Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 20 Jan 2004 10:54:48 -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: 17/? Archive: yes Summary: An alternate universe story that picks up ten years after Disclaimer: no infringement meant, and comments welcomed. "Still There" (17/?) By: Louise Ellis "We'll find out soon enough." They fell silent as they continued down the hall and into the next set of buildings. Stopping in front of one of the offices, he faced her. "Ready?" "I'm with you." She replied simply, reaching up and touching his cheek. "I'm capable of anything." "You don't have to be with me for that." He chuckled, then led her into the outer room of Davies' office. "The Admiral wished to see us?" "Oh, sir." The cadet at the desk snapped to attention. "Sirs. He asked that you meet him at the Security Brig, level five." "Level five?" Jean-Luc blinked in surprise. "Very well, would you contact him and let him know we're on our way." "Yes sir." With a crisp nod, he waited until they'd turned and left to activate the com unit in the desk. "Level five is the highest one, isn't it?" Beverly glanced at him. "Yes." He fell silent as they moved through the building, brushing past the few people in the halls. When they approached a guarded doorway, he squeezed her hand, then let go, her slight smile reassuring him that she understood his action. Seconds later, they stopped in front of the guards. "Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Commander Beverly Picard. Admiral Davies requested that we meet him here." "Yes sir." The guard nodded and stepped to the side, entering a code in the panel. "He's inside waiting for you both. If you would…" he indicated a glowing panel, then waited as first Jean-Luc, then Beverly placed their hand on the panel. When he received verification, he opened the door and allowed them to enter. "Jean-Luc, Beverly." Paul Davies strode forward to greet them. "Thank you for coming. Beverly, you're all right?" "We were transporting as the explosion destroyed the house." Beverly nodded slightly. "Will and I are both fine, thank you." She glanced around, "why are we in level five?" "We were able to apprehend the two crews that attacked the houses." Davies indicated a door. "Beverly, I'd like you to take a look and see if you recognize anyone." "Why would I recognize…" Beverly's voice trailed off as her face paled in realization. "She can't do it via a transmission?" Jean-Luc stepped in front of her protectively. "No." Davies took a deep breath. "Due to the…importance, and in order to maintain a certain level of communication with the Cardassian government, we need her to do this face to face." Beverly swallowed nervously and closed her eyes for a moment before straightening and gazing at him levelly. "I want a uniform." He nodded slowly, "we can take care of that." Davies glanced toward another door. "I believe there's a replicator in there, we'll secure the door so you can change." "Thank you." Beverly touched Jean-Luc's arm lightly. "I'll be right back." He nodded, then waited until she'd gone into the adjoining office and closed the door before he turned to Davies. "You know what you're asking of her?" "Jean-Luc, trust me." Davies let a hint of a satisfied smile touch his lips briefly before continuing. "I spoke with Counselor Riker briefly about doing it this way, Beverly will shut the door on this, and once it's done, you'll understand." Jean-Luc gazed at him for a long moment, a strange thought forming in his mind before he spoke. "He wouldn't have been foolish enough to come himself." "You'd be surprised what pride does to all beings. Human or other species…" Davies shook his head. "Amazing how it blinds." "Something I'm all too aware of, unfortunately." Jean-Luc shook his head slowly, then turned as the door slid open. "I need someone with a command clearance." Now dressed in a uniform, Beverly raised an eyebrow and touched her collar. "Of course." Davies moved across the room and passed Beverly as she stepped out of the way. A moment later, he returned and handed three small items to her. When she began to attach them to her collar, he gazed at her. "All we need you to do is go in, see if you recognize any of the crew members. Take your time, be observant, and be aware that in some cases, a disguise may be in place." Beverly gazed at him for a moment, thinking about what he'd said, then nodded. "Am I to go in alone or with someone." "I'd like you to go in with a security team as well as a consul. Jean- Luc and I will join you a few minutes later." Davies raised his hand and beckoned three people over to them. "Commander Picard, this is Lieutenant Devries and Lieutenant Mixon, as well as Senior Consul Sikes. Lieutenants, Senior Consul, this is Commander Picard." As they nodded at each other, he continued with his instructions. "She will be entering and observing the two crews. At no time is the security field to be lowered, and at no time is she to be left alone with them." His eyes shifted between them. "Do you all understand?" When then four of them nodded he continued. "Commander Picard will make any identifications she is able to, based upon her personal experience, Consul Sikes, you will verify her statements, all statements made in the brig area will be recorded for permanent record." The two of them nodded once again. "Very well, let's get this done." Beverly waited until the other three had moved toward the door on the far side of the room before turning back to Jean-Luc. Smiling slightly at the trepidation on his face, she stepped toward him. "I'll be fine," she murmured, "I've a security team and a consul with me, the entire thing will be recorded, and you'll be on the other side of the door if I need you." "I know." He began to reach up and touch her cheek, then paused, glancing across the room. With a wry grin, he shook his head. "To hell with it," he muttered, leaning forward and kissing her gently. "Bon chance, cherie." She smiled at him. "I don't need luck, I've got you." With a wrinkle of her nose, she turned away and crossed to join the others waiting for her. "Shall we?" The security team entered a code, opening the door and allowing Beverly to step through, followed by the consul before they stepped through, one of them pausing to secure the door behind them while the other moved to Beverly's side. "Commander, this way. They've been placed in individual cells." "Thank you." With a curt nod, Beverly continued toward the row of cells, the consul behind her as the security team remained a few feet behind them. Schooling her face to show no emotion, she gazed into the first cell, meeting the Cardassian's defiant eyes levelly. Remaining in front of each cell for less than a minute, she moved down the row, staring at all of them before returning to the sixth cell. Staring at the figure inside, she stepped closer to the force screen, finally speaking. "Why come after me on Earth. You had to know there would be security." One lip curled. "I don't know what you're speaking of human. We were on a training mission. Following orders." "Were you now." Her eyes moved along the row before resting on his figure again. "You made a mistake you know." "I have no idea what you're talking about." He sneered. "Is this some Starfleet hoax, designed to intimidate us with a mere female?" Beverly's eyebrow raised in feigned amusement as one of the security team stepped forward. "A mere female. Then you will not know who I am." "Why would I?" He stood, causing the security team to move forward again, stopped only by Beverly's gesture to halt. "You are a female. Starfleet. What use would Cardassia have for you." "Cardassia would have none." Her lips twitched. "Gul Madred harbored a grudge against my husband." His eyes flared with a hint of hatred. "Ah yes. However, Madred had no idea he was my husband." Her voice dropped seductively. "The fool believed he was only the father of my child." "You will address him as Gul, female!" One of the other Cardassians ordered tersely, causing Beverly to turn her head and gaze at him witheringly for a long moment until he sank back onto his bunk. "That's right. Madred was a fool, he thought he could use my daughter to control me, and both of us to cause my husband great pain." Beverly took another step closer to the screen. "He forgot the slight detail that Jean-Luc Picard does not give up. You'd think he would have remembered that," she smiled slowly, "after all, wasn't it Madred's failure to break Jean-Luc Picard that caused him to lose status with the government of Cardassia? And be…assigned to an outpost, a mere trading outpost…somewhere out of the main power of Cardassia, forgotten except for a pathetic man's hatred of a single…human?" When his nostrils flared in anger, she pushed harder, "and then Jean-Luc Picard's doctor fell into his hands, a mere coincidence, and to find she was bearing his child? An opportunity too good to pass up…but you never forgot the humiliation, the shame…the disgrace of being beaten by a human…" When he lunged at her, Beverly remained still as he hurtled back off the force screen with a shower of sparks. "You…you should have died, you and your bastard child." He hissed. "You knew not of the plans you both ruined; I should have sent you back to him in pieces as I had thought to do." (end part 17) -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. From ???@??? 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