Main Ready-Room, Enterprise, Earth.

In his Ready-Room just off the Main Bridge of the Enterprise, Captain Jean-Luc Picard called Admiral Brand via the screen of the computer on his desk.  Picard asked, "Is Wesley ready to beam aboard?"

            "He is waiting, Captain. . . and he is rather eager."

            "Yes.  Well, I shall not keep Wesley waiting.  Tell him we'll be ready to beam him up soon.  Don't worry; he'll be back, and in one piece.  I'll see you later."

            "See you soon, Captain Picard.  Good luck on your mission."  The admiral's image on Picard's viewscreen was replaced by the symbol of the Federation and the words 'End Transmission.'

            * * *

            The Main Bridge.

            Picard exited his Ready-Room and arrived on the main bridge, where his senior officers were waiting near TurboLift 2.  "I am ready," the captain informed them.  "Do the six of you have your present duty straight?"

            "I made it clear personally," said Dr. Crusher with mock sternness.  She was about Captain Picard's height, and she had long, wavy blonde hair.  Her vest was blue instead of red, and she had three gold discs rather than four.

            Commander William T. Riker was the same height that Wesley had now reached.  He had dark black hair, a black beard, and a black moustache.  His uniform was similar to his captain's, except that there were three gold discs instead of four.  "She made it seem," joked Riker, "that she'd run us through if even one detail were missed."  All but Data found this slightly funny.

            Without comprehension of the strange phrase, the android frowned thoughtfully, shook his head, and said, "I am afraid, Commander, that I do not understand."  Data was an android, about Picard's height, with slick, short black hair, very pale skin, and gold eyes.  His uniform was gold instead of red, and he had two gold discs and one disc where the top part was black except for the edge, which was gold.

            "What don't you understand, Data?" asked Riker.

            Still frowning, Data said, "I do not fully understand the idiom, 'to run one through.' "

            "It is sort of 'slang,' used mainly when swords were used," explained Riker.  "It basically means, 'to slay by thrusting the blade of a sword, knife, or other pointed object through someone, especially in battle.' "

            In comprehension, Data raised his eyebrows and said, "Ah!  Similar to impalement?  Perhaps. . ."

            "Yes, Commander," said Picard.  "Wesley is waiting; I don't want to keep him waiting.  I want him to feel at home when he comes back aboard.  Is the Observation Lounge ready, Lieutenant Worf?"

            The Klingon reported, "Aye, sir."  He was about the same height as Riker and had dark hair.  From his forehead to the top of his head was a bony ridge natural to his species.  He had black hair and a black moustache.  His uniform was similar to Data's, except he had two gold discs.  Also, he wore a silver sash with several symbols.  He had a deep voice.

            Picard said, "Very good, Mr. Worf.  Every exact detail?"

            With a grin showing slight impatience, Worf repeated, "Every exact detail."

            "Ready, Number One?"

            "Yes, Captain," replied Riker.  "Every first detail, every last detail, and every detail in-between."

            "I needn't ask Commander Data, so I'll skip to Counsellor Troi," said Picard.

            Troi announced, "My part is ready, sir."  She was a little shorter than Dr. Crusher.  Her uniform was just like Crusher's, and she had the same types of discs that Data had.  Her hair was long and black.

            "Commander LaForge?"

            "I'm completely ready, sir," said the chief engineer.  The dark-skinned Commander Geordi LaForge was between Crusher and Troi's heights, and he had the exact same kind of uniform as Data.  He had very short black hair.  He wore a semicircular VISOR across his eyes from ear-to-ear.  This was because he was blind; the VISOR interfaced with connectors on either temple and allowed him to see the whole spectrum.

            "And you, Doctor?"

            "I'm ready, Captain," said Dr. Crusher.  "What about you?"

            "Of course," said Picard, smiling.  "Data, please accompany me to Transporter Room 1.  The rest of you go to the Observation Lounge, and call me when you're ready."

            * * *

            Transporter Room 1, Deck 6.

            "We're ready," announced Riker over Picard's communicator.

            "Thank you, Will.  Picard out," said Picard in Transporter Room 1 with Data.  "Energise," ordered the captain.

            "Aye, sir," said the one at the transporter controls.  He ran his hand up a sensor on the control-pad, energising the transporter.  Within one second, Cadet Wesley Crusher materialised on the transporter pad with one piece of baggage.  Picard went up to him and shook his hand.

            "Hello, Wesley," welcomed the captain.  "Welcome back to the ship."

            Still in cadet uniform, Wesley said, "Thank you, sir."  He released Picard's hand.  "Hello, Commander Data."  He shook hands with the android.

            "Hello, Wesley," greeted Data.  They released hands.  "Ah!  Would you mind if I carried your suitcase for you?"

            "No, please do, Data," said Wes.  The android took his suitcase by the handle.

            "Let us go," suggested Picard, "to the Observation Lounge, shall we?"

            Wesley Crusher said, "All right, Captain.  You first!"

            * * *

            Observation Lounge, Deck 1.

            As Data was entering an access code to the Observation Lounge, Picard tapped his own communicator.  "We're ready, Will," announced the captain.

            "I have entered the code, sir," said Data.

            "Let's go," said Picard.  The door opened; it was dark inside.  "You first, Wesley."  The cadet gulped; then, he entered, with Picard and Data right behind him.

            After the doors had closed, Wes said, "It's too dark to see anything."

            Data asked, "Okay.  Shall I?"

            "Yes, Data," answered Picard.

            "Resume normal light levels, computer," ordered Data.  As the lights in the Observation Lounge returned to normal luminous levels, Dr. Crusher came up to Wesley.

            All seven senior officers shouted, "Surprise, Wesley!"  Crusher hugged her son.

            "Hi!" said Wes.

            Relinquishing her grip, Crusher said, "Welcome back!"

            Troi remarked, "Still quite handsome in your cadet uniform, Wesley."

            Guinan was also in the room.  She said, "I hope you're happy.  They dragged me away from Ten-Forward for this."

            "I am!" exclaimed Wes.

            "Now, Guinan!" Riker pretended to rebuke.  "We did ask politely!"

            "Just kidding, Riker," said Guinan.  Wes went over to shake hands with Worf.

            "Hi, Worf," said Wesley.  "How are you and Alexander getting along?"

            "Hello, Wesley," replied Worf.  "We are getting along quite well, thank you. . . no thanks to Lwaxana Troi."

            "Yes," said Deanna Troi, "my mother did come to pay a visit once."

            "Speaking of mothers," inquired Wesley, "how is mine doing?"

            Dr. Crusher said, "Very well, Wes.  How's it been going with you?"

            "Very, very well, Mom.  Thank you."

            The captain suggested, "Well, let's sit down, drop the ranks, and talk, shall we?"  They followed his advice and sat at the long table.  "This is all off the record.  I basically want to know, Wesley, how it went for you these past two years."

            "Basically, sir, they went better than I would have hoped," began Wesley.  "After a tiny bit of pleading - not my style, but it definitely worked - I managed to get back my flight privileges and assemble a flight squadron at the beginning of last year.  I also did good work on all of my courses for both years."

            "What did your squad do?" asked Picard, his curiosity activated.

            "All sorts of manoeuvres," said Wes.  "I personally made sure that all flights were according to plan.  Fortunately, we had no accidents.  When it was crystal-clear that I wanted good friends with some common sense and who understood the first duty of any Starfleet officer,. . ."  A nod to Picard.  ". . .we turned out to be a rather good team.  All of us are in the same grade level, so we can stay together."  His look suddenly turned serious.  "And, if anyone even hinted of doing a Kolvoord Starburst, I think that I would be angry in a second!  That stupid stunt cost me an entire year!  I won't let it cost my career."

            Picard said, "Mistakes are valuable if you learn from them."

            "Which is what I did," Wesley assured him.

            Riker asked, "What is the name of your squadron, Wes?"

            "We named ourselves the Pulsar Squadron," answered the cadet.

            Geordi remarked, "Well, it sure sounds unique."

            Data, going through his mental records, said, "I must agree.  No records, as yet, indicate that there are or were any other squadrons by that name."

            "Not a bad name, Wes," remarked Beverly.

            "Pretty good," said Picard.  "Please continue."

            Wes said, "Yes.  As with my classes, my effort is paying off.  I have been doing my best."  He irresistibly began to smile.  "I hope that this does not sound like bragging, but. . ."  He went over to his suitcase and got out an award which would be a little more indicative of a senior than of a junior.  ". . .I received this on commencement day.  I could not believe it."  He handed it to Dr. Crusher.

            "Well, take a look at this!" exclaimed his mother.  The award went around, and several words were exchanged between the surprised and delighted senior staff.

            Data, examining the award, said, "Wesley, the odds of receiving such an award are . . . no.  Some impatience is often encountered when I give odds."

            "Well," said Wesley, "I, for once, would like to hear those odds."

            "Very well.  The odds are about one in 500 000," said the android.  "And most of those that do win it are seniors."

            "I shall agree that only the most academically inclined students can receive this award," said Picard.  "The Newtonian Award.  Just keep this work up, Wesley.  I know someone else who would be very proud of you if he were here."  When the award reached the other end of the line, Wes returned it to his suitcase.

            "And I know who you're referring to, I bet," said Beverly.  Wesley returned to his seat, next to Geordi.

            "And," asked Wesley, "how has it been going for the rest of you?"  Q flashed into the chair across from Wesley!  He chose the form of a human male with brown hair, and he wore a captain's uniform much like Picard's.

            "Oh," said Q, "I think they've been quite fine.  I have."  Picard was usually very calm, very cool.  The instant Q arrived, however, he blew his top.

            "Q!" the captain exclaimed.  "What are you doing here?"

            "Why, Jean-Luc!" said Q, pretending to be completely shocked.  "Note I just the slightest bit of anger in your voice, ol' pal?"

            "I am not your 'ol' pal,' Q!" Picard half-screamed.  This was not just a little, annoying alien being.  He had purposely put the crew in extremely dangerous situations:  putting them as representatives of humanity on trial for their rights to venture out of their home solar system; tossing them out in the middle of Borg space; and other awful acts.

            "Tsk, tsk!" said the omnipotent being.  "Temper, temper, mon capitaine {mawⁿh kah-pé-tehn} [French] (my captain).  I merely came to warn you that you may not be ready to handle the dangers of your upcoming mission."

            "Our mission," expelled the captain, "is none of your damned business, Q!"

            "Oh, fine!" said Q.  "But, if your ship returns with the command disk destroyed and the battle-section in awful shape, don't blame me!  Have a nice trip, my friends!"  Q disappeared.

            Wesley said, "Just like him to appear and ruin everything!"

            "He even has the nerve," said the first officer, "to call us his friends."

            "Oh, what a joke," said the chief medical officer.  "Q makes me laugh; ha, ha."  Her 'laughter' was about as real as plastic pancakes.

            The Betazoid said, "Well, Q sure caused tensions to rise.  And anger to develop."

            "Well," said Picard, "let's change the subject.  The next one may be equally annoying, but what the hell?  Okay.  There was mention of Lwaxana Troi earlier.  We are going to make a short stop at Betazed to pick her up.  She's to remain during the trip."  A small look of displeasure in everyone's face. . . except, of course, for Data's.  "Just to visit her daughter, she assured.  Nothing diplomatic for her to mess up.  Not now, anyway."  This eased everyone somewhat.

            Riker said, "I'm not sure I quite understand what Q meant."

            "Oh, the devil with him, Will.  His party tricks don't impress me anymore."

            The Betazoid remarked, "As if they ever did."

            Picard replied, "Yes, as if they ever did."  Troi glanced at a chronometer on the wall.  It was 16.00.

            "Well," said Troi, "I hate to chat and run, but I've an appointment at 16.30."

            "Have fun, Counsellor," said Picard.

            "Thank you.  I'll try, sir," she said before leaving.

            LaForge asked, "What is the time?"

            Data unhesitatingly answered, "It is 16.00."

            "Time flies when one's getting angry at Q and Kolvoord Starbursts!  Well, I have to get down to Engineering and make sure the warp core's ready.  If it ain't, boy, will there be some northern lights tonight!"  He left.

            Wesley said, "I just studied about the advances recently made in warp-drive technology.  It was theorised that, if the proper modifications were done to the warp injector coils, warp power could be produced efficiently enough to squeeze up to warp 25 for an extended time.  That was proved with a test ship launched half of a year ago.  To begin with, it was only recently discovered that something could travel more quickly than warp 10.  That was why the altered the scale to end at warp 35 instead of warp 10.  If these modifications work, light will be hard-pressed to catch up."

            Curious, Data asked, "What about the buffers?  Will they keep us from, as might be said, becoming pancakes?"

            Wesley said, "Becoming pancakes!  Nice play on words.  Yes, the buffers should.  We'll soon find out."

            * * *

            The Main Bridge.

            Later, Riker, Picard, Wesley, Data, and Worf arrived on the Main Bridge in a TurboLift.  Ensign Ro Laren was operating the Conn station.  She was about Geordi's height, with a red-vested uniform and one gold disc, as she was an ensign.  She was a dark-haired Bajoran.  Like the others of her species, she had a small but noticeable bony ridge at the top of her nose.  Also, she wore an earring on her right ear, as per the customs of her race.

            Data went over to Ops; Worf went to Tactical; Riker and Picard went to their command chairs; and Wesley went to Troi's command chair.  "I'm sure Counsellor Troi won't mind," said Wes.  Picard thumbed a log button on his chair.

            Picard cleared his throat and stated, "Captain's Log, Supplemental:  We are preparing to go to the planet Betazed and test out our new warp engines on the way.  If they work, we shall be able to proceed with our mission.  End of entry."  He turned off the log-recorder.

            Over Picard's comm-line, Geordi announced, "We're ready, sir."

            Picard said, "Very good, Mr. LaForge.  Bridge out.  Ensign, set course for 286 mark 53."

            "Aye, sir," said Ro.  She input the course.

            "Engage."  Ro engaged.  The Enterprise turned to leave the solar system at three-quarters impulse.  Once they had cleared Pluto's and Neptune's orbits, Picard said, "Okay.  Let's see what the warp engines can pump out now.  Ensign Ro, engage at warp 24, medium acceleration."

            "Aye, Captain," said Ro.  Despite its being 'medium,' the acceleration was rather quick.  They passed warp 8 in 19 seconds.  "We're past warp 8, sir," reported Ro.  Picard acknowledged with a nod.  In 38 seconds, they were at warp 16.  "We're at 16, sir."  Again, Picard nodded.

            Over the comm-line, Geordi said, "Ha, ha, Captain, we did it!  Warp 16 in 38 seconds!  It will take longer to get to warp 24, but we'll get there."

            "Very good, Mr. LaForge," said Picard.  He deactivated the channel.  "Will, you have the Bridge.  I'm going to Engineering."

            "Aye, sir," said Riker.

            Wesley asked, "Mind if I tag along?"

            "Certainly not," said Picard pleasantly.  "Come along."  The two entered TurboLift 1.  "Main Engineering."  The TurboLift doors closed, and the TurboLift began taking them down to Main Engineering.

            As Riker got into the central command chair, Data said, "Inquiry, Commander:  the idiom 'tag along'?"  Ro unsuccessfully resisted a smile.  Riker, however, was getting quite annoyed.

            "It means 'to follow' or 'to go along with,' Data," said Riker.  "In certain instances, it also implies annoyance.  Not this time, however."

            The android seemed satisfied with the answer.  "Still accelerating," reported Ro.  "We're at 19.95."

            Riker said, "Thank you, Ensign."

            * * *

            Main Engineering.

            In Engineering, Cadet Crusher was amazed at how quickly the dilithium crystals were being bathed by matter and antimatter.  So was everyone else, including Picard and LaForge.  "This," said Wesley, "is amazing!  How fast is this ship flying?"

            "Like a bat out of he-. . . ah, I mean the bad place!" said Geordi.  "We're zipping along at 22.55.  Twenty seconds will get us up to 24.  Everything down here is fine; no trouble at all.  We have to do this in several long jumps in order to avoid warp stress."

            Picard said, "That's good to hear.  I'm returning to the Bridge."

            Crusher asked, "Do you need any help down here, Commander?"

            "Well, not right now.  My staff and I have everything going fine down here.  Sorry."  Crusher's face showed a little disappointment, but not much.

            "Okay," said Wes.  "See you later."  He went with Picard into TurboLift 1.  "Main Bridge," Wes told the controls.  The lift began taking them up.  "I trust it's been going well, sir?"

            Picard said, "Oh, most of the time, Wes.  Of course, we had a few headaches these past few years.  For instance, Counsellor Troi, because of the underground Romulan movement, was captured and surgically altered to look like a Romulan."

            "Yeah.  I've seen her report," said Wesley.  "From what I've read, she played the part of the domineering intelligence officer quite well."

            "She didn't exactly relish that experience," Picard said.  "She was glad to get back."

            Crusher said, "I would certainly think so."

            "We've had several other unusual circumstances of late," said Picard.  At the Bridge, the TurboLift doors opened.  Upon seeing the captain entering the Bridge, Riker got up and snapped to attention.  "At ease, Commander.  How quickly is this ship moving, Commander Data?"

            "We have reached warp 24," said Data.  Wes took Troi's seat again as Riker took his own seat and Picard seated himself between Will and Wes.

            "When do we arrive at Betazed?" asked Picard.

            Data said, "In exactly six minutes, fifty-nine seconds, three hundred fifty. . ."

            "That will do!" said Picard with more than the slightest bit of annoyance.  The door of TurboLift 2 opened.  Dr. Crusher and Counsellor Troi emerged.

            "Amazing!" said Dr. Crusher, staring at the forward viewscreen.  The stars were going by so quickly that those in the same lines almost appeared to be a solid line.

            "That's warp 24, Mom," said Wesley.  "Care to see the warp core?"

            With mock-seriousness, Troi said, "What are you doing in my seat, Wes?"

            Almost jumping out, Wesley said, "Oops!  Pardon me, Counsellor."

            Troi smiled and, almost laughing, said, "You can stay, Wesley."  She seated herself at the seat on the left end of the horseshoe enclosing the command centre, and Dr. Crusher seated herself at the seat on the right end.

            In a few minutes, Riker asked, "How much longer until we reach Betazed?"

            "About three minutes, sir," said Data.

            "Thanks for the non-irritating approximation," Riker said casually.  He then ordered, "In two minutes and forty-five seconds, bring us down to full impulse."

            "Aye, sir," said Ro.  Wesley performed some calculations of his own.

            Wes said, "That should make it about two and a half minutes more, sir."

            Riker said, "Thank you, Mr. Crusher.  At the Academy, have you ever had to do a simulation of a saucer separation?"  Crusher shook his head.

            "No," said Wesley, "but we've been told that, for command training, we will have to do it."

            "That's right," said Riker.  "You also have to do a manual reconnection."

            Wesley said, "Yes, and I have heard some of the worst complaints from those students who couldn't get the hang of reconnecting.  Is it true that one washes out of command training if one can't do a separation and a reconnection?"

            "That's true," said Riker.  Wesley began to smile.  "What is it?"

            "According to my professor for the starship operations course," said Wesley, "you are the one with the best all-time score on the reconnection simulator."

            Riker said, "Well, I'm waiting to see if I can be beaten!"  Wesley smiled.

            "It might be possible," said Wesley.  "I'd have tried to get my hands on a simulator if I'd had the time and if there had been any that weren't being used!"

            "Well," said Picard, "maybe the holodeck can give you a real enough simulation."  Wesley smiled.  "We could program it to create a simulation in which the Saucer-Section would have to be separated.  In fact, I can get to writing the program as soon as we get that mother of Counsellor Troi on board and settled in."

            "Thank you, sir," said Wesley, smiling.

            "Slowing to full impulse," reported Ro.

            Picard thought, At least that woman has exited her blasted phase and will only be here to visit her daughter.