Planet Of Silence
Chapters One and Two
Chapter One
The wind was picking up speed and was blowing furiously. The dust was blowing so hard that it stung their faces as it hit. The sound of the wind was so eerie that at times, if you believed in ghosts, it sounded as though one was howling behind you.
They had been exploring and studying this planet for days now. The computer had classified it as a class M planet, therefore, they had beamed down and gathered samples from the planet to be studied by scientist, cadets, and other students.
At first, because of the awesome quietness when the wind was not blowing, it was thought to have only plant life. However, one of the awayteam members, Mriana Troi, was sensing what seemed to be lower lifeforms.
"Mriana, what is it?" Asked one of the lieutenants.
"It's mre-aw-na, Sir. I'm sensing something or someone, somewhere in the area."
"Yeah? How so?"
Mriana was Deanna Troi's cousin. Many people mispronounced her name and sometimes she found it a bit annoying, but always tried to tell them the correct way of pronouncing it. She was also half Human and half Betazoid, thus she had the same abilities as Deanna. She looked simular to Deanna, also. Same complexion, same eye colour, and hair colour. The one difference was that her hair was wavy and not curly like Deanna's. She almost always dressed in typical Betazoid clothing whenever possible, but was less austair than her aunt, Lwaxana Troi.
Mriana was a counselor serving under Deanna and carried the rank of Lieutenant for three years now. She was friends with the senior officers through Deanna, but you would never know it. She went on a few away missions with some of the senior staff, but this time she was on a different awayteam to help get the samples to be studied and to find higher lifeforms other than plant, if there really was any.
"I sense lower emotions from something or someone." She replied.
"Do you think we could communicate with them?"
"I don't know." Mriana said with uncertainty.
She suddenly felt this pain in her ears again. The pain had been going on for about three days now and she refused to see Dr. Crusher about it. She was very stubborn about seeing a doctor and Dr. Crusher was none too anxious to see her for she made the stereo-typical psychologist as a patient come true.
"Counselor? Are you OK?"
"Yes." She answered as she tried to shake the pain away. "I'm fine."
"You're feeling it too, aren't you?" Mriana did not answer his question, but he continues. "It's this damn planet. It'll drive us all crazy if we're not careful."
"Maybe, but we need to continue getting everything we need on this planet. The cadets seem to be holding up fairly well. I'm going to see about those liveforms that I'm sensing. They seem to be watching us. The tricorder seems to be also picking up something."
"I'll go with you, Counselor."
They walked into the wooded area. All was calm aside from the rustling of the trees and bushes. The blowing wind had slowed to a gentle breeze. It felt nicer in the woods as if it were a refuge of sorts.
"They're watching us somewhere in here." Mriana stated.
"Who?"
Just then they saw a little elf like person peeking out from the bushes. He had been quietly watching them until he realized he had been spotted. Then he ran.
"We won't hurt you." Mriana called after the little man, but he did not seem to hear her. Yet, at the same time he seemed to be trying to warn them of what was yet to come in his own little way.
"What is he?" Asked the lieutenant.
"I would assume he is an inhabitant of this world." Mriana stated with sarcasm.
Luckily the lieutentant did not take too much offense by her statement. "I realize that but..." Lieutenant Craig began until she interrupted him.
"They are extremely frighten of us. We must make some sort of contact with them to explain to them we mean no harm."
Their communicators beeped and Lieutenant Craig answered. "Craig here."
Riker's voice came over the combadge. *We need to beam your away team up now. We've got trouble up here with the Cardassians.*
"Aye, Sir. Ten to beam up."
Once on board Mriana headed to a turbolift where she met Geordi. "Commander."
"Counselor."
They had become Imzadi, just as Will and Deanna were, but lately they too had decided to see other people. Mriana seemed to have a habit of following in Deanna's footsteps on some things and the person she was currently seeing was no different. Geordi was somewhat put off by the fact she was seeing Worf and their conversations had taken on a formal tone.
Will and Deanna had tried to get the two of them to patch whatever differences they had between them, but for some reason they seemed to refuse to do so. Both Will and Deanna kept pointing out that they were true Imzadi. That they needed to work things out and that the two of them had been down the same road also only to come full circle. Even so, Geordi and Mriana refuse to listen, so they continued down the same path.
The two of them stared at the turbolift doors when suddenly Mriana felt a sharp pain in her ears again. Only this time it was getting worse. Tears of pain started to roll down her face. She tried hard to hold them back and not scream out in pain, but Geordi seemed to have felt something from her.
"Mriana, are you sure you are alright? You've been in pain for quite a while now and it doesn't seem to be getting any better."
She swallowed hard and tried to keep the tears of pain away. "I'm fine, Geordi. It will pass."
"You don't look like it. I hope you're right and it is nothing serious." He said studying her through his visor. "I still say you need to see Dr. Crusher."
"I'll be fine." She insisted. "It will pass. It always does."
The whole awayteam was having the same problems in varying degrees. However, they all assumed it was fatigue.
Geordi continued to study her as the turbolift stopped to let off Mriana. Somehow, due to their bond and his visor, Geordi had the feeling she was not being totally honest with him on how bad it was. Whatever it was that was giving her so much pain. He felt she was trying to cover it up to keep from being relieved of duty or something. She was always more concern about the people she counsoled and her assignment more than how she was feeling. That in itself had a tendency to get her a few days off anyway, due to medical reasons.
Even Deanna could sense her pain was getting worse and kept sending out encouragement, telepathically, to see Dr. Crusher. Still, Mriana refused to go no matter how bad it got.
The turbodoors closed behind her and she went to her office. Once there the pain hit her again and this time it did not dissipate as quickly.
She fell to her knees in pain and screamed. Tears rolled down her eyes as she grabbed her ears. Her breathing had become rapid. She felt something run out of her ear.
Once she felt she was able to remove her hand and look, she chanced it. What she saw alarmed her enough to rethink her decision to avoid Dr. Crusher.
Slowly and with great effort she made her way out the doors of her office to Sickbay.
Picard was talking to a Cardassian on the viewscreen when Geordi exited the turbolift. The Cardassian claimed they were going to claim the planet below as their own and would fight for it if they had to fight for it. Picard cut the sound in his usual way, with his hand going across his throat. It was a sign to his crew to cut the sound so that the other ship would not hear what he had to say or ask of his crew.
He turned to Deanna Troi. "Do you feel that their words are matching what they actually mean or are they just trying to bully their way into acheiving another planet, especially when enough studies have not been made?"
Deanna seemed unfocused and distracted. "Counselor?" Picard again tried to get her attention. A look of concern was on his face.
"I'm sorry, Sir. My, I mean, I'm sensing deception on the Cardassian's part, but Counselor Mriana Troi seems to be in trouble. Physical trouble."
Deanna seemed panicked. Geordi felt Mriana's distress too and began to feel worried. The worry creased his forhead as he spoked. "Sir, permission to leave the Bridge."
"What is this?"
"Sir." Deanna interrupted with great urgency. "She's in trouble. Serious trouble."
Picard sighed and pushed back his non-existant hair. He really did not want to grant them permission to leave the bridge at this moment, but at the same time, he could not have two crew members distracted. He also knew several of the away team members from various groups where suffering with some physical problems that Dr. Crusher was unsure of and how dangerous it was.
"Permission granted, but." He paused. "As soon as you know what is wrong and her where abouts."
"Aye, Sir." They said in unison. They knew what he was wanting before he could finish.
"Sir." Worf began.
"Mr. Worf, I can't have everyone traipsing after her!"
"No, Sir. That is not what I was going to say. I'm sure she is fine. She is a strong woman, but the Cardassians are getting impatient and are hailing us again."
"Again?"
"They hailed us three times since you muted them."
"Oh, yes. On screen."
Deanna and Geordi departed by way of the turbolifts. As Deanna headed for the lifts, she sent to Will that she would fill him in later and he gave a slight nod with his head acknowledging her.
Deanna sensed Geordi's concern and turned to him. "I'm sure she will be OK." She tried to reassure him and herself.
Suddenly, the link Deanna and Geordi shared with Mriana went blank. They could not sense anything from her. It was nothing but a large void. Geordi felt it was as expansive as the Grand Canyon. Deanna felt it was the void of space.
"Computer." Geordi addressed. "Location of Counselor Mriana Troi?"
*She is in corridor Twenty-one.*
"Computer. Deck Twenty-one."
The computer complied and soon Deanna and Geordi got to her motionless body. She laid lifeless on the deck and blood streaked the walls from where she had been trying to keep her strength and energy. She laid in a pool of blood which drained from her ears.
"Oh, gods!" Deanna exclaimed in a panic.
Both she and Geordi felt panic with in themselves. Geordi rushed over to Mriana's small body and lifted her from the place she laid.
Mriana gave no response. She just laid completely lifeless in his arms.
Geordi felt more panic as he carried her to Sickbay as fast as he could. He looked quickly to find Dr. Crusher as he laid her on the biobed, scared for her life.
"Dr. Crusher!" Geordi called to her as she walked across the exam area of Sickbay. "Mriana is really needing some help!"
Dr. Crusher heard the panic in his voice and walked quickly over to where Mriana laid. She took one look at her and gasped. As any professional would, she quickly grabbed hold of her emotions and went to work. "I have to get the bleeding stopped before I do anything else."
"Then can you help her?" Deanna asked with concern in her voice.
"I think so, but there are other complications going on also."
"True."
"Look." Beverly said reassuringly. "Why don't you two try and get some rest or go back duty? I promise I'll contact you as soon as she is conscious."
"OK." They said in solemn unison.
Slowly and reluctantly, they departed and Beverly went to work trying to stop the bleeding and save Mriana's life.
Chapter Two
Beverly started to examine Mriana and noticed she felt very warm to the touch. She quickly ran a medical tricorder over her and discovered Mriana was running a very high fever.
"Alyssa, her temp is 106. We need to get it down as quickly as we can."
"Yes, Doctor."
Alyssa grabbed a hypospray and injected her with fever reducing medicine. While she and Beverly were working on Mriana, another person from the away team entered Sickbay.
"Doctor, I can't stand this anymore!" He whimpered. "The pain is killing me!"
"Well, you're going to have to have a seat or have Dr. Selar have a look at you." Dr. Crusher replied as she continued to treat Mriana. "I don't mean to sound cold, I just have my hands full at the moment."
*Carlton to Crusher.*
"Damn!" She said in frustration. "Now what?" Then she tapped her combadge. "Crusher here."
*It's my wife, she's unconscious, very warm, and bleeding.*
"Bring her to Sickbay immediately." Then she called out to Dr. Selar.
"Yes, Doctor." Selar replied stoically.
"I need your help. We have patients coming in with the same thing that appears to be ailing Lieutenant Troi here."
Selar begun to administer to the patient that walked into Sickbay. As she scanned him she found some interesting data and took the data from Beverly on Mriana.
When Carlton finally arrived with his wife, she quickly scanned her and began the same process on her as Beverly had with Mriana. As they worked feverously with the three patients, more patients from the away team had enter Sickbay in various stages of the illness.
Once things had slowed down, Beverly went to analyze the information she and Dr. Selar had gathered. She found answers, but yet she was also getting more questions.
"Fascinating!" She exclaimed.
"Quite." Selar agreed.
"I'm going to show what information we have to the captain and the senior officers at the meeting in a few minutes. The problem is, I have no idea how it started or how to cure or halt the illness."
"I'll keep examining the samples the away team gathered while you're gone." Dr. Selar stated.
"Thank you."
"Doctor, what have you figured out about Lieutenant Troi's condition?" Picard asked as he started the meeting.
Beverly sighed. "There's been irrepairable damage done to her cochlea, the nerves, and in her case the Wernieke's area."
"The what?"
"Wernieke's area. It's the area of the brain that helps us make sense of what we hear. Without it, everything is gibberish, but in Mriana's case, she'll be lucky if I can just help her hear any kind of sound again." Doctor Crusher pauses briefly. "She is not the only one with such damage."
"Oh?" Asked Picard curiously.
"So far I have eleven others who are in the same condition and another thirteen in various other stages of the illness. All from the away teams we sent down or the ones working with the samples. I have a feeling there will be more."
"Doctor, do you have any idea what is causing this?"
Beverly shugged. "It's some sort of a combination virus-bacteria. Data would you mind starting the video of the sample?"
"Certainly Doctor." Data started the video. A moving picture of a viral stran and bacteria mingled together.
"As you can see here, we have a virus and bacteria cohabitating together. Now, I'm not sure if it is one or both of them causing this illness. My suspecion is they both are."
"Why didn't the biofilters on the transporters detect this?" Riker asked.
"I haven't a clue, Sir." Replied Geordi. "I'll run a level one diagnostic on the transporters immediately."
"Counselor, I'm going to need your assistance in Sickbay." Beverly informed. "I have a feeling when your cousin and the others, who are farther along, wake up they will be very upset."
Deanna nodded. Sadness crossed her face, as the possible formidable future of the people in Sickbay went through her mind.
"Have you found an inoculant for this illness, Doctor." Picard asked with concern.
Beverly shook her head. "I'm afraid not and until I do, there will be more like Mriana."
Picard nodded his understanding. "Let's hope you do before it gets any worse. We probably should isolate the other away team members also."
"I don't think anyone who was not on the planet or working with sample will be affected, but to be on the safe side I'll order all of them to isolation."
"I think until we know more, that is best." Picard stated. "Where will you go with Lieutenant Troi and the rest who have suffered such damage as far as treatment or rehabilitation?"
"In Mriana's case and a few others, I recommend the only person who knows sign language on board this ship to teach them sign language." Everyone stared questionally at Beverly. "Data."
"Wait a minute." Geordi said. "Data is not a teacher."
"He will be now." Beverly stated infactly. "Beyond that, I can give them implants, but with the damage to the Wernieke's area, they won't hear like they use to. It will just be a jumbo of sounds."
"So, what you're saying is, this illness found it's way to the hearing part of the brain only and damaged it permanently." Deanna stated. "So, they'll never hear again in reality."
"That's the size of it." Beverly agreed. "It will just be a bunch of bees buzzing no matter what kind of implant any doctor gives them."
"This sounds like a very unusual virus and bacteria." Data said. "It seeks out one specific part of the body, in this case the sense of hearing and destories it. Interesting."
"That's what Dr. Selar and I said." Beverly stated. "It is a very unusual infection."
"Doctor?" Deanna was begining to sound a little upset. "Mriana is my cousin and half Betazoid. Doesn't the fact she is half Betazoid help any in this situation? Especially with how the Betazoid mind has a way of healing itself?"
"Not in this case. Your genetic makeup is basically the same, but it's the human DNA that is the problem with healing in this case. Even if it were you and not her, the problem would be the same."
Deanna sighed. "Well, I can understand what she will be going through, due to a temporary past experience."
"Yes and no. Her's is not temporary, but she will be able to still hear thoughts from you, other Betazoids, and those closest to her." Beverly added the last looking at Geordi. "Then with a special com padd to type messages to her and other special devices or adaptations and the use of signs will be other means to help facilitate communication with non-telepaths."
"I could set those devices up for them while they are on this ship." Geordi stated. "Hopefully, some will decide to stay with Starfleet and not leave just because of this."
"But Beverly." Deanna began to remind her. "Her father is my father's brother. Just like me, she can not communicate with all telepaths telepathically."
"That's where all the other things will come in handy, if she accepts the help and that's another reason why I need your help with her and the others."
"So, there's no hope of her fully recovering?"
Beverly shakes her head. "I'm afraid not."
Deanna was not anxious on telling her mother or Mriana's mother about the current events. She sighed again and decided to put off telling anyone about Mriana's condition until she was capable of telling them herself. She knew if she told her mother, it would not be long until her aunt knew. It would be far better if they could see that she was alive and well, before they knew about anything.
*Ogawan to Crusher.*
They could hear Mriana hysterically screaming in the background. Beverly got a worried look on her face as she tapped her combadge and looked towards Deanna.
"Crusher here."
*Counselor Mriana Troi is now awake and is very upset. I can't talk to her to calm her down. Nothing I do helps.*
"I'm on my way. Crusher out." Then she addressed Deanna. "I'm going to need you more than ever now. You maybe the only person on board who can get through to her."
Deanna nodded and rosed from her seat to follow Dr. Crusher out of the observation lounge.
"Well." Picard began, with a look of dismay on his face. "I guess this meeting is adjourned for now."
Everyone departed, except for Will who asked Geordi to stay behind. "Geordi, no matter what has gone on between the two of you, Mriana needs you more than ever right now. You will be of great help to her."
"Why? Because I have an implant? Commander, I hardly think..."
"No, because you two are Imzadi. I saw how you reacted when you felt her pain. I've seen how you react to her in many situations. She needs you for support. She needs you, because you are Imzadi."
"I understand what you're saying. For a little bit I was thinking it was because of my implant and it's not the same, but I understand now."
"That's good." Will said.
"I just hope she wants me to be of support to her or at least lets me check on her from time to time."
"She will." Will reassured him. There was a brief silence. "Well, we need to get back to the bridge."
The two left for the bridge.
Meanwhile, in Sickbay, Mriana was very upset and screaming at the top of her lungs. "I can't hear a thing! I can't hear! You have to do something!"
Beverly and Deanna entered Sickbay and Beverly tried to get her attention, but it only made her wail harder and louder than before.
"I can't hear! Don't you get it!"
"Mriana, please listen to me!"Deanna sent anxiously.
"Deanna, I can sense people's feelings, I can mentally hear you and I can feel my voice vibrate, but I can't hear a thing with my ears!" She sent back sobbing with fear. "Everyone is nothing but faces with moving lips! No sound! There's nothing!"
"I know. Beverly told me. Right now, just concentrate on me and try to calm down."
"But I can't hear!"
"Maybe not everyone else, but you can hear me. I'll be your ears."
It was not much comfort to Mriana as Beverly scanned her while she and Deanna talked telepathically. However, Beverly appeared to be glad to see the current readings she was getting.
"No, I can't. I don't see what good learning another language at my age is going to do me."
"It could help a lot to communicate. However, it would mean having an interpreter with you at all times. Rivas is deaf and he always has at least one person accompany him."
"No, I promised myself I would not be like our mothers and have a valet with me every where I go."
"This is different."
"Not by much."
"Deanna." Beverly interrupted their mental conversation. "Except for the hearing loss, there is no trace of the illness left within her body. The only thing that's left is for her body to recover. I'm going to allow her to return to her quarters, but I want her to have a PADD with her at all times to communicate with others. So, let me see if Geordi has one ready for her before I release her."
"Deanna? Deanna, please! What is she saying? I sense it concerns me, but I."
"Hold on a minute." Deanna sent to Mriana. Then turned her full attention back to what Beverly was saying. "I'll let her know all of what you said, Beverly."
"Thank you and do try and get her to accept my suggestions."
"I've started talking to her about some of it, but she's not thrilled with it so far. I'll keep trying though." Deanna sounded sadden by the situation.
Beverly left to get Mriana set up in her quarters before she dismissed her. "Crusher to LaForge."
*LaForge here.*
"I'm about to release Mriana from Sickbay, but I need to be sure that she has some means to communicate with people. Do you have any PADDs set up so people can type what they want to say to her."
*Yes, I have it set up almost like old-fashion pen and paper.*
"I hope it's not that archaic."
*Sorry. Bad joke. The next thing I'll do is get a system set up so those affected, can tell when the chime to their quarter's rings or tell when they are being called over the comm system.*
"Thanks, Geordi. That will be great for starters, but I'm afraid it will take a whole lot more than that."
*I know, but I'm sure we'll get there or at least figure out what all is needed.*
"I'm sure we will. I need you to meet Deanna and Mriana at her quarters with the PADD in about thirty minutes."
*I'll be there.*
"Great. Crusher out."
Meanwhile, Deanna had finished telling Mriana what all Beverly had said.
"Well, at least I'm not going to be stuck in here and that thing, whatever it is, has left my body."
"And you will learn to deal with the loss."
"How can you say that! YOU HAVE NO IDEA!"
Mriana's thought reverberated through Deanna's mind and she almost recoiled from her cousin. "Yes, in a way I do. It was a few years ago, but I had lost my empathic sense. It was a very difficult time for me, however brief it was."
"OK." Beverly said as she addressed Mriana. "You're all set to go, but please take my advice and go to Data's classes that he will be setting up soon, think about an implant and using assistive devices and an interpreter of some kind."
Deanna sent everything Beverly said to Mriana. Mriana nodded and said as calm as she could, in a controlled nasaled voice, "I'll think about it. Thank you, Doctor." Then she jumped down off the biobed.
"I'll come by and check on you to see how you're doing."
Beverly had no idea if anything she tried to tell Mriana got through to her, but she had faith Deanna relayed the message to her. No matter if Mriana was going to listen or not. She only hoped Mriana did listen.