Chapter 4
High in the Andean Cordillera, tucked into lush valleys surrounded by snow-capped volcanic peaks, are a handful of gracious haciendas reminiscent of a former era. Ecan's stunning scenery, colorful culture, friendly local people and temperate climate combine to make it one of the most rewarding destinations Starfleet has ever come across. Will along with Deanna, Nurse Hathaway, Dr. Campbell and a few security officers beam down. The Encaenian's wore lots of different kinds of jewelry. The most common was jade. Jade was worn in beads, earrings, and ear spools; they also wore gold. All of which are greeted warmly by one of the elders in their society. He had olive skin his hair graying at the temples.
"Thank goodness our message has been answered, we are very thankful that you have come in such a short while. My name is Tadita I am the leader of these people."
"I'm Captain William Riker this is our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andrea Campbell and her Chief Nurse Julianna Hathaway. This is our Chief Counselor Deanna Troi. How may we assist you?"
"We are a dying race our Shaman has tried to find a cause for our situation and have yet to find a reason."
"What is your situation?
"Four hundred years ago the fabulous wealth in gold and silver possessed by my people was discovered, then systematically pillaged and plundered by the Ecanda. The items they carried home altered the whole Ecanda economic system. And in their wake, they left our highly developed civilization in tatters. That a single government could control many diverse tribes, many of which were secreted in the most obscure of mountain hideaways, was simply gone. Leaving us struggling to survive such terrible climate; a group of elders began to build protection for my people and for 600 years we thieved. A few years ago the Ecanda destroyed all that was protecting us. This is what was left, our children are dying they are our future without them we have no future."
Deanna was thrown a back when an elderly woman approached her decoratively dressed it beads and feathers. It appeared she was the Shaman Tadita had mentioned not loosing eye contact with Deanna began to speak.
"You are with child."
Will and Deanna look at each other surprised.
"What do you mean?"
"You are with child are you not?"
"Um…yes how did you know?"
"To be a good Shaman one must possess some telepathy. All of the female members in my family were Shaman's therefore I possess the same telepathy they did. My name is Catori, I am the Shaman in our society as my ancestors before. Our society continued uninterrupted in this way for hundreds of years. The appearance of light-skinned strangers during the rule of Atahuallpa, however, was to forever change things for the Inca. Deadly plague would soon sweep through the Inca empire. My great-grandmother, Nokomis,found a cure for the plague but it left our children barren. Those that survived had to face the swords and cannons of the invading Ecanda. After leading the Ecandian's to more gold than they had ever before seen, many were strangled by our captors."
"We will do our best to find a treatment for your society's infertility. Perhaps in another three hundred years you will recover from you losses."
"We do not have 300 years our society is dying now we are all that is left. There are 75 people left on this planet, most of them Children it will be years before they reach maturity."
"Have faith Catori, you are working with the best educated people in the quadrant. My doctor and her staff will beam down, with your permission, and begin work immediately."
"Permission granted, and thank you Captain Riker of the Titan."
Deanna takes Will's arm in her hand and pulls him aside.
"Excuse us Catori."
After moving a few feet away Deanna turns and looks at Will.
"These Inca's have some telepathic abilities I can't tell what they are feeling. They seem honorable but they are hiding something from us. I would like to stay down here Will and speak to some of the inhabitant's maybe I can find out a little more about them."
"Deanna no, I can't let you put our child in danger. You said yourself they are hiding something from us what if they take our child away from you?"
"Will, I'm only a few months pregnant, I don't think I am in any danger they are a dying race the last thing they would do is take the baby from me."
"But Deanna…"
Deanna moves her finger over Will's mouth and replies
"Will I will be just fine don't worry about me. Right now these people need us."
Reluctantly Will nods his head and Deanna gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"Okay you can stay Deanna on one condition…"
"I hate when there are "conditions" what is it?"
"Either you accept the "conditions" as part of the deal or I will take you back with me now."
Deanna nods
"I will go back to the ship, contact Starfleet and let them know that we are trying to save the Encaenian's then I will be bringing down our daughters with me if you are going to be down here I want to be near you if anything should happen."
"Fine make sure Starfleet says it's alright for us to stay until they find a cure for the infertility in these people."
Will nods and walks back towards the Shaman and the Leader of the Encaenia people. Titan's medical staff has already started their work when Will approached the elders.
"Counselor Troi will remain here on the planet if your people need to talk to someone. I will be down soon I have to let Starfleet know what is happening and ask permission for my people to stay."
"You will be bringing down your daughter's Captain won't you?"
Will a little off guard looks at Deanna who answers with a nod. She was right they are telepathic.
"You're telepathic?"
"Not as advanced as your wife Captain but yes. We only recently discovered how to use our telepathic prowess. We do not use it often but in this circumstance we felt it was necessary."
"I'll be back down soon, Riker to Titan one to beam up."
"Aye Captain"
With a glistening stream of light Riker disappears from the planet.
Tadita turns away and heads down a path while the Shaman stays behind to discuss a matter with Deanna.
"Your husband is very concerned when it comes to you isn't he counselor?"
"Sometimes to concerned, and you may call me Deanna."
"Only if you call me by my given name as well."
"Of course Catori I have a feeling that we have much to discuss."
"That we do."
Catori and Deanna head down the same road as Tadita walked down only moments before.
TBC…Chapter 5
