To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [63]
Troi shook her head. “No, she was awake. She was the one who challenged them.” She got up and went over to the foot of the other bed where a many-layered rectangle of cloth lay. When she picked it up, it unfurled in her hands. “This is her nightdress,” she said. “It seems as if she not only changed into her day clothes but even took the time to fold this.” “So, not exactly an abduction after all,” Riker remarked. He turned to the android. “The question is, where is she now?” “That will not be too difficult to answer.” Mr. Data reached into his robe and consulted his tricorder.
“Her vital signs are clear and easily traceable. She appears to have left the village, but she has not gone far. I believe we will find her in the grazing meadows just above Ma’adrys’s abandoned house.” “But why?” Troi asked. “Why would she go willingly with whomever it was who came into our room last night?” “That will not be too difficult to answer either, once we find her,” Data replied. He was wrong.
“Ambassador Lelys?” Troi was the first to spot her.
The tricorder had functioned perfectly, leading the Away Team out of the village and up the mountainside to an isolated clump of trees. Here they found a little stream bubbling over smooth stones, threading its way down to the village, and here too they found the Orakisan ambassador. She sat on the green bank, dabbling her bare feet in the water. She was singing to herself happily and seemed to be completely oblivious to their approach. “Ambassador/” Lelys turned her head lazily at the sound of Troi’s shout. A slow, dreamy smile edged across her face.
“Look what I found,” she said, holding out her hand.
A bright gold leaf rested on her palm. She bent over and set it on the surface of the water, sending it sailing down the stream. She clapped her hands and laughed out loud to watch it twirl and bob on the swift current.
Troi sank to her knees beside the Orakisan and seized her shoulders. “Ambassador, what is wrong?” Lelys only laughed again and shrugged free of Troi’s grasp. “Nothing is wrong. I am so happy. So many children, so many daughters of our beloved motherworld S’ka’rys! Each blooms with beauty, each returns to our mother in peace, and the most beautiful of these is Ne’elat. Soon we will all be reunited in love.” “Ne’elat?” Troi echoed. “But you were angry with the Ne’elatians for what they have done to Ashkaar.
You said you would oppose—” A frown flitted over the ambassador’s face as she glanced at Troi, a look as poisonous as it was brief.
“What is a family divided? I will oppose nothing.
Ne’elat must become one of our confederacy. I will give all my effort to this cause.” Troi stood up and drew Riker aside. Lelys paid no attention to their private conference, gladly returning her attention to sending a fresh armada of leaves sailing down the stream. “Something is very wrong,” Troi murmured.
“No argument. I’d almost say she’s been brainwashed, only how? This world doesn’t have any devices capable of turning out results this complete this fast.” “Devices… I wonderre” Troi cut short her musings to declare: “We must return to the ship. Dr.
Crusher should examine her.” “Agreed.” They went back to the stream. By now Lelys was sprawled on her belly, avidly watching Mr. Data fold the fallen leaves into more seaworthy shapes before he sent them on their way for her amusement.
“Ambassadorre” Riker extended one hand, meaning to help the Orakisan to her feet. The other hand slipped inside his robe to touch his communicator.
“Riker to Enterprise. Stand by to beam up a party of–” “No!” Lelys rolled onto her back and lashed out at Riker’s shin with her foot. Reflexively he jumped out of range just as she leaped up and dashed deeper into the shelter of the little grove. Troi pursued her.
“Ambassador, please. We must go back to the ship,” she insisted. “Something happened to you last night.