Diclaimer: It's all Paramount's, cept for Verla, T'Valk, and Rachel. Maybe a few Maquis.

A/N: "Of course, just because we've heard a spine-chilling, blood-curdling scream of the sort to make your very marrow freeze in your bones doesn't automatically mean there's anything wrong."



Chapter 11 – Desperate Times



Sela was ready when Thomas Riker came back for her. He had no guard - he hadn't needed one since Sela had weakened - an came armed only with a phaser.

He took down the forcefield and came in. "You know, Commander, it would be a lot easier - for both of us - if you would just tell me what I need to know about the treaty."

"I don't know anything about-"

Riker interrupted her with a sigh. "Don't lie to me, Commander. You were the top aide of one of the most powerful men on Romulus, and you expect me to believe that Neral didn't tell you anything? Impossible!" He gestured for Sela to stand and follow him.

She stood slowly, feigning a pain in her a pain in her back, and stumbled forward. Thomas reached forward a hand to assist her - and she punched him in the stomach. He hunched over, and reached for his phaser, but Sela was slightly faster.She struck him in the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. Grabbing him before he hit the ground, she lowered him silently to the floor, then confiscated his phaser.

Sela stepped out into the hallway and stunned the guard. Shoving him into the cell, she turned the forcefield back on. Then, she dashed down the hall to the communications booth – and freedom.

"Mr. Data, are you detecting any lifeforms on the planet?" Picard asked.

"No, sir," Data replied.

"Continue scanning. Councilor? Do you sense anything?"

She nodded. "I get the feeling that ta lot of people are down there . . . but I can't pinpoint an exact location."

"Is Will down there?"

Troi shook her head. "I'm afraid we're too far away to tell for sure."

Picard let out a mournful sigh. "You have the bridge, Mr. Data. I'll be in my quarters."

Sela ducked into a side passage as two Maquis hurried past, obviously looking for

someone. Her.

She dashed across the hall, once they were gone, into the communications room. Stunning the officer present, she went over to the console. She began recording a message.

Only a few minutes later, someone burst into the office. Quickly, she sent the message. Almost before she was done, she was tackled from behind.

Sela fought for a moment, but quickly realized that she was no match for Thomas Riker. Especially now that she was half-starved and dying from a toxin, with no real reason left to live.

Thomas dragged her to her feet as a Security guard entered. He smacked her across the face with the back of his hand. "I'm just fine," he told the guard.

Then, William Riker was dragged through the doors. Sela gaped in surprise. He looked almost as bad as she imagined herself to look.

Thomas Riker just smiled, and addressed the other Riker. "Surprised, I see. You thought she was dead, didn't you, William?" he sneered. "Well, take a good look, because she won't be for long." He jumped forward to punch her in the stomach.

He pulled back a fist for another blow when Riker cried out. "NOOO!" he shouted, frantically trying to pull away from the Maquis guard.

Thomas Riker turned around to face him, just after striking Sela, leaving her with a bleeding lip. "So, you don't want her to die?" William shook his head weakly. "Then I have a deal. You tell me all about the treaty, and she can live. Even better, if you tell me, I'll return you both to your homes."

Will moaned and sank to his knees. "I told you . . . I . . . don't know . . ."

"Fine then," Thomas said. He kicked Sela, who had fallen to the floor, in the ribs.

"Someone hand me a phaser."

Picard rushed onto the bridge and headed down to the captain's chair. "Sir, we just received a message from the planet. I'm putting it on screen," Worf said.

Sela replaced the planetary view. Picard drew in a short breath. He glanced at Deanna, who looked as shocked as he felt.

Sela looked as if she hadn't eaten in days. Her normally cold blue eyes were tired. Her uniform was tattered, and when she spoke, she sounded like someone who had lost all hope. "Enterprise, if you're out there, I just thought you might like to know what happened. Three months ago, Commander Riker was abducted by the Maquis. Thomas Riker took his place aboard the Enterprise. . .

"The Maquis used a Romulan drug on me during the interrogations, and it's slowly killing me. Will tried to escape, to bring help, but-" Sela let out a sob, before finishing. "But they killed him . . .

"I probably won't live for very long once they find me. I just transferred the coordinates of this room to you, though, if it'll help you any. Try to bring these people to justice! They . . . they have killed so many . . .

"They want to know where the treaty negotiations are being held. They want to attack and kill the delegates. The Maquis think that the Federation will use the cloaking device to hunt the Maquis. They killed all of the scientists on ARK-7 in hopes they would find out . . .

"They still don't know . . . but neither do I. Please . . . please tell Toreth what happened. Have Neral give her back the Khazara. And tell her there is no defection scheme, nothing Thomas Riker told her is true . . ."

Sela sighed, glancing out the door, and back at the monitor. "And give William Riker a commendation. He gave up his life, trying to save me! Don't let anyone forget!" She gasped looking out the door again. "They're coming! Please! Do something!" she shrieked as someone tackled her from behind.

Picard thought he noticed something about the assailant before the transmission ended. It had been Riker. Thomas Riker.

Deanna was stunned. "I . . . You know that I can't sense anything from recorded messages, but . . . I would've never guessed . . . She is telling the truth, Captain. There's no doubt about that."

Picard was angry. The Maquis had taken away his first officer, and killed him. They had taken the daughter of his security chief, and had most likely killed her too. And they had murdered everyone on ARK-7. He turned to Worf. "We're going down."

Worf nodded. "We must avenge Commander Riker's death."

"All of them, Worf. We have to avenge all their deaths. They won't have died in vain."

"Wait Captain," Deanna began. "Don't you think-"

"Don't argue, Commander," Picard said. He wasn't about to let someone go down in his place. Will had been his friend, too. "Worf, you're with me. Tell Dr. Crusher and a security team to meet us in Transporter Room 2. You have the bridge, Councilor," Picard said. Deanna knew better than to oppose him.

Picard and Worf left the bridge. Picard was more determined than he had been since he had been captured by the Cardassians.