My dreams were turbulent. Visions of Ro, Yancey Phillips, and someone named John filled my mind. Broken conversations, violent deaths, and a planet I recognized...Betazed, were all part of the imagery that flooded my mind's eye. I tossed and turned, aware that I was asleep, yet unable to awaken. The images became more and more violent, John's burned body, Yancey's scream, then blackness.

I shot up straight out of my bed. My body was soaked with sweat and my chest heaved for air that seemed to lack sufficient oxygen. Suddenly becoming aware of my surroundings, I swallowed hard and ran a clammy hand over my mouth and chin.

"Just a dream, Riker. Get a grip." I said out loud. I turned on the light and stumbled into the bathroom. My head throbbed and I shook. Splashing cold water on my face helped, but not much. I stared at myself in the mirror, unable to recognize the swollen eyed man staring back.

What did that man do to me? He invaded my mind, stealing the command codes and leaving part of himself there. Violated. Raped. My thoughts were scattered and the pain in my head increased. I was suddenly aware of every nerve fiber in my brain, in my body for that matter. Should I contact sickbay? Deanna? Was I overreacting?

Intense, sharp, burning pains shot through the back of my skull and I clutched my head. Involuntarily, I screamed.

B.J stepped out of the sonic shower, wrapped a towel around herself and headed to her closet to find something suitable to wear. As she did she brushed out her long hair and sighed looking up.   " Computer, play some music. The human composer, Chopin. Chopin's prelude in D. Set on automatic repeat until I leave.   The music began playing softly.   She put her brush down and scanned the sparse clothing in her closet.   " Humm..what to wear to dinner ditie what to wear." she glanced sideways at the strange little creature in a cage on a table by her bed. It was small, very furry like a hamster or a tribble but was neither. It had only eyes visible which were large and puppy dog like. It had green furr and it made little joyful squeaking noises."   She reached in and gently scractched what looked like it's head. It purred. " Good girl" she purred back.   " So..what do you think.. the white one..or the blue one..what about green?"   The animal turned blue.   " Really...blue? Humm I guess it would go with my hair.." she looked in the mirror and experimentally put her hair up in a bun..then grimaced. " No..down." She grabbed the blue dress from the closet and headed for ther bathroom.   The little creature turned back green and settled in a corner and purred to itself.

Our boots echoed on the metallic floor as we proceeded cautiously down the narrow corridor. Our shadows danced like frollicing ghosts on the walls of the dimly lit passageway as we made our way closer and closer to the source of the life signs.
"24 distinct life sign readings 18 meters ahead," Lockhart spoke, her voice a cryptic whisper. Her already large eyes seemed larger with the fear she felt.
"It is impossible for there to be life on this planet," Worf murmured to himself. I barely heard his words over the biosuits' comm system.
Despite Worf's assertion, the lifesigns were definitely there. I made my way to the front of the group beside K'Lara as the group stopped walking.
Tightening the grip on his phaser, Hershel asked, "What was that?" .
I hadn't heard anything, but Hershel and several of the others had.
"Sounds like something hissing," Julia Lockhart commented as she moved toward Worf. After a moment, I heard what had startled Hershel.
With unequaled bravery or tremendous stupidity, I couldn't decide which, I stepped from the group in the direction of the sound and extended my tricorder. There was one hissing sound which grew louder, then there were two hisses, and finally a symphony of rattling, clicking, hisses.
The hair on the my arms stood on end and my gut clinched. I suddenly regretted assigning myself on this away mission.

Santiago heard the sounds and set his tricorder to record, at the same time
running them through the universal translator. He felt a tug at his belt as Carmen removed his phaser, then the familiar chirp of a phaser setting control. He spared a glance to see his phaser, now in Carmen's hand, set at eight that wouldn't just kill, but vaporize.

My next moment of consciousness found me in engineering. In my hands, a...grenade. No! What was I doing with a grenade? I stood in the upper level looking down at the engine core. I looked from the small round explosive to the brilliant blue light of the Enterprise's heart.
Realizing I didn't have control of my mind or body, I watched in horrified fascination as my fingers closed around the pin and slowly pulled.

I knew something was wrong almost immediately. I touched Will's mind and recoiled from the mere turbulence of his thoughts. Excusing myself from the bridge, I hurried to Will's quarters. Needless to say, he wasn't there.
"Will, where are you?" I asked him with my mind. His mind was still too tumultuous to explore, but with a momentary contact, I got an impression of engineering, specifically, the engine core.
Hurrying into the turbolift, I ordered, "Engineering."

Lt. Commander Lynch was the most arrogant SOB I think I had ever met.
He refused to allow me into engineering. I simply wanted to observe.
I promised profusely not to touch anything, but my plea went unheard.
He dismissed me with a wave of his hand, and he went about his business.
"Sorry, Wesley Crusher," the bass voice of Lt. Kuwan thundered behind me as I walked away.
I grimaced, "That's okay. I'm just a kid to him, but one day I'll get my chance."
The man patted my shoulder sympathetically. Mr. Kuwan and I had met on Farpoint Station and had become fast friends. He had promised to teach me everything he knew about engineering and the state-of-the-art warp technology utilized by the ship's engine core. He had been true to his promise. Kuwan had taken me on a tour my second day aboard the Enterprise. I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, the tour was cut short by Leland T. Lynch, chief engineer.
I ambled out of main engineering turning once to wave goodbye to Kuwan.

<<< "Yes, Data I repaired you.  You are quite the specimen to study...very intricately detailed.  I'm afraid I don't know EVERYTHING about your anatomy, but I thought if I got you conscious, you could help me repair you completely.  As for the ship and the Maquis, they were overcome and have been transferred to the Montgomery.  All is well aboard the Enterprise, at least for now," I smiled knowing there would be much, much more to come.>>>  

" Thank you Lieutenant,  and good news indeed. I would like us to continue with my repairs if you are free ...... we could go to my personal lab. " Before La Forge could reply Data interposed .... "Lieutenant, you called me Data ... use of first names is as I understand it a sign of affection or friendship. Would you like me to refer to you as Geordi ?

"Imzadi!" Will turned staring at me with a wild look in his eye. He leaned against the rail surrounding the engine core.
"Deanna Troi," he said as if tasting my name.
"Will, what are you doing here?" I asked as I stepped slowly toward him.
Will's head shook from side to side slowly, "I am Will Riker?" The man looked lost and for a moment I wasn't sure he was Will Riker, at least in mind. He stared at the explosive in his right hand then at me.
"Yes, you are Will Riker," I answered, "The man that once knew me better than anyone," I continued my approach toward him.
"I knew you better than anyone," the confusion he was feeling was apparent in his words as well as in his mannerisms.
His hand swiped across his forehead and he looked again at the explosive as if seeing it for the first time. "What am I doing here, Deanna? I don't know what is happening to me."
Step after step I came closer to Will, "You are confused. Something has happened to you and I need you to give me the grenade and come with me to sickbay."
Will ground the palm of his hand against his forehead, "No! Yancey! No!"
"Commander Riker!" the voice startled Will as well as me. I turned to see the form of a young boy standing behind me looking at Will with disbelief in his eyes.
"Who is that child? Don't want to hurt children," Will held up the grenade.
I turned to the teenaged boy and whispered, "Please contact Captain Picard and have him evacuate engineering," then to Will I said, "Will, I know you don't want to hurt children or anyone for that matter. Now, please, give me the grenade."
"You are Wesley...Wesley Crusher. I know him, Deanna," Will gestured wildly toward the boy.
I glanced at the youth and he turned and ran.
"Where did he go? Where did that child go?"
"Will, Will, listen to my voice and concentrate. You have been invaded by someone who has left residual memories in your mind. Those memories are causing you to be confused and to act strangely. I can help you, but I need you to hand me the grenade." I extended my hand to him. I prayed I could reason with him.

< "Recommend we get the hell out of here," Julia, consciously or unconsciously, probably the later, was clinging to Worf's massive arm like a scared child.
"Santiago?" I turned to the chief science officer for his evaluation.>

"I agree it does sound reptilian, which brings up more questions, the lifeform we found on the surface was humanoid so is this a lower lifeform or something that came later."
"Lockhart take Carmen and return to the surface, if anyone else wishes to leave this has just become a voluntary mission."
He searched the suit and found what he wanted in a pocket. "I'm not sure what this will reveal so be prepared for anything." As he spoke to the remainder of the away team he tossed the flare down the tunnel, and watched as it erupted in light.

"I agree it does sound reptilian, which brings up more questions, the lifeform we found on the surface was humanoid so is this a lower lifeform or something that came later." Santiago said
"Perhaps whatever we are hearing was responsible for killing the humanoids we found on the surface," Lt. Worf suggested.
"Lockhart, take Carmen and return to the surface, if anyone else wishes to leave this has just become a voluntary mission." Santiago searched his suit and produced a flare. "I'm not sure what this will reveal so be prepared for anything." As Julia and the child shimmered out of existence, he tossed the flare down the tunnel and watched as it erupted in light.
At first the light showed nothing but more endless tunnel. Then, the hissing stopped.
It was hard to make out what was happening, but the flare was suddenly extinguished and the sound of movement proceeded the flicker of the tunnel lights. Something was moving down the corridor toward us at a lightening pace.
Stoddard screamed and I heard his phaser clatter to the floor as the tunnel went dark.
"Hershel!" I screamed. I felt something slither past me, leaving a thick, moist goo on my leg. In pitch black darkness, I grabbed my phaser and fired in the direction of whatever had attacked Hershel. The momentary phaser light revealed the most horrible beast I had ever seen in my Starfleet care

I hesitated then ran.
"Kuwan, Kuwan!" I yelled as I made my way back to main engineering.
"Wesley Crusher, why are you yelling?"
"Kuwan, Commander Riker is in upper engineering. He's got some sort of grenade and something is wrong with him. Counselor Troi told me to contact the Captain, but he won't listen to me. You have to contact him and have him evacuate engineering," I hoped I was making sense.
Kuwan went to the core and looked up. After seeing Riker, he tapped his communicator. "Lt. Kuwan to Captain Picard," he proceeded to tell the Captain the entire situation.
"Lt. Kuwan, get everyone out of engineering and erect a level 1 forcefield around the core. I'm on my way." Picard said and the communication was
terminated.

"Will, you know that if you throw that grenade down the core, you could destroy all of us. You don't want to hurt me do you?" I asked.
"No, I don't want to hurt you, Deanna Troi. You have such a beautiful mind. You are so beautiful, Imzadi," he seemed to switch from the renegade Betazoid to the Will Riker I knew and loved.
"Will, come with me to sickbay, please. I can help you purge these memories that are causing you confusion," I could feel his mind giving in to me.
Suddenly, there was some sort of switch in his head. Blinding rage for me, for this ship, and for Starfleet flashed in Will's mind.
"I'm sorry," he said as he pulled the pin, held the grenade for a moment, then dropped it into the ship's engine core.

< "Perhaps whatever we are hearing was responsible for killing the humanoids we found on the surface," Lt. Worf suggested.>

"Possible they are responsible for killing the microbes and found someway to
survive, or they arrived and killed the humanoids before the lack of microbes could."

< "Hershel!" I screamed. I felt something slither past me, leaving a thick, moist goo on my leg. In pitch black darkness, I grabbed my phaser and fired in the direction of whatever had attacked Hershel. The momentary phaser light revealed the most horrible beast I had ever seen in my Starfleet career.>

Santiago whirled around to face the way the creature had gone to see it attacking Hershel. "Enterprise lock on to Stoddards communicator and beam both lifeforms to sickbay, place the lifeform which is not Hershel in the highest level containment you can." He watched as they both shimmered out of existence and hoped the transporter operator could do the job properly.

I finished replacing the last bit of burned dermal tissue as Data asked, "Geordi tell me about yourself."

< I smiled, "I'm sure my life can't be as exciting as yours, but I'll tell you the highlights," I paused trying to decide where to start, "Let's see, well, I've been blind since birth, this VISOR helps me to see energy patterns, color variation, etc. I have one sibling, a sister. She's a botanist currently stationed on Earth. My mother is a Starfleet Captain commanding the U.S.S. Hera and my father is a doctor, he serves aboard the U.S.S. Sacramento. Most of my extended family is also in Starfleet. Ummm, my last assignment was aboard the
Sacramento with my father. I was an assistant chief engineer there, and I applied for the helm position aboard the Enterprise, and here I am." I smiled again and as I handed Data his uniform and began gathering the tools I had used.

"Now, my new android friend, tell me how you ended up aboard the Enterprise."

" I was discovered in a dormant condition by the crew of the USS Tripoli on Omicron Theta in 2338. Being with the crew, I became interested in Starfleet, so when the Tripoli returned to the alpha quadrant I went to visit Starfleet Command. They were as interested in me as I was in talking to them. Fleet Admirals Jezak and Romanov convinced me to enter the Academy. Academically I qualified easily and covered the academies study texts very quickly, as I can read text many times faster than other lifeforms .... but I still needed the hands on learning experiences like everyone else .......even now I am learning more about humanity each day and how to interact with the many lifeforms we encounter. I hope to evolve in time to become fully human. Well my first assignment was aboard the USS Trieste where I served for several years until Captain Picard requested me for the Enterprise and here I am."........."Maybe we should report back for duty, or is this your free time ? "

The turbolift ride to engineering seemed like hours instead of seconds. When I did arrive, I was greeted by an intense explosion which threw me against the rear wall of the turbolift. As I slid to the floor, I tapped my communicator.

"Picard to Sickbay. Medical emergency in main engineering."

"Maybe we should report back for duty, or is this your free time?" Data asked.
Checking the chronometer, I replied, "I have a couple more hours left on my duty shift. I suppose I should get back to the bridge."

< "Hershel!" I screamed. I felt something slither past me, leaving a thick, moist goo on my leg. In pitch black darkness, I grabbed my phaser and fired in the direction of whatever had attacked Hershel. The momentary phaser light revealed the most horrible beast I had ever seen in my Starfleet career.>

As each of the away team scrambled for their flashlights, I could see the sluglike creature attaching itself to Hershel's body. My first shot hadn't hit the creature, but my second shot stunned both the creature and Hershel Stoddard.

< Santiago whirled around to face the way the creature had gone to see it attacking Hershel. "Enterprise lock on to Stoddards communicator and beam both lifeforms to sickbay, place the lifeform which is not Hershel in the highest level containment you can." He watched as they both shimmered out of existance and hoped the transporter operator could do the job properly.>

There was more stirring down the darkened corridor. I couldn't risk another attack by those creatures, "Enterprise, this is Lt. Yar. Beam us out of here,

I ran toward Will knowing I only had seconds before the grenade detonated. I grabbed him by the collar and jerked with all my strength pulling he and I to the deck.
"Computer, erect a forcefield around my current position, maximum strength," I screamed hoping the computer would respond in time.
"Forcefield activated," came the computer's female reply. It was then the grenade detonated. The deck rocked and a fireball rolled up through the core. It churned against the forcefield trying to force its way through. I prayed the field would hold.

"Computer Beam Captain Picard to Sickbay, Immediately."The Captain slowly materializes from a shimming stream of phased matter to a human being. Beverly looks at the Captain for a brief moment and then calls nurse T'Lek."15cc Tricordrazine."Doctor Crusher administers the pain medication with the greatest of skills and then pulls out her tricorder and probes it over the Captain.

{{He has a mild concussion and an odd genetic pattern that I can't make out. Oh, well I'll figure it out soon enough.}}

As Doctor Crusher was administering the medication to Captain Picard, two forms materialized in Sickbay. A security Officer lay sprawled on the floor, while some type of creature was entrapped in a forcefield.

"Captain, Something appears to have come up. Take this pain medication tonight and contact in the morning about your status. Now, would you kindly remove yourself and your insignificant injuries from my Sickbay?"

[Reply]

The Doctor then contered her attention briefly to the alien and then fought back the overwelming urge to "Explore strange new life forms" and turned her attention to the security officer.

"Nurse T'lek, help me get him up on the bed."

The nurse does so and the Doctor administers Dopadrine to the victim and then takes out her tricorder and scans the patient.

{{He has major internal bleeding, a clodigen in his system, acute myocardiosis and he is loosing a lot of blood.}}

"Nurse T'Lek, prep the patient for surgery."

Doctor Crusher turns her attention to the creature and....

{{What the hell is that thing?}}

[Reply]

< There was more stirring down the darkened corridor. I couldn't risk another attack by those creatures, "Enterprise, this is Lt. Yar, beam us out of here.">

~To safety.~ Santiago thought as he materialized on the transporter, only to find it was not in the least bit safe. "We had an accident in the engine room, they need a lot of assistance." the transporter operator said as the away team stepped off the pad.
"Once again my highly trained science staff become medical assistance." He muttered under his breath and then tapped his comm badge. "Any science personel with medical or first aid training report to engineering to assist with the evacuation."

< "Captain, Something appears to have come up. Take this pain medication tonight and contact in the morning about your status. Now, would you kindly remove yourself and your insignificant injuries from my Sickbay?">

I would have smiled at Beverly under any other circumstances, but I had crew down in engineering and I was worried. My injuries were insignificant, I could have a dead first officer and counselor down there. I sat up on the biobed as Beverly turned her attention to another patient.
"Where are the others from engineering?" I asked a passing nurse.
"Sir, you were the only one we were able to get a lock on. Apparently the explosion caused some sort of warp core problem preventing us from locking onto anyone else. We've dispatched medical teams to engineering for the others," the blond nurse replied then rushed away.
"Bloody hell," I cursed. I tapped my communicator, "Picard to all personnel on the planet's surface. Prepare to return to the ship. Transporter room beam all the away team's back."

"Any science personel with medical or first aid training report to engineering to assist with the evacuation," Santiago said as we returned to the Enterprise.
As we moved into the corridor, I headed for the bridge. I tapped my communicator, "Yar to security. Report."
"Lt. Yar, this is Ensign Silberman. There has been some sort of explosion in engineering, apparently from a grenade."
"A grenade!" I cried, "Are there more Maquais aboard?"
"No, sir. Evidently, Commander Riker is responsible for the explosion. Moreover, the explosion has resulted in a crack in the warp core casing. The Ops officer is recommending we prepare for evacuation of the Enterprise."

< "No, sir. Evidently, Commander Riker is responsible for the explosion. Moreover, the explosion has resulted in a crack in the warp core casing. The Ops officer is recommending we prepare for evacuation of the Enterprise.">

In step beside Yar Santiago had heard it all, and started reviewing evacuation procedures. "Don't worry we have four hundred lifeboats on board that can keep us alive for eighty-six days, let's hope we don't have to use them. But if we do the best number of passengers is four each, though they can handle six."
They soon arrived on the Bridge to find organized chaos, among other things a ship approaching. Santiago went to his station and reported to the officer on watch, he didn't even stop to see who it was. "I have identified the ship, sir, it is the St. Just. It was the ship I mentioned earlier, they request communications and apologize for being late but it was unavoidable."

< .....suppose I should get back to the bridge." >  

Data and Geordi exited Data's lab and started down the corridor towards the nearest turbolift in order to return to the bridge. As they approached the doors to engineering they saw something was very wrong. Confusion, bodies .....and medical personnel, security  and engineering all trying to do their jobs amid chaos. Data entered, scanned the information and status panels and tapped his comm. badge. =^= Captain, this is Data, we must eject the warp core and save the ship. ..... Geordi do you concur ? =^=

My ribs ached and I was a bit dizzy, but I made my way to the bridge.
I had to get control of the chaotic situation that had enveloped my ship.
"Status of engine core," I barked as I bounded down the sloping deck to my command seat.
"The warp core is still volitile, sir. Engineering is recommending evacuation of the ship and Data is recommending we dump the core. He and Lt. LaForge are attempting to keep that from being our option," the bridge officer reported.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll take the bridge," I sat in my seat and the Lieutenant exited the bridge.
"Lt. Yar, casualties?"
"Several people in engineering were injured, two reported dead," the blond security officer replied. I would have to wait until later to find out if my first officer was among the deceased.
"Status on recall of the planet's away teams?"
"We've got most of our teams back Captain. Estimate 10 more minutes," the ops officer reported.
"Cancel recall of the away teams. We may have to evacuate if things get much worse.

< "Captain, this is Data, we must eject the warp core and save the ship.....? Geordi do you concur?">

Before I could answer, the bridge officer asked, "Sir, this is Lt. Kirby in charge of the bridge. Captain Picard is in sickbay in route to the bridge, I believe his communicator has been damaged. I'll inform him of your recommendation. Is the ship's core critical?"
"Lt. Kirby, this is Lt. LaForge, give me a moment to try something. If I can't fix this problem, I agree that we must dump the core."

All eyes were on me as I worked with the fuser to seal the crack in the
casing.
"It's too late for that, we need to evacuate," I heard someone say behind me. I ignored them.
"Data, check the fracture now. I believe it may be sealed."

"Tasha, contact the St. Just. Tell them that we may be facing an emergency evacuation. Have the ship beam those still on the surface aboard until we get this engine core issue resolved. Also, have all nonessential personnel move to escape pods and transporter rooms for possible evacuation," the Captain ordered.
"Aye, sir," I replied. I set the computer to repeat Picard's message 3 times before terminating then I contacted the St. Just.
"Santiago, is there any news on that creature you beamed up?" Picard turned to face the science officer.

Santiago faced the Captain. "I'm afraid the only contact I've had with it was in the tunnel system before I ordered it transferred to sickbay, which reminds me I don't believe anyone has informed Dr. Crusher of the circumstances of its arrival. Considering the current situation none of my science staff, and I doubt any of the medical staff have been able to examine it."
Santiago turned to his console and pressed a few buttons. "The raw data from the away teams has been transferred to the computer banks, would you like to peruse it or will you wait for the finished report? Also concerning the data should we contact Starfleet and the Romulans?"

< "Data, check the fracture now.  I believe it may be sealed." >  

"Intriguing Geordi, the fracture is almost closed ... give it just a little more."

< "The raw data from the away teams has been transferred to the computer banks, would you like to peruse it or will you wait for the finished report? Also concerning the data should we contact Starfleet and the Romulans?">

"Just give me a report when we know what it is. Find out if it is indigenous to this planet or some sort of space travelling parasite," Santiago was indignant. I realized my tone was haughty, but I didn't feel well and my ship was on the verge of being destroyed, gentility wasn't foremost on my mind. "We'll contact Starfleet when we know something concrete."
"Captain, Lt. Commander Lynch and Lt. Kuwan were killed in the explosion in engineering. Commander Riker and Counselor Troi are in sickbay as well as Dr. Crusher's son Wesley," Yar reported.
"Wesley!" I fumed, "What was he doing in engineering?"
Poor Beverly, I thought. My tone softened to say, "Tasha, do we know Wesley's status?"
"No, sir. The report just says he was among the injured," Yar shrugged looking lost.
"Damnable beasts of hell," I stood up straightening my uniform,
"Picard to engineering. I need your report now!"

I moved out of 10 forward searching for B.J. in the crowd. Shehadn't arrived before we were forced to proceed to the escape pods. The halls were crowded with people and there was no sign of her.

Security personnel directed traffic as all nonessential or off duty crew boarded the escape pods. I crawled inside the small craft and took a seat. Three other crew members followed me and the hatch was shut immediately. I hadn't been aboard an escape pod since the simulations at Starfleet Academy. I didn't remember them being so small. Swallowing hard, I felt the beginning stages of claustrophia.

Feeling self conscious, I sat quietly trying not to make eye contact with any of the strangers aboard the pod with me. I felt myself becoming warm, even sweaty.

"Does anyone mind if I adjust the environmental controls?" I asked.

The two human females and the andorian male shook their heads, so I lowered the temperature inside the tiny vessel.

"Does anyone know what is going on? I heard there was an explosion in engineering," one of the females said in an attempt to "break the ice".

"Yes, a grenade detonated close to the engine core. Several crew were injured and two are dead," the andorian revealed. He sat curiously still with his deep blue hands folded in his lap.

Hearing the news, my heart nearly exploded inside my chest, "Sir, do you know who?" I asked almost afraid to hear the answer.

"The Chief Engineer and someone named Kuwan," his antennae drooped slightly as he spoke.

I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer to the prophets. Kuwan was my first friend aboard the Enterprise and now he was gone.

"Did you know him?" the other female asked laying a sympathetic hand on my shoulder.

"Yes...yes, I knew him. He was my friend."

After leaving Julia she had headed directly to her quarters and begun to pack, tossing in a few changes of clothes, some PADDs, tricorder, and other essentials. Stopping to drop a type one phaser and several space power cells in her pockets she left her quarters and headed for an escape pod.
She finally found one that hadn't reached the full compliment of six personnel, and opened the hatch. "Do you have room for one more?" She asked the occupants.
<response Tymen Haim>

< "We'll contact Starfleet when we know something concrete.">

"Very well sir." Santiago opened a channel to sickbay. "Dr. Crusher, I realize this is a bad time, but when you are able could you examine the creature that was beamed up from the planet? Their is no rush, but I would like it done ASAP." Without waiting for a response, he suspected they would be too busy to give one, he closed the channel.
After that short message he copied the data and transmitted it to the St. Just for their opinion.

< "Do you have room for one more?" She asked the occupants.>

The child's sudden appearance was a welcome distraction from thinking about Kuwan. "Yes, of course," I replied as I helped her into the cramped space and she took one of the empty chairs aboard our pod.

The child, around10 years of age I guessed, had a plethora of supplies with her.

I extended my hand to her saying, "I'm Tymen Haim, what is your name?"

<   The halls were crowded with people and there was no sign of her.>

Dammit Tymen was going to think she had stood him up or something and the whole ship was going to hell around her. People were evacuating, and she had the barest clue why. Some sort of explosion.   She had been on the way to ten forward but been sidetracked by Guinan who wanted to talk about something. And then things went downhill. With the explosions.   She ran back to her room to grabb Ditie, and followed Guinan to one of the escape pods.   As it pulled away she stared out and heaved a great sigh.. " he's probably never going to speak to me again."

She struggled into the pod and took a seat. "I hope you don't mind the supplies, it's just what I could pick up on short notice."
The Bajoran extended his hand saying, "I'm Tymen Haim, what is your name?"
She reached out to shake, "My name is Carmen. Now we are either going to be stuck with each other for awhile, or die together, so tell me about yourselves if you would."

< "Intriguing Geordi, the fracture is almost closed ... give it just a little more," my android friend said.>

"We had a similar problem aboard the Sacramento," I said as I worked to completely close the fracture in the casing. "There. That should take care of it. The casing will need to be replaced, however." Feeling quite proud of myself, I handed the closest engineer the fuser I was using.

"Lieutenant, how are you at plasma conduit cascade failure. We have4 plasma conduits on the verge of rupture and 6 more going critical. The grenade explosion caused more damage then we thought," another engineer said. I rushed to the console and checked the information.

"Data, contact the bridge and tell them to commence evacuation of the Enterprise. There's no way we can keep all of those conduits from rupturing, and with the weak condition of the warp core casing, there is no telling what may happen."

I concentrated and felt the wave of familiarity of Will's mind wash over me. Memory after memory, I moved through his mind in search of those memories left by the Betazoid Maquai, Nosheum. This type of therapy usually occured only with other Betazoids, but I had decided Will could withstand it. The process could take several hours, but human minds were much more simply constructed which made telepathy an oddity among them.
Will moaned as I came closer to the memories that had made him behave erraticly. They were dark, confusing, and deadly. I isolated them in his memory, then worked to dissolve them. His mind was receptive to mine and the process was an easy one.
The memories gone, I backed out of his mind slowly as not to damage him. As I came back to reality, Will's eyes slowly opened. He looked at me, touched my hand, and smiled.

< "Data, contact the bridge and tell them to commence evacuation of the
Enterprise.  There's no way we can keep all of those conduits from
rupturing, and with the weak condition of the warp core casing, there
is no telling what may happen." >  

" Geordi, would ejecting the core have a quieting effect on the plasma ? "

"Lt. Yar, sound the abandon ship signal. Tasha, I need you to stay, and Santiago I want you at the helm. Everyone else report to the nearest escape pod." The crew never flinched, but followed my instructions to the letter. In seconds, Yar, Santiago and I were alone.

"Data, how long do we have before the plasma conduits rupture?" I asked as I crossed my legs and clutched the arms of my command chair.

"Captain, with any luck we'll be able to keep most of them from rupturing, however, the cascading effect makes it difficult to keep up."

There was a momentary silence, "Geordi, would ejecting the core have a quieting effect on the plasma?" I heard Data ask.

"Negative, sir. The cascade effect seems to be the result of a defect in the coolant system. I'm attempting to stop the cascade, but until then, the safest place for the crew is off ship. As for time, I estimate 20 minutes," Geordi replied.

I thought for a moment, "Lt. LaForge, one way or the other, we are warping out of here in 10 minutes. Keep me updated," I terminated the link then walked to the front of the bridge beside Santiago at the helm and waited.

"Watch your head," I told Will as I helped the weakened man into the escape pod.
"I should be on the bridge with the Captain," he protested as we each took our seats.
"You should get off the ship like the Captain ordered. He has things under control up there, Will," I retorted as I stroked his cheek.
Nurse T'Lek followed us into the pod escorting Wesley Crusher who had recently undergone dermal regeneration for his arms and legs. Wesley moved slowly, but seemed to be in good spirits.
Two other crewman boarded and our pod was soon launched. We jettisoned away from the Enterprise and the pod buffeted as the thrusters fired.
The pod pushed away from the ship under its own power.
"Set a course directly away from the Enterprise, Lieutenant," Riker ordered one of the crewmen who was piloting the craft.
"Aye, sir," the man pressed several keys on the small control pad near the hatchway and the pod picked up speed. The Enterprise grew smaller out the viewport as we all watched silently.

< "Lt. Yar, sound the abandon ship signal. Tasha, I need you to stay, and Santiago I want you at the helm.">

Santiago looked somewhat startled. "Me sir? I haven't flown anything more advanced than a shuttlecraft since the Academy, at least not off a holodeck." As he took the helm he noticed with relief the station had a help file, after a few moments of reading he knew he could handle any basic task, not as well as the people trained for this job, but he could get the job done.

< I thought for a moment, "Lt. LaForge, one way or the other, we are warping out of here in 10 minutes. Keep me updated," I terminated the link then walked to the front of the bridge beside Santiago at the helm and waited.>

As he continued to examine the console he started to speak. "We have several lifeboats away, and the St. Just is maneuvering apparently to begin rescue operations."

"Helmsman, bring us into transporter range of the lifeboats leaving the Enterprise."
"Aye, sir. We have detected twenty already."
"Medical prepare to receive injured, tactical start tractoring them in." He then opened a general channel. "This is Captain Chai, of the U.S.S. St Just, how can I be of assistance?"

She felt the familiar pull in her stomach of motion at zero gravity, and the push of thrust as the lifeboat moved away. She turned to her companions. "Well here we go."

< Santiago looked somewhat startled. "Me sir? I haven't flown anything more advanced than a shuttlecraft since the Academy, at least not off a holodeck.">

"Just some basic piloting, Lt. Commander, nothing more," I responded with a smile.

"This is Captain Chai, of the U.S.S. St.Just, how can I be of assistance?" Captain Chai asked, his face showing his concern.

"Hello Captain, I am Jean Luc Picard," I explained to the Captain our status and that we would be warping out of here in case there was a warp core explosion. He agreed to take most of escape craft aboard, however, the smaller size of his ship wouldn't allow all of the pods to be taken aboard. Many would have to either orbit the planet or land on it. I didn't want that last option.

"My name is Tymen Haim, but you may call me Haim. I am Bajoran," I said to the child.

"My name is Osai Lerriteck. Child, where are you parents?" the andorian asked the young girl. The child must have been terribly offensive to the andorian. His culture believed children should always be accompanied by their parent(s) and should never speak in public. In addition, andorians married in groups of four.

I frowned wondering how the child would handle the andorian's question.

"How did you come to be in Starfleet, isn't Bajor still under the Cardassians boot heels?"

< "My name is Osai Lerriteck. Child, where are you parents?">

"I don't know where my parents are at the moment, but I assure you I can care for myself." She proceeded to reveal her phaser, and then returned it to a pocket.
"Where are your parents?"

< "Just some basic piloting, Lt. Commander, nothing more," I responded with a smile.>

"Awaiting orders, sir." Wanting to change the subject from their impending death. "I understand you fence, sir?"

"Very well Captain, we have already begun to bring some aboard."

< "I understand you fence, sir?">

I patted Santiago's shoulder, "As a matter of fact, I do. Maybe you and I could get together sometime and I could teach you a thing or two."

Lt. Yar's station bleeped and I turned to face the tactical station.

"Sir, two Romulan warbirds have uncloaked off our port," Tasha reported, "...and they're locking tractor beams onto the escape pods."

"What the hell! Lieutenant, open a channel to the warbirds," I returned to my command chair as the link opened.

"How did you come to be in Starfleet, isn't Bajor still under the Cardassians boot heels?" Carmen asked as she pulled her knees to her chest and leaned forward in expectation of a story.
I didn't get an opportunity to speak.
"My name is Osai Lerriteck. Child, where are you parents?" the andorian asked.
Carmen seemed taken aback by the Osai's question, "I don't know where my parents are at the moment, but I assure you I can care for myself."
She proceeded to reveal her phaser, and then returned it to a pocket. "Where are your parents?"
Lt. Lerriteck seemed immune to the child's insolence, "You are a child, too young to handle a phaser. Give me the weapon," he extended his blue hand. There was a moment of silence as the andorian lieutenant and the stiff lipped child stared at one another. The standoff was interrupted when the pod jolted as it was captured in a what felt like a tractor beam. We each peered out the portholes to see our escape pod being drawn toward...a Romulan warbird.

"Two more minutes until the Captain warps out of this solar system, Lt. Laforge," one of the engineer's said impatiently.

"Yeah, I know," I rushed across the engine room ignoring the engineer. I checked the coolant system again and I was happy with what I found.

The pressure and heat in the plasma conduits were decreasing to tolerance levels.

I stood back from the console triumphantly smiling, "Data, let the Captain know that the cascade effect has been halted and that the crew can return to the ship."

< We each peered out the portholes to see our escape pod being drawn toward...a Romulan warbird.>

"What are the Romulans doing here?" She asked and then returned part of her
attention back to the Andoria. "If you want it." Carmen handed over her phaser as well as the extra power cells. "I'll probable be in less trouble as an unarmed civilian, than an armed one."
After a few minutes of being drawn closer to the warbird. "I think the best we can do is not to think about it." And she turned toward Haim "Now I believe you were about to tell us how you ended up in Starfleet?"

< I patted Santiago's shoulder, "As a matter of fact, I do. Maybe you and I could get together sometime and I could teach you a thing or two.">

"I would enjoy that."

< "What the hell! Lietenant, open a channel to the warbirds," I returned to my command chair as the link opened.>

Santiago faced the view screen as the Romulan appeared on half the screen, and surprisingly Captain Chai appeared on the other half.
"I hope you do not mind, but this other Federation Captain was trying to contact us as well, so I made it a shared communication." The Romulan stated.

"Why are you bringing my crew aboard your ship. We did not ask for your assistance," I didn't bother hiding my contempt for them.

The Romulan commander smiled devilishly, "No manners, you Starfleet officers. My name is Commander Torrak, commander of this vessel and Captain, I assure you, I only want to help the Enterprise through this difficult time."

I stood and walked toward the viewscreen, "No thank you, Torrak. Do not bring another pod aboard your vessels and return my crew to me immediately," I demanded.

Torrak appeared amused, "Temper, Captain Picard. You are in no shape to demand anything," the threat in his voice was obvious.

I turned motioning for Lt. Yar to mute communications and she obeyed, "How many do they have aboard their vessel, Lieutenant?"

Yar checked her instruments, "Seventy nine crew members, including Commander Riker, are currently aboard the vessels," Tasha's facial features remained emotionless as she spoke, "Also, Captain, the crisis in engineering has passed. Lt. LaForge has stopped the ruptures."

"Thank you, Tasha. Open channel," I turned back to face the viewscreen, "Commander it appears our "difficult time" has passed. Prepare to beam our crew and escape pods back to the Enterprise."

"Of course, Captain. We'll have your crew back in no time," the Romulan commander terminated the link and Chai's face filled the viewscreen.

The Starfleet Captain's brow wrinkled, "I don't like this, Jean Luc. My counselor is detecting deception on Torrak's part."

I exhaled heavily through my nose. You didn't need a Betazoid counselor to know that Torrak was up to something. The question was, What?