Chapter 46

Beverly started at the now familiar popping sound behind her. She froze. Doulos had returned, but now lay in the corner in a trembling heap. He made low groaning sounds indicating he was in a great deal of pain. She didn't trust the instinctive emotion she felt then; the one that usually spurred her on to assist and to heal the wounded.

But she did walk closer, albeit slowly. She couldn't help but suspect that it was some kind of a trap. She watched as he strained to push himself up off of the floor. He collapsed onto his back and stretched out his hand in her general direction. His eyes were cloudy. Had he been blinded? He craned his neck struggling to focus his sight. His lips moved, but no sound emerged.

She stopped about two meters away from him and crouched down, examining his skin from a safe distance. His skin appeared to be covered in purplish burns. What had happened? Surely Jean-Luc hadn't been responsible for this. Whatever he had done in order to fight Doulos, she wouldn't blame him.

"Is Jean-Luc alive?" she asked him. "If you killed him, then I swear I will—"

"Argh," Doulos groaned.

"What?"

"He lives…" Doulos whispered. "But beware, Beverly Crusher…he has been transformed…."

Guinan looked up as Demetrius entered Ten Forward. He sat down on a bar stool and smiled broadly at her. The transformation was no longer subtle. He appeared now to be in his early twenties and his skin was healthy and vibrant.

"Well…how do you feel now, Demetrius?"

"I feel very well, Teacher. I am learning to let go of some of the things I used to dwell on."

"Such as…."

"When I first arrived here, I was living and believing in a false world. But thanks to you and Counselor Troi, I understand now that my parents are gone and because they are free from suffering, I should allow myself to be free as well."

Guinan smiled and poured him a hot chocolate, watching as his eyes filled with delight. "You don't have anyone to thank but yourself, Demetrius."

"I have caused much pain though, Teacher. My actions resulted in Captain Picard nearly being killed."

Guinan looked at him squarely. "I've been thinking, and observing Demetrius…and I am not sure you should be placing blame on yourself for what happened to you. Yes, you chose to enter the Other's world; but you did so believing that you would help your parents. And, you were a child at the time. I was very sad when you disappeared that day, and I am glad that we've reunited."

"Me too." Demetrius took a big sip from his mug, and licked his lips before speaking again. "Do you think we will see Orla?"

Guinan leaned on the bar and looked at him quizzically. "Do you want to?"

"Yes! I have always wondered what she looks like."

"Demetrius…sometimes we get our hopes up and expect that someone or something will be greater than it actually is. In these kinds of situations, we are almost always disappointed."

"But Orla is our protector," Demetrius insisted.

"Maybe so," said Guinan with a slight frown. "But despite her protection the El Aurian people have suffered a great deal. Demetrius, Orla is not perfect. And if you don't believe me, I am afraid you will soon find out for yourself."

Demetrius didn't seem to hear all of her words. "But we will see her?"

"This ship is now headed to meet Orla. The Other has determined that he has plans for us, and plans for her. So it seems as though we have no choice but to see her. The question is, when we arrive, will she be able to live up to your expectations?"

Data fired his modified phaser twice as a group of three officers rushed toward him. Enveloped in the violet cloud emitted from his phaser, they tumbled forward in mid-air, before landing with a collective thud on the stone floor. Data stepped to the side, watching to ensure that they were unable to escape before he moved on. He saw Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Worf and Ambassador K'Ehleyr approaching from the opposite direction. Data was fascinated to see that the Captain was now glowing the same color as the substance he had been exuding earlier as a result of Orla's influence. Even stranger was the Captain's facial expression which was calm and seemingly unconcerned by the violence around him. Data turned his head as Geordi and Saris jogged toward them.

Riker was out of breath as he approached Data and he glanced over somewhat warily at Captain Picard, who presented his second in command with a strange smile. "The Captain's okay. Are we all ready?"

Data and the others nodded. "The phasers may only have a few chances to fire the energy cloud," Data said unsure of what else to call the substance.

"It does not matter," said Picard with the same strange smile. "Orla is with us now."

Riker glanced at him again worriedly. "…Alright…let's go then."

Beverly approached Doulos cautiously. He still lay on the floor, weakened from his battle with Picard. "You know why the Other hasn't come to your aid, Doulos? Why he hasn't saved you?"

Doulos turned his dark eyes to her but said nothing.

"He doesn't care who suffers Doulos…as long as everyone continues to be tortured he will get what he wants. Don't you see?"

Doulos closed his eyes, and she walked a little closer to him. "Are you willing to die for nothing, Doulos? For some sadistic being's idea of a good time? He's going to try and kill us all, Doulos. And for what?"

Doulos clenched his eyes shut even tighter and shook his head.

Riker and the others were largely successful using the modified phasers to clear a path to the bridge. The crew members influenced by the Other were detained by the energy field, as their aggression worked against them, leaving them struggling ineffectually inside the visually beautiful cloud until they eventually exhausted themselves.

Picard walked slowly ahead of his group apparently oblivious to danger. Each time the group of officers advanced up another deck toward the bridge they were met with another assault from the spellbound crew members, and each time the assault was confounded by the purple mist.

When they reached Deck 4, a large horde of Doulos' warriors flooded out of the former main shuttle bay and attacked. Before Riker could stop him, Picard stepped in their path, and to Riker's further shock he began to laugh. Riker and Worf ran forward to his aid, but he reached back with his hand as though waving them off. A wall of energy shot from the floor to the ceiling in the center of the corridor, and Riker and Worf were bounced backward harmlessly, unable to advance forward. Picard's face glowed eerily with energy.

Unlike the crew members who were simply stymied and then captured by the substance Doulos' tattooed warriors seemed actually harmed by the substance, as Doulos had been. Picard waved them off with little or no effort as they advanced as a group. Coming from behind the others, one huge assailant took a thundering overhead swing at Picard with a battle axe.

"No!" Riker shouted, as Picard reached up and grabbed the sharp edge of the axe, which instead of cleaving him in two as it should have done, it dissolved into dust his grip. Picard laughed deeply again as the warrior was enveloped in a ripple of energy, which sent him writhing to the ground. Gesturing toward the rest of his enemies he smiled as the energy swirled around them and they disappeared in a rush.

Apparently satisfied, Picard began to ascend up the steps to the next level, deck 3, now just minutes from the bridge.

"Captain!" As Riker shouted, Picard turned around to regard his friends. His eyes were no longer visible, and instead two amethyst blazes shone where his eyes had been. "Sir," Riker yelled again, hoping that there was something left of Picard in there to hear him. Gradually the glow subsided as he regarded Riker, and he blinked, revealing his own eyes again. Recognition seemed to return, and the field he had used to block the others dropped. Without further hesitation he turned and resumed his climb. Riker gestured for the others to follow him and ran to catch up with the Captain.

Beverly watched Doulos and he watched her. He was weaker she could tell, but it didn't mean he wasn't still a threat to her. When he reached out to grab her wrist, she hadn't expected it, and she couldn't wrestle herself from his grip either. She kept her gaze on his and yanked her wrist back. "Let me go!" she shouted.

He pulled her closer. "I love you, Beverly Crusher," he proclaimed roughly. "Picard may have defeated me, but he cannot have you."

She was still on her feet, and knew she would be pulled downward soon if she didn't act quickly. She raised her boot and kicked him hard in the temple and he let go, grabbing his eye.

"Love has nothing to do with violence," she said, backing up quickly. "Try that again and I'll show you just how much I don't love you," she said, grabbing a torch from the wall again.

Doulos looked at her still clutching his wounded head and then turned his head to stare at the ceiling. For some reason he began to laugh.

"Why the hell are you laughing?"

He stopped abruptly. "There is nothing for me in this world…I wish for the master to destroy me."

There was a sadness to his voice which she had not heard before, and begrudgingly a feeling of pity entered her heart. At that moment there was the sound of yelling and phaser fire from outside of the room, and Beverly ran toward the door, still holding the torch and hoping for a chance at escape. She told herself if one of Doulos' henchmen came through that door, she would shove the torch in his face and make a break for it. At this point, what did she have to lose?

Instead of the door opening, a hand appeared in the center of the wooden door. It was a purple glowing palm of a man's hand. The hand was familiar to her, but everything else about the scenario was alien to her. Picard pushed his hand and the rest of his arm through the door and then it just dissolved around him. Riker and Data walked in behind the Captain, and trained their phasers on Doulos, who continued to lay on the floor. He didn't move. He'd said he wanted to die, so perhaps he was hoping they would fulfill his wish.

Beverly dropped the torch and shouted "Jean-Luc!" His eyes fixed on her, and he smiled but said nothing. But…he was glowing a bizarre hue. She hesitated and watched as Jean-Luc swiveled his head around to look at Doulos. He walked quickly over and grabbed Doulos by the wrist lifting him off the ground. Doulos screamed in pain as Picard's fingers again burned into his arm.

"Jean-Luc, stop! Enough," Beverly shouted rushing forward. She stopped and then stepped back again, surprised by her own concern for her captor.

Picard did as she said, dropping Doulos to the floor. His expression was tranquil as he turned to look at her.

Beverly glanced anxiously at Data and Riker for some kind of an explanation, but they appeared just as puzzled as she was. Doulos had said Jean-Luc had been transformed. Apparently he had not been lying.

Picard walked toward her and took both her hands in his. A feeling of intense love flowed through her and she pulled his face towards her to kiss him. He kissed her back, but then after a few moments he straightened and looked at her as though meeting her for the first time. Not caring anymore that Riker and Data were in the room with them She held him tightly. "I love you," she whispered.

Picard smiled gently at her still bathed in his purple aura. "I know, Beverly. But I belong to Orla now."