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.
**(*)**
**(*)**
