Chapter 33

Geordi LaForge stood in the middle of main sickbay. He was wearing his standard uniform, and generally looked well. Nevertheless, given all of the recent turmoil, Yar kept her hand on the phaser at her hip. The nurse standing next to her reported he hadn't heard or seen him walk in.

Presently, Geordi scratched his head and glanced at the nurse. "Can I have some help please?"

The nurse started to walk forward but Yar grabbed his arm quickly, stopping him. "Where have you been, Geordi?" She asked cautiously. "We've been looking all over for you. We thought you were hurt..."

He looked somewhat confused but nodded. "I am hurt," he said, lifting his shirt to reveal a partially healed cut on his side.

Yar held out her open hand, still cautious. "We're going to get you some help...but I need you to answer my question. Where were you?"

He paused only briefly. "I was in a utility tunnel," he said.

Yar shook her head. She'd checked every utility hatch and tunnel on the ship, and no Geordi. "Which one? I looked for you, Geordi..."

"I-I can't remember."

Just then, Captain Picard, Riker, Crusher and Troi raced into sickbay, along with Wesley and Hatha. Geordi turned his Visor in their direction and smiled. "Hi."

"Geordi!" exclaimed Riker. "Where the hell have you been?"

Dr. Crusher immediately had her tricorder out and was scanning him slowly. "He's injured...but not entirely consistent with what we thought happened to him."

"Can I get some help, please?" LaForge repeated, his smile fading. "I don't feel well."

Beverly gestured to the nurse. "Let's get him onto a biobed. Use a protective field...he has a residue of some kind of chemical on his skin." It's the same poison that killed Fon, she silently concluded with horror.

She hurried over and began examining Geordi methodically. "He's been stabbed in the side, but it doesn't match the amount of his blood we found in the corridor two days ago."

Riker looked at Picard, who nodded his assent. Time was precious, and they would need to act quickly to gather the details of LaForge's strange disappearance.

"Geordi what happened to you?" Riker was asking as the medical staff continued their ministrations.

"I tried to save the guy..."

"What guy?"

"Premier Fon...the Ciapathian leader."

"Tried to save him, what do you mean?"

"I saw him in the corridor."

"What corridor?" Yar asked, sidling up to the examination area. Geordi looked away, again, seemingly confused. "What corridor, Geordi?" Yar repeated, leaning in.

"Give my patient some space please," Beverly said tightly, and Riker and Yar stepped back slightly.

"Deck three," said LaForge. "Don't remember exactly where."

Beverly finished analyzing the chemicals which were invisible but covering LaForge's hands. Reaching behind her she handed Picard the instrument. He took it and walked away a few steps, silently reading the screen.

"If you're wondering, Captain...it's a match," said Crusher.

Picard froze, his grip tightening on the tricorder. It was poison. Three days ago, Geordi's blood had been found near Fon's body, and now Geordi had reappeared injured and covered in the residue of the same poison that killed Fon. He would have to update Command about Geordi's return. But how soon? "Damn it," he said louder than intended.

"Geordi...it's crucial that you tell us where you've been," said Will.

"I was...um, I was in a utility tunnel."

Yar shook her head and looked at Riker.

"You changed your uniform then," Riker said. "When did you go to your quarters?"

"A little while ago, I guess. I don't feel well," he mumbled again.

Frustrated with LaForge's vague answers, Riker glanced at Picard, who was staring down at the deck with his hands behind his back, listening, yet deep in thought.

"What were you doing in the utility tunnel?" asked Troi suddenly. "Were you frightened, Geordi?"

"Yes," he said. "And I felt...disoriented after what happened. So I crawled inside. I still don't feel right."

"What happened, Geordi?" asked Troi. "We need to know."

He seemed to struggle to remember. "I was on deck three...I heard a commotion, and then I saw them struggling."

"Who?"

"Fon and the kid."

Riker looked at Yar in alarm. "Kid? What kid?"

"One of the people we beamed up from Trana IV. A young guy...he had a knife. Must have stabbed me when I tried to intervene. He was trying to kill Fon."

Riker straightened and turned to face the captain. Picard scratched his jaw and glanced up at Riker wordlessly. Then he pointed at Geordi. "Stay with him, and don't let him out of your sight. I want security here at all times. Counselor, I want you to begin immediately to interview Li, per our discussion."

"Yes, Captain."

"Where are you going sir?" Riker called out, as Picard strode out of sick bay.

"To stall for time," he replied, never slowing down.

"So LaForge is back, and has confirmed that he witnessed Fon's murder."

"That's correct, Admiral."

"And is he clear on the murderer?"

Picard hesitated. "We're still questioning him, Admiral."

Forrester leaned forward, glaring at the screen. "Picard...if I find you are withholding information from me, there will be repercussions."

"Understood, Admiral."

"And so you've nothing further to report at this time?"

"No, sir."

"I see. Well, Captain, if you recall I gave you some time to get to the bottom of this. You have your helmsman back, but the leader of a powerful and influential species is still dead. In thirty-six hours, you are handing over that young alien you beamed up from Trana IV, whether you've cleared him of the murder or not. Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good. Am I clear?"

"Very, sir."

The water in the tank whooshed out, and down a drain beneath his feet. Without his Visor he could see nothing, but he didn't need vision to fully appreciate his dire situation. Naked and shivering, Geordi LaForge reached out his arms to the side, bracing himself inside the large glass tube.

"The cloning process was successful Lieutenant LaForge. It gives me hope...hope that my race will survive and remain powerful, even at the expense of your own. Can you comprehend that?"

Geordi's teeth chattered. "What-what do you want with me?"

"Why your DNA of course," said Dr. Petral slowly. "Which I now have sufficient samples of. So the question is, what use are you now to me?"

LaForge ran his hands over his skin, and felt the tiny puncture wounds that now riddled his body.

"I will answer that question for you, human. I hold on to my laboratory subjects until all usefulness has been extinguished, sometimes along with their lives. Your clone has been placed back on board the Enterprise. No doubt he will cause confusion and dismay when he accuses a young innocent of murder. But you see, that innocent boy from Trana is my property, and always has been, just as you are now. Your Captain severely overstepped his authority when he removed them from my care. They are necessary for the forward evolution of the Ciapathian species, which is why I will never release them...or you for that matter."

"My crew will figure this out," Geordi warned. "They'll come for me."

The smile in Petral's voice was clear. "But not yet...you see they believe you have returned to them. It is only when your clone...expires, that Doctor Crusher will realize that you are still alive, and by then, the trap will be set."