Read Online Star Trek: The Next Generation - 020 - Q-In-Law by Peter David - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Peter David
Ads: Link
We have a week of ceremonies and such, and the last thing we'd need is for the fathers to suddenly remember that they dislike each other." Then his voice hardened in annoyance as he saw more people shoved out of the way by someone in the crowd.
"Who the devil is that?" And then he was astounded to see Guinan push her way out, getting more nasty glances from others in the crowd. "Some hostess," one person muttered.
Guinan ignored it and went straight to Picard.
The thought of scolding Guinan for her behavior never even crossed Picard's mind. He would have staked his life on her manners.
"What's wrong, Guinan?" he said immediately.
She wasted no time on preamble. "He's here," she said in a low, intense voice.
Picard frowned for a moment, not able to understand.
and then he did. With startling clarity, he knew exactly who and what she was referring to.
Mostly it was her reaction. He had never seen Guinan respond to anyone else in the galaxy the way in which she was now.
She was... tense.
No one, and nothing, made Guinan tense, except for one being.
"Merde," said Picard. "Deep merde." "What's wrong?" said Geordi. All he knew, from the way that the captain's thermal readings had reacted, was that something was seriously wrong.
"Jean-Luc? You're upset," said Mrs. Troi with authority. She didn't sound like someone expressing concern, but rather a doctor making a diagnosis.
"Nothing to concern yourself over, Lwaxana," said Picard, making the faintest attempt to cover.
He turned back to Guinan. "Where--?" "You're concerned over a letter of the alphabet?" said Lwaxana.
Picard flinched as if struck. He could not believe he'd forgotten with whom he was dealing.
He turned and faced Lwaxana and, in a command tone of voice that he had never taken with her, said, "This is not the time for mind reading." "You think powerful thoughts," she replied with amusement. "If you're knocked over by a powerful gust of wind, do you blame the wind or yourself?" Gently, but firmly, he sat her down in a vacant chair. "Stay here. We're all in terrible danger," he told her in a low, intense voice. "If you read anything from my mind, read my genuine concern for you and for this ship. Stay here." She nodded indifferently, never taking her eyes from him. "Yes, sir." He turned back to Guinan. "Where is he?" "I don't know." There was even louder laughter from the center of the room, where the two fathers were rocking with mirth.
And then he heard Nistral say, "A cigar in his mouth! Oh, that must have been priceless!" "Oh, it was," came another voice, as familiar as the sound of nails on chalkboard, and about as soothing.
Without a word, Picard immediately started through the crowd. He toyed with the thought of summoning security, but dismissed it. What in the world could they possibly do, besides get themselves injured or transformed?
The crowd parted for him, since he was the captain, after all. Guinan was right behind him, followed by a still confused Geordi. Picard heard three men--well, two men and something else-- laughing loudly, and then he made it through and stood there facing Graziunas, Nistral, and.
him.
"Oh, Captain!" said Graziunas, pointing. "Your admiral was just regaling us with some stories about your past adventures, although I'm sure they're things you'd rather have kept quiet." "I know precisely what I'd like kept quiet," said Picard, and he stabbed a finger. "And what I'd like kept quiet is this... person... right here!" "Now, Jean-Luc," said Q, raising a scolding finger. "Temper. You may not respect the individual," and he smiled ingratiatingly, "but you have to respect the uniform."
Chapter Seven
Deanna Troi and Worf were on the bridge.
All had been calm thus far, so although a security team was ready in case they were needed, it had been decided that
"Who the devil is that?" And then he was astounded to see Guinan push her way out, getting more nasty glances from others in the crowd. "Some hostess," one person muttered.
Guinan ignored it and went straight to Picard.
The thought of scolding Guinan for her behavior never even crossed Picard's mind. He would have staked his life on her manners.
"What's wrong, Guinan?" he said immediately.
She wasted no time on preamble. "He's here," she said in a low, intense voice.
Picard frowned for a moment, not able to understand.
and then he did. With startling clarity, he knew exactly who and what she was referring to.
Mostly it was her reaction. He had never seen Guinan respond to anyone else in the galaxy the way in which she was now.
She was... tense.
No one, and nothing, made Guinan tense, except for one being.
"Merde," said Picard. "Deep merde." "What's wrong?" said Geordi. All he knew, from the way that the captain's thermal readings had reacted, was that something was seriously wrong.
"Jean-Luc? You're upset," said Mrs. Troi with authority. She didn't sound like someone expressing concern, but rather a doctor making a diagnosis.
"Nothing to concern yourself over, Lwaxana," said Picard, making the faintest attempt to cover.
He turned back to Guinan. "Where--?" "You're concerned over a letter of the alphabet?" said Lwaxana.
Picard flinched as if struck. He could not believe he'd forgotten with whom he was dealing.
He turned and faced Lwaxana and, in a command tone of voice that he had never taken with her, said, "This is not the time for mind reading." "You think powerful thoughts," she replied with amusement. "If you're knocked over by a powerful gust of wind, do you blame the wind or yourself?" Gently, but firmly, he sat her down in a vacant chair. "Stay here. We're all in terrible danger," he told her in a low, intense voice. "If you read anything from my mind, read my genuine concern for you and for this ship. Stay here." She nodded indifferently, never taking her eyes from him. "Yes, sir." He turned back to Guinan. "Where is he?" "I don't know." There was even louder laughter from the center of the room, where the two fathers were rocking with mirth.
And then he heard Nistral say, "A cigar in his mouth! Oh, that must have been priceless!" "Oh, it was," came another voice, as familiar as the sound of nails on chalkboard, and about as soothing.
Without a word, Picard immediately started through the crowd. He toyed with the thought of summoning security, but dismissed it. What in the world could they possibly do, besides get themselves injured or transformed?
The crowd parted for him, since he was the captain, after all. Guinan was right behind him, followed by a still confused Geordi. Picard heard three men--well, two men and something else-- laughing loudly, and then he made it through and stood there facing Graziunas, Nistral, and.
him.
"Oh, Captain!" said Graziunas, pointing. "Your admiral was just regaling us with some stories about your past adventures, although I'm sure they're things you'd rather have kept quiet." "I know precisely what I'd like kept quiet," said Picard, and he stabbed a finger. "And what I'd like kept quiet is this... person... right here!" "Now, Jean-Luc," said Q, raising a scolding finger. "Temper. You may not respect the individual," and he smiled ingratiatingly, "but you have to respect the uniform."
Chapter Seven
Deanna Troi and Worf were on the bridge.
All had been calm thus far, so although a security team was ready in case they were needed, it had been decided that
Similar Books
