Chapter Two; Exanimo
Exanimo. Verb. 1. Be out of breath. 2. Deprive of life. 3. Scare, alarm greatly. 4. Tire, exhaust.
"Keep track of that comet, Mister Data, let us know if it looks to be coming anywhere near the system."
"Aye sir, tracking and projecting likely course." His fingers flew across the screen, not only monitoring the object but listening in on local com chatter, checking computer usage and power levels, and monitoring life-signs on the few planets reachable on long-range scanners. "It appears that its projected path will take it safely through the system, assuming nothing affects its course."
"Very good. Keep monitoring the com chatter, let me know if you hear anything significant." He looked up as the turbolift doors opened and Riker emerged onto the bridge. "Ah, Number One, a word in my ready room." Picard pushed himself from the command chair, straightening his uniform as he strode from the bridge. Riker glanced round, making sure all was in order before following.
Picard seated himself behind his desk, motioning for Riker to sit. "So," The captain lifted a PADD to read, "I've had a report back from Starfleet headquarters. They questioned the Zibalian further and he repeated what he told you. They've confirmed with Daystrom, Maddox is gone."
"That bastard." Riker clenched his fists, his bearded face thunderous. "I should have known he'd be behind this."
"Indeed." Picard flicked the PADD onto the desk. "It would seem that the Commander informed the Institute that he was going to be conducting a field research project, and then failed to report in. They listed him as AWOL, and nobody's heard from him since. Apart, that is, for Kivas Fajo. However..." He leaned back, steepling his fingers. "The only evidence we have that he is involved in Data's kidnapping has been provided by a known criminal. We cannot rule out other potential suspects."
Riker ground his teeth. "It's got to be him, sir, it's got to be. Whoever it was knew all about Data's systems, his physiology..."
"Which is all on file. Possibly there has been a breach of information, and the Commander's personnel profile has fallen into the wrong hands."
"I'd stake my life on it being Maddox, he's had it in for Data ever since he applied for the academy."
"I understand that they became correspondents years ago, that they exchanged many messages."
"Maddox wanted to know everything about him, I mean everything. For all we know, Data's still messaging him now. We've got to tell him."
"No, Number One." Picard held up his hand. "Again, I must stress that we have no clear evidence that Maddox is involved, although I must say I share your conviction. If they are in communication, it may put Maddox on the alert if Data breaks off his regular message schedule. That could ruin our plans. If..." He stressed the word, leaning forwards. "If it is Maddox."
"So we're still on to monitor from here? Headquarters have cleared us?"
"For now, yes. I have to say I don't like it, if they still want Data and they're determined and clever enough, they may still try to take him. However, considering our position relative to the rendezvous site, we are the best ship available to monitor. We believe that they are using stolen Romulan cloaking technology, so we need our scanners calibrated to look for any trace we can find of them."
"I'll get engineering right on it."
"But understand, discretion must be our watch-word. The fewer people who know why we're here and what – or should I say who- we're looking for, the better. I do not want Data put under any more stress than he's already dealing with. Lord alone knows, I've been through enough myself to know how difficult this must be for him."
"Understood, sir."
"Geordi!"
"Commander! Gimme a moment..." Geordi stared intently at the screen and tapped a few times. "Okay, that looks good. Fisk, can you take over here?"
"Yes sir!" The tall man loped over and took Geordi's place at the console as he turned and moved towards Riker.
"What can I do for you, sir?" He asked, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
"I need a recalibration of the forward sensor array."
Geordi frowned, puzzled. "Is it not something you can do from the bridge?"
"Not exactly, it's on a need to know basis."
Riker drew him to one side and briefly outlined their covert mission, and as he explained Geordi's expression darkened.
"And you don't want him to know? This is crazy! He's probably worked it out already by our position! You think lying to him about why we're here is gonna put him at ease? Forgive me, Commander, but it's plain stupid to think that he's not gonna figure out that something's up! We either need to prepare for them to try again, in which case he needs to be ready, or we get the hell out of here!"
"I know how you feel, but we're the best equipped ship in this sector. If anyone's going to sniff them out it's going to be us. If we can get the sensor array..."
"To hell with the sensors! We should be on the other side of the quadrant!"
"Geordi..." Riker put his hands on the engineer's shoulders. "I know how you feel. Trust me, I do. But Data knew when he took this post that it was going to be dangerous. You can't shield him..."
"No, I know, but I don't think we should be deliberately putting him in harm's way either." Geordi clenched his jaw, and then released his tension in a sigh. Riker patted his shoulder and dropped his hands.
"And that's why we need the recalibrated sensors. Find them first, and the whole thing is over. I know you can do it."
Geordi rubbed the back of his neck, agitated. "It's a royal pain, but I'll do my best. And I'm gonna have to do it alone, no way I can explain to anyone else why we're looking for Romulans way out here."
"Picard to la Forge." Geordi looked up sharply and tapped his combadge.
"La Forge here."
"My ready room, now. It's Data."
Geordi didn't even answer, sprinting to the turbolift with Riker hard on his heels.
It had all been going so well.
He had so many things to concentrate on, so much information to catalogue and assimilate, so many different systems to keep track of. He had been sure that, under those circumstances, nothing could distract him.
"Commander Data, sir? Could you come to the science station? I've got an anomaly."
"Of course." He pushed himself up and loped around the sloping bridge to the science officer, who was frowning at the display.
"Here, sir, look. What do you make of that?"
Data leaned in to look at the blip on the screen.
"Curious... Have you tried a sweep with the refitted aft sensor cluster?"
"Oh, no! I forgot that whole bank had been given a boost!" The science officer grinned as he punched in a sequence, and ran the scan.
"I'm still getting used to this ship, I guess. So many new features. Man, but I love my new toys."
I love my new toys I love my new toysIlovemynewtoylovemynewtoy imagine how... alluring you are Oh, like a moving, feeling, perfect doll my pretty one hands and knees hands and knees handsandkneesandkneesknees fear pain fear pain fear pain stop stop stp stp spspsps
His fingers clenched spasmodically and the screen under them shattered with a sharp crack. Picard shot up out of his seat to turn and stare, and the science officer stumbled back with a cry.
"Data!" Picard barked.
Now, Data. I won't ask again. Do. As. You're. Told. Data! Play. The. Game! Too much going on in his head and he wanted it to stop stop stop
He couldn't move, there was a weight pressing down on him, he couldn't breathe, he would overheat and overload and then he would die and Kivas Fajo would have killed him, just as surely as if he had beaten him to death in the gallery. He drew a shuddering breath through his clenched teeth as he fought against the tidal surge of perfect memory, every second of his hideous encounter with the Zibalian flashing through his mind just as if he were still there. Every sharp stab of pain, every shock of shame and fear, coursing through him as fresh as the day it happened. He sucked in another breath.
"Data." Picard was next to him now, talking softly. He didn't reach out, didn't try and touch him, and Data was grateful for that small mercy.
"Ssssssirrr..." He slurred through his grinding teeth.
"My ready room. Now." It was almost an order. He could follow orders. As long as he did what he was told the fear pain fear pain fear pain would stop stop stp stp spspsps
"Sssiiirr..." He pushed himself up and forced his trembling hands to release the shattered glass balled up in his fists. Picard turned and walked away and Data followed, his golden eyes fixed on the captain's back as Picard lead him off the bridge.
"Sit down." Picard pointed to the couch and Data sat, placing his hands on his knees.
"What do you need?" The captain asked.
Data's jaw worked rhythmically, and he managed to grind out the word. "Geoooordiii."
Picard tapped his combadge as he sat behind his desk to watch the android closely.
Geordi strode into the ready room and went straight to where Data sat, bolt upright, staring straight ahead with his hands gripping his knees. There was a trickle of yellow fluid seeping through his fingers and soaking into his uniform. Geordi knelt down to look into his face. He could hear Data's teeth grinding.
"Hey, Data." He said softly. "I'm here. It's okay."
Data's eyes slowly focused on his face, and the android began to shake. His jaw stopped working, and he opened his mouth.
"I remember..." He whispered.
"It's okay, you're here, you're safe. You know me."
"Geordi..." Data looked down, and slowly turned his hands over, regarding the shards of glass in his palms with fear and confusion.
"Don't worry about that, we'll get you fixed. Look at me. Do you know where you are?"
Riker stood in the doorway, confused. "What's going on?"
"Take the bridge, Number One." Picard jerked his head and Riker nodded, moving back to allow the door to shut behind him.
"Geordi..." Picard began.
"A moment, Captain, please." Geordi held up his hand towards Picard, his gaze fixed on Data. "Do you know where you are?" He repeated. Data swallowed.
"Enterprise." He croaked.
"Yeah, you're on the Enterprise. You're with me. It's gonna be okay, right? I'm here."
"Yes." Data shuddered and drew in a breath, heaved it out in a shuddering sigh. He screwed his eyes shut tightly, and his hands clenched on his knees.
Geordi shuffled forwards to put his hands over Data's, and the android opened his eyes with a gasp, sending two shimmering yellow tears rolling down his cheeks.
"When will it stop?" He whispered, and Geordi shook his head.
"I don't know, Data. But I'll be here, okay? No matter how long it takes, I'll be here."
"My God. He's having flash-backs, isn't he?" Murmured Picard, slumping back in his chair. He ran a hand over his face and seemed to age, his own mind turning to his torment at the hands of the Borg, and his long road to recovery. Some days, he was sure he would never recover fully. But at least he had the hope that one day the memories would fade, lose their sharp edge...
Geordi moved in closer, putting himself between Data's legs to pull him close. The android pressed his face into the crook of his neck and Geordi rubbed between his shoulder blades soothingly as Data put his arms around him awkwardly, holding his glass-studded hands away from his back. Data took several long, shuddering breaths before unwrapping his arms and sitting up, brushing the remains of his tears from his face with his sleeve. Geordi reached out with both hands to cup his face.
"You okay?" Geordi asked. Data blew out a sigh.
"I will be all right." He murmured. Geordi leaned in to press their foreheads together.
"Okay." He said, pulling away. "You want to go to engineering, get your hands fixed?"
"No, your quarters, please."
"Sure, we can do that." There was a soft cough from behind him, and Geordi turned to see Picard looking over at him, his face inscrutable.
"Uh, that is... with your permission, Sir?" Geordi stammered. In truth, he had forgotten that the captain was there, so focused was he on drawing Data out of his misery.
"Oh, by all means, Mister La Forge. Data, I expect you back on the bridge, when you feel ready. Take all the time you need."
"Yes sir." Murmured Data, allowing Geordi to pull him to his feet and lead him from the room, his injured hands held awkwardly beside him.
Picard leaned back in his chain again, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"Well, well." He mused. "Well, well."