All Good Things__ - Michael Jan Friedman [46]
“So, Captain,” said the craggy-faced Romulan. “How long shall we stare at each other across the Neutral Zone?”
Gathering himself, Picard returned the scrutiny. How long indeed? Then he got an idea. “There is an alternative, you know.” “And what is that?” asked Tomalak. The captain shrugged. “It’s obvious that we’re both here for the same reason—to find out more about the anomaly in the Devron system.”
“All right,” the Romulan concurred. “What do you propose?”
“Simply this,” said Picard. “We could each send one ship into the Neutral Zone—with the sole purpose of investigating the anomaly.”
Tomalak considered the plan. “Has Starfleet Command approved this arrangement?”
It hadn’t, of course. “No,” the captain replied honestly.
The Romulan smiled. “I like it already.”
His eyes narrowed as he weighed the proposition in greater detail, inspecting it from all angles. At last, he nodded.
“It is agreed. One ship from each side. But I warn you—if another Federation starship tries to enter the gone …”
“You needn’t make threats,” said Picard. “I think we’re all aware of the consequences.”
“Very well,” replied Tomalak, almost amiably. “See you in the Devron system, Captain.”
A moment later, the Romulan was gone, replaced by a static starfield full of Neutral Zone constellations.
Picard turned to the officer who was sitting at conn. “Set course for the Devron system, Ensign. Warp five … engage.” Guinan had expected that the captain would come calling on her at any moment. She wasn’t disappointed.
Even as he entered Ten-Forward, he was scanning the place. Scanning it for her. Of course, she wasn’t at her usual spot behind the bar, so it took him a moment to find her.
“Excuse me,” she told Reg Barclay, as she got up from their table. “I’ve got a prior engagement.” The engineer turned pale. “But… I mean…”
“I know,” Guinan told him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You need to talk to someone. You’re scared about what’s going on. But so is everyone else.” She looked into his eyes. “It’s all right to be scared, Mr. Barclay. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It means there’s something right.” His forehead wrinkled. “You… you really think so?” “I know so. And I also know that you’ve always come through in a pinch—no matter how much you worried about it beforehand.”
Barclay thought about it. “I guess… you’re right,” he told her.
She grinned. “So what else is new?” Then, giving him a last pat, she beckoned her top waiter. As Ben approached, she said, “Another lime tickey for our Mr. Barclay. And don’t hold back on the grenadine.”
Ben nodded. “Gotcha,” he said, and headed back to the bar.
By then, Picard was standing in the center of the room, waiting for her. As Guinan approached him, she smiled.
“Come here often?” she asked.
He almost smiled back. “Not as often as I’d prefer,” he admitted. “Of course, this isn’t just a friendly visit.” Guinan nodded. “Care to step into my office?” “In fact,” he said, “I would like that.”
Taking his arm, she guided him to a secluded spot near one of the observation ports. From there, they could see the stars rushing by.
As they sat, a waiter started hi their direction. However, Guinan waved him away before he got very far. Acknowledging her signal, the man veered off in a different direction.
“I’m assuming,” she said, as she turnexl back to the captain, “that you’re not very thirsty.”
“Your assumption is correct,” he told her. Then he paused, as he gathered his thoughts. “Guinan, I have a problem. A rather large problem. And I was hoping you could help me with it.”
“It has to do with this time-skipping business,” she commented. It wasn’t a question.
Picard regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Then you’ve heard… ?”
She nodded. “You’re not surprised, are you?”
After a moment, the captain shook his head. “No, I suppose not. Or at least, I shouldn’t be.” He leaned forward, his features softened by the 1ounge’s strategic lighting.