2. Priorities

The Captain, Counselor and Doctor entered the transporter room just as two sparkling beams appeared over the glowing floor. The figures materialized standing but as soon as the transporter released them Data crumpled to the floor and Geordi to his knees. At the sight of his disheveled colleagues O'Brian followed their lead. His jaw dropped to the floor. "What happened?" He breathed, more to himself than anyone else.

Pulaski was instantly upon LaForge, scanning him with her tricorder.

"Oh, my…"

"Get him…" Geordi went into a brief coughing fit before continuing. "…to Engineering, now." His voice was horse but he got the important words out. He began to make a move towards Data but the doctor pushed him firmly to the floor.

"And where do you think you're going?" She called sickbay and ordered them to bring a stretcher.

"I can't." He tried to protest but every word was getting harder to voice. "I've got to go…" He started coughing again but to finish the sentence he pointed in the direction of his fallen comrade.

"The only place you're going with a bruised rib and a broken ankle is sickbay." The doctor said firmly as two nurses came in with a cot. He started to protest again but before he knew it Pulaski had injected an anesthetic and he was slipping into unconsciousness.

Troi was now kneeling next to the prostrate form of the mechanical Commander. "I don't know how wise that was doctor."

"Yes, Pulaski, I would at least like to have heard a brief account of what happened." The Captain said rather curtly. Two of his valued officers were down and the only thing he knew was there had been an earthquake in the vicinity. That was not enough information for the concerned Picard.

"That is not the reason." Said the Batazoid, her porcelain-like features full of worry. "Geordi was terrified that if something isn't done immediately we could loose Data."

The Doctor snorted. "You people seem to forget that our friend, there, is not quite human. Especially in his anatomy. He doesn't get worse if not fixed immediately."

"Geordi didn't seem to agree."

"Yes, well, Mr. LaForge was beginning to get delirious and the very word denotes impaired judgment. Besides he is in no condition to fix anything or anyone."

"Maybe you're right." Troi admitted in a tone that betrayed serious doubt in her own words.

As Geordi regained consciousness his mind was flooded with the disturbing images of the catastrophe on the planet. For a brief moment he pushed it aside as nothing more than a nightmare. But that small glimmer of hope was vaporized as the visual information from his VISOR began to take form. He was laying flat on his back in sickbay completely restrained by a large, white, arch-like device that had been placed over his chest. Dr. Pulaski was toward the end of his bed mending his broken ankle.

"Where's Data?" He said immediately. At least it didn't hurt so much to talk anymore.

"You're finally up." She ignored his question. "The Captain wants to talk to you." She tapped her commbadge. "Captain, this is sickbay, Commander LaForge is awake."

"Oh, good." Said Picard's voice. "How are you feeling, Commander? It seems you suffered quite a shock."

"I'm fine." Once again these words were less than true but there were much more pressing matters than the fact that his foot felt like it would fall off. "Where—"

"Well enough to report?" It wasn't really said as a question. The gist was more like: 'you're well enough to report. Now do it.'

Geordi knew he wasn't going to get anywhere unless the Captain's knowledge of the situation was complete. So as quickly and accurately as possible he described the disaster. "Now, where is Data?"

"In Engineering room C-4."

"I need to get down there." He tried to get of the bed but the force field held him in place.

"What does Dr. Pulaski think?"

"I think he should wait a couple of hours so we can mend his ankle completely. If he starts walking around on it before then he could do some permanent damage. As for his bruised rib, it will be a bit painful to breathe without the machine."

"Well, Mr. LaForge looks like you'll have to wait."

"Captain," His voice was pleading but reasonable. "What's the worse that could happen to me? I lose feeling in my foot and my lungs hurt. Data could lose his BRAIN! Now what would be the greater loss?"

"Release him Doctor." Was Picard's immediate response.

"Right." She deactivated the arch and lifted it off of her patient.

The pain in Geordi's lungs suddenly returned. It was much better than before but still very distracting. He was about to jump of the exam table when Pulaski stopped him.

"You're at least going to wear one of these." She began to strap a strange, stiff, primitive looking contraption to his wounded foot.

"What's that?"

"A splint."