Part 4
"We have just enough time to go grab a bite to eat." Beverly's forced cheeriness fell flat in the confined space of the turbo lift.
"You can go ahead without me. I'm really not hungry." As if on cue Deanna's stomach let out a horrific growl.
Beverly raised an eyebrow and called out, "Deck ten, forward." She turned to Deanna, raising a hand to silence any objections that would be forthcoming. "Don't argue - doctor's orders."
The counselor swallowed her protest and accompanied her friend down the corridor that led to Ten Forward.
The lounge was just beginning to become busy with the early lunch crowd, but the buzz of conversation was minimal. The crew's concern for the ship's first officer hung thick in the air. Deanna could feel the pity and concern begin to be directed towards her as people began to notice her presence. The emotions crash against her empathic senses in waves. Such powerful emotions aimed directly at her by a room full of people were a bit overwhelming. She faltered slightly before she was able to raise her shield to quell the onslaught.
"Are you all right?" Beverly rushed to her friend's side, but Deanna had already recovered.
"I'm fine." she didn't have to look at her friend to know that Beverly's face held a look of disbelief. "It was just a slight empathic overload. Let's find a table."
When the waiter returned with their orders Deanna simply continued to stare out the view port. Lost in thought, hand idly resting on her abdomen, she watched the stars dance and the beautiful blue and green planet roll lazily beneath the ship. The emptiness overwhelmed her and she called out with her mind, **Imzadi, where are you?** She held her breath for a response. Emptiness. Nothing but the same hallow void. A single tear slid down her porcelain cheek. She wiped it away quickly before turning to Beverly.
"How many people know about my condition?"
"Just you, me, and the Captain. Why?"
Deanna picked up her fork and began to push her salad around on the plate. "I just want to keep my personal life out of the ship-wide gossip pools as much as possible."
"Understandable. I can make house calls for any checkups that you require and I'll make sure your medical records cannot be accessed by anyone but myself." She reached across the table and placed a comforting hand on Deanna's. "We'll do everything we can to keep this under wraps for as long as you want us to."
Squeezing her friend's hand, Deanna attempted a forced smile. Unshed tears perched precariously causing her dark eyes to sparkle with a fathomless depth of sadness. She quickly swiped them away and lowered her eyes to her lunch. "Thank you."
The remainder of their meal was spent in companionable silence.
The Enterprise away team, consisting of Captain Picard, counselor Troi and Dr. Crusher, beamed directly into the outer room of the great hall where the earlier negotiations had taken place. Counselor Troi immediately recognized the leaders of the two factions as they stepped forward to welcome the group. Nodding politely at their greeting, Deanna concentrated on the emotions of the two politicians. Absolutely none of the hostility remained in either of them. It was as if there had never been any tension between the two races.
"We are sorry about what has happened and we would like the Federation to know that they have the full cooperation of both the Perig and the Nahlu. We will do all that we can to help resolve this situation." The Perig leader spoke on behalf of both parties.
"The Federation thanks you for your assistance in investigating this matter." Captain Picard indicated the inner chamber with a wave of his hand. "Why don't we proceed?" The two leaders of the planet lead the way through the great doors.
While the Captain questioned the various members of both delegations, Troi
focused on the various emotions that emanated from the individuals being questioned.
She sensed worry, concern, confusion, but she sensed no deception, no hostility.
Both sides were telling the truth - neither of them was behind the disappearance
and no one knew who was responsible. As Picard questioned the final delegate
a severe sense of hopelessness and loss caused her breath to catch in her throat.
Her stoic, professional front never betrayed the turmoil that was churning within
her.
When the inquiry was concluded the away team beamed back to the ship and convened
in the observation lounge to discuss their findings. They were joined by the
rest of the senior staff, Commander Riker's empty seat a painful visual reminder
of the profound loss that permeated the air.
"The thing that seems strange was the utter lack of tension or hostility between the Perig and the Nahlu. I sensed none of the emotions one would expect between two warring peoples. This is surprising especially considering the fight that broke out at the negotiations. It's as if it never happened, like the entire war never happened." Deanna's frustration with the situation was increasing exponentially every time she attempted to sort out the empathic reading she received from the inhabitants of Hervegla IV. There was something more going on here than what was immediately perceived, that she was sure of, but she just couldn't put her finger on what it was. Her train of thought was interrupted by the COMM.
Bridge to Captain Picard.
"Picard here, go ahead."
We are getting some strange energy fluctuations emanating from just above the northern pole of the planet.
"On my way"
With a nod the meeting concluded. The senior officers followed the Captain on to the bridge and took their stations.
"Report Mr. Data."
The android's hand skimmed quickly over the consol. "The energy reading seems to be emanating from some sort of vessel."
"On screen." Standing, the Captain gave his uniform a sharp tug. "Why didn't the scanners pick up any vessel before this?"
"Unknown sir." Data's fingers continued to fly over the controls. "It is possible that it had been utilizing some sort of cloaking device up until the energy fluctuations occurred."
Deanna sat in her customary chair going over the readings that were displayed on her consol. A sudden wave of nausea washed over her almost causing her to pass out. She tried to center herself by taking long, deep breaths, but another, very familiar sensation pushed against her empathic senses.
"Will." Her voice was nothing more than a choked whisper.
Beverly turned to her friend. "Deanna, what is it? What's wrong?"
"Oh Gods," she stood and walked to the center of the bridge. "It's Will. He's on that ship." She faltered slightly and Picard grabbed her to steady her. "He's in terrible pain. I can sense him very clearly now. We have to help him!" She was becoming frantic, desperate. **Imzadi! I'm here. We will help you. Just don't give up.**
This time she received a faint response. **Deanna, Imzadi, please help. Make it stop. Pain. So much pain.**
It was all too much for Deanna to handle. Riker's pain and helplessness slammed against her until she could take it no longer. Captain Picard was quick enough to catch her before she hit the floor. Beverly was beside her friend in a flash, her tricorder in hand, gathering information.
The ship on the view screen suddenly radiated an intense blue light and then vanished.
"Mr. Data, what happened?"
"The readings indicate that the ship created a type of worm hole and then traveled through it."
"Is there anyway to follow it?"
"Negative sir, the worm hole closed in on itself after the ship passed through it."
"Jean Luc, I need to get her to sickbay immediately."
"Data, help Dr. Crusher get the Counselor to sickbay and then return to the bridge. We need to go over the readings from that ship and figure out where it has gone."
Data picked up the Counselor and carried her still form to sickbay. The entire
length of the short trip Beverly called out orders over the COMM system, readying
the medical team for their arrival.
Deanna regained consciousness two hours later. She was consumed once more by the hollow void that filled her. Her Imzadi was torn from her yet again. Beverly kept her overnight for observation, but since there was nothing medically wrong with her, she released her to minimal active duty for the next two weeks.