Bridge, Ludwig's Warbird.

"The orbit around Cardassia has been established," said Larry.

            "Good," said Ludwig.  "Disengage the cloaking device."  Larry did so.  The enormous Warbird decloaked above Cardassia.

            "We have just finished to decloak," said Roy.  "Cardassia's sensors have just found us."

            Ludwig ordered, "Hail the Cardassians."

            Roy pressed a series of buttons.  "They are responding."

            "On-screen," said Ludwig.  A Cardassian appeared on the screen, and he was immediately surprised.

            "You are not Romulan!" exclaimed this Cardassian.

            "Correct," said Ludwig.  "My name is Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa, Prince of the Kingdom of the Evil Koopas.  I am prepared to help you Cardassians to conquer the Romulans, the Klingons, and the Federation."

            "How?" asked the Cardassian.

            Ludwig said, "If you allied yourselves by treaty with my kingdom, I would give you the technology of which you have need in order to conquer them.  In particular, we would give you the cloaking device, the disruptor, and a warp engine that has a max-speed of warp 26.2.  It is not necessary that you Cardassians do anything in exchange for our services."  The Cardassian was pleasantly surprised.

            "Well, thank you!" said the Cardassian.  "I shall deliver this information to my superiors.  We shall call you back soon."

            "Thank you very much," said Ludwig.  "Prince Ludwig out."  The screen changed to show the space around Cardassia.  "You don't have to give me anything, that is, except for the Cardassian empire when you have conquered the Romulans, the Klingons, and the Federation!"

            Larry said, "What a despicable trick!  What are you going to do, allow that the Cardassians conquer the Romulans, the Klingons, and the Federation and, then, conquer the Cardassians, the Romulans, the Klingons, and the Federation in one fell swoop?"

            Ludwig said, "Larry, you read my mind!  Hee, hee!  The Cardassians will trust us.  I see no reason not to do the same with them."  He turned to Roy.  "Roy, ready the specifications for the warp engines with a top capacity of warp 26.2, for the cloaking device, and for the disruptors, translate them into Cardassian, and prepare to transfer them to the Cardassian computer banks."

            "Yes, sir, big bro!" said Roy, doing what he was told.

            * * *

            Mirage.

            "Boy!" said Bluegrass, checking the computers.  "That Ludwig sure knows how to throw us!"

            Steelwill was outside, working on the systems.  "Well," said Steelwill, "everything's all right, except for the warp drive.  All we can muster is full impulse.  Also, the warp opener is shot, and there's a nasty little phase variance that will temporarily prevent us from transporting this ship anywhere."

            "Well, then," said Quicksilver, "we'd better beat it.  I have a feeling that Ludwig won't let us go so easily.  Cowboy, what is our approximate position?"

            Bluegrass checked.  "Well," he said, "we've been smacked somewhere between MegaLand and Mount Icarus.  It appears that MegaLand is the closest place.  Ah. . . about thirty minutes at half-impulse, fifteen at full."

            "Then, let's head there," said Quicksilver.  Steelwill entered his own pod.  When he was there, Bluegrass turned the Mirage to MegaLand.  Soon, something beeped on the sensors.  "What is that?"

            "Uh, oh!" said Bluegrass.  "It's Metroid!"  Metroid decloaked a thousand kilometres in front of the Mirage.  Bluegrass put on the brake.  Out of their speakers poured the evil laughter of MotherBrain.  "We're in trouble guys!  Metroid's blocking our path, and it's got more firepower than any of us!"

            Quicksilver said, "Steelwill, I say we try to confuse them."

            "Right, Quicksilver," said Steelwill.

            "Prepare to launch," said Bluegrass.

            Quicksilver flashed on his own visor.  "Ready."

            Flashing on his own visor, Steelwill said, "Ready!"

            "Releasing!" said Bluegrass.  He tapped a long red button under the individual pod release buttons.  The two outermost pods' canopies opened, and Steelwill and Quicksilver zipped out, arms pointing to their fronts, their hands as fists.

            "Wing-it!" ordered Quicksilver.  He put his arms to his side simultaneously and drew them back away simultaneously.  As soon as he started moving his arms out, his wings formed.  He drew his arms straight at shoulder-height.  Steelwill did exactly the same, and the same happened.

            Bluegrass, however, pulled the lever on the right of his seat.  The Hot Seat separated from the Mirage's main body.  When Bluegrass pressed the button on the left side of his steering device with his thumb, the back of the Hot Seat shot out a ray, which cloaked the main body of the Mirage.  Bluegrass readied his Laser Guitar.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            "Hee, hee, hee!" laughed MotherBrain.  "Do the Silver Hawks not know that this is a trap?  I wanted them to launch!  Now, it is time to clip their silver wings!  Ha, ha, ha!"  She turned to Eggplant Wizard.  "Eggplant Wizard, blast them with setting one on the Silver Hawk Catcher!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Yes!  Whatever you may say, MotherBrain!" said Eggplant Wizard.  He set a device for its first setting and hit the fire button.  Three beams of Metroid shot out and blasted the Silver Hawks.

            * * *

            "Gaaaah!" screamed Quicksilver.  "What is this?"

            Steelwill managed, "Ngh!  Don't ask me, Colonel!  This seems to be some kind of halogen-simulating device.  Our metal suits are breaking apart on the molecular level, separating from their present compounds and alloys and attempting to join the halo-. . . aaaaah!"  A major gap began forming on his wings.  He got up some strength, and he knew where he ought to put it.  He succeeded in putting it there.

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower, Darkwing's Earth.

            "The Kazara didn't stop them," said Steelheart.  "At least, the Kazara is not there yet."

            "I detect some sort of halogen-simulator," said Wilykit curiously.  She sat back to think.  She realised with horror what halogens did with metals, and she immediately returned to the computer.  "Metroid is blasting Bluegrass, Steelwill, and Quicksilver with a halogen-simulating beam!  MotherBrain's decomposing their metal suits!"

            "Oh, my God!" said Steelheart.  Suddenly, something smacked her. . . telepathy.  She kept from falling by catching the windowsill.  She shook her head.  "Will's telepathically sending me a distress call."

            In her mind, Steelheart heard Steelwill's voice call, "Steelheart!  Can you hear me?  Steelheart!"

            "Will!" Steelheart responded telepathically.  Before her in her mind was shown the Hot Seat, Quicksilver, and Steelwill being blasted by a beam from Metroid.

            "Steelheart, this beam is deteriorating our suits!" said Steelwill.  "The beam is using a simulation of a fluorine atom to break the metal bonds and deteriorate our metal suits.  I. . . I hear molecular transport sounds."  The view changed to a prison hidden in Metroid's darkest depths.  "We're in Metroid's dungeons!"  Steelheart turned.  She saw Quicksilver, lying on the floor of the cell, most of his suit already dematerialised by the ray.  Steelwill was in slightly better shape, leaning against the wall of the cell.  Bluegrass was sitting on a seat.  Bluegrass's suit was still well intact, as was his Laser Guitar.  "The beam has dematerialised much of our suits.  Metroid has beamed us aboard to this prison cell.  The beam ate through enough to injure Quicksilver, but it did not get so bad with me."

            "I'll get you out of this, little bro!" said Steelheart.  "No matter what it takes, I'll get you out of this!"  In a moment, her attention refocused on what was occurring at Darkwing Tower, where she actually was.  "Wilykit, where is the Kazara?"

            "It has changed course to intercept with Metroid," said Wilykit.  "It'll get to Metroid in about 5 minutes."

            "MotherBrain has taken Will, Quicksilver, and Bluegrass prisoners," said Steelheart.  "Will just telepathically called me.  According to him, the beam ate mostly through their suits.  Quicksilver has been injured physically by the beam."

            "If you want," said Wilykat, a mischievous look in his eye, "I'll go to Metroid and save the three."

            "No, 'Kat," said Steelheart.  "It is I who have to do this.  MotherBrain hurt my brother, and that is too far."

            "And me?" asked Kidd.

            "You can come," said Steelheart.  "I know how much you are a friend with Bluegrass.  Thunder Kittens, you are in charge here until I get back."

            "Right, ma'am," said Wilykat.

            Steelheart tapped her communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport Copper-Kidd and me to. . ."

            "Wait a moment!" said Wilykit, jumping out of her seat.  "Don't you think MotherBrain would have intended for you to come?  That way, she could use her device on you and capture you, too."  Steelheart thought for a moment.

            "Yes, I guess you're right," said Steelheart.  "I never thought of that.  Thank you."

            "Don't mention it."

            Tomalak said, "I suggest that I inform the Kazara of the situation.  Commander Torreth may be able to stop the evil-doers."

            "You're probably right," said Wilykit.  "Follow me, please."  She led Tomalak to the communications terminal and pressed a button.  "Now, you may call her."

            "Thank you," said Tomalak.  Wilykit nodded.  She left Tomalak to deliver the information to Torreth.  Wilykit and Wilykat went into a more isolated part of the room from which it was unlikely that the others could hear them.

            "Wilykat," said Wilykit, "what is the time?"  Wilykat checked the watch in his bracelet.

            "It's about 20.15," answered Wilykat.

            Wilykit said, "I definitely trust the Romulans, but I wouldn't trust MotherBrain for a moment.  I know she's up to something.  I believe she's trying to eliminate the Silver Hawks so that they may not present any opposition."

            "Yes," said Wilykat.  "What should be done by us?"

            "I honestly do not know," said Wilykit.  "You heard Steelheart.  She won't let us go there."

            "Sweet little arrangement.  Should she go to Metroid, MotherBrain would destroy her suit, too."  He sighed.

            "Then, there're the Cardassians about whom to worry," said Wilykit.  "Plus the Borg.  Blast it.  I wish we could do something to eliminate the threat of all.  It is too bad that we cannot do so."

            "Agreed.  Well, we have to do our best in stopping them, one at a time."  Wilykit nodded.  "And, now, our most immediate business is that big, ugly MotherBrain."

            * * *

            Bridge of the Romulan Warbird Kazara.

            Torreth turned to Narak.  "When shall we arrive at Metroid's position?" she asked him.

            "We shall arrive there in five minutes, sir," Narak answered Torreth.  "In moving in order to stop the Silver Hawks, they put themselves closer to us."

            "Very well," said Torreth.  "Prepare to decloak, and prepare also for battle."  She smiled.  "Narak, prepare an away-team of four to go there."

            Narak asked, "What are you going to do?"

            "It's simple, Sub-Commander.  I'm going to trick this MotherBrain into believing that we are going to ally the Romulan Empire to the Brain-Team.  If she believes us, you and your away-team will go to her control room with hidden hand-disruptors.  You are going to stop her and demand that she free the Silver Hawks whom she has captured."  She ceased smiling.  "And, if she does not do so, we shall fire on Metroid.  Sub-Commander Narak, please choose those who will be in your away-team."

            "Yes, sir.  Thank you," said Narak.  He went to choose the four people who would go to Metroid with him.  He was satisfied when he returned to the Bridge.  He said to Torreth, "I have chosen those who will be my away-team, Commander."  He gave her his data-padd, which she read.  After reading it, she returned it to Narak.

            Torreth told him, "Very good, Sub-Commander.  For the moment, please return to your station."

            "Yes, Commander," said he to her while returning to his station.

            "We are now in viewer-range of Metroid," said the pilot/weapons officer.

            "Call them," said Torreth.  "But decloak first."  The Kazara decloaked.  The pilot called Metroid, which was before them.

            "They are responding," said the pilot.

            Torreth said, "On-screen."  MotherBrain appeared on the screen.

            "What are you Romulans doing here?" demanded MotherBrain.

            "We represent the Romulan Empire, Queen MotherBrain," said Torreth.  "I am Commander Torreth of the Kazara.  We have decided that it would be best if you, your associates of the Brain-Team, our associates of the Romulan Empire, and we allied ourselves to one another."

            "Is that so?" said MotherBrain, immediately suspicious.

            "Yes," said Torreth nicely.  "It is not necessary for you to be suspicious of us."  MotherBrain knew that something was up, but she smiled cordially.

            "Certainly," said MotherBrain.  "Well, if you send someone here to Metroid, we shall talk about a treaty.  Agreed?"

            Torreth answered, "Agreed, Queen MotherBrain.  I shall send my subcommander to do so."

            "Very well," said MotherBrain.  "Here are the co-ordinates to which to beam.  Are you receiving them?"

            The pilot nodded, and Torreth said, "Yes, we are receiving them."

            "Good!" MotherBrain said amicably.  "Have your people come when they are ready!  We are eager to meet them!  See you later."  The screen changed its image to show Metroid and the space around it.  Torreth looked at Narak.

            "Go with your away-team to those co-ordinates of Metroid," said Torreth to Narak, "but be careful!  It appears that MotherBrain suspects that we intend to deceive her."

            "Yes," agreed Narak.  "We shall be careful."

            "Good.  Now, go there," said Torreth.  Narak bowed and left the Bridge.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            "Eggplant Wizard," said MotherBrain, "be prepared to 'eggplant' the Romulans if they have decided to deceive us."  Eggplant Wizard gulped.

            He asked, "M-m-m-me?"

            "Yes, you!" exclaimed MotherBrain.

            "-Gulp!-  Certainly, MotherBrain!"

            "Good," said she.  "King Hippo, be prepared to knock out the Romulans, should it become necessary!"

            King Hippo said, "Ha, ha!  Yes, MotherBrain!  I'll knock them out if necessary!  They won't live to regret the day they deceived us!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Good."  MotherBrain tapped a comm-button.  "Wily, have the necessary alterations to the cloaking device output terminal been made?"

            "Just ten more seconds, MotherBrain," replied Wily.  Precisely ten seconds (to the millisecond) passed.  "Bingo!  Now, we can fire on anyone and anything when we are cloaked!"

            "Excellent," said MotherBrain.  "And the shields?"

            "They are also ready," said Doctor Wily.

            "Very good, Wily," said MotherBrain.  "The Romulans will be here any minute now."  Five Romulans of whom one was Sub-Commander Narak materialised in the room.  "Ah, good day, Romulans."

            Narak said, "Good day, Queen MotherBrain.  My name is Sub-Commander Narak.  We have come in order to speak with you about this treaty."

            "Very good," said MotherBrain.  "We can discuss it here."

            "Yes," said Narak.  "There is only one stipulation to which it will be necessary that you agree so that we may speak."  He brought his hands together behind himself.

            "I see," said MotherBrain.  "What is this 'stipulation'?"

            "That you free the three Silver Hawks," said Narak.  MotherBrain smiled.

            "That is entirely impossible, you see," said MotherBrain.  "Can there not be a compromise or an accommodation?"

            "Yes," said Narak, "in fact, there can be one."  Narak and his four companions drew their disruptors.  "Either free the Silver Hawks, or be made to do so!  Which do you choose, Queen MotherBrain?"

            "Eggplant Wizard, King Hippo!  Attack them!" ordered MotherBrain.

            "Me?" asked Eggplant Wizard.  One of Narak's officers hit Eggplant Wizard with a stun-beam from her disruptor.  This type of beam did not disrupt the molecules of anyone like the higher settings.

            "I'm going to knock you out!" said King Hippo.  Another of Narak's away-team hit him with a beam of the same setting.  All five Romulans aimed their disruptors at MotherBrain.

            "You damned Romulans!  You tricked me!" exclaimed MotherBrain.

            Pressing a button on his disruptor, Narak said, "Yes.  Now, free the Silver Hawks before the Kazara fires on Metroid!"  This made MotherBrain think.

            * * *

            Bridge, Romulan Warbird Kazara.

            Something on the pilot's panel beeped, and the pilot checked it.  He told Torreth, "Commander, they have arrived."

            "Ah," said Torreth, beginning to smile.  "Tell them to prepare for decloaking and for charging their disruptor arrays."

            "Yes, Commander," said the pilot, executing Torreth's order.  "Shall I tell them to decloak and to charge their disruptors when we fire on Metroid?"  Torreth thought about it.

            "Yes," she answered.  "Please."

            "Very well, Commander," said the pilot.  He did what he had been told to do.  "It's done, sir."

            "Good," said Torreth.  A radio channel opened.

            They heard Narak's voice, which said, "Yes.  Now, free the Silver Hawks before the Kazara fires on Metroid!"  They heard nothing more, but the channel stayed open.

            "Let's give MotherBrain an incentive," said Torreth.  "Hit Metroid with 900 kilovolts."

            "Yes, Commander," said the pilot.  He pressed several buttons, and the Kazara blasted Metroid with a disruptor-beam.  Suddenly, three D'Deridex Romulan Warbirds decloaked behind the Kazara, raised their shields, and charged their disruptor arrays.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            "Three more Romulan Warbirds?!?" exclaimed MotherBrain.

            "Exactly," said Narak.  "A surprise for you."  Infuriated, MotherBrain grabbed him with her right tentacle and lifted him to her.  He fired at her with his disruptor, but that had no effect on MotherBrain!  "What!"

            "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed MotherBrain.  "I bet you thought it would be easy to defeat me!  Ha!  How wrong you are!  Ha, ha!"  With her left tentacle, she pulled a lever.  The other four Romulans were transported back to the Kazara.  "Your friends have been transported back to the Kazara, but you will stay here!  Hee, hee, hee!"  She pressed a button.  "Wily, come back up here!"  She hit another button.  Torreth appeared on the screen.  "So, Torreth!  You thought to trick me, eh?  Well, you were wrong!"

            Torreth was rather annoyed.  "You make a very big mistake, MotherBrain!  If you do not free the Silver Hawks and Sub-Commander Narak, these four Romulan Warbirds will attack you!  You would easily lose that battle!"

            "We shall see about that!" said MotherBrain.  She deactivated the screen, which blanked.  Wily arrived.  "At last!  Activate the cloaking device!"

            "Yes, MotherBrain!" said Wily.  He went to a certain computer and gave it an order, and Metroid cloaked.

            "Show them what Metroid can do while cloaked.  Fire upon them with our disruptors," said MotherBrain.

            Wily said, "Yes!"  He pressed certain buttons.  The disruptor arrays charged.

            * * *

            Bridge, Romulan Warbird Kazara.

            All on the Bridge were very surprised when they saw that that beam appeared to come from nowhere in space!  This beam hit the Kazara's shields, and the Bridge shook.  "Shield-strength down to 90%!" said the pilot.

            "Fire back on there from where that beam came!" said Torreth.  The disruptors fired there.  They hit Metroid's shields.  "Continue to fire there, and order the other Warbirds to fire there!"

            "Yes," said the pilot, who did that which Torreth had told him to do.  All four Warbirds fired much on Metroid, whose shields deflected the Warbirds' blasts.  The Kazara's last shot cut through the shields and smacked the frontal lobe on the exact spot where the cloak emitter was.  This blast made Metroid decloak!  Torreth knew that they had to act quickly before Metroid regained its shields.

            "Can you find Sub-Commander Narak or the Silver Hawks?" asked Torreth.

            The pilot said, "Yes, sir.  All four."

            "Transport them on board, directly to Sickbay. . . now!"  Nodding, the pilot pressed certain buttons, delivering orders to the transporter room.  For a moment, he stared at his readings.

            Then, he sighed lightly and told Torreth, "The transport is done.  It was successful, sir."

            "Good," said Torreth.  "Cloak the ship, and tell the other Warbirds to do so.  Tell them to return to Romulan space.  Set a course to return to Darkwing's Earth, and engage at maximum sustainable warp."  The pilot nodded before doing so.  Turning toward their destinations, the Warbirds cloaked.  Torreth got up and left the Bridge for Sickbay.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            MotherBrain was extremely angered.  Narak had been transported from her tentacles to the Kazara, as the Silver Hawks had been transported there from her dungeon.  She pressed a button and said, "MotherBrain to Ludwig."

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower, Darkwing's Earth.

            Wilykit had reluctantly let Wilykat take over for her.  He was worried that she might overwork herself.  She did not agree with him, but she did not want to squabble with him over it, so she relented.  That took place about a half-hour ago.  It was now around 20.55.  Wilykit had nothing to do, but she tried to stay calm.  She always tried not to become bored.  She almost never succeeded, but she always tried.  She was very bored.  She avoided reading others' memories so that she would have no advantage over them.  Of course, the Code of Thundera said nothing of mind-reading with telepathy, - in fact, the Code of Thundera accepted using any means at one's disposal to defeat an enemy, including telepathy - but Wilykit did not like the idea very much.  Still, no one around was an enemy, it was something to do, and. . .

            "The Kazara has just signalled that it is returning," said Wilykat.  He turned to the others.  "They succeeded.  They have rescued the three Silver Hawks from Metroid."

            "Their condition?" asked Steelheart nervously, concerned about her brother.

            "They report that Steelwill and Bluegrass are fine," said Wilykat.  "However, Quicksilver's been badly injured by the beam which the MotherBrain used to deteriorate their suits.  Their technology cannot heal such wounds in a human, only in a Romulan."  Steelheart sighed.  Quicksilver, she thought.

            "Okay," said Steelheart.  "As soon as they enter orbit, I want Quicksilver transported to the Palace of Power Hospital for treatment.  Can they stabilise his condition?"

            "Well, they have his life signs stable," said Wilykat, "and they are successfully keeping them alive, but they cannot cure him completely."

            "Very well," said Steelheart.  "I would like it done as I have outlined."

            "Yes, Steelheart," said Wilykat.  He returned to his work.  Wilykit sort of had this silent admiration for him.  She was certain it was hidden so deep inside her that he would never find out.  She felt that that was as it should be.  After all, their minds were not voluntarily linked.  All three had tried unsuccessfully to put a block between where their minds intercepted.  Wilykit decided after all to see how the others were feeling.  She almost instantly recognised the individual collections of thoughts.  First, she studied that which seemed to be Tomalak's.  He seemed to be changing to a more democratically minded person, and with increasing trust of the Federation and of the Klingons.  Wilykit moved on to Sela.  A melee of Romulan and human thoughts and emotions, very complex.  She seemed to have a slight distrust of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but Wilykit felt that distrust waning.  It seemed a good sign.  Wilykit then went on to Picard.  Very orderly, his emotions resting underneath.  Wilykit knew he must be strong-minded to keep his emotions below like that.  What was on top at the moment was a concern of the situation.  Wilykit then studied Data.  She felt no emotions at all from him, but she could definitely perceive his thoughts.  Extremely orderly, with android precision.  Underneath, sort of a frustration at not being able to grasp all of humankind's customs.  Also extremely curious.  Wilykit moved on to Steelheart.  Relieved and concerned.  Relieved that Steelwill was all right, concern for Quicksilver's well being.  A certain emotional stability built on top similar to Picard's but not quite as powerful.

            When Wilykit attempted to try Troi, she was blocked by something.  Troi looked at her, smiled, and telepathically said, Don't even try, Wilykit.  So, Wilykit did not.  Instead, she moved to Darkwing.  Darkwing had some intelligence underneath.  His emotional control was not strong, explaining the way he acted.  Darkwing also envied the seniority the Thunder Kittens appeared to have over him in the eyes of Steelheart.  Wilykit felt sorry for him.  She moved to her brother.  It was easy to read him.  He was as nervous as she.  He held many feelings that she also had at the moment.  He was also very concerned with the location of the Kazara, of Metroid, of the Warbird, and of the Marcus.  Wilykit thought to herself, Now, why the hell he even is looking at the Marcus, I wouldn't know.

            Suddenly, Wilykat turned and fake-glared at her.  Such language! he telepathically snapped into her mind.  Smiling, he turned back to the screen.  Wilykit was not amused.  In fact, she was rather ashamed of herself.  Wilykat's words stung her terribly.  How could a Thunderian such as her think of using such language without apologising?  She felt that the whole thing almost ripped the seams of her mind apart.  Suddenly, a caring, curious, soft mind helped her.  It relieved her mind of the guilt that she had felt, and that mind gently caressed hers.

            Wilykit was almost entirely relieved when the sweet voice of Wesley, the one who helped her, entered her mind and said, Don't beat yourself up over this, 'Kit.  It isn't worth it.

            Wilykit responded, Thank you, Wes.  You're so. . . so nice.

            Don't mention it.  And thank you.

            Wilykat's voice came into their minds and said, Ah, ah, ah!  If you two are thinking of using this as a way to slip each other sweet little nothings,. . .

            Wilykat! interrupted Troi's voice.  Even your own sister deserves privacy from you.

            From me?  Her twin brother, with whom she has spent most of her life?  From me, he with whom she shares almost everything in common, even knowledge?  You may think it's okay, but I, as her identical-twin-brother, do not!

            Oh, don't be jealous, said Troi.

            I AM NOT BEING JEALOUS!!! Wilykat mentally screamed back.  AS I AM HER IDENTICAL TWIN, I MUST KEEP HER FROM HARM HOWEVER POSSIBLE, SO PARDON ME IF YOU THINK I INVADE MY OWN SISTER'S PRIVACY!!!  Troi physically gulped.  Wilykat was being stubborn.  Still, she felt he had some point; Thunderian twins were so close that their relationship demanded that not a quark of information be held between them.  Troi knew that she would get nowhere without a vocal communication, and she would not talk to Wilykat about this here, so. . .

            "Wilykat, is there something about which you'd like to talk?" asked Troi vocally and quietly.

            "Maybe," said Wilykat just as quietly.

            "In that case," said Troi, "I suggest that we talk in my office."  Wilykat looked at her.

            "Counsellor, I'm afraid you misunderstood.  I wouldn't like to talk to you about what I want to talk about," said Wilykat.  "I merely stated that I might want to talk about something.  I didn't say with whom."

            Steelheart said, "Well, I would love to stay, but I must return to Hawkhaven.  My first officer, Captain N, is returning there with the other four whom the Thunder Kittens or I mentioned."  Tomalak and Picard nodded.  "Anyway. . . Kidd, stay here, and report anything they may find."  Kidd saluted her.

            "Yes, ma'am!" said Kidd.  Steelheart transported to Hawkhaven.

            Picard said, "Well, I guess that my crew and I should return to the Enterprise in order to prepare ourselves for the dinner this evening.  Any of you who would like to visit our ship may do so as our honoured guests."

            "Thank you, Captain," said Tomalak.  Picard, Data, Troi, and Wesley got into a group.

            Picard tapped his communicator and said, "Transporter Room 1, this is the Enterprise Away-Team.  Please beam the four us up."  The four of them were beamed up to the Enterprise.