Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 18 Jan 2004 17:54:21 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: louiseell@aol.com (louise ellis) Title: "Still There" Author: Louise Ellis Series: TNG Rating: PG Code: P/C Part: 2/? Archive: yes Summary: An alternate universe story that picks up ten years after Disclaimer: no infringement meant, and comments welcomed. "Still There" (2/?) By: Louise Ellis The next day, Felisa was once again working with the herbs when a tiny fold of paper fell out of one of the bundles. Frowning, she glanced around and opened it. Gazing at the symbols on it, she didn't hear Beverly's footsteps, but she did hear the gasp as Beverly stared at the paper. "Maman?" "Where did you get this?" Beverly whispered, trying not to look at the guard stationed at the doors of the small shed Madred allowed her to use for drying the herbs she used to treat his household and slaves. "In here." Felisa touched the bundle she'd just opened. "What does it mean?" "Nothing." Beverly grabbed the paper and crumpled it before dropping it in a pocket. "Forget you ever saw it. Promise me, Felisa." She hissed softly, one hand gripping the edge of the table. "I promise." Felisa blinked in surprise at her mother's vehemence. "Good." Beverly closed her eyes for a moment and thought, then smiled slightly and raised her voice as she blinked at the plants in front of her. "Go ahead and set those out to dry." Crossing to another table, her mind raced. What the hell was a piece of paper with Jean-Luc Picard's security code doing here? Biting her lip, she absently sorted the plants on her table. By the time Felisa returned, she'd come to a decision. With a quick touch on Felisa's arm, she turned and approached the guard at the door, dipping her head toward him. "Please, we were rushed yesterday, I need to go back to the market, I misjudged some of the plants, and need more, with the Gul's new shipment. Can you find out if we could go back to the market, please?" Back at the table, Felisa blinked in surprise. Beverly rarely spoke to the Cardassians if she could help it, and even more seldom for anything as mundane as getting more plants, unless it was an emergency. And from what she'd seen, they had plenty of whatever they might need. "I'll check. You stay." A few minutes later, permission had been received and he was leading the two of them out of the compound, a second guard joining them at the gate. Taking her daughter's hand firmly, Beverly tried to remain calm and aloof, her usual facade when out in the market. "Felisa, we need to get some more of that root, and since we're out again, keep an eye out for the kale and kress." Beverly thought for a moment. "Oh, and some of that ruggit root for antibiotic is always useful, I didn't like the look of what they had available yesterday." "Very well." Felisa nodded. What they were looking for would take them in approximately the same path as yesterday. They'd been walking and browsing for some time, when Beverly straightened and stared at a shopkeeper, a slight movement of his hand having caught her attention. His eyes flicked over her left shoulder before he looked away when she nodded slightly. Trying to control the shock racing through her, Beverly caught Felisa's hand. "Felisa, let's look over here." Leading her in the direction the man's eyes had gone, Beverly crossed the marketplace. Stopping in front of a relatively new stall, she glanced at several of the wares, then up at the shopkeeper, eyes widening in recognition as yet another wave of shock ran through her. It just wasn't possible... "You wish something from my wares?" He met her gaze levelly, his eyes sliding to the girl holding onto her hand for a split second before returning to meet Beverly's. "Perhaps something to…prevent retaliation? From an inconvenient addition or some sort of reaction?" "Possibly something for a pain...in the chest. A quick pain. Possibly deadly." Beverly replied, her free hand moving to touch the approximate spot her implant was embedded as Felisa looked between the two of them, confused. "For two…" "Ah. That would be in here." He nodded toward the shop behind him. "They need to remain in a dark and sheltered spot, not out in the light." "I see." Beverly nodded slowly, and turned to the guards following. "I need to go inside to see some plants." "Wait here." One guard nodded and glanced inside. "Go on." He gestured for his partner to remain outside, then moved to lead Beverly into the tent. "Thank you." Beverly led Felisa in and paused, letting her eyes adjust to the dim light as she passed the guard. Seconds later, there was a muffled grunt from behind them and she shoved Felisa forward into the darkness. "Go." She hissed as a panel slid open, revealing a passage. "You or the girl?" A man moved forward to fall in step beside her. "Both." She followed Felisa as they were urged along the dark passage, both of them stumbling in the near darkness. "Here." He handed her an amulet. "Put it on. Blocks the impulse signals, or at least should. We made them to appear decorative to evade detection if needed." He handed one to Felisa as well. "But..." Felisa paused, eyes wide with fear as she looked about wildly, trying to figure out what was happening. "Felisa, for God's sake, do it." Beverly pulled hers on, then caught Felisa's hand, pulling her along the passage as Felisa pulled the amulet over her head. "Where, we don't have long before we're missed, the guards have to report in regularly, I don't know how long it was since they last did." "Back here." He continued to lead them through a tunnel, winding under the settlement, several other bodies moving with them. When they finally emerged into an open area, Beverly still pulling Felisa along, they paused. "Nine to bring up, as quickly as possible." Seconds later, Beverly cried out in pain and crumpled as they dematerialized. Rematerializing on the ship, Beverly continued her fall, Felisa falling with her, their hands clasped together tightly. Gasping for breath, she closed her eyes, absently clutching the amulet with one hand, Felisa with the other. "Damn." She curled over on her side as the aftershocks of the excruciating pain ran through her shaking body. "It mutes it, doesn't eliminate it." The man who'd handed them the amulets eased Felisa aside. "Relax, you're out of range. Try to breathe." Eyes still closed, Beverly took a deep shuddering breath. "Better?" She nodded slowly. "Good. We'll get it out soon enough. Did you feel anything, child?" He looked at Felisa who was still as close as she could get without touching him. The protective glint registering, he stepped back to the edge of the transporter pad. "No." Now that he was out of the way, she moved back to Beverly's side, staring around at the group on the pad as she protectively hovered over her mother's body. "Who are you?" "Friends." The shopkeeper who'd led them inside moved through the group as Beverly's eyes opened at the voice. "Hello there." "Jean..." Beverly struggled to sit up, releasing the amulet to reach out toward him desperately, her voice almost a moan while Felisa stared at her, startled at her mother's movements. "Jean..." "Shh. Beverly, take it easy." Sliding his arms around her, he held her tightly as she clung to him. "Shh.." Pulling back, she ran her hand over his face, slightly altered and with a beard. "You look different." "It's been a few days, perhaps a bit longer." He teased softly, pushing her hair back as he inspected her bruised face, pale, with a jagged cut on one cheek. Suddenly his smile disappeared. "Your cheek." "I'm fine." She closed her eyes and inhaled, not wanting to wake up just yet if this was another dream. "How..." "A Maquis slave escaped, he'd seen you and recognized you." Picard announced softly. "Maman..." Felisa pushed Picard away, edging back onto Beverly's lap protectively. "Maman?" Picard stared at them, he'd thought the girl was another human Beverly had taken under her wing. "Beverly..." "Felisa." Comprehension dawning that this really wasn't a dream, Beverly blinked as a thought struck her. "Damn, we have to get the implants out." "Excuse me?" The man who'd given them the amulets frowned. "The signal can't reach..." She struggled to her feet, pulling Felisa with her. "No, he may have implanted another...you've got to get them out and do full physicals on both of us immediately. The implant also had capabilities...I haven't had any way to tell what he had put into either of us." The man hesitated only a split second, then nodded toward the ensign at the controls. "To the Medical Bay, now." Seconds later the three of them rematerialized in a medical room. "On the beds." He gestured tersely as he picked up a tricorder and hypospray. "Maman?" Felisa paused, staring around the room in shock. "Up. It's going to be fine. He's a doctor, like I used to be, he's going to help both of us." Helping Felisa onto one of the tables, Beverly managed a reassuring smile. "I'm right next to you." "Let's go." The doctor guided Beverly to the next bed, and pressed a hypo against her neck as she craned her head to watch another doctor do the same with Felisa. "Relax." "Just get it out, and do a full bio..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes fluttered shut. (end part 2) -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! 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