Star Trek: The Q Continuum Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Hasn’t he mentioned them to you?”
    “Not a word,” Geordi insisted. He scratched his chin as he mulled the matter over. “Granted, we’ve been working awful hard to get the modified torpedo ready, but he hasn’t said a thing about his family.”
    A scowl crossed Picard’s face. “The professor’s experiment is not without its dangers. To be quite honest, it hardly strikes me as an ideal time to bring one’s children along.”
    “Any time is better than none at all,” Troi explained. “At least that’s what the family counselors back on Betazed thought. According to Professor Faal’s personal file, which I reviewed after our meeting in the conference room, the children’s mother was killed less than six months ago. Some sort of transporter accident.”
    “The poor kids,” La Forge said, wincing. Picard recalled that Geordi’s own mother had been missing and presumed dead for only a few years now, ever since the Hera disappeared along with everyone aboard; it was none too surprising that the engineer empathized with the children’s loss.
    “Anyway,” Troi continued, “it was felt that now was far too soon to separate them from their father as well, especially since his time after the experiment is completed is likely to be so brief.”
    “I see,” Picard conceded reluctantly. He was no expert on child psychology, but he granted that Faal’s terminal condition necessitated special consideration where his children were concerned. “No doubt Faal’s illness, as well as the recent tragedy involving his wife, imposes a terrible burden on the entire family. Do you think you might be reacting to whatever difficulties he might be having with his children?”
    Troi shook her head. “I’m very familiar with parent-child stresses, including my own,” she added with a rueful smile. Picard tried hard not to let his own…unflattering…feelings toward Lwaxana Troi seep over into Deanna’s awareness. “Not to mention helping Worf through all his difficulties with Alexander…. No, I know what family problems feel like. This is something different.” She frowned again, clearly wishing she could offer Picard advice more specific. “All I can say, Captain, is that Faal is more complicated than he appears, and might behave unpredictably.”
    “By attempting, for example, to strike Lieutenant Barclay?” Picard suggested. To be fair, he admitted privately, it was Barclay, after all. While he could not condone near-violence against a crew member, Barclay was something of a special case; there were times when Picard himself wondered if Reg Barclay might not be happier in a less stressful environment. The man had his talents, but perhaps not the correct temperament for deep-space exploration.
    “For example,” Troi agreed. She turned toward La Forge. “Geordi, you’ve worked more closely with Professor Faal than the rest of us. What are your impressions of him?”
    “Gee, I’m not sure,” Geordi waffled. “I mean, yeah, he gets pretty intense at times—who wouldn’t under the circumstances?—but I don’t think he’s dangerous or anything, just determined to get the job done while his health is still up to the task. He doesn’t talk about it much, but I think his illness weighs on his mind a lot. He’s aware that he hasn’t got much time left.”
    “I see,” Picard nodded, his irritation at the scientist fading. It was hard not to feel for a man who was facing death just as his life’s work neared completion. “Perhaps we should make some allowances for displays of temperament, given the professor’s condition.” Picard stood up behind his desk and straightened his jacket. Time to conclude this meeting, he decided, and get back to the bridge.
    “Faal’s reputation is impeccable,” he told Troi, thinking aloud. “At the moment, all we can do is keep an extra eye on the professor and try to be ready for any unwelcome surprises.” He glanced at the closed door to the bridge.