Part II

Captain Picard strode from the upper bridge into the adjacent Observation Lounge, pausing for just a moment to admire the ancient artifact he'd placed on the conference table. The curved table's polished sheen reflected the viewport windows, making it seem as if the little statue was standing on a bed of stars.

"Well, Number One," he said, his cultured voice rich with quiet pride as he joined his first officer by the windows. "What do you think?"

"I think the ancient Ujjaerians must have been a very attractive people," Commander Riker replied, moving closer to the delicate piece. The statue had a highly textured rainbow sheen, as if bismuth crystals had grown into the shape of a dancing woman with four arms. Viewing the piece was like seeing a moment of serene motion captured in time, her large eyes closed, her antennae relaxed, her diaphanous gown seeming to blend with her long hair and wide insect-like wings. "She seems almost…faerie-like. The metal of her wings and gown is so thin, it's almost translucent."

"It is a singularly beautiful piece," Picard agreed. "And exceptionally rare. As you know, very little evidence of the Ujjaerian culture survived the asteroid's impact. What we do know of them – the very fact of their existence – has had to be painstakingly pieced together from the remaining fragments of their shattered home moon, many of which are now scattered across the quadrant. This statue, for example, was found on a piece of debris several systems away from the epicenter of the explosion."

"It must have been drifting for millennia," Riker said with some wonder. "It's sure to be the showpiece of the Archaeology Council's annual symposium."

"Well," Picard said grimly, "after Q's unwelcome interference last year, I'm hoping the Council will let me—"

The doors slid open and the two officers looked up to see the rest of the ship's senior staff file in for the meeting. Geordi and Data sat together while Counselor Troi took a seat beside Riker. Dr. Crusher and Lt. Worf sat facing each other, while Picard took his place at the head of the table watching their faces as they noticed the little statue.

"Welcome, everyone," Picard said once they were all settled. "I wanted to announce to you all myself that despite last year's…unexpected escapade in Q's version of Sherwood Forest, we have, in fact, been invited to participate in the Federation Archaeology Council's symposium again this year. The event will be held on Forcas Three in two weeks, which should allow plenty of time to complete our current mission to bring supplies and technical assistance to the Ezrik observation outpost, and pick up several leading scientists along the way. How long now until we reach Ezrik VIII?"

"We will reach orbiting distance within the next fourteen hours, sir," Data supplied.

Picard nodded his satisfaction, his stern features almost warming to a smile as he returned his gaze to the little statue shimmering like a rainbow under the Observation Lounge's dim lights.

"Very good," he said. "Now, if you'll indulge me for a moment before we get on to our usual morning business, I'm sure you've all been wondering about this lovely little artifact. This piece—"

"McGurk!"

The harsh call made the gathered officers jump, their eyes scanning the narrow room for the source of the unfamiliar voice.

"Hey, McGurk! I'm lookin' for ya over here! Where the heck did you go?"

Data blinked his golden eyes at his unsettled colleagues.

"Who is 'McGurk'?" he queried.

Worf rumbled low in his throat. "Captain," the Klingon security chief said. "We may have an intruder. With your permission—"

"Yo, McGURK!" the voice shouted again, loud enough to make everyone wince.

"Captain, if I may…?" Data said, narrowing his eyes at the artifact. "I believe these calls are emanating from—"

"The statue!" Troi gasped, pressing her hands to her temples. "I hear it, like a-a speaker or… Captain… I'm sensing a strong presence. Very close, very powerful."

"Could it be one of the Q?" Riker asked.

"I…I don't think so," the Betazoid counselor said, her eyes tightly closed as she fought to calm her breathing, focus her mind... "No…this is…something else…something different…"

"Could it be coming from the statue?" Crusher asked. "Could we possibly have triggered something…like a program or ancient mechanism that might explain—"

"McGURK!" the voice bellowed louder than ever, and Geordi furrowed his brow, his VISOR picking up a strange flicker at the periphery of his visual range. A flicker he followed, not to the statue, but toward the window…

"Captain!" he exclaimed, stumbling up from his chair to approach the viewports. "Look at this!"

Picard and his senior staff rushed to follow the engineer's gaze.

A little man in a dapper purple suit was zipping around outside the ship in a cherry-red flying saucer. Or, rather, a clownish caricature of one. The ship seemed comically small for a one-person craft, the man's torso and bulbus head shielded by a bubble-like dome just tall enough to accommodate his purple bowler hat.

"McGurk!" he shouted, his mouth moving inside the craft, but his harsh voice bursting from the statue behind them. "You know I'm gonna find you, McGurk, so come on out and show yourself already!"

"Mr. Data, what are we looking at?" Picard asked warily. "Could this be an illusion, or projection of some sort?"

"I would require more information before I could supply a conclusive answer, sir," the android replied. "After all, it is April Fools' Day. But, based solely on observation, I would say he appears to be quite real."

"April Fools' Day?" the captain repeated, wrinkling his nose. "Is that really relevant?

"I doubt this is a prank," Troi said. "I too believe that what we are seeing is real, Captain. Whoever, or whatever, this being may be… I believe he is the source of the power I sensed before."

"Sensed?" Riker frowned. "Has it faded?"

"I—" Troi began, only to blink against the force of her colleagues' surprise as the little man and his tiny red ship vanished with an odd, quivering 'pop'!

Muttering in confusion, the group started to return to their seats, only to stagger and sway when the ship gave a violent lurch. The lights flickered, then steadied, but the captain wasn't satisfied. With Picard leading the way, his senior staff headed to the bridge to take up their stations: La Forge and Dr. Crusher at the consoles on the upper bridge, Worf at the horseshoe-shaped security console; Picard, Riker and Troi at the center of the bridge, and Data in front at the ops station beside the ship's young navigator, Ensign Naff.

"Sensors are picking up no disturbances in the area, Captain," the android reported, scanning his eyes over multiple screens of speeding information. "And there are no sensor records of the craft we saw."

"Confirmed," Worf grunted, tapping at his own console as he conferred with security stations across the ship. "Reports indicate no record of any life signs, no sign of any residual ion trail." The Klingon scowled. "It is as if the creature was not there. Neither him, nor his ship."

"Then, what shook the Enterprise?" Picard demanded. "Mr. La Forge, Mr. Data, I want a full diagnostic on all ship's systems."

"Aye, sir," the two men acknowledged. Data quickly got up to join Geordi at the Engineering station, passing Lt. Adams as she came down to take the android's place at ops.

"Mr. Worf," he ordered, "I want a full security sweep."

"Aye," the Klingon said, already working.

"Counselor," he turned to Troi.

"I know, sir," she said. "Right now, I'm sensing nothing unusual. Still, I'll stay alert in case that should change."

"Very good," Picard said, observing his busy crew. "This may all be nothing. Merely a fluke apparition, with nothing to do with us. But, based on our experiences with Q, I'm not taking any chances." Striding across the bridge toward his office door, he called, "Number One, join me in my ready room. If that being does come back, I want this ship as prepared as possible."

To Be Continued...

References Include - TNG: Qpid, The Chase; Superman: The Animated Series - Mxyzpixilated.

Thanks so much for reading. Your comments and reviews are always welcome! Please let me know what you think so far! :D