Thank you! Your comments are very flattering. Oh, about nine years. That line, along with the rest of the discussion about the origin of the name "Q" (in a different form), originally came from a failed submission I wrote for Strange New Worlds II in June 1998. (That was the fastest story I ever wrote. I came across the first SNW volume at the bookstore, learned there was a contest for the second, had an idea for a story before I got home, wrote it in an evening, and mailed it in less than 24 hours after I learned of the contest's existence. I wish I could always work that swiftly.) Anyway, I've always wanted a chance to recycle that part of the story, and I finally got to.
Smirk was used twice. Smirked 10 times. Smirking and Smirks nonce. I was more annoyed by Gingerly being used 5 times. I have no idea what it means. Ain't ebooks just grand? After Phillipa and Giri, doesn't it seem that the Borg Queen was incredibly straight forward with Picard? I liked it.