Author's Note: So here I am posting another chapter in the same day. I did not plan this. However, what can I say, the writing bug got me! :D Anyhow, this is another shorter chapter, but it's better than nothing... I hope! I hope you like it!

Chapter 10

Beverly

The creatures in the giant suits were surrounding her from all sides, pressing her towards everything that she had dreaded since departing this dreadful place. She remembered this from last time she was here. They never showed their faces to her, unless it was to tend to their sick or wounded. At least through that she knew that they were humans.

Jean Luc hadn't had that comfort. He had been so baffled and frustrated with not knowing what species was behind the suit. The only time they had been alone had been in the cell, which Beverly had known was always monitored. She was unable to tell him anything when they were there.

Not that it had mattered in the end anyway. His memory was gone.

The suit in front of her stopped suddenly and she stumbled into him for a second before stepping back and regaining her balance.

Beverly had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she hadn't noticed the entrance to the native's home approaching. The person in the front stepped forward and banged on the giant metal trapdoor in the ground. A minute later, a small hatch opened and a voice spoke to the person in front, the words lost in the wind. The person in front said something back to them, some sort of password, she supposed. Maybe this was some sort of headquarters for their people?

The trap door swung open and their group moved forward again. All that she had seen of this place was underground. As far as she knew, that was the only way they could live.

Beverly glimpsed a door that was more modern than anything else that she had seen there yet. Of course the suits stopped in front of that door and parted to let her through.

The suit behind her who was holding her bags handed them to her and pointed towards the door.

Hesitantly, Beverly approached the door. When she got within a step of it, the door swung open. Taking a deep breath, she walked through the door.

Jean Luc

Jean Luc, Deanna and Will sat in the meeting room, staring stiffly at each other. Jean Luc had called this meeting together to discuss the disappearance of Beverly and what they could do to get her back.

Upon Deanna's insistence, he had included Will in this meeting. Jean Luc was still unsure about how much they could do together and hadn't wanted to include more people, but with respect to Deanna's wish, he invited Will.

Now here they were, not that this meeting would change his mind. He had already decided what he was going to do.

Will cleared his throat and Jean Luc and Deanna turned to him.

"So what are we going to do to get Beverly back?"

"I already reported her as absent, taking a vacation on her home planet, Caldos II." Jean Luc said, averting the question. They probably wouldn't like his plan, but it was the only way.

Deanna spoke up. "Why not report her as missing?"

"We will get her back, but we can't have Starfleet looking too. Not only that, but if she doesn't have proof for being blackmailed or forced into leaving, she could be accused of being a deserter and might never get a job back."

"But how do we get her back?" Will asked, pressing the question that Jean Luc had tried to delay.

"I also reported myself as taking an undefined amount of time on vacation to Caldos II. There is a private shuttle booked which will be flown to Caldos II by either a crewmember or by autopilot."

"What about – " Deanna interrupted.

Jean Luc continued through her question. "I am leaving you, Will, in charge of the ship. Counsellor Troi can focus on the rescue mission. I trust you can take care of my ship while I am gone."

"Sir!" Will said, jumping up from his seat, "I cannot allow you to do that! We can find her together!"

Jean Luc held up his hand. "I do have a plan, number one. Please calm yourself."

Will sat back down and was quiet, allowing Jean Luc to continue.

"Whoever was on the planet erased my memory for a reason. They wanted to protect themselves from whatever I remembered, but they also didn't kill me for some reason.

"I must trust that what held them back from killing me before is still enough now. I am going to go to the planet pretending as though I remember everything that happened on the planet."