The Children of Vaal (Revised)

Chapter 28

"Captain's log, star date 47568.1...Ambassador Spock has taken his Vulcan shuttle and has departed for his home world after I successfully talked him out of remaining beneath Vaal's surface. It took some effort on my part, but I was certain that he would be placing his life in unnecessary peril if he stayed there and that his mere presence had fulfilled his promise to the late Doctor McCoy to try and make amends to the citizens of this troubled world. The Calandans also aided my efforts in convincing Spock to leave this planet. They and the Vaalians not affiliated with the terrorists were very much impressed with his courage, and a few surviving original contactees who worked underground with the Calandans were also impressed." Jean Luc Picard paused for a moment in contemplation. "Most of the planet's inner workings were fully restored, but a small part had been seized and commandeered by the Children of Vaal. Thankfully, there have been no further incursions by the Romulans into Federation territory and the Calandans assured me that they could successfully defend the non-terrorists from any hostile force, even the Borg. I am relieved that Spock left the area and I fervently hope that he won't change his mind. The Vaalian prisoners have been sentenced by the planet's authorities to twelve years each of imprisonment at their respective penal colonies, along with permanent banishment from their home world. Since they won't be returning to their planet, their facial markings have been washed off. The Vaalian authorities asked us to do that because the prisoners no longer have any status on Vaal. However, in keeping with the Prime Directive, their tattoos will not be removed, even though we have the ability to do so." Picard paused again and winced a little as he recalled the prisoners' reactions. They both had to be held down and restrained by two burly Vulcan security officers as Doctor Selar, with outward serenity, gave each in turn neck pinches so that they could wash the war paint off their faces. They both struggled so violently that they strained a few muscles. They, of course, threatened to escape and kill them all before they were rendered unconscious. The security people seemed relatively unphased by their threats and outbursts of rage, but were a bit surprised by their incredible strength. Picard continued. "Dr. Crusher is concerned that Akuta may have suffered some sort of cranial trauma from the removal of his antennae. However, being she can find no obvious sign of injury, my suspicion is that a Ferengi thought maker is at work, for he claims to be suffering from severe headaches...just as I once did with my encounter with Daimon Bok.*"

As Picard ended his log, he then thought of his first officer. Through all of this business with the Gamma Triangulans, Will Riker was completely avoiding contact with his Vaalian former shipmate. It was true, of course, that she and the other Vaalian prisoner despised humans and the captain had suggested that the human crew members of the Enterprise-D limit contact with them for security reasons, but there was no way that anyone could be harmed by either prisoner. They were both being watched like a hawk. After they recovered from Selar's neck pinches, they were warned by security that if they did not conduct themselves in a civilized manner, they would receive hypos of neural paralyzers each day for the duration of their journeys. Data said it would take them a week and a half at warp six to reach Tantalus and another week after that to reach Elba Two. Picard was authorized to exceed warp speed limitations to reach their destinations, since they were nowhere near the area of space that called for them.** Picard ordered warp seven to shorten the length of time, for they were eager to get rid of them. Their hatred and hostility was having adverse effects on the crew who came in contact with them. Picard pressed the intercom in his ready room.

"Picard to Troi."

"Yes, Captain?" The counselor sounded a bit weary and frayed and he understood completely. She had been through a lot during the last few days and she sounded anxious.

"Deanna, if you have a few minutes, I would like you to talk with Will and find out why he has been avoiding all contact with the Vaalian prisoners."

"I already asked him about it, sir. He said something rather strange."

"Oh? What did he say?"

"He told me that Shalana has the same kind of effect on human males as the Venus Drug, whatever that is." ***

"That is an illegal narcotic, Deanna. It causes a person to look more attractive to the opposite gender than they really are. Since the prisoners have already been examined by the ship's medical personnel and Shalana is as attractive as her twin sister, I doubt very much that she has taken the Venus Drug."

"I see. Sir, it might also be that it is a natural ability among Vaalian females. After all, we know so little about them. Will also mentioned to me that he felt strangely drawn to her and tried to break off their brief relationship when he found out how she felt about humans. She tried to kill him during the mutiny on the Pegasus. It was then obvious to him that there was something about her that he found very difficult to quantify. He finally managed to break the strange inexplicable link with her with great difficulty and did not wish to come in contact with her again."

"Did you sense it as well, Counselor?"

"Not as much as Will did, but I can sense great hatred and anger from both of them. It was right of you to ask those who are near them to limit their contact. They are making everyone on board who comes near them very uncomfortable."

"Hmmm...It sounds like it might be some sort of rare natural pheromone or something. It's kind of strange that Shavara didn't seem to have the same effect."

"It could be their different personalities as well, sir. Shavara was charming, and her sister was savagely belligerent. Just to make sure, though, I will ask Dr. Selar to look into it. If it is some kind of natural rare pheromone, then human male crew members definitely should limit contact with Shalana. She might try to use the ability to her advantage."

"Yes, I agree. Thank you, Counselor. Let me know what she says."

"Aye, sir. Will that be all?"

"One more thing, Deanna. Will you have Doctor Crusher contact Ambassador Makora on the new subspace link we just established and ask him if a Ferengi thought enhancer is still running on his world? I have reason to believe that Akuta's headaches are being caused by one."

"Will do, sir."

* "The Battle"

** "Force of Nature"

*** "Mudd's Women"