Wesley checked the scanner and looked out the window. "We're approaching the ship."
"Scanning it." Charlotte studied the control screen. "Found him. Can you get a transporter lock?"
"No. I don't think he's got his comm badge, and the signal is too weak. There seems to be some sort of dampening field or force field over him."
Charlotte glanced at the new transporter beacons. "I knew we'd need them, but how to get them down there… Have they noticed us yet?"
"They can't detect us at all."
"Good work." Charlotte thought for a moment. "I need to get down there and set them up without anyone noticing. Wes, could you keep them occupied for a few minutes?"
Wesley paled. "How? You want me to engage them?"
"Only for a few minutes. Knock out their engines or something. They're pretty small, and their weapons…" She tapped the controls and looked at the screen. "You can dodge torpedos, can't you?"
"I think so, but…"
Charlotte grabbed her bag. "At the same time you beam me down, try to get their attention. Keep your eyes on the transporter lock. When it gets stronger, beam us aboard, knock their weapons out and get out of here. Got it?"
Wes looked terrified, but he nodded. "Got it."
Charlotte stood up and took a phaser from it's holder. Stuffing it in her waistband, she slung the bag over her shoulder. "Beam me as close to Data as possible. Energize!"
Wes gulped and did as he was told.
Charlotte looked around the ship as she materialised. It was dark, but she could make out Data, lying on a bed. When she approached, she was pushed back by a field surrounding it.
She examined the controls in the corner and pressed a few buttons. The field dropped and she ran to Data.
"Data! Data, my love, are you awake?" she whispered, shaking him gently. His eyes stayed closed. Charlotte tried to ignore her hammering heart and the rising panic, and examined him for injuries.
There were marked on his skin where someone had tried to puncture it, and a needle laid discarded on a bench, its end bent. Nothing serious-looking. She kissed his hand, grabbed his badge which was lying nearby, and started laying out the beacons. As she did, she heard the sound of weapons fire, and the ship shook a little. She hoped Wesley was able to dodge them.
"What are you doing? Who are you?"
Charlotte turned to face the owner of the angry voice. It was too dark to see his face. "I'm Charlotte Hope, from the USS Enterprise. I've come to take back my friend."
He stepped forward, exposing red skin lined with deep wrinkles. "I cannot allow you to do this. How did you get on?"
"Never mind about that. I'm taking him back, whether you like it or not."
The alien pressed a button on the wall. "Suula to Bridge! Intru…"
Charlotte quickly pulled out her phaser, closed her eyes, and shot. The alien crumpled to the floor, stunned, and she quickly finished with the beacons. She pressed a button on the side and took Data's hand.
They materialised on the shuttle, and Charlotte left Data on the floor and took her place at the console.
"Now what?" Wesley cried as he made the shuttle veer to the left to avoid a torpedo. He sounded panicked.
"Take out their weapons! Quickly!"
"That might be difficult…"
"Try! Meanwhile, I'll beam back down and try to take out their warp drive."
She armed herself with a second phaser, pinned on Data's badge, and beamed down to the ship's engineering section. As she materialised, red aliens jumped away. She held up her phasers and gestured threateningly at them. "Nobody move. I'm armed and dangerous. Now, show me to the controls for warp drive.
One of them, who she presumed to be the Chief Engineer, stepped forward angrily.
"I will shoot you," Charlotte said calmly.
He sneered and stepped forward again, and Charlotte shot him.
"Don't worry, he's not dead, but you might not be so lucky. Now, warp controls?"
One of them pointed to a panel, and Charlotte shot it, causing sparks to fly everywhere. Amidst the cries of outrage, she decided to shoot a few more things for good measure. Sparks flew all over the room, and one console burst into flame.
"Wesley, get me back up there now!"
As she began to materialise, she shot into general direction of the warp core.
"Warp is down!" she heard, and then she was back on the shuttle.
She was just in time to see Wesley deliver a volley of torpedos to a certain spot on the ship. All firing ceased.
"We did it!" Charlotte cried, scanning the ship quickly. "They've lost warp drive and weapons. They should be dead in the water for a little while. Let's get out of here!"
They turned the shuttle around and headed by the way they came.
Later, Charlotte left her seat and crouched next to Data, who was still lying on the floor. She carefully felt his back and pressed a switch, and the android sat up stiffly. He looked around, confused.
"Are you all right?" Charlotte asked worriedly.
Data's eyes finally settled on her face. "I am undamaged, but…"
Charlotte threw her arms around him joyfully. "I was so worried!"
"I am confused as to how I got on this shuttle."
Charlotte pulled away. "I'll tell you later. Right now, we have Captain Picard to worry about. I wonder if Dr Crusher has the cure yet?"
"Oh, that reminds me!" Wesley got up from the controls and Charlotte hurriedly took his place. "I have to fix the shuttle so that Enterprise will detect us."
Data got up and took his place at the other panel. Charlotte beamed at him.
"Mission accomplished!"