Deanna sat in the chair of the runabout and gazed ahead with tired eyes. They'd been travelling for half an hour towards their destination, Epsilon Twelve. She glanced at Will who sat there next to her in his newly replicated set of 21st century civilian clothes and couldn't help to be grateful to him for accompanying her. It was one thing that he - unlike her - was fully rested and at his senses, but it was nice to feel his belief in her judgement.
Will turned his head to her feeling her gaze on himself and smiled one of his charming smiles. Deanna couldn't help but returned it with a shy one of her own.
He looked at the instruments "Good thing that the runabout is so fast, we're only an hour away from Epsilon Twelve. With a shuttlecraft it would be almost three."
She nodded acknowledgingly and turned back to the window. She stared ahead wordlessly.
Will gazed at her worried at her silence and made another attempt to start a conversation "I wonder how the Epsilonians take this distance. Without a warp-capable ship, it would take two-three days."
A long moment passed before Deanna turned to him absently as if waking from a dream "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
He exhaled a breath and turned his chair towards hers to reach out and touch her arm concerned "Deanna. You're so preoccupied that I might as well start to talk to the computer and get a better partner."
She smiled apologetically and propping her elbow on the chair's arm, she leaned toward him "Sorry. I was just thinking..."
"You're brooding, not thinking."
She sighed and gazed away with a troubled expression "I'm just worried that if we don't find anything against this man, how will we protect Emma? How can we stop Jones?"
Will winced at this glancing away at the stars ahead "I guess, we'll have to break a few more rules then." he then turned back to her "Was it on purpose that you didn't tell Data that Jones filed a petition not only for Mils but for Emma as well using that goddamn Treaty of Rendition?" he didn't want to ask what he suspected that she was so tired that she didn't even think about telling him.
But Deanna looked at him taken aback "Of course! Will! Just think about how he would react to the fact that in a few days, Emma might be arrested by her very husband! Under Federation law! I know Data still seems to be hyper-rational in most of his decisions, but don't get fooled! I'd been doing an intense series of therapeutic sessions with him in the last two months. Believe me, beneath that aloof surface we all see, his emotions are just as passionate as any man's would be in love! Imagine how you'd feel if you had to learn that your love could be taken away by someone who'd already been torturing her for a decade? Without having a single legal means to stop him!" she shook her head "If he learns that Jones might lay his hands on her as soon as today or tomorrow, I think the Data we know, who makes all his decisions based on logic, will prove himself to be a VERY irrational man!" she sighed trying to calm herself "This is why we need to find something."
Will sighed and had to admit, the situation became desperate with Jones' petition. No treaty with the Federation remained in effect after the colony separated from the Federation a decade ago EXCEPT for the now very convenient Treaty of Rendition. And since Emma was part of the illegal Resistance just as Earl was, she was officially a wanted criminal on Epsilon Four. And as such, Jones petitioned that both she and Earl would be surrendered to him the soonest possible. It was only a matter of time his wish would be granted, because there was no legal reason to deny it...
But Will refused to give up on trying to make Deanna see things more optimistic "Even if we don't find anything against Jones, Data is not alone in this. He has friends who are willing to risk a lot for him without a question. And he knows this well." despite the suddenly grim mood, he smiled "Don't worry, Deanna, before he can do anything senseless, his girlfriend will be transferred to a safe hospital on Denobula, where no one would find her unless we want it."
She didn't seem to be cheered up, only bowed her head at this, and Will slouched crestfallen. Deanna then started on a silent voice "Isn't it unfair, Will?" she looked at the stars ahead wistfully "Data only had a taste of what it is to have someone so close. And he might have to give up on it... He might have to accept the fact that his lover might never open her eyes again." she whispered shaken.
Will sighed "Deanna, you just heard Doctor Crusher. She said she still has things to try..."
She raised her head sharply at this "No, Will. I could feel that she was not telling the truth." He frowned now stunned as she went on "She just did the same as we did. Told Data a white-lie to protect him." she shook her head with a bitter expression "So even if we somehow managed to save Emma from her husband, she might remain unconscious for the rest of her life. If I think of that... I keep asking myself: wouldn't both of them deserve more?"
She felt his hand on hers suddenly, and she turned to him surprised as he took her hand gently in his "Imzadi." he told her on a low voice - it always caught her breath a little. He gazed into her black eyes affectionately "Don't wrap yourself into these dark thoughts. It wouldn't help either of them. Let's concentrate on solving one problem at a time. Eventually, trust me, we'll get these two star-crossed lovers out of trouble, and back into their business of being happy with each other. Hmm?"
She held his gaze for a moment and finally couldn't help but give him a grateful smile as she nodded "I'll try to depress myself a little less." she promised trying hard to sound more positive.
"That's the spirit!" he grinned taking his hand away. He figured it'd be better to talk about matters more at hand to divert her attention so he told her "Let's review what we need to know about Epsilon Twelve before we land. If we fail the mission for not blending in enough, it'd do no more good than depressing ourselves to death."
Deanna smiled a little in reply, and in the remaining time of the journey, they prepared.
The biggest facility on the small, far-away outpost of Epsilon Twelve was a huge, luxurious hotel. The data-center was located underneath it, in the basement. They decided - in lack of a better option - to pretend to be tourists interested in the elegant building. They knew they wouldn't be able to check in: despite the economic difficulties Epsilon Four was facing, the highly expensive hotel was booked full.
They beamed down to the surface into a small, deserted alley not far from their destination. Will cautiously walked up to the mouth of the small passage and looked out in the open street. It was a wide promenade with several small shops and restaurants. People were walking up and down, and Will motioned for Deanna that they could join the crowd on the street without inviting serious attention. So they stepped out and tried to pretend to walk carefree and smiling as all other tourists did. Will offered his arm to Deanna, which she accepted delightedly.
The weather was warm, though the rays of the sun barely reached this last planet of the Epsilon system. The small colony was underneath a glass-dome, and they could clearly see the starry sky above them. They must have used some basic weather control to regulate the temperature, because it was plain that the sun could not have provided enough heat. It was a technology not unknown on Earth at around the end of the 21st century, only most of the planet could not afford it. Seemingly Epsilon Four could. Behind the line of shops and small buildings, Will suddenly spotted the sea. It was calm and deep blue, almost black, reflecting the stars above, while the sand was white and soft-looking. The contrast of the two was an enchanting sight.
"Idyllic, isn't it?" Deanna asked, and her voice reflected her surprise at the small paradise.
Will nodded and suddenly felt very much like taking a vacation here. With Deanna.
But then suddenly, something caught his eye, and he stopped short. "Idyllic. Except for that!" he nodded toward the huge billboard frowning.
"Isn't that-" Deanna started gaping.
"Yes, that's Mr. Mils." he growled.
The billboard had Earl's face on it, and the red label over it read: "The plan of Mils." Underneath in smaller letters, there was the explanation: "Earl Mils, the leader of the Resistance is planning to migrate millions of aliens on Epsilon Territory. They will pose as humans, but their culture, religion and genetics are radically different. Do you really want to let him contaminate our race? Do you really want to let him win? Help the fight! Report all suspicious activities to the authorities and protect the purity of the human race of Epsilon Four!"
Will stopped and frowned furiously at the billboard "How can people live like that?! How can they let themselves be mislead by so obvious lies? Are all of them racists?" he growled frustrated.
Deanna squeezed his arm soothingly, where she held on to him "No, Will." As they started to walk again, she explained "Fear spread by such an intense propaganda can scare even the most liberal thinking person. They're not racists. They're only scared to death and made to believe that only a strong leader can protect them."
Will shook his head "Somehow I don't feel like having a vacation anymore. Let's get to the hotel and be done with our business." he mumbled crankily, and they quickened their pace.
In a few minutes, they reached the end of the promenade, where the enormous building of the hotel stood. It was mostly made of glass, you could look through the walls of the hall, where the reception worked behind a long counter. Deanna and Will walked in turning their heads curiously around. The building WAS impressive, they didn't have to pretend that they were amazed.
"Welcome to the Hotel Danubius!" they suddenly heard from their side, and they jumped startled at the sudden greeting.
It came from a tall, thin, young man with fair hair, a rather childlike face and a huge, friendly smile on his lips. He was in a set of clothes that seemed to be the uniform of the hotel, with a badge printed on his pocket with the logo of the facility. He giggled apologetically, seeing their sudden scare "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, my dears."
Will let out a breath, seeing that the stranger was only doing his job "No problem. We were just-"
The young man extended a hand to him cutting in "I'm Emmett, a host at the Danubius. Very nice to meet you!" he grinned shaking Will's hand "Welcome to our humble facility! If you could tell me the purpose of your journey, I'd be happy to the moon and back to assist you with anything you need!" he gave one last squeeze to Will's hand, holding it for just a little bit longer than it was comfortable for the still perplexed Commander.
"We're just-" Deanna began, but the enthusiastic host cut in again - he seemed to like talking very much.
"If you're here to spend your vacation, please let me escort you to the reception where you can check in at my very good friend, Ted!" he pointed to the reception where a short, black haired man smiled kindly at them. Emmett waved to him then went on. "If you have an appointment at our clinic, then you'll need to go through there. I'd be overjoyed to escort you there too." he pointed towards a broad glass door.
"Clinic?" Deanna snapped her head towards him wide-eyed.
"Oh, yes! We have a professional beauty-clinic operating in our hotel. You take your vacation, and when you're finished, you go home to Epsilon Four as if you were reborn! Here!" he almost literally flew over to a small table where brochures and other advertising material lay about. He brought some brochures back to them, and Deanna and Will started to page through them absently as he kept on talking "Would it be a nose-job, or a liposuction? Some botox, perhaps? No, problem!" he turned to Deanna "Or perhaps you're in need of some more... khm attention from your dear husband?" When Deanna looked at him confused, he made a motion in front of his chest as if he was rounding invisible breasts. Deanna gaped and stared at Will.
But it seemed Will got caught up in that brochure he held: "Well, there are SOME stuff here that'd get MY attention..." he mumbled with a wide smile. Emmett grinned as Deanna stepped up to him and seeing the ladies with those enormous tits in the brochure who caught Will's attention, she frowned irritated. She forcefully took the small book out of his hand and then slapped him on the arm with it as hard as she could.
"Hey, honey! I was just checking out the possibilities!" he objected to the treatment nursing his arm.
"Have some manners already!" she scolded him with her fists on her hips.
Emmett laughed and put a soothing hand on both of their arms "I wouldn't want to cause a tiff for the world! Oh, by the way, we also happen to have excellent couple-therapists who could help you find a healthy compromise in this matter! Maybe not D, but C perhaps?" he asked and managed to remain so innocent that Will couldn't help but grin as he imagined Deanna with a cup-size of D!
"Well, sweetie pie, we need to consider this kind man's advice, now don't we?" he asked her - half way pulling her leg, and half finding a good reason to check out that clinic, AND get into the facility.
Deanna then suddenly seemed to change tactics. She composed her features and smiled a seducing smile "Well, sweetie pie, I believe we already have decided on just who's in need of a plastic surgery job from the two of us, and it's not me."
"Oh?" Will's face suddenly straightened, realizing that it would be difficult to refute Deanna in front of a stranger.
She stepped up to him "Yes!" she replied on a sweet voice "Remember, sugar? We agreed, that you won't get cold feet, when we get here and go along with it!"
Will remained silent, not daring to ask - unlike the curious Emmett "Oh, may I pry about your plans? I might recommend a doctor, a specialist tailored for your needs, if you haven't had an appointment yet!" he asked eager to help.
"Sure, Emmett, that would be the best." she slipped her arms around Will's waist "Actually, in the last couple of years, my husband gained a little... excessive weight. I'm sure you notice as well." Will stared at her with his eyes wide as two saucers as she went on "As you can see, nothing dramatic, but... you know, how this is with age." another look of daggers from Will "It's more and more difficult to lose it." She finally glanced at her partner and acknowledged with a satisfied grin, that she was taking an affect. She then slipped a hand to Will's stomach and patted it gently - and he shrank away from her touch as if he was hit with a baseball bat there, and not teasingly patted. Deanna just went on still talking to Emmett only "I'm sure you could recommend a way to quickly and easily get rid of it."
"Oh, but of course! We have a Doctor Schmitt working with us, who is an expert of liposuction! I can assure you, that excess won't come back, EVER, if you check in with him!" he leaned to Deanna conspiringly "Actually, don't tell anyone that I've told you this, but Ted, the friend of mine, at the reception? He had his butts done last year by him! This year, he had the perfect beach-body!" She grinned, and he straightened "Believe me, you won't regret it!" he told Will patting his upper arm - then before taking his hand away, he squeezed his grip as if he wanted to measure the man's biceps. At this, Will's brows ran up his forehead, but before he could object, Emmett smiled at them again "If you could follow me, I'll assist you in checking in to the clinic. This way!" he motioned toward the broad glass-doors, and they started to walk, Will and Deanna still arm in arm.
"Stop sulking already, sweetie pie!" Deanna whispered to him still half-way pulling his leg, gently squeezing his arm.
"You never said you consider me fat!" Will grumbled still seemingly hurt "Okay, I'm not as skinny as Data, but I never thought that was your type!"
She smiled up at him lovingly "Skinny is definitely not my type, Imzadi!" she whispered then her smile broadened "You know what Emma told me about men below the weight of one-hundred kilos?"
"Something really profound I presume." he grimaced still not feeling like joking.
She chuckled "That a man below a hundred is just a Christmas-tree ornament!"
At this, a chuckle rippled through Will. He stopped, looking down at her, then wordlessly leaned to her and gave her a small, close-mouthed kiss on the lips. Deanna didn't object, only smiled silently at it.
By the time they stopped at the reception of the clinic, Will was in a much better mood. Emmett then gave them a check-in form:
"Please, fill this in, while I quickly check if Doctor Schmitt is available to see you now!"
"Thank you!" Will grumbled, and as Emmett leaned close to him, he looked at him suspiciously.
"By the way," the young man started on a low voice "I also prefer bears above twinks. If you'd excuse me!" he straightened and hurried away. Will and Deanna gazed after him actually pretty amused.
However, in a matter of minutes, Will started to be very frustrated again. This time, with the form: it seemed they were interested even in the smallest detail, and though they prepared themselves cover-personalities, they haven't decided on the names of their great-grand-parents...
He let out a long breath and massaged the back of his neck. Seeing her still amused smile, he looked at her bemused "You know, if we went with that boobie-job he recommended first, YOU'd have to do this, not me."
Deanna raised a sarcastic eyebrow at this "Yes, it would have been extremely wise to have ME checked out by a doctor, who'd determine that I'm half-betazoid in about a second."
Will grimaced knowing that she was right. Emmett finally got back to them by the time he finished, and escorted them to the doctor's office. At the door, Deanna stopped short.
"Is something the matter, my dear?" Emmett asked concerned.
"No, no, I just need to refresh myself, that's all."
"Ah, of course!" Emmett smiled kindly and jumped to her side putting an arm around her shoulders "You see that corridor over there?"
"Yes?"
"Just walk up till the end and turn right. There will be two doors. The one to the left is the lady's room. You can't miss it!"
"Thank you, Emmett!" she smiled at the young man then looked at Will "Just go in, sweetie, and start without me. I'll catch you up in no time!"
"Of course! And don't worry about your husband, I'll take good care of him!" Emmett declared smiling charmingly at Will, who despite himself suddenly blushed. They went in as Deanna disappeared at the end of the corridor.
In the restroom, Deanna locked herself up in one of the compartments and took out her tricorder. She pushed a few buttons and started scanning around. In a matter of moments, she had a map of the building. Strangely enough, the runabout's scanners could not get a clear sweep of the building, so they couldn't simply beam in and beam out of the data-center. But it seemed the scanning worked from here alright. She fetched out her emergency transporter armband of her bag and entered the coordinates of the basement.
She appeared on a dark deserted corridor a moment later. She started scanning again to look for a place with high electrical energy usage: she knew a data-center consumed a lot of it, and it should have registered on her tricorder. But nothing of the kind did! She hurriedly walked through the dark corridor to arrive into a half-lit one. She scanned again - still nothing. Were the documents stating that the data-center was located under this hotel false then?! They came this far for nothing? Her heart drummed in her chest as she finally found a door at the far end of this corridor. She scanned it, and though it still not registered as something with high energy consumption, she had no other choice: it was the only door on the corridor. She ran to it and tried to open it - of course it was closed.
She took out her tricorder to scan it: the lock was a simple magnetic lock, nothing heavily secure compared to their 24th century standards. She took out her phaser and shot the lock. It gave way with a loud click. She glanced around alarmed, but she was still all alone.
She entered the room. It was pitch-dark, and the air was dusty and stale. She scanned with her tricorder, and found a switch on the wall. She groped about for a few seconds before her hand encountered with the small projection standing out, and finally she turned on the lights. She then stood there gaping, petrified at the sight.
The room was a data-center alright, but only by the standards of the Middle-Ages. The files were all on paper in large folders and dossiers. Most of them weren't even in cabinets, simply piled up on tables and desks.
"Oh, my god..." she whispered as she stepped further inside.
The tricorder, she knew, should have been able to record and analyse images coming from a paper medium. However, she never tested whether it worked on piles and piles of paper. She didn't have any choice: she took the tricorder and started to scan.
In a few minutes, she knew she was taking too long, but the whole snooping around had no point, if she missed just the files she needed. Nonetheless, her heart was pounding in her chest, and her hands trembled as she pushed the buttons of her instrument. It took over ten minutes to finish, and she was not sure whether the data would be legible. She put the tricorder away, and hurried to the door.
She literally bumped into Emmett, and they both jumped back scared to death. The young man held a small gun in his shaking hand and pointed it on Deanna - though he was trembling so much that she was not sure his bullet would ever hit her, had he fired the gun.
"Hands up!" he commanded on a high-pitched voice, and Deanna could feel that he was a lot more scared than she was.
But she played along, she obeyed "I don't want to harm you, Emmett!" she told him on a low, calm voice.
"So th-the billboards are telling the truth! The Resistance is real, and you're trying to take over power." he declared stuttering "A-are you an alien disguised as a human?"
She decided to go with the truth "I'm half-betazoid, Emmett. And I won't harm you, just let me leave." she asked taking a small step toward him.
He held the gun more firmly at this "I-I'll shoot you, if you dare move!"
Deanna felt she could have laughed out loud at this, but she swallowed the sensation and just gave him a small smile "We both know you wouldn't be able to kill a fly!"
Emmett frowned seemingly insulted: "That's not true! Beneath the gentle surface, there's a savage tiger!" Deanna giggled softly to which he added "I wouldn't have to kill you anyways, I just have to-to hit your leg or arm or... Ah, who am I kidding?" he asked finally tired of the mindgame AND holding the gun straight ahead for such a long time. He lowered his arm resignedly.
Deanna smiled gratefully "Thank you!"
He held up his hands defensively "Don't thank me! I haven't seen you here - I haven't seen anybody here! I wasn't even here in the first place! But then move it, cause I'd have to report that you went missing in about two minutes, if I don't want to get arrested myself."
Deanna jumped to him and gave a gentle squeeze to his arm "Thank you for not being here and not seeing me!" she told him to which he smiled back shyly.
"Take good care of that bear of yours! A-And! If you really want him to lose his pouch, just don't let him eat after six!"
She chuckled "I'll remember that! Take care of yourself, Emmett!" she said and tapping her transporter armband disappeared into thinair in a moment.
She appeared in the toilette compartment she started out from, put away the transporter band and tidying her hair stepped out into the corridor. In the next moment, she was grabbed from behind and dragged back into the rest room. She tried to scream, but it dawned on her that it'd be pointless given that she wouldn't have any allies here anyways!
"Don't shout, Deanna! It's me!" she heard the hushed voice of Will Riker in the next moment, and she swirled around to look at him disbelievingly.
"Will! What are you-"
"After ten minutes, the situation became a little uncomfortable in there. Not only because the doc was asking me about whether I want some botox in my butt to make it as tight as it used to be in my twenties, but also because our eager companion kept on looking at his watch. When he left, I was sure, he went to look for you, so I started after you too. What the hell took you so long?!"
"I got some company in the basement."
"You what?!"
"There's no time to explain everything, let's get out of here, first."
Will sighed bemused "Agreed!"
They took out their armbands and tapped in the coordinates to get back on the runabout. However, when they tried to beam out, they had the same problem as beaming into the building.
Deanna shook her head "They must use some sort of shielding around the hotel!"
"Not a technology widely popular in the 21st century given that transporters were not invented yet! But it's only a matter of detail." Will shrugged.
"Let's get out of the building! It should work outside." Deanna suggested.
Will nodded, and they stepped to the door. She stuck her head out in the crack of the door, and when she was sure no one was on the corridor, they stepped out. They hurried over to the hall where they spotted Emmett and several police man and security guards. Emmett was shaking his head gesturing widely, then as he spotted them, he stared right at them. The police noticed as well and turned towards them - and Will knew that was it!
"Run, Deanna!" he shouted, and they started to run as if devil was in their toes. Will took out his phaser and lagged a little behind to cover Deanna. In the next moment, the sharp sound of a gun shot cut through the gentle, ambient music played in the background. People started to scream and bolt sideways everywhere around them.
Will turned and stunned the police officer nearest to them.
"Don't stop!" he shouted to her as she looked back at him visibly scared.
She took out her phaser too, and stunned the two guards standing in the entrance, trying to block their way. Too late! The gates had already been blocked by thick bars from floor to ceiling. They stopped short and turned back to see that the police were only a few meters away. And another shot only missed Deanna by a few centimeters. Will turned back and adjusting his phaser, shot at the bars one by one. The metal heated up and disappeared after a few seconds. When they had a wide enough hole, he pushed Deanna through.
"Will!" she turned back scared that he had some crazy idea on his mind of lagging behind to protect her, but he jumped right after her, and they kept on running on the busy promenade.
To their utter shock, the shots didn't seize! The police kept firing at them, even though the promenade was full of people. They were screaming and running about panic-stricken - and bleeding! Some of them trampled over others...
Will pushed away the tenth pedestrian from their way "The armband, Deanna!" he shouted over to her.
She was already pushing the buttons on hers "It should work!" she declared seeing the clear lock indicator on the display.
"Then what are you waiting for?!"
She obeyed and pressed the button to beam out. Just as she disappeared, she could see Will falling to the ground as two burly pedestrian knocked into him one after the other.
His armband fell out of his hand. He reached out for it, but somebody stepped on his hand. He growled in pain and instinctively nursed his hand in the other.
"Are you looking for this?" he heard from above him, and as he turned, he saw a police officer holding up his armband. In his other hand, he held a gun.
Will's expression hardened with determination.
Deanna appeared in the runabout command room scared to death for Will's life. She ran to the console and tapped the keys to scan the area she'd just left.
"Computer! Scan for Commander Riker's lifesigns! Emergency beam-up!" she commanded, but the computer shattered her hopes.
"Scan negative. Unable to lock on to signal."
Oh, my god... Was he...? She could have sensed it, if he was... No! He was alive! Was he taken back to the hotel?! She had to beam back for him! "Computer, beam me back to the exact coordinates-"
But in the next moment, the familiar light of the transporter sparkled behind her, and she turned stunned to see the shiny particles integrating into Will.
"Oh, god!" she breathed and jumped into his arms. He smiled moved and held her tightly to him.
"Going somewhere?" he asked mumbling into her hair. She didn't answer, and he knew she'd been terrified "I'm here..." he whispered soothingly "A little battered, and FAT. But I'm here!"
A chuckle rippled through her body, and she pulled away to look into his eyes.
"What do I see here? Somebody was worried for me!" he teased her gently, stroking her long dark strands.
She self-consciously stepped out of his arms "Not so much worried. Rather I was not sure how to explain to the captain that I lost his Number One." she shrugged walking up to the seats and then smiled at him flirtatiously from there.
He grinned shaking his head and after a moment, joined her, sitting next to her. He tapped the console "Setting course back to the Enterprise. Warp six. Engage."
She leaned back in her seat letting out a long breath as she felt the exhaustion finally catching up on her.
"So what was it that you found?" he asked now really curious. She turned her head to him, then straightened in her chair, and after some fumbling in her bag, she took out the tricorder.
"I hope it'll be legible." she mumbled as she hooked up the tricorder to the runabout's computer "The files were not digital. They were all printed out on paper, filed away in folders." she explained, and Will raised his eyebrows surprised in response.
"Download complete." the computer declared.
"Computer! Analyse files and find all references for Edmond Jones." Deanna commanded.
"Processing. Displaying information in order of appearance in referenced files."
"Let's see." she leaned forward to the screen.
A lot of medical files came up with Jones as the subject, most of them were related to the very clinic they had just visited.
"Looks like he was a regular patient there." Will remarked reading the displayed information.
"But what is this that he was having done there?" she squinted reading the medical procedure.
"Top secret, it reads." Will raised his eyebrows "Why would medical files be so confidential?"
"Bone reduction of the temporal part of the skull, and hair transplantation on the same area." she read out loud "A very particular plastic surgery. Not a simple liposuction or botox that would be repeated from time to time." she said thoughtfully.
"All the more strange, because he seemed to have this done every singular year. Look at the dates."
She gazed at him now really puzzled "Why would anybody need bone reduction of his temples done every year?"
"Don't ask me, ask Premier Jones. Maybe he is not only a sadist, he also likes pain inflicted ON him." he told her shrugging just as puzzled as she was.
"Computer. Is there a medical condition that would warrant such a procedure to be done every year?" Deanna asked.
"No known disease or condition would require this particular procedure repeatedly on a human."
"On a human..." she whispered as a very unsettling thought struck her.
Will looked at her with a raised eyebrow "Are you thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking?"
She looked into his eyes "Could it be..." she whispered and then addressed the computer again "Is there a humanoid race, that would have to undergo this procedure in order to pose as a human?" she asked.
"Processing."
"Oh, yes, you were thinking what I was..." Will mumbled grinning though he had to admit: it was unbelievable to even imagine that someone would go that far to rule a small colony of humans...
"Positive match."
Their heads shot up shocked. "Show us, computer!" Will ordered, his smile disappeared as if it never was on his face.
A white-haired alien appeared on the screen with a pronounced hairless bulge at the sides of his skull at his temples, as the computer explained:
"The procedure described could be used to pose as a human by a member of the Ullian race. The procedure needs to be repeated at least annually, because the bone tissue regenerates underneath the skin of the subject at such a rate."
Deanna grew visibly pale "Ullian. He's a Ullian!" she whispered on a distressed voice shaking her head in disbelief.
Will frowned remembering the race from years before "Ullian, as in the creepy telepaths who wanted to construct a library of memories of all species?"
She looked into his eyes "And one of them mind-raping us five years ago. Yes." she got up from her chair and started to pace the small room "It was all so familiar!" she whispered "That cold, cruel touch of his mind! Just as Jev's! How did I not recognize it?" she asked upset.
He got up too seeing that she was in the process of getting caught up in her distress.
"Deanna, how could you have known?" he asked standing opposite her.
She stopped and stared into his eyes "How?! Jev raped my mind! I should have remembered where I felt such a dark touch of a mind, immediately!" she told him and was about to go on pacing, but he stopped her.
"Hey, hey, hey, stop this, will you?" he asked catching her by her upper arms and making her look into his eyes "Deanna. If all this is true, he's a strong telepath capable of doing horrible harm to other people's minds. I'm pretty sure he is puppet-mastering the Admiral using his telepathic skills, and knowing what we just learned, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd blocked your memories so you wouldn't recognize him for WHAT he is." he rubbed her arms gently seeing her slowly giving in to his gentle comfort "And I'm pretty sure your nightmares are not incidental either..."
She looked into his eyes and suddenly, felt her throat close "Emma was his wife for a decade. What could he have done to her during that time, if he was able to cause me such distress in a few days?" she asked on a breaking voice finally, understanding Emma's overwhelming fear and distress every singular time her husband was mentioned.
Will let his arms drop to his sides slouching. He let out a long breath as he bowed his head "I don't know, Imzadi." he whispered, then gazed into her eyes guiltily again "But I swear to you on one thing. I'll never call her shrew, ever in my life again!"
They held gazes for a long moment before she sighed - she somehow felt a huge relief simply by knowing the truth. "Let's go home and get rid of that monster!"
A/N: Ullians appeared only once in TNG, in the episode Violations. (Not a very good or nice episode of the series for that matter...) To tell you a small secret about the process of creating Edmond's character, at first, I wanted him to be a Betazoid. (In chapter 18, Ed is described as having deep-brown eyes, which could have been "retconned" later on as black.) But since they've always been depicted as a very positive, nice race, I didn't have the heart to change that. Then came the idea of using the Ullians. For one, there was this mind-rape one of them did that was bad enough, but the other two didn't exactly come across as people I'd like to have any chit-chat anytime soon either. So perfect antagonists for this story!
The character of Emmett was inspired by a character with the same name from a non-SF series called Queer as Folk.
Write a review, if you feel like, and give me some feedback: was this turn of events predictable? (Honestly, I can't really tell... :( )
