New: The Lazarus Dilemma 14/? P/C
Heather Smyth
Author: Heather Smyth
Series: TNG
Part: 14/?
Rating: NC17
Code: P/C
Disclaimer and summary..see part one.
Data and Geordi were pouring over the screen when Deanna arrived. Geordi
saw her and stepped to one side to give her a clear view of the screen.
"What is it Data?"
Data stood and pointed to the images.
"We may have discovered something of importance Counsellor."
Troi peered at the screen and smiled.
"I see. Well what is it? What am I looking at?"
Using his index finger, Data illustrated his words.
"What you are looking at is a spectral analysis of three of the eggs we
recovered from the nests. See here."
He pointed to one particular egg,
"It contains an immature being. But this egg and this one too also contain
infant beings."
Deanna nodded.
"So?"
"Each of the immature beings is significantly deformed."
The Counsellor gasped and looked up into Data's golden eyes.
"How do you know?"
"Apart from each individual having different deformities, I have established
these anomalies are inconsistent with sustaining life."
Deanna stood, a deep frown marring her classical beauty.
"Have you scanned the other eggs?"
"Yes Counsellor, they are all defective."
"None are compatible with life?"
"No Counsellor."
Geordi stepped closer and gently gripped Deanna's shoulder.
"And they're amphibious Counsellor.at least they're supposed to be."
Deanna's eyes snapped to Data for an explanation. Again he pointed to the
screen.
"These organs are supposed to be gills and these."
He indicated the shadowy images,
"Were meant to be lungs."
Deanna turned her back on the screen and folded her arms.
"Right. From what we know so far, Beverly appears to have been abducted and
possibly taken into the sea. We already have seven dead bodies, all male and
all drowned. We have discovered some sort of structures under the sea which
our scans can't penetrate. Data what are the odds that Beverly is being held
in those structures?"
With a tilt of his head, Data made the calculations.
"Ninety-eight point seven percent Counsellor."
Her next question was directed at the Chief Engineer.
"Geordi can you devise some sort of scanner that we can use close up, under
water? Possibly hand-held?"
The blue ocular implants that served as Geordi's eyes dilated.
"Maybe Counsellor.if we tie several tricorders together and tap them into
our sensors, but that will depend on the Garudan sun. We will have to wait
for a quiet interlude in the sun's activity."
The Counsellor nodded.
"Very well, make the required arrangements. I will wake Commander Riker and
inform him of what's transpired."
With a nod and a quiet, "Yes Sir.", Geordi left. Deanna turned to Data and
smiled.
"Good work Data, keep working."
"Aye Counsellor."
The hard cold surface of the metal table was becoming
increasingly uncomfortable. Now able to move, but still connected to the
probes in her brain, Beverly sighed and shifted again, trying to ease the
growing pain in her back and buttocks.
When the door whispered open, the Doctor turned her head and smiled. Knowing
communication wasn't possible until the alien went to the console, Beverly
waited, stifling her impatience as the tall being walked ponderously across
the room. Finally connected, the words sounded in her mind.
"You have eaten.drank?"
"Yes thank you. May I have my clothes?"
"Clothes?"
"The garments I was wearing when you took me."
The being nodded.
"Ah yes. I am sorry but the garments you were wearing have been destroyed.
In our culture it is considered impolite to cover our bodies with garments."
Beverly sighed despairingly.
"I see. Well, despite the blanket you gave me, I am cold and uncomfortable.
This table is hard and cold. I need to cover myself with something warm and
I need something softer to sit on if I am required to remain here for much
longer."
The alien stepped back from the console and studied the woman. Placing its
webbed hand back on the panel, it said,
"I see. What would suffice?"
Beverly smiled.
"Do you have a padded chair?"
With a shake of its head, the alien seemed to frown.
"What is a padded chair?"
"A chair is something you sit on. A padded chair is a chair that has soft
cushioning."
Obviously confused, the alien shook its head.
"I do not know of these things."
With a smile, Beverly lifted a hand to give a depreciating wave.
"Oh don't worry about it. How about something soft on the floor?"
That brought a smile, the appearance of several sharp teeth making Beverly
inwardly cringe.
"Yes I can supply that."
Maintaining her own smile, Beverly placed a hand on her chest.
"Thank you. My name is Beverly Picard."
"We know."
"What is your name?"
The alien gave a short bow.
"I am known as Het Ma."
Beverly's smile broadened.
"I am honoured to meet you Het Ma. Have you spoken to your colleagues about
my helping you?"
"I have."
"And?"
Instead of answering the woman, Het took the thin cables connected to the
probes in her brain and disconnected them from the console. It then bent and
retrieved a moderately sized metal box, the surface of which was covered in
gauges and switches. The cables were connected to the box and Het came
closer to the table.
"You may stand."
Somewhat surprised by this turn of events, Beverly eased off the table, but
had to hold its edge as her head swam. Taking several deep breaths, she
steadied herself and faced the alien who was now standing closer to the
door, the box in its hands.
"Can you walk?"
Wrapping the blanket about her form, Beverly nodded and took a few tentative
steps. With growing confidence, she made it to the door.
Het passed its hand over a sensor and the door opened. The corridor outside
was dark, but as they stepped into it, the overhead lights came on
automatically. As they walked down the tubular structure, the lights came on
as they went, the ones behind extinguishing.
After ten minutes Beverly was becoming tired but, just as she was about to
ask Het to stop, the alien halted beside a closed door and passed its hand
over another sensor. Beverly's eyes took a few seconds to adjust to the dim
lighting of the room, but her breath caught in her throat as she realised
what she was looking at.
On the floor, lying on beds of dark blue vegetation, lay deformed aliens.
Most of them were young, but there were some adults. Beverly stepped into
the room and thought,
"My God Het.what happened to them?"
The being sighed.
"We do not know. Approximately eight turns ago some of our offspring emerged
from the egg deformed. Many died and many eggs failed to hatch. Whatever has
caused this continues and the number of properly formed, live hatches is
becoming rarer. If we do not find the cause and rectify it, we, as a
species, will die out."
Kneeling beside one drooling victim, Beverly gently touched its head. Its
eyes opened and its mouth opened and closed, but she could see the vacancy
in its eyes. The Doctor looked back at Het and shook her head.
"Can you give me more light and a scanner?"
Het sighed.
"No. Bright light disturbs them and you would be unable to use our
scanners."
"Why?"
"Because they are bio-molecular. Our scanners interact directly with our
brains. Our technology would be incompatible with you."
Beverly frowned.
"But you can communicate with me via a direct connection to my brain.
Couldn't
we adapt your scanners?"
Het shook its head.
"No. This form of communication is only possible because of what we have
learned from you and your fellow Humans. The adaptations for communication
are vastly different to what would be required for you to adequately use a
scanner. I fear it may damage you irreparably."
Beverly stood, her eyes faithfully supplying images of deformed limbs,
grotesque head malformations.the images of hell. She briefly closed her
eyes.
"Are there more?"
Het sighed deeply.
"Yes, many more. These cannot breathe in water and others cannot breathe in
air. There is no pattern to the deformities, some are significantly
afflicted, others mildly, but as I have said, many more are dying in their
eggs, never to hatch."
Careful to avoid the probes in her head, Beverly rubbed her brow.
"And I take it you have checked the parents? Taken DNA samples.done genetic
profiles?"
"Yes. We have discovered some anomalies which, as yet, we cannot explain."
Beverly turned to the alien and lifted her hands.
"Het I come from a great ship, in orbit around your planet. On board I have
equipment that could help. Allow me to return to my ship. I want to help
you."
"No."
Stifling the growl of frustration that welled in her throat, Beverly
straightened and looked Het in the eye.
"Then let me contact my ship. There are people on board that can help me and
you."
Het shook its head.
"No. You will not sully my people. I am grateful for your offer, but I
cannot allow my people to be exposed to you and your culture."
This time Beverly couldn't disguise the frustration in her voice.
"Then how do you expect me to help?"
"We will supply all the information we have amassed. Perhaps you will be
able to find the answers we seek."
The Doctor lifted her hands in exasperation.
"But Het I know nothing of your people. I need more than statistics and scan
results I won't understand!"
Het smiled.
"You are a great healer. We have faith in you."
Beverly sighed deeply and took one more mournful look around the room.
Fastening her eyes on her captor she shrugged.
"Well I am flattered but I think you are mistaken."
Het bowed.
"We will see."
Sally was disturbed to find Jacques not in his bed
when she awoke. Not finding him in the living area, the Ensign risked her
Captain's wrath by peeping into his bedroom, breathing a sigh of relief to
find father and son asleep in bed.
She had showered and was setting the table for breakfast when the boy
emerged, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Good morning sleepy head."
Jacques frowned bleary-eyed at the woman but delivered the message his
father had given him.
"Papa wants to wash and shave."
With a nod, Sally tapped her comm. badge.
"Miles to Gibson."
"Gibson here. Good morning Sally."
A smile spread across Sally's face.
"Good morning Nathan. Captain Picard is ready for his ablutions."
"Okay, I'll be right there. Gibson out."
Having got Jacques seated and started on his breakfast, the Ensign knocked
softly on the bedroom door.
"Come."
"Good morning Captain."
Before Jean-Luc could return the greeting, the twins began to fuss. He
glanced at the nursery and smiled as Sally said,
"They sound hungry Sir. Would you mind waiting for your breakfast while I
feed them?"
Jean-Luc shook his head.
"Not at all, I'll have breakfast after Ensign Gibson has helped me."
"Thank you Sir."
An hour later, breakfast over, Jean-Luc sat on the sofa reading to Jacques
while the twins played on the quilt at his feet. He had been given a
painkiller and was waiting for Selar to call him to Sick Bay. He didn't have
long to wait.
"Selar to Picard."
"Picard here."
"I am ready for you Sir."
Holding up a hand to silence Jacques' protest, the Captain responded,
"Very well Doctor, I will beam directly to Sick Bay."
"We will be waiting Sir. Selar out."
With the channel closed Jacques took the opportunity to vent.
"Papa you said we would spend the day together!"
Jean-Luc sighed.
"We will Jacques but I have to go to Sick Bay for a while. I promise it
won't
be long."
The boy scowled.
"Why do you have to go? Sally told me you would be able to get better here
at home."
"That's true but some of my injuries need to be taken care of in Sick Bay.
Besides, I need you to keep an eye on the twins while I'm gone. You can do
that can't you?"
The request robbed the boy of his discontent. He gave his father a long look
then sighed.
"Yes Papa but do you promise to come back soon?"
Jean-Luc ruffled his son's hair.
"Yes my sweet son, I promise."
"Okay then."
Giving the boy a one-armed hug, Jean-Luc released Jacques and encouraged him
to move away. He then lifted his head and called,
"Picard to transporter room. One to beam directly to Sick Bay."
"Aye Captain, energising."
Jacques watched as his father disappeared within a sparkle of blue light. He
sighed as Sally emerged from his room with a PADD.
"Time to practice your numbers Jacques."
Selar stepped back from the bio bed and consulted the
screen above the bed. The reclining Captain remained silent as the Vulcan
physician went about her business, but his impatience was just under the
surface. Now free of the derma plates at the back of his head and the cast
on his leg, Jean-Luc itched to get back to his quarters, however he had to
wait for Selar's diagnosis of his condition. Eventually the stoic woman
nodded.
"Generally I am pleased with your progress Captain You will require physical
therapy on your leg and your sight may be mildly affected for a small amount
of time to come and you will continue to experience discomfort in many areas
of your body, but you are ahead of schedule and I see no reason why you
cannot continue to recover in your quarters."
Seeing her CO begin to rise to a sitting position, Selar offered her hand
and the Captain took it. Once upright he slowly lifted his cast-encased arm
and raised his eyebrows.
"When will this come off?"
The Doctor folded her arms and raised one eyebrow.
"Two more days Captain."
Jean-Luc nodded pensively then asked.
"And the pain in my shoulders?"
Selar frowned.
"That is difficult to say Sir. The shattered bones have knitted
satisfactorily but there will be residual pain upon movement for some time
yet. Such a severe injury will require time to heal Captain."
Jean-Luc gave a curt nod.
"I see, very well, thank you. I take it I can return to my quarters?"
Selar inclined her head.
"Yes Captain and now you are free of the cast on your leg; perhaps you might
allow the use of a wheelchair?"
Jean-Luc considered the suggestion and gave a nod.
"Yes that will be fine."
Within minutes Jean-Luc was on his way back to his quarters.
Data sat back from the screen and slowly shook his
head.
"I do not understand."
Will, standing beside the android leaned forward and peered at the screen.
"Why Data.what is it you don't understand?"
"These deformities Commander. I cannot find the cause."
Will looked again at the screen and screwed his face up in disgust.
"Well whatever's causing it.it's doing a bang-up job. That thing is
revolting."
Data nodded pensively.
"Indeed it is, but I have looked at several of these deformed beings and I
have noted the deformities differ from infant to infant. If you look
carefully it is possible to use the computer to build a construct of an
undeformed being."
The First Officer's eyebrows rose.
"Really? Show me."
Data entered the requisite commands and within seconds a three dimension
image appeared. As it slowly rotated on the screen Will softly whistled.
"Now that is something! Reptilian?"
Data shook his head.
"I think not Commander. These organs."
He pointed to the screen,
"Are gills, but if we look inside the creature."
He brought up another image,
"These organs are definitely lungs. I would say these beings are amphibian."
Will grunted quietly.
"Well that explains how they were able to grab the scientists and Beverly
then disappear into the sea. Okay, how do they communicate?"
Data sighed.
"That is difficult to say Sir. There is a rudimentary larynx but I would
hazard a guess that they utilise touch or perhaps telepathy. The brain
capacity is very large with the hippocampus highly developed, even in these
young. Also the webbed hands and feet possess very highly developed sensory
pads at the end of each digit. The number of nerve endings far exceeds that
which you would find in a Human."
Will straightened and arched his back, pushing his fingers into the small of
his spine.
"Okay so.we have an amphibian species that has developed a curiosity for
Humans. Why did the scientists drown?"
Data sat back from the screen and folded his hands in his lap.
"Unknown Sir."
Running his hand through his hair, Will snorted.
"Well we need to find out if we want to have any hope of rescuing Beverly."
Data nodded once.
"Agreed Commander."
As Will turned to leave, he said over his shoulder,
"I'm going to report to the Captain. Keep me posted."
"Aye Sir."