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It is, after all, why we are what we are.

Finally, Worf looked up from his console but not to report on the planet to which we were headed. “I have located a vessel,” he said.

Abby looked at him. “A vessel?”

The Klingon nodded his shaggy head. “It is of Orion manufacture.”

I could see the excitement in Abby’s face. And the urgency. More than likely, this was the vessel of the mercenaries who had abducted her brother.

“Where is it?” she asked.

“In orbit,” he replied, checking his instruments again. “Around the fourth planet from the sun.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Set a new course, Mr. Thadoc.”

“Aye, Captain,” came the reply.

Abby turned to me. “Take her in, Picard. Full impulse.”

“Full impulse,” I acknowledged.

We found ourselves approaching the fourth planet in the system. It was small, mountainous, and mostly barren, with but a single small ocean. Still, it was what we in Starfleet would have called a Class M world one that possessed an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere not unlike Earth’s and was generally suitable for human habitation.

Soon, Worf was able to tell us something new. “Sensors show humanoid life-forms aboard the vessel. Twenty-two of them in all. However …” He looked up first at me, and then at Abby. “None of them resemble any species known to the Federation.”

Abby frowned, no doubt wondering what to make of the information. Unfortunately, I was unable to help her.

Up to that point, we believed Richard Brant had been kidnapped by mercenaries from our universe. Nor could we rule that out, given the presence here of an Orion spacecraft.

Now it seemed possible that Brant’s abductors had been denizens of this universe either working on their own or in concert with the mercenaries we suspected earlier. The plot was thickening.

Abruptly, Worf spoke up again. “Captain Brant, I am receiving a message for you. Eyes only.”

Abby’s eyes narrowed. “For me? From the ship?”

The Klingon shook his head from side to side. “From the fourth planet. Do you wish to view it in private?”

She considered her options for a moment. “No,” she said at last, “I’ll take it at the captain’s chair.”

“Acknowledged,” Worf replied. He did what he had to in order to send the message along.

Abby took the captain’s seat and turned to one of the monitors in her armrests. For a moment or two, her expression remained wary and uncertain. Then it began to change.

Abby’s mouth quirked at one corner. Then, slowly and subtly, a smile began to spread across her face. It was a beautiful smile, too all the more so for its rarity.

“What is it?” I asked from my position at the helm.

She didn’t answer my question.

“Captain?” said Thadoc.

Finally, Abby looked up. “We’re beaming down,” she said evenly.

“Who is?” asked her helmsman.

She thought about it but only for a moment. “I am,” she replied. Abby turned to me, still beaming. “Picard, too.”

“I am?” I said.

I wished I knew what she had in mind. But then, I hadn’t seen her monitor or the message on it.

“Come on,” Abby taunted me. “Where’s your sense of adventure, Picard?”

Obviously, she knew how to get to me.

“All right,” I responded, getting to my feet. “I’ll beam down with you if only to satisfy my curiosity.”

Abby turned to Thadoc. “Take the helm,” she said, “and establish a synchronous orbit. We may be gone a few hours. And don’t worry about the Orion. It won’t give us any trouble.”

“Aye,” Thadoc replied. If he was the least bit skeptical, he managed not to show it.

Worf was another story. He was scowling as only a Klingon could scowl, not at all thrilled with the idea of exposing me to the unknown.

“I will go as well,” he resolved.

“That won’t be necessary,” Abby responded. She was looking at me as she said it, requesting a favor with her eyes.

I decided to trust her. “Remain here, Lieutenant. I’ll contact you if I need you.”

Worf made a sound of disgust. “As you wish, sir.”

Madigoor

“BUT WHAT WAS it Abby saw on her monitor?” Bo’Tex wanted to know. “And who was it from?”

Flenarrh grunted. “Now who’s the impatient one?”

The Caxtonian looked at him indignantly.