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Within the Bonds

by Zlanna@AOL.com

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Picard drummed his fingers on the table adding to the general nervousness of the senior officers gathered around the table. All except Doctor Crusher who was late. Will stole glances at Deanna, who patiently gave him a small smile, a smile that was noticed by everyone in the room. Data was staring at Deanna unabashedly, looking like a question was poised on his lips, but still he remained silent. Impatiently Picard hit his com badge again, "Picard to Crusher!"

"I'm sorry, Captain, please go on without me, I have a medical emergency here."

Frowning, his annoyance evident, Picard turned to Data and LaForge, "Let's start with the systems review."

Half way through the briefing, a distraught Doctor Crusher entered. Everyone turned their eyes to her as she took her seat. At the unspoken question she replied, "We lost a crewman this morning, Ensign Callahan."

"What?" Riker shot a quick look at Deanna. "What do you mean 'lost'?" Will asked, even though he was fairly certain what the doctor meant.

"Lost as in he was found near death in his quarters at 0700. Four hours of attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Time of death was 11:20 hours." The CMO sighed, sinking into the chair clearly upset.

Riker knew just as the worst part of his job was losing a member of an away team on a mission, Crusher's was losing a patient. "Cause of death?" he asked quietly.

"He died from cardiac arrest as the result of a traumatic occurrence as best I can determine." Crusher answered.

"He died from fright." Data translated and the irony of the android turning medical terminology into understandable terms for everyone was not lost on Riker.

Picard cut the discussion short. "We will conduct a thorough investigation. If there is something on my ship that is so frightful it scares a man to death, I want to know what it is."

After the meeting was dismissed, Crusher caught the eye of the Captain. "A moment, Sir?"

Waiting for everyone to depart, Picard nodded. Then alone in the room, he inquired, "What is it Beverly?"

Crusher handed him a PADD. "I thought you should read this medical report as soon as possible."

Picard's face was grim as he sat the PADD on the table and took a seat himself. "Will Riker hit a crew member?"

"Apparently. That was what was entered on the sickbay report."

Picard ran his hand over his head. "Was the injury to Callahan's head what resulted in his death?"

Beverly was quick to answer. "No, not at all, but it still doesn't look good."

"No it certainly doesn't. And why would Riker let an insubordinate officer go free with just a demotion and a slap on the wrist?"

Beverly shrugged. "There will have to be an investigation. This report makes it look like Will let Callahan out of the brig so Will could murder him."

Picard spit his words out with distaste, "That is ridiculous."

"Ridiculous or not, that is what Jellico is going to say."

Picard laughed, "Well, I'm sure it would be if he were to find out, I for one have no intention of calling up Admiral Jellico and informing him of our investigation until we have determined what is going on."

"You haven't read your daily communiques from Starfleet yet have you?" Crusher asked.

Warily Picard groaned, "No. When does he arrive?"

"0800 tomorrow."

"God help Will Riker." Picard lamented. "Jellico is going to have a field day with this."

Will Riker didn't need Deanna to tell him that Picard was angry about something. Entering the Captain's ready room, the locked jaw, the glaring eyes and the pursed lips made Picard's mood evident. Swallowing hard, knowing that the meeting probably had something to do with Callahan's death, Riker waited for the Captain to begin, which he did shortly."I have asked Data to head the investigation into the death of Ensign Callahan."

"I understand, Sir." Riker started to rise from his chair, but sat down again as Picard raised his hand dramatically.

"I'm afraid, Number One, I need to ask you a few questions."

"Yes, Sir."

"Will, did you see Callahan after you released him from the brig?"

"No, Sir." Riker tried to quiet his own fears. He didn't want to lie to Picard, but he wasn't going to volunteer any potentially damaging information either.

"Tell me about your confrontation in the ten-forward lounge." Picard requested, leaning back in his chair like he expected a long story to unfold.

"Callahan had been drinking, apparently not synthenol. He was drunk and belligerent and insulted Counselor Troi. When I told him to leave, he turned as if to go and then hit me. I, in turn, struck him and he fell backwards, hitting his head on one of the tables. I called a med unit to come and treat him and security to escort him to the brig. Deanna wasn't feeling well, so Guinan said she would tell the med team what had transpired and I took Deanna back to our quarters." Riker watched Picard. Something was obviously bothering the Captain, but Riker wasn't sure what it was. Quickly, Riker reviewed mentally what he had just reported, trying to discover if he had left anything out.

"Guinan did file the report. Have you read it?" Picard questioned.

"No, Sir."

Picard passed the PADD to Riker. "I think you should." Picard sat still. Riker could feel the hole Picard's gaze was drilling into him as the First Officer scanned the med unit report quickly. Now Riker understood. Guinan had said nothing about Callahan throwing the first punch. According to the report, Callahan had insulted Riker and he had retaliated with his fist. Riker handed the PADD back to the Captain.

"I'm sure it was an oversight, Sir. Guinan was right there. She must have seen Callahan throw the first punch."

"Why didn't you stun him?" Picard asked.

Riker chewed on his lower lip. The Captain was right of course. He should have stunned Callahan, but after Callahan had verbally abused Deanna, Will wanted the pleasure of feeling his fist connect with Callahan's jaw. Callahan had struck him and Will had gone out of his way to drive home to Callahan as well as any other crew member that such action was not acceptable. "That would have been the preferred response, Sir," was all that Riker answered.

"Indeed." Picard said. Riker waited for the Captain to continue. "So, Will, you feel that Guinan simply neglected to mention that Callahan threw the first punch?"

"Well I see no other explanation, Sir. Deanna can verify also that Callahan hit me first."

Picard nodded. Hitting a button on his console, Picard announced, "Guinan, would you come to my ready room, please?" Riker and Picard sat facing each other trying to read what was going on in the mind of the other. Riker bristled with the knowledge that Picard wasn't willing to take Riker's word for how the events unfolded. The minutes dragged on. Picard picked up a PADD and pretended to be studying it and Will studied his hands. Finally, Picard's door chime sounded.

"Enter." Picard ordered.

Guinan crossed over and took a seat on Picard's couch directly behind Riker. "You wanted to see me, Captain?"

"Yes, Guinan. There seems to be a slight discrepancy between the report you filed on the incident with Lt. Callahan and Commander Riker in ten-forward and his version. I was wondering if you might help us clear it up."

Warily Guinan regarded the back of Riker's head, "I'll try."

"Thank you. Your report does not mention Callahan hitting Commander Riker prior to the Commander striking Callahan. We were wondering if perhaps the med team forgot to include that fact in the report."

"No, Sir. That isn't in the report, because I didn't tell the team that Callahan threw the first punch."

"Ah!" Picard sighed, "then you forgot to mention that fact."

Guinan's tone was even and controlled. "No, Sir. I didn't mention that fact, because it wasn't a fact."

Riker turned in his seat, a questioning look on his face, a sinking feeling in his stomach as he worried he was being set up.

"I'm sorry Guinan. I don't follow you." Picard said carefully, his words precise and wary.

"I didn't see Callahan throw the first punch." Guinan stated. Will turned slowly wondering what to make of Guinan's admission.

"I'm sorry, but I was busy serving a couple on the other side of the lounge when the confrontation took place. Is that all Captain?"

Picard shook his head slowly, "Yes. Yes, of course, Guinan. Thank you for your help."

Riker breathed a sigh of relief but it was short lived."

"You must have made quite an impression on Guinan, Will. That is the first time she has ever lied to me." Picard's countenance was hard, his eyes as cold as the day they beamed him in from the Borg collective and his tone sent an involuntary shiver down the spine of Commander Riker. "Commander, you are relieved of duty and confined to quarters pending the outcome of this investigation." Picard stood and hit the com link on his desk. "Security, report to my ready room." No sooner had Picard given the order than the bridge security team appeared at his door. "Escort Commander Riker to his quarters." Will's shocked look produced no pity on Picard's part. His parting words dripped with his disgust, "and station a guard outside."

The walk back to his quarters was one of the longest Will Riker had taken in quite a while. Arriving at his cabin, the two security officers stepped to the left and right of the entrance and made no attempt to follow him inside. Deanna was lying down on the couch as he entered. "What are you doing back so early?" she quizzed stretching out her arms trying to rouse herself from her nap.

Will sat down next to Troi and related his earlier exchange with Picard and Guinan. He had just finished when the door chime sounded. "Come in." he announced only to be greeted by a nervous Beverly Crusher.

"News travels fast." Will replied, watching as the doctor shook her head.

"Yes, I just heard." Crusher was known for her fortitude, but at the moment she appeared distraught. "I didn't expect this reaction from the Captain."

"Well, he obviously thinks I murdered Callahan." Will offered. "You have to admit, it does look bad, Beverly."

"I don't know." Crusher hesitated, "Last night he seemed convinced that you were innocent. I don't understand this turn around."

"Last night he didn't know Guinan wouldn't collaborate my story." Riker looked over at Troi who sat quietly listening to the exchange. "I don't understand it. Guinan was right next to us when Callahan was arguing with us, but she told Captain Picard that she was on the other side of the room. Maybe I was wrong. I could have sworn she was nearby."

Deanna's face grew pale. Reaching out she clutched Riker's arm, "Will, do you remember when I thought we were going to die?"

Riker laughed, "Yes, the experience made quite an impression on me Deanna, especially your desire to end on a high note."

Ignoring his last comment, Deanna continued, "I was convinced because both Chandra and Guinan thought we were going to die, but" Troi frowned as she thought, "especially Guinan. I could read her emotions very clearly!" Her excitement increased, turning to stare at Will Deanna repeated, "I could read Guinan's thoughts very clearly."

Riker and Crusher both stared blankly at Troi, waiting for further explanation. "You don't understand - it is very difficult for me to read Guinan, usually I can't read her at all."

"Maybe," Crusher offered, "she wanted you to read her, because she felt like you two should have a last night together."

Will looked at Troi, his brow knitted in thought, "And maybe she wanted us to think we were going to die, just like Chandra did."

"Why would she want that?"

Riker turned to answer Crusher, "Because maybe Guinan is a changeling."

"What else could go wrong?" Deanna mused.

"Jellico arrives in an hour." Riker offered.

"Sure, that would do it." Deanna agreed calmly.

"No, he's right." Beverly said, "Admiral Jellico does arrive in an hour. Purely routine inspection, but he will have a field day with this."

"Wait a minute," Will's eyebrows were knitted together as he thought out loud, "I'll bet the changeling won't be able to resist trying to replace Jellico! That would enable them to get even deeper into Starfleet command."

"Computer. Where is Admiral Jellico's next port of call after the Enterprise?" Crusher asked.

"Authorization for code for security information?" the computer intoned.

"Riker. Authorization, Delta, Gamma, five, five two Omega."

"Admiral Jellico's next assignment is a briefing of his inspection tour at Starfleet Command, San Francisco. You do not have security clearance for additional details."

"And we won't need it." Will turned to Crusher. "Can you warn the Captain?"

"Yes" Crusher agreed. "Though I think he will find this all a bit bizarre."

Deanna met Crusher's gaze, "He won't be alone." Troi turned back to Will, "Wait a minute. If Guinan is a changeling where is the real Guinan?"

Crusher announced, "Computer, identify the location of the ten-forward hostess, Guinan.

"The hostess of the ten-forward lounge is in the ten-forward lounge."

"Scan for life signs of Guinan. Are there more than one set of life signs?"

"No." the computer responded.

Deanna shrugged. "Well if the changeling is Guinan, then where is the real Guinan?"

Riker and Crusher looked at each other as if sharing a dreaded secret. "Computer." Riker pronounced slowly. "Identify all El-Aurians on the Enterprise - dead or alive."

"There is one El-Aurien on the Enterprise."

"Computer, would you be able to detect a dead El-Aurien?" Riker asked.

"Affirmative. There are no remains of dead El-Aurians on the Enterprise."

"So where is the real Guinan?" Deanna repeated.

"Wait a minute!" Crusher excitedly leaned forward. "Didn't Guinan get off at the station where we picked up Chandra to view the local art museum?"

"Yes! That is true!" Deanna replied. "We talked about it for quite a while prior to arriving at the station because the museum has an extensive collection of early Betazed Federation art."

"Maybe we can get Data to check into whether the station has recovered an unconscious El-Aurien."

"I don't understand though." Beverly replied. "Why hasn't Guinan contacted us if she is on the station?"

Will sighed, "Changelings can temporarily wipe out the memory of their victims if they wish. In prehistoric times such an ability was useful. It made your quarry forget they were hungry and had found you. Either Guinan can't remember who she or we are, or," Riker paused not feeling words were required and reluctant to give voice to his fear.

Crusher had no such hesitation, "or she is dead. I'll asked Data to quietly investigate if any El-Aurians with amnesia have turned up at the station."

Beverly Crusher went directly from her meeting with Will and Deanna to Captain Picard's ready room. As she approached, a very serious looking Security guard bearing the Starfleet Special Services insignia stepped in front of the door. "Sorry, doctor, the Admiral gave specific orders not to be disturbed."

Crusher smiled and turned toward Data. "Data, a word please?"

As usual Data returned her smile with a pleasant one of his own and joined Crusher without question. "Would you assist me in some research Data?"

"Certainly Doctor. Liuetenant, you have the con." Data ordered, then turning nodded, following the doctor into the turbo lift.

Data stared straight ahead. Finally he broke the silence with a question. "What is the nature of the research you require assistance with doctor?"

"Do you recall the changelings that were onboard? The ones that impersonated Commander Riker and Counselor Troi?" Crusher asked trying to keep her voice neutral.

"Of course doctor. I do not forget events as they are all recorded automatically in my memory banks for later retrieval. You are referring to the changelings that Commander Riker sent out in the old fighter."

"Yes." Crusher confirmed.

"The ones that were not dead."

Beverly looked at Data intrigued. "Why do you say that they weren't dead?"

"Commander Riker left them a note before he sent the ship out into space. Tell me doctor, would you leave a note for a dead man?"

"No." Crusher replied truthfully. "I would not."

"Neither would Commander Riker." Data replied. Crusher waited but Data offered no further comment on Will's actions.

"If you believed that Commander Riker did anything improper why did you not report it to the Captain?" Beverly carefully studied the android.

"I saw little benefit in mentioning the incident. Cast off in space in a derelict craft, the changelings presented little danger to the Enterprise."

"Still they did break Federation law." Crusher replied.

"True" Data affirmed, "but Machiavelli would argue"

"Who?" Crusher interrupted the acting First Officer.

"Niccolo Machiavelli was a great 16th century Italian statesman who argued that any means possible were acceptable to preserve the state"

"Any means?" Beverly asked wondering how they had gotten off on this topic.

"Yes, because an unhealthy state is disorderly" Data concluded. "So, I have decided that unless the actions of the changelings present a threat to the Enterprise, the more politic course of action for me is to ignore the actions of the Commander."

"I see." Crusher stepped out through the turbolift doors and headed toward sickbay with Data following. "Data, are you by any chance studying the ancient art of Earth political science?"

"Yes, doctor. How astute!" Data smiled, eager to share his new found knowledge with a friend.

Crusher held up a hand. "I need your help Data on a more urgent matter."

The doctor outlined briefly her suspicions to Data, including Will's revelation that the changelings had indicated that there was still one changeling on board the Enterprise. "And you believe this changeling to have taken the form of Guinan?" Data frowned as Crusher shook her head in the affirmative. Sitting down at a nearby terminal, Data began to enter commands. After a few moments, he sat forward in his chair. "No, no El Aurians have been reported or found on the star base, doctor."

"I wonder what that means?" Crusher asked outloud.

Data sat quietly. Beverly could almost imagine seeing the wheels quite literatly turn as the android thought through the problem. "You say, Commander Riker claims that changelings have the ability to cause humanoids to temporarily forget information?"

"That is what he said, yes."

"Come doctor." Data quickly started toward the door. He adopted his Sherlock Holmes persona and Doctor Crusher wondered if she had made a great mistake in enlisting his aid.

"Where are you going Data?"

"To apprehend the changeling of course!"

"Do you know who it is?"

Data's laughter was filled with sarcasm. "Of course! It is elementary, my dear doctor!"

To be cont.

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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.