The Children of Vaal (Revised)

Chapter Four

Soon after her initial shock of seeing the man who nearly killed her in her dream, Deanna soon began to feel the effects of Crusher's tranquilizer. Those present soon became aware of this and became very concerned.

"Deanna, are you all right?" Crusher asked worriedly, waving a medical scanner over her head.

"Your counselor does not look well, Captain." Makora observed.

"It's probably the tranquilizer I just gave her, Ambassador. I think I may have given her a stronger dose than I intended to."

"So you unintentionally harm your own people?" Makora asked with wonder.

Riker had entered the room as the ambassador spoke and greeted his old Pegasus shipmate politely. He also soon had a concerned look on his face.

"She is not harmed, Ambassador." Picard answered quietly. "Doctor, does Deanna need to go to sickbay?"

"I believe so, sir." Crusher answered, checking her scanner readings. "I think she will be all right, though. She could even go to her quarters if she wants to. She just needs to sleep off the effects of the tranquilizer. After that nightmare she had last night, I bet she didn't get much REM sleep. She does look a little frazzled."

"I...I would rather go to my quarters if you don't mind, sir." Deanna answered softly, trying without much success not to make eye contact with Akunna and trying to stay awake, still uncomfortable with the vibes she was getting from him.

"Very well, Deanna. Will, please accompany her."

"I don't think she will be able to stand." Crusher said, once again waving a medical scanner over her as Deanna plexed.* Crusher tapped her communicator, becoming very concerned about Deanna's unusual reaction to the drug. "Crusher to sickbay. Medical emergency, observation lounge. Bring a stretcher and two orderlies STAT."

"I...I will be all right. I just need to sleep this off, Beverly."

Picard glanced over at the two alien guests worriedly. "I am concerned that you might have more bad dreams, Deanna."

"I can block any bad dreams she might have." Norz offered gently. "She will not be disturbed and I will make sure her dreams will be pleasant."

Riker smiled at his friend.

"We could have used your help a few years ago, Norz. We had an issue with a powerful telepathic alien who was continuously sending Deanna strange music only she could hear.** I didn't know your people had that ability."

"We have many abilities that we do not like to talk about." Norz replied cryptically, glancing at poor Deanna, who had now lost consciousness.

"I am curious, Mr. Norz." Picard said, watching with increasing concern as the orderlies arrived and placed Deanna on a stretcher and took her out of the room. Crusher followed close behind. Norz stood, ready to accompany them. "What do you really look like?"

"Believe me, Captain, when I say that my true appearance would frighten all of you. By human standards, I am quite hideous."

"Very well, Mr. Norz. Please go to sickbay now and help Deanna."

"Aye, sir."

"I do sincerely hope that your counselor will recover, Captain." Makora said graciously, glancing up at his aid, who was still standing and watching as Norz left for sickbay. "Akunna, you are hovering around like a Terran vulture. Please sit or go back to our planet. You made the fire-haired doctor nervous." Unknown to all of them, Akunna was an expert pickpocket and had gotten close enough to Crusher to switch hypos. He knew about Data's observation skills and was glad that the android was not in attendance. He was ordered to stay on the bridge, for the captain wanted him to monitor the planet for any more signs of overt hostility.

"But...Ambassador...I was ordered to be your body guard while on board the Enterprise. I cannot abandon you here."

"I can take care of myself, Akunna. You may go back to Vaal if you wish. Do not worry. I will be all right. If they harm me, the war with them will escalate."

Akunna gave the Vaalian salute.***

"Worf, please accompany Mr. Akunna to transporter room three." Picard ordered softly.

"Acknowledged." Worf answered. "This way, Mr. Akunna." As the Vaalian turned to leave, none of them saw the devious smile on his face as he and the Klingon security guard parted for the transporter room.

"Now, Captain Picard of the starship Enterprise. You wanted to know the story of my people and why most of us fear and hate you?"

"Yes, Ambassador. I want to know also why your people have declared war with us."

Makora looked out of the window at the stars and tears brimmed in his eyes.

"Seventy-five years ago, we were a peaceful happy people...until the arrival of the one called Kirk. He destroyed our culture and our way of life when he deactivated our god machine, Vaal. Vaal protected us from the dangerous effects of our sun, from bad weather, communicable diseases and from overpopulation."

"So you are saying that when Kirk knocked out Vaal, he caused your planet to revert to it's true weather patterns and the protections that the machine had given to you were gone." Picard said thoughtfully.

"Ambassador, you mentioned overpopulation." Riker said curiously while Makora nodded. "A while ago, Deanna told us that seventy-five percent of your planet's population was wiped out from those disasters."

"After our people gradually became accustomed to the changes and harsh conditions of the shifting weather patterns, our people started to try to repopulate our world. Vaalian females are not like Earth females. Our women can have several offspring at once, like tribbles. Because of my wife's illness, we only had two children. Our people suffered greatly. When my wife died, I went a little crazy and vowed revenge against Kirk and your Federation. My children also witnessed and were deeply effected by their mother's death." More tears formed in Makora's eyes and ran down his cheeks as he spoke. "A terrorist splinter group formed on our planet that called itself the Children of Vaal. They have claimed responsibility for destroying Scott and his shuttle. I fear that your ship and your people are in danger, Captain. I have since forgiven Kirk, but I cannot forget what happened to my people. I do eventually want to normalize relations between our two peoples, but it will probably be a long and difficult path to peace." Makora took a deep breath, and then continued. "I...want to trust you, Picard, but I am not sure I can."

"Well, you have dismissed your body guard." Picard said gently. "That, at least is a beginning. Ambassador Makora, we are not here to invade or conquer you, and we certainly do not wish to violate the Prime Directive like Kirk obviously did. We also have some good news to offer you."

"Prime Directive? What is that? And what is this good news you speak of?"

"You don't know what the Prime Directive is, sir?" Picard asked in astonishment.

"No, please explain."

"It looks like Captain Kirk did not tell you about this very important law, sir. It states that none of us can interfere in the normal development of alien cultures. He violated this law and we did not even know it until now. I am sorry, Ambassador. He should have told you about it."

"If he had, Captain," Riker added thoughtfully, "He would have not been allowed to continue with his historic five year mission to explore new worlds and new civilizations. Ambassador, we deeply regret what he did to you and your people."

"I see." Makora said a little doubtfully, but noted the sincere looks on their faces. "What is this good news you speak of?"

"There is strong evidence, Ambassador, that Ensign Shalana is still alive." Riker said with a smile.

"Is this a joke, Captain?" Makora asked a bit irritably. "If so, it is not very funny. My daughter died on the Pegasus along with her shipmates." They all stared at him in astonishment.

* A Betazoid method of relaxation, used when under stress. See "Realm of Fear" for details.

** "The Survivors"

*** "The Apple"