CHAPTER 6
Commander Riker peered through a hole that was about six inches wide in diameter. He wondered what that hole was for. Riker could see into another tunnel. It seemed to look the same as their tunnel.
"Geordi, come over here!" yelled Riker. The tunnel echoed and it seemed eerie. Geordi came running from a small room just ten meters down the tunnel.
"Yes, Commander?" asked Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge.
"Can you look in that hole?" Riker pointed at the hole he was looking through a few seconds ago.
Geordi looked through the hole and stepped back. His aqua blue mechanical eyes twitched and worked, giving him x-ray vision and giving him information.
"I'm not sure what you want me to look for," said Geordi, as he looked up at Riker.
"I want to know if you know what it's for," said Riker.
"Well it does have a simulated scrape marks on it that only a wooden pole could make, but I'm not sure if it's wood because it also seems like it could have been metal, or it could have been a really hard wood." Geordi stared at the hole longer.
"So in other words?" questioned Riker.
"I'm not sure," said Geordi.
"Well, I guess we should go moving along." Riker turned and went on down the long passageway.
Data and Dr. Crusher went down the dark and damp corridor, pointing their Tricorders to one side to the other, to one hole, to a bump on the ceiling.
"Data, have you found anything yet?" asked Beverly Crusher.
"Well, there are a lot of simulated splinters of wood that is unfamiliar to me," began Data, "it is very fascinating. The wood was somehow been grown with metal in it to have the appearance of a silver colored wood. But it can also be a wood that is naturally that way or –"
"Never mind Data," interrupted Dr. Crusher.
CRAAAASSSSH!
"What was that!" Dr. Crusher said, alarmed.
"That was a crash coming from that direction," said Data, he pointed down the corridor that still goes deeper into the building.
"We better report to the captain first," said Crusher as she tapped her Commbadge. "Crusher to Enterprise."
"Enterprise here," answered Picard.
"We are about half a kilometer down the corridor and we heard a large crashing noise," reported Crusher, "the sound came up ahead.
"Do you know what it was?" asked Picard.
"No. I just wanted to report it before we continue any further."
"Well, it was good of you to report," said Picard dryly, for the lack of action, "I advise you to continue cautiously."
"Will do captain. Crusher, out."
Data and Crusher continued their journey into the tunnel.
Picard sat in his ready-room, thinking about Ensign Wolf's behavior as of late. He turned to his computer and called up recorded files on Ensign Wolf. To Picard's surprise, there wasn't much on Ruff but the usual information like the other crewmembers, or maybe less. It had Ruff's date of birth, how long he has been in service of Starfleet, which is only a week. There was other information that didn't catch his eye, until he came to the center of the report. He read it. It was short, but interesting. It said that there was a ten-year war on Wolfonia. It didn't have much on this war, because it was classified but can only be opened by a Wolfonian in an archive on Wolfonia. But what it did say was that many died and that an outcast group had started the war. It also said that Ensign Wolf was around when the war broke out and ended. He had a brother and sister that died in the war, his only siblings. That was about it, the rest was classified under authority of the Wolfonians in their archive on their planet.
Picard sat back in his soft, comfortable black chair and sighed. That small piece of information did not help the current situation. Picard was tired and rubbed his face with his hands. He then realized that he probably hadn't slept for twenty hours. But he didn't know why he couldn't sleep when he had attempted to about three hours ago. He had felt uneasy then for no conscious reason.
Picard removed himself from his chair and desk to go to the Replicator.
"Earl Grey, hot," ordered Picard.
The Replicator lit up and something close to a swirl of mist with sparkles took form of a glass mug then tea. Picard picked it up and took a sip of his tea then sat down. That's when he decided to call in Ruff.
Ruff was in his quarters, making metal links, with his bare hands, for his Grrask, a ceremonial belt. The tradition on Wolfonia was that a male was to bend and shape the chain belt out of a very hard metal, so it would take a long time to make, and make it big enough so it would fit around their waist loosely. By the time the belt is finished the male could wear it to show that they are old enough to take a mate, that would only happen if the female accepts and no other males, with a finished Grrask, challenges. That would mean they would have to fight for the female until one wins.
Ruff's hands were tired; he only bent the stick of metal half way into a circle. He stopped to rest from the chain and picked up his Wolfonian Bar Harp, which is made with Galackgrr wood, which is a very, very hard wood and takes months of hard work to make only one, even with sophisticated tools. His harp had a few scratches on it, even though he played on it often. It sounded soft and beautiful. Then in the middle of the song his Commbadge beeped.
"Wolf here," said Ruff.
"This is Picard. Will you report to my ready-room," said the Commbadge. It was not a question, but an order.
"Yes, sir," answered Wolf.
Ruff put his harp down and left his quarters.
Picard sat in his chair waiting for Ensign Wolf. Then Ruff came into the room. Picard looked up from his computer screen.
"Ah, Mr. Wolf. Take a seat," said Picard, after he took a sip from the remainder of his tea.
Ruff took the seat in front of the captain's desk. He then curled his long grey and white tail to the front because these chairs were not made for beings with tails. Then he looked at Picard with his sharp piercing yellow eyes.
"The reason why I called you is because I would like to know more information about yourself and your world history. As you probably may know, WE don't have much about your world history in our data banks," began Picard after seeing that Ensign Wolf was not going to ask why he had been summoned. "I would like to fill in some gaps in your history if it does not break any of your taboos that I am not aware of."
"It all depends on the question, Captain," said Ruff, not aware what the captain was going to ask. "I'm not psychic."
Picard knew that was true but the way those eyes bore into him made him ask himself if he was so sure. Then he took a breath and let it out, "Mr. Wolf, I have done a little research on your background and your planet. I found a picture of a building that is similar to the one on the planet's surface. There isn't anything written to say what that picture was, and I would like to find out."
Uh, oh, thought Ruff, here comes my test of loyalty.
"Wolf, can you tell me what this building is?" Picard turned his computer screen towards Ruff and on the screen was the exact replica of the building on the planet's surface.
"No," Ruff said bluntly.
"No as in you can't or as in you don't want to?" asked Picard.
"I cannot and will not tell you what that building is," Ruff said with his deep wolf-like harsh accent.
Picard pursed his lips together and leaned back in his soft chair and steepled his fingers. Then he leaned forward and ordered, "Mister Wolf, I order you to tell me what that building is."
Ruff had hoped that this moment could have been avoided. He straightened his already straightened back, which still had a hunched look to it because of his skeletal structure. Then he thought of his loyalty to his people of which kept him from answering the captain's order. That building is a threat, thought Ruff, It could put lives at stake. The hell with loyalty. He took a deep breath and looked up at the captain. Then he opened his long snout to start to talk, only to be interrupted by the beep of the captain's Commbadge.
"Picard here," answered Picard to the beep.
" Captain, this is Worf, from the planet's surface," said Worf with urgency, "the door to the building closed automatically and I cannot open it again."
"Did you inform the others?" asked Picard.
"No, I haven't," answered Worf.
"Then go tell them."
* * *
The distant light behind Crusher and Data vanished. Crusher looked back at where the light from the entrance should still have been showing.
"Data, have we gone far enough to not see the light from the entrance?" asked Crusher.
"No," Data answered and turned around to look where they have come from, "or it should not have."
"I'll ask Worf what happened," Crusher told Data, "Crusher to Worf."
"Worf here," answered the Commbadge.
"What happened to the door?" Crusher asked worriedly.
"The door closed automatically. I can't seem to be able to open it."
"Have you tried the button?" asked Data.
"Yes."
"We shall come back to the entrance immediately," said Data, "Data, out."
"Data, did you hear that?" asked Crusher.
"Hear what?"
"It may have been my imagination, but I thought I heard a scuttling sound. Like a big dog. It's probably nothing, why don't we go back now," Crusher said quickly.
Data and Crusher started back when both of them clearly heard something moving. In unison they looked behind them and then looked in front of themselves again, Crusher gasped.
"Commander, the entrance has closed. The captain told me to relay a message to you. ' Come back to the entrance to find a possible exit immediately'," said Worf.
"All, right. We're on our way," responded Riker before he tapped his insignia Commbadge. "Well, Geordi, I believe we should get going."
It was all silent behind Riker. Riker turned around, "Geordi?" he called out hopefully. Nobody answered. Riker started running to the room in which Geordi had explored earlier, it was empty. Riker began to panic; he tapped his Commbadge and called Geordi's name. No response. He tapped it again and again, still no response. This time he tried to get Data. No response. He tried Crusher. No response. Now he was very worried. He tapped his 'badge and called out, "Worf! Something's wr…" He had no more time, a dark figure pounced on him.
"Worf! Something's wr…" Riker stopped, he didn't continue.
Worf tapped his 'badge. "Commander," he said, no one answered. He tried again. There was no answer just as before. Then he tried the ship. "Worf to Enterprise."
"Enterprise, Picard here," answered Worf's 'badge.
"Captain, Commander Riker tried to talk to me and then he abruptly stopped. It was as if someone stopped him."
"Hmm, I see," Picard said, "Have you tried the others?"
"No."
"Well, then, get to it."
"Yes, sir." Worf tapped his 'badge to cut off the Commlink and tried the others, and as he dreaded as before, there were no answers.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I had written this much of the story in 6th-7th grade. When I scan over my writing from that time, I sometimes feel embarrassed to see that the story is a little weird to me. I feel that I should finish everything I've started, but my bad habit is to start something and then leave it off for a long while. My other ST story is "Youth", a ST:OS story. I feel that that one is better written than this one. I have yet to complete either story and I think it will go on for a long haul.
Anywho, I'd like to thank all who have read my stories and have reviewed. Thanks, Rachel, for writing me and e-mail!
-Lea aka LSR_7