NEW: TNG The Lazarus Dilemma 10/? P/C
Heather Smyth
Author: Heather Smyth
Series: TNG
Rating: NC17
Part: 10/?
Code: p/c
Disclaimer and summary..see part one.
Beverly knew there was someone in the room with her, but until they
entered her field of vision, they remained invisible to her. She could hear
movement and as she felt cold hands on her skin she wished she could
shudder. Hands lifted her breasts and pressed the flesh, her nipples
receiving due attention. Whatever was imbedded in her upper left chest was
slowly withdrawn and the excruciating pain made Beverly yell in her mind.
Tears streamed down her face as the agony radiated out through her chest and
torso. She felt blood running down her sides, then the sensation of the gore
being wiped off her skin. Something was pressed over the wound and she
smelled the unmistakable aroma of burning flesh, but oddly, there was no
associated pain. The residual pain throbbed insidiously in her chest, but
she was very grateful to note it slowly ebbed. More movement could be heard
then she felt her legs being parted. Her labia were spread then something
was inserted into her vagina. Outraged and helpless, Beverly endured the
intrusion, again crying out in her mind as the object penetrated too far. At
the periphery of her hearing she detected odd, soft beeps, as if an
instrument was working. The sudden cold application of metal against her
clitoris made her silently yelp. The mild electric shock that passed through
the organ made her silently gasp, but her drugged body showed no outward
reaction to this violation. She tried to relax but she felt a pressure deep
inside her body, followed by sudden intense pain in her lower abdomen. The
pressure increased until she was silently screaming, tears pouring from her
eyes. She dimly heard a loud chiming and the pressure abruptly ceased. Into
her blurry vision a figure appeared, the suddenly blocked light casting too
much shadow for her abused eyes to see. She smelled something decidedly wet
and swallowed convulsively. As her vision adjusted an alien face stared down
at her. Large webbed hands appeared and the mask was taken off her face.
Then, with no time to prepare herself, the tube that was extended down her
throat was withdrawn. Again she cried out in pain and anguish as the
delicate mucous membrane of her throat was torn by the dry tube. The cold
hand pulled her chin down and introduced a thin metal pipe. There was a
hissing sound and Beverly's mouth was pervaded by a strong chemical taste.
The pain in the trachea lessened and she gave a prayer of thanks. The alien
moved away and she felt something being placed over her abdomen. It was
heavy and heart rate increased with her fear.
"Oh my God.what now?"
Selar, being a Vulcan, had almost limitless patience
but her Captain was trying her resolve. For the third time in as many
minutes she found herself shaking her head.
"No Captain Picard you may not sit up."
He glowered at the woman and growled,
"Why the hell not?"
Adopting what she hoped was a respectful demeanour, the Doctor explained.
"Captain your injuries were quite severe, necessitating lengthy treatment to
affect a complete recovery. "
His eyes glittered dangerously.
"I understand that, but why must you insist I be laid flat on my back?
Surely I can sit up at least."
Taking a deep breath, Selar clasped her hands in front of her.
"Captain there are some injuries that require deep regeneration therapy."
"Which I can take sitting up!"
Ignoring his interruption, Selar continued.
"Your shoulder blades in particular must be kept still, both for the
regeneration treatment and to make sure the repaired bone knits correctly."
Jean-Luc snorted.
"So I had a few broken bones.I've had them before."
"Yes Captain you have, but your right leg was badly broken in several places
and both scapulas were shattered, not to mention your pelvis. I'm sorry Sir,
but the only way I can heal these injuries satisfactorily is to have you lie
flat in bed while the regeneration beams do their work."
Jean-Luc pursed his lips and huffed.
"Very well I will accede, but I want to be removed from the biowaste unit."
The Doctor bowed her head and briefly closed her eyes.
"Captain your request is illogical. How could you adequately void your
bodily waste while being kept still in bed?"
His lowered brow deepened and he scowled.
"I would manage."
The Doctor's jaw tensed.
"I'm sorry Captain.no."
It was unusual for Jean-Luc to raise his voice, but he was frustrated and
angry.
"Look Doctor my wife is missing on that damned planet and I'm stuck here
unable to lift a finger to help find her. Dammit woman.can't you see I need
to do something!"
Selar Selar sighed.
Captain I understand but your attitude is illogical. As your Doctor I am
bound by my oath to treat you as I see fit, to do otherwise would be
negligent of me. Please Sir, your compliance will speed your recovery."
The Captain squinted and gritted his teeth. With a glance at the readout
Selar could see his pain levels were rising. She left the room, to return
shortly with a hypospray. As she injected the man he closed his eyes and
sighed.
"Why is there so much pain in my head.and why is my sight affected?"
"You sustained two serious skull fractures, causing a large subdural
haematoma. It and the fractures have been repaired, but the underlining
brain tissue has been traumatised. You will experience vision disturbances
and pain until the tissue regains its former state."
His voice had become gravelly.
"How long?"
"At least three days.perhaps longer."
With a grunt he snarled,
"And the rest? How long will I be stuck here?"
Ignoring his sour attitude, Selar replied,
"I envisage you will be able to be discharged to your quarters in a week."
A nurse entered and Selar turned to hear what he had to say. She nodded and
again addressed her Captain.
"Sir Ensign Miles is outside.she says you have requested her presence."
Jean-Luc nodded, his eyes still closed.
"Sir I do not wish you to be disturbed at this time. I will ask her to come
back tomorrow."
His eyes snapped open and he gently shook his head.
"No! She is looking after my children.I need to see her."
Knowing that the man wouldn't settle until he knew his children were all
right, Selar acquiesced.
"Very well, she may have five minutes."
The Ensign entered and Jean-Luc opened his eyes, doing his best to put a
smile on his face.
"Ensign please, sit."
The nervous woman sat on the edge of her chair, trying to keep the blush
from rising over her face.
"Hello Captain Picard, how are you Sir?"
The smile widened but didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Oh I'm fine. Tell me.how are the boys?"
"Well Captain.Jacques misses both you and Doctor Picard, but they're all
well. Captain.do you really read Jack The Ripper to Jacques?"
Jean-Luc clenched his fists, his eyes glinting angrily.
"I most certainly do not! Why?"
Sally's grin was infectious.
"Because he told me you do. He asked me to read to him last night and when I
enquired which book you were reading to him, he told me Jack The Ripper."
With a deep sigh, Jean-Luc wished he could rub his face with his hands.
"He doesn't even know what the book is about. He saw me reading it last week
and asked me about it. I fobbed him off but obviously his curiosity has been
aroused. I have been reading Gulliver's Travels to him."
"I thought so Sir, it's sitting on the nightstand beside his bed."
The Captain nodded.
"Where I left it. Tell me, how are the twins doing with their feeds?"
Sally grinned.
"Oh they're doing really well. I have Ensign Grundy come and help me.I know
Henri will wait fairly patiently but I don't think it's fair. With Gail
helping me we can get them both fed at the same time."
Jean-Luc smiled his gratitude.
"Thank you Ensign, that is very kind of you. How are they tolerating the
fruit?"
"Oh really well Captain. They've progressed to apple and orange and I've
introduced some rice and barley. Don't worry Sir, they're doing fine."
There was a momentary silence then Jean-Luc frowned.
"Doctor Picard told me you are from a large family."
Sally smiled wistfully.
"Yes Sir, I am the eldest of nine."
"That is so unusual these days. What was it like Ensign.growing up in such a
crowded household?"
Sally shrugged.
"Oh I guess it was a little noisy.not much privacy.if I may ask Sir.do you
have any siblings?"
The sadness that passed across the Captain's face made the Ensign instantly
regret her question but before she could retract it her CO smiled softly.
"I had an elder brother but he died a few years ago."
Sally sighed.
"I'm sorry Sir."
Jean-Luc wished he could shrug.
"It's of no consequence Ensign. Has your department head been notified of
the situation?"
The Ensign nodded eagerly.
"Yes Captain, Commander Riker spoke to her and I have been released from my
duties to care for your children until such time as the situation is
resolved."
The Captain nodded.
"That's good. I take it you have adequate help if required?"
"Yes Sir. Not only is Ensign Grundy available, so are several other
crewmembers. Once it became clear that you needed help I was inundated with
offers."
Jean-Luc smiled.
"How gratifying. Well I am pleased it's you caring for the boys. Perhaps you
can bring Jacques to see me soon? I know he will have some questions for
me."
Sally grinned.
"Oh yes.no doubt about that Captain, but I think he needs to see you for
comfort too Sir. He misses you very much.both of you."
Jean-Luc sighed, his eyes troubled.
"What have you told him?"
It was Sally's turn to sigh.
"Not very much. I haven't told him Doctor Picard is missing, but I did tell
him you have been injured and have to stay in Sick Bay for a while."
"How did he take it?"
Sally frowned.
"He was very worried Captain. It took a lot of effort on my part to finally
dissuade him from coming down here to see you. He can be a very determined
little boy."
The Captain gave a rueful smile.
"It's a family trait Ensign, one he gets from both sides. Some may call it
stubbornness."
Selar came back in and said softly,
"You must rest now Captain."
The Ensign stood and smiled down at her CO.
"Don't worry about your kids Captain; I'll take good care of them."
With a tried smile, Jean-Luc nodded.
"I know you will Sally and I do appreciate your assistance."
Selar waited until the young woman had left before injecting her patient
with a sedative. As his mind and body succumbed to the drug he managed a
scowl at his Doctor.
"You always get your way don't you."
He was asleep before she had to reply. Smoothing the blanket over his chest,
Selar gave a satisfied nod.
"Most times Captain.most times."
Will Riker strode onto the Bridge, his curt order to the
Lieutenant he was relieving making the man wince inwardly.
"Report!"
"Sir! There has been a change in shifts down on the planet and Mr.Data
reports they have discovered alien DNA at the shuttle site. They are at
present trying to identify it."
Will nodded and, as the change of shifts occurred around him, he raised his
head and called,
"Riker to Data."
The reply was instant.
"Data here Commander."
"What have you got for me Data?"
"Early this morning we discovered DNA and cellular residue from Doctor
Picard very near the shuttle. I utilised the shuttle's scanners to augment
our tricorders and found DNA from an alien source. We have, as yet, been
unable to identify it Sir."
Will stroked his beard.
"I see. Any more information about the indentations? Are they from a craft?"
"We think so Commander. We have detected a slight electromagnetic
disturbance which may indicate a power source. We will investigate further."
Taking his seat, Will nodded.
"Very well Commander. Riker out."
An hour passed before Selar appeared on the Bridge. In her usual calm Vulcan
manner she requested to see Will in the Ready Room.
"What can I do for you Doctor?"
Selar took a seat and clasped her hands on the desktop.
"Commander I have some disturbing news."
Will's stomach soured, his thought going immediately to his Captain.
"Is it Captain Picard?"
Selar shook her head.
"No Sir.at least not directly."
Will scowled.
"Explain."
The Doctor frowned slightly and sat forward.
"You are aware Commander of my on going efforts to identify the chemical
found in the bodies of the scientists?"
Will nodded silently.
"In my investigations I decided to go back to the bodies to do a microscopic
analysis of the tissue. What I have found is deeply disturbing."
The Commander kept his face inscrutable.
"What did you find?"
"Sir there has been tissue taken from the bodies and invasive procedures
undertaken."
Will's eyebrows rose.
"Tell me."
"I discovered each major organ in all seven bodies had tissue removed. The
evidence of this.biopsy-like sampling was very well disguised but evident
nonetheless. Even the reproductive organs have been sampled. Also I found
three entry points into the brain. One at the occipital cortex, one in the
frontal lobe and one.and this is somewhat surprising, up through the palate
of the mouth and through the thalamus and corpus callosum and into the
parietal lobe."
Will closed his eyes momentarily and shook his head.
"So.whoever did this was doing what? Experimenting? Exploring?"
Selar shrugged.
"I would say exploring Commander. If I was presented with alien bodies I may
well do exactly as they have done."
"Why didn't you discover this before?"
The Vulcan tilted her head and raised one eyebrow.
"The autopsies had been conducted and, apart from the chemical and the
highly elevated adrenaline levels we found, there did not seem to be
anything else of note. The microscopic tissue analysis I did would not
usually be considered in a standard autopsy unless there was doubt about the
cause of death. We established very early that they died as a result of
drowning."
Will sat back and ran his hands over his head. He sighed and picked up the
crystal shard the Jean-Luc kept on his desk.
"Do you know if they were alive or dead when these.samples were taken?"
Selar shrugged.
"Unknown Commander, however the elevated adrenaline levels seem to suggest
enormous stress was experienced by the.victims. It may well be that they
endured the procedures whilst alive.and aware."
The crystal shard clattered on the desktop as Will growled,
"Shit!"
A frown graced the Vulcan's face.
"Sir?"
Will sighed.
"You are aware Doctor Picard is missing?"
"Yes Commander."
"Well what if the same people who did the experimenting on the scientists
have Doctor Picard?"
Both of Selar's eyebrows rose.
"That would be.unfortunate."
Will scowled.
"Yes, it would. Have you made any progress in identifying the chemical?"
"As a matter of fact, yes Sir. Although we have not identified all of the
constituents, we have established the chemical is a drug and its effects
would be similar to that of curare."
Will frowned, shaking his head.
"I'm not familiar with that drug."
"Curare has been used on Earth for centuries. It was first found by South
American natives and used for hunting. In effect it renders the recipient
utterly unable to control their muscles. However the victim can see, hear
and feel."
Will rubbed his face with his hands.
"Oh God.this is too horrible to think about."
Selar nodded.
"Indeed it is disturbing. Especially when you consider, if Doctor Picard is
indeed in alien hands, that they now have a female to examine."
Will's head shot up.
"Oh Christ.we have to do something!"
The Doctor sighed.
"What more can we do Sir?"
Will stood, bringing the interview to an end.
"I'm not sure Doctor but I'll be damned if I'm going to sit on my arse up
here twiddling my thumbs!"
As the big man strode from the office, Selar followed him, her thoughts wry.
"How illogical."