They hadn't long to wait.
"Offworld pirates." A deep, male voice echoed throughout the engine room. "You are surrounded. Leave the prisoners and proceed peacefully to your ships, and you will not be harmed."
Devender moved to grab Deanna by the hair. She ducked at the last moment, and kicked the invader hard in the midsection. Then all hell broke loose. Three shapes whizzed through the air from the balcony, knocking into several of the guards. Phaser fire erupted from all sides of the room, taking out a number of invaders before they knew what was happening. Picard backed against the wall and kicked another guard's gun from her hands. Will tripped one by scissoring its legs from under it. Geordi head-butted another.
By that time the three missiles had resolved into two men and a young teen. Each carried a laser blade that snapped into existence as soon as they settled to their feet: green, violet, and gold. With quick and deadly efficiency they set about disarming the pirates, deflecting laser fire with their blades to protect themselves and the prisoners. Will watched, unbelieving, as the red-haired teen somersaulted from standing over the head of one of the pirates, to land among the imprisoned officers. She spun in a wide half circle, bringing down her laser to cut the guard's weapon in half, taking some fingers with it. He dropped to his knees, gibbering.
The opposing blaster fire slowed as more of their enemies fell or ran away. The girl turned urgently to the officers. "You must be the Captain," she said to Picard. "I can cut your hands free."
"Please," he answered, turning his back to expose the bindings.
"I'm Ki-Erin," she told them as she swept her golden blade between Picard's hands, cutting the chain that bound them. "Worf told us that Obi-Wan would be with you."
"He's your friend?" Picard asked as she severed the bindings between his wrists.
"And Qui-Gon's Padawan. His apprentice. Where is he?"
"Xanatos took him," Will told her, heart heavy. Deanna gave him a look that said clearly, It's not your fault.
Ki-Erin's face was grave. She turned Deanna to cut her bindings. "How long ago?"
"About five minutes," Picard answered. "Xanatos took one of our own boys as well."
The two adult Jedi arrived in time to hear this last. They were both tall, well-built men of about fifty: One with dark hair, skin, and eyes; the other light-skinned, blond and blue-eyed. With a shock Will realized he recognized them both. The first man had been at the Council meeting at Lansar, with the woman and Viden. The second he had seen in wanted ads posted all over the city: for his connection with the outbreak of fighting at Starways. His connection with Obi-Wan.
"Where?" asked the second, blond man.
"I'm not certain," Picard answered. "Somewhere he can exit the ship. Most likely the cargo shuttle bay, since that's nearest."
"Tahl might be able to help," the blond man told the other. The dark one nodded.
"If you wait about five minutes," Geordi told them, not pausing in his work, "I'll have sensors and turbolifts running again. We can pinpoint his location, and get to him much more quickly than by walking. In the meantime, I can have the computer close off ladderways and passages throughout that area to slow them down. The farthest they could have gotten at this point is half way there."
The two men exchanged glances.
"Then we will wait," the blond man agreed, "and proceed with your help."
"You've already given us more help than we can ever repay," Picard answered.
"I am Tomas Ellmore," the dark man introduced himself. He bowed his head in greeting. Picard bowed in return. "My friend is Qui-Gon Jinn. We're here to find Qui-Gon's Padawan, to rescue him from Xanatos; and to take Xanatos into custody, to bring him before the Jedi Council for justice."
By this time, the girl had cut Will's bindings. When she finished, she held him still, examining his wound.
"I'll find an emergency medical kit," Deanna said, her expression anxious, looking at Will.
"I have one," Ki-Erin told her. "Master Qui-Gon, this wound is beyond my skill."
Qui-Gon moved to the girl's side, eyes on Will's arm. "We shall use the time to tend it. If that is acceptable, Captain?"
"Your help would be most appreciated," Picard answered, looking concerned himself when he saw Will's face. Will hadn't the energy to complain. Deanna helped to lower him into a chair at his side.
"You'll help me, Ki-Erin?" Qui-Gon asked the girl.
The girl looked to Tomas, who nodded. "I will contact Tahl, and inform the Captain of what we've seen thus far. Keep your senses open, my Padawan; this area is still vulnerable to attack."
"I will, Master."
Ki-Erin turned back to Will, who was feeling sick and weak, now that they had reached a moment of safety. His arm throbbed painfully. He tried to ignore the tall Jedi prodding his wound - though the man's hands were gentle, the touch was almost too much to be borne. Instead he watched the girl pull a small package from a leather case on her belt; she unrolled it to reveal a kit of salve and bandages. She handed a small tool to Qui-Gon, who used it to cut the bandages from his arm. Behind him Deanna held and rubbed his shoulders, her simple presence a comfort.
"I am Qui-Gon Jinn," the Jedi said quietly.
"Commander Will Riker," Will responded.
With one hand Qui-Gon took hold of Will's wrist, positioning his wounded arm slightly forward of his body. The other he laid upon Will's chest. "Clear your mind," he directed. "Focus on your breathing. Breathe slow and deep. Now in, now out."
Will was startled at first by this odd procedure, but he quickly fell into the routine Deanna had taught him so long ago. Once more he found the pain grow more bearable with his mind calm and clear. Then he felt a new sensation: a warmth flowing through his entire body - though most strongly through his arm - like a current, ebbing and flowing like a tide. With the warmth, his pain eased.
"Bacta, now," he heard the man say, and realized the girl was handing over the salve. He felt like he was floating: a peaceful sensation. He knew he was injured and in pain, but it didn't bother him so much. A memory surfaced: Obi-Wan, putting a hand on his chest while he clung to the ladder after having been shot. Obi-Wan, too, had eased him, though not so thoroughly.
"What did you do to me?" he asked, quietly.
"I did not do to you, so much as helped the Force to flow more strongly through you. To promote healing, and to strengthen you, and to ease the pain. More bacta, Ki-Erin."
Will rested, and did not so much think as have thoughts come to him. "The boy, your -"
"My Padawan. My student."
"When I took him from Xanatos's apartment, I thought I was rescuing him. But you were already there."
Qui-Gon Jinn was silent a moment, and Will feared he had angered the man. But when he spoke, his voice was as serene as ever.
"The will of the Force is not always easy to discern, Will Riker. But there is purpose in such happenings. We were meant to find your ship, and to help you against Xanatos. I'll need the entire bandage, Ki-Erin."
Riker found this attitude difficult to believe. "But Xanatos may yet escape. He might kill both boys."
"Of course these are possibilities. Though I have no intention of allowing either to happen." The Jedi's voice grew firm, almost hard as he spoke.
"But you're saying I was meant to get this wound, that there was purpose in the boys being captured, hurt..."
"Perhaps. But you're taking my words too liberally. I only said it was the will of the Force that we find you, and help you. It is our own choices that determine what happens in this world, that make the future the present."
"Always in motion, is the future." Ki-Erin interjected. Qui-Gon smiled at her, then gently smoothed the bandage, a strip of pliable, almost rubbery material, over Will's wound, tucking corners so it fit well. Ki-Erin handed him a roll of what looked like tape, which he wound around bandage and arm with her help to hold the bandage firmly in place.
"I hurt the boy." Riker was surprised at himself for this admission, but somehow he needed to say it, now, to this man. Deanna's hands tightened on his shoulders. He drew strength from her presence. "Xanatos convinced us that the boy had betrayed us. I was angry. He pushed me out of the way of the first probe droid. I pushed him back, straight into its fire." Will paused, feeling overwhelmed by guilt. "I should have realized that he was trying to help. And at other times - when he begged for understanding, for compassion, I gave him only my anger."
"Anger is a powerful feeling," Qui-Gon said softly, not stopping the quick winding of tape around Will's wound. "As Jedi, we are taught that it is a destructive feeling. It blinds us, makes us reckless. We have a saying: Strength over fear. Peace over anger. Honor over hate."
"If I had only -"
"We have another saying," Qui-Gon interrupted smoothly. "We are not saints, but seekers."
Will sighed. "No one is perfect."
"And more: it is our duty to learn from our mistakes, and to go on with duty, to keep trying. Put your guilt behind you, Commander. Let it go. Remember your errors, but don't cling to them." At this, Qui-Gon finished winding tape around the bandage. Again he took Will's wrist, and placed his other hand upon his chest. "This time, when you breathe in, gather all your anger and your guilt to you. Accept it as your own. When you breathe out, let it go. Now. Breathe in."
Will did as he was told, accepting the whole, painful truth of his actions, then relaxing his mind, letting determination replace his guilt. Qui-Gon's words were not unlike what he'd heard from the Betazoid. On the other hand, the Betazed did not practice arts of war, of fighting, and the Jedi did. A society of peaceful warriors? Will mentally shook his head. He felt stronger and more whole than he had since before he was wounded. Whatever the Jedi might be, he instinctively trusted them.
When he opened his eyes again, Will saw Worf and Beverly Crusher coming down from the balcony towards them. The doctor took the stairs two and three at a time, soon leaving the Klingon behind.
"Jean-Luc -" she called to the Captain.
"Xanatos took him, Beverly, and Obi-Wan - Ben - as well. They're on their way to the cargo shuttlebay." He paused, and took her hand. "We'll leave as soon as Geordi -"
"Sensors up, Captain. Obi-Wan and Wesley are on Deck thirty-seven, in a sealed corridor, with three invaders, one of them human."
"That would be Xanatos."
"Your blast doors won't hold him long," said Qui-Gon.
At that moment Worf reached them, and Data arrived as well from the door behind Will. Worf handed Picard a phaser rifle; he had three more slung on his back. "I've placed a group of crewmembers here to protect the engineering team," he said. "Another group can help us to hunt invaders."
"Good work, Mr. Worf. As soon as Geordi -"
"Turbolifts now functional, Captain. I suggest you take them to deck thirty-eight, and cut Xanatos off before he reaches the shuttle bay. He's already gotten through to the ladderway on deck thirty-nine."
"Thank you, Mr. LaForge. Mr. Worf, gather your team. Mr. Data, you will stay here. Everyone else with me."
Deanna took a phaser rifle from Worf, and Riker stood to do the same.
"Stay here, Number One. You're not in any condition -"
"I'm coming," said Will. "I feel fine."
Picard frowned at him, but did not object. He led the way to the turbolift. With him went Dr. Crusher, Will, Deanna, and the three Jedi. When all were crowded inside, he gave the command to speed them on their way.
"You feel fine, Commander?" Beverly asked Will. "You look like hell."
"He's being stubborn," Deanna grimaced.
"Thank you so much for your kind assessment of my mental and physical condition."
"When we reach the shuttle bay," Picard cut in, irritated, "we'll need to confirm Xanatos's position. We'll want to cut him off from the boys if at all possible."
"Leave that to us, Captain," rumbled Tomas in his deep voice.
The turbolift slid to a stop. They stepped out into the wide hangar of the shuttle bay. It looked different without the crowd of Enterprise crew gathered in the center of the room under enemy guns. The bay was more empty, as well, with many of the alien ships and invaders now gone. Will felt a pang of dread. Were they too late?
"They're coming," Qui-Gon said grimly. Without another word the three Jedi ran four steps and jumped. Will and the others watched, astonished. The three jumped ten meters, landing in the maintenance scaffolding far above. From there they separated, running to positions flanking the forward door.