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Chapter Twenty-Four
The late-morning sun was already blisteringly hot as the group climbed down into the relative coolness of the tunnel system beneath the Stairway. As he reached the bottom, Data winced a little and frowned at his palms, rubbed red by the rope ladder anchored in the sand above.
"You OK, android?" Nat asked, hopping to the sandy ground beside him.
"Fine, thank you," Data said stiffly, and wiped his overheated face and forehead with his sleeve, rather startled to see the khaki fabric come away damp.
"I didn't know androids could sweat," Nat said, wiping his own face with a cloth before reaching out a hand to help Freja jump the last few feet from the ladder. "Kind of a strange thing to program, if you ask me."
"It is not strange at all," Data said distantly, seemingly unable to look away from his sleeve. "In fact, the secretion of persperation is one of the skin's most important functions. Just as with humans, the endothermic process of evaporation helps my systems maintain a relatively constant internal temperature..."
He reached up to touch his face and neck, to brush back the damp hair sticking to his forehead, then experimentally tapped the tip of his finger to his tongue. He tilted his head slightly, analyzing the concentrations of water, acids, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the sample, and started to smile.
"Intriguing…" he said. "But, I don't quite understand. I was not sweating like this when we crossed the compound, and the temperature up there was much higher."
"That's dry heat up there," Nat told him, smirking a little at Data's expression. "That damn desert sun wicks away any moisture it hits. Down here, the air is closer, cooler. Moisture has a chance to condense, and collect as humidity. As if the heat wasn't miserable enough in these tunnels…" he muttered.
"Of course…" Data said, touching his upper lip then rubbing the moisture between his fingers.
"Hey, Data – you sure you're gonna be all right down here?" Riker asked, hopping down from the ladder and testing his emergency beacon. "You're certain this dampening field won't affect you?"
"Not to the extent that it should have any significant impact on my performance," Data told him. "As I said back in the control room, as long as the field continues to operate at its current strength, my systems should have no trouble compensating for the drain."
He offered the commander a little smile.
"I appreciate your concern, Will, but I'm sure I'll be fine. After all, I will only be exposed to this energy dampening field for, perhaps, an hour before we must head back to meet Dr. Crusher's runabout."
"Well, if you feel any discomfort, don't hesitate to report it," Riker said.
"Yessir," Data said, and Riker returned his smile with a brotherly clap on the shoulder.
Picard made the jump to the ground, then reached out to help Tu'Pari, who – despite Data's offer – had insisted on carrying the team's heavy equipment pack strapped to his back.
"Well," the captain said, an eager smile creasing his sun-flushed face. "If we're all here, let's get started. Dr. Tu'Pari, as you'll be recording this expedition, would you take the lead?"
The Vulcan nodded and pulled a holorecorder headset from his pack, slipping it over his severely straight, short black hair and turning on the lamp as he strode ahead of the captain through the narrow, egg-shaped tunnel. Riker, Nat and Freja followed closely in a tight group, already talking about the strange musical codes and what they hoped to find…
…which left Data suddenly behind, to bring up the rear…a somewhat irritating development, given the fact that it had not been his first choice to accompany them – as he had informed the captain following his summons away from the children…
"With all due respect, sir," he'd said, consciously working to keep his voice level and calm, "I believe I could more effectively use this time before Dr. Crusher's arrival were I to remain here with Counselor Troi. Deanna has promised to assist my search for Mikey's living relatives, and to help me find Ishta a suitable—"
"Data—" Picard had started, then sighed and clasped the android's arm. "My friend," he'd said. "I do appreciate your feelings in this matter. And, while extending our aid to the children you rescued is, of course, important, we have a different priority here."
"Captain, I must disagree," Data had said. "The fact of Kahlestra's and my abduction, captivity, and subsequent escape evidences a most alarming, and on-going, oversight on the part of Starfleet – to say nothing of the Federation's top investigative, intelligence, and law-enforcement agencies! These black market flesh peddlers have been operating with near impunity on Federation worlds and along Federation borders for I do not yet know how many years, kidnapping and selling children for purposes I can only describe as—"
"Mr. Data…" Picard had raised a calming hand. "You're right. You are absolutely right. The fact that such despicable criminality could continue to operate within the Federation in this day and age is an inexcusable violation of the values and tenets that define our society, and you have my promise that I will support any official report you wish to submit. But, this find is more significant than you know. If I'm right…"
He took a breath to compose himself, then leaned in with a conspiratorial smile, his eyes gleaming with the enthusiasm of a sleuth on a hot trail.
"This could be a truly momentous discovery, Data," he'd said. "An ancient artifact of unknown power that, once tapped, could irrevocably shift the balance of power in this part of the galaxy. That's why that Nausicaan came here. That's why those raiders killed Dr. Baker and destroyed Kurak's lab. Someone has been following the archaeologists' work on this planet, someone who does not want to take the chance that this ancient power source will fall into Federation – or even Klingon – hands."
Data frowned.
"The Romulans?"
Picard looked grim.
"Or, the Cardassians," he'd said. "Perhaps even the Dominion. Do you see now, Data, why this investigation must take priority, at least for now?"
Data closed his eyes and nodded, sighing deeply through his nose.
"You say the key may be a musical code?" he'd said, and smiled slightly, admittedly intrigued by the mystery despite his deeply conflicted feelings.
Picard's stern features broke into a grin.
"There's the Data I know," he'd said, proudly clapping his friend on the shoulder. "I knew we could count on that inquisitive mind of yours! The rest of the team is waiting in the control room. I want you to go over their findings, then return with us to the main site. We only have a few hours, so let's get moving!"
Data flexed his hands. His palms were still a little raw from the rope, but they didn't exactly hurt. Beyond that, his sweaty skin was beginning to make his entire body feel unpleasantly tacky and unclean. His lightweight hiking shirt stuck uncomfortably to his chest and back as he moved, and he could feel the dust that hung in the muggy air clinging to his face and neck as he continued through the tunnel. A quick swig of water from his canteen quieted his system diagnostic warnings that all this perspiring was causing a slight unbalance in his body's water, salt, and mineral levels, but shortly after swallowing the back of his nose and throat again seemed 'dry.' The more he tried to ignore it, the more 'present' the odd feeling became until he reached back for his canteen, giving in to the peculiarly pressing need to take a few more, longer, sips.
He had to wonder: could this strangely physical sensation be 'thirst'? Had losing so much moisture through his skin truly left him 'thirsty'?
Data knew he couldn't be the only one experiencing these awkward physical discomforts. But, as none of the others were voicing complaints, he decided to keep his questions to himself for now and just continue walking. Without breaking his stride, he tucked his canteen back into place, sank his stinging hands into his pockets, and followed the rest of the group into a surprisingly small, cramped cavern, his mind burning with the bitter suspicion that this long-anticipated, 'indistinguishably realistic' new skin of his would ultimately turn out to be as much a mixed bag as his goddamned emotion chip.
Nat's lantern flickered in the darkness ahead, and the bright lamp at the side of Tu'Pari's headset went out.
"Tu'Pari, I thought you said you'd fixed our equipment to work despite the dampening field," Nat complained, shaking the lantern as if that would recharge the dimming light.
"I did," the Vulcan said, calmly reaching for his tricorder. "Allow me a moment to scan…"
An odd wave of lightheadedness washed over Data and he shook his head, raising a hand to his temple.
"Oooph!" he winced. "Oh…I—"
"Data?" Riker said, turning to face him in the dimness. "What's going on? Are you all right?"
Data rubbed his sinuses, as if experiencing the start of a headache.
"I am…unsure… I think I—"
He started to move forward, only to feel a terrible, static-like prickle surge through his systems. He gasped and staggered, the dark cavern seeming to spin around him as he lurched desperately toward the stability of the rough, stone wall.
"…help…! …Captain…!"
The archaeologists stood back as Picard and Riker rushed to keep their android friend from collapsing to the sandy floor.
"Data, what is it?" Picard said, taking him by the shoulder. "Is it the dampening field?"
"I…I am… I am uncertain, Captain…" the frightened android managed, fighting to swallow back a powerful swell of nausea. "Suddenly, I…I feel…incredibly dizzy…"
"The field's strength has increased by twenty-eight percent in the last thirty seconds," Tu'Pari reported coolly, "but appears to no longer be rising. I estimate that, at this level, even with my modifications, our equipment will be drained of energy within the next thirty-to-forty minutes."
Data groaned, and rested his head against the wall.
"Why would the field strength increase now?" Picard asked.
"Actually, Captain, the strength of the energy dampening field has been increasing in irregular increments ever since we first discovered the wall panel at the far end of this cavern," Tu'Pari said.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Riker demanded.
Tu'Pari raised an eyebrow, unaffected by the commander's tone.
"I had previously presumed these energy spikes to be random," the Vulcan said.
"And now?" Nat asked curiously.
"Now, I am almost certain that there is a direct correlation between the field's energy increases and the amount of electronic gear we have brought in near proximity to that wall panel."
Freja frowned.
"Then, this energy source, whatever it is," she said. "It can somehow 'sense' electronic devices and adjust its own energy levels to inhibit their function the nearer they get to this wall?"
"That would be my theory, yes," Tu'Pari said.
Data snorted; a strange, darkly amused sound.
"Ah..." he said, leaning weakly against the cavern wall. "So, you are saying…this is my fault."
Tu'Pari fixed him with a blank stare.
"I would hardly categorize a machine of your sophistication as a mere electronic device," he said, earning a dirty glare from Riker. "But, yes. It is likely that your proximity is, in part, responsible for this latest increase."
"Incredible," Data said drolly, and sniffed, still unsteady and a little breathless as he struggled to straighten up. "Abduction…earthquakes…sandstorms…a nearly deadly speeder chase…and now this." He smirked. "You know…I'm starting to…to get the impression…that this planet doesn't like me."
Riker chuckled, but Picard's eyes were crinkled with worry as he helped his android officer find his footing on the uneven ground. Even in the dim light, Data's face looked alarmingly pale beneath its mask of dust and sweat.
"Take your time, Mr. Data," Picard said, holding him by the arm. "There is no rush."
Data nodded, and attempted a reassuring smile.
"I will be fine…in a moment, Captain," he promised. "Systems…are already compensating…"
Freja bit her lip, glancing anxiously from Data to the noticably dimmer lantern.
"Maybe we should start back," she said, twisting her hands. "We can readjust the equipment and return later."
"She may be right, Captain," Riker said. "If the dampening field is going to have this effect, it might be better for Data to observe remotely, from the control room."
"No—no, sir," Data said quickly, the color starting to return to his cheeks as his labored breathing began to even out. "Please, we've come this far. I am curious to see for myself just what this mysterious field has been protecting."
"I admire your spirit, Mr. Data," Picard said approvingly and reached for the lantern, leading the way to the silvery, shimmering etchings and glyphs, and the rectangular panel they had located the day before. "Now, let's see what we can make of this."
A glimmer of movement passed through the shadows at the edge of the narrow corridor - there and gone so quickly it could be easily shrugged off as a trick of the eye.
Silarra kept just shy of the motion detectors that operated the clinic's sliding doors, rising to her tiptoes to peer in through the transparent aluminum window. What she saw there made her reach at once for her com-unit—
Until a sudden thought gave her pause...
The Boss-man had sent her out to find his stolen property and bring him all she could on that mysterious energy source the scientists here had been buzzing about. Including the energy source itself.
Well, she could see most of his stolen property right here. The Orion, the Klingon, that robot...even the sickly little human child. But, why jump the gun and report to the Boss that she'd found his stolen Skins when she could hold out for a while? Offer him a better package deal for a significantly higher price?
According to her research, that dark-haired woman in there with the children was the half-Betazoid counselor of Captain Picard, and a fellow crewmate of that Starfleet android she'd been tracking since the caves: Lt. Commander Data. Her value on the black market could be incalculable to a clever operator like the Boss - not just for her looks and empathic talents, but for the information she held as a high-ranking Starfleet officer.
And, odds were, she wasn't alone...
Starfleet trained its people to work and fight in packs. Spot one uniform, and at least two others were sure to be close by.
Silarra could work with that.
Of course, this group was sure to be more clever than most. The android's skillful handling of Rizzul's pursuit was warning enough that an outright attack would never work here.
But, Silarra was a skillful manipulator herself, and an even better hunter. Like the Earth spider with its web and the patient owl in its tree, all she had to do was wait and watch and, soon enough, her prey would come to her.
Bringing the Boss-man's ancient energy source right along with them.
To Be Continued...
References include - TNG: Inheritance; Final Mission.
Until next time, thanks for reading! Your comments, thoughts, opinions, and reviews are always welcome! :)