Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I own nothing Star Trek: TNG. I do own Latika Sarin.
When they arrived at the scene of the crime, they found a half-destroyed ship, with a Klingon craft nearby about to leave the area. It left before Worf could hail the ship. With the perpetrator gone, Picard turned his attention the victim before them. There was not much left of the little craft, the bridge was still somewhat intact, but it was not going to stay together much longer.
"We need to get down there and evacuate everyone on the ship. Hurry, we don't have much time. Data, you have the bridge," Picard ordered as he signaled Riker and Worf to follow him to the transporter room.
"With all due respect sir, I would like to come. Latika is an old friend of mine, and it might help if she sees someone that she knows." Data called to Picard. The group turned toward him, all with surprised faces. Picard was the first to respond.
"You KNOW her? How?"
"I do not think that is important at the moment, sir. What is important now is rescuing her."
"Very well, you can go. I'll stay here. But I expect a full story when you return," Picard sighed as he returned to his seat. With that said, Data, Riker, and Worf were off to rescue Latika.
When they arrived on the destroyed ship, the group began searching everywhere they could for survivors. They did not find any until they reached the main bridge. As the working half of the door opened, Data entered to find a destroyed room, with Latika lying unconscious in the center. She was a beautiful Indian woman, with long black hair and slightly dark skin. She was wearing a purple sari that was now stained with blood with a charmed bindi on her forehead. (Link to outfit on my homepage) She had a large gash on her left arm and a piece of metal sticking out of her chest. Data ran to her and began checking her vitals when she stirred. Data looked to her as she opened her large, dark eyes. He realized how much he had liked those eyes when she would come and visit at home. She struggled to speak with her slight Indian accent.
"D-data? Is that you? I have been looking for you for so-"she began to cough up blood before she could finish. Riker and Worf ran in to find the scene. Data hushed her before she could say anything else.
"Do not speak now, Latika. You are losing too much blood, as your lung is punctured. We must get you to sick bay. Your ship will not last much longer either," Data told her. The group surrounded Latika as they were transported to sick bay. A few seconds after they left the ship, it exploded.