Star Trek the Next Generation
Rabies
Chapter 12
Drastic Measures
Gul Devak was deep in thought as he walked down the long corridor that led to their prison rooms. The corridor was dimly lit and most of the rooms had lights on showing they were vacant, but the one's that were dark were occupied. The occupied room had two guards posted by each entry point.
Gul Devak walked up to the last prison room and nodded at the guards. One of the guards turned and pressed a code on the key pad on the left of the door post. After a loud whine the door slid open, only to reveal a darkened room. The guards followed Gul Devak into the room with their weapons ready as a safety precaution. "Computer turn on the lights," Gul Devak said as he walked up to the prisoners.
The prisoners were chained to the wall and blind folded. They were dressed, not in their regular Starfleet uniforms, but in a simple blue cloth that barely covered their bodies. "It is time to wake up," Gul Devak said sternly as he approached the prisoners, "I think you have slept long enough."
"What do you want with us?" One of the prisoners asked angrily as he shivered in the cold room.
"What do I want with you?" Gul Devak asked rhetorically with a smirk on his face. He approached the prisoner that asked the question and quietly answered, "I want what every Cardassian wants; peace."
"If you wanted peace," Another prisoner asked, "Why did you then destroy our star base?"
"We did not start the altercations," Gul Devak snarled at the prisoners. His voice echoed loudly through the large and empty room. Gul Devak began to pace back and forth, "We wouldn't have attacked your precious star base, if you hadn't released that vile virus on Cardassia."
"We didn't create that virus," A female prisoner complained making Gul Devak scowl. "The Romulus did," She continued, "They used a Federation probe using it to mask the virus and then sent it to Cardassia."
"Lies!! It's all lies!!" Gul Devak snarled eyeing all the prisoners, "It is funny how innocent the Federation make themselves to be." Gul Devak walked away from the prisoners and he motioned for one of the guards to come forward. The guard stepped forward and handed Gul Devak a box. He nodded at the guard and turned back to prisoners. He opened the box and pulled a long tube like item. "Now I want you to tell me all the strategic the Federation has toward Cardassia?"
"And you expect us to tell you?" One of the prisoners asked.
"Of course not," Gul Devak chuckled, "Where would your Starfleet pride be if you did tell me?" Gul Devak paused and approached the first prisoner. He scanned the prisoner's neck briefly and when he finished he began to scan the next prisoner. "Right now I am injecting you with a small device," Gul Devak began, "Of course it is banned in the Federation, but right now we are in Cardassian space."
"What does this device do exactly?" A scared prisoner asked.
Gul Devak did not answer right away. He quickly scanned the last prisoner and answered, "This device detects if you are lying and will deliver a certain amount of pain for each lie."
"You won't get away with this," Another prisoner threatened nervously.
"Oh I think I will," Gul Devak said walking toward the doors. He motioned for the guards and said, "Ensign Webber you are first."
When Ensign Webber was brought out of the room, the lights turned off engulfing the room in sudden darkness. One of the female prisoners began to cry, "I'm too young for this."
"The Federation will get us," Another prisoner said reassuringly, "Before you know it, we will get out and be free."
One of the prisoners' sighed and ignored the pain from one of her latest beatings. "What virus are you talking about?" She asked making the other twelve prisoners gasp.
"What do you mean by what virus?" A male prisoner asked shocked.
"I have been here for too long," She sighed feeling no tears come, "I have lost track of time."
"What is your name?" Another prisoner asked.
The female prisoner sighed and had to think. What is my name? I know I know that. Her name seemed to allure her. She sighed again and tried to remember. "My name… my name…"
"You do have a name?" A female prisoner asked gently.
"My name is…" She tried to remember, "My name is..." Suddenly it came to her, "My name is Sito Jaxa."
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Picard sat in his ready room drinking earl grey and reading Moby Dick. He leaned back in his chair and turned the page. Drowsiness began to hit him, which usually happened when he read. He closed his eyes wanting nothing but to catch a few hours of sleep. His tired muscles began to relax themselves and he slowly felt himself drift off to sleep. The door suddenly chimed, making Picard fully awake. He set the book down and said, "Enter."
Riker walked in carrying a pad. Picard stood up and took the pad Riker handed him. "Here is the casualties report," Riker said looking at Picard.
Picard looked sat the pad as he returned to his seat. A flush of emotions exploded in him; rage, sadness, and vengeance. "A third of our fleet gone," Picard said sadly, "Over four thousand dead and all for what?" Picard tossed the pad on his desk and looked at his first officer.
"How many will die in this war?" Riker asked taking a couple steps toward Picard's desk, "What did we gain by getting this sector; there is nothing strategic about it?"
Picard looked at the pad and then at his first officer. He shook his head and answered, "I wish I had an answer Number 1," Picard paused to take a sip of his tea, but before the cup touched his lips he was not thirsty anymore. He set the cup down and looked at Riker saying fearfully, "I wish I did have an answer, but I do know that this is only the beginning."
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Chakotay stared at the screen and exhaled heavily. He knew it was bound to happen; war had begun and the Federation has already claimed its first winnings. The question now would be where the Maquis stood in this. Chakotay saw that most of the Federation ships had been destroyed, but they still had taken the sector.
Seska walked into the room carrying a pot of mushroom. She set it on the table and walked up to Chakotay wrapping her arms around him. She kissed his neck and whispered in his ear, "I made your favorite soup."
"I smelled it when you walked in," Chakotay said suddenly feeling hungry.
"That's good," Seska said kissing Chakotay again, she then set her head on his shoulder, "Let's sit down to eat, because I am starving."
Chakotay turned and reached for Seska's hands. He squeezed them lovingly and then looked at the screen again. Seska looked at the screen and asked, "I wonder why the Federation took that sector? There is no strategic gain in it."
"To be honest," Chakotay said looking at Seska, "I am not sure exactly."
Seska smiled and then said, "Oh come now, let's eat we don't want the food to get cold."