Star Trek: The Next Generation - 020 - Q-In-Law by Peter David Read Free Book Online Page B

beams be reset, he wondered, so that they would transport someone not from the platform, but instead from a location, say, precisely five feet in front of him? Yes, certainly they could. And then be made to rematerialize somewhere else in the ship?
     
     
Like at the farthest possible point from the transporter room.
     
     
As these thoughts ran through his head, Lwaxana Troi stood precisely five feet in front of him, expressing her distaste for being kept waiting.
     
     
She was dressed entirely in black, although her dress was covered with elaborate spangles that gave it a shimmering, undulating appearance. The one dash of color was a circle of blazing red, an amulet that was positioned directly above her heart.
     
     
Her luggage was at her feet. O'Brien looked at it nervously. Lwaxana Troi's luggage was legendary. One might even say.
     
     
feared. No one had ever seen what she packed in it. The consensus was that it was anvils.
     
     
Near her was the looming form of Mr. Homn.
     
     
O'Brien couldn't remember Homn ever having said anything. Perhaps he simply couldn't get a word in. Perhaps he felt it better just to maintain silence and, in so doing, draw as little attention to himself as possible. For whatever reason, he was simply there, ever present, ever patient.
     
     
"A true hardship," Lwaxana was saying, "that at a time when I am undergoing this personal tragedy, I must still put on a pleasant face in representing my people at a joyous occasion. But I do not shirk my duties, or cringe from my responsibilities. That was not how I was brought up, and that's not how I brought up my daughter... the gods bless her soul." O'Brien, against his better judgment, cocked his head slightly and said, "Something wrong with your daughter?" The transporter room doors hissed open, the sound neatly covering O'Brien's own sigh of relief. Deanna Troi entered first and stopped a couple of feet short of her mother. Her hands were on her hips and she was regarding Mrs. Troi with a look of stern annoyance.
     
     
"Mother," she said in a reproving tone.
     
     
If Lwaxana Troi took notice of it, she gave no sign. Instead she extended her hands to Deanna and spoke in a voice laced with grief. "My little one... I'm so sorry." Deanna sighed mightily and took the extended hands. "We will discuss this later," she said firmly.
     
     
"I imagine we will. Jean-Luc!" she said cheerfully, brimming with anticipation. "As handsome as ever." Picard raised an eyebrow. For a woman in mourning, she was certainly capable of turning it on and off. Here was someone who was in consummate control of herself, which is why the business with phase was so disconcerting.
     
     
"Mrs. Troi," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I extend my sympathies in your time of grief." Deanna shot her captain a look, which he caught, but he shrugged slightly. Counselor Troi had explained precisely what was on her mother's mind, but nonetheless, protocol required Picard making some indication of empathy--no matter how much he might disagree with the state of mind of the... mourner.
     
     
"Thank you, Jean-Luc. I knew that you," she said, glancing significantly at her daughter, "would understand." "You remember Commander Riker," said Picard, "and Commander Data." She barely gave Data a glance, but she looked Riker up and down. "Commander," she said.
     
     
"You're looking fit." "Thank you, ma'am," he said.
     
     
"Oh, please, not "ma'am,"" she protested. ""Ma'am" makes me feel positively old. Do you think I'm old?" "Yes," said Data briskly.
     
     
They all looked at Data who, utterly unaware that he was supposed to lie in order to spare feelings, continued, "In comparison to the average Betazoid life span, you are--" "Exhausted!" said Picard, stepping in. "You and Mr. Homn-- Oh, good day, Mr.
     
     
Homn." He had momentarily forgotten the manservant's presence. It was remarkable how someone so huge could seem simply to fade into the background. "You look exhausted.