Chapter 36

"Something very sad has happened on board this vessel, Li."

The young man rubbed his eyes, and continued to stare down at the desk. Next to him was a data pad, recording all visual and audio from their interaction.

"I need your help to discover how and why it happened." Troi sat with her elbows on the table, hands clasped in front of her. "Do you want to help me?"

He shrugged one shoulder then twitched. She wondered how old he was...18-20 years old perhaps. And yet he was merely a child. A child who had been tortured from birth. His emotions were so raw, she had to pause after each question she asked him because of the blast to her own psyche. And so far, he'd been quiet for many minutes. She looked at the clock. She had only 30 minutes to transmit her report to Captain Picard, and knew she was in trouble. The deadline he'd given her had been anything but arbitrary. Picard had been ordered to hand Li over to the Ciapathians if he could not be cleared of Fon's murder within a specific amount of time. Troi knew that time was running out.

"Rolani told us that you left the holodeck one evening several days ago, Li. Is that true?"

The use of Rolani's name seemed to revive him a little. Still staring at the table he said, "Yes."

"Why did you leave?"

He shook his head from side to side violently, then bowed his shoulders down to the desk.

She leaned in. "I think you had a good reason to leave, Li. What was it?"

"He wanted to be Chosen," Li whispered.

"Who?"

"He wanted to be Chosen, but God did not wish it. So I tried to stop him."

"Who?"

"The one who disobeyed. I followed him."

"Oni? Oni left the holodeck and you followed him?"

"Yes."

"What do you mean when you say he wanted to be chosen? What does that mean?"

"He went looking for Brethren. He wanted to be Chosen."

"You mean he wanted to die, don't you?"

"Yes. He wanted to be sacrificed like all the others. But God does not desire for us to make the sacrifice any longer."

Troi reached out and took his hand, and surprisingly he did not retreat, but squeezed her hand tightly. "It's alright to tell me what happened next."

"I followed him. He had a knife with him. To make the sacrifice. He crawled through a tunnel, and I chased him." He gestured with his arms moving upwards. "He climbed up...a-"

"A ladder? He climbed a ladder and you followed."

Li nodded. "I yelled to him to stop, but he never stopped. We came to another place...like this room but longer, and we ran. Then I heard footsteps in front of us, coming toward us. And I heard it...the scratching." He slammed his palms over his ears and shut his eyes, gritting his teeth.

"What did you hear? What did you see?" Troi whispered.

He shook his head violently again.

She slid over a blank data pad with a stylus. "Can you draw what you saw?"

He gripped the stylus for several painful minutes, before beginning to sketch. To her horror, his accuracy was amazing as he drew a large black creature with powerful pincher-like jaws.

Abruptly he threw down the stylus. "It makes the scratching sound as it runs...and it hisses. It is the hunter."

Reth's insect.

"Was the-the hunter alone?"

He suddenly faced her. "I had never seen the face of the Brethren until that moment. They always come in the dark and they cover their faces. But I smelled him. He was a Brethren. He looked at us and laughed. He told us it was time to die. I grabbed Oni, but he fought with me-cut me with his blade. Then a man came-he is one of you." He swiped a hand over his eyes. "Golden," he said almost reverently.

Troi put a hand reflexively over her heart. Geordi. "Please go on."

"He yelled for the fighting to stop, so I stopped. Golden tried to grab Oni, but the Brethren got to him first. The Brethren are so strong. The Brethren took Oni, lifted him up and stabbed him...right here," he patted his chest. "Oni made the sacrifice, just as he had planned."

"Goddess. Then what?"

"Then..." he clapped loudly, making Troi jerk slightly in her seat. "Oni's body disappeared. Golden fought with the Brethren, but the Brethren was too strong and Golden was sacrificed too."

Troi felt tears begin to roll down her cheeks. "What-what do you mean?"

"The Brethren took Oni's blade and stabbed Golden...here," he said, rubbing his hand over his midsection."Blood was everywhere. Then Golden's body disappeared."

Troi bowed her head. Geordi had returned to them, and yet according to Li, the young officer had been killed, apparently by Reth. Perhaps Geordi had only been severely wounded? But nothing else about his reappearance made any sense, because where had he gone in the first place?

"After Golden disappeared, what happened?" Troi prompted. She took a deep breath, expecting that somehow to be the end. But she sensed a freedom in Li now. He had escaped something so horrific that he felt compelled to tell her everything.

"Another Brethren arrived."

Troi's blood felt chilled. "Describe that person. What did they look like?"

"Like the other Brethren, very tall, with a red face, but he was older. But this one looked at me and...he did not recognize me...not as the other one did. They argued, but I did not understand their language as I had before. The older Brethren pointed at me and the blood on the floor and began to scream. The first Brethren walked away as though he was leaving, while the old Brethren continued to scream. Then...then he made a sign to the hunter...and the hunter rushed to the old Brethren. The old Brethren was frightened of the hunter and he ran, but the first Brethren threw a long spear and pierced the shell of the hunter. The hunter did not expect this betrayal. I saw a white foam, the old Brethren fell to the ground and then I began to run out of fear. I heard the Brethren laughing, but when I looked back he was gone."

Troi squeezed Li's hand. "Thank you. You have helped us all by telling us what happened to you. It's going to be alright."

"No." He shook his head. "The Brethren will come for us. Even you. Only God can save us now."

Forrester's expression was immovable. "You disappoint me, Captain. So I am to believe a giant beetle killed the Ciapathian Premier? After your own officer told you otherwise? Given your reputation for efficiency and reason I expected a more convincing theory."

"I reiterate, Admiral, we may not have evidence to prove who killed Fon, but we do have evidence that Li is a human clone."

"I've seen the data."

"And yet you refuse to acknowledge that this young man has rights under the Federation Charter that cannot be removed. In fact they exist for these very circumstances. You cannot remove his liberty-"

"To avoid intergalactic war? Because that is what I am doing, Picard. If you really believe the Tranans are humans-"

"This isn't based on my beliefs, Admiral. I've given you scientific evidence."

"Then fine. The issue of their humanity can be sorted out by the Federation Council once this is done."

"Sir how can you even think of approving the Ciapathian's petition for Federation entry after all that has happened on board my ship?"

"Too late, Captain. The petition's been approved-with the condition that the Ciapathians still expect the transfer of this murder suspect into their custody."

"Sir!"

"Captain Picard...you have two hours to hand over the Tranan suspect to the lead Ciapathian ship. Forrester out."

When the connection cut, he slammed his fist down on the desk, then bowed his head, trying to think over his next steps. "Troi to Picard."

His head snapped up. "Yes."

"I just transmitted my report to you sir. Li identified Reth as the murderer."

"Thank you, Counselor. There may still be time."

"Sir if you need my help..."

"Indeed I do. I need you to take command of the bridge while I sort this mess out. Picard out."

Picard uploaded Troi's report to his data pad, and ran for the turbolift. He had limited time, and had to reach Del before it was too late. He skimmed Troi's report so quickly that he was certain he had missed a great deal. And none of it sunk in. When he reached deck 3, he heard shouting and raced down the corridor as fast as he could. He wasn't prepared for the source of the commotion however. Wesley Crusher was banging with his fists on Del's door. "Let her go! She doesn't want to go with you!"

He walked swiftly up behind the teen and put a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Mr. Crusher!"

Wesley turned around and there were tears in his eyes. He grabbed Picard by the arms tightly. "Captain they can't just take her! She doesn't want to go with him!"

Alarmed by his own emotional reaction to the boy's obvious pain, he returned the boy's grip tightly and shook him harder than he meant to. "Snap out of it, Mr. Crusher," he bellowed. The teen froze, and bit his bottom lip, still holding fast to Picard's biceps.

"I'm sorry sir. But they can't just take Hatha against her will."

Picard let go of Wesley and clenched his jaw tightly, before hitting the intercom button. "Representative Del..this is Captain Picard. I apologize for the intrusion, but I must speak with you immediately."

The door slid open to reveal Del, whose stout frame nearly took up the entire doorway. "It's Premier Del now," said the politician haughtily.

"I see," said Picard. "Well...all the better that you are in charge now, Del...because it is time to make some difficult decisions."

Del sniffed, and nodded at Wesley. "He's been banging on the door like a crazy person. That boy is obsessed with this girl." Picard looked beyond and could see Hatha sitting on top of a giant suitcase looking frightened and angry.

Picard resisted looking at Wesley. "Maybe so, but I'm not here because of the boy. I'm here because you and I both know that the Tranan didn't kill Fon. Reth did."

"Come in," said Del, standing aside. He wagged his finger at Wesley. "If you come in here, you must behave young man."

Picard shot Wesley a withering glance. 'He won't be any trouble, will you Mr. Crusher." It was more of a statement than a question.

Wesley shook his head, but he was staring past them at Hatha. "No sir."

Del watched Picard expectantly now that they were all inside the room. It was apparent that Del's wife had already beamed back to their ship, and that Del intended to soon follow her. "Well Captain? Say your piece."

"My commanding officer hasn't seen this yet," Picard said, handing Del the data pad. "I want you to see the truth about what happened to Fon."

Del waved his hands in the air. "That no longer matters, Picard."

Picard grew still. "If it no longer matters, then why is your government threatening war, if we don't hand over the Tranan?"

"It's out of my hands. The decision has been made to execute the Tranan. It's what the people want, Picard. And in my profession there is nothing more important than placating the people."

Picard rubbed his forehead, trying to subdue his anger. Wesley was watching him closely, and he needed to be an example to the boy. Didn't he? "Reth murdered Fon. Don't you want to know why? Have you considered that you may be next?"

"Are you trying to threaten me, Picard?"

"I am trying to help you see reason. But you don't care about the truth, do you?"

"I just admitted as much didn't I?"

"You know...I believe you, Del. I don't think you care about the truth. You only care about your own political currency...which is why I was quite surprised to learn that you had already made a deal with Admiral Forrester. You were never interested in joining the Federation, and yet here we are."

Del looked confused. "Fon was a fool to want entry into your Federation. I've no idea what you're talking about."

"According to Forrester, Ciapathia is the newest member of the Federation...of course only after we hand over this poor Tranan boy to you."

Del went over and sat down heavily on the bed next to Hatha. He looked suddenly defeated. "That slime...Petral."

"Why, Del? Why do you allow him to hold so much power?"

"I am a political realist. No progress can be made in our society without the consent of Doctor Petral."

"Have you considered that no progress can be made as long as he holds so much power?"

Del exploded in fury, jumping up again. "You know nothing of our society!"

Wesley rushed forward, catching everyone off guard. "He's willing to force Hatha to marry Petral just so he can hang on to power, sir. We have to stop him!"

Picard side-stepped quickly between Del and Wesley, putting a firm hand on the teen's chest.

"Stay back, Wesley. Now listen here, Del. I distinctly heard you tell this young woman that you would protect her."

Not for the first time, Del looked uncertain. "Things change. As I said, you know nothing."

"I know that like Fon you are about to be under the control of Doctor Petral. I know that he forces women to marry him against their will and that you are willing to just stand by and watch that happen to Hatha to achieve your own political ends!"

Hatha got up then and grabbed Wesley's hand in hers.

"Let go of him," Del warned her.

"No. I need to say goodbye to Wesley," she declared defiantly.

Wesley looked like he would collapse. "What do you mean? You're not going to go with him..."

"It's my choice, Wesley," she said, her lip trembling. "And if I don't go with Del, I know I will never see my mother alive again. I must go to her."

"I can't let you go," Wesley pleaded, grabbing her hand tighter. "Wha-what if we get married?"

Picard closed his eyes briefly. "Wesley..."

"You must let me go," Hatha said to Wesley.

Del swiped at Wesley, but Picard stepped in front of the young man.

Del lashed out with his fist, striking the captain squarely above his left eye. They were in such close proximity, that he didn't have time to step backward to evade the blow. Picard staggered to the side before countering with a right hook to the side of Del's head. He struck without thinking it through, but he didn't hold back either, and Del fell hard to the deck.

Del rolled groggily on the floor for a moment. Picard offered his hand, but Del pushed him away. "You have committed a grave error, Picard. How dare you strike me? If you want war with my people, you will have it!"

"Get the hell off of my ship," replied Picard. "Goodbye Hatha," he added. "We wish you and your mother well...sincerely. Come along Mr. Crusher." The captain put a firm hand on the back of Wesley's neck and guided him quickly out of Del's quarters.

When they were in the hallway, Wesley began to speak, but Picard held up his hand. "I want you to go and find your mother. We'll discuss Hatha's situation later."

Wesley looked as though he was in shock. "Sir...you're bleeding."

Picard blinked and wiped his brow with the back of his hand. "Doesn't matter. Go and find your mother."

"Crusher to Picard."

"Picard here. Doctor, your timing is perfect, I am here with Wesley. He's fine and is on his way to join you in sickbay."

"What is he doing there with you?" Her voice sounded strange, not to mention exhausted.

Picad paused and actually found himself smiling at Wesley. "It's a long story."

"I'm sure it is. One which I'd love to hear when I get out of surgery. Captain...there was a horrible explosion on deck 4."

"Deck 4? Reth's quarters?"

"Yes. Reth is dead. He killed himself and injured four of our people in the process."

He tried to swallow the dread welling in his throat. "Who?"

"Data, Yar, Riker and Worf are currently in my sickbay. Under the circumstances it would be best if you would come down here, Captain."

He looked at Wesley. "I can't at the moment doctor. I'm needed on the bridge. Picard out."

Hi, I just want to thank all you readers and writers for continuing to follow my stories. I am not able to write as frequently as I used to, but I do what I can, and yes, I am still working on all the unfinished ones. Best, -PP