Author's Note: This chapter is kind of the end, but there will be one more chap that will sort of be the aftermath type thingie.
Summary: Delenn tells where she thinks Riker is. Riker escapes, but will he be able to cope with what he's endured and had to do to survive?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 5:
Search & Rescue
"Captain Picard?" Ambassador Delenn asked as she walked into his ready room, occupied by Picard and Troi.
"Ambassador, please, come in," Picard ushered her.
"I heard about the Commander Riker, I think I may be able to help." Delenn explained.
"You know where he is?" Deanna asked.
"I may," With their looks to continue, she did, "He came to me, maybe a half an hour before he went missing. He wanted to know about Blok Cabora. At the time, I had no idea why. I though, perhaps, it was something he had heard about and wanted to check out." Delenn stopped and shrugged her shoulders.
"Ambassador, tell us everything you told him," Picard commanded, but not in a stern voice but a pleading one.
Delenn proceeded to do just that. "I was about to tell him about an abandon warehouse that some say Blok Cabora used but he ran out. He might have gotten the information elsewhere." Delenn conclude.
"The warehouse, where is it?" Picard implored.
"It's south of the southern most village. I could give you the more direct coordinates." Delenn clarified.
"Thank you, Ambassador. Counselor, get Worf and tell him to assemble a security team." Picard ordered, as Troi nodded her head. "Ambassador," Picard gestured toward the door once Troi had left and they went off to the Transporter Room.
**In The Building**
His heart was pounding. His breathing was labored. And his legs throbbed and were starting to ignore his commands to move. As the muscles in his legs ignored him to the point that they wouldn't move, Riker knew he needed to find a spot to rest. He ducked into the first door he saw. He leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath.
'That was too easy," Riker thought, for he had only saw two or three men on his way.
Riker finally took the time to look around for the first time since he got there. It appeared to be a command center of some kind. Yet it was strange that no body was there.
Riker walked over to a consul and pushed a few buttons. It showed the entire history of their operation. Riker skimmed through it before sending a copy to Enterprise. But what really caught his attention was the name Mulara. When he read it in more depth, he found that it was his assignation plans; apparently he was in the way.
Before he could finish, he heard the distinct whoosh of the door. Then footsteps behind him followed. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see it was Sebastian, who must have woken up a few minutes ago for he was swaying some. Riker tensed and tried to act as though he hadn't seen nor heard him, as he prepared himself for the emanate fight.
Sebastian walked closer, gun in hand and pointing it straight for Riker, evidently taking the bate. When he got close enough, Riker grabbed Sebastian's hand and flipped him, causing Sebastian to slam onto the consul Riker was working on. In the exchange, the gun and had been flung across the room. Both men look up and sprung toward it. The two toppled on top of each other both trying to reach the gun.
A hand gripped the handle and a loud shoot was heard. One of the two bodies fell limp on the floor. The shooter stood up and stared at the lifeless body with sad eyes. The doors opened, admitting two Starfleet secrity offices in, along with a very distraught Deanna Troi. Her worried look was swiftly changed to a concerned smiled. She ran up to the remaining man and hugged him.
"Will," came the relived sigh from Deanna.
"Deanna," Riker said, both still clutching each other.
"Are you alright?" Deanna asked, concern filled her voice, as she loosened her grip on him some.
"Yea. Yea, I'm fine," Was Riker's exaughed, sad, yet sincere answer.
Deanna could sense how he felt and knew she shouldn't push. Not now anyway. So she simply said, "Come on. Let's go home." They finally ended their embrace, as they medics and rest of the away team came in. That included Worf and Beverly, both of who wore troubled looks in their faces. They all escorted him to the transport site, where they beamed back to Enterprise.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You all know what I'm going to say here. Well at least I hope so or else that's just sad.
Anyway, R/R please.