Chapter 8 - What Have You Done?

Once Wesley reached Philip's quarters he glanced around to make sure no one was nearby and snuck inside. Immediately his eyes fell onto the desk, where there was something plugged into the computer monitor. Wesley slowly approached it and hesitantly picked it up. He turned it over in his hands and inspected it. Quickly he deduced it was some kind of encryption device.

"Why would Uncle Charlie need this?" He muttered to himself. Then he set it back down and looked at the computer. With one final glance at the door, he turned the computer on. Computer display last activity from this terminal." Wesley said aloud, and the computer chimed in response before data filled the screen. Wesley read through it and frowned. It appeared Philips had searched the federation database for Science Base 7, specifically the incident that resulted in his daughter's death. That concerned Wesley. But then it got worse when he saw that there was a communication sent form that terminal.

"Computer display details on communication sent from this terminal."

"Access restricted. Authorisation code required."

Wesley groaned and slumped into the chair behind him, placing his chin in his palm, and then he looked up; "Computer override, authorisation Geordi-alpha-seven-seven-five." Immediately the computer replied; "Command code accepted."

Wesley knew it was bad to use Geordi' command code, but he had heard Geordi use it before in Engineering and well this was important.

So Wesley now had access, and he saw that the communication was sent to Denbar Prime.

As soon as Philips left Sickbay he headed straight for the Armoury, he knew that if Wesley was suspicious of him it wouldn't take him long to figure out what he was up to. And then Wesley would go to the Captain, and Philips couldn't allow that.

When he reached the Armoury he watched for people as he used his clearance code to get inside. Then once he retrieved a small phaser he left making sure there was a long trail for someone to follow if they became suspicious of a missing phaser.

"Computer location of Ensign Crusher" Philips called out once inside a Turbolift, as he set the phaser in his hand onto stun

"Ensign Crusher is currently on deck 7."

Philips stilled; He wouldn't be so stupid would he? "Computer what is located on deck 8?"

"Holodeck 3, Stellar Cartography, astrophysics and guest quarters." The computer replied

Philips' quarters were on deck 7. There was the possibility that Wesley was in Holodeck 3 or astrophysics but knowing Wesley, not likely."

"Computer what locate Denbar Prime." Wesley said aloud

"Denbar Prime is an M class planet located in the Androx system.." Wesley ignored the rest of what the computer said as he realised that was the same system Penarus V was in.

Then suddenly the computer displayed written communications that Philips had also sent to Denbar Prime. Wesley quickly deduced that they included the Enterprise weapon and shield frequencies, as well as that there were ships coming to intercept them

"Oh my god." Wesley uttered his eyes widening

"Wesley" Philip's voice caught Wesley off guard and he jumped up right out of the chair and came face to face with Philips.

Philips saw as soon as he entered his quarters that Wesley had figure it out, as he was sitting at the computer. He strolled forward, blocking Wesley's path to the doorway as he gripped the hyprospray and the phaser in each hand within each pocket, prepared to use either if it comes to it.

"What are you doing Wesley?" Philips asked calmly, studying him. He saw that Wesley was eyeing the door, and that he appeared scared. This was not how he wanted this to go

"What is it?" Wesley demanded as he pointed a finger accusingly at the computer screen

"Why are you snooping in my quarters?"

"You didn't answer my question" Wesley barked, glaring

"You didn't answer mine." Philips replied vaguely, but that merely made Wesley madder and he turned to leave

"Wait!" Philips yelled and blocked Wesley's path, holding up both his hands; "I can explain." Wesley knew he should immediately report to the Captain, but a part of him wanted to understand why Philips was doing this?

Wesley shook his head; "You can explain it to the Captain." He said sadly

"Ensign Crusher to security." Wesley said as he tapped his communicator. But the only response was a single chirrup. He tapped it again; "Ensign Crusher to the bridge;" But the same thing happened

Wesley felt panicked; "Charlie what have you done?" Wesley said slowly, getting scared, and stepped a few steps back.

"I…it wasn't meant to happen like this." Philip exclaimed and he started pacing. Not sure what to do. The situation was escalating. "All you had to do was finish the equation!" He yelled making Wesley jump

"What does the equation have to do with anything?" Wesley replied nervously as he started slowly edging towards the door.

"You don't understand." Philips said making the mistake of turning his back on Wesley for a second; as soon as he did Wesley bolted from the door.

Wesley ran straight for the Turbolift without stopping

"Wesley!" He heard Philips yell after him. But he missed the fact that Philips was pointing a phaser at his back. Philips hesitated, his hand shaking slightly, knowing he couldn't actually hurt Wesley. So he let him go.

As soon as Wesley made it into the turbolift and was heading to the bridge tried his communicator again; "Crusher to the bridge." Nothing; "Crusher to Captain Picard." Still nothing. Wesley quickly understood it must be affecting the whole ship, Philips must have done it when he was in Engineering earlier. Wesley was mentally kicking himself for not noticing sooner.

The doors swished open and Wesley ran onto the bridge;

"CAPTAIN!" He yelled causing everyone to look at him, and Riker and Picard to stand up; "I NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU. CHARLIE-" He started but was interrupted by Worf;

Captain! Unidentified vessels on an intercept course!" Worf yelled

"Weapons are online." Data added

Picard and Riker turned to look at the view screen; "On screen. Red alert. Battle stations. Open hailing frequencies."

"Captain-" Wesley tried again to tell them about Philips, but was interrupted again

"No response. Firing phasers!" Worf barked and suddenly the ship rocked and Wesley had to grip the metal bars at the side of the bridge to stop from falling. He felt his heart racing, as he quickly took over the conn console.

"Return fire." Picard yelled once the shaking had mostly stopped

"Captain I really need to-" Wesley started again as he turned around

"Not now Wesley" Riker interrupted sternly; and Wesley grumbled as he turned back around

"Report" Picard said

"Phasers on one of the ships offline, the other ship is undamaged."

"Open a channel." Picard said standing up

"Unidentified vessel. This is Captain Picard of the federation starship U.S.S Enterprise." Picard had to pause as they were fired on again and he was almost knocked off his feet; "Cease your fire immediately of your actions with be classified as an act of war." He continued.

"No response" Worf replied; "Shields down to 65%. Phaser and Torpedos having minimal effect." Worf said gravely

"Why are they firing on us?" Riker asked as they was hit again, just as Philips stepped off the Turbolift. No one took any notice, even Wesley as he was too focused on the battle

"I'm not sensing anything from them." Troi said slightly scared, as she could usually sense something from everyone she was nearby. What could it mean that she couldn't sense anything from these people. Philips slowly walked around the bridge, behind Worf to come up beside Wesley.

Wesley knew he had to tell them what he knew, so he tried again; "Captain;" Wesley said turning around, still not noticing Philips; "I-" But Riker sent him a small glare; "Quiet Wesley." Wesley huffed as he turned back to the conn. console and entered commands to move the ship.

"What do you mean Counsellor?" Picard asked as they manoeuvred the Enterprise and fired on both ships again

"I-"

"No." Wesley said firmly as he turned around; "I won't stay quiet I-." Suddenly the lights on the bridge went out as did all power to the consoles. Then the back-up power came online, all the lights came on illuminating the whole bridge. When that happened everyone the bridge immediately saw Wesley standing up, facing them with Philip's right arm snakes around his throat with a hyposrpay pressed against it. And was pointing a phaser at everyone else.

Picard and Riker immediately stood up as Troi gasped.

"Nobody move!" Philips yelled waving the phaser at each person

But then Data and Worf each jumped up and drew their phasers, and Worf fired, just missing Philips. Causing him to return fire to Worf catching him in the arm and he dropped the phaser and grunted. Troi went to assist him when Philips turned the phaser on her, and Riker grabbed her arm; as Philips changed the settings on the phaser

"That was just a warning. This time it's set to kill. So I'll say again. Nobody move!" Philips growled as he glared at them all. Wesley merely stood frozen, his eyes wide and his heart racing as he felt the hypospray pressing more against his neck. The only thought running through his head being. This is all my fault…