Title: The
Heart of the Nautilus
Author: Maddie
Rating:
K+
Category: General/HC
Disclaimer:
Paramount owns them all...the ship, the crew and the
universe, but...the plot belongs to me.
Archiving: Yes,
but only with permission from author. My stories are like my
children. I like to know where they end up spending the
night.
Feedback: Always welcome
Summary
Author's notes: This story was originally published in hard copy by Orion Press in their Star Trek: The Next Generation fanzine Eridani 18 (October, 1992).
The Heart of the Nautilus
By Maddie
"Commander Riker."
William Riker turned and waited for the crewman who approached from behind him. "What can I do for you, Ensign Gourley?"
The tall youth, almost equal in height to his first officer, but slender as a willow, bowed slightly from the waist in acknowledgment of his name. "I am working with geologist Abruzzi on the survey of planetoid CDZ-443. She asked for this report to be brought to her as soon as it was completed, along with a portable seismologic unit. I am required on board to monitor sensitive testing, but was told you were en route to the planetoid and might take the equipment with you." The young man spoke in a single breathless rush and now stood awaiting an answer.
Which he had better get quickly so he can start breathing again, Riker thought suppressing a smile. "Anything else, Ensign?"
"Message disk, sir." Gourley quickly thrust out his hand.
"Carry on, Ensign," Riker said, relieving him of the disk he carried. The lanky youth turned and hurried down the corridor in the direction of the geology labs. Scratching his beard, Riker shook his head. It's a fine day on the Enterprise when its first officer plays messenger boy for its newest ensign, Riker grinned. But planetoid CDZ-443, a solitary moon circling Velusia, the planet they currently orbited, was out of the ordinary. Normally, the geology department found little excitement outside the routine of shipboard life since in-depth geologic studies were handled by science vessels which would spend the necessary weeks or months conducting surveys properly. But occasionally, a mysterious little anomaly, like the planetoid below them, presented itself and the geology staff had the opportunity and the time to do the initial data collection and analysis. Then, the geologists were in heaven, making the most of the chance to practice their science.
Riker stepped into the turbolift. "Bridge," he said, then waited for the whisper soft sound of the lift's operating mechanism and the familiar sensation of motion as it carried him to his destination. Stepping out on the bridge, he nodded acknowledgment to the on-duty staff, and then went straight to the captain's ready room.
"Come." Riker heard the captain's customary response to his request to enter. He visualized Picard seated, probably reading, taking full advantage of their current state of calm. His mental picture was correct.
"Captain, I was preparing to go on shore leave, but first I thought I would check with the scientific team on the planetoid."
"Ah, yes, Number One." The captain rose from his sofa and walked to his desk, laying his book carefully on its polished surface. "How goes the project?"
"Fine, sir," Riker said, sitting opposite the captain and stretching his long legs. "Nothing unusual or unexpected has been found as yet. So far the results have been almost identical to the studies conducted on Sigma Adhara Four."
"The most interesting and exciting aspect being that there exists a second such planetoid when the first was thought to be geologically unique."
"Yes, sir." Riker had been a young ensign, participating in one of his first away team assignments when he had helped investigate Sigma Adhara Four. Believed to be a unique geologic oddity, it was with some surprise that an off duty Federation geologic team practicing underground rescue techniques had stumbled upon Sigma Adhara Four's identical twin, planetoid CDZ-443, otherwise known as the moon of Velusia, a newly established port in this sector.
Both worlds were composed primarily of dense, igneous rock, richly veined with heavy metal ores, which inhibited sensor scans and had masked their unusual interior structure from cursory examination. And it was the interior of the two planets which made them unique, for under the unassuming surface of each existed a warren of precisely symmetrical caves. In neither case did the caves appear to be the result of mining activity since none of the minerals present were precious and most were sufficiently abundant and more easily mined on other worlds. The tunnels of CDZ-443 showed no obvious signs of tooling or habitation by any life form; however, they were within centimeters of being identically proportioned to each other and to those found on Sigma Adhara Four-too regular in appearance to be a coincidence. When asked about possible explanations for the unusual formations, the Velusian scientific community had simply shrugged, and to an individual replied, "The moon is the moon." Yet, the Enterprise's geologists marveled at the regularity of the tunnel structure. So, while the off-duty members of the Enterprise crew enjoyed shore leave on Velusia, the members of the geology department had blissfully immersed themselves in their puzzle, rarely surfacing for anything except to communicate with the Enterprise. Since conventional communicator transmissions were garbled by the heavy metal content of the moon's natural rock formations, detailed test information had been sent via hand carried disk.
"Has Lieutenant Abruzzi indicated how much longer her team would need? I would like her personnel to take advantage of shore leave while available if they so desire," the captain said, interrupting Biker's reverie.
"I suspect they're so cave happy, they wouldn't miss shore leave, but I will express your concern to Lieutenant Abruzzi," the first officer replied. "She had requested an additional seismologic unit, and I thought I would transfer the equipment on my way to Velusia."
"Playing messenger boy, Number One?"
"It would appear so, sir," Riker laughed. "But in all honesty, I'm curious to take a look myself."
"I understand from the reports I've seen that this type of cavern formation is not as unique as we had once suspected."
"Yes. I can't help thinking we should be doing archeological as well as xenobiology surveys, but there hasn't been the slightest indication of any life form, present or past."
"Then it remains an anomaly, simply a more curious one."
"It would seem so, sir."
"Well then, Number One," the captain said, taking up his book again, "enjoy your shore leave and your tour of the moon."
"Certainly, sir," Riker said as he rose to leave the captain's ready room.
Riker bent over to peer into the tiny cubicle. Roughly a one-point-five meter cube, the walls were gently curved and the texture of coarse gravel imbedded in sandstone, yet he could see crystals glittering in the light from his hand held torch. The pattern of the cubicle repeated hundreds of times along the length of the cramped corridor in which they crouched.
"We've considered the possibility that these formations grow similar to crystals only on a larger basis," Lieutenant Abruzzi reported. "As crystals are regular, predictable arrangements of molecules, these caves are regular formations with airspaces as well as wall structure arranged in a honeycomb fashion. As far as we've been able to determine, they continue to the planet's core. We are taking seismologic readings to determine their extent."
"But you've found nothing that would indicate a life form is responsible?" Riker pressed, sizing up the diminutive geologist He mentally catalogued Evlin Abruzzi's credentials. Her geologic expertise was cave formation, her hobby spelunking. Appropriate for her size, he mused, much more so than his own. His back was starting to protest his crouched position, while Abruzzi was able to stand almost erect.
"No." Abruzzi's answer seemed hesitant. She shook her head, the torch light catching the sheen of her cropped black hair.
"Not an unqualified 'no' I take it"
Abruzzi looked perplexed. "It should be an unqualified 'no', sir. There is absolutely no evidence to support the theory that there is or ever was any organic life form involved in the formation of these pockets. Even non-organic life forms, such as the Horta, can leave some residue of their existence. We haven't yet ruled out that possibility. In the meantime, it reminds me of the chambered nautilus."
Riker arched his back to ease the kink developing in it. He was beginning to feel ridiculous stooped over while Lieutenant Abruzzi stood upright. "Chambered nautilus?" he asked.
"A quotation from an old earth poem about an ocean cephalopod," Abruzzi commented, brushing the hair from her forehead. "The pearly nautili were marine mollusks of a high grade of organization that flourished during the Paleozoic era on Earth. The external shell consisted of many chambers, either coiled or straight. A siphonal tunnel ran the length of the shell and the body of the animal was lodged in the outermost and largest chamber. If you look closely you can see a small opening at the base of the rear wall of this chamber that makes me think of the siphonal opening." Abruzzi directed her torch towards the far wall of the chamber Riker had just examined. "As far as we can tell this opening runs through the entire series of cavities. The old Earth nautili's had a soft body dominated by a head and tentacles, basically the same as a squid or octopus." Abruzzi broke off and looked at Riker apologetically. "Excuse me, sir. I can see I'm off on yet another boring lecture." She sighed and looked wistfully at the interior of the chamber. "This place would be a spelunker's delight if it weren't for this nagging feeling-"
"The nagging feeling that something is going to jump out of the shadows when you least expect it and say 'boo'," Riker said half to himself, remembering he had experienced a similar sensation on Sigma Adhara Four. He had never voiced his feelings because he had assumed his apprehension at the time was due to inexperience in away team operations.
"Yes," Abruzzi said softly, as though she expected an eavesdropper to overhear. "Exactly that nagging feeling. And there is no evidence to support the suspicion."
"We first officers are paid to be suspicious, Lieutenant."
"And we geologists are paid to be curious." Abruzzi smiled easily. "I must say this formation is most definitely a curiosity, more so knowing it is the second such structure to be studied. The Velusians don't have a great deal of interest in how or why these caves were created. In fact, they seem determined to avoid discussing it. Bring up the topic, and they promptly change the subject. They did tell us that the upper levels of these caverns were once used as part of a penal colony, but the practice was discontinued, abruptly, many years ago.
"Did they say why they discontinued using it?"
"They were very vague about the entire project and refused to discuss any particulars, but did claim they never penetrated this far into the interior and that they most definitely did not construct the system. We began our investigations at the lower limits of their prison complex so we would be studying pristine tunnels. There appear to be no existing records concerning the operation of the colony or the type of prisoner confined here."
"Very short ones, I hope," Riker muttered. "Well, Lieutenant, you and your team have another two days to study the situation. Any of your people wishing shore leave during that time should make the request as soon as possible. The Velusians may be vague about their moon, but they are very congenial hosts."
"I was going directly to the surface from here, sir," Abruzzi said. "We are about finished with our collection of raw data. Its analysis will keep us busy for days after we leave orbit"
"Then I'll accompany you to the beam down point, Lieutenant."•
"This way, Commander," Abruzzi said, gesturing toward the end of the narrow tunnel they had been standing in. "There are some taller passages in this direction.
The kink in my back must be pretty obvious, Riker thought, but he was glad for the taller tunnels even if the difference was barely a half meter. He still couldn't stand up straight, but it was better than walking stooped over.
"The beam down point is up several levels from here," Abruzzi said after they had walked a few minutes in silence. We've arranged with planet side transporters to beam directly to the surface from here."
"Yes, Lieutenant. I've informed the Enterprise that I would not be using their transporters to beam up." In the dim light, Riker could see the flush spreading across the geologist's face.
"Excuse me, again, sir. I have the nasty habit of playing troop leader."
"Even for the real troop leaders?"
"Yes, sir."
Riker laughed softly. "I can't fault your efficiency, Lieutenant." With a brief smile, he turned to note her response, as she dropped completely from sight He almost had time to register a sense of surprise before he was engulfed in blackness and half-falling, half-sliding through a torturous, twisted tunnel, barely wide enough to let his shoulders pass. He made a vain attempt to stop himself, and succeeded only in taking most of the skin off his fingers, elbows and knees. With a sudden, sickening jolt, he stopped, the breath pounded out of his lungs as he hit the bottom of the chimney like shaft. His outstretched arm made contact with the still warm body of Lieutenant Abruzzi. Twisting, he groped for her neck, searching for a pulse. He could feel the awkward flop of her head, and heard a sickening bony grind. There was no pulse, and his hand came away wet with blood.
"Damn." He drew back, trying to sit up in the confining space. He touched the communicator on his chest, knowing it was a vain gesture. "Riker to Enterprise.' He was answered by white crackling. Fighting a wash of dizziness, he reached up over his head for the opening through which they had fallen. He hoped to find enough purchase to climb back upward. Gingerly, he eased his broad shoulders through the tunnel opening, groping for handholds, aware of the abraded flesh on his hands, shoulders, back and knees. He felt like he'd gone ten rounds with an Aldeberan ironworm, and lost. His fingers gripped a slight outcropping. Even holodeck workouts with Worf s simulations could not prepare him for the kind of climb he was about to attempt. In a vertical crawlspace barely wide enough for him to pass, he would have to depend upon finger and arm strength.
Taking a deep breath, he mentally braced himself. Judging from the length of his fall, he had several hundred meters to ascend, one pull-up at a time. "So start now," he said to himself. He resisted the urge to look back over his shoulder. Abruzzi was dead, and her death was senseless, yet he could have sworn that section of tunnel was solid, and she must have thought the same. She never gave any indication they should proceed with caution. Her service record showed her to be a highly experienced spelunker, not the sort to make such an error. Unless, and he did not like the implication of the thought, the opening hadn't been there until they stepped into it.
Taking a second deep breath, he heaved himself upward, supporting his full weight on his fingertips. Releasing his right hand and groping for a new handhold, he drew himself carefully upward. As soon as his legs and feet were inside the shaft, he would be able to use them to brace himself against the sides of the narrow opening.
"One handhold at a time," he said softly, then inhaled with an unexpected, sharp gasp, and realized he'd been holding his breath. Forcing himself to breathe naturally, he inched painfully upward. He had just wedged his feet at the bottom of the shaft when a whip tight pressure wrapped around his lower calf. He had the fleeting impression of a snakelike appendage, and a rush of fear wrenched his determination, just as his feet were wrenched from under him, and he fell, striking his head against the cavern floor, and blacking out.
