Disclaimer: See part 1
"Illusions of Grandeur"
By Jaclyn Riker
The two-day journey to Betazed went by agonizingly slow for Will and Deanna. The only thing that kept them sane was the growing feeling inside of Deanna that this ritual was going to work. She hadn't had any contact with Lily after that day, but at least now they knew that she was all right. Upon arrival to Betazed, Beverly, Jean-Luc, and Lissa accompanied Deanna and Will to the transporter room.
"This is going to work, you know?" Beverly whispered to Deanna as she enveloped her in a hug.
"I know." Deanna said back, hugging her tightly and drawing on the comfort she felt. Beverly pulled back and kissed Deanna's cheek, then brushed off the trace off lipstick like an older sister or mother would. Deanna just rolled her eyes and smiled. After receiving a hug from Jean-Luc, who then began discussing the ceremony with Will, she crouched down to accept one from Lissa.
"Good-bye, Sweetie. Be good for your mom and dad." Deanna said, squeezing the child.
"Aunt Deanna, Lily's gonna come home now, right?" Lissa asked, her face one of child innocence.
"We hope so, Lissa." Deanna told her truthfully and Lissa frowned.
"Can I help in the ceremony too?" She questioned.
"Lissa, honey..." Beverly started to say, but Deanna shook her head cutting her off.
"That would be great, Lissa. All you need to do is think about Lily and about how much you miss her and love her." Deanna said and Lily smiled.
"That's easy. I do that anyway." Lissa said and Deanna couldn't help but gather the child into her arms again. Beverly gave Deanna a sympathetic smile as she released Lissa and the girl stepped back to take her mother's hand. Will called Deanna over to the pad and with a wave they were transported to the surface.
Little One Deanna heard her mother's voice in her and smiled at the sound.
"Mother." Deanna said a loud and for once she didn't hear her mother condescend her for not using telepathy. Instead she found herself wrapped in Lwaxana Troi's arms and being squeezed in a huge hug. Deanna buried her face into her mother's neck, as a child would do if frightened.
"Mother, I talked her. I talked to my Little One." Deanna whispered tearfully to Lwaxana, who as a result held her tighter and sent messages of love. After another moment or two, she let go only to embrace Will. He and Lwaxana had never really been that close, but in that moment he had never been happier to be in her presence. Pulling back, he kissed her hello, and then took Deanna's hand in his.
"What do you say to getting this party started and getting our daughter home?"
Introductions to people went fast and both Will and Deanna weren't sure that they could even remember three people out of the entire group, but one person they both knew.
"Chandra!" Deanna cried, tears in her eyes, and rushed to embrace her Betazoid best friend. The blonde-haired woman with eyes as dark as night, began to cry softly too and they clutched at each other for long moments. It was hard for them to see each other after so long. Chandra hadn't been able to make the wedding on the Enterprise, due to her father being suddenly ill. However, he recovered in enough time for her to be Deanna's maid of honor for the Betazed ceremony. They only contact they had with each other for the past several months had been video calls. So it was understandable when they occasionally would let go, but once eye contact was made the tears flowed again as did the hugging.
"Okay, okay, enough of this. It's time to get my granddaughter home. You can do that later!" Lwaxana said making Will stifle a laugh at the looks both women gave her. However, they knew she was right so Deanna and Chandra composed themselves. Taking Will and Chandra's hands in her own, Deanna followed Lwaxana out into the ritual garden. A clear crystal rock was placed in the middle of the enormous green garden. It was flat and almost as big as a table. Lwaxana positioned everyone accordingly and soon it was all set up.
Will and Deanna sat upon the rock facing each other, their eyes closed and hands held. Chandra, Lwaxana, and the four strongest members of Lwaxana's family formed a circle around them and the rock, holding hands as well. It continued like this until all of the 212 people formed separate rings around the rock, each bigger than the previous one and all holding hands. Deanna and Will had memorized the chant that they were to start while on board the Enterprise and when Lwaxana gave the signal Deanna closed her eyes and began, Will joining in.
"Unisci li nostri menti e faccia i nostri pensieri uni. Cuori cuori ed animi ad animi, spediami insiemi il nostri messaggi. Lascisti essi sia reci nella paci e nel cuori del reci sia accolti favorivolti. "
One by one the people began to recite the chant along with the two beings on the rock until it sounded like one big voice.
Aboard the Enterprise, which was waiting above the planet, the entire ship was watching some way or another. People's cabins and the working areas on the ship all had small screen that had the ceremony displayed on it. The bridge watched on the big view screen, Beverly was seated next to Jean-Luc in Deanna's old chair with Lissa on her lap. It the little girl who first saw the amazing effect that was happening while they chanted.
"Mommy! Daddy, look!" Lissa cried, jumping up off of Beverly's lap and pointing to the large screen.
"Oh my God." Beverly said, both of them rising as well. "Jean-Luc, do you see what I see? What is it?"
"I see it, but I don't know what it is." Jean-Luc told her, eyes riveted to the screen like everyone else's on the ship.
A strange blue light was emanating from the group of people, seeming to grow brighter every time they began the chant again. Soon it became so bright that they all had to turn away from the screen. With a great whoosh of wind, the blue light seemed to jump out of all their bodies and form a great sphere of light above Deanna and Will. Their eyes snapped open and they both looked up directly into it, not seeming to mind the brightness at all. No words were spoken, but the ball of light seemed to be listening and waiting. Then as suddenly and as forcefully as it appeared it zoomed off the screen and into the dark sky.
"What in the hell was that?" Teri asked, her voice puzzled.
"Some sort of energy being?" Lt. Fallow, who was heading Opts. They all turned to their admiral and his wife, who if one didn't know the answer the other usually did. Beverly and Jean-Luc exchanged a glance, not knowing anything more than anyone else. However, Lissa knew exactly what to say.
"A message of love for Lily." She said and that was the end of that.
Back on the planet, Deanna and Will were talking to Lwaxana about maybe staying for a few days until they heard back from the Q or Lily. Will was about to hit his comm. badge to contact Jean-Luc and tell him, when his voice floated out first.
"Picard to Riker."
"Yes, sir."
"Cap...Will, you'd better beam back aboard."
"Have they already given Lily back?" Deanna cut in.
"Transporters are standing by." Jean-Luc said, not answering Deanna. She exchanged a worried and confused glance with Will before he nodded.
"Two to beam up." Will commanded and Deanna felt her mother squeeze her hand before the shimmer of the transporter beam enveloped her.
TBC
Author's Note (again): The saying above is in Italian, but sort of Betazized...get it? Well, anyway here is the english translation:
Joins our minds and makes our thoughts one. Heart to heart and soul to soul, we send our message. Let it be recieved in peace and in the heart of the reciever given mercy.