Chapter Eight.

Careful manoeuvring was under way, demanding the attention and concentration of all of the bridge staff as they sought to collapse the space-well. The anomaly seemed to operate along the same lines as similar anomalies and the simplest way to deal with it was to detonate the negative space by ejecting highly explosive material into the funnel. Anything existing in positive space would react with the negative space but to implode the funnel, it had to be a big bang.

The manoeuvring came into play due to the distance that they would have to be from the anomaly to ensure that the modified torpedo hit its mark. It was not within the pull range of the negative space, but it was close enough to be worrying. There was a danger that the ship could be hit by the explosion because they could not assess how much dark matter was contained in the funnel. To get more accurate readings they would have to get closer and it was unlikely, if they did so, that they would be able to fly out of its grip.

They prepared for the worst and hoped that their calculations were accurate enough that the funnel would implode before the drag zone expanded and pulled them in. The ship was on Red Alert, all unnecessary personnel were tucked up tight in their quarters in the knowledge that the ship was about to be affected in some unknown manner by the explosion and that there was nothing they could do about it.

The mood on the bridge itself was akin to an operating theatre during heart surgery. Pensive, quiet, charged and poised. Jean-luc adjusted his uniform, not quite the Picard Manoeuver that ensigns giggled about, but at least he felt a little more controlled for the action. Sitting up straight, he commanded the attention of his crew by mere mood and presence of being, he did not need to signal their attention.

"On my mark. Arm torpedoes. Ready. Fire."

The sleek projectile cut a swath through space and disappeared down the largely invisible tunnel. The readouts on the computer panels displayed its progress, as it neared its mark the crew tensed, ready for action.

Data's hands flew over his panel at lightening speed.

"Impact at o eight hundred twenty five and thirty two seconds. Funnel is collapsing as predicted. Ricochet wave of energy heading our way, taking evasive manoeuvres."

The ship rolled and turned as the second officer pushed the ship to avoid the impact. He nearly made it, but the turn was not tight enough and the wave hit the saucer section with tremendous force.

Data managed to remain at his post as the other officers were thrown across the deck. He ignored all the activity around him as he set new co-ordinates, changed direction and speed and attempted to nose-dive out of the danger zone.

The ship was rocked as smaller and slower waves of energy buffeted them, mocking their shields and hurtling bodies against walls and seats.

Worf quietened the sirens and moved them down to yellow alert as soon as they were clear of the field.

"Shields are holding, the waves went right through them. Minimal external structural damage, mostly dents and buckling, stasis fields are in place. Injury reports are abundant but not serious. Sickbay is requesting that those with minor injuries wait until they have dealt with those that need attention now."

Riker immediately relayed the message to the rest of the crew, assuring them that they were now safe and that no lasting damage has occurred. He stood and assessed the situation on the bridge. Two crewmen seemed to be injured, he himself had bruises from being thrown but little else. Finally he turned to the Captain.

"Captain Picard? Sir, are you alright?"

Jean-luc had experienced much pain, but nothing like this before. He locked eyes with his First Officer, who immediately leapt to his side and helped him to stand.

"Riker to Crusher. The Captain has been injured; we are on our way to Sickbay, Riker out. Riker to Engineering, please inform Commander Dal Meritan that the Captain has been injured and ask him to meet us in Sickbay. Data, you have the bridge."

--------------------------------------TNG-------------------------------

The Captain was unconscious when Will staggered into Sickbay carrying him. Beverley was bristling efficiency as she checked the pregnant man's vitals and began a full body scan.

"The placenta has torn away from the womb, he's bleeding internally and his body is trying to activate labour, but the Nashiran genes involved in adapting his body have not made the necessary changes to allow labour to begin. I'm going to have to operate and reattach the placenta internally. There's a risk of miscarriage but if I don't then the baby will die and Jean-luc will be extremely unwell."

"Do it then!"

A panicked Theich rushed to Jean-luc's side and bent down to kiss his forehead. He ran his hand over the familiar curve of his lover's belly and prayed that they would both be well. He ignored the slow tears that crawled across his cheeks and stared at the unconscious man, probing with his mind into the blankness that signified unconsciousness. A nurse took his elbow and guided him towards the Doctor's office as Jean-luc was prepped for surgery. Will sat nearby him, both anxious about Jean-luc's well being.

They had never had a dialogue before. Whenever they had spoken, it had been in a group or in the presence of others. The man had been on board for three months now and although Will admitted to himself that he did like the man, he couldn't get past the fact that this man had got his Captain, his friend pregnant. The Captain was coping with the situation but that was not the same as seeking it out or welcoming it. Will knew that the Captain would love his child when it was born, it would be a good thing to happen to him and to the crew. He knew that he couldn't hold a grudge like some naïve child and he had tried to work out why it bothered him so much. Deanna had offered the answer in the end, after allowing him to stew in his emotions for a while she had pointed out that Will was an strong character, almost excessively heterosexual. He was dominant and he expected the people he admired to be dominant too. The Captain was obviously a natural leader, a talented diplomat and an extremely capable soldier. He was measured, intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, brave – Will had always looked up to him. Now Will was confronted by the fact and physical evidence that this man whom he admired was not dominant like himself. He took the sexually submissive position and was now placed in a maternal role. Deanna suggested that Will was having a problem equating the two.

She was right. He knew that his own sexuality was a strong force in his personality and his life but he had not previously realised that his own perceptions and predilections had coloured his view of others. That disturbed him and he determined to make more of an effort with Theich. Now here they were, stuck in a small room alone together scared stiff about what was happening to the man whose side they both placed themselves at, in different ways.

Theich had his head in hands; he was unmoving and silent. Will didn't even realise that the man was crying until he sniffed and looked up to reach for a tissue off the Doctor's desk. He moved closer to his friend's boyfriend, mate, on the bridge he had used the word mate.

"Theich, he will be alright. Doctor Crusher is doing everything she can for the baby. You have to think positively."

"I cannot afford to Commander."

"Theich…"

"You don't understand. If the baby dies… I need to perform a guiding ceremony. So that if…if…if the baby doesn't make it, it will be able to find its way."

Will took hold of the other man's shoulders, partly to offer comfort, but also so that he could see his eyes.

"I don't understand. I can see that you are worried…"

"On my world, a child who dies unborn must be guided into what comes next. It translates as 'afterlife' but that is misleading, it is to control the energy, so that it re-enters the life cycle. Something between recycling and reincarnation. But it must be guided, a child which has not…"

"What do you need?"

"What?"

"What do you need? I can't claim to understand your concerns or your customs but this ship has dozens of species onboard, all with different customs. If there is something that you need to do then you should do it. Time is obviously an issue here and this is obviously important, so what can I do to help?"

Theich grabbed hold of Will and hugged him tightly, whispering "Thank you" in his ear as he released him.

"I need a couple of large candles, not new, they need to have been used already, an active part of this world. Other than that, I just need to be near to Jean-luc. The ritual is to create a guiding vibration that resonates through the energy of the baby. This is horrible, talking like this about my own child." He took a deep breath before continuing.

"The vibration, created through chanting, will link the energy or spirit of the baby to this world so that it will be drawn back into the cycle in another place."

"Riker to Worf."

"Worf here Sir."

"Worf, Commander Dal Meritan needs to perform a ritual which requires two large partly used candles. I can't think of anyone else who would have something like that. Would you loan him the candles?"

"Of course Commander. Shall I bring them to Sickbay."

"Fast as you can Worf."

"Thank-you Commander Riker."

"Will. Everyone calls me Will, not on duty of course, but otherwise…"

"Thank-you Will."

"It's no trouble. I take it that religion is important to you?"

"Of course, in the way that anyone's fundamental beliefs about the nature and order of life are important. Not all may call it a religion, but if there is thought, belief and conviction there, then we are all the same, just with our intensities differently located."

"That's an unusually inclusive philosophy."

"Why unusually?"

"Because not many people view difference in such an accepting manner."

"Ah. Well, they need to calm their spirits and stop over-compensating for their perceived weaknesses. It is more enjoyable to appreciate our similarities than object to our differences. Zenophobes really ought to stay at home, what is the point in scampering amongst the galactic fauna if you plan to only accept them if they are just like you?"

The door opened quietly and Worf came in to place the two large maroon coloured candles on the desk.