Chapter 13

In person, the Ciapathians were curious to look upon. Even more curious was that Premier Fon, his chief scientist Dr. Petral, and his Chief of Arms Reth appeared physically very different than Representative Del, who to Picard's surprise came alone. Although all of the Ciapathians had bright red skin, Premier Fon and his entourage were of noticeably lighter complexions, and to a person they were considerably taller than Del. They all shared the distinctive forehead to chin ridge in the center of the face, and all had light blue eyes. Perhaps these are the two dominant ethnic groups, thought Picard.

To the Enterprise crew's slight discomfort, Chief of Arms Reth had brought along what they could only assume was the equivalent of a guard dog. Reth held onto the hissing, growling creature with a short energy chord, which he held tightly. The creature resembled a giant black insect with snapping pincers at the front of its mouth. It made Riker reconsider having left his phaser behind. Reth himself was taller than Riker and very broad shouldered. He said nothing, but a cold smile was fixed on his thin lips as he glanced around at the ship's interior, and its crew. Riker noted that a nasty looking whip was coiled at Reth's hip.

Dr. Petral stood very still, with his hands behind his back. His eyes were shielded by a strange-looking ruby red visor, not very similar to the one Laforge wore. Like Reth, he remained silent.

Fon was tall and imperious, while Del was short and stout, and completely bald with a long beard. They both stepped down from the transporter pad at the same time. "Captain Picard," Premier Fon said, extending his hand. "I greet you in the traditional manner of your people." He smiled, but it seemed artificial as though he had been practicing with some difficulty for this moment. Practicing no doubt, just as Picard had been.

Picard stepped forward and clasped his hand. "Premier Fon, on behalf of the United Federation of Planets, it is a pleasure to meet you. And Representative Del," said Picard offering his hand. "A pleasure to meet you as well. Welcome aboard the Enterprise."

Del broke into a wide smile, revealing large white teeth. "This may prove to be an interesting adventure, Captain." He glanced around him. "A beautiful ship, indeed. My wives will be impressed."

"Hi Mom."

Beverly looked up from the requisition report she had been reading. "Oh, hi Wes. How was school?"

He shrugged and sat down, slumping in the chair. "Okay, I guess."

Beverly put down her data pad and looked at him. "You came all the way to sickbay to tell me that your day was okay you 'guess'...what's going on? Come on and tell your mother," she said teasingly and reached across the desk to try and poke him.

Wesley jerked backward in his chair. "Mom!"

Beverly laughed. "Well you are very sensitive today, I see." She sat back in her chair and watched her son, who remained tight-lipped. "Alright, you don't have to tell me…we can just sit here and have a staring contest. You know I always win at that."

He made a face. He was at the age of making faces, she supposed. She thought of the Ciapathian politician with the twenty plus kids and considered herself lucky to have only one sullen teen to contend with.

"Have you talked to Captain Picard?" He asked after a moment.

Beverly blinked and then laughed. "Wes, you're going to have to be more specific than that. I talk to him at least once a day about one thing or another." Whether he decides to engage in the conversation is entirely another matter, she thought to herself.

"Mom…."

Suddenly realizing what he meant, she sighed. "Wes…really you're going to have to put the Tsiolkovsky incident behind you." Take your own advice, Beverly.

"I just feel like he's going to hold it against me forever. I mean, I did take over the ship after all. And he seemed more than a little upset at the time."

"Trust me, the captain isn't dwelling on the matter, and neither should you."

"Yeah but, well I was going to apologize to him, but every time I see him he either walks by me like he doesn't even see me or he just nods like he wishes he hadn't seen me."

Beverly smiled sympathetically. "I know. But, if it is really bothering you so much, I could ask for him to meet with you—"

"Mom!" Wesley stood up quickly and ran a hand through his hair. "No…it's okay, I don't need you sticking up for me—"

"I'm your mother, Wes. That's what I do."

"I know…but he already just thinks I'm just some dumb kid—"

"Wesley!"

He sat back down heavily. She regarded her son and his forlorn expression. She hadn't realized until that moment how much he had been seeking Captain Picard's approval. No doubt this is why his symptoms from the Tsiolkovsky virus had manifested themselves in such an extreme way. Taking over engineering and the ship…and then ultimately devising a way to help save the ship from an exploding star. Something about his admiration for the captain made her proud of her son and worried at the same time.

She reached out and took his hand. "Wes, look…I have known Captain Picard a long time. And I know for a fact that he doesn't just view you as some dumb kid. Remember he knew you when you were a little boy. He met you when you were just a baby."

Wesley shrugged but didn't pull his hand away from hers. He looked at her. "I don't understand how he and dad could have been such good friends. I mean dad was always laughing about something, but Captain Picard…well it's like he's the opposite of dad or something."

"Opposites attract," she said, and then couldn't believe that she'd said something so silly. She closed her eyes briefly. "What I meant to say, Wes... is that your father and the captain had many things in common, despite their differences, that made them the best of friends. They loved each other. So I know that the captain cares about you too. Maybe you remind him of Jack, of his friend."

"Did he tell you all of that?"

"Well, not in so many words, no…."

Wesley smiled slightly. "I get it. He doesn't tell anyone how he really feels. I wish I could be that way."

"Wes, what do you mean?" Beverly asked quietly.

"I'm not good at holding things in. If I feel something I can't help it, I have to show it—I have to tell someone."

"But I'm glad about that, Wesley. That's who you are."

Wesley blushed. "Thanks, Mom." He got up from his seat and gave her a quick hug. "I'm going to go home. Are you working through dinner?"

She smiled up at him. "No, I'll be home in about an hour. See you then?" He nodded and then left her office quickly.

Beverly looked down at her hands in her lap. She thought about the fact that she had held the captain's hand twice in one day. Granted the first time, she had been hanging on for dear life. But the second time…why had she held his hand when they were alone together? And why had she pulled away? Had he wanted to be closer to her? Something inside her told her that he did, but as Wesley had accurately pointed out, Jean-Luc did not easily reveal his feelings.

In the caves, she had accused him of conveniently forgetting what had happened between them the week before when they were infected with the Tsiolkovsky virus. But what she'd really been upset about was that in doing so, he was also denying something that had gone unspoken between them for years. But she knew that being angry at him wasn't fair, since she had never admitted her feelings to him either.

In truth she didn't even understand what those feelings were. She recognized that they had both shared an attraction that remained uncomfortably present throughout her marriage to Jack, but that was moderated by the fact that they didn't often see one another. And now, it seemed that the unspoken fear was that that if either of them admitted how they felt, they would be betraying Jack.