Star Trek Next Generation

Rabies

Chapter 13

The Cure

Sisko turned over in bed mumbling unintelligent words. He was tired, but sleep eluded him. This often occurred and when it did, he would usually stay awake; trying to get as much work done as possible. Sisko yawned loudly and turned over onto his back.

It was now 0500 hours and by 0900 hours, he had to be on the Enterprise to talk about what should happen next. Suddenly Sisko had a feeling as if he weren't alone. "Computer, lights," Sisko said sitting up in bed quickly.

The lights blinded him briefly and when his vision cleared, he saw a middle aged man sitting cross legged on the couch opposite of his bed. The man was wearing an entirely black uniform and had his eyes closed. Sisko reached over and pressed his com-badge that was on the night stand next to his bed. "Sisko to security…" He began.

The man cut him off and said, "I shut off communication in this room, Odo can't hear you."

"Who are you and how do you get in here?" Sisko asked annoyed and tired.

The man smiled briefly and said, "I will answer your first question only," He paused and exhaled thinking of the correct words, "My name is Sloan."

"Sloan," Sisko asked glaring at the unknown intruder, "What do you want?"

Sloan smiled, "I have always wanted to meet you Benjamin Sisko and I want to say it is such an honor meeting you."

"I can't say the same about you," Sisko said yawning slightly.

"You asked what I want," Sloan said smiling at Sisko, "That is a tough question," Sloan paused and began to think, "I want the same thing you want."

"I doubt that," Sisko said looking at Sloan, "We are different people in different positions."

"That is true," Sloan said standing up, "But I do know what we both want."

"And what is that exactly?" Sisko asked wanting Sloan to leave, so he could get some sleep.

"For the war to end," Sloan said looking at Sisko briefly before he returned to his seat on the couch, "Also for a cure for the virus."

"I do want that," Sisko said looking at his replicator because he suddenly got hungry, "Sloan can I ask you a question?"

"Of course," Sloan said giving Sisko a look that made him nervous.

"What do you do?" Sisko asked looking at Sloan hoping to see his reaction; if there would be one at all, "And why are you here?"

"That's more than one question," Sloan frowned, "I work for the Federation," Sloan briefly paused and then continued, "I am here on a special mission." Sloan paused again and took a deep breath, "There are 12 Starfleet members being held hostage by the Cardassians."

"And how do you suppose you are going to rescue them?" Sisko asked.

"Read this," Sloan said handing Sisko a pad that he took out of his pocket.

Sisko began to read and immediately dislike what was written on the pad. Admiral Phillip Brown gave complete control of the Defiant to Sloan. "How long do you suppose you'll be in control for?" Sisko asked not liking the situation one bit.

"As long as it takes," Sloan said knowing how Sisko must feel, but he did not care. He needed this mission to be completed and he needed his own men to do it.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Dr. Crusher glanced at Picard as he walked into sickbay. She gave him a quick smile and finished her scans on Ensign Seymour. "Tell me how you did it?" Picard asked following Dr. Crusher into her office.

"Dr. Bashir and I endlessly worked on a cure for the virus," She said taking a seat in her chair, "After many failing attempts, we realized there was no cure for the virus."

"No cure?" Picard asked looking at Dr. Crusher oddly.

"Here look," Dr. Crusher said turning her computer so Picard see it. "Because we couldn't find a cure for the virus, Dr. Bashir thought he we could find a way to create an anti-body for the virus."

"And how did you do that?" Picard asked looking at the different DNA samples on the computer screen.

"There is a Bajoran plant that has a chemical called trioxinide," Dr. Crusher said typing in her computer to show Picard a picture of the plant.

"The plant looks horrid," Picard frowned looking at the plant that was a green and had black thorns all over it. It was shaped like sunflower, except instead of the yellow petals, it had needles coming out from the center.

Dr. Crusher smiled and said, "Trioxinide is commonly used in Bajoran medicines. To put it simple, trioxinide will not cure the virus, but just makes the effects of the virus dormant."

"And when can we start creating enough vaccines to suffice the infected?" Picard asked following Dr. Crusher walk up to Ensign Marlow. She began to scan him and then grabbed the healing unit.

"We can replicate trioxinide," Dr. Crusher said setting her tool down and helping Ensign Marlow to his feet. "Your burns will be sore for a few hours."

"Thanks," Ensign Marlow said walking out of sickbay.

"Good work Beverly," Picard said taking a few steps from her, "I have to contact Starfleet now."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"How long will this stand for?" Dax asked looking at Sloan in disbelief.

"It depends how long the mission takes," Sloan said leaning forward in his seat, "You will get the Defiant back once the mission is completed."

"And what will we do until then?" Julian asked knot believing that Sloan was bringing crew members to replace the Defiant crew.

"You will all be confined to quarters," Sloan said briefly looking at everyone in the room.

Dax looked at Sisko, but he was looking at the table in front of him. He was obviously deep in thought and not liking the situation. Sloan stood up and looked at everyone in the briefing room, before he said, "Dismissed."

Sloan waited for everyone to leave and when the briefing room was empty, he walked into the bridge. He scanned the bridge briefly and sat in the Captain's chair. He looked at the view screen and said, "Helm, activate the cloak and take us to the Kremlin system; warp 6."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Picard shook his head in dismay as he stepped on the bridge. Riker watched him approach. "Sir is there a problem?" Riker asked as Picard stepped close to him.

"In fact there is number one," Picard silently said sat in his chair and continued, "Apparently the Defiant is going after the hostages."

"What did they say about the cure for the virus?" Riker asked looking at Picard.

"Well Admiral Ross said that because the Defiant has to go in cloaked, we have to be the ones to go to Cardassia."

"Us, meaning the Enterprise?" Riker asked raising his eyebrow in disbelief.

"Yes the Enterprise will go to Cardassia and will release the virus into the planets atmosphere," Picard said feeling the desire to yawn, but by doing so would be quite uncharacteristic for a Captain.

"What if we fail?" Riker asked.

"I don't want to go there," Picard said standing up, "I will be in my ready room. You have the bridge number one."

Riker watched Picard step off the bridge and when he did so, he turned and said, "Helm take us to Cardassia, warp 8."

Riker then turned to face Troi and asked, "Do you think this sounds as crazy as I think it does?"

Troi looked at Riker and smiled briefly. "Captain Picard knows what he is doing. I do agree that it is a crazy idea," Troi said, "But we are at war Will, sometimes we need to do the drastic."

"I know," Riker said scratching his beard, "And think what will happen if we do succeed and the virus is fixed, it will hopefully end this."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Chakotay turned to face Belanna. She looked at him and asked, "What do we do now? The ships we requested were destroyed by the Cardassians and we are low on supplies."

"What do you think?" Chakotay said taking a step toward the computer screen that showed the Federation, the Romulan, Klingon, and Cardassian borders.

Belanna looked at the screen briefly, before she glanced at Chakotay saying, "We don't have enough ships to attack, I say we continue patrolling our borders."

"I agree with you," Chakotay said turning to face Belanna. He looked at her and then asked, "Did you here that the Federation has found a cure for the violence?"

"No I did not know," Belanna said looking at the computer screen once again, "I guess that's why the Enterprise is on route to Cardassia, they have just approached the Cardassian border."

"You do know the consequences if they don't succeed," Chakotay said cracking his knuckles on the wall, "This could get ugly."