Star Trek The Next Generation: Discovered

Chapter 12

After what seemed like hours, Picard felt a hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw Deanna standing above him. She looked weak, feverish and ready to faint. He stood up and saw all his crewmembers still closing their eyes and covering their ears. In various places, Helikin soldiers lay scattered on the floor. Picard took Deanna's arm and put it over his shoulder to support her, as they began to 'wake' everyone else up.
Riker felt the touch of Picard on his shoulders. He opened his eyes and looked up to see Picard with Deanna slumped weakly beside him. Will stood up and took Deanna from Picard, picking her up. She immediately wrapped her arms securely around his neck.
The officers began to file out of the Cargo Bay, arming themselves with dropped disrupter rifles. Beverley checked on a few of the fallen Helikin soldiers, as she walked past them. She joined Picard as one of the last to leave the Cargo Bay.

"I don't know what she did, Jean-Luc, but those soldiers are dead."

"You're sure?"

Beverley nodded her head, as she passed another three bodies. The large crowd of officers stopped of at the armoury to arm themselves with hand phasers or phaser rifles, before splitting off into groups to take back their stations. Beverley and her medical staff planned to take back Sickbay with the help of the Betazoid delegates, Kelic and Andrana. Riker, having to take back the Bridge with Picard, Data, Lepec and a handful of security officers, handed Deanna over into Bix's arms.

"Take care of her."

"Don't be concerned, Commander, she will not come to harm with us."

"Thank you." He said, nodding to the young Betazoid.

He kissed Deanna lightly on her forehead and he left with his group.

"Alright people," Came Crusher's voice, "let's get Sickbay back. When we have we'll get you two fixed up," She said nodding her head at Kelic and Andrana, "and then we'll see if we can help Deanna."

"Sir, none of the guards in Cargo Bay 3 or on that level are responding to our communications." Came the report from the Helikin Soldier at the tactical station of the Enterprise Bridge.

"They must have escaped somehow."

"Patrol seven to General Bek'Lax."

"This is Bek'Lax."

"Sir, we've come up against mass resistance from the Starfleet officers. They came from nowhere and are armed with starfleet phasers and phaser rifles."

"Stay at your positions." He turned to the officer at tactical. "Go to ship-wide red alert and open a channel to all patrols."

The klaxon began to sound and the whole Bridge was tinted red.

"Channel open, sir."

"This is Bek'Lax. The prisoners have escaped and are armed. Do not let them retake the ship! Bek'Lax out."

"Sir, reports are coming in fast, we've lost almost 65% of the ship." Came the voice of another soldier, who sat at Data's console.

At that moment from the two turbolifts and the Conference lounge emerged Picard and his group, all of them armed and with their weapons aimed at each of them seven Helikin soldiers that stood on the Bridge.

"I suggest you surrender, Bex'Lax."

"I think not, Picard." He tapped the communicator on his wrist. "This is Bek'Lax, emergency transport of all boarding crew."

The Helikins disappeared from the Bridge. As Bex'Lax began to dematerialise he sneered at Picard,

"I will be back, human, you can count in it."

On the viewscreen, the Helikin fleet retreated from the Enterprise.

"Shall we pursue them, sir?" asked Data, as they all took their customary seats.

"No, Data. Let's just make sure everything is alright."

"Aye, sir." Data tapped his consolethen spoke, "Bridge to all stations, please report in."