TF01 3,ST:TNG - "Cat And Mouse" Part 3 4,by Marcus Priddey Star Trek: The Next Generation -------------------------------- "Cat & Mouse" - Part 3 ------------------------ by Marcus Priddey ------------------- Whilst Rataq and I wait for Picard's response, I lean forward and pour some water into a cup someone very thoughtfully put on the table. "Here," I say, handing the drink to my friend, "drink this. If you're anything like me your throat must be really parched by now. I know mine is after I make a speech. That was a nice one, by the way. It sounded heartfelt and completely unrehearsed, which in my experience makes it more genuine. Well done." Rataq allows himself a brief smile as he took a sip from the cup. "Thank you, Sam. The reason it sounded unrehearsed is because I only just made it up." "Pardon me?!" "Oh, I had a fair idea what to say, but the speech itself I just made up." He replied with a rather sheepish look on his face. I groaned quietly to myself. I quickly brushed Picard's mind with my own and sighed with relief when his thoughts seemed to indicate that he also thought that the plea was a genuine cry for help. "Ambassador Rataq," Picard started "I will, of course, be glad to extend any assistance that your people require in the hope that... Ambassador? Ambassador Rataq?!" I look over to my friend, who was turning a rather unhealthy shade of green. "Rataq? What's wrong? Picard! Call your medics! NOW!" Rataq tumbles to the floor as Picard calls sickbay. I use my strength to move Rataq's chair out of the way as I rush to his side, unmindful of the fact that my strength in this lower gravity has made the chair career into the wall with a loud bang. By this time Picard was also at Rataq's side loosening Rataq's uniform collar. "Ambassador Rataq!" he shouts as though by sheer force of command he could make Rataq relax and breathe normally. The spasms that were going through his body were getting worse. I grab hold of his shoulders and pin them to the floor to try and stop them and I glance into his eyes and I see the stark terror there. His thoughts enter my mind, an almost incoherent babble, <> <> and his eyes told me that he did but he was still terrified nonetheless. I then feel a pair of delicate hands, but with a strength that amazed me pull me away from Rataq. I wince openly as my telepathic contact with Rataq was suddenly cut off. <> I look up into the liquid brown eyes of Selar as she hauls me into a seat. <> is my only response to her. And with that Selar goes to help Crusher and two other medics load Rataq onto an anti-gravity bed and out of the door. I look into Picard's stricken face which is turned to where the doctors have just exited. He turns to look at me and I lower my gaze to the cup Rataq had dropped. I bend over and pick it up and a very familiar scent comes to my nostrils. I sniff the cup curiously and drop it again as I recognise the smell and realise that their can be no hope of Crusher, Selar or anyone else from saving my oldest friend. Picard walks over to where the cup has come to a rest and he also bends over and picks it up. "Don't let any of the liquid on your skin, Captain." I warn him. He looks at me questioningly. "Naltroth-Wa." I answer. "It means Death Water. It's the venom we inject if ever we bite anybody. It's always fatal and there's no known antidote." He comes to sit beside me. "You have venom sacs in your mouths?" "In the same way as the poisonous snakes of your Earth, yes. There is a groove in the back of our canines and when they pierce the skin the venom is injected. I'm not sure how absorbant you Humans are, which is why I said not to let any on your skin." "Picard to sickbay." "Sickbay. Yes, Captain?" came the response. "Doctor Crusher, how is the Ambassador?" he asked. I feared the worst, which is what I received. "Ambassador Ratag died before we got to sickbay and revival procedures haven't worked. I've placed him stasis, pending a full autopsy if I can get permission from the Romulan consulate on Felys." "Very well, Doctor." He tapped his communicator which chirped. "Lieutenant Worf, please come to the briefing room." "Aye, sir." "Like I said, always fatal." and I bury my face in my hands as I grieve for Rataq. ******************** As Worf escorts me back to my quarters on board the Enterprise assigned to me during these negotiations, my mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. Who would want to do this? Why would they do this? What benefit is there in killing my friend? As these thoughts race through my head, my grief mixes with my burning desire to find out who did this and turns into a rage. With each step my rage grew like a flame fanned, hotter and hotter it became until my vision was clouded and my lips were pulled back, baring my teeth and my canines were extended to their fullest. It was only when I saw several of the Enterprise crewmembers get out of my path rather hurriedly that I realised what I must of looked like. Felysians maybe among one of the most technologically advanced races in this galaxy, but we still carry our animalistic passions with us, and whilst most "civilised" races would tend to suppress theirs, we use ours and combine them with our intellect for some startling results. By the time we reach my quarters, I'm no longer the prowling animal I was in the corridor but the Felysian Master of Ceremony once again who has duties and responsibilities. A thought flashes into my head and is gone again before I could capture it and it's impression makes me go cold inside. I turn to look at Worf. "Worf, I want you to place me under arrest and confine me to my quarters. You might want to post guards as well." "I was going to suggest the same thing." he rumbles. Oh? Was he, indeed? "Really? Why?" "Captain Picard explained to me about the poison in the water. As you are the only Felysian on board, you are my main suspect." Logical, I suppose. Not exactly what I was thinking, but logical nonetheless. He was wrong about one thing though. I was not the only Felysian aboard, that I was sure about. Hold on a moment thought, I was HIS main suspect? "You're leading the investigation?" He nods, yes. "I am Chief of Security." "Then I'm helping. I may be your prime suspect, but I am not the killer. Rataq was my friend and I would never do that to him. I would have given him an honourable death. Let me know when you start your investigation, Lieutenant. Oh, and you may as well throw that jug and water away. You won't be able to get anything from that." I could see Worf looking at me with some surprise. "What?" I ask. "You are correct, being poisoned is not honourable." He sounded as though he had some personal experience of this. "I said earlier that because you were allied to the Romulans, that you were without honour. I apologise. I was in error." Yes! I smile a brilliant smile for him, and I could actually see that he was pleased that I accepted his apology. "Not to worry, Worf. As I said, let me know when you start your investigation." And with that I turn and walk into my (cramped) quarters. I stand there for awhile, just inside the door, shivering slightly in the cold. "Computer, raise temperature to Felysian standard." "Please specify required temperature in Farenheit or Celsius." Oh dear. "Can you scan for the average temperature in Capitol of Felys?". I wait for the response. The computer chirrups. "Affirmative. The average temperage is forty degrees Celsius." Good. "Increase ambient room temperature to forty degrees, then." I could feel it getting warmer almost immediately and I breathe a sigh of contentment. Comfortable at last! I strip off my dress so all I'm wearing is my battle leotard, bat'tard for short. and head for the shower. I find it and it doesn't look like any shower I've ever seen. "Computer, what sort of shower is this?" "It can be used as a sonic or water shower." Water?! This Federation must be rich if they can use water to bathe in. As Felys is primarily a desert planet, water is at a premium there and is only used for drinking. If we want to wash, we either use our tongues, or use a sandstone scrub. But water to bathe in? I crow with delight and strip off completely as I step in. A couple of Federation hours later after a wonderful time in the water shower, I lie in bed thinking through my theory of who could have murdered the Rihannsu ambassador to Felys. I can slowly feel my eyelids getting heavier and I realise that it must be my sleep period. No, not now! I remain conscious long enough to turn the lights out and put my drink to one side before I fall asleep. ******************** I awake with a start to the sound of the door chime. Shaking my head to clear the last vestiges of the nightmare I try unsuccessfully to ignore I rise and put my bat'tard back on. Felys only knows what possessed me to sleep without it. "Who is it?" I call. "Picard." comes the rather snappish response. "Hold on a minute!" Can't very well greet the Captain of the ship dressed in this skimpy thing! Where's my robe? Ah, there it is. "Come in." The door opens and Picard steps through. He stops just inside the door as he tries to adjust to the heat. While he adjusts I try to guess what mood he's in without brushing his mind. Peturbed. Definately annoyed about something. His clenched fists and slight frown he's wearing give that away. "Arbiter, I have just spoken with your father..." So that's why he's annoyed. "And, he's just given you a dressing down because I've asked Worf to confine me to quarters?" I interrupt. "I thought he might. Sorry about that, Captain." "I would like an explanation, though, as to why you felt it necessary to do it. Do you consider yourself a threat to us?" I wave him to sit down as I walk over to the food replicator to get myself a drink. "I don't consider myself a threat to anyone, Captain. I did it just in case something was to happen and I might be blamed for it. Glass of cream, please." I look questioningly towards Picard. I scan his thoughts to see what he would like. Got it. "Tea, Earl Grey. Hot." I collect the drinks and walk over to where he is sitting handing him his tea. "Thank you. You said something about your being blamed for?" "Yes. Rataq died from a Felysian Naltroth-Wa, a venom which, once it's left our venom sacs, breaks down and dissipates within half an hour. I will tell you now I didn't do it which means that another Felysian did. Why, I don't know yet. Now, the reason I confined myself to quarters was that if someone else died last night, I would be, as far as you were aware, innocent because I was here all night, under guard." I watch him as he mulls that over. "As far as I am aware, you are the only Felysian aboard the Enterprise." He taps his chest communicator. "Picard to Data, can you scan for Felysian lifeforms aboard the ship?" "Affirmative, sir." comes the response. "Utilising the database Doctor Crusher has made I can use the lateral sensor array for detection." There is a slight pause and I can hear the chirps the computer is making as he types in his instructions. "There is one Felysian aboard." "Thank you, Mr. Data. Picard out." He looks at me expectantly. "He should have been able to find another Felysian aboard. Anyone else, yes they would've been only able to read one. Namely me. But Data should've found another!" "Why?" "Our psychic abilities enable us to do a lot of things. As I already said, in the briefing room two days ago, we are telepathic. In fact, we are one of the most powerful telepathic species that still retain their corporeal form. Not only that, we are also adept with telekenesis. These two abilities combined, allows us to do almost anything we want, whether it be hide from each other, alter other peoples perceptions, read minds and so on. Wait a minute, telekenesis! Of course! That's how she's able to fool the sensors." "She?" "The other Felysian aboard. There are only a handful of male Felysians, and only the Emperor is permitted to leave the planet and you've just spoken to him. Give me a moment here." I stand and walk to the centre of the room and slowly gather my thoughts and contentrate on forming a barrier around me with my mind. I stare at my shadow on the floor as a focal point and as I concentrate, it slowly fades into nothingness. I glance upwards towards Picard, who has also risen. "Can you still see me?" "Yes." "Good. Have Data scan again." and I await as he complies with my request. "I am now reading no Felysians aboard." I breathe out and drop the barrier, noticing with amusement as my shadow pops back into being. "Correction, sir. One has just suddenly appeared on the sensors." You don't have to have our sharp hearing to hear the curiosity in his voice. <> <> He sounded really annoyed. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> I smile as I detect the laughter in his thoughts as the link fades. That's the wonderful thing about telepathy. It only takes a couple of seconds, and it's totally private. Well, maybe every Felysian heard that, but among non-telepaths it was private. "Worf to Captain Picard. We are being hailed by the FNV Felys. They say they wish to speak to Arbiter Sametkath as requested." Poor Worf, he sounded so puzzled. Picard looks at me askance. I tap the side of my head to indicate what I had done. "Very well, Mr. Worf. Put it through down here." "Aye, Sir." There is a slight delay as the commuication is relayed. "This is Azurenoxon aboard the FNV Felys. Arbiter are you alright?" "Fine thank you, Azure. I have need of the Felys' sensors. The ones aboard the Enterprise don't have the capability. "For what?" "Scanning through psionic shielding." "Yes, ma'am." I smile as I hear her bark out the orders in her own unique way, fortunately in Felysian. "Scanning now, Arbiter." "Thank you, Azure. Oh, and by the way. You're on the bridge of OUR flagship so you must set an example. A little less swearing might be nice." The last part I said in Felysian to save embarrassing her, myself and Picard. "Yes ma'am. Sorry. Sensor sweep is complete and we're reading two Felysians aboard the Enterprise." <> she finishes. "So you see, Captain. Someone else is here and that someone else is the murderer. I suggest we go to the bridge, now. Some people are about to arrive and they're a bit upset with us." Using my full speed in this low gravity I manage to get dressed in a few seconds. "And I need to talk to Data. Shall we?" indicating the door. ******************** Worf and Riker look at us as we step off the turbo lift onto the bridge. "Captain, I think you should take a look at this." "What is it Number One?" I tag along to what looks like a tactical station. My height allows to me to look over Riker's shoulder onto the screen which is giving them some concern. "Our sensors are detecting three subspace anomolies approaching us very fast. They'll be here in a few minutes." "Cloaked ships?" Picard was not a man to waste words unnecessarily. "Very possibly." All three turn to look at me. I look back. "They're not Felysian, if that's what you're thinking, because you wouldn't be able to detect them." The truth, naturally. Not the whole truth mind you. "How do you know that we are not able to scan for your ships?" Worf rumbled. "Simple. Two reasons. One, take alook at your Neutral Zone sensor net logs during Qo'noS' little fracas recently. Apart from the Romulan ships you won't detect anyone else. Our Panther class vessels, our warships, were border hopping quite a bit then. Two, are you able to detect anything one light minute from your starboard side?" Worf turns back to his station scanning quickly. He turns back with a frown. "No." "Our flagship, the FNV Felys is parked there. You almost hit her when you entered orbit. She's twenty kilometres long, over five kilometres wide and as much deep, with a crew of about sixty thousand. That's why I know your sensors can't scan for us and that's why I know those subspace anomolies are NOT our ships." I said pointing to the screen, on which the anomolies ahd just come to a stop. "SIR!" The girl Picard called Ensign Ro shouted from her station at the front of the bridge. "Three Romulan warbirds decloaking dead ahead. D'deridex class. The Devoras, the Haakona and the Khazara!" she cries turning to look at Picard. To be continued...