Chapter Twenty-Three: Clues Pt. II

"Captain's Log, Stardate 60085.4. The Enterprise is currently cruising through the Zed Lapis sector. It has been almost sixteen years since we last traveled through this sector and that journey is one none of the officers has forgotten. We'll pass the planet Vagra II, home of the evil creature Armus in six hours."

"Counselor Troi has already reported an increase of fear and anger, mostly in Senior Staff members. Even after sixteen years, the death of Tasha Yar lies fresh in our memory. The reason we're in this desolate sector is our quest to track down and arrest the leader of the Black Dragon organization."

"Troi's latest 'dream' revealed that his ship was on its way to the fourth planet of this sector. We'll reach the planet, Keiwok, tomorrow. Unfortunately, Troi hasn't been able to give us a general idea of the schedule which the leader of the Black Dragon follows." A worried looking Captain pushed himself out his chair and walked to the window of his Ready Room.

"I admire Deanna Troi; she's handled everything perfectly. Doctor Crusher has been able to create a medicine that allows Troi to sleep without being linked to the Black Dragon leader. Deanna is extremely busy and though I tried to order her to get some rest she will not hear of it."

"I've decided to concede, but only as long as her daily physical remains within the norm. I can only hope that we'll find the leader of the Black Dragon organization soon. Computer: end log." For a few seconds there was an eerie silence, but then the all too familiar beep of the computer indicated that his order had been executed.

Jean-Luc walked past his collection of models of Starfleet vessels to the doors and stepped onto the Bridge. Deanna rose from her seat in the Captain's Chair and stepped aside. He walked past her and offered a slight smile.

"I relieve you off duty Captain." He could almost *hear* her thinking 'Beverly Felisia Howard-Crusher-Picard'. Deanna loved to use his wife's full name when she was somewhat angry with her. Beverly on her part had admitted to him that it always made her feel like a little girl even though she was twelve years older than Deanna, or as she preferred to put it, 'more mature'. "Get some sleep Deanna, you look like a ghost."

"It takes most people more than a lifetime to achieve that Captain." Picard couldn't help but smile at her witty comment. She always knew how to lift his spirits. "I'll get some rest later, I promised Geordi and Data to give them a hand in engineering first." His mouth opened to object, but before he had the chance to say more than 'but' the doors of the Turbolift closed behind her back.

He shook his head as he sat down and asked for the status report. The helm officers almost immediately began spouting information but he barely heard it. He wondered how Deanna had avoided collapse under all the pressure. Of course he had been through some rather stressful times himself but in his eyes those could not be compared to what Deanna had experienced.

Naturally he didn't know the specifics about her relationship with Will Riker, but surely their breakup, or rather his leaving, had been difficult for her. But true to her personality she had not let that stop her from leading her own life.

And then the last two months, dealing with severe injuries, physical training to build up her muscles again,  new telepathic powers, Lwaxana Troi, counseling, commanding, interrogations, tracking down criminals and lately her 'dreams' must have been exhausting. Yet Troi seemed as hopeful and cheery as ever.

She had surely proven her strength, both mentally and physically. He glanced around his Bridge with a strong sense of pride.

~*+*~

"Here Data, try this." The android readily accepted the Padd she held out. He studied it quickly and then turned to the station he was working at.

"Yes Counselor, this will do perfectly. May I ask how you managed to adapt the bandwidth of the modified sensor without loosing the specifications we set up last week?" Deanna leaned over his shoulder and watched his hands quickly insert the data she had given him.

"It wasn't that difficult really. I just took one of the 'normal' sensor arrays and used its receiver-chip to recalibrate the secondary Eco-chip. After that is was quite easy to disconnect the Jugend-transmitter and replace it with a small piece of ODN-line cable."

She used every ounce of mental discipline not to laugh at herself. Although she had passed for her Bridge Officer's Exam, she had always thought that she would never be able to spit out any technobabble. All those different names for things that appeared to be identical was something that was difficult to master and the truth be told, she still hadn't mastered it. But it sure felt great to incorporate everything she knew in long sentences.

"I see," Commander Data responded in his emotionless voice and continued making the modifications.

"Deanna, you're a genius!" Spinning around on her heels, she turned towards the Chief Engineer.

"Did it work?"

"No, but your attempt just gave me one he*l of an idea! I know how to pull this off now." Troi went to stand behind LaForge and peeked at the screen.

"How?"

"That'll be my secret until it works, Counselor. Data and I can handle it from here. Why don't you go get some sleep, you look like a ghost." Deanna's mouth fell open, ready to object. But before she could do so Data interjected.

"Geordi, science has proved that ghosts do not exist. And even if they did, according to fairytales and legends ghosts are either invisible or transparent. Counselor Troi is neither." With a quick goodbye, Deanna fled Engineering, leaving Geordi with an android who was undoubtedly about to ask a hundred and one questions.

~*+*~

The doors to sickbay hissed open before her and revealed a very empty space. She glanced around as she stepped inside, searching for a certain redheaded, married Doctor, spotting her at the far end of Sickbay working at a MedLab.

Deanna slowly approached her from behind without making a sound, trying to keep the element of surprise. Her empathy told her that Beverly was concentrating deeply and for a moment she ceased her movements. She rethought her plan for a moment, but soon justified herself by pointing out that Beverly always derived great pleasure from sneaking up behind *her* when *she* was concentrating.  Several more steps brought her close enough to touch her friend, had she wished to.

"Found anything, Doc?" Beverly Picard nearly jumped out her skin and yelled in surprise. As she turned around she raised her hands in defence. Deanna was briefly startled by the Doctor's strong reaction and it took her a moment to push the emotions radiating from her friend aside.

"Jesus Deanna! You scared the he*l out of me." The redhead glared at her friend who [] tried desperately not to laugh, and failed miserably. She was laughing so uncontrollably that she wasn't able to reply. Beverly crossed her arms in front of her chest and waited for her friend to compose herself.

"Oh c'mon Bev, you've played this trick on me at least a hundred times." The Doctor had to acknowledge the truth in Deana's words and dropped her arms and annoyed attitude.

"All right, I'll let you go, this time. Now Miss Troi, what brings you here?" The Betazoid discretely scanned her friend, realizing that Beverly wouldn't just agree with her idea, but she wasn't willing to give up without a fight.

"Well, I figured that since we're about to confront the Black Dragon's vessel I might have another dream to..."

"Oh no you don't." Seeing that Deanna was about to object, Beverly continued. "We'll need you fit during the encounter. Plus there's nothing more we need to know. We know their shield frequency, their ETA and the crew compliment. That's all we need. Now, I want you to get some *real* rest. I'm giving you a hypospray to suppress your telepathy for a couple of hours." Deanna conceded, knowing that there was no use arguing.

"You know what, why don't you give me the hypo I'll inject it in my quarters and sleep there?" Beverly easily saw through her intentions.

"I'll give it to you all right." Before Deanna realized what she was doing Beverly raised her right hand and injected the hypospray in Deanna's neck.

"Beverly!" Astonished, surprise and a bit angry Deanna yelled the Doctor's name while her hand flew up to cover her neck.

"I'm sorry Dea, but I'm under strict orders to get you some rest. Now you'll have five minutes before the spray begins to work. So either return to your quarters and stay there or find yourself a comfortable spot in a corridor." She gently shoved the Counselor towards the doors.

"I can't believe you did that!" 'I can't believe it either.' She heard Beverly's answer in her mind, just as the doors closed. Troi hurried to her quarters, unwilling to fall asleep somewhere between Sickbay and her bedroom. "Nine hours to go." She muttered when she entered her quarters.

~*+*~

LaForge to Captain Picard.

"Go ahead Commander."

All the modifications have been made.

"Excellent Mr. LaForge." Captain Jean-Luc Picard leaned back in his chair. The Enterprise was ready for battle; all they could do now was wait. And hope that the encounter wouldn't result into combat at all. 'Eight hours left.'

Crusher to Picard. His head snapped up when he heard his wife's voice; it had been four hours since he had seen her, too long.

"Yes Beverly."

I've finished the hypospray and I'm about to start on Data.

"Very well Doctor, Picard out." He smiled as he realized how easy and professional their working relation had stayed. He had spent many hours with Deanna talking about the influence of marriage on their job performances in the weeks before he proposed to Beverly. He realized it must have been hard for Deanna to talk about marriage just after Will had left her, but he had trusted that she was able to set aside her personal feelings and she hadn't let him down.

Her advice had been very helpful and he had to admit that if Deanna hadn't pushed him or Beverly a little they would still be at 'status quo,' as his Counselor called their friendship. Deanna's suggestion to let Beverly keep her last name rather than adapting Picard's as her 'official' last name was a good one.

So Beverly was still Doctor Crusher or Commander Crusher, while off duty she was Mrs. Beverly Howard Crusher-Picard, which caused a great deal less confusion than having two Picards in the Senior Staff. 'Six hours left.'

~*+*~

Data to Captain Picard.

"Yes Commander?"

Doctor Crusher has finished the alterations. I am prepared for the mission Sir.

"Good, I suggest you read the information we have obtained. We will need your knowledge Data."

Understood Sir. Data out. A satisfied Jean-Luc glanced around his Bridge. The ship was hidden at the LaGrange-point behind the seventh moon of the planet, waiting for the Black Dragon ship to show up. 'Four hours left.'

~*+*~

LaForge to Data. Data looked up from his desk and tapped his communicator.

"Yes Geordi?"

I need a hand on the phaser adjustments, do you have the time?

"Of course, I shall be there in two minutes."

Thanks Data. Data stood up without bothering to tell his friend that no thanks were required because he was merely doing his job and left for Engineering. One and a half hours to go.

~*+*~

Crusher to Troi, Deanna, wake up. the Betazoid reluctantly opened her eyes.

"Hmm?"

Time to get your implants and do your hair. Deanna sat up, still drowsy from her nap.

"What? Oh! Yes, I'll be there within five minutes Bev!"

Take your time. Crusher out. With a yawn Troi rose to her feet and started to dress. Thirty minutes to go...

~*+*~

Data, Jaka Fko, Troi and both Picards had assembled in one of the Transporter Rooms. In less than ten minutes three of them would beam over to the Black Dragon ship. The vessel was dubbed 'Hydra'.

Data skin colour had changed to a tan and he wore blue ocular implants. Jaka was the only person whose appearance had not been altered, and she was very grateful for that. Deanna's hair had been straightened and pulled back into a ponytail that reached until just above the small of her back and her ocular implants were green.

All three of them wore the black uniforms with red stripes that Deanna had described and carried phasers and tricorders. They shouldn't attract any attention; the Hydra had a crew compliment of over five hundred people of a great variety of races. It was very unlikely that any of the lower 'officers' would notice them.

Jean-Luc and Beverly wished the officers good luck. Then the Captain returned to the Bridge to create an opportunity for the Away Team to beam over to the Hydra unnoticed.

~D~