Chapter Ten

Jean-Luc Picard felt a strange tingle in his body as the Enterprise transporter sat him down on the pad.

"That felt odd." He muttered as he stepped down, glancing at the transporter chief manning the unit.

"Starfleet ordered an upgrade of all the energizing coils, sir. They are the new mark eight, and for some reason they cause a slight tingle during transport." The chief replied to his statement.

"Huh." He muttered and nodded the chef away as he left the room, heading for a turbolift. As he walked, he cleared his throat and spoke.

"Picard to LaForge."

"LaForge here. Welcome back to the ship, Captain."

"Thanks Geordi. I was just informed of the transporter upgrade upon my arrival. I would like a report listing all the systems upgraded when you get the time."

"You got it. Oh, and I am happy to report that all systems will be fully functional within the hour. We are finishing up our diagnostics as we speak."

"Very good. Picard out." He said as he entered the turbolift. Moments later, he walked into his ready room and collapsed into his chair, thinking. Suddenly, he heard a voice come from the small niche where the replicator was located.

"Tea, Earl Grey… hot." The voice stated. Picard suddenly realized whom it was he had heard. He bolted up.

"Q!" He said, strongly. Q came out from around the replicator and took a drink of the tea the device had provided him. He scowled his face.

"This… tea, or lack there of… is disgusting. How do you drink it?" Q stated, as he threw the cup over his shoulder – which vanished in mid air.

"What are you doing here, Q?" Picard asked his long time acquaintance. Q smiled and snapped his fingers, which ultimately seated him in Picards chair, and moved Picard to the other side of the desk.

"I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. I see now you humans just discovered something interesting… the Stargate, is it?" He grinned.

"You know about the Stargate?" Picard asked, and immediately realized what a dumb question he had asked.

"Oh Jean-Luc, I knew about the Stargate before you humans existed. It is one of the few things that have been around almost as long as the Q." Q stopped to study Picards face. "This device has you intrigued, doesn't it? It brings out your inner archeologist." Q smiled, with the smug look of danger on his face.

"Of course it has me intrigued. It has a lot of people intrigued. Did you have anything to do with the Stargates discovery?"

"For once, no." Q looked around the ready room. "That one was all you." He finished as he looked back to Picard. "You know, I think I liked your old ready room better. Where is your pet fish?"

"Damnit Q, I am not in the mood to play your games!" Picard said sternly as he crossed his arms. Q stood up and smiled once more.

"That's right… you have your own game to play. Just remember Picard… once you open Pandora's box… you may never be able to close it." Q snapped his fingers and vanished… leaving Picard alone with his thoughts.

--

The USS Titan slowed to impulse speed as it entered earths solar system.

"I am getting orders from Starfleet Command to dock at Spacedock." The ensign manning the helm said as he looked at his computer panel.

"Proceed with that." Riker said as he glanced to his first officer. "Please collect Mr. Vrant and meet me in the transporter room in thirty minutes. I also want Ensigns Walker and McKinney to meet us there, we are all beaming down together."

"Yes sir." His first officer nodded, and left the bridge.

--

Admiral Janeway stood silent in the turbolift and watched the display on the rear wall. It was an animated display, showing the path of the turbolift as it traveled through the ship. She felt the lift change directions, and watched it on the screen. At first she had considered it a completely irrelevant piece of technology, but now she realized it was kind of fun. She turned around and faced the door when she saw that the lift was approaching the main bridge. After the doors opened and she stepped through, everyone in the room snapped to attention.

"Admiral on deck!" Someone said loudly, causing her to grin.

"At ease. Where is your captain?"

"In the ready room, sir!" She walked down the steps from the turbolift onto the bridge and admired the new design of the room. Several steps in front of the view screen went down to the helm and ops stations, creating a much more open feel to the room. Tactical was a large station behind the two command chairs, with science one and two on the opposite sides of the bridge from each other. The master systems display was located in a very peculiar place she noticed as she looked down, for the entire floor of the bridge was one large display, showing all ships status. Efficient use of space, I guess. She thought as she stared at the strange placement of the MSD. She shrugged it off, and proceeded to the ready room door, and pressed the call button. She smiled as she read the dedication plaque on the wall: USS Vitesse – If the Lord created the universe in six days, we can explore it in eight.

"Come" She heard from the other side of the door. She walked in and crossed her arms.

"Very interesting slogan your ship has." She said to Captain Britton Dickson, who stood up when he saw her.

"Admiral Janeway, what a surprise. Yes, we pride ourselves on the speed of this vessel."

"This particular ship hasn't left space dock yet, are you completely convinced she will be successful?"

"One hundred percent. We are scheduled to make the first test flight within the hour, will you be joining us?" Janeway smiled as she sat down in a chair.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."