DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters or basic ideas from Star Trek. No profit is earned in writing this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I got this idea for a series of stories based around original characters based in the Star Trek TNG universe. A series of original characters will be the center of the story with canon characters only showing up briefly. I will work on this as I can. Each chapter will be a self-contained story, but building on the one before. I don't really have an 'end' in sight. I'm just enjoying the exercise and I hope you will as well.

LOWER DECKS

CH. 3 The Doctor is Out

"First away mission?" Beverly Crusher asked as she checked her preparations one last time.

"Not exactly," Deborah answered. "I've done field research projects while in med-school, studying xenobiology as part of the advanced studies program." She'd been assigned to the Enterprise only a week before. Fresh out of her medical training it was quite an accomplishment to be posted to the Federation flagship, and she was determined to do the best job she could.

"It's a bit different with shipboard duty," the CMO warned. "Stick close to your security detail."

Deborah nodded. "I'd be happier if we could use the transporters."

"Me too, but atmospheric conditions make them unreliable, sensors too." She finished packing her kit. "Alright, Dr. Chambers, time to get going. We'll be in orbit in five minutes and heading down within two after that. The distress call was urgent but the translator is having trouble with their language, something about seismic activity."

"Joy," Deborah deadpanned as she followed the CMO out of sick bay. She'd been in a quake once. It wasn't her favorite memory, but she felt certain she could remain professional as long as she had work to focus on.

They made their way to the shuttle bay with two more doctors, three nurses, two engineers and a contingent of security. Once boarded, Crusher gave them a final briefing while they waited.

"They call themselves the Vatai," she began once she had everyone's attention. "The Federation has never encountered them before, but they need help. Their colony is being destroyed by quakes. We weren't the intended recipient of their distress call, but we're here. We think we're looking at about 80 people."

"Rather a small colony," one of the nurses observed.

"We don't know their situation," Crusher shook her head. "Could be the initial settlement team. Could be a breakaway group. Doesn't matter. Shuttles are being dispatched to pick up as many as we can while Commander LaForge works on the transporter. He hopes to be able to pierce the natural interference in the ionosphere soon enough to beam out survivors more quickly. Unfortunately, we can't wait. The engineers will be setting up pattern enhancers in anticipation of his success."

Ensigns Hutchins and Alva nodded. "Finding a safe place to set up will probably be the hard part," Alva offered as the pilot assigned to them guided the shuttle out of the bay.

"Our priority will be getting the wounded to as safe a place as possible. There are bound to be injuries, some of them may preclude moving the patient, but don't take any foolish risks. Any structure in the colony is at risk of collapse. Get the people out into the open if at all possible before trying to treat them." Everyone nodded in agreement.

"We'll be down in a few minutes," the pilot called. "I'm setting down in a field near the colony. Looks like the best choice at the moment. There are already people there."

"Out in the open, away from collapsing structures," one of the engineers nodded. "Are we getting any sensor readings?"

"Unfortunately," the pilot answered, tapping a few keys. "Looks like the entire region is unstable. That safe field won't be safe for long. Get those people on board as fast as you can."

Deborah called up a view of the landscape on her Padd. The colony was located in the foothills of a modest mountain range. The area around the colony was heavily forested, assuming the huge featherlike growths were the planet's equivalent of trees. Some of those structures shuddered and fell, even as she watched. The landscape shifted in violent and frightening ways.

"This is not going to be fun," she muttered.

"Another day another dollar," Davies, one of the security detail offered with a smile. Deborah smiled slightly in return.

"Here we go, folks," the pilot called as he brought the shuttle in for a landing. The ground was quiet for the moment, the aftershock having passed, and the Enterprise crew took full advantage to deploy with as little trouble as possible. Filing out of the ship, they waited while Dr. Crusher greeted the colonists.

"I'm Dr. Beverly Crusher of the Federation starship Enterprise. We came in response to your distress call."

There was a confused shuffling before one of the colonists stepped forward. They were largely humanoid with four fingers on each hand and delicate features. Their skin ranged from ash grey to ebony and snow white hair. All in all, Chambers decided, an attractive people.

"I am B'eLath of Vatai. Our colony shaking apart. You…wish to help?" The question was hesitant and it was clear that the translators were still puzzling out their language.

"Yes," Crusher nodded. She was careful to keep her speech simple and clear. It was things like non-standard usage and contractions that gave the translators the most trouble. "We want to help. We can take your people to our ship. You will be safe there." This was greeted with mixed reactions. Most seemed relieved. Some, however, seemed suspicious.

"Don't know us. Why help?" One asked. This was interspersed with sounds that the Starfleet officers assumed were words that the translator couldn't render into English. The question, however, was clear enough.

"You seem to need it," Crusher answered. "That is enough for us." The planet chose that moment to rattle everyone's teeth and the group barely kept their feet. This caused any remaining reluctance among the colonists to vanish. "Is anyone here injured?"

There were a few injuries among the group, so Dr. Graham and nurse Aloi stayed behind while the rest moved out through the colony to help those who hadn't made it to the field. Chambers found herself with Davies and Travis, following a volunteer from the group of colonists. S'lem led them into the settlement proper and the group spread out to search.

"May I ask," Davies began, "how you got here? It is not a good place for a colony."

S'lem shook his head. "Unplanned. Ship went off course and crashed here. Not good place for a colony." Davies nodded in understanding. "Long way from home. Homeplace not know of us."

That complicated matters, Deborah realized. If the Vatai homeworld was unaware that their people were missing, then no relief or additional colonists would be coming. Depending on how far from home they were, getting them back there could be a real problem. "What happened to your ship?" she asked.

"Took it apart and build colony. Mostly too damaged. Quakes buried rest." This speech was interspersed with the same sounds Chambers had heard at the landing field. It seemed there were still a fair number of words that the translator had no matches for yet.

There was no more time for questions as calls for help drew their attention. She found the first patient quickly. The male Vatai was pinned under a fallen beam that had landed on his leg. Davies managed to shift it with S'lem's help while Deborah pulled him clear and scanned his leg. She found a clean break, set it, splinted it and had Travis carry him to the shuttle. Any time consuming treatment, such as knitting a broken bone, could wait until he was aboard the ship.

They continued the search, turning up six more in short order, three of whom were beyond help, crushed by falling debris or having taken a very bad fall. Only one required emergency surgery on the spot to survive. Deborah stabilized the patient, closed her open wounds and had a team take her by stretcher to the shuttle. The surgery was complicated by two minor aftershocks that nearly killed doctor and patient despite the fact they were out in the open.

"The sweep is nearly done," Davies reported, standing up carefully from where the last tremor had tossed him. "Two shuttles have taken back 35 survivors. Two more are being loaded up."

"Any luck with the transporters?" she asked, closing a gash in an old man's leg.

"Not yet," he shook his head. "We may be done by-." The ground beneath them lurched violently, throwing both off their feet. The shaking continued and intensified, forcing them to remain where they were. When it ended, shouts and screams became audible, coming from the direction of their improvised landing field.

"I have to get him stabilized," Deborah said, looking over her patient, who had lost consciousness and had had several of his wounds reopened. "Find out what happened." Davies nodded and moved off, leaving her to concentrate on her patient. "Hold on," she told him. "It's not too bad. I get you stable and we can get you on a shuttle and out of here. Something to look forward to, right?" She didn't know if he could understand her, so she kept her voice calm and soothing, hoping something would carry over. The tricorder indicated he was bleeding internally, but she couldn't reach the crushed artery, let alone repair it under current conditions.

Davies returned after a moment. "The shuttles are gone. The ground under them collapsed. One is completely buried and the other…. Isn't going anywhere either."

"What about the people on board?"

"Not sure. I could only raise one of the shuttles. The pilot is hurt, he isn't sure about the passengers. We're stuck here until the transporters are working or until the other shuttles return. At short range, the transporters on the shuttle should work." Chambers nodded, continuing to work on her patient.

"What about the engineers and the pattern enhancers?"

"I can't raise them," Davies shook his head. "Travis hasn't come back either."

"Find anyone you can. We need a new rally point if that field is so unstable."

"My orders are to stick with you," he said, scanning the ruined colony for any sign of movement. "At least until Travis or one of the others is here."

"It's not going to make much difference if we don't start getting people together." He nodded and started trying to raise anyone he could find to arrange a new meeting place and coordinate their efforts.

With the loss of the shuttles, everyone was scattered. Dr. Crusher, who reported that she was trapped in one of the shuttles tending to wounded, so could be of limited help in that regard. "Alright," Davies called on a general frequency. "The town square is relatively free of debris. It's small for a shuttle, but we can manage. Try to get the colonists there. All of the buildings there have collapsed, but the way in is clear. Less chance of something falling on our heads."

Acknowledgements came in and Travis returned in time to pick up the wounded male Chambers had finally stabilized. The security officer was covered in dirt and limping slightly but insisted he was fine.

They made their way to the central square and found people already gathering there. Dr. Graham had already established an area for triage the colonists left on the ground were being tended to. As soon as her patient was made as comfortable as possible, she joined the search for other survivors with Travis accompanying her. Davies had found himself much in demand as the senior security officer available; so he stayed to coordinate. Their search was largely fruitless until they heard a faint sound from the forest. Both followed the sound till they reached a fissure in the ground opened by a previous quake.

Deborah dropped to her knees at the edge of the fissure and called out. There was a frantic response from whoever was down there. It sounded like a young girl. "Hello? Can you hear me?"

"I hear!" a young girl called up. "I fell going home!"

"Don't worry. We'll get you out," Deborah assured her. "What's your name?" She looked over at Travis who was already speaking quietly to people at the square.

"Aela," the voice answered. Deborah still couldn't make her out in the shadows below and wondered how far down she was.

"Don't get too close to the edge," Travis warned, glancing over at them. "Someone is coming with a rope." Deborah nodded and turned back to the fissure.

"Aela? Are you hurt?"

There was a second's hesitation. "No."

"Are you stuck? Will we be able to pull you out when the rope arrives?"

"Not stuck. Who you? Don't know any Deborah."

"Our ship answered your distress call. We're evacuating everyone."

There was another hesitation. "You not Vatai?" she asked a note of worry in her voice.

"No. I'm Human. You don't need to be afraid, though. You'll find we're quite friendly. I'll get you out of there soon and-" a new tremor chose that moment to strike, pitching her head-first into the fissure. She snatched at roots and outcropping as she fell, managing to slow herself and get her feet under her before she landed, barely. "Or," she finished lamely, struggling to her feet on the floor of the cave where she found herself, "maybe I'll just join you down here."

There was an ebon-skinned girl with fine white hair hanging to her waist, regarding her with an unreadable expression. The girl glanced up at the opening above them then back at her. "That's not helpful."

Deborah rolled her eyes. "At least you didn't say 'thanks for dropping in.'" Aela blinked in confusion. "Never mind. Now we both need to get out of here." She turned to look around. The cave was surprisingly spacious and had two exits, not counting the one in the ceiling. It was actually, she realized, a wide spot in a tunnel. "How extensive are these caves?"

"They under everything," the girl, who looked about 12 if Human standards were applicable, shrugged. "Quakes make too dangerous to play in. Mama said…"

"Your mother?" Aela had broken off and was staring at the ground. The girl shook her head. Deborah frowned slightly, guessing that, for one reason or another, the girl's mother wasn't around anymore. Deciding not to press, she called up to Travis, who she could see against the afternoon light. "Travis! We're both okay. When can we expect that rope?"

"It's coming," he promised. "Just sit tight and try not to fall down any more holes."

"Funny," she scowled up at him. "In the meantime, follow your own advice and get back. We don't need you down here, too." He nodded and moved out of sight. "Don't worry," she said, turning back to Aela. "We'll be out of here soon." Aela regarded her curiously for a moment then nodded.

"Are the translators still not working right?" Deborah wondered aloud.

"Understand you," Aela answered. "You just say things weird."

Deborah smiled. "You're not the first to say so." The ground began to shake at that point and she grabbed Aela and pulled her away from the opening in the roof as soil and rocks began to cascade into the chamber. The shaking continued and the rocks got bigger. "This way, not safe here anymore." She led the way into the tunnel seconds ahead of the collapse of the cave behind them. They stumbled along, being thrown against the walls of the tunnel and Deborah found the girl clinging to her. She wrapped her arms around Aela's head to protect her from collisions with the wall and tried to absorb as many of the impacts as she could. When the shaking stopped they found themselves in another section of tunnel, stable for the moment, but in complete darkness. It was narrow and made Deborah feel decidedly claustrophobic, so she pressed on until it widened out into a larger cavern.

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" Aela moaned, still clinging to her. Deborah gave her a comforting hug and tried to calm her as she fumbled a light from her kit and shone it around. She wasn't feeling exactly safe herself, she still felt closed in and trapped, but she did her best to comfort the girl. After a moment of being hugged and having her hair stroked, Aela loosened her grip and looked up. The light helped them both. "How get out?" she asked.

"Not sure," she admitted, deliberately keeping to simple sentences and ideas to make the translator's job easier and avoid confusing Aela. "There must be openings to the surface. We find one. We get out." She tapped her combadge but got no response. The rock, she reasoned, must have some mineral in it that interfered with the signal. That meant they'd have to find an opening of some sort to even be able to call for help. "Let's keep moving," she sighed. Shining the ahead of them, she took Aela by the hand and started walking.

The two pressed on through the tunnel only a short way before the feeling of fear and claustrophobia began to become overwhelming. Aela was feeling it too and clung to her hand almost painfully. The feeling got worse, strangely, as the tunnel widened into a fair-sized chamber. Part of the room had collapsed, and Deborah suspected another quake would bring the rest down as well. Aela was fidgeting madly, and Deborah desperately wanted to move on as well, but suddenly, something changed.

Both stopped as they felt a surge of desperate hope. What? Deborah stopped in confusion and glanced at Aela, who looked just as baffled. An image of the pile of stone off to the side of the chamber filled her mind. Both turned toward it. "I think someone is asking for help," Deborah ventured. She couldn't think of another explanation, not that it made any real sense to her. She had met Betazoids and Vulcans, who were both telepathic species, but she'd never had an image projected into her mind before. Handing the light to Aela and asking her to keep it focused on her, she moved toward the pile and started carefully shifting rock. "Stay back," she warned the Vatai girl. "This could collapse and I don't want you hurt." Aela stayed back and watched as Deborah dug into the pile.

Clearing the area around the pile came first so she could safely approach and work at the opening without tripping over rocks in the dark. That took a little time, and the sense of urgency she was being bombarded with didn't help. When the area was clear, she began to move stones from the top of the pile, carefully choosing each one so to prevent the entire pile from shifting and coming down on her. She was soon panting and sweating, her hands were acquiring an impressive collection of scrapes and bruises, but she kept going.

Gradually, an opening came into view. The light Aela held revealed another chamber off to the side, blocked by the cave-in. In the dim light, she could barely make out a shape. Someone, she was now certain, was trapped in there. Gradually, Deborah widened the opening but knew it would take a while before it was large enough for anyone to come through. So it was a considerable shock when a shape she couldn't really make out darted through the opening which was barely the size of her head.

Whatever it was landed on her and wrapped itself around her body while bombarding her with feelings of warmth and gratitude. The empathic projection was the only thing that kept Deborah from panicking. She knew the creature meant her no harm. She'd never seen anything quite like it before. The alien looked, for all the world, like a feather boa. The tricorder retrieved from her kit revealed a complex biology and a well-developed, if strangely arranged, brain.

"Hello there," she said, stroking its odd covering. It felt like the feathers of a bird and stroking it seemed to have a calming effect. "Tricorder doesn't show any obvious injuries. Are you hurt anywhere?" The creature raised its head and regarded her with one of its three eyes; at least, the delicate structures on top and on either side of the head were probably eyes according to the tricorder. It seemed to consider the question for a moment, and then a sense of well-being washed over her followed by a wave of fatigue.

"So… unhurt, but tired? That's good." After a moment, Aela hesitantly approached. The creature turned an eye toward her and she stopped. A sense of approval emanated from the creature an Aela stepped forward and stroked the soft feathers.

"Nice."

The creature radiated mild amusement for a second before turning its head sharply toward the ceiling and the sense of urgency returned. Deborah got them moving again, and barely a moment after they'd left the chamber, another tremor brought it crashing down.

Deborah sighed when the shaking stopped. "I don't suppose you know how to get out of here?" she asked the creature, only to get confusion as a response. "And I thought talking to the Vatai was tricky," she muttered. "Um… Where is the way out?" She tried picturing the surface as it might be viewed from just inside a cave. A flash of comprehension followed by regret was her answer. "No clue, same as the rest of us." She considered asking where the creature had come from and how it got trapped, but suspected that that was well beyond the creature's ability to understand or at least to respond to.

"What name?" Aela asked. Deborah glanced at the girl, who was still holding the light for them. She played it around the tunnel floor ahead, but was looking at the creature who seemed content to cling to Deborah. The alien radiated polite confusion.

"How do you identify yourself?" Deborah tried. Comprehension. A confusing series of images and impressions filled their minds and both bipeds stopped in their tracks, blinking rapidly as if they'd suddenly had a strong light shined in their eyes.

"Can't pronounce that," Aela complained, and Deborah repressed a laugh.

"Would you object if we found something to call you that we could manage?" Deborah asked politely. They received an impression of amused acceptance. "Guess that's a 'yes.'"

Aela thought for a moment. "Names important," she offered thoughtfully. "Should mean something." She thought for a moment. "Hessa!"

"Hessa?" Deborah asked a flash of curiosity came from the newly christened Hessa.

"Flower from homeworld, Evtasi. We tried to grow here, but it wouldn't. Hessa same color as you. Looks delicate, but grows in hard to live places."

"Delicate but tough? I like that." Deborah smiled at the girl and Hessa radiated approval. "Hessa it is, then." It seemed odd to her, Deborah thought, how easily she adapted to Hessa's odd means of communication. She'd never encountered or even heard of anything like it before. Putting aside scientific curiosity for the time being, she got the small group moving again.

They pushed on through the tunnels, weathering more quakes and pausing periodically to rest and to try Deborah's combadge. They tried to be systematic about their choices of which turns they took in the tunnels, but there is no real pattern in a natural cave system and the larger caverns and tunnels were as likely to collapse as the small ones. More than once, their progress was blocked by a collapsed tunnel and they had to backtrack. There was still no response to Deborah's hails after several hours of searching.

She tried to keep up the others' spirits by talking, but attempts tended to fall flat. The three had too little in common, and communication was difficult.

They settled in one of the larger chambers, near one of the entrances, in case they had to run. "Getting tired of this," Deborah sighed as she settled on an outcropping to rest her tired feet and growing collection of bruises. Hessa moved off and coiled on the floor nearby. Aela just plopped down on the floor and stared at the ground. "I need to turn out the light for a while. Don't want to run out of power."

The light could be kept on for days, but there was no point exhausting it if it wasn't necessary, and they had no way of knowing how long they would be stuck. Aela nodded and Hessa consented, so the light went off. "Will ship leave?" Aela asked timidly.

"Not if they have a choice," Deborah answered, trying to sound more confident than she was. The sensors couldn't penetrate the rock any more than her com signal could. She pulled out her tricorder and did another scan of the area. As before, it showed no reliable readings beyond the next bend in the tunnel. The only good news is that it, once again, showed no indications that anything lived in the caves. Dealing with a local predator was the last thing they needed at the moment.

"Aela? Can you tell us about Evtasi?" Deborah asked in an effort to distract the girl and herself. Aela looked up at the source of the voice, even though she could not see the older female. It was a question that was easy and complex and she thought a moment before answering.

"Born here. Don't know much about Evtasi."

"You've been on the planet your whole life?" This seemed to startle Deborah. "That can't have been easy. When did the quakes start?"

"Always quakes," she said after taking a moment to puzzle out what the Human meant. "Not bad till fifteen rotations ago." She wanted to put off more questions about her life on the colony so asked a question of her own. "What ship like?"

"The Enterprise is the Federation flagship. I serve as a doctor on board. It's a beautiful ship, and has some of the best people serving on her. They won't leave us if they have any choice at all, so don't worry."

Aela nodded, even though Deborah couldn't see it. "Why you help Vatai? Know the people?"

"No. You just seemed to need help. We've never met the Vatai and don't really have anything to gain." She looked to Hessa. "What about you Hessa? Are you native to this planet?"

There was a sense of confusion for a moment, and Deborah quietly kicked herself for the phrasing. Then an image was projected to them of passing stars and the planet they were stranded on from orbit.

"So you're not native," Deborah concluded. "Any chance your ship can help us?" The answer was a flash of regret and an image of a buried alien vessel, probably Hessa's. "Too bad. Guess that means you'll be leaving with me and Aela, unless you've grown fond of this place."

The answer carried a decidedly sour note and what Deborah suspected was a comment on her sense of humor.

"Why you come here?" Aela asked. "Why anyone come here on purpose?" Neither of them understood the answer to that.

"You're an explorer?" Deborah ventured. The answer was a qualified yes, but she didn't understand the qualifier. "We may be able to help you get home, find your own people." A mixture of gratitude and sadness was her response. Deborah hesitated, not sure what to make of that, and decided not to press. "First things first, though. We have to get out of here."

She was about to rise to her feet when she noticed Aela's hair. Her white locks were dimly visible whereas before the chamber had seemed completely black. "What's wrong?" Aela asked.

"There's light in here," Deborah answered, looking about carefully for the source. "Not a lot, but maybe…" She hit her combadge, hoping that even a small opening to the surface would be enough. "Chambers to Enterprise; come in please."

"Enterprise, here. Dr. Chambers?" Lt. Worf's voice answered. "What is your…situation?"

"I'm stuck in a cave system under the colony with two others. Can you transport us out?"

"Please repeat….transmission unclear."

"Can you beam us out?" she asked, trying to keep the message short and simple.

"Negative. The transporters….a lock." There was a moment of silence. "Stand by." After a moment of silence, another voice came through, much clearer.

"Dr. Chambers, this is Captain Picard. What is your status?"

"I'm trapped in a network of caves below the surface with two others. We have to keep moving because the caves keep collapsing when a tremor hits. Haven't found a way out yet."

"Communication is proving difficult, doctor. Minerals in the rock block most signals and render the sensors all but useless. Atmospheric conditions aren't helping much, either. You'll have to find a way to the surface before we can retrieve you." There was a slight rumble and Deborah turned on the light and gestured to the other two.

"We'll do our best, captain. It would help if someone on the surface could give us an idea of which way to go." Hessa wound her way up Deborah's arm and around her shoulders while Aela took her other hand.

"We're currently using available resources to rescue personnel from the buried shuttles. We'll divert a shuttle to mapping the cave system as soon as we're able." She got them moving toward a new tunnel as the shaking intensified.

"Thank you. We'll hang on till then. I don't think we can stay in our current location, long, though."

"We'll find you," Picard promised, even as the shaking grew worse. The clatter of falling stones got the group moving more quickly.

"I'll check in when I'm able. Chambers out." The group moved on. The tunnels were level for the most part, but some sloped up and others led deeper into the ground. The first sort gave them hope, but each tunnel leading up turned out to be blocked by a cave-in.

There were awkward attempts to make conversation, not all of which were understood by the others. All but the simplest of Hessa's projections were met with confusion and fumbling responses. Aela's questions about the Enterprise and Federation gained her answers she didn't really understand, as they were too far outside her experience.

This led to prolonged periods of silence which seemed to suit them best. They helped each other without being asked. Deborah lifted Aela over difficult areas, while Hessa would investigate partially caved in tunnels to see if digging through was worth the effort. In the process, the two humanoids learned that Hessa could move objects with her mind, provided they weren't too large or tightly wedged in place. Sadly, none of her investigations bore fruit. The caved in sections were either dead ends or too unstable to risk digging through. Each such discovery depressed them and each time one would take on the task of comforting the others

When Aela was too tired and beginning to despair, Deborah would pull the girl into a hug while Hessa wrapped herself around both of them, knowing to a telepathic certainty that Deborah was just better at hiding her distress. When Hessa herself returned from one of her explorations, frustrated by yet another dead end, Aela would carry her for a time, stroking her feathers and humming a children's song she had always enjoyed.

Deborah found it ironic that the three communicated best when they didn't try. That didn't mean that she gave up on the idea of better communications with the other two. Hessa hadn't given up either. It was she who asked Deborah about her family.

Deborah puzzled out the images of a group of humanoid shapes and the projected sense of belonging after a moment. "You want to know about my family?" She got confirmation and a curious look from Aela as they settled down to rest once more. "Not much to tell. It's just me and my folks, and they split up while I was at the Academy. I see one of them every once in a while, but never together, not anymore."

"Why not?" Aela asked.

"They stopped getting along," Deborah shrugged. "It got to the point they were arguing all the time. Neither one was happy. Not long after I was out of the house and living at the academy, they split up."

"Humans not mate for life?" Aela asked.

"No. Ideally, matches last a life time, but that's not always the case." She looked curiously at the girl. "Vatai mate for life?"

"Yes," the girl nodded. "Mates….chemistry?" She broke off. "Hard explain."

"Hard to explain," Deborah's lips quirked in a slight smile. "That's true for every species. What about your family?"

"Only father and me now," Aela said sadly. "Mama gone."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Deborah said quietly, as Hessa projected bit of sadness. "Well at least you and your father will soon be moving to a safer place."

"Hope he safe," Aela murmured worriedly.

"There's no sense assuming the worst," Deborah advised. Aela nodded glumly. "Can you tell us about your family, Hessa?"

There was a pause as the alien considered. Then she projected an image of dozens, if not hundreds of creatures near identical to her. Then an image of what must have Hessa departing her world and a crushing sense of loneliness. The others shuddered and withdrew a bit. Hessa quickly sent an apology.

"It's…alright," Deborah sent after a moment. She gave Aela a one-armed hug that they both needed before focusing on their friend again. "You're a very social people, aren't you? You need to be around others of your kind?"

Hessa projected agreement.

"So why did you leave?" Aela asked. The response was slow in coming, and when it did, it didn't make much sense. "You had to leave?" Aela ventured. "They forced you?" A negative response.

"It was something that needed to be done," Deborah ventured. "It didn't have to be you, but you went anyway?" After a moment, she got a qualified yes, but the qualifier was beyond her ability to interpret, something that would have frustrated all of them if they weren't so tired. "We'll get better at communicating," Deborah promised. "Which reminds me." She tapped her combadge. "Chambers to Enterprise, do you read?" There was no response. "Let's keep moving," she sighed.

It was about an hour later, when someone got through to her. "Crusher to Chambers, can you hear me?"

"Chambers he- Ow!" Deborah cried nearly tripping in surprise and eagerness to hear from the ship, startling Aela and alarming Hessa who was riding her shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Crusher's concerned voice came through clearly as Deborah found a place to sit so she could rub her abused shin.

"I'm fine, but my shin has seen better days." Hessa sent a pulse of concern and curiosity. "Hmm? Oh, a shin is a device Humans use to find things in the dark." Aela giggled and then giggled harder when they both felt Hessa deciding not to ask. Deborah wondered briefly how she could 'feel' that.

"We've finished the evacuation, and we're using the shuttles sensors at close range to try to map the cave system," Crusher said, making her own decision not to ask.

"Please tell me we're near an exit," Deborah sighed.

"Sorry, you've got a way to go, but we can guide you out."

"Best news we've heard all day," Deborah answered. "So, which way from here?" All three perked up at the news and found new strength.

"Follow the tunnel you're in now until you reach a branch and take the right-hand tunnel." They started moving again, getting as much information as they could before the minerals in the soil cut off communications again. They wove their way through the tunnels, through wide airy caverns and narrow, rubble choked tunnels, over unstable piles of boulders and across a fast flowing underground stream.

During their rest stops, which grew more frequent over time, Dr. Crusher tried to distract them, but the conversations she overheard were a bit confusing. "I understand you grew up on Earth."

"Born and raised," Deborah confirmed.

"Is your family still there?"

"My mom is. Dad lives on the Cygnus colony. Guess they decided they couldn't share a single star system."

There was an awkward pause, and Hessa sent another pulse of confusion. Aela explained. "They split up after she left for the Academy." This seemed to baffle the smaller alien as well.

"Oh. Siblings?"

"No," Deborah answered a bit wistfully, "which is a shame I always wanted a little sister. After they had me I guess they didn't sibble anymore."

There was another awkward pause and Aela spoke again. "Dr. Crusher?"

"Yes?"

"Was that a bad word or is she just not making sense?" Deborah laughed at this and Hessa sent her a pulse of fond exasperation as Deborah assured the girl it was the latter.

The communication was intermittent and more quakes complicated matters, but eventually, they did come to a blocked opening that Beverly Crusher assured them was a way out. As they listened, they could hear people at work on the other side. They were quite happy to follow instructions and just wait, well back from the entrance.

The crew outside worked quickly but carefully, predicting another quake inside an hour. They barely made it. The ground was starting to shake when O'Brien told them they had enough of an opening to transport the three of them out of the cave. All the remaining crew were beamed up together as well, leaving the planet to shake in peace.

They materialized in the transporter room to find Commander Riker waiting for them. "Welcome back, Dr. Chambers." Then his eyes scanned the transporter pad. "I was told you were bringing aboard two survivors."

"I did," she answered.

"Where is the other? And-" Hessa raised her head from Deborah's shoulder and looked at Riker, causing the first officer to pause with his mouth open. "Oh."

Aela looked up at Hessa and then at Riker. "What feather boa? And should Hessa take offense?"

Deborah mustered a tired chuckle and shook her head. "Can I try answering that after a meal, a shower and eight hours sleep?" She glanced at the 'feather boa.' "Okay, 10 hours."

"I think that can be arranged," Riker answered smoothly, getting over his surprise. "Quarters have been arranged for the Vatai; I'll escort you. I'm sure you're eager to find your parents."

Aela nodded, but didn't let go of Deborah's hand. "I'll go with you," Deborah promised. Riker read the situation and nodded.

"This way, then. Most of those not in sickbay are gathered in cargo bay two." He led the way to the makeshift refugee camp. There were a depressingly small number of Vatai there, but still too many to assign individual quarters even if they hadn't insisted on staying together.

There was a common area, where most were gathered as well as partitions set up for private sleeping areas. Captain Picard was there, speaking to an elderly Vatai who seemed to have been made spokesman for the group. Aela looked around hopefully as they reached the main group, but she soon frowned. "Papa?" she called. "Where are you, papa?"

Several of the Vatai turned to look at her, and then hastily looked away, returning to whatever it was they'd been doing. Deborah glanced at the Vatai and finally at Aela in confusion. The reactions of the others visibly alarmed the girl. She began moving frantically through the bay. Each of the Vatai turned from her, only a few giving her a sad look before doing so. Finally, the elder called to her.

"I am sorry child; Metlis of House Ketha is dead. You are alone." He seemed extremely uncomfortable speaking to her for some reason, but after a moment, steeled himself to do so. There are none here of your blood. Are there any on the homeworld?"

Aela hesitated for a moment, and then looked at her feet. "No," she said in a small voice.

"That is unfortunate. Until homeward passage can be arranged and the appropriate institutions notified, you will serve the community as best you are able. Try to conduct yourself accordingly." His tone was cool and businesslike, completely, in Deborah's opinion, inappropriate for dealing with a child who'd lost her father.

She glanced at the captain for some cue. He was maintaining a fine poker face, always the consummate diplomat, and it was impossible to tell what he might be making of all this. She was about to step forward to speak to the elder when she felt a burst of anger. Everyone in the room felt it apparently as everyone but herself and Aela flinched and glanced about in alarm. Hessa launched herself from Deborah's shoulders and flattening her body, glided the short distance to Aela and wrapped herself around the crying girl.

The elder stepped back in alarm as did several others. Picard moved to intervene, but Deborah stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Its fine, Captain; Aela's in no danger. Hessa gives the best hugs." The captain looked startled, but didn't have time to respond before Deborah moved to enfold both Aela and Hessa in her arms.

There was nothing anyone could say to comfort Aela, but Hessa had apparently found a way. Deborah felt it as she hugged them. The alien's efforts were mostly directed toward Aela, but those around them could still feel her projections. Warmth, acceptance, affection, belonging.

The three were the center of attention. Crew and refugees alike stared in surprise and confusion, although each group was confused for a different reason. None of the Starfleet crew had ever seen anything quite like Hessa. Scientific curiosity was aroused, even in those who had no interest in the biological sciences, in the sudden appearance of such a remarkable creature.

The Vatai, while equally unfamiliar with Hessa's race, were confused by the reactions of the two aliens. The elder looked to Picard. "I do not understand this, Captain."

"I think we are all a little surprised Elder Havas," Picard answered honestly.

"They treat this one like blood, but they are of different species. Yet, she is nothing to them."

"Nothing?" Picard glanced at the elderly Vatai in surprise.

"She is too young to find a place in society and has no blood to guide her or take care of her. They treat her like blood."

"Are you saying that orphaned children have no standing in your culture?" Picard asked, remembering his past dealings with Cardassians and some of the things he'd heard about them.

Havas seemed uncomfortable with the question, but nodded. "You are an outsider, and such things are not discussed with outsiders, but you have been beyond generous." He paused. "It is a difficult topic." Havas began. "While her circumstances are regrettable, it doesn't change the fact that she is too young to contribute to the community. Among our people, to be so young and without blood…it is to be as nothing."

Only his years of experience as a ship's captain and diplomat kept Picard's reaction from showing. "Nothing? I don't understand," he said honestly.

"On Evtasi, there are institutions that take in and train such cases. They are taught to be useful to society in whichever way is deemed appropriate for them. When they are of proper age and their debt to society is paid, they have the opportunity to reenter our society properly."

"I see." Picard offered in his best diplomatic manner. It wasn't after all, his place to judge their laws or customs.

"I see why you don't discuss it with outsiders," Deborah offered looking up. "If Humans treated children so atrociously, I'd be ashamed too."

"Dr. Chambers," Picard snapped.

"It's alright, Captain Picard," Havas intervened. "We have both encountered new species who do not understand or approve of how our societies function. Her reaction is not new to us. I don't seek understanding or approval. This is simply how it is for us."

"It doesn't have to be that way for Aela," Deborah disagreed. "If you two agree, I'd like to take her in."

Picard, Havas and Aela were taken by surprise. "Doctor, are you sure?" Picard asked.

"I am. Don't look so surprised," she said, looking down at Aela. "I did say I'd always wanted a little sister." Aela looked dumbfounded at first, but a hopeful smile spread across her face.

"While I do not understand your willingness," Havas allowed, "I have no objection. Perhaps you could give her a better life."

"What about Hessa?" Aela asked hesitantly. "Will we help her get home?"

"If we can. In the meantime, plenty of room in my quarters for both of you." She glanced at the captain. "She's got no means of returning home, sir. Her ship was destroyed on the planet. I don't really know how to find her home, though. Communication with Hessa is… kind of limited."

"We'll do what we can to help her," the captain promised.

"In the meantime," Chambers offered, tiredly. "I had this plan that involved food and lots of sleep. With your permission, sir?"

"Of course, doctor. Good night."

Deborah nodded, then turned and left with Aela and Hessa.

On their way to her quarters, they encountered Counselor Troi who asked about what she'd felt, all the way from the bridge. Deborah assured her she'd get a full briefing after the three of them got some food and sleep. Troi nodded sympathetically and said she looked forward to it.

The rest of the trek was without incident. Deborah opened the door. "Welcome home."

Aela glanced up at her with a tentative smile. "Thank you." Deborah nodded.

"Let's get cleaned up, have some food and then sleep." Aela nodded and she settled her guests on the couch while she got them some food. Deborah wasn't sure what to get for Hessa or how to ask, but it wasn't an issue for the moment, as the serpent had fallen asleep on the way to her quarters. Aela was asleep as soon as she sat down. "Ah, sleep," Deborah murmured as she headed for a sonic shower to get the planet's dust off of her. "I remember sleep…sort of."

A quick shower later and she emerged dressed for bed. She stared at the replicator for a moment, weighing her options and then, ignoring her bed, settled on the couch with the other two and drifted off without eating.