Disclaimer: see chapter nine.
A/N: Whoa…sorry this took such a long time to get posted. School was getting busy, and on top of that, I sprained my ankle on New Year's Eve (incredible genius that I am). Here is chapter 10, and it's part one of a two parter…enjoy.
Chapter Ten: Eve of Destruction, Part One
"Captain, we are receiving a transmission from Libra XVII," said Data. "It appears that the Romulan attack is over."
Wesley looked up quickly from his work at the mention of the planet Lauren called home. It had been two weeks since they had helped Lauren and her family escape, and Lauren's fears about the length and intensity of the attack known to all.
"On screen," said Captain Picard. He turned to Wesley and said, "I believe there are a few people on this ship who would like to hear this message." Wesley nodded, then left the bridge to get Lauren and her family.
"Hungwy! Hungwy!" Audra said as she pulled on Willa's leg. The three of them were in their mother's room, and Willa made a surprised face as she felt the tugging. Lauren laughed at Willa's reaction and said, "I think she wants something to eat, Willa."
Willa gave Lauren a death glare, which softened into a smile when she realized that Lauren was not-and probably would never-taking the look seriously.
"Wiwa, me hungwy!" Audra repeated, stomping her little foot. Aurora came out of her bedroom at the sound of her frustrated youngest daughter. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" she asked as she picked up Audra.
"Me hungwy Mama," Audra said, sniffling slightly for dramatic effect. Lauren snickered slightly and Willa grinned at their sister's attempt at theatrics while their mother replicated some carrots for Audra. When the food was ready, Aurora put Audra on the couch next to Lauren and the carrots on the coffee table in front of them. Audra grinned at her mother and began to gobble down the carrots.
"Two years old and already a drama queen," Lauren said, patting Audra on the head as her little sister finished her food. "She's becoming more like Willa every day!"
Willa opened her mouth to bestow an undoubtedly snarky reply on Lauren when a buzzing noise that signaled a visitor sounded.
"Come in," they all said except for Audra, who sat and stared at the door instead. Lauren smiled as Wesley entered the room.
"Wes!" Audra cried gleefully. The two-year-old wiped her hands off on a napkin, then toddled over to Wesley and latched onto his leg, grinning the entire time.
"Hello Audra," Wesley said with a laugh, picking the toddler up as he spoke. "That was quite a greeting."
"Wup?" Audra said, tilting her head to one side and putting a quizzical look on her face. Wesley grinned. He had been around the little one long enough to know what her little nonsense words and phrases meant.
"Well, you and your mom and sisters need to come to the bridge with me," he said. "The Captain has something that he needs you all to see."
"Oh," Audra said simply. She then looked at Lauren and said, "Lauwen, me need help." Lauren walked over and took her sister from Wesley and promptly handed her off to Willa. "Willa's going to help you get cleaned up, OK? I need to go to my room and get cleaned up a bit myself. You got carrots on my shirt, you little goof." Audra grinned slyly and put her thumb in her mouth as Willa carried her off.
"I'll be right back," Lauren said to her mother and Wesley. She smiled warmly at Wesley as she walked out of the room. If she could have known what she would be seeing in a very short time, she wouldn't have been smiling.
"What message is so urgent that it requires our presence, Captain?" Aurora asked. They were all assembled on the bridge and were waiting to see the message.
"It is a transmission from your home," Captain Picard replied. "We have reason to believe that the Romulan attack on Libra XVII is over." He motioned to Data, who played the message.
The screen lit up, and Aurora and her daughters gasped.
"Alex! Alex! It Alex!" Audra squealed, pointing at her cousin's face. "Lauwen, Wiwa, it Alex!"
"Hello Audra," Alex Scarlett said, a grin appearing on his haggard face. "Aunt Aurora, Willa, Lauren, it's good to see you all again."
"What is your message Alex?" Aurora said, cutting straight to the point in the way that only an aunt can.
"The attack is over," Alex began slowly. He paused, as if steeling himself for something terrible to come, and then continued. "The Romulans left the planet a few hours ago. However, there was massive destruction and damage left in their wake, and a few casualties." At the sound of the word 'casualties,' Lauren took an instinctive step backwards, and almost fell on a step. Wesley, who was standing behind her, caught her just in time.
"Who?" Lauren croaked, her voice breaking instinctively.
"The commanders of the army on the planet-all six of them," Alex said. His face softened into a look of sadness, and he then said, "The Carlson's house was also badly damaged, and the daughter and mother were killed by the Romulans."
Lauren's face turned pure white. Alyssa Carlson was one of her best friends, and had made the move to Libra XVII with her family a few days after Lauren did. She knew Alyssa had two sisters, so she asked "Which daughter?" The look on Alex's face was all she needed to know that Alyssa was dead.
"Lauren, I'm so sorry," Alex said. "Alyssa died a hero, though. We found the bodies of three Romulans in the ruins of the house, in the same room as Alyssa."
Lauren said nothing. She was in shock. Alex looked sorrowfully at his cousin, and then continued.
"Many of the houses on our street were destroyed," he said, watching his aunt and cousins' reactions increase steadily from shock to sorrow as he spoke. "Aunt Rory, I'm sorry, but your house is gone. I'm afraid it was one of the houses that are completely in ruins. But there are still some houses yet standing. There is something else, too. We all hid underground at the signal that the Romulans were attacking. Chris, John, and I were able to set up cameras and sound equipment that are so tiny the Romulans would never be able to detect them before we hid. We believe that there is something on the tapes that you need to hear. Captain Picard, is there anywhere on the ship that my aunt and cousins can review the tapes privately?"
"They can view them in my Ready Room," Captain Picard said. "Mrs. Scarlett, if you and your daughters would follow me, we can have the tapes ready for you when you get there."
They bid goodbye to Alex, and followed Captain Picard to his Ready Room. Aurora led her daughters with dignity and grace off of the bridge, despite the fact that their hearts were breaking. Lauren walked behind Willa, staring straight ahead, and knowing that what awaited them in the Ready Room would not be good.
A/N 2: Shout out time
Star Trek Freak: See? I kept my promise! Seriously though, your stories…wow! They were really good. I'll try and add some more memories in future chapters, but the idea for this chapter and the next needed to come out. About the leaving you in suspense…sorry, but this two-parter requires it! I'll post the next part soon, though. In the meantime, please review (and work on writing that sequel)! (kidding about the sequel work…take your time on that…can't have you burning out on ideas…)