Chapter 9: Starfleet Command
AN: This chapter is not written from the usual "Rex and Cody 3rd person" point of view.
"Come," Picard's voice came through the door his ready room before it opened and Doctor Crusher stepped in. She had just finished analyzing Rex' and Cody's blood samples. It was 12pm and way past the end of her shift, and she was fairly tired. The door slid shut behind her.
"Captain, I have finished the analysis of their blood samples, including a full analysis of their DNA," she began.
"Great. What did you find?"
"Well, their DNA appears to be normal at first glance, but a closer look, together with a computer comparison, reveals that their genomes are… well, just a little too perfect," she continued.
"What do you mean, 'just a little too perfect'?" Picard asked.
"Judging from their DNA, they probably have enhanced physical and mental abilities, which might also explain why Deanna can't read their emotions the way she usually can. But they seem to be at no risk for hereditary diseases. In short, it seems as if they have been genetically modified."
"Thank you very much, Doctor. Dismissed." Picard didn't tell the doctor what he had learned about Rex and Cody when they came together on their first evening aboard the Enterprise as he felt that the had conveyed a lot of private information that they wouldn't want broadly shared, but he had gotten all the information he needed.
After Doctor Crusher had left his ready room, Picard turned toward a rather unpleasant task - contacting Starfleet Command. As much as he would have liked to avoid contacting Admirals, which tended to have lengthy conversations with no apparent outcome, as much did he know that a matter like this simply required them to be informed. He had already postponed it when Rex and Cody had first come aboard, as well as when the Separatists initially attacked - he wanted to be able to present them as much information as possible.
He pressed a button on his terminal before he spoke: "Open direct secure channel to Starfleet Command, Admiral Nechayev." He sighed. He really hated this part.
"Captain Picard," the admiral said from the computer screen. "What earns me this unexpected pleasure?"
"Admiral," he said, putting up his best smile. "I have to inform you about a series of events that have recently taken place aboard the Enterprise that I think require your attention."
"Which would be?" she asked coldly, although a little surprised. The captain had barely ever deemed it necessary to inform Starfleet Command about anything, so this had to be fairly important.
"A few days ago, a wormhole suddenly opened and from it emerged a ship…"
"You mean to say, people from a faraway galaxy are now freely roaming your ship, and you somehow got involved in their conflicts?" the admiral asked once Picard had finished. "If this is some sort of bad joke, you better drop it now."
"I'm afraid it's no joke. I will send you all the information we have gathered."
"What do you intend on doing with them?" she asked.
"As of now, I see no reason not to let them go. We will help them with their damaged shuttle and send them back to their own galaxy as soon as possible."
After a longer pause, she finally responded: "Well, I don't see really see a reason to keep them either, but this is a matter that cannot and will not remain secret for long. I doubt that the Federation Council will share this opinion…" - she paused again - "Captain, you have seventy-two hours to get them back home before I will inform the Council of this matter. If they're not gone by then, I fear they will have a lot of difficulties."
Picard took a moment to think about what she just said before answering: "I agree, Admiral."
The admiral showed a hint of a smile. "Seventy-two hours, Picard. Nechayev out." The transmission ended.
That didn't go too bad, Picard thought to himself before tapping his comm badge. "Picard to La Forge."
The engineer took longer than usual to respond. "La Forge here."
"Sorry if I woke you up, Commander," Picard said, "but I have talked to Starfleet Command, we have seventy-two hours to get Rex and Cody back to their Galaxy. You and Mr. Data need to get to work immediately, you are both excused from all other duties."
"Yes, Captain… I'll just take a quick shower and then I'll get right to it."
"Very good. And take Rex and Cody with you, I'm sure they can help."
"I was about to ask, Sir. As I said, I'll just take a quick shower, and then I'll get right to it."
"Make it so. Picard out."
