Hi everyone, thank you for the reviews on the last chapter- I really appreciate it :)I finally got around to chapter 2! I meant to publish it before Christmas, but the holidays got the best of me. Just a warning, this chapter might contain some distressing images. Nothing too graphic by any means... just some of what was seen on the planet after the attack. Again, thanks for reading and of course, I don't own star trek... just my thoughts :)
Chapter 2
Captain Picard sat in his ready room, writing an official report over the attack that had taken place on Selia early that morning. The result of the attack had been catastrophic to the colony, leaving a death percentage of ninety-one percent. Not only would this greatly affect on the colony, with the chance of the colony reviving almost at a zero, but Starfleet's colonization efforts would most likely be put on hold.
He deleted the last part on Starfleet… while he had no doubt he was correct in his assumptions, he also knew as a captain his job was to lead by Starfleet's command… not assume for them.
Closing his eyes, he could still see the image of the planet in his mind from when the away team had beamed down this morning. At first glance, Picard had thought the planet's sun had already risen. After his initial glance though, Picard had realized that the bright light was from the fire. The fire he thought, as he gulped at the sight in is mind. After they had beamed down at the edge of the colony, it seemed every building was in flames, and the smell of burning flesh had filled his nostrils as screams filled his ears. He glanced over at the away team to see them all distressed, before all members dashed towards the burning buildings- trying to save any survivors. Looking back, he realized how his superiors would criticize his lack of judgement by allowing nearly the entire senior staff to run into a large fire. He couldn't even criticize them though, as he had done the same.
He could remember running into the buildings, finding more dead than alive. He vividly remembered running into one of the dwelling spaces to find three children in a corner sobbing. Turning to where they were looking, he saw a man with a slit throat and a woman completely on fire- most likely their parents. The captain stood in shock for a few moments, looking at the two adults. He considered attempting to save the woman who was laying against the wall, but from what he could see she was far gone along with the other adult. Turning back to the children, he took off his jacket and covered their faces before beaming them up to the enterprise. Dropping them off, he beamed back down and continued to help along with much of the Enterprise's crew that had since beamed down.
He was surprised to run into Beverly in the transporter room after the had beamed quite a few survivors up. Looking back at the situation, he had regretted yelling at her.
'Doctor, you should be in sickbay' he'd told her sternly.
'There's still people down there Jean-Luc! They need us more' she'd argued back hurrying back to the transporter pad.
'Sickbay needs you more, there's quite a few in critical condition' He plead grabbing her arm.
'Captain! I'm needed there! On the planet!' Beverly cried, her voice cracking and tears building in her eyes. She pulled her hand away, begging with hm to let her go.
'Beverly, report to sickbay!' He'd begged, becoming more frustrated.
'Captain, you don't understand-'
'Doctor Crusher report to sickbay NOW,' he'd yelled at her 'that's an order. Maybe you're okay seeing people die under your care, but I'm not.' he finished as she let her tears spill over before turning around and leaving the room.
The officer working the transporter gulped before looking back down. He barked at the ensign to beam him down, and that had been the end of the conversation.
He made a mental note in his brain to go by and apologize after his shift. Picard knew he should not have yelled at her, and if tensions had not been high due to the situation he would've apologized on the spot. At the same time though, he wondered what had compelled her to not go to sickbay. He had known Beverly for almost twenty years and in that time she had always known her duty and where she could make to most impact.
Reactivating his computer, which had fallen asleep when he had purged into his mind, he continued the report.
While he knew that he would have to continue to update the report, he found it better to go ahead and send Starfleet Headquarters the information he had received so far. Thinking of how to conclude it for now, he looked out his window while his hand rested on his chin.
"While the destruction of the colony on Selia is clear, quite a large number of citizens have still not been accounted for. Upon further search and rescue that took place earlier today, an away team from deck D had found evidence that some of the colonizers had ran away from the village during initial attack. It is not known whether these citizens are in good or bad condition, nor if they are in a group or scattered, but the Enterprise will continue to scan to planet to find any citizens that might have tried to escape. It is also important to note that the affect this attack will have on my crew will most likely b mentally catastrophic, and I would be prepared to send temporary counselors to aid Counselor Troi if need be.
Picard out"
Finishing the log, the Starfleet captain ran his hands over his head, closing his eyes the screams of the three children he had found echoed through his head. He sighed, getting up to make some tea to try to calm him.
—
Doctor Crusher walked through the halls back to sickbay. Part of her felt relieved, yet most of her felt shocked and hurt. Shocked and hurt at the construction she had recently witnessed, but also at the fact that she'd finally told someone what had been eating her for nearly four years. It seemed though that now she had been left by temporary relief, but an even bigger hole. More questions now filled her brain. 'What if she's dead? Do I let it die with her? How do I face it? What of Wesley?'
Walking into sickbay though, the thoughts subsided as she saw nearly fifteen new patients in the main room. Unlike the ones from this morning though, these civilians seemed to be unharmed. Instead, they were covered in dirt, and looked to be dehydrated.
Her nurse, Alyssa, walked up to her as she looked at her confused.
"I apologize for the call Doctor Crusher, but after a few scans of the planet we found these people within three to ten miles from the colony. While we have beamed most up, the Enterprise is still scanning to see if the detect any more colonizers… why I called you here is because most of these people are extremely dehydrated from walking and running all dat to try and escape. As you know, Selia's dry climate could lead to dehydration fast… which is the case here." She finished as Crusher nodded her head.
"I'm guessing they need blood transfusions? And some of them are so dehydrated that the minerals that are in blood that is materialized isn't enough? So, we need some crew members to donate?" She finished, walking to her office as Alyssa followed.
"Exactly. Not only will the Enterprise-materialized blood be missing the extreme level of nutrients needed, but due to how much blood we materialized this morning and afternoon during rescue operations, I don't believe the Enterprise has enough resources at the moment." The nurse finished explaining as Crusher nodded.
"I'm typing out a request right now to be temporarily seen on all screens. I'll also have the captain announce to message to the crew." She said as Alyssa nodded and left. Finishing the announcement and sending it out, she closed the window to see a file of death records waiting for her signature. Opening the file, she sighed grabbing a PADD and transferring the files to it. Walking to the morgue, she opened the first file. Scanning the male body with a tricorder, she confirmed the death and signed her name. Before submitting it though, she realized it had the man's dwelling location, parents, as well as his other personal information.
A thought entered her mind before she quickly pushed it away.
'No, Beverly' she thought 'don't do it to yourself'
She scanned five more bodies before she couldn't stand the itch any longer.
Walking back to her office, Beverly locked her door with her senior officer code before using the same code to access the main files from Starfleet medical. She had done it before, she wouldn't lie. Not in this way though, this was a whole step further.
Looking through the database, she found the foster care files. She gulped before saying her next command. 'Computer; pull up file in system of Jennifer Howard. Identity 7502."
Up popped the picture of her daughter she had seen a thousand times. It had been the picture they had taken at the foster care agency after she had signed her away. Scrolling down, she found her daughter's birthday, blood type, dwelling location, and the couple whose care she had been under. She opened her desk to pull out an old-fashion writing pad. It had been one of the many Earth customs she had been taught in school on Caldos. Writing the address down, she proceeded to pull up a map of the colony and write where she'd need to beam down. She relinquished sickbay to to Alyssa and proceeded to the transporter room. Coming up with the excuse that she'd forgot her medical pack on the planet, the ensign on duty beamed her down near her location.
"I have to know" she pushed herself, "I have to know if she's gone."
Looking at her paper note, she rounded the dirt block to find a number of small houses. Most destroyed beyond recognition. She read her note again.
5th house down. To the right
Beverly looked at the houses, counting each one as she went…noticing each house looked worse and worse.
By the time she'd reached the third house, she could already see the fifth. It was completely gone. Her throat stung as she fought back tears. Counting over and over as she walked closer, she was having a harder time denying it. Finally, standing in front of the ruble, she began to sob quietly. Whipping out her tricorder, she scanned the small house over and over, searching for any life. Every time came back negative, with the tricorder picking up three bodies every time. After what seemed like the hundredth time, Beverly let out a wail and fell to her knees.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she sobbed. First loud, then quietly.
Mourning her only daughter.
While this chapter didn't really move the story along too much, I plan for the next chapter to have quite a few developments!
Thanks and as always, leave a review!
