10. ANSWERS

Riker, Troi and B'rent beamed down in the Research Center of Cirri Nine. The building was efficiently looking and modernly equipped. They were showed Dr. Ender's office at the second floor and there they headed, determined to find out the missing pieces of the puzzle.

The woman had been informed of their arrival and was waiting for them. "What can I do for you again, gentlemen?" she asked with her usual unpleasant tone of voice.

"Doctor" Riker greeted her. "First of all, let me compliment you for this wonderful structure".

"Thank you. It's been a hard work".

"You have very sophisticated equipment" B'rent put in. "Which kind of research do you perform?"

"Oh, well, it involves the sun radiations. We were able to isolate some effects of tissues self regeneration" Ender explained. "We're now developing a new kind of sensor array that will substantially reduce the duration of our research".

"Tissues self regeneration" B'rent repeated. "Very interesting".

"Can we return to the reason of your visit, now?"

"We would like to ask you some questions" Deanna replied, approaching the scientist's desk. "Can we sit down?" she asked politely.

"Of course" Ender answered, waving to the chairs.

"When we discovered the cave, last day, you told us that you had never investigated it before. Is it right?" Troi wanted to know.

"Yes, Counselor".

"That means that you had never seen that place before, hadn't you?" Deanna asked again.

"I hadn't" the colonist confirmed.

"Are you sure, Kristina? Think about it" Riker interjected.

"Captain Riker" Ender replied very harshly "I assure you I had never been there since I first landed on this planet. So I cannot have seen that damned cave!"

After that little outburst, the scientist addressed Deanna again, trying to calm down. "However, I'm happy to see that you're feeling better now, Counselor".

Troi nodded in confirmation and waited for Riker's next move.

"Doctor, according to our information you have been a patient of the Psychological Care Planetary Center in Denver for three months, before coming here. Is that correct?" William asked, with intentional provocative tone.

The woman reacted vehemently. "How dare you?" she exclaimed, slamming a hand on the crystal surface of the desk. "My private life has nothing to do with what is happening here!"

"It's not true" B'rent intervened. Deanna found his self confidence amusing. In that circumstance she was absolutely unable to say for sure if Ender was lying or not.

The young Salusian stood and approached the colonist. "I'm detecting a sense of duplicity" he explained. "It's true, you're convinced of having never been in the cave, but at the same time you saw it before. That place terrorizes you. It makes you revive a painful experience of your past".

"Stop it!" the woman shouted, covering her ears with both hands. "Who the hell are you?"

"Dr. Ender" Riker said "this man, that looks like a human, is from a planet called Salusa Secundus, with which the Federation is negotiating membership. He's got very particular powers and be sure that, one way or another, he's going to find out the truth. So, why not being cooperative and save time and effort?"

"I just want to help you, Kristina" B'rent went on in a gentle voice. "I can sense a big pain inside you".

Deanna could feel it as well, now that B'rent had gotten it to the surface. It was a very strong feeling, deeply stored in the soul and locked inside it. For that reason Troi was not able to sense it before.

"Five years ago" Kristina Ender began to tell her story "I got the Zontac Fever. It's a terrible disease, as you know, that causes delirium and hallucinations. Even after healing its psychological side effects last for years. For this reason I was hospitalized, to undergo a rehabilitation therapy".

Riker was listening to the story with full attention, still he could not find the connection yet.

"I was excluded from the colonization program. Years of study and hard work wasted due to an absurd disease" Ender went on, crying. "Finally, after two years of fighting hallucinations and nightmares, I was declared officially healed and my request to take part in the program again, was accepted".

"And so you're here" Troi concluded.

"Yes, I'm here. I thought it was over. But the hallucinations have returned".

"What?" Riker asked, confused.

"The cave" B'rent exclaimed. He seemed to have clarified the situation. "You saw it there? In a hallucination?"

"Yes, at least I believe so" Ender replied. "It could also be a dream, for what I know. I remember it only vaguely. Images, sensations, noises".

"Kristina" Deanna interjected "I want you to remember everything possible of what you saw inside the cave. We could try with hypnosis as well, if necessary. I also would like that our chief medical officer examined you, if you agree".

"All right" the woman replied, completely exhausted and without the strength to fight any longer.