Emelle walked around Deanna's office, slowly observing the tasteful decorations throughout the room. She came to a stop when she came to a small photo on one of the side tables near the couch. She looked at the happy faces in the picture, and smiled. "Sorry about that." Her thoughts were interrupted as Deanna walked into the room. When she noticed the frame Emelle just softly placed on the table, she smiled and walked over to pick up the solid frame. "That was taken on my last birthday. That's Alexander, Worf's son, and that is my mother, Lwazanna. You'll actually get the opportunity to meet her, seeing as though she's one of the representatives involved in the investigation."

"So she's an empath too?" Emelle asked as she lowered herself to the chair, delightfully surprised it was more comfortable than it looked.

"She is telepathic, which is one of the reasons the Federation asked her to participate." She looked down at Emelle before placing the frame down and sitting on the couch. "I know it will make you uncomfortable, but the council will not be as understanding as I have. They will rely on her report to determine whether or not you're being truthful."

Emelle slowly nodded. "I guess it would be unrealistic to assume they'd just take my word for it." Deanna smiled. "It's to be expected."

Deanna paused for a moment. "Were you told why you are to meet with me daily until we arrive at Star base 121?"

Emelle nodded. "You want to know everything before the council does, just so your captain isn't taken off guard."

"No, we want to prepare you for the kind of questions they will ask you, so that you're not taken off guard." She folded her hands in her lap and caught Emelle's full attention. "One of the Admirals will not be hesitant to ask very personal questions. I can guarantee that there will be times when he will strike a nerve, and it is important that you can refrain from lashing out at him."

Emelle raised her eyebrows, slightly amused. "Are you saying I can't control my temper?"

"You've been aboard almost a week, and you've attacked five officers so far. And I heard of your friendly sparring match with Worf..."

"Oh come on. Those instances were misunderstandings. And Worf got in a few shots if I remember correctly." Emelle retorted, slowly rounding her shoulder.

"Still. Admiral Jellico will take it as an opportunity to accuse you of being...uncontrollable, disrespectful, arrogant...These are not commendable attributes."

"That a bit of a stretch."

Deanna shrugged. "He's lead council, and can suggest whatever he wants."

"That doesn't quite seem fair." Emelle stated as she leaned her elbows on her forearms. "What exactly do they want to know?"

"They will ask you about the relationships you've developed with the various cultures in this sector, they will want to know who would be most likely to step into the power vacuum left by the Cardassians." She paused, knowing she was about to hit a sensitive issue. "They will also want to know how you came to be in this sector, and about any other survivors from the capsules." Looking at Emelle's profile, Deanna could see the change on her face as her eyebrows furrowed together. "Were there others, Emelle?" The young woman sat back in her chair, refusing to meet Deanna's gaze, but didn't answer. "I can assure you this will be a question, and I'm afraid you won't have the option to not answer."

"Yes." Came Emelle's soft answer. "There were six of us; four from the capsule I was in, and two from the other."

"What happened to them?"

Emelle stared straight ahead of her, finding the painting of a sunset, and stared at it hard. "The two from the other capsule, Rod and Catherine, were killed after we were...thawed. Turns out, they had been infected with the virus, and the Cardassians were able to detect it. When they discovered how infectious it was, they killed them."

"I should tell you, that Dr. Crusher informed me about the relationship you had with the three other individuals in the capsule. I hope that's alright."

"It wasn't a secret." Emelle replied with a soft smile.

"What was your relationship with them?"

"When Helen's husband died, I helped her with her two small children, Robyn and Daniel."

"What happened to them?"

Emelle closed her eyes. "Helen was killed, soon after so was Robyn. In an attempt to save his life, I claimed Daniel was my son. The Cardassian guards believed me, and they spared him." When she opened her eyes, tears were beginning to form.

Deanna, feeling the pang of hurt, continued. "What happened to him?"

Emelle dropped her head. "The Cardassians used humans to fight some of their battles with the Sodier and other military cultures, so that no Cardassian lives would be lost. I was forced into one of these groups called Tar-Gahk. Anyway, we were ordered to a planet where we were to assassinate a Sodier military leader. Needless to say, the Cardassians were shocked when we returned, successful." She rubbed her hands together. "What started as a group of 50. There were only 18 of us who returned. We were then repeatedly used to execute these types of missions, and in return our families were left unharmed."

Deanna could see the haunted look in Emelle's eyes. "You stayed there so that nothing would happen to Daniel."

"If he wasn't there, I wouldn't have..." Emelle looked finally to Deanna, and shook her head.

Deanna understood. "What would have happened if you tried to escape?"

Emelle scoffed. "They had devices implanted in our system so that they would be able to track us, and if we tried to escape, they'd be able to release a toxin into our system. Even still, where would I go?" Deanna sighed, totally not prepared for the intensity of what she was hearing. "Mine and Daniel's device was removed two years later, and I was able to take Daniel and put him in the care of people I trusted whole heartedly."

"You were living in a prison that whole time?"

"A camp. Which is pretty much the same thing I guess."

"You were able to keep yourself...safe from the other prisoners." Deanna asked, unsure she wanted the answer.

Emelle knew what Deanna was hinting towards, and smiled sadly at her discomfort. "I was the only woman in the group, and the other members of my crew felt obligated to protect me. When we kept returning from our missions, we earned a certain level of respect, I received a promotion to Commander. By this time there were only five of us, and everyone was petrified to even come near us or our families. There was this one guy who tried to...advance on me." She smiled slightly. "He ended up unable to ever hurt a woman the way he tried to with me."

"Oh, my." Deanna replied. Emelle smirked. "So, who did you leave Daniel with?"

Emelle's smile faded as she continued. "There was a planet called Debore, where I had grown...close with the Prime Minister and his family. There were warp capable, and were respected throughout the quadrant as a peaceful culture, but when prompted, were formidable warriors. Even the Cardassians respected them and often called on them when trying to suppress rebellions throughout the sector."

Deanna lowered her voice. "I've noticed you said 'was' and 'were'. What happened to them?"

Emelle closed her eyes again and bit down on her lower lip. Deanna reached out and grasped Emelle's hands. "About a year and a half ago I was told from a friend that the Deborians refused to help the Cardassians destroy a growing Sodier rebellion. An attack that would have slaughtered hundreds of thousand of innocent lives. So the Cardassians destroyed them." A quite sob escaped her throat. "They were all killed, and there was nothing I could do. Afterwards, I was discharged from my crew by the Cardassian military with their 'sympathy'."

"I'm so sorry." The words hardly seemed enough, but it was all Deanna could offer.

With a sniff, Emelle shook her head and waited for her voice to return. "I then went with a group of individuals fighting both the Sodier and the Cardassians. We were able to destroy outposts, complexes, and storage shelters, anything that would slow either one down. That's where I got the Volkerie."She smiled. "I was still respected as a Commander, and I naturally stepped into a position of authority in the rebellion. That pretty much leads up to when we met."

"Emelle," Deanna said softly. "I'm-"

"Bridge to counsellor Troi."

Deanna closed her eyes in frustration, and dropped her head. "Troi here."

"Counsellor, I need you and Commander Pinces to report to the bridge immediately."

Both Deanna and Emelle looked surprised at each other. "Yes sir, we're on our way." She tapped her badge and stood when Emelle walked toward the door. "Are you ok?"

"Ah, yes." Deanna nodded and the two exited her office, and headed toward the bridge.

"Shields down to 17 percent!" Worf called as the ship was hit again, causing the ensign at the helm to fall from her post, her arm breaking as she landed.

"We need our warp engines, Mr. La Forge. Now!" Picard demanded over the comm.

"I'm tr...ing sir, but no...ing's working!" Came Geordi's broken reply.

Just then they were hit again, and the turbo lift doors opened. Deanna and Emelle came staggering out of the lift and down the ramp, Deanna moving to replace the injured ensign. Emelle staggered towards a chair, but the ship was struck again, and she fell to her knees.

"Shields are off line!" Expecting the final shots to take them out, the bridge crew waited but nothing happened. "Sir. We're being hailed."

"On screen Mr. Worf." Picard replied as he stood and straighten his jacket. Suddenly, the face of a man appeared on the view screen. His face was lined with intricate tattoos, and his forehead and bridge of his nose was ridged. Emelle immediately shifted so that her face would not be visible. Picard went to speak but the man held up his hand.

"We know who you are, Federation operatives. I'm Captain Che'Ku, of the warship Tom'ler. You're not welcome here. We are, however, willing to discuss the terms of your surrender."

Picard regarded the man before looking around the bridge. "Would you give me a moment?" The male on the screen nodded, and then his image disappeared. "Commander Pinces, do you know that man?"

Emelle shook her head as she pulled herself up. "He's a Ku'Mak. Which would mean it's probably for the better if he didn't know I was here."

"Not exactly a friend of yours I take it." Will stated as he moved to stand next to Picard.

Emelle grimaced slightly. "Three of us managed to escape from a Ku'Mak prison years ago. I don't know him, but it might be possible that he knows of me. Still-"

"Sir." Worf interrupted. "We're being hailed again."

Picard looked at his senior staff. "I'm open for suggestions." But it was too late. Suddenly Picard was beamed away.

Will looked out the viewer and saw the ship start to leave. "Worf lock onto his signal now!"

Worf tried desperately, but when the ship entered warp, he banged his fist against the console. "There as not enough time. I'm sorry sir."

Will looked from Worf down to Deanna, fear etched on her face. He could feel his anger raging inside him. Closing his eyes momentarily, he steeled his emotions. "Mr. Data. I want you and lieutenant Crusher in engineering, I want warp engines as soon as possible." Data nodded and left the bridge. "Worf, shields and long range sensors are your first priority. Commander." He looked at Emelle before moving to the ready room. Emelle took a deep breath and followed him. When the doors closed behind her, Will paced the small room. "Do you have any idea where they might take him?"

"They've got countless planets under their control. Last I heard they were still advancing on the planets the Cardassians used to control."

"Think!" Will shouted at her. "You say you know this sector, that you know the people in it. Where would they take him?"

"I don't know!" Emelle met his glare, then raised a finger. "Yet. Let me look through the data you obtained during the attack. I might be able to find something that might lead me to where they took Captain Picard." Will stared at her. "It can't hurt to let me try."

Will nodded. "Have Mr. Worf give you whatever you need." Emelle nodded and left the room.