I'm actually very excited about the chapter after this; it's one I wrote before I started this episode to help me get a feel for the emotional side of things. Adding a bit to the end, so hoping to have it done tonight or tomorrow. I'm estimating about five more chapters left (not counting this one). Enjoy!
Zara08-Hahaha oh yes, some Riker action in the VERY near future :-)
JWood201-Don't worry, I have a flashback that will refresh your memory about Admiral Alidar and Toleel at the beginning of the next chapter :-). Trying to sneak in all the pertinent information so that nobody has to go back and reread anything, but let me know if there's something I can expound on better!
"You can help us? How?" Riker asked. Toleel's offer had kindled a brief flicker of hope within the commander. But their captor, a trained member of the Tal Shiar, had already proven himself a ruthless adversary. And counting Toleel, Riker now had three young lives as potential collateral. One wrong move and things could easily turn tragic.
"Well...I'm not sure," Toleel admitted. "I was sort of hoping you had a plan."
"What about our communicators? Our weapons? Do you know what Kotar did with them?"
Toleel shuffled his feet. "He threw them in the river."
"Baka," Carmen spat. Riker peered down at the young woman, unaware that she had been listening. While the blue sun blossoms had stopped her from bleeding, he couldn't be sure just how extensive her injuries were. Or if she had the strength to help him carry out an escape plan.
"Hey Jora," he prompted. "How much longer until the Drums pass? You said nightfall, right?"
"Correct." Jora perked with a note of self-importance, glad to finally be included.
"The sun will set soon," Toleel said, glancing nervously towards the gray light. "The shuttle will be finished before the Drums, and then Kotar will take us all back across the Neutral Zone."
"Like hell he will," Carmen muttered. Riker smirked, appreciative of her willful defiance for once. Jora, however, did not look as heartened. She had never heard of the Neutral Zone, but she assumed it was far away from Almer, the only home she had ever known.
The fear written across her face drew out Riker's natural protectiveness as a commander. His mind raced for a plan. "Toleel, how many of you are Kotar's prisoners? Would any of the others be willing to help?"
"They arrested six of us in all," he answered." But I doubt the others would be willing to help; Kotar and Siko made it clear that things will be much worse for us if we try to rebel." Siko. For a moment, Riker had forgotten about the other body in the room. Gardener would probably return soon to check on his Romulan patient. His eyes landed on the empty bowl of blue paste sitting at the young girl's feet.
"Jora, listen to me," he said, lowering his voice to an urgent whisper. "I've got a plan, but I'll need your help. Think you're up for the task?" Squaring her shoulders, Jora nodded dutifully. "Good," the commander replied. He waved Toleel closer. "Because here's what we're going to do…"
Elion flung up his hands, shielding himself from whatever creature had just knocked him flat onto his back. Horror-stricken, he braced for the puncture of a tooth or a claw. To his surprise, however, he only felt a tongue. A friendly, flat tongue. It lapped the tip of his nose as hot gusts of breath blew over his face.
"Silver?!" he cried. The dog barked happily at the sound of his name. Normally he was not overjoyed to see the agent. But apparently, recent events had changed his mind. "I'm happy to see you, too," Elion laughed.
Something green and sticky clung to the dog's fur, dripping from his jowls and staining the front of his barrel-shaped chest. Some of it had transferred onto Elion's tunic, and as he tried to wipe it off, he noticed that it had the same consistency as blood.
"Was that you, old boy?" he asked, rumpling the dog's ears. "Did you take care of that guard for us?"
Silver barked again, thoroughly pleased with himself. His tail wagged profusely as he stepped off of Elion's chest, allowing him to sit up. Troi still lay where she had collapsed, one hand turned up delicately so that rain fell into the center of her palm. Crawling to her side, the agent lowered his face next to her lips. She's breathing. Good. Now what?
The rash had crept up to the bottom of her chin by now. Elion's knowledge of blackweed was rudimentary at best, but still he knew a few tricks to help slow the poison. First things first, he had to find them somewhere to hide. Someone was bound to come looking for Silver's victim.
A dead tree caught his eye. Yes, that will do the trick. With Silver looking curiously on, he slung Troi across his shoulders and carried her up the slope a little ways, his feet sliding in the mud beneath their combined weight. Carefully then, he set her down inside a hollow created by the rotting wood. A few sprigs would cover the top nicely, blocking the rain and concealing her from view. At least until he could return with something to help the fever. Some talmus roots would do, if he could find any.
Troi would have wanted him to go after the others, he knew. But he couldn't bear to see her like this. He felt somewhat responsible, considering she had probably trampled through a patch of blackweed while she was racing to his rescue. So what was that nagging at the back of his mind?
Elion gazed down at the counselor as if she had the answer. His eyes followed the curve of her cheek, the slope of her chin. Even with the rain and the mud she was a woman of extraordinary beauty. Her husband could take care of himself, couldn't he? And the way her daughter held a gun, surely she had training as well. But what about Jora?
His conscience clamored on her behalf. He couldn't shake the memory of that spark he had glimpsed, something bright and brave behind those childish eyes. It would be a crime to let that spark be extinguished, snuffed out before its time.
With a sigh, Elion gripped the phaser in his hand. Then he looked up at the looming Shadow Ridge, his mind made up. "Be right back," he said, setting another sprig over the hollow. "Hopefully."