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Sub Space 9207_C05
Soong scowled at the communicator ring and fingered it gingerly. He
looked up again at Picard who was waiting patiently at his side. "I
suppose the sooner we begin this, the better. But I can't have all of
you underfoot. You'll just be in the way."
"Understood, Doctor," replied Picard. "If the Enterprise can provide
any assistance in the way of personnel or materials..."
"Yes, yes!" said Soong grumpily. "I'll ring a dinner bell if I need
anything!"
Picard smiled inwardly and motioned for Geordi to return with him to
the ship. Geordi was standing protectively over Data's prone body, and
turned reluctantly in the direction of the captain.
Soong pointed a gnarled finger. "No! You stay, Mr. LaForge. You
might be handy to have around here."
Geordi had hoped he would be allowed to help. He glanced at the
captain who nodded his approval. "Keep me apprised of the situation, Mr.
LaForge," said Picard as he tapped his comm badge, then disappeared in the
transporter beam.
The old cyberneticist sighed deeply and looked around the room. It was
empty, save himself, Geordi and Data. "If we're going to work together,
Mr. LaForge....I can't keep calling you that. What did you say your first
name was? Gordon? George?"
"Geordi, Sir."
"Yes, Geordi!" said the old man, eying the engineer intently. "Well,
as I was saying, if we're going to work together on this project, I'd like
to know why you've taken such an interest. Curiosity? Pet project? What?"
"Data is my friend, my best friend," replied Geordi defensively. "And I
owe him one. You see, I was the one who helped him implant the chip when
he insisted he would do it, with or without my help. If I'd been much of a
friend, I should've figured out a way to talk him out of it."
"Mmmm, I see," said Soong, thoughtfully. "Don't take it too hard. As
I mentioned before, you had no way to detect the anomaly in the chip once
Lore's programming compromised it." He paused to look at Geordi with an
appraising eye. "It looks like Data's not just a machine to you, either.
That's good. That's very good. You say that Data actually announced he
would try to insert the chip himself, even if you wouldn't help him?" Not
waiting for a reply, Soong wheeled his chair over to Data's side and looked
into the android's face. "My boys always did have a stubborn streak in 'em
a mile wide. Must've gotten that from their old man," he said with a wink.
Geordi grinned back and nodded affirmatively. It was the first time
he'd smiled since this whole thing started. Neither of the men noticed the
silent approach of a third person who stood in the corner, watching.
"Father," Seth said finally. "May I speak with you alone?"
Soong wheeled around with a start. "Dammit, Seth! I've told you about
sneaking up on me like that!" Softening, he nodded toward Geordi and said,
"You're among friends, Seth. I think you can speak openly around Geordi
here." Seth hesitated, looking at both Geordi and his father. "C'mon,
boy! Speak up. Cat got your tongue?"
"No, father," Seth replied. "Felines have nothing to with it. It's
just that I... I am not certain I wish to give up my life to save my
brother."
Soong sat dumbfounded. Geordi was equally stunned into silence.
Neither of them had any idea that Seth knew there was a strong possibility
he would have to be sacrificed to save Data.
"If I had to give up my life to save you," Seth said to Soong, "I
wouldn't hesitate to do so. But him," he motioned to Data, "I don't even
know him! And if something happened to me, who would take care of you?
Your continued health and well being is more important than this android.
Therefore, I will not die to save him!"
Soong tried to reason with Seth. "No, you don't understand! There's
a chance that you won't even be damaged. Mr. LaForge here has come up
with a possible..."
"He's not a cyberneticist!" Seth interrupted. "What does he know?"
Seth started pacing the room in an agitated fashion. Soong had never seen
him like this. "My life is too important to risk because you could come
to harm if I die. I won't be a part of this!" he said finally, and sat
abruptly in a nearby chair, his arms crossed and his face grimly defiant.
Soong grumbled under his breath as he wiped a hand across his brow. "If
I could live long enough to build another android, I'd damn sure build in a
stubborness lock-out program...."
Lwaxana stared at Fajo. Now was the time.
"You think I'll eventually side with you because Ardra is obviously
one step away from killing us both," she said. He sat up, startled. "Yes,
I can understand every little thought in your head," she said, waving her
hand at him, "and that goes for Ardra too. She took a little more time
to read; but when I'm cooped up in a ship this long, even con artists
like you two can't keep your thoughts hidden from me if I put some work
into it." Fajo opened his mouth to speak, but she said, "Hush. Let me
tell you. Yes, I know the codes. I know our guard is dreaming about an
Andorian woman he loves right now. And, I know your plan. Well, there
are some problems with it. Here's what Ardra wants to do..."
Ardra sat frustrated and irritated in the command chair while her crew
carefully avoided her. She felt powerless drifting in this blinding
cloud, as though any minute her ship might... bump into something
unexpected and unwelcome.
Just then, a signal came from her 'guests'. They wanted to confer with
her on the bridge. Might as well let them; only that ridiculous woman had
better stop whining about everything. Today was not the day to step on
Ardra's toes. After a few more minutes simmering in her chair, the bridge
door opened.
"Ah, my friends, what are you bothering me about right now?" Ardra
said, standing to face them. "Fajo, have you decided to play the game like
a good boy? I want you to contact those pirates before we run into them."
Fajo grimaced. "Ardra, they will *not* want to speak to me. They're...
angry at me for some misunderstood business transactions. I keep telling
you..."
"And I keep telling you that you're our only link!" Ardra snarled.
"You know the frequencies they use to transmit messages; you know their
passwords and codes."
Lwaxana stepped forward. "And *you* know that they want Fajo's head
on a pain stick. How much did you think they would give you for him?"
Ardra turned to her, shocked. "Hmmm... free passage to Federation space,
on the other side of this cloud."
Fajo was enraged. "You lying, evil woman!" he yelled.
Ardra drew back. "No... she's... I never..."
Lwaxana smiled. "And you, Fajo, did you really think she picked you up
in the first place because of your good looks?"
"NO!" Fajo blurted.
"What?!" Ardra said. "What a ridiculous idea!"
"I did NOT" Fajo said.
"Did too," Lwaxana said. "While Ardra thinks... what? What is this
little man thinking?" she gestured to Daine, the sole bridge crewman
present. "You don't find Ardra attractive at all, but you figured she
would... what? With your *what*?"
Daine cowered in his chair.
"OFF MY BRIDGE, DAMN YOU!!!" Ardra screamed at him. He scurried out of
his chair onto the floor and ran onto the turbolift. She turned to
Lwaxana, but the telepath was way ahead of her. "You had hoped... but,
what's that, Fajo? I *don't* think you're right about Ardra's... sexual
drives. What a disgusting thought!"
"No... no...," Fajo stammered as Ardra turned purple.
She pointed at him, glaring, and demanded: "Tell me! What...
exactly... did it think!"
Lwaxana murmured something to her. She spun around to face a cringing
Fajo.
"It's not true," he whimpered.
"Is too," she hissed. "You filthy, little - "
Lwaxana chimed in, "Neither of you intended the other to live through
your plans."
"Not true," they said in unison.
"Fajo wanted to get your ship from you, and leave you dead," the
Betazoid said. Fajo began to back away from the command chair towards
the turbolift. Ardra paced after him. "Admit it," said Lwaxana. "You
wanted to kill her when you came on board."
"No."
"Yes."
"And you were afraid he would know your real name is Bubbles. How
could anyone take you seriously with that name?"
"N-N-"
"Wow. That's true, isn't it? I can see it in your face."
"And Fajo, you want to kill Bubbles right now."
"Uh..."
"But you can't, can you? How frustrating."
Ardra laughed at that.
"Ardra thinks she has you as her slave," Lwaxana said. "But she's got
it all wrong, doesn't she?"
Ardra turned and frowned at her just as Fajo reached up and stung his
captor with a stun rod he had taken from the sleeping guard. Just then
Lwaxana drew out the vials Fajo had taken from Kortu from beneath her gown.
"Foolish woman," Lwaxana smiled down at the comatose body. "Never
underestimate a Daughter of the Fifth House."
A few 'adjustments' later, and the crew was alerted that Fajo had
assumed control of the ship and the vials of plague, with Lwaxana advising
him that they had acquiesced to the change in command. She was also able to
tell him that there were no pirates in the immediate vicinity, unless they
were Ferengi, and that Kortu's fleet were ringing the perimeter of the
cloud where they had entered, but some few ships, more than two she
thought, had followed them into the muck.
"Very well," he muttered. "We have to head straight out of here as
fast as we can and hope we don't stir up any notice. Once we're out the
other side we're in patrolled Federation space.
"Fajo," she said, shaking her head, "You want to use me and my daughter
to get to the Enterprise. Why would you want that ridiculous robot? I
won't help you, you know that. How could you trust me? I might lead you
in any direction. I know everything you think when you think it."
He turned to her. "Madam, let's just get to Federation space. Then,
we'll discuss what to do." He decided to check the library for any
information on shielding thoughts from telepaths, knowing all the time that
she 'heard' him think even that idea. No choice, no problem. "Warp
whatever you got!" he told the engine room, and the ship barreled through
blind in the dense cloud.
Geordi yawned, sat down on the bunk, and began to remove his boots.
It had been a long day of peering at cybernetic parts and poring over
computer displays, and while he got plenty of that working in the
Enterprise's engine room, he suspected himself of being weakened by the
strange planet's musty air.
Abruptly, he heard the sound of a sharp knock on a wall. It was
Seth, politely requesting entrance into Geordi's makeshift guest
quarters, even though the closest thing he had to security was a red
blanket hung from the partitionway.
"Come on through, Seth," grunted Geordi as he took off his other
boot.
The human-looking android gently moved the blanket aside and walked
in. "Are your accommodations adequate, Commander LaForge?" he inquired.
"Yes, Seth, they're fine. Thanks."
Seth took a step closer, hesitantly. "Commander... I wished to
apologize to you for my outburst earlier this evening."
"Don't worry about it," said Geordi, waving away the apology. "You
were upset."
"Yes," agreed Seth. "It was impolite even for a human. As an
ostensibly rational android, I was doubly remiss." He walked up to
Geordi's bed and looked at him with oddly curious eyes. "I also wished
to ask you a question concerning our work."
Geordi stifled another yawn. "Couldn't it wait until morning, Seth?"
"Objectively, yes," considered Seth, "but then I am not an
objectively thinking being."
"All right then," acquiesced Geordi. "Shoot. I mean, go ahead and
ask."
Seth paused for a second, then asked, "Do you believe that I should
submit to my father's wishes and proceed with the matrix transfer?"
Geordi shook his head, not in denial, but in calm frustration.
"Well, Seth, you know. I'm not an... 'objectively thinking being'
either. I mean, Data's my best friend. I'd give my own life if it
meant saving him, and I know that he feels the same way. I'm afraid
that I'm not exactly the best person to answer that question."
"But I believe you are," insisted Seth. "You know Data. I do not.
Is his life worth more than mine?"
"Whoa," said Geordi, putting his palms out defensively. "It's not
that simple, Seth. You can't compare lives like they were elements in
an equation."
Seth blinked. "Then how would you compare them?"
"You don't!" said Geordi. "That's the point. You work to save BOTH
lives - you do that until YOU can't work anymore. At least that's how I
was taught. And if you happen to lose one... well, you accept that
loss. You don't choose it."
Seth considered for a few seconds. "How lucky Data is not to have
emotions," he murmured, to which Geordi emitted a derisive snort.
"Look, Seth," he said. No one can tell you what to do, not even
Dr. Soong. You're a sentient emotional being. What do your emotions
tell you?"
"That's just it, Commander," replied Seth. "The information from my
emotion processors contradicts that from my logic circuits. I find it
difficult to reconcile the two."
"Join the club," said Geordi, with wistful sympathy. "Whatever you
decide, though, Seth, it has to be your decision."
Seth stood silently for such a prolonged moment that Geordi began to
suspect some sort of program loop. Finally, the android spoke.
"I trust your judgment as an engineer, sir," said Seth. "I will
undergo the software matrix transfer."
"What if that doesn't work?" asked Geordi, eyebrow arched.
Seth paused only a beat. "I will then willingly undergo the
hardware transplant -- on one condition."
"And that is?"
"If I die, then you, Commander, must do everything in your power to
persuade my father to leave this planet with you on the Enterprise."
Picard stalked onto the main bridge from a side turbolift. Riker
had already relinquished the center seat.
"Has the other vessel answered our hails yet?" he asked sharply.
"Negative," answered Riker.
"Still no identification match in our records," reported Worf from
tactical. "The ship continues to power up its weapons and shields."
Riker's eyebrows raised. "A little slow, aren't they?"
"We have no idea what they're up to, Number One," replied Picard
warily. "I think a little prevarication is in order. Ensign loDonnal,
raise the shields."
"Aye sir," answered the Gelgian ops officer in a thick crusty
accent.
"The ship is now apparently at full defensive status," reported
Worf. "Incoming message."
"On screen."
On the Enterprise's main viewer appeared a vaguely humanoid alien
with rubbery orange skin and fiery red eyes. "I am Pi'lor of the
Surinon stellar exploration armada," he said. "And you are Picard of
the Federation ship Enterprise."
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, sir," said Picard in his
best emmissarial tone. "What exactly do you want of us?"
"I have traveled very far to come here, Picard," rasped the alien.
"I seek lost property. The android called Data. He is mine."
Deanna Troi made up her mind to go to the bridge. She had felt the
strain of Data's problem had been weighing heavily in the captain's mind.
He had refused to speak of it to her, but perhaps her presence on the
bridge would be of some benefit to him. The doors of the turbolift opened
and she stepped out onto the bridge to be met by the face of a creature she
had never encountered before. His belligerance buffetted over her as she
sank into the chair to the captain's left.
The orange skin covering the face of the Surinon commander faintly
rippled and his eyes gleamed fiercely as he spoke. "Well, Picard?
Where is my property? I see Data not." The Enterprise's universal
translator did its best to relay the words and intent of the alien's
language, but the results sounded archaic and almost comical. Still,
the bridge crew had no trouble understanding that this Pi'lor was dead
serious in his claim on the ship's second officer.
Picard settled back in his chair, trying his best to look nonchalant.
He matched the tone of the Surinon and replied, "Pi'lor, may I inquire
as to the legality of your claim on the android?"
"Proof you wish, Picard?" sneered the Surinon as the folds of his face
deepened with every word. "I need not legal documents! My words that he
is mine is proof enough!" he announced disdainfully.
Picard needed to buy time. "Pi'lor, I will speak with Mr. Data
regarding your claim. I cannot deliver him to you without his expressed
permission. I'm sure you can understand that..."
"Produce my property or from you I will take it!" Pi'lor interrupted.
The transmission ended and the starfield once again filled the viewscreen.
The captain spoke while continuing to gaze at the screen. "Well!
Opinions, anyone?"
Deanna answered first. "He's supremely confident, Sir. And extremely
dangerous. He is fully prepared to retrieve what he honestly believes is
rightfully his. His anger was quite evident."
Riker's thoughts raced, trying to pick any memory of the Surinons from
his brain. He came up empty. He almost directed a request to Data to
relay any information about this race, but caught himself at the last
moment. "Computer. Is there any information in Starfleet's records on
the Surinon stellar exploration armada?"
The computer replied in a rich contralto, "The Surinon stellar
exploration armada originated in the Parataan Sector. There has been no
contact since their brief encounter with a Federation colony thirty-five
years ago in the Omicron Theta system. Further details are unavailable
since most records were lost during the destruction of that colony by the
Crystalline Entity."
Riker and Picard turned to each other simultaneously. "What?" said
Picard incredulously. "But what were the Surinons doing there? The
Parataan Sector is clear across the galaxy from Omicron Theta!" Picard
turned his attention back to the computer. "Computer, relay any additional
information, however fragmented, on both the Surinons and one Surinon in
particular named Pi'lor."
"There is some information indicating there was a dispute involving the
colony and Kyhak'ja Pi'lor, a Surinon scientist," the computer replied.
"There is no further information available."
"Scientist, eh?" pondered Picard. "His tone sounds more like military
to me." He turned to Riker. "I'm going back down to the planet to have a
word with Soong. He's the only colonist left and may be able to provide
some insight. Keep me apprised, Number One," he announced as he strode
toward the turbolift.
"Aye, Sir," replied Riker with a grimace. "Mr Worf, keep monitoring
the Surinon ship for any hostile action." "I just hope Dr. Soong can tell
us what our orange-faced friend out there is up to," he said to no one in
particular.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the conflict occurring in the skies above
them, several people on the planet surface were busily dealing with a
conflict of their own. The morning sun glowed cheerfully through the
skylights of Soong's laboratory, reflecting off the pristine, shining
tools at the scientist's disposal. The lab, cluttered with decades of
paraphernalia and artifacts collected throughout Soong's long life, was
perpetually jumbled and in seeming disarray. Seth had tried to keep it
in an orderly manner, as was his way, but had given up (with a feeling
of decidedly human exasperation) on all but Soong's equipment. The old
man constantly belabored the android with complaints that once the place
was clean, he couldn't find anything, dammit!
The hopes of a new morning were not reflected in the occupants of
the room. Grim faces surrounded the two androids, both linked together
by a black umbilical attached to connectors on the sides of their
heads. Seth was conscious and aware but had been placed in passive
mode. He was quiet and patiently still, almost the mirror of his
insensible brother. Geordi watched the computer terminal intently,
checking for any anomalies in the software matrix transfer. Soong's
chair whirred back and forth over the worn floor in front of his two
'sons,' in a mechanical equivalent of frantic pacing.
"Doctor, I don't know what kind of power source runs that chair of
yours," Geordi said half-jokingly, "but you're going to wear either it
or the floor out!"
Soong said nothing but continued to 'pace,' his movements followed
constantly by Seth's unblinking eyes. From time to time, the old man
would glance at the terminal and mumble something incoherent. The scene
remained unchanged for hours. Geordi left to stretch his legs on
occasion, returning to find Soong wearing the same rut in the floor.
Finally, after what seemed like days to the Enterprise's chief
engineer, Soong flicked a switch and removed the cable from its
couplings. "The transfer is complete," Soong announced. "Let's see
what we have here," he said as he reached for the switch on Data's back
which would bring the android back to life.
Data's eyes opened and blinked rapidly a few times, as if his
systems were resetting. Soong quickly moved his chair out of Data's
line of vision and motioned for Geordi to approach his friend. Geordi
came to Data's side hesitantly. Data should be sitting up and asking a
million questions by now, but he was motionless. The only thing
animated about the android were his eyes, which rolled from side to
side, unfocused and unseeing.
"Data?" asked Geordi quietly. "Can you hear me, pal? Do you know
who I am?" Data's head cocked at the sound of Geordi's voice, but it
seemed he could not fathom the source of the noise. For to Data, that's
what it was: incomprehensible noise. He opened his mouth as if to
speak, but no words came forth. There was a stream of high-pitched
garbled squeaks coming from his mouth instead of the words of greeting
Geordi had hoped for. Geordi looked over at Soong who looked a hundred
years older.
Soong sadly shook his head and motioned for Geordi to deactivate the
android once more. "The damage was too extensive," he said sadly. "It
appears that his condition has disintegrated too far for the software
transfer to make any difference. I was afraid of that..." His voice
trailed off into a long sigh. Seth looked on in silence, his face
masking the thoughts going through his positronic brain. His eyes met
with his father's, but no words were spoken. They were not necessary.
Suddenly, Geordi heard an odd computer chime-like noise coming from
somewhere, and a deep voice announced, clunkily, "LAB INTRUSION BY
TRANSPORTER BEAM... ONE HUMANOID." It seemed to Geordi that the voice
sounded like Data, only twice as deep. He looked around anxiously.
The weary Dr. Soong waved him down. "It's alright, son, probably
just your captain coming down to check on my progress." Surely enough,
just as Soong finished his sentence, Picard appeared via the familiar
transporter aura from the Enterprise.
Picard walked up to the table and Data's still form. He seemed to
sense the tension in the room. "Is it over?" He looked up at Soong.
Soong nodded. "The software transfer was a failure. Now it's the
hardware matrix or nothing."
Picard approached the crippled scientist. "Doctor," he began
hesitantly, "I know you're under a great deal of pressure, but we have
another problem. A ship has appeared in orbit around this planet, an
alien ship that claims to have some kind of right to possession of
Data."
Soong's head snapped upward like a spring. "The Surinon," hissed
Soong. "Please tell me it's not the Surinon."
Not a good reaction, thought Picard. He nodded. "That is what
they've identified themselves as."
Both Soong and Seth responded with alarm. Seth hopped off the
table and retrieved some parts from a desk, bringing them to Soong. "I'm
ready, father. Here are the other tools you need for the matrix
transfer."
Soong took the tools. The motorized chair whirled around and sped
across the room. "They couldn't have come at a worse time," he said,
grabbing a small box of what were presumably robotics parts, and carried
it back to the table in his lap. "The transfer must be completed as
soon as possible, before the worst happens."
"Doctor!" said Picard sternly. "The Enterprise will protect you
from them, but I must know what is going on?"
"There's no time!" shouted Soong. "Please, allow me to finish, then
I will tell you everything."
Picard activated his communicator. "Picard to Enterprise. Number
One, status of the Surinon vessel?"
Riker's voice crackled over the line. "They're being pretty quiet,
sir. Worf is running through some tactical scenarios right now."
"Excellent," said Picard. "Contact me the second anything happens.
Picard out."
"Seth," said Soong softly. "Are you truly ready?"
"Yes, father," he replied. "I am."
"You know there's a chance... there's a chance that we can bring you
back one day," Soong told him.
Seth lowered his head. "I only want you to be safe."
Soong nodded. "Let's begin, then."
"I feel so useless," grumbled Dr. Ray Baxter.
Despite the situation, Beverly folded her arms and smiled. "That's
the third time you've said that, Ray."
Baxter looked up, a frustrated grimace exploring the creases in his
face. "Not really useless, I guess, Beverly... just listless."
"Believe me, I feel the exact same way. It has been over two hours.
But we have to wait until the nanites announce that they're through."
She leaned back and stifled a yawn. "And going over those status
displays won't make it go any faster," she said, as Baxter walked over
to the operating table, which had been rigged into a makeshift
electronics lab. On the table, amid a harrowing network of sensors and
monitors, was an infant child, deep in the dreamless sleep of anesthesia
and cushioned from all sides by snow-white padding.
"I'm looking for something else," said Baxter. "Is the translation
link to the nanite-collective working in realtime?"
"I don't know," Beverly said, standing up. "Why do you ask?"
Baxter tapped a couple of monitor keys and watched screens come and
go. "I'm wondering if we can hear them communicate among themselves
while they do the operating work."
"Are you that bored?" asked Beverly. "If I had to guess, I'd bet
that our translators couldn't handle anything the nanites have to say
to themselves."
"Well, the channel's open," said Baxter. "I guess you're right."
He sat back down.
The two doctors sat for a few minutes in silence.
Finally, Beverly spoke again. "Ray.. have you been getting much
sleep lately? I don't mean from all the late-night work we've been
doing... I mean - well, I've been thinking a lot the last few days."
Baxter turned to her. "About what?"
"Well," she said, "if this nanite operation works, we'll be saving
countless numbers of infants from the micro-Borg infection. But what
about the ones we can't save? There are now over twenty cases of
second-stage infection that are beyond our current work."
Baxter mused quietly for a couple of seconds. "Well. I don't know
about you, Beverly, but one thing I've learned working on a starbase is
that you deal with one thing at a time. My advice is, let's get a
verdict on the stage one work before we do anything else."
Abruptly, a light on the panel flashed, along with the displayed
text "NANITE COMM ESTABLISHED".
"Here's something," said Baxter, jumping up and examining the
console. "Maybe they're done." He pressed the button that responded to
the transmission.
The flat non-gendered voice of the nanite collective came over the
speaker, translated from their own micro-static language: "Operation..
is.. complete. Prepare.. to.. retrieve.. collective.. from.. organism."
Beverly and Ray both let loose whoops of excitement and hugged. "It
worked!" shouted Baxter. "Do you hear me, you little microscopic
buggers?" he yelled into the speaker, holding open the link, "It worked!
Get the hell on out of there!"
Suppressing her laughter, Beverly pushed Baxter out of the range of
the speaker, and spoke into it herself. "Clarification," she said into
it, still smiling, "Starbase computer prepared to assist collective
retrieval. Proceed with departure from host organism."
The two doctors watched the scanners for signs of nanite movement.
Seconds passed.
"Wait a minute," said Beverly, now frowning. "Why aren't they
coming out?"
Baxter's face had also transformed into a mask of concern. "Look at
this," he said, calling up a magnification of the collective's position
in the infant body. "They're moving around, but they're staying in the
same place. Looks like they're just... milling about."
The NANITE COMM ESTABLISHED light blinked again.
"Alteration.. in.. procedure..," came the nanite voice-simulation.
"Switching to.. secondary.. program.."
"Secondary program?" echoed Beverly. "What is going on?"]
"I'm reading an unusual energy surge from the nanites' position,"
said Baxter, voice rising in alarm. "Beverly!"
She squeezed her face in front of the viewscreen to see what the
problem was, but it was too late to see anything. Baxter turned to her
with a look of enormous wonder and amazement.
"Over half of the nanites just... vanished."
"It's done," announced Soong somberly. He closed Seth's eyes with a
brush of his palm. Turning his chair around and rolling softly toward
Geordi, he said, "Data should be all right now. How are the diagnostics
coming, Commander?"
"Looks like we're reading no problems on this end, Doctor," said
Geordi, hovering over Data's still form.
"Good," said Soong. "I've put in an extra set of self-testing
routines into his initialization sequence, so when you turn him back on,
he'll be a couple of minutes coming to."
"Doctor," said the approaching Picard. "You know that I can't
thank you enough for what you've done here."
"Don't bother with that, Captain," said Soong. "Just grant me one
favor."
"Name it," said Picard.
Soong began to speak, stopped, and sighed. "Data has his own life,"
he said. "A rich full life, with friends and a career - more than I
could ever have promised him. Don't interrupt that by telling Data I'm
still alive. If he comes back for me, it may mean the end of everything
Data has worked so hard for." Soong leveled his gaze. "Do that for
me, Picard. Let it be our secret."
Picard nodded. "You have my solemn word."
"That goes for you too, Mr. LaForge," said Soong, turning to look at
Geordi.
Geordi nodded as well, gulping. "I understand, Doctor."
Suddenly, there was a voice from Soong's homemade security system,
the same one Geordi had heard earlier: "LAB INTRUSION BY TRANSPORTER
BEAM... THREE HUMANOIDS."
"The Surninon," shouted Soong. "Quick, hide Data. That cloth," he
said, pointing at the wall behind Geordi.
Geordi turned, took the sheet hanging on a hook, and threw it over
Data.
Three misty violet-colored transporter beams whirled into shape at
the far end of the lab, gradually replaced by three members of the
Surinon race. Each had an intelligent individual's face and bearing,
armed with a hand-weapon and partially-armored uniforms.
The foremost one approached and spoke.
"Good day, Dr. Soong," he said in a steely rasp, eyes fixed
squarely on the seated cyberneticist. He had not yet removed his weapon
from its holster. "A long time, it has been."
Soong's gaze rose to met his. "Not long enough, Pi'lor."
"Pity me, Dr. Soong. I come merely to take what was offered -
something promised me by you a long time ago." The Surinon continued to
slowly walk toward Soong and the center of the lab.
"That's far enough," snapped Picard. "You are threatening a
protected citizen of the United Federation of Planets. I demand that
you leave at once."
The Surinon seemed to notice the presence of Picard and Geordi for
the first time. "I apologize, Picard. As before I told you... the
android belongs to me. Produce him, and depart I will."
"Explain," said Picard. "By what right do you claim ownership of
the android?"
"By right of contract!" screeched Pi'lor. He pointed accusingly at
Soong. "Guaranteed me, this human, the android as compensation for
damaged goods nearly seven nrans ago... he is legally mine."
Picard glanced at Soong without taking his stare from the Surinon.
"Doctor... is what he says true?"
"Not entirely," said Soong. "A Surinon ship crashed on the
outskirts of the Omicron Theta colony just before I completed work on
Data. Out of a gesture of goodwill, I designed a servo-unit for their
ship that would help automate things... to make life a little simpler.
It opened doors, sealed compartments.. made pretty good coffee, as I
recall."
"You promised us power!" interrupted the Surinon. "You said we
could vanquish our enemies."
"I was trying to cheer you up!" barked Soong back at the alien.
"Your crew were recovering from crash trauma; I just tried to help them
regain a little confidence, that's all. It wasn't part of any deal!"
Soong turned to Picard as if pleading before a magistrate. "I, I
half-heartedly offered Data to them if my work for them went wrong. I
wasn't serious, I just wanted to get rid of them."
"You try to renege on our contract," said Pi'lor in a dangerous low
tone. "I think we take what is ours and leave now. Everything works
out." He turned to one of his officers and muttered a brief command.
The subordinate looked down at a scanning instrument, grunted, and
nodded in the direction of one of the tables. It was the table
supporting the lifeless form of Seth.
Pi'lor strode up to the indicated table. "Here it is, my android."
He peered at Seth closely. "More than I recall, he is more human-
looking. Pity me."
Geordi moved fast, drawing his hand phaser and moving around in a
better firing position. "Don't touch him, you - "
At near-warp speed, one of the Surinon guards touched his left hip,
causing a green beam of energy to shoot out from a point on his uniform
and strike Geordi. Geordi slumped to the floor.
"Merely stunned, he is, Picard," said Pi'lor calmly. "We are not a
vicious people." He grunted another order to his officers, and they
made apparent preparations for departure.
"Wait!" said Soong. "The android is damaged. You must take me
with you!"
"Doctor!" exclaimed Picard.
"No," replied Soong. "It's clear what I must do now, Captain. If
they're going to take my.. my son with them, then.. I want to be there
as well."
"Dr. Soong," began Picard again more softly. "Are you certain
about this decision? What about your work?"
"I can take it with me," said Soong. "I trust the Surinon, Captain.
They may not look like much, but I got to know them pretty well on the
colony. They'll help me.. rebuild my son. I'll be alright." He looked
at Pi'lor. "If they'll have me," he added.
The Surinon commander stroked his ear and gave Soong a curious
sidelong glance. "Pity me, pity me," he said in a tsk-ing fashion.
"Help us, you did, long ago, Dr. Soong. Not just with your machines,
but with your words. Take you we will."
"Then it's settled," said Soong decisively. "Please allow me time
to gather my personal things... my books... "
"We'll help you in that regard, Doctor," said Picard at once.
"Thank you, Captain," said Soong. "And please.. keep in mind that
matter we discussed."
"Of course," replied Picard.
"Remain in orbit we will," said Pi'lor, "until prepared you are, Dr.
Soong. Across the galaxy we have come. A little time longer we can
wait." He nodded to his two subordinates, and as a chorus, the three
Surinon touched their respective left shoulders and disappeared in the
same swirl of violet energy that brought them.
Picard walked up to Soong. "We'll take Data back to the Enterprise.
There he will be... debriefed."
"Yes," said Soong, a little sadly. "Part of me is always going to
regret that I never gave him a proper farewell."
"He remembers you, Doctor," said Picard, smiling a little. "He'll
continue to keep you in his memory for as long as he lives."
"Well, of course he will," snapped the suddenly spritely scientist.
"I designed that memory core of his, didn't I? Come on, Picard, help me
pack. I've got a long trip ahead of me."
Lwaxana and Fajo held onto the arms of their chairs as Ardra's ship
burst through the dense Lorax nebula. Almost immediately, three of Kortu's
ships started tracking them. They were gaining quickly on Ardra's crippled
vessel. Fajo turned to Lwaxana and shouted, "Well? Do something!" His
fingers flew over the controls. "Can't you convince them that they have
to be elsewhere? Plant a thought in their heads or something?" he screamed
frantically.
"Silly man," sniffed Lwaxana, who remained nonplused. "You got us
into this mess and you can get us out. I'm not the least bit worried about
what they'll do to me. But you! You should be the one worrying."
"Worry? Why should *I* worry?!" he shrieked as he looked down at the
prone figure of Ardra sprawled on the floor beneath him, as if she could be
of some assistance.
Kortu's ships were now within firing range. Fajo moaned. Lwaxana
tensed. Ardra stirred, beginning to regain consciousness. "Well," thought
Fajo. "At least I'll get to see a look of terror on Ardra's face just
before we're annihilated." Suddenly, the ship's warp engines died. "What?"
gasped Fajo. "Wonderful. That's just perfect." He took a last mournful
look in the viewscreen at the three ships which were just beginning to open
fire. He saw the blast from the first ship and closed his eyes. He gritted
his teeth and held his breath, waiting for the end.
The first wave of phaser fire washed over the ship and dissipated
harmlessly into space. Fajo opened his eyes and discovered he was not
dead. He giggled slightly as he glanced cautiously at the viewscreen
again. There was nothing there but a field of stars. "Wha....where did
they go?"
Ardra was the first to see it. It began as a small shimmer on the wall
to her left and grew slowly into a fiery ball of light. The heat began to
grow intense as she scrambled over toward the others. Fajo could only
stare at the glowing orb and even Lwaxana was speechless. Slowly, the orb
coalesced into a definite shape. All mouths flew open as a humanoid female
appeared before them.
The being stared down at Ardra, the fire of her 'birth' still glowing
in her eyes. "Pretender! Charlatan!" she boomed. One taloned finger
pointed down at the now-shivering woman crouched on the floor. "You have
dared to take my name and use it for your own gain! You tried to steal *my*
planet! My subjects! Do you have any idea how difficult it will be for me
to convince them that I'm real again?"
"*Your* name? You mean, you're the real..." Fajo squeaked.
"Silence, insect!" the authentic Ardra bellowed. "I shall deal with you
in due time." She turned her attention back to the cowering woman beneath
her. "Do you know what happens to those who mock the power of Ardra?"
The fake Ardra could only shake her head vigorously from side to side
as her voice shriveled into a dry croak. She tried to scramble away from
the horror that lay in store for her. Ardra pointed at the pretender and
sent her spiralling upwards to the ceiling where she remained, dangling
from a support beam.
Ardra the Authentic looked down at the trembling Fajo and moved toward
him. He tried to shrink farther into the chair to safety but to no avail.
"And you!" she said dangerously. "You are no better than she. You are
nothing but a little schemer, a petty thief. I should end your pitiful
existence this instant!" She flowed around the confines of the control
room, her form dissipating and reforming as she moved. "No, on further
thought, I know what will bring you the most discomfort. I shall turn you
over to those who want you most. Shall it be the pirates who were
following you? Hmmmm.....no. There were those who had you in custody
earlier. They had first claim. It is decided, then," Ardra said brightly.
"I shall turn you over to the Federation. In fact, one of their ships is
not far from here even now. How simple. How elegant!"
Ardra the Genuine then turned toward Lwaxana. The Betazoid's dark eyes
grew wide and she managed to smile weakly in the face of this powerful
entity. "Play your cards right, kid, and you might live to see
grandchildren one day," Lwaxana thought to herself.
"And you," said Ardra the One and Only. Lwaxana tensed. "You poor,
poor thing. What an awful experience for you, my dear!" cooed the entity.
Lwaxana began to breathe again and nodded numbly. Ardra the Tried and
True continued, "I commend you for making the most of your awful abduction.
You might have indeed gotten this wretched little man wrapped around your
finger if it hadn't been for those pirate ships. There, there, dear," she
clucked as she patted Lwaxana's ashen hand. "Not to worry. I'll send you
over to that Federation ship...what is the name of it? Oh, yes. The
Enterprise. I'll send you straight into the arms of that delicious captain.
You'd like that wouldn't you, dear?"
"Y-yes!" said Lwaxana, finally finding her voice. "That would be
splendid. You know, you have no idea how horrible it's been!" Now that
Lwaxana had found her voice, she wasn't going to waste any time regaling her
rescuer with the tale of her plight. Ardra the Actual nodded and clucked
reassuringly during the next several minutes of the Perils of Lwaxana.
"And that horrible little man there," continued Lwaxana the Unstoppable,
had the gall to think he could manipulate me! Just imagine! Of all the
people to dally with! I, the Daughter of the Fifth House, the keeper of the
Sacred Chalice of..."
"Don't press your luck, dear," said Ardra the Exasperated. Lwaxana
shut her mouth immediately and awaited her fate. With a bravado wave of her
hand, Ardra the Genuine Article deposited Lwaxana and Fajo on the bridge of
the USS Enterprise. Lwaxana found herself in Jean Luc's lap, much to the
surprise and chagrin of the captain. Fajo found himself lying at the feet
of Lt. Worf, who growled menacingly at the sight of the little Zibalian.
Bubbles, heretofore known as Ardra, found herself still dangling from
the support beam in the control room of her small ship, awaiting her
punishment. Bubbles' fate was never known. However, shortly thereafter,
scientists throughout the galaxy noticed an as then undiscovered nova in
that quadrant of space. One might safely say that Bubbles went out with a
bang.
Fajo slowly got up to face Worf's growling visage.
"You are a fugitive from Federation law. I am taking you into
custody," Worf said thunderously to him.
Fajo backed away from him down the ramp to Picard's left, while the
Captain tried to disentangle himself from Lwaxana. Quickly, Fajo drew out
a dagger and advanced towards the Captain, while a tousled Lwaxana drew out
a set of vials from her robe.
"Not so fast, pipsqueak!" she said, holding the vials precariously over
the struggling Captain.
Fajo gasped, dropping the dagger in fright. "Mrs. Troi, no! Those
vials contain death for us all!" he pleaded.
At those words everyone on the bridge froze, and Mrs. Troi clumsily
managed to stand.
"Well, now, everyone pay attention. Fajo, you will go with Worf and
behave yourself." She nodded at Worf, who grabbed Fajo by the collar
and yanked him up the ramp to the turbolift. "And, um, Fajo dearie?"
she said, dangling a vial between two fingers, "You should know that
Cortez, or whoever he was, gave you a surprise with these vials."
Fajo stammered, "Captain, stop her! That liquid contains lethal
microorganisms for which there is no antidote! Please, for once, believe
me! We are in terrible danger... if she drops even one vial...!"
"Oh, you mean, like this?" Lwaxana said smiling, and threw a vial
against the wall, where it shattered to pieces.
"Noooooo!" Fajo screamed, and hugged Mr. Worf like a terrified child.
"Silly man!" chuckled Lwaxana. "There was nothing in those vials
except colored water."
The Captain drew in a deep breath. Worf unpried Fajo's fingers from
his uniform and took the turbolift to a holding cell. Lwaxana turned to
Picard.
"Oh, Jean-Luc! Wasn't that a riot! Ahh, and it is so good to be in your
company... again. Don't you agree?"
Before Picard could stammer out anything, a brilliant flash of light
surrounded Lwaxana Troi, and in the span of a half-second, caused the
Betazoid woman to vanish from the bridge. A second burst removed the form
of Kivas Fajo as well, leaving Worf's iron grasp empty.
The bridge communicator chirped.
"LaForge to Captain Picard."
Picard hesitated only an instant. "Go ahead, Commander."
"Sir, we're ready to reactivate him," said Geordi.
"I'm on my way," replied the captain. "Counselor Troi, would you join
me please?" On his way off the bridge, Picard approached Worf, who, still
confused, had returned to the tactical station.
"Mr. Worf, begin and maintain sensor scans for life readings that match
our those of our spurious guests," said Picard in a low tone. He exited
the bridge with Troi in tow.
"How much longer?" said Picard sharply.
Geordi couldn't do much more than shrug. "Dr. Soong said that it would
take a few minutes for him to return to full consciousness."
"It's been more than a few minutes," snapped Picard edgily. "If he's
not functional in a few more, I'm taking this ship to track that man down.
He can't - "
Picard was interrupted by a quick shudder from Data's form; it was what
they'd been waiting for. Data's eyes popped open. The android sat
straight up on the cybernetics table.
"Standby while I perform self-diagnostics," were Data's first words.
Then a second of hesitation and a look of puzzlement. "Intriguing. My
diagnostics have already been run." He turned to Geordi and Picard.
"Query:-"
"How do you feel, Data?" interrupted Picard.
"I am performing within normal parameters," Data answered. "I am...
fine," he added quickly.
"That sounds like our Mr. Data," smiled Picard. "Mr. LaForge, remember
what we discussed. I'll be on the bridge if you need me."
"Aye, Sir," answered Geordi as the captain disappeared into the corridor.
He turned back to Data who was eying him with great interest.
Beverly Crusher and Ray Baxter sprinted down to the communications
center in the enormous Starfleet Medical headquarters complex. When
they arrived in the primary communications terminal, they found a crowd
of twenty or so red-uniformed officers, with a few blue-shirted science
officers, clustered around the main station. They were all alternately
chattering excitedly and shushing each other.
Commander Ito emerged from the fray. "There you two are. We were
beginning to wonder if we should send the nanites after you as well."
Baxter and Crusher looked at each other. "Then it's true?" asked
Baxter urgently. "The nanites that vanished - "
"See for yourself," said Ito, indicating the wide bank of video
reports coming in from all points on Earth. The daughter of a tribesman
on the plains of Uganda... the infant son of a fisherman on the coast of
Queensland, Australia... the twins produced by a prominent political
family in Nuevocuba... and twenty others. All in undeniable stages of
remission.
"I don't know how you did it," said Ito, shaking his head. "But
somehow... Somehow."
Baxter's head shuddered as if coming out of a trance. "It was the
communications link," he said to Beverly. "The one I left open. The
nanites heard us talking about the second-stage cases, the ones we
thought were incurable."
Beverly stared at him, still not believing it. "So what are you
saying, that the nanites *teleported* around the world and cured these
other infants? How could that possibly be?"
"Energy spec analysis here for you, Doctors," announced an
approaching fresh-faced young lieutenant in gold. "No doubt about it -
those things built and implemented their own microscopic version of a
transporter. Quark-manipulation traces in the bodies of the infected
babies confirm it."
"Complete with a cellular-precise coordinate targeting system,"
noted Baxter as he read the PADD handed to him, with a numb sense of
bafflement. "That's... that's absolutely astounding."
"I'd call it a miracle," asserted Beverly.
"That's exactly what it is," said a new voice. Everyone looked up
to see the husky frame of Admiral Spirodakolis walk up. "Beverly..
Ray... you both have reason to be very very proud of what's happened
today."
"Admiral, sir..." said Baxter, nervously. "With all due respect - I
think Dr. Crusher would agree with me when I say that we can't take the
credit for this one. The nanites -"
Spirodakolis waved a cut-off gesture with his palm. "Yes, yes,
Doctor, I know. Much to our regret, though... the nanites have returned
to Kavis Alpha Two." He paused. "Under their own power," he added with
a slight sparkle in his eye.
Again, the two doctors glanced at each other.
"It would appear that the nanite colony has evolved significantly
beyond what they were two years ago," Spirodakolis said. "From what I
overheard a few moments ago, the decision has already been made to
install a permanent monitoring station in orbit around the nanite
colony, for obvious reasons. That's unofficial, you understand, but I
thought you of all people might want to know."
"Then it's over," breathed Baxter. He turned to Beverly. "It's
been quite an experience working with you, Doctor... Beverly." He
smiled. She smiled back.
"Not so fast, Ray," said Spirodakolis with an odd quirk in his grin.
"I'm not finished. Beverly, in case you don't already know, you can
stay here with us if you want to. I'm prepared to offer you a juicy
research post here in Bern along with a grade promotion to captain.
What do you say?"
Beverly thought about it for a few seconds. Earth was her true
home. She would be closer to Wesley if she remained. And the job offer
was tempting. But...
She shook her hand. "I appreciate the gesture, Admiral," she said
graciously. "But I have work to finish on the Enterprise."
The admiral nodded judiciously. "I'll get back to you on that,
then. You know you'll always have a home here. I'll have a ship
prepared to take you back as early as tomorrow night. I'm sorry to see
you go again." He turned to Baxter. "I don't suppose a chief medical
officer assignment on the Excalibur would tempt you away either, eh?"
Ray answered even more quickly than Beverly. "No way. Sir," he
added, grinning. "Someone's got to stay here and make it look like they
know what they're doing." He winked at Beverly.
"I guess that's that, then," said Spirodakolis, with a near-mock
sigh. "Good work, you two. Godspeed." He walked away.
Beverly turned to Baxter. "Well, Ray, you were saying about it
being an experience?"
"And how," said Baxter. "As for what the admiral said... don't
give up hope. I may meet you in space someday."
"And I might meet you on Earth sooner than that," said Beverly. She
unfolded her arms. "For now... how about dinner, before I shove off?"
"So that's what happened," said Geordi, letting his arms drop.
Data stared at him.
"You appear to be upset. I do not understand. You have successfully
repaired the damage from the chip from Lore. I believe it would be helpful
if you could give me a detailed analysis of your work, so that I may study
the data for later research. I-"
Geordi shook his head. "Data, I don't know what I did. I just... took
it out."
"But my circuits indicate recent repair in areas that correlate to the
chip's functioning."
"I, uh, fiddled around in there and it just...worked out," Geordi
sat down. He felt sick inside. He thought he would feel relieved.
Data came over to him, concerned.
"I do not understand your emotional reaction," the android said
quietly.
Geordi frowned. "I know, Data. I know." He turned to Data. "I was
selfish to not want you to change, Data. I know that doesn't matter to
you. But it matters to me. Now, I would give anything to let you have
your chip back, and have it work. Only, I can't help... but be glad you're
back the way you were, and that's selfish of me too." He sighed. "All
that time that you were... damaged... hey, I thought I was going to lose
you." And then I got your brother to die for you, he thought. Damned no
matter what happened.
Data looked at him puzzled. "Geordi, do not spend time being upset for
me. I am in no way discomfited by not having the chip. But I would like
to have the chip... to study, of course, since it is damaged..."
Suddenly Geordi realized that Dr. Soong had taken the chip with him.
"I.. I don't have the chip, Data. The captain wanted it destroyed."
Geordi reminded himself, for all the good it did him, that both admissions
were technically true.
Data nodded. "Very well. I shall go perform my duties, then." At that
moment the doors to the lab opened, to reveal Counselor Troi. She smiled
at Data.
"I'm glad to see you up and about again, Data," she said warmly.
"Thank you, Counselor," he replied with a quick nod. He left the room.
Troi sat down next to Geordi. He turned and looked at her quizzically.
"I don't feel anything from him," she said, not bothering to hide the
hint of regret in her voice. "He's back to normal."
Geordi turned away and stared at the floor.
"Geordi..." she began hesitantly. "There was no way for you to come
out of this without losing somebody. But Data has recovered. You must
come to terms with what you, Seth, and Dr. Soong did. I will help you as
much as I can."
Troi stood up, and walked towards the door of the cybernetics lab,
wondering if she should mention... but no, surely that was not so.
She left Geordi sitting amid the cluttered lab, alone.
A few minutes later, Data returned.
"Geordi," said Data, sounding a little surprised. "You are still
here."
"Yeah, Data," said Geordi listlessly. "Just thinkin'. What are you
doing here?"
"The captain relieved me. It was his opinion that I need further...
'rest' before returning to duty. I believe the more probable
explanation is that he is not yet comfortable with me resuming my
duties so soon after recovering from the effects of the chip."
For the first time in what seemed like a long while, Geordi smiled a
little. The real Data was truly back. "It would make me uncomfortable
too, I guess, Data - and I *know* you're all right."
Data digested that for a few seconds. "Geordi.. may I ask you
another question regarding the time during which I was unconscious?"
Uh-oh, thought Geordi. He instinctively knew that Data would
somehow find a hole in his story, and hoped to rely upon Data's trusting
nature not to have to explain it. "Sure, Data. What is it?"
"You told me that the Enterprise returned to the planet on which Dr.
Soong died, in the hopes that he may have left technology behind which
might help repair me. But you did not mention whether or not anything
was found. I was curious as to whether or not Dr. Soong left behind any
record of his work that previous Starfleet reconnaissance may have
overlooked."
Geordi looked down for a brief moment. "No, Data," he said,
swallowing. "There's nothing there now. He's - everything's gone."
Data nodded. "I see," he said softly.
The door chirped.
"Come," said Data.
In walked Kate Pulaski. After brief glance at Geordi, she greeted
the android with a warm smile. "Hello, Data."
Data looked up. "Dr. Pulaski. What are you doing on the
Enterprise?"
"Temporary reassignment," said Pulaski, with a telling twitch of her
lips. "But I have to be going soon, and I didn't want to leave without
seeing you."
"Indeed," said Data. "It is good to see you again. I regret that
you have to leave so soon." He glanced at Geordi. "You know about.. the
chip?" he asked Pulaski.
"Yes," she said. "LaForge told me everything. How does that make
you feel?"
"I do not know. I believe that I am troubled by what appears to be
a failure on my part - the decision to implement Dr. Soong's chip,
which I now believe to be a reckless error."
Pulaski's eyes searched him with an eager and familiar fascination.
"Data, you have no idea what it's like standing here and listening to
you say things like that. You've changed - grown so much since I knew
you three years ago."
"It was you, Doctor," said Data, "who told me that struggle was
meaningless without the possibility of failure, and that failure is 'the
great teacher'. I will try to remember that."
"I know you will," said Pulaski, eyes twinkling. "If what you've
done is a failure, then all I can say is, it's got to be one of the most
glorious failures anyone can dream of having. You're unique, Data.
You've got a whole new world of sensation and experience to discover.
I really envy you." She turned to Geordi. "How're you holding up,
Commander?"
Geordi smiled. "I'm doing alright, Doctor." He patted the android
on the back. "Come on, what say you two join me in Ten Forward. Baked
Marcoffian ice-fruits, on me."
The next day, Worf reported for bridge duty with his usual stiff
dedication to ship and spinal posture. And yet there was something -
some very slight, almost non-discernible something - that made Picard
suspect that Worf had been overexerting himself lately.
To be truthful, Worf felt like he'd been to Grathor and back. Every
redundant muscle in his body was aching. And there was the matter of
cleaning the mess in his quarters; servo-cleaners could handle the
dust, of course, but the scattered furniture must be righted by hand.
Perhaps he could put Alexander to work, without having to explain too
much.
Picard walked up the ramp to the tactical station where Worf was
standing. "Lieutenant, is it my imagination or are you a bit...
fatigued today?"
Worf drew himself up. "I am, sir."
Picard nodded. "This is the third time this week. If you've been
using that calisthenics program of yours on the holodeck again, by all
means, don't let me stand in your way. But it might be a good idea to
schedule a time to rest between your session and your duty shift."
"Yes sir," said Worf abruptly. "I will take your advice."
"Very good," replied Picard, and with that he returned to the
command chair.
Just then, Deanna Troi entered the bridge, looking her usual prim
and tidy self. Incredible, thought Worf; how can she look so fresh - so
unaffected, after... after....
"Counselor," said Worf, not exactly softly but in a low rasp.
Troi turned and approached him, with only a momentary instant of sly
recognition. "Yes... Worf?"
"I... must tell you something," he began, searching for the correct
words. "Our off-duty activities are affecting my performance while on
duty. With some regret, I am forced to curtail them for the time
being... as much as I enjoy them."
Troi nodded, still smiling. "That's alright, Worf. I understand.
Perhaps it would be wise to.. slow down a bit."
"I am glad you agree."
"Absolutely. But Worf..." she said, letting her voice slide down
into a whisper. She stood on the tips of her toes and spoke very softly
into Worf's ear, steadying herself by gripping his shoulder. "Not too
much," she murmured. She gave him one last smile and pertly turned
away.
Worf readjusted his sash and watched her walk down the ramp.
"This way, Facho," snapped the grim-faced security officer, roughly
herding his captive down a narrow corridor.
"That's 'Fajo'", retorted the smaller man. He vainly struggled with
the force field binding his wrists for a couple of seconds; there was an
itch on his neck.
"Yeah yeah," muttered the guard. "Nice of you to come back and
visit us."
"I'm afraid I can't take the credit for it," mumbled Fajo, more to
himself than to the guard. He still hadn't worked out what had
happened; obviously, it was the doing of the mysterious being who
called herself "the real Ardra" that teleported him to the Enterprise,
but less than a minute after that harrowing ordeal, another force
enveloped him and he found himself back at the correctional facility on
Spalo.
Well, nothing ventured meant nothing gained, as his father always
taught him. Being back in prison wouldn't be so bad; he had a few
deals he could still rely on, assuming, of course, that he still had the
same-
"What is this?" said Fajo, suddenly paying attention to his
surroundings. "This isn't my section of the facility. You're taking me
to the wrong - "
"New address," said the guard gruffly. "Guess they figured it'd be
a good idea to move you around. Here we are." He stopped at one of the
long row of cells, and deactivated the field. "You got neighbors for
right now, Fajo; the single room comes later, when one's freed up - if
you behave."
The field shimmered away to reveal a relatively spacious cubicle
equipped with the usual bare necessities common to Federation holding
cells. On one of the two bunks was seated a tall wiry man with a gaunt
expression and very little hair. He stood up at the dismissal of the
force field.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? They told me I'd have this
cell to myself," exclaimed the thin bald man.
"Settle down, you," said the security officer. "Now you two play
nice, and we'll see you at dinner time." He closed the field back and
both prisoners could hear him walk away.
The tall man turned to Fajo. "Well! I guess our captors have seen
fit to pair us together, at least for a while. What do you say we
team-up - strength in numbers and all that stuff? The name's Rasmussen
- *Professor* Rasmussen."
Fajo refused to stare at the man, and instead kept his gaze steady
with the wall. He said something under his breath that Rasmussen didn't
hear.
"What was that?"
"I said, NO MORE TEAM-UPS."
It was time for Kate Pulaski to leave again
. Picard was escorting
her to Transporter Room Three, with Deanna Troi tagging along.
"I must say, Captain, that I don't believed I've ever served a
duller three weeks as chief medical officer, of any ship," said Pulaski
wryly, with the bait-and-hook smile that Picard easily recognized. He
took it, for old time's sake.
"Is that so, Doctor? Perhaps you should take Mr. Data along with
you, if you feel that way," he said, eyes kept in front.
Pulaski grinned out of the side of her mouth. "Now, Captain, you
know I didn't mean it that way. I meant that my medical duties have
been unremarkable since I've come back to this ship - but being a
passenger on this ship is *never* dull."
"What now, Kate?" asked Troi. "Back to your old ship?"
"I'm afraid so," answered Pulaski. "I spoke with Admiral Grieg last
night, and he informs me that the refitted Repulse will be ready to
sail in six months - and that he expects me to be on it." The trio
turned right and entered the transporter room, where the on-duty officer
was waiting to transport Pulaski to the nearby starbase. "They've
probably changed the whole sickbay," snorted Pulaski good-naturedly.
"So I guess I've got some vacation time for now, but in the end, it's
back to my old home. I don't know what on earth Captain Taggart would
do without me. He's even more irascible and stubborn than you are,
Captain."
Picard's eyes rolled a little, but inwardly, he smiled. "I find
that difficult to believe, Doctor."
Just then, Data entered the room.
"Ah, Data," said Pulaski. "I suppose this little farewell party
wouldn't be complete without you. Come to see me off?"
"Yes, Doctor," answered Data. "And to thank you once again, as
well."
"Why you old sweetie. Data, I think I'm going to miss you most of
all."
"Doctor," said Picard, a little awkwardly. After glancing at Troi,
he said, with slight hesitation, "Come back any time."
Pulaski smiled. "Thank you, Captain. Tell Worf and Alexander
goodbye for me. And Data - never forget what I've told you."
"I will not, Doctor," answered Data. "Indeed, I cannot."
She laughed. "It's never too late to learn from your shortcomings
and grow past them, Data. Anyone can do it - ANYONE." She turned to
the transporter officer. "I'm ready to *beam* over. Energize."
EPILOGUE
They were arguing, as usual.
"How very like you," she said, "barging in and interfering with my
work."
"YOUR work," he nearly screeched. "They were MY territory. You
should have known that. Humans are off-limits to you now, especially
Picard and the Enterprise. They're MINE."
"I didn't do anything to Picard or his ship," she retorted demurely.
"I just sent the Betazoid and the Zibalian there. I thought it was
appropriate."
"You were mistaken," he snapped. "Any zapping that gets done on
that ship gets done by ME. You know they're going to blame me anyhow
for what you did."
"Your reputation is more to blame for that than I."
"Listen to her," he sneered. "Miss High-and-Mighty 'Ardra', booted
out of the Continuum and onto her cosmic behind seven trillenia ago,
talking about MY reputation."
"They let me keep my powers," she said haughtily. "AND I manage to
keep my nose clean. Whereas you are constantly in trouble of some kind
or another. You're lucky I don't report this to your bosses."
"I put those two back where they belong!" he said. "He's back in
prison and she's back on that dreary little happy planet with all the
other empaths. But you, my dear, had better stay away from Picard. No
one messes with him but me. We're old friends."
"I'm sure," she sniffed. "What are you going to do to him this
time?"
"Oh, I've got plans for him and his crew." He paused. "But not
right now; I'll pick the place and time later. You'll know when I've
made that decision. The whole Continuum will know."
THE END
