Star Trek The Next Generation: Struggles of the Mind

Chapter 1

'Captain's Log: The U.S.S Enterprise, 1701-E, has been sent on a survey mission of the Corby-Si sector. Although this is a completely routine mission, I cannot shake the feeling that something more will become of it...let's hope it's just a feeling!'

Counsellor Deanna Troi was off-duty and trying to sleep. There were people all around her, their incoherent voices echoed through her mind. She tossed and turned in her bed and woke with a start, as her commbadge chimed and she heard a familiar voice from the other end of the link,

"Riker to Counsellor Troi."

She paused her mind blank of anything except trying to breathe and calm herself down. Her dark hair, wet with sweat, was sticking to her back, neck and forehead.

"Counsellor Troi? Deanna, are you there?"

She breathed deeply to compose herself and realised that she hadn't answered his call. She tried to seem calmer than she felt. Her voice betrayed her.

"Yes, I'm...I'm here, Will."

She felt as if she didn't remember how to talk through sub-space communication networks even though she'd been doing it her whole life.

"Deanna, are you all right?" came Will's concerned voice.

"Yes. Yes I'm fine, Commander. What can I do for you?"

"We need you on the Bridge, Counsellor."

"I'll be there, Troi out." She replied as she stumbled out of her bed and got dressed with shaking hands.

On the Bridge of the Enterprise-E, the flagship of the Federation, the crew were quietly examining their controls, getting ready to make reports if asked to. Jean-Luc Picard looked to his right and saw the muscles of his First Officer's jaw working over-time, something was wrong.

"Problem, Number One?"

"Possibly, sir. Deanna was rather distracted and sounded a little confused when I called her a few moments ago."

"Do you think she might have had contact with that life form?"

Picard nodded towards the viewscreen. The large cloud of energy simmered many colours, but mainly pink and purple. They had encountered it almost ten minutes ago, but could get no readings from their scans and it hadn't responded to any of their attempts at communication. It just floated there in space like it was waiting for something. The possibility that it was a telepathic creature had not been dismissed and that was why they needed Deanna Troi, even her limited telepathic abilities would be helpful.
Counsellor Deanna Troi entered the Bridge from one of the aft turbolifts. She looked tired and slightly pale, but smiled politely at everyone she passed. She had opted to discard her uniform today, instead wearing an aqua coloured dressed that flowed down to her ankles.
Commander Riker and Captain Picard rose from their seats, as Deanna Troi approached them.

"Counsellor, are you alright?"

"Yes, captain, I'm just a little tired." She replied.

"Are you sure that's all?" asked Riker.

"Yes, sir, I'm fine." She said out loud, feigning politeness through gritted teeth.

In his mind, Will Riker, heard her voice,

'Stop it, Will, please!'

It was startling enough to hear her communicating telepathically with him, she hadn't done it in years, but what was more surprising was the secret annoyance that her voice held.
They remained standing as the captain explained to Troi what they needed her to do.