36

A chime sounded on the door to Jean-Luc Picard’s quarters at Isszon Temple. He had been taking a much-needed break after spending the bulk of the day reassuring both Betazoids and other High Guests that the Enterprise was more than up to the task of retrieving the three treasures.

The chime rang out again, followed by Lwaxana Troi’s trilling voice: “Jean-Luc! I know you’re in there.”

Picard rubbed his forehead.

“Just a moment,” he said, steeling himself as he strode across the room. When the door slid open, Lwaxana beamed up at him, as radiant as she had been the night before, when the celebration was underway and the treasures were still safely in possession of their Keepers. She bustled inside, her gown billowing around her. “Commander Rusina just received word from the Enterprise,” she said brightly. “The treasures have been recovered.”

“Oh, that’s excellent news,” Picard said. “I take it the Enterprise is on her way back now?”

Lwaxana nodded, her gaze sweeping around the room. “I am certain Rusina will want you to attend the debriefing with Mr. Worf—who I heard did marvelously as captain, by the way.”

“As I knew he would.”

Lwaxana spun around to face Picard, the fabric of her gown twirling out dramatically. Picard felt a moment of tight-chested terror, certain she was going to fling herself on him. But she only smiled. “But as Betazoid Ambassador to the Federation, I wanted to come here and thank you personally.”

Picard stiffened. “I’m afraid I had very little to do with—”

“I don’t mean the retrieval of the treasures.” Lwaxana gestured dismissively with her hand. “I want to thank you for the wonderful job you did of calming the guests.”

Picard was unsure how to respond.

“I know you wanted to accompany the Enterprise when she set out to retrieve the treasures,” Lwaxana continued, “but I was so grateful that you stayed to assist. We had a temple full of panicked, confused people, and you brought such a sense of assurance to the proceedings.”

Picard hadn’t felt as if he’d been of any assistance. In truth, he’d felt useless, particularly after the disrupted call from the away team on Kota. Stranded, even: moored without his ship.

“Thank you,” Lwaxana said, pressing one graceful hand to her chest.

“You’re welcome,” Picard said, blinking through his surprise.

“Captain Picard?” An unfamiliar voice came through on his combadge. “This is Lieutenant Asah with the Betazed Security team. A hail has come through for you. From Kota.”

Lwaxana looked up at him. “Your away team! Remember what I told you—sometimes, we need to fake our telepathy.”

Picard was already moving toward the hailing station in his quarters. “Ambassador, if you’ll excuse me—”

“Oh, of course. I am certain you will hear only good news on the other side of that hail.”

Picard nodded, impatient. As soon as Lwaxana let herself out through the door, he switched on the hail, relieved to see Will Riker’s face looking back at him. Riker was outside, grass rolling out behind him, a violet sky overhead.

“Number One,” he said. “Status report.”

Riker grinned. “All members of the away team are safe, sir.”

Picard let out a long, relieved breath.

“We’re no longer in need of immediate extraction,” Riker continued. “Although, as you can see, we did lose the station. But we can manage.”

We all need a reminder sometimes that we can exist without those things we take for granted.

Picard couldn’t help but smile.