Chapter 39
The Aldrin
Riker stood next to his CMO and stared down at his unconscious friend. "How is she?" he asked quietly.
"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
Riker looked sharply at the doctor. "Just tell me what her condition is!"
"Doctor Crusher's repeated and rapid travel backwards and forwards through time, in concert with her accelerated pregnancy, has left her mind and body out of sync. At first we thought she was having trouble coming out of the anesthesia, but the disorientation effect remained the longer she was awake. In addition, she continues to ask for Captain Picard, and her son Wesley, but she does not remember what year it is."
Riker rubbed his jaw. "I never should have let her go back there." He sighed. "Can it be remedied?"
The CMO frowned down at his patient. "Once she's out of the acute stage of surgical recovery, we can try counseling, and psychoactive drugs to try and bring her slowly back into this time and place. But what she needs most right now, is quiet and stability."
Riker leaned on over the bed and squeezed Crusher's hand lightly. "Two things in real short supply right about now," he muttered. He straightened. "Is she safest while sedated?"
"Yes. For now, that is the best course of action."
Riker nodded. "Then let's keep her sedated. But…I'll let you know when she should be revived. I know Beverly, and there are events she won't want to sleep through." Will glanced toward the adjacent room. "Please tell me her baby is alright? It—I mean she's not rapidly aging…is she?"
The doctor shook his head. "The newborn appears both physically and neurologically healthy. You can see her for yourself if you like."
Riker smiled at the prospect despite his solemn mood, but then sobered. "She hasn't even had a chance to hold her baby yet, has she?"
"No."
"I'll wait then," Riker decided.
Glanau 2366
Wesley was greeted by disorientation and bright light, and had to blink a few times before he could see and feel that he was standing again on solid ground. Gradually he came to see that he and Bok stood on a desolate plain. A dry wind whistled over the rocky ground, and whipped through his hair. He crouched down, and put his hand up to shade his brow from the sun and blowing sand, looking off into the distance. The sky was cloudless and the color of mustard. He breathed in. Well it was an M class planet at least. "Where are we?" he asked getting to his feet again. He kicked at the rough landscape with his boot.
Bok squinted at him. "We're in the desert region of the planet called Glanau," said the Ferengi. It is located in Ferengi territory, so you may never have heard of it."
"When are we?" Wes asked more uncertainly.
"About one Earth year ago."
"This is where you met Mayer? In the middle of the desert? How did he get all the way out here into Ferengi territory?"
Bok broke into a slow smile. "Well he had years to get here, didn't he? Besides, Mayer can be wherever he wants at any time. In fact, he can be in many places at once, as you will soon have the misfortune of learning first-hand, young human. Look," he said pointing across the desert.
Squinting, Wesley could see a small, but brightly colored building shimmering in the distance. "What is it?"
"What else would it be in the middle of a barren desert? It is a bar of course."
"You mean like a place to get a drink?"
"It is a place to do business, youngster."
Wesley shrugged. "As long as Mayer is in there," he said, beginning to walk toward the shimmering structure in the distance. As he walked by Bok, he saw the Ferengi bend down, but didn't think anything of it. And so when Bok stood up swiftly and slammed a large rock into the side of Wesley's head, Wesley didn't have time to think, much less evade the attack.
