The Bonds Of Friends And Family
Disclaimers: The characters don't belong to me, the story belongs to me and every else belongs to the movie company and the creator.
Warning: For this chapter it's finishing the foreshadowing the results of what could have been if they hadn't discovered the traveler's plans for him. As he goes through the situations leading into his dropping out of the academy. As they go through each scene carefully. And this one is the rest of the trial after the accident that caused him to drop out.
And this from this chapter and forward gives a recap of the last book for the trio as they get caught up, but this story is going to be 90 chapters. As it recounts everything she needs to know from the Game to their future on the squadron. Just before the emergency hits and season 5 starts up after these situations in the aftermath of the episode come to an end, as she learns everything now.
Chapter 38: The Game Recap Part III: The Conspiracy Begins And Data
Looking at him smiling, he said his name. "Charlie, Charlie Dayton, if the three of us had been together at the time you got into the academy. Four years ago, we'd have kept you away from Locarno and before you say it. It's because the last time you saw me, you looked like, for the last month had you looking like your systems were getting worse and you wanted to be a regular student again."
"It's going to be a very long night if this turns into what I think though, I'm going to have to tell your parents. A small bit of it, but you don't have to tell me why you look like this. I already know, but Nova is no team at all, it's a pack, a gang, and you're the youngest wolf to join the pack. To get you off that team to recover, I have to tell her the truth and it's we already know each other."
"I am, or I was, on Gamma squadron, C.A.D. leader of the opposing Squadron." he said and Wesley nodded to him. "Wes, remember, just before I graduated Nick chose you, before I could tell you Kate and I got the others to agree to let you into Gamma. I became your best friend, before Nick screwed it up, but the tavern, we saw the guys get into it." he said and smiled as he finished that remark.
"Before Peter shot the ball right off the table, it flying across the room, killing two shot glasses and the pitcher." he said to him with a smile and Wesley smiled at the memory as he quickly answered him. "Charlie, Charlie Dayton?" he said and and the other boy nodded to him smiling. "Charlie Andrew Dayton, I didn't think I'd ever see you again, so you and Robin got stationed here, nice timing."
"If Brand chose this as a surprise for me, it's working, I'm glad I got you back buddy, you were my best friend before he came into the picture." he said smiling and Dayton nodded him as he answered him gently at that. "I know, I missed you too buddy, you can tell me regarding Nick later, but at the moment. We have to focus here, in this situation is what we think right now, you better pull it here."
"In the added reverse psychology, because if whoever this is, doesn't realized that on earth we see this all the time on earth. When we use that against her, but once you're done with this, get yourself checked out in a self diagnostic. Wes is there a reason you're trying to remain inconspicuous here though bro." he asked and he sighed as he dropped his voice so low nobody else could hear it.
"Whatever reason they're trying to push me into playing it's always when I'm just returning to my quarters, mom's always in the living room. If this means what I think whoever this programmer is, is trying to catch me in the act. Sleep deprivation, and I'm not entirely sure, but this could mean. Now, that we're close to trouble in my case." he told him and and he nodded to him gently at thwt.
"Well if this was some sort of trap, it's by whatever's in your system is going to hit you sooner or later, activating her only chance at getting her hands on you. You may not be up to this, but you don't have a choice right now, she just forced your hand and mine, we don't have a choice but to push forward here. But listen to me carefully get Data back online now, tell him what's going on."
"And we do a fast reverse attack and take them of guard here, but once undercover, if it takes heading back to your apartment. Get medical kit and take a break there, while you're getting a survival kit, but I can't leave the bridge right now or they're going to bust me next and I'm trying to help you. I'm doing night duty tonight so I can watch and see what happens here."
"but we have to do this together, if Data is out, it's us four together, but I'm working undercover Wes. If you're about to do what I think here, watch yourself. I can't confirm it myself now without giving myself away to them. So you have to turn on the damn camera in the doctor's office at the moment. She's not in there she's still in your quarters right now, but once she gets up here."
"We do it then, because we're enroute to certain spot right now, but where and why, I'm still trying to figure that out right now at the moment. And it's because our course is taking us somewhere at the moment bro. and probably right to the mastermind if this is a conspiracy, so stand by and make it quick. We don't have long, but here's what I gathered now in who it started with."
"But this started just after the commander got back, it hit Counselor Troi next and then after you got back. It hit your mother, if she's the doctor, and it's either Data got deactivated or he collapsed on the job, but from there it started spreading through the ship like a brushfire. But every adult, our age and up is affected by this thing." he said with his tone so low in that as Wesley moved closer.
And that the other adults in the room couldn't hear their conversation and Beverly said it firmly to that. "Lal edit and bring his voice to normal speaking level so we can hear this it's been two weeks and none of us are feeling anything, so we're clean." she said and a minute later they heard his voice at the normal level as Wesley answered him. "Yeah alright thanks for telling me that man, stand by, and whatever you do now."
"Just make it as hard as you can on them at the moment, listen to me, I know exactly what's going on here. And it's because there were two situations involved in this, one that was the reason the Horatio was destroyed. And the other the catalyst for the rumors that Derek as well. If he's still around made up about me here, but to go over the first and that's where you come in now."
"The mission regarding the foothold four years ago, the people that did it were the captain, commander and my mother. Mom figured out a way to break the control and then invented a way for the commander to infiltrate the meeting. The commander was the plant, acting the part so easily it was tough to realize he was actually faking it while the captain was the decoy at the moment."
"And with that in mind, we just hit it now, but Robin and I are finished with studying the damn thing, but we're running a test on the captain. But to them, once back to normal, they'd consider this as a case of teenage mutiny now. When on board the ship when 3 of however many training ensign's they have when on the ship are now taking matters into their own hands right now."
"And one of them is possibly in need of medical attention and with those words in mind right now. Mom was the scientist in that situation regarding these aliens, the commander the plant and the captain decoy. So we're going to stealth training, but the duo, and the sextet training you. They were the ones who trained me, but that's the fatal flaw, if they're being programmed here."
"As to why exactly right now the mastermind has my training course that was chosen by the sextet, the commander and the lieutenant. This one is make it up as I go along and they're not going to realize it till after I got them. So whoever we're heading to meet, that's the piece I need so I know. In who I'm playing against as the decoy on board this ship, I can't tell you everything right now."
"Robin for sure, but if she gets it, I need you have to pretend for a while that you're under their control. Whoever it might be, but that computer program, I created was for this reason exactly, so stand by when I activate it. But I know enough about Data to get him going again, but with Robin next. It's you, me and Data after that and we go from there, but I've been on this ship so long."
"That I know their, the sextet, but their thinking strategies better then 'they' do, even when programmed right now, but that's the catch. But every manhunt or chasedown on board the ship there's always one needed. And they're not going to recognize it till after they're back to normal here. And without it putting you at risk, so with that, just wait till I reverse the ambush."
"And we go from there, you're playing my godfather, so grab his ideas here. Because if I'm the primary target on the ship, with my being at the academy, it's making sure this lasts all night and into when we get reinforcements up here. So I'm got a few tricks up my sleeve, you just do your part and irritate them as much as you can man, tonight, because it's going on 8 p.m. right now."
"Just act like you're compromised bro, but I'm leaving a way for you to tell me what's going on. And it's because with both of us having parents that are M.D.'s than it's acting like we've had further problems, but you're my equal. And we have to do this together, so you act like you're compromised." he said and Dayton nodded to the orders and he patted him on the shoulder then as he straightened up.
And went to Picard's office and activated the door alarm. "Come." he heard from the captain and walked in. "Sorry to bother you, Sir." he said and Picard smiled at him gently. "It's no bother bother Wesley, please sit down." he said and Wesley nodded. "Thanks." he said as he answered him as he watched him as he went over it as he went the mental standoff as he kept his gaze locked with him then as he thought to himself.
'Nice try sir, but this is not going to work, I can see the device over your shoulder, you're playing the game, you're compromised.' they heard him thinking as Picard went to an alibi. "How are the preparations for the survey going?" he asked him and he smiled gently. "They're coming along fine, but that's not what I came to talk to you about." he said and Picard noddedto him gently at that.
"What then?" he asked and Wesley got started as he said it to him. "There's a game going around. It's one that Commander Riker brought back from Risa, it hooks around the ears." he said and Picard nodded. "Yes, I've seen it." he said and Wesley watching him carefully, saw him try not to shift position then. 'Yes just give yourself away Sir, you are compromised.' They heard as he answered him at that remark.
"I did some preliminary tests on the game and what I found leads me to believe. That it may have some harmful side effects. Specifically sir, I think it's psychotropically addictive." he said and he watched him lean forward at that. "Addictive, what have you discovered?" he asked him and he explained that as he locked gazes with him as they watched Picard's eyes firmly at that remark then.
As he saw the fear in his eyes then of whoever had programmed him then. 'Blast it, if he and whoever he was fraternizing with knows. I must stop this from getting out, or my plan will never work.' they heard in answer to that remark. "Well she knows she's just been caught right now by my son." Beverly said and knowing it was the inner thoughts of their programmer they heard as he answered that mental remark.
'Whoever you are, if this means what I think, I'm making sure that your plan fails before it gets off this ship.' They heard as he answered him gently at that news. "The game initiates a seratonin cascade in the frontal lobe of the brain, now I know that's nothing conclusive. But it could explain why everyone is so attracted to it, and at the same time it stimulates the brain's reasoning center."
"I don't know what that's all about." he said and Pixard nodded. "I'll start an investigation immediately. Thank you Mister Crusher." he said and Wesley nodded to that remark. 'Strike two, he doesn't always call me that, he calls me by name, whoever you are, as does the quartet and everyone else, they call me by name. Well if you hit the third strike regarding this, and your plan is over now.'
"And before it even begins, because my family is is not getting taken away from me. And not by some power hungry sycophant, whoever you are.' they heard firmly as he answered him. "Thank you, Sir." he said and got up to leave. "Wesley, it's good to have you back again." he said and Wesley nodded as he left, knowing the older man had just put it on, as they watched him reach behind the books and pull it out.
"Did you really expect him not to see that Etana, my son is more intuitive then you think madam, as such right now, I trained my son well. And you're never going to win this game right now, as to why you just comitted three mistakes in ten minutes. And with it trying to cover up a slip up doesn't work either." Picard said smiling in satisfaction to the fact his student was this good at that and as he heard his remark in reverse then.
"How, how did he know what was happening that fast here exactly?" the leader of the quintet said quickly to that remark. "It's because we taught him very well, he's been in training since he was 15. Also it's because he knows us better then we know ourselves when you programmed us, or possessed us. But everything you gathered, it was really the past year, prior to his leaving." Geordi said with a firm tone to him at that remark.
"You also left the damn thing lying out in the open, but piece of advice, you don't want your scheme exposed then don't leave your indicator lying out in the open. And where your target can see it, 2) when in training over the last 3 years. It's we never called either of them by their student names, but by name and try to fix the slip up and you're screwed buster." Will said as they heard Wesley's mental remark to that analysis.
'Well you're screwed now, because you just committed three mistakes in ten minutes, and with it, trying to correct a slip up doesn't work either.' They heard him think to himself as he went upstairs. 'Charlie's right, I have to check myself out, because if the gets any worse, I've got to correct the imbalance just so I can heal.' he thought as he entered Sickbay and walked up to the male medical technician.
"Ensign Danis, I'm just going into the medical exam diagnostics room, I have to check on something." Wesley said and the nurse nodded to him as he entered his mother's medical diagnosis chambers. "Computer, run diagnostics on me, heart rate, blood pressure, the full work up, a nd volume level to 2.5 decibels please." he said and the computer scanned him, and after five minutes he got the diagnosis then.
"Here it comes I know I'm not going to like this, but you've been in recovery for 2 weeks and this was 2 weeks worth of checking your diagnosis." Beverly said to that as she heard the full report then. "Heart rate: 130/90, blood pressure: pre-hypertension from stress, body temperature: 102' degrees, weight: 110lbs, blood sugar level: 305/caffeine level: 475, serotonin/melatonin level: 475/585."
"And slight indication of foreign chemicals in blood stream still. Diagnosis: extreme exhaustion, stress, weight loss from malnutrition, mild fever from possible virus and acute substance abuse recovery." he heard and nodded with a sigh then as he said it to himself gently. "Translation, caffeine withdrawal, sleep deprivation and your system is close to crashng." Pulaski said firmly at the news then.
"What do those symptoms mean, because we never studied human physiology?" the medic asked and they crossed their arms as Beverly answered that. "They're the symptoms of sleep deprivation, caffene withdrawal and malnutrition. And it doesn't help that his classmates are only making it worse right now. As medical personnel, doctors, we raised our children, if we have them, on a strict regime here, to explain this now."
"But 1) though we allow our children to treat themselves with what we call junk food, we raised them on healthy foods, foods high in the vitamins that are about to be named off. 2) we make sure they stay away from the toxic chemicals: said chemicals are ethanol, tobacco and recreational drugs. And 3) they took their vitamins after every meal, growing up on this regime, it's hard to break habit once in school we consider college."
"Which is where he was, at the moment here, but what he pointed out to you was the exact truth. If you don't watch us carefully, how can you learn anything about us or our humanoid counterparts, the Betazoids or the Klingons. He knew what he was doing by sending those images to us and in everything we did together. He's my baby boy, my only child, so mess with him and I'll kill you myself." she said and the quintet swallowed.
"Oh my god, this is why they kept you home for the last two weeks, why didn't you tell us sooner Wes?" Josh snapped in shock. "We have a possible spy at the academy, I couldn't tell you without them telling her and I'm in no condition for this situation. I didn't have a choice, and I was playing decoy all day that day." he said and they nodded. "Yeah and scaring us out of our minds in the process." Bates said in exasperation then gently.
"I'm suffering dizzy spells and muscle spasms, I've had got to be suffering several mineral deficiencies right now, but what. Alright computer, what vitamins and minerals from my diet am I missing and which ones are dangerously low and I need to revitalize?" he asked, as they got it a minute later. "Key nutrients missing are calcium, iron, vitamins A, B, C, D, K, potassium."
Chronium and magnesium. All nutrient levels are dangerously low. Vitamins C, D, and K, potassium, iron, magnesium and Chronium. Levels are in the dangerously low and need to be replenished immediately. Patient is endanger of severe muscle spasms and severe case of anemia. Calcium and vitamin D are needed immediately as well." it said and he nodded with a sigh at that news.
"Well that sums it up, we needed to keep you home from the second we heard this, and this is compiled. And to the nightmares you keep having about the last 7 months right now. But that's the nightmare on Elm Street catch, thats the dream stalker storyline our grandparents put into their files that we referenced at times. We needed a reference and Fred Krueger was that reference, but us members that know culture background helped."
"But kid seriously right now that's crossing the line if my unit had been here, you had us watching your back." Commander Peter Louis Ferretti said in gentle annoyance and Will nodded in agreement to his thoughts at that as the cat turned her head to look at the camera. "Meow?" she asked and a second later a different image appeared as they saw the said character. "Mreeeooowww!" she screeched at that as she leaped off the table.
And landed in Wesley's arms at that. "You okay girl?" he asked and she buried her furry head into his neck in response. "I'll take for a no, she sees these jumps scares and we're having that happen repeatedly right now, alright. When we want to watch monster movies, then do it when we're not being kitten sat at the moment." Katie said as she tried to keep from laughing at that and Jake nodded as he exchanged smiles with Josh.
"Okay, memo to self: make sure she's not in the room when watching scary movies or that's going to happen again." Jake said laughing at that as Sito pulled her hand back at that as Wesley brushed her fur back down at that gently. "And again no one is watching anything with crude language when we got kids younger then you on board this ship. So I catch you with that on and you're busted." Will said to the eight and they nodded then.
"You said she adopted you?" Anna asked and they nodded. "Yeah to her I'm her kitten, and she's now taking my being home from school for all it's worth here. After 26 attacks she's acting like a furry body guard now, but mom and I are cat people. And she knows this but the connection got cemented that night after I crashed in Data's quarters." he said and they nodded as Spot rubbed her head against his cheek and they chuckled.
"Damn it, Charlie was right, I'm in no condition for this right now, and thanks to us being on a short time limit, I've got no choice. Sorry dad, I've got no choice, I know you made me promise to tell you if I wasn't up to this automatically but this time, I don't have a choice in the matter. Not with all of you compromised, it's draining every ounce of energy and strength I've got to prevent it."
"That thing from getting off the ship, I've lost my entire regime, mom had me on a specific health regime from the time I was four and I've never broken it. And before I left for the academy, I stuck to it not easing up till I started at the academy, and thanks to the nightmares and being on the squadron. I've had just landed myself in seven months to eighteen in recovery."
"And this just added on to it." They heard him think to himself out loud softly as he finished that. "That's what I was afraid of, hanging around with the trio has cost me 2 things my body needs and it's rest and the real food my body needs right now. Mom is going to kill the trio when she hears this later here, she had me on a normal diet all my life and now the trio have about landed me in the hospital."
"One decision makes all the difference, but I want out of the squadron for a while after this, dang it why didn't I join Gamma. Well too late now and with that, though once my folks hear why I look like this, let alone the trio. And Geordi's team and the security members I'm friends with. But once they hear this they're going to kill when they're free of the programming."
"If there's more to this than that." he said in an undertone then as he sighed as he finished to himself. "I take it that's when you decided to hide this until I got better look at you and she realized it." Will asked and he nodded to him. "And it's not substance abuse, but over use of the damn caffeine, and my sugar and caffeine levels. They are ridiculous right now, I need real food and I have to lay off this stuff."
"I've lost weight and my serotonin/melatonin levels are spiking, from lack of rest. God, dad is going to kill me if this turns into what I think it's going to and I have to get reckless in evading capture if this is what I think it is." he said sighing in exasperation then as he hid the printout in his data pad then firmly. 'Once they hear what ten months separation is doing to me right now.
"They're going to be pissed right now at this, why'd I even bother leaving home, I was happier up here, I'm was in much better shape up here, I'm not a cadet. I'm an ensign serving among the stars, why can't you idiots get that right now. I'm not a damn cadet, I'm an ensign, the only reason I came to the academy is to get my training done and return to my ship, my home at thr moment."
"And you're sabotaging me by trying to get me to act like you. Mom, dad, I need you guys, and whatever it is. That is going on with you, I'm reversing right now, whatever it might be now. Dad, just what the heck is going on with you guys, I've never seen you like this before. It's like you're drugged, what is going on with you.' he said softly and Will sighed at the remark gently as the trio looked at him.
"Dad?" Sito asked and they nodded. "I'm his godfather and Deanna his godmother, though his mother was here we, Geordi and the captain practically raised him ourselves as soon as the crew was in it's second year. Though now that you're on board the ship, the ship is in a time dilation so it's double that now, and it's a consideration. And of us getting back together in my and Deanna's case and them getting married in their's."
"He loves the captain like a father in the same way he does me, like a father now." Will said and Sito nodded. 'Love you Sir and if this is any type of scenario that I'm hoping to god I'm wrong regarding it, I'm doing whatever it takes to get you back. Though if it is, I'm not doing that portion of it.' he said to him softly then as he left the room and tried to get passed the members that had the headset on.
"Alright here's where she started getting more desperate now, but you better listen to this after I came into the room and the chief was asking a question to Robin before I did." Wesley said and they nodded. "Have you tried this." O'brien asked her and she nodded. "Yeah it's great." she said as it switched back to his point of view then. After getting stopped twice in the hall he made it to ten forward finally at that remark.
And he walked up to Robin. "Where have you been, everyone's after me to try it?!" she asked in a whispered undertone of fear and the adult crew nodded. "This is starting to scare her right now, in how serious this is getting. No wonder she panicked that night after Lol caught her in the act." Greyson said slowly as he put his hand on her shoulder protectively and Wesley nodded as as they heard his response to her then gently at that.
"Do you realize what you were doing by coming after them every few seconds when she was in there, you're only scaring our cubs even more. But you want to get your conspiracy going then stop being so insistant here, regarding the youngest members of the crew. Or the desperation is going to have them suspicious of the motives right now, and that's including the resident android on board." Will said and they swallowed hard.
"I know, me too, I got stopped in the corridor twice, I spoke to the captain, he's going to look into it." he told her and she nodded as she answered him at that. "Well I hope he makes a ship wide announcement or something. Because this is really beginning to give me the creeps." she said and he nodded, before he could answer an ensign walked up to them at that and Mina Wilcox walked up to them gently.
"Did you forget your games?" she asked and Robin smiled forcefully. "We left them in our quarters, wanted a night out together." she told her and she took hers off at that. "Well then, use mine." she said and Robin shook her head. "No thanks." she said and when that didn't get rid of her, the woman tried again. "Try it." she said and he stood up. 'Alright that's it.' They heard at that as he answered her at that remark.
"She said no thanks Ensign, now stop fooling around and get back to work." he sternly and he grabbed Robin's hand and they left the table. "Was that really necessary, if this is a conspiracy, you're going to have the entire ship after us to get us to try it next. Look I get you're stressed out, but loosing your temper out on them is not going to help right now, Wes." She said to him softly and he sighed.
"And that's the other reason, keep coming after her like this and getting this pushy and you have her future boyfriend getting overly territorial with her. But that response did it for him and you just exposed yourselves as he comes to the conclusion now, over Data. So you just screwed yourselves ovet now the second you came after her with your game, Buster, cub, keep it going it right now." Greyson said and he nodded as they heard him.
"The entire crew is addicted to that device, you know what else is strange, if this game is so addictive. There's only one person on board we can be sure of that wouldn't be affected by it." he said to her and she nodded. "Data." she said and he nodded to her. "And that's when it hit me now." he said to them as he said it. "Right, and he manages to get injured right when the game is brought on board."
"We better have a look at him." he said as they left the room, not noticing they were being watched or that the rest of the room were looking at them with neutral looks then. 'You evaded us once, but it won't last long children.' They heard the group thinking as they waited for their orders from their programmer then. "Guess again, my students are more creative then you'd expect right now." Will said in response to that remark.
"Her crew just jumped into us then, they're getting desperate to get to everyone on the ship, because once the kids realized it, Etana was screwed then. Keep it going cubs, before your mother and the Lieutenant walked into your apartment, Wes. Your training in situations like this is getting really good but we need to see everything from your point of view from here right now." Porter said and he nodded to the orders at thst remark then.
"And our conversation from last year if we reminded of you of that, I need to see everything, because from here you'd been in therapy from having to make that choice. And a choice and situation you'd never should have been put into, you can't make that choice without us leading you like we always have now." Picard said, crossing his arms as he watched it carefully as they went back into Sickbay to get a good look at Data.
"Your idiocy in not paying attention regarding Data, that just blew your cover completely people, because my student understands this, but there are only 2 people. Two people on board this ship that know anything about Data that can cause the damage you wrought on him. One being me and the other his mother, and as I got hit 2 days later and you were playing the damn thing, that make you." Geordi said to the medic sternly at that.
"And sure we were annoyed that he got possessed, again, but that doesn't mean we'd start attacking our own crew members or hold it against him. To him, you can just consider this attempted murder in the kids eyes right now. As such, you kept screwing up until you hit the big one now, though you were using our names here. You still screwed up big time now." Will added as he crossed his arms as his programmer swallowed hard.
"Lal add mistakes compile to this as well in regarding Etana Lol and her attempt to capture the ship. And in regarding the kids ways to handle this, because Wes said he was naming them off so start her mistakes and her crew's mistakes from here. Starting with her possessing the captain and my not paying attention in sickbay." the nurse said and it activated on that as they saw him standing over Data, with his hand on his shoulder.
As the caption Sickbay appeared in the corner and they nodded. "So it jumped from ten forward to sickbay, Lal, I need you to set up a caption through out the entirety. Of the revised episode right now, so as us, we know where he was going. If she tries this particular route we can trace the route more easily." Will said and it beeped and Spot gave a meow. "Alright don't start that again." he added and his friends gave a chuckle.
Looking at Data, Wesley quickly said it to her. "Maybe you should look again." he told her and she went back to check, before returning to him. "The nurse is still playing the game." she told him and he nodded. "I don't know what to make of this right now. There's brain activity, all of his systems are working." he told her and she looked at him in disbelief as she answered him then at that remark in shock.
"How could that be, he's unconscious?!" she said in shock and he nodded. "Maybe there's a signal breach between his brain and body. Let's map his nervous system and see if we can find the weak link." he said as he pulled a scanner out and ran it across his spinal cord then. "Patch the neural output to that station." he added, before his tricorder beeped and he quickly said it at that in relief then.
"Here!, the signal stops just below his cortex processor. There's some damage." he said finished as his eyes narrowed. "It's almost undetectable, let's get a closer look. Bring it up on the viewer." he said and she activated the computer. "Wesley look at that." she said and he nodded. "It looks like some of his positronic links have been severed." he said and she nodded as Beverly crossed her arms then.
"There are only two people on the ship who know everthing about Data to try this and they are me and Geordi, but we would never do this to him. Ever, so with that, that's the next question, why do this when you know us better then we know ourselves honey?" she said and he nodded as she answered her remark. "I know we realized this, but our thoughts were turning toward foodhold and incursion." Robin said and she nodded firmly.
"And that's exactly where they should have headed now, we'd never, in our right minds, start attacking our own crew members like this. Though we got annoyed that once again he got hijacked, we'd never hold that against him right now. But this was putting him into unconsciousness so that by the time you realized it, it was too late. But she never expected he knew enough on Data to fix him." Will said and she nodded to him gently.
"The cuts are so precise, look at how clean the edges are. Computer increase magnification factor four." she said and it zoomed in then and he thought it over carefully, as he looked at her then firmly as he read it out then. "There are only two people who know enough about Data to do something like this, Commander La Forge and my mother." he told her and she looked at him in disbelief at that.
"But why would one them do this to him?" she asked and he sighed as he said it to himself. "There's a reason for it, but it's not just to prevent it from getting out of the ship. There is a conspiracy going on here, but of what kind and why Data is out is beyond me. You've been exposed to repeated computer viruses buddy, why would they take you off line, just what is the big secret, is this for fun."
"Or is there something more sinister than this going on right now." he asked him gently, as he checked it out he thought it over. "It happens right when I come home, my entire group is compromised, my friends, my surrogate family, and Data is disabled and why is that?" he asked as he thought it over looking at it from a new look, they watched him as Wesley looked at Data then firmly as he said it to them.
"That's when it started hitting me, there was only one reason it felt so familiar, it was the aliens that acted like Goa'uld. And that we had a case of the Puppet Master invasion yet again and I was the only one realizing this." he said gently and they nodded as he looked at his friend as he said his thoughts out loud then. 'Oh dear god no it can't, please it can't be, not again, Walker, old friend, if your legacy just make a come back."
"I'm ensuring that this time your legacy lives on and your sacrifice was not in vain.' They heard him think to himself then as he thought it over then, as he did a recall. "Data, why Data, come on remember there were two situations that year that would cover something like this, the insistence in their voices. The fooling around too much, alright back to year one: six weeks after we shipped out."
"I was just beginning to adjust to things and being around the captain as we got used to each other again finally. The nine of us, we were just beginning to get used to being a crew now at the time, we come across one of our ships and then we also all get infected by a..." he started to say and it hit him then. "Here it comes, it's cross between the virus and Walker." Picard said and he nodded to him.
"Alright who is this Walker you three keep mentioning exactly, Captain?" Josh asked and he explained that. "He was a friend of ours, his parents and me, he was the captain of the Horatio and discovered a plot to infiltrate the federation. But his ship was destroyed and the three of us were on the bridge when it happened. To me and Doctor Crusher it was vengeance by making sure that the aliens that killed him were destroyed now."
"He's coming to the conclusion now, but the first half of the situation started with the polywater virus right now and with that at the moment. Son keep going you know what this was, we taught you to look at past events to make a comparision. And remember, learn from the past to create a better future." he said as they watched him thinking. "Okay patient zero, patient zero, patient zero was the host for the virus here."
"Damn it of course!, alright here's the thing Robin, as I said only two people know enough about Data to do something like this. But here's the fine print as to why now and it's, for an android, they get infected by a human virus, their CPU, once it's been dealt with. Than it's going to see it as a computer virus and they become immune to it, this game is the same as the virus we dealt with."
"That said virus was four years ago and the entire ship got hit by it, I was trying to concentrate as was he. And Commander Riker was the last one standing at the time. The virus raised our body temperatures causing us to break out in a sweat: high body temperature, acting slightly inebriated, loss of control of their reasoning, it's a repeat performance of that virus, it's a long story now."
"But of us back then he was the last one standing and I was trying to concentrate, but now it's in reverse. And maybe there's more going on here than we thought, maybe someone is trying to use these games for something other the pleasure. More along the lines of a foothold situation, whoever gave Riker these when on leave, before he returned is trying to cause an incursion."
"She, or he, is trying to take over the federation." he said and she nodded as she answered him. "Than Data would be a threat to that plan, and only with Data out of the way, would everyone become addicted." she said and he felt his heart lurch at that. "And everyone has, except us, this is no longer just about an attempted incursion into the federation, I know what caused this, it's hitting the sextet."
"They're the ones getting hit hardest right now from it, but deprogramming and they're in a cross between a level IV virus and being possessed. Robin the truth is the reason they and every member you met has acted now. And like they were half of themselves, if you saw a photograph of us. And as a single team now, but this was because of me, to my mother, I'm her only child."
"While the sextet watched me grow up, and the members you met so far: Barnfield, Jenson, O'Brien. And the others, if they all talk about me this much, it's because they watched me grow up. I was part of the crew as a junior crew member, we all were here from the very beginning. And though we had transfers in and out, 70% of the crew was here from the very beginning."
"But this an attempted brainwashing and it's because they lost their concentration, I'm the catalyst I have to break them out of it. Damn it, yes I remember this now, I remember a scenario like this four years ago, it was after the eight of us became a crew. There's two scenarios being played into this: one is a puppet masters notion, that was just before my mother left the ship."
"And the first is the virus we all got infected by, and the symptoms of it are exactly the same, but to explain this to you. Three years ago, today, we got infected by a virus that made us start acting like we're intoxicated. and everyone, including Data got infected by it, back then Commander Riker was it. The last one standing and he, Data and I got the ship back in working order."
"And in time just to avoid an oncoming meteorite, that's as close to this as you can get now, that's the first stage, the other is indoctrination. They're all acting like they're intoxicated, you, me and Data are the ones that have to do this. But if this is a puppet master notion, I have to make sure now. Because I can't trust the quintet right now, let alone mom." he said and she nodded to the news then.
"Puppet master notion, have you been in this position before?" she asked and he nodded. "Yeah four years ago, did you ever wonder what happened to the Horatio and why exactly. We had a puppet master style alien infecting the leadership, and the leader was infesting Comander Remmic. And Captain Walker Keel was murdered to prevent that from getting to every one else."
"In the fleet and he told it to Picard and Picard told this to Commander Riker, and Admiral Quinn was one of them. And it took repeated jolts from the stunner to take him down as a result, before Riker infiltrated the incursion at HQ. And it resulted in a shootout at headquarters and they destroyed the mother creature. And by killing her, they destroyed every single one." he told her gently at that.
And she nodded to him at that as she answered him at the remark. "Symptoms, if they match up its a near exact replication?" she asked and he nodded. "Near, but not close, because they were drugged and power hungry." Picard said firmly to that. "High body temper, acting like they're intoxicated, glazed eyes, and loss of higher reasoning. It's every adult over the age of eighteen infected by these things."
"Dad figures that out, and he's going to realize I just caught his being compromised and get one on us. Lal, two mock up copies of the game." he said and two copies appeared as she looked at him gently at thet. "What are you doing?" Robin asked and he explained that to her. "They're going to get us to try this eventually, but we just fake the intoxicated looks on our faces when they do."
"Whoever is using these to get a foothold in the ship but they catch you without it on, they're going to realize it in what we're doing. And that we're on to whatever plan their programmer has regarding this." he said and she nodded. "What do you mean by dad exactly?" she asked and he sighed as he answered her softly. "After mom left Commander Riker took over paternal responsibilities."
"And to put it gently if we were 500 years back, he'd be my adoptive father or just my godfather. Though in age, in truth, he's a just short of 15 years older than I am, but to me, he's like a big brother, best friend and father. All rolled into one, it's having a male precense in my life and one. One that understands me that way, while Deanna's my godmother, and the captain my stepfather."
"But the duo are Commander Riker and Counselor Troi, mom put them in charge of taking care of me after she left. And our bonds shifted directions, but the commander is my mentor, and I think of him as a father. But here's the truth now, but the duo are my godparents, Commander La Forge and Data. They're my friends and Lieutenant Worf is my other mentor next to Commander Riker."
"But our bonds are from four years together and with that, it's taking knowing them better then they know themselves. Just to beat whoever it is that programmed them, if that's what's really going on here. And I hope to god I'm wrong right now, regarding that, and it's because the quartet. They are all just short of twenty years older than we are, so acting as surrogate parents."
" And older brothers and sisters. I'm not being put into that position of choosing." he told her and she nodded in understanding at the wording. "Come on, we have to get back to your apartment now, before they figure it out, because they do and we're screwed." she said and he nodded as they left the room. "And that's exactly what it turned into at the moment." Worf said in firm annoyance at that gently.
"That's when he told me the truth of your bonds actually, I also saw the bond of connection between him and Commander Jenson. But until now I never saw you guys together till I watched him with all of you at the moment here." she said and they nodded as they watched them talking as he went over it then as he went further gently. "If it takes playing decoy, we're going to have to do this together now."
"We've dodged once, we got maybe two more chances here at the moment before it gets worse from here. But before you ask what I have in mind to end this. I can't tell you that, it's part of the rules of a situation like this." he said and she nodded as they headed back to his apartment. "Nice thinking, make it look like your playing it to get you by undetected, that's a daring plan at the moment then."
"You're acting in the way the four of us and Jane would if we were our grandparents right now." Commander Teal'C Thomas Martell said and he nodded. "Hey Doctor, did I have it right about your grandmother and and O'neill turning her into a drone. To make her think like they do regarding Commander Jackson's grandfather?" he asked and the quintet crossed their arms as they nodded as Commander, Doctor, Jane Frasier answered him.
"Yes, it's true, after he attacked him twice and both times with witnesses in the room, nothing was changing her mind, that he needed to be under psychological close-up. As her conclusion is when he lost his temper he's dangerous, and to her. It was Daniel was clean: physically" mentally, emotionally and spiritually. To her nothing was changing her mind, Jack was dangerous, crazy and a loose cannon." she said and he nodded firmly.
"Alright jump it to us on the bridge, Lal, because she thinks she's got him, when the tables are turned right now." Geordi said and they saw the sextet on the bridge. And watching they saw themselves then standing around at their coordinated spots. On the bridge, and discussing things, regarding the incursion then firmly. And just before Worf, checked and gave the call out to the sextet as Picard crossed his arms gently, smiling.
As he smirked at the quintet then coldly. "Like he said, if you want to prevent yourself from getting exposed you should have altered plans right now, people. Because 1) leaving it out exposes you, 2) as does calling the target you're after by their student name. When normally I call him by name, he's my student, and we have a father/son relationship. 3) trying to correct a slip up just exposes you further here now in this case."
"4) you shouldn't be so insistent, regarding whatever you're trying to push on to your targets, or they get suspicious to why you're being this pushy. 5) trying to shove it onto the girlfriend of your target only gives him more of a reason to look into this. 6) If you wanted to prevent yourselves from getting figured out you should have focused. And been paying attention into why they're checking on Data now, which brings it to 7 now."
"If you were clever you'd have gotten us out of our routine spots, when not in sickbay Beverly is with me, along with Deanna. Will and Worf are running security runs through the ship looking for threats, and when not in engineering. Then Geordi is at his department computer, simple common sense, we've been together so long. That you can't change out postures in this job." he said and Beverly finished that remark smiling.
"And secondly once we realized he was sick and injured, the results are we have Worf and Will chasing him down. And which we plan to do, we know each other so well you're never going to win this, if you bring it back to that day right now. Like he said though, he knows us so well that he knew our moves like we know his. You can't beat him when in a battle of wits when we did this exercise already." she said as they watched Worf call out.
And the trio paled at that as they realized their mistakes were more then they realized to expose themselves then. "And here comes number 8) right now, but if you were smart you would have turned the camera on a two way detail just to make sure. But you didn't right now and my son got passed you again, because of my training him." Will said and they watched the image feeling their hearts sink then at the fact they screwed up.
"We've reached the designated coordinates Captain. There is a ship bearing three two seven mark one five two on an intercept course." he said and Picard nodded as he answered him. "Advise them of our status, go, replicate what you need, and make sure that the devices are properly distributed." he said and smiled. "Not forgetting Mr. Crusher." he said and they nodded and left the room.
'You shouldn't have told me that Wesley, now I know you're not playing it, but you will.' They heard and Wesley shook his head at that remark, just as he was answering then the intercom went off. "Captain the ship is docked now and they're loading on the seven's stuff along with the trio. Should I just let them load on supplies until we leave again?" Evans called out and he quickly answered him then.
"Yes Lieutenant, update the conputer diagnostics and her and her crew off the ship, once done I want all of those games locked up in the detention cell. That we had her and her crew in, we may need them for a later date, but check to see these they're all disabled." he said and they heard a gentle remark. "Aye Sir." he said and Wesley answered that. "No I won't right now, Lol, I know them." He said as it jumped to his apartment then.
The Crusher's Quarters:
"I spoke to the captain sure, but I saw the game sitting on the desk, behind his work desk, he's compromised as well, but that's the entire senior staff crew, Robin." Wesley said and she nodded. "Anything else?" she asked and he nodded. "Yeah those cuts are so clean, only a doctor could perform them, that means mom did it. But it started with the commander, went to Deanna Troi."
and then hit my mother, after that, she called Data in there and they deactivated him, I can fix the damage no problem, but whoever masterminded this, was afraid that once he told us, they were screwed. With the fact they've been after us to try it. The order just went through now, we're next." he said as he slipped his on as she followed suit, and they shifted position on the bed.
As they waited for his mother and whoever was with her to come to the apartment then to check on them. Entering her apartment, Beverly and Worf came in and looked around as she had one of them with her as Worf was carrying the other as they looked around the living room as she called out to him. "Wesley, Wesley?" she said gently and heard his voice answer her. "In here mom." he said and she and Worf look into his room.
And to see him and Robin playing the game and she hid a smile as they left. "Idiots, you should have made sure instead of just assuming right now, you fools. We know our cub and know when when he's faking it, cub does a good job at stage acting." Beverly said as she started laughing at that and he nodded to her with a smile. "Yes, you know that, but she doesn't, but that's strike 2 and here it comes." he said and the sextet nodded to him.
As the quintet paled at that. "She got passed us once, but was faking it during the ambush, why?" the K'tarian guard asked quickly as he got it then. "It's what we call divide and conquer and distraction and diversion. Keep your attention on her as you don't realize he's listening in on your conversation. Or that he fixed Data and he was getting ready to activate the program, that was a decoy." Picard said and they swallowed hard.
As soon as the door closed, the couple relaxed. "It worked." Robin said to him and he nodded. "We should keep these mock ups with us. We can't trust anyone anymore, not even the captain." he told her and she nodded. "He's been infected, that's everyone over twenty on the ship. And I'm just saying this now, but if the captain is compromised we can't trust anyone on the ship now." he told her and she nodded to him as she answered him as she grabbed hers thrn at thst remark.
"I'm supposed to be on duty in engineering. I gotta get up there, before Commander La Forge suspects something." she said to him and he nodded in agreement to that as he answered her then. "Alright when you get there, see if you can access the codes for the security tracking system. There's something I want to try, but I'm got something I need to do now." he said and she nodded to him.
As she answered him then. "Wesley, remember law #91: always watch your back." she said and he nodded to her. "You too." he said and she left, but before she could, she gripped his arm as he said it then to her at that gently. "Robin be careful, just distract them, they're going to know you're faking it, so just say I asked you to access the codes for the security tracking system if they get to you next.
"You don't know the team or the sextet the way I do, just leave that to me. I have to do this myself, so if we have got company coming, listen to her and once done this is it. But don't worry I've got a few aces up my sleeve, but 18 months doesn't compare to 4.5 years of friendship in training bonds. And bonds of trust and family, whoever this is, doesn't know them in the way I do."
"But they're all suffering from the same thing, I know what I'm doing right now." he said and she nodded to him. "You're right we were, it's all stemming from us seeing him everywhere we normally saw you. Us not having you around so we can do our day to day activities when not on on duty as we train or play. And you knowing us better then we know ourselves right now in this situation." Geordi said and he nodded to him.
"Lal freeze it there." he said and it paused as he looked at the entire grouping as he swallowed as he told them the truth then. "I should tell you from this scene to when I got the drop on her now, is your area Deanna, you had it right the first time. That's what made me lay into Derek, he wasn't the one who had to risk it. And in destroying his entire life just to save the federation right now at the moment, my life, my family."
"Is you guys, so family, friends and his ship, his home, in the words of the pirate in the book earth is port, the ship is home. I was trying to figuring out a way of the two options and come up with another idea. But his family, his friends and his home, before I get Data back on online, he didn't have to make that choice. It's the realization it's turned into Walker and I had to put an end to it mom, Sir." he said and they all nodded gently.
"Then we have to see this son, to help you heal, we need everything, and with us trapped in that field, we spend those years just deepening our bonds. So show it to us and we see what happened in the first attack, before the manhunt began at the moment." Picard said to him and he nodded to him as he took a deep breath. "What do you need from me so we can get Data back online?" she asked and he sighed then as he said it.
"You're going to have to play the bait, we need to create a diversion in this case, I can't tell you where I got the information regarding this from. Without putting them at risk, just wait till after we're through. You don't have my skill to get around without getting caught for a third time and you don't know them. The sextet in the way I do, so we just use that against her now, whoever it is."
"And as we're both from earth, if this was the third film focused on that mental maniac, you're distracting her. While I get our ally involved and we go from there, but this scenario just went from slightly dangerous. To downright dangerous and I'm not going to kid you right now either. But this is as dangerous as it gets at the moment, just trust me now, Robin, trust me."
"The roles have reverse at the moment but the same exact situation, we need to keep this diversion going on long enough. And that she doesn't realize the ship is about to leave their control and end up in ours. But there's a few things she doesn't know and I know they buried into their minds that are going to become useful here, so don't worry now." he said and she nodded to him gently at that.
"What are we doing here exactly, bait and switch?" she asked and he nodded to her gently at that. "Just tell them I told you to access the codes to the internal security tracking system. But rule #103 in a conspiracy: never tell your team mate where you're going or it's going back fire and rule #104: never separate. In this case we're bending both, because the trap just got reversed on them."
"And whoever is controlling this conspiracy right now, but if the captain is one leader, or lead drone, than the commander is the other right now. And rule #105, in a conspiracy act like everyone else and with that." he said and she nodded to him as she answered him then at the news gentlu. "I've got to get their attention on me and keep it on me till you're finished with what you're doing."
"Yeah okay I get it, and again just be careful and watch your back." she said and he nodded. "Yeah you too, honey." he said and she smiled at the title as he gave her a hug as she left the apartment as he locked the door. "Here comes the facet to the question you guys all asked us and this just made me beyond aggravated at the moment." he said and they all nodded bemused as they watched him say it then.
"God why did we have to choose now to do this at the moment, my body is over reacting to something, I'm suffering the come down off of this stuff. I can't believe this right now, I can't tell her that truth, or I'm screwed?" he said with a growl then and got to work then, before heading for his mother's office then. As they heard him thinking it then and Beverly nodded to that as she said it to him then.