Chapter 23

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Data," Picard said. "Please sit down."

Data nodded and sat down slowly in a chair with very straight posture. Picard remained standing, but leaned his weight back against the desk.

He'd had time to throw on a uniform-that was it. Picard rubbed his chin, faintly aware that he needed to shave. His android colleague was, on the other hand completely clean-shaven and his appearance was immaculate. The Captain stifled another yawn. He'd now been awake for almost 24 hours, but now was not the time for sleeping. Data, of course, had no need for sleep. "You've been on bridge duty?"

"Yes sir. I am currently still on duty. In fact, I went on shift three point two hours ago."

"Data...something terrible has happened." He searched Data's face for a reaction, and surprisingly found one.

Data appeared concerned. "Sir, if I can be of any assistance..."

"Where were you around midnight, Data?"

"Could you be more specific regarding the time, Captain?"

Suddenly feeling a chill, Picard gripped his biceps, and looked down at the floor of his ready room. "Unfortunately, Mr. Data, no." He looked up at Data. "Where were you?"

"I was on deck three, Captain. I had just left Geordi and took the turbo lift up to the bridge to begin my shift, sir."

Picard took in a sharp breath through his nose. Geordi was alive at midnight. I was with Beverly. We could have stopped it... "How long were you with Mr. LaForge last night, where had you been, and what were you discussing prior to you leaving in the turbo lift?"

"We had been in engineering together for approximately one hour, and then we stopped at the observation lounge on deck three. Just before departing deck three, we were discussing the ethical implications of being a friend," Data said smoothly.

Picard raised an eyebrow. "I see. And how did he...seem?"

Data remained perfectly still, but blinked once. "Has something happened to Geordi, sir?"

Picard closed his eyes briefly. "Please answer my question, Mr. Data."

"He was...pensive," Data said after a moment.

"Pensive. What do you mean?"

"Based on what he told me, I believe he was considering both career advancement and the status of his personal relationships. And he was uncertain of both."

How strangely unsettling to find that an android is more adept at judging a person's mood than I am. "Did he say anything which concerned you?"

Data frowned. "No, sir."

"Why didn't he leave deck three with you?"

Data shook his head. "I do not know, Captain. But as I mentioned, he was quite pensive. Perhaps he wished to return to the observation deck. Geordi told me recently that he enjoys observing the electromagnetic waves in space through his Visor almost as much as he enjoys sexual intimacy."

Picard's eyebrows shot up again he pushed himself away from the desk and paced away. Well, let's just leave that one unexplored for now, shall we? But when he turned back to Data, the android's expression was so complex that he asked: "What is it, Mr. Data?"

"I believe I should apologize, Captain."

"Hmm? Why is that?"

"Just before I left Geordi last night, I had reminded him of the importance of not repeating things said in confidence between friends. However, I just violated the same rule, by disclosing something of a personal nature about Geordi that he told me in confidence."

Good lord, Data has quite an active social life. "Data," Picard assured him, sitting down on the edge of his desk. "I appreciate your concern for Mr. LaForge's personal feelings…and certainly I will not repeat what you just told me." He scratched the back of his head. Minutes ago he would not have hesitated to tell Data flat out that LaForge was missing, and had delayed having said so only in consideration of his investigation…not out of concern for Data's feelings.

Of course, practically he knew Data had no feelings, and yet intuitively, he was no longer certain of that assumption. Now he recognized that he was talking not to an emotionless robot, but to Geordi LaForge's closest friend on the ship.

"Data, Geordi is missing, and based on the evidence thus far, he has at the very least been seriously wounded," he said quietly. "Commander Riker and Lieutenant Yar are currently coordinating efforts to search for him all over the ship." He briefly explained the circumstances that he and Beverly Crusher had encountered earlier that morning.

Data's expression remained unreadable. "Perhaps I should assist them, Captain."

Picard rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Actually, Data…I believe I have a task more suited to your talents."

"I demand that you return the body of our Premier, Captain Picard…at once!" Representative Del shouted for the third time. From a very short distance away.

Picard tapped his fingers on the conference room table. Counselor Troi and Lieutenant Commander Data stood on either side of him. Doctor Petral, who had not been invited, sat at the table, and had remained very still, in contrast with Del, who was quickly whipping himself into a frenzy. For someone who had by all appearances hated Premier Fon, Del seemed highly agitated at the news of his death.

"As I have already explained, Del, I'm not going to accede to your demands until I have finished this investigation."

"You seem to forget that we were supposed to be here on a peaceful mission, Picard, and instead, the leader of my people is now dead in your ship's morgue! Therefore, you will hand over—"

"And you seem to forget, Del, that one of my own crew, a very bright and good hearted young man, is missing and quite possibly has been murdered. Whatever Mr. LaForge's fate, it is tied to that of Premier Fon."

"Oh I have not forgotten, Picard. In fact this bright young man who you mention, by all accounts is the prime suspect in the murder of Premier Fon. He's gone missing after all!"

Picard kept his fury contained. "I'm not handing over the body to you until we know more about my missing crew member. And that is final."

Del leaped to his feet. "Then you will bear the consequences of your rash decisions, Picard! I am returning to my ship now, and will discuss with the ruling party whether or not to declare war on the Federation."

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," Picard said slowly.

"What—"

"Del this horrible incident happened on my ship. No one is going anywhere until we have sorted this out. As far as I am concerned, you are just as much a suspect as anyone else."

Del shot an outraged look toward Doctor Petral who remained almost motionless. "On what authority are you keeping us here?"

Picard nodded toward Data who began speaking as though he never intended to stop. "Starfleet Security protocols 1241 through 2036 govern the investigation of deaths on board Galaxy Class starships. Paragraph 1B of protocol 1246 specifically provides that standard non-medical quarantine and investigation must ensue within 6 hours of the death, during which the cooperation of all witnesses and interested parties is required. The commanding officer of the vessel, if fit for duty, shall lead the investigation unless he or she selects, after the required briefing under Rule 2, a designated substitute to undertake the investigation, in which case Rule 4 must be followed explicitly-"

"You idiot, I am not subject to Federation jurisdiction," blustered Del. "I am a Ciapathian delegate."

Picard nodded to Data, who again continued without hesitation. "The commanding officer shall have complete jurisdiction over an inquiry related to the deaths or presumed deaths of a Starfleet officer. Pursuant to protocol 1246A, non-Federation witnesses or parties who intend to object to the investigative inquiry must initiate immediate legal contact with the Federation Consulate located generally in San Francisco, Earth. General Order 21 of Starfleet Intelligence requires that under exigent circumstances all witnesses may be interviewed at the discretion of the commanding officer without legal representation, however—"

"Enough!" Del shouted. "I will stay on board for now. But I warn you, Picard, I will leave if and when I decide to. Any attempt to prevent me from doing so will be considered an act of war."

Picard allowed himself a small smile. Good enough for now. Thank you, Mr. Data.

Just then the com beeped. Picard leaned over and pressed a small pad on the table. "Go ahead," he said.

"Yar here, sir. It's about the sensor sweep you ordered, Captain."

She's being very cautious, which I appreciate, but would like to make a point here. "Proceed, Lieutenant."

"The sensor sweep revealed an energy surge in corridor 6ED on deck three at 12:19 a.m., Captain," reported Yar.

"What kind of a surge?"

"I don't know, Captain. The duration appears to have been five seconds at most. My people are still trying to isolate what the source might have been."

"Good work, Lieutenant. Keep me apprised."

"Aye sir."

Picard turned slowly back to Del. "You see? We have nothing to hide, Del. We are simply attempting to get answers…just as you are. However, I have to ask the question: did you bring any equipment on board with you that would cause the kind of energy surge my officer just described?"

Del snarled and came nose to nose with Picard. "Are you accusing me of murder?"

Picard stared him down and then turned to Petral, placing his hands flat on the table. "You've been very quiet, Doctor. Perhaps you have brought medical equipment on board which could have caused such a surge."

Petral simply looked at him. "Perhaps I am a prisoner on board your ship, Picard…but I am not obliged to answer your questions," he said with a small smile. "Of course," he added solemnly, "Justice must be done for our dear leader."