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“At least we’ve bought some time, Captain,” said Riker in a subdued whisper.

But time to do what? wondered Picard. Only minutes had passed since the Heart had been taken from him, yet he could already feel his empty hands aching to hold the stone again.

What if I must destroy it after all?

Master Kierad@an stared out the port window of his cabin, studying the Appointed Place. He had no interest in the star, just its single orbiting satellite. The comet was a cosmic hourglass, and the length of its tail indicated that valuable time had been lost.

“Do they take us for fools, Master?” The sound of Daramad@an’s heavy tread traced the admiral’s progress back and forth from one end of the room to the other. “That was a trick, a show of lights meant to dazzle and confuse the simpleminded. The Gem has not been destroyed!”

“No,” said Kierad@an softly. “I don’t sense that it has left the Dreaming in that manner.”

Yet he wondered if this conviction was based on hope rather than on truth. His mind was spinning from the attempt to make sense of the scene he had just witnessed. Picard was the last of the Gem-Bearers to appear in the Dreaming; yet even though he had just given up the stone to another being, his action had not affected the Telling.

“Let us attack and take—” “No!” The temptation to agree with Daramad@an was strong, but there was so little time left in which to act. Recovering the Gem by force might take too long, and the consequences of such a miscalculation would reverberate for five thousand years. “There is something different about the one they call Data. He holds the Gem without being touched by it.”

Could I do the same? Do I dare take the place of someone who has already passed that test.

Kierad@an looked deep inside himself and did not like what he saw.

Forsaking intellect, trusting to his instincts, the master said, “Do not attack, Admiral.

Instead, your fleet must remain in position to ensure that the Enterprise does not leave before the Appointed Time.”

“But I thought our mission was to take possession of the Gem!”

I thought so, too. “We must trust that Picard will aid the Gem to fulfill its destiny.” If the captain failed in his task, the Gem would have to wait yet again to complete its journey.

“You speak in riddles, Master.”

Kierad@an gestured to the port window.

“Watch. You will understand soon enough.”

When Picard stepped inside his ready room, his gaze was drawn unerringly to the Heart. His fears that it might have been damaged by the intraship transport were eased by the sight of the stone nestled in the crook of Data’s arm.

“We’re at a stalemate with the unDiWahn,” explained Picard when Data looked up from his examination of the wall aquarium.

Evidently the android considered the Heart an object of less interest than a fish swimming idly in place. “However, visual communications have been severed, so it’s safe for you to return to the bridge.”

Data acknowledged the news with an impassive nod. “Thank you, Captain.”

I chose to give it up.

That knowledge did not lessen Picard’s sharp pangs of jealousy as he watched Data carry the Heart across the room. Each step brought the two of them closer and closer. When the android passed near enough to touch, Picard lashed out with one arm. The fingers of his hand wrapped around Data’s wrist, just inches away from the Heart.

Picard worked to keep his voice steady. “I still haven’t discovered the reason for the Heart ‘s journey to this place. If only I could dream one more time …”

“Captain, we agreed that it would be best if I retain possession of the Heart. I do not think we should change that arrangement.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Picard forced himself to release his hold on the android’s arm and walk away.

Heedless of direction, the captain ended up at the ready room window. Picard studied the scene outside the starship to distract himself from regrets.

According to Worf’s calculations, the comet was approaching perihelion, its closest distance to the white dwarf, and thus the