Chapter Twenty-Two: Clues Pt. I
"Personal Log, Captain Deanna Troi. Stardate 60233.6. The past month and a half has been exhausting. I can no longer hide or deny my fatigue. Doctor Crusher ordered me to get forty-eight hours of uninterrupted rest and I've never known myself to be more grateful."
"We've located and arrested most of Rahad and Kasheira's associates and have been successful in dismantling their organization. Their leader however, is among the few people we haven't been able to identify or locate."
"Mother has returned to Betazed and is expecting me to join her soon, but I'm refusing to take a shore leave until the leader has been caught. Beverly's pregnancy is progressing wonderfully so far although she seems a bit irritated by her husband's attention and protectiveness. Both reactions are of course completely understandable."
"My counselling hours have been minimal recently, probably because all of our time has been used in tracking down and arresting members of the Black Dragon. Very few resisted and it has not come to combat in the past months. Well, I suppose I should get the rest I was ordered to get. Troi out." She stiffly pushed herself out her chair and walked to her replicator.
"Hot chocolate." The drink materialized and she picked it up, carrying it over to her bed. Grateful that she was already wearing her nightgown, Deanna sat down and drank her chocolate before lowering herself to her bed. She propped one hand beneath her head and closed her eyes, allowing her mind to flow away to its thoughts and wishes.
~*+*~
"Jean-Luc, will you leave those reports for later and sit down for a while!"
"In a moment Love," came the absent reply. Beverly sighed loudly and stood up to approach her husband.
"You said that fifteen minutes ago Captain. Don't make me order you." But Jean-Luc hardly heard her. She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. "Still the Black Dragon huh?" He nodded with obvious reluctance.
"We still haven't been able to catch him Beverly. Each time we're about to discover who and where he is he slips away." His defeated sounding voice briefly startled his wife, but she quickly recovered and drew him backward.
"Jean-Luc, I had to *order* Deanna to get some rest. Don't make me do the same for you." Although she was standing behind him she could almost see the slight smile that curled around his lips. He dropped the PADD he'd been holding back on the desk and followed her to the couch.
"How is Deanna?" Their lips brushed against each other and Beverly nestled herself against Picard's chest.
"Tired, slightly dehydrated and she's lost some weight. She is dealing very well with the changes in and around her, but maybe a little too well." He drew her closer to him, smelling the sweet scent of her hair.
"Her behaviour seems normal. She looks as beautiful as ever, though tired, I admit." They remained quiet for a while, both thinking about their colleague and friend.
"I could relive her of duty, but something tells me that won't help." With a laugh Beverly shook her head.
"One of the things that haven't changed is her stubbornness I'm afraid."
"And maybe that is for the best," her husband added. 'Maybe it is.' "Now come on you pregnant Lady, let's get some rest." He gently pushed her onto her feet and guided her to the bedroom. While Beverly changed Jean-Luc ordered two glasses with warm milk from the replicator and carried them to their bedroom. He handed Beverly, now wearing her nightgown, one of the glasses and sat down on their bed.
"Medical check-up," the Doctor said apologetically. "Computer: locate Counsellor Troi."
Counsellor Troi is in her quarters.
"Is she asleep?"
Affirmative.
"One down, one to go." Locking her eyes with Jean-Luc's she made sure her intention did not escape him. It didn't, but he had other intentions.
"Later Mon Amie, but first..." With a chuckle Beverly watched her husband as he rose and let his face hover above her.
~*+*~
///'Where am I?' She tried to look around herself, but couldn't. She was in a corridor of some sort. It was similar in a way to the Enterprise's, but darker and smaller. The people she encountered all wore the same outfit, loose fitting black trousers with a thin red line at the sides. The shirts they wore were of the same model. On the back there was a dragon-like figure, made of black leather.
They greeted her nervously. 'They fear me,' she realized. She continued her unwilling way down the dark corridors, taking one turn after another. Her vision was hazy, as if in a dream. Yet she was perfectly conscious, or it least so it seemed.
~The Federation is tracking us down! Maybe we should disappear for a while.~ The strange thoughts entered her mind. The voice was unfamiliar and cold, full of hatred and fury. ~The bitch betrayed us! I cannot believe this.~ Deanna was unable to block him out, helpless to move the way she wanted.
'It's like my mind is trapped in someone else...' But this was supposed to be a dream, wasn't it? She couldn't make even the slightest movement no matter how hard she tried. Stray thoughts entered her mind. She walked through black doors and entered what appeared to be a Bridge. This Bridge was a lot smaller and spartan in appearance than that of the Enterprise.
When she stepped onto the Bridge everyone stood up and saluted her. Or more likely, the body she seemed to have invaded. ~At least I still have my crew.~ She could be mistaken, but this other person's mind was highly organized and his lines of thinking were similar to those of a Starfleet Officer. It was likely that this man was a renegade Starfleet Officer.
That would explain the dark clothing and vessel. What worried her most however, was that she was actually able to *sense* the people around her. What she sensed wasn't very comforting. Fear, anger, hatred and pain seemed to be the only emotions the crew experienced. But try as she might, she couldn't bring her empathic blocks in place, likely because she wasn't in her own head. This was becoming stranger every second.\\\
~*+*~
Deanna bolted upright in her bed. This was the third night in row that she had a dream like this, if one could call it a dream. It was more like she was a passenger in someone else's mind. So far she hadn't told Beverly or anyone else.
She could hardly believe her theory herself but as she pushed a strand of hair from her sweaty face and looked in her mirror she knew she wouldn't be able to hide her lack of rest for much longer. She splashed some cold water on her face and quickly dried off before she changed into her uniform and headed for the Bridge. Her talk with Beverly would have to wait till after her watch.
~*+*~
The leader of the Black Dragon shifted uncomfortably in his chair. For the past three days he had the feeling that someone was watching over his shoulder, but ship's sensors did not indicate any unauthorized presence or alien life form. Could he be loosing his mind? Not possible, he thought. But then why did he feel as if someone was studying him through a microscope? He shook his head violently to shake the thought and feeling away.
~*+*~
The eight hours she had spent on the Bridge were quite possibly the longest eight she had ever lived. She had been forced to rise from her chair every once in a while to avoid falling asleep. She decided that she would have to talk to Doctor Crusher about this, and was now just outside Sickbay.
"Deanna. What brings you here..." Beverly's sudden silence told Deanna what she already knew, that she looked like he*l. Beverly's concern was increasing rapidly and the empath even detected a small twinge of anger. "Sit down." She did so obediently and sat down on one of the biobeds. As usual the Doctor scanned her. "I thought I ordered you to rest Captain." Deanna couldn't help but frown. Beverly never called her Captain since she asked her not to.
"You did."
"Then why didn't you get any?" The Counsellor smiled slightly and squeezed her friend and Doctor's hand as she hopped of the bed.
"Could we discuss this in private?" A puzzled and concerned Beverly nodded. Together they walked to her office.
"All right Troi, out with it." The Counsellor gratefully accepted the cup of tea her friend offered.
"This is going to sounds crazy and unbelievable, but I've been having these dreams recently..."
~*+*~
As Deanna finished her explanation both women leaned back in their chairs. The Betazoid waited patiently for her friend's response. Beverly on her part was quickly processing the information Deanna had given her and tried to find a possible cause and solution. Eventually she leaned forward and folded her hands together.
"And you're sure that it wasn't just dreams?"
"I can remember every detail, even seventy-two hours later. I cannot explain it, or define it, but it is definitely not a dream." Taking another look at her tricorder readings Doctor Crusher sighed once again.
"Well, these readings confirm at least that much. Deanna, I have no idea what *is* going on, therefore I'd like you to stay here tonight." The Betazoid's intention to object could clearly be seen on her pretty face, but Beverly never allowed her enough time to even open her mouth. "You'll be monitored the entire night. It might give us a clue as to what is happening."
"But..."
"But your promise," Beverly interjected playfully, fully aware that Deanna knew perfectly well that her plan was the only way to find out what was happening.
"Oh, all right."
"Welcome in Hotel Les Picards, your host will now show you your room." A chuckling Deanna followed a very serious looking hotel host.
"Guinan will be jealous." She murmured under her breath.
~*+*~
The next morning...
"C'mon Jean-Luc! We can't wait any longer!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Quickly fastening his pants the Captain of the starship Enterprise followed his impatient wife out of their quarters and into Sickbay. Before entering Deanna's private room Beverly stopped by a replicator and ordered a full breakfast. For a reason completely incomprehensible to Jean-Luc she *knocked* at the doors before opening them.
"Ah, room-service." Puzzled and surprised, the Captain shifted his gaze from one woman to the other.
"At your service Ma'am." Replied Beverly as she handed Deanna the plate. 'Something tells me I shouldn't ask.' Picard's thought entered Deanna's mind in an instant.
"You're probably right Captain." His eyes widened briefly and he winked as response. While Deanna ate her breakfast the Doctor studied the readings obtained throughout the night. Fortunately the computer had already made comparisons, hypothesises and conclusions; freeing Beverly from most of the work.
The emotions and stray thoughts the Betazoid picked up from the Doctor worried her more than she would've liked but she forced herself not to break Beverly's concentration.
"Well it certainly explains why you're so exhausted."
"What have you found?" It was the same question Deanna was about to ask, but Picard had beaten her to it.
"Well, according these readings you haven't slept at all."
"But I..." Beverly abruptly motioned Deanna to be silent and continued.
"I think that everything you experienced happened."
"But how?"
"It seems that you're tapping into someone else's consciousness when you're asleep." Picard looked quizzically at his wife, not quite sure whether he had heard her correctly. Troi accepted the tricorder Doctor Crusher gave her and studied the readings for a while.
"Of course!" She suddenly exclaimed. "It makes sense now." Jean-Luc was now totally lost decided it was time for some clarification.
"Mind filling me in here, ladies?" Beverly turned towards him with an almost apologetic look on her face.
"We think that while Deanna is asleep her subconscious taps into the mind of someone else. We're not sure why or how but this person must have at least some telepathic or empathic abilities otherwise this would be impossible."
"I see." Actually he didn't, but he was quite sure both women knew that. They also knew that any additional explanation wouldn't help. "Captain, do you know who this person is?" Deanna swallowed, turning her head away for a moment, a sure indication that he wasn't going to like the answer.
"Yes Sir. I believe him to be the leader or the Black Dragon organization..."
~D~