Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [35]
Worf still had his arms folded. Picard was grateful to see his total lack of reaction, except a touch of pride as he said, “Alexander is the Federation ambassador to the Klingon Empire.”
“Yes, well, they had to have someone in there to make your tenure in the position look good.” He turned to Tropp. “And another physician, subjecting himself to the whims of Doctor Crusher. Let’s hope he doesn’t turn out like Selar did.”
Picard finally asked, “Q, what is your business here?”
Q seemed surprised. “What? Isn’t it enough that I want to visit my old pals on the Enterprise?”
“No.”
Providing a smug smile, Q said, “As usual, Jean-Luc, you see right through me. I do indeed have a purpose here. You see, your mission to Gorsach IX promises to be a major turning point in the life of the universe. And I”—he drew that last syllable out for several seconds, as if trying to create suspense that Picard had no interest in feeling—”want to watch.”
“Watch?” Crusher asked dubiously.
“Yes, my dear doctor—and congratulations to the two of you, by the way. I suspect that sex on a regular basis will do wonders for Jean-Luc’s disposition—all I’m here to do is watch.”
Resisting commenting on Q’s aside, Picard said, “A turning point in the life of the universe? Q, how is an artificial planet involved in something so…so large?”
Again, Q rolled his eyes. “Come come, Jean-Luc, you don’t expect me to do all the work for you, do you? Part of the fun is watching you dash about and figure it out for yourselves. Unless you’re afraid of a few yrilijk.”
Kadohata asked, “Is that what those creatures were at the cave mouth?”
Q nodded.
“But yrilijk are extinct, aren’t they?”
Grinning, Q said, “It’s a mystery, isn’t it? Well, worry not, I’m sure you’ll figure it out, you lot always do. Though, of course, one of your starters is on the permanent disabled list, and two have been traded—it remains to be seen if the scrubs on the bench can do the job.” Q then waved jauntily. “Au revoir, mon capitaine. Remember, I’m just a gas giant’s throw away.”
And with that, Q disappeared in a flash of light.
Leybenzon frowned. “‘Permanent disabled list’?”
“It’s a baseball term,” Kadohata said, “for players who are too injured to participate in the game, so they go on the list until they’re healthy again. It’s Q’s endearing way of referring to Data. Captain Riker and Commander Troi are the ones who were traded away. You and I, Lieutenant, are the scrubs on the bench.”
“Okay.” Leybenzon sounded more than a little nonplussed.
Picard turned to Crusher. “Are they cleared to leave sickbay?”
“I don’t see why not.” Crusher put her medical equipment on a shelf. “Besides, this is probably all Q’s doing.”
“Indeed,” Picard said with a sigh. “Commander Kadohata, Lieutenant Leybenzon, I want every millimeter of Gorsach IX gone over with the Enterprise sensors. I want to know everything there is to know about that world before we consider setting foot on it again.”
Kadohata said, “Aye, sir.”
Leybenzon said, “Sir, with permission, I also wish to do full internal sensor sweeps every ten minutes.”
Regarding his security chief doubtfully, Picard said, “Q has never shown up on an internal scan before, Lieutenant.”
At that, Leybenzon gave a half smile. “There is a first time for everything, sir.”
Worf spoke up. “It would not hurt, Captain.”
Nodding, Picard said, “Very well, Lieutenant, make it so.” He turned to Worf. “Number One, you have the conn. Meet me in my ready room in twenty minutes. Dismissed.” Worf, Kadohata, and Leybenzon all filed quickly out of sickbay.
Picard gave an encouraging look to Crusher before also departing, headed for their quarters. He had a duty to perform.
Ever since Q first materialized on the bridge of the EnterpriseD—in a variety of outdated uniforms and using