Chapter Seven: Challenge of Consciousness

Deanna went to the Holodeck; she had three hours left before the poker game would begin and she refused to allow herself the time to think about him. She initiated a nature program. The Betazoid climbed onto a Rytax the Betazoid version of a horse. This one was very large and black and reminded her of the one she had back home. She had been riding ever since she was a little girl and used the holodeck to keep in practice. Unfortunately, the holodeck horses weren't telepathic like the real ones so she returned home every chance she got just to ride her mother's horses. She rode bareback and enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing through her hair immensely. But although the fences demanded her full attention her mind slipped to Will. Deanna drove the horse harder; trying to get Will out her mind. Tears streamed down her cheeks again and she kept driving the horse harder. But still Will was in her mind.

"Computer: create a rainstorm; level nine ." The sky immediately darkened and the first drops of water started to fall. The setting was beautiful; the path she rode ran along a large river, over several hills, through a forest and eventually along the shore of a sea. It was raining heavily now; the material of her uniform had already soaked through to her shoulders and her tears had merged with the raindrops on her face. And though she had to keep focused to be able to see the fences in time she still couldn't get him out her mind. His words sounded through her psyche and kept repeating over and over. ///I want to be with her. I'm willing to take that risk with her Deanna. I'm going to stay here Deanna, with her.\\\

"NO!!!" They had reached the shore now and she let the horse run through the water at his top speed before driving him back to the field with fences. She paused for a while, letting the raining fall down on her. The Counselor was completely soaked now; there wasn't a dry inch left on her body. She tucked a wet strand of ebony hair behind her ears.

"Computer: security guards off. Authorization: Troi-Delta-Alfa-01."

Security Guards are offline. Troi didn't notice the warning that the ship's CMO would be informed if the security guards remained offline for more than thirty minutes. She took the fences carefully at first, knowing she could get seriously injured if she fell. But she hadn't fallen off of a horse in a long time and soon became more confident and restless. When all fences remained untouched even at the fastest speed and Will's image and words were still spinning through her mind she ordered the computer to increase the height of the fences by ten centimeters. The fences were now at a level safe only for the most advanced riders. The rain and her fury made them even more dangerous but she went after them anyway. Her wet hair hung straight down, almost reaching the small of her back. It clung to her uniform and cheeks but Deanna couldn't risk letting go of the horse with one hand to push her hair aside.

Warning: the safeguards of Holodeck 1 have been offline for thirty minutes.

"What the he*l? Computer: identify person in Holodeck 1." The Doctor stood tapping her foot as she awaited the answer.

Counselor Deanna Troi is in Holodeck 1. 'Dammit, what's wrong with her today?!'

"Alyssa, take over for a while will you? I have something to take care of."

"Yes, Doctor." Beverly left Sickbay with her mind rolling with emotions.

Deanna increased the height of the barriers again by ten centimeters and prepared herself to jump the barriers again, urging the horse on. The takeoff was perfect and they flew over the first barrier without touching it. The second barrier went perfectly as well, as did the third...and the fourth. The fifth was no exception, nor was the sixth, seventh or eighth. After the twelfth barrier was defeated the round was complete and Deanna allowed herself and the horse a couple minutes of rest before increasing the barriers by another 10 centimeters.

The second Beverly entered the Holodeck she felt the rain pouring down on her. 'Oh fantastic.'

"Computer: cease the da*n rain shower." The irritating raindrops immediately disappeared.

"That's better; now let's see what Deanna is doing." Beverly climbed up the small hill in front of her and looked around. Her gaze was instantly drawn to the large black animal. Momentarily stunned by its incredible speed she approached the open area. She saw Deanna's soaked figure and watched her with interest. 'Boy, she sure can ride! Why didn't I know that?' But when she realized which barrier Deanna intended to jump a scream of horror slipped from her throat.

"DEANNA! DON'T!" But the Betazoid was too focused to hear her friend's cries. Beverly's cry was followed by a gasp of relief when they jumped safely over it; the horse only hit the top with its hind legs. But when she saw Deanna steering the horse for the next, much more dangerous looking barrier she ran down.

"DEANNA! STOP!!!" Still Deanna didn't hear her; the horse however did and abruptly stopped.

"SamaRa?!!" A surprised curse slipped from the Betzoid's throat. Unprepared for the halt Deanna flew forward and landed roughly on the ground. Beverly froze, unable to move as she watched the accident unfold before her eyes.

"OUCH!" Only when Deanna's cry reached her ears did she begin to run down. By the time she reached her, the Betazoid was already trying to get back on her feet.

"Deanna, are you all right?"

"Yes, just some bruises I think." The smaller woman was standing on her feet again, leaning against a tree.

"My wrist is a little sore though." The Doctor reached for her tricorder and quickly scanned her friend.

"It's broken." Deanna raised her eyebrows and looked at her wrist, which indeed was in a pretty unusual position.

"Where's His Highness?" She looked around her, shifting her gaze across their surroundings.

"His Highness?"

"The horse."

"Oh...come on, let's get you to Sickbay."

"But..."

"It's holodeck program; he won't get away." A short laugh escaped from her throat as she followed the red-haired Doctor.

"Computer: save and end program." While they were walking through the corridors Deanna was very much aware of how...unusual she looked. Her hair was still dripping from the rain and she was pretty sure she left a wet track behind. Deanna sensed Beverly's emotions quite clear; she was angry, concerned but also curious. Knowing her friend she would undoubtedly get a little lecture about taking responsibility and she would have to answer_some_questions, but she didn't really care.

When the arrived in Sickbay Beverly guided her to a private room where Deanna hopped onto the biobed and patiently let the Doctor treat her.

"The fracture is healed, but you cannot use your left hand and wrist for at least two days." Deanna nodded her agreement; she hadn't expected otherwise. Next the Doctor inspected the empath's hands.

"Terrific Counselor; now I need to clean this again." Knowing that Beverly wasn't really angry with her Deanna restrained from replying.

"Deanna, why on Earth did you call that horse 'His Highness'?" It's wasn't exactly the question she had been expecting but she couldn't think of an easier one.

"To bug Mother." The CMO frowned in confusion.

"I got him as a colt before I met Will. Mother was desperately trying to find me a husband at the time which was really annoying and embarrassing."

"I can imagine that. But that means the he's more then 30 years old." Deanna understood why her friend was amazed.

"Rytaxes, a Betazed horse race, are known for their long lives; they usually live 50-60 years."

"All right; but why the name?" A smile washed over her face and she chuckled quietly at her memory.

"I had taken the foal home without asking for permission; Mother was, and still is, very proud of her stables ad wishes to judge each horse herself before allowing it into the stables." Beverly was surprised, she hadn't known that they had stables.

"Anyway, I came home after a date which Mother had set up. She asked me how it went and I told her that the date had...sucked but that I met a really sweet male on my way home."

"Couldn't she tell you were lying?"

"I wasn't lying, so no, she couldn't. Naturally she began to question me. I told he was royalty; very handsome and understanding. 'When am I going to meet him?' she asked, so I snapped my fingers and called for 'His Highness.' He came immediately and was probably the biggest disappointment of mother's life." Laughing, the redhead shook her head as she finished her final scan.

"Seriously now Deanna, why were you riding so irresponsibly? You know very well that it was extremely dangerous to ride under those conditions with the safety guards off."  Beverly locked her stern gaze on the dark eyes of the woman in front of her.

"I'm aware of that Beverly; I just needed some serious training." The CMO was obviously not satisfied with that answer but saw from the Counselor's body language that she really didn't want to talk right now.

"All right; you better get dry. I'll see you in Ten-Forward at 20.00. Mind the wrist!" Deanna had already hopped off the biobed and was near the doors.

"I will. Thank you!" 'Not a chance she'll leave it at this...'

In her quarters Deanna took a shower and patiently washed and brushed her hair. She pulled on one of her regular off duty dresses and began to clean up her quarters; a task she had neglected for longer then a day. Everyday tasks were tricky to execute with just one hand available but she managed to succeed somehow.

Warning: time is 19.55 'Time for the big show.' Quickly she brushed the newly formed tangles out her hair and then headed off for Ten-Forward. Before she entered she let her usual mask slip into place. A long slender arm waving at her from near one of the windows immediately caught her attention. With a big grin on her face she walked towards the owner of the arm.

"Afraid I wouldn't see you?"

"Afraid you'd ignore me on purpose." With a grin Beverly watched her as she sat down.

"Have you gotten used to the one-handed life yet?"

"I'm managing, but I_do_understand why all species we've encountered got at least two." Her witty response made her friend laugh and the giggles spread to Deanna almost immediately. One of the waiters walked up to the two grinning ladies and gave them their drinks; Beverly had ordered a hot-chocolate for Deanna and some alien drink with an undetermined reddish colour for herself. Grateful, Deanna took a sip of her chocolate and held it in her mouth for a while before swallowing, the familiar taste of the warm liquor sliding down her throat and easing her senses.

"So, I assume you're going to Will's poker party tonight as well?" Deanna almost choked on her favourite drink; the question overwhelmed her.

"Yes, how could I miss it?" 'If only I_could_.'

"You're right." Surrounded by silence both women enjoyed their drinks. Beverly was studying her behaviour; she was well-aware of that. Fortunately she didn't try to hide that either. When their eyes met the Doctor asked her question.

"I didn't know you could ride."

"You did."

"Well, I knew you could ride, but not that you could...ride, ride."

"Well, it's good to know there are still_some_things you don't know about me after sixteen years." Giggling the Betazoid watched her friend.

"No seriously Deanna; I watched you...out there for a while and you ride more then 'okay'." Deanna was only beginning to realize how much this previously unknown facet of her amazed her friend.

"I've been riding as long as I can remember. Something_both_my parents agreed on for a change." Beverly couldn't help smiling. From the stories Deanna had told her, she knew that her mother and father had hardly ever agreed on anything. 'As different as Earth's summer and winter.' But that wasn't the topic; she wanted an explanation about why she had turned the safety guards off and she did not intend to let go of that.

"Do you always ride that dangerously?" For a brief moment her onyx eyes flashed with annoyance.

"No, not on the Holodeck. At home, yes. I do have to keep the horses in shape." The confusion and curiosity she sensed from her friend encouraged her to keep telling.

"I have a title to defend; the annual horse show is in a few months."

"A title?" Beverly's eyebrows rose as she looked at Deanna in awe. A proud smile washed over the Counselor's delicate features.

"Yes, I've been the champion in the highest class for the past three years." At those words the Doctor eyes widened even further. 'Why didn't I know this?'

"But..." She was too stunned by this new information to finish her sentence.

"But what about our rides with Captain Picard?"

"Yes, you pretended you couldn't ride very well."

"I can't. At least not like that. On Betazed we don't use harnesses; they can hurt the horses. You have to understand that Betazoid horses are empathic and telepathic as well. We do not ride our horses by yelling at them or by pulling their halter. Each jockey creates a bond with his or her horse. If you treat the animal with respect and love it will do anything for you and all you have to do is to ask." Deanna leaned back in her chair and drank the dregs of her chocolate. Still in awe the redhead stared at her. The younger woman across the table never ceased to amaze her. By now she began to wonder if there was_anything_Troi couldn't do. For a moment she forgot about the purpose of this conversation...until her glance fell on the hands of her friend.

"If you're such an excellent rider, then why turn off the safety guards?"

"Because...if they're on I don't ride carefully or at my best. Having no safety guards adds an extra sense of reality to it."

"And risk. Those barriers were_high_Deanna." The disapproving tone in her voice was distinct.

"Yes I know, 1m70."

"Is that why you fell?" Deanna's mouth fell open.

"Wait a minute! As I recall I was doing perfectly well, until_you_began to yell."

"Oh, no. I had to stop you; it was way too dangerous. So yes I yelled."

"And broke the concentration of the horse..."

"And broke the concentration of the ho...oh, I see. Sorry." After 5 eternal seconds Deanna's tight-lipped mouth turned slowly into a smile and only then did Beverly realized she hadn't been angry with her for a fraction of a second.

"Apologies accepted."

"Good..." The Doctor stood up and indicated the Counselor was free to stand up as well. "...Than let's go."

"Where to?" The redhead didn't see the surprise in her friend's eyes, but she heard it clearly in her voice.

"My quarters."

"Why?" They had reached the doors by now, Beverly literally dragged Deanna forward.

"You'll see."

~D~