"But captain," the male Brekkian, Sobi, protested, "if the Ornarans cease to purchase felicium, it will devastate our economy! Aren't you sworn not to interfere with other worlds?"

"The Federation conceals itself from low-technology worlds, certainly," Picard explained. "And we also have rules against intervening in the internal affairs of more advanced worlds, except as those worlds allow."

Doctor Crusher added, "We certainly have no rule against giving medical information to a spacefaring civilization like the Onarans, who are begging for whatever help we can provide. Why would that be prohibited? To make it easier for others to come along and exploit them?"

"You need to understand," the woman, Langor, pleaded, "for almost a thousand years, Brekka was completely controlled by Ornara. They shared none of their advanced technologies with us. Brekkians still lived in mud houses while the Ornarans made cities stretching for miles. Only they were permitted to travel in the ships between our two worlds."

"And then the plague hit," Crusher prompted.

Langor nodded. "We Brekkians were the experts in every aspect of the process, from cultivation to refinement. The plants don't grow on Ornara. Felicium has completely made our way of life!"

"And it has degraded the Ornarans," Picard rejoined. "T'Jon tells me that their entire society is devoted to production enough to meet the demands of both worlds. No research into new technologies, no science."

Crusher added, "It's uncertain whether the Ornaran mind is even capable of the long-term focus necessary to carry out these activities while on the drug."

"We have no choice," Sobi insisted. "Felicium is all we know."

Picard sighed. "I am not saying the transition will be easy. But if you want, the Federation can provide considerable assistance."

The Brekkians acknowledged the offer, but expressed no thanks.

*****

Soriana was amazed at the transformation in the two Ornaran men since they received the felicium. They were calm, alert, and much more clear-headed than they had been before. Comparing their state in withdrawal to now, she could understand how they could consider the felicium a medicine.

"What is this meeting about," T'Jon asked as he looked around the table at the other senior officers. "Have the Brekkians agreed to release the medicine? My people are suffering!"

"T'Jon, the doctor believes that she has discovered a method of alleviating your people's suffering permanently," Picard began.

"A cure for the plague?"

Doctor Crusher fumbled a bit, but finally said, "Yes, you could call it that. It's not actually a plague, but we do have a treatment. A cure for the symptoms you experience whenever you are without felicium."

The other Ornaran, Romas, said, "But, there is no cure! The best medical minds on two planets looked for it but the plague has baffled them. The symptoms always reappear in the absence of felicium, no matter what."

Crusher nodded, "Yes, but with a treatment regimen that we can provide, those symptoms will abate gradually until the person is back to normal. Without having to take further doses of felicium."

T'Jon asked, "Why can't we continue to treat the symptoms with felicium until the plague is eradicated? I can't imagine that most Ornarans will want to suffer through the plague even temporarily."

The doctor shook her head. "Unfortunately, the regimen will only work once the felicium has started leaving your system," she explained. "Any additional doses will destroy the progress your body has made towards healing, and you'll have to start the regimen over again."

"So…" Romas followed, "your regimen depends on us abandoning the medicine altogether? Anyone who wants the plague cured will be unable to take any more felicium?" Soriana noted that the man was more fearful than hopeful, worried about losing the drug.

Picard replied, "That's right. If the Ornarans so choose, the Federation will send medical personnel to oversee the step-down and monitor the temporary suffering."

"Infants, the elderly, and anyone especially frail should be monitored carefully to make sure their reactions aren't life-threatening," Crusher added.

Soriana added, "We will do everything that Ornara asks to help."

"Thank you, really," T'jon replied, "but for now, the only way that we need help is in getting the felicium delivered safely to our people. We're grateful that you're repairing our ships, of course..."

"... but, really, our main concern is the medicine that our people need today," Ramos finished.

Captain's log, stardate 41818.5. We have left the Delos system, having provided its peoples each with an offer of aid. To the Brekkians, we offered industrial technology which will allow them to transition away from felicium production. And to the Ornarans, we offered a method of ending the suffering that they wrongly call a plague. The relevant information has been widely and publicly supplied to both planets' people, and any may choose to avail themselves of it. But for now, both planets may prefer to maintain the status quo. Whatever we think best, they must decide for themselves how to go on.