Will Riker paced back and forth in the darkened room, his features set in grim determination. The shread of moonlight that shone through the window was not enough for Deanna to make out much more than his outline as she sat on the bed, but she needed neither to see or speak to him. Imzadi, she called to him, telepathically. He jumped. No matter how often we do this, you always managed to scare the hell out of me. he replied, good-naturedly. I know. she returned.Where's Geordi? He should be here by now. I don't know. he replied, worriedly, They have to all be asleep by now. So far, their mission was going better than planned. The three of them had managed to become guests in the same house where Beverly and Picard were being held captive. The easy part of the mission was out of the way. Now they had to manage to free their crewmembers, and flee out from under the barrier, so Data and the Enterprise could beam them up. Not altogether impossible, but difficult, especially if anyone were to wake up. Just then there was a light scratch at the door. Both occupants of the room tensed. Riker grabbed his phaser and opened the door, to reveal Geordi LaForge. "About time." he whispered, then picked up the bag that carried their things. Deanna rose wordlessly, and followed him into the hall. "Can you find the door, Geordi?" Riker asked. "Yes, Sir." the chief engineer replied, these optical implants have much better night vision than my visor. I can see as well as a cat in the dark, now." Geordi guided them down the hall to the door they had seen the girl come out of earlier that evening. "Good." Riker whispered, as they stopped at the door. He gestured to it, "Any suggestions on how to open this?" Deanna grinned and stepped past him, pulling a pin out of her hair. After a few moments, she turned the knob and slid the door open. "Where on Earth did you learn that?." Riker asked as he walked past her, smiling at the satisfied expression on her face. She was beautiful when she looked at him like that. "My mother." she replied. So she is useful for something! Will thought, astonished. Deanna rolled her eyes and cuffed him playfully. As soon as he swung the door shut behind them, Geordi turned on a flashlight, and looked around the room - dungeon was more like it - until he found the Captain and Doctor, curled up together against the wall. Geordi stood stiffly, in shock. Deanna shot Will a knowing look as he stepped forward and lightly shook the Captain's shoulder. Picard roused with a start. "Shhhh.. Captain, we've got to get you two out of here, and quietly." Still half asleep the Captain mumbled, "Hello number one," and disentangled himself from Beverly. She rolled over when she felt him move, and he shook her gently before standing up. She blinked. "Jean-Luc...?" she asked, unsure of what was going on. She caught sight of the First Officer, and shook her head while sitting up. "Will, how nice of you to join us." she quipped. "No time to chat, Doctor, we have to go." he replied. The Captain took hold of her right hand, and put his other arm around her waist, helping her stand up. Deanna wordlessly handed them each a commbadge and a phaser from the bag Will had dropped, but there was no disguising the mirth in her eyes. "Let's go." the Doctor said, more to save face than take command. They crept through their captor's house, threaded their way through the maze of dirt-paved roads, and came to the edge of the forest. Collectively, they took a deep breath and looked around at each other. Riker took another step forward, and stepped on a stick. It snapped loudly, and he cringed. "Dammit, Will." the doctor exclaimed quietly. A dozen yards away a dog began to bark, loudly. It was joined by another, and another, until suddenly... "THE PRISONERS HAVE ESCAPED!!!!!" a man's voice shouted, as a light came on in the house they left. As quickly as a candle could be lit, the village lit up, and men, still tucking nightshirts into breeches and trousers began to stream out of the houses. The Enterprise crewmembers looked at each other in horror. "Merde!" the Captain exclaimed, "Run!" "If we hurry we can make it to the transport site!" Geordi exclaimed, already several paces into the woods. The five crewmembers ran as fast as they could, dodging trees, all eternally grateful for thier Starfleet Basic Training. Beverly heard Deanna scream behind her. "Her dress is caught in that Briar Patch!" she called, still running. Will stopped dead in his tracks. He ran back to her, the first settlers almost reaching her. He picked her up and pulled her skirt free, not caring how the briars tore it up. He began to run, as fast as he had before still carrying her. The thickets were more overgrown the closer to the clearing they came, and wearing the full skirt she was, she would have never made it out of there in one peace on her own. The others had already made it to the coordinates. "Riker to Transporter Room one, Five to beam up!" he shouted, skidding to a stop. "Energize." They disappeared in a flash of bright light just as the first settlers reached them.

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