it on the countertop. "Did you get the guy's badge number? This is some kind of sick joke, obviously."

"No...this guy Talbot was a little strange but seemed like the real deal."

"I don't believe that Jack would do this...I just don't. Not after everything we've been through. I mean, we can't be around each other for more than five minutes without arguing. There is absolutely no way he would want to dredge up the past. Not about this." She spat her coffee back into her cup with a disgusted face. "The replicator's still broken."

"You mean he wouldn't want to dredge up the past about Jean-Luc," he said, not letting her change the subject.

Beverly lifted her hand as though he had just tried to hit her. "Don't...just don't."

"I can't even say his name?"

"No! You can't!" She dumped her coffee and walked across the room.

Felix picked up the tablet. "The hearing starts tomorrow, Bev. This is real."

"What are they going to do to me if I don't show up?"

"If the information they are seeking is important enough to them, they could detain you for contempt."

"Well, then...I need a lawyer."

"Let's not think that way yet. You don't even know what they want."

"They want to torture me with questions about-about him."

Felix ran a hand through his short hair. "You never told me what he did to make you hate him so much."

"Because you don't need to know. And neither does some investigative tribunal. Besides, it's not why he left us."

"So you know where he went?"

"He went back to live with the Q. Isn't it obvious?"

"Not to me," said Felix shaking his head.

She stood with her hands on her hips. "I'm not talking about this shit anymore, today, Felix. Do you understand?"

He shrugged and moved away to pour himself a glass of orange juice. He sipped it looking at her over the rim of the glass. "Then let's be more productive and check your one thousand messages."

USS Jemison--Edge of Orion territory

Captain's Log: Stardate 4630.1 The Jemison has been called to the Natal star system to investigate a so-called anomaly, and, wherever possible to maintain safety for the colonists located in three Federation colonies in the same vicinity of the anomaly. The Jemison has also been ordered to continue collecting and processing data from the radio signals of unknown origin. While unlikely, there is a 1 and 1000 chance of the anomaly and the signals being related. Meanwhile, I have learned that my first officer will not be returning from her leave of absence as scheduled.

Data studied the information streaming into his console related to the Natal anomaly, as it was now being termed, while he simultaneously read the ship's personnel reports for the day. When he was finished with the reports, he picked up a datapad with readouts from the repeated signal and began calculations necessary to determine whether the signal was exhibiting any notable patterns.

Meanwhile, his comm. unit beeped and a message came in about Security Chief Ashley Howell. Sickbay reported that she was well and only exhibited a mild headache following her loss of consciousness on the bridge the day before. Data responded with appropriate levels of compassion and also inquired when she would be returning to her shift.

His computer terminal now began to beep incessantly, and he waved at the screen. Incoming Message from the planet Vulcan.

"On screen."

The face of his first officer blinked onto the screen, and she appeared as stoic as ever. Her skin had tanned from exposure to the hot Vulcan sun for the last few weeks. "Captain," she said by way of greeting.

"Commander T'Sara," he replied. "I just received confirmation of your temporary reassignment. The order was unexpected."

"Yes."

Data accessed his social program for appropriate banter. "I trust that you have had a pleasant time on Vulcan."

"I have not," she said simply.

Data hesitated. "I trust that your 14-day leave of absence was restful."

"It was not," she replied.

Data abandoned his social program for the moment. "Commander, news of your assignment did not include an end date for this temporary transfer, nor did it include the vessel to which are being transferred."

"Yes, Captain. My instructions were also...vague." She frowned. "The project to which I am being conscripted requires top-level security clearance. I regret that I may be out of communication for some time."

"Understood Commander. Live Long and Prosper."

"Peace and Long Life, Captain Data."

There weren't one thousand messages, but there were too many for them to listen to carefully.

"I can't believe Deanna called me five times, and I managed to avoid her each time," she murmured. "She must think I've lost my mind. Oh well..."

"Maybe you'll see her in Paris tomorrow. Maybe it's time to patch things up between you two," said Felix

Beverly rolled her eyes. "Something positive has to come out of all of this." She reached out to take a drink of the coffee they had walked to the corner shop to get, and scrolled through her computer terminal. Jack had recently been calling her more than was healthy, but then again, she was ignoring his calls. Was that healthy? Maybe not, but she was protecting herself, she rationalized. She clicked on the most recent message, and cut the audio, as the message showed up on the screen. "Bev, I've been trying to contact you for days now...I just want you to know, this isn't coming from me. If I could stop the investigation I would. Believe me, I've even considered resigning my appointment-"

"Oh Jack, it always comes down to your career, doesn't it?" Beverly murmured.

She continued to scroll through the screen, and almost skipped over a message from over a week ago. Picard. The name was seared into her brain, and her hand hovered for a moment, as she sat paralyzed. Felix came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. "What is it?"

"Jean-Luc's sister-in-law, Marie," she said in a dull voice. "Computer, play the audio message," she heard herself say.

Message from Marie Picard, April 10, 2369. "Beverly, my dear...I am so sorry we've lost touch over the years since-well, I don't need to say it do I? It's all so tragic, how people destroy all that is good in their lives. You know I always hoped he would marry you...somethings are just meant to be, you know? Oh Beverly, we need your help. Robert is in quite a state, and won't speak to anyone. About a month ago, a man came to LaBarre, claiming to be Jean-Luc's friend. He told us he knew where Jean-Luc was, and like fools, we believed him. He stayed in Jean-Luc's old room, and when he left it was in complete disarray, and he refused to tell us where Jean-Luc was. Robert was so furious, he beat the man severely until he fled. There's something in Jean-Luc's room I think someone needs to see, but I don't know who else to call. I know this is so painful, dear, but please come to the vineyard as soon as you can. Love, Marie."