Chapter 35

"General, one of the starships is leaving orbit," the helmsman alerted him. General Thran sat forward in his command chair with interest. He was so high up that he could not help but look down on his entire bridge crew. And that was what he preferred.

'Is it the Enterprise?"

"No, sir. The…Horatio," said the helmsman.

"Track the ship's flight pattern," Thran ordered. "See if you can predict its course."

"The ship appears to be heading out of the sector, General."

They all watched the ship slowly crawl away. Suddenly, it went into warp and disappeared with a flash. "Let me know where it—"

"General the ship has just reappeared on our sensors. It is in orbit around a small ice planet, sir."

Thran stood up quickly. "Which planet?" he demanded.

"The planet is known as…Delta Vega, sir."

Thran began to breathe more heavily than seemed necessary to the Striker's bridge crew. "Find that ship," he bellowed.

"But sir, are we authorized to leave Vulcan?"

The helmsman watched as the General's coloring turned about three shades darker. His jowly face seemed to shiver slightly. "We are authorized to do anything I say we must do. Now intercept that ship!" he roared furiously.

Only one person could have been responsible for discovering his motivation and releasing this knowledge to Starfleet. The traitor! He would kill Zatha with his bare hands, but not before claiming his property on Delta Vega.


Data, Doctor Crusher, and T'Pel stood waiting outside cargo bay 4. Apart from Beverly occasionally shifting from foot to foot with her med kit clasped in front of her, they stood in silence. As she had been when Data and Crusher had arrived a few minutes earlier, T'Pel stood with her head down and her hands clasped in front of her. She appeared to be meditating and wore her hood pulled down over her eyes.

T'Pel had recently been fitted with a new cybernetic arm, and for some reason had chosen not to finish it with synthetic skin. The result was a dangerous looking robotic metal forearm and hand protruding from a simple brown Vulcan cloak. It was an arresting, yet somehow comforting sight for Crusher, who was in no way looking forward to entering the dreaded cargo bay once more, certainly not alone. At least with Data and T'Pel, she didn't feel quite as vulnerable. The question still remained, though, what were they doing here? Captain Picard had called them a few minutes ago, but he hadn't elaborated. In Crusher's experience, that was not a good sign.

Data was the first to turn and notice as the Captain and a rather small, but imposing Vulcan approached the group. Picard and the man halted in front of them. Picard quickly introduced Delegate Stahl to his officers and apparently he already knew T'Pel. To Picard's surprise, Stahl hardly looked at T'Pel, but what was conveyed was decidedly unfriendly, even for a Vulcan. T'Pel for her part merely removed her hood and stood calmly.

"Delegate Stahl has requested to see Ra'Val prior to returning to Vulcan," said Picard. Based on our recent difficulties handling Ra'Val while in his cell, I want to take precautions. Commander Data, I need you to monitor the field strength and ensure that it does not fail while we are in there. Doctor Crusher, you are to administer a sedative and monitor Ra'Val's vital signs. T'Pel, please do your best to counter Ra'Val should he…" he trailed off, because he wasn't entirely sure what it was she had done last time to protect him from Imhoff, and to thwart her brother's attempts to kill him, but she had.

"I understand, Captain," said T'Pel.

When the bay doors opened, the cargo bay was dimly lit, save for the eerie blue light projecting from Ra'Val's energy field prison cell. Picard stepped inside. "Lights, 40 percent," he said and the light increased significantly. Their collective gaze fell on the still, huddled, naked figure inside the floating energy bubble. Data immediately walked to the generator and began checking the controls.

Data turned to Picard, who was standing behind him expectantly. "The shield strength is holding at 95 percent Captain."

Picard nodded. "Good," he murmured. Beverly moved past him and took out the sedative agent from her med kit. Quickly measuring the amount, she grabbed the thin tube which ran along the length of the floor, the other end of which was floating inside the energy cell. She injected the sedative. They all watched Ra'Val's form intently, and conscious of every twitch of his muscle. But he remained still.

That was when Stahl rushed forward quickly toward Ra'Val. Alarmed, Picard rushed forward to try and stop Stahl. He heard Beverly shout for him to wait. He felt Crusher grab his arm in an attempt at pulling him out of the way. But she needn't have done so. Suddenly his feet were stuck in place and he could not move forward, try as he might. T'Pel was holding a forbidding hand out in his direction. He realized now that she was trying to protect him by stopping him from moving any closer to Ra'Val. Realizing her good intentions, he stopped resisting, and she gradually let him go. He grew still, standing next to Beverly and Data.


Almost immediately, events unfolded very quickly. Stahl stepped in front of Ra'Val's floating prison cell before T'Pel could stop him. She seemed to understand his intent even before he pulled out the object and pointed it at Ra'Val's huddled form. Picard stared at the innocuous looking object in Stahl's grip and recognized it as the data pad the Vulcan had used to transmit information to the High Council while in Picard's office earlier. But now, he had it pointed at Ra'Val as though it were a weapon.

Judging by T'Pel's reaction, it was. T'Pel began shouting phrases in Vulcan that he did not understand as she rushed toward Stahl. Stahl swiftly turned on her and leveled the weapon at her head.

"Do you know what this is, T'Pel?" he asked as she halted before him.

"Yes," she said staring from the weapon and back to Stahl. T'Pel had a look in her eye that was as desperate as Picard had ever seen her convey, and in that moment she could have been the most desperate Vulcan who had ever lived.

"Then you know how it works," Stahl said slowly. "Now calm your mind and tell your compatriots to calm their minds; or you will all perish along with your brother."

Reluctantly T'Pel took a step backward. "He is correct," she called out to Picard and Beverly. "He is holding a psionic resonator. It magnifies emotion; especially negative emotion, and turns it against the aggressor. You must quiet your minds and eliminate fear and anger," she said still peering warily at the object in Stahl's hand.

Picard could tell T'Pel was still considering leaping upon the man to disarm him, but instead she stood very still. Picard was shocked by the level of loyalty she was apparently still compelled to show her brother, an admitted murderer.

Picard glanced at Beverly and Data who in turn looked at him, but he had no idea what to do aside from following T'Pel's instructions. Of course for Data calming his mind was not an issue, but he turned to Beverly. "Try and block the fear as much as you can," he said trying to sound as confident as possible.

Crusher compressed her lips nervously and nodded, staring with apprehension at the scene in front of them. Suddenly she gasped and he followed her gaze to see that RaVal was now waking up. His coiled body loosened, and straightened as much as possible inside the cramped globe of energy. His arms raised, palms upward. He was now facing Stahl who continued to hold the odd weapon at the ready.

Picard suddenly had the urge to get his people out of there. "Let's get out of here," he said in a low voice. He grabbed Crusher's hand and turned toward the cargo bay doors, but was again frozen in place. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Beverly was also unable to move.

"What is happening?" she whispered, still gripping his hand tightly. He could feel her fear increase and mix with his own. With great effort, Picard twisted his head to look toward Ra'Val and with horror saw that Ra'Val had turned and was watching them with a penetrating stare. He felt that familiar hold on his mind, and now knew why they were unable to move.

"Data, run!" yelled Picard. "Tell Riker…" Data did run; he ran faster than Picard had ever seen anyone run. But then as quickly as Ra'Val shifted his focus to the android, Data was lifted off of the floor and tossed through the air as though he were weightless. He hit the bulkhead with such a force that when he slid to the floor, apparently unconscious, there was a noticeable indentation in the wall.


"The High Council's fortification is taking direct fire, now Commander," said Yar. "The Ishran used its main cannon to weaken the outer defense shield."

"How many civilians are within the fortification?"

"Mostly all civilians sir," responded Worf, sitting at ops. He looked up from the information streaming in front of him. "The computer estimates ten thousand individuals inside the outer Council city walls."

"The High Council is not a military body," said Troi. "If the Council is destroyed the Vulcans will literally have no governing body left. Some of Vulcan's greatest minds are located in that small city."

Riker rubbed his chin. Captain Picard had authorized him to use force if necessary. With the Ishran and other Andorian battleships continuing to escalate the assault on Vulcan, there seemed to be few options left.

"Increase power to the forward shields," said Riker, getting up from his seat. "Heading 241 Mark 6," he said. "Ahead full impulse."

"Aye sir," said Geordi. "On that heading we will intercept the Ishran in fifteen seconds, sir."

Riker walked up near tactical and leaned his hand on the railing next to Lt. Yar. "Everyone hold tight. We'll make a pass over the top of the Ishran and as we approach I want steady phaser fire across the bow."

As the ship skated quickly toward the Andorian ship, the Enterprise was rocked by incoming fire. "Steady," said Riker, grabbing the railing. "Fire," he said firmly.

"Phasers firing, sir," said Yar. "The Andorian's shields are damaged but holding, sir," she reported.

"Minor damage to our forward shields, Commander," said Worf.

Riker raised his hand. "On my mark, fire aft photon torpedoes. Target the main phaser cannon."

"Fire," he shouted again.

"Got it, sir," Yar exclaimed. "The main phaser cannon is down."

"Good," Riker said grinning and turned around to look at Troi. She allowed him a small smile, which faded as the ship was rocked again. Shit, thought Riker.

"We are taking heavy fire, Commander," said Worf. "The Andorians are in pursuit."


"If you intend to kill me, Stahl then I will give you one chance to do so," said Ra'Val. He made no attempt to break from his cell. It seemed clear that he did not need to be outside of his cell to cause havoc. His voice seemed to vibrate through the entire cargo bay and surround everyone. It was a captivating, frightening voice. It was in fact the first time that Picard had heard him speak, that is, outside the confines of the dreams and visions in which Ra'Val had visited him.

He dimly realized that he was still holding Beverly's hand. Picard felt the hold on his mind and body loosen gradually as though he were inside Ra'Val's relaxing fist. Perhaps even Ra'Val could not be everywhere at once. Think again, Captain, he heard Ra'Val's voice in his mind, and was spun into the air, landing with a thud on the deck. Disoriented, he struggled to his feet, with assistance from Beverly. "Jean-Luc, try not to think about anything," she said, pulling him to his feet.

They watched helplessly as Stahl held the psionic device steady with two hands and pointed it at Ra'Val. The device began to emit a humming noise that reverberated up through their feet and into their throats, resulting in a vibrating sensation in their skulls. Picard and Beverly shut their eyes tightly as the sensation grew unbearable.

Crusher fell to the deck, and rolled into a ball hugging her knees. Picard dropped as well, and crawled to her side with an agonizing slowness. Tears streamed silently down the sides of her face, and she opened and closed her fists against her body. She turned from side to side almost frantically. "Beverly please don't be frightened," he murmured, feeling the pressure between his ears and inside his skull increasing. He felt as though his body was beginning to feel the intense pull of gravity against the deck, but he knew it was either the psionic resonator, Ra'Val's power, or an oppressive combination of both.

Jean-Luc crawled next to Beverly and pulled her close to him. She buried her face in his shoulder and groaned from discomfort. Feeling the pressure inside his own skull increase he clasped his palms over her ears in a feeble attempt to try and protect her. She unclenched her hands long enough to wrap her arms around his torso and squeeze him tightly. Jean-Luc felt warm liquid running from his ears and nose, and saw red droplets fall almost dreamily to the deck, and spatter. Are we dying?

Beverly gripped him tighter and began to speak to him. He had no idea what she was saying, but he didn't care. He just wanted her to keep talking so that they would be able to stay alive. Her arms jerked once, when the screams of Stahl echoed over and over as his body was ripped into millions of particles. They didn't have to ask themselves what had just happened. The painful pressure in their ears began to lessen and normal sound and thought crept back into their minds. Picard pulled his hands away from Beverly's ears and stroked her hair gently, as she began to sob into his chest. I love you, he thought, before consciousness left him.


2020 is off the hook! I hope everyone is well and can stay healthy and safe with all that has been happening in this world. -PP