“Believe it.  We opened with an offer for assistance, and we were told in no uncertain teams to get the hell back, or they would open fire.”  The captain of the Atascadero was on the viewscreen of the Douglas bridge, a look of frustration etched on his face.  “We asked why, and they started a countdown.  Our sensors detected some kind of planet-based defense platform inside and outside the city.  It’ll come as no surprise to you that the technology is incompatible with the colony’s current level.”

Captain Helena Dread drummed her fingers on the arms of her center chair. ” Do you have any ideas on why they’re so hostile? The last report we had was that they were desperate for help.”

“They weren’t willing to share when we asked.  They looked a little nervous when we did.  We suspect something or someone has changed the trajectory of the colony – the mapping we had from just under a year ago compared to what we saw today – significant unexplained growth in structure and borders.”

Dread turned to her executive officer, Commander Milton Ford. “Sounds like we found her.”  She returned her attention to the screen. “Thank you, captain. We’ll see if they listen to us. You can drop a system back behind with the Hopkins if they decide to go from threat to action.”

“We’ll be monitoring, Douglas.  Good luck.”

Dread turned to Ford, “She’s been busy.”

Milton visibly grimaced, “Whatever we thought we’d find, she’s out-maneuvered us.  Atascadero’s observation about them being nervous with deeper questioning tells me her hold on them could be partly by force.  Her experiments took a turn for the desperate the farther she fell from being able to return to her perfect sample.  Whatever she found here must have convinced her that they offered the best chances at success.”

Helena stared at the screen, the system small against the vastness of space.  “We need to find an answer for Fowler. Doctor Ahon is probably the only one who can get Vocast out of her head.”  She grumbled, “It’s also pretty clear she’s holding this small colony hostage.  Helm, intercept course with the planet.”

“You are not welcome here, Starfleet.  I thought we made that perfectly clear to the last ship who was just here!”

Dread stood before the center chair, “I’m aware of your experience with the Atascadero.  We’re acquainted.  I’m Captain Helena Dread of the Federation Starship Douglas.”  She waited a beat, her eyes widening in expectation.

“I’m Charles Loftwood, the colonial governor.  We have no need for you.  You can leave.”

Helena stood, focusing on the man, “Truthfully, if you don’t want us around, we’ll be on our way. There is just one minor issue we need to clear up, Governor Loftwood.  I’m looking for a doctor – and not just any doctor.  Her name is  Doctor Galdrid Ahon.  We have reason to believe she’s ended up in this system recently.  We just want to talk to her.”

On the screen, Loftwood froze at the mention of the name.  He muted the channel and looked to be arguing with someone off to the side.  At first, it appeared to be quiet, but it became more animated until the face of the governor bloomed red.  He unmuted the channel, “I don’t know who you are talking about.”

“She’s in the room with you, isn’t she.” Dread stepped forward, “Doctor Ahon.”  Lockwood’s eyes widened in fear, and he stumbled back as a figure stepped into the light.  She was old, but her eyes burned bright blue as she hobbled into view.  She stooped, and a gnarled stick helped her move.

“You have quite the nerve, Starfleet.”  Her voice was raspy and deep.  And those eyes burned through the screen.  “These people told you they do not need your meddling or services. I provide them what they need.”

Dread stared back at the woman, unbowed, “At what cost, Doctor?”

A sly smile crossed Ahon’s lips. “It is a deal they are willing to make and accept.  I can only imagine you found my lab and the bodies.  I must be utterly fascinating to you.”

“I’m not sure that’s the word we would use…or that your people would use.”

“Our home is dead.  I have no people.  They had no vision.  No dreams.  No passion.  No desire to perfect.  They died in service to keep things the way they were.  They deserved their end.”

Helena sighed, “We’ll deal with your crimes eventually, Doctor Ahon. At the moment, we require your expertise.”  She explained the situation and said, “I can assure you JAG will not discuss any clemency in the face of your acts.”

The eyes of the old woman flew open, “You have one of The Sacred Children?”  She muttered to herself as she worked backward through her memory, “This…Vocast you speak of…yes.  I sampled from them so long ago.  Someone else had created them…masterful work.  I searched briefly for them…but the trail was long gone.  I sampled from so much. So many lifetimes.”  She turned to the screen, “I could lie to you and tell you that I can fix or help her…but I cannot.  The Sacred Children…they were so perfect…so beautiful…but I built measures to keep them from being tampered by anyone but me.  Upon their twenty-first birthdays, they became masters of their destiny.  I had imagined them being by my side as I swept worlds into my influence, spreading my perfection to every end of the universe.  Even I had to recognize that I would need to stop fiddling with their structures eventually.  You must know that, Doctor to Doctor.”  Her eyes glittered, “Yes, I know who you are, Captain Dread.”

Helena tightened her fists and released them, practicing every method she knew to calm her nerves that were threatening to explode into a multiple warp core breach on this woman.  “Then you know this is over.”

“I could threaten to harm these people…hurt them until you leave…but I know you will come back.  You always come back like the cockroaches of the galaxy that you are—meddling bastards.”  She glanced over, her eyes frowning, “What are you doing…pointing that thing at me?  I can snap my fingers and end your children – every last one of the ungrateful sniveling little rats!!  Do you understand my power?” She straightened up her posture and began to tap at her stick, ”Maybe I should demon-”  There was a sudden flash from behind her as she screamed and crumpled to the ground.

The face of Charles Loftwood came on screen, an ornate blaster in his hands, “Stun her again!  Keep the old lady down!”  Gone was his meek bluster as another blast crashed against the doctor, a whimper gasping from her body.  He searched the screen, “Captain Dread?  We need your help. She has our children somewhere…and she’s…that stick of hers is a remote.  I’m sorry for what I said earlier…it has been a long year.”  Tears formed at the edges of his eyes, “I don’t know if we could have gone on much longer…she’s taken so much from us.”

Helena’s mouth was open in shock, but she recovered quickly. “We’ll bring our two support ships to bear, Governor Loftwood.  Is there anyone else loyal to her?”

“At her compound on the next planet over.  Twenty or so.  Our children are there…all of them.”

Dread felt her heart grow hot with righteous indignation, “You leave them to us, Governor.  Our people are on their way to you now.”  He gave a quiet nod of thanks, and the channel closed.  She turned to her XO, “Get Wyatt down there with security – I want her secured in every way imaginable.  Then move on the compound.  Quickly.”  He headed for the turbolift while she made the order official, “Get Hopkins and Atascadero back here on the double.”  She stared at the screen.

What a mess.

And still more questions than answers.