Read Star Trek: The Next Generation - 020 - Q-In-Law for Free Online Page A
Authors: Peter David
first indication that she had a name other than "Mrs. Nistral." "So caught up in our own tendency to decorate every inch of space with our latest acquisitions that we've forgotten simple elegance can be as strong a statement. My apologies, Captain, and to you, Guinan.
We'd be honored if you'd share the Ten-Forward with a group of ungrateful Tizarin." "My pleasure," said Guinan, nodding graciously.
Graziunas was moving about the room, taking wide strides with his feet no less than four feet apart, even when he was standing still. His massive cape swept about him, almost knocking a glass to the floor, but an alert Guinan scooped it up just as it started to fall. "I don't see what your problem was!" he said.
"I liked it from the moment I walked in. You're too obsessed with opulence, Nistral! Isn't he, Fenn?" he said, turning to address his own mate.
Nistral smiled thinly. "I've already admitted as much, Graziunas. I think it's time we moved on in the conversation, don't you?" His voice was low and calm, whereas Graziunas seemed to bellow everything with a boisterous frivolity.
"How long do you see requiring Ten-Forward for?" asked Guinan, also eager to move on.
"How long will the party last?" "A week," said Nistral briskly.
Together, Picard and Guinan said, "A week?" "Of course a week!" declared Graziunas.
"When the firstborn child of a house head weds, a week of celebration and festivities at the place of the wedding is mandated custom! Are you saying that our children are not worthy of that?" "No, no, not at all," said Picard.
"It's just that a week..." "We don't have to keep it entirely in here, Captain," said Graziunas' spouse, Fenn.
Her hands fluttered as she said, "We can certainly use the entire ship to..." "No!" said Picard, a bit more loudly than he would have liked. Ever the diplomat, he composed himself immediately. "We will set aside a portion of the ship--" "A large portion!" boomed Graziunas.
"A portion," said Picard firmly, with a tone of voice that indicated he was not going to lose control of the situation. "We will be as cooperative as humanly possible, and put our ship at your disposal, but there must be limits, gentlemen and ladies. I'm sure--as ruling heads--you understand the need for it." "Of course," said Nistral neutrally.
Graziunas shrugged his massive shoulders.
"It's your ship, Captain." "Yes," said Picard in no uncertain terms.
"It is. We have a level of discipline and order that must be maintained. I welcome the idea of a celebration, especially for something as joyous as a wedding. But I cannot tolerate disruption of my ship or her crew. We are all quite clear on this point?" There were quick nods from all concerned.
"I like you, Picard!" declared Graziunas.
"A man who speaks his mind and takes a stand.
The kind of man who demands respect and gets it." "Thank you," said Picard.
Graziunas dropped down to a table and propped up his meaty hand. "Would you care to arm wrestle?" Picard was rescued from the situation by Fenn, who in irritation slapped her husband on the shoulder.
"Stop that," she snapped. "You always do that, no matter how inappropriate the time, and I can't think of a more inappropriate time than this." He shrugged expansively as if to say Women and relaxed his arm. Picard couldn't help but notice that it looked as big as a slab of beef.
"Can we see the bridge?" asked Nistral abruptly. "As a spacegoing society, we are always interested in the design of other ships." "Of course," said Picard, and they started to head to the door.
He stopped, though, when Guinan said, "Captain, a moment of your time, please?" He smiled at the Tizarin and made a small, just-a-minute gesture, and went over to Guinan. "Yes?" he said softly, in a voice just low enough that they couldn't hear.
"Something's up," said Guinan
We'd be honored if you'd share the Ten-Forward with a group of ungrateful Tizarin." "My pleasure," said Guinan, nodding graciously.
Graziunas was moving about the room, taking wide strides with his feet no less than four feet apart, even when he was standing still. His massive cape swept about him, almost knocking a glass to the floor, but an alert Guinan scooped it up just as it started to fall. "I don't see what your problem was!" he said.
"I liked it from the moment I walked in. You're too obsessed with opulence, Nistral! Isn't he, Fenn?" he said, turning to address his own mate.
Nistral smiled thinly. "I've already admitted as much, Graziunas. I think it's time we moved on in the conversation, don't you?" His voice was low and calm, whereas Graziunas seemed to bellow everything with a boisterous frivolity.
"How long do you see requiring Ten-Forward for?" asked Guinan, also eager to move on.
"How long will the party last?" "A week," said Nistral briskly.
Together, Picard and Guinan said, "A week?" "Of course a week!" declared Graziunas.
"When the firstborn child of a house head weds, a week of celebration and festivities at the place of the wedding is mandated custom! Are you saying that our children are not worthy of that?" "No, no, not at all," said Picard.
"It's just that a week..." "We don't have to keep it entirely in here, Captain," said Graziunas' spouse, Fenn.
Her hands fluttered as she said, "We can certainly use the entire ship to..." "No!" said Picard, a bit more loudly than he would have liked. Ever the diplomat, he composed himself immediately. "We will set aside a portion of the ship--" "A large portion!" boomed Graziunas.
"A portion," said Picard firmly, with a tone of voice that indicated he was not going to lose control of the situation. "We will be as cooperative as humanly possible, and put our ship at your disposal, but there must be limits, gentlemen and ladies. I'm sure--as ruling heads--you understand the need for it." "Of course," said Nistral neutrally.
Graziunas shrugged his massive shoulders.
"It's your ship, Captain." "Yes," said Picard in no uncertain terms.
"It is. We have a level of discipline and order that must be maintained. I welcome the idea of a celebration, especially for something as joyous as a wedding. But I cannot tolerate disruption of my ship or her crew. We are all quite clear on this point?" There were quick nods from all concerned.
"I like you, Picard!" declared Graziunas.
"A man who speaks his mind and takes a stand.
The kind of man who demands respect and gets it." "Thank you," said Picard.
Graziunas dropped down to a table and propped up his meaty hand. "Would you care to arm wrestle?" Picard was rescued from the situation by Fenn, who in irritation slapped her husband on the shoulder.
"Stop that," she snapped. "You always do that, no matter how inappropriate the time, and I can't think of a more inappropriate time than this." He shrugged expansively as if to say Women and relaxed his arm. Picard couldn't help but notice that it looked as big as a slab of beef.
"Can we see the bridge?" asked Nistral abruptly. "As a spacegoing society, we are always interested in the design of other ships." "Of course," said Picard, and they started to head to the door.
He stopped, though, when Guinan said, "Captain, a moment of your time, please?" He smiled at the Tizarin and made a small, just-a-minute gesture, and went over to Guinan. "Yes?" he said softly, in a voice just low enough that they couldn't hear.
"Something's up," said Guinan
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