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"Would you like to come with me?". Groggily, I open my eyes and attempt to locate his whereabouts in my room. I cannot see him. "Show yourself, " I whisper. I hear him again, clearer this time."Would you like to come with me? "
I almost answer him when my brother speak up instead. "Where are we going? "
"A place beyond your most wildest dreams, a fantasy you've never realized."
" I don't know. My mommy's warned me about you."
Stop clinging to your mommy and join me. I could make your life one long adventure. No more schooling or day-care. No more adults to answer to and no more rules to follow."
I cannot believe what I am hearing! Why does Q now want my brother instead of me? Does he believe Eric is as intelligent as I despite the test results? suddenly, I regret having rejecting Q for so long. Scrambling out of bed, I hasten toward the door anxiously prepared to ask Q to take me, not my brother." I really wouldn't have to go to school? "
The door slides open and I see Q and Eric standing on the other side of the sofa. My brother is still wearing his pajamas, wrinkled from the tossings of sleep.
"The Q know everything," Q says. "School is obsolete. All your time can
be spent on play and games."
Although he is smiling warmly, I sense beguiling motives. Does he really
want Eric to go with him? Or is he willing to bait a young boy just to
begrudge me?
Life is not all play and games, I want to yell out to my brother. If Q is so
omniscient why can't he see that?
" Don't! " I exclaim, but they vanish with a Q flash before I utter the
warning.
Screaming, I rush into my parent's room, " Wake up! " They stir reluctantly and I don't wait for them to reply. "Eric is gone!"
Mother's eyes open to slits. "Shannara, you've had a bad dream," mother says calmly. " Eric is in his bed."
"No no, you don't understand. This voice woke me and until I came fully awake, I thought he was talking to me. Then I heard Eric and got out of bed to investigate. I saw him in the living area with Q. Q invited Eric to join him in the Continuum. I got out of bed to stop them but they vanished before I could interrupt them."
Neither of my parents look overly anxious to climb out of bed. Why don't
they believe me? They know what Q is capable of masterminding. " Q has
never shown an interest in your brother," father says. "His obsession has
always been with you. Your mother is right: You had a bad dream. If Q
had been in our quarters, he would have awakened your mother and
I. Q cannot resist putting on a show for all of us."
"If we check on Eric, we'll just wake him up," mother adds.Has Q done something to their brains to scramble their logic? They should be panicing and doubting that their son is safe in his bed. Holding my breath, I attempt to summon the magic inside me and countermand the power Q has over them. "You have to listen to me! I am fully awake and aware of what I saw happen. If you don't come with me, then I'll have to fight Q on my own. " I turn around and step out of the room, hoping some sense has gotten through to them.
As I reach Eric's room and find his bed empty, mother exclaims, "Oh my God, Worf! " Finally, they have snapped out of their trance. " What has he done with our son?"
Father grabs me by the arms and kneels down to face me. "Why did he take Eric to the Continuum?"
"Because I've never agreed to go with him. I believe he's trying to win me over through jealousy. He knows how I felt when we thought Eric might be as smart as me and he's using that against me. If I agree to join him, then he'll return Eric to you."
"We can't trade one child for another, " mother says. " There has to be a way to get Eric back without sacrificing you. "
"We are dealing with Q, " father snaps. He sounds as though he is offering us an explanation. " We will continue to be his puppets until he tires of us."
Should I point out to father that a short game for Q might last a hundred
years? No, this is not the time for debate. If I don't try to confront Q
immediately, I can't guess what he will try next. "Let me try to summon
Q. If he'll listen to anyone, he'll listen to me." They nod and I turn away
from them, not wanting them to see the doubt on my face. Q is playing a
game, all right, and I suspect that he'd rather plague me with worry for
a time. Still, I have to try. "Q, please show yourself. I need to talk with
you. " I wait a couple beats, clenching and unclenching my hands. What
can I say that will convince him to come forward? " You know as well as I
do that you really don't want Eric. He's nothing but a little brat. He'll only
cause you trouble."
"Shannara, " Mother scolds, " there's no reason to belittle your brother."
I fix her with a furrowing brow. "You want him back, don't you? This is
the sort of tactic that might work with Q.
"Why is mother trying to start an argument with me? Again, I wonder if Q
isn't controlling their thought processes. Assuming this possibility, I
decide to play along and attempt a few mind-controlling tricks of
my own. " Mother, Father, you need to get ready for your duty shifts. You
will behave as though nothing is wrong. Mother, you will inform Mrs.
Dewberry that Eric is sick today. If I'm unable to resolve this situation by
afternoon, I will page Data and let him know I can't attend my tutoring
session today. At that time, I will decide how to proceed. "
I feel an eerie superiority over my parents. Normally, I would follow their guidance and accept their dominance over me, but that is not how Q wants to play. I know he means to challenge me. He wants me to realize how much I enjoy being in control. Perhaps, I am playing right into his hand, but what other choice do I have right now?
Mother and Father step out of my brother's room without disputing my
authority, leaving me alone to serve as Q's pawn. "I'm alone now, Q," I
say, feeling awkward at stating the obvious. "Show yourself, so we can
discuss this like two intelligent beings." Turning full circle, I expect the
entity to pop up in some unusual location per his normal. He is not enticed
by my invitation. I sense no sign that he is even listening. If he truly wants
me over Eric, then why is he being so stubborn?
Several minutes later, my rumbling stomach sends me out to the replicator in the living area. Despite my dislike for the stuff, I order a bowl of oatmeal, recalling Q's sarcastic remark about chitchatting over a bowl of mush. I sit down at the table and taking slow bites, manage to finish my breakfast. The chair across from me remains empty."Okay Q," I say, shrugging and stand up to return the bowl to the replicator. "Q, if you're not going to show yourself, then maybe I should pretend nothing is wrong. I'm going to work on an assignment Data gave me yesterday. I know how much you hate that Data is still my mentor. Only you can prevent me from attending today's session. You're in control. Isn't that how you always want it?"
Reaching the point where I believe Q will not answer today, I slip into my room and sit at my desk with my data padd and work on the five essay questions. Answering them proves difficult you as I cannot keep my mind from wandering to thoughts of my brother. I never realized how important Eric is to me until now when I've lost him. I refuse to believe he's gone for good. Q plays his game well, but no matter what he tries I see right through his malevolent disguise. No harm will come of Eric, and when Q tires of this game, my brother will be returned safely.
I hope.
*****
"I'm sorry, Data. I don't think I did very well on these essay questions, " I say as I hand him my data padd. Fighting against tears, I cross my arms and bow my head.
"What is wrong?" the android asks, setting the padd down on his desk without a glance. "Has something happened at home to upset you?"
For a computer brain, Data is quite perceptive. No wonder Q is so jealous of our relationship. Unable to prevent the tears from flowing any longer, I can't answer his question.
"Sit down," Data says cajolingly as he pulls out his desk chair. "Catch your breath and tell me what has upset you."
"Q,: I state as though there's nothing more obvious in the world. "He's taken Eric somewhere inside the continuum."
"When did this happen?"
"Early this morning. I woke up to their conversation and before I could interrupt them, they vanished."
Data looks perplexed. " your parents said nothing of this during bridge duty. Indeed, they acted as though nothing was wrong."
How do I explain my need to exert control over my parents to Data? "I made them report for duty and pretend nothing was wrong."
"Shannara, why would you do something so unethical?"
"Q refuses to play reasonable. "
"That does not make it right for you to stoop to his level. Do you know how to remove the spell you placed on your parents?"
Remembering how I'd been unable to bring Tammy back, I start to doubt my ability to direct the power inside me. "Even if I'm able to remove my control over them, Q probably won't back down. All I want is for him to return my brother safely. Why did he take Eric?"
"Q's reasons are often fanciful. It will do you little good to attempt to analyze his motives. You should not have kept this tragedy to yourself, though. Our best course of action now is to inform the captain."
"Tell Captain Riker? How will that solve anything? Q will no more show up for him than anyone."
"While that may be true, the captain should still be informed of any significant event that occurs on his ship. We will not debate this further." He retrieves my data padd. "You say you are not satisfied with your answers. Go over them again and make changes. Meanwhile, I will bring this matter of Q to the captain's attention." After I take the padd from him, Data exits his quarters, leaving me alone.
Concentrating on school work is impossible. Attempting to summon Q again likewise. So I remain at Data's desk, data padd clutched absently between my hands, and await news from my mentor. Close to an hour passes. Should I return to my quarters? I doubt my parents are there. I imagine they are in a meeting with Data and Captain Riker, discussing why they did not mention their son was missing and how to deal with Q's latest tactic.
Instead of leaving Data's quarters, I decide to order dinner from the replicator. Before I finish, I'm interrupted by the communicator.
"Captain Riker to Shannara. "
I tap my combadge and reply, "Shannara here. I'm in commander Data's quarters. He told me to stay here while he spoke with you."
"He's informed me of that. We need you to report to conference room one immediately."
"Understood. I'll be there in a couple of minutes." Eyeing my half-finished food, I wonder which is less appetizing: The tangy noodles or the prospect of enduring another meeting in the conference room. I return my plate to the replicator and exit Data's quarters.
Along the way, crewmembers offer me pleasantries, but I'm not feeling worthy of any attention. I reach the conference room and hesitate outside the door. Who is waiting for me on the other side? I'm in serious trouble with everyone. If I'd handled Q better in the past and not led him to believe I wanted to be his friend, such as the time on Akie, he wouldn't expect a tactic like taking Eric to work. From the beginning, Q has been a nuisance. I should have ignored himfrom the time I accepted Data as my mentor, pretended he didn't exist. Now I'm paying the price and my family is suffering.
With a deep breath, I step forward and enter the conference room. My parents, Data, Captain Riker, and Commander La Forge are present. The captain points to an empty chair next to Mother and says, "Please, have a seat." He is smiling, though I know it's forced. After I've made myself as comfortable as possible, Riker continues. " I've heard details of your brother's disappearance from both Data and your parents. Is there anything more you might add that could help us?"
What more could I possibly tell them that would give us an advantage against Q? He sets the rules to his game and they are always in his favor. " I've been trying to contact Q all day, " I inform them. "He refuses to make an appearance."
"Q does not want my son," Father grumbles. "He only took Eric because he wants to make my life like living in Gre'thor."
" He's done it to me too, Worf, " Mother points out. I sense great stress within her and yet outwardly, she remains well composed.
" He wants me, but I've refused to go with him, " I mumble. Although this has been so obvious since the beginning, I feel I must emphasize this point and place blame on myself. Now above all other times, I must show enough maturity to take responsibility.
"Q doesn't care about our wishes," La Forge says. "He's always popped in when it's most convenient for him. And whether we're in the middle of a vital mission or not, he expects us to stop everything to play his game."
"Commander La Forge is right," the captain says. "I don't know why he chose to take your brother, but if he wanted you, he wouldn't have waited for your permission."
"I'm sorry, Captain Riker, " I reply. " But I believe you're wrong. For some reason, perhaps it's pride, he needs my permission. Maybe he wants to look good in front of the other Q."
"The other Q are angry about Q's interest in you, " Mother reminds me. "I'm amazed they haven't exiled him again."
This comes as a surprise to me. When was Q exiled by his people and for what reason? Does he really feel that I am a big enough reward to risk abolishment from the Continuum?
"Why did his people do that to him? Do they hate him as much as we do?"
"Possibly so," Data responds." for a while the Q were quite angry with Q for his hostile involvement with an alien race. When they exiled him, they a him a choice of what he wanted to become. He chose to take on human form and residence on the Enterprise."
"Although he didn't have Captain Picard nor Starfleet's permission," Riker says.
"Are you saying we should wait for the Continuum to force Q to return our son?" Father growls.
"What other choice do we have?" Mother says, visibly shaking. Her composer is beginning to crumble.
There is one other choice and it is my decision whether or not to make it. Knowing they would try to talk me out of it, I elect not to tell them that I'm considering offering Q a trade. " I'm sorry it turned out this way. "
"Shannara, this isn't your fault," the captain says. Although everyone is nodding in agreement and offering reassuring smiles, I don't feel any better than the moment I walked through the door.
The captain shifts his gaze to my parents. "Worf, Deanna, I know how difficult this is for you, but if you request time off from your duties, it would place me in a bind."
"With all due respect, sir," Father begins," I need my duties to help me get through the coming days."
Wrapping her arm around his, Mother leans her head against Father's shoulder. "As do I."
"Understood. I wish there were more I could say or do right now. You know the Enterprise crew won't rest until your son is returned to you safely. For now, you may be dismissed." Mother places her arm across my back as we head out of the conference room. I sense no hostility toward me from either of my parents and yet I feel unworthy of any forgiveness or leniency.
Dinner is ate in near silence. Picking at my food, I can't find my appetite. Neither of them mention the control I exerted over them this morning, and I am relieved to not have to discuss my actions further. Nor do I want to inform them that I plan to attempt to summon Q once again tonight with an offer he ought not refuse. Will they miss me as much as they do Eric now?
"May I go to bed early tonight?" I ask. "I'm not feeling too well."
"Of course, dear." Mother responds.
Lifting my plate, I carry it over to the replicator and dispose of my narrowing barely-touched meal.
Once inside my room, I instruct the computer to turn the lights on dim. I don't change into my nightgown, having no plans of actually going to sleep. Instead, I sit on the edge of my bed and cross my legs.
"Q, you haven't answered me all day, but I know you can hear me," I begin. "I realize it's because I haven't said what you want to hear. When you first popped into my life, you gave me points for every correct guess I made. Well, I'm prepared to play that game again now. I'm also willing to accept the consequences of my participation." Still no appearance, so I continue. "You want me to spell it out to you. I actually have to say the words and give my full consent. All right Q: If you show up now and return my brother safely to our parents, I will join you wherever you wish to take me."
"Do you really mean it? " Q asks, popping in on his knees before me." You will accept me as your father and relinquish all former ties to this lowly existence?"
Placing my hands on my knees, I lean closer to the entity. "That's what I said. But you have to give back Eric first."
Q waves his arm and utters a scoffing sound. "Already done. The little monster is tucked safely in his warm bed." He holds out his hand, palm up, and smiles sweetly. "Come with me and I will show you the wonders of the multiverse."
Raising my hand to fit it snugly inside his, I accept the fate he has to offer me. As the Q-flash envelopes me, I wonder whether I can be happy wherever or whenever we are going. Strangely, I realize I am smiling.
