Part Twenty-Six

Omicron Theta Academy, High School Campus

Five weeks before the attack…

"Soong! Hey, Soong!" a voice called out over the shouts and laughter from the afternoon track and cheerleading practices. "Theater club meeting over already?"

Dee Seven Soong paused in mid-step, a smile growing on his face even before he turned to greet his classmate.

Amalthea Jones had blue eyes and short-cropped blonde hair. Small and slender, her speed and stamina on the track were quickly becoming legendary – to the point that rival teams and even her own teammates often teased her, saying she was the real android in their school. Not that she seemed to mind. If anything, Dee suspected the young athlete took the intended slur as a compliment.

"Good afternoon, Thea," he said, casting his golden gaze over the bustling track field as she ran to join him. "I see preparations for the big meet are well underway."

Thea grinned and nodded, her team jersey damp with sweat from her training exercises. "Yeah, well," she said, "it's not exactly the Arcadia Invitational back on Earth, but at least it's a chance to compete against a different school. Even if that school is on another colony world. So, mind if I walk with you?"

"Not at all," Dee said as the pair fell easily into step. "Do you still wish me to join you and the team at Cathy's Tea House after practice?"

"Of course we do!" the girl said. "By all rights, you should be on the team competing along with the rest of us! It sucks the judges made Coach drop you just because you're a, well…"

"A machine?" he said.

Thea scowled.

"Whatever you are, it shouldn't matter," she said firmly. "Isn't that what the Federation's supposed to be all about?"

"Yes. It is."

"Then, what the hell, Dee!" Thea said. "Why don't you appeal to the school board or…I don't know… Write to the Federation Council or something! The team will back you, if you want us to sign—"

"Amalthea," Dee said, anticipating his use of her full name would cause her to stop and glare at him. He had to fight back a smile when, a moment later, she did just that. Dee was quite aware how irrationally self-conscious Thea had always felt about her 'unusual' name. In fact, that had been the topic of their first discussion, back in freshmen year. The day they'd upgraded their social status from 'android' and 'off-worlder' to 'friends'…

"My mom says the name comes from an old story about a unicorn," Thea had told him bitterly. "My dad says I was named after one of Jupiter's moons. Either way, it's a stupid name. Amalthea Jones. All-Mouth-Thea. That's what they used to call me back on Earth."

"Actually," Dee had informed her, "the name Amalthea derives from Greek mythology. Amalthea was a nymph who became the foster mother of Zeus, king of the gods. She is often portrayed as a goat and, it is said, when Zeus grew to adulthood she provided him with the aegis shield and the cornucopia, or horn of plenty."

"A goat, eh?" She'd snorted. "Well, I do love to run and climb, so maybe the name fits after all...!"

"Amalthea," Dee said again, stepping closer so he could meet her hard, blue eyes. "I appreciate your suggestion, but it is not necessary. Leaving the team was my decision as much as theirs. We both know it would not be fair to expect high school athletes to compete against an android like me."

"Yeah, but you could—"

"Hold back?" Dee suggested. "Choose not to strive to surpass my potential?"

"No…" Thea kicked at the walkway and shook her head, her short blonde hair falling forward to cover her ears. She pushed it back and looked up at him. "But Coach didn't have to drop you from the team! You could still help out, even if they won't let you compete on the field. I mean, I trained so hard to try to beat you! If you're not there…"

"But, Thea," he said, "I will be there. It will be my role to observe from the stands and cheer you on to victory."

Thea blinked, then threw up her hands in frustration.

"Goldarnit, Soong!" she groaned through her teeth. "You are too dratted nice for your own good, you know that? And don't you dare take that as a compliment!"

Dee smiled, just slightly. "My theater club voted on our next play today," he said, purposefully changing the subject. "The topic was Twentieth Century theater, and the choice was between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead or The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds."

"Weird titles," Thea said, still scowling. "Which won?"

"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern," Dee told her. "I have been cast to play Rosencrantz." He tilted his head, pretending to think. "Or, was it Guildenstern?"

Thea regarded him. "Don't tell me you can't remember! What happened to that positronic brain of yours?"

Dee smirked at her. "It was meant to be a joke," he said. "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are repeatedly mistaken for each other throughout the play."

Thea snorted. "Kind of sounds like you and your brother," she said grimly, then quickly shook her head. "I'm sorry, Dee. I know you're always sticking up for him. It's just – it makes me so mad the way the colonists here keep lumping you and Lore together. Like they don't even care that you're two totally different people!"

She frowned and stared past the school fence over the sparking water of Reservoir Lake to the low, prefab buildings that marked the town center.

"Still… He kind of creeps me out sometimes, you know?" she admitted. "Lore. The way he just stands there, watching. Near the market. Outside the school…" She shivered and rubbed her arms. "You two may look alike on the surface, but that's as far as it goes. I can tell that even from a distance. I can always tell."

Dee looked away, unsure what to say, but Thea turned and strode forward, reaching out to pull the android after her. "Walk with me back to the locker room?"

"Certainly," Dee said, "but… Thea, if Lore is—"

"Dee Soong, please come to the main office. Dee Soong, please come to the main office."

The announcement rang out through the PA system, echoing in every room and corridor of the school and all around the outdoor fields. Dee twitched his head, and Thea frowned.

"What are they calling you for?" she asked. "Especially this late in the afternoon?"

"I have no idea," he said, honestly bewildered. "I have never been called to the office before, for anything."

"Yeah, me neither," Thea said. "But, you better go. Hey, Soong!" she called, making him turn back after only a few steps.

"Yes, Thea?" he asked.

"Come with me to the dance next week?"

Dee blinked rapidly, then broke out with a delighted grin.

"It will be my pleasure," he said and waved before striding quickly toward the main building.

"I was hoping you were wrong, Tom. That there'd been some mistake. But, attendance records confirm: neither Keith Sandoval nor Elias Kelowitz showed up for class this morning," Dee overheard Principal Roberts saying as the school secretary guided the android into her office. Seeing Juliana, Tom Handy and Eileen Forrester standing in front of the principal's desk, Dee headed straight to his mother, a surge of worry spiking in his chest.

"Mother," he said, his golden eyes tight. "There was a PA announcement calling me to the office. Is Father—"

"This isn't about your father, Dee," Juliana told him, and he blinked in confusion, staring from one grim, adult face to another.

"Then, what has happened?" he asked. "Why are you all here?"

"Please take a seat, Mr. Soong," Principal Roberts said, inviting all of them to pull up a chair as she moved to sit behind her desk.

"Dee…" Juliana sat beside the young android and leaned forward, briefly closing her eyes and pressing her folded hands to her mouth as if gathering the strength for what she had to say next. "This isn't public knowledge yet," she told him. "But the bodies of two boys were found by Reservoir Lake, just a few hours ago. Students from this school."

"Bodies?" Dee's head gave a sharp twitch. "But, surely there must be some mistake. How—!"

"That's what we're hoping you can help us figure out, Dee," Tom Handy said grimly.

"Me?" Dee stared, a terrible shiver of trepidation surging up his spine. "But… I know nothing about any of this! Mother…?"

Principal Roberts pinched her lips together.

"Dee, we're not accusing you," she said. "We're asking for your help."

"My help?" Dee blinked and tilted his head. "In what way?"

"Federation law requires all deaths be investigated, accidental or otherwise," Handy said. "Thing is, apparent drownings like this… It's unfortunately all too possible that circumstances leading up to this tragedy may fall under 'otherwise'. More likely than not, these boys weren't alone. For all we know, there could have been a whole group out there when this happened, goading each other, teasing, maybe even hazing. And, as you know, Omicron Theta colony doesn't exactly have its own police force."

"The closest thing we have to law enforcement is the town council," Roberts gestured to Tom Handy, "and Mrs. Forrester who is, essentially, the town's only practicing lawyer. Up until now, that's all our little community has ever needed. But with this…terrible development…"

"Dee," Eileen said, her sharp eyes seeming to try to read his face. "We know this is asking a lot. And you're free to turn us down if you think it's too much for you. But, your mother suggested you might be able to aid our investigation. If this request makes you uncomfortable—"

"Oh for goodness sake, Eileen, this is an android you're talking to, not an actual kid," Handy said, and turned his gaze to Dee. "You want to help your community, don't you? Put that positronic supercomputer Soong crammed in your head to good use?"

"Yes," Dee said, blinking.

"Great. That's what I like to hear," Handy said, and slapped the arm of his chair. "OK, let's agree that, until further notice, the D-7 Soong Prototype is officially excused from school for the duration of this investigation." Under his breath, he muttered "...not that the thing actually needs these classes in the first place..."

Dee frowned, but Principal Roberts nodded. "I'll inform his teachers," she said, the kind smile she gave him making the android wonder if she hadn't heard Handy's sotto voce muttering. "You won't be penalized for any missed tests or assignments, Mr. Soong."

"Thank you," Dee said. "But... " He blinked and tilted his head, feeling bewildered and a bit overwhelmed.

"What is it, Dee?" Juliana asked.

"I...I have no wish to leave school, even for a short time," he confessed. "In addition, my primary familiarity with formal investigative procedures derives from fictional accounts. That is why, although I would like to help, I can't help but wonder..." He looked up at Juliana, his golden eyes troubled. "Mother, why me? Lore is older, more experienced. He does not attend school and has no formal occupation apart from assisting Father with his work. Would he not be a better choice to—"

"Lore is unreliable," Juliana said, her accented voice seeming uncharacteristically cold. "If he's not vanished for half the day off on some hike, he's busy getting himself into trouble with that mouth of his. But you, Dee, you've always shown yourself to be a hard worker. You've made yourself a part of this community in ways your brother has never so much as tried. That's why I believe, and I've convinced these others, that you'll do your best for us now. Even if it means missing a few school days with your friends."

Dee raised his eyebrows, surprised by his mother's unexpected evaluation of both him and his brother.

"I appreciate your confidence, Mother," he said. "But, what will I be expected to do?"

"Come with me," Eileen said, the whole group standing up to take their leave of the principal, and the school. "I think we should start with a visit to the scene."

To Be Continued...

References include - TNG: Datalore; TOS: This Side of Paradise; The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, by Tom Stoppard; The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds, by Paul Zindel.

Hi! Sorry about the long wait - these next few chapters are shaping up to be super tricky and I've been pretty stuck figuring out how to get them right. Hopefully, this chapter will help get things unstuck. Thanks so much for reading! Please let me know what you think! :D