Chapter 10

Deputy Chief of Starfleet Security Adam Logan was beginning to question his well thought out plans. He silently watched the screen in the main security room at Daystrom, as Beverly Crusher made her way into the conference room at which Emil Duchamps was currently speaking. He leaned in closer to the monitor just as she steered toward Picard, who was sitting alone at a table not far from the stage. The man was hunched over, periodically glancing up at the speaker, an old friend of his. Logan could see Picard bouncing his leg in a nervous manner beneath the table.

"Look at him...he looks like he's about to snap, but look at his posture...he's definitely injured."

"That's why it's imperative that he not be harmed further," Will Riker said from behind him. "He needs medical care."

"We'll do what we can," said Logan, not bothering to turn around. "But he needs to cooperate. Anyone in that room is a potential target for him, if they disrupt his plans." Logan straightened and turned to Riker squarely, but the taller man was unmoved.

Riker managed, to bury most of his anger, but his tone was still sharp. "And what exactly do you think his plans are?"

Logan smiled coldly. "I think he wants to escape...I think he's fallen in with the wrong people, whom he believes he is serving. And I believe he's on his way to Vulcan, just like the Romulan said."

"Why? Does Starfleet Command really believe that tiny artifact is a weapon?"

"You saw the doorway to his quarters, Commander. Melted alloy. How do you think he managed that?"

Riker fell silent for a moment. "Tomalak told Beverly to return Captain Picard to him alive."

"Well...there is no way that we intend to hand Picard over to our sworn enemies."

Riker shook his head. "And what exactly do you want out of this, Logan?"

Again the cold smile. "Why to see a murderer brought to justice, Riker."

Right. "Captain Picard isn't the type to fall in with the wrong people-are you saying he is working with these...these Romulan terrorists?"

"Yes."

"Based on what evidence? The word of a Romulan Commander who has done nothing but deceive us at every encounter?" Riker knew he was raising his voice, and told himself to calm down. "Listen...just let me talk to him. I know that I can help him to see reason, and he'll come back peacefully-"

"It's too late for that, Riker. He's already killed one person and gravely wounded another. "

"Those are unproven accusations."

"Even so, all precautions must be taken."

"And so you convinced Doctor Crusher to go and talk to him? If he's so dangerous, why take a risk like that. You know I didn't want her involved in this, and you-"

He was cut off when Worf walked into the room. "All turbo lifts on the second floor of this facility have been secured," Worf reported. "In addition, the Captain will be unable to escape using any utility tunnels, as we have security posted at each juncture."

"Good," Logan said simply. He glanced at Worf. "Glad to see at least one of you realizes the gravity of the situation."

Riker lifted his chin, but said nothing. Logan was getting his marching orders from Command, so there was little point in fighting with him on this.

Worf glanced at Riker, and then addressed Logan. "Daystrom's administrator is complaining. She demands to know why her facility is being overrun by 'security thugs'."

"Well if all goes well and he's brought into custody with no trouble, she may never actually know. As long as Crusher carries out her end of this, that is." Logan fixed the Enterprise officers with a probing expression. "Can she be trusted?"

"You should have thought of that before you hatched this plan," Riker replied.

Professor Emil Duchamps was still speaking, and had made another remark that had caused the audience to break out in laughter again. Captain Picard shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and glanced at Beverly. "Beverly, you shouldn't be here," he said in a hushed voice.

"Why not?" she asked him quietly. He didn't answer, and only turned his attention back to glare at Duchamps. Deputy Logan had prepped her thoroughly, telling her that Duchamps was now in possession of the artifact, and was cooperating with Starfleet Security. After his speech, Duchamps would meet Picard at junction A of the main corridor, as the two men had agreed, at which point Picard would expect to receive the artifact back. A contingent of security personnel would be waiting there to take him into custody. "Why don't you send a security team to retrieve the artifact from Emil? That way there will be no chance for the Captain to get it back?" she had asked. "And if he's really so obsessed with the artifact, aren't you afraid it will just motivate him to harm Emil?"

"His motivation is what we're counting on, Doctor."

"I don't like it...it's not safe for Jean-Luc, and it's not safe for Emil."

"My people will take care of that. Now, you're the only one who can safely get close enough to him. He won't hurt you," Logan had assured her.

"Of course he won't hurt me," she had snapped back at him.

"Just give him the sedative and then let him go."

"What kind of sedative? I don't want him to be injured further."

"You choose the one you think is safest, Doctor. As long as he is slowed down enough for us to capture him without violence, we can do our jobs."

"Which, remind me again is what?"

"He's been charged with the wrongful death of that Risan, Doctor...the fact that I would have to remind you of the importance of bringing Captain Picard in is very strange. And given that he is responsible for nearly killing one of your crew members-"

"I don't believe that for a second."

"Once again...all evidence points to Picard, and no one believes he could possibly do such a thing."

"That's because we know him," said Beverly. She got to her feet. "You're wrong about him...and once he is able to defend himself against these charges, he will prove them false."

Logan had looked up at her with a manufactured smile. "Just follow through with what we are asking of you, Doctor. Riker assures me that you won't let your feelings get in the way. For Picard's sake, I hope that is the case."

She clenched her fist around the hypo spray she held in her palm when she saw the scarlet stain on the table cloth next to him, sloppily covered by a napkin. She observed the beaded sweat on his forehead and did her best to assess his condition without being obvious. Feverish, he was pale and disheveled despite his attempt to dress in a civilian business suit. The door to his quarters had been melted for lack of a better term for it, permitting his escape. In the process he must have sustained a serious injury to his hand, which was probably infected.

The room full of scientists was oblivious to their conversation. Anxious that time was ticking, she pulled her chair closer to him, aware that at that moment, Starfleet Security was preparing to arrest him. She'd had no choice other than to cooperate. At least this way she could convince him to turn himself in to the authorities for a fair trial. She had no doubt that he would be exonerated if he would only stop now, before there was no way to reverse the damage that had been done.

He looked at her, puzzled. "You're supposed to be in the Neutral Zone down on the Altarus colony-preventing an epidemic. Are you alright? Were you able to contain the virus?"

"Don't tell him anything about the Romulans," Logan had warned her.

"We completed that mission," she said flatly, hoping he would not press for details. "So...now I'm here to help you."

"Help me..." he echoed vacantly. "I don't understand." He raised an eyebrow and looked at her searchingly, but his typical focus was not there. It was clear to her now that he was in some kind of trance, and perhaps shock due to his injuries. The forensics from the horrific scene outside of his quarters indicated that his DNA had been found mixed with the remnants of his door. She could see him cradling his hand underneath the table. Could he have attacked and nearly killed injured Ensign Perry? She still could not wrap her mind around the idea.

Picard turned back to stare at Emil Duchamps, who was winding up his speech. It won't be long now. He just had to meet Duchamps and then he could be on his way. He was beginning to see exactly where he had to go. It was so obvious...why had it taken him so long to realize he needed to travel to Vulcan? The ancient words echoed in his head, and now he was beginning to truly understand. But he couldn't tell Beverly, couldn't involve her. It was too dangerous. "You shouldn't be here," he repeated quietly.

"But I am...let me see your hand. I know you are injured." She moved her hand to his knee and the muscles of his thigh stiffened. She kept her hand there and could feel that his skin was feverish beneath the fabric. There's no way I can give him a sedative...not in this condition. She quickly grabbed a vial of an analgesic mixed with antibiotic instead and injected into his leg. She squeezed his knee, trying to attract his attention, which remained fixated on Emil. He turned his head slightly toward her. "Come back to the Enterprise with me...I miss you," she said, hearing her own voice waver.

He shook his head. "I can't. Not yet. There's something I need to take care of."

"The only thing you need to take care of right now is your health. You're not well. "

He looked at her with increasingly glassy eyes. "Can't you just give me something to make me feel better?"

"And then what? You'll keep running away from me? I don't understand this obsession with that artifact, but it's not like you."

He stared back at her blankly.

"Jean-Luc, do you even remember anything that's happened recently?"

He shook his head. "I don't understand. Remember what?"

"Ensign Perry..the security officer assigned to guard you-"

"Guard me?" he scoffed.

"Ensign Perry was severely injured outside of your quarters. Do you remember anything about that?"

He looked down at the table with a convincing expression of confusion. "No..."

She bit her lip. "Jean-Luc...look at me." She waited for him to slowly turn his head in her direction. "The Deputy Chief of Sarfleet Security has charged you with the wrongful death of that trader on Risa...and now they believe you've injured Ensign Perry as well."

There was a sudden look of alarm in his eyes. "Did you come here alone, Beverly?" His eyes flicked anxiously around the room. He thought he'd seen security personnel before. How could he have been so careless? They were chasing after him; hunting him down. Suddenly he grabbed both of her hands in his. "You need to leave...now. They will be coming for me soon. I don't want you to be involved in this."

"Whatever you've gotten mixed up in, we can get through it together. Everything that's been happening...it isn't like you."

"Do you think I killed that man on Risa?" He looked at her, but his eyes were cloudy with suspicious confusion.

She held fast to his hands, and could feel his blood on her palms. She tried to steady her breathing. "Whatever you did, I know it wasn't really you. Someone or something is controlling you!"

He suddenly jumped up, and his chair went tumbling backwards. "You're working with them! They sent you to trap me, Beverly, don't you see you are being used?"

Just then the room broke out in applause and she saw him lock eyes with Professor Duchamps who was quickly exiting the stage. Picard stepped away quickly before she could stop him. "Wait!" She called after him. Across the crowded room she saw Logan watching them , and she hurried to follow Jean-Luc.

Picard had his sights set on Professor Duchamps, as the latter made his way through the convention hall, not stopping for even quick chat with a colleague. Good... at least there will be no delay in retreiving the artifact.

Duchamps slipped through one of the old fashioned double doors that exited the room, and Picard followed. Dimly it occurred to him that Beverly might try and follow him, but he couldn't concentrate on that possibility at the moment. He hesitated after stepping foot in the hallway. Duchamps was walking with swift measured steps up ahead, but aside from the two of them, the corridor was dead quiet. He walked after him in pursuit, trying to remind himself that he'd made a deal with Duchamps. There was no point in rushing after the man. Duchamps rounded a corner, and disappeared, causing him to panic irrationally for a moment. But when he himself rounded the bend, he saw they were at their agreed meeting place, which calmed him to a degree. But then an image, or perhaps even a memory of a still figure laying face down in an alley. He looked down at his hands. Had he killed that man on Risa?

"How did you like my speech?"

His head jerked up, as Emil Duchamp's self important voice brought him back to the present. His own voice was hoarse and sounded strange. "The artifact is anything but fake, Emil. I suppose you said it was just to put me in my place. I may not be an expert-"

"You're not even an amateur, Jean-Luc. It is a fake."

He thrust out his hand. "Then let me have it back! If it's so worthless, what are you waiting for?"

Emil patted his pocket where the artifact was hidden. "I don't think so. Do you even know what you look like right now? Desperate and obsessed over a small piece of metal."

Picard advanced on him. "You arrogant-"

Emil backpedaled, stepping out of his reach, but Picard's momentum carried him forward.. Something about Emil's half amused expression threatened to drive him into a blind fury. Duchamps wanted to keep it for himself, that was now. clear. He grabbed the professor by the front of his jacket and shook him. "Give it to me, before he takes it from you!"

Duchamps smug smile faded, as though the game was no longer any fun. "He? Who is he Jean-Luc? You're in trouble, old friend, I can see that now. This isn't some harmless obsession."

Ignoring the professor's concern he reached for Duchamps' jacket pocket, just as the sound of multiple transports flooded the area.

"No!" Duchamps shouted. He grabbed for his pocket, and shoved at Picard, but the captain held fast. Duchamps thrust his palm into Jean-Luc's chin, before he felt himself lifted off the floor by some kind of force that he knew could not possibly have come from Picard, and was thrown through the air. Duchamps hit the wall with a dull thud and slid down to the floor unconscious. Picard scrambled to retrieve the artifact from his old friend's pocket, and only when he felt it enclosed tightly in his palm did he hear the shouts behind him. He pushed off the wall and began to race down the corridor.

"Captain!" He heard Will Riker shout to him, and that is when he must have slowed his pace, but he didn't turn around, just kept running. The stun beam hit him in the back of one leg, and he felt his body quickly growing numb. To his own astonishment however, he was able to increase his speed. The phaser fire continued, and he felt himself get hit again several times more. He didn't truly question why he wasn't falling down. Suddenly he was brutally slammed sideways, and spun to the floor face down. That wasn't the stun setting...they're trying to kill me... The artifact still clutched in his palm, he gasped, pushing himself off of the floor. His vision was dim, but he could see Worf in front of him, a few meters away. Beyond that was the atrium, below which was a large reflective pool, one of the most popular sights for visitors at the Daystrom Institute. He didn't know exactly how deep the pool was, but it couldn't have been more than a meter or two. Not safe, but I must escape.

"Captain, stop!" Worf was coming at him now, and he saw the Klingon raise his phaser to fire. Somehow he evaded Worf and then jumped up and out over the handrail. There was a rush of air in his ears, he was falling, and then blackness.