The away team stayed unmoving, hands out at their sides. Counselor Troi glanced over at Data, who had his arms in the same position. "This is not an ideal situation." He said to the back of his Captain's head.
"I would tend to agree with you." Picard said, unflinching in the face of the guns.
"I said, who the fuck are you guys?" The girl snapped again. Picard looked down at her, then at the man next to her. He was aged, with a barely-kept beard. His clothes showed wear, and his shotgun was still aimed at Chief O'Brien. Picard kept his body firm as he looked at the man. "My name is Jean-Luc. We mean you no harm. We're passing through the area."
"Y'all seem dressed pretty nice." The man said in a southern American accent. "No packs, no food. I ain't buying it. You got a camp setup nearby?"
"No. I assure you we're moving through the area and came across these…." Picard glanced down at the people infected with the fungus, not sure what to call them. "These people. We attempted to ask them to stop but they didn't."
The man scoffed. "That's a new one: ask the infected to stop."
"Yea, why haven't we thought of that?" The girl said, moving around and staring at Dr. Crusher's medkit. "What's that?"
"Medicine. I'm a doctor. We were trying to help these people." Crusher smiled softly and the girl stepped back.
"Fireflies?" She asked, glancing up at the man before looking back at the medkit.
"No, I don't think so. They ain't got the guns or the gear. Speaking of gear, what exactly is that?" The man quickly pointed his shotgun at the phaser on Picard's belt before refocusing it on the Chief's chest.
"It is a tool, like the one on the opposite side." Picard stuck his thumb out to his tricorder. "What's your name?" He asked. Nobody answered. The two men kept their guns trained, but the girl kept moving and staring at them. Picard sighed. "Sir, I'm-"
"You in charge?" The man asked.
"Yes. I'm the leader. These people are my followers."
"Alright boss man, here's what's gonna happen." He cocked his shotgun loudly to emphasize his point. "You're gonna slowly toss those tools on the ground. Any other movement, and you're gonna have a really bad day. Clear?"
Picard glanced around with his eyes. Data could possibly take out one, but the other could do too much damage. And if they intended to kill the away team, they could have done it already. His options were limited. "Alright. We'll do as you say. Everybody toss your tools to the ground."
"Sir?" Data asked, tilting his head and blinking.
"They won't harm us." Picard said, slowly taking his tricorder out and tossing it on the ground. The rest of the team followed suit. The girl approached Dr. Crusher cautiously, aiming her pistol at the Doctor's head. "Throw me your medicine."
Dr. Crusher glanced toward Picard, then back at the girl. "I'm not sure you'll know how to-"
"Toss me the fucking medicine or I'll blow your fucking head off." The girl demanded. Dr. Crusher took the medkit off from her arm and tossed it down. "Enjoy." She sighed with heavy sarcasm. The girl took the kit and went back to the man with the shotgun. "It's fucking heavy."
"We'll deal with that later. Now, the last ones." The man gestured toward the phasers. Picard knew it would be an issue if they picked them up. "What's your name?" He asked the man, who steadied the aim on his shotgun.
"Jean-Luc, that's my name. The Doctor is Beverly."
"Miles." Chief O'Brien said stiffly, not taking his eyes off the gun trained on him.
"I'm Deanna. And he's right. We just want to help." Counselor Troi said. "But I know you'll kill us if you have to." She added. Picard knew that was for his benefit. She sensed they would kill, but not immediately.
"And what about you albino?" The man aiming at Troi finally spoke, looking at Data. He had a thicker southern American accent than the other man, and his frame was thinner.
"My name is Data." The android answered without hesitation.
"The hell kinda name is that?" The man asked.
"It's a nickname." Riker said, not moving. "I'm William."
"Ok Bill." The shotgun man said, making Riker smirk. "You know our names. Isn't it fair if we know yours?" He added.
"Toss the fucking tools and we'll see." The girl snapped. Picard gave a subtle nod and tossed his phaser down. The rest did the same. Thankfully, nobody moved toward them. "Again, Jean-Luc."
The shotgun man hesitated for a moment before lowering it. It was still ready to fire, but the barrel was now aimed down. "Joel. Now, you gonna level with us?"
Picard sighed. "Joel, that may be difficult to explain. We're explorers. We want to know what happened here."
"What do you mean?" Joel asked.
"We want to know what happened to these people." Dr. Crusher said.
"Looks like you took care of 'em." The other man said.
"No, no. I mean, how did they contract this illness?"
"Probably ran into some spores, or a pack of runners is my guess." Joel said, glancing at the bodies. He squinted, staring at Picard. "Something ain't right about you, boss man. You're all just too out of place here."
"In what way?" Picard asked, trying to get whatever information he could.
"You ain't military. That's for damn sure. You ain't bandits and you say you ain't fireflies. And that albino dude you got is giving me the creeps."
"Ah. Respectfully sir, I could not be albino. The pigmentation of my skin is-"
"That's the shit I'm talking about." Joel scoffed as he cut off Data's speech. Picard smiled but still didn't move. "Is there anyway-"
"Holy shit!" The girl yelled. Everybody turned to see her jump away from Crusher's medkit, holding the open medical tricorder. It was blinking and chirping.
"Damn." Riker whispered.
"The hell is that thing?" Joel demanded, raising his shotgun again.
"It's a medical device. It helps me diagnose people." Crusher offered.
"I ain't seen shit like that, even back before the outbreak." The other man said.
"But it's fucking cool." The girl smiled and waved it around.
"Drop it Ellie. We don't know what it is." Joel commanded.
"It's a fucking twinkling box. Relax." She pulled the small diagnostic device out the back. It too lit up. "Awesome." She said and waved it in the air.
"I can show you how to use it." Crusher said. Picard and Riker immediately turned to stare her down. She cautiously made a sidestep over to her Captain. "No prime directive lectures right now." She said through a forced smile.
"You really a doctor?" The other man asked.
"I am." Crusher answered. "Are people of yours sick or injured?" She didn't get an answer. The man circled his way over to Joel and the girl, who was apparently named Ellie. The men began talking in hushed tones while Ellie kept pushing buttons on the tricorder. Picard wasn't going to let the chance pass. "Counselor?" He whispered.
"They are very confused, and I believe they will kill us, but there is a sense of wonder and good from the girl. The men are hostile but I don't sense any deception." She whispered back.
"Captain, what are we doing here?" Riker asked. "They are going to have our equipment, phasers, Beverly's medkit."
"I know Will. But if we're successful, this timeline will be erased. We may have to sacrifice the prime directive in the short term-"
"Alright." Picard was cut off as Joel spoke. "This is what's gonna happen, boss man: your Doctor is gonna prove that she is one. We got a couple wounded that could use a real doctor. So you show us some good faith, and we'll talk."
"Agreed." Picard nodded. The other man took out a primitive radio. "Maria, get down to the meeting spot. Bring a couple guys with you. Make sure they're armed." He said into the device.
"Why?" A distorted female voice asked.
"With a quickness." He finished and clipped the radio to his belt. "I'm Tommy."
"A pleasure. I'm sure we will all benefit from this arrangement." Picard smiled.
"We'll see about that." Joel muttered and glanced down at the girl, who now had a hypospray. "The hell is that?" He asked.
"I don't know." Ellie said and pulled out the vial of medicine loaded inside. She shook it and stared.
"It's an injector. That's a sedative." Crusher answered. Riker sighed loudly to voice his displeasure.
"I hear you, Commander." The Chief said, keeping a false smile to avoid getting shot. Quick footsteps approached, and a middle-aged woman with blonde hair came jogging up. She was followed by three men, all armed. She immediately went over to Tommy. "What the hell is this?" She asked, staring at the away team.
"We ain't sure yet." Tommy said, lowering his gun. "I talked it over with Joel. The lady there says she's a Doctor. She's got some tools, so-"
"Yea, look at this shit!" Ellie jumped over to her, holding the tricorder up. The woman took it from Ellie and stared at it, turning it over as it beeped. "This has got to be some military shit." She snarled.
"I don't think they're military." Joel said. "But we're gonna find out, aren't we, boss man?" He said and looked at Picard.
"Oh yes. We'll cooperate and help your wounded, if you help us by answering some questions." The Captain answered.
"Let's get a move on then." Joel said, scooping up Picard and Riker's phasers. Two men got on the left side, the blonde woman and Tommy brought up the rear, one man lead the way, and Joel and Ellie stayed to the right of the away team, who marched quietly in step. "Captain-" Data began.
"Jean-Luc. Call me Jean-Luc as long as we are down here. That's an order."
"Very well, Jean-Luc." Data said awkwardly. Riker smirked but said nothing. "Jean-Luc, what is the next course of action?"
Picard sighed heavily. "I suppose we'll find out."
The group marched for about 15 minutes. The away team did not speak; choosing to listen to the conversations of their escorts to see if any information could be gleaned. Picard was counting on Data's android memory to record everything to the word. Even without Data, he could make some fair assumptions: this fungus had afflicted Earth decades ago, Tommy and the Maria woman were a couple, their supplies were running low, and the foul-mouthed Ellie was Joel's daughter. He wasn't sure how they all came to be together, but that was something for another time. The sound of a flowing river became stronger, and soon the smell of fresh water washed over them. They came out to a riverbed directly next to a tall, concrete wall. Behind the wall were ancient turbines moving inside a brick building.
"Bloody hell." Chief O'Brien marveled.
"Chief?" Riker asked.
"I think I know what this is." The Irishman said, tilting his head to take in the construct. They are using the river to power the motors to generate power. This technology hasn't been used on Earth in two hundred years."
"It appears to be a hydroelectric powerplant, similar to the Hoover Dam exhibit during its active period." Data added. Picard nodded, putting the pieces together in his head. The leading man approached a large metal door, which opened. They entered and were walked over to a small wooden shack that appeared to be where the guards stood watch. Two more guards came over to ensure the strangers were monitored. The entire area had a metallic and old feel to it. Joel approached Picard, his shotgun finally slung behind his back. "Ok boss man, y'all are gonna wait here while the Doctor tends to the wounded. If y'all want some water or something, we'll get it for you."
"Thank you." Picard glanced at Dr. Crusher. He wasn't about to let her go off alone, regardless of what Deanna sensed. "However, I can't let my Doctor go alone with you."
"Well I'm glad you agree. You're gonna saddle up and come with." Joel smirked. Picard returned the look. "Saddle up?"
"Yep. Got a problem?"
"Oh no. I'm a rider myself. It's too bad I don't have my personal saddle." He turned to Data, Chief O'Brien, Riker and Troi. "Comply with their wishes." He said. Riker squinted and stepped forward. "Are you going with the Doctor, Jean-Luc?" He asked.
"I am. And I'll thank you to keep it at that, Will."
"It's alright. We're safe here." Troi said, looking at Picard. "They won't harm us if we're calm."
"So I thought. Beverly." He gestured for her, and she stepped next to him and up to Joel. "I'm going to need my medical kit."
"Right. Ellie?!" The girl came running over, wide-eyed, with the medkit. "You alright kiddo?" Joel asked, his voice softening.
"Look what this shit can do!" Ellie pulled out a silver tool with a red tip. Dr. Crusher sighed as she recognized the dermal regenerator.
"Put that back." Joel scolded.
"Hold out your arm."
"Jesus, Ellie-"
"Come on!" She pleaded. Joel sighed and held his right arm out. Ellie pushed the handle, making a soft blue glow come from the device. She ran it over a shallow scar on Joel's right forearm. After a few seconds, the scar vanished. Joel blinked rapidly, brushing the area with his hand. "What the hell?" He muttered, taking the device from Ellie.
"It's called a dermal regenerator. It's experimental." Crusher said, giving Picard an apologetic look. He held up a hand, sensing an opportunity. "All of our gear is experimental."
"I ain't ever seen nothing like that shit. And I mean, ever." Joel said, cautiously handing it back to Ellie, who stared up at him. "Lift you shirt up."
"Seriously?" He scoffed.
"Yea, come on." She stuck her arm out toward his right side, but he swatted it away.
"No. Not here." He snapped, gesturing for Picard and Beverly to follow. They complied and headed to an open area near the front gate. Three horses were waiting.
"Jean-Luc, am I getting on a horse?" Crusher snapped.
"Oh yes, you are." Picard smiled and went over to the brown and white one, gently stroking its neck. In a different context, he would relish seeing Beverly on a horse.
"You said you ride?" Joel asked, tossing a saddle up on the next one.
"Since I was a boy." Picard said, picking up a saddle and throwing it up on the back of the horse.
"The Doctor is riding with me. Tommy's got you." Joel said and stuck his hand out to Beverly. Picard watched in amusement as she wobbled, but pushed herself onto the horse.
"Come on Mr. Clean. Up." Tommy nudged Picard, who expertly mounted the horse with no effort. "Not bad." Tommy commented and got behind him. Ellie jumped on the last horse and flicked the reigns. The gate was opened by two guards, and the trio galloped off. The Captain couldn't help a smile as Beverly wobbled to keep the hose straight, then struggled as they wound down a small hill, which flattened out to another walled settlement about 10 minutes later. They stopped outside the gate, and Tommy took out his radio.
"Tommy. Open up." He said. A few seconds later the gates opened and they rode in. "Welcome to Jackson." Tommy said as the gates closed. They rode to the center of the settlement. Picard marveled at the sight. It was like an ancient west town with electricity, in 2034. The resourcefulness was remarkable.
"We're here." Joel said and stopped near what appeared to be a shed. Dr. Crusher quickly slid off the horse and brushed her pants off, a look of annoyance on her face. Picard held a smile back and dismounted without much effort. "Are you alright?" He asked the Doctor.
"Barely." She said and brushed off a sleeve. "In here." Joel said and opened the shed door. They entered, and Picard could smell a hint of infection and rotting flesh in the air. A small desk was off to the left side. Bunk beds were along the right, and four cots were in the center. Three men were on three of the cots. Two were obviously suffering. Dr. Crusher's ethics kicked in and she immediately went over to them. "What happened?" She demanded.
"Damn bandits ambushed two of them couple days ago. Old Aaron there is getting up there in years and this wet weather don't agree with him well." Tommy answered, going over for a look. The Doctor reached out for her kit. Ellie hesitated, but handed it to her. She took the tricorder and ran the scanner over the first man. "He has a punctured kidney and sepsis is starting to set in."
"The hell can you tell that?" Tommy scoffed, leaning in. Dr. Crusher ignored him and scanned the next man. He was the older man with greying hair. His breaths were raspy and shallow. "Upper respiratory infection. At his age and this weather, he could die from pneumonia." She scanned the next. "Gunshot wound, internal bleeding, rib fragments scattered into his left lung." She closed the tricorder and looked at Picard for instruction. Joel and Ellie stood there, speechless for once. "Joel?" Picard asked.
"Yea?" Joel answered, not taking his eyes off Crusher.
"I need you to trust me."
"How the hell can that thing tell her all that?" Joel demanded.
"Like I said, experimental technology."
"Can she help them?" Ellie asked.
"The stab wound and respiratory infection can be treated with my kit. The last man can be patched up, but not fully healed unless I had my office." She piqued her eyebrow at Picard, who wasn't about to have that conversation yet.
"Well shit, if you can save them, have at it." Tommy prodded. Dr. Crusher fully opened her medkit and set to work. Picard turned to Joel, who was still staring. "Could we talk in private?" He asked. Joel turned to him and sighed. "Yea." He led Picard outside. When they shut the door, Joel turned to him with a hard stare. "You gonna level with me now?"
Picard hesitated. He hadn't know this man long enough yet, but he had a feeling there was some rapport established. "I can't tell you the entire truth. But I can tell you this: we're on the same side, my people are no threat to you, and we can help you."
"What do you want from us?"
"Information." Picard leaned against the side of the makeshift hospital. The old wood creaked in protest. "I'm going to ask some very strange, and very obvious questions. But it's important you answer me like I know nothing."
Joel sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Picard sensed he was a man with great burdens who was nearing the end of his rope, but kept going. Joel pulled a wooden box up and sat on it, holding his arms out. "Alright boss man. Ask."
"How long ago did this illness introduce itself?" As expected, Joel stared at him like he had sprouted fungus from his head, but didn't make a comment. "About 22 years ago now, maybe 23." He said honestly.
"Alright. How did it come about?"
"Damned if I know. News started talking about a mutated fungus infecting people, they went insane. Next thing you know, whole damn country's gone, then the planet."
"Do you know where it originated?" Picard asked. Joel scoffed and stood up quickly. "Now what the hell questions are these. You're older than me; you should remember this shit.
"Yes, yes. But I can't tell you." Picard took a step and placed a hand on Joel's shoulder. "I need you to trust me."
"Boss man, I ain't even know you two hours ago, and now you're asking me shit you should know better than me." The door was slung open and Ellie came out, her mouth gaping. "What?" Joel snapped and jumped up.
"She pushed that injector thing against Mike's neck, and all that shit around the stab wound just sort of faded away, and then she put something else against his neck and she used that skin fixer thing and there's no scar or anything and then she did something else and now he's sleeping!" She ran her words together so fast Picard could barely keep up, but Joel seemed to understand perfectly.
"So Mike is gonna be ok?" He asked slowly. Tommy came out, his gun behind his back. "Son of a bitch is gonna be more than ok. She's working on Aaron now." He stepped in front of Picard and shook his head. "Just where do you come from?" He asked, incredulous. Picard gave an understanding smile. Not yet.
"Personally, I'm from France. The Doctor was raised in Scotland, William in Alaska. As far as our-"
"We got bandits!" A voice yelled. Joel whipped out his shotgun and Ellie spun with her pistol. "Motherfuckers!" She hissed. Picard stepped back and Tommy pulled out his radio. "How many?!"
"They're heading for the plant! There's-" A gunshot rang out over the radio. "Hank?! Hank?! Damn it!" Tommy swore, his voice breaking. "Ellie, stay here. You'll be safe." Joel said, pulling out shotgun shells.
"Fuck that! I'm not-"
"Stay here!" He put his hands on her shoulders and positioned her in front of the door. "Watch the Doctor. Keep her safe. We're gonna have more wounded." He handed her a pistol magazine.
"Fuck it." She snapped and took it from his hand Joel looked at Picard, seeming to argue with himself internally. "Screw it." He said and took off his pack. He reached in and took out a phaser, handing it to Picard. "I know a gun when I see one. Wanna prove your worth?"
Picard took the phaser without hesitation. "You're going to have a lot of questions for me afterward." He warned.
"I don't give a shit." Joel hissed. Picard reached up and tapped the combadge hidden in the breast pocket of his jacket. "Picard to Riker."
"Go ahead sir." Riker's voice came through clearly.
"Jesus." Joel looked Picard up and down once. The Captain ignored it. "We're under attack Will."
"Same here."
"Use whatever means necessary to protect yourselves. I repeat: any means necessary to protect yourselves. The Doctor and I are safe."
"Yes sir. It would be easier if we could use our tools." Riker prodded. Picard looked at Joel, who nodded at Tommy, who raised the radio to his lips. "Maria, let the newcomers have their tools to fight off the damn bandits."
"Come again?!" Maria yelled over the radio.
"Give 'em the tools Maria!" Tommy yelled. Picard ducked into the hospital and bent down to Dr. Crusher, handing her his phaser. She looked at it, then up at him. "Jean-Luc-"
"I'll explain later. Don't hesitate to defend yourself."
"No prime directive?" Crusher asked and went back to work. Picard went back outside and took another phaser from Joel. He looked down at Ellie, who was pacing back and forth with her pistol. "You've done this before?" He asked.
"Dude, you have no fucking clue." She said, scanning the area with her eyes. Picard looked toward Joel. "We need a defensive position." He said and clipped the phaser to his belt.
"Way ahead of you." Joel answered and started jogging toward the gate. Picard noticed the women and children were escorted by one male, but most men were running with rifles to designated points.
"We need to know how many we're dealing with." Tommy said as they approached the gate. Picard pressed his combadge. "Picard to Enterprise."
"Worf here Captain. We're detecting multiple lifesigns converging on your position."
"How many?" He asked.
"Thirteen approaching your position, nine approaching Commander Riker's."
"Understood. Wait for us to contact you Mr. Worf."
"Captain, I-"
"That's an order. Picard out." He looked at Joel, who just stared at him. "I ain't got time to ask now." He said and headed up the ladder to the lookout spot. Picard followed as Tommy went to the one on the opposite side of the gate. Three bandits ran out of the treeline. Tommy, Joel and two other guards opened fire, but the bandits took cover behind a large boulder. Picard inhaled deeply. This wasn't going in his official report to Starfleet. He set the phaser to level 12, peered over the wall, and fired a sustained phaser burst at the boulder. It exploded after three seconds of being hit with the phaser. The men screamed and were blown back. Picard crouched down next to Joel, who was now arm's length away from Picard, eyes full of terror for the first time. "Jesus!" He yelled. "What the hell is that?!"
"I'll explain later." Picard said quickly, peeking out. He saw two men on a horse. The lead man had a large bottle that was on fire. The Captain raised his phaser and fired directly in front of the horse. A small explosion erupted from the ground and bits of Earth were thrown everywhere. The horse screeched and bucked, sending the two men off. The bottle exploded and engulfed them in flames. The horse ran off as the men screamed, being burned alive. More hostiles emerged from the treeline, and more phaser fire was laid down. The bandits turned and ran as a phaser blast felled a large tree toward them. The gunshots ceased, and the yelling in the trees got farther away before they could no longer be heard. Picard sighed, reset his phaser to level one, and slid it back into the holster. He looked up at Joel, who had his pistol out, but not aimed directly at the captain. "You're gonna tell me what that thing is. Right now, no lies." He said, his voice shaking.
"It's a defensive weapon that uses energy to stop people from attacking." Picard answered without hesitation.
"It's a goddamned laser? How in the hell do you guys even make those now?"
"It isn't easy." Picard sighed. His combadge chirped. "Riker to Picard."
"Go ahead."
"We drove them off after a few phaser blasts. We're now staring at some people with raised weapons who have questions." The tension in Will's voice was obvious. Tommy came up the ladder and glanced at Joel before staring at Picard.
"We need to have a chat."
The rest of the away team was brought to Captain Picard and Joel in the settlement, away from the dam. They no longer had their phasers or tricorders, but the natives were not aiming weapons at them anymore. Fighting off the bandits and Dr. Crusher taking care of the wounded seemed to establish a fragile trust, and Captain Picard was going to build off that. Once his entire team was present in the hospital, Picard glanced over his shoulder. Joel and the others were outside talking, so this may have been his only chance. "What happened?" He asked.
"Four of them came over the wall and shot a guard. I had my phaser and stunned one. The others charged, I stunned them, Data got one coming through the door. It was all over in a minute." Riker answered.
"Jean-Luc, now that they have seen our phasers functioning, they will have questions." Data said.
"We may have to tell them the truth." O'Brien sighed.
"Counselor, how would they take that?" Picard asked Troi.
"I'm not sure Captain. I don't believe they would hurt us, but how-" The Counselor was cut off as Joel came into the room with Tommy and Maria, who stood closer to the group than the two men. "Here's what's up: we know you guys aren't military, and you sure as hell aren't Fireflies. You want our help, you're going to tell us the truth. Now. Not to mention, after your lightning display or whatever that was, I'm sure we're about to be swarmed by bandits, and good luck surviving out there alone. You want answers from us, we need answers from you."
"And that is very fair." Picard said, sitting on the edge of the table. "You've all obviously endured hardships we can't imagine. If I were to tell you the truth, it would seem so preposterous to you, you'd likely kick us out of the encampment."
"You'd be amazed and what we'd be willing to believe lately." Joel grunted. Picard inhaled and looked at the three of them, then glanced at Riker. "Relax Number one." He said with a reassuring smile. The First Officer crossed his arms.
"Sir." He said, obviously unhappy. Picard looked at the three people in front of him. "I was being honest when I said we aren't from around here. Indeed, we're farther away than you realize." He looked at them all before talking a step toward Maria. "We come from, according to your calendar, the year 2373. We've come back in time to correct this viral outbreak, which was caused by an alien race going back in time to infect and end humanity."
"Listen boss man." Joel sniffed, taking a step forward. "I asked for the truth, not a Star Wars story."
"Oh we're telling the truth." Picard said and stood, gesturing to Data. "This man here isn't human. He's an android; an artificially constructed lifeform."
"Bullshit." Tommy spat and put the butt of his rifle on the ground. "Prove it."
Picard smiled. "Very well. Mr. Data?" He asked, causing Data to pause. "Jean-Luc?" He asked.
"Do it, Commander."
"Very well sir." Data turned his back to the group, pushed the back of his head, and revealed an intricate layer of circuits and blinking lights.
"Jesus!" Joel exclaimed and jumped back, putting his hand on his holstered pistol. Maria swayed, and Tommy stood unmoving. Data turned back to the group, unfazed. "As the Captain said, I am an android."
"Yes he is. Counselor Troi here, she is Betazoid."
"I'm a telepath." She clarified. "For example, I know your daughter is leaning against the door to listen and not staying away, as you told her." She smiled at Joel, who turned to the door. He hesitated, then quickly put a hand on the knob and pulled it open.
"Ow fuck!" Ellie fell on her side and looked up at Joel. "What?" She asked as if nothing happened. Joel ignored her and looked at the Counselor. "Can you also tell what I'm thinking?"
"Precise thoughts, not exactly. But I can sense that you're unsure, untrusting-" She looked at Ellie before returning her gaze to Joel. "And that you're very protective of the girl, even though she isn't your real daughter."
"Lady!" Joel yelled, pointing a finger at her. Tommy stuck his arm out to Joel and took a step. Deanna turned to Maria and smiled. "Congratulations."
"For what?" Maria asked warily.
"Your child. I can sense him, or her. They are very healthy." Maria went white and stared at Tommy, who did a double take on Troi. "How the fuck did you….we didn't even figure it out until a few days ago!"
"You didn't tell me? That's bullshit!" Ellie said loudly.
"Everybody shut up!" Joel yelled, now pacing back and forth, staring at the group in front of him, then glancing at Tommy. "You tell anybody else?"
"Ain't nobody know. Just me and Maria." He voice cracked. Picard took a careful step forward, holding his palms out. "I understand this is all shocking to you."
"Yea no shit." Tommy said, his hands shaking.
"The fuck is going on?" Ellie whispered. Deanna looked at her with a sympathetic smile. "You miss your mother, don't you?" She asked.
"What?" Ellie asked, projecting a sense of hostility and fear. "You don't need to get upset."
"I'm not upset lady I'm pissed! You don't talk about my fucking mom!"
"You mean Anna."
"Oh fuck you!" Ellie jumped toward Troi, but Joel caught her mid-flight. "I need you to sit down and shut up!" He shoved her in a chair in the corner, breathing deeply and looking at the away team. Picard stepped toward Maria again, Tommy taking a step toward him as well.
"We need to fix this. This virus shouldn't have happened."
"Yea no shit." Tommy hissed.
"You don't understand. This isn't how history is supposed to be. This fungus infection was spread by these aliens to end humanity."
"Well they did a damn good job." Joel huffed, still rubbing his hand on his holstered pistol.
"Unfortunately yes, they did. And it's time to correct what they did."
"If you're telling the truth, how are we supposed to help you all? You seem to know everything and have the tools to do it with." Maria asked. Riker walked over, next to Picard. "Since this wasn't supposed to happen, we don't have the details. Our past, the right past, is entirely different than yours. We don't know the when and how, but we know the who. That's why we need your help to know where the outbreak happened." He said.
"You can't figure that shit out yourselves?" Joel asked.
"No. We're here. If we're going to go back, we need to know more to prevent this." Picard answered.
"So you're talking about changing what happened? Making it like the CBI never happened?" Tommy asked.
"Oh yes. The last 20 years will have never happened." Picard said. Tommy looked at Joel, who looked at Maria, who looked back at them. "Hang on." Ellie said and stood up.
"Ellie, shush." Joel pleaded.
"No." She stepped between the two groups and looked up at Picard. "I'm sixteen. What the fuck is going to happen to me?"
Picard looked down at her. He saw through the tough face and saw worry for the first time. "Ellie, to be honest, I'm not sure. I don't know if you existed in our past or not. You may have, and time has a way of working itself out."
"You sound like you've done this shit before." Maria said.
"We have. Trust me." Riker rolled his eyes. Ellie turned and looked up at Joel. "So if this works, I just disappear?" She asked.
"Not now." Joel sighed and looked at Picard. "How did you get here?"
"Our ship."
"Your ship huh? Spaceship?"
"Starship. And she's beautiful." Chief O'Brien smiled.
"It's in orbit of Earth, above us." Troi added, knowing what was coming next.
"Show us." Joel said. Picard squinted, not sure if he wanted to take that step or not. "I'm not sure that's-"
"Listen here boss man." Joel stepped forward, a foot away from Picard's face. "You've just given us the biggest crock of horseshit I've heard, and that's saying something. You want me to buy this little sci-fi adventure you got going here, then you gotta give me something more than a robot opening his head and a psychic."
"Agreed." Maria nodded. Picard sighed. He didn't have much choice in the matter. "On one condition: nobody speaks of what they saw to anybody.
"We don't need a riot. You have my word." Tommy said. Joel nodded in agreement. "Very well then. But keep in mind, this is unlike-"
"Yea we get it. Now how do we get to your ship? You got a smaller one somewhere?" Joel asked.
"Not exactly." Picard tapped the combadge under his jacket. "Commander Worf?"
"Yes sir?"
"The away team is beaming up, and we're bringing three new friends with us."
"Sir?"
"You heard me, Commander. Beam us all to transporter room three."
"You mean four." Ellie said and stood next to Joel, who shoved her back. "You ain't going nowhere."
"Oh come on!" Ellie yelled and shoved his arm. "If we're going to a spaceship I'm totally fucking going. I told you I'd be an astronaut if I could!"
"We aren't talking about this. You're staying here."
"I say let her come." Counselor Troi smiled. "Yea, what the fucking know-it-all said! I'm fucking going!"
"Alright! Jesus, just….. fine." Joel threw his arms up. "Now, where are we going?"
Picard gave a smile. "Mr. Worf, make that four. Energize."
"Energize what?" Tommy asked. Ellie froze and howled. "HOLY FUUUUUU…..!"