"Captain's log, stardate 44307.3. I am preparing to leave by shuttlecraft for Pentarus Five, where I have been asked to mediate a dispute among the salenite miners - a contentious group unfortunately prone to violence." Picard said.
Picard, Riker, Deanna, Dara, Worf, and Ensign Tess Allenby were at the bridge at their positions.
"At the same time, I must deal with a situation of a far more personal nature." Picard said.
Then Wesley came bursting in through the Turbolift door, out of breath and a little anxious. Everyone on the Bridge looked stern and a little disgruntled with him.
"Ensign, I summoned you almost ten minutes ago!"
"Yes, sir, I know, but I was in the middle of an experiment using some volatile compounds and I couldn't just leave them lying out —" Wesley said.
"Excuses, Mister Crusher?"
"No, sir, not at all, it was more of an explanation -"
"Because I assure you that will not go over well at Starfleet Academy."
"I know, sir, but -" he started then it sunk in and he stared at Picard. "The Academy?"
"I just got the message from Admiral Nsomeka. She expects you to report in two weeks."
There were smiles all around as Wesley, nonplussed, realized what Picard was saying.
"A position has opened up in this year's class. You'll have to work overtime to catch up, but I have assured the Commander that you will be capable of that. Please don't make a liar of me."
"Oh, yes sir! I mean - no, sir."
There was a small part of him that was upset about this. Leave the Enterprise after living here for four years?
'Do I really want to do this? These are my family and my home. Captain is like a father to me and my mentor. And I'm an ensign now, do I really have to go?' he thought.
"And as your final mission aboard the Enterprise... I'd like you to accompany me to Pentarus while I try to sort things out with the miners."
Wesley was amazed. First the Academy, and now an expedition with the Captain.
"Yes, sir..."
"Mister Riker tells me you've been studying the effects of outpost judiciary decisions on Federation Law. What better way to get first-hand experience?"
"Captain, I am picking up a general distress signal from Gamelan Five." Worf said.
"On screen."
They all turned toward the view screen.
An alien woman appeared, a gentle, sensitive creature who spoke with quiet desperation.
"Please... Does anyone read us?" the woman said.
"Open channel." Picard said to Worf. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise." he said to the screen.
"Captain... I am Chairman Songi, of Gamelan Four. An unidentified spacecraft has entered orbit above our planet. Radiation levels in our atmosphere have increased by three thousand percent. We can only assume we are under attack- but the ship will not answer our hails! We are a peaceful planet... we have no ability to defend ourselves. Please, can you help us?"
"Mister Data, are we close enough for a scan?"
"No sir, we are out of range." Data said.
"Any other ships near that system?" Riker asked.
"Negative, Commander."
"Very well. Chairman Songi, we will proceed immediately to your planet."
"Thank you, Captain Picard..."
The screen blinked out and Picard considered logistics.
"Mister Riker, take the Enterprise and investigate the problem. Ensign Crusher and I will proceed to Pentarus Five." Picard said. "The miners have sent a shuttle. We'll depart in ten minutes." he said to Wesley.
Wesley acknowledged and headed for the Turbolift.
Geordi emerged from the miners' shuttle - a small, ragged vessel that looked like the space equivalent of "The African Queen". Its pilot, Dirgo, was a tough-looking humanoid who was weathered and worn enough to suggest middle-age. Though his appearance was feral, he will emerge as an intelligent, if inflexible, being.
Ultimately, he was self-serving; Dirgo looked out for Dirgo, because he's always had to.
"Your maneuvering thrusters are rigged in a configuration I haven't seen before." Geordi said.
Dirgo gave him a smug look.
"My own modification. It's more efficient. You can study it if you want..." he said.
At this point, Picard and Wesley entered.
"I've run operational and safety inspections, Captain. It checks out. I won't make any claims for comfort." Geordi said to Picard.
Dirgo approached Picard, sizing him up as he did.
"Captain Picard... Captain Dirgo, of the shuttlecraft "Nenebek"." he said.
"Ah - Captain. Good to meet you." Picard said.
""Captain?" Of a mining shuttle?" Wesley said sotto to Geordi.
But Dirgo heard him, turned instantly to him.
"Yes, Ensign - Captain. My ship isn't pretty, and she isn't big- but we've logged almost ten thousand hours together." he said.
"It seems a very - sturdy - craft." Picard said.
"We should go. Will you take Ops, Captain?" Dirgo said.
"I'll let Ensign Crusher perform that task. I need to study up on Regalian law."
Dirgo studied Wesley with obvious disdain as they entered.
Riker, Allenby, Worf, Data were at the bridge.
"Crusher to Bridge..." Wesley said on com
"Go ahead, Mister Crusher." Riker said.
"Shuttlecraft Nenebek prepared for departure."
"Acknowledged, Ensign. Begin launch sequence."
"Launch sequence confirmed..."
"Shuttlecraft has cleared the bay." Data said.
"Ensign Allenby, set a course for the Gamelan system... Warp Six." Riker said.
"Aye, Sir." Allenby said.
On the shuttle Dirgo eyed Wesley handling the Ops position with some surprise.
"You've done this before." Dirgo said.
"Yes..." Wesley said dryly.
"If your Captain isn't tougher than he looks, those miners will tear him apart." Dirgo said jerking his head toward the cabin.
"Don't worry about Captain Picard- he'll handle them." Wesley said.
Suddenly they were interrupted by a sudden muffled explosion and violent shake of the craft, which then settled into a constant vibration. Cabin lights dim; control panels flicker.
"I've lost navigation-" Wesley said.
"The port thruster quad is gone, guidance coupling is severed - I can't stabilize her!" Dirgo said
The shuttle bucked and pitched as Dirgo and Wesley struggled for control.
The shuttle was in chaos. Dirgo wrestled with the controls as the ship continued to shudder violently. Picard burst through the door of the cabin.
"The port thruster module blew..." Wesley said.
Picard instantly sat in the Ops position.
"Nenebek to Enterprise... emergency... do you read? Pentarus station... come in..." Dirgo said shaking his head. "Communication is gone-"
"Is your navigational system functioning?" Picard said.
"Negative. Switching to manual."
"Estimated position...?"
"Fifty million kilometers from Pentarus Five... we may have to put down somewhere else..."
"Mister Crusher, scan for a class M environment..."
"Aye, sir." Wesley said.
Then he moved to the panel. The shuttle lurched sharply, settled and lurched again.
"We'll lose the main impulse engine if I don't throttle it down." Dirgo said.
There was another sharp jolt and the ship shuddered.
"One of the moons of Pentarus Three... it's class M - barely - mean temperature fifty-five degrees Celsius..." Wesley said reading the scanners.
"Life forms indicated?" Picard said.
"Negative. But sensors are limited. There's an intense magnetic field near the surface."
"We don't have a choice." Dirgo said and made a manual course correction moving toward a red-brown moon. "Save the impulse engine for a controlled entry."
"Ensign, reconfigure the working thrusters to manual inputs." Picard said.
"I'll try, sir - but this grid looks about a hundred years old..." he said.
Dirgo glanced at Picard a little defensive.
"I don't have the Federation's resources..." Dirgo said rising to Picard. "Captain... will you take the helm?" he continued and went to Wesley, shoulders him aside; Picard took the conn. "I'm rerouting the deuterium flow -"
Wesley nodded.
"We'll have to manually trip the bypass from the main engine to the thrusters..." he said.
Dirgo gave Wesley a sharp look.
"Where'd you learn that?"
The red-brown sphere began to fill the window.
"We've got power reconfigured, Captain." Wesley said.
Picard's hands were at the controls, skillfully maneuvering the craft, which continued its sporadic jolts and lurches. Dirgo moved to Ops and checked his monitors.
"Hull temperature seven hundred degrees -" Dirgo said.
"Beginning braking maneuver." Picard said.
The craft went into a pitch up. Picard lights flicker wildly.
"We're below Mach One! Bypass to thrusters now!" Dirgo said.
Smoke began to seep into the cabin; the lights flickered and the craft bounced turbulently. Finally, there was one moment of a controlled glide... and then impact. Sparks arc through the cabin, and then there was darkness.
A few minutes later a merciless sun beat down on a sere desert of rolling sand dunes. The shuttle lied, half buried in sand, charred and broken. The hatch had ripped off and Picard emerged, blinking in the harsh light and then turning to help Wesley climb out.
Picard was already at work, assessing the situation.
"Let's salvage what we can." he said glancing upward. "The first thing we'll need is shelter from the sun. In this heat, the shuttle will act like an oven."
Dirgo emerged from the shuttle, wiping his perspiring face.
"All systems are out. Can't get a communication channel. Location transponder's gone, too." he said.
"We'll have to check the craft for something to protect our heads and eyes... and Captain, please recover your medical supplies... food and water rations..."
"The medical supplies are all right..." Dirgo said hesitant.
"But... food and water?"
A replicator... damaged beyond repair.
"Surely... you have emergency supplies."
"This isn't a starship! I have to choose what I carry!"
"Are you telling me... that we have no water?" Picard said staring at him not wanting to believe what the man was saying.
Dirgo looked away. Picard glanced up at the sun, and then out across the vast desert. Wesley watched him, definitely worried, hoping Picard could pull some miracle.
'How will we survive without water?' he wondered.
He was mostly worried about Wesley, he and Dirgo had a life while Wesley is only nineteen and has a road ahead of him. He knows the dangers of being a Starfleet member but wants to be like him and his father.
The ship maintained a distant orbit around a large blue and green planet. In much closer orbit was an enormous space ship with no markings, dark and ominous.
At the Enterprise Riker with Data, Geordi, Beverly, Worf and Allenby were at the bridge.
"Scanning. Vessel reads as an unmanned sublight freighter." Data said.
"Origin?" Riker said.
"Indeterminate. Propulsion appears to employ a gaseous-core fission reactor, but it is not functioning."
"The radiation levels coming from that ship are off the scale." Geordi said.
"Mister Data, could that be leakage from their engines?" Riker asked.
"No sir. Engine reactor elements appear to have been inactive for approximately three hundred years. The vessel is carrying various unstable waste products." Data said.
"You mean... it's a garbage scow." Geordi said.
"Precisely."
"Mister Worf, open a hailing frequency." Riker said. "Chairman Songi, this is Commander Riker on board the Enterprise."
Songi appeared on screen.
"Yes, Commander." she said.
"It appears you've inherited someone else's problem... It's an old waste vessel... caught by your planet's gravitational pull."
"Have your people begun to suffer from radiation sickness?" Beverly asked.
"Not yet. But some areas are already detecting dangerous levels."
"We'll do our best to get it out of here as quickly as possible." Riker said.
"Thank you, Commander."
The screen was wiped.
"We're going to give that barge
a push into the Gamelan sun."
"Sir, the Meltasion Asteroid Belt lies between here and the sun." Data said.
"Then we'll have to take it ourselves and have our deflectors clear a safe path through the asteroids."
"I don't like the idea of getting close enough to that barge to tow it. The radiation levels are so high we'd be risking contamination of the entire crew." Geordi said.
"Got a better idea, Geordi?" Riker asked.
"We could send over a construction module to attach thrusters to it. Then we could direct it through the asteroid belt from a safe distance."
"Commander... a message from the mining settlement on Pentarus. The shuttle carrying Captain Picard has not yet arrived." Worf said before Riker could respond.
"They left here at oh-eight-hundred hours..." Beverly said surprised.
"They have asked if we will be starting a search."
Riker looked out at the huge waste vessel, frustrated.
"Tell them we have an emergency situation here... we'll start a search after we've dealt with it." he said.
"Aye, sir."
"Mister La Forge, prepare to launch the construction module. Let's get this over with as fast as we can."
Geordi headed for the Turbolift to obey the command.
Back at the desert the three men had salvaged what they could from the cabin of the shuttlecraft. They had fashioned wraps to cover their heads and shield their eyes, with flaps covering the backs of their necks. Wesley was repairing a damaged tricorder. Picard was laying broken strips of the metal hull on the sand.
"Mister Crusher, any luck with that tricorder?" Picard asked.
"I think so, sir. The scanning range may be limited, but it's better than nothing." he said.
"These were on board, Captain. They're working." Dirgo said and produced four phasers, similar to early Enterprise types.
Picard and Wesley each took one. Dirgo holstered the other two.
"Excellent. Now -" Picard said. "Our communicators may not be able to get a signal through this strong a magnetic field... so I've fashioned an arrow. If a search party finds the wreckage, they'll know we've headed for those mountains." he continued scanning the distance.
"Are you crazy?" Dirgo said and Picard shot him a quizzical look.
"It's too far away. We'll never make it."
"We can't survive out here in the sun." Picard said. "Where there are mountains, there is shelter."
Chastened, Dirgo snorted and bristled.
"You have no right to make the decisions! I'm Captain of this ship!"
This was too much for Wesley, who stood in front of Dirgo.
"If you want to get out of this, I suggest you listen. Captain Picard is the one who's going to keep us alive-" he said.
"Thank you, Ensign, that's enough." Picard said interrupting him.
"Yes, sir."
"Captain Dirgo, you're an able pilot and I welcome your input. Do you feel there's an alternative we're overlooking?"
Dirgo hesitated, looked around, saw the vast sweep of empty desert.
"No."
"Very well. I suggest a steady pace, but not a brisk one. We need to ration our energy. Try to breathe through your nose, it will help prevent dehydration. I'll lead... Captain Dirgo, will you bring up the rear?"
And he started off, the others falling into line. Wesley scanned the desert with the tricorder as they marched. Dirgo gave himself one last look at his fallen ship. He gave it a little salute before turning to follow the others. Then they burned in the sky, turning it white with heat.
They slogged across the dunes, sweltering under the glare of the merciless sun, struggling to make progress in the deep sand. Dirgo stumbled in the shifting sands. Wesley spotted him, helped him regain his footing. Dirgo spit sand from his mouth as Wesley helped brush him off.
"And you were worried about how tough the Captain is?" Wesley asked.
He nodded ahead as Picard marched at a strong, sturdy pace. He looked like he could go on for hours.
Wesley smiled, then turned and started off again. Dirgo watched him, then surreptitiously removed a bottle from his pocket. It contained a clear liquid; he tipped the bottle and drew deeply on it. Then he covertly replaced it.
Wesley looked at the tricorder. He slowly, swung the instrument from one side to the other, frowning as he read the response and Dirgo caught up to him.
"Did you find water?" Dirgo asked.
"No... not yet..." Wesley said.
Suddenly he stopped, turned and pointed the tricorder behind them, then whipped it to the opposite side.
"What are you doing with that?" Dirgo asked.
Picard turned, hearing them.
"Mister Crusher?" he said.
"I'm not sure, sir... an energy reading."
"Energy reading? What kind?"
"Low frequency E-M. It's been getting stronger... the closer we get to those mountains."
"What are you saying? There's something over there? Waiting for us?" Dirgo asked.
"I don't know what it is. It just registers as a repeating energy pattern..." Wesley started.
"Ensign, are you suggesting this energy is not naturally occurring?" Picard asked.
"The readings could be indicating some electromagnetic property in the rocks... but I don't think so."
"A life form?"
"It's possible... the pattern's fairly organized..."
The three looked across the sands toward the mountains. Picard glanced back from where they came.
"We can't go back... and we can't stay here. We have to keep going to the mountains. No matter what's waiting there." Picard said.
He set off, resolutely. The others followed, though the mountains now loom ominously with the specter of the unknown.
They were inside a cave, shooting toward the tunnel which lead to its entrance. Picard, Wesley and Dirgo entered.
"There has to be water in here... aren't caves formed by water?" Dirgo said.
Picard ran his hands over the walls of the cave; Wesley was scanning with the tricorder.
"Not necessarily... they could have been created by volcanic activity - lava flows." Picard said. "These walls are dry... Mister Crusher, do you get any moisture reading?" he said and turned from the wall.
"No, sir... But that E-M reading? The pattern has changed... and the frequency is peaking a lot higher..." he said.
Dirgo, hot and frustrated, wiped his face with his sleeve. As he does, the bottle of liquid fell from the pocket and onto the cave floor. Picard and Wesley stared at it in amazement.
"You have water!" Wesley said.
"I wouldn't hide water..." Dirgo started defensive.
Picard picked up the bottle, opened then smelled it.
"It's called dresci... from my planet." Dirgo continued.
"Alcohol."
"It's - medicinal. For emergencies."
Picard gave him a questioning look.
"I was going to share it with you..."
"This won't quench your thirst... it will only make it worse."
"I'll take my chances..."
He extended his hand for the bottle, but Picard didn't yield it.
"I'm not going to let you waste this. It's more valuable to us as a coolant or a disinfectant."
"It's mine!"
"Mister Crusher, stow this with the medical supplies and keep your eye on it."
"Yes, sir." Wesley said.
Picard tossed the bottle to him. Dirgo glared, seething.
"Now we're going to explore this cave. Mister Crusher, look for any indication of water, no matter how faint. Captain Dirgo - will you lead the way?" he said.
Picard gestured ahead of him, and Dirgo, still angry, scowled at him defiantly for a beat before starting into the depths of the cave.
At the sickbay Beverly was briefing assistants. There was a determined quality to her, as though it's important to concentrate on business.
"We're projecting that the bulk of the radiation will affect three small island groups." Beverly said then Deanna entered as Beverly was giving instructions, took note of her brisk, no-nonsense manner. "Fortunately, they're sparsely populated. We'll start replicating hyronalin now and be ready to transport it to them if it becomes necessary. Please coordinate with the medical personnel on the planet."
The supernumeraries set to their tasks, and Deanna approached.
"We've contacted the nearest Starbase for a search vessel... I'm afraid the closest one is almost a week away..." she said.
"I see. Thank you."
"But we have asked the mining settlement to send out any vessels they might have." Deanna said.
Beverly gave her a look; not much hope there.
"You know, there are many reasons why the shuttle might have been delayed..." she continued.
"Deanna - thank you. But I'm all right. And for now, I have work to do."
She moved off to stay busy, and Deanna looked after her, knowing Beverly was keeping a tight lid on.
At the bridge Riker stood over Geordi as he worked at the Science Station. Tess and Data, at their posts. An Okudagram represents the construction module in the process of attaching thrusters to the waste ship. Worf turned to them.
"Commander... the miners report that they have very few operable shuttle craft. They want to know when we will be joining the search." he said.
"Tell them to stand by. If this works, we'll be on our way." Riker sad.
"Thrusters are attached and ready, Commander." Geordi said.
Riker moved to his command chair.
"Initiate prefire sequence." he said.
"Prefire command transmitted. Thrusters to standby."
"Fire thrusters... gradual acceleration to forty percent power."
They all looked toward the viewer.
"We've lost one module. Correcting thrust vectors to compensate." Geordi said.
"Structural integrity of the barge has been compromised. Disintegration is continuing." Data said.
"Shut down thrusters! Ensign, take us one thousand meters ahead of the barge and hold." Riker said standing.
"External radiation levels are increasing."
"Coming into position at one thousand meters." Allenby said.
"Mister Worf, extend shields around the ship and lock on a tractor beam." Riker said.
"Aye, sir." he said.
Red Alert went into automatic, alarms chime at the bridge.
"Warning. Radiation levels at seventy millirads per minute and rising." computer said.
"Allenby, set a new course. We're going to take it through the asteroid belt ourselves. One-quarter impulse." Riker said.
"Aye, sir." he said.
"Doctor Crusher to the Bridge." Riker said to comm.
"On my way." she said.
"Data... I need a projection of the radiation impact on the crew... Worf..." he said. "... signal the mining settlement. Tell them - we won't be joining the search for awhile."
At the cave Dirgo, Wesley, and Picard made their way through the cave, Wesley scanning constantly.
"There's light up ahead!" Dirgo said.
The others followed him toward a cleft in the cave wall. A shaft of light was visible beyond.
"Captain... water!" Wesley said with the tricorder.
The three reached a jagged opening in the cave, through which some light penetrated as they moved cautiously into a huge subterranean cavern. Shafts of sunlight stream from openings far above them, illuminating the vault-like interior. It was a dry, dusty atmosphere, full of a chalky grit that clogs their noses and mouths and intensifies their thirst.
In the center of the space was a water fountain.
"I knew there had to be water!" Dirgo said.
He ran toward it, reached his hands out to scoop water- but was stopped and flung back by a force field surrounding the fountain.
"Mister Crusher... what was that?" Picard asked.
Wesley scanned with the tricorder.
"It seems to be some kind of tightly confined annular force field..." he said.
"Put there to protect the water."
"Then there has to be a way to de-activate it..."
"We can with our phasers." Dirgo said impatient.
He moved quickly forward, impatient, pulled a phaser.
"I think it might be wiser if..." Picard started but was interrupted by a sound, a deep growling hum... as Dirgo began to fire... Picard shot a look at Wesley.
"The E-M pattern again - the power level's really spiking now..." Wesley said reading tricorder.
"Look... I think it's working!" Dirgo said.
"Dirgo..." Picard said warning.
The sound suddenly built in volume, taking on a crackle like bacon sizzling. Then suddenly, all hell breaks loose.
The sentry appeared - a wave of electrical energy without substance, possibly appearing as a sheet of crackling lightning that buzzes and hums as it moved toward them.
"Stop firing!" Picard said.
Dirgo stopped and whirled. The shimmering plane advances toward them.
Dirgo fired right at the Sentry. It stopped - then suddenly flared out in a frightening electrical display that ricochets from the cavern wall, and pulled the phaser out of Dirgo's hands.
Wesley saw that rocks had been jarred loose by the Sentry's activities - rocks that were beginning to tumble right down onto Picard. He dove toward him, hurling him away from the rockslide, but taking the first one right on his head.
Then he crumpled to the ground and was bombarded with more boulders. He writhed and twisted under the assault of rocks, then finally lied motionless, dazed and broken. The Sentry disappeared; the sound dissipated.
Picard sprung instantly into action, holstering his tricorder, climbing to his feet and running toward Wesley. Dirgo seemed frozen with fear, staring at the wounded man on the ground.
"Help me!" Picard said then started lifting boulders off Wesley.
Dirgo was still immobilized.
"Dirgo - move!" he said.
Dirgo snapped from his shock and ran toward them, began to throw rocks from the unconscious man.
Wesley was lying on the ground as Picard frantically administered first aid. Dirgo still seemed sluggish, in shock.
"Keep pressure on that wound!" Picard said.
Dirgo had his palm pressed against Wesley's forehead, which took the initial blow and was bleeding. Picard was inspecting the various wounds Wesley had sustained, checked his right leg with the tricorder.
"This is the worst break... ?" Picard said.
"What was that thing... ?"
Picard gave him a sharp look - pay attention.
"Keep the pressure constant." he said.
Then he went for the pack of medical supplies, started rummaging through them. Wesley opened his eyes, struggling for clarity.
"Captain... how bad is it?" Wesley asked.
Picard hesitated. Pretty bad, but he didn't want to say that.
"You have a broken leg... Your left arm is... I think there's a fracture there, too. And you took a bad blow to the head. But we're getting the bleeding under control." he said.
"Thank you sir... I'm going to be fine in a moment... just need to catch my breath..." Wesley said weakly.
"Tell him the truth." Dirgo said to Picard.
"What truth?"
"He's bleeding inside. I've seen it before. He'll never survive." Dirgo said removing his hand from the wound.
Picard ignored him, lifted out the dresci bottle, poured it onto a gauze pad, applied it to a wound in Wesley's chest. Wesley gasped with pain.
"You don't know what you're talking about." Picard said and poured more dresci onto a pad, applied it to the head wound.
He was having a bit of a Jack repeat.
"You're wasting your time. Save the dresci for us." Dirgo said.
Wesley had had enough of being talked about in the third person. He summoned all his strength.
"Dirgo sir - I'd appreciate it if you didn't burry me before I'm gone." he said. "As much as I miss my dad, I still have a lot more time to live."
Dirgo shook his head in frustration, then left.
Picard started to wrap the wounds with sterile packed and gauze. Wesley grimaced in pain.
"The trouble is... he may be right." he said.
"No, he's not - you're going to be fine..."
Concentrating on his task then stopped, Wesley had not realized that Picard was gazing at him now, a vague, distracted look as though this were another time, another place. He finally glanced at him.
"Captain... ?" he said.
"For a moment... I saw your father's face in yours that day years ago..." he said gently and sobered.
This reminder of mortality was unsettling to him.
"He wouldn't give up, either... even when things looked bleakest, even on that terrible afternoon..." he said then stopped, trailed off, remembering Jack's death. "Strange, I always remember it as night. Maybe... sudden, unnecessary death ought to happen at night... not on a bright cloudless afternoon..."
Wesley looked at Picard, as though drifting back to the here, the now, the awful plight.
"Wesley... I'm going to have to keep a rein on Dirgo... he's willful, stubborn... that could be dangerous..."
"You'll handle him, sir."
"I have no feeling in my right leg sir. My vision is blurred... I'm going to get worse, not better. I won't be able to help you, sir. You'll have to stand up to him on your own like any other time over the years." he said sharply.
Picard stared at him, wishing he'd stop talking like this.
"Yes, Mr. Crusher." he said.
Wesley smiled wanly.
"Good Captain..." he said then fell unconscious and Picard looked up, out the tunnel where Dirgo disappeared.
"First Officer's log, stardate 44307.6. Radiation levels on the Enterprise continue to rise. The ventilation system has started pumping hyronalin into our air supply to counteract the effects." Riker said.
Back with Riker, Data, Beverly, Allenby, Worf and Geordi at the Enterprise the Red Alert continued to flash.
"At the rate the radiation levels are increasing, the hyronalin additive will only be effective for another thirty-eight minutes." Data said.
"Crusher to Medical Unit One. Evacuate and seal off all non-operational areas. Group the crew and families in the interior corridors of decks nine and ten, radiation exposure protocol." Beverly said to comm.
"Acknowledged, Doctor." Com said.
"Data... at our current speed, how long will it take us to get through the asteroid belt?" Riker asked.
"Fifty-one minutes, fourteen seconds." he said.
"We're going to have a lot of casualties if we can't get there any faster." Beverly said.
"Geordi, how much more can the tractor beam take?" Riker asked.
"We're already at the upper limit for towing speed, Commander." he said.
"Then let's see if we can establish a new upper limit..."
"Aye, sir..."
Geordi moved to the Engineering station... Riker and Data moved back to the command pit.
"Data, monitor the shearing effect on the beam... increasing to one-half impulse." Geordi said on the move.
"Tractor beam is holding... shearing force eighty metric tons per meter..." Data said.
"Increasing to three-quarters impulse."
"Shearing force ninety-two metric tons... ninety-three... tractor beam is destabilizing... we are going to lose the barge, Commander..." Geordi said.
"Reduce power." Riker said with no choice.
"One-half impulse." Allenby said.
"Geordi, you gotta stabilize the tractor beam..."
"I can't divert any more power to the shields... we're already hitting maximum thermal limits..." Geordi said mind racing. "Only other choice is to bring some other fusion reactors on line... but we're running at peak coolant pressure..."
"Do it."
Geordi raced for the Turbolift... then left, and Riker stared in frustration at the fragile waste ship.
"Warning. Radiation levels at one hundred fifty millirads per minute and rising. Lethal exposure in thirty-five minutes." Computer said.
Riker stared out at the stars, mind racing, trying furiously to figure a way out of this deadly situation.
At the cave Picard emerged from the cave, finding Dirgo sitting on his haunches, staring at the shielded spring.
"Look at that." Dirgo said gesturing toward an object on the ground.
Picard went to it, picked it up. The phaser had become encrusted with a hard, web-like material.
"How did this happen?" he asked.
"That - thing - did it."
Picard inspected it with the tricorder.
"Selenium fibers... electrically deposited." he said and swung the tricorder around the cavern. "The E-M pattern is back down... it only surged when we tried to get to the water..." he said and moved back toward Dirgo. "Whatever it was we saw... it almost acts like a sentry. To guard the fountain." he continued while checking tricorder. "As long as we aren't moving toward the water, the wave pattern stays low... right between five and fifteen hertz... Dirgo, walk toward the fountain."
Dirgo frowned at him, but complied. As he moved toward the spring, the low electrical hum started again.
"That's it! The frequency went to forty." Picard said.
Dirgo had had it with this scientific approach. He came back to him; the hum subsided.
"What is this getting us? We've got to get to the water!" he said.
"If I could find a way to manipulate the frequency, I might be able to control it." he said thoughtfully "The Sentry appeared when we started using phasers. Maybe it responds to heat... or to collinated energy..."
"If you're right... we can use a phaser to lure it away."
Picard frowned. He's still in his scientific mode... analyze, hypothesize... they're a long way from doing anything.
"Hold on... we need to figure out what it is, before we start doing anything to it." he said.
"Enough talk. Enough thinking. It's time to do something." Dirgo said and handed him a phaser. "I'll start firing. When it comes- you fire and draw it off."
"No, we can't..."
"Then set your phaser on automatic and take cover." Dirgo said overlapping.
"And how do you know it'll go for my phaser, not yours?"
"Because... I'll fire mine on the lowest setting. You use maximum."
"There's no evidence that it responds differently to higher settings... we have to figure out our options before we -"
Dirgo put his face in Picard's.
"And while we're doing that, your ensign is dying." Dirgo said and jerked his head toward the cave. "With those wounds, most men would already be dead. You know that! If he doesn't get water..." he said then shrugged, leaving the obvious unsaid.
Picard took a breath, struggling to remain in control, to withstand this formidable space veteran.
"When I start firing - you better do your part."
He turned and headed for the spring. The sound of the Sentry began immediately. Dirgo opened fire on the force field. Picard stared; he had no choice but to go along with all this.
The sentry appeared at the opposite end of the cavern from him. He put his phaser down on a rock and set it on automatic fire... the Sentry indeed responded, moved toward him.
Then he turned and ran back toward the tunnel to the cave, where there were outcroppings to conceal him.
The sentry stayed with the phaser and is working...
Dirgo was blasting away at the force field around the water.
Picard looked up to check the Sentry and sees it split in two. One heads back toward the fountain. The other enveloped Wes's phaser and promptly disappeared.
Picard reacted as he heard Dirgo scream.
The sound of the Sentry dissipated... everything was ominously silent. Then he picked himself up and crawled cautiously up the rocks to see what was happening. As he came around the rocks, closer to the spring, he reacted as he saw Dirgo lie shrouded in a fibrous cocoon, his mouth still open in a silent scream, eyes wide with surprise and horror. The Sentry was gone.
Picard stared at him, pale.
"First Officer's log, supplemental. Mister La Forge has diverted power from auxiliary fusion generators in an attempt to stabilize the tractor beam. This is the only hope of increasing our towing speed so we can clear the asteroid belt before radiation levels become fatal." Riker said.
Riker, Worf and Data were at their stations on the bridge; Allenby at Conn. Red Alert continued. Geordi left the Turbolift and hurried to the Science Station and made some final checks on the panel.
"Warning. Radiation levels at three hundred millirads per minute and rising. Lethal exposure in one minute." computer said.
"Ready, Commander. I'll be rotating the output of the auxiliary reactors, but it should still give us the power we need." Geordi said.
"Proceed, Mister La Forge." Riker said
"Increasing to three-quarters impulse."
"Shearing force at one hundred three metric tons... the tractor beam is stable..." Data said.
"Full impulse."
"Tractor beam is holding."
"Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in thirty seconds." computer said.
"We are in visual range of the asteroid belt." Worf said
"On screen." Riker said.
They looked toward the viewscreen, and saw the asteroid field way in the distance, like tiny pebbles.
"Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in fifteen seconds." computer said.
"Stand by to cut the barge loose..."
"Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in ten seconds." computer said.
"We have cleared the asteroids, sir." Data said.
"Let it go."
"Radiation intensity is decreasing, Commander."
There was a palpable sense of relief on the Bridge.
"Cancel red alert."
Then the Red Alert went off.
"Mister Worf, contact the mining settlement. Tell them we are joining the search for Captain Picard." Riker said. "Ensign, set a new course. Warp nine."
At the cave Picard piled some rocks together. Wesley was unconscious looking flushed and feverish; his condition had deteriorated in the last few hours. Picard aimed his phaser at a rock and zapped. It glowed, warming them. Wesley stirred and opened his eyes.
"Cold..." he said.
"When the sun went down, the temperature really dropped." Picard said indicating fire. "This should help."
Wesley shifted position, tried to get comfortable and glanced at him.
"... don't seem to be much good to you, sir..." he said.
"Wesley... Dirgo is dead." Picard said.
It was hard for him to admit.
This didn't seem to affect Wesley... he was listless, apathetic. But Picard's feelings of guilt and responsibility ran deeper.
"I should've tried harder to stop him..." he said.
Wesley shut his eyes and shook his head a little.
"Wesley?"
There was no response. Picard had been hoping for absolution and he's not getting it. Now, he looked at Wesley... looked closer.
"Ensign?" he said but got no response. "Ensign Crusher!" he said louder.
Trying not to panic, he checked Wesley's throat for a pulse and, finding one, took a deep breath of relief. His eyes slowly opened, and he fixed a blank gaze on Picard.
"Mr. Crusher... please... stay with me..." Picard said.
Wesley summoned a breath, monumental effort.
"I'm... trying... sir" he said.
Picard glanced at Wesley, whose eyes were fluttering shut again. His mind raced, not wanting him drifting off into oblivion so he tried a new tack.
"Ensign? Remember when we took the shuttlecraft to Starbase Five-One-Five? I was dreading it... six hours alone with you..." Picard said and glanced at Wesley at least listening. "But it didn't turn out the way I thought it would... you kind of - opened up to me. I got to know you." he continued. "It's your father and mother I know." he said. "... it's my fault you're here... I shouldn't have asked you..."
"I was honored you wanted me along..." Wesley said with great effort.
"... I was selfish... knew I might not see you again... forgive me..."
Wesley was flooded with affection for this man whom he reveres.
"Sir... the past three years... I've lived more than most people do in a lifetime..." he said then paused, struggling to form the thoughts. "I think I've been pretty lucky... no matter what happens. How many people get to serve with - with Jean-Luc Picard?"
Now it was pouring out, a flood of affection never before expressed.
"You don't know this... nobody knows this, because I never told anybody... but a lot of what I've worked for... school, and science projects, and getting into the Academy... I've done it because... because..." he said and hesitated, a little embarrassed now, but having gone too far to turn back. "Because I wanted you to be proud of me." he said quietly then looked back at him, afraid maybe he's said the wrong thing, but saw that it was very right. "One thing I learned from you... is that you never quit. And I'm not quitting now. I've seen you think yourself out of worse problems... and I'm going to think us out of this one." he said in a new determination came into his voice.
Then he weakly lifted his hand; Picard took it, pressed it as though transfusing his strength into Wesley.
"You're not going to die... I won't let you die. I'll get to the water and I'll keep you alive until they find us. I promise you." he said.
Wesley nodded, believing in the captain's resilience. And the two sat, hands gripped together, each drawing strength from the other.
At the Enterprise a weary group, including Riker, Data, Geordi, and Beverly studied an Okudagram at Data's station. Worf was at Tactical.
"Are you certain?" Riker asked.
"It is definitely debris. The primary material is duranium, with smaller proportions of sonodanite and ermanium." Data said.
"Most shuttlecraft hulls are made of duranium." Geordi said.
Beverly turned pale.
"Then, they're gone." she said.
'Wesley.' she thought.
"Not necessarily, Doctor. There is far too little debris to account for an entire shuttlecraft." Data said.
"So what is it?" Riker asked.
Something occurred to Geordi. He turned to Riker, working it over in his mind.
"Dirgo had his maneuvering thrusters rigged in a funny way... he claimed it was more efficient. If one of them blew... it might have left debris like that." he said.
"If only one of his thrusters were out... he could still have put down somewhere." Riker said.
"The only Class M planets in the system are Pentarus Two and Five... both have been thoroughly searched by the miners." Data said.
"Then, we'll search them again."
"Sir... there are also four moons in the Pentarus system that might support life..."
"Have the miners searched them?"
"Not yet, sir." Worf said.
"What's the closest one to the debris coordinates?"
"Lambda Paz, one of the moons of Pentarus Three." Data said.
"Set a course, Ensign."Riker said to Conn.
At the Cave Picard, too, had been up all night. His eyes were red-rimmed, but he stuck gamely to his task. He was working on both the tricorder and his communicator, modifying them. He took something from the communicator, inserted it into the tricorder, made a few adjustments, tried it. He heard the Wesley stir and moan, and moved toward him. Wesley's eyes opened. He looked awful - his face grey but flushed in spots with fever. His voice was hoarse.
"Sir... where are we?" he asked.
Picard swallowed. Wesley was in worse shape than he thought.
"We crashed, Wesley... we're in a cave..."
"... need water..."
"We - we don't have any water. Don't you remember? We tried to get to the fountain... and Captain Dirgo..."
Wesley stared at him, and with monumental forced his mind to clear and grasp what Picard was saying to him. He became momentarily focused.
"Yes... I remember..." he said.
Buoyed by this response, Picard rushed on.
"But I think I'm on to something. I've analyzed the sentry's electrical patterns." he said.
"Sir... I may not make it..." Wesley said.
This was not what Picard wanted to hear so he rushed on.
"I'm going to get to the water... I took the transponder element from my communicator... used it to modify the tricorder..."
Wesley shook his head, knowing that Picard was shutting out what he doesn't want to hear.
"I think I can use it to interrupt the sentry's energy pattern... stop it." Picard said. "Or at least slow it down..." he said then sighed. "Listen to me..."
"Yes, sir?"
"So much I've wanted to tell you." he said. "At the Academy, there is someone... who meant a great deal to me... he has been there "forever"... you must get to know him... his name is Boothby... tell him we were friends..." he said then put out a hand and grabbed his arm. "When I was there... he helped me... Listen to him..."
Wesley nodded, understanding, a mentor.
"What does he teach?" he asked.
Picard smiled with a cracked half-grin.
"He's the groundskeeper. One of the wisest men I ever knew..." he said. "I envy you, Wesley... it is just the beginning of the adventure for you."
They exchanged a long, intimate look.
"Go on, get the water, stay alive... they'll find you." he said.
Picard rose, gathered phaser, tricorder, and the empty medical pack.
"I'll be back soon." he said then turned and headed toward the tunnel to the cavern then stopped. "Wesley..." he started and Wesley turned back to him. "Always remember... I was... proud of you..."
Wesley nodded. Then Picard turned and headed down the tunnel.
As he emerged into the huge chamber he moved with determination toward the spring, set down the medical pack. The sound of the sentry began.
He fired the phaser toward the spring and appeared, shimmering and crackling. He turned, pointed the tricorder toward it, and began pushing the controls.
The sentry kept coming.
Wesley pushed more buttons, points the tricorder purposefully toward the entity. It slows down. Buoyed, he tried something else... but suddenly swells in size. Frantically, Wesley punched buttons again. The sentry shrunk... but started advancing once more.
He backed up slightly, studied the tricorder then pushed buttons.
The sentry flared suddenly and began that inexorable advance once more. The sound was now overwhelming, crackling, hissing.
He stood his ground, resolute and tried another configuration then pointed the tricorder, looked a bit alarmed. A hot wind was beginning to blow on him, his hair blowing backward from the power of the advancing sentry.
As the sentry advanced on him slowly and steadily Wesley closed his eyes, not yielding but expecting doom. The sentry was right on top of him and then it passed right through him. Amazed, unhurt, he turned and saw he sentry was circling the fountain causing the force field to come on... light shimmers and flashes and the force field and the Sentry flicker away.
Wesley looked at the fountain, approaches it tentatively. He extends his hand... further, further. The force field is definitely gone.
"It worked... !" he said amazed.
Then he grabbed the medical pack, plunged into the fountain, filled the pack, then hurried back toward the tunnel to the cave.
Then he approached Picard, who was still unconscious, groaning.
"Captain Picard? Wake up..."
With his hand, he scooped some water from the pack and carefully drizzled it on Picard's mouth. Picard sputtered then opened his eyes. Wesley used his other arm to lift his head and scooped up some more water. Picard gulped down the water Wesley gave him, gentle as a mother with a baby.
Riker, Worf, Deanna, Data, Beverly, Geordi and Allenby were at the bridge.
"There is an intense magnetic field, Commander. I am getting an anomalous reading... but it is not strong enough to interpret accurately." Data said.
"I can narrow the frequency range on the sensor array... and try to enhance the signal..." Geordi said while he worked for a minute. "Any better, Data?"
"Yes. The reflection signature now clearly indicates that it is metal... duranium. The probablity is quite high that it is the shuttlecraft."
"Any life signs?" Riker asked.
"It is impossible to determine. The magnetic flux would mask any bio-energy emanations."
"Mister Worf, will that interference affect the Transporter Beam?"
"Yes, Commander. An Away Team would have to take a shuttlecraft." Worf said.
"Assemble your team, Mister Data."
Beverly rose immediately.
"I'm going with you." she said.
"Of course. Lieutenant Worf?" Data said.
The three headed for the Turbolift. Riker looked after them, wishing he could be with them.
At the cave Wesley sat propped against the cave wall, Picard's head resting in his lap. Picard slept, or was unconscious. Wesley stared at the fire, trying to keep his eyes open. But he had been up too long, and through too much. His eyes drooped shut, snap open, then close again and stay that way.
"Wesley?" Beverly said.
Wesley's eyes opened again and then widened as he saw Beverly, Worf, and Data were moving toward him, followed by several supernumeraries with stretchers, water, food and medical supplies.
Worf and Data then lifted Picard, still unconscious, onto a stretcher and Wesley went to his feet.
"Mom!" Wesley said.
"Oh, Wesley... thank God..." she said.
"I'm sure glad to see you..."
She held him away from her for a moment, inspecting him with a tricorder. Then she nodded and went toward Picard.
"How did you find us?"
"We found the wreckage - and the arrow which indicated your direction." Data said.
"We'll take Wesley by stretcher, too." Beverly said to her assistant.
"I can walk." he said.
The supernumeraries lifted Picard's stretcher, and he shifted slightly then opened his eyes...
"Beverly..." Picard said weakly.
"We're on our way back to the Enterprise, Captain... we've stabilized your vital signs." she said.
Picard nodded slightly, looked around as though to reassure himself that everyone was really there. His eye fell on Wesley.
"Mister Crusher..." he started and Wesley stepped toward him. "A moment..."
Then he reached out toward him and Wesley went to his side.
"I want you all to know..." he started and gripped Wesley's hand.
His voice, still hoarse, was weak... but he summoned strength from within.
"He saved my life..." he said to the others then turned and looked up at Wesley who was a little red now. "Wesley, know this... you will be missed."
Wesley nodded; the two shared a silent goodbye. Then, he walked along side, still holding on to the Captain's hand, the stretcher was carried out toward the cave opening.
When they got home Wesley was fixed up and then went to his quarters and laid down exhausted. He had still been thinking about what Picard said. Him now accepted at the Academy? At first he would be excited but now after being on the Enterprise for four years he didn't want to leave.
"What am I gonna do?" he said with his face in his pillow.
He wants to stay but be an officer to.
'Maybe commander could teach me what I need?'
The next day Wesley, Riker, Deanna, Picard, Worf and Data were at the bridge as usual.
Wesley was standing in front of Picard, Riker and Deanna.
"Sir?" Wesley said.
"Yes Mr. Crusher?" Picard said.
He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
"What's wrong Ensign?" Riker asked.
After hearing the word 'ensign' he saw the day he became an acting ensign then when he became a full ensign last year.
Deanna looked at him.
"I feel nervousness Wesley." she said.
The other two looked at him a little concerned.
"I, I," he started.
"You don't want to go to the Academy, do you?" she said causing Riker and Picard to stand there shocked.
"No." he started. "I, I don't want to go to the Academy."
"Why? You worked hard to get there." Picard said concerned.
"I know sir. I don't want to go because, I don't want to leave here. The Enterprise is home to me. And you, commander, councilor, Data, Geordi, mom and Worf are like family to me."
The three adults stood there feeling touched at what they just heard, even Worf did.
A part of Picard didn't want Wesley to go.
"I want to be an officer to though. So maybe commander could teach me what I needed to know to be one?" he continued looking at Riker.
"I don't know Wes, we can talk to them and see what they think. Or maybe keep him as an ensign and see what happens over the years?" Riker said.
"Maybe. We can talk to them now and see what they think." Picard said.
Wesley nodded and then they headed to his quarters.
When they got there they sat down and Picard called her.
"Captain Picard, what can I do for you?" Brand asked.
"This is actually a question ensign Crusher told me a few minutes ago." he said.
"Which is what?"
"He doesn't want to go to the academy." Riker said.
"What?" Brand said surprised. "Is this true Mr. Crusher?"
"Yes sir. I want to be an officer to though. But, being raised on the Enterprise for four years I feel like I'm leaving home, my family. And I don't know if I'd be back on the Enterprise when I graduate. I thought that maybe commander Riker could teach me like he did when I became an acting ensign and then become an officer. Or stay an ensign and see if I get promoted to an officer someday." he said.
They could tell he was a little nervous now.
Riker, Picard and Brand looked at each other then had Wesley leave the room.
While he waited he paced nervous about what would happen.
"Ensign Crusher , you can come back in." Picard said on com causing Wesley to jump.
"Yes sir." he said.
When he got back in he stood there waiting.
"You can sit down." Picard said and Wesley did as told.
"We can keep you as an ensign and see what happens over the years, alright?" Picard said.
Wesley smiled.
"Yes sir!"
"Alright then, off to the bridge with you." Picard said smiling.
Then Wesley headed to the bridge as told.
Picard and Riker shook their heads smiling.
"I guess he really doesn't want to leave." Riker said.
"What do you expect Number One? He's been with us for four years."
Riker looked at Picard.
"What?" he asked.
"You don't want him to leave, do you?"
Picard sat there in silence.
"I want him to but at the same time I don't want him to leave." he admitted.
"Well, now you don't have to lose him." he said then smirked a little. "You don't have to lose your son."
"I beg your pardon Number One?"
"Admit it, you consider him as a son. He considers you as a father and a mentor."
Everyone knew Wesley saw him as a mentor and Beverly could tell he was like a father.
"Alright, yes I consider him as a son." he admitted.
"Then get to know him a little more. Take him somewhere fun at the holodeck or something."
"Where?"
"I don't know, he's eighteen now. He's not a kid anymore."
"I'll ask Dr. Crusher what she thinks will work with him."
"Alright, you're dismissed Number One." he said.
So he got up and left.
Picard sat there thinking about what he said.
At the bridge Wesley was on his seat smiling.
Deanna smiled feeling happiness, relief and even a little excitement.
"Ensign Crusher," Riker started.
"Yes sir?" Wesley said still smiling.
Some of them were confused while other people were happy.
"Take us to warp 90."
Then he got it all set.
"Course is set."
"Engage."
Then they were off.
Picard was sitting in his office thinking.
"Captain to Dr. Crusher."
"Dr. Crusher here."
"Could you come to my office? I have some Wesley questions for you."
"OK, I'll be right there."
While he waited he thought about having Wesley there to.
"Captain to Ensign Crusher."
"Ensign Crusher here."
"Could you come back to my office?"
"Yes sir?"
Picard could tell he was confused.
A few minutes later both Wesley and Beverly were in his office.
"So, you needed to see us sir?" Wesley said a little uncomfortable.
"I need you to tell your mother what you said to me, Commander Riker and Councilor Troi."
Wesley sat there in silence.
"Wes? Is there something you want to tell me?"
He said nothing.
"Ensign Crusher?" Picard said.
Wesley took a deep breath.
"Mom, I decided not to go to the academy." he said and Picard smiled a little.
He could tell he was a little nervous.
"Why? I thought you wanted to be an officer." she said.
"I want to but, I don't want to leave the Enterprise. It's home to me, I have friends and family here. I never had friends at school before because I'm so smart."
"It's true Beverly, so we called the admiral Brand at the academy and she understood but said he can't become an officer even if Number One taught him. So we came up with an idea, he stays here as ensign Crusher and as he gets older perhaps he'll be an officer."
She nodded.
"You're OK with that?" Wesley said uncomfortable.
"Oh Wes, I don't care if you wanted to leave or stay, I'm still proud of you and love you." she said and gave him a hug and kiss.
He smiled.
"Thanks mom."
Then he left and headed to the Bridge.