The bridge of the Enterprise was cold. Granted, the crew was
surrounded by sparks and fire, but everyone felt like they were freezing.
Numbness swallowed the bridge crew, sending a shivering wave of ice to
their souls. Everything seemed like a terrible dream and each crew member
desperately wanted to wake from it. Captain Picard could see the confusion
in his first officer's eyes. This battle is not over, Picard thought; we
still have much fighting left in us. Jean-Luc patted Will Riker on the
shoulder.
"Don't worry, Will. This fight isn't over yet."
Will Riker could not help but smile. Hope was not lost. Captain Picard had not given up yet. The first officer knew that his Captain had a plan. Deanna Troi sensed the change of emotion in Riker. Both Will and Captain Picard are feeling good about something, she thought. She stood from her chair and stepped closer to the two men.
"What's your plan?" asked the ship's first officer.
"Listen Number One, we sent out a distress call. Any Federation ship in the area, will surly come to our aid. Now all we have to do is bide our time. We can not allow the Jem'Hadar to take over the ship. I need to stay on the bridge with the crew but I need you to start a rebellion against the Jem'Hadar that board the ship. You'll need to get a weapons locker before it's too late."
"Consider it done, sir."
Deanna sighed. She did not like the sound of the plan. It was too risky. It would be difficult for Riker and a few others to stall for time. Riker turned to Lt. Knight, who was still suffering from surrender shock. He was in a trance. Riker glared at the young officer and with a stern voice ordered the Lieutenant to snap out of it.
"Mr. Knight, you're with me. We have to get to deck 3 quickly."
"Aye sir," replied the disgruntled officer.
Knight quickly followed Riker as he stepped on the bridge elevator. All eyes were on the Commander. The entire ship was counting on him. Picard smiled and nodded to his second in command.
"Good luck Number One. I'll see you soon."
Will Riker nodded as the elevator doors hissed shut.
As the deck elevator approached deck 3, Lt. Knight could feel his sense of duty being restored to him. We have to stop the Jem'Hadar, he thought. Jerald felt himself swell with pride. He could once again make a difference. Picard had had a plan all along. However, the plan had a large margin of error but it was a plan none the less. Picard knew they would surly be destroyed if they did not surrender and wait for help. The captain knew there were other Federation ships in this sector. All Picard needed was time and that was exactly what he and Riker would give.
Knight was nervous. He could feel tingles surge through his skin. He quickly brushed the fear from his mind. Commander Riker and I have to succeed in our mission, he thought. The young Lieutenant examined his superior officer. Riker's face was expressionless. His eyes revealed nothing. Riker had a solid poker face and was using it to the best of his abilities. If Riker revealed anything, it was focus and determination.
Blue shimmers and the sound of teleportation filled the Enterprise bridge. The moment had come. The Jem'Hadar had finally arrived. Suddenly, several armed Jem'Hadar troops and one Cardassian stood on the bridge. Their weapons were aimed waist high and if any violent movement was made by the Enterprise crew, they would surly be fired upon. There was a moment of silence. Deanna tried to get a feel of the enemy. The Cardassian was extremely happy. Why shouldn't he be, she thought, he just captured the Enterprise. Deanna assumed he was the Cardassian who called himself Gul Putok.
The Cardassian Ambassador was an extremely stocky fellow. He was well built and his muscles could be seen through his uniform. He appeared to be more of a soldier than an ambassador. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail and it laid gently over his right shoulder. His long bone structured neck was covered in scars. It was apparent he was no stranger to fighting. The Cardassian had a phaser but it was still holstered. He walked around the bridge with long determined strides. His powerful gray eyes surveyed the bridge. He took in things quickly, examining each member on the bridge from head to toe. The Jem'Hadar troops were motionless and their hands were faultless. They were ready for any surprise or attack. The Cardassian quickly turned to Picard.
"I am Ambassador Gul Putok. I can assume you are Captain Picard?"
"That is correct. I'm am Captain Picard and this is my first officer, Lt. Commander Data."
Lt. Commander Data stood from his post but was stopped short. Suddenly, all phasers were on him. Data froze. He did not want his captors to have any reason to fire their weapons. Gul Putok quickly chimed in.
" No need to get up Commander Data. In fact, I ask that you get down on your knees. That goes for the rest of you. Get down on your knees and put your hands behind your heads. No body better move from their current position. Stay put!"
The crew did what they were told. Deanna was the first to move. She knew the Cardassian was not playing games. If they disobeyed his orders, he would have them killed. Captain Picard was reluctant on performing the task that was given. He was having second thoughts on his plan. Anger began to consume him and he had to force himself to be cooperative. Gul Putok turned his attention to the injured man on the hard deck. The man appeared to be passed out and blood oozed from his cheek. Putok nudged the motionless officer with his boot. There was no movement from the Ensign.
"Who is this?", Putok asked.
"His name is Ensign Pedro Lopez. He is one my helmsmen. He was knocked unconscious during the battle," answered Picard.
Putok sneered than turned to a nearby Jem'Hadar troop.
"Kill this wounded man. We have no time for healing the wounded."
Picard's face turned stone cold. He could not believe what he had just heard. Is this guy serious, he asked himself. Jean-Luc began to rise.
"What do you mean kill." started Picard.
A Jem'Hadar saw the captain's actions and responded by bashing the barrel of his phaser into Picard's back. Jean-Luc lurched with pain and fell face first to the floor. The other Starfleet officers cringed. Data started to go to the captain's aid but realized he had three phasers pointed at his head.
"I wouldn't move if I were you, Mister Data. My troops tend to have itchy trigger fingers." warned the Cardassian Ambassador.
Picard felt the pain pulsate through his body. The Jem'Hadar troop had hit him fairly hard and he was having trouble gathering his thoughts. Gul Putok approached the captain and lifted him by his neck. Anger burned in both of the men's eyes.
"Next time I tell you to do something, you better listen. If you disobey me again, I will have you shot in the stomach. That way, death would be very slow and very painful."
"I thought you said my crew and I would be treated fairly."
"Captain, I'm afraid that you and I have a different opinion on what is fair. I feel I'm doing this man a favor by killing him now. I'm saving him from a life sentence in a Cardassian Prison Camp. Cardassian Prisons are nothing like the Federation's. We like to hurt our prisoners. In fact, I'd say we revel it."
Gul Putok let go of the captain and had one of his troops to work the communication systems. He wanted to address the entire ship. As he spoke a Jem'Hadar troop shot Ensign Lopez. The blast enveloped the lifeless officer, turning him into nothingness. Deanna Troi cried out but was quickly silenced by a blaster pointed at her head. Picard saw this and wanted to vomit.
"This is Cardassian Ambassador Gul Putok. The Enterprise is now under my control. The entire crew will be take prisoner and will be boarded on our Jem'Hadar ships. If you revolt, you will be killed. My troops are all over the ship and they are heavily arm. I suggest you surrender and come quietly with us. If you have any love for your life, you will cooperate."
The message echoed through the ship. Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge sighed as the message reached his ears. Geordi had his hands behind his head and was surrounded by several Jem'Hadar troops. He and his engineering crew were being taken to a nearby transporter room. This can't be happening, he thought.
=====/////=====
"Did you hear that?" asked Lt.Knight.
"Of course I did. We have to act fast." responded Riker as he strapped a phaser cannon over his shoulder.
Knight nodded and scooped up an extra phaser.
"We'll have to find some other officers. We can't fight that many troops by ourselves, informed Riker, I just hope we're not too late."
Both men gathered their weapons and bolted out of the weapons locker. Lt. Knight was giddy with excitement. He was nervous but fueled by a powerful adrenaline. He followed Riker as they headed down the hall.
Commander William T. Riker quietly crept down the hallway of deck 3. He was armed with a Type II phaser rifle and a Type II phaser cannon. Riker's cannon was strapped around his chest and he held the rifle gently in his hands. His senses were working overtime as he listened for any sound that could be threatening. Lieutenant Jerald Knight stood behind the Commander. Jerald took quiet steps trying not to make a sound. He too wielded a phaser rifle and had a Type II hand phaser in his side holster. Both men were on edge. They needed to get to the deck elevator without being detected. Riker thought it best to get to a transporter room. He figured the Jem'Hadar would use the transporters to transport prisoners to their ships. It would be easier to move the prisoners to one place instead of beaming them directly from their current position. Riker seemed extremely confident on this assumption. In fact, he would even bet on it and he only bets on things he knows he can win. Knight thought about Riker's plan of attack. He was a little skeptical on whether it would work or not.
"Sir, wouldn't it be safer to use the Jefferies Tubes?"
"I don't think so. I'm sure the Jem'Hadar will search the Tubes. That's the first place anyone would try to hide. No, I think the best place to hide is out in the open. We'll just have to take out any Jem'Hadar who happen to see us."
"Whatever you say, sir." replied Knight with a sigh.
Both men slowly approached the elevators. Surprisingly neither officer had seen one Jem'Hadar troop. It made them fairly nervous. Surly they would have seen at least one on this deck. They had not even seen another crew member. It was as if the entire crew had vanished. Riker assumed they were hiding in their quarters. Riker and Knight slowly edged their way to the deck elevator door. Riker quickly turned to Knight.
"We're heading to deck 8. That's the nearest deck with a transporter room. I want you to stay close to me and if you see a Jem'Hadar, don't hesitate on firing. I promise you they won't."
Jerald Knight nodded to his commander and squeezed his weapon tightly. I will not fail, he thought, I can not let my crew down. Riker pressed the elevator button and waited for doors to hiss open. Suddenly, the doors did open and in the compartment were three Jem'Hadar troops, all holding blaster rifles. All five of the men froze but only for a second. Riker was the first to act. Instead of firing his weapon and making a loud noise, he quickly bashed the butt of his weapon into the closest Jem'Hadar's face. The Jem'Hadar let out a loud grunt and crumpled to the blow. The other two Jem'Hadar quickly raised their weapons but Lt. Knight had beaten them on the draw. Knight cared nothing of the loud noise. He fired his rifle in two precise shots, hitting the first troop in the chest and the second in stomach. Both troops fell backwards, hitting the elevator wall. Riker quickly picked up their weapons and tossed them out the door. The three Jem'Hadar laid lifeless on the elevator floor. There was barely enough room for the two Starfleet officers to stand. Riker quickly spoke to the computer.
"Computer, deck 8." he ordered.
The computer complied, causing the elevator to rise to the upper deck. Both Riker and Knight did not speak. There was an eerie silence. All that could be heard was the gentle humming of the elevator. As they approached deck 8 both men readied their weapons. They knew that once the elevator doors opened, they would have to face more Jem'Hadar troops.
Ambassador Gul Putok had the bridge crew sitting up against the wall. The crew's hands were behind their backs and cuffed by electronic binders. No life form could break free from the restraints. Putok considered Commander Data to be an exception to the rule so he had four guards watching him at all times. The ambassador continued his stroll around the bridge. He had not sit down the whole time he was on the ship. He preferred to stand. That way he would be ready for an attack. It was almost as if the Cardassian had a Klingon frame of mind. Picard still felt the pain of the blow he received previously that day. His upper shoulders felt like they were going to exploded. He was in a serious amount of pain. Jean-Luc longed to wrap his hands around Putok's throat and squeeze. Deanna Troi sensed his pain. It was happenstance that she had been place next to the captain, but because she had been, she could sense him emotions more than anyone else on the bridge.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine. I just have a terrible back ache. Nothing Beverly couldn't fix."
"Perhaps you should ask for medical assistance?"
"I don't think so. I'd probably receive the attention Ensign Lopez received."
Troi cringed from the sound of Lopez's name. She had not know the ensign very well but the fact she had seen him killed right before her eyes, caused her heart to shatter. The poor officer did not deserve to die like he did. The Cardassian Ambassador was an animal and he deserved the same fate that he sentenced to Ensign Lopez, she thought. Suddenly, Deanna snapped out of her day dream. She noticed that Putok was looking at her. It made the Councilor feel dirty. She shivered from the glace. Putok slowly approached Troi with a broad smile on his face.
"You're an empath?" he asked.
His question sounded more like a statement. Deanna said nothing. She only looked at him with fire in her eyes. Putok did not seem to care, he just continued to smile.
"There is no need to answer. I read it in you ship's file. You're half Betazoid. I must admit you have all the beautiful qualities of a Betazoid. You do your race justice. You are quite lovely."
Deanna merely turned her head from the vile Cardassian. She would not give him the benefit of speaking to him. This angered Putok. He quickly grabbed Deanna by the arms and lifted her from the floor. He revealed his massive upper body strength. Putok pulled her close to his face and began to shout. Putok's spit sprayed into Deanna's face.
"You will look at me when I'm talking to you! I give you a compliment and this is how you repay me! If you want to make it through another day, you will show me the respect I deserve."
"You deserve nothing but death!" Deanna replied, not showing an ounce of fear.
Gul Putok roared with anger and threw the helpless ship's councilor up against the wall. She hit the ungiving wall extremely hard and fell to the ground. Deanna left out a soft cry and passed out. Anger consumed Captain Picard. He wanted desperately to stand and crush Putok's skull. Picard tried to rise but Putok quickly kicked him in the side.
"Stay down Captain! Next time you move, I will kill you myself. You are not in my good graces anyway. You lied to me. You claimed that Lt. Commander Data was your first officer. We both know this is a lie. It says in your ship's files that Commander William Riker is the ship's first officer. Where is Commander Riker anyway?"
Putok sneered and kicked Picard again. Jean-Luc tried not to let out a cry of pain but he was unsuccessful. His back was already hurt and Putok insisted on adding insult to injury.
"Go to hell!" shouted Picard, as blood spilled from his lip.
"Such bravery, from such a little race. I'm surprised your silly Federation has lasted as long as it has. You humans are a joke. You're nothing but a burden on the galaxy. The Cardassians should have smeared your race under their boots a long time ago."
Putok stared at Picard for quit some time. Both men were filled were fury. If only Picard was not restrained, he would surly try to kill the Cardassian Ambassador. Gul Putok smiled at Picard. It was as if an excellent idea suddenly popped in his mind.
"You know Picard; I think I'll kill you now. I'll go down in Cardassian History, as the hero who killed the infamous Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Yes, I like the sound of that."
Putok slowly unholstered his blaster and just as slowly, pointed it at Captain Picard's head. An evil smile etched across the Cardassian's face. His mind was made up.
"Good Bye Picard." he laughed.
To Be Continued
"Don't worry, Will. This fight isn't over yet."
Will Riker could not help but smile. Hope was not lost. Captain Picard had not given up yet. The first officer knew that his Captain had a plan. Deanna Troi sensed the change of emotion in Riker. Both Will and Captain Picard are feeling good about something, she thought. She stood from her chair and stepped closer to the two men.
"What's your plan?" asked the ship's first officer.
"Listen Number One, we sent out a distress call. Any Federation ship in the area, will surly come to our aid. Now all we have to do is bide our time. We can not allow the Jem'Hadar to take over the ship. I need to stay on the bridge with the crew but I need you to start a rebellion against the Jem'Hadar that board the ship. You'll need to get a weapons locker before it's too late."
"Consider it done, sir."
Deanna sighed. She did not like the sound of the plan. It was too risky. It would be difficult for Riker and a few others to stall for time. Riker turned to Lt. Knight, who was still suffering from surrender shock. He was in a trance. Riker glared at the young officer and with a stern voice ordered the Lieutenant to snap out of it.
"Mr. Knight, you're with me. We have to get to deck 3 quickly."
"Aye sir," replied the disgruntled officer.
Knight quickly followed Riker as he stepped on the bridge elevator. All eyes were on the Commander. The entire ship was counting on him. Picard smiled and nodded to his second in command.
"Good luck Number One. I'll see you soon."
Will Riker nodded as the elevator doors hissed shut.
As the deck elevator approached deck 3, Lt. Knight could feel his sense of duty being restored to him. We have to stop the Jem'Hadar, he thought. Jerald felt himself swell with pride. He could once again make a difference. Picard had had a plan all along. However, the plan had a large margin of error but it was a plan none the less. Picard knew they would surly be destroyed if they did not surrender and wait for help. The captain knew there were other Federation ships in this sector. All Picard needed was time and that was exactly what he and Riker would give.
Knight was nervous. He could feel tingles surge through his skin. He quickly brushed the fear from his mind. Commander Riker and I have to succeed in our mission, he thought. The young Lieutenant examined his superior officer. Riker's face was expressionless. His eyes revealed nothing. Riker had a solid poker face and was using it to the best of his abilities. If Riker revealed anything, it was focus and determination.
Blue shimmers and the sound of teleportation filled the Enterprise bridge. The moment had come. The Jem'Hadar had finally arrived. Suddenly, several armed Jem'Hadar troops and one Cardassian stood on the bridge. Their weapons were aimed waist high and if any violent movement was made by the Enterprise crew, they would surly be fired upon. There was a moment of silence. Deanna tried to get a feel of the enemy. The Cardassian was extremely happy. Why shouldn't he be, she thought, he just captured the Enterprise. Deanna assumed he was the Cardassian who called himself Gul Putok.
The Cardassian Ambassador was an extremely stocky fellow. He was well built and his muscles could be seen through his uniform. He appeared to be more of a soldier than an ambassador. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail and it laid gently over his right shoulder. His long bone structured neck was covered in scars. It was apparent he was no stranger to fighting. The Cardassian had a phaser but it was still holstered. He walked around the bridge with long determined strides. His powerful gray eyes surveyed the bridge. He took in things quickly, examining each member on the bridge from head to toe. The Jem'Hadar troops were motionless and their hands were faultless. They were ready for any surprise or attack. The Cardassian quickly turned to Picard.
"I am Ambassador Gul Putok. I can assume you are Captain Picard?"
"That is correct. I'm am Captain Picard and this is my first officer, Lt. Commander Data."
Lt. Commander Data stood from his post but was stopped short. Suddenly, all phasers were on him. Data froze. He did not want his captors to have any reason to fire their weapons. Gul Putok quickly chimed in.
" No need to get up Commander Data. In fact, I ask that you get down on your knees. That goes for the rest of you. Get down on your knees and put your hands behind your heads. No body better move from their current position. Stay put!"
The crew did what they were told. Deanna was the first to move. She knew the Cardassian was not playing games. If they disobeyed his orders, he would have them killed. Captain Picard was reluctant on performing the task that was given. He was having second thoughts on his plan. Anger began to consume him and he had to force himself to be cooperative. Gul Putok turned his attention to the injured man on the hard deck. The man appeared to be passed out and blood oozed from his cheek. Putok nudged the motionless officer with his boot. There was no movement from the Ensign.
"Who is this?", Putok asked.
"His name is Ensign Pedro Lopez. He is one my helmsmen. He was knocked unconscious during the battle," answered Picard.
Putok sneered than turned to a nearby Jem'Hadar troop.
"Kill this wounded man. We have no time for healing the wounded."
Picard's face turned stone cold. He could not believe what he had just heard. Is this guy serious, he asked himself. Jean-Luc began to rise.
"What do you mean kill." started Picard.
A Jem'Hadar saw the captain's actions and responded by bashing the barrel of his phaser into Picard's back. Jean-Luc lurched with pain and fell face first to the floor. The other Starfleet officers cringed. Data started to go to the captain's aid but realized he had three phasers pointed at his head.
"I wouldn't move if I were you, Mister Data. My troops tend to have itchy trigger fingers." warned the Cardassian Ambassador.
Picard felt the pain pulsate through his body. The Jem'Hadar troop had hit him fairly hard and he was having trouble gathering his thoughts. Gul Putok approached the captain and lifted him by his neck. Anger burned in both of the men's eyes.
"Next time I tell you to do something, you better listen. If you disobey me again, I will have you shot in the stomach. That way, death would be very slow and very painful."
"I thought you said my crew and I would be treated fairly."
"Captain, I'm afraid that you and I have a different opinion on what is fair. I feel I'm doing this man a favor by killing him now. I'm saving him from a life sentence in a Cardassian Prison Camp. Cardassian Prisons are nothing like the Federation's. We like to hurt our prisoners. In fact, I'd say we revel it."
Gul Putok let go of the captain and had one of his troops to work the communication systems. He wanted to address the entire ship. As he spoke a Jem'Hadar troop shot Ensign Lopez. The blast enveloped the lifeless officer, turning him into nothingness. Deanna Troi cried out but was quickly silenced by a blaster pointed at her head. Picard saw this and wanted to vomit.
"This is Cardassian Ambassador Gul Putok. The Enterprise is now under my control. The entire crew will be take prisoner and will be boarded on our Jem'Hadar ships. If you revolt, you will be killed. My troops are all over the ship and they are heavily arm. I suggest you surrender and come quietly with us. If you have any love for your life, you will cooperate."
The message echoed through the ship. Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge sighed as the message reached his ears. Geordi had his hands behind his head and was surrounded by several Jem'Hadar troops. He and his engineering crew were being taken to a nearby transporter room. This can't be happening, he thought.
=====/////=====
"Did you hear that?" asked Lt.Knight.
"Of course I did. We have to act fast." responded Riker as he strapped a phaser cannon over his shoulder.
Knight nodded and scooped up an extra phaser.
"We'll have to find some other officers. We can't fight that many troops by ourselves, informed Riker, I just hope we're not too late."
Both men gathered their weapons and bolted out of the weapons locker. Lt. Knight was giddy with excitement. He was nervous but fueled by a powerful adrenaline. He followed Riker as they headed down the hall.
Commander William T. Riker quietly crept down the hallway of deck 3. He was armed with a Type II phaser rifle and a Type II phaser cannon. Riker's cannon was strapped around his chest and he held the rifle gently in his hands. His senses were working overtime as he listened for any sound that could be threatening. Lieutenant Jerald Knight stood behind the Commander. Jerald took quiet steps trying not to make a sound. He too wielded a phaser rifle and had a Type II hand phaser in his side holster. Both men were on edge. They needed to get to the deck elevator without being detected. Riker thought it best to get to a transporter room. He figured the Jem'Hadar would use the transporters to transport prisoners to their ships. It would be easier to move the prisoners to one place instead of beaming them directly from their current position. Riker seemed extremely confident on this assumption. In fact, he would even bet on it and he only bets on things he knows he can win. Knight thought about Riker's plan of attack. He was a little skeptical on whether it would work or not.
"Sir, wouldn't it be safer to use the Jefferies Tubes?"
"I don't think so. I'm sure the Jem'Hadar will search the Tubes. That's the first place anyone would try to hide. No, I think the best place to hide is out in the open. We'll just have to take out any Jem'Hadar who happen to see us."
"Whatever you say, sir." replied Knight with a sigh.
Both men slowly approached the elevators. Surprisingly neither officer had seen one Jem'Hadar troop. It made them fairly nervous. Surly they would have seen at least one on this deck. They had not even seen another crew member. It was as if the entire crew had vanished. Riker assumed they were hiding in their quarters. Riker and Knight slowly edged their way to the deck elevator door. Riker quickly turned to Knight.
"We're heading to deck 8. That's the nearest deck with a transporter room. I want you to stay close to me and if you see a Jem'Hadar, don't hesitate on firing. I promise you they won't."
Jerald Knight nodded to his commander and squeezed his weapon tightly. I will not fail, he thought, I can not let my crew down. Riker pressed the elevator button and waited for doors to hiss open. Suddenly, the doors did open and in the compartment were three Jem'Hadar troops, all holding blaster rifles. All five of the men froze but only for a second. Riker was the first to act. Instead of firing his weapon and making a loud noise, he quickly bashed the butt of his weapon into the closest Jem'Hadar's face. The Jem'Hadar let out a loud grunt and crumpled to the blow. The other two Jem'Hadar quickly raised their weapons but Lt. Knight had beaten them on the draw. Knight cared nothing of the loud noise. He fired his rifle in two precise shots, hitting the first troop in the chest and the second in stomach. Both troops fell backwards, hitting the elevator wall. Riker quickly picked up their weapons and tossed them out the door. The three Jem'Hadar laid lifeless on the elevator floor. There was barely enough room for the two Starfleet officers to stand. Riker quickly spoke to the computer.
"Computer, deck 8." he ordered.
The computer complied, causing the elevator to rise to the upper deck. Both Riker and Knight did not speak. There was an eerie silence. All that could be heard was the gentle humming of the elevator. As they approached deck 8 both men readied their weapons. They knew that once the elevator doors opened, they would have to face more Jem'Hadar troops.
Ambassador Gul Putok had the bridge crew sitting up against the wall. The crew's hands were behind their backs and cuffed by electronic binders. No life form could break free from the restraints. Putok considered Commander Data to be an exception to the rule so he had four guards watching him at all times. The ambassador continued his stroll around the bridge. He had not sit down the whole time he was on the ship. He preferred to stand. That way he would be ready for an attack. It was almost as if the Cardassian had a Klingon frame of mind. Picard still felt the pain of the blow he received previously that day. His upper shoulders felt like they were going to exploded. He was in a serious amount of pain. Jean-Luc longed to wrap his hands around Putok's throat and squeeze. Deanna Troi sensed his pain. It was happenstance that she had been place next to the captain, but because she had been, she could sense him emotions more than anyone else on the bridge.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine. I just have a terrible back ache. Nothing Beverly couldn't fix."
"Perhaps you should ask for medical assistance?"
"I don't think so. I'd probably receive the attention Ensign Lopez received."
Troi cringed from the sound of Lopez's name. She had not know the ensign very well but the fact she had seen him killed right before her eyes, caused her heart to shatter. The poor officer did not deserve to die like he did. The Cardassian Ambassador was an animal and he deserved the same fate that he sentenced to Ensign Lopez, she thought. Suddenly, Deanna snapped out of her day dream. She noticed that Putok was looking at her. It made the Councilor feel dirty. She shivered from the glace. Putok slowly approached Troi with a broad smile on his face.
"You're an empath?" he asked.
His question sounded more like a statement. Deanna said nothing. She only looked at him with fire in her eyes. Putok did not seem to care, he just continued to smile.
"There is no need to answer. I read it in you ship's file. You're half Betazoid. I must admit you have all the beautiful qualities of a Betazoid. You do your race justice. You are quite lovely."
Deanna merely turned her head from the vile Cardassian. She would not give him the benefit of speaking to him. This angered Putok. He quickly grabbed Deanna by the arms and lifted her from the floor. He revealed his massive upper body strength. Putok pulled her close to his face and began to shout. Putok's spit sprayed into Deanna's face.
"You will look at me when I'm talking to you! I give you a compliment and this is how you repay me! If you want to make it through another day, you will show me the respect I deserve."
"You deserve nothing but death!" Deanna replied, not showing an ounce of fear.
Gul Putok roared with anger and threw the helpless ship's councilor up against the wall. She hit the ungiving wall extremely hard and fell to the ground. Deanna left out a soft cry and passed out. Anger consumed Captain Picard. He wanted desperately to stand and crush Putok's skull. Picard tried to rise but Putok quickly kicked him in the side.
"Stay down Captain! Next time you move, I will kill you myself. You are not in my good graces anyway. You lied to me. You claimed that Lt. Commander Data was your first officer. We both know this is a lie. It says in your ship's files that Commander William Riker is the ship's first officer. Where is Commander Riker anyway?"
Putok sneered and kicked Picard again. Jean-Luc tried not to let out a cry of pain but he was unsuccessful. His back was already hurt and Putok insisted on adding insult to injury.
"Go to hell!" shouted Picard, as blood spilled from his lip.
"Such bravery, from such a little race. I'm surprised your silly Federation has lasted as long as it has. You humans are a joke. You're nothing but a burden on the galaxy. The Cardassians should have smeared your race under their boots a long time ago."
Putok stared at Picard for quit some time. Both men were filled were fury. If only Picard was not restrained, he would surly try to kill the Cardassian Ambassador. Gul Putok smiled at Picard. It was as if an excellent idea suddenly popped in his mind.
"You know Picard; I think I'll kill you now. I'll go down in Cardassian History, as the hero who killed the infamous Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Yes, I like the sound of that."
Putok slowly unholstered his blaster and just as slowly, pointed it at Captain Picard's head. An evil smile etched across the Cardassian's face. His mind was made up.
"Good Bye Picard." he laughed.
To Be Continued