Q shot him a look and then vanished, and Q Two laughed silently into the airless void of space.
Chapter Twenty-six
"And so," Picard said, smiling, "by the power given me as captain of the U.s.s.
Enterprise, and with the blessings of the gods of the Tizarin, I now pronounce you married." Kerin and Sehra turned towards each other, and he took her face in his hands and kissed her. A cheer went up from all around, and applause, and a general sigh of relief. Picard closed the great book with finality and gave silent thanks.
Shortly thereafter there was a grand reception that had been set up under the shady trees of the Genesis Planet. The Federation Horns were playing a bossa nova while a holodeck-created bird watched them with curiosity.
Wesley took the opportunity to approach Graziunas, who was getting good and drunk along with Nistral. "Sir," said Wesley slowly, "I need to talk to you, man to man." "Man to man, young sir!" boomed Graziunas, feeling no pain. He draped a heavy arm around Wesley's shoulder. "What would that be about then, man to man?" "It's about Karla..." "Karla! The girl my daughter is always trying to get rid of?" Wesley's eyes widened. "What?" "The girl is a total fumblefingers. She's always dropping things, or knocking into things or people.
She once broke my right big toe by stepping on it! Can you believe that?" "Easily," said Wesley.
"My daughter keeps trying to pawn her off as a gift to unsuspecting souls. But she always winds up being returned to us." "And you're not insulted?" "Insulted?" said Graziunas in confusion.
"Why should it be any great insult to return a gift? And in Karla's case, it would certainly be understandable. What's this all about, young man?" "She lied," said Wes wonderingly.
"Women always lie. That's so men can hear what they want to." "I just... I thought if you were planning to give her back to me, now that the fighting's over, I..." "You want her?" "No!" Wesley had actually wanted to head off any plans of her coming back to him as some sort of token of gratitude. "Not at all." "Well, that's fortunate. Seems Sehra has become fond of her. Some business about Karla helping to save her when she went off on that insane jaunt in a ship. Craziest thing, that.
Women, eh?" "Women," agreed Wes.
Graziunas squeezed Wesley's shoulder.
"Tell me, young sir, do you arm wrestle?" Wesley felt the strength that was gripping his shoulder and had the depressing feeling that he was going to wind up in sickbay again shortly.
Lwaxana was back wearing black. "Mother, enough is enough," said Deanna, nursing a drink.
Riker, Picard, and Data were standing nearby, taking it all in with amusement. "I want you to stop this mourning business." "What choice do I have, Little One?" sighed Lwaxana. "You make it so difficult for me." "I make it difficult?" "That's right," said Lwaxana firmly. "There are so many men on this ship who would be a fine catch. And furthermore, I..." Deanna sighed deeply and looked down, as if she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "All right, mother," she said. "I can't hide it from you. I have, in fact, been discussing just that topic and... well... we're now prepared to announce our engagement." Lwaxana looked up in surprise.
"To whom?" Deanna turned and walked towards the Enterprise officers. Lwaxana saw her heading towards Riker and clapped in delight.
Deanna reached out and took Data firmly by the arm. She pulled him forward, to the laughter of Picard and Riker. Data looked around in polite confusion.
She hauled Data in front of her mother and said, "Him." Data looked from the firmly smiling face of Deanna to the blanching face of Lwaxana. "This will be very interesting," said Data. "I look forward to the experience. And should, by some chance, there be children, we would very strongly consider naming them after you, Mrs. Troi." "Call her "mom," Data," suggested Riker.
"Mom," said Data obediently.
"I'm going to get a very, very stiff drink," said Lwaxana, and she did so.
The End
