Author's Note: an update! Wahoo! Sorry this has taken so long but I just moved back to college last week and classes and clubs have taken off and I've been so busy! Anyway here's the update!
Deanna sat in her room quietly mulling over Thomas and William. Will had beamed down the planet hours ago but the dreadful feeling she had had was still there. She couldn't see what was so dangerous but somehow she had the feeling that Will was gone, gone for good.
She shook her head and tried to concentrate. Thomas had assumed Will's place and no one but the Senior officers knew that Will was really Tom. Everyone believed that Thomas was beamed down to Sabre V in order to be reunited with his captain and crew.
It was a stupid idea, she knew it and she knew that Captain Picard knew it, but Backlard was an Admiral and he was to obeyed above all. "To hell with protocol," she muttered. They would be arriving in the neutral zone within hours to began to peace treaty.
Deanna had a sense that something wasn't right about this. The Cardassians and Bajorins signing a peace treaty was impossible to imagine. Deanna stood up and decided that she needed to work her muscles.
She left and headed down to the decks. She was stretching, alone and peacefully when she sensed a presence behind her. Admiration. Deanna stood up straight, "Hello Thomas," she whispered and slowly turned around.
Thomas smiled at her, "Hello Deanna, do you mind if I stay with you for a while?"
Deanna did mind but replied, "Not at all." Will would be able to sense that she was lying and she wondered if Thomas could as well. If he could he made no sign that he did.
They stretched in Klingon fashion for almost hour in quiet until Thomas observed, "Something is bothering you."
"Not at all," Deanna lied.
"Deanna you're lying to me," he said in a warning tone.
Deanna stopped and looked at him, "If you must know, then." She paused debating whether or not she should tell him. "I'm worried about Will. There's something fishy going on between the Cardassians and Bajorins, and this so called rebel band that wants to sign a treaty. It's absurd and I don't understand it."
"Deanna sometimes we must do what we are told to do and not question it. My double will be just fine."
Deanna stared at him and then left, angry. She knew something was fishy about this whole situation and somehow got the feeling that Backlard was behind it all.
Will felt groggy as he opened his eyes, "Where am I?"
A young woman looked over him, "In the hands of Freedom."
"Freedom?"
The girl slowly came into focus and Will observed that she had to be no more than nineteen or twenty. Her hair was long, blonde, and curly. Her eyes were deep blue and rang of angry, determination, and hurt.
"Yes," she confirmed, "Freedom."
Will tried to sit up but felt his limbs were tied down, "What's going on?" he demanded.
"As I said, you are in the hands of Freedom."
"What is-"
A new voice entered the conversation but Will couldn't see beyond the young woman, "Freedom is a group of people dedicated to freeing individuals from Star Fleet."
"What?" Will asked in a stunned tone.
"Morgan, leave us." The young blonde took her leave.
Will stared in horror at the young man before him, "I know you! You're-"
"Jack Backlard, at your service."
"Admiral Backlard's son," Will hissed.
"Correct."
Jack was the splitting image of his father and Will had heard of his excellent commanding skills and his sudden desire to leave Star Fleet after the rebellion broke out back on Earth.
"I don't understand," Will said.
"Freedom was founded by a group of students at Star Fleet who found that Star Fleet was risking its own citizens for the benefit of aliens."
"Aliens?" Will yelled, "These so called aliens-"
"When a group of students tried to stop Freedom they were killed, but only because they got in the way. My father realized that they were correct in their doing and had me leave Star Fleet. I left Star Fleet and came here to head Freedom while my father worked on the inside."
"What does this have to do with the Cardassian Bajoran Treaty?"
"Simple," Jack replied, "Thomas Riker cannot assume your position and once my father as proved to the others that he is not capable of this responsibility and ill-lacked, he will take over. Instead of the Cardassians and the Bajorans signing a treaty with each other, they will sign a treaty to stay out of Federation Space and for us to stay out of their space. These treaties will eventually expand to the Klingons, the-"
"You'll never get away with this," Will stated, staring up at his captor.
"If your talking about Deanna Troi, yes we will," Jack said, "Why do you think your double was brought on board." Horror filled Will and it showed through is eyes. Jack smiled, "Yes, Thomas was brought back to the Enterprise to distract your Betazoid lover. With Thomas onboard her emotions will be thinned and her abilities disregarded."
"You wish to isolate Earth and its inhabitants from the rest of the universe?" Will bit back, "It'll never work."
"Even if it doesn't, Commander. We will be remembered and there will be others to follow in our path. We may not succeed in our lifetime and maybe not in our children's, but perhaps in our grandchildren's we will succeed."
"We cannot survive without contact from other galactic races," Will responded.
"Ah, but we can, Commander. Earth has done it before and Earth will do it again."
Will closed his eyes. He had been taken out of the way because he would have eventually seen through Backlard, Deanna would be blinded by Thomas, and Picard.... What exactly were their plans for the captain? He wouldn't be so blind to Backlard. Will's thoughts drifted off and he made a silent cry to Deanna.
Deanna hear me. Danger. You're in Danger.
Deanna awoke with a start. Will's voice still ringing in her head. Was it a dream or was Will calling to her? Deanna shook her head. A dream. It had to be a dream.