Chapter Nineteen:

There was not much worse to a Klingon than being forced to wait! Although he spent the time in the holographic calisthenics program he had brought with him (now transferred onto a compatible Akodian medium), Worf could not take the fate of the Stargazer crew off his mind. As he sliced through one alien, he realized that he was not even sure which way he wanted the arbiter to decide. A Klingon who adhered firmly to his people's beliefs would have proclaimed that only one decision could hold any honor: They must not mess with fate. Dead is dead! he thought as another alien pummeled him from behind. Worf swivelled and slashed the alien across the neck with his bat'leth.

Yet Worf had long ago learned to accept, even embrace, many of the human philosophies. He could not stop thinking about what it would be like if Captain Picard returned. Not only had the man stood by Worf during times of need, but had also stood as a role model, someone for Worf to look up to and admire. A father figure. Would Worf have ever regained his honor among his people if Picard hadn't stood beside him? he often wondered--and doubted.

He was not too proud to admit that he had needed Captain Picard. Still needed him. So why was he unable to curtail the nagging ambivalence over the captain's possible return from the dead?

Because he could not forget that he was a Klingon! Above all else, they believed in an honorable death.

He killed the last two aliens as effortlessly as the first two. Debating whether or not to instruct the computer to begin a new game at the next level, he spent a moment trying to clear his muddled head. Instead, his mind wandered to the day Captain Picard had stood beside him inside the High Council. Picard had been proud--even honored--to remain beside his officer at the moment Worf's discommendation was handed down. Worf was glad that Picard had also been there at the moment his honor was restored.

Then he began wishing that Picard could see his daughter. That the man could know the happiness that he felt.

"This game is becoming too easy for me," Worf proclaimed, tossing his holographic bat'leth aside. "It is time for an even greater challenge."

Exiting the alien holodeck, Worf did not bother to remove the program chip. Let some other fool find it and meet its challenge.

*****

Deanna stared out the dining-room window of her mother's house on Betazed. The garden was as pretty as she remembered and soon the uttaberry bushes would be in bloom and ready to bear their fruit. The sun felt good on her face. She felt good, she realized with a smile. How long had it been since she had smiled?

She noticed Alexander walking down the road toward the house, coming back from a field game with other children. He waved at her and picked up his pace. She was glad that she had persuaded him away from his video games long enough to make friends with some of the other children in the area. A few years on a starship had deprived him of natural fresh air and sunshine.

And Deanna had not realized how cooped up she had begun to feel in the confines of a starship until she arrived on Betazed. It had been a year and a half since she and Worf had taken their honeymoon. Slowly, she was feeling better about herself, motherhood and even separation from her husband. Did the distance away from the wormhole or the return to her childhood home have anything to do with her renewed good spirits? She suspected it was a little of both.

Alexander reached the door and it swished open to admit him. "Good afternoon, Sok'cheim. Are you feeling any better?"

She smiled at the boy. "Much better, thank you. When Shannara awakens from her nap, would you like to go for a picnic?"

"Really?"

"Really."

"I was beginning to think you didn't like doing that sort of thing anymore."

"So was I," Deanna admitted. " And it's high time I started enjoying myself again." Suddenly realizing that she felt better than she had in months, Deanna tilted her head back and let out a hearty Betazoid laugh.

Smiling broadly, Alexander copies the gesture. "I'll prepare the food," he volunteered. "You read a good book, take a bubble bath and when my sister wakes up, I'll take care of her until you're ready."

"Why, thank you. What a respectable young man you're turning into."

"Just don't tell me that I'm behaving honorably," the boy said, rolling his eyes.

"Now don't let your father ever hear you say that." She ruffled his hair and went up the stairs, briefly checked on the baby to see she was still sleeping peacefully and then went to select a new book to read.

*****

When they returned from their picnic, Lwaxana was waiting for them in the den. Deanna sensed her mother's solemn mood and knew that something was wrong. Had she received a message from Worf? Even worse, had news come that Starfleet had lost contact with the Huron crew?

"Please, take Shannara up to her crib," she told Alexander, handing the infant to the boy. Once Alexander had started upstairs, Deanna approached her mother.

*Prepare yourself, Little One,* Lwaxana said telepathically.

*He's not...* she couldn't even bring herself to ask.

*Dead? No, Deanna.* Lwaxana smiled apologetically and said aloud, "I'm sorry for giving you that impression, dear. Your husband is still in good health. It's just that his message is a little bit unsettling. I'm still trying to comprehend the possibility of what's about to happen myself."

"You listened to Worf's message before I got a chance! Without even asking me!! Mother, let me have the data chip." She held out her hand for it, and her mother reached into her pocket to pull out the isolinear chip and hand it to Deanna. "I'm going to my room," Deanna said adamantly, "to listen to Worf's message--in private!" She turned and stomped up the stairs. By the time she'd reached the landing, anxiety had overcome her anger, and she rushed into her room to plug the isolinear chip into her computer drive.

A moment later, Worf's visage filled her monitor. "My darling," he said, "I miss you terribly." He paused, seemingly reluctant to give her whatever news he had. "It appears as though we will still be a while on this side of the galaxy, about fifty-five thousand light years from Betazed. Commander Barclay, Lieutenant Berlitz and Ensign Raines, have remained aboard the Huron while Commanders Data, La Forge, and I have traveled to the planet of Akie aboard an alien ship. We have maintained frequent contact with the Huron and the Enterprise, keeping them updated on our situation.

"These aliens, the Akodians, are the creators of the wormholes and are also inadvertently responsible for the destruction of the Stargazer. They were creating a new wormhole pocket in the location and when the Stargazer passed through the pocket, it caused an implosion. The Akodians want to take responsibility for the Stargazer's loss and wish to become our allies. Most of them seem friendly enough. However, I maintain a cautious vigilance.

Deanna gasped, bringing a shaking hand to her mouth. She had hoped that she'd begun to place the deaths of Picard and Beverly behind her, but this news brought her fresh pain. Could she dare allow herself to feel hope? She managed to choke back sobs, so she could finish listening to her husband.

"....that can regenerate individuals. I do not understand the concept fully, but they have developed a technology that allows them to bring back lost crew members, who have been killed in accident or battle. We were permitted inside the courtroom during the hearing concerning the Stargazer . The Akodian arbiter is still considering the matter. We have been told that if he does not decide soon, there will be no chance that regeneration will succeed.

"That is all my news at this time. It is a lot for all of us to bear I love you, my darling. Sing a song to Shannara for me, and give Alexander my regards."

The message ended there, and Deanna removed the chip to clutch it fervently in her fist. Could it really be true? she wondered. How was it possible that Captain Picard and Beverly Crusher could be returned to them after so long?

It reminded her of a story her father had once told her when she was very young. What was the name of it? She could no longer remember. Only that it dealt with a farmer and his wife, who wished that their dead son could be returned to life. When their wish was granted, they opened their front door in horror, for in the doorway stood their resurrected son still mutilated from the farming equipment that had killed him. Shuddering at the thought of such a horror, Deanna set down the chip on her console and went to the replicator to order a hot chocolate. She needed its soothing warmth to help her calm down.

After she took the first sip, she suddenly remembered, The Monkey's Paw. That was the name of the story. A curled, natty looking thing, severed from the creature it had belonged to, an atrocity in and of itself. Were they really trying to do the right thing? Should anyone have the right to bring back the dead, in essence, playing God?

*****

The remaining crew members aboard the Huron had just finished listening to the message sent from their comrades on Akie. For a long moment, neither spoke as they digested the information. "I don't want to sound callous, but I'm not sure this is a good idea," Barclay said. "I had the opportunity to feel like a god once and while the experience was exhilarating, I know now how wrong it is to play around with other people's lives."

"You're referring to the Cytherians," Raines said. "I read about that while I was at the Academy."

"They gave you that power," Berlitz said. "You didn't ask for it. And when the mission was complete, they returned you to normal. Reg, this is totally different. These aliens want to resurrect people, many of whom you know and respect. I wish I'd had the opportunity to work with Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher on the previous Enterprise." She held out her hand and placed it atop Barclay's. "But I've heard enough about them to know that they deserve this chance. They weren't meant to die like they did."

Without much thought, Barclay leaned forward and rested his head against Corinne's. He'd never felt this comfortable with a woman before. "I've never prayed for anyone," he admitted. "But I'd like to now."

Behind them, Raines walked away and return to her console to resume mapping of the pockets. Her crew mates needed a little privacy, she realized.