Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [37]
Upon Picard’s arrival on the bridge, Worf rose from the command chair. Leybenzon and Kadohata were both working at tactical, Lieutenant Faur manned the conn, and Ensign Mariko Shimura was at ops.
“Planetary scans are continuing,” Worf reported. “Estimated completion at zero-four hundred.”
Kadohata added, “Lieutenant Leybenzon and I are working on a way to improve the sensor efficiency.”
“It is a trick I stole from the Jem’Hadar, actually,” Leybenzon said. “The only problem is we have to divert power from some of the science labs—”
“—which I’ve already authorized,” Kadohata said. “I’m sure I’ll have some cranky science officers to deal with, but that can come later. With Q around, I want us as efficient as possible.”
“Well done, both of you.” Picard turned to look at Worf. “My ready room, Number One. Commander Kadohata, you have the conn.”
“Aye, sir,” Kadohata said, though she remained at tactical with Leybenzon. “Wouldn’t it make more sense to increase the bandwidth?”
Leybenzon shook his head even as Picard and Worf headed to the ready room. “That would overload the image translators. We wouldn’t be able to see anything.”
“Nonsense. If you reroute the—”
Whatever Kadohata planned to reroute was lost as the door closed behind Worf. Normally Picard would have sat behind his desk, but he found himself feeling restless. Q had that effect on him. So he stood at the port, staring down at this riddle of a planet. Occasionally, he was able to see one or more of the Enterprise probes in its orbit.
For his part, Worf stood ramrod straight, arms at his side, looking very much like an Earth redwood.
“The question before us, Number One,” Picard said after a silence of several seconds, “is what do we do about Q? The fact that he’s here means that there’s more to Gorsach IX than meets the eye—which, admittedly, we already knew. Still, his very presence indicates matters of great import.”
“To Q, at least,” Worf said. “His deeming something important does not make it so.”
“True,” Picard said with a nod.
“I recommend, sir, that we do nothing.”
Picard blinked, then smiled. “I must admit, Worf, that is not a course of action I would have expected you to suggest.”
“Perhaps.” Worf allowed himself a small smile. “I believe it would be best to ignore Q. Experience has shown us that Q is impossible to defeat by any physical means, so all that leaves us is guile.”
“Ignore him and hope he goes away, is that what you’re saying, Number One?”
“I doubt we would be so fortunate as that,” Worf said dryly. “Q is in many ways like a child who desires attention. Often the best tactic to use against children who so behave is to deny them. The hope is that they will learn that they cannot get noticed simply by demanding it.”
“I doubt Q will be any more amenable to a learning experience than he will be to going away,” Picard said with another smile. “Still, not playing his game might prompt him to be more forthcoming with specifics as to why Gorsach IX is so critical to him—and to the fate of the universe.”
“If he is telling the truth about that,” Worf said.
Picard considered. “I believe he is, Worf. While Q has often misled us and left out crucial pieces of information, he rarely has baldly lied to us. I believe that this world is important to the universe in some way.” He tugged on his uniform jacket. “Continue scanning the surface, Number One. When the planetary scan is complete, have La Forge and Kadohata focus their attention on that cavern. I want a recommendation as to the efficacy of a second away team at zero-nine hundred.”
“Aye, sir.”
Picard added, “And instruct the crew to ignore Q. No matter the provocation, he is to be treated as if he is not there.”
“Gladly, Captain.”
As Worf exited the ready room, Picard finally took a seat to record his log. I just hope this works, he thought grimly.
T’Lana sat in her office, waiting for her next