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

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They found themselves in what appeared to be a throne room. The gatekeeper had his head all the way to the floor. A man hurriedly walked from a corner door. He knelt in front of Data who was still holding Sher. “My baby.” He placed his hand over her chest. She coughed up more blood. “Follow me.” They followed him to a small room. The only thing in the room was a coffin shaped box. This man lovingly took Sher from Data’s arms placing her in the box. He handed Picard his jacket back. “Thank you for your kindness.”

“She is most welcome.”

“What are you doing?” Data asked.

“The lining of this oracle is copper. It will help her concentrate her energy more efficiently.”

“What energy? She does not have any left.” Data slid in the floor next to the oracle.

“What happened to my baby?”

“I do not know all the details. Please do not let her die.”

He walked over to Data, kneeling in front of him, “she is home. We will protect her.”

“I pray you do a better job than I did. I have failed her.”

“No, you didn’t my son. She is here and she will live.”

“But not under her own power.”

Two men entered the room. One dressed like an Ancient Greek god; the other an Egyptian. They placed the lid on top of the oracle; they moved to the doors leading out of the room. “When she is ready, she will let herself out. Who better to guard her than her brothers? Stay with her if it will make you feel better.” He turned to Picard, “Captain, I wish our visit was under happier terms.” He extended his hand in a handshake. Picard accepted. “Your crew is welcome to use my planet for shore leave. My home is your home.”

“That is very kind of you. Where is my crew?”

“Your ship is still on route here.”

“May I communicate with them? I want to let them know we are safe.”

“Of course.” He scratched his head, “We knew something was wrong but I had no idea what. We have been unable to communicate with her our way for 10 years.

She had been sending us messages from time to time. Those stopped 5 years ago. We didn’t worry. We sometimes go millennium without seeing or hearing from our children. As a parent it can be frustrating.” Data started gasping for air, backing away from the oracle. They were shocked at his behavior. He pointed at the oracle with an unsteady finger; leaning against the opposite wall. The Greek ripped the lid off the oracle. Sher rose up into a setting position. Blood was oozing from her mouth. One could tell that she was having difficulty breathing.

She reminded Picard of a fish out of water. The Greek god looking man attended to her.  The older man stared at Data as he slumped over into the floor. Worf assisted him up. “I don’t even understand this. Three members of her family are in this room and she communicates with Data.”

Picard spoke up. “Data was the closest to her. She has been communicating

with him a lot.”

The old man cocked his head toward Picard. “A lot you say.”

“Data was closer.” Picard reiterated. 

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

Still nothing 

“Do you have any idea what I have been through in these last 5 years?”

“No, your highness.”

“No, your highness” she mocked him; “I am in no mood for this. Tell me the answers I seek.”

“Have you ever explored the full capabilities of your wrath?”

“I am about to explore the full capabilities of my wrath on you.”

“With no effort, you destroyed two Cardassian ships because they threatened your life and the life of your friends. You destroyed an entire planet when their stupidity killed a close friend. Your highness, these events only scratch the surface of your abilities.”

“Was I ever pregnant?” She screamed.

“I cannot tell you.”

“Who are you protecting?”

“You, your highness.”

“Me, how do you feel you are protecting me?” He did not answer. “Whose decision was it?” He still didn’t answer. “Oh,” she screamed out in agony, clutching her abdomen as she fell to her knees in the floor. Her falling was in slow motion. It seemed an endless event.

The gatekeeper got a wild look on his face. Data placed her head on his lap, laying her out flat. She groaned, gasping for air. “It,” she whizzed, “isn’t,” she buckled over in pain rolling out of Data’s lap, “over.” Data raised her back up.

She coughed. Blood oozed from her mouth.

Data wiped it away, “she’s bleeding.”

The gatekeeper backed up away from them. “What is happening here?”

“Leave.” Data’s hissed.

“I will not leave.”

Data turned to the gatekeeper; Sher rolled her head toward his stomach. “I am

ordering you to leave. Now! Or you will lose more than a couple teeth.”

“I will not do what you ask.”

Picard came closer, squatting next to them. “Data your jacket.” Data looked down, it was covered with blood. She started shivering. Picard took his jacket off and covered her with it. She coughed again. More blood oozed from her mouth, Data carefully wiped it away. He kissed her forehead. “This is all my fault. I never should have questioned her about being pregnant.”

“Am I to understand she didn’t know?” Picard asked.

“Yes, she did not know.” Data placed his hand on her abdomen.

“I demand to know what is happening here.” The gatekeeper shouted. 

“Your demand will be met with the same attention as you showed her.”

“This is absurd. I am her father’s gatekeeper.”

“Damien, with our combined ignorance we have done more harm to her. Unless you can help her, leave.”

He knelt in front of them. “I can bring her father to her.”

“Are you aware of how much you are pushing the limitations of my nerves.”

“You will not move you are supporting her.”

There was a bright flash of light, blinding them.

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

Intruder alert!

Captain Picard had just walked onto the bridge, when alarms started blaring;

“Intruder alert, intruder alert.”

“Where?” He ordered.

“Cargo Bay 4.” Data reported

“Data, Worf, you are with me.” Picard snapped. 

They did not inter the cargo bay. Instead they watched from above what was happening. Sher was circling a man who could have been the fifth Musketeer.

“Have you ever wondered what it would look like from above when a bird circles their prey?” Worf growled. “Magnificent.”

“Who is that?” Picard asked.

“He is a gate keeper.” Data answered. 

“What is a gatekeeper?” Picard questioned.

“He guards the gates of Paradise. They know everyone in Paradise. Each official has a gatekeeper.”

“How many gatekeepers are there?” Worf asked.

“Seven, I think.”

Picard and Worf both stared at him in amazement.

They watched for a long time. Sher would talk for a while. He would either not answer or give her an answer that was unacceptable. 

“I can no longer take this.” Data went around to the Cargo Bay doors. Picard and Worf were close behind him.

Sher was screaming at the gatekeeper. “How dare you not answer me! It is

simple. Yes or no. How frigging hard is that?”

“It is not that simple, your highness.”

She exhaled a gust of air that shredded his clothing. She growled in a low, distorted voice, “yes it is.”

He didn’t flinch. “You cannot hurt me. I am your fathers gatekeeper.” She laughed a sinister laugh, “oh really. I will kill you and not think twice about it.”

“It will do us no good to kill him.” Data spoke as he walked to stand beside her. “We cannot get answers from a dead man.”

With an extremely sarcastic tone in his voice, “The Prince,” the gatekeeper bowed at Data.

Sher backhanded him while he was still in his bowed position. They heard little clinking noises as something hit the cargo bay floor. “How dare you take that tone of voice. I want answers and I want them now.”

The gatekeeper wiped the blood from his mouth; she had knocked out some of

his teeth. “This information is being withheld for your own good.”

“There is nothing in our law saying we can’t have relationships with whom ever we choose. There is nothing in our law saying we can’t have children with whom ever we choose. Was I ever pregnant?” 

The gatekeeper was silent.