Chapter Text
“Sir, we are receiving a transmission from the planet below,” Worf announced as he stood over his console. “Volphaes, it is an M-class planet. Just outside the Diomedian system.”
“On-screen,” Picard acknowledged.
Worf shook his head. “It is an automated message. It appears to be some sort of general emergency signal.”
“Data, what do we know about the inhabitants of Volphaes?” Picard asked.
The commander paused for a second, seemingly processing the request before continuing. “Humanoid. The Volphae are an isolated species, that is by choice. The last official contact with the federation was 76 years ago. At that time they had technology similar to that of the early twenty-second century on Earth.“
“Well, if they are sending out that transmission they must really need help,” Riker commented.
Picard nodded in agreement. Standing up he walked towards the view screen and studied the planet below. “Mr. Crusher keep us in orbit. We will delay our journey to starbase 234 in order to investigate.”
“Aye, sir,” The young acting ensign replied.
Picard returned to his seat, turning to his first officer. “Number one, lead an away team. The counselor and doctor will join you.”
Riker and Deanna were in the process of standing up when the bridge heard a grunt from behind.
“Mr. Worf?” The captain turned his head around, eyebrow raised.
“Captain, do you not think it prudent to bring a security detail on the away team?”
Deanna shook her head. “I sense no hostility,” She looked at the planet in front of her, narrowing her eyes.
“We do not know how far they have advanced. This may be a ploy.”
Picard joined Deanna and looked towards the planet once again. “Data scan the surface for any signs of conflict,” He commanded.
“Negative, sir.”
“Very well,” Picard continued. “ Lieutenant Worf, you will stay on the Enterprise. Number one, your team may leave now.”
“Right away, sir. Data. Troi.”
The trio exited the bridge, entered the turbolift, and traveled to deck six where they met up with Dr. Crusher en route to the transporter room.
The doctor carried a medkit and was securing her tricorder into the pocket of her blue coat. “Any further details?” She asked.
“Only that they are in need of assistance,” Riker replied, entering the transporter room with the group and momentarily greeting O’Brien. “But there are no signs of conflict from above.”
Beverly nodded, though if the deep lines on her forehead were anything to go by, the doctor was still concerned. This was to be her first away team since her return to the Enterprise . While the position of head of Starfleet medical came with its own challenges, beaming down onto alien planets was not an as common occurance.
“I wish I had more information to prepare with.”
Deanna smiled as she stepped onto the platform and positioned herself next to Beverly. “From my observations, your skill is more than a match for any unpreparedness.”
Beverly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s very flattering, Deanna. But still, it would be nice to know what we are arriving at.”
Data angled his head towards Beverly. “Doctor, Starfleet-issued medkits are suited to a range of scenarios. I would not worry.”
“Thanks, Data.”
“Energise.”
The away team was beamed onto the planet’s surface. They materialized in a building, presumably in what the Enterprise's scans had determined to be a populated area of the planet. Each of them shot their heads around the room in an effort to get their bearings. However, without any knowledge of just where they were, it was difficult.
The room they were in was a part of a larger structure. A structure that appeared to have been constructed with a material similar in appearance and texture to sandstone. Such material was considered rather primitive to the Starfleet officers, however, the design pointed to a degree of modernity. It was geometrically pleasing, featuring sharp lines and smooth surfaces that demonstrated a great degree of skill.
“Anyone home?” Riker was the first to speak.
There was no reply.
The first officer walked over to one of the few pieces of furniture. A long table made out of a transparent material was positioned in the middle of the room and sat on a deep violet rug. There were a few crystals and other assorted rocks displayed for decoration. Riker touched a bouquet of what looked like a native flower, sending a few petals falling to the surface which he promptly hid under the base of the vase.
Crystals and flowers, while pleasing to the eye, were not helpful. There was nothing that would help them with their mission, apart from something that looked similar to their own PAADs.
Data went to investigate the technology.
Deanna sighed. “There are life forms nearby,” She confirmed, “But my senses, they are dampened here.”
The group stood around for a few minutes. The environment was quiet. Almost eerily so. But there was no sign of any emergent situations that would have required such a distress call.
“Maybe this place is unoccupied?”
Beverly was the next to do some exploring of her own. Placing her medkit on the table she walked over to a rectangular window. From its view, similar buildings could be seen in the distance. This area appeared somewhat rural, there was considerable infrastructure but the land was not overdeveloped. Below the window sat a wooden planter. The plant inside was a deep bright red color.
“Look,” Beverly touched the plant’s feathery leaves. “It’s Diomedian scarlet moss. Oh, I have had such trouble trying to grow this back on the ship.”
Riker, who had trekked across from the other side of the room, sighed. The commander had obviously not found the moss specimen as interesting as the doctor.
Data opened his mouth, for what the rest of the away team assumed was going to be a lecture on the optimal growth conditions of Diomedian scarlet moss. However, a pleasant but assertive voice bellowed into the room.
“Ethno-botany is a special interest of ours.”
Two Vophae stepped into the room and approached the officers. The one that had spoken was taller and lead the way, while a shorter, more meek-looking, Volpahe followed at their feet. However, both individuals appeared shorter than the average human.
While shorter, they both were emitting a strong sense of power and the away team moved back to each other, forming a more cohesive figure.
Beverly swallowed. “I’ve never seen a crop like it. It’s very vibrant.”
The two Volphae smiled, accentuating the ridges on their cheeks that ran nearly down to their mouths. They were humanoid in appearance, their skin carrying a translucent quality that no human could ever pull off without looking deathly. It was almost as if they glowed from within. The taller Volphae had short platinum-colored hair, while the shorter one’s hair was long with a hint of gold and pulled back into an elaborate style featuring two small braids that hung on either side of their face.
“I assume you are from the starship?” The taller Volphae spoke once more.
Their movement was exceptionally fluid as they came within arm's length of the away team. Their long robes made it almost look as if they were floating above the polished stone floors, though the shorter one had more of a bounce to her step.
“Yes, I am Troi. The ship's counselor,” Deanna stepped forward more and stood next to Beverly. “And this is our first officer Riker, Commander Data, and Dr. Crusher.” She introduced her colleagues.
The shorter Volphae stared at Deanna, her lips pressed together in thought. “You’re an empath,” they said, a look of recognition enlightening her face.
“Yes,” Deanna confirmed.
The Volphae smiled. “So am I,” they moved to place a hand on each of Deanna’s and Beverly’s arms. “And like you, my partner, Yishla, she is a doctor.”
The lips of both Beverly and Deanna separated in unison. However, the taller Volphae, Yishla, interrupted whatever they were thinking.
“Enough about us, Vila. Please.” Yishla hushed her partner. “Another doctor, good.”
“Is your problem medical in nature?” Riker asked.
Yishla tensed, keeping her eyes on the two women in front of her. “I fear a great plague has taken hold of our people, Dr. Crusher.”
“You can call me Beverly. May we be taken to your sick?”
“Yes, of course,” she began, “But…”
Deanna frowned. “What is it? You are both apprehensive.”
“It’s them,” Vila said. “The other kind, they carry weapons,” she eyed the phasers in the pockets of Data and Riker.
“Kind?” Crusher said.
“If I am not mistaken, they are what your people would refer to as males?”
“I am an android,” Data said. “And our weapons are for defense. We are not a threat.”
Yishla shook her head. “Either way, we would prefer the weapons to stay, with the android and the male. The doctor…Beverly and Deanna may come.”