Star Trek The Next Generation: Struggles of the Mind

Chapter 7

Gradually she began to become aware of the sensation of sweat trickling down her back, of her lower body touching the floor and of the sharp burning pain in the palm of her left hand.
She opened her eyes and found herself lying on the floor in the mists of a scene of mass destruction. The computer panels now smouldered and the entire expanse of Engineering was charcoal black. Parts of the ceiling still fell with loud bangs and crashes to the floor.
She looked to the computer panel, as she got to her feet. The entire panel had been short-circuited and was completely burnt to the point of it not being recognised as anything, but a large piece of
smouldering metal. Still sitting in its place was the Borg cube, which still shone slightly in the parts that hadn't been burnt. Deanna reached for it and noticed that the entire palm of her left hand was burnt.

"Damn it!" She swore, reaching for the cube with her right hand, it came away from the burnt computer panel with ease.

Before making her way to the turbolift she wrapped her burnt hand in a make-shift bandage. She entered the turbolift and gave her destination as the Bridge.

On the viewscreen was the last Borg cube exploding as Deanna Troi entered the deserted Bridge of the Enterprise.

"Computer?"

At first there was only static as a response, but moments later the calm feminine voice of the ship's computer filled Troi's ears.

'Working.'

"Lock onto all the escape pods and engage the tractor beams."

'Acknowledged.'

"It's time to bring them home." She added quietly to herself as she eased her aching, tired and weak body into the command chair and tapped her commbadge.

"Enterprise to Picard."

"Enterprise to Picard."

Picard and Riker looked at one another half in disbelief and half in amazement.

"Picard here."

"I've initiated the tractor beams all the escape pods should be back where they belong within five minutes. As you can see your ship's still here, sir."

Picard smiled.

"And my ship's Counsellor? Do I still have one?"

"Just about, sir."

The two men could hear the smile in her voice, which was followed by a fit of coughing.

"Take it easy, Counsellor, just relax. We'll be with you soon."

"Don't worry, Captain, you're chair is far too comfy for me not to relax."

The smile returned to her voice, as they did on Picard and Riker's faces.

As soon as Picard and his senior staff had set foot on the decks of the Enterprise they rushed to the Main Bridge. The door to the turbolift hissed open to reveal the expanse of an empty Bridge, the
only sound was the hum of the engines and the odd beeping of the computer consoles around the Bridge. There in the middle of the Bridge was the Command chair where Deanna sat. She turned to face them, standing unsteadily with a smile spread across her face. As Data, Worf and a few other officers took their positions on the Bridge, Deanna literally ran to Picard, Riker and Crusher, but her
tired, wakened legs gave way from under her and she fell into Will's waiting arms. He lifted her back to her feet, hooked her chin with his finger and kissed her, lightly at first, but when she didn't say
no, he deepened it.
A smile spread across Beverley's face at this show of obvious affection between her two friends. She'd heard one or two rumours during her travels on the lower decks, but so far she had dismissed
them as simple gossip. When Will and Deanna parted they shared a quick self-conscious smile.
Deanna turned to face Picard, who nodded at her,