Chapter Four
Ten Forward was beginning to get crowded as ship's time passed into the evening hours. Guinan concluded her conversation with the Doctor with, "And that's the short version of how I came to be the hostess of Ten Forward."
"These Borgs seem to be a rather nasty group. I can think of nothing analogous to them in my own universe, although the Cybermen may have ambitions in that direction. Guinan, allow me to assure you that your race is doing quite well there, and your people and mine have an ancient and healthy relationship."
Guinan smiled. "I know, Doctor. I've known since the first instant the Rutan's experiment began to merge the universes."
"You know, Guinan, I believe Captain Picard may be a far wiser man than I originally estimated, and my opinion of him was never low."
"Yes, Doctor, he's a very special person. Now keep this under your hat, please. Even Captain Picard doesn't know the whole story and I find I enjoy being a 'woman of mystery'. Now, I think I had better return to my duties. My staff is excellent, but the last few times they've glanced our way, I don't think curiosity was the primary reason."
The Doctor gave her a conspiratorial smile. "Oh yes, I'll remember, 'Oh, woman of mystery'." He took her hand and kissed it in a most courtly fashion.
As Guinan returned to her customary place behind the bar, she saw several people glance back and forth between her and the Doctor. "Yes indeed," she thought, "I enjoy being mysterious, and the Doctor hasn't hurt that image a bit. Not one little bit."
Captain Picard pulled off his fencing mask and reached for a towel. He turned and said, "Doctor, I don't think I've been beaten quite so soundly since I first took up this sport."
The Doctor shook out his curls. "Come now, Captain, it wasn't so bad as that. You really are quite good."
The captain looked at him and smiled. "No, Doctor, I know when I'm outclassed. I've never met your equal with the epee."
"Well, I've had several hundred years more practice. Now, if you'll excuse me, there are two ladies waiting for me in a place called Ten Forward. I shouldn't delay any longer."
"And I should be getting back to the bridge. Thank you for the match, Doctor. I enjoyed it immensely."
The Doctor gave a crisp salute with his blade. "My pleasure, Sir."
Beverly and Deanna had both noticed Guinan's conversation with the Doctor at a window table, and another Doctor had just entered Ten Forward with Commander Riker. Deanna realized she and Beverly were both watching the door like a pair of school girls. She was about to mention it when Beverly said, "There's our Doctor now."
Deanna looked up at the tall, smiling man coming toward them and thought, "Yes. That's how I think of him too, as 'our' Doctor." She wondered how many of her crewmates also thought of one of the Doctors as 'their' Doctor.
"Hello, ladies. I hope I haven't kept you waiting over-long. I truly enjoyed my match with your captain. He is most accomplished with a blade." Deanna wondered if there wasn't a bit of 'noblesse oblige' in that statement, but, she decided, if anyone had a right to it, this Doctor did.
Beverly said, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Doctor. Would you like something? The drinks in Ten Forward are usually made with synthehol. It has most of the pleasurable characteristics of alcohol and none of its nasty ones. Deanna and I are having Mai Tais, but you can get most anything, including food, here."
"Ah," the Doctor smiled, "the Mai Tai. A drink of most ancient, if dubious, pedigree. I think that would suit me most excellently. Do either of you need another?"
Deanna said, "No, Doctor. Beverly and I have been recently 're-freshed'."
Guinan approached from the Doctor's rear and said, "May I get you something, Doctor?"
The Doctor turned to look at her and his mouth dropped open in surprise. As he started to rise, Guinan laid a restraining hand on his shoulder. She then raised a finger to her lips and indicated the Doctor seated across the room with a tilt of her head. The Doctor glanced toward his other self and that Doctor gave him a nod. The Doctor said, "Thank you," and paused. "Guinan." she supplied. "I shall have a Mai Tai, if you please."
As Guinan left the table, Beverly turned to Deanna and said, "Curiouser and curiouser."
"Said Alice." the Doctor added with a grin.
Geordi entered Ten Forward just as Will Riker turned away from the bar with a drink in each hand. He said, "Hi, Commander. Where are you headed?"
"Up there, Geordi." Geordi looked up and saw his Doctor and another seated on the upper level, apparently quite deep in conversation. He turned back to Riker and raised his eyebrows. Riker smiled and said, "Don't ask me." He raised the drinks in his hands slightly. "I think I was made 'errand boy' to give them some time alone. All I can tell you is, I think it has something to do with Guinan. Come on. I think they're ready for us now." Geordi followed Riker up to the table after getting himself a drink.
The Doctor he thought of as 'his' Doctor looked up and said, "Hello, Geordi. Everything 'put to rights' in engineering?"
"Yes, Doctor, my staff are once again convinced they can't do without me."
As Geordi sat down, the 'other' Doctor said, "I've been getting an explanation of what you're planning to do tomorrow. With the information you will collect, I think we shall be able to put together a method to stop the merging of the universes, but you must be extremely careful."
"I will be, Doctor. Thanks for your concern."
"My concern is somewhat a matter of self-interest. You see, if he disappears," He indicated Geordi's Doctor. "I disappear." Geordi felt the weight of responsibility settle more heavily on his shoulders. If he made a mistake, the Enterprise would lose three of the Doctors whose assistance was so essential.
Riker said, "Well, gentlemen, I've left the captain and Data with the bridge long enough. I think it's about time I got back to work. It's been a most pleasant and memorable afternoon. Doctors, Geordi, I'll see you all tomorrow." As Riker left the table, Geordi made himself a mental note to ask about the big smile he'd worn when he'd made his last comment. He turned back to the discussion of the technical aspects of what he and the Doctor were planning.
As Riker approached the door, he saw Lt. Rondell and the last of the Doctors come through it. He watched as the Doctor looked over at Guinan and suddenly 'stopped dead in his tracks'. Lt. Rondell had been holding onto his arm and talking animatedly. The stop was so sudden she was nearly unbalanced. He saw Guinan give her head a slight shake, then nod toward the table he'd just left. The Doctor turned and looked that direction. He began walking again, a somewhat non-plussed, Lt. Rondell in tow.
Riker was glad he'd stopped off to say hello to a few people. He wouldn't have wanted to miss this. He didn't know what was going on and realized he probably never would, but, whatever it was, it certainly wasn't hurting Guinan's 'air of mystery'. "But then," he thought, as he exited Ten Forward, "if all the mysteries were solved, life wouldn't be much fun anymore."
The Doctor and Gwen had just found a table and seated themselves when Data came in. As he crossed to their table, the Doctor found himself thinking about the wide smile his later persona had worn as he had renewed Gwen's introductions to his other selves. He had been wondering about it all through the explanation of the intended shuttle expedition. Whatever it was, he was sure it lay in his future. He'd decided long ago, knowing the future would take all the excitement out of life. Besides, just trying to keep track of his past was enough of a problem. Data walked up and said, "Doctor, Gwen, may I join you?"
Data opened the door to his quarters and he and the Doctor entered. Gwen had left them an hour before, saying she needed her 'beauty sleep'. The Doctor walked over to his TARDIS and entered. He then leaned out of the door and asked, "Data, how long until you report for bridge duty?"
"Three hours, eleven minutes and forty-six seconds, Doctor."
"Data, I would like to show you my TARDIS. Please come in."
"Thank
you, Doctor. I am most curious about your TARDIS."
Data and the Doctor were seated in the cloisters. The Doctor had given him, what he called, 'the ten p tour'. The Doctor said, "Data, from this point on we will be covering material that, as far as I know, is unknown to any of the races humans have encountered in your universe, other than my own of course. I know humans have found a way to travel in time. I believe it was the predecessor of this ship that was the first. We accomplish it in a very different fashion. My people long ago learned the 'gift' of advanced technology is almost always harmful to the recipients. We, as a people, have very strong laws against interference. At one time those laws were so strict any involvement at all in the affairs of other races carried a death sentence. Those laws have been loosened a bit, mostly by my own efforts. However, I have been on trial more than once for my activities. My defense in each case has been that, as the oldest civilization in my universe, Time Lords have a responsibility to protect younger races from power-mad beings wielding advanced technology. Once, I was even convicted of breaking those laws and I spent several years in exile on twentieth-century Earth. My sentence was later commuted as more Time Lords came to share my views. It's amazing what being faced with annihilation will do to change one's viewpoint. Data, you must give me your solemn promise not to give human-kind or any other race this knowledge. They must discover it for themselves. I will not ask you not to use it, but all other possible solutions to the problem must be attempted first."
"Doctor, Starfleet has a similar rule. It is called the Prime Directive. It is a fundamental part of the oath every Starfleet officer takes. Much of our training is devoted to understanding that oath. I give you my word, I shall not divulge the knowledge you give me, nor use it in any, but as the last resort."
The Doctor considered Data's reply, then smiled. "All right, Data, this is the basis of time and dimensional theory." When he had completed his lecture, the Doctor said, "Data, you must never down-load this information into any system or allow it to be extracted. To do so would be to sign my death warrant."
"I have placed a wipe command on this information. It will execute at any attempt to tamper with my data storage. Sir, I am required at my duty station."
As they rose from their seats on the bench, the cloister bell began to ring. The Doctor dashed out, shouting, "Ask not for whom the bell tolls. Run!"
The Doctor and Data exited the turbolift onto the bridge as two Doctors stepped from another. The remaining Doctor was standing between the con and ops stations. He turned to face them and said, "Gentlemen, we have a problem."
At that moment the red alert klaxon began to sound.