I had this in my head for quite a while and wanted to start this project in alternate timelines. I hope you like it.
"Why are you leaving me here, Grandpa? Did I do something wrong?"
He sighed. "No, Little one. It's not your fault. This is just for your own good. I only wish to know the two of you safe." Saren placed a hand over his great-granddaughter's belly.
She sniffed and tears filled her eyes. He hated to see her cry. He cupped her face with his hands and kissed the top of her head. When he pulled away he pulled the hood of her cape over her head and handed her a thick book.
"Give this to the people who find you. It explains a couple of things they should know. Don't worry."
She nodded sadly. He stroked a strand of blond hair behind her ear then turned and stepped back into the other world.
She lowered her hand when the portal closed.
"We are entering orbit, Sir."
"Are there any live signs, Mr. Data?"
"Positive, Captain. One or two life signs, I have no exact sensor readings but they appear humanoid."
"Number One, ready an away team."
"Aye, Sir. Data, Lt. Yar, Counselor Troi, follow me."
They went into the transporter room and beamed down.
The moment they materialized on the sandy surface, Troi dropped to her knees.
"Deanna, what's the matter?" Riker asked.
"I sense sadness, loneliness and great fear and despair."
"Where?"
Troi pointed towards a small river. Then Data heard it.
"Sir, I believe I hear somebody cry. A woman."
They went closer. The sobbing grew louder and a figure in a black cape came into sight.
It sat up and turned around suddenly. All they could see was the skirt of a long light-blue dress and long blond-golden hair, bound into two loose braids with silver rings on the end of each one resting in her lap.
"It is alright. We mean you no harm," Riker said and approached her.
She responded with a catlike hiss and scooted further away. He moved again and was now close enough to touch her.
Before Riker even knew what was going on she had extended her fingernails into four-inch claws and scratched him right across his face.
Yar raised her phaser when Data called her back.
"Do not fire, Lieutenant. She is only trying to protect herself and her child."
"Her child?"
He nodded. He had seen the woman's round belly. "She is pregnant."
Troi lifted her hands to show the frightened girl that she was not armed. "No one's going to hurt you."
She finally could put a hand on the other's shoulder. "We can't leave her here."
"Commander, I found something here."
Riker went over to Data who had a thick book and a huge bottle with red liquid in his hands.
"Let's beam back and then look at these." He wiped some blood from his cheek. "I believe she's not the only one who should go to sickbay."
"Dear Sir or Madam
The woman is my great-granddaughter Katharina, or rather Queen Katharina-Sarina Justitia of Puvlagon.
Puvlagon is, by your standards, a medieval world far away from everything you have ever encountered.
I do not know if you believe in magic but Puvlagon is one of many magical worlds in the universe.
When you analyze the bottle's content you will find it to be animal blood. And if you examine Katharina you will realize that she is not human.
I know how weird that must sound to you but Katharina is a vampire just as me and her unborn child.
Do not worry. She is used to animal blood and would never bite a human if she can help it.
I believe you are wondering why I left her alone on an empty planet.
You see, Katharina was married at the age of 15 to a man who did not treat her well. As a fact he did not even stop beating her when she told him that she carries his child.
My only desire is to protect the two from him. Katharina cannot stand up for herself because she is magically bonded to him. You will find more information in the book I left behind.
I know I am asking much of you but I have to. Please protect her and bring her to a safe location.
I do not know if you have noticed. Katharina cannot understand you. The only language she speaks is Puvlagonian. Some basics about the language are in the book as well.
If it is not too much trouble, I would like to ask you to teach her English and some basic human behavior. It could be that she has to live among them for the rest of her never-ending life.
She cannot return. It would be her certain death.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Saren of Puvlagon"
Data looked up from the letter.
The senior staff sat in the observation lounge to discuss the subject. Dr. Crusher had taken a good look at Katharina.
"It can be. She has fangs in her mouth, drinks blood and doesn't respond well to too much light. We will have to give her skin some protection. But that's not all. She has some really bat like features. She can emit and hear ultrasound."
She put the rings on the table. "I had to cut them out of her hair because they were weakening her and could be a danger for the baby. And I found this in her boot." She put down a knife with a long blade. "Considering her situation I think its purpose is self-defense."
"What do we do with her?" asked the captain.
"I want to have her on board at least until the child is born. Birth will be in one or two months. I can't be more concrete because I don't know how long a vampire's pregnancy takes."
"Then we will see about anything else later. Where is she?"
"She is waiting outside. I didn't understand what she said even after she stopped talking in frequencies too high for me to hear but she insisted on coming here."
Picard nodded and Dr. Crusher motioned Katharina inside, dimming the lights slightly.
She now wore a sickbay gown and her open hair went down to the mid of her thighs.
She went over to Riker and fell to her knees in front of him, bowing her head.
Data had read the information at hand and could explain. "She wishes to apologize for scratching you."
Riker smiled. "Apology accepted. Can't blame a mother for wanting to protect her child."
Data translated it for her. She gave a nod and stood back up then dropped a curtsy.
"She greets us," Data said.
"Can't she talk?"
"She can but as a married woman she is not allowed to talk to other men. And certainly not as a divorced woman. By cutting these rings out of her hair she shows that she has 'betrayed' her husband and put deep shame on herself and her Family by their laws she is not worthy of anything anymore. Her husband has even the right to kill her."
Tasha looked shocked. "He can kill her just like that?"
"Yes. In her world women do not count anything. When they marry or have sex they become the man's property. He could do anything he wants to her."
"So that's why this Saren took her away. He must care about her very much. Mr. Data, as you know all these things I want you to guide her during her time onboard and teach her our habits and language."
"Yes, captain." He went over to her, bowed then told her.
She nodded and briefly locked her ice-blue eyes with his.
Data helped her up and guided her to the quarters provided for her.
She went to bed and he sat down in the living area to prepare her first lesson.