Chapter 52

As soon as Pritchard's words left his mouth, Q's door reopened in back of them. Pritchard suddenly grabbed Guinan by the arm. "I know you wouldn't steer me wrong," he said earnestly. "But what if she don't want me anymore, Guinan? I don't think I could take it."

"Trust me, John," said Guinan. "It will be alright." She held his hand as they stepped through the door. Beverly looked at Picard and took his hand as well, following Guinan through the shining door.

"Don't look down," Guinan warned them calmly once they were through.

Despite this sound advice, Beverly immediately looked down and was dismayed to find there was nothing underneath her feet. She gripped Picard's hand tighter, trying to fight a bout of vertigo, which eventually passed. Around them swirled some kind of purple gas. Above them and surrounding them was no discernible structure, yet they were able to walk as though they were on solid ground. They were simply inside a cloud of gas, a nebula it seemed. It seemed that they would be walking forever until they reached Orla.

"No, Beverly Crusher," said a voice. "I am right here with you." A ring of intense purple color swirled before them, and then gradually formed into a humanoid form. Slowly the form took on a distinctly female appearance, and then as Beverly and Guinan had seen once before, Orla appeared to take on an appearance very similar to Beverly.

John Pritchard, who had been walking with Guinan almost immediately fell to his knees and covered his face with his hands. It was as though he was unable to look upon the only person he had dreamed of seeing for years. Orla, now apparently solid in form walked forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. Trembling, he seemed frozen on his knees and unable to look up at her.

Picard felt an inner pull toward Orla. He hadn't seen her before now, or at least didn't remember having seen her. She was so beautiful to him, almost blindingly so. But he didn't know whether he was responding to Orla or the image she was projecting, but he found he had to resist the urge to fall to his knees just like Pritchard. He glanced beside him at Beverly and saw that she was watching him curiously.

Guinan reached beneath her cloak and pulled out the piece of the Other that Picard had found down on Risa. A wisp of black smoke trailed from the shard as she held it up. Everything seemed to grow quiet. "Over one hundred cycles ago I brought what I believed was the last piece of the Other to you, Mother."

Pritchard broke out of his immobile state and spun around on one knee to look at his friend in surprise. "Huh?"

Orla offered a tranquil smile and held out her hand. "Guinan, my child. You have returned to me."

"But I was obviously wrong. And I need to know, why you didn't tell me this piece was still in existence? Why did you allow Picard to find it?"

"The reasons why do not matter anymore," said Orla. "All that matters is that you've come back. With the final piece, we can defeat him. And you've brought John to me. What a wise person you are, my child."

"It does matter…look what we've all been put through?"

"I admit that I have made mistakes," said Orla. "Because I have so needed love. But I did not mean for anyone to suffer."

Guinan dropped her hand to her side, still holding the shard. "I believe you…but what if after I give this to you, it only completes his plan? I think he's put a spell on you, Mother, just as he has us mortals. I think all of those thousands of years ago you thought you defeated him, but you didn't really. This is all just part of his plan."

Orla's red hair floated out, and the air around her brightened suddenly. "Maybe so…but we can still defeat him. Perhaps by assuming that I am blind to his plan, he has underestimated me," said Orla.

Guinan stood very still, staring at her mother for a few more moments, and then raised her hand again. The shard floated out of her hand and into Orla's still outstretched palm. It dissolved before their eyes into her hand and she smiled. "Thank you for your trust, my child. But what I really need now is your love," she said.

"You have it," replied Guinan. "I don't claim to understand you, but I do love you."

The aura around Orla grew so bright at that moment that they all were forced to cover their eyes, including John Pritchard, who still sat below her at her feet.

To everyone's shock, Orla knelt down then and took the man into her arms. "I am sorry that I failed you, my love. It was because I could not save our child from a terrible death. Before that time I never had to face such suffering. And afterward, as much as I wanted to remain with you in love, I could never come to accept my mortal form and its limitations."

Pritchard touched her face. "Then we can never be together," he said. "Because here I am with all of my limitations."

"Come with me," she offered. "Where there are no limitations."

Pritchard stood up but held her hand fast. "I don't know…as hard as my life has been, I don't know if I could live up here in the clouds. Even with you. It would be like heaven—but I ain't dead yet. And after coming so close to dying, I realize the thing I want most is to live. But I also don't want to live without you again."

Orla smiled. "Very well. I am unwilling to abandon you again, John. So I will return to Earth with you…as a mortal."

"What?" Picard stepped forward. "What about the plan to defeat the Other? Won't he be here any minute?"

"He is already here," said Orla, putting her arm around Pritchard.

Picard, Beverly, and Guinan spun around in the direction she was gazing. Floating toward them swiftly through the clouds was a giant platform with a transparent bubble-like ceiling. Inside, to their joy, was the rest of the Enterprise crew. Picard hugged and kissed Beverly exuberantly. Their joyous expressions faded quickly when they saw the terrified and defeated faces of their friends and the reason why. In the middle of the platform stood an immense figure clothed in endless black robes. Beverly and Jean-Luc hugged each other tighter and watched as the platform continued its steady approach.

Orla looked at Pritchard. "If we are to defeat him, we must join together now. If we succeed, we will live together. If we fail…."

"We'll die together," Pritchard finished for her. He touched hands with her, and a purple shimmer surrounded them. At the same time, the faint purple shimmer that had covered Picard left him suddenly. He let out a slight gasp and staggered, but Beverly caught and held him up as they watched events unfold.