Star Trek The Next Generation

2

After being cleared I followed Worf to the bridge.

"I told you I was fine." I said as I stood beside him in the lift.

"I would much rather have a trained doctor tell me that." He said as he looked at the door.

"You confuse me, you say that you do not feel the same for me as I feel for you, but then you go and do stuff like this.... what do you want?"

"A Klingon woman, not a Vulcan half breed child." He growled out.

"Understood." I said as I nodded my head.

The doors open and I walked out. I walked towards my station and pulled the screen up. I soon heard the lift door open again and looked up to see a man with dark brown hair.

"Yes sir?" Worf asked calmly.

"Where will I find Commander Data?" The man asked calmly.

"Commander Data is on special assignment, sir. He's using our shuttlecraft to transfer an admiral over to the Hood."

"An admiral?" He asked with a frown.

"Admiral Leonard McCoy." I said softly.

The man turned to look at me and I met his eyes for a second before looking back at my screen.

"He's been aboard all day, sir, checking over medical layout." Worf explained.

"Why a shuttlecraft? Why wouldn't he just beam over?" He asked with a frown.

"I suppose he could, sir, but the Admiral's a rather remarkable man."

"I don't think we have been introduced? Commander William Riker." He said as he looked at me.

"I know who you are sir. Commander Maria." I said as I got back to my work.

"I thought that was you, it's been awhile Maria, it's good to see you." He said with a chuckle.

I smiled and looked up at him.

"It's good to see you again Riker." I said with a smile.

"I told you to call me William." He said with a laugh.

"When have I ever done what you said?" I asked with a smirk.

"You're just as stubborn as your cousin." He said with a chuckle.

He shook his head and turned and walked out of the room.

"You know Commander Riker?" Worf asked as he looked at me with a frown.

"He was stationed on Betazed for a few years. I met him there." I said softly.

"I see." He said as he turned away.

I got back to work and quietly waited for the day to be over. Soon Picard returned to the bridge and I stared quiet. I heard the lift open and turned to see a young boy.

"Children are not allowed on the Bridge." Picard said as he stood up.

I saw Doctor Crusher appear behind him and step out of the lift.

"Permission to report to the captain?" She asked softly.

"Doctor Crusher." Picard said calmly.

"Captain... Sir, my son is not on the Bridge. He merely accompanied me on the turbolift."

"Your son?"

"His name's Wesley. You last saw him years ago when..."

"Well, as long as he's here. I knew your father, Wesley. Want a look around?" Picard asked softly.

I watched as Wesley stepped onto the bridge and I sent him a small smile.

"But don't touch anything." Picard said softly.

Wesley looked around the bridge and then at the Captain's chair.

"Try it out. The panel on your right is for log entries, library computer access and retrieval, viewscreen control, intercoms, and so on. Here we have.." Picard said softly.

"And here, the backup conn and ops panels, plus shield and armoury controls." Wesley said with a smile.

"The forward viewscreen is controlled from the ops position there..."

"Which uses high resolution, multi-spectral imaging sensor systems."

"How the hell do you know that, boy?" Picard asked shocked.

"Perimeter alert, Captain!" Wesley exclaimed.

"Wesley!" His mother snapped.

"I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't have touched anything." She said sternly.

"Off the bridge. Both of you." Picard ordered.

Wesley stood up and I watched him walk towards his mother. I sent him a gentle smile and he waved to me.

"You have a perimeter alert, sir." Worf said sternly.

"As my son tried to tell you!" She said as they disappeared on the lift.

"Picard. Go ahead." He said calmly.

"Ship's sensors have detected the presence of a vessel approaching this planet. No ship is scheduled to arrive at this time, sir." Security said calmly.

"Have Commander Riker and his team beam back up. Security, could that be the Hood returning here?"

"The vessel does not match the Hood's configuration or ID signal."

"Put it on main viewer. Identification?" Picard asked as he looked at the screen.

"Vessel unknown, configuration unknown, sir." I said as I pushed a button.

The ship came on screen and it looked to be a flying disk. I watched as it got closer and I put my hands behind my back.

"Hail it." Picard ordered.

"We've been trying, sir. No response." Worf explained.

"Raise all shields, phasers at ready." The captain orders.

"Shields up, sir. Phasers ready." Worf said calmly.

"Get me Groppler Zorn. And continue universal greetings on all frequencies."

"This is Zorn, Captain." A voice said.

"Zorn, an unidentified vessel has entered into orbit with us." Picard said as he set down.

"Do you know who it is?" He asked softly.

"There are no ships scheduled to arrive until..."

"I asked if you knew who it is. You mentioned the Ferengi Alliance to me." Picard snapped.

"But we have had no dealings with them. It was only a, a thought." Zorn said quickly.

"Are you certain?" The captain asked angrily.

"I promise you, Captain. We were making an empty threat. I wanted your cooperation. Forgive me." He said softly.

"Definitely entering orbital trajectory, sir." Worf said calmly.

"It measures twelve times our volume, Captain." I said softly.

A purple light engulfed the Enterprise and I frowned as I looked at my screen.

"Sensors say we were just scanned, sir." I said as I looked up at the Captain.