As they entered the sick bay it became clear that at least one of the Q was awake. Wide awake.
"Get this thing away from me, I told you I am fine! Where is Dee?" Nert turned away from one of the nurses trying to scan her and she saw the girl on the other bed, sleeping. Dr. Crusher welcomed Picard's entrance with a sigh of relief. Troi ran to Dee's bed. The girl looked a little bit bluer on the skin and her breathing was barely noticeable.
"What is her condition, Doctor?"
"I wish I knew, captain," she replied. "It looks like some kind of a coma…"
"Of course, it does. Falling asleep is the only way to stand the being here for so long." The sarcastic voice of Q got louder. Nert pulled her blanket to the side and tried to get up. But as soon as she stood up, she screamed with pain and fell back on the bed, pressing her hurting head with the hands. "What the hell…" she started to get up again, which ended in similar way. Only this time Doctor Crushed needed to help her, otherwise Q would have ended up on the floor."
"Calm down, Q! You are still weak, you have to lay down."
"I have to wake her up!" Troi could hear a hint of panic in her voice. She came closer.
"Listen, Nert. She was in this condition before. She will wake up, but we have to give her more time." As she spoke, Nert was looking at her with a growing interest. Seeing that, Deanna stood by her bed. For a longer while they were staring at each other in silence. Picard and Riker exchanged looks.
"I can feel her within you." This time Nert sounded impressed. Deanna smiled at her cheerfully and unceremoniously she sat on her bed, almost leaning against the entity.
"She was waiting for you. She told me so much about…" Deanna broke, realizing that captain Picard was all the time watching her with a stern face. Q noticed him as well.
"Oh, yes. Hi, Jean-Luc." Although the voice was now higher, the arrogant and sarcastic tone remained the same.
"Q." Picard started and hesitated. The first time in his contact with Q he didn't know what to say. Or he did, but when he spoke, he got surprised by his own words. "How do you feel?" Everybody in the room gasped. Q noticed the awkwardness at once.
"No "leave my ship"? You're getting old, mon capitan."
To his growing irritation, Picard felt a rush of heat coming to his face and it was a big effort to not look away.
"Alright. Then," he cleared his throat. "Federation will deal with the ferengi. In the current situation, it would be the best if you could take Dee to the Continuum as soon as possible."
"I'd be delighted to do that, but you are missing a small, tiny problem, Jean-Luc. I cannot go to the Continuum. The El-Aurian toys stripped me of my powers for days at least. And I cannot contact the Continuum until I have them back!" Nert sighed heavily. "This ship is like a curse. Again I am on mercy of the primitive humans. Just wonderful."
"Q! These "primitive humans" have saved your life. Twice. And they endangered their own to save your friend. You could show at least a bit of gratitude!"
"Yes, Doctor. I see your attitude towards your patients hasn't changed a bit!"
"Enough, Q!" Picard shouted.
"Indeed." Surprisingly, Nert withdrew herself. "I am here only as long as I have to, so just let me take care of Dee and we are out of here."
"First, you have to take care of yourself," Deanna smiled. She was the only one that didn't look annoyed by Q's behavior. She was also the one who made Q calm down and speak in a completely different tone.
"The gems of Der were working on me for less than a minute. The case of Dee is much worse. If I had my powers, I would cleanse her now. But like this…" Nert looked at her fingers and clenched them on the blanket. Suddenly Deanna covered Q's hand with her own. Nert looked surprised but she didn't move.
"Q." Picard spoke again. "We need more information about these gems. I don't think the ferengi will tell us much…"
Q's head snapped. "What? You still keep these monsters on the ship?"
"The Federation has its procedures in such cases."
"And you always follow them? Don't make me laugh. With that fossil who hangs out here all the time and, by the way, broke into your private log?"
"And you know it having no powers?" Commander Riker stepped forward. Q rolled her eyes.
"I had them this morning. He and his little mignons had your private entries on their notebooks, or whatever you call it. Really, if your intelligence goes down a little more, you'll become Clingons. Only the growling you are missing."
"Enough! Everybody out!" Picard didn't have patience anymore. He waited till everyone, including Dr. Crusher left the room, then sighed and came closer to Nert.
"Listen, Q. The whole situation with Dee and the ferengi is very serious. We need to play it out diplomatically and therefore we need your help. I need your help." He added, remembering that the last sentence used to work well in the past.
"Aye, Sir!" Nert saluted.
"Good." He took a deep breath. "The Enterprise is heading towards Earth. There is a long conference with the Federation Council awaiting me. I don't have time for quarreling with you."
"I am no interested in your ridiculous politics. I only want to take her away from here. She had spent too much time among mortals already. Nothing good ever comes up from it."
"I was rather under impression that some of these mortals had saved her life. Is it really so difficult for you to admit, Q?"
"It won't be, as soon as she wakes up." The tone of Nert's voice changed subtly. Picard looked at her with a sudden thought that made him instantly feel better.
"Q! You care for her! This sarcasm of yours, your speaking to us from the position of superiority, they are just cover up. You fear for her!" The last sentence he practically shouted. He couldn't tell why he felt such an incredible satisfaction. Q didn't look at him, studying the folds of Dee's blanket instead. Picard knew the entity was embarrassed. He felt an overwhelming joy and couldn't stop talking. "The human emotions you were always laughing at, you do have them. I suspected it already the other time, seeing you with Amanda, but now…"
"Oh, don't exaggerate, Picard." Nert came back to a neutral tone. We have simply a bigger sense of responsibility. You could learn from us." But Picard was too overwhelmed with his own thoughts to be pulled into that discussion.
"Dis, your current, truer form… I wonder, why do you make so much effort in putting on a mask, Q? All your costumes, illusions. Why, Q?"
"You really don't see it, Jean-Luc? You humans are limited by your senses. Your genes, the animal instincts. You may believe your civilization to be advanced enough to travel in space, but deep down you haven't changed a bit. When you see a woman, you have the same reactions as your ancestors thousands of years ago. To force you, or Riker, or the others, well, not Worf, that doesn't qualify, to some logical thinking, I had to adjust my appearance. To get through to your brain instead of the hormones. If, at the beginning, I appeared as a female, although it could have been fun to watch, it would be also hard to keep the conversation going if you just drooled over me."
"I deny. Q, even you, with all your prejudices, should know that we do not divide us according to gender anymore."
"Yes, you do! You have automatic, physical reactions and you cannot control them. When you see an attractive woman, your hormones get crazy. Jean-Luc, since the ferengi used their toy on me, you are blushing like a Romeo, it was even noticed by your crew!"
To his irritation, Picard felt his cheeks burning again. He cleared his throat and looked at Dee. He didn't like the direction that discussion was heading to, but he didn't want to give up.
"I admit, there are some cultural habits and customs. And they influence the behavior of human men. But some of them are positive. The instinct to protect, for example."
"Maybe. But their source is still in the same animal instinct. When you are around a woman, your sexuality is stronger than thinking."
"You are exaggerating, Q. It is not sexuality. It is a simple kindness. An instinct to help. To care for, to protect."
"Just like that. Out of the goodness of your heart. Not expecting anything in return."
"Precisely. Just like that."
"I don't believe it. But now let me rest. The examinations of your marvelous Dr. Crusher were exhausting. And why is it so cold in here? Is she trying to freeze out the germs?"
Picard refrained a smile. He intuitively felt that Q's changing the subject was a sign of discomfiture. But then he looked at her and softened. Nert was very pale and was breathing unevenly. She had her eyes closed. Not thinking much, he went around the beds, brought an extra blanket and covered her.
"Computer, increase the temperature to 23 Celsius degrees."
"The temperature has been increased." The automatic voice replied.
„Touching, Picard." The ironic voice caught him by the door. He stopped in half of the step.
"Sleep well… Nert." The elevator door closed behind him.
Commander Riker awaited him on the bridge.
"Captain, Q was right. I have checked our private logs. The computer noted the unauthorized entries. Only someone with a position on admiral could overwrite the codes. They broke to my log, Deanna's, Worf's and Data's. But I am sure you will also find it at yours.
"I see. Come with me, Number One." They went to the Ready Room and Picard needed no more than a few seconds to find out Riker was telling the truth.
"Computer, locate admiral Kinsky."
"Admiral Kinsky is in his quarters."
"Let's go, commander."
"Captain Picard, Commander Riker. This is an unexpected pleasure." Admiral welcome them at the door. Apparently, they caught him on the meeting with his assistants. As they entered, doctor Brown turned off his tablet.
"I would like to know what gives you the right to break into our private logs?" Picard wasn't going to waste time on small talks. The admiral rose his eyebrow, but his embarrassment lasted only a second.
"Doctor Brown, would you read to us your evaluation of the ship's counselor Deanna Troi? Please, seat down, captain. It will take a while."
Deanna Troi personal log, supplemental.
Dee has become a part of myself. Nothing is as before anymore. I look at a star and I see it from the beginning of its existence. How short is our life in the universe? If every life form is heading toward becoming a light at the end, it is no wonder that the civilizations of matter seem so primitive to Q. I can understand that now. Q didn't mean to hurt us, even when he sent us to the encounter with the Borg. Humans are like children who want to touch the electricity and get surprised that it hurts. Without Q, the human race would seize to exist because of its own ignorance. Dee showed me another level of existence. I will be always thankful for that.
"This entry log comes from the last night. Doctor, how would you evaluate the abilities of counselor Troi to perform her job as the Starfleet officer?"
"Negatively, admiral. Deanna Troi has been possessed by alien life forms and should be isolated from the rest of the crew. I would also advise a full psychological check-up on everybody who had contact with…"
"This is ridiculous! Counselor Troi had a telepathic contact with alien civilizations many times. It is her duty to establish this contact, for heaven's sake, she is a Betazoid! Admiral. We have known each other for years. What is going on here? The inspection, the hearing on Earth? What is this all about?"
"The Enterprise, Picard. I must make sure that everything on this ship is up to the federation standards. And you are supposed to help me."
"The Enterprise is up to every criterion the Starfleet can come up with. And you know it as well as I do. There will be no psychological evaluation of my crew. You want to see how we work? Then let us work."
"But the counselor Troi in her current condition…"
"Will be released from duty from this very moment. Anything else, admiral?"
"I'll be watching you, Picard."
"Have a nice day, admiral!"
Ten minutes later Picard sat in his ready room. This conversation was never an easy one. But the sooner he would get over it, the better, he thought. He heard a door bell after a few minutes.
"Enter!"
Deanna Troi looked concerned. It made the words even harder to come out.
"Please, seat down, counselor."
But he again forgot about her skills. She didn't seat down, she just came closer and gazed directly in his eyes.
"Captain, am I fired?"
Picard exhaled loudly. Somehow it was a relief that he wasn't the one starting that conversation.
"Deanna. Seat down. Please."
She listened this time.
"The admiral expressed a concern regarding your involvement in all the happenings with the Q. That is why I suggest you would take… a vacation. You are relieved from duty for the next two weeks. What you do with your vacation, however, is totally up to you. But if I may have a personal request, I would like to ask you to spend your vacation on board of the Enterprise. And become an escort of our guests. Of course, unoficially. What do you say?"
"I agree, Sir." Deanna smiled so widely that he felt his lips' corners curling up against his will.
"Excellent. I will note it the next report. Enjoy your time."
"Aye, Sir!" With almost a dancing step, Deanna ran out of the Ready Room. Picard couldn't control himself any longer. As soon as the door closed behind her, he laughed.