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When I transport back to the Huron, it seems as though weeks instead of only one have passed. Everyone, everything aboard is the same. I have changed. While I cannot explain why I am different, I know that my experience inside the wormhole is directly responsible.
The small Huron crew throws me a welcome-back party, and Parkin and Gharet join the celebration. Afterward, they will reboard the Ritual, which will be accompanying us back to Federation space. Medic Parkin and other official representatives of their people will aid in finalizing the alliance between our people.
I notice Captain Picard stealing the Akodian representatives away, presumably to cement the details of the alliance. I decide against telling anyone, especially my parents, that the Akodians had already resolved themselves to forging the alliance with the Federation before I had been brought aboard for testing. What purpose would telling serve? Let them have their glory. For now.
Mother dotes on me as though I am a baby. For a while, I let her choose my clothes, fixing my dinner plate, and the like. She missed me and worried about me. I missed her, too. Why, after all the anticipation of this journey, am I relieved to be returned to my family? As Mother reaches out to hug me for the countless time, I find my answer.
My Father. I study him from across the table. With his lips curled upwards, he let's me know how delighted he is to share this moment with me. So rarely does he smile that I regret having to shatter his cheerfulness. If I don't break the disturbing news to him, I risk Parkin or Gharet coming forward It would be best if he hears it from me.
"I saw Q on Aki," I tell him.
Standing up from his chair, Father bellows, "What business does Q have with you now?"
All conversations stop as everyone turns toward us. I sense their anxiety. Are they afraid of what Q is up to, or of what Father will do about it?
"He supports the alliance. Whether you believe it or not, he helped me against the wishes of the other Q, so I invited him to stay as my guest."
I gasp as Father grabs my hand. "The party is over!" Practically dragging me away from the table, Father leads me toward the exit.
"Worf!" I hear Mother exclaim as she comes after us.
Father turns to face Mother. "This is a family matter. I think we should discuss it in private."
Taking one step away from Parkin, Picard says, "It's perfectly understandable."
Mother sighs and utters, "all right." She follows us out the door.
Although the Huron is considerably smaller than the Enterprise, the trip to my quarters seems unbearably long. Father is not speaking, and somehow his silence is worse than any scolding I could imagine. Probing his mind, I sense turmoil inside him. What is he planning?
Mother and I share a worried glance. She does not approve of my relationship with Q either, but she is ambivalent toward the punishment she fears Father may hand out. Although I have never been hit or even spanked by Father, I'm frightened by his power over me. What could douse the fiery rage burning inside him? As we step into my quarters, Father points to the bed and says, "Sit!"
I don't protest or even look at him. Walking over to the bed, I sit down and cross my arms. This ought to be interesting.
"I cannot control when or where Q decides to pop up," Father admits. "But I do not want you speaking with him. There is no excuse for encouraging his games." Staring into Father's stern eyes, I make no comment and this further angers him. "Maybe we have been too easy on you, letting you have your own private tutor."
"Oh no," I snap. "You can't take Data away from me! He's my friend."
"Worf, what are you saying?" Mother asks. "You aren't seriously considering ending her private tutoring sessions, because of Q's medaling."
"She needs to make friends her own age," Father insists. "How can she do that if she's not back in regular school?" They both turn toward me. "I know how difficult it will be for you at first."
Holding my breath, I try not to cry. I must let them see how maturely I can handle this situation.
"If we place her back in regular school, Worf, she will be ahead of the other children her age. How will they treat her?"
I do not want to know the answer. Tammy Reeves has not left the Enterprise. Even if she is still intimidated by me, I'd rather not deal with her.
"It is better than having her affection directed at Q!" To show the finality of his decision, Father steps out of my quarters.
"I'll talk with him," Mother promises and follows him out.
The following morning after breakfast, Captain Picard asks to speak with me alone in his quarters. I am nervous as I sit across from him and wonder why his wife is not in the room. "I will be making a trip to Starfleet Headquarters on Earth," he begins, "to attend a conference to finalize the alliance with the Akodians. You've been invited to attend as well."
"Me!" I can't believe that a group of admirals would show an interest in a little girl. "Yes. They are interested in hearing your account of your experience with the Akodians. They believe it will be crucial in establishing proper relations with the Akodians."
"My parents will never agree. They're too upset with me. I'm already facing a return to regular school."
"You just leave it up to me. I used to be their commanding officer. I know how to persuade them."
I smile broadly. Now I have someone else to deliver ultimatums for me. "Then what should I do to prepare?"
Picard chuckles. "You are a very intuitive little girl. Wear something formal to impress the admirals. Don't rehearse a speech. Better to sound natural if you wish to be taken seriously."
"Thank you, I will."
Beverly enters their quarters and I sense that she knows what her husband and I have been talking about. "I'll only be a moment," she apologizes as she walks toward the closet.
"It's okay," I say, standing. "I think we have an understanding." I move toward the door. "You have a good day."
After I leave Picard's quarters, I go to my computer console to select a formal outfit for the conference. I find a red waistless dress with long sleeves and am pleased when I realize it will fit in well with the formal wear of a Starfleet officer. I instruct the computer to replicate me one in my size and slip into it to examine how I look in the mirror.
"Shannara!" Mother says, stepping into my room unannounced. "I came to tell you that I just got through speaking with your grandma. She wants to spend some time with us after we return to the Enterprise."
"Yay!" I say, clapping my hands. Grandma Lwaxana is more fun than most adults and I don't see her often enough.
Mother walks up to me and runs her hand along my shoulder. "What's the purpose of this?"
"Captain Picard has invited me to a conference with some very important admirals at Starfleet Headquarters."
"I see." I sense she's upset, but possibly not for the reason I anticipated. She'd like to see me go! "Your father does not wish you to have any further contact with the Akodians." She instructs the computer to replicate a large red barrette and pulls a portion of my hair back with it. "This looks good with the dress."
I turn to face Mother. "Father is more worried about my interaction with Q and since he can't prevent Q from popping in whenever he wants, Father is choosing to end my relationship with the Akodians. He wants to prove that he can still yield authority over me. The Akodians are a benevolent people; they will only help the Federation...and me."
"My my, " Mother utters. "Data has taught you to argue well, not to mention a large vocabulary."
"Then don't make me return to regular school! Let me continue my studies with Data."
"Your father and I reached that decision together. Mrs. Dewberry will make sure you're given more challenging assignments than the other children. You're very smart, Shannara, but you are underdeveloped socially. Your only friend is an android. There are a dozen girls close to your age aboard the Enterprise. Surely you have something in common with one of them."
I doubt it, I think and hope she hasn't picked up on the thought. "Do you think any of the other children would be interested in hearing about my experiment with Sam and Al?" I cover quickly.
"Yes, I believe they would." She glances at my pet mice, beaming with pride. The mice are very healthy and well trained. "We'll see what we can do about the conference," she promises and leaves my room.
After I slip back into my regular clothes, I go to talk with Data. He is sitting in the command chair on the small bridge and I sit next to him. "Data, I don't want to go back to regular school," I say. "Can't you say something to my parents to change their minds?"
"As much as it saddens me to end your tutorial," Data beings, "your parents' argument is reasonable. You require friends around your own age."
"You'll still be my friend won't you?" I hold back the tears.
"Of course." He reaches his hand out to squeeze mine. "Soon, you will have many new friends and your time on Aki will almost be forgotten."
"But never my time with you!" I say, raising my voice. Ensign Kavok at the helm turns around to glance at us, curious as to what my problem is. Fixing him sternly, I lower my voice to almost a whisper. "We'll still have time together. Friends make time for one another."
"We shall see."
Before I can ask Data to explain, Ensign Kovak interrupts us. "Sir, the Akodian ship is hailing us."
"On screen" Data orders.
Gharet appears on the large viewscreen. "Greetings, Commander," the Akodian captain says. "I'd advise you to slow to quarter impulse. We are nearing a pocket wormhole which will cut more than twenty light years from our journey."
"Thank you, captain. Make it so, ensign," Data says.
"Aye sir," Kavok says as he slows the runabout.
Minutes later, we glide through the pocket and enter a densely populated sector. After Kavok re-establishes warp, I get up from my seat and leave the small bridge. As I retreat to my room, I wonder idly whether Picard has spoken with my parents yet. Picard may hold stature over Father, but I wonder if father is not too stubborn in this matter to allow me the privilege.
*****
At dinner time, I join Mother, Father and the Picards in the lounge area. The Picards are talking about a war that recently broke out on Veldon Prime and Mother and Father offer comments when appropriate. I know this is an important Starfleet matter and that lives are at stake, but I can't help feeling more urgency toward my own situation.
"Captain Picard," I say as soon as there's the slightest pause in their conversation. "Have you spoken with my father yet?" From the corner of my eye, I notice Father grow tense. He knows that I want to attend the conference and isn't pleased about it.
"Yes, I explained how important it is for the admirals to hear your account firsthand. Worf, perhaps you should tell her."
"I have decided to permit you to go," Father says, grudgingly.
"Thank you," I exclaim, clapping my hands, unable to contain my excitement. "I promise I'll make you proud."
*****
Captain Picard advised me against preparing a speech, but over the next few days, I cannot stop thinking about the conference and what I will tell the admirals. How will I sound to them? Will they view me as a reputable source?
I grow increasingly nervous as we draw closer to Earth and when Mother tells me we have arrived, I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. Quickly, I get ready, slipping on the red dress and pulling my hair back with the large barrette. I examine my features in the mirror and wish I were prettier. I think Mother is beautiful and I have her hair and lips, but I also have Father's ridges and eyebrows. They look fine on a man. On me, they look mean. I should use the power of the Q to make myself fully Betazoid one day. The Q would love that.
Not today, I decide and step out of the room. I join the rest of the crew on the bridge and watch as the runabout docks at Starfleet Headquarters.
Moments later, I am being led inside a tall building by Captain Picard. I glance at the plaques, pictures and other ornamentation on the wall as we pass them. Clearly, Starfleet is as big on pride and honor as Klingons. We enter a room with a large oval table. Three men and one woman are sitting along one end. With a gesture, Picard indicates for us to sit opposite them.
"Good morning, Shannara,' the woman says. "I'm Admiral Whitney." She is a tall woman with her long, grey hair pinned up in a bun.
"Hello," I reply. "Thank you for allowing me to attend this meeting."
She nods courteously. "We would like to hear your part of the story before we summon Medic Parkin to join us." She turns to her colleague to her right.
"Hello Shannara. I'm Admiral James," he introduces himself. He is a heavyset black man with thick hair. "When you first beamed aboard the Akodian ship, how were you greeted?"
"Medic Parkin was alone in the transporter room. She explained that it was best that I not interact with too many of her people, because they would influence my decisions. We passed a few members of her crew on our way to my temporary room but spoke to no one."
"Were you permitted to leave your room freely?"
"Medic Parkin never said I couldn't, but I didn't think about it. I guess, I had plenty in my room to entertain me. She had several games set up for me to explore. I believe it was a test to see which ones I would try and how I would react to them."
"You weren't curious about the rest of the ship?" One of the other admirals asks without preamble.
"I've never been all that interested in starships. I was more intrigued by the people on board and I could read their thoughts just fine from my room."
"Did you eavesdrop on many of them?" Whitney asks. "How did they react to your presence?"
"I wouldn't exactly call it eavesdropping, because they knew I was probing them. They could read my mind as easily as I could their's. But I mainly concentrated on one alien mind, that of a young boy about my age. He was homesick. He didn't like being on a starship any more than I did. He was comforted by my probing. We formed a kinship."
"Overall, would you rate your stay with the Akodians as a pleasant one?" the third male admiral asks.
"Yes. Their Picard were eager to share their culture with me. They want to help our Picard advance. I sensed sincerity in everyone I interacted with.
"Very good," Whitney says, satisfied. "Thank you, Shannara. I believe you've told us all we need to know." She presses a button on her console. "Lieutenant Claussen, please show Medic Parkin into the conference room."
"Greetings!" Parkin exclaims as she enters behind the lieutenant. Once Parkin is seated and Lieutenant Claussen has left the room, Admiral Whitney addresses the alien. "Medic Parkin, forgive me, but motives are rarely altruistic. What do your people hope to benefit from this alliance?"
"An ally," Parkin responds. "Like the Federation, we aren't without our share of enemies. It is wise to make as many friends as possible."
"Will Starfleet vessels have complete use of the wormholes?"
Parkin purses her lips. "As long as there is no cause for alarm as far as wormhole degradation is concerned. In that event, use of a wormhole would be closed to all, including Akodian vessels."
"Very good." Whitney holds out a hand for the Akodian to shake. "Do you accept Captain Jean-Luc Picard as liaison between our people?"
"I do."
"Do you, Picard, accept al the responsibilities that this new position as liaison, with the title of ambassador, entails?"
"Yes, sir, I do," Picard responds.
Whitney picks up a data padd setting in front of her. "Will all present please bear witness to this agreement by signing this treaty?" She hands it to Admiral James who signs his name with the data pencil in a flourish before passing it on to the next.
It suddenly strikes me how significant my part in this event has been. I know I am signing a document that will go into permanent record.
*****
On our way Beverly ack to the Huron, I ask Captain Picard, "Do you think you could convince my parents to let me continue my studies with Data?"
"It's not my position to question their decisions where your welfare is concerned," he responds. "I know you would like me to order them to allow your tutorial relationship with Data to continue, but that would be unwarranted and unethical of me. They feel you need to interact with children your own age and it's not my place to doubt their reasoning."
He's right, I know, but I can't rid myself of the disappointment gnawing at my stomach. I don't know how I will ever survive going backwards. The other children will ridicule me to no end and I can't resort to using the power of the Q against them for any reason. "I understand."
"How did it go?" Mother asks me as I board the runabout.
"Fine," I say, unable to muster up the same excitement I felt during the conference. I glance at Father who is trying to look busy at the tactical station. He doesn't want to admit that I'm not like other little girls. "We now have an alliance with the Akodians."
"Good." Despite her optimism earlier, I sense some ambivalence in her now.
Rather than deal with her disappointment or mine, I retreat to my room and sit beside the viewwindow. As I watch the stars streak by, I wonder if signing the treaty will be my last great triumph. All that will come after may be insignificant in comparison.
