Commander William T. Riker sat in the command chair, the ship's counselor, Deanna Troi, was to his left in her customary seat. So far, the Enterprise's trip to the planet Betazed had been uneventful. Turning to Troi, Will asked her in a hushed voice, "If you're free, would you like to join me for dinner?"
A surprised smile spread across the counselor's face. "That depends. What's the main dish and is anyone else going to be there?"
"To the latter, no. It's just us. To the former, well, you'll just have to wait and find out for yourself." His dark blue eyes were twinkling with the thought behind them. She immediately caught onto it.
"Will Riker," she started, "you are the devil in disguise. Are you asking me out on a date?" she asked in mock wonder, her eyes feinted the surprise she felt.
He was about to respond when a metallic voice broke into their flirtation. "Commander," Data said from Ops, "We are picking up a distress signal from the very outer rim of the Betazoid Star System. The ship is unidentified and has an unknown figuration."
"Are there other ships in sensor range?" Will asked, standing up. He walked over to the Ops position and leaned over the back of Data's chair.
"Negative, Sir." Data answered, his gold eyes never left his console.
"All right then. Helm, set coordinates to intercept the ship. Let's find out just who needs our help." Riker said, curiosity hanging over him.
***
Within the hour, they had reached their destination. Captain Jean Luc Picard had joined the bridge crew and donned his seat.
"Put the distress call on the view screen Mr. Data," he barked in a voice that echoed throughout the bridge.
"Aye, Sir," the gold skinned android replied and began to peck away at his console. A moment later, the normal view of the stars disappeared and was replaced by a picture of a young woman. Picard estimated her to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. Her blue eyes seemed to engulf her pale face that was smeared with oil. Sparks leapt out from panels behind the blond-haired girl and showered the small cabin with a firework like display.
"iImzadi/i to any ship within range." Her voice seemed to reach out and grab each of the officers' hearts. "I need help. My ship has sustained heavy damage from an encounter with the Borg. I require assistance as soon as possible. My life support is failing. Please help me. iImzadii/ out." The transmission ended with a cheap.
Picard, Riker, and Troi were all standing, having left their seats when the transmission started.
"Captain," Deanna started. "We must help her." The Betazoid's deep, onyx eyes reflected the same fearful and pleading look that had been seen in the young girls eyes. Clearly, Troi was picking up on her emotions, very strongly, no doubt.
"Agreed," the captain said. Turning to Data he cleared his throat again. "Beam her over and get a tractor beam on the ship."
"Aye, sir." came the reply from Ops.
"Number One, Counselor, you're with me. Mr. Data, you have the bridge. We'll be in Transporter Room Two." Picard barely got the end of his sentence out as the turbolift doors closed around the three officers.
***
Lt. Fred Bobacoge was surprised as three of the most senior officers stormed into the transporter room.
"Mr. Bobacoge, get a lock on that girl now," the captain ordered.
"Aye, sir," he replied, then went about his task.
Turning to the counselor, Picard asked, "Can you get anything solid on her?"
"Only that she is terrified. I also sense a sadness and shock. I don't know why, but her mind is very easily read. I could almost see images." Deanna sighed, pushing several strands of rebellious hair out of her face. "The most frustrating part is that she is dismissing the grief and trying to replace it with a want for vengeance. The Borg must have done something devastating to her."
"Knowing the Borg, Counselor, that is entirely possible." Turning to Bobacoge, the captain added. "You can engage whenever you have the lock." After a few seconds a column of glitter appeared and then dissolved into the form of the girl they had seen on the screen. She lay on the transporter pad, curled in a fetal ball, her blue eyes closed in sleep. A bloody gash crossed her left temple.
"She's injured!" Troi exclaimed as she ran up onto the pad. Tapping her badge, she contacted Beverly Crusher. "Medical Emergency in Transporter Room Two."
"I'll be right there," came the reply from Sickbay. The girl started to stir as Troi moved the blond strands of hair from her face. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
"Shh, baby." Deanna comforted her, still stroking her hair. " I know it hurts. Just rest. Put your head back down, please."
"But . . . but . . . " the girl stammered. Tears began to fill her sapphire eyes. "No! A trick. Another trick. No more!" she screamed, the tears flowing over.
"Shh." Troi tried to comfort her, but the girl pulled away. At that time, Beverly made her entrance. Pulling up her tricorder, she scanned the girl. After reaching into her bag, she applied a hypospray to the child's neck. The girl fell limp and Deanna rushed to catch her.
"Doctor?" Picard asked moving over to Troi's side, and Riker close at his heels.
"She has a slight concussion. That's it. But I would like to bring her down to Sickbay. Just to run some tests," she added, seeing Deanna's alarmed look.
"All right, Doctor." Picard answered. As the doctor and the few nurses she had brought with her started to leave, the captain stopped her. "Oh, and Doctor. There was a shortage of identification on her ship. Run a DNA test and try a parental scan as well. Find out who she is and where she comes from."
"Aye sir." She answered as she disappeared behind the doors along with their unidentified visitor.
***
"Deanna," Will said turning to her. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she answered, turning away from him, tears brimming her eyes. "I'm fine. It's just. . .It's just that . . . ," Deanna stood up and started to leave. But Will would not let her.
Grabbing her arm, he said, "Hey, come on. Tell me."
"That girl," Deanna breathed, "she seems so familiar. Her emotional band, her feelings, her eyes. It's like I know her, but I've never seen her before. I'm sure of it."
"Hey. It's ok. We all have that feeling sometimes." Will said, pulling her tightly into his loving embrace.
"Ahem," Picard cleared his throat. "Counselor, if you wish to go to Sickbay, I would understand."
"Thank you, Captain," the Betazoid said, breaking her hug with Will. "I'll be in Sickbay." She turned and with a swish of her long, dark hair, she was gone.
Well, Number One. Shall we go to the Bridge?" the captain asked after the counselor had departed.
"If it's all the same to you, sir, I would like to join Deanna in Sickbay." Will said, hoping he would be able to help Deanna, should the need arise.
"Very well. I'll see you next shift." And with that, the captain disappeared, leaving Will in the transporter room.
***
Deanna Troi didn't even hear the doors leading to Sickbay open. The counselor was so focused on the young woman asleep in front of her. Slowly, a small tear slid down her cheek. This can't be happening, she thought to herself. But she looks so much like her! The painful memories could still sting her heart at odd moments. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't even notice Will staring at her.
Walking over to Deanna, Riker felt her jump when he put his hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he asked her. He never saw her this off a center.
"Oh, nothing." She replied pushing away the rebellious tears. "I was just thinking." Will allowed her a moment to compose herself. After a few seconds, Deanna continued. "Beverly's gone to check the results of her tests. She should be back in a few minutes." Suddenly, the girl in front of them started to stir. Deanna gripped Will's hand, as if looking for support. Slowly, the young adult opened her big, blue eyes and stared right at Troi and Riker.
"Good morning," Deanna said as softly as she could, afraid that she would startle her.
"What?" she asked in confusion, trying to push herself into a sitting position. "Where am I?" Her eyes darted around the room, nervously. Looking back at the couple at the foot of the biobed, her crystal eyes suddenly registered fear, shock, surprise, and horror all at once. "Mom? Dad?"
***