Chapter 7 - Too Late to Turn Back

Captain Picard ended his communication with Starfleet Command just as Commander Riker walked into his ready room. He leaned back in his chair and sighed

"I'm guessing Starfleet Command weren't much help?" Riker asked as he sat down in the chair opposite Picard

Picard shook his head; "No Starfleet doesn't know anything more than we do."

"So basically we are heading into a potentially dangerous situation." Riker said concerned, as first officer he had to think of the Captain

and the Enterprise's safety. It would seem so. We need to prepare for any situation we might encounter at Penarus V. Work with Data and Worf about different battle manoeuvres."

"You think it will come to that?" Riker asked slightly shocked, he still couldn't believe how fast their mission had change from one of aid to a possibly of war.

"It's something we need to be ready for." Picard replied

As soon as Philips found out Wesley was off duty he headed to the boy's quarters. He was hoping as his mother was still working on the vaccines in sickbay it would be enough time to speak to Wesley.

When Philips got there, he found Wesley playing with his small portable transporter system he built a few years ago. Philips remembered when Wesley had showed it him, he had been so proud. A lot had changed since then he mused.

"Uncle Charlie" Wesley said surprised when he saw Philips, as he lowered the transporter unit he said; "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in sickbay helping mum on the vaccines."

"I am, but I just was hoping we could finish our earlier conversation." Philips said as Wesley turned and set his transporter unit on the desk. Wesley stopped and turned;

"What conversation?" Wesley asked genuinely, he had forgotten about the conversation in Tenforward

"The one on the equation I showed you." Philips said handing the padd to Wesley; "Remember you said you thought you could finish it."

"Oh right." Wesley said as he read the padd and instantly remembered. He sat down in a chair and read through the equation again, then glanced up at Philips; "What did you say this was for?"

"I'm not sure. I can't remember, I'm not as young as I used to be Wesley."

Wesley smiled slightly and then sighed; "I don't think I can finish it to be honest Uncle Charlie."

"Why not? Earlier you said.."

"I know, but I thought about it on the bridge and I realised that without knowing the function of the equation I can't finish it. I'm sorry." Wesley said handing it back, but Philips refused to take it

"Can't you try?" Philips said trying to stay calm,

"I can't promise it will work." Wesley said confused at seeing Philips getting frustrated

"Please Wesley" Philips plead

"There's just too much I don't know about the equation. I can't. I'm sorry." Wesley said firmly this time

"Dammit Wesley just finish it!" Philips yelled slamming the padd down in front of Wesley.

Wesley jumped and stood up slowly; "Uncle Charlie what's the matter? Why is this equation so important to you?" He said frowning, he had never seen his uncle like this before.

Philip stared at Wesley before placing his hands over his face. Then he pulled them off and looked at Wesley again; "I'm sorry Wesley. It's just this mission, what with the situation on Penarus V and the vaccines." Philips paused thinking of what else he could say to throw Wesley off the truth; "Knowing that there's nothing I can do for the Penarons. It's just got me a little tense." Philips then stood up; "I really am sorry for yelling at you Wesley."

Wesley just nodded; "Why is this equation so important to you?" He asked again knowing Philips hadn't answered it

"Oh it's nothing. It's er not really;" If Wesley didn't know any better he would think his uncle was flustered; "I was just using it to give my brain something to focus on." Philips saw Wesley didn't believe him, so he thought he better leave

"I should probably be checking on your mom and the vaccines." Philips said approaching the door

"Uncle Charlie" Wesley said trying to stop him

"I'm sorry Wesley" Philips said again and fled. He didn't stop walking until he got into a turbolift

"Sickbay" As soon as it started to descend, Philips let out his anger; he started pacing in the small confined space trying to think of some other way to get the equation. Some other way to complete his side of the deal. When he couldn't he groaned and he launched his fist so that it collided with the turbolift wall. Then he sagged against it and closed his eyes. Suddenly he thought of his earlier conversation with Maxim, and knew he had to tell him.

"Halt. Computer Deck 7" Philips said

"You what?" Maxim yelled gripping the arms of his throne tighter, and Philips saw through the computer screen that there was pure rage in the man's eyes

"I apologise your highness, but Wesley refuses to cooperate and if I push him anymore he may figure out what's going on. He's already getting suspicious."

"Are you saying you couldn't get one boy to finish a simple equation?!" Maxim barked

"It's not that simple!" Philips yelled back. He hoped no one could hear him through the quarters' doors

Maxim scoffed; "Well then you are not the man I thought you are. If you can't even convince one boy to do what you want him to." Philips looked down, what Maxim said was true even though he hated every word of it. Maxim had continued talking but Philips wasn't paying attention, until;

"….bring the boy to me."

"What?" Philips yelled interrupting him;

Maxim looked slightly irritated, he must not be used to being interrupted; "I gave you time to finish the equation, but that time has now run out. If you can't get the boy to help us, then I will." Maxim said with a nod of his head; "You will bring the boy to me."

"I….I can't just kidnap Wesley and come to Denbar Prime. It's absurd, I won't let you hurt him. This wasn't our deal."

"The deal has changed professor. You are going to have to make a choice, the boy's life or the life of your daughter."

This was the moment that Philips had feared, the one where he had to choose. How could he choose between then? Wesley was like a son to him

"Professor" Maxim said louder getting his attention

"Even if I did…which I'm not saying I am. If I did try to bring Wesley, I couldn't. This is a Federation Starship. A heavily armed Federation Starship, how I am supposed to get access to a shuttle and kidnap Wesley without anyone noticing or stopping me?"

"I thought you designed this ship." Maxim said and then waved his hand; "No matter, the ships are already en route to rendezvous with this Enterprise and will beam you both aboard."

"But-"

"You will send me the Starship' weapon and shield frequencies and make sure the Enterprise is vulnerable, as planned. I'm giving you one last chance professor, you will bring me the boy or there will be serious consequences." With that the communication ended, Philips remained staring at the screen in utter shock. He had just agreed to kidnap Wesley, and effectively leave the Enterprise open to attack. What had he done?

Wesley was worried about his uncle, he was definitely hiding something, but Wesley didn't know what to do about it. So he went to the one person who would; his mom.

When Wesley got into Sickbay he saw his mom talking to a group of medical personnel, then she spotted him;

"Wesley" She said as she glanced at him

"Do you have a minute?" Wesley asked, and Beverley saw he was bothered by something. She paused feeling torn, she knew she didn't have time to stop and talk, but her son needed her.

"To be honest Wesley I don't. Can it wait?" Beverley said with a sigh as she walking into her office and sat down at her computer, but Wesley followed

"I just wanted to ask if you noticed anything strange about Uncle Charlie?"

"What do you mean by strange?" Beverley asked distractedly, whilst she carried on working

"He just seems like he's hiding something." Wesley said sadly

"Hiding something?" Beverley muttered repeating Wesley's words but not processing them in her head

"Maybe you could speak to him?" Wesley asked hopefully

"Who?" Beverley asked turning around to face Wesley

"Uncle Charlie. Mom weren't you listening?"

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to focus on her son. She was exhausted, having barely slept because of these vaccines;

"I'm sorry Wesley go ahead." She said trying to give him her full attention

"Earlier when I was speaking to Charlie-"

"Dr Crusher." A nurse interrupted them and handed Beverley a padd

"It's alright carry on" Beverly said to Wesley and then started reading the report

"Uncle Charlie wanted me to look at this equation and I-"

"Wait this isn't right." Beverley interjected and called back the nurse;

"Anyway he wanted me to finish this equation." Wesley continued trying to talk over the nurse and his mom;

"Wesley" His mom paused looking at Wesley; "I'm sorry can we talk about this later."

"But-"

"I'm sorry Wesley but I have work to do." With that she turned back around to discuss the vaccines with the nurse and Wesley walked out feeling ignored

**************************************

Philips had been sitting in the same chair in his quarters for what seemed like hours, his mind battling with the choice he had to make. The situation had escalated to a point he felt he couldn't go back from. How could he kidnap Wesley? Then again how could he not agree with Maxim's plans? What would happen to him if he didn't? What would happen to Wesley and the Enterprise? What about Sarah?

So many questions were running through his head, he just didn't know what to do. His index finger tapping repeatedly on the desk whilst he stared into space.

Whilst on the Bridge;

"Mr Data how long until we reach Penarus V" The Captain asked

"16 hours and 34 minutes" Data replied

Philips hand on the desk stilled as he let out a deep breath and looked up and out the window, at the stars outside. They reminded him of his daughter Sarah, who loved the stars, and always dreamt of living among them. So when she was old enough and she finally did, when he took her to Science base 7, she was so happy. And she was smart, like a genius when it came to Engineering. Likely taking after him. She had wanted to join Starfleet Academy just like Wesley does now. Philips had loved Stafleet in the past, for giving him purpose, for allowing him and his daughter to work together, but then it became the thing that had ripped his daughter away from him. Now it was time to pay back the favour. Philips knew how smart Wesley was, and although Starfleet may not know it yet, Wesley is a valuable asset to them. If only Philips could show Wesley the truth about Starfleet, get him to understand why he intends to go through with this. Perhaps Wesley could join him. He remembered how angry Wesley was at Captain Picard at the Federation for his father's death, if he could just remind Wesley of that he might be able to get him on his side. Maybe. But first he had to get Wesley off the Enterprise…and that wasn't going to be easy.

Philips did as Maxim requested, he sent the frequencies of the weapons and shields, and from his corrupted isolinear chip he installed earlier the ship would shut down at the right time. Now he only had to get Wesley, but to do that he knew Wesley wouldn't come easily.

"Charles" Beverley said trying to hide her surprise as he walked into sickbay; "I thought you were working on the warp core."

"I was" Philips said walking further into sickbay, making her follow; "I just came to check on how you were getting on with the vaccines."

Beverley then went over to her computer and got up her report on the vaccines;

"Fine. I had a little bit of trouble earlier with one batch of the vaccines, but I got it sorted."

"Good."

"Oh yeah Wesley came to see me earlier." Beverley said; "And he mentioned you."

"Really?" Philips asked looking at Beverley, but as she was looking at the computer screen she didn't see his expression; "What did he say?" Philips said glancing at the tray of hyposprays behind him.

"I'm not sure exactly, something about how you were acting;" She said unsurely; and Philips quickly filled up one hyporspray and slipped it into his cloak with no one noticing.

"I'm afraid I acted too busy to listen to him." Beverley said with a sigh as she faced him; where he had now returned to standing still, his hand gripped around the hypospray; "Maybe there's something else bothering him. Perhaps you could talk to him?" She finished

"Of course." He said forcing a smile.

Wesley had been debating what to do ever since his mom kicked him out of sickbay, he knew she didn't mean it. But it made him realise he couldn't just go to any other senior officers of the Captain without proof. He would just be laughed or yelled at, likely the latter. So how could he get proof?

"Computer. Locate Ambassador Philips." Wesley called out as he walked down an empty corridor, no direction in mind

"Ambassador Philips is currently located in sickbay." Wesley came to full stop, and his heart raced. His mind immediately switching to thoughts of his mother's safety. But then he calmed himself, knowing he was being irrational and even if Philips was hiding something he wouldn't hurt anyone, let alone his mom. Right? Before his mind started thinking up endless scenarios he headed towards the Turbolift, knowing if he wanted proof now was the time.