By Herside
Disclaimers: Part 1
Chapter 8: Without a Trace
###################################################################################################
Deanna Troi had just come into the Crusher's quarters and proclaimed while Picard was present that not only had her son survived the quake, but that he was in mortal danger.
"What do you mean he is alive? They told us he was dead."
"I mean I can't prove it, at least not yet."
"Deanna this isn't funny." Beverly said, her cheeks turning an angry red, the warmth rising to them like a low simmering flame. She pulled her teal jacket tighter clenching against the unknown cold she felt.
"Beverly I would never play on your emotions." She pulled her to the seated area as Picard sat in a chair next to them.
"Wesley came to me in a dream...and . . ."
"A dream! You're getting my hopes up based on a dream you had...?" Deanna dropped her head to her lap unable to answer Beverly's vehement accusal. Picard, grabbed the doctor's hand and settled her back down into her seat.
"I am betraying Wesley's trust. But I feel I have to in order to save his life."
"Betraying his trust? Deanna I am his mother."
"Yes, but Wesley is 17, and although not yet of legal adult age, his status as a Starfleet Cadet makes him an adult."
"Counselor if you have information that can help us locate Cadet Crusher it is your duty as a ..." Deanna halted his words with a wave of her hand, knowing in this case there were two instances when the Captain could be overruled. One was by the power of the person seated next to him with medical authority of sound body necessity, and she being the other..."indicating proxy of sound mind."
"It is my duty as ships counselor to maintain privacy Captain. Please don't ask me to jeopardize that."
"He is not a crewmember."
"He is a Starfleet officer...please don't quibble over this Captain, if I tell you this it could jeopardize Wesley's life. Please don't ask me to do that."
"Deanna." his warning tone offered and she sensed more than the stern admonish of her Captain but that of the same desperation that Beverly felt to find her son. It was almost as if to him, the loss was too much to bear, more burden than his very soul could take. While his words were laced with anger, his eyes pleaded for her to relinquish her burden.
"Please...I can only tell you that I can sense from him. To ask more of that from me or Wesley puts him in dire jeopardy, he is leaving this place and he is in grave danger."
"Leaving? With whom...Deanna where is he?" She held fast to the doctor's hand.
"Slavers," She whimpered. "He's been kidnapped..." At those words Beverly paled, and nearly became catatonic, under her breath mumbling a litany of words which only became clear as the first tear drop came cascading from her blue eyes.
"Nooo nonononononnn...Oh God...not again..." she whispered barely audible to those around her.
Location Unknown ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
His chest still hurt, it was difficult to draw in breath and every slight movement they made to secure him hurt him further. His exhausted eyes fluttered open briefly to see that he was in some kind of chamber. Air pulsed around him. His limbs ached and throbbed, and his head felt like a jackhammer had settled in. Still he could hear voices. A myriad of faces has surrounded him in his bouts of consciousness, but it wasn't the faces he found most terrifying. It was the voices. The voices of the captain angrily arguing and the voice of his mother; comforting, familiar but terrified. But more voices echoed into his mind.
"Heal him now."
"Release from our atmosphere, deliver the goods and we will transport him to you. We will send one of our healers with you to heal him."
"You do not dictate, you follow orders or we will destroy you, and your world."
"The boy is powerful, he is near death, and we can finish him off, end his miserable existence." Wesley felt an immense pain well up in him from his chest and spread down through his limbs, he tried to fight the urge to cry out but his eyes were forced out as blood streamed from his nose in rivulets. As gasp escaped his lips and he felt him start to tremble as hands moved back and forth over the tube that encased his body. A silent scream escaped his nearly crushed trachea as tears of agony filled his eyes. His mind screamed for them to stop, but the assault continued until he felt blood well up in his mouth. A rancid coppery brine, thick and warm.
"Cease. Let him be. He is of no use to me if he is dead or permanently injured. Prove to me he has the gift and I will pay you and leave."
The being waved his hand over Wesley and his body settled back down. He panted heavily, his eyes falling closed as a sweat covered brow creased in pain. A shuddering breath sent him back to the brink of unconsciousness again moments before a whispered plea faint as air floated on his mind.
A blinding light that caused his head to ache, surrounded him.
"Too bright...it hurts..." his mind screamed as he tried to force his eyes shut but found it impossible as something, some device held them wide. But as his mind relayed what his voice could not seemed to dim almost at his whim.
"You will be healed young one and you will serve us well." At those words a new terror filled Wesley.
"Please...help me. Please ...his mind cried." he prayed to anyone that could hear him, anyone that could help him. It was sudden and fleeting, but he felt himself floating. That feeling that was unmistakable.
A transporter.
His atoms were scattering throughout the universe in a shimmer of orange energy. Had the Enterprise heard his cry for help? Would he be saved, the pain finally ending, back safe in the arms of his beloved starship? What felt like an eternity lay before him as his injured body began to materialize and he found himself again unable to move.
His body landed with a thunk on something very hard and cold.
His prayer denied.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What's wrong, What's right? I need your insight?