From: kinnema@wkuvx1.bitnet (Mark Kinney, Attorney at Chaos)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: TNG: Baptism By Fire [3]
Date: 14 Sep 92 21:34:23 GMT
Organization: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

STAR TREK :: Baptism By Fire [Part 3]

	"I don't understand it," Doctor Beverly Crusher said as she
finished examining Counselor Troi. "She's experiencing extreme brain
activity, but it doesn't seem to be focused on anything in particular, and
changes constantly."
	"Will she recover?" Captain Picard asked.
	"I don't know.  I'll need some more time to observe her."
	"Very well.  Inform me when she comes to."
	Picard turned and left the Sick Bay as Doctor Crusher began
examining the brainscans again, hoping to find something she missed before.

	Although he would not neccessarily define it as a "feeling,"
Lieutenant Commander Data was experiencing what could only be called
frustration.
	He had run the words Couselor Troi had said though the Universal
Translator, and gotten "Insufficient Language Sample" as a result.  The
language had no similarities to anything on record.  He ran each word
through the computer, trying to find some meaning for them: nothing.
	He turned from the science station to see Worf inform Commander
Riker that the subspace radio was back online.  As Riker commanded Worf to
send off for help, Data turned to his station and sent his own request for
assistance.

	The space-suited figures appeared in a flash of blue between the
warp nacelles.  The immediately moved toward their respective assignments
and began the modifications that would hopefully save their skins.

	For a second, Deanna Troi was disoriented.  She had been on the
bridge when--then she remembered and screamed.  Doctor Crusher was at her
side almost immediately, and Troi soon calmed down, realizing her ordeal
was over.
	Crusher tapped her communicator. "Captain Picard, this is Sickbay. 
Troi's awake."

	The officers, except for Data and LaForge, were once again gathered
in the conference room.
	"Okay, we don't have much time," Picard said. "Number One, where's
Commander Data?"
	"He's still reviewing some files sent via subspace from Starfleet
Headquarters.  If I didn't know better, I'd say he was pleasantly surprised
to get them."
	Picard breathed a heavy breath, nodded, then turned to Counselor
Troi.
	"Counselor, can you remember anything about whatever you sensed?"
he asked.
	"It's ancient," she answered. "I can't begin to describe the
experience... it was just so overwhelming."
	Data entered the room and sat down at the table.
	"Data, what have you found?" Picard asked.
	"I asked Starfleet Headquarters to check for any files pertaining
to any of the words said by Couselor Troi before she passed out.  The only
one that came back positive, after an extensive search I might add, was
'cthugha.' Cthugha is the name of a creature from Earth mythology, a member
of a race of beings called Great Old Ones by their worshippers, and
included Hastur, Y'golonac, Cthulhu-"
	"Data, get on with it!" Riker snapped.
	"Sorry, sir.  According to the myth, Cthugha lived near a star that
according to modern charts would be Fomalhaut, with its servitors, referred
to as 'fire vampires.'"
	"It would seem that the myth is not unfounded," Picard thought out
loud. "Did the information tell how to deal with them?"
	"The myth indicates that Cthugha could be summoned, and later
dismissed back to its home by the use of magic.  The formula is not
available, however, and even it it were, it may not work and I would
speculate that it would not do us any good if it did work, seeing that this
is its home."
	"Very good, Data, but that still doesn't solve our problem," Picard
said. "According to Commander LaForge, the engine repairs are proceeding
smoothly.  Tactical indicates that this 'Cthugha' is keeping itself and
it's 'fire vampires' at bay."
	"If I might speculate, Captain," Counselor Troi interrupted. "It
could be surprised by its contact with me.  Humans aren't especially
telepathically sensitive, and if it posesses psionic abilities, it may have
been surprised by the presence of someone with my abilities, and still be
trying to figure out what to do with us."
	"That is a possibility," Data replied. "However, all information
indicates that these Old Ones tended to act in a hostile manner towards most 
other life forms they encountered.  I would not want to be around when it did 
make up its mind."
	"I agree," Picard said. "According to LaForge, we have one more day 
until the engines are done, so let's see what we can come up with."

	Several hours later, back on the bridge, Data was at his station,
monitoring the system and waiting for the star-creature to make a move. 
Suddenly, the sensors detected movement at long range.
	Data concentrated sensors on the movement; it was very slight, just
several hundred kilometers per hour.  What it was that caused Data to
become concerned was what was moving.
	Data turned in his chair to face Commander Riker, who currently had
the watch.
	"Commander, long-range sensors indicate that the Borg ship is
coming back on line."
	"What?  Can't ANYTHING kill those?!?" Riker asked no one in
particular, then tapped his communicator. "Captain Picard to the bridge."
	"Commander," Worf broke in. "The creatures are on the move. Most of
the smaller ones appear to be moving toward the Borg, while the larger one
and the remaining small ones are moving our way."
	Riker muttered a quick prayer under his breath, and then commanded,
"Red alert!  Shields up!  Battle stations!"

===============================================================================
Next Time: The Conclusion!  Who'll survive?  Will anyone?  Only thing I
know right now is Guinan *won't* be appearing... :) 
-- 
Mark Kinney [KINNEMA@WKUVX1.(BITNET)(WKU.EDU)] | MEN AT WORK
PhoneNet: (502)745-4246	  (Bowling Green, KY)  | New .sig Under Construction
Quote of the week: "How can you know where I'm at if you haven't been where
	I've been; Understand where I'm coming from?"
		-- Cypress Hill, "How I Could Just Kill A Man"