"Those guys... were probably never here in the first place, except Q. And there is nowhere you or In have the power to get to that he couldn't reappear at, if he had a mind to."
He spread his hands (one still holding the small blaster) in frustration. There were few things he didn't know about in this universe, and this was particularly frightening and infuriating, but the most urgent thing wasn't necessarily to understand it. Yet. "So what do we do?"
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she spoke. "We do nothing. I find some place to live unnoticed for the next three years on the off chance Q actually keeps his word, or better yet someone from the Federation finds me and I get to find out when and where I actually am. You go about as if you never met me. Forget me if you can."
It wasn't just about her anymore. He'd just encountered something that could threaten the whole Alliance. He wasn't about to turn his back. That was how you got stabbed in it.
Was he serious? "Even you have to see by now that I am hardly a child. I can take care of myself for a few years. I've done it before, back when I actually was a child, I can do it again." Without slavers hunting for her this time.
"This isn't just about you. I can't just go about my business knowing… whatever the hell that was… is out and about in the universe. You know something about it. That might help me make sure it doesn't hurt my people."
She gave him an incredulous look. "You think I know how to stop Q? The Federation has been trying for years. If they can't do it, how do you think that I have the answer? You saw him the same as I did. You don't stop Q. You don't reason with him. You endure him and hope he gets bored and wanders off."
"Do you want me following other avenues to pursue this? Or do you want to contain it by just telling me? Those are the choices: I'm not just going to forget."
He wondered if this was how Kay felt dealing with… everybody. He considered demanding the parts back unless she told him; not wanting to aid an organization that might be at odds with his own. But the lack of a hint of any of this from his spy network… and, really, he'd already offered them without conditions. Foolish, maybe. Wanting for just a moment to make a universe different than his had been at her age.
Finally, he shook his head and uncrossed his arms. No… he wasn't going to do to her any of the things he might have done to an adult with a lead he needed. He just wasn't. Besides, who's to say she and "Q" weren't a swindler team trying to get more out of him. He was done.
She nodded then headed back to her ship with a sigh. "Prophets guide you," she said softly. She shook her head. She... could handle being alone. She'd done it before.
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It wasn't just about her anymore. He'd just encountered something that could threaten the whole Alliance. He wasn't about to turn his back. That was how you got stabbed in it.
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Was he serious? "Even you have to see by now that I am hardly a child. I can take care of myself for a few years. I've done it before, back when I actually was a child, I can do it again." Without slavers hunting for her this time.
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Finally, he shook his head and uncrossed his arms. No… he wasn't going to do to her any of the things he might have done to an adult with a lead he needed. He just wasn't. Besides, who's to say she and "Q" weren't a swindler team trying to get more out of him. He was done.
"All right." He turned away.
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