Chapter 9: Work Together
Picard surveyed over Shinzon's face concerned what the Remans would think of Shinzon showing up with blood on his face. He could see that he was limping on the left side. Picard knew that Shinzon did his utmost to never show pain or limitation. He wondered how many bones were broken and what internal damage was done that he showed obvious pain. Picard became worried about the condition of his clone after a conflict with the Klingon and spoke with more determination, "Shinzon for your safety, I want you to go with a member of security and Allisa to Sick Bay. I will bring the Remans to you. After fighting with Worf, I don't want the Remans to get the wrong idea about your treatment on my ship."
Shinzon let the Captain's concern sink in and realized that might be the best course of action. Shinzon had sent a telepathic communication to the Remans after leaving Worf that everything was fine aboard the ship. He also told the Remans he had made his decision of working with the Federation, "I guess it is our nature to try a diplomatic approach first. I am having some sensations of pain and prefer to be in top condition. Very well Captain, I will trot along to Sick Bay and let them repair me."
Shinzon accompanied by a security guard and a worried Allisa entered Sick Bay. Doctor Berman smiled and ushered him to a table for a full medical scan. "Shinzon what can I do for you?"
Shinzon raised an eyebrow and laid down on the bed glad at the chance to rest keeping his eyes on Allisa, "I am in excellent health compared to the last time you saw me, I am sure. Oh, nothing a little zap here and a little zap there won't fix."
Dr. Berman had a blank look on his face that changed into a casual smile, "Oh, yes for sure."
Shinzon started eyeing the doctor suspiciously instead of relaxing into his care as he had the previous time. Shinzon could not feel his usual confidence and reassurance of times tried with meticulousness experience. Shinzon was not able to read his thoughts, so he sent a message in his mind to Allisa to make an attempt. Neither of them could. They were now on guard knowing something was wide of the mark as the doctor was not a telepath and had no defenses earlier. Allisa watched his every move hoping that there might be some disturbance with the Remans aboard preventing their abilities in some way.
The doctor was looking over Shinzon, "What exactly happened to you?"
Shinzon looked amused at the doctor while raising his left eyebrow, "I informed Picard that I detested his scrawny vessel. And as you can see he did not appreciate my views. His Klingon and I sorted out the matter."
Picard exited Transporter Room Two with the three new arrivals wearing dark cloaks hiding their faces from the few passersby that were in the corridors. He had only briefly seen Ba'el's face as she had a cloak and hood on as well. Ba'el was calm for a Klingon and she was also softer spoken. The ridge on her forehead was not as prominent as Worf's full blood Klingon warrior heritage.
The two Remans were as tall as he remembered they should be. The security detail that escorted them was selected directly by Worf for their strength of body and mind for such a threat. Worf was alerted to their arrival and was on his way to their location he informed the Captain. He was mainly late because he did not like the proposal of seeing Ba'el board with the Remans.
Picard only briefly seen both of the Reman's eyes and they appeared even more secluded and unfeeling, if that was possible for a Reman. Picard felt a chill as he remembered his first instincts and fearful/anxious reactions to seeing a Reman for the first time. He remembered thinking they looked like a mixture between giant prowling Vampires and soulless Zombies.
Kunak came to a halt then spoke in a very deep voice to Picard, "We need to hurry. There is something wrong in your Sick Bay." To that everyone quickened the pace toward Sick Bay.
"Counselor Vendalla? Doctor Berman? Captain Picard to Counselor Vendalla, respond!" Picard's requests were not answered as they broke into a run for Sick Bay that was just around the next bend. "Worf meet us at Sick Bay there is a security problem."
Kunak sent a thought to Picard, "The doctor is not Berman and we must stop him." This further confused Picard who had been unaware of a potential or existing attack within his ship.
The Remans entered first while demanding for the lighting to be lowered noticing that Allisa and Shinzon were alone in the room. Picard nodded his head and it was obeyed. Picard only allowed the Remans, Allisa, and himself to stay in the room with the medical staff. Ba'el and some of the guards stayed outside pacing the floor guarding against any attack. Picard stood at the foot of Shinzon's bed. Shinzon had a wound on his abdomen and was dying. Allisa was laying on the bed with a deep gash in her left arm using a Vulcan mind meld trying to hold onto him while the Remans put their hands upon her shoulders.
Everyone was to distracted with Shinzon to notice that Dr. Berman rematerialized in the room at that very second. Everyone felt a telepathic impulse coming from the doctor as he raised a phaser-like instrument that was set to kill the group. Allisa let out a screeching yell. Vernaka was trying to cover Shinzon with her sizably strong body.
The doctor fired at Kunak first, hitting him in the chest, as he was advancing upon him. Kunak ignored the pain and pressed on in defense of his Praetor and Vernaka.
Worf entered Sick Bay and seen Kunak stalking the doctor and fired at him with extreme prejudice. Kunak fell to the floor under the assault from the Klingon. Vernaka let go of Shinzon and ran to Kunak as she felt him leaving her mind. The doctor then had a clear shot after Kunak started staggering to the floor and fired hitting Shinzon again. He did so this time with a different/new weapon and hit Shinzon directly in the chest and then put the new weapon that looked like a disk away. Picard yelled at Worf, "No!"
Worf halted and realized his oversight as the doctor turned his weapon at Allisa. Picard lunged at Dr. Berman trying to grab the phaser-like weapon, but was too late and the doctor was to far away. Picard and Dr. Berman started wrestling with the weapon as Allisa's cries that were telepathic and audible reached the entire ship.
Worf sprang forward and grabbed the doctor with one of his massive hands. Dr. Berman's form started to alter like liquid metal. Picard's eyes enlarged as an epiphany that Dr. Berman was dead and a shape changeling had taken his place. Worf raised his weapon and shot the changeling twice. He was still alive. The changeling shoved Worf backwards as Picard grabbed the changeling's wrist that held the weapon.
Vernaka was holding her mate in her arms with her eyes fixed upon Worf. She laid his head down on the floor and leaped to her feet within a second she was moving Worf out of her way. Worf grabbed her arm trying to keep her back from the fight. The changeling flipped Picard through the air and he landed on the floor with a gash in his leg. Picard had still managed to sever the weapon from the changeling's hand.
Vernaka removed Worf's hand from her and placed her equally strong hand upon his chest, "He is mine." She spat at Worf with a growl and showed her fangs. For a moment Worf felt angry with himself for firing at her mate, but pride at allowing the female to have revenge on the attacker. Worf stepped aside. He continued to stay close incase she needed assistance.
The changeling faced Vernaka. "So you're the one I have heard so much about. I thought that Reman females received stimuli from fighting and allowing their animal side out. Isn't that looked at as a sign of sexual arousal? Are you going to bite me next and become my mate?" The changeling laughed at her.
Vernaka viewed the changeling as the cause of her mates pain and seductively spoke to him as she walked very erotically toward him, "I have never seen a changeling before." The changeling did not know that Reman females have eyes that appear to be crystal when they use their animal side. When in that crystal animal state, they are capable of extreme mind control and hypnosis. "Yes, I do believe I would like to bite you on the neck. If you don't mind, that is."
Worf glaired at Vernaka not understanding what she was doing, but knowing she was tricking the enemy in an attempt to get closer. He scanned the room and found Picard as he started to stir on the floor. Allisa was still holding Shinzon on the bed weeping. Worf then kept his eyes upon Vernaka's performance.
The changeling spoke in a trance, "How animalistic you are my dear and I see you are quite pleasant to look upon. Yes, that would amuse me. Then after you bite me, I want you to suck my tongue." The changeling was trying to control himself enough to reset his transporter devise. He was attempting to take the Reman female with him, but found it difficult to stop feasting upon her diamond eyes.
Vernaka's height was not quite as tall as the stature her mate was, but she stood at least a foot taller then the changeling. She positioned herself inches away from him allowing her chest to be right in his face. The changeling held his breath as the control on his wrist was removed by the Reman.
She then let her instincts in the ferocity of her anger at the pain being experienced by Kunak and Shinzon explode in a tempest. Not wanting him to die instantly and knowing he was wounded from phasers already, she decided to take a few seconds to kill him. Letting him know it was her who did the act. She spun the changeling around so his back was pressed against her abdomen. She grabbed his shoulder and the side of his head whispering in his ear as she kept her eyes upon Worf's, "Say good bye."
Vernaka proceeded to dig her talons into his flesh. She wrapped her lips around his neck with her fangs sinking in deeper then her talons. She pulled her fangs out partially to allow his blood to flow into her mouth. As she drank his blood, she also took in some of his life's thoughts and memories. Vernaka felt his life dwindling the moment she tore her teeth from his neck. This caused his blood to fly across the room and some even splattered upon Worf. She dropped his lifeless body as it started to turn to greenish liquid. While wiping the green blood from her face, She turned to review the room.
Worf found it difficult to control his Klingon warrior instincts when the enemies warm blood sprayed on his face. Worf forced himself to take his attention off of Vernaka. He turned to see what was happening on the other side of the room where the wounded were at. Picard lay still in the floor catching his breath for a moment then he looked at Shinzon and Allisa on the table. Both Allisa and Shinzon blinked their eyes and smiled at each other. Shinzon let out a gasp as he tried to raise his arm to Allisa. She lowered her head back onto his chest and he placed his hand on her shoulder and asked, "Can I touch your hair one last time?"
Allisa started crying and wiping the tears from her eyes and then giggling at his question. "Of course you can Imzadi.now and always in life and death I am and always will be yours."
Shinzon slowly moved his hand over her long auburn hair, "Vernaka, speak to Picard." Shinzon then finished the message to Vernaka's mind only, 'Do not tell all, but tell what you must for now.'
Shinzon then spoke in rasps to Allisa, "I have often watched you my love. I have never truly understood you till our minds linked in the meld. I know you understand me as well." Shinzon had tears in his eyes that started to fall down his face to Allisa's arms. He sang to her softly, "How can you see into my eyes
like open doors.
Leading you down into my core
where I've become so numb.
Without a soul
my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Wake me up.
Bid my blood to run.
I can't wake up.
Before I come undone.
Save me.
Save me from the nothing I've become.)
Now that I know what I'm without
you can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life."
Allisa was also badly hurt, but not as near death as Shinzon. The medical staff tried every trick they knew trying to stabilize him. They examined the weapon that looked like a disk finding that there was a self-containing virus imbedded within the shots.
Allisa refused any medical attention once she knew that Shinzon might not make a recovery, "Let our blood mingle as one...for our hearts and souls have. Leave me alone." She closed her bleeding arms around Shinzon. He tried to continue the song and was unable, so Allisa continued, "Frozen inside without your touch,
without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.
All of this sight
I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark
but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a 1000 years it seems.
I've got to open my eyes to everything.
Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something wrong."
Her voice started to break up at the end of the song and started weeping again.
Picard spoke up, "Ok everyone, leave them be. And work on a cure" He knew that there was no hope for his clone to survive and he had only minutes to say goodbye to Allisa.
Shinzon peered up at Picard through glazed eyes, "Picard, I would like to think us family." He then turned his face toward Vernaka, "You must let them know what is at hand. Something must survive of me. Protect Allisa to the end." He then allowed himself to lay completely relaxed in his loves arms.
Do you remember the songs I had programmed to play on the holodeck. They are the ones I liked when I still believed myself to be Renee that I played for you? Will you continue sing for me now?" Shinzon started becoming even paler if that was feasible.
Allisa's eyes flooded with tears. They dropped onto Shinzon's face and mingled with his own, "I can not. You must live. You can't leave me now that I have known you and how we are together. How will I ever live knowing I have loved my Imzadi and he was taken from me." She started crying uncontrollably. To this Shinzon started running his fingers through her flowing auburn hair that had splatters of blood. She started calming down. She tried to use her telepathy to connect with him and was unsuccessful. She raised her hand to his face and attempted a Vulcan mind meld and nothing happened. Her face turned as pale as his realizing there was nothing she could do to save him.
Picard surveyed over Shinzon's face concerned what the Remans would think of Shinzon showing up with blood on his face. He could see that he was limping on the left side. Picard knew that Shinzon did his utmost to never show pain or limitation. He wondered how many bones were broken and what internal damage was done that he showed obvious pain. Picard became worried about the condition of his clone after a conflict with the Klingon and spoke with more determination, "Shinzon for your safety, I want you to go with a member of security and Allisa to Sick Bay. I will bring the Remans to you. After fighting with Worf, I don't want the Remans to get the wrong idea about your treatment on my ship."
Shinzon let the Captain's concern sink in and realized that might be the best course of action. Shinzon had sent a telepathic communication to the Remans after leaving Worf that everything was fine aboard the ship. He also told the Remans he had made his decision of working with the Federation, "I guess it is our nature to try a diplomatic approach first. I am having some sensations of pain and prefer to be in top condition. Very well Captain, I will trot along to Sick Bay and let them repair me."
Shinzon accompanied by a security guard and a worried Allisa entered Sick Bay. Doctor Berman smiled and ushered him to a table for a full medical scan. "Shinzon what can I do for you?"
Shinzon raised an eyebrow and laid down on the bed glad at the chance to rest keeping his eyes on Allisa, "I am in excellent health compared to the last time you saw me, I am sure. Oh, nothing a little zap here and a little zap there won't fix."
Dr. Berman had a blank look on his face that changed into a casual smile, "Oh, yes for sure."
Shinzon started eyeing the doctor suspiciously instead of relaxing into his care as he had the previous time. Shinzon could not feel his usual confidence and reassurance of times tried with meticulousness experience. Shinzon was not able to read his thoughts, so he sent a message in his mind to Allisa to make an attempt. Neither of them could. They were now on guard knowing something was wide of the mark as the doctor was not a telepath and had no defenses earlier. Allisa watched his every move hoping that there might be some disturbance with the Remans aboard preventing their abilities in some way.
The doctor was looking over Shinzon, "What exactly happened to you?"
Shinzon looked amused at the doctor while raising his left eyebrow, "I informed Picard that I detested his scrawny vessel. And as you can see he did not appreciate my views. His Klingon and I sorted out the matter."
Picard exited Transporter Room Two with the three new arrivals wearing dark cloaks hiding their faces from the few passersby that were in the corridors. He had only briefly seen Ba'el's face as she had a cloak and hood on as well. Ba'el was calm for a Klingon and she was also softer spoken. The ridge on her forehead was not as prominent as Worf's full blood Klingon warrior heritage.
The two Remans were as tall as he remembered they should be. The security detail that escorted them was selected directly by Worf for their strength of body and mind for such a threat. Worf was alerted to their arrival and was on his way to their location he informed the Captain. He was mainly late because he did not like the proposal of seeing Ba'el board with the Remans.
Picard only briefly seen both of the Reman's eyes and they appeared even more secluded and unfeeling, if that was possible for a Reman. Picard felt a chill as he remembered his first instincts and fearful/anxious reactions to seeing a Reman for the first time. He remembered thinking they looked like a mixture between giant prowling Vampires and soulless Zombies.
Kunak came to a halt then spoke in a very deep voice to Picard, "We need to hurry. There is something wrong in your Sick Bay." To that everyone quickened the pace toward Sick Bay.
"Counselor Vendalla? Doctor Berman? Captain Picard to Counselor Vendalla, respond!" Picard's requests were not answered as they broke into a run for Sick Bay that was just around the next bend. "Worf meet us at Sick Bay there is a security problem."
Kunak sent a thought to Picard, "The doctor is not Berman and we must stop him." This further confused Picard who had been unaware of a potential or existing attack within his ship.
The Remans entered first while demanding for the lighting to be lowered noticing that Allisa and Shinzon were alone in the room. Picard nodded his head and it was obeyed. Picard only allowed the Remans, Allisa, and himself to stay in the room with the medical staff. Ba'el and some of the guards stayed outside pacing the floor guarding against any attack. Picard stood at the foot of Shinzon's bed. Shinzon had a wound on his abdomen and was dying. Allisa was laying on the bed with a deep gash in her left arm using a Vulcan mind meld trying to hold onto him while the Remans put their hands upon her shoulders.
Everyone was to distracted with Shinzon to notice that Dr. Berman rematerialized in the room at that very second. Everyone felt a telepathic impulse coming from the doctor as he raised a phaser-like instrument that was set to kill the group. Allisa let out a screeching yell. Vernaka was trying to cover Shinzon with her sizably strong body.
The doctor fired at Kunak first, hitting him in the chest, as he was advancing upon him. Kunak ignored the pain and pressed on in defense of his Praetor and Vernaka.
Worf entered Sick Bay and seen Kunak stalking the doctor and fired at him with extreme prejudice. Kunak fell to the floor under the assault from the Klingon. Vernaka let go of Shinzon and ran to Kunak as she felt him leaving her mind. The doctor then had a clear shot after Kunak started staggering to the floor and fired hitting Shinzon again. He did so this time with a different/new weapon and hit Shinzon directly in the chest and then put the new weapon that looked like a disk away. Picard yelled at Worf, "No!"
Worf halted and realized his oversight as the doctor turned his weapon at Allisa. Picard lunged at Dr. Berman trying to grab the phaser-like weapon, but was too late and the doctor was to far away. Picard and Dr. Berman started wrestling with the weapon as Allisa's cries that were telepathic and audible reached the entire ship.
Worf sprang forward and grabbed the doctor with one of his massive hands. Dr. Berman's form started to alter like liquid metal. Picard's eyes enlarged as an epiphany that Dr. Berman was dead and a shape changeling had taken his place. Worf raised his weapon and shot the changeling twice. He was still alive. The changeling shoved Worf backwards as Picard grabbed the changeling's wrist that held the weapon.
Vernaka was holding her mate in her arms with her eyes fixed upon Worf. She laid his head down on the floor and leaped to her feet within a second she was moving Worf out of her way. Worf grabbed her arm trying to keep her back from the fight. The changeling flipped Picard through the air and he landed on the floor with a gash in his leg. Picard had still managed to sever the weapon from the changeling's hand.
Vernaka removed Worf's hand from her and placed her equally strong hand upon his chest, "He is mine." She spat at Worf with a growl and showed her fangs. For a moment Worf felt angry with himself for firing at her mate, but pride at allowing the female to have revenge on the attacker. Worf stepped aside. He continued to stay close incase she needed assistance.
The changeling faced Vernaka. "So you're the one I have heard so much about. I thought that Reman females received stimuli from fighting and allowing their animal side out. Isn't that looked at as a sign of sexual arousal? Are you going to bite me next and become my mate?" The changeling laughed at her.
Vernaka viewed the changeling as the cause of her mates pain and seductively spoke to him as she walked very erotically toward him, "I have never seen a changeling before." The changeling did not know that Reman females have eyes that appear to be crystal when they use their animal side. When in that crystal animal state, they are capable of extreme mind control and hypnosis. "Yes, I do believe I would like to bite you on the neck. If you don't mind, that is."
Worf glaired at Vernaka not understanding what she was doing, but knowing she was tricking the enemy in an attempt to get closer. He scanned the room and found Picard as he started to stir on the floor. Allisa was still holding Shinzon on the bed weeping. Worf then kept his eyes upon Vernaka's performance.
The changeling spoke in a trance, "How animalistic you are my dear and I see you are quite pleasant to look upon. Yes, that would amuse me. Then after you bite me, I want you to suck my tongue." The changeling was trying to control himself enough to reset his transporter devise. He was attempting to take the Reman female with him, but found it difficult to stop feasting upon her diamond eyes.
Vernaka's height was not quite as tall as the stature her mate was, but she stood at least a foot taller then the changeling. She positioned herself inches away from him allowing her chest to be right in his face. The changeling held his breath as the control on his wrist was removed by the Reman.
She then let her instincts in the ferocity of her anger at the pain being experienced by Kunak and Shinzon explode in a tempest. Not wanting him to die instantly and knowing he was wounded from phasers already, she decided to take a few seconds to kill him. Letting him know it was her who did the act. She spun the changeling around so his back was pressed against her abdomen. She grabbed his shoulder and the side of his head whispering in his ear as she kept her eyes upon Worf's, "Say good bye."
Vernaka proceeded to dig her talons into his flesh. She wrapped her lips around his neck with her fangs sinking in deeper then her talons. She pulled her fangs out partially to allow his blood to flow into her mouth. As she drank his blood, she also took in some of his life's thoughts and memories. Vernaka felt his life dwindling the moment she tore her teeth from his neck. This caused his blood to fly across the room and some even splattered upon Worf. She dropped his lifeless body as it started to turn to greenish liquid. While wiping the green blood from her face, She turned to review the room.
Worf found it difficult to control his Klingon warrior instincts when the enemies warm blood sprayed on his face. Worf forced himself to take his attention off of Vernaka. He turned to see what was happening on the other side of the room where the wounded were at. Picard lay still in the floor catching his breath for a moment then he looked at Shinzon and Allisa on the table. Both Allisa and Shinzon blinked their eyes and smiled at each other. Shinzon let out a gasp as he tried to raise his arm to Allisa. She lowered her head back onto his chest and he placed his hand on her shoulder and asked, "Can I touch your hair one last time?"
Allisa started crying and wiping the tears from her eyes and then giggling at his question. "Of course you can Imzadi.now and always in life and death I am and always will be yours."
Shinzon slowly moved his hand over her long auburn hair, "Vernaka, speak to Picard." Shinzon then finished the message to Vernaka's mind only, 'Do not tell all, but tell what you must for now.'
Shinzon then spoke in rasps to Allisa, "I have often watched you my love. I have never truly understood you till our minds linked in the meld. I know you understand me as well." Shinzon had tears in his eyes that started to fall down his face to Allisa's arms. He sang to her softly, "How can you see into my eyes
like open doors.
Leading you down into my core
where I've become so numb.
Without a soul
my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Wake me up.
Bid my blood to run.
I can't wake up.
Before I come undone.
Save me.
Save me from the nothing I've become.)
Now that I know what I'm without
you can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life."
Allisa was also badly hurt, but not as near death as Shinzon. The medical staff tried every trick they knew trying to stabilize him. They examined the weapon that looked like a disk finding that there was a self-containing virus imbedded within the shots.
Allisa refused any medical attention once she knew that Shinzon might not make a recovery, "Let our blood mingle as one...for our hearts and souls have. Leave me alone." She closed her bleeding arms around Shinzon. He tried to continue the song and was unable, so Allisa continued, "Frozen inside without your touch,
without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.
All of this sight
I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark
but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a 1000 years it seems.
I've got to open my eyes to everything.
Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something wrong."
Her voice started to break up at the end of the song and started weeping again.
Picard spoke up, "Ok everyone, leave them be. And work on a cure" He knew that there was no hope for his clone to survive and he had only minutes to say goodbye to Allisa.
Shinzon peered up at Picard through glazed eyes, "Picard, I would like to think us family." He then turned his face toward Vernaka, "You must let them know what is at hand. Something must survive of me. Protect Allisa to the end." He then allowed himself to lay completely relaxed in his loves arms.
Do you remember the songs I had programmed to play on the holodeck. They are the ones I liked when I still believed myself to be Renee that I played for you? Will you continue sing for me now?" Shinzon started becoming even paler if that was feasible.
Allisa's eyes flooded with tears. They dropped onto Shinzon's face and mingled with his own, "I can not. You must live. You can't leave me now that I have known you and how we are together. How will I ever live knowing I have loved my Imzadi and he was taken from me." She started crying uncontrollably. To this Shinzon started running his fingers through her flowing auburn hair that had splatters of blood. She started calming down. She tried to use her telepathy to connect with him and was unsuccessful. She raised her hand to his face and attempted a Vulcan mind meld and nothing happened. Her face turned as pale as his realizing there was nothing she could do to save him.