Chapter Nine

Nicole was on the holodeck. She was sitting on a rock ledge that had about a 20 foot drop. Without the safeties, someone could seriously hurt themselves.

She had just been relieved of duty. Again. Not for surgery though. For her low psilosynine levels. Regen was draining her.

He was still quite obsessed with her, but Nicole couldn't figure out why. Why did he want her so bad that he was willing to destroy her telepathic abilities?

This was so unlike him. He never used to be like this. When Nicole met him, he was the sweetest boy ever. He loved walking Nicole home from classes. And hanging out in the gardens.

Nicole was ecstatic that she was going to marry him. However that changed when he found out her love for starships and Starfleet. She was going to follow the lead of her parents and join Starfleet. Regen didn't want her to put herself in danger so he tried to stop her from going to the Academy to take the entrance exam. It didn't work though, she took the test, passed with flying colors, and joined the Academy.

Mrs. Troi's still madder than hell at her for not telling her about the scars or about Regen's true colors.

"May I join you?" Data asked.

Nicole shrugged. Data sat down next to her.

"I have been looking for you." He paused. "Why did you not stay in our quarters like you were asked too?"

Nicole stayed silent. She knew she needed to answer him, but she couldn't. "I am curious as to why you are running such a dangerous program though?" Data said.

Nicole turned to her husband. "It's the thrill of falling off the ledge that is calming." She said.

"But the safeties are on. You can't hurt yourself, Nicole." Data said.

"I know." Nicole said, smiling.

"Why did you not stay in our quarters when I asked you to?" Data asked again.

Nicole looked down the ledge. For a split second she felt like jumping.

"I know I should be resting, but I couldn't." Nicole said.

"Nicole, why are you so depressed?" Data asked.

Nicole looked over at Data. "Did I ever tell you about my life on Betazed before I joined Starfleet?"

Data paused for a moment. "No you did not."

"I know you have seen the scars. Mother has too. The only person who knows the truth is my grandmother. She promised that she wouldn't tell anyone." Nicole said.

Data stayed silent. Nicole looked back down the ledge. She let her leg swing a bit.

"Due to Betazoid tradition I was supposed to marry someone else. He was the sweetest boy when we met. He used to walk me home from school and we hung out a lot. His parents were friends with my grandfather. However…" Nicole trailed off.

Data scooted closer to Nicole. He wrapped an arm around his wife. He held her close, rubbing her back absentmindedly. This is what Nicole liked when she was upset. She liked to be held.

"When he found out I had a love for the warp core. He became violent." Nicole hid her face in Data's neck. Letting the scent of the android fill her nostrils.

"He tried to keep me from taking the entrance exam. He felt that beating me would get me to listen to him." Nicole sighed as tears began to fall. Data held her tighter.

"Grandmother came home early one day and saw him….." Nicole trailed off as she choked back a sob.

The memory made Nicole's scars burn. She kept this memory locked away. But due to recent events, she had to tell someone. She didn't want to end up like her grandmother did.

Nicole was happy to have Data with her. She began to cry softly as Data held her close.

"I am here." Data kept saying. Just hearing that was making Nicole feel better.

After a bit of crying, Nicole calmed down. She felt better to get that off of her chest. It wasn't enough though. She needed to tell what Regen has been doing to her. Nicole pulled away from Data. Just enough to wipe her eyes with the cuff of her uniform. She took some deep breaths to calm herself.

"Data." She finally said.

"Yes Nicole."

"Where's the Captain?"

"On the bridge." Data tilted his head. "Why?"

Nicole stood up. Data stood up with her. Once Nicole ended the program, she headed out of the holodeck.

"Where are you going?" Data asked, following his wife into the turbolift.

"Bridge." Nicole said, as the turbolift started moving.

"Nicole?" Commander Riker raised an eyebrow when he saw his daughter walk off of the turbolift near the ready room.

"Captain?" Nicole walked over to Captain Picard. "I need to talk to you. Privately." Nicole said.

"In my ready room. Number One, you have the bridge." Picard said.

"Something's wrong." Troi stated to Data and Commander Riker as Nicole and Picard walked into the ready room.

"What is it, Lieutenant?" Picard said, leaning against his desk.

Nicole took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Sir, I am sure you are aware of what has been going on with me." Nicole said.

"Yes. You told Commander Riker that you can't tell what has been going on." Picard said.

"Yes sir. I can't or couldn't tell what has been going on, because I am frightened." Nicole paused. She tried to fight back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Frightened about what, Lieutenant?"

"I am being stalked, sir. It is not by anyone in the crew, but by someone I used to know. Counselor Troi knows him too, Captain." Nicole said, feeling better to finally be able to get this off her chest.

Picard folded his arms across his chest and motioned for Nicole to continue.

"His name is Regen Kim. He is half betazoid and half human. Due to tradition I was supposed to marry him, but he became violent so the wedding was called off." Nicole said.

"And why would he be stalking you?" Picard asked.

"Because he was angry about my relationship with Commander Data, sir." Nicole said. "He wants me to break him. And when I told him I wouldn't….." Nicole trailed off. She turned away from Picard and looked down at her boots.

Picard unfolded his arms. He took a couple of steps towards Nicole. "Nicole, did Regen threaten you?" Picard asked.

Nicole looked up at her captain. Her baby blues were glistening. She wanted to cry. Not trusting her voice, Nicole nodded her head.

Picard placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Nicole smiled softly.

Picard took his hand off her shoulder. He tapped his combadge. "Picard to Troi. Counselor can you come in here?"

Troi walked into the ready room a moment or so later. Nicole told her mother what she just told the Captain.

"Has he been trying to contact you telepathically?" Troi asked.

"Yes." Nicole said.

"What do you think, Counselor?" Picard asked, he was now sitting in his desk chair.

"Well, it is hard to tell. I haven't been able to sense him. He has only been going after Nicole." Troi said.

"Are you able to sense him now, Lieutenant?" Picard asked.

Nicole took a deep breath to center herself. She closed her eyes and concentrated really hard. When she opened them, Nicole shook her head. "No sir, I can't." She said.

"We could wait till he contacts her again." Troi suggested.

"Counselor, take Lieutenant Riker to sickbay. Have Dr Crusher find a way to monitor her telepathic abilities. I want to know the second he contacts her." Picard said.

Troi nodded. "Yes, Captain."

Picard followed Troi and Nicole out of the ready room. Troi took Nicole to sickbay while Data stayed on the bridge.

A few weeks went by and they haven't found anything. Regen hadn't contacted Nicole. And no cloaked ships have been found.

Nicole began to feel that maybe this was all in her mind. That maybe since she moved on with her life, her past trauma with Regen caused her to create this whole thing. Or maybe even the stress of her shifts caused this.

She was in Engineering when Commander Riker walked in. Nicole sensed that something was up. Nicole looked away from her father. She couldn't meet his baby blues.

"Nicole." Commander Riker began.

Nicole shook her head. "It is okay. I understand. Maybe I did just imagine it all." She said, trying to concentrate on her work.

"Hey." Commander Riker leaned against the console. He placed a hand on his daughter's arm. "You have been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe you should take some time off." Commander Riker said.

Nicole looked at her father. "I am alright, Commander. I rather just work."

Nicole moved away to work at another console.

"Nikki."

"Dad, please! I have a lot of work to do." Nicole said.

Commander Riker sighed. He walked out of Engineering. Nicole could sense his concern. She could sense the concern coming from not only him, but her mother as well. She didn't want to worry them anymore. She decided next time Regen tried to "contact" her she was going to ignore him. There was no reason to lose herself in all of this mess.