Two weeks later

'We have reached Anarian space, Captain,' said Data.

'Very good, Mister Data. On screen, please.'

The Bridge crew watched as the Anarian solar system came into view. As they passed the outer planets, Jean-Luc said,

'Slow to impulse, Helm.'

'Aye, aye, Captain.'

'We are being hailed, Captain,' said Worf.

'On screen.'

'Unidentified vessel, please identify yourself.'

The speaker was a woman wearing a uniform in a garish shade of orange. She was flanked by three men, all wearing similar clothing.

'This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise. I believe you are expecting us.'

'Indeed, Captain. Welcome to Anaris. My name is Shella Ell and I am in charge of traffic within Anarian space. Do you require spacedock facilities?'

'No, thank you.'

'Then please proceed to our home planet and assume a standard orbit. Regulations require you to maintain a minimum distance of ten thousand metres from all other objects in orbit.'

'Understood. Are there any other regulations that we need to be aware of?'

'Not at this time. The Chief Speaker is expecting you.'

'Thank you, Shella Ell. We will do proceed to the planet immediately.'

'Very good. Fine harvest, Captain.'

Jean-Luc knew from the briefing material that 'Fine harvest' was the standard phrase used to end a conversation so replied without hesitation,

'Fine harvest.'

They cut the connection and Jean-Luc waited until the helm officer had adjusted course before turning to Deanna, saying,

'Were you able to get anything, Counsellor?'

Deanna was sat at Science Station 1 with her mental shields fully up and was just managing to resist the urge to reach out towards Jean-Luc with her mind. Lowering her shields to try to read the Anarians had left her sweating with the effort that had been required to keep control and not initiate their bond. Deliberately looking away from him, she said,

'Sorry, Captain, we're too far away, I didn't pick up anything. There didn't appear to be any undue stress in their body language though and she clearly had been briefed about us.'

'Indeed, Captain, my first impression was that they are pleasant and efficient,' said Data.

'Let us hope that they remain so,' said Jean-Luc.


Two hours later they were in orbit around Anaris IV and Jean-Luc had just finished talking to the assistant to the Chief Speaker who was their equivalent to the president of Earth. It had been agreed that they would beam a delegation down into the square in front of the Anarian's main government building where they would officially meet the Chief Speaker and her ministers.

'Mister Data, assemble an away team.'

'Yes, Captain. Mister Worf, Counsellor, you're with me.'

Data tapped his comm badge and said,

'Commander Data to Doctor Crusher.'

'Crusher here.'

'Please meet me in Transporter Room Two with your away team kit.'

'On my way, Commander.'


Deanna braced herself against the sudden mental onslaught as they materialised. The square was full of people and their amassed emotions battered against her shields. Looking around she realised that part of the problem was that they were so close; there was no cordon or barricades, the Anarians had simply cleared an area a few feet across for them. Most of the emotions were positive but the variety was overwhelming. As Deanna struggled to centre herself the mass of emotions changed, unifying into disbelief and anger. Turning to Data, she said,

'There's something wrong.'

'Wrong, Counsellor?'

'They're very angry. We need to leave.'

As Data reached up to tap his comm badge they were swamped in a crowd of angry Anarians. Someone grabbed Deanna's arm and she whirled, using his weight against him, flipping him on to the ground. She had a brief glimpse of Data effortlessly holding off several attackers at once then she was surrounded and all she could do was fight.


On the Bridge, Jean-Luc was idly scrolling through the rather sparse cultural assessment of the Anarians when he suddenly felt very anxious. Smiling wryly, he put it down to feeling over-protective towards Deanna and carried on reading. The anxiousness was followed very quickly by fear and Jean-Luc frowned and said to the lieutenant at Tactical,

'Hail the Away Team.'

'No reply, Captain.'

'Try again.'

'Still no reply, Captain.'

'Scan the square for their comm badges.'

'Aye, Captain,' said the ensign at ops, 'All four comm badges are in the square but they're surrounded by Anarians, Sir.'

'Surrounded? At what distance?'

'Zero, Sir. They are in physical contact, Sir.'

Jean-Luc touched the comm button on his chair and said,

'Transporter Room Two, get the away team back.'

'Unable to comply, Sir. There are too many people touching them, I can't get a lock.'

'Keep trying.'

Jean-Luc waited impatiently as the transporter chief tried again. After a few seconds the chief said,

'It's no use, Sir. None of them are out of contact with the Anarians for long enough for me to get a lock.'

'How about if we used the cargo transporters and brought them up along with whoever's touching them?'

'It's risky, Sir.'

'But you could do it?'

'Probably.'

'Make it so. I'll send a security team to meet you.'

'Aye, aye, Captain.'

Jean-Luc was about to ask the officer on Tactical to hail the planet when pain seared through him and the world went black.