July 11.

            "Thunder Kittens," interrupted Steelheart.  "Enough arguing."  The expression on Wilykat's face immediately turned to disappointment as he looked down.

            "-Sigh.-  Okay, Steelheart," he said rather dejectedly.

            Steelheart could almost see the same look on Wilykit when her voice came back, saying, "Very well, Commander."  Wilykit would not let Wilykat out-formalise her.  That was the last thing she would ever do.  She had to always feel a sense of mental superiority over him.  He did not really care.  She probably did have that, as far as he was concerned.

            "I'm sorry, guys.  Now, Wilykit," said Steelheart, "Metroid is above Hawkhaven, around which the Saucer is presently orbiting.  We have engaged the Warp Shield around Hawkhaven and the Saucer.  Metroid is outside.  You may have to get rid of Metroid before the Saucer and the Star*Drive can connect."

            "Got it!" said Wilykit.  Her high spirit pulled Wilykat back to his own.  "Anything else, ma'am?"

            "Not that I can think of," said Steelheart.  "Oh!  And Lana just returned to the Palace of Power.  She said that Kevin decided to stay on that planet to explore."

            "Good," said Wilykit.  "Sorry I snapped at you, Wilykat."

            "Same here," said Wilykat.  "I deserved it.  I'm always being such a blasted, smart-mouthing little squirt."

            "You're forgiven.  See all of you later."  The comm-link was shut off.

            "I hadn't noticed," said Picard.

            "What hadn't you noticed?" asked Steelheart.

            "That Wilykat, here, was always 'being such a blasted, smart-mouthed little squirt.' "

            "You would if you were around me long enough," said Wilykat.  "And I always have to find some way to annoy that girl."

            "Such a nice young man?"

            "Oh, please!  You'll swell my head, Captain."

            "Well, I know that some young ladies might find you rather attractive."

            Despite himself, Wilykat began to smile in an embarrassed manner and to blush.  "Okay, Captain.  I think that's enough."

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            MotherBrain had ordered that the phasers and disruptors be fired in order to try to cut through the Warp Shield, but they did not make so much as a little scratch in it.  "Okay," said MotherBrain in resigned hope.  "I guess that we can't get through that damned shield after all.  Recloak Metroid, and take us back to our appointed position, Eggplant Wizard."

            "Aye, Thy Wrinkledness!" said the idiot.  MotherBrain promptly fried him.  "YAAAAAH. . .!!!"

            "You idiot!" exclaimed MotherBrain.  "I have told you countless times not to describe me with the word 'wrinkle'!"  Liquidator went up to her.

            "Well, MB," said Liquidator, "we don't all have to go.  You see, Mega Volt, Quacker Jack, Bushroot, Negaduck, and I, we can go down to Bedlama and wait for the Star*Drive Section of the Enterprise.  We can then secretly board and take it out in the fashion in which those blasted Thunder Kittens took out the Warbird."

            "Okay!" said MotherBrain, delighted.  "You don't have to order me to let you go.  See you later, liquie-gator!"

            "See you later, do-gooder-brainer!" said Liquidator.  MotherBrain, amused, opened a warp to Bedlama.

            "There you go," said the southern-accented brain.  "A warp to Bedlama has just been opened for you!"

            Liquidator said, "Thank you!"  His four friends and he went through the warp and arrived on the shore of Bedlama Lake.  "Now!" Liquidator called back.

            MotherBrain ordered, "Close the warp!"  Eggplant Wizard pulled a lever, and the warp closed.  "Get us out of here!"  King Hippo activated some controls.  Turning away from Hawkhaven and heading toward its own appointed place, Metroid recloaked.  MotherBrain was satisfied that Liquidator would get the upper hand.

            * * *

            Battle Ready-Room, Deck 8, Star*Drive Section, Enterprise.

            "The Romulans were extremely reluctant to sign the Treaty of Algeron," Wesley explained to Wilykit.  "For about fifty years, the Federation hadn't heard so much as a peep from the Romulan Empire since the Tomid Incident.  Suddenly, starbases bordering on the edge of the Neutral Zone near the end of this ship's first year started not communicating anymore.  It was decided to send the most powerful ship in the fleet. . . the Enterprise NCC-1701-D.  When we finally found out what was going on, it turned out the Romulans had had the same base-disappearance problem that we had had."

            "How were the bases destroyed?" asked Wilykit.

            "It was as though something just scooped the base off the face of the planet," said Wesley.  "No conventional method of attack. . . no phasers, no photon torpedoes, no nothing.  Yes, I do realise 'no nothing' is improper grammar, but, anyway, it seemed as though there were nothing out of place except the entire starbase.  Just a big gash in the ground where the base had been.  It was intensely puzzling.

            "It was agreed by Captain Picard and the Romulan commander we met, Commander Tebok, that we would collaborate and share any knowledge we discovered about that which had happened there.  Then, the Romulan commander promptly said, and I quote:  'Matters more urgent have caused our absence.  Now, witness the result:  starbases destroyed, expansion of the Federation everywhere.  Yes.  We have indeed been negligent, Captain, but no more.'  After a slight objection from Captain Picard about the course the conversation was beginning to take, the Romulan said, 'Your presence is not wanted!  Do you understand my meaning, Captain?  We are back.'  I can't get over the way Commander Riker described the conversation with Tebok to me.  The Romulan seemed in a way too nice.  Too co-operative.  He didn't even fire a watt of disruptor energy at us.  I was scared when I saw that huge ship sitting out there through the viewport.  That was the first time I had ever really seen a Romulan ship that close.  I was terrified.  That ship must have been at least one and a half times the size of the Enterprise."

            "But you aren't so afraid of them now?"

            "Not too much.  Though I must admit Tomalak once had this ship in a rotten position.  No, he did that twice.  I did not like Picard's having to deal with him.  He stank like he-. . . well, you get the idea.  I do not like Tomalak.  I despise Tomalak.  As far as I am concerned, Tomalak can just drop dead."

            "Strong feelings."

            "Maybe, but it was tricky even for Picard to manoeuvre around him.  Once, Picard had the advantage that they were in Federation space.  The next time, Picard had the advantage that, although they were in the Neutral Zone with Tomalak commanding two Romulan Warbirds to our front, three Klingon Birds of Prey had come with us, cloaked.  I think the Romulans rue the day that they ever introduced cloaking technology to the Klingons.  I think I agree with what Riker said Worf said, but only partially. . . that some Romulans think that humans and Klingons are a waste of skin.  I think that that analogy only applies to certain Romulans.  Take Commander Valak, for example.  Picard described him as being stinking as - and I am using his very word - hell, but Valak was the kind of person who took the time to study and understand his prey.  And I think his scheme was diabolically brilliant.

            "He had recently taken command of the Imperial Warbird Syrinx, the first of the new D'Kazanak class of Romulan Warbirds.  As Picard described it, the Syrinx was extremely massive. . . almost five times the size of the whole Enterprise.  It cloaked so efficiently that nothing we had could pick it up.  Heck, not much we had could pick up a cloaked D'Deridex Class Warbird!  Valak took the Syrinx into Federation territory.  He then deactivated everything.  He made it look as though the Warbird had suffered some failure due to a design flaw.  Everything.  Even life support.  He and his crew took something that induced a dormant state in Romulans.  When the Enterprise had arrived, it seemed as though the new Warbird had just simply failed.  New class, new design.  It looked normal.  When the Enterprise Away-Team had reactivated everything, though, the Romulans' dormant state was no longer present.  On the contrary, they had a plan.  They captured the Enterprise.

            "Well, needless to say, this was an entirely aggressive affair.  Here, we have a Romulan who has the sheer audacity to cross into the Federation and capture its flagship!  Well, I can't go into all the details, but everything turned out all right.  Somehow, I wish I had met Valak."  At that time, a comm-beep signalled.  Wesley tapped a comm-button and said, "Go."

            "We are nearing Hawkhaven," replied Data.  "We will be there in ten minutes."

            "Very good," said Wesley.  "Call the Saucer Section; tell them we'll be there shortly."

            "Aye."  Wesley cut the comm-channel.  He then got an idea and re-tapped the comm-button.

            "Inform them," said Wesley, "that we'll be doing a manual reconnection."

            Data asked, "Excuse me.  Did you say a manual reconnection?"

            "Yes, I did, Commander.  Any problem with that?"

            "No, sir."

            "That's settled, then.  Crusher out."  He released the key.

            Wilykit asked, "Something wrong with a manual reconnection?"

            "No.  I think Data may be worried that I may not do well."

            "If you don't do well?"

            Wesley smiled.  "Then, we'll be picking the metal of the rear of the Saucer Section from our teeth.  And that is not getting to a worst-case scenario.  The worst possible thing is if both sections of the ship collide in a fashion that would destroy the ship."

            "Then, do me a favour."

            "What?"

            "Do not do this wrong."  Wesley smiled.

            "I'll try, 'Kit.  Let's go."  Wesley got up and went to the Battle Bridge, Wilykit right behind him.  Data returned to Ops as Wesley returned to the command seat.  "I guess I beat Kirk's record."  Everyone on the Bridge looked at him.

            "Yes, you are correct, if you are referring to earliest captaincy," said Data.  "According to my records, Captain James Kirk had been the youngest captain in Starfleet history.  However, you have just broken that record, as Captain Picard assigned you as captain of this part of the vessel.  And I am certain that Captain Picard had a very logical reason for choosing you to head this part of the vessel while there were more qualified personnel on the ship.  For instance,. . ."

            Wesley decided to stop Data before he rambled on any further.  "Yes, I'm sure, Mr. Data.  You needn't get into specifics."

            "Aye, sir," said Data as he turned back to his board.  Everyone returned to their duties.

            "That bit of news," announced Wesley, "is not likely to make poor Commander Will Riker too happy.  He wanted so badly to beat Kirk's record until he got on the Enterprise, and I got the red-carpet treatment from Picard.  Assigned me to the Star*Drive section and officially named me 'Acting Captain Wesley Crusher' of it."  Wesley smiled at his fortune.  If Picard forgot to take off his title within the next 36 hours, then Wesley got the rank of captain.  No cadet had ever gotten a streak of luck like that.  However, Wesley knew that Captain Picard obviously had a lot of faith in him, and Wesley was not about to make Picard regret it.  Also, a Romulan commander usually seemed to dominate a young Starfleet captain.  That Torreth had not been able to dominate Wesley was very promising.

            "Just don't get too overconfident," called 'Mom' from the Communications station, almost as if she had been reading his thoughts.  "Picard would have been very unhappy if you had let Ludwig destroy the Star*Drive."

            Wesley added, "And he would have to face a court martial.  And the rest of us here would be pushing up daisies."

            Data, as usual, was puzzled by the idiom.  "If we had been blown to bits," said Data, "how could we cause flora to grow?"

            "I used an idiom!" said Wesley.

            "Yes," said Wilykit.  "Look up the French verb, �mourir {mú-rér} [French] (to die)�."

            "Ah!  'To. . .' "

            "Right," interrupted Wilykit, "that's what it means."

            * * *

            Command Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo.

            Wilykat was happy that his sister was almost back.  Still, he was concerned. . . Picard had explained a manual reconnection, and it would be very hazardous if certain things had not been aligned and anticipated properly.  He liked Wesley, and he had confidence in the young man's abilities, but he still had to be concerned.  No doubt, Wilykit would want to stay aboard while the reconnection was taking place.  Wilykat hoped that Wesley could handle this.  He had to remind himself about the high award that Wesley had been given at the most recent academic year's conclusion.  He felt satisfied that Wesley could handle it, but he was still so darned concerned.

            Soon, he saw the Star*Drive Section nearing Hawkhaven.  He was the nearest one to a communications radio when Wesley's voice came through, saying, "This is Acting Captain Wesley Crusher to Captain Picard.  Come in."  Picard quickly made his way forward as Wilykat tapped open a comm-channel.

            "This is Captain Picard," said Picard.  "Go ahead, Wesley."

            "We're ready to reconnect, sir."

            "Good.  Wait for my signal.  Picard out."  Wilykat closed the comm-link.  Picard tapped his communicator.  "Enterprise Saucer Section, this is Captain Picard.  One to beam up to Transporter Room 1."  Picard was transported there.  Troi had decided that she should stay behind.

            Steelheart turned to Moonstriker.  "Okay," said Steelheart.  "I guess it's safe to lower the Warp Shield now."  Moonstriker pushed the lever back to its previous position.  The Warp Shield surrounding Hawkhaven was eliminated.  The two sections of the ship neared, the front of the Star*Drive heading for the rear of the Saucer.  Everyone could only hope that nothing detrimental happened.

            * * *

            Shore, Bedlama Lake, Bedlama.

            "They're here!" said Liquidator.  "We're gone!"  The five neared each other.  Negaduck tapped a device on an armband he was wearing.  It surrounded the five of them with a warp field, and, the next instant, they were in a corridor of the Star*Drive Section of the Enterprise!  "We're there!  Let's get to the. . ."  The Red-Alert alarms greeted them.  "Oh, damn!  To hell with secrecy!"

            * * *

            Battle Bridge, Deck 8, Star*Drive Section, Enterprise.

            The alarm surprised everyone.  Worf shouted, "Five intruders have just materialised on Deck 9!"

            "Send security," ordered Wesley.  Worf dispatched security as the Star*Drive neared the docking area of the Saucer.  "Let's do this slowly, now. . . drop speed to half a metre per second."  Data dropped the speed.  The front of the Star*Drive slowly approached the rear of the Saucer.  Still a little high, he thought.  "Adjust pitch angle. . . negative three degrees."  The sections slid toward each other, slowly.  "Okay.  Cut the engines.  We'll let inertia do it for us.  All stations, prepare to reconnect."  Everything slid perfectly together.  "Lock up!"  The enormous locks on the Star*Drive locked into the lock-holes of the Saucer and sealed the prodigious sections together.  "Good job."

            "Docking board is green all across, sir," said Data.

            "Good.  I. . ."

            "Sir!" exclaimed Worf.  "The communicators of the officers I dispatched have just been destroyed!"

            * * *

            Deck 9.

            Liquidator held all three of the security officers by the necks while Mega Volt fried their communicators to destruction.  When the communicators had been destroyed, Liquidator bound the three officers on the wall with his water.  "Now," said Liquidator, "find me a comm-panel somewhere."  Mega Volt gave the electric system a shock.

            "There!" said Mega Volt.  "Communications are under my control, now."

            "Good.  Open all comm-channels."  Mega Volt complied.  "Attention, U.S.S. Enterprise!  This is the Liquidator, second-in-command of the malevolent Brain-Team, speaking!  My four friends and I have just subdued three of your security officers, and we have also taken over your communications system!  So, why not just go with the flow and surrender right now?"  He turned to Mega Volt.  "Shut down all communications systems until I tell you otherwise, Mega Volt."

            "Right!" said Mega Volt, all too happy to comply.  He proceeded to shut down the communications systems.

            "Now," asked Liquidator, "how do we get to the Main Bridge?"

            "A turbolift!" answered Bushroot, half in this corridor and half in another.  "Follow me!"  He led his four comrades to TurboLift 2.

            * * *

            Main Bridge, Deck 1.

            The two Crushers, Data, LaForge, Worf, and Wilykit arrived on the Main Bridge via the Emergency TurboLift.  "Sir," said Wesley as soon as he got on the Main Bridge, "there are five intruders, one identifying himself as the Liquidator."  LaForge got to the Engineering terminal, Worf to Tactical, and Data to Ops.  Beverly sat on the chair at the far right of the command horseshoe.  The three visiting Silver Hawks arrived on the Bridge via TurboLift 1.  Picard stated not one syllable about relieving Wesley.

            "Yeah," said Wilykit, "and his four pals are likely to be Mega Volt, Bushroot, Quacker Jack, and Negaduck.  After touching its circuits with his power, Mega Volt can control any appliance powered by electricity, be it an electric toaster or a starship. . . or an android."

            Data told her, "My skin is not conducive to electricity.  Therefore, I believe that I may not be in danger."

            Wilykit said, "Yes, but. . ."

            "Sir!" shouted Worf.  "The five intruders are coming up here on TurboLift 2!"

            "Stop that turbolift, Lieutenant," ordered Picard.  Worf tried to do so, but with no success.

            "Obviously," said the Klingon angrily, "they have overridden the override.  I cannot stop the lift."

            "Summon security!"  Worf tried this, too, but, again, to no avail.

            "They have cut off our communications network," said Worf.  He opened a compartment under his panel and removed some phasers.  "Luckily, that wasn't controlled by electricity."  He handed phasers to everyone on the Bridge except Wilykit, who was ready with her own weapons.  The turbolift door opened.  Worf fired at Liquidator, who made a hole in his body where the phaser blast was going to hit him.  The blast harmlessly hit the back of the lift.

            "Too bad, Mr. Wolf!" said Liquidator.  "Or should I call you 'MicroBrain'?"

            "No," said Mega Volt.  "That will be Data when I fry him!"  He dodged a phaser blast Data made at him and aimed for the location of Data's positronic net.  He scored a hit, and Data went unconscious.  "Pleasant dreams, android!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Try to do that to me, Sparkie!" said Wilykit insultingly.

            Mega Volt screamed, "Oh, I hate it when people call me anything that means 'Sparkie'!"

            "Have a nap!"  She whacked Mega Volt with a sleep-gas capsule.  The sleep gas put Mega Volt to sleep.  Wesley liked Wilykit even more.  However, allowing his mind to drift was a mistake; Bushroot tied him up with a weed.

            "Hey!" said Wesley.  "What in the world?!?"

            "Heh, heh, heh!" laughed the scourge of the plant kingdom.  "Dr. Reginald Bushroot!  Occupation:  plant-manager!  Hee, hee!  And, now, my plant is going to manage you!"

            While Bushroot was successfully trying to deal with Wesley, Liquidator was trying unsuccessfully to deal with the Thunder Kitten.  "Grow. . . hold still, you little ankle-biter!"

            "I've had enough 'ring-around-the-Liquie'!" said Wilykit, her inexhaustible supply of energy keeping her two steps ahead of Liquidator.  Her manoeuvrability could keep her clear of a starship going at warp 29.  "How about a hard time?"  She removed a pellet from her pellet belt and squeezed it.  She tossed it into Liquidator, whom the cement being released from it hardened.

            "Yaah!" screamed the Liquidator.  "I hate cats!  I hate them!  I hate them!"  He kept slowing until he stopped in midsentence:  "I ha-. . ."

            "A really hardened criminal," remarked Wilykit.  However, she was tripped by Quacker Jack and fell on her back.  "Whoa. . . oof!  Quacker Jack!"

            "Hee, hee, hee!" laughed Quacker Jack.  "Oh, did I hurt the little kitty?  She needed to be hurt!  Ha, ha, ha!  It's play-time!"  With his springs on his feet, he leapt out of the way of the phaser blasts made at him.  "Hey, Woof!  Ain't you never discovered opposable thumbs yet?  All you stupid Klingons know how to do is fight!  Hee, hee, hee!"

            "That is not true!" said Worf, insulted.  "How do you think I got through Starfleet Academy?"

            "I bet," continued the idiot clown, "that they knew Klingons couldn't learn anything, so they just passed you anyway!"  Worf was obviously insulted.  This next shot, the phaser on stun, hit Quacker Jack in the chest and slammed him against the wall.

            Worf said to the crazy duck's unconscious body, "Just feel lucky that this is not a Klingon ship, Quacker Jack.  We know how to deal with such insult."  Wilykit sat up.

            "Thank you, Lieutenant," she told him.  "In that regard, I sort of wish this were a Klingon ship."

            "Well," said Negaduck, "I guess you won't take us seriously."  He got a huge machine gun out of his cape.  "SO YOU ALL WILL GET BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS!!!  Ha, ha, ha!"  Wilykit tossed a pellet right through the gun barrel.  "Uh, oh."  The gun blew up, knocking Negaduck into a wall and into unconsciousness.

            "Sweet dreams, Neggie-poo!" she said.

            "Hee, hee!" said the 'plant-manager.'  "How about a new line of products?  I call this one. . ."  He pulls some vines off Wesley's face.  ". . .human casserole!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Wesley!" cried Beverly.  "You'd better not have hurt my son, you. . . you. . . whatever you are, or. . ."

            "Or what?" demanded Bushroot.  "You humans are puny, weak little creatures.  Not that being a Klingon or a Thunderian makes much difference."

            "If I had a mind for it," said Wilykit, totally enraged, "I would curse you out right here and now, Doctor Reginald Bushroot!!!"

            "Ooh!" said Bushroot in a nyah-nyah voice.  "I'm really scared.  If you did that, I'd have to tell Tygra on you.  You'd get grounded for a week, having to clean dishes, having to mop the floor,. . ."

            "THAT DOES IT!!!" shouted Wilykit.  "YOU ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT NASTY PEOPLE, WHILE THAT IS THAT LIKE WHICH YOU ACT PRECISELY!!!"  She almost ripped a pellet of her belt.  "Take this, Melon-head!"  She whacked Bushroot with the pellet, weed-knock-out gas.  The gas in it knocked him out, all right.  Without Bushroot's control, the weeds around Wesley weakened enough for him to be able to struggle his way out.  When Wesley was out, he eliminated the weeds with his phaser.  She was so mad at Bushroot that she had forgotten that they were going to try to be neutral around one another in public.  "And, if that despicable petunia hurt you, so help me, I'll. . ."

            "It's okay," said Wesley.  Almost growling, Wilykit tapped her communicator.

            "Wilykit to Hawkhaven," she said impatiently.  "Commander Steelheart, pardon my fury and my diction, but what the hell was the Fearsome Five doing here?"

            Steelheart said, "According to Darkwing's quite belated call, which ended a mere second ago, MotherBrain went in Metroid to the High-Surveillance Penitentiary for Super-Villains and beamed the Fearsome Five out.  She came here on Metroid, also, but we surrounded Hawkhaven and the Saucer with the Warp Shield so that Metroid could get neither.  MotherBrain must have left the Fearsome Five somewhere around before leaving."

            Wilykit turned to Negaduck and aroused him.  "All right, Negaduck!" she practically roared.  "Tell me what was going on!  Where did you go from Metroid?"  Negaduck was genuinely afraid.

            "Okay!" he said.  "MotherBrain warped us to Bedlama Lake's shore.  From there, we warped on board this ship."

            "Thank you," she said.  She then proceeded to knock him out with a punch between his masked eyes.

            Picard ordered, "Have those whom Wilykit called the Fearsome Five moved to the brig."

            "Aye, sir," said Worf, relieved that the security system began working as soon as Mega Volt had been knocked out.  Wilykit tossed the Fearsome Five in TurboLift 2.  "Five brig cells are ready."

            "I'll help you transport these loony toons," said Wilykit.

            When Worf turned to Picard to ask for permission, Picard said, "Just get the trash off my Bridge, Lieutenant.  We don't need it polluting the area."  Almost everyone else found this amusing.

            "Aye, sir," said Worf, entering the turbolift with Wilykit.  In the turbolift, he ordered, "Brig, deck 38."  The doors closed, and the turbolift began moving downward.  "You appear to be an impressive fighter, Wilykit."

            "Fighting skills are necessary when one is a Thunder Cat, Lieutenant," said Wilykit.

            "How strong are you, physically?"

            "I'm not sure about that.  Though similar in structure to humans, Thunderians are naturally more powerfully framed and muscled than they.  A raging human male at full strength would be about as successful trying to defeat a calm Thunderian male at half-strength as trying to stop a starship at warp 9."

            "Then," said Worf, "Thunderians must be very powerful."

            "I was using a male of the Cheetah Race as a comparison, and that is the weakest Thunderian Race and gender in terms of muscular strength.  And, if I continue, I'll start bragging."

            "A wise choice to stop.  If this were a Klingon ship, an officer hearing even that much might challenge you.  And it is a mistake to deny a challenge amongst Klingons."

            "There, I would accept it."

            The turbolift arrived at the brig deck.  The two dragged the evil-doers to the cells.  Once they had the five dangerous toons in the brig, the security officer on duty sealed the five cells with a force field.  "Keep an eye on them," Worf warned the security officer.  "They are extremely dangerous.  If they try to escape, do not hesitate to use sufficient force."

            "Aye, sir," said the security officer.  Wilykit and Worf returned to the Bridge.

            * * *

            Main Ready-Room, Deck 1.

            "Good job, Wesley," said Picard, sipping some Earl Grey.

            "Thank you," said Wesley, sitting across from the captain.

            Picard said, "You seemed to handle the Romulans very diplomatically.  With a nice result, too."

            Wesley said, "I was half-ready to expect a fight with them, especially that deep into the Neutral Zone."

            "Those new Warbirds are murder," said Picard.  "It's best to be cautious when dealing with the Romulan in the command chair of that ship."

            "She didn't seem so stand-offish as some Romulan commanders we've dealt with before," said Wesley.  "She didn't want a battle but wouldn't avoid it if absolutely necessary."  Picard nodded.

            "What was her name, again?"

            "She was Commander Torreth."

            "The ship?"

            "The Kazara."  Something about that made Picard a little uneasy.  "Something wrong?"

            "I'm not sure," said Picard.  "One way to find out."  He finished his Earl Grey and set the cup and its saucer back on the desk.  They went out on the Bridge to find that Worf and Wilykit had just returned.  Riker stood at Picard's arrival on the Bridge.  "Number One, please come with us.  I'm going back down with Wesley."

            "Aye, sir," said Riker.

            Picard said, "You have the Bridge, Commander Data."

            "Aye, sir," said Data, getting up.  Wilykit went with Riker, Picard, and Wesley as they entered TurboLift 1.  Data took his place in command.

            In the turbolift, Picard ordered, "Transporter Room 1, deck 6."  The turbolift began moving.

            With themselves in this close proximity, Wesley and Wilykit found themselves weakening again.  They both knew they should not.  They could not.  Most especially not in front of the two commanders of the ship.  Wilykit felt a little uncomfortable and shifted, and, if either Picard or Riker had been watching, it would have given her away.  "So, Wilykit," said Riker, "what do you think of this ship?"

            Wilykit was daydreaming about Wesley during the moment in which Will Riker asked that question, and she almost jumped.  "Excuse me?" she asked politely.

            "The ship," repeated Riker patiently.  "What do you think of her?"

            "It's a very good one," said Wilykit.  "Very pleasant environment; great power.  Just tell Commander LaForge to keep it that way."

            "He tries," assured Picard.  "Sometimes, however, it's very hard."  As soon as Picard finished, Wilykit found herself dropping off again. . . it was darned hard to keep control.  She had to restrain herself.  Nothing, it seemed, could hold her attention if Wesley were so close in such an enclosed area.  Still, she had to keep her distance, uncomfortable as it may be to do so.

            Wesley felt similar difficulties, but he had an advantage.  He'd been in love before. . . albeit not this intensely.  He found himself still able to pay attention, but it was hard.  He did not want to let his human male instincts take over, though it would be easier on him that way. . . in the short run.

            * * *

            Transporter Room 1, Deck 6.

            The corridor and the transporter room, however, would not keep their energies so darned enclosed.  They could spread out.  Therefore, the more open space made it easier for Wesley and Wilykit to resist going for each other.  Still, it was difficult. . . more difficult increasingly as they thought about it.  In that order, Picard, Riker, Wesley, and Wilykit got on the transporter platform.  Data's voice chirped over the comm-pathways.  "Sir, the Silver Hawks have been informed of your pending arrival," said the android.  At this moment, the three visiting Silver Hawks came in.

            "Thank you, Mr. Data," said Picard.  "Add Lieutenant Steelwill, Colonel Quicksilver, and Captain Bluegrass to that list."

            "As ordered," said the android.  "Good luck."  The Silver Hawks, in descending order of rank, mounted the platform.

            "Thank you for remembering, Captain," said Quicksilver.  "And just call us by our names without our rank."

            "Don't mention it, Quicksilver," said Picard.  "Energise."  The transporter operator operated the transporter, transporting the seven transportees to the transport co-ordinates in the Hawkhaven hangar.  The seven arrived in the presence of Commander Steelheart, Wilykat, and Counsellor Troi.

            "Wondering when you'd come back," said Steelheart.

            To Quicksilver, Steelwill, and Bluegrass, Picard, indicating Counsellor Troi, said, "May I introduce Deanna Troi, ship's counsellor."  For Steelheart, he indicated Will Riker.  "Commander William Riker, first officer."

            "Pleasure to meet you," said Steelheart, shaking hands with the first officer of the Enterprise.  Ah, she told herself, shaking Riker's hand.  I'd better watch my back.  Half of a regular James Kirk. . . on the woman-subject, that is.  However, he doesn't seem that bad.

            "Same here," said Riker professionally.  Steelheart crossed her arms behind her back.

            "Okay, Will, my brother," said Steelheart.  "How did you do it?"

            "What?" asked Steelwill.

            "Ludwig's Warbird," she said.  "Has it been irreparably damaged?"

            "I can't tell," answered Steelwill.  "I just let my lasers loose on all the systems, that's all.  And Wilykit ripped out all the dilithium crystals."

            "Good," she told him sarcastically.  "It's a good thing you didn't cause a damned antimatter containment leak.  That would have blown up the ship."

            "You may drop the silly sarcasm, Steelheart," said Steelwill.  "If I had blown up his ship, it would not only have blown up Wilykit and me with it.  It would have also pulverised the Enterprise and the Romulan Warbird."

            "Excuse me," said Steelheart.  "You'd think that, since that blasted unending storm stopped over half a year ago, our frayed tempers would go back to normal."

            "Get them," said Wilykat.

            "Yeah," said Wilykit.  "Just like us."

            "All right, Thunder Kittens," said Steelheart.  "Quicksilver and Will, please go up to the Command Centre, tell everyone everything's all right."

            "Aye, ma'am," said Quicksilver.  Quicksilver and Steelwill entered the elevator and began to ascend.

            "Bluegrass, take care of the Mirage," said Steelheart.

            Saluting, Bluegrass replied, "Yes, ma'am."  He opened a control panel on his Laser Guitar and did so, making sure that Picard had first informed the shuttle bay of the Mirage's departure.

            Steelheart said, "Okay, Steelheart. . . where are you?"  She pointed to herself.  "Oh!  There you are."  She shook her head.  "Always trying to hide from me.  Show the Enterprise officers around.  Okay!"  This seemed to amuse everyone.  It was meant to reduce her unbearable anxiety, and humour was the best way to do that.  She looked at the Thunder Kittens.  "And you two do. . . whatever.  Just stay out of trouble," she finished, knowing full well that they could easily do that.

            Sarcastically, Wilykat said, "Oh, such great confidence you seem to have in us."  Steelheart ignored the comment.

            "Follow me, please," Steelheart said to Picard, Riker, Troi, and Wesley.  Just before she led them into the elevator, she, smiling, turned to the Kittens.  "Oh!  And, Wilykit, I believe Wilykat has a certain plan to get you back for some embarrassing moments you gave him."

            "What!" exclaimed Wilykat as the Silver Hawk and the four Enterprise Away-Team members entered the elevator and the door closed.  In futility, he continued, "Come back!  I have a bone to pick with you, Steelheart!  You. . . you. . ."  He turned to Wilykit, who had a smirk on her face.  ". . .y-. . .  At whom or what are you smiling, Wilykit?!?"

            "And in front of a certain Wesley Crusher, too, no doubt," said Wilykit.

            Wilykat said, "She was just making that up!  Honestly!"

            "Stop lying," she told him.  "Remember the Code?  Honour, Justice, Truth, and Loyalty?"

            "Oh, all right," he said.  They moved to a wall.  "Yes, I want to embarrass you. . . and, yes, in front of Wesley Crusher.  It would serve you right for all the times you've embarrassed me.  You correct me all the time."

            "Yeah, when you make mistakes I wouldn't make."

            "You are not as perfect as you would like to seem, sister!  Oh, one day, you are going to make an error, and I am going to make such a big deal about it in front of Wesley Crusher that your cheeks will be as red as wildfire!"

            "Nice threat, bro," she told him neutrally.  "Can you uphold it?"

            "Can I. . .  blast it, 'Kit!  Unlike you may think, you are no more perfect than I am.  You don't know when I'll try my plan.  For all you know, I would be trying it right now if Wesley were here.  At least I don't pretend to be faultless.  That pretence is your greatest fault, and I am going to show you that you aren't perfect, even if I die trying."

            "Hold it.  I never claimed to be perfect, Wilykat."

            "Yeah?  Well, you act like it when you correct me.  You humiliate the hell out of me, pardon my language.  I want you to feel how darned uncomfortable that is, Wilykit."

            "I'm certain you'll get plenty of opportunities to do so," she said, now grinning.  "However, it is not certain that you will succeed."

            "Oh, I will.  Trust me, sister, you are going to be awfully darned humiliated when I am through with you.  And I am going to wipe that smile right off your pretty little face."