Chapter 7

Jean-Luc considered his options for escape and found there were few available. "Computer, beam me into shuttle bay 2, emergency site to site transport."

Emergency transport has been disabled from your location, pursuant to Security Order 219.

"Damn."

He slung the pack over his shoulder and walked over and leaned his head against the door. There had to be a way. His brain felt cloudy, and his thoughts were dominated by how he could escape the confines of this ship and get to the Daystrom Institute. He blinked and thought of Beverly. She would be beaming down to the Altarus colony to investigate the viral outbreak. He would not be able to say goodbye. What would he even say to her? When he closed his eyes again, he saw the figure, and his thoughts cleared as the Leader spoke to him. You must act without regard to your personal safety or comfort. You must endure until the end. Take the piece of blade from your pocket and place it against the obstruction. If you are able to endure, you will escape your captors.

He took the artifact from his pocket and placed it against the middle of the door, his palm flat. Before his eyes the dull metal began to glow red. As it seemed to sear into his hand, he screamed in agony and his vision blacked out. When he awoke, he was laying face up on the deck outside his quarters. The door was half gone, melted it seemed. His left hand felt as if it were molten lead, and when he turned to look at it, he saw that the guard lay next to him, unconscious or dead. A bright multicolored swirl of energy floated above the guard. Suddenly unaware of what had happened to him, and what he was doing, he reached out with his bloody hand, to try and intervene.

"Leave him alone," he gasped, trying to crawl toward the guard. His hand fell uselessly on the guard's chest. The man was not breathing. The energy cloud suddenly turned in his direction and coalesced into a glowing skeletal form. As it rose to it's full height, the empty sockets of the skull seemed to focus in on his face, mesmerizing him, paralyzing him, before it dove at him slamming into his chest and dropping him to the deck again.

His thoughts now clear and focused again, he got to his feet and tucked his wounded hand under his right armpit to apply pressure. Stepping over the dead guard, he spoke to the computer. "Emergency transport from my location, to shuttle bay 2." The transporter beam took him in an instant, and he was in the secondary shuttle bay.

"Sir?" The engineering technician walked cautiously toward Captain Picard. "Can I help you?" When he drew closer, he could see that the captain must have been wounded. "Do you need medical aid?"

Picard raised his good hand with a phaser, pointing it at the tech. "Get out of here," he rasped, gesturing toward the entryway. "Get out," he repeated.

"Sir, you can't-"

"I will shoot you!" Picard abruptly shouted.

The tech backpedaled out of the bay. Picard rushed to the control panel, aware that the tech had already sounded an alarm. With no time to spare he set the shuttle bay doors to lower in 45 seconds, with shield deactivation. Hearing boots outside of the bay, he raced toward the only warp capable vessel in the small bay, a utility runabout.

Riker and Troi stepped out of the conference room, watching as Chief Logan quickly departed the bridge.

The lights were now blinking yellow. "Why is the perimeter alert on?" Riker demanded.

Data was still seated at the command center, and was typing into the Captain's control panel. "Commander, there have been several new developments in just the last 45 seconds. The perimeter alert is on because we have credible information to support that there are cloaked Romulan vessels in orbit." He finally looked up at Riker and Troi, who now stood next to him. "In addition, it appears the viral outbreak we have been deployed to investigate was, for lack of a better word, a hoax."

"Incoming message from the USS Drew, Commander," Wesley reported from ops. Data stood up and replaced the ensign as Riker sat down in the command center.

"On screen."

Riker smiled reflexively. "Captain Charles."

Danita Charles returned his smile, but it was slightly restrained. "Will," she greeted him more informally, acknowledging their long friendship. They had been friends and school classmates at the Academy, and she had risen through the ranks quickly, and was already considered to be a brilliant negotiator. "Commander, have you heard from your medical team down on the Altarus colony?"

He shook his head. "They were just deployed twenty minutes ago. Doctor Crusher is scheduled to check in after one hour."

"I suggest you make contact as soon as possible, Will. Our team is already back on board. They beamed down to the Faban Colony and were greeted by two Romulan Centurions, who questioned them at gunpoint about the Enterprise and Captain Picard. Of course, our people didn't give them anything useful. The Romulans then beamed up to their obviously cloaked ship and we haven't been able to detect them since. We're still in orbit, and the colony checks out clean. No virus whatsoever. The whole thing was a ruse, that we're guessing was perpetrated by the Romulans."

"Anyone harmed?"

"The colonists were fine, just confused and a bit shaken. They know enough to be aware that Romulans are not supposed to be crossing the Neutral Zone into Federation space."

Why were the Romulans asking about the Enterprise? "Have you contacted Command?"

At this, Charles looked completely irritated. "All information has been transmitted to them, but there's been no response as yet. As you know, we're in a tenuous situation here. A Romulan incursion would be an act of war, unless..."

"Unless they provided notice to the Federation beforehand and we were just never informed."

"Right," said Captain Charles. "I'd like to meet up, and confer with you and Captain Picard, but I think we need to stay in orbit until we can be assured the sector is cleared of Romulans."

"Agreed," said Riker. "Be safe Danita."

"You as well. Charles out."

"Logan to Riker," came a clearly irate voice over the communications link.

Riker sighed. What now? "Riker here, go ahead."

"Picard has escaped, and he's severely injured the guard outside his quarters. We think he's taking a shuttle-"

Riker jumped out of his seat. "Report!"

Data turned from his post. "Runabout 661A has exited shuttle bay two, Commander."

Riker pointed at the view screen, which now showed a small runabout powering up its impulse engines. "Get a tractor beam on that ship before he-"

"Runabout has entered warp, Commander," Wesley confirmed, as the screen flashed white.

Riker turned around slowly to look at Troi who looked as stunned as he felt. Few times in his life had he felt so helpless.

Riker ran a hand through his hair and tried to focus on the most pressing matter at hand, remembering Danita Charles's warning. He could feel Troi's mind focused on his, trying to keep him steady, and for that at least, he was grateful. "Riker to Crusher."

There was a long pause, before a voice, decidedly not Beverly's answered on her transmission code.

"Commander Riker...this is Commander Tomalak of the Romulan Empire. You are surrounded by three very powerful war birds. And Doctor Crusher is alive. Whether she remains well, is mainly up to you."

"Tomalak, your very presence here is an act of war. But imprisoning colonists and kidnapping my officers? Now you're just making this personal."

"Where is captain Picard?" Came the cool reply.

"This is the second time in less than a year that you have violated the treaty that protects the neutral zone from incursion by either side. What are you doing here in Federation space?"

"My business is with Picard."

"Your business is with me," Riker corrected him.

"I wish to speak to your Captain-"

"Then you're out of luck. He's not available."

"Not available, or perhaps... an active fugitive from so-called Federation justice?"

Riker remained silent. Had Tomalak's ship informed him that a runabout had just sped off from the Enterprise, or was he simply guessing? Either way, how did he know so much about Picard's situation?

"You must think fast Commander, before we are all imperiled by his actions."

"I don't know what nonsense you're talking about, but you had better let my officers go, Commander Tomalak, or you will regret your actions."

"What would you say commander if I told you our interests in this matter are not divergent?"

"I would ask you for an explanation..."

"Picard is aiding and abetting a terrorist group known to our society. And more importantly he is carrying a component of a weapon capable of mass murder."

The artifact. "Not that I have any reason to believe you...but let's say that was all true. What was your intent by luring us here and then threatening us with violence?"

"Why to obtain this murderous weapon of course..."

"And?"

"And to neutralize it...and the terrorists who intend us harm."

"Who are these terrorists and what exactly is this weapon?"

"So far, Commander Riker, I have provided all of the information during this conversation, while you have provided nothing. Are you trying to cause me to lose face in front of my subordinates?" He thought he heard laughter in the background.

Riker shifted his stance again. "Return our people and leave the colonists unharmed."

"Again. Where is Picard?"

"He's gone," Riker finally admitted.

Tomalak paused. "How is he traveling?"

"Not on foot."

"A human quip no doubt. You find situations of life and death to be entertaining," Tomalak observed. "However, I think you will find that our sanctimonious cousins on Vulcan will not find their dilemma so amusing."

"What dilemma?"

"I have reliable information that your captain will eventually travel to Vulcan. When he does, my dear ancestral land will be at risk of destruction. The next step will be an attack on my people, which I simply cannot permit."

"You are telling us we have to stop him from reaching Vulcan?"

"Rest assured if you do not stop him, we will."

"I don't want anymore threats, Tomalak. I want confirmation that within 20 minutes you have left the colony and exited Federation space. And if all of my medical teams are not returned within 10 minutes, I'll beam down to sort this out with you directly."

Tomalak turned to Beverly. "I would have a word with you, doctor."

Worf sidled in front of Crusher. "You heard Commander Riker. We are beaming back to our ship, and you are exiting this system without further delay."

Tomalak smiled thinly. "Oh, no doubt, you are free to return to your ship, however the information I have to share may be of benefit."

Worf looked at Beverly, who nodded at him, then returned her guarded look of suspicion to the Romulan commander.

"Fine," Worf growled. "But I must be present."

Tomalak's expression remained the same, but his eyes were hard. "I will speak to Doctor Crusher alone...or not at all."

Beverly glanced up at the security chief. "I'll be fine, lieutenant. Just give us five minutes."