Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.

Parasite 

Members of the senior staff were gathered at the Enterprise. Geordi was the first to speak. “I have to ask. Are we on trial here?”

Picard and Data walked up behind him. 

“No,” Picard answered him. “We are not.

Why do you ask?”

“I just have a really strange feeling about this.”

Beverly ran down the stairs from the Enterprise, “Data! Data!” She was waving a recorder. “You’re not going to believe this.” She was out of breath when she reached the ground. “Whoo!” She panted. “The organisms that created the film on the platinum are the same organisms we filtered out of Sher’s blood. The cold temperatures created from the coolant leak brought them to life.”

“When the platinum was brought aboard the temperature controlled enterprise, they lay dormant.” Data analyzed.

She continued, “the super cold temperatures created by the coolant leak created a pathway for them. They are airborne. They followed the coolant back to a cold spot with a warm body.”

“We know from the ultraviolet light, they are attracted to heat.” Data thought.

“That’s true, they have to have the cold temperatures to become active and travel. However, they require a warm place to breed. There was just enough nurturince on the platinum to get them started. When that source ran out, they moved on.”

“A parasite.” Worf growled.

“A parasite.” Beverly nodded.

“When why wouldn’t they have covered

the Sheno cruiser with that same film?”

Wil asked. “It was in a cold place. Space.”

“Cellular organisms are tricky.” Data answered. “They can lay dormant in a fossilized state for hundreds of years, then that one element required can reanimate them.”

“What are you thinking?” Beverly asked.

“An ample supply of oxygen and extreme cold.”

“Would have animated them?” Picard finished his sentence.

“That would explain why Sher was cold and weak all the time. She wasn’t able to recognize that a parasite had attached itself to her.” Data frowned.

Beverly spoke. “That is what parasites do.”

“I know.” Data let out a long breath. “Now we have to link the platinum to Westerfield.

Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.

Will you marry me?

Wil and Deanna wondered around the planet. “This place is amazing.” Wil remarked.

“I do wish our visit here was under better terms. Everyone here is on edge.

Captain Picard is the worst. He is worried, deeply. Data seems to be handling this well. We both know with Data it is just the appearance. I never know what is bubbling beneath the surface.”

“Deanna,” Wil stopped.

“Yes.”

He proceeded to get down on one knee. “Will you marry me?” From his pocket

he produced a beautiful engagement ring.

“Wil,” she started crying. “Yes, yes, yes!” She hugged him wildly. They sat down under a large oak tree. Deanna laid her head on his shoulder.

“We should have done this a long time ago.” Wil smiled.

“The time wasn’t right. You know that and I know that.”

“Perhaps, better late than never.”

“This place, if not for everyone feeling on edge would be the most romantic place I’ve ever been.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the underlying feeling here is just so hostile. Hostile to the point that I am scared.”

“Of what?”

She set up. “Let’s say that Thor’s daughter dies. What is going to happened to us?”

“Nothing I should hope. What got you to thinking about that?”

“Let’s say that (for arguments sake) someone aboard the Enterprise is

responsible for this? Will they take it out on all of us?”

“Deanna what has brought this on?”

“I told you Wil, I am scared.”

“Well, let’s go find out what is going on.” He helped her to her feet, they walked toward the palace.

“Isn’t that Data?” Deanna asked. They walked in his direction. He was standing on a little hill. They stood beside of him for a moment. “Oh.” Was all Deanna could muster?

Below them a large field opened up. Wil asked, “What is that?”

“Evidence that the Turritopsian’s are making progress finding out who tortured

Sher.” Data answers.

“How is she?”

“Asleep but alive, Counselor.”

“Can you see who’s down there?”

“Emperor Mesa, Minister Urent and his assistant, 20 members of the HaBlich cabinet, and Admiral Burk.”

“Admiral Burk! As in the Federations Admiral Burk.” Will was in shock.

“Yes.”

“Not Princess Sera?” Deanna asked.

“No, I asked for her life to be spared. She did not have the power to stop this.

Women have no place in her society. She did what she could to help Sher.”

“They are making a ceremony out of this.” Deanna analyzed.

“They have every right.” Data walked away.

“They have every right?” Deanna was in shock. “Data where did that come from?”

He turned around to face them. “I want to go down there, rip Emperor Mesa’s head off that pole, take it to the palace, and rub it all over Admiral Westerfield. But I will not. I want him to feel every last pinprick and poke that she has had to endure. I know that he would not last two days. She was tortured for 5 years. For 5 years, she has endured radiation, electrocution, mutilation, if you can think of it she has been through it. If that were your child, wife, or mother, would you not want revenge? Would you not feel joy or gratification from punishing the person responsible? You were right Counselor, she was able to and did communicate with me. All those things that happened to me were just a small amount of what she felt.”

“Are you sure this was Westerfield’s doing?” Deanna asked. 

“99.9% sure.”

“What about that other .01 of a percent?”

“Dr. Crusher is working on that.”