Chapter 11

"Over fifty years of work, gone," said Heidelburg, clicking his fingers on the last word.

Threv had been assigned to secure the doctor's quarters, removing any potential weapons or communications devices, for his confinement. He was now reprogramming the intercom to only contact the guard outside while Heidelburg sat on the couch and lamented his fate.

"North does not realise what he's doing," the old Human continued. "This could be the breakthrough of the century; I must be allowed to see it through! Now, it only looks like the half-baked experiments of a madman. Not that I care if anyone thinks that of me, but Jamal Duke does not deserve it. I have let my mentor down." He hung his head.

Threv recalled Kat Dehner mentioning this Duke as well. He turned to face Heidelburg.

"You knew him? Jamal Duke?" he asked.

Heidelburg looked up, wearily nodding. "Oh yes. A great man."

"He… helped war victims, didn't he?"

Heidelburg nodded again.

"And your Foundation helped victims of the Romulan War too, right?"

"Yes," said Heidelburg, a note of curiosity in his voice. "Why do you ask?"

Threv shuffled awkwardly. He had been toying with the idea of visiting Heidelburg and enquiring about the treatment those war victims received, until he found out that the doctor had been arrested following some incident in the medical lab. Perhaps he could still get his chance to ask some questions though.

"What, um… What sort of help did they get?"

Heidelburg looked Threv up and down, taking in his MACO uniform. "You have a personal interest in this?" he asked.

"It's, uh, for a friend," Threv said. His antennae drooped in embarrassment at the flimsy lie.

Heidelburg smirked slightly, but did not challenge the blatant deception. "It is a lengthy process. The therapy for PTSD varies from person to person, depending on their experience. But if your 'friend' is suffering, he should seek help. Doctor T'Ling is a qualified psychiatrist; I'm sure she could schedule some preliminary sessions, to discuss the nature of the trauma, and work out future treatment."

Threv was uneasy about discussing his problems with anyone else. "Isn't there medication or something? My, uh, 'friend' would rather not share his experiences."

Heidelburg leaned back on the couch. "If your friend were injured in combat - shot in the arm or leg - he would seek medical help, ja?"

"Well, yeah, but that's different."

Heidelburg shook his head. "It is no different. A wound to the mind is still a wound, still needs proper treatment. Each injury requires specialised tools to heal - you would not mend a broken bone with ointment - and therapy is the tool required to heal the mind.

"As I said though, it is a long process, but better to begin than to let the wound fester too long."

Threv thought about this. Although he was still unsure, he had never thought of it in the way the doctor had described. He was, essentially, walking around with an untreated injury.

"I'll… pass that on to my friend," was all he said.

"Tell him not to worry, my young blue friend," said Heidelburg. "Doctor T'Ling is an absolute professional. I'm sure she can help."

Heidelburg hung his head again. "I just hope she can help those poor people as well, before it's too late…"

North had Fia Duke, daughter of Jamal Duke and current head of the Duke Foundation, on his desktop monitor. He had already made his report to Starfleet Command, but he felt he should update Fia Duke herself on Heidelburg's actions.

Throughout their conversation, North had noted that the transmission was much clearer and quicker than usual for a civilian channel. He absently wondered if Christofur Thorpe was behind this as well, before concentrating on his current worries again.

"I am so sorry for what has happened to your crewmembers, Commodore," said Fia Duke in her refined New England accent. "I assure you; Dr. Heidelburg was not acting on behalf of the Foundation."

"Don't worry, Ms. Duke," said North. "I never thought that for a moment. Doctor Heidelburg was explicit that he was working alone and in secret."

Duke shook her head in exasperation. "We all thought he had put this nonsense behind him. He and my father spent years pursuing their belief in the paranormal. My mother and my siblings tried to keep it quiet, persuade them to give it up. If it had ever gotten out, the Foundation's reputation would have been destroyed. Jamal Duke would have looked as mentally unstable as those he tried to help."

She sighed. "Now, the damage has been done regardless."

"I'm sure the Foundation will be able to continue its work," said North. "People will focus on the good that you've done, instead of your father's… eccentricities."

"Oh we'll be allowed to continue. And most people will see past this, yes. But we shall be a laughing stock, and there will be those who don't see us as professional any more. 'Founded by a madman,' they'll say. Some will go without the treatment they need because of this reputation. All thanks to that damn fool Friedrich."

North could see that Fia was close in age to Heidelburg, and wondered if there was any resentment over the fact that her father had spent more time with his protégé than her. Heidelburg had been reckless and deceptive, yes, but he had not done so simply to cause harm.

"For what it's worth, Ms. Duke," he said, deciding to play devil's advocate, "I think Dr. Heidelburg genuinely believed he was doing good."

"I'm sure that is small comfort to your affected crewmembers, Commodore."

He couldn't help agreeing with her there but was spared from responding by the intercom.

"T'Ling to North."

He excused himself to Duke and closed the channel, then hit the comm button. "Go ahead, Doctor."

"The test subjects have gone into neural shock, sir," said T'Ling, her typical Vulcan calm undermining the severity of her message. "If I cannot find some way to alleviate their symptoms, they will all suffer brain death in less than sixteen hours."