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Within the Bonds

by Zlanna@AOL.com

**************

Deanna Troi never made a sound when she cried. Rarely had Riker seen her cry at all, but on those few occasions when she did lose her control, she cried silently, her body shaking, tears flowing, her hand wiping the wetness from her cheeks. Riker held her now in the aftermath of their latest lovemaking session puzzling at the wild mood swings she had displayed the past few weeks. Of course, he told himself, she was scared being held prisoner, but so far they had not been harmed or for that matter even threatened. They were well fed, the cell was clean and warm and while he too wished desperately they could contact the Enterprise or Starfleet he was wiling to bide his time ever watchful for a chance to escape. Deanna however, seemed to alternate between depression and unfounded optimism. Currently it was depression that dominated. "Deanna," he deliberately kept his voice gentle for she had switched from clinging to him to snapping at him in a heart beat the past few days, "what is wrong?"

Deanna took several deep breaths, trying to regain her equilibrium. "I don't know." She released her grip on him and began to dress in the blackness of the closed cell knowing that the experimentation period was almost over. Reaching out with her hand she found her uniform and handed him his as well. Betazoids, she knew, traditionally did well in captive situations because of their ability to control their emotions. Her inability to control her emotions bothered her more than it bothered Will and she knew it bothered him a great deal. He could never stand to see her upset, so every time she lost control his feelings of helplessness and guilt over the fact that they were captive interfered with her ability to regain control. Lately she would become so frustrated that she would respond sharply to his feeble attempts to make her feel better and her impatient response with him when she knew he was only trying to help, only increased her guilt making it that much harder to reach her emotional balance.

"You know when I have a female crew member who starts crying on her shift and can't tell me why, I usually send her to Doctor Crusher." Riker pulled his shirt over his head.

"That is ridiculous. Why do you do that?" Deanna asked, taking her deep cleansing breaths.

"Because 9 times out of 10 they are pregnant and don't know it." Will laughed.

As soon as he finished Deanna's heart stopped for a moment. Will continued confidently, "Of course, since we both are up to date on our fertility inhibitor shots that can't be a possibility, despite the wishes of our captors." Will rose and stretched, waiting for the lights to come on in the tiny cell. From the darkness he heard Deanna's voice. It was small, reflecting her realization and fear.

"Will, what if our captors reversed the inhibitor shots while we were unconscious?"

The cell was quiet for several long minutes. Gradually the slight hum that preceded the lights turning back on was heard. As Deanna's eyes adjusted to the increasing brightness she saw Will's face staring at her. He had lost all his color. She almost laughed at his reaction to her question, except the consequences would be so grave if she were right. It would also mean they had very little time. His jaw was set and she recognized the look. Will Riker might have been content previously to bide his time, but now there would be very few forces in the universe that could stop him from trying to escape.

It is imperative that these plans be placed in the hands of the Romulan underground leaders. A starship would never penetrate Romulan defenses, but a small, fighter craft, equipped with the latest deflector technology should be able to slip through the Mercreades astroid belt, deliver the message and return to the neutral zone undetected. The rendevous must be completed by 23.5.19. Report as soon as mission is completed.

Pausing, Picard looked around the room. "Volunteers?"

Before anyone else could react Riker stood up, "I am the best qualified for a mission of this sort, Captain. I have the most fighter pilot experience and while stationed on the Hood we mapped this astroid belt extensively."

Picard smiled that his first choice for the mission had volunteered. Although it was a dangerous mission he had every confidence that Will Riker would return. "Very good, Number One. I entirely agree. Good luck. If there is no other business to attend to, you are all dismissed."

At the close of his duty shift, the Riker changeling went straight to the quarters of Deanna Troi. She greeted him at the door, then stepped aside for him to enter. Inside the changeling that was Chandra was pacing the floor. "You VOLUNTEERED to pilot a fighter craft into the Romulan territory? Did you give any thought as to what might happen if you are caught? An autopsy would reveal what you are!"

The Riker changeling stood his ground, eyeing Chandra carefully. "It is what he would have done."

"You had better bring that craft home in one piece!"

"Don't worry Chandra. I will accomplish the mission." Riker reassured her.

"It is our mission I am most concerned about and you should be as well." Giving a look of disgust to Deanna and Riker, Chandra left the room still furious at her two cohorts. They did not seem committed to the cause they had supposedly dedicated their lives to realizing. Changelings had existed on their world for millions of years, perfectly at peace prior to the Federation invasion.Their unique abilities was a natural defense on their world where they were physically inferior to large, extremely intelligent but bloodthirsty predators. However first contact had been a botched affair in which an inexperienced Starfleet Captain miscalculated the technological advances of the changelings and her ship was prematurely discovered causing panic among the populace. Without adequate time to prepare the population for the knowledge that there were other species from outside their solar system, there was widespread panic.

Chaos erupted in the planetary government with infighting and accusations regarding who was at fault for the confusion the people experienced. Matters within the goverment deteriorated further when the Federation Council rejected the Changelings application for membership until the political situation calmed down. Embarrassed and angry by the rejection, a second application was never submitted, partly because the political situation never did calm down. Inticed by the new opportunities that existed outside their world, an entire generation of young changelings left their planet to find their destiny among the stars, but what they found was a lonely existence, used as pawns of unscrupulous traders or criminals. The reputation of the changelings among the Federation races, was that they were thieves, sneaking under the guise of borrowed forms, not to be trusted, usually out to cheat unsuspecting citizens. Recently, a political faction took charge of the homeworld with a bold plan. Replace key members of the Federation council with changelings and reapply for admission to the Federation as a full member. This tactic should ensure approval when the next application was submitted and secure much needed aid to rebuild the political and social structures that had deteriorated since first contact.

The newly appointed Betazoid representative to the council, Lwaxana Troi, seemed like a perfect choice to replace with a changeling for two reasons. First, she might be able to read the thoughts of a changeling and expose them if she was not replaced. Second, if the changeling were very talented and able to become telepathic themselves it would be a great advantage in determining the positions of the other delegates. Assuming the form of Chandra had been an experiment to asertain if telepathy could be reproduced. Soon, Deanna Troi and Will Riker would be married, a perfect opportunity to get in close proximity to Deanna's mother and for Chandra to assume Lwaxana Troi's form. The perfect opportunity assuming Will Riker managed to return from his mission.

The changeling that was Deanna sat down on the couch beside the form of Will Riker. "Be careful, you are not Commander Riker, remember."

"I am in full possession of his emotions, his memories, his experiences. For all intents and purposes I am William T. Riker. Just as you are Deanna Troi." Leaning close to her he began to stroke her hair. Playfully he let his hand follow her shoulder down, until he began to edge his fingers slowly to her breast.

Pulling away, Deanna replied, "Don't do that."

Unwilling to give up so easily, Riker stuck out his lip and gave her a sorrowful look, "How about the other side?"

Laughing she relented, drawing herself back into his embrace. "First tell me though, what are you called?"

Confused Riker looked at her. "What?"

"Your real name, what is it?"

Riker sat in silence, finally answering. "I have no name of my own. My parents died when I was quite young. They were slaves on a freighter owned by the Ferengi."

Deanna sat motionless for a few minutes. "Leeaoni."

Riker smiled understanding she was telling him her name. Funny, they had known each other for over ten standard years and he had never even thought to ask if she had a name. "That is a beautiful name. Thank you for sharing it with me."

"Your mother would want you to have a name too. Do you want me to give you one?"

"No. I have a name. Riker. From now on I will remain William T. Riker."

"What does the T stand for?"

"Terrific."

"I'll vouch for that." Leeaoni declared, then pulled Riker close. His mission didn't start until the morning, no need to waste what time there was left.

In the cell Deanna watched Will pace back and forth, across the cell, then retrace his steps again. She knew it was his way of trying to dissipate some of the nervous energy he was fighting to control, so she watched silently. He stopped. Turning slowly, he frowned. "I'm getting on your nerves with my pacing, aren't I?"

"Is that what you are doing?" she laughed, "I thought you were just exercising." She could feel his relief as he visibly relaxed a little. Relief she suspected that came because she wasn't biting his head off over some insignificant comment. Actually reclaiming her control was much easier now that she realized why she had lost it so often before. Although she hadn't said anything to Will, she felt the presence of the fetus strongly today. It was still several weeks before a human would know for certain that a child was forming, but it was normal for a Betazoid to feel the first signs of life at this stage.

Noises were heard from down the hall. Heavy footsteps broke the quiet of the prison floor, gaining volume as they neared the cell that held Troi and Riker. Two guards stood at attention with Kinna close behind. Kinna always wore a scowl, but today he looked exceedingly pleased with himself. "Your experiment is terminated." he informed the Cardassian couple, then he gave a sharp nod to the guards who drew their weapons and disintegrated the male and female without another word. Will watched in horror at the scene as it unfolded before him. The couple never had a chance. Then he heard Deanna's cry as she fell to the floor sick at the execution she had just witnessed.

"You two will be next unless you produce offspring you know." sneering at Will, Kinna laughed, "if you produce a telepathic child, we might even let you live to father another!"

Swallowing Riker stared at the Xarian. "On the other hand," Kinna grinned, "we might just dissect you to see what it is that give you such telepathic abilities." Motioning to the guards to follow, Kinna turned and disappeared, the sound of his heavy boots growing ever fainter.

Will helped Deanna to her feet, then led her to the bed. Returning to the front of the cell, Riker began to clean up the floor of the cell as he catalogued, every routine, every detail of his captors for use later. Use in forming his escape plan.

********************

Guinan surveyed the crowd in ten-forward. "They are avoiding me." She declared.

Beverly Crusher looked over at the hostess. "What?"

"Riker and Troi are avoiding me." Guinan repeated. "They haven't been in here since the night before that disastrous away mission."

"They have been a little preoccupied with each other." Crusher informed Guinan.

"Preoccupied?"

"Yes, they spend all their free time together." Bev continued.

Guinan nodded. Something didn't feel right on board the ship. Something was amiss, but she couldn't place what it was. In fact her reading of events had been off for the past week or so and Guinan hated misreading events. First she had been wrong about Riker and Troi, but then even Chandra had been wrong. Guinan knew that Riker and Troi were die at some point and would die together, but she was unable to predict when and where and how. Chandra had seemed so certain that their deaths would come the following day that Guinan had assumed the time had come. They had returned, but since their return things had not seemed right. There had been a disturbance in the way things were supposed to unfold, but Guinan was at a loss to understand what that disturbance was.

"Troi to Crusher."

"Crusher here."

"Bev, could I meet you in sickbay?"

"On my way." Crusher left her half finished drink on the counter as she turned to leave the lounge.

"Doctor, mind if I join you?" Guinan asked.

Crusher hesitated, "Well, I don't know. Troi may have a medical concern that she would rather keep private."

"Oh, that is fine. If that is the case, I'll just leave quietly. I haven't visited the sickbay for a while, I'd kind of like to see it again." Guinan smiled and although Crusher was uneasy about the company, she agreed. She just wondered what it was that prompted Guinan to pick this moment to accompany her to sickbay. A few minutes later, Guinan and Crusher appeared in the Sickbay. Deanna was sitting in Crusher's private office waiting for her. She immediately saw Guinan and began to panic. Changelings and El-Aurians never got along very well. Trapped, the Troi changeling had no choice but to push forward and discover if her suspicions were true.

Checking the controls, the Riker changeling settled back in the pilot seat of the new fighter craft. The ship was a beauty boasting the most sophisticated technology that Starfleet had to offer. As he waited for his final briefing on the fighter, Riker marveled again at the genuine affection that everyone he met seemed to feel for Commander Riker. As a changeling, he had never known what it was like to enjoy the respect and admiration of people before. Riker was confident, and a good leader, but what surprised the changeling most, was that this human was an amazing manager. People had stopped to ask him for career advice, recommendations regarding how to win the affections of various women, even advice on music. There seemed to be no end to the man's talents. All of that, the changeling mused and Deanna Troi. This Riker was indeed blessed by the Great Spirit. The changeling's contemplations were interrupted by the appearance of Rwalan Croiwz, the Starfleet security officer who was conducting the briefing on the ship. He proudly explained to Riker the intricacies of the on-board navigation system. "This system is built on the latest coordinate, dynamic generated mapping technology, Commander. No one could get lost with this program activated. Even your mother could fly this baby."

Riker shot Croiwz a sharp look, but let the comment pass. Already the adrenalin was pumping, driving Riker to get the craft launched and the mission started. Shaking his head impatiently, Riker announced, "Right. Thanks for the overview, Lt. Croiwz, but I think I can take everything from here."

Croiwz left abruptly, finally leaving Riker to himself. Hitting the com switch, Riker announced, "Riker to Helm. I'm ready for launch."

Data's voice came through the intercom, "Acknowledged Commander. We all wish you God-speed and Counselor Troi says to tell you, "Saleemani."

Smiling Riker replied, "Tell her, Saleemani, Leeaoni." Riker had to admire, Deanna's nerve in wishing him well in their native tongue. There was an off chance that Data would recognize the language as that of the changelings, but saying I love you in another tongue was not unusual for Starfleet couples. Riker did not waste his energies on the worrying about detection, preferring to concentrate instead on the mission ahead.

As soon as the fighter cleared the shuttle bay, Riker fired up the warp coils, entered the first set of destination coordinates and began the arduous task of carefully entering the navigation program he had prepared that would meticulously plot his course through the asteroid belt that would confront him upon his descent from warp. Nineteen point six minutes later, the warp engines cut out and Riker brought himself into impulse drive. Back on the Enterprise, Data watched in horror as he saw the tiny fighter drop out of warp and head straight for one of the largest asteroids in the belt.

Riker was frantically hitting buttons only to find the navigation system refusing to respond. In desperation he cried out, "What the hell is going on here?" Glancing up the asteroid seemed to fill the entire front window.

An authoritative male computerized voice responded, "The LS-501A on board computer navigation system has initiated a more direct course to your final destination which will be conserve 4.5% more fuel that the manual course submitted to the navigation computer."

"What?" Riker stared at the console. "Abort, automated computer navigation program."

"I am sorry, Sir. I am unable to comply unless you wish to enter a program that is more fuel efficient that the current course program calculated by the LS-501A navigation system."

"Distance to asteroid B-17." Riker shouted.

"Asteroid B-17 is point 98 light years away." the computer calmly replied.

Riker forced himself to take a deep breath. "Think" he told himself, "what would Riker do." Outsmart the computer. How? Finally it came to him. "Show star system map, slow to stop."

"Full stop, Sir." the computer replied.

Asteroid B-17 loomed in front of the fighter. Its dark grey surface was poc-marked by millions of years of collisions with objects considerably larger than the fighter. Scanning the star map, Riker ordered, "Enter new destination point."

"Ready for input."

"Destination, star system 396-S, quarter-impulse."

"396-S, quarter impulse, confirmed."

It would take him considerably longer than originally thought, but by constantly changing his destination according to where he needed to turn, he would be able to wind his way through the asteroid belt and defeat the fuel conscious LS-501A computer navigation system. "Just wait until I get my hands on Rwalan Croiwz, Riker thought with anticipation." He didn't know yet just what he would do to the security officer, but he would have the entire return trip to determine an appropriate response.

Doctor Crusher reviewed her readouts once again. "I don't understand it Deanna. This shouldn't have happened."

Deanna smiled, "Well, its not a big deal, Beverly. I just wanted it confirmed, that's all." Actually Deanna knew exactly how it had happened. Both she and the Riker changeling had assumed human form without anticipating there would be any sexual relations between the two of them. They had been on more missions than she could count together as a married couple, and they had never ended up consumating their relationship before. They had neither one thought to approach the doctor about a fertility inhibitor shot and actually it would have arisen suspicion if they had since they neither one were due for one.

Crusher paused for a moment, regarding Troi carefully. "I assume Will is the father."

Troi looked shyly down at the floor for a moment, then threw her head back and met Crusher's scrutiny. "Yes, he is." she announced in a firm voice, "although I only answer that because you are my friend."

Crusher patted her hand. "Yes, I am and don't forget that. I estimate that you are about 6 weeks along. I thought that you would have realized before this that you were pregnant."

"Well, it is my first time, you know." Troi replied. As she felt Beverly's mood shift to one of discomfort, Deanna added softly, "except for Ian, but there was nothing normal about that experience."

"Well, now you will get to experience all the ups and downs my dear." Crusher laughed. "I can't wait to see Will's face when you tell him."

"He will be very happy." Troi replied, but she could tell Beverly Crusher had her doubts.

As the two exited the patient conference room, Guinan was sitting in a chair reading a padd on comparative species biology compatibilities. Looking up at the beaming counselor, Guinan replied, "Well your news must have been good."

Troi nodded, "Yes and if you can keep a secret I'll tell you, but I don't want the word spread all over the ship."

Puzzled Guinan volunteered, "I never reveal anyone's secrets, you know that, Counselor."

Looking dubious, Troi replied softly, "Guinan, I'm going to have a baby."

Laughing Guinan looked to Crusher for confirmation, then shook Deanna's hand. "A baby! A baby. And does the father know yet?"

Realizing she was being teased, the Troi changeling laughed, "Of course, not, and I want to be the one to tell him, so don't say a word until I say it is okay."

"Got it." Guinan replied. So that is what so disturbed the time dimension, Guinan thought. Luke Riker's arrival into the world. The conception of most beings would not affect the time line so much, but then Luke Riker could hardly be put in the category of 'most' beings. And here she had suspected that Riker and Troi were not who they appeared to be. Then again, if they weren't themselves, who would they have been -- changelings? Guinan chided herself for her imaginative speculation and convinced that Riker and Troi were indeed themselves, Guinan headed back to her lounge, already anticipating the happy day that was only nine months away.

*************

The authoritative male computer voice responded, "You have exceeded your allotment of course changes. Since you obviously don't know where you are going, the on-board computer program is laying in the original destination and pursuing a fuel efficient course."

"No, wait!" Riker tried desperately to think of a way to win the argument with the computer. "Re-enter new navigation program."

"You do not have the authority to reset the navigation program."

Riker stared at the computer screen. His jaw tightened as he ground his teeth in frustration. The fighter was changing direction heading toward a field of debris, most likely the remains of several asteroids that had collided centuries earlier. "Computer, describe all routines that permit the pilot to reset the navigation controls."

"The LS-501A computer navigation system is the most advanced navigation system employed currently by Starfleet command. It has the ability to override any commands by the pilot if the LS-501A determines that the pilot is no longer capable of handling the fighter."

"That's it!" Riker cried out angrily. Crouching down under the console, Riker removed the console access panel and began to survey the tangle of wires that were weaved together, connecting numerous isolinear chips.

"Riker. Why are you examining my isolinear chips?" The computer asked.

"I'm planning on disconnecting you!" Riker answered. The entire fighter lunged to one side as something hit the craft. "Hey! Is the force field up?"

"Force field is active, although shields are down." came his reply.

"Raise shields!" Riker called.

"Shields raised."

"Why were the shields down?"

The LS-501A computer navigation system determined that shields were not necessary at this juncture of the mission and lowered shields to conserve fuel."

Furious, Riker exclaimed, "We have an unlimited source of fuel! Why are you so concerned with conserving fuel?"

"Waste not want not."

Groaning, Riker thought he should be able to see the logic of the configuration of the chips, but he was not able to determine which chips were responsible for the navigation system. Impatiently he reviewed Commander Riker's background. He was a brilliant tactical strategist and manager who had excelled in engineering at the academy, but unfortunately to the disappointment of the changeling, the Commander was not much of a mechanic. "Great!" the changeling said out loud, "you have a fault and it turns out to be the one skill I need to save my neck." Back on the Enterprise, Commander Data was tracking Riker and the fighter. If Riker changed form there was always the chance that Data would detect the change in his mass, since changelings were considerably larger and heavier than humans. Although he was reluctant to risk detection, the changeling had no choice but to revert to his natural form. He himself was a good mechanic, although he couldn't draw on his talents without assuming his true self. Slowly he metamorphosed from the body of William T. Riker to his own body.

Immediately an alarm was heard on board, "Intruder alert, Intruder alert! All systems are shutting down, count down to self destruct, 3 minutes. Counting now." The computer began its counts. "2 minutes, 59 seconds; 2 minutes 58 seconds."

Taking a breath to regroup, the nameless changeling took another look at the isolinear chips and saw immediately which ones were responsible for the navigation system. He removed them, closed the access panel and tried again. "Computer, disengage navigation system."

"Unable to comply. 2 minutes 48 seconds to self destruct."

A chill went through the changelings body. "Why is that?"

"You have killed Commander Riker and are trying to sabotage this mission. You must be destroyed."

The changeling again resumed the form of Commander William T. Riker. "There, I am still Commander Riker. See?"

The computer paused in its countdown, "Countdown hold." Riker felt the seconds clicking in his head in a silent countdown even though no sound was heard aboard the fighter but the pounding of his own heart. He needed a plan and he needed it in one minute 34 seoconds. He was currently just out of transport range of his distination. Quickly he sent out a distress signal. It was a long shot, but he would take anything right now.

"Countdown resumed. Since it is impossible for Commander Riker to change forms to another being and then resume his form again, I have determined that you are a changeling. No changelings are authorized to fly this fighter, therefore you must be destroyed. 1 minute four seconds, one minute three seconds."

Riker sat and listened to the last seconds of his life slip by. His only regret was that he would die without ever having had his own name.

****************

Data reviewed the data pouring into his console. "Captain! The life signs of Commander Riker have," Data paused to verify the readings a third time knowing the impact his next words would have among the bridge staff, "ceased."

Sitting in her chair to the left of the Captain, Leeaoni in the form of Deanna Troi caught the sound of shock as it formed in her throat, so that no one heard. Inside she knew that Troi would never show any emotion on learning of the death of Commander Riker. She knew because her memories told her that Troi had used her meditation sessions each morning for the past ten years to prepare herself for such an announcement. So Leeaoni sat motionless, silent, stoic was the human word.

Data continued to monitor the incoming information. "Captain, the on board computer on the fighter has started a self destruct countdown. Wait. I am receiving Commander Riker's bio readouts again!"

All eyes were on the view screen. There was nothing on the screen but the vast expanse of stars, a nebula and the emptiness of space, but still they stared as if each could see beyond the suns and moons and planets to the small fighter and the personal struggle of their First Officer. When he turned to his left Picard was surprised to find that Counselor Troi was no longer sitting next to him. "Strange," he thought, "anyone else he might have expected to run away from the bridge upon hearing a lover was about to be killed," but somehow, he hadn't anticipated such an action by Deanna Troi.

Chandra was waiting in the shuttle bay as Deanna Troi breathlessly joined her following her hurried exit from the bridge. Data probably already realized Riker was a changeling and if he hadn't put everything together yet, he would as soon as he reviewed the bioreadouts from when Riker had changed form. "I knew you two would screw up!" Chandra announced as Deanna climbed into the craft.

Troi was under no illusions now about the changeling who had assumed Chandra's form. Chanbdra knew nothing about piloting a shuttle craft, which was the only reason Leeaoni was still alive. "Shut up!" The Troi changeling responded as she entered the override code to open the shuttle bay doors and take the shuttle out.

"Here are our destination coordinates." the Chandra changeling announced.

Troi glanced at the numbers Chandra handed her, but entered her own coordinates. There was one thing she owed her lover and she was determined to succeed in her quest.

*****************

To be con't.

Site design, story and programming - Copyright 1997 by Zlanna.

I only do this for the pleasure of Imzadi fans. If you enjoyed the story or if you have suggestions, please send your comments to Zlanna@AOL.com.