[Captain's Log:] A Rendezvous for Two with Q

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Captain's Log, stardate 43956.5: the mood aboard the Enterprise continues to be a cause for concern for me and my chiefs of staff. While Q's mischief of more than a month previous amused some, it did not ingratiate him any more to the grand majority of passengers aboard. I have not seen him since, no doubt because he is off somewhere licking his wounds; though, whether he truly cares about the people on this ship is still something I have not at present any reason to believe.

Counselor Troi has advised me that many aboard the Enterprise suffer from feeling 'cooped up'; as if they are trapped, and unable to realize their full potential so long as they are within this gilded cage. While our last attempts to offer some shore leave to the visitors ended in disaster, it has been agreed that a stop at a planet that is known to us for being peaceful and relatively safe may do everyone some good — the crew included. Since the Enterprise is not currently engaged in any mission of import, I find myself without reasonable argument to Commander Riker's all-too-eager suggestion of the planet Risa, a world known for its ... comforts.

It occurs to me that such distractions may not satisfy everyone, should they continue to reside with us. The next time I see Q I will once again make my case for sending the travelers home, but should he disagree, which I no doubt expect he will, I may have to offer our guests a sense of more permanence here. Counselor Troi has prepared a small list of jobs and activities that may suit, and the longer these people remain here without incident, the more inclined I am to entertain the notion. Luckily, that is a thought I won't have to entertain until after the Enterprise departs from Risa—

"Oh, don't be such a stick in the mud, Jean-Luc! Why wait when you could have super-humans, cowboys and Indians, and even more of those androids you're so fond of running the place?"

"Computer, end recording!" Picard commands, swiveling his chair to face the window in his ready room. The computer responds with a mild chime, ending the log he was trying to record. Q has perched himself against the windowsill, and is watching him with a smirk.

"Did you miss me, Mon Capitaine?"

"Oh, yes," Picard nods. "The way I miss a toothache."

Comments

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Riker is the first to move forward.

"Captain?" he questions, looking quizzically between the man and the room filling with snow. He smiles crookedly. "Is everything all right?"

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"Hmm? Yes, quite, Number One," he replies, brushing the snow from his shoulders.

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"Is that — snow, captain?" Riker goes on, peering past the captain and looking a touch more alarmed than he had a few moments ago.

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With a twinkle in his eye, Picard merely smiles and turns to the room behind him, kneeling to gather a small handful of the soft powder.

"Why don't you tell me, commander?" he says, packing the snow into a small, round ball, and tossing it at his second in command.

The snow is so soft and fresh that it splinters in mid-flight, casting a spray across those at the comms after it tags Riker in the shoulder. They all appear shocked for a moment.

And then the laughter begins.

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"Have you lost your mind?" Riker guffaws, but shortly he is striding over to join the captain, admiring the snowfall with no short order of awe.

Those at the comms begin joking gaily, as the others on the bridge either stare in surprise or rush to join in. The frost is spreading, but not so much so that it will interfere with any of the systems.

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Soon enough, the bridge is light with laughter and mirth, confusion and joy. There is no telling how long it might have gone on for, if the captain had not made an observation once the snow on his person began to fade.

"Can anyone tell me why Lieutenant Worf is not at his post?" he says, voice carrying some of his natural authority.

The joy does not leave the room, but it does quiet some, as no one is able to satisfy the captain's question. Picard looks about, sensing that something is very amiss here.