Title: Star Trek-Infinity: Friends and Foes [PG] (MISC)

Author: Charles Rando (trando@worldnet.att.net)

Series: MISC

Rating: [PG]

Part: NEW 2/2

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters in The Next Generation and DeepSpace Nine, and Peter David owns the Selelvian race (see his book, StrikeZone). I'd like to think that the characters I've invented and the story aremine. :-)

Summary: While on a diplomatic mission to a war ravaged planet, CounselorKassal's shuttle is attacked and kidnapped... by Ferengi! Can the Infinityrescue Kassal before she takes matters into her own hands?

Sonja sat up quickly as she heard the door open and assumed her usual modestposition, making sure that her hair swung forward far enough to completelycover her ears. This might be the best opportunity she had to escape.

The Ferengi that entered was not Daimon Brak, but a smaller man carrying atray of food. Kassal ignored his leer as he tried to see the parts of hershe was keeping hidden. She would have to be completely focused if this wasgoing to work.

"Thank you very much," she said as he placed the food beside her. "I wasgetting very hungry." She smiled sweetly, hoping that the Ferengi woulddirect his attention to her face. When she saw that he wasn't going to do ithimself, she took the initiative and lifted his chin. "I'm veryappreciative," she said, looking into his eyes.

"Of course," the Ferengi replied. He seemed absolutely captivated by hereyes.

"What's your name?" Kassal asked him, still staring at him. She focused hermind even more, and found that it wasn't very hard. Either she was gettingbetter at this, or the Ferengi was very easy to control.

"Vart," the Ferengi whispered.

"I'm also very cold, Vart. I don't suppose you'd mind bringing me somethingto wear?"

"Of... of course," the Vart replied. He started to back away from her, stillcaptivated by her blue eyes and the golden specks floating in them.

"Vart!" called a sharp voice from behind them. "I told you to bring herdinner... nothing else!"

Vart shook his head before replying, "I'm sorry, Daimon! I became...distracted!"

"I'm sure you did," Brak said, grabbing the other Ferengi by the ear. As hepulled him out of the room, Brak said, "We'll see how distracted you areafter a week knee deep in waste!"

Kassal sighed as the doors closed. That attempt had failed, but yet againshe knew something because of her attempt that she hadn't known before: ifshe was going to use the "Knack" on anyone, it would have to be the Daimon.He seemed to have to strongest mind on the ship, and by controlling him,Kassal might be able to escape all of the Ferengi.

CHAPTER FIVE

"What have you found, Lieutenant?" Captain Rando asked as he enteredengineering. They would be arriving at Gallunt Prime in under an hour, andRando had been working with Doctor Calabretta to expediate the planet'scheck-up when Commander Neddek had called him: Lieutenant D'vis haddiscovered something.

"Actually, sir, it was the Ensign who found it," D'vis said. He turned tothe Breen. "Would you care to explain what we found?" When the Breen didn'treply, D'vis continued. "Very well. You see, Captain, I was familiarizingmyself with the ship's sensor system for when I am serving at tactical, andthe Ensign was assisting me. We were checking all sensor logs from the lastfew days, when we came to the communication regarding Counselor Kassal. Themessage is not what it seems." He pressed a button on the computer console,and a map of the area around Bavarius IV appeared. "The message itself seemsto indicate that Counselor Kassal and Ensign LeMott are being held captiveon the planet... here," he indicated. "Allow me to show you." He pressedanother button, which called up the image of the Bavarian who had claimedresponsibilty for the away team's capture.

"We are holding your away team in a secluded region of the planet. Anyattempts to rescue them will not only lead to the execution of your team...but a sweeping vote against joining the Federation from our allies in theCouncil who are still undecided. We would...."

"'We are holding your away team in a secluded region of the planet," D'visrepeated. "This is what caught the Ensign's attention. We had just beenreviewing the general sensor logs right before the message arrived, and wedid discover a subspace message coming from the Bavarius sector... but notfrom the planet itself. Suffice to say, we find this very interesting."

Lieutenant Remley, who had joined Rando from the bridge, spoke up. "Butcouldn't the group who captured Sonja and Meegan have moved them off theplanet?"

D'vis nodded. "We are not denying that possibilty, as of yet," he said."However, we are still awaiting information that might...." The computerbeeped and D'vis anf the Breen engineer peered closely at the information onthe screen before the Breen pointed at a single bit of information. "Thatmust be it," D'vis agreed. He turned to face Rando and Remley. "The Breen,as a rule, are one of the main 'competitors' of the Ferengi, and thus knowbasically every trick the Ferengi might use to hide themselves. This is theresult of a commonly used Ferengi program to hide their subspaceidentification. It masks their signal, making them appear Bavarian, but thatcode right there is definitely Ferengi. It would translate loosely into thissymbol." The scene displayed a "$."

"You've sold me, no pun intended," Rando said.

"The Infinity is still the closest ship to Bavarian space," Remley pointedout. "The Federation negotiators won't arrive for another day. At maximumwarp, we could get there in just under a few hours."

Rando tapped his comm. badge, opening a channel to the bridge whereCommander Witherell was in command. "Commander, contact Gallunt Prime.Inform them that, barring any crises on the planet, our arrival will bedelayed. If the situation on Gallunt Prime is under control, set course forthe Bavarian system."

"Sir, we're under specific orders from Starfleet not to interfere atBavarius IV," Witherell protested.

"Don't worry, Commander," Rando assured him. "Chances are, we won't be goinganywhere near Bavarius IV."

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

"Where are you, my lovely?" Daimon Brak demanded. He had come back to theCounselor's room himself to retrieve any uneaten food... and, he hoped, toget to know the hew-mun better. "My lobes really need the gentle caress of afemale," he continued as he searched the room.

Kassal peeked her head up from behind the bed. "Are you looking for me?" sheinquired.

"There you are!" Brak excliamed, moving towards her. Sonja, however, quicklymaneuvered herself around the bed to the other side so that he remainedacross from her. "Ah, playing hard to get, my dear? Sooner or later, I willcatch you!"

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Kassal replied sweetly. "I could never outrun youfor very long, Daimon. But I was hoping that you would tell me again whatyou like so much about me."

Brak gave her a toothy grin. "If you'd stop hiding, I'd be able to tell youa whole lot more."

Kassal did her best to look disappointed. "You mean, you don't think my faceis beautiful?" she asked.

"Oh no no no!" Brak replied quickly. "I love your golden hair, your pinkcheeks, your pouting lips, your blue eyes...."

"Do you really like my eyes?" Kassal asked. "My family always thought Ishould have had black eyes."

"Your eyes are lovely just the way they are," Brak replied. "Little bluepools with... with little gold specks floating in them."

"Gold specks?" Kassal asked, hoping to draw Brak in a little more. "No oneelse have ever noticed gold specks."

"I can see them perfectly," Brak said, his voice barely a whisper. He wasnow starting intently at Kassal's eyes. "Little gold specks, floating inyour pools of blue."

Kassal smiled. With every passing second, Brak fell more and more under hercontrol. She probably wouldn't be able to get him to do anything yet, butmaybe he could answer some of her questions. "So tell me, Daimon, what areyou doing all the way out here? Don't you know that Starfleet wouldn't wantyou pirating ships?"

"Starfleet would never be able to catch us," Brak told her, his voicedreamy. "The Romulan Empire has given us a cloaking device to hide theship."

"Why would they give you cloaking device?" Kassal demanded.

"They wanted to destabalize the relationship between Bavarius IV and theFederation," the Ferengi replied. "We were going to pirate the area aroundthe planet, and after escaping from Starfleet a few times, we would be'captured' by the Romulans in the Neutral Zone. The Bavarians would then seethat the Federation was not able to protect them as well as the Romulanscould."

"But why did you capture me?"

"The Romulans were able to convince their allies on Bavarius IV to break theceasefire, which would cause the Federation to send a negotiations team. Wewould capture the team, and send a message to Starfleet implicating theBavarians. It would create even more friction between the Federation andBavarius IV."

Kassal shook her head slightly, still keeping her eyes on the Ferengi. "Thatdoesn't sound very profitable."

"On the contrary, the Romulans would let us keep the cloaking device as wellas whatever we pirated."

"Like my shuttle?"

Brak nodded. "We plan to use your shuttle for spare parts, in case we aredamaged in any of our attacks."

"Is my shuttle still operational?" Kassal asked.

Brak nodded. "Yes, although the shields and engines are damaged."

"If you repaired the shuttle, you could use it to pirate other ships aswell," Kassal suggested. "You should get some engineers on it right away."

"Yes, the shuttle could come in handy," Brak replied. "I'll have myengineers repair it right away."

"And I'd really appreciate it if you brought me my uniform," Kassal said."I'm very cold here."

"Of course," Brak replied. "It is still in the shuttle. I will bring it toyou right away."

"And please make sure that no one else can come in here."

"Of course," Brak said again, and he got up to leave. Kassal was satisfiedthat Brak was sufficiently under her control, and so she let him go withoutsaying another word.

Once the shuttle was repaired, she'd have a way to get back to the Infinity.

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

Hours later, the Infinity dropped out of warp outside of the Bavarius systemand Captain Rando ordered a yellow alert as a precaution.

"Ensign, do you think we might be able to find the shuttle's warp trail?"Rando asked.

"By now, the trail has probably faded away to nothing," Ensign Libbyreplied, "but I can still do a scan for it."

Rando nodded. "Do it."

Libby checked his instruments the second the scan was completed. "I havesomething that could be a warp trail, sir. It seems to be heading in thedirection of the nebula at 187 degrees, mark 235."

"If the shuttle was attacked by Ferengi pirates, a nebula would be theperfect place to hide," Commander Witherell commented.

"My thoughts exactly," Rando said. "Ensign Marit, set course for the nebula.Full impulse."

"Aye sir," the Bajoran navigator replied, and the ship turned in space tohead for the nebula. "We'll arrive in five minutes, sir."

"Mr. Remley, Mr. Libby, I want a complete and thorough scan of that nebula.Check for debris, from either the shuttle or from a Ferengi ship. And see ifyou can't find the Ferengi's warp trail, just in case they went somewhere."

"Aye sir," the two officers chorused as they begun their search. They stillhadn't found anything when the ship had arrived at the nebula.

"There's no evidence that the shuttle was ever here," Remley reported,"although if it's in the nebula, we'd have no way to tell."

"And if the Ferengi ship is in the nebula, they could be planning theirambush as we speak," Witherell pointed out.

"Lieutenant D'vis to Captain Rando."

Rando tapped his comm. badge. "Rando here. What is it, Lieutenant?" hedemanded.

"We have established that the source of the subspace message is inside thenebula, sir. The Ensign thinks that the Ferengi are probably hiding inthere."

"Is there anyway he knows of to lure the Ferengi out into the...." Randostarted to ask, but Lieutenant Remley interrupted him.

"Sir! Something's coming out of the nebula... it's the shuttle, sir! AFerengi Marauder is in hot pursuit!"

"Red alert," Rando ordered. "Lock phasers on the Marauder and fire at will.Ensign Libby, extend our shields around the shuttle as soon as itsin-range."

"Aye sir," Libby replied. "I'm reading one lifeform on the shuttle, sir." Hechecked his instruments again. "It's Counselor Kassal."

"Direct hit on the Ferengi vessel, sir," Remley reported. "Their shields aredown twenty percent. It looks like they're trying to head back into thenebula."

"Fire a torpedo in their path," Rando ordered. "They're not getting awaythat easily." He turned to Libby. "Is the shuttle in range yet?"

"A few more seconds, sir," Libby replied, and then said, "The shuttle isinside our shield bubble."

"The photon blast has disabled the Ferengi ship's engines and their weaponssystems," Remley reported. "They're not going anywhere."

Rando sighed in relief. "Tractor the shuttle into the shuttlebay," heordered. "And have Lieutenant Johnson beam the Counselor directly tosickbay. I'll meet her down there. Commander, you have the bridge."

"Yes sir," Witherell replied. The ordeal was finally over.

CHAPTER SIX

"Sonja, are you all right?" Rando demanded as he entered sickbay.

"I feel fine," Kassal replied, "but I don't think I can really say forsure."

"A cursory examination hasn't turned up any injuries, but I'd like to finishrunning a more comprehensive scan before I say for sure," Calabretta said.In the meantime, Counselor, why don't you return to your quarters and getsome rest. The last few days must have been tiring for you. I'll have thefull results of my test by morning."

"Thank you, Doctor," Kassal replied, sliding off the biobed. Rando noticedthat she did indeed look fine, except for her uniform which was covered withdirt and grease. And the look on her face told Rando that she still had someemotions to deal with after her ordeal. From what he knew of the Ferengi,Rando couldn't blame her.

"Come on, I'll walk you back to your quarters and you can tell me all aboutit," Rando said.

"Well, there are a few things you should definitely know about now," Kassaltold him as they walked out of sickbay. "Ensign LeMott died when the Ferengiattacked the shuttle. When I got back to the shuttle, her body was gone. Itmight still be on the Ferengi ship."

"I'll send Lieutenant Remley and a security team over to start searching theship," Rando said. "Starfleet won't let them get away with abducting anofficer and killing another."

"That's not all they were doing, Charlie," Sonja said. "They were planningto attack ships that entered the system in an attempt to destabalize therelationship between Bavarius IV and the Federation. Apparantly, they wereworking for the Romulans, and they even received a cloaking device fromthem."

Rando nodded and tapped his comm. badge. "Lieutenant Remley, take a securityteam over to the Ferengi vessel immediately. They have a cloaking device theRomulans gave them over there, and they might be trying to rid themselves ofthe evidence."

"I'm on my way, Captain," Remley replied before closing the channel.

Rando turned back to Kassal. "The one thing I want to know is, how did youget off that ship? It must have been quite a struggle!"

Kassal laughed and shook her head. "Not for a Selelvian," she replied,"although the Ferengi didn't realize that before it was too late. I used the'Knack' on their Daimon, and convinced him to repair the shuttle AND bringme my uniform."

Rando nodded, if a bit confused. "I thought you were uncomfortable aboutusing the 'Knack,'" he pointed out.

"I still am," Kassal admitted. "I don't think it's fair of me to impose mywill on someone without warning... but it was either that or do something Ireally would have regretted. At least this way, even though it might soundhorrible, I feel justified in what I did."

"I would say so," Rando replied as they stopped in front of her quarters."Well, have a good night's rest. Tomorrow I'll have to introduce you to thetwo officers who were mainly responsible for your rescue. And we'll see ifYOU can make him talk!"

And on that cryptic note, Rando turned and walked away.

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

"Captain, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I've found something veryinteresting," said Doctor Matthew Calabretta.

"Yes, what is it, Doctor?" Rando asked. He had just gotten up whenCalabretta called, and he had dressed as quick as he could to get down tosickbay.

"Sir, I just finished doing Counselor Kassal's medical scan, and I've foundsomething that wasn't there when I did my last in-depth examination. Youknow, the one I did when everyone came onboard? Anyway, like I said, I'vefound someting... well, actually, Doctor McDonald found it. I never wouldhave noticed it. If it weren't for her knowledge of..."

"Yes, yes, Doctor," Rando interrupted.

"Captain, do you remember when we encountered that radiation cloud aroundthe planet Trill?" Calabretta asked.

"Yes," Rando said. "It healed many of the crew's ailments and almost killedLieutenant V'gel. What does that have to do with the Counselor?"

"It apparently had a larger affect on her then we thought it would,"Calabretta said. "Counselor Kassal has a record of telepathic incidents,just like all other Selelvians. Her ability to read eyes and her advancedintuition are examples of these telepathic abilities." He led Rando over toa large screen with a display of Counselor Kassal's brain on it. "Apparentlythe radiation cloud stimulated this area in the frontal lobe. This area, asfar as we can tell, is what causes her telepathic quirks. Even though theradiation is no longer present, these brain cells are still acting as if itwere. It's almost as if the radiation was a trigger for some chain reaction.As one cell is stimulated, it stimulates the cell next to it and so on. Ifthis continues, Counselor Kassal's telepathic abilities will grow, possiblybeyond Commander Witherell's."

"Is there any danger in this?" Rando asked.

Calabretta's smile disappeared. "Unfortunately, we don't know. We have noidea what kind of effect this growth will have on her brain. In medicalterms, it's a cancer, and because it's in the frontal lobe, we can't stopit. It might just stop growing when it reaches a certain point... or itcould spread to the rest of her lobe. If the latter happens, it could killher."

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

Captain Rando stood outside the doors of Counselor Kassal's quarters. He hadto compose himself before he pressed the door chime.

"Come in," he heard the voice of Kassal say through the small speaker nextto the chime. He stepped forward and the doors opened for him.

"Sonja, I see I interrupted you again," he noted as the doors closed.

Kassal put down her French horn. "You have impeccable timing, Charlie," shesaid, smiling. "I don't know how you do it." She sighed. "Actually,Lieutenant D'vis and Ensign Maiser just left. He's not as quiet as you maythink."

"Ensign Maiser?" Rando asked.

"Our new Breen engineer? When he entered the Academy, he decided to changehis name in honor of the officer that recommended he be allowed entry."

Rando smiled. "Let me guess, Captain Jasper Maiser?"

"Exactly. He told me all about his life before he met Captain Maiser, andfrom what he said, it didn't sound too pleasant. Joining Starfleet was amajor change in his life for the better."

Now Rando look puzzled. "He told you all that?" he asked. "Whenever I seehim, he never says a word."

"It's his helmet," Kassal said. "He needs it to keep his body cool, butevery so often he'll take it off. When it's on, though, you can't hear himthrough it."

Rando nodded. "I see," he said. "Well, that solves that mystery." He satdown next to her. "I just talked to Doctor Calabretta. He told me aboutwhat's happening to you."

She blinked once and then regained her composure. "It's hard to believe,isn't it?"

"You could say that," Rando said. "Of course, the doctor doesn't know forsure if it's fatal."

"It's not dying that worries me!" she exclaimed. "My body is changing,growing, and I didn't even know it! What if I don't die? What will I become?What will happen to me?"

Rando placed his hand on her shoulder. "I don't know," he said. "On thebright side, this condition has been going on for less than four months now,and very little growth has taken place. It could be a long time before younotice any changes."

"I'm noticing changes right now! Ever since Doctor Calabretta showed mewhat's going on in here!" She pointed at her forehead. "Do you know whatit's like to have your body changing in a way that it shouldn't be?" Shetook a deep breath. "And I have noticed other things. For the last fewmonths, I've been hearing voices of other people. But it wasn't exactlywords, it was like strong emotions... emotions that other people wereexperiencing, but I was picking them up too. When I talked to Ensign Maritabout her father's death, I could feel her anger and her pain. I didn't justfeel pain for her loss, I actually felt her pain! It was so powerful! I..."

She collapsed on the ground, her hands pressed against her head. Rando wasinstantly beside her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's happening again!" she said. "But this time it's from you. I can feelyour fear and your concern... and added to mine... it's just so strong!"

Rando sat up straight and took a deep breath. He slowly pushed down all hisfears and concerns of the moment, and shortly after he had done so, Kassallooked up, her hair falling behind her pointed ears.

"Thank you," she said. "I know how difficult this is for you."

"It can't be as difficult as it is for you," he said, helping her up.

Kassal smiled. "You'd be surprised."

Rando put his arm around her. "We'll find something to do. We won't justleave it like this. We'll do all we can to stop it, even if it means callingin J.W."

"No," she said, backing away slightly so she could look at him. "As much asI hate to believe it, this is the natural course of events of my life now.If there's anything Doctor Calabretta can do, I'll let him do it. But Ican't allow J.W., or Q, or anyone else to change reality just to save me.Right now it's my fate to experience this, and I'm just going to have tolive it out."

"All right," he said. "But you realize that I'll have Doctor Calabrettatalking to the best doctors across the quadrants. It's the least I can do."

"No," Kassal replied with a smile. "It's the most you can do."

The two officers shared a moment of silence, contemplating on the future andwhat it might bring.