"See what?" demanded Picard.

"It's ... it's impossible to describe ... it's like a welcoming party. Sir, you've got to see it. Oswell out."

"Data and I have things under control here," said Riker. "And we'll keep trying to get a message to Starfleet."

"Counselor, Mr. Barclay," said Picard, rising from an auxiliary station. "Please accompany me."

"Yes, sir," answered Troi, anxious to see what had brought them all this way ... into such peril.

As they rode in the turbolift to the forward observation lounge, Picard rubbed his head. "Are you all right, sir?" asked Barclay with concern.

"Yes, but I think I will drop by sickbay after this. That way, Dr. Crusher won't chase me down, as she's certain to do otherwise."

The turbolift doors opened, and they stepped into a broad foyer, which led to the observation lounge and the dining room beyond. Even from a distance and a side angle, Deanna could see something she had never seen before through the panoramic window: blue sky. Normally the window was filled with stars, nebulae, or the curve of a planet-simple sky looked odd. Two members of a repair team stood gaping out the window, but they scurried off to work when they saw the captain coming.

As Troi trailed the captain to the window, her jaw succ.u.mbed to the newly restored gravity. Barclay gasped, and the captain let out a sharp breath. All three of them reached out to touch the window, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Just outside the hull of the Enterprise, the blue sky was filled with hundreds of Elaysians-flying, floating, soaring. With their billowing white outfits, they looked like winged beings from the mythology of a thousand different cultures. Some of them waved, and the three stunned observers waved back. Floating among them were small hovercraft, nets, and ropes, which Troi a.s.sumed were used for hauling pa.s.sengers. It was shocking enough to see humanoids this close to the ship at all, not to mention without s.p.a.cesuits, surrounded by blue sky, and flying.

"Now that's something you don't see everyday," said Barclay in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.

Captain Picard smiled like a boy at the circus. "They're remarkable. What a unique culture this must be. But it's a little disappointing that we can't see the crystals from here."

"What's that thing?" asked Barclay, pointing down. Deanna leaned over the wooden handrail to see what appeared to be a rocket shooting toward them. It left a long, dark vapor trail behind it, stretching out of view. But there was no flash of flame, and the object seemed too slow to be a rocket. As it drew closer, Troi realized the craft had several legs.

"Is it a landing probe?" asked Picard.

"Maybe it's a satellite," guessed Reg. "Or equipment the Elaysians need."

"At least they don't seem to be concerned about it," said the captain with some relief.

Troi was willing to believe the craft was unmanned, until she saw the legs rhythmically opening and closing. The object changed course slightly, and the vapor trail twisted around like some sort of cable. She wondered if it was an umbilical cord to the surface.

"It's ... it's moving," said Barclay.

"Yes, I saw," agreed the captain. "What is that trailing behind it? Some sort of tentacle?"

That was what it looked like now, thought Deanna. In fact, the approaching object seemed to look more organic and animated the closer it came. The spindly legs, of which there had to be a dozen, opened and shut as if pushing the tentacle out behind it. It was more like a web, she realized, a stiff web which kept pushing the gangly creature ever higher.

The being finally stopped several meters beneath the horde of hovering Elaysians. Two of the humanoids dropped down to touch the creature, which looked black and spiny, almost like a sea urchin. The newcomer sat perched atop its gently swaying tentacle, like a bird's nest atop a flagpole. From her reading and her dream memories, Troi realized she knew what the creature was.

"That's an Alpusta," she said.

"Of course!" exclaimed Reg. "It's bigger than I thought it would be. What's it doing?"

"Studying us," answered Picard. "We need to make contact with the inhabitants."

"Look, it's Melora!" said Reg happily. "I mean, Lieutenant Pazlar."

They followed his gaze to see a blond Elaysian come streaking toward them. She was gripping one of the small hoverplatforms like a swimmer grips a lap board, letting it pull her along. She turned it off about thirty meters away from them and glided the rest of the way, bouncing to a stop on the hull with her fingers and toes extended like miniature shock-absorbers.

Barclay waved, Troi smiled, and Picard tapped his combadge. "Picard to Pazlar."

Melora quickly found her combadge in the billowing white folds of her traditional clothing. "Pazlar here." It was disconcerting to hear her voice coming from the captain's combadge when she was floating only a couple of meters away on the other side of the convex window.

"This is quite a welcoming party," said the captain. "But we've taken serious damage, as you know. Do your people have an explanation about what's going on here?"

"Plenty of them, but none they can agree on." Melora lifted her arms to show the triangular sails underneath. "And, Captain, I'm sorry that I'm out of uniform, but I had to discard my anti-grav suit during the emergency. If you want to be able to fly, you'd better be able to catch a wind current. You can do it in this apparel."

"That's understandable ... under the circ.u.mstances,"

answered Picard. "But I expect you to comport yourself as if you were wearing a Starfleet uniform."

"Yes, sir." She looked around at her fellow Elaysians and the lone Alpusta. "We have representatives from the Elaysians, Alpusta, and Lipuls who want to meet you."

"What about the other three races?" asked Picard.

"Maybe in time we can meet them," said Pazlar. Troi sensed a tension in her voice at that answer, and the Elaysian quickly changed the subject. "I know I transported out, but our scientists don't advise using transporters again until we find out exactly what's causing that rift."

"The Enterprise is not fit to go anywhere at the moment," said Picard, "but we should be able to use our smaller shuttlecraft without problems. They will also give us islands of gravity on your world."

"Good idea, sir. Our Exalted Ones request that you send a small party, and that it include Counselor Troi. I wouldn't mind personally if Lieutenant Barclay also came with you."

"No transporters?" Reg asked with surprise and relief. He sounded quite debonair as he replied, "I'd be delighted to visit your planet."

Picard's combadge chirped. "Bridge to Picard!"

"Go ahead, Number One."

"We have to put up shields!"

They stared in horror at Melora and the other Elaysians, who would likely be vaporized if they put up shields now.

"Belay that!" ordered Picard. "We can't-"

Without warning, a barrage of rocks thudded into the underside of the hull, and the Elaysians were scattered by a shower of stones zooming toward s.p.a.ce. Deanna stared out the window and noted with alarm that they weren't rocks but broken crystals-dark, dangerous shards pelting everything in sight. The ship took a tremendous beating-it sounded like a rockslide was pounding the hull-and Melora barely dodged a fusillade of deadly missiles. Some of the other Elaysians weren't so lucky. They were struck in the onslaught. The Alpusta shrunk into a spiny ball and descended swiftly through the dark hailstorm on its retractable web.

The Enterprise couldn't escape, and they couldn't put up shields-they were as helpless as the Elaysians trapped in the crystal storm.

Chapter Six.

SHOOTING UPWARD THROUGH the atmosphere of Gemworld came a deadly shower of broken crystals, raking the Enterprise and hundreds of Elaysians caught in midair. Those who could reach hoverplatforms used them to escape to the nacelles and hull of the Enterprise, looking for protection. The others scattered in all directions, but there was no escape for most of them from the onslaught of dark, gleaming shards.

Reg Barclay peered out the window of the observation lounge, looking desperately for Melora in the chaos. He was unable to spot her among the scores of panicked Elaysians.

"Picard to bridge," said the captain's voice beside him. "Report."

"We're taking a beating," came Riker's voice. "The hull is holding-no breaches yet. Data says it should be over ... about now."

As abruptly as it began, the a.s.sault stopped. A few struggling chunks drifted past the observation lounge window on their way off the planet, but the worst of the crystal storm had pa.s.sed. Nevertheless, there were scores of wounded Elaysians floating in the air outside the ship, and scores more desperately rushing to their aid. It was one of the most surreal and disturbing sights Barclay had ever seen. He thought he saw Melora in the mayhem, but he couldn't tell.

"What caused that?" demanded the captain.

Riker answered, "Apparently part of the crystal structure of the planet just broke off. It acted like an avalanche, smashing more crystals and growing bigger as it rushed outward. Data is trying to figure out where the impetus came from, since there isn't much gravity on the planet."

After a pause, the first officer continued, "It looks like there was a gravity spike, perhaps caused by dark matter. We had no warning on that avalanche, and we didn't realize how many Elaysians were out there. As soon as we can, I want to clear this area and put up shields."

"There are a lot of wounded out there," said Picard grimly, "but we can open the hatches to get them. I'll contact sickbay, then I'm leading an away team to the surface. You stay on repairs, Number One."

"Yes, sir."

"Picard out."

"What can I do?" asked Counselor Troi.

"You and Barclay go to shuttlebay one and pick out a small personnel shuttlecraft. Make sure we have as many supplies and portable instruments as we can carry-we don't know what might be useful. I'll be along as soon as I can."

Reg only half heard this as he continued staring out the convex window at the desperate mayhem outside. "They ... they need help, sir."

"We'll take care of them," promised Picard. "Load the shuttlecraft."

"Yes, sir," snapped Troi. She pulled on Barclay's sleeve. "We're here to help them, so let's get going."

"Yes ... sir." Although he realized he had to go, the worried lieutenant could barely pull himself away from the scene of carnage outside the window. He couldn't pick Melora out in the swarm of Elaysians, but he had a feeling that she was all right. She had become accustomed to hardship during her ten years of service in Starfleet. All of that had to be for some reason. Maybe her experiences could help her help her planet, now when they needed it most.

"I'm coming," he said, hurrying after Troi.

He reached the turbolift just as the doors were closing, and she looked at him impatiently. She wasn't in her usual, kindly counselor mode-she was Commander Troi now, the woman who helped Data save the Enterprise only an hour ago. Now she was going to help save this ancient world of billions of sentient beings, even though their own ship was a wreck. The inhabitants of Gemworld didn't know how lucky they were to get this particular crew, thought Reg.

"Shuttlebay one," she told the turbolift computer. "You know, Reg, I understand that you care about Melora, but you're going to have to put your feelings aside if you want to help these people."

"I know ... I'm trying."

"Does she feel the same way about you?""What way?" he asked with a nervous laugh.

The turbolift doors opened at their destination, and she gave him a knowing look. "I've been there, Reg, and I know. Keep your mind on business-you'll do a better job. And you won't get hurt."

She brushed past him on her way out of the turbolift, and he sighed. Is it written all over my face?

Barclay followed Troi into the cavernous shuttlebay where it was almost as chaotic as the scene outside the ship. When the artificial gravity was cut, most of the shuttlecraft had been secured in time, but a few hadn't been. Repair crews were working on two craft that appeared to be slightly damaged, and they were inspecting several others.

Troi picked out a bullet-shaped Type-7 shuttlecraft, which looked to be in pristine condition. It would be big enough to carry supplies and an away team of up to six, but not so big as to crash into those spindly crystals at every turn. She ordered a harried work crew to get it ready for launch, and they dropped what they were doing to comply. Meanwhile, the two of them gathered up tricorders, portable forcefield generators, jetpacks, environmental suits, jackets, survival gear, and a miniature science probe that could be launched from the shuttle.

They nearly had the small craft loaded by the time Captain Picard strode into the shuttlebay, accompanied by Data. The captain looked with dismay at the damaged shuttles, but he marched straight toward them, concentrating on the job at hand.

When he drew closer, Reg could see a new bandage on the captain's neck, and he gingerly touched the bandage on his own forehead. "Been to sickbay, sir?"

"Yes, and they're filled to capacity. We've opened the hatches and are bringing in some of the wounded Elaysians. Unfortunately, we can't make them very comfortable in our gravity. Lieutenant Pazlar is all right-she's meeting us outside and will guide us down."

Barclay let out a relieved sigh and tried not look too happy. "I'm glad to hear that, sir."

"I also got a hypo for s.p.a.ce sickness," said the captain, "and I suggest you and Counselor Troi do the same."

"Even though we're not in s.p.a.ce?" asked Reg warily.

"I'll get a medkit," said Deanna.

Data stepped into the shuttlecraft, looked around for a moment, then he poked his head out. "You have done a good job of packing. We can leave anytime, Captain."

"Take the controls, Data. Begin launch sequence as soon as we're aboard."

"Yes, sir."

"We're the only ones going?" asked Deanna.

"This is all I could spare from the repair effort." Captain Picard managed a tight smile. "Even before your dream, I knew things were going too smoothly."

He climbed aboard the shuttlecraft, taking the copilot's seat. Troi and Barclay quickly followed suit, sitting in the stern among the supplies.

Reg felt a bit claustrophobic inside the cramped cabin, but it was better than using the transporter. Anything was better than using the transporter. Data ran through the pre-ignition checklist with his usual efficiency, while the shuttlebay crew cleared the area for departure. Troi gave Reg a hypo for s.p.a.ce sickness, then gave herself one.

Finally they contacted the bridge and were given permission to launch. The immense shuttlebay doors opened, revealing the unusual sight of bright blue sky beyond. Data piloted the shuttlecraft very slowly through the doors and into the atmosphere, and his three pa.s.sengers craned their necks to get a better look at their surroundings.

Above them, Reg could just make out the silhouette of the metallic sh.e.l.l, glimmering dully like a band of clouds. Elaysians no longer surrounded the ship, but Reg could see a few of them scattered in the distance, hovering warily. Below them, the view was staggering-interconnected prisms, monoliths, and archways of multi-colored crystals reached toward them like icicles, and descended deep into the planet like roots.

The intricate structures looked as if they could collapse of their own impossible size, and Barclay feared there would be more avalanches. But then he remembered that there was negligible gravity here, and these colorful monoliths had stood for millions of years. They wouldn't break unless something disturbed them ... like the thing that disturbed the other bunch of crystals.

"The pieces that hit the ship didn't look like those," said Deanna. "They were darker, dead looking."

"Then perhaps it's not widespread," said the captain hopefully.

"Lieutenant Pazlar is straight ahead," reported Data. They were already traveling slowly, and the android put them into a crawl through the skies of Gemworld. Barclay leaned forward to try to get a look, and he spotted an Elaysian gripping one of the hoverplatforms. She waved and zoomed off. To his eyes, she could have been any one of a thousand similar-looking Elaysians, and he felt a pang of jealousy. Pazlar was no longer dependent upon him to the degree she had been on the ship-now she could just fly away.

In the negligible gravity, it was easy to maintain a slow speed, and Data kept the shuttlecraft in a glide most of the way. As they descended, the levels of crystal began to look more and more like branches, growing in fractal patterns from a magical bejeweled bush. Among the growth were vinelike strands, which Data said were for nourishment. Reg couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in this immense wonderland, like a fly lost in a blossoming rosebush.

They pa.s.sed swarms of Elaysians, who had encampments among the crystals, expecially in the crux of the larger cl.u.s.ters. Netting and ropes kept their meager belongings and their children from drifting away, and the smooth columns and prism walls afforded them shade and shelter.

Less frequently, the shuttlecraft pa.s.sed enclaves of Alpusta, which made Reg shiver involuntarily because they looked like nests of spiders. The spiny, multilegged creatures bobbed and bounced on their retractable webs as if they were agitated at the mere presence of the shuttlecraft. The two humans and the Betazoid tried not to stare, but they couldn't help it.

Clutching her hoverplatform, Pazlar zoomed ahead of them like a humanoid missile, and Data had difficulty keeping up with her. As she swooped among the glittering archways and prisms, Reg looked worriedly for telltale signs of the black crystals that had broken off, but he didn't see any.

At one point, they pa.s.sed a vast agricultural level, where greenery grew in moss-like clumps atop the crystals. Data explained, "The Elaysians grow food hydroponically in the gelatinous form of the crystal. They use the inedible parts of the plant to make their ropes, nets, and clothing."