Chapter 21
Victorianna Troi closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. Once she was sure that Riker
was fast asleep, she got up and ran into the other room and grabbed a hypospray. She
programmed it for a mixture of two strong analgesics to get a nice sedative. She pressed
it to Riker's neck. "You shouldn't have trusted me," she whispered. After she dressed, she
grabbed the hypospray and reprogrammed it. She grabbed Riker's sidearm, knife and
insignia as she toward the door.
When she emerged from the quarters, the guard looked at her questioningly. "Where's
Commander Riker?"
"He's sleeping," she replied, sweetly. "Counselor Troi wishes for me to report early this
morning."
The guard nodded and waved her on.
Julian Bashir jerked awake, covered in sweat. He had dreamt of a man holding a knife to
Vicki Ann's throat. He had to do something. He dressed and ran out the door.
Captain Benjamin Sisko awoke to the sound of his doorbell ringing. Who is the world could
that be? he thought to himself. He got out of bed, put on his robe and walked over to the
door and opened it. The doors opened and Julian Bashir burst in.
"Doctor, what are you doing here at this hour?
"I apologize for waking you captain, but I need to request a leave of absence."
Sisko sighed. "Julian, I understand that you're upset about Vicki Ann's disappearance and
that you want to everything you can to help find her, but Captain Picard is taking care of
the situation."
"I know, sir, but she's in danger."
"The Q are taking care of that, remember?"
"But what if someone tries to interfere with the prophecy?"
"Julian, don't worry. I'm sure she's fine. Now go back to bed."
Julian nodded. "Yes, sir."
Ezri Dax heard her doorbell ringing. She stumbled out of bed and said, "Come in."
Bashir entered.
"Julian? What are you-?"
He interrupted her. "Ezri, I need you to do me a favor."
"What?"
"I need you to cover for me if Sisko asks for me or wonders where I am. I've already found
someone to cover for me in the infirmary, but I need you to keep him from looking for me
for a little while. Just a few days, that's all."
"Julian, why? What's-."
"Vicki Ann is in danger and she needs my help. Thanks, Ezri. I owe you one," he said,
starting to leave.
"Julian, wait," Ezri replied, but he was already gone. She sighed to herself and shook her
head. "A few days?"
There
Vicki Ann walked down the corridor, being careful not to be seen. The last thing she
needed was for someone to recognize her. She turned a corner and ran into a tall man in a
Lieutenant's uniform. Her first instinct was to apologize, but instead, she gave him a look
as if it were his fault. "Watch where you're going." She turned to walk away, but he man
grabbed her arm.
"She'll do," he said to his companion.
His companion nodded and pressed a badge on his chest. "We're ready."
"How many?" came the reply.
"Three." They vanished in the shimmer of a transporter beam.
They reappeared on a freighter ship. A man stood a few feet away from them, talking to a
woman with short, dark brown hair. The man was tall and thin and his dark brown hair was
pulled back in a ponytail.
He turned when he heard them.
Vicki Ann bit her lip so that she wouldn't gasp. It was Julian.
Obviously not her Julian,
but instead, a cold, bitter Julian made so by years of pain and hardship.
"Who is she?" he asked.
The two men who had abducted her shrugged.
Julian stepped closer to her. "What's your name and rank?"
"Dr. Victorianna Troi. Rank of Commander," she replied.
"You look exactly like a woman by the name of Victorianna Leonard."
"That's me. I changed my name."
"You're lying. Victorianna is dead," Julian said to her.
"I assure you. I am Victorianna Troi."
"Then you must be from the other timeline, correct?"
Vicki Ann nodded.
Julian shook his head. "She's of no use to us."
"Sir, I've been monitoring transmissions to, from and within the Enterprise. Apparently, she
is worth something to us. Not only is she a personal prisoner of Commander Riker, but they
are awaiting word from Q on what he wants done with her," someone sitting at a control
station told Bashir.
Bashir smiled. "Well, it looks like we've got
someone special.
Friend of the Commander, are we?" he asked Vicki Ann. "Perhaps they would be willing to
bargain for you."
"If you have any compassion or decency within you, you will refuse to return me to them."
"Oh, you don't want to go back to the Commander?"
"I would rather die here than go back," she replied, her face set with determination.
"It may come to that. Unless you can give me a good reason to spare your life. If only
there was some way you could help us. . ."
"I'm Betazoid."
Bashir smiled. "Well, Victorianna, it seems as if you have saved your life for the moment."
He turned to the other men. "Make sure she doesn't go anywhere," he said, motioning to
one of the men.
The man walked over to her and put handcuffs on her arms and told her to sit down in the
corner. Then he guarded her with a laser rifle and said, "Don't move."
Vicki Ann sat in the corner of the transport ship, watching what was going on, trying to
figure out all she could about each of them. She needed to find an ally, someone she could
trust, so that she could get home.
A woman walked in and Vicki Ann gasped. The woman noticed Vicki Ann and walked over
to Bashir.
"What's the matter with you?" he asked the woman as soon as he saw her. "You look like
you've seen a ghost."
"I have. Her," the woman replied, pointing to Vicki Ann. "What is she doing here? How did
she get here? She's dead!"
"Calm down. She's from one of the alternate timelines."
"How did she get here?"
"The Enterprise had her. Apparently, she's a personal friend of Commander Riker."
"I see. But, won't they come looking for her?"
Bashir smiled. "That's exactly what I'm hoping for."
Vicki Ann hid her face behind her arms as she felt the tears begin to fall. She was tired of
this damned prophecy. She wanted her life back. She wanted to go home; to the
Enterprise, to Starfleet, to her family, and especially, to Julian. Someone touched her arm
gently.
Vicki Ann looked up and came face to face with this universe's version of Ezri Dax.
Ezri was holding a plate of food and a glass of water for Vicki Ann. "I know it's not much
and it's not exactly caviar, but it will keep you from getting sick. You'll need to keep your
strength up if you're going to stay with us."
Vicki Ann felt a shiver run up her spine. She remembered the last time someone told her to
keep her strength up. But, Ezri wasn't exactly the alternate Riker. In fact, she might even
be like her Ezri.
Vicki Ann took the food from Ezri. "Thank you very much." Even though she was anything
but hungry, Vicki Ann forced herself to eat some of the food and drink the water.
"We're going to have to return her to them. We're no match for the Enterprise," the
alternate Bashir replied.
Vicki Ann looked over at him. "Please. I beg you. Do not return me to them," she pleaded.
Bashir shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I have no choice."
Vicki Ann looked at the guard beside her. She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to
push her thoughts into his mind. He turned to her and raised his disruptor. He fired.
Ezri noticed this and ran at Vicki Ann just before the guard fired. She managed to knock
both her and Vicki Ann out of the way.
Bashir ran over to the guard and took the disruptor. "What the hell are you doing?"
The guard looked confused. He looked at Vicki Ann and then at Bashir. "She made me do
it."
Bashir looked at Vicki Ann. "Why?"
She was determined. "I will not go back there."
He scrutinized her closely. "Are you really that powerful? That you can control minds?"
"Only slightly. If the receivers's emotions are out of control, I can slip in and make them do
what I want them to."
"How are you able to do this?"
"I was genetically enhanced by the Q."
"So, we have something in common after all. The almighty doctor and the lowly rebel have
something in common. How nice."
Ezri walked over to Bashir. "We can't let them have her."
"Why should I help her?" Bashir asked.
"Because she was a friend of Jadzia," Ezri replied.
Bashir sighed. "Very well. Get her out of her."
Ezri grabbed Vicki Ann's arm and started to pull her toward the door, but Vicki Ann didn't
move. Ezri puzzled, asked, "What's the matter? Why?" That's when she saw Commander
Riker standing behind Vicki Ann, holding her arm and a disruptor.
"Well, Victorianna, it appears as if you've made some friends,"
Riker said.
"Let her go!" Bashir shouted.
Riker smiled. "It looks like Bashir has a soft spot for you in this universe, too."
Vicki Ann squirmed. "Please, let me go!"
"Release her or else!" Bashir shouted.
Riker laughed. "Or else what? You'll shoot me with one of your disruptors? I wouldn't do
that if I were you. The Enterprise is waiting to fire on my command."
Suddenly, in the middle of the room, a vortex opened and a man emerged. He wore a
Starfleet uniform with a blue turtleneck and two pips on his collar.
Vicki Ann gasped. "Julian!" She tried to move toward him, but was halted by Riker. She
stepped on his foot with the heel of her boot.
He jumped and let go of her. She ran toward the new Bashir, but Riker managed to grab
her again.
The new Bashir got over his disorientation. "Vicki Ann!"
Riker turned Vicki Ann toward him and ran the disruptor along her jaw line. "Were you
trying to leave me?"
For the first time since Julian had met her, Vicki Ann was speechless.
"No. I-uh-I was just trying to-," she replied.
Riker grew angry. "Don't lie to me!" He slapped her. She flew into the wall.
Julian heard her tears and saw her wipe the blood from her face.
"Stop it!" he screamed at Riker.
Riker pulled Vicki Ann up to him. "Isn't this sweet? Your beloved doctor is trying to save
you, Victorianna. Such irony." He turned to Bashir. "Don't you know, Julian, that it is you
life that is being saved?"
Julian was confused. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course not. Shall we tell him, Victorianna?" Riker replied.
"No, please don't," Vicki Ann pleaded with him.
"I disagree. I think the doctor would like to hear about your adventures since you came
here. Where should we begin?" Riker thought for a moment. "I believe we should start at
the part where you became my prisoner. You see, Julian, your Victorianna here refused to
answer any questions, even in the Agony Booth. So she was given to me. She was rather
boring, so I decided to spice things up by offering her a proposition. If she would agree to
become my companion, I would protect her life. She refused, so I opted for another tactic.
I threatened Riker, Deanna and then you. Once I mentioned you, her emotional control
broke. She agreed to do anything I wanted if I promised not to kill you."
"You sick bastard!" Julian interrupted.
"Calm down, doctor. I must say, Julian, you are a very lucky man, or should I say were.
Your beloved Victorianna is quite a woman,"
Riker said, running his hands along the curves of her body. Then he ran his fingers along
her cheek. "She's very passionate, isn't she?" he said, lifting her chin up and then turning
to Julian.
Julian looked heartbroken. He became angry. "Let her go!"
Riker frowned. "I thought you'd be a little more fun with that high IQ of yours. Such a
shame. Victorianna, I think we should be going now." He turned to notify the ship of their
departure, when Vicki Ann grabbed his knife.
She held it in front of him. "Leave me alone. Go back to your Counselor."
Riker grinned at her. "You won't do it. You don't have the courage. Besides, aren't you
forgetting something?" He pressed a button on his belt.
Vicki Ann's body writhed in pain. The implant, she thought to herself. After she'd been
taken to Riker's quarters, they given her an implant so that they could control her. She
grabbed at her neck, as if she were trying to tear the implant out. She dropped the knife
as she hunched over in pain.
"Come on," Riker said, grabbing her arm.
She looked into his eyes and whispered, "Just kill me now."
Riker shook his head. "No, then I would have to kill the doctor also. Say goodbye,
Victorianna."
Vicki Ann looked at Julian, her face stained with tears. "I love you," she mouthed.
"Enough!" Riker said, pulling her away. He held his knife to her neck, this time.
Vicki Ann cringed as she felt the cold metal against her skin. Then, suddenly, it was gone
and she heard the knife clatter to the floor. She turned and realized that Riker was no
longer clutching her arm. Instead, he was lying on the floor, a knife in his back. And a
woman was standing over him. "Deanna?" Vicki Ann whispered. "Why?"
Her sister's alternate replied, "I never had a sister before."
Vicki Ann smiled. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. Thank our father. Now get out of here." Then she and Riker disappeared.
"You heard her!" the alternate Bashir barked at the helmsman, who responded by changing
course.
The full force of what had happened hit Vicki Ann and she collapsed to the floor.
Julian ran over to her. "Are you all right?"
Vicki Ann nodded. "I will be." She smiled at him. "My knight in shining armor."
Julian returned the smile. "I should say that about you. Are you crazy? What were you
thinking doing all that for me?"
"Julian-."
"Vicki Ann, I would have rather have had him kill me than for you to go through all of that."
"Julian, it wouldn't have mattered. My life would have meant nothing without you."
Julian laughed. "You're a hopeless romantic!"
"And you're not?"
"Sshh! I'm in disguise. I'm supposed to be the brave white knight who comes to save the
damsel in distress."
Vicki Ann laughed. "Let's agree to disagree."
Julian nodded. "Now, let's get you cleaned up." He turned to Ezri. "Do you have a med kit?"
Ezri nodded an ran to get one. When she returned, she handed it to Julian.
Julian fixed Vicki Ann's wounds. "What am I going to do with you, Vicki Ann? You're
constantly getting yourself into trouble and having to go to sickbay or the infirmary. You're
nothing but trouble."
She smiled. "You know I just do it so that I can see my wonderful doctor. I don't know
what you should do. Throw me in the brig, I suppose."
Julian shook his head as he ran an instrument across the gash on her cheek. "That doesn't
say much about Doctor Crusher. I can't throw you in the brig. I'd miss you too much."
"Guess you're stuck with me."
"Seems like it."
The alternate Bashir rolled his eyes at Ezri.
Ezri smiled at him. "You're just jealous."
Julian scanned Vicki Ann with the tricorder again. "I'm going to try and disable the implant."
His fingers danced on the tricorder. "Got it! There, how's that?"
She heaved a sigh of relief. "Better."
Julian looked at Ezri. "Can you help us get home?"
Ezri glanced at the alternate Bashir. "I-uh-well, I-."
The alternate Bashir interrupted, "Yes, we'll take you to Time Planet."
Vicki Ann turned to him and smiled. "Thank you."
Victorianna Troi closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. Once she was sure that Riker
was fast asleep, she got up and ran into the other room and grabbed a hypospray. She
programmed it for a mixture of two strong analgesics to get a nice sedative. She pressed
it to Riker's neck. "You shouldn't have trusted me," she whispered. After she dressed, she
grabbed the hypospray and reprogrammed it. She grabbed Riker's sidearm, knife and
insignia as she toward the door.
When she emerged from the quarters, the guard looked at her questioningly. "Where's
Commander Riker?"
"He's sleeping," she replied, sweetly. "Counselor Troi wishes for me to report early this
morning."
The guard nodded and waved her on.
Julian Bashir jerked awake, covered in sweat. He had dreamt of a man holding a knife to
Vicki Ann's throat. He had to do something. He dressed and ran out the door.
Captain Benjamin Sisko awoke to the sound of his doorbell ringing. Who is the world could
that be? he thought to himself. He got out of bed, put on his robe and walked over to the
door and opened it. The doors opened and Julian Bashir burst in.
"Doctor, what are you doing here at this hour?
"I apologize for waking you captain, but I need to request a leave of absence."
Sisko sighed. "Julian, I understand that you're upset about Vicki Ann's disappearance and
that you want to everything you can to help find her, but Captain Picard is taking care of
the situation."
"I know, sir, but she's in danger."
"The Q are taking care of that, remember?"
"But what if someone tries to interfere with the prophecy?"
"Julian, don't worry. I'm sure she's fine. Now go back to bed."
Julian nodded. "Yes, sir."
Ezri Dax heard her doorbell ringing. She stumbled out of bed and said, "Come in."
Bashir entered.
"Julian? What are you-?"
He interrupted her. "Ezri, I need you to do me a favor."
"What?"
"I need you to cover for me if Sisko asks for me or wonders where I am. I've already found
someone to cover for me in the infirmary, but I need you to keep him from looking for me
for a little while. Just a few days, that's all."
"Julian, why? What's-."
"Vicki Ann is in danger and she needs my help. Thanks, Ezri. I owe you one," he said,
starting to leave.
"Julian, wait," Ezri replied, but he was already gone. She sighed to herself and shook her
head. "A few days?"
There
Vicki Ann walked down the corridor, being careful not to be seen. The last thing she
needed was for someone to recognize her. She turned a corner and ran into a tall man in a
Lieutenant's uniform. Her first instinct was to apologize, but instead, she gave him a look
as if it were his fault. "Watch where you're going." She turned to walk away, but he man
grabbed her arm.
"She'll do," he said to his companion.
His companion nodded and pressed a badge on his chest. "We're ready."
"How many?" came the reply.
"Three." They vanished in the shimmer of a transporter beam.
They reappeared on a freighter ship. A man stood a few feet away from them, talking to a
woman with short, dark brown hair. The man was tall and thin and his dark brown hair was
pulled back in a ponytail.
He turned when he heard them.
Vicki Ann bit her lip so that she wouldn't gasp. It was Julian.
Obviously not her Julian,
but instead, a cold, bitter Julian made so by years of pain and hardship.
"Who is she?" he asked.
The two men who had abducted her shrugged.
Julian stepped closer to her. "What's your name and rank?"
"Dr. Victorianna Troi. Rank of Commander," she replied.
"You look exactly like a woman by the name of Victorianna Leonard."
"That's me. I changed my name."
"You're lying. Victorianna is dead," Julian said to her.
"I assure you. I am Victorianna Troi."
"Then you must be from the other timeline, correct?"
Vicki Ann nodded.
Julian shook his head. "She's of no use to us."
"Sir, I've been monitoring transmissions to, from and within the Enterprise. Apparently, she
is worth something to us. Not only is she a personal prisoner of Commander Riker, but they
are awaiting word from Q on what he wants done with her," someone sitting at a control
station told Bashir.
Bashir smiled. "Well, it looks like we've got
someone special.
Friend of the Commander, are we?" he asked Vicki Ann. "Perhaps they would be willing to
bargain for you."
"If you have any compassion or decency within you, you will refuse to return me to them."
"Oh, you don't want to go back to the Commander?"
"I would rather die here than go back," she replied, her face set with determination.
"It may come to that. Unless you can give me a good reason to spare your life. If only
there was some way you could help us. . ."
"I'm Betazoid."
Bashir smiled. "Well, Victorianna, it seems as if you have saved your life for the moment."
He turned to the other men. "Make sure she doesn't go anywhere," he said, motioning to
one of the men.
The man walked over to her and put handcuffs on her arms and told her to sit down in the
corner. Then he guarded her with a laser rifle and said, "Don't move."
Vicki Ann sat in the corner of the transport ship, watching what was going on, trying to
figure out all she could about each of them. She needed to find an ally, someone she could
trust, so that she could get home.
A woman walked in and Vicki Ann gasped. The woman noticed Vicki Ann and walked over
to Bashir.
"What's the matter with you?" he asked the woman as soon as he saw her. "You look like
you've seen a ghost."
"I have. Her," the woman replied, pointing to Vicki Ann. "What is she doing here? How did
she get here? She's dead!"
"Calm down. She's from one of the alternate timelines."
"How did she get here?"
"The Enterprise had her. Apparently, she's a personal friend of Commander Riker."
"I see. But, won't they come looking for her?"
Bashir smiled. "That's exactly what I'm hoping for."
Vicki Ann hid her face behind her arms as she felt the tears begin to fall. She was tired of
this damned prophecy. She wanted her life back. She wanted to go home; to the
Enterprise, to Starfleet, to her family, and especially, to Julian. Someone touched her arm
gently.
Vicki Ann looked up and came face to face with this universe's version of Ezri Dax.
Ezri was holding a plate of food and a glass of water for Vicki Ann. "I know it's not much
and it's not exactly caviar, but it will keep you from getting sick. You'll need to keep your
strength up if you're going to stay with us."
Vicki Ann felt a shiver run up her spine. She remembered the last time someone told her to
keep her strength up. But, Ezri wasn't exactly the alternate Riker. In fact, she might even
be like her Ezri.
Vicki Ann took the food from Ezri. "Thank you very much." Even though she was anything
but hungry, Vicki Ann forced herself to eat some of the food and drink the water.
"We're going to have to return her to them. We're no match for the Enterprise," the
alternate Bashir replied.
Vicki Ann looked over at him. "Please. I beg you. Do not return me to them," she pleaded.
Bashir shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I have no choice."
Vicki Ann looked at the guard beside her. She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to
push her thoughts into his mind. He turned to her and raised his disruptor. He fired.
Ezri noticed this and ran at Vicki Ann just before the guard fired. She managed to knock
both her and Vicki Ann out of the way.
Bashir ran over to the guard and took the disruptor. "What the hell are you doing?"
The guard looked confused. He looked at Vicki Ann and then at Bashir. "She made me do
it."
Bashir looked at Vicki Ann. "Why?"
She was determined. "I will not go back there."
He scrutinized her closely. "Are you really that powerful? That you can control minds?"
"Only slightly. If the receivers's emotions are out of control, I can slip in and make them do
what I want them to."
"How are you able to do this?"
"I was genetically enhanced by the Q."
"So, we have something in common after all. The almighty doctor and the lowly rebel have
something in common. How nice."
Ezri walked over to Bashir. "We can't let them have her."
"Why should I help her?" Bashir asked.
"Because she was a friend of Jadzia," Ezri replied.
Bashir sighed. "Very well. Get her out of her."
Ezri grabbed Vicki Ann's arm and started to pull her toward the door, but Vicki Ann didn't
move. Ezri puzzled, asked, "What's the matter? Why?" That's when she saw Commander
Riker standing behind Vicki Ann, holding her arm and a disruptor.
"Well, Victorianna, it appears as if you've made some friends,"
Riker said.
"Let her go!" Bashir shouted.
Riker smiled. "It looks like Bashir has a soft spot for you in this universe, too."
Vicki Ann squirmed. "Please, let me go!"
"Release her or else!" Bashir shouted.
Riker laughed. "Or else what? You'll shoot me with one of your disruptors? I wouldn't do
that if I were you. The Enterprise is waiting to fire on my command."
Suddenly, in the middle of the room, a vortex opened and a man emerged. He wore a
Starfleet uniform with a blue turtleneck and two pips on his collar.
Vicki Ann gasped. "Julian!" She tried to move toward him, but was halted by Riker. She
stepped on his foot with the heel of her boot.
He jumped and let go of her. She ran toward the new Bashir, but Riker managed to grab
her again.
The new Bashir got over his disorientation. "Vicki Ann!"
Riker turned Vicki Ann toward him and ran the disruptor along her jaw line. "Were you
trying to leave me?"
For the first time since Julian had met her, Vicki Ann was speechless.
"No. I-uh-I was just trying to-," she replied.
Riker grew angry. "Don't lie to me!" He slapped her. She flew into the wall.
Julian heard her tears and saw her wipe the blood from her face.
"Stop it!" he screamed at Riker.
Riker pulled Vicki Ann up to him. "Isn't this sweet? Your beloved doctor is trying to save
you, Victorianna. Such irony." He turned to Bashir. "Don't you know, Julian, that it is you
life that is being saved?"
Julian was confused. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course not. Shall we tell him, Victorianna?" Riker replied.
"No, please don't," Vicki Ann pleaded with him.
"I disagree. I think the doctor would like to hear about your adventures since you came
here. Where should we begin?" Riker thought for a moment. "I believe we should start at
the part where you became my prisoner. You see, Julian, your Victorianna here refused to
answer any questions, even in the Agony Booth. So she was given to me. She was rather
boring, so I decided to spice things up by offering her a proposition. If she would agree to
become my companion, I would protect her life. She refused, so I opted for another tactic.
I threatened Riker, Deanna and then you. Once I mentioned you, her emotional control
broke. She agreed to do anything I wanted if I promised not to kill you."
"You sick bastard!" Julian interrupted.
"Calm down, doctor. I must say, Julian, you are a very lucky man, or should I say were.
Your beloved Victorianna is quite a woman,"
Riker said, running his hands along the curves of her body. Then he ran his fingers along
her cheek. "She's very passionate, isn't she?" he said, lifting her chin up and then turning
to Julian.
Julian looked heartbroken. He became angry. "Let her go!"
Riker frowned. "I thought you'd be a little more fun with that high IQ of yours. Such a
shame. Victorianna, I think we should be going now." He turned to notify the ship of their
departure, when Vicki Ann grabbed his knife.
She held it in front of him. "Leave me alone. Go back to your Counselor."
Riker grinned at her. "You won't do it. You don't have the courage. Besides, aren't you
forgetting something?" He pressed a button on his belt.
Vicki Ann's body writhed in pain. The implant, she thought to herself. After she'd been
taken to Riker's quarters, they given her an implant so that they could control her. She
grabbed at her neck, as if she were trying to tear the implant out. She dropped the knife
as she hunched over in pain.
"Come on," Riker said, grabbing her arm.
She looked into his eyes and whispered, "Just kill me now."
Riker shook his head. "No, then I would have to kill the doctor also. Say goodbye,
Victorianna."
Vicki Ann looked at Julian, her face stained with tears. "I love you," she mouthed.
"Enough!" Riker said, pulling her away. He held his knife to her neck, this time.
Vicki Ann cringed as she felt the cold metal against her skin. Then, suddenly, it was gone
and she heard the knife clatter to the floor. She turned and realized that Riker was no
longer clutching her arm. Instead, he was lying on the floor, a knife in his back. And a
woman was standing over him. "Deanna?" Vicki Ann whispered. "Why?"
Her sister's alternate replied, "I never had a sister before."
Vicki Ann smiled. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. Thank our father. Now get out of here." Then she and Riker disappeared.
"You heard her!" the alternate Bashir barked at the helmsman, who responded by changing
course.
The full force of what had happened hit Vicki Ann and she collapsed to the floor.
Julian ran over to her. "Are you all right?"
Vicki Ann nodded. "I will be." She smiled at him. "My knight in shining armor."
Julian returned the smile. "I should say that about you. Are you crazy? What were you
thinking doing all that for me?"
"Julian-."
"Vicki Ann, I would have rather have had him kill me than for you to go through all of that."
"Julian, it wouldn't have mattered. My life would have meant nothing without you."
Julian laughed. "You're a hopeless romantic!"
"And you're not?"
"Sshh! I'm in disguise. I'm supposed to be the brave white knight who comes to save the
damsel in distress."
Vicki Ann laughed. "Let's agree to disagree."
Julian nodded. "Now, let's get you cleaned up." He turned to Ezri. "Do you have a med kit?"
Ezri nodded an ran to get one. When she returned, she handed it to Julian.
Julian fixed Vicki Ann's wounds. "What am I going to do with you, Vicki Ann? You're
constantly getting yourself into trouble and having to go to sickbay or the infirmary. You're
nothing but trouble."
She smiled. "You know I just do it so that I can see my wonderful doctor. I don't know
what you should do. Throw me in the brig, I suppose."
Julian shook his head as he ran an instrument across the gash on her cheek. "That doesn't
say much about Doctor Crusher. I can't throw you in the brig. I'd miss you too much."
"Guess you're stuck with me."
"Seems like it."
The alternate Bashir rolled his eyes at Ezri.
Ezri smiled at him. "You're just jealous."
Julian scanned Vicki Ann with the tricorder again. "I'm going to try and disable the implant."
His fingers danced on the tricorder. "Got it! There, how's that?"
She heaved a sigh of relief. "Better."
Julian looked at Ezri. "Can you help us get home?"
Ezri glanced at the alternate Bashir. "I-uh-well, I-."
The alternate Bashir interrupted, "Yes, we'll take you to Time Planet."
Vicki Ann turned to him and smiled. "Thank you."