Star Trek: The Next Generation: Q are Cordially Uninvited... by Rudy Josephs

Author:Rudy Josephs
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Trek
ISBN: 9781476778822
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2014-10-06T07:00:00+00:00

7

“Beverly!” Thousands of light-years from home, on a mysterious planet not found on any chart, and yet she had managed to track him down. He wondered if he would ever know this woman’s depth.

As the glow from the stones brightened to fill more of the room, he was delighted to see his intended stepping into the light. She was dressed in the outfit she’d been wearing before this adventure began, though, oddly, she carried a beige helmet with her.

It took only a few steps to cover the distance between them and all was right in the galaxy. Having her back in his arms was natural. It was where she was meant to be. “How did you—”

“Q,” she replied. “Another one. She’s actually a lot more reasonable than the one we know. She refused to bring you home, but she had no problem sending me to meet you. Especially once I convinced her how much it would annoy the Q that sent you here. You should meet her sometime.”

“I think I could forgo that pleasure if it meant never seeing another Q for the rest of my life,” Picard replied.

“Wouldn’t that be a nice wedding gift?” Crusher released him and held out her hand. “Hello, Vash. You left your pith helmet behind.”

Vash took the hat from her. “Pith helmet? I wasn’t wearing a pith helmet.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Crusher said. “It was likely part of Q’s plan to seduce me. Convince me that you’d gone off willingly with an ex-girlfriend so that I’d have to fall into his arms, racked with jealousy.”

Picard laughed at the mere idea. “That is a story I’d like to hear sometime.”

Vash examined the hat and finally decided to wear it, placing it on her head and giving it a little tap on the dome. “Just so we’re clear: I had nothing to do with this.”

“You mean you’re not the woman from Jean-Luc’s past come to ruin our wedding?” Crusher patted Vash’s hand. “Don’t worry, I never took you to be so clichéd. Q, on the other hand . . .”

“Glad we got that out of the way.” Vash released Crusher’s hand and turned her attention to the stones on the wall. They’d reached full brightness, illuminating the room in a warm glow. “Jean-Luc, why don’t you bring her up to speed while I try to get some of these stones off the wall. If we’re going back out on the streets, we’ll need the extra light.”

Picard wasn’t so sure the natural wall sconces were removable. “Are you sure—”

“Just . . . talk with your fiancée,” Vash said. “I’ll be fine without you.”

Picard watched as Vash examined one wall sconce, looking for a way to remove it. Sometimes it was hard to remember that underneath the bravado was a person with the same insecurities as anyone else. Yes, she and Picard had both moved on in their own ways, but it was not easy seeing someone you’d once cared about with another.

Picard filled Beverly in on what had happened since they’d arrived on Myndra.

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