Star Trek the Next Generation

Rabies

Chapter 5

Preparation and Help

Dellar looked at the screen on the wall and then glanced at his commanding officer. Dellar's commanding officer approached him with a sly look on his face. "The Federation is scared," He said.

Dellar glanced at the screen and noticed four more blue dots joining a group of blue dots by Earth, representing a fleet of Federation ships. Dellar noticed four other areas where there was a grouping of Federation ships. There were six more Federation ships patrolling the Neutral Zone.

M'Tall looked at the screen and then turned to Dellar. "Soon the virus will have the Federation in chaos," M'Tall said as Dellar looked at the screen, "And then it will be our time to act."

"What about Romulus?" Dellar asked turning to M'Tall, "The virus has attacked Romulus."

"I know," M'Tall said he took a step toward Dellar and said, "Romulus is lost, but we have everything under control. There is no way the virus will leave Romulus."

"It should have never happened this way." Dellar said turning away from the screen. He began to pace around the room with his hands behind his back.

"The main goal," M'Tall said walking up to Dellar, "Is that the virus has entered Federation space. Losing Romulus to the destruction of the Federation is a small price I am willing to pay."

"The Federation will not go down without a fight," Dellar said as he paced around the room, "Plus what about the Klingons? Don't forget they are allies and the Klingons will fight us if needed."

"Don't worry," M'Tall said, not liking Dellar's worries, "By the time we attack, the Federation will be crippled. The Klingons will not be able to help them. Plus who says the virus will not affect their space too."

"So soon we will have the whole Alpha Quadrant attacking us, because of the virus," Dellar said not liking what he was thinking.

"You worry too much," M'Tall said placing a friendly hand on Dellar's shoulder, "We will be victorious."

"And you are careless," Dellar said walking away from M'Tall and out of the conference room.

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Picard walked into the brig and saw the guard posted there gripping his phaser tightly, with a frightened look on his face. When the guard saw Picard enter with Worf, and Troi, he relaxed but didn't lower his phaser. Picard saw the two infected crew members approach the force field and then growl when it prevented them from going any further. "They have been doing that ever since they woke up," The guard said as Picard approached the cell.

Worf grabbed his phaser ready for anything. "I don't sense anything coming from them," Troi said shaking her head unhappily.

"That's because they are dead," Picard said watching the infected stare at him as if waiting for his next move, "The virus killed them."

Picard took a step away from the force field. The infected crew members flung themselves on the force field. Picard looked at Troi and she looked back at him terrified. Suddenly the force field disappeared and one of the infected dove on top of Picard. Picard cried out in surprise and grabbed the infected head, preventing him from biting.

There was a whine of a phaser being shot and the infected fell on top of Picard. Picard pushed off the infected crew member and Worf helped him to his feet. "That was unexpected," Picard said looking at the infected crew member's motionless on the floor.

"Are you okay," Troi asked looking at Picard.

"Yeah I am fine," He said looking at the corpses of his officers. "I guess it is time for me to change my uniform," He said eying his bloody uniform. He glanced at Worf and Troi and then turned to walk out, "Mr. Worf," Picard said by the doorway, "Get those bodies off my ship."

"Yes sir," Worf said as Picard and Troi walked out of the brig.

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"Julian," Miles said frustrated, "We will be approaching the space station soon and you have not said anything else other than the virus."

"Miles," Julian said shaking his head in disbelief. He knew he was making a big deal, but this virus was a big deal. "What would happen if the Federation found a ship with technology you have never seen before, you would want to see as son as possible."

"I would want to I guess," Miles said turning to face Julian, "But the chances of me getting to see the ship are very slim."

"Both of you guys are lame," Kira said with a strained smile, "You guys argue like a married couple."

Captain Sisko smiled slightly, but then exhaled in annoyance. Listening to Dr. Bashir and Miles argue, was tiring, but amusing at the same time. "Sir," Nog said turning to his Captain, "There is incoming message from General Mortough."

"Put it through," Sisko said sitting straight and alert in his chair.

"I wanted to warn you of a plot," General Mortough said in a serious tone, "There are reports of a Romulan activity; big activity."

"Meaning what?" Sisko said slightly knowing what the Klingon was talking about.

"Meaning you should watch your back," Mortough said, "Recently we have found a Romulan ship powerless by our border. When we tried to claim it as a prize, but there was a catch. The Romulan ship was carrying a deadly virus. After we found that out, we destroyed the ship and made sure there were no signs of the virus remaining."

"That's exactly what happened to the Enterprise," Sisko said leaning forward, "Picard found a powerless Romulan ship too."

"Captain," Mortough said with a warrior grin, "The Klingons will help post ships in every fleet you are organizing. If the Romulans are certainly behind this, we will be ready."

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Irksome screams were heard as the infected ran around biting and eating other Romulans. Green blood flowed through the streets, like streams of water during a thunder storm. Maimed corpses lay untended to in the streets of Romulus. Residents were ordered to stay in doors and lock everything.

Soldiers tried to fight off the infected, but there were hordes of them and soon the soldiers were routed. Other brave residents gathered together in hope to fight the infected, but it was in vain. The virus had spread too quickly. As soon as one was killed, two more would show up. Soon there infected would find way to break into the houses and bite the uninfected. The living hoped help would come, but it never would. Romulus, the beautiful headquarters of the Romulans, would be left alone too perish.

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Picard paced around the bridge with a determined, but sad look on his face. It hurt him that he had to dump the infected crew members in a probe and then destroy it once it was in space. But he didn't want the virus to spread in anyway; especially when there was little or no knowledge of the virus. Troi looked at Picard and then at the Riker with a sad look on her face. "Captain," Worf said as he typed on his council. Picard stopped pacing and turned to him. Worf looked up and said, "The Defiant has just docked the station."

"Good," Picard said as he continued to pace around the bridge, "Maybe soon we will be getting some answers."

"I hope so too," Riker said standing up. He straightened out his uniform and said, "All this waiting is getting on my nerves."

"Sir," Worf said eyeing Picard and his council simultaneously, "We are getting a message from with in Romulan space. It is directed to you."

Picard and Riker looked at each other strangely. Riker shrugged his shoulder and said, "This should be interesting."

"Put it through," Picard ordered.

"Captain Picard," A female Romulan said, "I am glad to be able to reach you. I have something very urgent to discuss with you."

"And what that may be…" Picard paused and said, "I don't know who you are."

"My name is Jeral… Lieutenant Jeral," She said, "I want to tell you everything I know about the virus."

"The virus?" Picard asked looking at Riker and said, "How do you know to contact me to talk about the virus? Even more so, how do you know about the virus at all?"

"Captain," Jeral said leaning forward in her seat, "I wish to speak to you about these matters in person. I will be approaching the Neutral Zone in two hours."

"Lieutenant Jeral, why should I believe you?" Picard said taking a few steps forward, "Give me something that will build some trust here; anything at all."

"How about I tell you who my father is?" Jeral said, "His name was Jarrock, Admiral Jarrock."