Four
*Picard*
Captain's log, supplemental. The situation regarding Mr Crusher's disappearance has increased, with revelation from Commander Data that he was indeed abducted. Ensign Ro is currently attempting to open a communication channel, but for the moment, we are all uneasy.
"Captain?"
Will's voice jerked me away from my thoughts. "Yes, Commander?"
"Do you believe he's gonna be alright, sir?"
I smiled warmly. "Mister Crusher is one of the toughest young men I've ever met. He'll be fine, Will."
My first officer nodded. "And yet there was no sign of forced entry. Only thing I can think of is Wesley was outside already beforehand, but why?"
I threw my hands up. "A young man's mind is hard to understand and even more difficult to experience."
"Beg your pardon, sir?"
"Oh come now, Will. You must remember being a boy Wesley's age. Were not you tormented by the pressures imposed on you?" I asked. "Being a Starfleet cadet is not an easy task. Think of the expectations that Wesley has sitting on his shoulders."
It took Will a second to grasp my point. "He had a father who died in the line of service."
"And a mother who is the chief medical officer of a Galaxy-class starship," I smirked. "My parents were humble winemakers."
"Well I think you'd need a lot of that at the Academy." Will's familiar grin appeared, as did mine.
But my smile quickly faded. "You realise, Commander, that this is not your fault?"
"Sir?"
"I'm his captain. Why I did not place extra security measures around your dwelling is beyond me." I rubbed my tired eyes.
"Sir, there's no way you could've foreseen this-"
"But I should have!" I stood up suddenly, my palms slamming the desk. "That's one of the main parts of being a captain! You need to make precautions for every single possibility and the one time I slack off this happens!"
Will moved next to me. "Can I make a suggestion, sir?"
"What is it?"
"That next time we have a break, you come along with us."
I was about to laugh when Ensign Ro's voice floated through my communicator. "Captain to the bridge please."
I sighed at Will. "I'll be sure to see Counsellor Troi at some point during this drama."
As I retook my place in the captain's chair, a sense of guilt settled upon me. Even if we could talk to Wesley, there was no guarantee we'd be able to retrieve him from his captors. The thought of losing him was unbearable.
Ensign Ro swivelled around in her station to face me. "We've managed to set up a channel sir, but we have no idea how strong or long it'll be."
"Is it open?"
"Not yet sir."
"Well then open it!"
Ensign Ro nodded slowly, spinning around and pressing numerous buttons. A faint crackling came over the com system, fading in and out. Ro was fiddling with the controls, but it made no difference. The persistent noise continued.
"Wesley?" My voice interrupted the crackling. Ro's meddling with her control panel was working; though I still heard nothing from Wesley. Although the crew hadn't noticed, I was becoming anxious. "Keep going, Ensign."
"Mister Crusher, can you hear us?" Will spoke. No response, but the interference had dropped considerably. Faint noises were audible, but impossible to make out. "Mister Crusher?"
Without warning, the noise escalated to ear-splitting volumes. The rest of the bridge crew and I winced as Ro managed to quieten it. I still couldn't tell what it was; it definitely wasn't speech, but it was still, well, noise. It would increase and stop briefly before continuing again.
I was about to ask Troi what it was when I noticed the tears in her eyes. She stared at the blank viewer, horrified. "He's in so much pain.."
Beverly's shoulders shook as Worf slammed his hands on the console. "What is that awful sound?!"
His loud protest didn't faze the Counsellor. She didn't even turn to look at him. Her tone of voice was heartbreaking. "He can't scream, but he's still trying."
I turned back to face the viewer, angrily gripping the seat. "Mister Crusher, can you hear us?"
The muffled 'screaming' continued. I raised my voice. "Mister Crusher, it's Picard! Can you hear me?"
Still no response. I turned to the Counsellor, my anger on the very edge of slipping out. "Deanna, explain what the devil is going on!"
She didn't return my gaze, instead staring at the floor. A tear ran down her cheek. "It is Wesley, but he's being hurt. I can't tell how but he's in agony."
"Wait, are there voices coming out of tha- Jaigin, get it off 'im!"
The new voice startled us, but myself in particular. It continued to comment: "You are full of surprises, aren't you? How do I use this?"
"You use it like this!" Will bellowed, his eyes narrowed. I nodded my approval.
A faint gasp was heard from the mysterious speaker, but his tone of voice changed. Wesley's muffled screams had quietened considerably. "Oh, greetings! I don't know if I've got the saying right; is it 'how are yo-"
"You can cut the pleasantries, we understand!" I snapped. "I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of a Federation starship and we are led to believe you are holding one of our crewmen prisoner!"
The voice snickered. "As you wish, Pikard. I hate the pleasantries anyway. Is this boy one of yours? He's not as tough as I expected an officer to be!" A sharp thud followed his words, along with another yell from Wesley.
I looked to Beverly and noticed how pale she had gone. "Let him speak to me!"
"Why? It took so much effort-" Another scream, "- to keep him quiet!"
My patience had disappeared. "Is there an agreement you wish us to fulfil? I'm happy to discuss them with-"
"We will agree to nothing except the assured promise of a future!" The voice yelled. Wesley screamed in the background.
"We don't understand what you mean," Troi spoke firmly, keeping the fear out of her voice.
The voice sighed angrily. "Food! A home! Employment! Funds! We are starving and living in the worse of conditions our people can imagine!"
"The Federation would have gladly helped you if you approached them first!" I replied. "There was no need for this..this rashness! We offer help to-"
"Silence! I will hear no more!" The voice hissed. "Jaigin, how I do turn this off?"
"We will keep this channel open until you can agree to something!" I said, a slight smile crossing my face. It became so quiet that Wesley's ragged breathing could be heard.
"Hold on. Jaigin, come with me," The voice disappeared, apparently dropping the communicator. His footsteps vanished, leaving only Wesley. He tried to yell to us but only got out mumbles.
"Wesley?" Beverly edged to the front of her seat. Her eyes were also filling with tears. "Wesley, it's okay. We're coming to get you."
Wesley seemed to understand. He stopped yelling and instead tried to talk, but didn't get very far before a smooth-sounding voice appeared through the comm. "I am told you are this boy's captain, Picard?"
"That's right," I said. "Who are you? What are your intentions?"
"I call myself Dylin," The voice answered icily. "You've already met my brother Jet, I take it. Our intentions, you ask? Simply to survive. Most of us were wiped out in our civil war a few years ago. We are simply refugees desperate to stay alive. Is that too much to ask?"
"I understand your dilemma," I said, "but you have abducted one of my officers and are apparently harming him! We will not stand for that!"
"I genuinely apologise for that, but the boy has been putting up quite a fight," Dylin said slyly. "We simply needed to teach him a lesson."
"One of your men mentioned what things you were desiring for," Will spoke up. "If we provide those things, will you release our officer?"
"You must be the right hand man. Of course we will," Dylin answered calmly. "But not until we have met and discussed this situation. Now, I don't tolerate humans in my territory, so-"
"We are able to transport you up at your convenience if you wish it," I interrupted. "Or we can arrange another place to negotiate."
A small chuckle from Dylin emerged. "You are skilled with words, Picard. I applaud your efforts. No, I think the meeting can wait for now. But hear me clearly; if you dare attempt to rescue your officer, I have a grisly end in store for him."
The channel closed and we were left in silence, a final scream ringing in our ears.
