12. DISCOVERIES AND PREPARATIONS
Only two hours had passed since his return and Data had already transferred and analyzed all the data collected through the shuttlecraft sensors. Something very troublesome and worrying had emerged and should have been reported to the ship's commander immediately.
"Data to Picard" the android called with an urgent tone. "I need to talk to you, sir. Can you join me in the Science lab?"
"On my way" the admiral acknowledged.
Within a few moments Picard and Riker arrived. B'rent and Geordi were already there. Picard did not have time to ask anything because Data met them at the entrance door. The issue had to be very serious, the admiral thought.
"Sir, the issue is serious" Data began.
Picard wondered whether the android had just added telepathy to his already numerous skills.
"Okay, Data. Try to explain calmly what you have found out" Riker interjected.
At Data's mark, La Forge activated the screen, upon which the images of the spatial rupture appeared, as registered by the shuttle short range sensors and the probe launched through the anomaly.
"We could confirm the existence of an energetic beam that feeds the cave with tetryon particles" Data began to explain. "The source is the sub – space rupture itself".
"Did you confirm that the rupture is stable?" Picard asked.
"Yes, sir. We did" Data answered. "But the most strange thing is that the tetryon emissions cause the sub – space rupture".
"Doesn't it suggest you anything?" Geordi asked.
Picard and Riker exchanged puzzled glances. "Should it?" Riker said eventually.
"To you in particular, sir" Data underlined, raising the captain's curiosity. "On star date 46154.2, while exploring the Amargosa Diaspora with the Enterprise – D, we encountered some strange aliens from a sub – space domain. They kidnapped many sleeping crew members for research purposes" Data explained. "And you, Captain, have been one of them" the android pointed out.
Riker's facial expression became troubled. "I didn't remember the exact star date" he said "but surely I won't forget that experience".
"Wait a moment" Picard intervened, looking for some clarity. "What has all this to do with the present situation? Aren't you going to tell me that those sub – space beings are someway involved?"
"It is exactly what I am trying to do, sir" Data answered. "I compared the sensors data with the ones collected by the Enterprise years ago. Unfortunately, there is no doubt".
"The only difference" La Forge added "is that this time the spatial rupture is not enlarging. But Data has his own theory for that".
"Yes. In fact, this time those beings are not trying to penetrate our universe" Data said. "In my opinion, the explanation is inside the cave. It could be a sort of habitat".
"A habitat?" Picard asked, astonished.
"Correct, sir" Data confirmed. "I believe the missing colonists are there. They should have been picked up to be studied with some remote system. The tetryon particles concentration I detected inside the cave is not harmful to humans and, as it seems, it is sufficient to maintain the link with the rupture".
In the few moments of silence that followed Data's explanation, both Picard and Riker tried to assimilate the bad news. Picard was the first to speak again.
"Mr. Data" he began "it's been a very long time since I last asked you if you are sure about something. However, in this circumstance, I must underline a fact. Years ago, if I well remember, those aliens found out our universe because of a modification to our ship's EPS network. But this time how could they have arrived here?"
The silence fell in the room again, while everybody tried to find a valid explanation. Finally, Ambassador B'rent began to speak for the first time during the briefing. "Maybe I have the answer" the young Salusian said thoughtfully. "During our last visit at the Research center, didn't Dr. Ender refer to a modification they implemented on their sensor array?" he asked.
Riker's face lightened. "Yes. Yes, it's true" he said, with growing conviction.
"Very well" Picard commented. "Now the question is: what are we supposed to do?"
"Last time, we successfully closed the spatial rupture using a coherent graviton pulse" Geordi remembered. "We could do it again".
"Data?" Picard inquired.
The android cocked his head, pondering the engineer's proposal. "I have many objections" he said eventually. "First of all, I remind you, sir, that some of the colonists are still missing and we must presume they are currently in the cave. We do not know what it would happen to the habitat if we destroyed the rupture. We could endanger the lives of those people. Secondly, this is not the Enterprise".
Even a Pakled would have noticed that fact, Picard thought.
"To obtain sufficient energy for the graviton pulse, we should drain it from the warp engines for at least twenty – four hours. I calculate that we would remain without warp energy for about three days" Data concluded.
"Great" Riker commented sarcastically. Picard nodded in agreement.
"At this point I believe the only thing to do is being prepared for any eventuality" the admiral said. "Let's prepare for the energy transfer. In the meantime, I think an accurate inspection of the cave cannot be postponed any longer".
"Sir, last time we've been there Deanna and B'rent had seriously risked their lives" Riker reminded him.
"I know, Will. Of course we must be very careful".
In that very moment the com - system delivered a call from Counselor Troi.
"Troi to Picard. Beverly and I need you here in sickbay".
"We're on our way, Counselor" Picard replied. "Geordi, make the preparations for the energy transfer. Data, B'rent, come with us, please".
Adrenalin started flowing through Picard's veins. Something was finally beginning to take shape.
Sickbay was full of activity. Kristina Ender laid down one of the bio – beds while the computer monitored her biological readings. Dr. Crusher, Counselor Troi, Nurse Ogawa and another medical technician that Picard did not know, were all around her. A little further away Denise Rank was standing with her arms folded. She looked much better than a few hours earlier.
Picard signaled Beverly and Deanna to join him in the CMO's office. A moment later Denise, together with Will Riker, joined them too.
"We're in bad troubles" the Enterprise Captain whispered, tickling the woman's curiosity.
Picard, helped by Data for the technical aspects, brought the rest of the officers up to date. Their reaction as anticipated was not positive.
"However, this explains many things" Beverly commented.
"Why were you visiting Dr. Ender?" Picard wanted to know.
"I suggested it, sir" Troi answered. "During our hypnosis section Kristina talked about her visit to the cave so precisely to let me suspect that maybe it wasn't a hallucination, as she presumed at first. So I proposed a full check – up and she agreed".
"And it was a brilliant suggestion" Dr. Crusher commented. "My exam revealed a concentration of tetryon particles in her tissues. The same measure I detected on the other colonists I had checked before".
"So, she'd been kidnapped too!" Riker exclaimed, startled.
"Yes" Troi replied. "And there is more".
"In addition to the collection of DNA samples, I found on Kristina evidence of an artificial insemination, followed by the removal of the fertilized ovule. Everything has been made using techniques absolutely unknown to me" Beverly reported, matter – of – factly.
"Doctor" Picard intervened, in a professional and detached tone "are you suggesting that the aliens have rendered Dr. Ender pregnant and, perhaps, some other colonists as well?"
"No" Beverly answered. "I didn't find out anything similar in the other people I visited. But in Kristina only".
"Well, it's a mystery" Picard commented with a puzzled expression. "Data, have you got any idea about the intentions of these sub – space aliens?"
"Well, sir, they showed a great deal of curiosity for us, in the past" the android explained. "Maybe this is only another attempt to…"
Data could not end the sentence, being abruptly interrupted by B'rent. "Don't you understand?" the Salusian asked with rising emphasis. "They're trying to create hybrids!"
"What?" Denise replied, addressing his brother with a severe glance. "What are you talking about, B'rent? These people have already met the sub – space beings and you presume to know better than them?"
But Data stopped her reprimand. "No" he interjected "B'rent is right".
Everybody's gaze moved from the Salusian to the android.
"We know that these aliens cannot live in our universe and that we cannot live in theirs" Data began to explain. "In the past they attempted to create a pocket of our universe to analyze us. And this is surely their biggest limit when trying to interact with us".
"And how can they override it, using the hybrids?" Denise asked.
"Through a gradual process of adaptation" B'rent answered. "Maybe they will fail with the first generation, but with the second or the third they could succeed in creating beings capable of introducing and living in our universe".
Beverly shivered. The thing was theoretically possible, even if far over their actual capabilities. But perhaps the same was not true for the aliens. "Probably they can accelerate the embryos' growth and maybe also the subsequent development, so to reduce the intergenerational gap" Dr. Crusher offered.
After a moment of chilling silence, Riker said "It seems the prelude to an invasion".
"Why Dr. Ender only? Why not the others?" Picard asked.
"Sir, presumably the problem of the genetic compatibility has been difficult to override, even for them" Data answered. "The aliens must have made many attempts".
"The DNA samples!" Beverly exclaimed, as if she were suddenly enlighten. "They took many of them from the colonists. Now I get the reason".
"Don't forget the four still missing" Deanna suggested.
"One or more of them could be compatible" B'rent agreed. "Maybe all the four of them. This would explain why they didn't release them".
"And Ender?" Riker asked. "They released her. Why?"
"Kristina had got the Zonta Fever, a terrible disease. It's possible that a too long exposure to tetryon emissions could have been dangerous, even mortal to her" Dr. Crusher speculated.
Riker nodded. "And naturally those beings didn't want to risk to lose one of their important donors. As a matter of fact they could always take Kristina back later, if they needed her again".
"What can we do now?" Deanna asked.
"Work on that" Picard ordered, addressing Data and B'rent. "I want a solution to get those people safely out of there and to return the aliens back to their realm".
"We will do our best" Data assured.
"Sir, what about the away team mission to the cave?" Riker asked.
"Tomorrow morning, as planned" the admiral replied.
When the discussion was almost over, Denise Rank highlighted another problem. "I realize it's a less important issue, but did anybody tell Dr. Ender what the aliens made her?"
Deanna and Beverly exchanged an understanding glance, before Troi answered. "Actually, we thought it was better not to tell her. Kristina was very upset".
"Maybe we should tell her now" Picard concluded. And so they did. Dr. Ender did not take the news well. The idea of having been used in such an immoral and sneaky way made her feel violated in her human rights.
"I can't believe it. These aliens used my body to generate their monsters!"
Counselor Troi sensed that the tension was growing too much and signaled Dr. Crusher to intervene. Beverly approached the colonist with an hypo spray in hand. "Kristina, this sedative will help you to calm down".
But Ender withdrew from the medical officer. "Don't touch me"! she yelled.
In the chaos that followed, B'rent thought that maybe he could offer his help. As a matter of fact when they were down the planet he succeeded in gaining the woman's trust and cooperation. So the man walked forward. "Let me try" he whispered to Dr. Crusher. "Kristina, do you remember me?" he then asked.
The sound of his voice seemed to have a soothing effect, even if the woman did not reply.
"Let me help you" B'rent went on, approaching her. Ender was in shock, her eyes wide opened and her body twitched spasmodically.
Denise found herself sympathizing for that surly woman and could not help but wonder how she would have reacted in her place.
B'rent gained enough room to be in physical contact with Kristina. As soon as she took her hand, a kind of miracle happened. Ender's body suddenly relaxed and the woman let him guide her to the nearest bio – bed, where she laid down. She looked like another person entirely. A few moments later Kristina Ender had completely recovered.
"What have you done to me?" she asked B'rent, astonished. "It's been like having you inside my head, stroking me tenderly".
Everybody else was curious as well. "Is this what you usually do as a Vorat?" Picard asked.
B'rent nodded. He looked tired. "I had never done it to someone of another race before" the young man explained. "But it seemed to work nevertheless".
Denise Rank approached the man she considered her brother. "Are you all right?" she asked with a worried expression.
"I'm fine" B'rent assured her.
That small crisis was finally over and the officers began to leave sickbay, heading to the respective posts. Exiting, Denise heard Will Riker talking to Deanna Troi about having dinner together. That fact surprised her.
"Deanna" Denise said, almost whispering "don't tell me that you and Will are again…"
"No" Deanna anticipated her. Then she added with complicity "Not yet, by the way".
When the Betazoid left too, only B'rent, Data and Denise remained in the corridor.
"Have you got any plans for dinner?" the woman asked.
"I suppose we won't have it" B'rent answered.
"We have to return to the lab immediately" Data added. "There is much to do".
"In this case" Denise replied "I think I'll go to sleep". She could not offer any help in that circumstance, so she returned to her quarters trying to rest and be prepared for the away mission ahead.
The quiet of the night fell on the Nimitz, even if the alternation day – night was purely conventional in space. The off duty officers could finally rest, but in the Science lab that quite was light years away.
Three science officers, Lt. Ris included, were handling some complex equipment, while B'rent was discussing with Commander Data.
"We must ensure a margin of safety to the away team" the Salusian said in a resolute tone, pacing back and forth before the android's desk.
"I am not sure it is safe to eliminate the tetryon beam" Data replied with the same intonation.
From their behavior it was clear they had been discussing over that point for many hours.
"But without the beam in place those beings will lose control over the cave. They won't be able to cause breaking – downs or to endanger the away team in any other way" B'rent said again, exasperated.
"We would risk the lives of the humans kept captives" Data replied.
"You can't be sure of it".
"But I am not willing to risk, anyway" Data concluded, letting understand that he had already made up his mind.
B'rent raised his hands in surrender. "All right" he said, lowering his voice. "We'll find out something else".
"Lieutenant Ris" Data went on "is attempting to duplicate the tetryon particles. If we succeed in modulating them at the same frequency and intensity of the aliens', maybe we will be able to isolate the cave from the sub – space rupture, maintaining intact the habitat while the away team inspects the area".
"Won't this alert the aliens?" B'rent asked.
"Of course. But I doubt that they will be able to intervene once the link is broken". After a brief pause, Data added "We should also consider the safety of the hybrids".
B'rent looked startled. "What do you mean?"
"If we separated them from the habitat they could die" Data explained.
"But we don't even know whether they really exist" the Salusian objected. "And in any case they are potential invaders and so our enemies".
But Data did not look persuaded. "They are living beings" he simply said, as if it were sufficient to explain anything. However, before B'rent's puzzled expression, Data understood he had to say something more. "These hybrids are not responsible for what it is happening here. They have been created by the sub – space aliens, true, but this is not sufficient to blame them. Has anybody asked them their opinion about their creation?"
B'rent could not answer that question.
"They will certainly know only exclusion in their lives" Data went on. "They will be unable to live in the sub –space domain, because we are going to close the rupture, cutting them off. And they will not be able to live in our universe either, at least not outside the habitat in the cave. And even if they could, the colonists would feel only contempt toward them. I feel very sorry for them".
Remembering Ender's reaction in sickbay, B'rent asked "Data, when Kristina Ender knew what were going on, she referred to the hybrids as monsters. What did she exactly mean?"
"Well, literary a monster is a being of strange appearance, different from the other members of his species" Data answered. "In ancient Terran literature there are many references to monsters of any kind".
"Ancient literature" B'rent repeated, pondering over the concepts the android was explaining to him. "But that word is still used today, from what I gathered".
"Unfortunately, humans are still bounded to some of their past heritage. Judging someone by his physical appearance is one of the deepest – rooted prejudices" he explained.
B'rent's facial expression conveyed his curiosity and interest for those concepts unknown to him. "You know" the Salusian said "I had never thought before about concepts like diversity or normality. On my world they have no real meaning. For centuries we lived without never encountering anybody really different from us. At least, not different in the meaning you're referring to".
"I didn't realize it" Data replied.
"Some days ago" B'rent went on thoughtfully "I suggested to someone to think about the meaning of the word 'normal'. Only now I realize that I didn't know what I was talking about".
"Do not be too sorry" Data said with sympathy. "It is often difficult to fully understand something without having a first hand experience of it".
The Salusian looked startled. "You mean you had a first hand experience of what we're talking about?"
"Of course" Data answered. "Is it not obvious?"
"You? A Starfleet Commander? From what I saw, despite your uniqueness and singularity, everybody here respects you. I've never seen anybody to discuss your orders only because you're different".
"That is true" Data replied, quietly. "At least here and now. But things have not always been this way. For a long time many people had difficulties even to consider me a person. I have to admit that I had doubts myself. Until I realized that if I did not stop to look at me as a mere machine anybody else would have done so. And I decided to do my best to become human".
"To become human?" B'rent enquired, astonished.
"Not literally" Data specified. "That would be impossible. But being human is not only a matter of biology, it is also a way of living, thinking and feeling. Entering Starfleet has been only the first step of a long path I am still following".
Those words affected B'rent very deeply. Suddenly the man realized that the opinion he had just expressed about the hybrids was totally unfair. And what hurt him the most was the fact that he had voiced out such a xenophobic judgment absolutely naturally, as a result of some kind of immorality that was already inside him and emerged at the first occasion. B'rent felt very bad at the thought. He had never considered himself a xenophobe, as a matter of fact he had been among the small group of young people who wished to put an end to the historical isolation of their world. But despite this, at his first encounter with a very different life form he had behaved like a racist. B'rent felt suddenly a deep sense of inadequacy.
"Is there something wrong?" Data asked, perceiving the discomfort his new friend should be feeling.
The Salusian shook his head. "I think I'm going to help Lt. Ris with the tetryon field modulator" he answered, feeling the strong impulse to do anything useful as a way to expiate his sins.
But before leaving, B'rent felt there was something else he wanted to add. "Some time ago, my sister told me she considered you a wonderful person and me an idiot. Now I understand what she meant".
At eleven hundred hours, ship's time, Will Riker and Denise Rank met in the corridor outside the transporter room, where they had appointment with the rest of the away team members. Data, Troi, Crusher, B'rent and two security guards were also included. Admiral Picard, after a lot of arguing, had reluctantly accepted to remain on board. La Forge too would have remained on the ship to personally handle the procedure to suppress the aliens' control of the cave and the establishment of the duplicated tetryon field that Lt. Ris and B'rent had devised.
Any possible precaution had been taken to ensure the safety of both the away team and the humans still kept captives.
There was a confident expression on Riker's face that made hope for the success of their mission.
"Are you happy to finally enter into action?" Denise asked him with a grin.
"It was about time" the man answered, checking his equipment. "By the way" Riker went on, stroking his beard "there's something I wished to ask you, after reading the shuttlecraft's logs. Where did you learn to fly that way?"
The woman put on an expression of false modesty and answered "Where everybody did. Didn't you attend Starfleet Academy?"
"Of course. But there aren't many people who can do what you did" Riker said. Then, with one of his Machiavellian looks that made him so popular among his friends, he added "I'm one of them".
Denise could not suppress a laugh. "Don't tell anybody" the woman added in a low whisper "I didn't pass the flight exam at my first attempt".
Riker looked startled. "Are you joking?"
"Not at all" Denise replied, shaking her head. "I have to thank Geordi for having passed it the second time. That is the reason why we've become so close friends".
William thought that was exactly the confirmation of what he had always believed: nothing can teach you more than a hard lesson from life.
When both captains reached the Transporter room they found the others already there, ready to leave.
B'rent looked like someone who had not slept at all, Denise noticed. Beverly and Deanna seemed nervous but, at least, had enough rest. Data was as usual impeccable under all perspectives.
"Phasers on heavy stun and flashlights at hand" Riker ordered, signing the whole group to get on the platform. The transporter beam had been reinforced to let them materialize directly deep underground.
"Riker to Bridge" the captain called, as soon as they were in position for beaming down "We're ready, sir".
"Acknowledged, Will" Picard's voice replied. "Be careful and maintain a channel open".
"Yes, sir" Riker said. Then, addressing the transporter chief he gave the order to beam down. "Energize".