Chapter Four; Obrepo
Obrepo. Noun. 1. Creep up on/approach unawares. 2. Pay surprise visit on. 3. Sneak/drop in.
"This is it."
Geordi leaned over the table in the briefing room, a PADD held out before him. He slid it up the table to the captain, who regarded the screen with one eyebrow raised.
"Forgive me, La Forge, but this doesn't seem like much to get excited about."
"What you're looking at is a burst of tetryon radiation." Geordi leaned back. "We think that it could be the result of a Romulan cloaking device being deactivated and then reactivated, possibly to allow them to use their weapons, or beam someone onboard."
"This is the best we've got?" Riker looked down the table at the engineer, who shrugged.
"It's all we've got. There's nothing else out there that looks even remotely like another ship. Their cloak is perfect... if they're even there at all."
Picard tossed the PADD onto the table. "If this is all we have, there won't be much to report back to headquarters." He frowned, clasping his hands on the table in front of him. He looked up at the other two men under his brows.
"I'm going to need more concrete evidence. Do you think we could risk getting closer to the rendezvous site?"
"We can try, but unless they slip up again, I don't think proximity is going to matter much." Geordi rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll be honest, I'm hoping they've given up and left. I'll be happy if we don't find anything at all."
"I hope that your personal feelings on the matter won't prevent you from giving this your full attention." Picard frowned, and Geordi felt his face heat.
"No sir." He muttered.
"Bridge to Captain Picard." The intercom thrummed with the voice.
"Go ahead." Picard replied.
"Sir, we have a ship coming in on our target coordinates, it looks like it could be the Jovis."
"I'm on my way. La Forge, Number One, with me."
Picard watched the viewscreen intently, Riker by his side. Geordi had taken a science station at the back of the bridge, his fingers flying over the screen.
"This is as close as we can safely approach. I assume their scanners don't have the same range as ours, or they aren't expecting to be watched. Either way, they haven't spotted us." Said Daniels.
The screen was showing a tiny blip, a miniscule craft scudding through space. It was the Jovis, their scans had proved that much.
"So why have they come back? Unless they have something else to transfer over." Riker murmured. The time for secrecy was over, and the bridge crew had been updated on the situation as known, with the exception of Data. The android was in his quarters, his shift for the day done. Thankfully it meant that the captain had been spared awkward explanations.
Picard nodded thoughtfully. "We can only hope. If they do, then they'll have to drop the cloak."
"There!" Daniels pointed at the screen, where a small vessel had appeared as if from nowhere.
"Can we identify?" Barked Picard.
"It's... Federation. Looks to be an Aerie class ship, can't get a name..." Daniels was frowning at his screen. Riker clenched his fist.
"It's got to be Maddox, it's the same kind of ship he went AWOL in!"
"La Forge, scan that ship for human life-signs." Picard's gaze was fixed on the tiny ship, so far away, but potentially so dangerous.
"Got him! One human life-sign! No other humans on board. It's got to be him." Geordi thumped the screen with his fist in triumph.
"Picard to transporter room. Lock on to the human life-sign at the coordinates specified by Commander La Forge and beam them over."
"Yes sir, receiving coordinates. Locked on and ready to beam."
"Do it! Daniels, get a security team down there now, I want Maddox in a holding cell immediately."
"Aye sir, team en route."
Jessica Hesling toyed with the book in her hands nervously as she crept down the corridor. It had taken her all afternoon to pluck up the courage, and now she was nearly to his door, she was dragging her feet. She had meant to return Data's book to him ages ago, but then everything had gone so wrong... She hoped she would be able to apologise for Jensen's appalling behaviour, perhaps reassure the lieutenant commander that she had nothing to do with it. And then he would pull her into his strong arms and tell her... She shook her ginger hair in irritation and heaved a sigh. Why would he ever be interested in her? Shy, bookish, too many freckles. Besides, he and Geordi were a thing now, right? I mean, it's not like she could just waltz into his quarters and say...
"Computer, locate Commander Data." She said, for the fifth time. She had asked at every intersection, and she wasn't even sure if it was to make sure he was there, or in the hope that he would be somewhere else so she wouldn't have to see him...
"Commander Data is in his quarters." The computer replied.
"Yes, of course he is. Thank you." She murmured, feeling her cheeks redden. Nothing for it then. She took the last few strides needed to carry her to his door, and pressed the entrance pad.
No response. Perhaps he hadn't heard. She pressed again, heard the chime, but still no answer.
"Uh, hello? Commander Data? It's... It's Jess... Jess Hesling." She spoke through the door, getting more embarrassed by the second. Maybe he didn't want to see anyone. Maybe he didn't want to see her. Maybe he hated her...
"Data?" She called once more. Nothing.
"Computer... Locate Commander Data." What a ridiculous idea, as if he could leave his quarters without her seeing.
"Commander Data is no longer on the Enterprise."
Picard stalked into the brig, his face thunderous. He strode to the cell holding the human they had beamed over, who was sitting on the bunk twisting his hands nervously.
"Who the hell are you?" Barked Picard.
"Uh, my... my name is Marsden. George Marsden. I was with the commander on his ship, and then..."
"Who were you with? What commander?"
"Uh, Commander Maddox, we were on a survey, and he said he had to meet with someone about some equipment..."
"Damn it!" Picard whirled away from him. "Picard to bridge."
"Bridge here."
"It's not him, Maddox is still on that other ship. Get him, now!"
"No can do, captain." Geordi's voice came over the com. "Just a few seconds ago the ship cloaked, and the Jovis jumped to warp, they're both gone."
"Then what the hell was this all about?" Picard growled. "They made us think we had Maddox, and then left? This makes no sense."
"You've got me, Captain." Geordi was frowning at the screen, as if the fading energy signatures could give him some clue. His combadge chirped.
"La Forge here."
"Um, Commander? It's Hesling. Um, has Data gone on an away mission? Only, there's no answer at his door..."
Geordi almost smashed the panel punching in the override, squeezed through the door before it was fully open and burst into Data's quarters, shouting his name. Spot leapt up from her place on the couch and dashed under the bed.
There was a book open on the couch, spine bent and pages down, as if placed there a moment ago. A half full cup of tea on the table, still steaming. A cat toy, just a feather on a string really, lying in the middle of the floor.
Commander Data is no longer on the Enterprise.
Commander Data is no longer on the Enterprise.
Commander Data is no longer on the Enterprise.
Commander Data is no longer on the Enterprise.