The Ties That Bind

This story and all themes and ideas contained in said story are the sole ownership of J.L. Scott. Any copyright infringements can be prosecuted in a court of law.

To borrow a phrase: Star Trek: The Next Generation no mine...no money, no sue, please?

A few hours later found Troi sedated, unable to handle the mental stress, and the Doctor completely bewildered. Geordi and Data were trying to devise a way of protesting the ship from Miranda's outbursts, so far with no success. Will had yet to leave his sisters side and Jean-Luc could tell he was starting to tire.

"Will, why don't you take a break?" he suggested kindly. Will just shook his head and stood as Beverly entered.

"Doctor, how's she doing?" the Captain asked immediately.

"Not good" Beverly replied, "Look at this" She pulled the cover back to reveal Miranda's arm, which appeared to be healing from severe burn.

"How did this happen?" Jean-Luc demanded, amazed one of Dr. Crusher's patients had been further injured while under her care.

"I don't know" she told him.

"They just appeared" Will added, "First it was bruises. They went away and then the burns appeared"

"Is it possible she's being tortured?" the Captain asked.

"Yes" Beverly answered, "By an entity we can't detect perhaps, or even in her mind" The two men gave her a confused look.

"There have been incidents of the mind inflicting wounds on the body out of sheer belief that they existed"

"Well, let's deal with the tangible first" the Captain said and tapped his badge, "Picard to Worf"

"Aye, sir?"

"Begin a search for any signs of an intruder, an alien presence or any sort of an anomaly" Picard ordered.

"Aye, sir" Worf's grunting voice came back.

"I'll contact Starfleet. Perhaps they can send someone to help" he added, "We'll get to the bottom of this, Will" Will knew the Captain was right, after all it's what they did: got into and out of strange, dangerous situations. Secretly, Will usually found it exhilarating. It was different this time.

"Will, you should get some sleep" Dr. Crusher told him gently some time later, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Or at least go get something to eat" Will was about to shake his head no when the doors opened and Wes and Data walked in.

"Hey, Commander" Wes said without his usual pep.

"We were wondering if we might sit with her for a while" Data asked.

"Go get something to eat, Will" Beverly urged, "I'll let you know the second anything changes" So Will reluctantly rose. He stopped by Deanna's bed before heading out.

"He didn't look so good" Wes commented.

"Miranda isn't doing so well either" his mother said.

"Worf detected no signs of any anamolies" Data replied, "Geordi and I were able to find an effective shield from her electronic bursts by...."

"Yes, I noticed the tremors had stopped" Beverly said before he could go into detail, "I still don't know how she was doing that though"

"Is she going to be okay, Mom?"

"I don't know Wesley" Crusher answered, "I hope so"

"You know, even though she's a little weird, I really like her" Wes told them, "She's kind of...funny. And smart. It's kind of like having a big sister"

"I am fond of her, also" Data added, "I believe she will make an excellent friend"

Beverly smiled at them both, mist in her eyes, and went back to her work.

"How is she doing, Captain?" Worf asked as the Captain reentered the Bridge.

"Not well, Mr. Worf" Jean-Luc replied, surprised Worf had asked. He knew the Klingon had been giving the girl lessons in his particular brand of martial arts, but he was unaware that they had bonded. Apparently they had. It was odd how such a strange girl, fully intent upon pushing everyone away, managed to weedle her way into so many hearts.

"It would be a shame for her to die so young" Worf lamented brusquely, "I believe she will make a fine warrior one day"

"I believe you're right, Mr. Worf" Jean-Luc agreed.

"Sir!" the girl at helm snapped, "The delegate ship is ready to transport"

"Good. Mr. Worf, have Dr. Crusher and Commander Riker meet me in transporter room three" the Captain ordered.

"The sent the strongest telepath that could get here quickly" he was telling his comrades a few minutes later, "The Phillipia had to delay an ambassadorial meeting" Riker nodded his acknowledgment. The Federation was doing him a big favor. When the ambassador appeared on the platform, he was both relieved and annoyed.

"What's the emergency?" Lwaxana Troi demanded, then cringed, lifting a hand to her head, "And who's screaming?"

"My sister" Will replied.

"We think she's being mentally tortured" Beverly added. They started quickly down the corridors, a savage look upon Lwaxana's face.

"Well, of course she's being tortured" she snapped, "I suppose you had to sedate Deanna?"

"Yes" Dr. Crusher answered, "She couldn't withstand the strain"

"I can barely withstand the strain, Doctor" Lwaxana admitted, her pace slowing just a hair, "What about the other telepaths aboard?"

"There's only one, Dr. Solar. She's been complaining of headaches, but I've been able to treat them" Beverly replied, "Actually, I've had quite a few reports of headaches from all the crew"

"I'm surprised a Vulcan is even being affected, though the humans would be susceptible to anything this strong" Lwaxana said, "Your sister has quite a set of lungs"

"Can you help her?" Jean-Luc asked before Will could reply.

"I haven't been able to reach her yet" was all Lwaxana could say. Nurses were buzzing around when they reached sickbay.

"Doctor, there are lesions now" Ogawa reported. Miranda had thin slices all over her body. The cuts on her face were bleeding, those on her arms were swelling and starting to puss.

"My god" Lwaxana paled. The nurses were doing a good job of healing the cuts, but more kept appearing.

"Beverly..."

"We're doing our best, Will" the Doctor replied.

"Lwaxana, if there's anything you can do..." Will trailed off desperately. Lwaxana was already trying. She put a hand on the girl's forehead and pushed as hard as she could. Miranda's terror and anguish tried to overwhelm her and she had to fight to remember who she was; Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed! Yet her arrogance and determination did her no good. The girl's mind was locked away and she could not get to it.

"Mrs. Troi?" Jean-Luc inquired after several minutes. Lwaxana had to take a couple of breaths.

"I can't get to her" she announced, "She was blocking me, rather forcefully in fact"

"So you can't help" Will assumed.

"Not from this end. Let me speak to Deanna" the noble woman answered, unwilling yet to admit defeat.

"Should I wake her?" Beverly inquired.

"No need" Lwaxana demurred and crossed the room to her daughter.

/Mother? What are you doing here?/ a startled and still sedated Deanna asked at the touch of her mother's mind.

/I've come to help/ her mother told her.

/Miranda?/ Deanna asked.

/I can't get to her/ Lwaxana admitted.

/The pain!/ Deanna cried, now conscious enough to feel the tip of the iceberg.

/It's all right, Little One!/ Lwaxana soothed her, brushing her cheek, /Mother's here/ Deanna relaxed slightly, while her friends bore witness to the soft maternal side of Lwaxana Troi.

/Now, Little One, you must think. Who could be hurting the poor girl? It must be someone on the ship/

/Park/ Deanna answered. The pain was starting to get to her now.

/Good, Little One. Go back to sleep now/

/Yes, Mother..../

Lwaxana lifted her head and looked back at those assembled behind her.

"Who is Park?" she asked.

"He is more than any of you could possible be ready to handle" a new, but familiar voice answered. Standing right there beside them was Q!