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Asylum of the Damned - Chapter 9

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Xephos glanced between his two groups of friends.  One, he had known for years and had taken him in as family.  The other he only knew from the few months that he had been aboard the Enterprise.  The briefing room was nearly filled to breaking point.  Of his Yog friends, Ridgedog, Lalna and Honeydew sat on one side, two of them wide eyed with wonder while the third looked pale and uncomfortable.  On the other side of the table sat Data, Geordi, Worf, Dr. Crusher and Deanna Troi sitting next to Ridgedog.  Captain Picard sat at the head, Xephos standing next to him, shifting from foot to foot waiting for the briefing to begin.

"Alright.  Explain to me again, where is the shuttle that you happened to discover on your planets surface."  Picard asked Lalna, who was nearly turned around trying to look out the viewing window.  "Lalna was it?"

"Yes Sir!  Sorry, I've never been this far into space before.  Always wanted to, but even the technology of Tekkitopia can't comapare to this!"  Lalna placed a communicator on the table.  "I've been working on this little bugger since Xephos left.  I managed to hook it up to my castle's computer, and after doing so, I picked up what seems to be a distress signal."

"Captain.  I have observed the signal Lalna has described and it seems to have come from one of our shuttle craft."  Data added.

"Why didn't we pick up the signal?"  Picard frowned.

"It is possible that the signal was too faint for our computers to pick up and we had to have been down on the planet's surface."

"I see.  Have you determined where the source is coming from?"

"No.  Its past the chunks we've discovered.  It clearly opened up new ones in the course of being there, but I know what direction its in."  Lalna smiled sheepishly.  "I've gotten a few of our friends to scout out, and they've told me that when they continue in that direction, the signal gets stronger.  It can get hard to explore with the mobs around."

"Yes."  Ridgedog positioned himself to bring the attention to him.  "I would normally be able to teleport to the set coordinates, but because we haven't discovered the exact coordinates, we have to do it the hard way."

Picard nodded.  "Very well.  What would you like us to do?"

"I'd like to use your computers to pinpoint the exact area that the shuttle is at."  Lalna told him.  "Your technology is superior to what we have, and it could help us determine the best route to get there."

"I'm not really sure what you mean by chunks."  Picard frowned, turning to Ridgedog.

"Our planet is a little strange.  Its constantly changing.  Once we visit a set area, its determined what it will be."  Ridge began.  "However, outside of what we've discovered, the planet hasn't created it yet.  Those are chunks.  So your shuttle is outside of where we've discovered.  We have to cut through chunks we haven't found yet to find it."

"Captain, I have experienced this chunk phenomenon when we were on the the planet's surface."  Data turned to the older man.  "It was quite strange, but it seems to make sense once you've actually seen it."

"I'll take your word on it, Data."  Picard turned to Xephos.  "Number one, this team you'll take may get quite big.  Are you sure you wish to take your friends?"

"Oy!"  Honeydew snapped, causing everyone to look at the clustered dwarf. "I've been sitting here patiently because I wanted to make sure you understand.  Xephos is my best friend.  We saved Minecraftia once from some bastard who thought he could take over the world.  Hell, the lad didn't even know how to make a bloody sword let alone how to save the planet.  Must have been in his memories when he crashed or something."  He shook his head.  "Either way.  If the two of us can do that, we can look for your bloody shuttle."

Picard smiled.  "That's what I like to hear.  Number one, prepare your team.  You have the briefing room."

Xephos frowned, "Am I taking everyone?"

"Yes."  Picard nodded.  "I'm sure you can manage with the eight of them."

"Very well sir."  The man left the room, leaving Xephos with the team he was given.  "Alright.  Here's the plan.  Sips and Sjin have gone out and gave us some chunks to start off with.  Its a big plains biome, so the mobs will be easily seen.  It may take a few days to find the shuttle."

"Commander, where will we transport down?"  Geordi asked.

"At the last coordinates Sips reported in."  Xephos told him.  "I've already given them to O'Brien.  We'll beam down once we've gotten whatever supplies we'll need.  Food won't really be an issue since the animals down below are easy enough to find."

"I'm ready if everyone else is ready."  Ridgedog turned to Deanna, who was looking away from the head of the table, with a shrug.  "I'll head down and get some swords ready.  Your phasers seemed to have some adverse effects when you used them last."

"I believe our phasers are fine."  Worf growled at the Reaper.

Ridgedog blinked.  "Look bone head.  I've been on this planet long before you and the rest these space cadets ever came around.  If I say don't use the phasers, I mean it.  I don't want my planet ruined any more than it needs to be."

Worf stood up with a growl, slamming his fist on the table before storming out of the room.  Ridgedog smiled, leaning back into his chair.  "I definitely need to get that beast of a man - Klingon was it - into my survival games.  That would make it even more exciting."

Xephos cleared his throat.  "Ridge.  We can discuss the next Games later.  Let's try to find this shuttle before Starfleet comes and asks why this wasn't taken care of before."

"Oh, you're no fun.  Fine."  There was a pop and he disappeared.

"Dr. Crusher, could you take Honeydew to sickbay."  He smiled at his friend.  "She can give you something to help you feel better, friend."

Honeydew nodded before leaving the room with Dr. Crusher, who smiled at the dwarf.  Xephos looked at the group he had left.  "Bring whatever supplies you wish and meet us in the transporter room in half an hour.  Just take into account that Lalna needs to pinpoint where the shuttle is.  Lalna."  He turned to the scientist.  "Go with Geordi.  He'll help you get the signal."

"Sweet!"  He turned to the technician.  "Would you mind if I asked you about that visor you wear?  I might be able to replicate the technology for Minecraftia."

Geordi looked over at Xephos.  "Sir, your friend is quite excited."

"He's like that.  Just make sure he doesn't do any experiments on you."  Xephos laughed.

"Hey, I haven't done an experiment on anyone in about a week!  And the last experiment I did was on a pigman."  Lalna pouted.  "Ridge told me no more human experiments."

Xephos rolled his eyes.  "Either way.  Meet us in the transporter when you've finished."

_______________________________________________________________________________________

"Commander.  I am picking up some fungal organisms nearby.  They seem to be moving."  Data watched the scanner as the team came near what looked like a newly loaded chunk - one that they had not discovered.  "Are these dangerous?"

Xephos smiled wide.  "Not at all.  Actually.  How far is the signal?"

"It is just past where the largest mass of these organisms."  Data told him.

"Then let's go see some Mooshrooms."  Xephos looked to Ridgedog who was creating items and giving them to the people below him.  "Ridge, can we get some bowls?"

"Bowls, coming right up.  Are we gonna milk some Shrooms?"

"Its food isn't it?"  He turned to the others as the Reaper gave them their bowls.  "The creatures you're picking up are called Mooshrooms.  Similar to the cows you've seen before, but because of the amount of mushrooms around its effected their biology.  So don't be too surprised by their appearance.  Also, the mushrooms around here are much larger than normal.  Good shelters for when you need a place to stay for the night."

The group climbed the hill, led by Xephos.  He yelped when a large red head bumped into him with a soft moo.  The red mushrooms on its back were bright, probably just sprouted.  Xephos smiled, turning back to the group behind him.  "And these are Mooshrooms.  Harmless."

Data stood next to him observing the creature that watched the android with a tilted head.  "And we are to eat them?"

"No, no.  Just milk them."  Lalna told him, already beginning the process.  "Gives you mushroom stew."

The crew from the Enterprise shared confused looks before finally finding Mooshrooms of their own to milk.  Xephos had already eaten a bowl of the stew, which relaxed the others to try it.

Deanna spoke up first.  "This is pretty good.  How did you learn about these creatures?"

"Mooshroom biomes are rare."  Ridgedog told her.  "A mushroom lover helped us learn about them.  It was easy enough.  Easy source of food."  He stretched.  "Now then.  We seem to be getting close to this shuttle, since this chunk was already found.  Keep an eye out."

Xephos nodded.  "Everyone had enough to eat?"  Each person nodded.  "Let's go."  He led them to the other side of the island, noticing the change from Mooshroom island to a tundra.  He stopped, noticing a line of torches leading from the tree line to a large red mushroom.  "There's some torches.  It might lead to the shuttle."

"Commander, could you have placed these when you crashed?"  Geordi asked him.

"Its possible."  Xephos bit his lip.  "To be perfectly honest, I don't remember much of the crash."

"Maybe finding the crash zone will allow you to regain that memory."  Data said hopefully.

Xephos nodded.  Ridgedog flew off ahead.  Lalna smiled.  "The signal is getting much stronger.  It's definitely a distress call.  Seems to be an old one too."

Xephos opened his mouth to say something when Ridgedog burst through the trees.  He stopped when he reached Xephos.  "You're still here?  But I just..."  He stopped.  "Oh, this just got interesting."

"What?"  Xephos frowned at the Reaper.  "What are you talking about?"

"Well, you're about to find out because he didn't look happy when he saw me."  Ridge turned to where he had come from.  "He had one of those phasers and fired at me.  Clearly didn't do anything to me."

"What are you going on about?"  Honeydew snapped, earning him a glare.

"Look, just take cover.  He looked really pissed."  Ridgedog snapped at them.  "Get to the tree line."

Xephos frowned, turning to the crew to tell listen when a new figure broke through the trees.  A phaser raised at the ready.

The man was the same build of Xephos, with more facial hair.  He was wearing what looked like a torn and dirty red Starfleet uniform.  Xephos blinked at the man who looked at him with a confused look.  The man's gaze drifted to the people behind him, his eyes widening.  He lowered the phaser before looking at Xephos again.

Xephos blinked at the man who sighed.  "Hello?"

"Well, that explains why no one came looking for me."  The man muttered.  "How long have you been impersonating me, Thomas?  I'll have you court marshalled faster than you can say-."

"Who are you?"  Xephos asked the man, who blinked in confusion.  The people behind him were quiet, watching the two men.

"I'm William Riker.  First Commander of the starship Enterprise.  I crashed on this planet three years ago."
Beginning of part 3. Probably only a few more chapters left.

I've been bouncing ideas back and forth how I was going to finish it, and I decided on this.

Hope you enjoy ^.^ feel free to comment

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