Picard, Worf, Deanna Troi and Riker arrived on the bridge just as the hour was closing.
Data turned to greet them. "So far, I've had no success with the coded transmission, Captain. It would help if I could examine its effect on Ben's implant."
"No opportunity for that now, Data," Picard told him. He took Ben's cylinder from his jacket and handed it to the android. "Could you give me a quick guess as to the function of this object?"
"Right away, sir," Data agreed, and took the cylinder to a science station.
Will took his station, checking the display for a status update on Xanatos's ship and its accompanying cohort of ships. The remainder of the small fleet had arranged itself between Enterprise's hiding place and the planet Lansar.
"The construction contains a crystal and a dense power cell," Data called from the rear of the bridge. "I cannot be certain without further analysis, but the function of the crystal seems to be to focus the energy from the power cell. Additional circuitry apparently redirects the amplified energy beam back into the power cell."
"What would happen if it were activated?" Picard asked.
"I still do not understand the function of this lens-type apparatus at the end-"
"Data."
"But as far as I can tell, with one minor pre-adjustment to bring the power cell into the circuit, if you were to press this button -" he indicated a small red button on one side of the cylinder - "it would explode with enough energy to obliterate this room and probably puncture the hull."
Into the shocked silence of the bridge crew, the Captain said, "I see. Is there a quick way to disarm it?"
"None that I can see."
"I had better keep hold of it, then, Mr. Data."
"As you wish, sir," the android replied, returning the cylinder to Picard, who tucked it back into his jacket.
What other surprises did Ben have in store for them? Will wondered grimly.
Ensign Freedman, at the conn, called out, "Captain, eight small craft just appeared, and are headed this way."
"Appeared, ensign?"
"Yes sir. From a point nearby the largest vessel. There was no sign of them before ten seconds ago, though they should have been in range. The original large vessel is still hanging back."
"Cloaking devices?" Will asked.
"A large energy burst consistent with a wormhole signature appeared briefly with the ships' arrival, Captain." Data put in.
"An artificial wormhole?" Picard didn't know what to think. Too much about this encounter was unknown. "Estimated time to firing range?"
"Ten seconds: they're closing fast."
"Full shields. Can you get a lock on them, Mr. Worf?"
"With difficulty. They're small and fast. They look like one- or two-person ships, designed for dogfighting."
The bridge shuddered with the impact of energy weapons as the ships strafed them in passing, coming frighteningly close and then pulling away with impressive maneuverability.
"Damage report," Picard called out.
"Shields down two percent, sir."
"Analysis?" he called to Data.
"Not good, sir. Each hit does little in itself, but my analysis of their weapons systems indicates they can keep this up for a while. Multiply that by eight -"
"I see. And the warship?"
"Just fired up its engines, sir. It's headed this way. Several other ships of the convoy are also headed toward us, now."
The small ships came at them again, in two tight formations this time, one group to the top of the ship and the other to the bottom.
"Impulse power. Head below that warship. Mr. Worf, fire on my mark."
Data chimed in. "Sir, they're increasing power on their forward and lower shields, at the expense of their other shields."
"Fire, Mr. Worf."
The area around the warship glowed suddenly red with fire from Enterprise's main battery. "We've taken their shields for thirty percent!" Worf called out. Then bursts of light exploded from a dozen lower weapon turrets on Xanatos' ship. Enterprise shuddered; lights and monitors flickered.
"Damage report!"
"We've been hit with some sort of energy disruptor!" called Data.
"Move us out! Full impulse! Mr. Worf, fire at will! Mr. Data, can you analyze the disruptor, devise a way to counteract it?" The warship in their viewports glowed red once more on a hit from their weapons, not so brightly this time.
"I think if we change the frequency -" He was interrupted by another set of shuddering hits to their shields, and then the power flickered again and went out. Immediately emergency power kicked in, enough for lights, communications, and life support. But all other main systems were dead.
Picard tapped his communicator. "Engineering. Damage report, Mr. La Forge?"
"Nothing's broken, Captain, but nothing's working either. Our power systems are completely scrambled. It's going to take at least an hour to get back on line, and we're sitting ducks in the meantime."
"Concentrate on shields and weapons."
"Aye, sir."
"Captain, several of the smaller ships are headed for our cargo bay," Worf called.
"Take charge of defense in that sector, Mr. Worf. Initiate invasion defense procedures."
-
Will huddled alone behind a door near Engineering, taking cover from a small group of invaders headed his way. For over an hour the firefight had raged through the corridors of Enterprise. At first the battle had gone well, but now they were being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Xanatos' pirates were a motley crew: some human, others furred or scaled or variously shaped. Another wave of ships had arrived after the first, these equipped with pods that secured themselves to Enterprise's hull so the occupants could cut their way in. Evidently these people had no knowledge of transporters. Will ducked into the corridor to fire on the invaders. Just as quickly he ducked back. He winced. He hadn't been quite fast enough that time. His arm was singed and his weapon slagged.
"Captain Picard to crew." The captain's voice was angry, clipped. "Our civilian crew has been taken hostage. Cease your resistance."
Will knew that order meant stop shooting, not give up: he would need to find a place to hide until he could devise a plan to win the ship back. He turned, only to come face to face with a very tall, rubbery-looking alien. The creature put the muzzle of its weapon to his chest.
"You can come with me, now," it told him. Riker could hear the crew from the hall coming up behind him. He dropped his useless weapon and put up his hands.
A short hairy alien punched his ribs. "This one killed Devert," it said menacingly.
"Boss says take them all alive," said the rubbery one.
"Not unhurt, though,"
"You want to complain to Boss, you go ahead."
The hairy one grunted.
Will was relieved that they simply cuffed his hands behind him and pushed him down the corridors, in the end, to the cargo bay on deck thirty-nine. Not gently, but he arrived in one piece. He joined a crowd of other crewmembers under guard in the center of the chamber, now completely changed from only a few hours before: filled with alien ships, alien beings, charred wreckage and scarring on the once-immaculate walls.
Picard, Worf, and Data were pushed in behind him; most of the command crew was already gathered there, Will noticed with a sinking feeling. They were pushed to the center of the room, under the invaders' guns. About half the crew had their wrists cuffed either before or behind them. Xanatos entered from a side door, arrogance in his stride.
"Why, Mr. Riker," Xanatos sneered when he saw him. "How pleasant to see you again."
"He gave us trouble, boss," the hairy alien with the grudge complained. It cracked its knuckles. "We want recompense."
"That can probably be arranged," Xanatos said thoughtfully. "Stay close." He turned to the rubbery alien, now standing beside him. "Has anyone found the boy, Cadersa?"
"Zike claims to have found him." Cadersa gestured toward a dark alien with a flat face and loose skin, who strode toward them, a boy in tow, with arms fastened behind his back. Dr. Crusher gasped. It was Wesley.
"Wrong boy," Xanatos said thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed and flicked in the doctor's direction. "Keep hold of him, though. He might be useful." Xanatos turned to the crowd of captured Enterprise crew. "Where is the boy you took from me?" he called out. "The boy who cannot speak." No one answered. Frowning, Xanatos turned to Cadersa. "Have them separate out anyone with command pins." He indicated his collar. Cadersa nodded and immediately began barking out orders to the other invaders. Xanatos watched, standing by Zike. When all the officers had been separated from the crew, under a separate guard contingent, Xanatos walked a slow circle around them, looking them over. Returning to his position by Zike, he put a hand on Wesley's shoulder.
"It would be a terrible shame," he said in a low voice, "if harm should befall this boy." He paused, then moved behind Wesley, taking hold of both his shoulders. Wesley stared ahead, looking frightened but determined. "A terrible shame." Xanatos leaned forward over Wes. "Now where is my simulant?"
For three long seconds no one spoke.
"I will find it, eventually. I will not hurt it. But this boy..."
Picard rapped out, angry, "he's in the brig. One level up."
"Thank you, Captain." Xanatos flashed a mocking smile. "Cadersa. Have the Captain and his officers lead us to the brig. Not you, boy. I want you to stay with me." Xanatos spun Wes around to follow the others, keeping one hand on his shoulder. They walked the halls to the brig, a motley collection of Starfleet crew, alien invaders bearing strange weapons, and Xanatos like a carrion bird at the rear, his black cloak billowing.
"He's here," called Cadersa from the front. "With a pair of yellow-shirt guards. Lay down your weapons!" The invader called out. "We have your Captain!" Two guards pushed Picard forward, in full view of the brig security station. Will heard the sound of weapons clattering to the floor; then he turned the corner and saw the two young Ensigns from earlier in the day - Davis and Dinarra - herded at gunpoint to join their group.
"Good," called Xanatos, pushing forward. "Keep this one for me," he said, passing Wesley to Cadersa.
Will could see Ben kneeling on the floor in the cell across from them, his hands still bound behind his back. He felt a twinge of guilt. He had promised the boy he would keep him safe from Xanatos. But did Ben want to be kept from Xanatos? So much of what he had felt he knew about Ben now seemed a sham. He even wondered if the boy had been planted for him to find; planted, Xanatos guessing that Will would take him to Enterprise, counting on Ben's youth and natural charm to shield him from suspicion of his true mission: as a spy.
Xanatos beckoned a guard to bring Picard forward. "Open this door," he commanded. When Picard had done so, he had the Captain returned to the group, and entered the cell. Ben did not move.
"Ah, my young friend, they caught up with you at last. Not even your tears moved them, I see." Xanatos knelt in front of the boy. He brushed the boy's cheek with one finger. Then he bent to whisper in the boy's ear, and for several minutes Will could hear nothing of what he said.
Finally the man reached around Ben with both hands, and somehow unclasped the cuffs that held his wrists, letting them fall to the floor. The boy's hands fell limp to his side. Xanatos pulled him to his feet; turned him and pushed him from the cell. Ben's face was completely blank: empty of expression; empty of emotion. He moved like an automaton.
"Cadersa," Xanatos called. "Have the officers take this cell. Set up one of our own energy fields in the entryway. Keep the boy out. Mr. Riker as well, I'd say." He pointed to Riker, who stopped, as the vengeful guard at his side raised its weapon threateningly, a smile on its face.
"Why? What do you want with Wesley and Will Riker?" Picard demanded.
"The boy - Wesley? - as a guarantor of your behavior. Have him secured to the guard station, here, where you can watch him," he told one of the guards - Zike. "As for Mr. Riker - some of my people have demanded satisfaction from him. I believe it's important to keep one's people happy, don't you?"
"There is no need for barbarism!"
Xanatos only smirked, and gestured for some of the guards to push Picard into the cell. Then he turned to the hairy alien, the one who had been demanding vengeance from the time Cadersa had captured Will. "You may not cause permanent damage. You will have five minutes. Mr. Riker, I don't suggest you try to resist. I'm certain young Wesley would not appreciate it."
Will heard the others cry out in protest. He tried to ignore them. He had a sinking feeling that Xanatos was deriving some perverse pleasure from their protests. He strove to remain calm, to keep his expression one of disdain. Unwillingly, his gaze flicked to Ben. The boy's blue eyes were distant, unfocused; his body utterly still, facing slightly away from him, toward the door. Xanatos noticed Will's regard; raising one fine brow at Will, he turned Ben to face the commander, to face the open space between the guard station and the now-full cell, where Hairy Vengeful and one of its buddies stood watching him, their expressions eager. Still Ben gave no indication he even knew Will was there. Somehow the sight of Ben's empty face hurt Will more that the thought of the beating he was about to receive.