Chapter 10

2367 Earth

"Captain, I almost cannot believe it…but this shuttle is now operational," said Worf.

Picard grinned, punching Worf in the shoulder as they stared at the lit navigational console. "You see, Worf? You see what hard work, ingenuity and the power of will can accomplish?"

Worf turned to frown up at Picard from his seat at the console. "Captain, I mean no disrespect but even human optimism will not get this shuttle as far as Earth's moon…."

Picard smiled even wider. "Worf…we're not going to the moon. We're going to space dock. And once we're at space dock, we'll take the saucer section."

"Given the attacks…we cannot be certain the saucer section is even operational, Captain."

"Mr. Worf, I am beginning to think I am keeping you around mainly to keep me grounded in reality. Since when did I become so hopelessly optimistic?"

"Since you learned you are in the process of producing offspring, sir."

Picard looked down at Worf quizzically. "Worf, you have quite a way with words…and I am sort of glad that I never noticed before."

"Humph," said Worf, getting up from his seat. "Sir, all joking aside…."

Picard raised an eyebrow. "There was a joke somewhere in there?"

Worf shifted his feet. "Sir…we must let the other survivors know about your plan. And we must also discuss how best to locate our family members."

Picard nodded with a sigh. "Yes, you're quite right."

2367 Maxia

"Evasive maneuvers!" Beverly shouted.

"I'm on it," LaForge reported. "Hang on!"

"Marauder is in pursuit," Data stated. "They are continuing to fire on us, but our shields are holding."

"Well…keep them off our backs," Geordi snapped.

"Gladly," said Data. "Firing aft phasers," he reported.

"They seem awfully close," Beverly said looking at the navigational screen from where she Deanna and Wesley were seated. The Ferengi ship loomed, filling the view screen.

"Enemy ship is closing to within 600 meters," Data confirmed calmly. "We are within range of their tractor beam."

"Sirs! I recommend we put on environmental suits. Ferengi have been known to board damaged vessels and we stand a better chance if they try to depressurize the hold," said Wesley, jumping to his feet.

Beverly nodded and started to undo her safety harness, but Troi put a restraining hand on her shoulder. "You stay here, I'll help him." Deanna and Wesley took off running for the supply hold before Beverly could stop them. She sat back down and fixed her eyes on the screen again as the ship shook with another disruptor blast.

"I've got a torpedo bay with no torpedoes," Geordi griped.

"What about the asteroid you hid us behind before, Geordi?" Beverly traced her finger on the screen, and then grabbed the edge of the table as the ship shook again. "It's at…221 mark 33. We'll have to go backwards, but…."

"It's worth a try," LaForge agreed. "Hold on." The belly of the runabout was exposed briefly as LaForge took the ship up into a loop that brought them back over the top of the enormous asteroid. The ship shook and shuddered as the Ferengi fired on them, but he was able to execute the maneuver bringing the ship back into cover.

"Hurry, it's not going to take them long to find us," Wesley warned, helping his mother into her space suit. He looked over at Data. "Sorry, Data, there were only four space suits."

"That is quite alright, Wesley. As you know, I do not require protection from the vacuum of space," Data responded calmly as he manned the ship's weapons.

Deanna sat back down locking her helmet into place. "Oh how I detest space suits," she murmured, fogging up the faceplate.

Geordi slowed the ship's speed and brought it underneath the shadow of the giant asteroid, letting the ship hover in place. He turned around in his seat, grabbing the suit Wesley threw him. "I have an idea," he said shoving his legs into the suit. "They're five times faster than we are, we're out-gunned—"

"But we are not outsmarted, Geordi," Data pointed out.

"I'm still not hearing your idea Geordi," Deanna intoned, sounding hollow and quite critical from inside her helmet.

LaForge scowled as he lowered a helmet onto his own head. "Data, do we have anything on board powerful enough to blow a couple of holes in an asteroid?"

"Yeah, like a concussive charge!" said Wesley excitedly. Everyone turned to look at Data.

Data nodded. "We do have a case of twelve concussive charges in the small weapons hold. However, as Counselor Troi mentioned, we are waiting to hear your idea, Geordi," he said deliberately.

"Okay, okay! Look," said LaForge. "We set all of the charges on the underside of the asteroid. We get their attention…then as they approach we slip underneath and out the other side."

"We just need some way to lure them down," agreed Troi.

"Yep. And then when the Ferengi ship comes down, we set off the charges and… bam!"

"And by 'bam' you mean exactly what…?" Beverly opened her palms expectantly.

"'Bam'," interjected Data. "A loud sound…a sudden impact…an unexpected occurrence-"

"Yeah, that one, Data," LaForge interrupted. "It'll create a diversion at least."

"Geordi, it'll be a good diversion, but we are going to need a hell of a lot more than a diversion to defeat Bok," Beverly said. Geordi spread his arms wide and shrugged as if in a silent plea for her to give him a break.

"Alright," said Beverly finally. "How do we do it?"

"We need to set the charges…then we can set them off remotely from a safe distance," said Wesley.

"I will do it," said Data. "I require no space suit, and can operate in a vacuum with minimal risk."

Beverly nodded. "Let's do it then."

2355 Inside the Singularity Net

Their joy at reaching the Stargazer was short-lived. As soon as Picard, Zev and Vigo were on board their ship again, the unspeakable horror of what they had just experienced began to settle in. All three crewmembers felt it; and it threatened to crush their already damaged spirits. The worst part was the silence that greeted them. They were suddenly reminded that they were the lone survivors of their capture by the Malkatans, and there was no escape from that reality. They all pushed on in silence until they reached the Stargazer bridge.

But there was something else. The disorientation they had felt down on the Malkatan base returned full force now that they were again directly inside the net. It was like a whisper inside each of their skulls. For Picard it was one of immense guilt; for Zev it was one of never-ending sorrow; and for Vigo it was one of undeniable hatred.

When they reached the bridge, Picard turned to Vigo. The man's eyes seemed intent to bore a hole in Picard's head. The hate in his eyes was no longer hidden beneath the surface. It glittered in his pupils as he studied Picard as though searching for a physical weakness.

Picard could sense inside his own confused mind that events were far outside of his control. Still he was in command. He pointed at the tactical station, trying to keep his hand from trembling. He had to keep pull himself together. "Man your post," he barked. Slowly, without taking his eyes off Picard Vigo moved to the station as ordered and activated the tactical panel.

Picard turned to Zev and tossed her the neutralizer. "Commander, can you find a way to link this into the ops station?"

Zev caught the neutralizer and looked down at it curiously in her hand. "Perhaps," she said. She looked up at him again. "What exactly is it supposed to do?" She studied his face. He knew she was looking for an explanation. It wasn't that she distrusted him. But given what they had been through, she needed something concrete to explain how they would get out of this situation. Unfortunately Picard wasn't quite sure himself.

"It…um," he pointed at it and a vision of Beverly floated into his skull. He heard her whispers in his ear, and struggled to maintain his composure.

"Captain?" Zev asked. She watched as Picard's eyes rolled up into his head momentarily, but when she spoke, he focused again, and returned to reality.

"Um," he began again, wiping a hand over his face. "It is supposed to neutralize the effect of the singularity net—the space here that our ship is trapped in," Picard answered. "If we could find a way to project it…we could tie it into a propulsive beam…a reverse tractor beam of sorts," he said in a stronger voice as the new idea gained hold in his own mind.

"Based on what the Malkatans said, this net is some kind of graviton warp field that was used to ensnare our ship," said Zev slowly, still watching Picard. "But I don't understand how such technology could exist… anymore than I understand how this object here is supposed to neutralize it."

"He doesn't understand it either," said Vigo from tactical. "But I am even more curious to know how he came to find this object. Tell us, Captain…did you trade this technology for the lives of our comrades?"

"No!" Picard shouted at his tactical officer. The colors around him on the bridge seemed brighter. It was the effect of the singularity net. He turned slowly as he saw the ghosts of their fallen crewmembers swirling around the bridge. He reached out in confusion and then covered his eyes with his hands.

"What is the matter, Captain?" Vigo shouted down at him. He began to walk away from his station toward Picard. "Is your betrayal beginning to weigh on your conscience?"

"Shut up and return to your post!" Picard screamed at Vigo. Vigo halted but smiled. His eyes were cloudy with the same hallucinatory thoughts that were plaguing Picard.

"Both of you must return to reality if we are to get out of this place alive," shouted Commander Zev, taking Picard by the arm. "Captain, we are all experiencing a sort of…collective psychosis because of the singularity net. Just as it made us see things down on the Malkatan base, we are growing delusional again." She blinked as the Captain's form seemed to undulate in waves in front of her eyes. She strained to focus. "We cannot allow ourselves to be overcome and turn on one another."

"You're right, Zev. She's right," he said pointing up at Vigo. "Now we have to work together, Vigo," said Picard almost pleadingly.

"I will not collaborate with the man who is responsible for the deaths of my friends!" Vigo shrieked.

"Shut up, Vigo," said Zev, trying to keep hold of her own mind. Things would be so much easier if Vigo was out of the way, she thought darkly. But the Captain was right, they had to work together.

"Captain…I need to know how you came to find this neutralizer mechanism," Zev said with quiet force.

Picard ran a hand over his hair. He knew he had to tell them. But would they think he was crazy? "It was—someone gave it to me," he admitted, knowing that it would not be enough.

Vigo's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Zev took a careful step toward the Captain. "Who?" she heard herself ask.

He took a halting breath in. "B…Beverly Crusher did." I know she was real.

Zev's expression froze in disbelief.

Vigo let out a shrill laugh. "You see? He is absolutely insane! He is delusional."

Picard looked down at his feet. "I'm not. She came to me."

"Captain," said Zev. "I don't see how that is possible-"

Vigo approached now quickly. "You fool…your obsession with that woman was your undoing, wasn't it? You probably thought some fat Malkatan guard was your best friend's wife. Who knows what you told the Malkatans in your delusional fog?! Who knows what you did…believing it to be her! Meanwhile our comrades were slaughtered, while you dreamed you were screwing Jack's wife. First you let Jack die…and now everyone else is dead because of you!"

"Stop!" Picard shouted, rushing Vigo.

Vigo stepped aside and threw his elbow into Picard's face, breaking the bridge of his nose. As Picard fell he grasped the crook of Vigo's elbow and pulled him down to the floor. He immediately placed his knee on Vigo's windpipe, deciding in that moment that he wanted Vigo to die. But strong arms pulled him backward by the shoulders, as Zev intervened. He coughed as blood from his nose began to stream into his mouth. He held his head back and pulled his shirt up trying to cover his nose and put pressure on it to stop the bleeding.

Dazed he sat down heavily at the ops station, as Zev shook the nearly unconscious Vigo awake again. She said something to him in a quiet but harsh tone and he nodded, stumbling back up to take his post again at tactical. She kept her hand on her phaser as she watched him retreat.

Picard coughed again, and placed the neutralizer on the ops station. Zev moved forward and crouched down beside him. Wordlessly they began to try and link the neutralizer into the forward tractor beam emitter.