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Months after our five-day vacation on the beach, I still think fondly about the experience. My paintings reflect the beauty of the water cascading against the sand. "The texture and contrast of your paintings have markedly improved," Data tells me. He's suggested that I enter one in a young talent contest. I start to tell my parents this news during dinner one night, but am interrupted by the annunciator.
"Sorry to disturb you," Captain Riker says after Mommy answers. "We just received a hail from a shuttlecraft heading our way. It's your mother. She'll be docking in Cargo Bay 3 in approximately thirty minutes."
Mommy rolls her eyes. She loves Grandma, but is often annoyed by her unannounced visits. "Thanks for the warning, Will."
"May I come to the cargo bay to meet Grandma, too?" I ask as Mommy returns to the table to finish her meal. Even though Mommy would rather be warned of Grandma's visits, I delight in Grandma's impulses. She knows how to play games like a kid.
Mommy smiles at me. "Yes, you may." She is relieved to not have to face Grandma alone. "Finish your dinner and then wash up."
Happily, I begin spooning my vegetables into my mouth, even the pieces I don't like.
"I do not see why your mother has to choose to visit us now," Daddy grumbles. Standing, he picks up his plate and takes it to the replicator for recycling.
"Oh, is there a more appropriate time?" Mommy reaches for a napkin and wipes at my little brother's face. He yells for her to "stop!" swatting at the cloth, but Mommy manages to finish the task.
"It would be better if we had some warning."
"Thirty minutes isn't enough for you?" Mommy is being coy. We all know she really feels the same as Daddy. I don't need empathy to tell that. She grabs hers and Eric's plates and walks up beside Daddy to recycle them. She places her arms around Daddy's waist. "Don't worry, Worf. You can stay home and take care of Eric while Shannara and I handle mother."
Daddy looks at my little brother who is wiggling out of his chair, ready to play. "Gladly," Daddy says with a grin and moves away from Mommy to chase after Eric.
I dab my napkin at my mouth and wipe my hands, proud that I no longer need Mommy's help with cleaning up. "I'm ready," I exclaim and slip out of my chair.
"It's still a bit early, Sunshine," she tells me. "Besides, I believe you forgot something." She points at my dirty plate.
"Oh." Hastily, I perform the task. "Now can we go?"
Mommy sighs deeply. Thirty minutes has never seemed so long! "I know Data gave you a couple of assignments. Why don't you work on your schoolwork for a few minutes and I'll tell you when. Okay?"
I groan outwardly, but sensing that Mommy will not give me an alternative, I step into my room to retrieve my data padd. The work is easy and yet it takes up enough time that once I'm finished, Mommy tells me we can leave. I sat my data padd on the end table and slide off the coach.
Mommy takes my hand into hers and leads me out, down the corridor and to the turbolift. "Computer, Cargo Bay 3," she says as the doors close.
"Mommy, what sort of news do you think Grandma's come to tell us?"
Mommy glances down at me, a look of amazement on her face. "Why, I don't know. I've known your grandmother all my life and still, she is one of the most unpredictable people I've met."
"Me too," I respond with nonchalance as the doors open onto the cargo bay.
"You're just in time, counselor," the technician says. "Ambassador Troi's ETA is one minute and thirty seconds."
Standing beside the technician, Mommy and I watch the bay doors expectantly. They slowly open as the shuttlecraft glides toward the landing pod. We step forward to greet Grandma as she exits the small vehicle. She looks prim and proper, as usual, but inwardly, she feels flustered. What has happened to her?
"Deanna darling," she says reaching out to hug Mommy. "I'm glad you brought Shannara with you instead of..."
"Mother!"
"I was simply going to say your husband. Deanna, don't be so defensive. I'm merely glad Shannara is here." Grandma pauses. "Your friend paid me a visit," she says.
After a beat, I realize she is talking to me. "What friend? All the children I know are on the Enterprise." I watch the looks that Mommy and Grandma give one another. "You saw Q!"
"Mother, what did he say to you?" Mommy asks, her voice cracking with alarm. "Did he do anything to you?" Suddenly Mommy is no longer angry at Grandma, but very concerned for her.
"I'm fine, darling. He took me on his idea of an adventure. Though I must admit, I found it rather thrilling as well."
"Are you telling me you went willingly?"
"Of course, not. Since when does that stop Q?" Silence passes between them and I furrow my brow trying to pick up on what they're thinking. I sense that Q's pranks have annoyed them in the past, but he has never caused anyone any harm. "I've heard quite a lot about Q from Jean-Luc over the years. He told me that Q was responsible for introducing us to the Borg and after what Jean-Luc went through as Locutus.... I must say Q gave me quite an earful."
"Grandma, who's Locutus?"
Mommy glances back at the technician. "Mother, maybe we should go to my quarters, where we can discuss this in private."
"By all means."
As we exit out into the corridor, I have to nearly run to keep up with the adults. "Grandma, what did Q say about me?"
I still want to know about this Locutus person, whoever he was, but I sense it is a very sensitive subject. I will ask someone later. Maybe Q will tell me. He always seems so willing to share his opinion with me and that makes me wonder how he truly feels about me.
A science officer passes us coming from the other direction. Although she doesn't slow her stride or glance at us, I sense her intrigue at hearing the mention of Q.
Grandma looks toward Mommy, I sense, for her consent. "He told me he really cares about you."
This news makes me feel all warm inside, but quickly, I mask the feeling not wanting to offend them. No matter how firmly I feel about maintaining my connection with Q, I don't want to hurt my family.
We continue the trip back to our quarters in silence. Although they try to shield their emotions and thoughts from me, I pick up snatches of their worries. Why did Q visit Grandma? What did he think it would accomplish? There has to be some reason for his wanting to bear his feelings to Grandma.
When we step into our quarters, we find Alexander sitting at the table with Daddy. I rush over to him and he places his arm across my back. I sense he is concerned for me, but I can't quite read why.
"Shannara," Daddy says, waving me over to him. "Has Q contacted you again?"
"No, not me," I say with sudden dread. Who else has Q visited? Slowly, I look back at Grandma and speak her name.
"I was ensign route to a conference at a Bolian colony when Q made other plans for me. Instead of sitting through Ambassador Trell's boring speech, I spent two hours wandering the cosmos while Q shared his vision with me. If he weren't so annoying, I would have been intrigued.
"Worf, has something happened here?" Mommy asks. "What made you ask that? Did Q pop in or make his presence known in any way?"
My big brother answers the question. "Q came to my quarters a few minutes ago. He said he wanted to assure us that he intends no harm; that he only means to help Shannara."
"That's what he told me!" Grandma exclaims. "He said Shannara could never live up to her potential in this universe and that we're stifling her with our mundane lives."
"And you believed him!" Mommy says, flabbergasted.
"Not for a second," Alexander responds. He expects to win us over as if he has no history in this universe."
I pick up my data padd from the end table and start a new drawing. I don't feel comfortable with everyone around me talking about me and not including me in the conversation. They won't ask me how I feel. If they did, I would assure them that Q means no harm. He only wants companionship. Maybe he wouldn't try so hard to win my affection if he hadn't been hurt so many times. I remember him mentioning a woman named Vash, whom Jean-Luc Picard had known. I wonder if Mommy and Daddy knew her as well.
"He's using the divide and concur approach," Grandma says. "Why else confront us one at a time? Why isn't he here now pledging his allegiance for Shannara to the entire family?"
Daddy growls. "It would be a false pledge."
"That's one thing we agree on."
"But why?" Mommy asks. "What is his objective? To get Shannara to join the Continuum? She's just a little girl. No matter how high her intelligence, she has only a child's experience, not some being who's been around for several million years. What could she possibly offer him that he doesn't already have or know?"
Suddenly, Mommy disappears in a flash. "Q!" Daddy yells, jumping up to stand where Mommy had been as if he could snatch her back. I imagine Mommy will have the answers to her questions when she returns. Will they be the answers we want to hear?
Daddy is the chief of security and he can do nothing but pace while he waits for Q to return Mommy. He fears that Mommy won't come back. I know she will, though, because Q doesn't want Mommy. He wants me. I wonder if Daddy would miss me as much as he does Mommy if I were to disappear.
"He will return her to us, father," Alexander says. He is still sitting at the table where Grandma Lwaxana has joined him. "Q likes to play games, but he tires of them easily.
On the sofa, I bring my knees up to my chest, still clutching my data padd firmly in my hand. I feel like folding into myself and disappearing. I couldn't bear life without Mommy. Doesn't Q know that? Why does he say he cares about me and then take away Mommy? Why is Q doing this?
"I agree with Alexander," Grandma says. "How many times has Q taken Jean-Luc on one of his escapades? He likes to play games whether the participants are willing or not. Deanna will return unharmed. But if it were within my power, I would show Q how to tango."
I'm confused. Why would Grandma want to teach Q how to dance? "I don't think Q wants to dance," I say.
Everyone turns toward me. "What I meant dear," Grandma begins. "Is that..."
Before Grandma can finish, a Q-flash brings Mommy back on the other side of the sofa. I turn around and climb onto my knees to face her as Daddy rushes to her, bringing his arms around her waist. "Deanna, are you all right?" he asks.
"I'm fine," she assures us, glancing around the room to include everyone in her reply. She slips out of Daddy's grasp and comes toward me. "Sunshine," she begins, removing the data padd from my grasp and returning it to the end table. "I want you to promise me that no matter how hard Q tries, you won't agree to join the Continuum. That is the only power you have over him."
"I promise, Mommy," I respond, eager to please her. Reaching out, I hug her around the neck. "I want to be with you always. I don't want you to go away ever, ever!"
"Why do you suppose it's important to him to prove something to us?" Alexander asks. "It's within his power to take Shannara away and never bring her back. He's taken others on excursions. Why go out of his way to win our approval?"
"He's not bad," I say. "He's powerful. That doesn't make him bad." They all look at me with doubt, refusing to believe that Q would ever have good intentions. I turn to Grandma. "Grandma, I finished my homework already. Can we play a game?"
Grandma glances from Daddy to Mommy before replying, "if it's all right with your parents. I wouldn't want to whisk you away without their approval."
Mommy frowns at Grandma, but then nods her acceptance. "All right. For an hour. She's still a little girl and needs to get in bed at a reasonable hour."
Racing toward the door, I say, "Let's go Grandma." The emotions between both women is something I'd rather break up....in a hurry. "I don't want the holodeck to get taken." Even in my haste, however, I look back at my family and hope Q doesn't snatch one of them again. Why doesn't he just take me?
*****
We find Holodeck 2 empty and Grandma and I stop outside the doors to instruct the computer. "I haven't been to the Tuskonian Pyramids in years. How would you like to search them for hidden treasures?"
"Sure!"
Grandma orders the computer to recreate the pyramids as they were centuries ago before their caverns were plundered of all their treasures. We step inside the holodeck and although Grandma described the pyramids to me, I am amazed by their enormous size. On the face of the pyramid we stand before are several characters that form a pattern along the door. I cannot see a door handle and study the symbols for some secret combination that surely will open the door.
"Centuries ago, archaeologists spent years trying to decipher the mystery of these symbols." She runs her fingers along the indentations. "The aliens who created these artifacts were extremely advanced. It is believed that they took to space, never to return to their homeworld. No one has ever learned why or what became of them. The planet is still rich in natural resources. There are no signs of any significant warfare on the planet's surface, quite unusual for any civilization no matter its level of development."
"Wow! Grandma, do you suppose the Q once lived on a planet and because they were so intelligent, they grew tired of that existence?" Instantly, I sense a shift in Grandma's mood. "I'm sorry. I suppose we were trying to forget all about our dealings with Q." Why can't I stop comparing everything to Q? I know how much everyone around me hates him and is angered by his dominance over them.
"Yes, let's forget Q," Grandma says, tapping a pattern onto the symbols until the door opens inwardly to rest snugly against the floor. Stepping aside, Grandma allows me to enter the pyramid tunnel first.
I don't venture far before I find the first artifact, a tiny vase, setting on a ledge. It looks so delicate that I'm afraid to touch it.
"It's only a holographic creation, dear," Grandma reminds me. "You can't hurt it."
With my mouth open in awe, I gently place the vase between my palms and peer down into it's tiny depth. Something stirs inside and my first thought is of beetles running rampant throughout the pyramid.
"Care to dance?" a squeaky voice asks. I jump back, nearly dropping the artifact. After regaining my balance, I take a closer look inside the vase to find an insect-sized Q.
"Q! What do you think you're doing? Why have you been harassing my family?"
"He enjoys torturing all the insect races of the universe," Grandma answers as she steps closer to me. "It helps build up his superiority complex."
"Moi?" Q says in jest. "Why is it so hard for you to believe I have good intentions?"
"Well, look at you know: you've appeared to us no larger than four centimeters."
"Three point four to be exact."
"Yes, and you appear this way only to mock us."
Q shakes his tiny head. "Why must everyone believe I have evil intentions?"
"Maybe that is because you've caused so much havoc over the years. Look at how much stress you've caused poor Jean-Luc. Now my granddaughter and I are trying to enjoy a historical tour and you have to bug us."
"Bug! I prefer to think of myself as the little genie in a bottle." Suddenly, a smoke wafts out of the vase and when it clears, Q is standing between Grandma and me. "Accept me and I will grant you your fondest wish."
"I only wish you would leave us alone," Grandma says.
"Is that what you wish as well?" Q asks me. "Tell me, and I will never appear to you in any form again."
"No wait!" Excitedly, I drop the vase and it shatters.
Q makes a "tut-tut" sound. "Now I will have to find me a new home." His expression turns earnest. "You really don't want me to go?"
Briefly, I think about my reaction to Q's threat. Why am I so afraid of losing him? He's not my father and he's not my brother. He's not even from any of the same races as I. Oh, he can pretend to be Klingon; he can pretend to be anything he wants. He offers me the power of the Q and is convinced that is enough to bridge our universes. Should I surrender to his beliefs?
"I don't want you to go."
Grandma makes a huffing sound and I glance at her in time to see her lip curling up for a second. "Why do you prey on innocent children?" she demands of Q.
"Innocence?" Q looks at me incredulously. "She lost her innocence at two, long before I showed up to guide her."
"What happened when I was two?" I ask. I wish I could remember that far back, but even with my gifted intelligence, I can barely recall a time when Eric was not around. Why are the past two years of my life so vivid and everything before that practically a void?
"Go away, Q!" Grandma orders. "The past needs to remain in the past."
"Time is rather irrelevant," Q says. "Fate has already planned out the sequence of events."
"And you know no more than we do what those events are," I realize aloud. "Despite your superior intelligence, you're clueless about what the future holds. Otherwise, you wouldn't need me."
Grandma grabs me by the wrist. "What does he need you for? You'll be seven-years old next month. He's probably more than seven-million years old." She pulls me away from Q. "Let's go back to your quarters. I can't enjoy myself in present company."
As she drags me out of the holodeck, I expect Q to follow us. He doesn't. I feel an overwhelming sense of regret. Am I running away from my future?
