It was the 3rd watch rotation. Passageway lights were dim to help
simulate nighttime on board the flagship Enterprise. The lounge and Ten
Forward were quiet except for 2 or 3 groups of people who just finished
2nd watch an hour ago. The whole ship was quiet really, except one
person who had been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately. His name
was Reginald Barclay, but everyone just called him Reg for short. Which
was a lot better than what they used to call him, when he first came
aboard. He couldn’t understand his sleeplessness . He would try
listening to soft music. He also drank some warm milk ( an ancient
Terran remedy), but nothing would seem to help. Barclay began walking
about the decks, hoping that he could just tire himself out. So he
began, what he has done every night for what seemed like quite a while
and that was walk up and down the passageways.
*********************************************************************
This all started about two weeks ago. Barclay and his supervisor ,
who also was his good friend, Geordie had beamed down to a class M
planet. It seemed like a nice enough place to beam down to. That is
if you don’t mind having your particles dispersed through space first,
and then reassembled on the planet below. It was typical of class M
planets. It had a viable atmosphere, lush greenery, remnants of a
civilization long past it's prime. That was the reason for the
Enterprise coming here. Vulcan's had visited here eons ago and told of
an ancient civilization that was technologically advanced, more advanced
than the inhabitants of the planet. When the Vulcans tried to make
contact with this world, the natives warned them off. Told them never
to set foot on their world and to never return. But the inhabitants
died off centuries ago, and all that's left is a planet full of
machinery, but no other life forms.
Geordie started taking some sensor readings of the planet’s ancient
technology. " Hey Reg, it looks like the power source is located down
that hill over there. Why don’t you go down there and see if you can
get it started." Barclay acknowledged and proceeded to locate the
power source which was a couple of kilometers away. Barclay started
day dreaming as he was walking , not really paying attention to
anything that was happening around him, until he heard a scream. He
looked about and couldn’t see anyone. "Now who’s making that sound?"
he thought to himself. "Maybe I’m just hearing things. Oh no, that’s
the first symptom of Aegialin flu, hearing things that’s not there.
Oh, great, that’s all I need right now." He closed his eyes, hoping
that he wasn’t coming down with anything. When he opened them a few
seconds later, he felt a little more confident. He proceeded on his
way again, when all of a sudden a little girl came running up and ran
smack into him.
"Let me go," she screamed as loud as she could. Barclay had held on to
her, not so much to keep her there, but to regain his balance. Her
golden hair was tousled about, as though it hadn’t been combed since
the day she was born. Her eyes were red, as red as a Regalian sun.
She looked as
though she could have been 10 years by Terran standards.
Barclay regained his balance and tried to calm the little girl down.
"Hey there, where are you going in such a hurry? Can I help you in any
way? My name is Barclay. Reg Barclay, but you can call me Reg, please
to meet you."
The little girl struggled out of his grasp. "No, you don’t understand.
I have to get away before they find me. Please, I need to get away."
With that said, she took off again. So fast that before Barclay could
blink she was out of sight. Barclay just shook his head as if to clear
it and figured that illusions were the second symptom of Aegialin flu.
He got to the base of the hill minutes later and got to work on getting
the power started.
In the meantime Geordie had called the ship and asked them to send down
some more personnel from engineering. "Yes Captain, this technology
that was left behind , probably two or three thousand years ago is more
complicated than I originally thought. So four extras from engineering
would be much appreciated. LaForge out." Geordie clicked on his
commbadge, "Reg how’s it going down there? Do you think we’ll have
power soon?"
"Ah…yes, sure. I’m just getting it closed up now." After Barclay
replied, he stood up. There was that little girl again! She was
standing across from him. "Well, if it isn’t the figment of my
imagination."
"Please sir. You have to help me. They’re after me. You mustn’t turn
this on, if you do, they’ll find me and get me. Please don’t," she
pleaded.
"Can you at least tell me your name?" Barclay inquired of her.
"I can’t tell you my name either. They can also find me that way." The
little girl looked up at him with puppy dog eyes.
"But if I don’t get this started, my boss with be very upset with me. I
have to give him a very good reason for not starting it." He bent down
to pick up his tools, and when he arose again, the little girl had
disappeared. "I think I’m going to have to go in for extra sessions
with the Counselor this week. He flicked the switch and the machines
came to life. Barclay could have sworn he heard voices at the same
time, not just one, but a whole chorus of people. The voices got
louder, all screaming and pleading. He could feel this, even if he
couldn’t understand. It’s as though they were all inside his head.
"No…no…get out of my head," Barclay yelled out as he put his hands over
his ears, trying to close his mind to the sounds.
"Reg? Come in Reg. What’s going on down there? If you can hear me,
answer please." Nothing, just silence. Geordie ran down the hill, when
he got there Barclay was lying on the ground unconscious . "Reg, can
you hear me?" he said as he was shaking Barclay, trying to get some kind
of response from him. "LaForge to Enterprise. Two to beam up directly
to Sickbay."
*********************************************************************
Two hours later, Barclay woke up in Sickbay. "Wha...what's happened?"
He felt a little disoriented. Dr. Crusher was taking his vitals and
examining his eyes.
Crusher put her medical tricorder away, "You suffered a self induced
coma. Do you remember anything that happened to you down on the
planet?"
"No, not much," he stated. Things still seemed a bit fuzzy, "I remember
starting up something...I think it was a machine of some sort. That's
it, nothing but waking up here in Sickbay with you hovering over me."
"Well I want you to take some time off and get plenty of rest." Barclay
started to protest, but she cut him off. "Yes, rest. No arguments. I
already told Geordie you won't be coming back down and helping. He said
he had plenty of help and he'd talk to you later. So go back to your
quarters and rest. That's an order."
"Aye aye, mon Doc'torr." Barclay straightened his jacket as he got off
the bio bed. He took a few steps, then hesitated and turned back to
face Dr. Crusher. "Are you sure it's not..."
Beverly cut him off, "Yes, I'm sure you're not coming down with any flu,
virus, cold, bacteria, contagion, and anything else you can think of.
You DID get rid of those medical books, didn't you?"
"Yes, why of course. Just curious, that's all." He turned and headed
out the door as quickly as he could. As he was walking down the
passageway towards his cabin, he could swear he heard someone whispering
to him, calling his name. "Hello? Is anyone there?" No one, no one
about at all. Panic started to swell inside him. He hurried to the
turbolift and tried to get to his quarters as fast as he could, before
the panic overtook him completely. "I'll be safe there, just got to get
to my quarters, then I'll be okay." Minutes later he was inside and the
door swooshed closed behind him. He rushed over to the replicator and
ordered a glass of ice cold water. He gulped that one down, then ordered
several more.
******************************************************************
Geordie had beamed back down before Barclay awakened. He went back to
work taking readings off the equipment, comparing the new readings to
the old ones taken earlier in the day. Commander Data beamed down to
check on their progress. "Data, how's Reg doing? I didn't get a chance
to check on him."
Data was investigating the machine left here for centuries. "I checked
on him just before I came down. I somehow knew that you would inquire
on his condition upon my arrival, and tha..."
Geordie cut him off in mid sentence, he knew Data would go on and on if
he didn't. "Okay, so tell me!"
"Dr. Crusher said that Lieutenant Barclay was awake, but disoriented.
She wanted him to get plenty of rest and that he will rejoin us tomorrow
at the earliest."
"Thanks, Data. I could you your help in deciphering these readings."
Geordie explained. Data got out his tricorder and began scanning.
*********************************************************************
"Sleep, yes sleep is what I need. Just need to get some rest and things
will look better in the morning." Barclay laid down, closed his eyes,
then it started.
The girl that he had seen earlier in the day, down on the planet was in
his mind. As he slept and his unconscious mind took over, SHE took
over. "Why did you do that? I told you not to start it, now it will
start all over again. And it's all your fault. They will find me now,
there's no place left for me to hide. Except, here in your mind. Yes,
that's where I'll stay and maybe I can hide just a little longer" The
little girl just laughed, it was a maniacal laugh.
Barclay sat up with a start. He was sweating profusely and he didn't
know why. He knew he had a nightmarish dream, but he couldn't remember
any of it. He got up and proceeded to walk up and down the passageways,
trying to tire himself out.
The next morning, and not feeling refreshed, Barclay joined the landing
party on the planet below. When Barclay materialized, he found Geordie
and Data taking apart small sections of the machines for further study.
"Data," Geordie inquired. "You know, if we get one of the historians
down here, maybe they can decipher these markings."
"Yes, perhaps that would give us some insight to as how the machines
operate, but it wouldn't give us anything on the civilization that lived
here. When I was scanning the planet, I noticed some old buildings down
the hill, not far from the power supply. There could be some
information stored there. I would to go down there and see what I can
gather. Do you have enough help to finish here?" Data said and turned
around just in time to see the shimmering form of some materializing.
"And it looks like Lieutenant Barclay is coming to join us."
"Reg, glad to have you back. How are ya?" Geordie yelled out to him.
Barclay wasn't sure how to respond. He hardly slept at all last night,
and still thought he had contracted some fatal illness that no one's
ever heard of. "I...I'm doing just fine Commander. Would you like me
to go back down the hill and do some diagnostics on the engine?"
"Sure that would be fine, Reg. Data will come with you, he's been
wanting to study some of the buildings down the hill, and I'm sure he
could use your help later on. I'm going back up to the ship to confer
with the Captain. See you in a little while." Geordie tapped his
commbadge and asked to beam up to the ship.
As Barclay and Data were walking to the power supply relay, Data started
talking about the abandoned buildings and the writings on the machines.
Barclay started getting a strange sensation. He felt there were a lot
of people nearby. They were all calling out to him and asking for his
help. He shook his head as though that would clear out the demons
calling to him. The closer they got to the power source the louder the
voices became. Barclay put his hands to his head and dropped down to
his knees. "Stop it," he cried out. "Stop it and leave me alone!" He
screamed as he fell to his knees, he wasn't even aware of Data's
presence.
Data bent down and tried to calm Barclay down. "Lieutenant, can you
hear me? What is wrong? Are you all right?" When Barclay didn't
respond or acknowledge him, Data contacted the ship and requested that
they beam the lieutenant up. When Barclay rematerialized in the
transporter room, his head was beginning to clear. Counselor Troi was
already waiting for him.
"Reg, can you hear me? It's Deanna."
"Ye...yes...I can. I think my head is clearing." Barclay let the
counselor lead him out of the transporter room and to her office. They
talked for over an hour, but Barclay couldn't remember anything that
happened on the planet.
"Look, Reg. I think you're just overworked is all. I think you just
need to take a few days off and get plenty of rest. It looks like you
didn't get much sleep last night. You want to talk to me about it?
Deanna tried to sense what he was feeling, but all she got was the
feeling of being lost.
"No. I don't know why I couldn't sleep. Maybe I'm coming down with
something. Maybe I should go see Dr. Crusher again."
"No! I mean no, I don't think that's necessary. Why don't you go find
something relaxing to do? And I'll see you again in a few days." With
that said, she escorted Barclay out of her office, and watched as he
walked down to turbolift #2.
*********************************************************************
When Geordie entered the Captain's ready room, the captain and Will
Riker where already there. "Mr. LaForge, do you have a report for me?"
The captain thought of this as a routine exploration trip. He was
looking forward to taking a few days, and starting the archeological dig
himself. Something that he hasn't been able to do in years. It had
always been a hobby of his, one that went in tandem with the mission of
the Enterprise. To seek out new civilizations and to explore the old
ones. The Enterprise had the rare opportunity to spend a month in orbit
and find out all they could about this ancient people and technology.
Since the Vulcan ambassador had insisted on it, and he also insisted on
it being the flagship Enterprise, Picard has happy to oblige.
"Yes sir, I do," Geordie said as he came to the table and took a seat.
"We were able to get power up and running, but we haven't figured out
what it's supposed to do exactly. There are markings on the equipment,
that we hope can be analyzed and decoded. Data and Barclay are checking
out the old buildings to see if we can get a clue as to the type of
civilization that lived here."
"Well, Mr. LaForge, we're not in any hurry here. I think tomorrow is as
good a time as any to start the digging. Which I will be leading
personally. So if there's nothing else gentlemen, I say this meeting is
adjourned. Return to your stations."
"Aye aye," Riker and Geordie said in unison.
**********************************************************************
As much as he wanted to, Barclay just couldn't sleep. Oh, he tried. He
closed his eyes and would start to drift off, but then the dreams
started. The same chilling dreams, that were on the edge of being a
nightmare. The same images kept forming in his sleep. The same faces.
The same voices, calling to him. Over and over, till he got to the
point where he was afraid to even close his eyes. This went on for
several days. Dr. Crusher ran numerous tests on him. They all turned
up negative. Barclay finally told Counselor Troi about the child he met
when they first explored the planet. She dismissed it, saying there
hasn't been any life on the planet for centuries and that he was
probably hallucinating. She did give him some techniques that he could
use to control the dreaming. Barclay tried it, but to no avail. Dr.
Crusher gave him sedatives. That didn’t work either. When he saw the
Counselor again, she could tell that something had to be done soon.
"Okay, Reg. There’s a holodeck program that Data had used when he was
trying to access his dreams and interact with it. Since it had been so
successful, he converted it for human use. When it was tested on humans
though, it did have side effects so I’m usually reluctant to use it,
except in extreme emergencies. Well Reg, I think we should use it.
I’m going down to holodeck three. I would like you to meet me there
in, let’s say two hours?"
"Oh…yes, that would be fine. Anything you try to send this would be
most appreciated." Barclay was happy that at last he might be able to
find out what’s going on. After leaving her office, he realized that he
should have asked her what she meant by ‘side effects.’
**********************************************************************
Captain Picard was arranging for the diggings to begin. Geordie had
stayed up in the ship to run his readings through the main computer.
Data had called down two historians from the Enterprise to help him
decipher the markings in the abandoned buildings. The progress was slow
but meticulous. After a couple of hours, a pattern was emerging and the
computer was coming up with a basis for interpreting the language. Data
tapped his commbadge, "Captain, would you join me in building referred
as L2? I've found something very interesting." Data said. When the
Captain arrived, he looked about the place. L2 resembled a town meeting
hall. He had seen pictures of one like it on Earth when he was a boy.
There was a huge table in the middle of the room, with numerous chairs
strewn about. There were two solar windows in the roof, this provided
the room with the suns energy. Nothing looked out of place, no papers
strewn about. All the books were stacked neatly in the bookcase that
was in a corner of the room. Just one door to go in or out of. There
were quite a few books laid out on the table. Placed there by the
ship's historians, no doubt. Data began explaining his find. "You can
see by this structure that it was the living quarters for the people
that inhabited here approx. three centuries ago. Even after we found
proof that the machinery outside was not indigenous to this planet, the
markings on it and the writings we found in this building are based on
the same language."
The Captain looked confused, "But you and Geordie have already said that
the machines did not originate on this planet, and you've already
determined that the natives were indigenous. How can that be?"
Data resumed his explanation, "We've been able to decipher the
rudimentary level of their language. It states that the people were
dying and found no way for the race to continue. That part we already
knew, since they are now extinct. And if we were to go back even
farther to the time..."
Picard was feeling exasperated, "Please, Mr. Data. Let's just keep it
short and to the pertinent facts."
"Yes, sir. Getting back to the language. We found that they called
their world 'Ildya', and referred to themselves as Ildyans. The
scientists knew eighty years ahead that their race wouldn't not see the
next century. So they came up with a plan to continue on, but not in
this plane of existence. They had always shunned other races in the
universe and never let them make contact with their world. Now they
realized they needed the help of others, so they put out a distress call
to the neighboring planets. Their response is what we see here today."
With that Data concluded his explanation.
After a few awkward moments, Picard broke the silence. "Well, Mr. Data?
Where's the rest?"
"That sir, is it as they say. Like I mentioned earlier before I
started, that we had only broke the basics of the Ildyan language.
There is still a lot of missing pieces to this puzzle." Data went to
the center of the room and showed the Captain the books that they have
been mulling over the past several hours. This is all we have to go on.
We have only scratched the surface of the language, with more time we
should have it all."
"Well Data, I'll let you get back to it. That's one thing we have
plenty of right now and that is time. Good job." Picard picked up his
tools that he brought with him and went back to help with the digs.
**********************************************************************
Barclay had been busy pacing back and forth in his cabin. He was
anxiously awaiting for the hours to pass so he could meet the counselor
in the holodeck. Finally, it was time! He rushed down the decks,
almost knocking several crewmen off their feet. When he arrived, Deanna
had everything ready. The holodeck had been transformed into his
quarters with one minor change. A piece of machinery was waiting for
him at the head of the bed.
Counslor Troi was staying by the bed waiting for him. "Okay Reg. Just
lay down and let me attach this to your head."
"Um...are you sure it's safe?" Barclay said looking worried.
"Of course it is. It just has certain side effects that I won't bother
you with now. Afterwards, I'll discuss them with you."
Barclay laid down and allowed the counselor to attach the machine to his
head. It didn't seem to bad after it was on. In fact it felt kind of
nice and made him feel good and drowsy, before he knew it he was fast
asleep. While he was sleeping, Deanna kept track of the readouts and
was waiting for him to go into REM sleep.
*********************************************************************
Barclay sat up and looked about the room. Everything looked a little
fuzzy around the edges. He couldn’t find Counselor Troi. He heard his
name being called and got up to find the source of it. He went into the
passageway and looked about. "Hello? Is anyone out here? Counselor,
is that you?" Barclay couldn't understand why no one else was around.
As he walked up the passageway, the scenery changed. He was now
standing in the middle of building L2 on the planet Ildya. The little
girl that he met days ago, was sitting at the main table. She was all
by herself and she had a book in hand that she was reading. She laid it
down as Barclay entered the room. "Ho...how did I get here?"
"Don't you know", the little girl asked.
"Nn...no, the last thing I remember was going to sleep in the holodeck.
Counselor Troi was there with me, but when I woke up she was gone."
Barclay said as he walked up to the little girl. "What is your name?"
"I guess I can tell you now, since it's too late. They're already
coming for me. I asked you to help me. Not to turn it on again. It's
Aylanda."
Barclay still looked confused, "What's Aylanda?"
"My name, you asked for my name. It's Aylanda. I don't want to go,
they're going to make me go with them, you know."
"Who's coming for you, Aylanda?" Barclay said as he sat down next to
her. "Who's coming? And why is it so bad? Is it your parents? Your
friends perhaps?"
"What are parents? I don't want them coming for me, I like it here and
I want to stay here. Can I stay with you?"
Barclay was more confused than ever. 'Why would she want to stay here?'
he thought. 'There's nothing here but a barren planet, and she's all by
herself.' "Look, you can't come with me. I'm on a ship and we go to
different planets. Sometimes, it's dangerous. Where are the others?
The ones like you? I need to call my ship." Barclay tapped his
commbadge, "Barclay to Enterprise, come in please." No response. He
tried a couple of more times. "Barclay to Enterprise, please come in.
Anyone."
"It's no use, they can't respond. Haven't you figured it out yet?
You're not awake." Aylanda said matter of factly.
Barclay smiled, "Well of course, then I'm still asleep in the holodeck
on board the Enterprise."
"No, you're not asleep either. You're in that place that's in between."
Barclay smiled faded, "You're talking in riddles. You've been in my
dreams before, haven't you?"
"Yes," she answered.
"How come I don't remember much? I couldn't interact with you before
either."
**********************************************************************
Deanna was monitoring Barclay. She couldn't understand why he hadn't
obtained REM sleep yet. His vitals were accelerating, according to the
instrument panel. It was as if he was in the fight or flight syndrome.
She tried sensing him, but she couldn't read him at all. Someone or
something was blocking her. There was nothing she could do now, but
wait. Barclay was on his own.
**********************************************************************
"You did talk to me before, you just don't remember it. Except this
time, this time is different because you're controlling it. Please Mr.
Barclay, I don't want to go," she pleaded. "Let me stay."
"It's not up to me. I still don't know what's going on, or even why
you're here. Can you tell me what happened? How did this all begin? I
need more information so I can help you." Barclay felt powerless. He
really wanted to help this girl. How is it that no one else has made
contact with her, or even see her?
"Where is everyone? Your people?"
Aylanda began her story, "Oh, they’ve gone. They were found a long time
ago. Now they’re going to find me too and take me. It’s nice here,
don’t you think? I can do whatever I want, talk to who ever I want.
Everyone left long time ago. At the time I tried to go with them, but
something happened and I was left here all by myself."
"But how do you survive? There's nothing to eat here? No stores of
food that we could find. You must have been on your own for a very long
time. What do you eat or drink?" Barclay inquired of her.
"I don't require it, and I haven't been sleepy. I just run around here
all day having fun. If I join the others, I won't be able to have fun
anymore. No, no I don't want to join the others. I'll stay right here.
You see a long time ago, the older ones said we had to leave because
something bad was going to happen here. I can't remember exactly,
something about the Sun going out for a while, and we couldn't stay or
we would all die. So the older ones sent for this machine that will
take us far away, where the sun will never go away. We were told to
step in to the machine and that we were going on a long trip. We would
sleep for a long time and when we woke up, we could come back home and
everything will be just as it was before the sun went out. When they
left I was going to go with them, but something happened and the machine
stopped. I was the only one left. At first I was sad cause I wanted to
go with them, but after awhile I began to enjoy this. I don't even
remember them very much anymore. I don't remember what they sound or
look like. But I like you Mr. Barclay, I want to stay with you."
Barclay was overwhelmed by this and couldn't imagine a family leaving
their little girl behind. "We need to find out what happened to you, we
need to find your family and friends. They must be somewhere and are
probably worried about you. I need to go back to my ship and get some
help from my friends there. Come back with me, okay?"
"I can’t and when you go back you’ll see why. I’ll stay here and wait
for you," Aylanda said with a smile.
**********************************************************************
When Barclay suddenly awakened, it gave Deanna a start. "Reg, I’ve been
worried. You never went into REM sleep and your vitals were fluctuating
quite a bit."
Barclay sat up confused, "I’ve been asleep the whole time? But it was
so real and I remember it vividly."
Deanna started unhooking the machine. "That’s all because of this
little device of Data’s. It allows you to interact with your dream,
become part of it. Also, you can remember every detail. That will help
us get to the bottom of your sleeplessness. What did happen to you in
your dream?"
Barclay had a hard time understanding that it was all a dream. He was
so sure it was real and that he was down on the planet below. He
remembered his promise to the little girl, and that he was going to find
out what happened. "Excuse Counselor, I need to find Geordie and the
Captain right away." He left the holodeck hurriedly, on his way down
the passageway. Tapping his commbadge along the way, he contacted
engineering and the Captain and asked to meet with all the senior
officers in the briefing room. Fifteen minutes later, everyone was
seated in the briefing room. Barclay told them about what he
encountered in the holodeck.
The Captain knew firsthand the power and capability that machine held.
After all, he did use it with Data, when Data was exploring the meaning
of his dreams. "All right, Mr. Barclay. We need to find out more about
what happened eons ago when the people of Idlya left their planet. More
about what this machine's function is, and how it relates to this girl.
Mr. LaForge, you work with Data to find out exactly what the machine's
purpose is. Mr. Barclay, you work with research to find out about the
people and get an identity on this girl. Once we get all the facts,
we'll do what we can to help this little girl, Mr. Barclay. Everyone
dismissed."
Geordie and LaForge beamed back down to the planet. Barclay spent the
next 4 hours, pouring over computer logs taken from building L2. He
learned that these people were very quiet and relished in their
seclusion. The never made contact with other worlds, until the crisis
with the sun. It seems the scientists determined that the sun was about
to extinguish. Which meant all life on the planet would soon die from
the elements. The people realized that they would require outside help
if they wished to continue with life. They had no means of their own to
escape their home world. The distress call they made was picked up by
an advanced race five light years away. They were called Dranhon.
Dranhons came and brought with them, the means by which the Idlyan's
could continue on. The logs only mentioned the machines, which were
called Salvors. They didn't know mentioned how they worked or what they
did. Only that the Dranhons were the only ones who could or would
operate it, when the time came. Barclay was hoping that Geordie and
Data were successful in figuring that part out.
**********************************************************************
Data spent the rest of the day learning not only the Idlyan language,
but the Dranhons as well. When he was finished, he went to work on
deciphering the machines. The Dranhon language was very close to the
Idlyan language and Data soon realized that the Idlyan's were once a
part of the Dranhon. The two peoples were at one time one and the same
race, somehow the earlier Dranhons left their home world and settled on
this planet. After a few millennium, the Idlyans changed slightly
physically to adapt to this environment. Also, the language changed to
a hybrid of the Dranhons. The Dranhons must have realized when they
responded to the distress call from Idlya, because the equipment could
only work on a Dranhon anatomy. When the Captain came down to the
planet to check on the progress of the men. Data informed him of all
that they discovered.
"Captain, I believe I have found the purpose of this machine. Once it
is powered on, the physical and mental patterns of the person are
encoded here." Data pointed to the smaller of the machinery and to the
keyboard like device attached to it. "After the information is encoded,
the person then stands on this platform." He again pointed to the
larger of the devices that had a vertical slab of steel that could be
inverted horizontally and slid into the machine. "Once the bed is sent
into the machine, the person is dematerialized and stored in stasis
until they are ready to be revived. In fact, they also encoded all
their plant and animal life."
The Captain was taken aback by this, "You mean the Idlyans, the whole
life of this planet is in there?"
"Yes," Data replied.
*********************************************************************
Barclay and Deanna went back into the holodeck to try and make contact
with Aylanda again. Barclay laid down on his bed and Deanna attached
the 'Dream machine', as some of the crew preferred to call it. After
five minutes Barclay was asleep. He was caught in that part again, that
was between awake and REM sleep.
*********************************************************************
Barclay got up and looked around. He was in his quarters. There was a
chair next to the bed that Counselor Troi was occupying before he went
to sleep. Now the little girl was seated there. "Well, hello again,
Aylanda."
"I knew you'd be back," she replied. She had a sad look on her face.
"I also know you've come to take me back. I don't want to go. Let me
stay here with you, I like you."
Barclay bent down next to her, and brushed the hair from her face. "You
can't stay here. You're only here in my mind anyway, which is not good.
I won't be able to last much longer with the REM sleep that humans
require. I now know what happened to your people. They went into the
Salvors, didn't they?"
Aylanda nodded yes. She kept her eyes on the floor, she couldn't face
Barclay.
"Something happened, didn't it? The machines were programmed to
reactivate everyone when it was safe to live on the planet again. But
that was many decades ago and the Salvors quit working. How is it that
you didn't join them? Did it break down before you got the chance? I
need to know what happened, so we can help you and your people,
Aylanda."
She looked up at Barclay, "I was the last one in before it happened.
There were a few others behind me in line. When I stepped into that
machine, there was an explosion. The big machine quit working, so I
tried to get back out, but it wouldn't let me. I could see the others
who were behind me in line. They disappeared. I kept trying to get
out, but I couldn't. All of a sudden I felt like I was floating. So I
just floated around, after a while I floated out through the walls of
that machine and floated and floated around. Then they started calling
my name, over and over. I floated away from the voices, till I couldn't
hear it anymore. After a while I forgot everyone and everything. You
were the first person I saw in a long time."
Barclay got up suddenly and looked as if he had been struck by
lightening. "I've got it. I now know what happened. I'm going to
leave now, but hopefully when you see me again, you'll be reunited with
your family and friends. I promise I'll do everything I can."
**********************************************************************
Barclay woke up so quickly than the last time, that it took Deanna by
surprise. "Reg, I didn't..." She never got to finish her sentence, for
Barclay had gotten up and rushed out of the room very quickly. As he
was rushing to turbolift #7, he tapped his commbadge and commanded the
computer to locate Captain Picard and Mr. LaForge.
"Captain Picard and Mr. LaForge are not on board at this time," replied
the female voice of the ship's computer.
Barclay knew then, that they were on the planet below. 'Well, that’s
perfect then,' Barclay thought to himself as he made his way to the
transporter room. "Please beam me down." Barclay had said as he
whizzed by the crewman on duty.
"Aye sir. One to beam down." Crewman Johanna activated the controls.
Barclay was always a little nervous when transporting, but today he had
too much on his mind to worry about little things, like transporter
psychosis. Moments later he was on the planet Idlya and spied the
captain talking with Geordie and Data. "Oh good, you're all here. I
just got finished talking with Aylanda and I now know what happened. As
everyone was entered the machine to go into stasis, there was a
malfunction in the dematerialization relays. I didn't understand at
first what could have happened, but when the little girl told me about
the explosion, then I realized it had to be the dematerialization. It's
consistent with the burns I found a few days ago when I was powering
this machinery up. Of course, all mater/transmater devices are
automatically shut down when a fault occurs, this one being no
different. She said the people behind her in line disappeared. So that
means she had completed the dematerialization phase, but didn't make it
to stasis. The ones behind her got caught in the blast and would have
had their molecules splattered among the atmosphere, since they were in
the dematerialization process at the time. A very horrible way to go.
Aylanda must have seen this, so that is probably why she's afraid to go
back in. This was supposed to materialize everyone again, but with the
explosion, that was no longer possible. At least automatically, that
is. We should be able to complete transfer manually. That is if Mr.
Data has figured out the instructions. Aylanda must have seen what
happened to the others. No wonder she's afraid to go back in. If we
can reverse the procedure, everything should be as it was before.
Aylanda would also materialize normally."
Captain Picard was very ecstatically happy with this news. Data got to
work immediately on reversing the procedure and returning life to this
planet as it should have been done decades ago. Barclay waited
anxiously in building L2 for word on the materialization of it's people.
Two hours later, men, women and children were piling into the large
room. Barclay kept his eyes peeled, but still didn't see her. Another
hour went by and he was getting nervous, that perhaps he was wrong.
That it was too late to save Aylanda after all this time. He sat down
at one of the smaller tables in the room and put his head down. He
thought he heard his name called and figured he had fallen asleep. Then
a soft, small hand touched his shoulder. He looked up and saw her. The
mouth formed the biggest smile possible. He scooped her up in his arms
and hugged her ever so tightly.
"I'm so happy you made it." Barclay said while putting her back down.
"Me too. I even remember my family and friends. Look," she pointed
over to the fireplace. "There's my mom and Uncle Fredil."
Barclay spent the rest of the day getting to know her and her family.
The elders of the planet thanked the captain over and over, until he
could find some excuse to leave the welcoming party. The next day the
Enterprise made ready to leave. With the people back on their home
world, there was nothing left for them to do.
**********************************************************************
That was two weeks ago. As Deanna had promised him. There were side
effects to the dream machine. Barclay had developed a horrendous
appetite, that was followed by three days of REM sleep, and that was
followed by insomnia. Though he no longer had the bad dreams, he just
couldn't sleep. Deanna had told him that would pass soon. So here he
was spending another night walking up and down the halls. Maybe
tomorrow night, will bring sleep. Hopefully, no more side effects. At
least he was getting his exercise in walking up and down all night.
The end.
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