Star Trek: Double Jeopardy

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                          DOUBLE JEOPARDY

                          By Lisle Brown

                    1993 - All rights reserved

      "Commander."

      The disembodied voice of the computer caused Deanna Troi's

eyes to blink opened. She had a well formed face, high cheek bones,

firm jaw-line and full sensuous mouth. A tangle of curly black hair

splayed over the pillow. She possessed the deep black eyes of a

Betazoid, although she was half human.

      The room was enveloped in darkness. She closed her eyes again

-- still sleepy -- and stretched under the thermal sheet. She felt

tired, as if she had just fallen asleep. A slight headache buzzed

behind her right eye. I'll have to see Beverly about that, if it

doesn't go away, she thought.

      "Commander," the computer said again, the lights automatically

coming up to a soft dimness.

      "Yes, yes" she said a little annoyed. Turning her head she

could see a bright starfield through a viewport. "What time is it?"

She rubbed her aching eye.

      "Zero four hundred hours. The Captain would like to see you in

his Ready Room."

      "Yes." She sighed. "I'm on my way."

      She pushed the sheet aside and swung her legs over the edge of

the bed. She let out a small gasp when she felt the cool air waft

over her skin. She looked down and was surprised to see her bare

skin. She shook her head in confusion, because she always wore a

nightgown. She felt around the bed covers, but there was no

nightgown. She stood up and searched further. Still no gown. Turning

she caught the sight of her reflection in the viewport. Yes, there

was no mistake she was completely naked. She was short with a softly

rounded yet firmly athletic body. She found her breathing was

beginning to increase; she felt sure that something was wrong.

      But, where was she? She clearly remembered falling asleep in

an uncomfortable bed on that Cardassian monstrosity of the starbase,

called Deep Space Nine. Now she appeared to be in her own

comfortable quarters on the starship U.S.S. Enterprise. The room was

familiar in every respects. All of her personal belongings were

neatly arranged around the room where they should be.

      "What's going on?" she murmured. "How I'd get on the

Enterprise." She surveyed the rumpled bed cover and shook her head

again. Crossing the room, she pulled out a small wall-drawer. It was

empty. She looked at its interior, dumbfounded. She always kept at

least two pairs of one-piece undergarments in the drawer, just in

case the replicator malfunctioned. She turned and looked around the

room again. Everything looked normal. Making her way to the

replicator, she said, "Undergarments, three pair."

      Within a few moments the white garments, folded and stacked,

appeared. She pulled on a pair and placed the other two pairs in the

drawer, closing it with a bump of her hip. She was taking a little

too long to dress and she did not want to keep Captain Picard

waiting. Hurrying to the closet, she opened the door. Instead of the

two blue uniforms -- one duty and the other full-dress -- and a

small wardrobe of casual attire, which she also kept on hand in case

of a replicator malfunction, the closet was also empty. Another

mystery, she thought. She returned to the replicator and said,

"Computer, duty uniform."

      In a moment a neatly folded wine-red uniform with the three

gold rank pins of a commander materialized in the replicator.

      "Computer, this is not the correct uniform."

      "The uniform meets all the specified physical proportions,

encoded for Deanna Troi Riker, Commander, Starfleet, first officer

of the U.S.S. Enterprise."

      "What?" she stammered. "Deanna who?"

      "Commander Deanna Riker," the Computer answered.

                              ******

      Inside the turbolift Deanna stood uneasily, quite

uncomfortable in the wine-red uniform. She nervously fingered the

rank pins. Just before the doors opened she removed them.

      The doors of the aft turbolift opened and she stepped onto the

bridge. She expected to see familiar faces, but she recognized none

of them, until Wesley Crusher at the Tactical Station turned and

nodded perfunctorily in her direction  before turning back to his

console. Wesley Crusher! He was dressed in the mustard yellow

uniform of security.

      "Wesley?" she asked.

      "Commander," he said turning towards her again. His uniform

collar bore the double pins of a lieutenant, junior grade.

      "Wesley, is that you?"

      "Sir?"

      She started to reply but caught herself. What's going on, she

wondered as she turned and hurried down the port ramp towards the

Ready Room entrance. She was sure that Captain Picard would have the

answer. As she neared the door she pressed the chimes. She expected

to hear Picard's melodious "Come" from within, but instead she heard

a brusk, "Enter." The doors slid open and across the room she saw

Captain Edward Jellico sitting at the desk absorbed in a

workstation. When she hesitated at the threshold he looked up at

her.

      "I'll be with you in a minute, Number One." He returned to his

workstation.

      Number One? Deanna overcame the impulse to look behind her,

knowing that Will Riker would not be there. She stepped inside, the

doors closing behind her. As Jellico continued his attention at the

workstation, Deanna turned and quickly scanned the room. Gone were

all of Picard's personal belongings -- the aquarium with the tiger

fish, the model of the U.S.S. Stargazer on its stand and the large

volume of Shakespeare's works in its display case on the table by

the couch. On the Stargazer's stand was a model of an ancient earth

sailing vessel with full rigging and sails. Inside the display case

was a antique sextant and spy-glass. Behind the couch hung a marine

painting of a large triple-masted sailing vessel in heavy seas. The

gs

behind the desk. She began to feel utterly overwhelmed with

confusion. Her mind raced trying to make sense of it all.

      "Commander Riker?"

      Jellico's voice brought Deanna back to the present. She

blinked and turned to face the Captain, who was looking at her

quizzically. She returned her full attention to the Jellico.

      "Reporting as directed, Sir."

      "Good. I have received a Code 47 message from Fleet Admiral

Elena Nechayev's aide. Captain Benjamin Cisco at Deep Space Nine has

informed Starfleet that Jean-Luc Picard and a Cardassian have passed

through the wormhole and are asking for political asylum. Neither of

them had left their ship when Cisco reported their arrival. They are

requesting assurances for their safety, but Cisco has issued orders

to take them both into custody once they exit their ship." Jellico's

pronunciation of Picard's name dripped with palpable hatred.

      "Take Captain Picard into custody? I don't understand."

      Jellico stood up, his face flushing with indignation. "And

what would you suggest we do with the Federation's worst traitor,

Number One?"

      "Traitor!" Deanna stammered.

      Jellico came around the desk, until he stood towering over

her. "I know that you held Picard in high esteem when you served

under him, but even you must acknowledge that his defection to the

Cardassians, intensified the hostilities between the Federation and

the Cardassian Union. Indeed most blame him for the resultant attack

and enormous loss of life at Minos Korva, and that most certainly

because of classified information he must have given to the

Cardassian military high command. And now there is this rumor of a

Romulan-Cardassian nonaggression pact, and Picard reportedly

assisted the Cardassian's chief negotiator.

      Deanna shook her head in dismay and confusion. What she was

hearing could not be true. Captain Picard, a traitor to Starfleet!

Impossible, but her empathic abilities indicated that Jellico was

not lying. Jellico stared at her obviously waiting for a response.

Her mind grappled with how to respond. She needed to go along until

she found out what was going on, she reasoned.

      She quickly recovered her composure, "The news caught me off

guard, Sir. I didn't expect Picard would ever return."

      "None of us did," Jellico spat out the words. He then leaned

over and twirled the workstation around so that it faced Deanna.

      "I was decoding this message when you arrived," he said

activating the device. The face of a Vulcan officer she did not

recognize appeared on the viewer after the Federation logo.

      "Captain Jellico, Captain Cisco has informed us that Picard

will only turn himself over to Fleet Admiral Nechayev. The

Cardassian has identified himself as Gal Madred. Starfleet

intelligence has little information on him, only that he is

connected with their security apparatus and was part of the

negotiating team sent to the Romulans. Cisco has since convinced the

two men to enter the starbase, where he has placed them in special

detention. Starfleet is most anxious to debrief these two men,

especially concerning the Romulan-Cardassian situation. Captain

Jellico, you are to rendezvous with the U.S.S. Wellington at

Starbase 65, where Admiral Nechayev will transfer to the Enterprise.

You will then proceed to Deep Space Nine and take Picard with Gal

Madred into custody. You will arrange full security while the

Admiral is on board and until Picard is confined. Admiral Nechayev

will give you further orders when she arrives."

      The viewer changed to the Federation logo again before going

blank.

      Deanna immediately recognized the name Gal Madred. In her long

conversations with Picard after his capture and torture at Celtris

Three, he had identified Gal Madred as his inquisitor. He was a

monstrously sadistic man. Picard loathed him; so how could the two

of them be together now? She was tempted to tell this to Jellico,

but decided to hold back until she could learned more.

      "Number One, you will work out the security arrangements with

Mister Crusher. I want everything precisely accounted for. There

will be no slip-ups while the Admiral is on board. I want Picard's

capture made without a hitch. Understood?"

      "Aye, Sir"

      "This is on a need-to-know basis only, Commander. Tell

Lieutenant Crusher about the arrival of the Admiral, but not about

Picard yet. After talking to him, brief me on your preparations."

      "Aye, Sir." Deanna turned to leave.

      "Oh, one more thing, Commander."

      "Sir."

      "Next time you report to me, see that you're properly

dressed."

      "Sir?"

      "Your rank pins are missing."

      Deanna's hand went involuntary to her collar. "Yes, Sir."

Deanna turned and left the Ready Room, determined to sort out this

puzzle.

                              ******

      Commander William T. Riker rushed along the hallway towards

the turbolift, responding to a summons by Captain Jean-Luc Picard to

come to the main bridge. The tall bearded officer had a certain

swagger to his gait, indicative of his confidence as the

Enterprise's first officer. The turbolift the doors swished open,

revealing Lieutenant Commander Data inside. As Riker entered, Data

said, "Hello, Commander. Did the Captain sent for you, too?"

      "Yes"

      "Resume," the android said. The turbolift renewed its passage

towards deck one. Data's metallic skin shown dully in the soft light

of the turbolift and his yellow eyes regarded Riker intently.

      After a few moments of silence, Data said, "Commander, may I

ask you a personal question?"

      Riker nodded.

      "I was wondering how you feel now that you know you have a

double?"

      Riker looked at Data and smiled, "Just the same as you and

Lore?"

      "Precisely, Sir. You and I are unique in that aspect. Both of

us have twins, in a sense, but more than twins. Our doubles are

exactly the same as us. Some would say exact duplicates in a

physical sense."

      "Well, we're not exactly the same in all regards."

      "Ah, yes. Lore does have the capacity for experiencing the

full range of human emotional response, which I do not."

      "Yes, yes," Riker said. "And Thomas Riker is more...more..."

He hesitated searching for the right words. "No...not more. He's

less resolute than me on his career advancement and more willing to

make concessions that I would not."

      "I see. You mean Counselor Troi."

      Riker flushed. "No. Not exactly, Data."

      The turbolift doors opened, cutting short the conversation,

much to Riker's relief. He was still unsure of how to reconcile his

feelings for Thomas Riker, especially in regards to Deanna Troi.

      The two officers left the forward turbolift and approached

Captain Picard who was standing by the command chair and talking to

Lieutenant Worf. Picard, tall and slim for his years, easily exuded

the authority of command. The Klingon security officer towered over

him at the Tactical Station on the upper level of the main bridge.

Picard turned toward Riker and Data as they approached. The Captain

had a grim scowl on his face.

      "Commander. Mister Data. I have received a disturbing message

from the commander of Deep Space Nine."

      Riker felt his gut tighten. "Does it have something to do with

Counselor Troi and Doctor Crusher?"

      "Yes, I am afraid so, Number One. You recall that Doctor

Crusher and Counselor Troi left to attend a Bajoran Medical

Federation conference on the physio-psychological implications of

wormhole travel. After the conference ended, Beverly and Deanna

accepted the invitation of starbase CMO to visit Deep Space Nine

while waiting for us to arrive at Bajor. Starbase commander Cisco

has informed me that Counselor Troi has disappeared.

      "Disappeared?" Riker interrupted.

      "Yes. Beverly discovered her empty quarters, when she didn't

show up for breakfast. Although no ship has departed the starbase

since she and Beverly arrived, the Counselor cannot be located

anywhere on the starbase. All of her belongings -- everything,

including her clothing and communicator were found in her quarters.

Commander Cisco is not allowing any vessel to depart until Counselor

Troi is located. He is conducting a massive search of the starbase.

I have just had Worf send a message to Cisco that we are on our way

there."

      "Who is their security chief?" Riker asked.

      "Non-Starfleet. A shapeshifter, called Odo, I think. I met him

when we first went to the starbase." Picard responded.

      "Shapeshifter?" Data said. "How interesting..."

      "Dammit!" Riker interrupted. "He's not Starfleet. No wonder

nothing's happening."

      "Commander Cisco assures me that he is doing everything

possible, Number One. He indicates that Odo is a thorough

professional."

      "Professional, hah! Anything is possible at that Cardassian

bucket of bolts." Riker turned to Ensign Maddox at the Conn. "What

is our travel time to the starbase?"

      "Six hours, thirty-four minutes at current warp, Sir."

      "Increase to warp 9." Picard said.

      "Aye, Sir."

      "I've ask Cisco to keep us informed of any new developments."

      Riker stared at Picard, his expressive, dark eyes intense with

concern. "Nothing had better happen to Deanna."

      Picard reached out and placed a comforting hand on his first

officer's shoulder, "I know, Will. I know."

                              ******

      Odo stood uneasily before Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Cisco.

It was hard to intimidate the shape-shifter, but the lack of

response to his massive starbase search was most troubling. Even

while Odo and Cisco spoke in the Commander's office off the

starbase's operations room, the search continued. Odo had come to

up-date Cisco, whose patience was wearing thin.

      "You've still found nothing." Cisco asked.

      "No, Sir."

      "A person cannot just disappear into thin air on an air-tight

starbase."

      "No, Sir." Cisco's choice of words amused Odo. Typical Terran

hyperbole, he thought, but he did not smile.

      "Well, we've got less then eight hours, before Picard arrives,

and he'll hit this place like a photon torpedo. We'd better have

found his Counselor safe and sound before then, Constable."

      "We've begun the search of the docking ring again. Another

party has started an examination of all docked starships. There are

six of them. These searches should..."

      "Did you meet any resistance from the captains about searching

their vessels?" Cisco interrupted. "I'd hope we could have resolved

the matter without that action."

      "Oh, just the expected protests about Federation violations of

their rights, but I used Docking Protocol 4 to squelch any

opposition. Of course, none of the captains are pleased about our

security personnel boarding their ships."

      Cisco sighed. "I guess things are beginning to get a little

tense around here."

      "Yes, Sir," Odo nodded slightly.

      Just then red-headed Miles O'Brien stepped through the door.

As usual the base's operations chief had the sleeves of his uniform

pushed up. A slight sheen of perspiration covered his the brow.

      "I think Quark may have solved the mystery, Commander."

O'Brien stated.

      "Quark?" Odo said incredulously.

      "Yes. He came to me a short time ago and ask me to look at a

stuck door in one of his holosuites. My first inclination was to

brush aside such a trivial request. You know how single-minded Quark

is about his business and our present problems seem to take

precedent. I had second thoughts, however, and sent Lieutenant

Everette to check out the door. He just reported back that the

locking mechanism door has been secured by some type override.

Everette thinks the override mechanism may have been purposefully

left by the Cardassians when they vacated the station."

      "You think Deanna Troi is in the holosuite?" Cisco asked.

      "We've looked everywhere. Where else could she be?" O'Brien

said.

      "Trapped in one of Quark's holosuites," Odo said, shaking his

head.

                              ******

      Deanna exited the Ready Room and walked up the ramp towards

the Tactical Station where Wesley Crusher still stood. She observed

that he appeared older, more mature and a little heavier than when

she had last seen him.

      "Wesley, we need to talk."

      "Yes, Sir."

      "Call me Deanna, please."

      He looked as if the request puzzled him. "All right...,

Deanna"

      "Let's go to the Observation Lounge. Captain Jellico wants me

to discuss a security matter with you in private."

      Deanna and Wesley entered the Observation Lounge. After she

sat down, he also sat down opposite her. She observed him for a

moment, trying to sense his emotional state, but she could find

little emotion in him. She found this strange, because when he had

lived on the Enterprise with his mother his pubescent emotions and

passions were almost too transparent to her. As a Betazoid female

she often felt his awkwardness around her. Now, there was none of

that present. All she felt was total stoic discipline. It was quite

a change from the brilliant, spirited teenager she had known before.

      "Wesley, we will be picking up Fleet Admiral Nechayev from the

Wellington at Starbase 65. You are to form a security party for the

Admiral while she is on board. Captain Jellico tells me that she

will have further orders for us when she arrives."

      "Yes, Sir. Two security officers should be sufficient, I would

think. I'll have them at the transporter room when she arrives."

      "Yes, that sounds fine."

      There followed an awkward silence, as Deanna pondered her next

line of questioning.

      "Will that be all, Commander?" Wesley asked, breaking the

silence.

      "No, no. Wesley, what can you tell me about Captain Picard and

Celtris Three?"

      She saw Wesley's eyes hardened and his jaw tensed. "Why do you

want to dredge all that up?"

      "Please, just tell me what you know."

      "Everyone knows the story. Picard, Worf, and my mother were

sent on a covert mission to Celtris Three. The details of the

mission still remain classified, other than we know that they were

ambushed by the Cardassians." His voiced took on a hard, bitter

edge. "They were all captured. Some now think that Picard probably

engineered the trap so that he could defect. Anyway, Worf and my

mother died at the hands of the Cardassians in one of their

internment camps." He blinked his eyes nervously.

      Deanna caught her breathe. No, no, that's not what happened,

she thought. Worf and Beverly survived the attack, but Picard was

taken captive. Although tortured he survived, too. She could not

accept what Wesley had just said.

      Wesley continued; his was voice bitter, "But the traitor

Picard defected to the Cardassians, and told all he knew about

Starfleet plans to those barbarians. Reports are that he is living

the good life now. So you see, Commander, Picard was responsible for

the death of both my father and mother, as well as thousands of

others."

      He glared at her.

      Deanna did not know how to respond. She chose her words

carefully. "Wesley, what if I were to tell you that both your mother

and Worf survived the attack."

      A scowl crossed Wesley's face of utter disbelief. "You're

crazy. I saw my mother's broken body before she was buried beside my

Dad."

      Deanna rubbed a hand over her eye, which now was throbbing. Am

I going crazy, she thought.

      Suddenly Wesley stood up. "If that's all, may I be excused,

Commander?"

      She looked at his pained and angry face. She thought she would

never see such a look of abject hatred and consuming anger in the

eyes of Wesley Crusher. This was not the Wesley she had known. She

nodded, "Yes, Lieutenant. You're excused."

      Wesley turned and strode through the doorway leading back to

the bridge.

      Deanna sighed, resting her head in her hands on the cool table

top. Was she really going crazy? How could Picard be a traitor? Were

Beverly Crusher and Worf both dead? How could she have such a bright

recollection of their survival and subsequent life after Celtris

Three, and yet all she was now experiencing indicated the exact

oppofirst officer of

the Enterprise? She had never aspired to command. Her mind was a

jumble of disjointed and incoherent thoughts. She lifted her head

and looked at her reflection on the highly polished table top. "Am

I loosing my mind?" she said out loud. She rubbed her pain-filled

eye; her headache was spreading.

      "Computer, what is the current stardate?" she asked, massaging

her temple.

      "The current stardate is 53458.8."

      She slumped back in the chair. The last stardate she could

recall was 47310, the date of the Bejoran medical conference on the

wormhole at Deep Space Nine. She could not account for the past six

years!

                              ******

      Quark was ready to greet Cisco, Odo, and O'Brien as they

entered from the Promenade. The Ferengi was all smiles, as he

greeted the two Starfleet officers and shapeshifter.

      "Ah, Commander, what a welcome sight. I am honored that you'd

think my little problem worthy of your personal attention. Your

lieutenant's still up there trying to get the door open."

      "I see," Cisco replied. "Show us where this doorway is."

      "Of course."

      Quark quickly lead the way up to the upper holosuite level,

stopping in front of a doorway. Lieutenant Everette had the control

access panel off and was so preoccupied with working on the locking-

out override that he did not notice the four men's approach.

      "Lieutenant, what have you found?" Cisco asked.

      "Oh," Everette looked up startled, "It's something I've never

seen before, Sir. The normal computer program which controls the

holosuite has been altered. It appears that access to the new

program is protected by an encrypted polynumeric subsitution system

as a restricted gateway. Usually cracking such a cipher would be no

problem for us, but just when I am about to do it, the gateway is

totally reencrypted and reset. We just have to start cryptanalysis

again. I have been unable to break through it and regain access to

the suite. It's not a very sophisticated system, but I doubt our own

computer will be able to break it anytime soon as long as it remains

dynamic."

      "Has any pattern developed as it changes?" O'Brien asked,

bending down and peering into the panel's scrambled readout.

      "It appears to be random, Miles."

      "Whew," O'Brien said, straightening up. "Commander, who ever

designed this little baby knew what he was doing."

      "Have you been able to ascertain if anyone is inside?" Cisco

asked.

      "No, Sir. The gateway has also limited our access to what's

going on in side. We do know that the holosuite has been activated

and that a program is running, but Quark can't identify it."

Everette responded.

      "Ah, Commander," Quark chimed in, "the holosuite programs we

run are pretty routine fantasy-type things. You know what I mean.

Actually most of them are variations on certain themes. Nothing

dangerous or anything like that. We just aim to please our

customers. But this program is not in our file. Someone has

activated a strictly personal program. This is against our house

rules. In fact, someone shouldn't be even be able to do it. I plan

on having the culprit taken into custody when we get the door open."

      "We'll see about that," Odo grunted.

      Quark glared at the shapeshifter.

      Cisco turned to O'Brien and asked, "How about just shutting

down the computer link for this section and just closing down the

whole thing?"

      "What!" Quark gasped. "It'd close down my whole business. You

can't do that for just a stuck door."

      "Or we could just break the door down," Odo said.

      "No!" Quark exclaimed. "If you do that, you can be sure that

the Starfleet is going to pay for the damage and my loss of

business."

      "Commander," O'Brien said, "that might not be such a good

idea. We don't know what's going on in the holosuite. Any intrusive

action on our part may make matters worse inside. We'd better

keeping trying to override the lockout."

      Cisco nodded. "Okay, keep at it O'Brien. I'll go back to Ops

and let Picard know what we've found."

      As Cisco and Odo started for the lower level Quark accompanied

them, trying to get answers from the Starfleet officer.

      "Is that the infamous Picard of the Battle of Maxia?" Quark

asked.

      "No comment," Cisco responded.

      "What does Picard have to do with my stuck door?" the Ferengi

asked.

      "This is an internal security matter, Quark," Odo said.

      "Ah, Internal security. That's why I've been seeing Odo's men

scurrying all over the place. I thought something funny was going

on, especially when some of the ship's captains came in complaining

of having their ships searched. Who are they looking for?"

      "It's a Starfleet matter. Leave it alone, Quark." Cisco

responded sharply.

      "Now it's Starfleet."

      Cisco stopped at the entrance and turned to Quark, "Look. If

any damage results to your precious holosuite, Starfleet will take

care of it."

      "That's all your going to tell me?"

      "Yeah," Cisco answered, as he and Odo left.

      "Quark stared after the two men and then turned, looking up at

the holosuite level.

                              ******

      Deanna entered her quarters slowly and slumped down on her

bed. While making her way to her quarters, she had been unable to

sort out the conflicting reports she had received. Seeing a

workstation on a table she crossed over to it and activate the

device.

      "Computer show me the records of Deanna Troi...,uh, Riker."

      Her face appeared in one corner of viewer with her service

record in the rest of the field. Everything appeared normal until

she reached the date 47310, the date of the wormhole conference.

After that there appeared a number of entries of inconsequential,

but un-remembered events, until 48020, when she was promoted to

Commander and transferred to the U.S.S. Yeager. She could not

remember ever hearing of such a vessel. Under the date of 50601 she

and Lieutenant W. Thomas Riker of the same vessel were married on

Betazed.

      Thomas Riker! The name caused a rush of sensations to fill

mind. She could clearly see his face and their final parting on the

Enterprise, but nothing after that date. How could she forget

serving with him on the Yeager and their subsequent marriage? It

just did not make sense.

      Looking back at the viewer she saw her transfer date back to

the Enterprise and assignment as Jellico's first officer just five

months ago. There was no indication of why she had been transferred

and had stepped into a command level position. Another perplexing

puzzle.

      She stood up, rubbing her forehead. The headache was still

there. Crossing to the replicator she requested a cool drink of

water. Taking the glass, she drank the refreshing liquid. Setting

the glass on the table by the workstation, she asked the computer

for the records of Jean-Luc Picard. As the viewer displayed his

records, she felt an overpowering drowsiness descend on her. She

could hardly keep her eyes open. Standing up, she groggily made her

way to her bed and collapsed. Sleep overtook her instantly.

                              ******

            Captain's Log, Stardate 47313. We have

            arrived at Deep Space Nine. Starbase

            commander Benjamin Cisco reports that his

            staff has been unable to locate Counselor

            Troi. It appears that she is probably

            inside a dolodeck-like room, which has been

            locked-out and protected by a sophisticated

            computer cipher program. All attempts to

            either override or decipher the program has

            proved futile. Nothing is know about what

            is going on inside the room.

      Cisco and Odo waited at the docking port. Doctor Crusher was

there as well. In a moment the heavy circular door rolled aside and

Captain Picard strode through, accompanied by Riker, La Forge and

Data. Picard looked grim.

      "Captain," Cisco nodded in greeting. "I wish your visit to DSN

was under better circumstances."

      "Me too, Commander," Picard nodded back. "Where is this

holodeck?"

      "Holosuite," Odo corrected.

      "Whatever," Riker interjected. "What's the problem with

opening a simple door?"

      "I'll brief you on the way," Cisco said turning down the

corridor, the others following him.

                              ******

      Deanna was sprawled on her bed, deeply asleep. The door to her

quarters opened and Wesley Crusher entered. He first went to a table

and laid a phaser on it. He then went to the bed and placed a small

device against Deanna's temple. After pressing a small button on its

top, he quickly removed it and stepped back.

      Deanna awakened with a start; someone was in her room. She sat

up quickly. Wesley Crusher stood over her.

      "The Captain wants you on the Bridge. We're docking at Deep

Space Nine and Admiral Nechayev has already arrived on board. You

didn't respond to the computer, so he sent me to see if you all

right."

      "I'm fine," she said bruskly. She did not feel comfortable

with Wesley's intrusion into her private quarters, and the damned

headache was still pounding in her head. She felt groggy and a

little disoriented. "Let's go," she said standing up.

      "Better get your phaser," Wesley said, indicating the weapon

on the table.

      Deanna picked up the phaser and slipped it into holster on her

hip. The two officers walked through the doors into the corridor

beyond.

                              ******

      As Picard, Cisco and the others entered Quark's establishment,

Quark rushed to meet them, blocking Picard's path.

      "Ah, so you are the famous Jean-Luc Picard of the Stargazer."

The words dripped with malice.

      "What, the..." Picard responded, looking at Cisco.

      "Quark!" Cisco interjected, "Step aside."

      Quark eyed Picard and slowly stepped away. "It's an honor to

welcome the Hero of the Battle of Maxia," he said, his voice filled

with contempt.

      Picard pushed by the Ferengi, followed by the others. Quark

stepped in the rear, grabbing Cisco's sleeve. "I don't want that man

in my establishment. I lost a good friend at Maxia."

      "Quark, I don't want any trouble while he's here. As soon as

we get the holosuite doors open and see what's inside, he'll be

gone."

      Quark nodded soberly, staring past Cisco at Picard's

retreating back. He fell in behind Cisco, as the starbase commander

rushed to catch up to Picard. When Cisco passed Odo, he muttered,

"Keep an eye on Quark. I don't want any trouble while Picard's

here."

      Odo nodded and fell in step beside Quark. The Ferengi eyed the

shapeshifter suspiciously.

      Upon reaching the holosuite, La Forge and Data joined in the

attempt to disable the cipher, but even they were stumped by the

dynamic aspects of the override. Every attempt was foiled as the

cipher unexpectedly changed.

      "Most intriguing," Data said, standing up. "I'm sure that

someone is monitoring our progress. Just as we are about the solve

it, it changes."

      "You mean that whoever is in there, knows we're out here?"

Riker asked.

      "It appears so, Commander," La Forge answered.

      "Then we can assume that Troi is being held captive?" Doctor

Crusher asked.

      "Yes," Odo stated. "If she is in there, she is most assuredly

being held against her will."

      "Riker looked at the shapeshifter, trying to refute his

statement. Then he turned to Picard and asked, "But why Troi?"

      "And why in a holodeck?" Picard asked. He looked at the

others, but no one responded.

                              ******

      The doors from the bridge open and Jellico led the group of

officers into the Observation Lounge. Lieutenant Crusher and Captain

Jellico stood beside Admiral Nechayev, while Deanna stood behind

them. At the rear of the party two of Wesley's security men stood by

the doorway, ready to take Picard and Gal Madred into custody.

Jellico looked at Nechayev, who nodded.

      Jellico touched his communicator, "Captain Cisco, we are ready

to have Picard and Madred transported to our position."

      "We are ready here, Captain." Cisco's voice came through

Jellico's communicator sound plate.

      "Sobok, transport Picard and Madred to the Observation

Lounge."

      "Aye, Sir. Transporting now." the Transporter Chief responded

over the intercom.

      In a moment two swirling transporter beams appeared at the

other end of the Lounge. The beams coalesced into Picard and Madred.

Picard was dressed in his old uniform as a Starfleet captain, while

Madred's attire was a nondescript loose robe of course gray

material. Picard's face was etched in grim, sober lines. His eyes

were weary and suspicious. Madred stood placid, looking from right

to left around the room with an almost bored expression.

      Deanna could feel Nechayev and Jellico stiffen at the sight of

Picard in his uniform. How presumptuous, Jellico muttered to

himself. The two parties regarded each other without a word. Deanna

sought to read Picard's emotional state, but nothing came through to

her at all. She could not understand this, because she had always

been able to sense easily Picard's state of mind. It perplexed her

that she could not sensed any emotion in him now. He was a compete

cipher to her.

      Then Nechayev step forward and cleared her voice. "Jean-Luc

Picard," she began, but before she had barely finished his name,

Picard whipped out a palm-size weapon and fired point-blank into the

Admiral's chest. The force of the beam propelled the woman back into

the Jellico and Deanna, who staggered under the force of the impact

and fell to the floor. Before Wesley could draw his phaser, Picard's

second blast tore into the officer's chest. The dying Wesley crashed

into the security officers, throwing them to the ground in a tangle

of bodies.

      Quickly freeing himself from the Admiral's body, Jellico rose

and fired his phaser but Picard ducked behind a chair as the blast

passed harmlessly over his shoulder. From behind the chair Picard's

third shot hit Jellico; his body rolled off the conference table and

again on top of Nechayev and Deanna. Deanna could tell Jellico was

not dead, because he was straining for breath and moaning softly.

      Deanna struggled beneath the dead weight of both Nechayev and

Jellico's bodies, desperately trying to free herself. Picard was

hiding behind the table now, firing at the two security men, who

also had sought cover beneath the table. Deanna saw Madred still

standing, coolly watching the carnage as if he was merely a

spectator and unafraid of any of the energy blasts. Deanna punched

her communicator, "Red Alert. Red Alert. Security to the Observation

Lounge. NOW!" She was aware of the klaxon sounding.

      Deanna' voice brought her to Picard's attention. He turned and

fired in her direction, but the blast was absorbed by Nechayev's

body. By now Deanna had her phaser out and instinctively fired at

Picard, hitting his arm as he ducked behind a chair. He yowled in

pain and made a dash through the doors into the hallway beyond.

Deanna's second blast splintered the doors, as they closed behind

the retreating Picard. She rose and ran after Picard, passing Madred

who was still just standing and observing the whole affair.

      "Get out of my way," Deanna shouted, shoving the Cardassian

aside. She disappeared through the doorway. Madred looked after her,

a malevolent grin spreading across his face. "Now it's my turn,

Picard. You won't defeat me again," he scowled. He took a small

device from beneath his robe, pressed a sensor plate, and spoke one

word, "Picard."

                              ******

      Outside the holosuite door, O'Brien, Data, and La Forge

hurriedly work at deactivating the locked-out door. They found it a

substantial challenge, because of the Cardassian convoluted and

randomly changing coded array imposed on the locking mechanism.

Behind them stood Cisco, Odo, Picard and Riker, impatiently

observing the two men's work. Doctor Crusher waited off to one side.

Behind the group Quark paced angrily, muttering to himself about who

was going to pay for any damage to the door and holosuite, and

angrily eying Picard.

    the intercom, "Picard."

      Picard stiffened when he heard the voice. He knew it well.

"Gal Madred!" he exclaimed.

      "So you remember me, Captain."

      "Yes." Picard said flatly, feeling a peculiar nausea growing

inside his stomach. He inadvertently touched his chest where Madred

had placed the pain-inducing implant, since removed by Doctor

Crusher.

      "I have your Counselor, Deanna Troi, with me in here. If you

don't want her harmed, you'll do as I say."

      "I'll not negotiate with a torturer, Madred."

      "Now, Captain, whose talking about negotiations. If you want

Troi, you just have to come and get her -- alone."

      "How do I know that Troi is all right?"

      "Come now, Picard, you have my word," Madred's voice dripped

with sarcasm. "Decide quickly, as time is running out."

      "You can't go in there alone, Captain," Riker said. "You don't

know what type of program he is running. Let me go instead."

      "No, Rik..."

      "Picard," Madred voice interrupted, again cutting through the

air. "Perhaps this will speed your decision." A woman's terrorized

scream filled the corridor.

      Quark covered his ears in pain. Riker bolted for the door,

almost knocking over O'Brien. "You bastard!" he yelled. Cisco and

Odo pulled him back. It took Cisco, Odo and O'Brien to restrain him.

He thrashed in their grip. "Dammit, let me go!"

      Picard stepped towards the door. "Madred, let me in. I'm

alone," he called out, drawing his phaser.

                              ******

      Deanna ran, crouched down the corridor, the red alarm klaxon

sounding loudly. She had not sighted Picard, but it was easy enough

to follow the trail of small droplets of blood on the deck from the

wound in his arm. The corridor was empty. Where was security, she

kept wondering. She came to a junction; the red droplets turned to

the right. She peered around the corner. Picard was kneeling with

his phaser in firing position. She ducked just as a blast tore into

the wall across from her. She waited a moment and looked gain. He

was gone. She turned the corner and continued her chase along the

corridor.

                              ******

      Slowly the holosuite doors parted wide enough to admit one

person. Picard and the others were surprised to see a curved

corridor of the Enterprise inside the holosuite. An alarm klaxon was

sounding loudly. No one was in sight. Picard squeezed cautiously

through the narrow opening and the doors began to close immediately

behind him. O'Brien frantically worked the access panel, trying to

prevent the doors from closing, but it was no use, the heavy doors

clanged shut.

      The men holding Riker loosen their grip. He bolted forward

again, "Get those doors open," he shouted at O'Brien and La Forge.

"NOW!"

                              ******

      Instead of looking behind him, Picard sensed the holosuite

doors close and dematerialize. Then he looked briefly over his

shoulder. Although he knew he was in a Deep Space Nine holosuite,

the corridor he stood in was identical in every respects to those in

the Enterprise. He could see no one. The feeling was eery. He did

not know what was going on or what the nature of the program which

was running, but he knew he was in danger. Suddenly the alarm klaxon

stopped sounding, being replaced by an unnatural stillness.

      "Counselor Troi, can you hear me?" he called out.

      There was no response.

      "Show yourself, Madred!"

      There still was no response. He began to walk slowly, his

phaser ready.

                              ******

      When the klaxon stopped sounding, it took Deanna by surprise.

She stopped and listened, but all she could here was a foreboding

silence. She was breathing heavily, her heart pounding in her chest.

She stared at the blood splatters on the carpet, leading her on the

chase. She crept quietly to a juncture and stopped by the corner.

She breathed deeply twice, held her phaser at the ready and swung

around the corner.

                              ******

      Picard saw Troi suddenly lunged into view around a corner. She

looked disheveled and frantic, as if she was being chased. He raise

his hand and started to speak.

                              ******

      Troi spied Picard at the end of the corridor, raising his

phaser in front of him. She dropped to a knee and fired

instinctively. The phaser beam punched squarely into Picard's chest,

the force of the blast throwing him back against the bulkhead. He

collapsed, his phaser skittering across the floor.

      She stood up slowly, breathing heavily, and looked at the

crumpled Picard. Instinctively she knew he was not dead. She started

walking down the corridor, her phaser pointed directly at him. From

out of nowhere Jellico appeared by her side.

      "He's not dead," Jellico rasped.

      "No, not yet," Troi breathed out.

      "Then kill him. Kill the traitor." he ranted.

      Deanna raised the phaser to fire. Suddenly she was overwhelmed

with a wash of emotions emanating from crumpled Picard. She felt his

surprise and pain. He was struggling for breath, while also trying

to understand what had happened to him. His head lolled and he

moaned, "Deanna." Hearing her name, Deanna's heart leaped in

recognition: this was not the same Picard she had met in the

Observation Lounge -- not the same cipher-of-a-man who had tried to

kill her. She lowered her phaser and gasped in the reality of the

situation. The Picard she had been chasing was a double; she had

just shot the real Picard. She lowered her weapon and started

towards Picard.

      Jellico grabbed her, holding her back. "Kill him," he yelled,

"That's an order!"

      As Deanna struggled in his grasp, trying to pull free, Jellico

suddenly transmuted into the robe-clad Madred. His powerful grasp on

Deanna's arm was wrenching the phaser free. Suddenly the phaser

fired, striking the wall which shimmered and coalesced into the door

of the holosuite.

      Even in the struggle Deanna recognized the doorway

superimposed on the wall of the corridor. A holodeck! It was all a

ruse! She had been Madred's pawn in an assassination attempt on

Picard. She was infuriated and Worf's martial arts training with

began to pay off. A fierce stomp on Madred's instep and savage

thrust of her knee into his groin doubled the Cardassian over in

pain. His hold on her was weakening. She turned with an upraised

fist, aiming for the small of his neck, but suddenly Madred raised

his head and drove it in into her stomach, knocking the wind of her

and sending the phaser sailing from her hand up the corridor. Deanna

buckled and collapsed to her hands and knees, gasping for breath.

Freed from the struggle with Deanna, Madred sprang after the phaser.

      Picking up the weapon the Cardassian grinned in victory.

Deanna slowly stood up, holding her stomach, while sucking in great

draughts of air. She stepped back by Picard, who had pushed himself

into a sitting position against the wall. "I'm sorry," Deanna said.

"I didn't..."

      "It's not your fault," Picard rasped out.

      Madred approached the two Starfleet officers.

      "Humans, you pathetic species." Madred sneered Picard. "And

you, half-breed," he said pointing the phaser at Deanna, "a

despicable union of two inferior races."

      Neither Picard nor Deanna responded to Madred's insults.

      "Nothing to say. Come now, Picard, you always had some

rebuttal. No. Well, I guess I'll have to finish the job that I

should have done on Celtris Three. You see, that little failure with

you did not sit well with my superiors. No one likes a reprimand and

demotion, especially me."

      Madred raised the phaser towards Picard.

                              ******

      "I think we've about got it," La Forge said.

      The door to the holosuite vibrated with the sound of a muted

explosion.

      "That's a phaser hit on the door!" Riker exclaimed. "Stand

back I'm going to force the door."

      "No!" Quark exclaimed, trying to break through the cordon of

offices, but Odo restrained him.

      Riker cranked up his phaser and fired directly at the door.

The heavy metal doors shook at the impact of the blast. La Forge and

O'Brien jumped as a flash of light and sparks exploded from the

control panel. Data and Odo quickly stepped up to the doors and

forced them apart. Riker and Cisco waited impatiently as the doors

parted, poised to enter with their phasers at the ready.

                              ******

      The blast and opening of the holosuite doors distracted

Madred, who jerked his weapon in that direction and fired

instinctively. The beam punched into the door with a shower of

sparks and smoke. Through the smoke two figures appeared, crouching

low with their weapons at the ready. They both fired at the same

instant, but only one blast hit the Cardassian who was propelled

backwards and slammed to the floor, his phaser flying away. He was

wreathing in agony as Riker and Cisco approached him.

      "Help me up."

      Denna's voice behind them startled the two officers, who

turned and saw her struggling to assist the injured Picard to his

feet. The men rushed to help. Riker put a supporting arm around

Deanna, as Cisco and La Forge helped Picard to stand upright. Doctor

Crusher was instantly Picard's side, scanning him with her

tricorder.

      "Are you all right, Sir?" Riker asked.

 bay," Crusher said.

      Picard nodded and said, "But let me see Madred first."

      With the others help Picard laboriously made his way to the

fallen Madred, who was still conscious, but grimcing in pain,

luckily both Riker and Cisco's phasers had been on stun. Doctor

Bashir hurried in and began attending him, placing a hypospray at

his necked.

      "You win again, Picard," Madred rasped.

      Picard said nothing, but stared at the Cardassian as he passed

out. Picard looked at Bashir.

      "He'll survive, Sir," the physician said.

      Picard nodded somberly and turned to Deanna who was clinging

to Riker as tears streamed down her face, saying, "Let's get back to

the real Enterprise, Counselor."

      "Gladly, Sir," Deanna said. "Gladly."

                              ******

      Deanna sat on the couch in the Ready Room. She felt relieved

to be in its familiar setting, her eyes wandering over Picard's

personal affects. Picard approached from her the replicator,

carrying two cups of hot Earl Gray tea.

      "Here, I've found this to be quite relaxing, Counselor," he

said, passing a cup to Deanna before sitting down beside her.

      "Thank you."

      Picard took a sip and said, "Madred has been quite candid

about how he went about his little operation. Using a Cardassian

experimental personal cloaking device he sneaked onto the starbase

and kidnapped you from your quarters. He had enough information from

my interrogation and his probing of your thoughts to devise a

holodeck program for the Enterprise. He said that he found your

antipathy for Jellico so high that he couldn't help using him as the

captain of the Enterprise."

      Deanna nodded. "And Wesley?"

      "Oh yes, Wesley. At first he was just going to use Jellico in

his charade, but when he stumbled onto Wesley in his physiological

probe of you, he decided to turn Wesley into a bitter, anger young

man, so unlike your thoughts of him. He felt that his use of Wesley

and Thomas Riker were... how did he put it, `his little gems of

genius'. It must have a terrible ordeal."

      "Yes," Deanna said, sipping her tea.

      "I know how ruthless Madred can be. Fortunately we now have

him in custody. The Cardassians are demanding his return, and I'm

sure they are not pleased by his second failure, especially letting

us get a hold of their secret personal cloaking device. Geordi and

Data are conducting a full analysis of it for Starfleet Command

before we send it back to the Cardassains. Starfleet may decide to

send Madred back as well, knowing the Cardassians are brutally

efficient in disciplining its own."

      A moment of silence passed between them.

      "Captain, what is most troubling to me about the whole affair,

is how easily he manipulated me. Although I knew something was

wrong, yet when the time came Madred nearly achieved his goal to

kill you because of me."

      "Yes, but remember he kept you sedated most of the time. He

contrived the Enterprise episodes when you were awake to keep you

off balance."

      Deanna shook her head, "I guess I've always wondered if I

could take another's life if I had too. Now I know."

      "That's a question all Starfleet officers ask themselves. We

are trained to respond to any eventuality. Faced with a dangerous

and perilous situation, you acted according to your training."

      "That's a small comfort, Sir."

      The beeps of the intercomm sounded. "Captain, you are needed

on the Bridge. We are approaching the rendezvous with the U.S.S.

Hood," Data's voice filled the air.

      Touching his communicator, Picard responded, "I'll be right

there."

      Picard and Deanna stood up . Taking her cup he placed the two

cups on the desk. As they turned to leave, he stopped Deanna.

      "Counselor," Picard said, placing a comforting hand on her

arm, "I'd say that you faced and overcame your own personal

Kobayashi Maru in that holodeck."

      "Perhaps so," Deanna said, "but I now know a side of my

personality that I didn't know existed before. One that I don't

particularly like."

      Picard nodded in understanding. The two officers walked

through the doorway to the Main Bridge, the doors swishing closed

behind them.

                              The End