The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [87]
He hesitated and glanced at Beverly, as if asking her consent. Crusher nodded.
“In your mother’s cell,” Riker said softly, “Sorana Xerix. Nerissa Povron. Too many others. You should wait until you’ve recovered to hear the rest.”
“Enaren?” Deanna asked.
Beverly pointed across the room. “He’s here. It was touch and go for a while, but we expect him to make a full recovery. And speaking of a full recovery, if you want me to release you soon, I can’t do it. You need rest. I’ll give you something to help you sleep.”
The last thing Deanna remembered before losing consciousness was Will’s lips brushing her forehead. When she awoke again, he was gone. Beverly glanced her way, and when she noticed Deanna was awake, she approached her. “You’re looking better already.”
“I am better.”
Deanna felt physically stronger, but her spirit grieved for the loss of so many of her people. In the greater scheme of things, twelve hundred lives seemed a small price to pay for the liberation of an entire world—until she put names and faces and personalities to those people. For those who loved them, the loss of even one was too dear.
Are you all right, Little One?
Deanna lifted herself on her elbows and looked at her mother in the next bed.
We did it, Mother. Betazed is free.
Dr. Crusher told me.
Deanna sensed the sadness emanating from her mother and guessed that Lwaxana also knew how many of their people had died.
Barin, Deanna asked, is he okay?
He’s fine. He and Chaxaza have been given quarters on the Enterprise until I’m released from sickbay.
The doors to the corridor opened, and Captain Picard entered with Commander Vaughn.
“Jean-Luc,” Lwaxana said with the brightest smile she could manage. “How lovely to see you again. I knew we could count on your help, and you’ve come through admirably, as usual. Perhaps when Dr. Crusher releases me, I can thank you over an intimate dinner.”
Deanna watched the captain assume what Will had once described in old Earth terms as a deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression. She exchanged an amused look with Commander Vaughn, who apparently was well acquainted with her mother’s flirtatious ways.
Picard, however, recovered quickly, and, while keeping his distance, acknowledged her mother’s invitation with a gracious nod. “An intimate dinner would be delightful, Lwaxana.” She seemed pleased at Picard’s acceptance, until he spoke again. “I’ll invite the entire council, so we can discuss the continued defense of Betazed and an exchange of your captives for Starfleet prisoners of war.”
Vaughn, blue eyes curiously warm, stepped to Deanna’s side.
“I came to thank you for your help—and to say good-bye.”
The older man’s imminent departure filled her with regret. She’d grown fond of Elias, and with their mission accomplished, she’d looked forward to his sharing more about his days with her father. Like so many other things, their talk would have to wait until the war ended. “Where are you headed?”
He shrugged. “I go where they send me.”
Deanna wanted to tell him to stay in touch, but knew better than to believe that was an option. “Keep safe, Elias.”
“You, too, Deanna.”
Epilogue
O N HOLODECK FOUR, Deanna lay on her stomach in the warm sand and let the simulated sun of Risa bake the weariness from her bones.
“Still brooding?” Will asked, basking in the sun’s rays on the blanket beside her.
“Is it that obvious?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. You’ve been somber for days. Is it because of what happened on Betazed?”
“No, I’ve come to terms with the fact that it turned out as well as it could have, given the circumstances.”
“It’s too bad the invasive empathy had such a high mortality rate. Otherwise, the Federation could use Betazoid teams to knock out Jem’Hadar installations all over the quadrant.”
“I doubt my people will ever use it again,” Deanna said, “now that they know the cost.”
Will propped himself on his elbow and studied her. “Then what’s troubling you?”
She shrugged. “I guess I just feel guilty, lounging on a holodeck while there’s still a war going on.”
“Doctor’s