Clash of Wills

Chapter 2 of Ardra

A cloud of dismay descended on the chamber. As prophesied, the demoness Ardra had returned after a thousand years to claim Ventax II. Minister Jared was the first who dared approach. A fairly young man in royal blue, he lived up to his obligations.

"Ardra, the populace is overwrought. They don't know what you intend to do."

"Do?" Ardra wore a coquettish smile. "Why, anything I want. But you've nothing to worry about. You people have upheld your end of the bargain. I'm pleased with how well you've managed things. I'll hardly be making any changes, and most of the time, won't even be here." She looked out over the Enterprise trio. "Who are these visitors to my world?"

Picard introduced himself, Troi, and Worf. "Anyone with a transporter device can come and go in a flashy manner. I'm sure you've come prepared with plenty of parlor tricks. You'll find them inadequate to steal a planet." The ministers shrank away from his group, as if expecting lightning to strike.

Ardra looked down askance. "I can see I'm going to have trouble with you, little man." When Picard was reduced to half normal size, to the great discomfiture of his companions, she turned her attention to Worf. "What's that you have there?" She caused Worf's phaser to slowly spin toward her. Taking it in hand, she put the business end in her mouth and fired. Troi made a little scream at the result. Ardra's visage became a skull with bulging eyes and a fright wig of blasted hair. She took it out of her mouth, from which smoke poured, as all returned to normal. "I'm not sure you should be playing with this." She let it spin lazily back to Worf, who angrily snatched it from the air.

"Ardra." Troi indicated the shrunken captain.

With a flick of her fingers, Ardra restored him to normal size. She came down and sashayed toward them, then grew a foot taller than Picard. She looked down at him with coy malevolence. "You know your ship is now mine."

"We've studied your contract," he said. "Nothing is mentioned about objects in orbit."

"It is now," she said, going back to normal height and pacing toward the ministers. "The contract is now void. I find it inconvenient. Don't you?" Their heads nodded as one.

Picard remained defiant. "I see no point in confronting you down here, amid your power base. Don't worry about us leaving orbit. Given time, we'll expose your mass hypnosis." He touched his badge. "Enterprise. Three to beam up."

When they were gone, Ardra strolled about, admiring the artworks. "What a silly man. Whether he knows it or not, he couldn't leave if he wanted to. Nor can he send any messages."

Jared made bold to approach again. "You can't just take the ship. Starfleet will send an armada."

"So many toy ships in my bathtub." She turned to face him. "Assure the people that their queen will not interfere in their daily lives. In the meantime, I want to see if my new Federation subjects can solve their dilemma. It's really quite simple."

Jared bowed prudently, went to rejoin his ministers. "All right, it's done. She's here. Let's just go about our business as if the netherworld hasn't just thrust her upon us."

"But Jared," said the delegate from the north, "what if Captain Picard and his people anger her?"

Jared looked down in contemplation. "Better them than us."

Aboard Enterprise:

The bridge crew quickly discovered they were trapped here in orbit. Picard assembled six of his senior command in the briefing room. "Let's begin with impressions, as that's all we have at the moment."

Troi made a wry face. "I can't read her at all. It's as if she isn't here. Nor is it easy to second guess, since she's so unpredictable."

Picard couldn't help relating this to a similar problem. "Could she be a rogue element of the Q?"

"Not likely," said Commander Riker. "Q is like a boy who never grew up. He's arrogant and capricious. He'd never stoop to something as mundane as running a government or hijacking a ship."

"Commander," Worf pointed out, "are we assuming she's real?"

"By no means," Picard insisted. "Mr la Forge, what's your analysis of her methods?"

"As far as the changes in height, a sophisticated transporter program could mange it. Her phaser demonstration could work the same way, with a simulation beamed down, complete with sound effects."

"Beverly?" Picard prompted.

Dr Crusher wore a blue lab coat, having just come from her research lab. "To apply some psychology, she doesn't seem that interested in ruling a planet. And what could she want with Enterprise? It's like she's trying to send a message—one we're expected to figure out."

"Intriguing," Data said. "Ardra would require traits from several species if her actions are genuine."

"What are you saying, Data?" Picard inquired. "Do you think she's a thousand year old demoness?"

"No sir. But I do believe she's a unique, Q-like entity."

At that moment, Ardra passed through doors that didn't sense her. She took the remaining seat, between Troi and la Forge. "Sorry I'm late, but this is my ship, after all."

Picard indicated her seat as an invitation. "Please join us. Would you care to share some ideas as to how we can get rid of you?" It was the first time he'd heard her laugh.

"The metal man is the only one of you making any sense. I can't just give you the solution; that would be counterproductive, since you people are my ticket into your little society. Right here at the start, I don't want to make a terrible fawks pass."

Data, of course, couldn't resist. "Perhaps you mean faux pas."

Eyes rounded, she pointed at him. "That too! If anyone needs me, I have a planet to run. And do take care of my ship." She began to dissolve in a phantom abrasive wind, first flesh, then muscle, then bone, until she was gone.

Worf grimaced. "I wish she would not do that!"

"Geordi," Riker said, "why don't you and Data look for hidden power sources both in orbit and on the planet, maybe a cloaked ship. There has to be one."

"Excellent suggestion," Picard said. "Make it so. Dismissed."

With no pressing business to attend, Picard retired to his study to do some research. He called up twin images on the desk console. The ancient depiction of Ardra was remarkably similar to her appearance now. Of course, she might simply have assumed that face, even the whole identity. So far, she was preferable to Q, who had pulled some nasty pranks, even getting some crewmen killed during the Borg stunt. Yet he wasn't going to let this opportunist simply install herself as queen of a deceived world.

A double chirp brought la Forge on audio. "Captain, we may have a breakthrough in engineering."

"I'm on my way." Picard sipped the last of his tea, then hurried down to engineering. Geordi and Data were at work on a black-screen console near the pulsating dilithium chamber.

Geordi punched up a schematic of Ventax II, showing its magnetic flux lines. "There at the north pole—see it? There's a small deviation in the flow of force lines. We think it's a cloaked ship. The problem is, if we try to approach, we lose contact. At least we know it's there. That means we can block its energy flow to Ardra."

"We propose a test," Data said.

"No, Data," Geordi averred. "A trap."

"As you wish," Data said, continuing. "Our tractor beam can induce a minor earthquake. When you challenge Ardra to duplicate the feat, she will be unable."

Picard clenched a fist. "Then we have her. Good work. I'll arrange for Ventaxian security to be waiting in the wings in the morning. For now, let's get ready for the night watch." He looked forward to a night's sleep, having done a ninety minute workout on the holodeck earlier. He even skipped a chance to unwind at Ten Forward. Back in his quarters, he donned his gray sleep shift.

He was less surprised than annoyed when Ardra walked in, wearing a white negligee. His mood was tempered with the knowledge that her time was running out. "Engaging in fantasies?"

"Don't complain, Picard. I'm letting you sleep on my ship, after all."

"Computer: place a force field around the intruder in my quarters."

Ardra stepped through it, dragging it to envelope Picard instead.

"Computer," Picard snapped. "Discontinue force field." As soon as it went away, Ardra put arms across his shoulders, wearing a look that could mean anything. "Let me ask you something, Ardra. Is that even your name? Are you the prophesied one?"

"No to both." Her eyes were expectant. "And what do we infer from that?"

"That you're no goddess, and we will pluck your feathers."

Her head turned slightly in rebuke. "You believe in this little godling who calls himself Q, but not in me?"

"Not even Q calls what he does magic. Is that what you want me to believe?"

She held him at arm's length. "He's got it!" Becoming serious again: "You call yourself an explorer. Aren't you at all curious about me?"

He took her arms down. "There will be time to discuss that in chambers tomorrow." He gave her a sinister smile. "I look forward to it."

"As you wish." She started for the door, looked back. "Maybe I'm not the one these people know as Ardra. But I am a thousand years old, as you will soon see." With a wink, she minced to the door, which like others, didn't react as she passed through it.