Chapter 3: Puppet

"So you see Captain, we believe there is a planet, or at least a star of some description, in this sector. It is simply cloaked," B-4 intertwined his fingers, in the same way Data used to, as he sat at the table in the observation lounge.

"Mmm," Captain Picard nodded and turned to Geordie, "Any signs of life Mr. La Forge?"

Geordie shook his head, "We're unable to tell, Sir. The cloaking device is also obstructing our sensors. There could be millions of life forms or none at all. The only way we'd be able to tell for sure is if we went down there to find out."

Riker spoke up, "An away team?"

Picard looked at him and smiled, "But how do we send a team to somewhere we can't even see?"

Geordie looked at B-4 and nudged him, "Go on."

For a moment B-4 looked confused and then his mouth opened in realisation, "Ah, yes. I believe that if we fire some low frequency sound waves towards the disruption we will be able to physically see the planet for a few seconds. Long enough to transport an away team."

"Sound waves?" Riker asked, puzzled.

B-4 nodded, "Yes Commander. The vibrations of the waves will cause the cloak to move from side to side. We will see the outline of the planet momentarily as the sound passes over it".

"Very well", said Picard, "Number One, I want you to sort out this sound wave idea and then take an away team down to the planet. For observation purposes only."

Riker nodded, "Yes Sir."

~ o o O o o ~

Data stood outside the small wooden shack for four and a half hours. Sando had managed to reattach his arm but it did not feel completely secure. He was unable to move, standing completely still, before Sando finally reappeared. The man wiped his brow with an old piece of rag and stood in front of Data with a wide grin on his face,

"I expect you're wondering what's going on?"

Data looked at him, his eyes the only part of him that moved freely, "Yes sir. I am unable to move."

"Oh you can move android. It's just that you can only do it when I tell you to." Sando looked around at the small circle of houses and pointed towards a field beyond them, "There. We'll start you off straight away".

Data frowned, "Start what?"

"Your work of course! We are so lucky to have you here android! Now we'll never have to struggle to build new machines when our primitive ones break. Now you can be our machine."

"But I thought you wanted to learn from my technology?"

Sando rubbed his chin and looked at Data, "Yes. I did say that didn't I? Well, to be honest, we didn't want to learn from you Data, we wanted to control you."

"As a slave?"

Sando looked shocked, "A slave? No, no, no. As a… helper. You've seen our technology! It's nothing more than a few screws and sensors. We need strength and speed to help build our society and you my friend, are the perfect thing for the job!" Sando gestured towards the field again and spoke in a stern voice, "Follow me android".

Data was suddenly walking behind Sando, towards the field; he could not control his limbs, they were moving of their own accord. He walked awkwardly, as though he were a puppet with someone holding the strings above his head. His head continued to shoot sparks, as did his leg, which also continued to leak as he walked.

When they entered the field Data observed a small, silver craft approximately 10 metres square and lying on its side, in the shadow of some nearby trees. As they got closer he could see it was a Starfleet craft from around fifty years ago, the symbol on the side of it was only partially readable.

Sando stood beside it and Data stopped. The man placed his hand on the silver edge of the craft and patted it, "I need you to move this shuttle Data. We need it back at the village."

The shuttle would weigh at least ten times Data's weight and, although Data was stronger than any human, it would take an enormous amount of effort to move the craft, especially as he was already injured.

"As I am not at my phy- physical peak sir, the shuttle may be damaged when I drag it through the field and into the village," Data spoke with complete honesty.

Sando shook his head, "You're not going to drag it Data. You're going to carry it. I don't want it damaged in any way. It may be our only hope of ever leaving this planet!"

"But sir, my body will not sustain the weight of the craft. I will be damaged."

Sando shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't care. This shuttle is important to my people, even more important than you. Now move it!"

Data's body straightened without his control and he stepped clumsily towards the shuttle. He scooped his arms underneath it and pushed it so that its base was lying on the ground. His arms then proceeded to lift the shuttle up and over his head, much to the protest of his circuits.

Sando smiled as he watched the android carry the shuttle across the field. Data's leg dipped now and then, causing the shuttle to wobble but never fall. The screws in Data's head were beginning to loosen and the white lubrication in his leg circuits was almost completely drained. His arms shook as the weight of the shuttle bore down on him and he felt a few wires and circuit boards shake loose inside of him.

Finally Data reached the small circle of huts that was the village and he lowered the craft to the ground carefully, so as not to damage it as he had been ordered. His head twitched constantly as more and more sparks fizzled from the wound. Sando ordered him to follow him but, as Data began to walk, his leg collapsed and he fell, face forward, onto the dusty ground.

"What are you doing android?" Sando rolled his eyes and kicked Data so that he turned over, facing the sky.

"I- I- I-" Data's twitching continued as he tried to speak, "My circuits are- overload-ERROR, ERROR, ERROR".

Sando shrugged, "Oh well, you've done your job. And I'm sure you'll fetch a tidy price when the Ferengi visit again".

Data's eyes flicked backwards and forwards as he tried to reboot but he was unsuccessful. He was unable to move or communicate and he lay there, on the dusty ground, for the entire day.

At sunset two large men wearing brown overalls picked Data's stiff body up and carried him to a dark building. They took him down two flights of stairs and threw him into a cold, damp cell. They shut the heavy, metal door and bolted it, leaving Data to sit alone and contemplate his future as a highly priced artefact.

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