Chapter 6

Mount Silverthrone, Alaska 2367

The bitter wind stung his face, and he swore as he slipped yet again. He jammed the toe of his boot into the crunchy snow. Scaling the icy rock face with very little equipment hadn't been his best idea. A few times, Will glanced sideways at his hiking companion and noted that he was totally focused on the ascent; probably because he had nearly fallen more than once. Will had chosen the least steep route to traverse, but they hadn't brought any safety ropes and had scrambled instead. "Total freedom. It'll be just like when I was a kid," he had explained to Picard, who had at first been skeptical of the invitation. Then, eventually Picard had agreed to come along, mostly, he said because he missed freedom. He hadn't elaborated, but he hadn't needed to; Riker understood.

Now, as they reached their stopping point for the night, the sun was dropping lower in the sky, and the temperatures began to plummet.

Riker fell on his side in the snow and struggled to get his heavy pack off. "I'm getting too old for this," he declared, breathing heavily.

Jean-Luc sat down and pulled his pack off, laughing while he did it. "This was your idea, Riker. I thought you were searching for your lost youth."

"Aren't we all?"

Picard smiled and shook his head with a yawn. "No."

"Maybe because you haven't aged in fifteen years," said Will, rolling out the temporary shelter. It inflated instantly, providing enough room for them to sleep and store their packs. The material radiated their body heat, and so as long as they were inside it, they wouldn't freeze to death in the below zero temperatures of the early spring.

Picard laughed again. "Maybe. At least not physically. But at times, I feel thousands of years old," he said with sudden gravity. His eyes flashed in the low light. "Perhaps I am."

Unable to think philosophically when he was hungry, Riker began rummaging for food in his pack. He tossed Picard a couple of sandwiches and the went back to rummaging. "I could use some coffee," he said, feeling his sore muscles already beginning to stiffen up. When he turned around, Picard was holding out his palm, above which a steaming mug of coffee floated.

"Here you are, my friend," said Picard with a small but generous smile.

"You still get a kick out of doing parlor tricks, don't you?"

"Yes." Jean-Luc sobered a little bit and waved his hand, creating a glowing fire in the middle of the snow to warm them. "Soon, tricks may be all I have left," he said absently.

Riker stretched out his long legs and took off his gloves, warming his hands. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Picard shrugged and stared into the fire. "Beverly loves firelight," he murmured.

Riker leaned back on his elbows. "You realize that she probably loves you more."

Picard pulled his hood down so that his face was obscured. "Hmph."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"That depends. Is it about Beverly?"

"Yeah."

"Then no."

Riker sighed and sat up. "This was a bad idea."

"What? Dragging me out into the wilderness to give me relationship advice?"

"I learned a while ago not to bother giving you relationship advice, Picard because you never take it."

"Oh? Then why did you drag me out here?"

"I didn't drag your ass anywhere," yelled Riker. "I invited you out here because you're my friend!"

"And? I feel some advice coming..."

Riker drank the last of his coffee, which was starting to develop a layer of ice crystals. "I want you to seriously reconsider joining that project."

"Is this an order, Captain?"

Riker laughed that off but considered throwing the empty mug at Picard's forehead, to knock some sense into him.

"Deanna cleared me after doing a thorough psychological exam...she seemed to think that it was fine a few months ago-"

"Not anymore."

"So...Counselor Troi sent you to do her dirty work?"

"Look...something's not right with project whatever-"

"Project Quantum," said Picard, deliberately.

"Whatever it's called, you're not doing it for the right reasons."

"Aren't the right reasons what is right for me?"

"Only if you're a selfish sonofabitch. Sometimes it isn't only about what's right for you. Think about your family, think about how they would feel if something happened to you."

"Something already happened to me years ago, Riker. And no one sees more clearly than I do how my family feels about it. I am a complete stranger to them."

Riker pointed at him. "That doesn't mean they want you to leave them."

Picard frowned. "Who said I was going to?"

"Beverly told Deanna that you moved out of her house."

Picard sipped the Earl Grey tea that had recently appeared in his hand. "I was only being courteous. Beverly and Jack needed their privacy."

Riker dropped the coffee mug onto the ice and it bounced away into the darkness. "What?"

Picard turned and fixed him with a quiet but intense stare. "I'm not the only one who has changed, Riker. That virus...altered Beverly. Whatever she may say about me, consider perhaps that it isn't all true."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this from you. You love that woman."

"And I always will. But lately, I have wondered if we are destined to be unhappy. Ever since I returned from the Q...or perhaps even before that, the choices we both made ensured that we would never be able to remain together."

Riker shook his head and leaned toward the fire. "My butt is freezing."

"Don't expect me to warm it for you," Picard remarked.

Riker laughed again, swearing at his friend, but noted that the fired seemed to grow much warmer. He glanced at Picard and could see an eerie light playing in the man's eyes. For a moment, he realized, it was frightening. But then Picard seemed to be himself again.

Will wiped some melting ice off of his beard and coughed. "I think I know why you're volunteering to let yourself and your power be experimented on, and it sure as hell isn't for the good of the Federation, as Nechayev would like us all to believe."

"Oh? You've discovered my motivations, have you?"

"You're still guilty."

There was a pause. "Could you be more specific?"

"About Tasha's death. You blame yourself."

"Yes," said Picard simply. "I do."

"Caine's doing his time for her murder," said Riker, resting his chin on his arm. "But it isn't enough is it?"

"No."

Paris France, 2369

Jack pushed his chair back and eyed his young assistant. "What's going on?" The hearings were scheduled to begin in an hour, and his patience this morning was lacking.

Alison hesitated, before tucking her datapad under her arm. "I'm nervous, sir," she admitted.

Jack laughed with more than a note of bitterness. "Welcome to the club!"

"In all seriousness, Vice-Chancellor...I have no intention of asking questions that embarrass your family and friends-"

He cut her off as gently as possible. "Don't worry; I know it's not coming from you."

"But...why two investigators?"

Jack rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. "Well...you've been appointed by the Council...and Talbot... let's just say Intel gave him his own set of questions to ask and we have no idea what they will be."

"I've done research on Talbot, and there's not much there, sir."

"Let's not go down that road, Alison. They picked who they picked and that's that."

"Sir, if there's some other political motivation-"

"There is!" Jack slammed his fist on the table. Chancellor Makon wanted him driven out in the most uncomfortable way possible, it seemed. Admiral Nechaye'vs offer played through his mind again.

He gathered himself and continued more quietly. "I appreciate the loyalty, Alison, but it's not your concern. The most important thing is that you carry out your duty as best as you can today. And tomorrow, I'll have to deal with the consequences."

Commander Geordi LaForge pulled his small travel bag over his shoulder as the small shuttle came to a stop. He and three other engineers bid the pilot goodbye as they filed out into the docking bay of Starbase 243.

He'd been stationed on Utopia Planitia for the last two years, building the new ships Starfleet demanded. It had been high pressure, exhausting work, and in some sense, he was glad to be called away because he needed a break. Unfortunately, a break didn't seem to be in the plans. His new assignment was "highly sensitive" and would require "significant technical contributions" from him for an "indefinite period of time". That was it. Take a shuttle to Starbase 243 and await further orders. Now, as he stood there with his suitcase hanging from his fist, things weren't immediately clearer. The docking bay was empty, except for his three shuttle companions, none of whom he recognized. For some reason, Geordi wasn't in the mood to do more than exchange pleasantries, so he simply waited in silence for something else to happen.

A few minutes later, the docking bay lights began to flash and the inner shield went up, protecting them from the vacuum outside of the bay doors. A sleek looking runabout entered and landed quickly nearby. As the hatch opened, a young officer waved them on hurriedly. "Come on, let's go!"

Geordi shook his head. "Rude," he grumbled as he stepped up the ramp, careful not to hurry. As he ducked into the main hold of the runabout, he saw a group of about twenty officers. Only one was familiar to him, and he broke into a beaming smile when he saw her. "Well, I'll be damned!"

T'Sara of Vulcan got up from her seat, and he could tell through his Visor that not only was she just as surprised to see him as he was her, but she was also pleased. "Geordi," she greeted him with a small nod. "You look well."

Despite himself, he reached out to hug her, but realizing his mistake, simply gripped her forearms enthusiastically. "Sorry, I'm just so happy to see you. How's Data?"

"Captain Data is operating within acceptable parameters," she replied.

"That's great to hear. Last time I talked to him, your ship was in deep space. What's going on?" he asked, as they sat down next to others in the crowded hold. "Did you get the same strange orders?"

"Yes. This arrangement is quite...odd."

"Agreed."

The runabout lifted off and moved quickly out of the starbase.

"Engage safety equipment, as we prepare to enter warp," the pilot's voice sounded on the intercom. "We'll arrive at our destination in 30 minutes."

Suddenly, the solar shields slid down over the windows and viewports, making it impossible to see outside.

Geordi pulled down his safety harness and watched T'Sara as she did the same. She had grown her hair long, and it hung down past her shoulders. She moved it out of her face carefully, apparently aware he was looking at her.

"Hey," he ventured slowly. "I forgot to say congratulations...I think you said you were going to Vulcan for a special ceremony-I mean, you didn't say what-"

"I traveled to Vulcan to be joined in marriage," she said. She tilted her head in his direction. "Science Officer Sovol and I were to be married."
Geordi closed his mouth, realizing it was hanging open. "Wow...I mean, congratulations. I've only met him once...nice guy," he trailed off awkwardly.

"Our union did not occur, as arranged," said T'Sara. "I chose not to proceed. Sovol was...displeased. He returned to his duties on the Jemison."

"You left him at the altar?"
"Vulcan marriage ceremonies do not have altars. But, if I understand your meaning...yes."

"Uh..." Geordi was carefully considering his next comment when the runabout shook violently. There was some chatter on the intercom, and then the sound of docking latches. There was something familiar about the sound, but at the time, LaForge didn't think twice. A few minutes later, he realized that his life had grown more complicated very quickly.

He felt like he was entering a dream, as he descended the ramp and stood with the others in a large cargo hold. A single set of quick footsteps approached. When Geordi's Visor registered the colors of this person, there was an instant familiarity, mixed with a new strangeness.

The young man standing in front of them addressed the group with an unmistakable air of superiority. "For those of you who don't know who I am, my name is Officer Wesley Crusher. You've been recruited for this project for certain special skills that you may or may not possess. We'll see. The only rule you need to know is that I'm in charge. If you screw up here, your career in Starfleet is over. Now that we've got introductions out of the way...welcome to the USS Enterprise."