Posting early today.... I have a busy day.....
Enjoy
Lucy
Chapter 62
“We have arrived at our destination Captain.”
“Helm, standard orbit.”
Jean-Luc stared at the ringed planet in front of him, he had not believed that he would have returned so soon, but this was the best place he could think of for Horatio and Ehliena to recover. Everyone on the Enterprise was concerned at the course of events and were all wishing the couple well. He just hoped that this plan would work.
Contacting the Manager, he asked Nelson to join him in transporter room 3 to beam down the planet’s surface. Deanna and Data would join him for this first visit – preparations would need to be made before Ehliena and Horatio could leave the Enterprise.
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Anji stared in surprise, almost dropping the flowers in her hand, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Jean-Luc, it is good to see you again.”
“You too Anji – but I wish it were under better circumstances – we need your help.” Quickly Jean-Luc told her of the circumstances, relieved when she began to smile.
“As Horatio’s DNA will be relatively new, he will not be affected by the regeneration properties of our planet’s rings, much in the same way as our children are not affected until they reach puberty. Ehliena of course will feel a difference – which will be helpful – any accidental injury caused to her will be healed in a fairly short time. My only worry is that Horatio’s ‘energy’ will be affected and he may not actually be able to complete this… transformation.”
The Captain introduced the manager. Nelson smiled, “That is why I joined the team. Though I can feel the energy flowing all around the planet – it is having no affect on the Symehk part of myself, I do however feel more relaxed than I have been for some time. It is almost as if time is standing still for a moment or two – or at least slowed down.”
Jean-Luc and Anji traded private smiles, knowing exactly what he was talking about. “Your people are welcome among the Ba’ku Manager Mandela. We can make space for Ehliena and Horatio in the village very quickly.”
The Captain chuckled, “I think they would prefer somewhere a little more private Anji – Symehk renewal tends to be a little… visible. We had thought about taking a shuttle to a point near the sea. Horatio and Ehliena will be self sufficient and not bother you.”
Anji looked at him in surprise, “Then why did you come to the village? You could have just landed – we would never have known – the nearest sea is too far to travel with our modes of transport.”
Jean-Luc smiled softly, “You are the caretakers of this planet Anji – it is only polite to ask your permission, and I do have more personal reasons too – of course.”
Deanna chuckled and signalled to Manager Mandela that they should leave to complete preparations and started looking around for Data. She chuckled when she saw him playing with Artim and decided to leave him behind. “With Artim he is learning how to be a child – he feels it is very important to his development as a human.”
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Ehliena stood close to the shore, stunned by the beauty of the landscape around her. The planets rings could be seen quite clearly at this time of early evening, but she supposed they would be almost invisible during the day time – especially when the sun was at its zenith.
The bay stretched away from her in both directions, on one side she could see where tall cliffs of a pale orange coloured stone were beginning to reflect the setting sun. To her right she could see the small river that she had crossed on her walk – it had been knee deep, but clear as crystal. She sighed contentedly, the whole planet was a paradise – except that it was in a difficult place to reach.
Almost completely surrounded by a nebula known as ‘The Briar Patch’, this system could not be reached by any kind of normal communication – even sub-space frequencies occasionally got lost. The Ba’ku had asked to be left alone, not wanting to return to their former technological existence, preferring a simpler way of life. She couldn’t help but agree with them. Though capable of Warp travel, the people had rejected all forms of advanced technology, in order to live in harmony with their beautiful planet.
Slowly she began to retrace her steps back to the shuttle that she had brought down earlier. Geordi and a couple of his engineers had brought some equipment to create the shielding that she and Horatio might require and also built a small two roomed ‘home’ for them.
The shuttle would provide them with basic needs through its replicator and contact to the Enterprise - though even this close that was difficult. Arriving back at the site, she was happy to see that Geordi and his team were ready to beam back aboard the Enterprise.
Geordi gave her a hug, holding her tightly, “When we get back, Dr Crusher will send Horatio down – you two just relax and enjoy your holiday ok.”
Ehliena nodded concealing the fear that she felt inside. Very few of the crew knew exactly what was going on, in fact, only Deanna, Beverley, Will and the Captain had been told the full story of what could happen. The rest had just been informed that Horatio had overstretched himself and needed to rest.