Tally looked up as the door opened, even though it was pointless as her eyes were still covered, like they had been ever since she'd been taken. The sound had alerted her to the fact that someone was coming back, and she was sure it would be the last person she wanted to see. Heavy footsteps came towards her and someone grabbed hold of her long red hair and dragged her off the floor. She was getting used to it now, it almost didn't hurt anymore.
"Are you ready to tell me everything you know about the Enterprise?" a deep man's voice asked, so close to her ear that she could feel his breath. She was shaking with fear, she didn't want to say anything, but he shook her to remind her he was still waiting for an answer.
"I told you I don't know anything," she whispered. "Please believe me!"
He dropped her on the floor, hard. Gravel cut into her knees as she landed on them and with her hands tied behind her back she couldn't stop herself going face-first onto the floor. She turned her head so her nose wasn't smashed, but her left cheek got shredded. A foot rested firmly on her back, keeping her on her knees, face to the ground.
"You're going to regret that decision very soon," the man said from high above her. Talya Stokesley knew, deep down, that she wouldn't get out of this hell-hole alive unless a miracle happened.
X
Three days earlier, she had been at home on the Enterprise. She'd only recently been posted to the amazing, legendary ship, and it was only temporary. She wasn't even a Starfleet officer, but at just eighteen years old, she was studying for her masters degree in interpreting. The number of exo-linguists had declined substantially with the invention of universal translators. Sure they were good, but not as good as Talya, not as good as a real person. That wasn't vanity - that was fact. Machines were never infallible; they had no idea about how to translate something in a tactful way, to present it with care and concern and in an effective manner. The personal level was lost with a UT, but with Talya it was all there. It was for that reason (that, and sheer desperation on the part of Starfleet with their small stock of linguists spread so far and wide that there was literally no one else to send) that she had been assigned to the Enterprise to interpret some delicate negotiations. Growing up all over the galaxy had had its advantages in terms of language learning, and in linguistic terms she was over-qualified.
Still, she would never forget the slightly questioning look that Captain Picard had given her when she first reported to him. But she was used to that by now. People looked at her and put her age at about twenty-two, and even then thought she was too young for the job. She supposed that really, she was too young. But then the Captain had shaken her warmly by the hand, told her he was impressed with her file, and then asked her why she hadn't applied to Starfleet Academy.
"I don't believe Starfleet is for everyone," she'd replied truthfully. "It's not the kind of life I want to pursue at this time, and I'm still studying at the moment."
"What are you going to do with your life?"
"I've not got anything set in stone, but I'll probably work free-lance for a few years and take things from there."
Picard had looked at her. He wasn't lying when he'd said he was impressed with her file, and she certainly presented herself well in front of him considering she was just eighteen. But then Picard had got used to child protégés having had Wesley Crusher work on his bridge and with his most senior staff.
"Well, welcome to the Enterprise, Miss Stokesley," he'd said. "I've had the details of the conference sent to your cabin as you requested."
"Thank you, sir. I look forward to working with you."
Talya had settled in well on board, although she was quiet and kept to herself. She'd made good friends with Geordi LaForge, because although her main job was interpreting, she could also fix and upgrade any number of translation circuits in half the time he could, just because she'd done it so often.
She read up on the negotiations, on some of Picard's past missions, and on the two races that had fallen into dispute, and when it was time she went to the transporter room. Picard was there.
"Ah, Miss Stokesley," he said. "Are you ready?"
"I think so sir," she nodded. She didn't want to tell him that she was nervous – as she always was – and terrified of making mistakes.
"We're just waiting for Counsellor Troi to join us, her input is often invaluable."
He'd no sooner said it than the Counsellor walked in and they all stood on the transporter pad. In seconds, they were in a spacious foyer. A man came towards them and showed them to the conference room.
"I did mention that this could take some time, didn't I?" Picard muttered to Talya.
"I read up on some of your past missions sir," she said to him. "I've asked for coffee to be on standby."
Picard smiled to himself. He wasn't sure why, but he liked this girl. Perhaps it was the very fact that she wasn't Starfleet meant that she had something refreshing about her. Of course, she was still under his command, but she knew that and treated him as her Captain.
The delegates from each side came in and they all greeted each other in the customary manner, then sat down. Talya wasn't really sure where best to position herself. Normally there would be an interpreter for each party, but today there was just her. She settled next to Picard anyway, took out her pencil and some paper (which everyone stared at as though it was going to bite them, having grown used to padds being the standard replacement for such things these days), and they began.
X
Talya was screaming in agony. She couldn't see what was being done to her, all she knew was that it hurt! It felt like little electric shocks were cruising up and down her body, re-arranging her insides and weaving invisible threads around her organs that got tighter and tighter the more the shocks happened.
"Tell me about the conference," the man's voice said. "Tell me about the Enterprise…"
She remained silent, catching her breath, knowing more pain was going to come. Sure enough, her silence was met with an even more painful shock. Her knees gave way, but he'd tied her hands to something above her, so she remained upright but her wrists bore all her weight.
"I think I'll just leave you to think about what you're going to tell me," he said. She heard him cross the room. Finally! She could get some strength back! "Oh how silly of me," his voice said as he opened the door. The shocks started again. Talya cried in frustration, pain… The door closed, and she was alone, in endless agony.
X
The conference had lasted four days. Picard was relentless, refused to give up, and both Talya and Deanna could see why he was such a respected mediator. However, they were all exhausted. Picard called an end to the discussions, the contract between the two parties was signed, and the formal goodbyes took place.
The parties filed out, and Talya collapsed back into the chair that she'd sat in for eight hours straight. Papers of her scribblings littered the table, the floor. She put her head on the table and within seconds she was asleep.
"Talya?" Deanna's voice said. Tally opened her eyes and was immediately shocked that she'd fallen asleep.
"I'm sorry!" she said, sitting back up but still feeling exhausted.
"I think it's time to get back to the ship," Picard smiled. He was tired too, they all were. She nodded and they stood together to energise. They were met off the transporter by Commander Riker.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Finished, thank God," Picard answered.
"If I may say so, you all look like hell," Riker said wryly. He didn't even know Talya that well, but he knew she was on the point of falling asleep standing. They stepped off the pad.
"Well in all technicality I should de-brief you both," Picard said to Deanna and Talya. "But I think we'll leave that until we've all had some sleep." They smiled gratefully and went down the corridors. "Report to my ready-room in twelve hours." He looked back at Talya. "Actually, make that fourteen. I wish you both pleasant dreams."
They all split off to their quarters, and Talya stripped off and took a long, hot shower, trying to scrub the past four days from her mind at the same time. She got herself into bed, and spent the next hour tossing and turning. Not now! This was not the time to be having insomnia! Damn it, she was tired! Eventually, she got up and headed grumpily to sickbay. She'd only graced its doors once before, and that was for the routine physical she'd been required to have when she got on board.
"Can I help you?" Dr Crusher asked her kindly. "It's Miss Stokesley, isn't it?"
"Talya," Talya replied, surprised she could remember her name. "I can't sleep. And I'm so tired."
"Come and take a seat, we'll see what's causing it."
Talya sat on a bio-bed.
"Probably my use and abuse of caffeine over the past four days," she replied, taking care to articulate her words correctly. Her brain functioned in so many different languages these days that picking just one to use properly was very difficult, especially when she was so tired.
"How was the conference?"
"It was… amazing. I really enjoyed it, does that sound silly?"
"Of course not. It's always nice to put your skills to practical use."
"It was long though. There should have been a whole team of interpreters working on that, not just me. It was a bit intense. I've just got words floating around in my head."
Dr Crusher read her tricorder and nodded.
"Yes, you've gone past being able to drop off, haven't you… I've no problem giving you a mild sedative, but we'll have to do it in your quarters, otherwise you'll be spending the night here!"
They set off together and Tally settled in her own bed.
"How do you like the Enterprise?" the Doctor asked as she found a hypo.
"I like it a lot," she replied. "It was hard at first but it's a lovely place."
"We'll have to go for some food together one day, you can tell me all about it."
"Sure thing."
The Doctor put the hypo in her neck.
"Night Talya, sleep well."
"Night," she whispered before dropping off.
X
Riker shone his palm beacon around.
"There's one life sign behind that door," an ensign told him, reading a tricorder.
"What's the betting it doesn't just open for us," Riker replied. He went and tried it. It didn't move. He drew his phaser, stood back, and shot at the lock. He pushed the door open, phaser still drawn, wondering what he'd find in the room.
"Talya!"
He ran and knelt beside the girl. She was laid on her front, her hands tied behind her, black cloth covering her eyes. She was completely naked, dirty and covered in bruises. He released her hands, held his hand out for a blanket from one of his team.
"Go secure the area," he ordered, "and find whoever did this to her. Get Dr Crusher down here."
"Yes sir," one of them replied. Riker wrapped her in the blanket, rolled her over onto her back and pulled the cloth from her eyes.
"Talya, can you hear me?" he asked, shaking her shoulder slightly. She groaned. "Tally? Wake up!"
Her eyes opened slowly. She fought her way back to consciousness, then suddenly everything clicked in her head. She shot upright, confused. Riker caught her.
"You're ok, we've got you, you're gonna be ok now," he said, holding her in his arms. She started crying in pain as feeling seeped into her broken body. Her shoulder looked dislocated, she was finding it hard to breathe, she was clearly concussed… He lay her down, gently resting her head in his lap. Dr Crusher stormed through the door and over to them with her med-kit.
"Tally, can you hear me?" she asked her. Talya nodded slowly. "We're gonna take good care of you, don't you worry." The Doctor read what the tricorder was telling her and she knew it wasn't good. She found her a hypo and it took the edge off the pain. "We need to get her to sickbay," Dr Crusher said to Riker. She rearranged the blanket so her arms wouldn't fall out on the way. Riker picked her up as gently as he could. She still groaned as everything hurt, and he could feel she was shaking. They got out of the dark room and they walked back above ground. The call to be transported to sickbay was the last thing Talya heard.
X
Dr Crusher was giving orders by the dozen, giving Talya treatment upon treatment to stabilise her. Riker had stood back to let the medics do their work, but he couldn't leave. Picard and Deanna came into sickbay too.
"How is she?" Picard asked him, knowing that asking the Doctor would result in a reprimand for disturbing her while she was working. Riker cast around for the right words.
"She's… she's got a lot of injuries."
"Has she said anything?" Deanna asked.
"She was only conscious for a few minutes, she didn't say anything. She was scared and confused, I don't think she really knew what was happening."
Finally, Picard noticed Dr Crusher allow herself to exhale, and he knew she'd done it again and got another patient out of danger. She went over to them.
"She's stable now, I think she'll be all right," she told them. "I'll have the medical report on your desk by morning," she added to Picard.
"When will she be back on her feet?" Deanna asked.
"Not for a few days. She was tortured with some kind of electrical pulse that delivered extreme amounts of pain to her whole body, she's lucky she survived. Whatever they wanted to know, she put up a good fight."
"When will she wake?" Picard asked her. "We need to know exactly what they wanted."
"I don't know. I don't want to wake her yet, she's too weak. She needs at least twelve hours before we attempt anything. Did you find whoever did this to her?"
"Mr Worf has someone in custody now, they picked him up a few minutes ago. Will we be able to prove who it was?"
Dr Crusher nodded sadly.
"Oh we'll know alright. He left strong DNA evidence, I'm sending it all to the lab."
"You don't mean…"
"I'm afraid I do. Clear your schedule Deanna, this is going to take some time to sort out."