Chapter 7

Earth, 1881

Guinan reached the edge of a wooded area and saw the beings of E-arth ahead of her trotting along in a clearing full of grass and flowers. She checked her two-way universal translator to make sure it was working properly, and when satisfied it was, stepped out of the woods and hailed the beings. "Greetings," she called out. One of the white pointed hats turned to look in her direction. He cried out and then pointed in her direction. The voices of the beings clamored as they reared up on the four legged beasts one by one and then galloped in her direction. Silently reminding herself again of her goal, she stood her ground despite the thunderous commotion as they approached.

"Hello," she said again, as the group stopped near her.

"What you doin' out here, girl?" said one of the beings, as it leaned down to get a better look at her. Now closer, she could see there were crude eye holes cut into the fabric of its mask. There was also a strange red and white emblem on the breast of its robe consisting of a geometrical figure with two intersecting bars, one horizontal and one vertical. This must be the leader, she guessed, and focused her attention on him. "And alone too…." said the leader.

"Up to no good, I'd wager," another said.

Guinan stepped forward, and the beings looked at one another in mild surprise. "I was hoping you could help me. I'm looking for a place," she ventured. "It's called Moʼȯhta-voʼhonáaeva."

The white hooded figures looked at one another again in apparent confusion. The four-legged creatures they rode stomped their funny looking feet and snorted clouds of hot breath into the night air. Was the translator working properly? Maybe her pronunciation was off. Perhaps she should attempt to communicate with the four-legged creatures instead. One of the horses, as she would later learn they were called, blinked his big brown eyes and long eyelashes at her. So far, she noted, he was the most pleasant inhabitant of this planet she'd met.

"Help you?" The leader leaned down again and she could now see steely blue eyes staring at her from inside the cloth mask. "Why you are in the wrong neighborhood, to be helped." He nodded his head in another direction. "Now get on your way before your folks wonder why you gone missing, n-r."

She was suddenly aware of the small but powerful disruptor hidden inside her boot. "I'm just passing through this area," she informed them cautiously. "I am trying to find a place called Moʼȯhta-voʼhonáaeva," she repeated. "Will you tell me where it is?" she asked slowly. The conversation was not proving to be as fruitful as she had expected, and the fearful feeling in her gut returned.

"Ain't no such place as that," said one of the beings, sounding genuinely puzzled. "Least… not around here."

"Look here, this ain't your side of town and it sure as hell ain't no 'Moho—'whatever-you-called-it," said the leader. "Bad things can happen when you stray from where you're meant to be," said as though counseling her like a child, but the sentiment she could tell was sinister. He gestured to one of his compatriots who rode forward. A coil of rope sat lazily on his thigh. He held a long instrument made of metal and some kind of wood. He swung the pointed end at her, and she was now almost certain it was a type of weapon.

She considered the disruptor again. Just as she reached for it, one of the beings took the long metallic-wooden staff he had been pointing at her, and turned it around, so that the broad end was pointed at her. She froze, unsure if the being was attempting to show her he meant no harm. Without hesitation, and before she could get out of the way, he slammed the butt of the rifle into her forehead, and darkness overtook her.

Enterprise

He had only just reached his quarters when the headache hit him fully. Ducking inside the door before a passing crewman noticed his pained expression he grabbed both sides of his head and staggered toward his bed. He could not stop the pain, and could not escape the sinister whispering voice invading his mind. Was he going mad? He wished the artifact was in his possession still, because he knew somehow that the headache at the very least would lessen. Why was this happening?

He kicked off his boots and then crawled into bed with his uniform on. He wanted to sleep suddenly more than anything, but if he closed his eyes would he see the Borg again? Why was he hallucinating?

"Jean-Luc? Jean-Luc?" It was Beverly's voice from the living room. A wave of embarrassment came over him. He didn't want her to see him this way. He wanted to be strong. Feeling nauseous he pulled the blankets over his head and curled into the fetal position. Shutting his eyes he saw thousands of dead bodies. An old man sat on a golden throne surveying the carnage. "Jean-Luc." His eyes snapped open again and he was back in his quarters. Beverly tugged the blanket away from his face. She looked frightened. He opened his eyes just enough to see her and then closed them again, making a grunting sound.

She knelt down beside the bed. "Oh honey, what's wrong?" she felt his head. "You've got a fever," she said. "What about the headache? Is it back?" He nodded slowly.

She stood up. "This is starting to really worry me. I'm going to get you to sick bay."

"No," he whispered. "I don't feel that I can move. I just want to lay here."

She didn't look pleased, but nodded. "Alright…is there anything I can get for you? Some water?" He shook his head no.

"I'm going to stay you know. So don't try to get rid of me," she warned him.

"I don't want you to see me like this," he mumbled.

"Like what? Vulnerable? You're not indestructible, Jean-Luc." He made a face. "Oh, I can see I have insulted you," she said with gentle sarcasm. She pulled the covers up over his shoulder. A thought suddenly occurred to her. "Where's the rock—I mean the artifact?"

"With Data," he muttered.

"Did the headache worsen after you gave it to him?"

"Yes."

She sighed and gazed down at him. The truth was she had finished reviewing the brain scan results and they had been completely inconclusive. But she wasn't going to tell him that now, when he was so obviously in pain. She pulled off her boots and placed them next to his. She lifted the covers and got in next to him putting her arm around his waist. He moved his hand down to hold her hand and she rested her forehead on his back. Within minutes they were both asleep.