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I don't know why I let Worf talk me into this, Deanna thought as her husband led her toward the Captain's quarters. She had not attended one of the captain's poker nights since before learning she was pregnant. She wasn't sure she felt either physically or emotionally ready to resume old routines. Guinan's warning of several days before still weighed heavily on her mind.
They stepped through the door and the option of turning back ended.
Riker and Lieutenant Barclay were sitting at the poker table, counting out chips.
"It's good to see you, Deanna," Will said pleasantly, looking away from the task. "Glad Worf finally convinced you to come. I trust you're feeling better."
Deanna smiled as she and Worf took their seats. Try to put on a good show, she told herself. You only have to do this for a couple of hours. "Yes, I am.." Did she sound convincing? She glanced at Barclay before Will had the chance to ask her anything else. "It's good to see you, Reg. I didn't know that you enjoyed playing poker."
"There are many habits that I have acquired," the lieutenant replied, "that I never felt comfortable with before a wonderful counselor helped me overcome my weaknesses."
There was a time when Deanna would have taken such a comment as a come-on, but after years of struggling with shyness, Barclay had finally overcome, for the most part, his addiction to holodeck programming--and all the fantasies that went along with them. "It would never have happened if you hadn't been such a willing patient."
"I'm glad you're feeling better, Deanna," Riker said. "Now maybe my chief of security won't be so distracted during his shifts anymore."
"Have I not performed my duties adequately, sir?" Worf asked, worried. "I have always strived to maintain higher standards than what is asked of me."
"I know, I know. I was only joking." This gained a hearty laugh from the counselor, and Worf turned toward her to give her hand a loving squeeze. "I think," Riker added, unsure.
The door swished open to admit Commanders Data and Geordi La Forge. "Ah Deanna," the android said, "marvelous to see that you are feeling better. You look absolutely radiant." They walked around to the other side of the table to sit across from Deanna and Worf.
"Why thank you, Data." Was this actually going smoother than she had hoped? Maybe she could pull tonight off....and maybe even enjoy herself a little. "I'm rather looking forward to motherhood."
"And you Worf, are you now looking forward to fatherhood as well?"
Taken aback by the question, the Klingon remained awkwardly silent for a long moment, too long he feared by the odd looks he received from the group. "Of course," he finally replied, placing his arm around his wife. "I welcome the challenge. I never had the opportunity to oversee Alexander's developments through infancy and I look forward to the experience with my second child."
"Even diaper changing?" Riker said jokingly.
"Can't say that I envy you," Geordi added.
The captain began dealing out the first hand and the conversation turned to the game. Barclay proved to have learned to bluff almost as well as the captain and the majority of the pots were fairly evenly divided between them.
Midway through the game, Riker was paged by Lieutenant Watson, who was currently on command duty. "Captain, you have a priority one message coming in from Starfleet."
"Thank you, Mr. Watson," Riker replied. "I'll take it in my quarters." Before he had the chance to issue the order, everyone around the table was standing and exiting the captain's quarters. Riker stood and walked over to his console. After Riker gave the computer his clearance, Admiral Wilson appeared on the tiny viewscreen.
"Admiral, what's going on?"
"We've discovered some new evidence that may shed some light about the debris from the Ferengi Marauder you found a few months ago. Debris from another ship of an unknown make was found by the Lexington only five light years away from where you encountered the Marauder. The difference in this case is that this time, the Lexington crew saw the anomaly that destroyed this ship in action as it spit out chunks of the ship."
*****
"How are you, Little One?" Lwaxana Troi said on her daughter's private viewscreen.
Deanna had had barely enough time to order a hot chocolate from the replicator before receiving her mother's page. Sitting down in her desk chair, she smiled warmly and replied, "I'm fine, Mother."
"She is better," Worf added from several meters behind her.
"Hello Worf," the full-Betazoid said cheerfully. She had been overly polite (even to Worf) and attentive to Deanna, calling every week since learning that her daughter was pregnant. For years, Lwaxana had been begging her daughter to get married and make her a grandmother. Now Lwaxana wasn't about to waste any time before stepping into the role.
"The baby is getting very strong," Deanna continued. "It enjoys kicking, rolling...keeping me awake at night."
"Yes," the security chief agreed. "It makes it difficult for me to stay awake while on duty--but I would not trade a minute of it."
"Really, Deanna, Worf, must you refer to the baby as an 'it?' Surely that doctor of yours could tell you whether it is a boy or a girl."
"Doctor Selar knows the sex of the baby, but Worf and I have decided we'd rather be surprised when he or she arrives."
Lwaxana sighed heavily, not protesting any further, but conveying her feelings with the suspicious look she fixed the Klingon. "If that's what you really want...So how's Alexander doing?"
"He's becoming quite a scholar," Deanna replied, feeling a motherly pride about the boy. "He's excelling in all subjects, especially math, and you remember the trouble we used to have getting him to do schoolwork."
"And how does he feel about the baby?"
"I actually think he's as excited as Worf and I are."
"Ah...our little warrior's growing up."
"Too fast," Worf grumbled almost so the women couldn't hear.
"Now, when did that happen?" Both women chuckled. "Thanks for calling, Mother," Deanna said, trying to suppress a yawn, "but if you don't mind, I'm really tired now and need to get some sleep before the little one decides to awaken."
"Take care of yourself, dear," Lwaxana said and she even added, "You too, Worf," before severing the connection.
*****
As he left his quarters and headed for the nearest turbolift, Riker ordered his first officer to join him on the bridge. The first officer arrived only seconds after the captain and they sat in their respective chairs at the command center. Riker ordered, "Ensign Mylanos, change our course for sector zero-two-three."
"Aye, sir," the young man at the helm replied and a moment later, "Course laid in."
"Engage!"
After several seconds of silence, his bridge crew waiting impatiently, Riker explained, "I just finished speaking with Admiral Wilson. We have orders to abandon our current mission and change course for sector zero-two-three. Debris from another ship has been found in that area. The Lexington already transported all the debris to Starbase Seventeen. Our job is to travel to the exact location it was found and search the area for the slightest anomaly."
"What did the Lexington find out, sir?" Lieutenant Berlitz asked, turning at her console.
"We don't have absolute proof, but apparently, the ship was destroyed when it attempted to travel through a collapsing wormhole. Admiral Wilson downloaded the reports on the wormhole written by the Lexington's science officer to me. The debris was of an unknown make. The aliens who constructed it, though, were more advanced in some ways than us. Their findings were inconclusive. That's why Admiral Wilson wants to send a Nova-class starship in to investigate." Riker turned to Data. "I'd like to speak with you privately in my ready room." He stood and his first officer followed him into his room off the main bridge.
" We need to keep the crew apprised of all possible dangers, but I've been ordered by Admiral Wilson to keep certain information classified. This goes no further than this room.'
"Understood," Data said, nodding.
"There is evidence that their ship contained a device that could split a timeline."
"Excuse me, sir, 'split a timeline'?"
"I know it probably sounds absurd by our standards, but it's quite possible that these people know how to not only look into the future, but into an alternate future as well. They must have used this temporal technology to decide what courses to take in their lives to ensure the best outcomes." Guinan's words echoed through his mind. She saw a tunnel between two possible futures for the fate of the Stargazer crew. Could this mysterious aliens somehow influence which outcome prevailed?
"Intriguing. Life would no longer be a gamble. In a way, that is very sad." Riker was almost sure the android was going to break into tears. "No one should know too much about their own destiny. That would take the fun, the spontaneity, the essence out of living."
The captain raised a hand before the android decided to go on with his prattle. "I couldn't agree with you more, Data. What joy is there in life without a certain risk?" Not expecting an answer, Riker gestured toward the door--before Data could deliver one.
*****
Sitting naked together with Worf's arms wrapped around her, they peered out the viewwindow of their bedroom. "What's going to happen in the next few days?" Deanna asked. She'd never known Guinan to be wrong in her predictions and their friend's vagueness scared her now more than ever. "If what's to come is worse than I felt the day we learned of the Stargazer's disappearance, I don't know how well I can cope with work."
"Darling, if you need to take a medical leave of absence, " Worf began, "I will support your decision."
"The crew needs me."
"The baby needs you more. You have to take care of yourself. If anything bad were to happen to you or the baby--"
Deanna leaned her head into the crook of her husband's arm and contemplated the situation. "I'll lighten my load as much as possible," she promised. "But I can't ask Will to find a temporary replacement for me right now. This mission is too important to waste time coddling me. I'll manage." She lifted her head and twisted just enough to peer into his fierce brown eyes. "Besides, you coddle me enough for three men."
His lips parted, not quite into a smile and he bent down to kiss her. "The captain has offered us quarters 814. It is only five doors down, so the move will not be to difficult for you."
"Great! I'd like to move right away, so I can get started on decorating the nursery. Doing something for the baby will help me relax."
"We both need that," Worf agreed. Their attention wandered back to the viewscreen. As the gap between their destination closed rapidly, Deanna prayed Worf's support would be enough to help her hold herself together.
