Chapter 7

Paris, France

Beverly was drying her hair and half-listening to the news reports when an alarming story caught her attention. She had been absently staring at the view from her hotel room when the reporter began speaking. As she moved away from the window she bumped into the small robot that had been circling her head, gently blowing warm air onto her hair. She swatted it out of the way and walked closer to the audio.

"The sixth reported star system to go missing in three weeks, the sudden disappearance of the Gendera colony close to the Neutral Zone has many Federation citizens wondering if the Romulans are to blame."

"Pause."

Beverly turned to Seth, who had been sitting cross-legged on his bed playing a game. The game consisted of three small anti-gravity spheres, which he was deftly keeping aloft with his fingertips. He paused in mid-motion and looked at her with concern.

"Did you hear that?" Beverly asked slowly. "Entire star systems don't just disappear. Resume."

"Federation leadership has been largely unresponsive to requests for comment, with the office of the Chancellor recently stating: 'We are closely monitoring the situation. The safety of Federation colonies is our priority at this time.' Starfleet Command informed the press this morning that '...a thorough investigation is underway,' but refused to elaborate further."

"Typical," Beverly said.

"In other news, Starfleet science vessel USS Jemison has gone missing. Reports say that the state of the art vessel, commissioned just two years ago, stopped all transmissions just over one Earth day ago while exploring an anomaly. Officials have refused comment."

Beverly gasped."Oh no...that's Data's ship!" Her immediate instinct was to call someone and find out what had happened. But who would she call? Jack would know what had happened, but she didn't really want to speak with him until absolutely required. After years of traveling onboard starships, it was an odd feeling to be on Earth, completely out of touch with the life she once knew. Technically, she was on leave, but still in Starfleet. Until the last few days, she hadn't thought much about going back into space. Now, something about hearing of these new dangers and Data's disappearance made her mind begin to race and her concerns grow.

She thought back to Felix's offer. She hadn't committed to a relationship with Felix, and again was trying to be fair with him, given her ongoing relationship troubles. But that didn't mean she was being completely honest with him, and that made her feel guilty. No matter what happened, she enjoyed his company and his friendship; two things she felt were rare for her right now. Joining the Excelsior crew would be a new challenge. New people, with the exception of Felix, and new adventures. It was tempting.

"I think you should do it," Seth said.

She glanced over sharply, to find him playing his hand-eye coordination game again. It had been so long since she had seen him, she had forgotten what it had been like to live with someone with empathic, even telepathic abilities. "Were you just reading my mind?"

"Sorry," he said, sounding mildly embarrassed. Now that he was a teen, he might think twice about casually invading the thoughts of a grown woman.

"It's okay, just...can you block out my thoughts?" She knew it wasn't so simple as to tell him to stop what he was doing. It would be like telling her to stop thinking; it was part of his psyche. "There are certain things that I would like to keep to myself."

"Sure," he said easily. "Guinan taught me some new techniques over the last couple of days. I was out of practice hanging out with Marco for so long."

Her immediate reaction to hearing Marco's name was one of anger. As far as she was concerned, Marco had stolen Seth from her and Jean-Luc during an incredibly vulnerable time in their lives. It was wrong of him, and there would be little forgiveness from her if she ever saw the man again. She walked over and sat down next to him, taking his hand. "I'm glad you're back...even just for a visit. What happened with Marco?"

"Marco? He's taking care of some stuff."

"Some stuff...okay, well I guess that's good enough for now. So this...arrangement with Guinan is only temporary?"

"I guess..."

She squeezed his hand. "Please tell me that you've been okay these last few years. That you've been happy..."

He smiled. "Yeah. I've been fine. I missed you and Wes though...and Jean-Luc." He was watching her searchingly now with his bright green eyes. How much had Guinan told him and how much did she know about Jean-Luc's disappearance? Apparently she knew something if she had been called from the far-reaches of who knows where to come to Earth and testify.

She smiled back at him but somehow could not find the right words.

"Have you been happy Beverly?" Seth's smile had retreated and he was again looking at her with deep concern.

She was quiet for a few moments while they looked at each other. "No." She got up from the bed and paced away. "When you were listening to my thoughts earlier-uninvited-what did you mean when you told me I should do it?"

"You should take the posting on that ship. That would be awesome. Just like the old days."

"The old days," she said softly. "Right." She took a deep breath. "If I managed to get a position on the Excelsior, would you go with me?"

He grinned. "Can Guinan come?"

She laughed. "I'm getting ahead of myself, but yes, I would try and make that happen if she wanted to come. Of course."

He nodded, and lounged back on the bed, resuming the anti-grav game, as if everything was settled, when the inside of Beverly's mind was anything but.

"Are you worried about the hearing tomorrow?" he asked. The boy was persistent, that was for sure. She had learned that she would not have to testify until the second day of hearings, and for this, she was somewhat grateful.

"She sighed and poured herself some water. "Yes. Although there's nothing I can do now to change the past, so talking about it, shouldn't be that hard," she tried to reassure herself.

"Guinan told me that one day Jean-Luc just decided to leave, and so he did. Is that true?" Something about Seth's voice was dubious. Whatever Guinan had told him, hadn't satisfied his curiosity.

"To be honest with you, I don't know if it's true," she answered quietly. "The only person who truly knows why Jean-Luc left, is Jean-Luc."

36 hours ago- Natal star system

Anomaly is 32 parsecs in diameter. The object is diffuse with no discernible core or well-defined boundaries. Molecular composition: unknown.

"Proceed at our current heading, one quarter impulse power," said Data. The computer's description of the bright white expanse in front of the Jemison was accurate but did little to calm the nerves of his bridge crew. Data's decision to enter the anomaly was based on a series of calculations both he and the ship's computer had made, and though it may have seemed risky to his mostly human crew, it was hardly riskier than the average trip through space.

Data's ship had been deployed to this sector, or what remained of this sector to investigate, and of course, that was what Data was doing. The most pressing issue for Starfleet at this time was the three Federation colonies that had apparently been swallowed up by the anomaly. This area of space had once been home to several planets, a dozen moons, and thousands of beings. Now it housed at least according to sensors, only this anomaly.

Less than one minute after entering the anomaly the trouble started.

"Shields are being drained," Ashley Howell reported from tactical.

"Compensate," said Data.

"We're taking damage!"

"Source?"

"Unknown! Shields at 60 percent...40 percent..."

Data studied the readouts as quickly as they came in. "Increase speed to warp one. I am directing the heading to navigation."

"Sir," said the helm officer. "We'll be flying blind."

"Our sensors are operational, ensign. Engage."

"Aye sir, course laid in and engaged."

There was the customary flash into warp, and then the bridge went dark.

"Warp was successful, captain. We've reached the coordinates you programmed."

"Shields are fully restored. Hull is undamaged," Howell reported, sounding as surprised as everyone felt.

Data too had not known what to expect. They had traveled further into the anomaly, and yet at warp speed, they should have exited it. However, they remained surrounded by the same white expanse.

Suddenly, the bridge was filled with the echo of an eerie tone, which rang repeatedly.

Data shouted over the raised voices on the bridge. "Computer, confirm this signal is identical to that which we first recorded in Nebula 3544."

Confirmed.

As the signal persisted, some crew were clutching their ears protectively, while others huddled at their posts.

Suddenly the noise snapped off. Data turned to once again find Chief Howell unconscious. This time she was slumped forward over the tactical station. Blood dripped from her nose onto the deck.

"Captain!"

Data turned to find the main viewer had activated. A simple message was displayed: HELP. OR DIE.

Paris

Jack stood in front of the hearing room door. The Chancellor and the Federation Council were already inside and waiting for him. He straightened his dress uniform and sucked in his belly. He'd put on weight over the last few years working a desk job, and it was just one among many things that currently irritated him. But it wasn't even close to being the real source of his anxiety.

"Hello, Jack."

He nearly jumped out of his skin. "Guinan," he said, smoothing his hair nervously. "How are you?"

His old bartender approached, looking pretty much the same as she ever had. "I'm good."

"Okay...I'd love to catch up, but I have business to attend to. And if I'm correct you're not testifying until tomorrow. We really shouldn't be talking-"

"I've come to deliver a warning," she interrupted quietly.

Jack took a step back. "What?"

"It's for the Council," she clarified. "But I was hoping since you and I are on a first-name basis, that maybe you could deliver it for me."

He sighed. "What are you talking about?"

"You had better be careful who you place your trust in. No matter what he says happened to him, or how pathetic he appears, he's still Q. And Q is a liar."

"How did you find out he was involved?"

"I stumbled upon some information," she said. "And the one thing that you cannot let him do, is to control the narrative. Q has always been about self-preservation."

"He says the Q Continuum took away his powers, abandoned him, and left this galaxy. He says he's mortal now and is afraid to die."

"That may be so. All the more reason to be suspicious of him and anything he tells you."

Jack smiled tightly. "Thank you. I'll take this all under advisement."

Guinan adjusted her hat. "Have a nice day."

Chancellor Makon had opened the hearings with a brief statement about the need to reveal the truths of the past to save the present. Jack tried to keep his face neutral, as he sat alongside Makon and the nine members of the Federation Council. He had serious doubts about why the Council or Starfleet Intelligence, for that matter, was so focused on Jean-Luc, especially now that the galaxy appeared to be going to hell. Nothing that he had seen recently had any connection to his missing friend; except the sudden reappearance of Q, who was reportedly enjoying his temporary stay in one of the city's finest hotels.

"State your full name and rank for the Council please," said Makon.

"Fleet Admiral Alynna Anya Nechayev. Second, only to Admiral Naguchi, I am the highest-ranking admiral actively enlisted in Starfleet." Alynna Nechayev sat with her slim hands folded neatly on the small table in front of her as she surveyed the members of the Federation Council with studied disinterest. She was there to fulfill a duty, nothing more.

"Thank you, Admiral. Do you sincerely affirm that the evidence given by you today will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"I do."

"And do you promise to uphold the ethical principles set forth in the Federation Charter?"

"Yes."

"Very well then. We shall proceed Ms. Igby." Makon nodded to Jack's assistant, Alison Igby, who had been conscripted to serve as one of the inquisitors of this hearing. Jack hadn't seen the questions she would be asking, which had been prepared ahead of time by the Chancellor and the Council. In addition, a second inquisitor, a Starfleet Security officer named John Talbot, would be asking questions on behalf of Starfleet Intel. Jack wondered as he watched the wiry blond man sitting there almost casually if Wesley had chosen this man specifically, or if perhaps his son had exaggerated his involvement in this whole affair. His heart jumped and he felt queasy as he imagined Beverly sitting there in Nechayev's seat tomorrow.

Alison looked as nervous as Jack had ever seen her, as she approached the first witness. Jack knew that Alison idolized Admiral Nechayev, who was looking at the young woman as though she was a speck of dirt.

"Good morning, Admiral," said Alison.

"Is it?" replied Nechayev coolly.

Alison licked her lips nervously. "Admiral, how did you know Jean-Luc Picard?"

"Captain Jean-Luc Picard and I have known each other as friends and colleagues for 25 years."

"You thought highly of him then?"

"Young lady...Captain Picard is not dead. Please refer to him in the present tense."

"But...you are aware that he has been missing for roughly 18 months, Admiral?"

"Yes."

"Do you recall your last meeting with Captain Picard?"

Nechayev for the first time appeared somewhat disturbed. "Yes."

"Could you elaborate, Admiral?"

"It was about four months before he disappeared officially. We...had words."

"You were angry with each other?"

"I didn't say that. But we had a disagreement."

"Did you discuss his future plans?"

"Not that I recall."

"Do you have any knowledge about where he currently might be?"

"No."

"I don't have any further questions for this witness. Thank you for your service, Admiral."

Nechayev gave a slight roll of her eyes as the young woman turned to walk away, but her face broke into an obvious scowl when she saw John Talbot approaching.

"Admiral Nechayev, my name is John Talbot...it's a pleasure meeting you," said Talbot with a smooth smile.

Nechayev did not reply but settled back in her seat watching him carefully.

"I find it interesting that you just referred to Jean-Luc Picard as 'Captain Picard'. But he hasn't been a captain for several years now, isn't that correct?"

"Yes."

"And why is that?"

"He was temporarily suspended from duty."

"So he was stripped of his command?"

"That's a mildly insulting way of repeating what I just said. The fact is, he was suspended temporarily in late 2365. He then chose to resign from Starfleet, against my wishes."

"Who gave the original order to suspend Picard from duty?"

"Technically, I did," she snapped. Her eyes flicked over to Jack. "But there were others involved."

"So it was you," said Talbot. "And wasn't it also you who suggested Picard allow himself to be experimented on? So that his famous Q powers could be studied? Sounds like a strange thing for a friend to do."

She raised her chin. "It was a mutual agreement at the time."

"You're referring to Project Quantum, aren't you, Admiral?"

"No...it seems that you are referring to Project Quantum, Mr. Talbot."

He smiled thinly. "Who ran that project, Admiral?"

"This is a matter of public record," she snapped. "Anyone can look this up now. There are no secrets anymore."

"Answer the question, please Admiral," said Chancellor Makon.

"Gilda Stern."
"Ah...Ms. Stern was at the time, head of Starfleet Intelligence, isn't that correct?"

Nechayev leaned forward. "Wouldn't you know the answer to this question? You are an intelligence officer aren't you Mr. Talbot? Or perhaps you were still a lowly prison guard at the time."

Talbot jerked backward as though she had slapped him. After taking an awkward moment to compose himself, he continued on. "Let's clarify for the record that Gilda Stern was head of Starfleet Intelligence between 2365 and 2368."

"Admiral, when did you become aware that Officer Stern was not human?"

"That's rather complicated, but I suppose that I suspected it for some time before there was any proof. Why does that matter?"

"Well because she was a Q...is that correct?"

"Yes."

"So a Q was running a project to study the Q."

"What is your point?"

"Perhaps you should tell us what the point of such a project was."

"It was as you described it. Captain Picard volunteered to provide Starfleet with knowledge about his powers so that we could better understand the Q."

"You wanted to weaponize his power, didn't you? And Stern disagreed."

"Gilda Stern was a spy for an alien race that has so far treated humanity like an experiment! I wanted humanity to gain some ground on the Q, and Jean-Luc wanted to help me to achieve that."

"What happened to Stern?"

"Again, this is public record. Stern was forced out of Starfleet once it was revealed who she was."

"Where is she now?"

Nechayev paused. "I don't know. I always assumed that she returned to the Continuum."

"And did you assume that she took Picard with her?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"They detested each other. I can personally attest to the fact that there was nothing but hate between them."