Chapter 26

Crusher and Picard hurried to meet Riker and the others on deck three, and were so anxious about what they might find that they didn't speak along the way. Once they arrived, Beverly took the tiny vial from Riker, who approached them without a word. Picard looked at Data and Yar, both professional, but even Data looked solemn and weary from the search for their comrade. Even though he hadn't known any of them for long, Picard felt this experience, more than any other so far would solidify the bond that had been sowly forming since they met. Losing a crew member was not the ideal way to unite as a crew, however, and unfortunately he knew that lesson all too well.

He crossed his arms, and rubbed his chin, watching silently as Beverly plugged the vial into her medical tricorder. The process seemed to take longer than it should have, and she paused, appearing deep in thought for a moment, before typing something quickly into the device. A few moments later the tricorder beeped, and she read the results wordlessly before looking up at her colleagues. She opened her mouth but no words came out.

Picard pulled absently at his bottom lip. The feeling of trepidation seemed to spread through his veins with each expansion of his lungs. "Doctor?" he prompted her quietly.

She had regained her poise, and faced him directly. "It matches the blood sample the away team found in the village on Trana IV."

Picard felt his arms drop numbly to his sides. "What?" he and Riker said almost at the same time. "Are you sure?" Picard said in a low voice.

Beverly tapped the tricorder lightly in her open palm. "Yes. The blood matches the sample I showed you in my lab last night. Without question."

"Wait," Yar said, nearly pushing Data aside. "Are you telling me the Tranan people on the holodeck have been out here-out here running around the ship?"

"I didn't say that," said Beverly.

"Well, then how the hell did blood from one of the Tranans travel outside the holodeck?" Riker demanded.

Beverly glanced at Picard. "I don't know, it's not my investigation. All I can tell you is what this sample shows."

Yar flushed angrily. "This is a security breach, and we need to secure the holodeck immediately-"

"Now let's wait a moment," Picard interrupted firmly. "Before we jump to conclusions and miss something crucial because we let our emotions get the better of us."

"But sir-"

"Captain Picard is correct," said Data. "The sample we retreived from the surface of the planet was never matched with any of the Tranan people currently residing on holodeck three. Therefore, we cannot be certain that it belongs to them."

"That's because I was never allowed to test our visitors," Crusher said, glancing sideways at the captain.

"We've been over this, Doctor," Picard said tightly. "The Tranans are a pre-warp civilization, and the Prime Directive still applies. The less exposure to our technology they have, the better."

"Better for whom?" Riker said edgily.

Yar nodded in agreement. "Geordi's still missing, and if the Tranans know something about it, we need to question them, Captain-"

"Enough! This is not a damn debate," he glared at his officers before stepping away. "Picard to Counselor Troi," he said tapping his communicator as he strode away.

"Troi here," was the reply.

"Meet Doctor Crusher and myself on holodeck three, in five minutes."

Riker watched them depart before running a hand through his hair. Damn it. He didn't appreciate being yelled at, but he knew Picard was under pressure to deal with the Tranan survivors, while balancing the negotiations with the Ciapathians. And now he had a murder investigation and a missing crew member to contend with as well. Riker looked at Yar and Data. "The Captain's right. We need to keep as cool as possible. We owe it to Geordi. Thoughts on how to proceed?"

"The only thing we know for sure is that if he's still alive, Lieutenant LaForge isn't on board," said Yar. "We've searched the ship thoroughly using all means at our disposal."

"If he's alive," Riker repeated grimly. "It's been almost 18 hours since he disappeared. We need to seriously consider that LaForge could be dead. That was a lot of blood at the scene."

"A disruptor of some kind could have caused that kind of damage to his body...and could have also disintegrated him."

"There was a power surge at the location where Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher discovered Premier Fon's body. Although we examined the area carefully, I recommend scanning the area again to rule out weapons fire."

Riker nodded. "Good. You two handle this, I know I can trust you. And then once you've finished, go get some rest."

"I do not require rest, Commander," Data reminded him.

"I don't care, Data, shut yourself down for a few minutes... even you can't be one hundred percent at this point." He started to step away, when Yar called after him.

"What about you, sir?"

"I'm going to talk to Del," he said. "If he knows more about Fon's death than he's letting on, then I'm going to find out."

"She's late," Picard snapped, threatening to tap his boot on the deck.

"I'm sure she's just-"

"I'm here!" Troi said, rounding the bend, somewhat out of breath.

Picard gestured for the Counselor to hurry up and Beverly sighed inwardly. His mood seemed to be growing ever more tense and irritable. But they were all on the edge, and frankly she vacillated herself between immense sadness, anger and total exhaustion.

"What's happened?" she said, stopping abruptly in front of them.

The captain explained the new blood sample and the issues it now raised for them.

"I've communicated with the Tranans enough now to know that they aren't easily reasoned with. They speak almost in riddles, and adhere to an ideology that is quite mysterious. They are quite secretive," said Deanna.

"Secretive?"

"The man who you said challenged Rolani's authority back on Trana IV..."

"Yes," said Picard. "He wanted to remain on the planet and wait to be 'chosen' by the Brethren. Rolani and most of the others wanted to escape."

Deanna nodded. "Rolani explained to us that he's now being punished. I have not seen him." She looked at Beverly. "Have you?"

"Now that you mention it, no. Rolani seems to be caling the shots, that's clear." Beverly turned to Picard. "Captain, you know Rolani will do anything you say..."

"Your point, Doctor?"

"My point is how far are you willing to go to adhere to the Prime Directive when Geordi's life may depend on breaking it?"

He glared at her for a moment before stepping past her to activate the holodeck entrance.

Deanna gave Beverly a meaningful look before following him in.

Rolani and most of the other Tranans were sitting around a large fire. They seemed to singing a low chant in a language that even the universal translator had trouble following. The temperature on the holodeck mirrored that of Trana, and was somewhat chilly. A cool wind whipped sand around their boots as the officers walked closer. Suddenly the singing stopped and Rolani got up from the circle. She walked toward the Starfleet Officers, and when she reached them, knelt down in the sand, head bowed.

"Our god has returned. He sees and knows all we do. And he is unhappy with us."

Picard, still uncomfortable with being considered a deity, knelt down beside the woman, but she fell over, and crawled away to what she must have considered a safer distance. Picard glanced up at Troi for assistance.

"Rolani, we've come to see you. What makes you think that Captain Picard is upset with you?"

"We do not intend to be cruel, but justice must be done in your name, Picard god."

"Rolani," said Picard quietly. "I don't understand. What justice are you talking about?"

Rolani shook her head quickly, and then began to absently draw in the sand with a stick.

Beverly had been watching Rolani and the captain, but her gaze drifted to the others gathered around the fire. Presently she noticed someone else was missing. "Rolani," she said, attempting to keep her voice calm, even as she felt her heart leap in her chest. "Where is Li?"

Picard looked up sharply, following Beverly's gaze. She was right. The young man who had attacked Beverly down on the planet; the young man who looked so similar to Rolani that he could be her brother, was missing.

Rolani covered her mouth and began to cry silently. She tried to crawl away from Picard, but he stood up. "Rolani," he said in a commanding voice. "Where is Li? We are...concerned about him."

Rolani stared up at him with a wild look of fear in her eyes. She twisted her hands together anxiously. "I had to punish him. I didn't want to punish, him, but I had to."

Picard shook his head in bewilderment. "Why?"

"Li wandered. He wandered when he should not have, from this place you have created for us to live in. So he had to be punished."

Whoa, hey...I'm keeping myself in suspense! Thanks for reading...will post again soon. ;) PP