Chapter 16
How had he ended up in the shuttle bay? Well here is how it happened. Wesley Crusher was impulsive. His mind was ever active, and most of the time it was focused on working out scientific equations. Yet he was flighty. At any given moment, his brilliance could become a hindrance; which was what happened when he was released from school that afternoon. When he left school, the yellow alert was already sounding throughout the ship, and instead of immediately heading to visit with his mother in sick bay he hurried to a computer wall panel.
"Computer, why has the ship gone to yellow alert?" he asked.
"The ship has detected a potential threat," said the computer, vaguely.
"What is the nature of the threat?" he said, trying to sound more commanding, in the hopes that the computer might take his question more seriously the second time.
"The information you are seeking is available to authorized personnel only."
Wesley sighed loudly.
"I am sorry, I did not understand your inquiry," said the computer.
Wesley thought for a moment. "Computer, have any sections of the ship been restricted due to the yellow alert?"
"Yes," said the computer. "Shuttle Bay One is currently available only to—"
"Authorized personnel," finished Wesley. "I know." He smiled, having obtained at least enough information to posit a theory. His smile faded, as he considered the possibilities. The fact that the alert level was yellow and not red meant the ship was not under attack, at least not yet.
Captain Picard was currently off ship, and tensions with the Andorians were increasing. What if the yellow alert had something to do with Captain Picard's negotiations with Commander Zatha? "Computer, are there any ships besides the Enterprise currently orbiting the Andorian moon?"
"Yes," said the computer. "An Andorian Blade Class shuttle."
Alarm bells began to sound off in Wesley's head and a chill went up his spine. "And is Captain Picard currently aboard the Enterprise?"
"Captain Picard is not aboard the Enterprise," said the computer.
Not only was the Andorian battle cruiser no longer in the sector, but the only other ship nearby was a shuttle, presumably launched from that cruiser, and Captain Picard was still not on board the Enterprise. Wesley turned in the direction of the shuttle bay before he even finished his thought. He knew the odds were that Captain Picard was in that shuttle, and that Commander Riker was trying to bring him in to Shuttle Bay One. But something must have gone wrong.
He had to help. He had to show the Captain that he could be useful, that he could be a valuable part of the crew. He tried not to think of what his mother would say. He paused, and turned back, typing something quickly into the computer panel before running down the corridor.
Beverly Crusher stormed onto the bridge, with Deanna Troi trailing behind. "Where is Captain Picard? I need to speak with him," demanded Crusher, stopping abruptly next to Commander Riker.
Riker turned in annoyed surprise and looked from Deanna back to Crusher. Troi's normal post was here on the bridge, but Crusher should have been in sick bay, particularly given the high level of alert. Instinctively he rubbed his chin in an attempt to appear calmer than he was. "Captain Picard isn't here," he said in a measured tone, turning his attention back to the view screen. "And your place right now, Doctor, is in sick bay."
Crusher did not move a muscle.
Deanna sat down slowly in her usual seat and crossed her legs, folding her hands in her lap carefully as she looked on with some trepidation.
"I just found out my son is in Shuttle Bay One and it's been sealed off. No one is allowed in or out," Crusher was speaking so quickly she barely paused for a breath. "Now if I could just speak to Captain Picard—"
"Status, Mr. Data," shouted Riker.
"The damping field is still at only forty percent, Commander," replied Data calmly.
"Boost it, then," ordered Riker.
"Attempting to divert power," said Worf.
"Still coming in too damn fast," LaForge muttered under his breath. "Sir, if he enters the bay at that speed the tractor beam emitter in the bay won't be able to hold him. It is not strong enough," warned Geordi.
Riker noted that the typical helmsman wasn't also an expert on tractor beam emitters. He'd served with LaForge briefly on the Hood, but hadn't interacted with the young man enough to know what he was about. It was clear already that LaForge had some hidden talents. "Data?"
"Lt. LaForge is correct. Not only is the shuttle bay tractor beam emitter not strong enough to control the craft, but the damping field's effectiveness in slowing the craft will be negligible."
"I hate to ask, but does that mean…" Troi trailed off.
"At its current velocity the shuttle will be destroyed and the explosion could cause significant damage to the Enterprise, Counselor," Data clarified.
"How many personnel are in the shuttle bay right now?"
"Lt. O'Brien and…one other humanoid. Only one combadge registers, sir," said Data.
"That's my son, Commander," snapped Crusher. "I know it's him. He sent me a message." In fact, she had been so upset when she went to her quarters that she hadn't seen a blinking message light on her personal computer screen. It wasn't until she had returned to sick bay to find the message waiting for her. It had said simply: "Mom, went to shuttle bay 1 to help with emergency. Please don't worry. Love, Wesley."
Riker shouting at the crew brought her back to the present. "I don't care who is in there, just get them out of there. Now!"
"The malfunctioning damping field is causing interference," said LaForge. "It's not safe to transport anyone out of there, sir."
"Can you communicate with O'Brien's combadge?"
"No sir," said Data. "The interference Lt. LaForge referred to is disrupting our communications."
"Send O'Brien a message and tell him to evacuate and take Wesley with him."
"Aye sir."
"Commander," said Data. "If the shuttle pilot does not correct his trajectory, the shuttle will collide with the ship's hull."
At this point Riker doubted the pilot was aware of what he was doing, judging by the way the shuttle was approaching.
"I can adjust the pitch of the Enterprise to compensate," reported LaForge.
"Do it," snapped Riker.
"The shuttle is beginning to spin, Commander," said Worf. "It will not be a clean entry."
"If the shuttle hits the Enterprise hull at its current velocity, it will be destroyed, commander."
"Not necessarily; his shields are still up." Suddenly Riker had an idea. There was a small area between the shield barrier and the hull. "If he bounces off our hull we can use the shields to slow his speed down enough that we can engage the tractor beam emitter and bring the shuttle in. Raise shields."
"Commander, our shields are inoperative!" Worf looked as though he was about to cave in the tactical station with his fists.
"Worf is right, sir, we've got an energy drain from the main shield generator," said LaForge.
"Draining to where?"
"Graviton energy from the shield generator is being diverted to Shuttle Bay One," responded Data.
"What in the hell?"
"It's too late," said Troi, eyes wide and staring at the view screen. She said what everyone else was thinking. They all watched helplessly as there was a white flash and the shuttle seemed to vanish.
Riker suddenly realized he had been holding his breath. He doubted that he was the only one. "Report," he said. His voice sounded mechanical to his own ears.
In contrast, and somewhat ironically, Data's response sounded authentically surprised. "The hull and inner shuttle bay are intact, sir. The Andorian shuttle is now inside the bay, but it is enveloped in an energy field. Shield power is still minimal. Sensors are now showing three life forms inside the shuttle bay. One is very faint."
"Captain Picard," Riker murmured. Beverly Crusher's head snapped up to look at Riker. A slow look of unease passed over her face.
She had been so intent on making sure her son had been safe, she hadn't given another thought to the identity of the shuttle pilot. She brought a hand to her forehead. "Oh my God."
"LaForge you have the conn. Data, Worf, Doctor, you're with me," said Riker, running to the turbo lift.
O'Brien was in awe. The boy had done it. He had somehow boosted the energy to the damping field slowing the velocity of the shuttle to a more manageable speed. Simultaneously he had boosted power to the shuttle bay's smaller tractor beam emitter, creating a very powerful tractor beam inside a very closed space. The Andorian shuttle now hung inertly about two meters over the floor of the landing area.
"Lowering it down now," said O'Brien, standing at the controls. Slowly the shuttle, which was enveloped in a kind of blue energy hammock, lowered to the deck with a clanging noise. O'Brien pulled his phaser and walked swiftly toward the shuttle. He had no intention of being ambushed by an Andorian after all they had just been through. He glanced behind him, feeling an anxious set of eyes. It was the teenage wonder. "Listen kid, I have no idea who you are, but I'm impressed. Whoever is in there owes you his life," he said nodding toward the shuttle.