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

number of people.
     
     
Virtually the only one who was not intimidated was Lwaxana Troi. She watched the entire confrontation unfold with overwhelming interest, and she never took her eyes off Q. Deanna was at her side now, and she took her mother's arm.
     
     
"Mother, come quickly," she said. She wasn't quite sure where she was intending to go. The power of the Q knew no boundaries, and there was certainly no place on the ship that she could bring her mother that would be safe. Nevertheless, she felt compelled to try and do something to safeguard her mother, even if it was something as trivial as getting her away from ground zero.
     
     
Lwaxana didn't budge. Nor did she stop watching Q. "I am fine, Little One.
     
     
Leave me be." "Mother, you don't understand the danger--to was Lwaxana made a dismissive gesture.
     
     
"I've never run from anything in my life. I'm not the least bit intimidated by the thought of danger." "But, mother--" "Hush," said Lwaxana in no uncertain terms.
     
     
Picard, in the meantime, was desperately trying to keep a lid on things. He had no idea how Worf had known to come down here, but it was exactly the situation he was hoping to avoid.
     
     
"Permission to bounce uninvited guest, Captain," rumbled Worf. His great hands flexed, clearly aching to reach over and throttle Q.
     
     
Q, for his part, merely stared disdainfully at Worf. In a loud voice he called out to the others at the party, "You'll have to forgive Worf.
     
     
He just discovered opposable thumbs and he's feeling overly confident." Worf took a step towards him.
     
     
"Worf!" said Picard.
     
     
"Heel," Q told him. He raised a hand up and Picard suddenly had a vision of Worf being hurled to the ground, made to heel and roll over, beg and fetch, and whatever humiliations the all-powerful alien might care to put him through. The loss of face, in front of all these people, would be so devastating that Worf might never recover.
     
     
Guinan stepped between them, her eyes blazing.
     
     
Q's lips drew back in a sneer.
     
     
Graziunas and Nistral were talking at the same time, protesting this treatment of a guest. Everything was happening much too quickly, and matters were spiralling completely out of control.
     
     
"Enough!" shouted Picard, his voice cutting through the conflicting chatter from all around and the combative mood of his own people.
     
     
There was dead silence. Riker had just shown up from somewhere within the crowd, and now he was standing next to Worf. He had placed a restraining hand on the Klingon's shoulder, and Picard was grateful for that.
     
     
"Captain, Tizarin tradition is quite clear," said Graziunas.
     
     
"We can discuss Tizarin tradition later," Picard told him. "For now, Q, let's discuss this outside." Q shrugged extravagantly. "As you wish, Picard." Picard and Q headed for the door, the crowd parting to let them through. Few people there were entirely sure of what was happening, but they knew better than to try and interfere.
     
     
Picard's officers started to follow, but Picard turned and snapped, "Stay here. See to the guests. Number One, try to explain matters to Graziunas and Nistral. Everyone else," and Picard tried to force an amiable smile that wound up looking more like a desperate grin, "enjoy yourselves. This is a party. I merely have to straighten out a small misunderstanding. It will take only a moment." It sounded lame, he knew. Even absurd. But he was trapped in an absurd situation, and he had to say and do something.
     
     
The doors hissed open, and Q gestured grandly. "After you, Picard," he said in that silkily irritating voice.
     
     
Picard had a momentary glimpse of Data about to enter the room. "Captain," began Data.
     
     
"Later, Data," said Picard, and he and Q stepped outside... the ship.
     
     
Chapter Eight
     
     
Wesley Crusher had never screamed at his post before.
     
     
He didn't scream this time, really. More like yelped in