Chapter 7.

He felt his knees buckle beneath him as he heard Will's words. The stress of the last few days finally taking a toile on his weakened body. He had been through so much in the last few days. Materialising without his VISOR, almost drowning in the swollen river, Zeak's frenzied attack and now this. The discovery of his face engraved on the old tablet. Beverly was at his side instantly catching him before he injured himself further. His face had a pained mask and his skin had gone sallow, as she gently helped him sit on the damp ground. In the distance the rumble of thunder could be heard as storm clouds gathered above them. After a few minutes Geordi managed to gather up enough strength to speak.

"Commander are you sure its me?"

"There's no doubt about it Geordi. The carving even shows your implants."

Another wave of dizziness hit him and he was glad that he was still seated on the ground.

"We knew it was you from the moment my daughter first spotted you. Now you are here we will be free" Sebastian said. There was a sense of hopefulness in his voice now. Finally the strangers knew the truth and he sensed they wouldn't fail.

"But why me?" Geordi questioned. "How am I going to defeat the person you call the One." He paused before continuing, " I'm nothing special. I can't even-"

"Yes you are" Sebastian interrupted. "Your friends here can see that" He looked across at them "You obviously can see how important he is. I have noticed that since your arrival here one of you has never left his side. One of you has always been with him." Deanna who was sat on the ground next to Geordi sensed absolute belief in what he was saying. Sebastian truly believed that Geordi was some sort of god, a saviour sent from some other place to deliver them from evil that had taken over their world. Turning to face Geordi, Sebastian continued. "Your friends don't leave your side. Why because they know how important you are. They guard you because they do not wish to see you harmed. I don't know why you are finding this hard to believe. You say you do not think you are important and I am finding it difficult to believe you. You were born to be our saviour. You must know that. Your friends know that. Why else are they being so protective towards you? Why are you denying your destiny?"

"What destiny? How can I be the saviour that your stories speak of?" Geordi's said quietly his voice barely audible as the rumble of thunder drew closer. Memories of the previous storm made him shudder. Deanna sensing his increasing fear squeezed his hand gently in reassurance that she was still there.

"I cannot tell you why you have been chosen my friend, but your destiny was predetermined a long time ago and you cannot hide from what fate dictates." Before he could say anymore, footsteps could be heard heading towards them from the direction of the main compound. Turning to see whom it was Sebastian's face broke out in a broad smile. A petite woman with a kindly but weather worn face approached them.

"Sebastian love." She said with tenderness. "What are you doing out here in the dark when there's wild weather heading this way. It will do your back no good if you get wet." The smile on her face was infectious and Will couldn't help but return it as she turned and faced them. "Oh hello sweeties. I wondered where you'd all gone." Her smile faded slightly as she spotted Geordi who was still seated on the ground next to Deanna and Beverly. She sensed she had interrupted something and noticing the strained look on his face her motherly instincts kicked in as she bent down next to him. "How are you feeling lovey?" She enquired. " Leaning over she planted a kiss on his cheek. The unexpected touch caused Geordi to shiver slightly. "Ooh I'm sorry sweetie, I didn't mean to startle you."

"No it's okay. I'm the one who should be sorry," he said apologetically, turning his head in the direction of her voice. "I'm just a little jumpy right now."

"Don't worry Sweetie." She replied with gentleness in her voice that had a natural calming effect. Lucille's peaceful and non-threatening manner was in vast contrast to the deafening chorus of thunder that was gathering momentum in the skies above them. She turned to her husband with a stern, but still loving look. "Sebastian, now that's enough standing around out here in the cold. The weathers on the turn again and our new friends need a good meal inside of them, particularly this young man. You look exhausted Love." Taking Geordi by the hand she tenderly pulled him to his feet. As he stood he felt a wave of disorientation wash over him and his head started to spin again. Swallowing hard he fought back a sensation of nauseousness, but he managed to remain standing. Above them raindrops could be heard falling on the tree tops

"Come, we must head inside." Sebastian announced, "Lucille is right, you don't want to be caught outside once the storm hits us. The rains come quickly and heavily in these parts as you unfortunately discovered earlier my friend" he said turning to face Geordi. "Tara did every thing she could to pull you from the water, but she got to you too late. She wasn't able to reach you and you went under" there was deep emotion in his voice as he spoke of his daughter.

They made there way back to the main compound. The storm that had been threatening was now lashing the wooden structures; Beverly guided Geordi who was still in a very fragile state. Beverly hoped that the promised meal would strengthen him slightly, but she feared that Geordi's current physical state went far deeper than just tiredness, hunger and bodily injury. She knew that the weight of what these people expected from him was sitting heavily on his shoulders. The people of this world seemed to have so much faith in him, and she could tell that the strain of their anticipation was becoming too much for his already weakened body and mind to take.

Deanna watched as Sebastian and Lucille walked hand in hand. She made a mental note to ask them about their daughter. Zeak had indicated that she had been taken by the woman they called the One. Had she been taken for her belief in their so-called prophecy or was it for trying to help Geordi. She also noted to herself that of more importance was to get to the bottom of what exactly Geordi was meant to do. Obviously they believed that he would save them, some how he would defeat this so called One. She turned his attention to the man in question. Geordi was a good officer and the best engineer she had ever had the pleasure of working with, but here and now, she had his doubts that he would be able to achieve anything.

"Is he going to be okay?" Deanna jumped slightly. She had been so focussed on Geordi that she hadn't noticed Will walking besides her.

"I wish I knew Commander. I'm sensing so many emotions from him. Confusion, fear and panic being the main ones." She stopped walking and looked directly at Will before continuing, "Commander, we either need to get this sorted or we need to get out of here now. I don't think he can take much more."

They followed Lucille and Sebastian to a smaller building than the one that they originally visited. They entered through a side door that opened up directly on to a steep staircase, which seemed to lead underground. The welcoming smell of home cooked food wafted through the entrance.

"Come on Sweeties let's find you all something warm to eat and something dry to wear. You will all catch your death if you stay in those wet clothes. " Lucille said, taking Geordi by the hand, resulting in him having to let go of Beverly's arm. Unfortunately she didn't warn him about the stairs and had Will not been following close behind he would have fallen.

"Geordi, stairs" he quickly advised, stopping Geordi in his tracks.

"Thanks Commander" Geordi said meekly, correcting his footing just in time.

Letting go of his hand Lucille touched him gentle on his cheek. "Oh Sweetie you really must look where you are going love. You must be more exhausted than I originally thought.."

Geordi opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Deanna who whispered to him "My god Geordi, I don't think she realises your Blind"

"What?" was his hushed reply. But before he could say anything further they were all ushered down the steep stairs and into a small room similar to the one in which they had freshened up earlier. Lucille excused herself and hurried off to the compound's kitchens to make sure that the eagerly awaited meal was ready to be served. Sebastian hovered in the door way as though he were unsure if he should leave his visitors alone on not. An awkward silence filled the room and after a few moments he also excused himself promising to back shortly to escort them to the dining area

They all remained silent for a while after Sebastian had left the room. It was only after they had all changed into dry clothing that Will finally spoke.

"Is everyone okay?"

Deanna and Beverly both gave him and encouraging look but didn't say anything they just turned and looked at Geordi who was sat on the floor with his back to the wall. His face was masked in pain leaving Beverly feeling remarkably helpless without the resources of the Enterprises sickbay at her disposable, but for the time being she knew that she could only do her best to make him comfortable and hope that he was given the opportunity to rest, but deep inside her she knew that this wasn't going to happen.

Geordi turned his head in the direction of is friends "What else is this god forsaken place going to throw at me."

"We are going to get to the bottom of this Geordi, I promise." Riker said in reply.

"Yeh sure" Geordi said bitterly "If I live that long" he paused for a moment before slowly rising to his feet. "I just don't get it commander, Why me?" He walked slowly and hesitantly in Will's direction, tripping slightly as his foot caught the edge of a rug. "Dammit. I can't even walk across the room. How the hell am I going to rescue these people?"

"Your not" Riker announced, "Because to do so would be complete breach of the Prime Directive."

"Sir?"

"What ever they think you are here to do Geordi. It is not our place to do it. We are not here to help with any type of emergency. In fact we are not here by choice at all. Whoever this One person is, we cannot interfere. Sebastian says that she is the enslaver of his people. How do we know that he is telling the truth? It is not for us to decide who is right and who is wrong."

"Commander" Deanna interrupted. "I sense no malice from anyone here. I only sense a feeling of hopefulness that appears to coincide with our arrival, or shall I say with Geordi's arrival."

"That may be Deanna but we can't allow ourselves to start being judgemental about things we know very little about. We have only heard one side of the story. Right now our job is to find some way of making contact with the Enterprise."

"If they are still looking for us," Geordi remarked with a hind of dejection in his voice.

"Captain Picard will not have given up on us yet Geordi" but he understood his friends concerns. The longer they remained stranded on the planet surface the longer he would be without his sight.

There was a knock at the door and a young woman entered. Will noticed that it was Nisha the young lady they had met earlier in the day.

"Sorry to disturb you" she said apologetically "but Lucille has asked me to show to the dinning room. The feast is ready to be served." She stepped away from the doorway allowing them to pass through in front of her. Beverly noticed that she never once took her eyes off Geordi. She just kept staring at him with a look of awe and wonder. She was glad for a moment that Geordi was unable to see this, as she knew that he was finding his current elevated status uncomfortable. "Thank you" she said to Nisha with a smile. "If the meals tastes as good as it smells then it's going to be wonderful"

"Ooh it will be Miss" Nisha replied. "Lucille is a fabulous cook. Trust me you won't be disappointed." They followed her down a long corridor and into a large room. It appeared to Beverly that communal living must play a large part in the culture of these people as the dinning room housed only a large wooden table, around which about forty people were seated. Nisha quickly excused herself and went and sat down. The room buzzed with an air of expectation as Will and the others entered. Beverly felt Geordi's grip on her arm tighten. Sebastian waved to them from his place at the head of the table.

"Please be seated my friends" he said indicating to four of the vacant seats. Each of the seats were on different sides of the great table, which worried Beverly as it would mean that Geordi would be on his own with no one to assist him. She helped him get seated and went and took her own offered place. Once everyone was settled Sebastian glanced lovingly across the room at his wife before raising his glass in the air. "To absent friends and to the new ones we have met along the way." Everyone raised their own glasses in reply and then they all started to eat. The meal was every bit as good as they anticipated and it was eaten in silence. It was only after everyone had eaten their fill and the majority of the villagers had departed that Sebastian spoke again. He spoke with the confidence of a man in high standing, any hint of is previous hesitance gone. "I have discussed the situation with the village elders and we have decided that it will be best if you leave this evening. Go for a surprise attack under the cover of darkness"

"An attack on where exactly?" Will asked surprised by this declaration.

" On Coreco palace" he replied confused by Will's question. The puzzled look on the faces of the four visitors urged him to explain further. "It's where you will find the One" he paused before looking directly at Geordi. "It is there that you must go to achieve your destiny and my people will be free from the One forever." There was passion in his voice as he spoke.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't have a destiny; Geordi snapped, his irritation finally beginning to show.

Sebastian wouldn't be swayed and continued to press Geordi. "You may not see it now my friend but your time will come. When the opportunity arrives you will know and the prophecy will be fulfilled." If Geordi had been able to roll his eyes he would have done. He realised that there would be no getting through to this man and he was glad when Will came to his rescue.

"Sebastian. I don't know what you expect us," He paused "expect Geordi to do, but whatever it is we can't help. My people have a law that forbids us to from interfering with other cultures. This is one such occasion." He looked around the room before continuing. "Besides which my friends and I more pressing matters to attend to. We arrived here by accident. We are lost and we are extremely grateful for your hospitality, but we must find our way home."

Sebastian and the other men in the room looked stunned at Riker's announcement. They obviously hadn't considered the possibility that their new friends would refuse to help. One more focussing his attention on Geordi "But you are the chosen one." Sebastian said hesitantly

"No I'm not" Geordi replied "as I have said I have no idea how my face came to be engraved on your tablet. If it is indeed me, but I can't help you even if I knew how." Suddenly a thought sprang into Geordi's head. A thought he couldn't shift. What if Sebastian was right? What if somehow he was here to defeat the enemy of these people? What if by sticking to the prime directive he was subjecting them to a life of misery. He didn't know if his idea would work or even if the Commander would agree to it, but maybe just maybe it was worth a try, but he knew he would have to discuss with his commanding officer first. Getting up from his chair he nervously took a step forward hoping that he had a clear path across the room. Deanna who was closest to him rose from her seat to help. "Deanna" Geordi whispered. "I need to speak to the Commander. I have an idea."

Sebastian and the other village elders sat around the table in silence. The air was ripe with anticipation as Will Riker and the other members of the Enterprise crew returned to the dining room. Will took no time with niceties or preamble and went straight to the point.

"Okay, we will go to the palace"

"You will!" Sebastian beamed. "I promise you will not regret your decision. My people will before ever in your debt."

"We will go to the palace, but not for the reasons you think"

"What" Sebastian's smile began to fade.

"I mentioned to you earlier that my laws prevent me from helping you, but we can see how much our presence here means to you. From what you have told us about the woman you call the One she possesses great powers."

"Y-y-yes" Sebastian stammered unsure where this was going.

" It is our hope that she may hold the answers to how we got here and hopefully provide us with a means of returning home." Will was praying that Geordi's hypothesis was correct. If this mysterious enigma was, as they presumed not a native to this planet then she could very possibly have the technology to get them back to the ship and the only way they would find this out would be to meet with her. Will looked directly at Sebastian and saw the beginnings of defeat appearing in the older man's eyes. It was a haunted look that he knew he wouldn't ever forget. "But my people are travellers by nature" Will continue "and over the years we have learnt to believe that nothing is impossible. It is for this reason that we cannot push your beliefs in the teachings of the stone tablet to one side." Sebastian's face began to brighten again "Your faith got us thinking. How did Geordi's face come to be engraved on the tablet in the first place? What if your prophecy is true? What if Geordi has been sent here for a reason?" Deanna squeezed Geordi's hand in support as she sensed his uneasiness returning.

"So you will help us?" Sebastian asked eagerly

"As I said," Will continued "Our laws prohibit this, but" he paused again the atmosphere in the room was tense with expectancy. "What if our mission to get home and your prophecy are connected. If you help us reach the palace then maybe if it is predetermined that Geordi is here to help then perhaps it is inevitable that it will happen whether we agree to help or not. " Realising that they may get the help they so desired after all Sebastian and the other village elders enthusiastically began making plans.

In the darkness outside the dining room a shadowy figure lurked. No one knew he was there. No one knew he was listening to everything being discussed. He knew if he were patient he would gather the information he required. That one vital bit of knowledge that would earn her respect and there it was, the news he had been waiting for. Silently he slipped from his hiding place and as hastily he could left the confines of the commune and disappeared into the darkness, the tempestuous storm concealing the sound of his footsteps on the damp forest floor.

She could hear the thunder in the distance. The cold damp walls of her prison did nothing to block out the sound. She shivered wondering how much longer she was going to be kept waiting. Not that she cared. She no longer cared about anything. She tried to save him but she had been too late. Without him her people had nothing, they had no hope of ever being free and because of her they would be enslaved to the One for ever. What Tara didn't understand was why the One was keeping her waiting. The stories she had heard over the years indicated that the One converted you instantly but she had been sat here in this damp cell for hours. No one had come for her she had had no contact with anyone. For a while she wondered if she was going to be left here to rot but she knew that this was not going to happen. It was not the One's style. The One didn't let her enemies die. That was too easy. She changed them. Turned them into what she knew they feared the most. She turned them into one of her slaves. Tara knew she just had to wait. Her time would come and everything she believed in, everything she had spent her life fighting for would have been for nothing. Her people would never be free and it was her fault. She thought of her Mother and Father. She knew that they would understand what she had been trying to do why she tried to help him. But she feared that her brother would struggle. Zeak never really believed in the prophecy. Not in the way she had and as she sat there in the damp lonely cell her thoughts turned to him and she began to cry.

She paced the room. Watching and waiting, she was afraid. She heard shouting in the distance, but chose to ignore it and focus her attention on the view screens in front of her. She knew that whatever the cause of the commotion she would not be disturbed. Even her closest of allies knew better than to enter this room. The penalty for even attempting to do so was death. There was much speculation as to what was hidden behind that perpetually locked door. Cassandra made sure that no one was ever to find out, for if her secret was ever discovered she knew that she would be finished. The people of this world were hard working but very primitive so therefore easy to manipulate. But they were not stupid. If they were to ever discover the technology hidden in this room they would discover a world far more superior to the one that they had known. They would learn quickly. They would adapt and grow and she couldn't allow that to happen. She had control and she wasn't going to let that change. But it was changing. She feared the prophecy was coming true. Her operatives in the forest had advised her that the travellers had reached the village and worse that the dark one had survived. That should not have happened. Once word of this got out even those who doubted the words of the stone tablet would find their faith restored.

A disturbance interrupted her thoughts. It was only then that she realised that the noise she had heard in the distance was now happening outside in the corridor. Locking the door behind her she swept out of the room.

"What is going on?" she demanded.

"I'm sorry your ladyship. We tried to tell him that you didn't wish to be disturbed but he was having none of it. He says he has news about the visitors that you must hear. " Deema bowed his head as he spoke. He knew better than to make the One angry but the young man with him seemed on a mission to do just that.

But to his surprise it wasn't anger that he saw on her face it was amusement. "Its okay Deema. Let the child speak. He did well in bringing his traitorous sister to me so I will hear him out." She paused waiting for him to speak but Zeak said nothing. "So tell me. What news do you bring me that you feel is of such urgency."

"It's the strangers your ladyship. They have reached my village." The anger that Deema had expecting now erupted.

"Fool" she raged." You said you came with news and all you bring me is nonsense." There was no hiding the displeasure in her voice. "Deema remove this thing from my sight." As she spoke she turned to leave.

Zeak withdrew backwards in fear. He had more information but wasn't sure how she would react. Swallowing hard Zeak finally found the courage to speak. "There coming here" he called after her. Silence filled the corridor as she took in what he had said. Sensing that he had finally given her something his courage started to return. "They leave the village at dawn." Cassandra felt her heart beat quicken at this revelation. Ignoring Zeak completely she turned to Deema her face cold and emotionless and spoke just two words. "Stop them!" and with that she was gone.

Captain Picard sat in his ready room and found himself absently tapping his desk with his fingers. It had been over two days since four of his senior bridge crew had been taken from under his nose and they were no closer to locating them than they had been when they first disappeared. On his desk lay Geordi's VISOR. He picked it up and felt his heart beat quicken as he wondered how his chief engineer was coping without his prosthetic device. Pushing the thought to one side he stood and headed out onto the main bridge.

"Anything Mr Data?" He asked expectantly, even though he already knew the answer.

"Nothing Sir. We cannot seem to find any way of breaking through the energy field. We have continued to send probes down to the surface but they just bounce of the field and are destroyed"

"Keep searching Commander. There has to be a way." He turned and sat in his Command chair noticing not for the first time since their disappearance the empty chairs next to him. He found himself intently gazing at the planet through the view screen and not began to wonder what secrets that protective shield was hiding. He loved a mystery, but not one that put his crew in danger. He knew that each and every one of his senior staff where working with every resource available to them and he knew they wouldn't give up.

"Captain" a deep voice said from the back of the bridge. "I have been examining all the available data and I think its possible that a high intensity phaser blast could weaken the shield enough for us to be able to do a full sensor sweep."

Picard stood and joined his Klingon security chief at the tactical station at the back of the bridge. "What risk would there be to anyone on the planet surface?" he enquired

"Very little Sir." Data answered in reply to the Captain's question. "Even if we are successful in breaking through the shield there should be enough left in place to prevent any damage to the ground below."

"In that case make it so Mr Worf."

"Yes Captain" Worf growled. There was a short moment of silence and then he advised "Phasors ready Sir"

Picard nodded his acknowledgement before issuing his command. "Fire."

The view screens in front of her displayed a frightening scene. She had turned the protective energy field up to maximum, but the constant probing by the ship currently orbiting the planet was beginning to weaken it. She knew they were searching for the dark one and his companions. For the first time since she arrived here Cassandra felt like she was loosing control. Others of her kind had tried to defeat her but they didn't succeed, but they foretold the dark one's arrival and the automatic probe they had put into place scanned every ship that passed by the planet.

She didn't know why this particular vessel bothered her so much. Whilst the presence of the dark one concerned her, she knew that he had no power over her. No one did. Others had tried and failed, as would he. A cold smile appeared on her face as she turned her attention to another of the screens. Did those villagers really believe that they would really take her by surprise? The surprise would be that it was one of their own that had betrayed them. Lost in thought she was startled by the sudden high-pitched bleeping from one of the computer terminals housed in this room, it appeared that the ship had changed its tactics. Staring hard at the information being displayed in front of her she felt her heartbeat quicken as the realization of what was happening dawned on her. Her fear began to turn to anger as she turned and pressed a button on the screen in front of her, but she was too late. She saw the shield slowly begin to buckle as the Enterprise's phasor beam began to bore through the planets defences.