6. QUESTIONS
Doctor Crusher handed to Nurse Alyssa Ogawa the medical reports she was working on. After visiting the three colonists, the woman did not seem to have achieved any enlightening conclusions.
"We'll know more after running the tests on their tissue" she explained to Picard, Riker and Troi, seated before her. "For now, all I can tell you is that I found out residual tetryon particles on their body. In the same concentration Data detected on the mountains".
"Clearly they have been exposed to them" Riker concluded. Beverly and the others nodded.
"This could suggest that the colonists were in the mountains area during their disappearance" Deanna said.
"Yeah. But why? And how long?" Crusher wondered.
"Did they go willingly? Or by force?" Picard interjected.
"Is it true that they don't remember anything? Or are they lying?" Riker concluded.
"Counselor Troi?" Picard asked, addressing the Betazoid.
"I don't have the sensation that they want to keep something from us" she answered. "Furthermore, it wouldn't be logical to ask for our help and don't provide us with all the useful information to solve the mystery".
"Agreed. But you told us earlier that you sensed a great diffidence from Doctor Ender" Picard commented, doubtfully.
"I'd give a direct look at the area" Beverly suggested.
"We've already programmed an away team" the admiral replied. Then, addressing Troi again, he added "I want you to go as well, Counselor".
"Yes, sir".
"Come" B'rent said, hearing the door chime. The man was studying some data on a Padd, seated at his desk with a cup in his hand. He smiled when he saw Denise appearing behind the sliding door.
"I was just wondering when you would come" he said.
"I'm here for business, B'rent" the woman replied. Her facial expression was all but kind. "What are you doing here?"
The Salusian frowned and looked at her quizzically. "I was studying the tetryon particles we have detected. Isn't it the reason why I was required here?"
Denise breathed slowly to calm down. "You've been required here in order to cooperate with the Science department" she specified. "You should be in the lab, right now!"
"I've never had an attitude for teamwork" the man said, dismissing the issue.
"But that is exactly the way Starfleet works. So I suggest you to practice" Denise replied, harshly.
"You are in Starfleet, little sister, not me".
"It's true, but you're here under my responsibility. Therefore you will follow our rules". After a brief pause, the woman's voice softened a little bit. "B'rent, don't put me in a difficult position, please. I'm still convinced that having you here is the best option. We both agreed on that. I'm sure you can be of great help".
"I'm sure as well" B'rent agreed. "But" he added, lifting the mug from the desktop "you'll have to modify these replicators of yours to make them produce a decent Kaljìl".
A disgusted expression appeared on Denise's face. "I hate Kaljìl. It reminds me of cinnamon".
B'rent smiled. "You've never become accustomed to it, D'rel".
The disgusted expression became even more pronounced. "I've always hated that name, even more than Kaljìl. What's the matter with all of you today?"
B'rent studied her for a few moments. "Are you feeling persecuted?" he asked eventually.
"Never mind" Denise answered, waving her hand to dismiss the question and going to sit down on the coach.
The Nimitz quarters were not as spacious as those of the Enterprise or of the Star Base, however they had been filled with comfortable furniture and of course they were well within Starfleet standards for a ship of that class.
"So, B'rent" Denise began "is there anything wrong between you and Data?"
"I don't like receiving orders" B'rent explained simply.
Denise smiled. "You are an ambassador on a diplomatic mission. Nobody can give you orders and be certain that Data knows rules and protocols very well".
"I know. However, he coordinates the team and were I part if it I would have to accept his way of proceeding anyway" the man replied tenaciously.
"And so?" Denise asked, startled.
"I'm a man and he's a machine".
He told it calmly as if that explanation were more than sufficient to justify him.
Denise Rank stared at him with hatred, maybe for the first time in her whole life. "B'rent, I'd have never expected that from you. How dare you speak that way?"
The man looked at her astonished. "Oh my" he muttered.
"You simply met him for five minutes. Is that enough for you to get to really know somebody? What do you know about Data?"
"Nothing" B'rent answered, this time smiling.
"Of course nothing. He's a marvelous person, while you're only an idiot!" Denise yelled against him.
"Calm down, please" B'rent said, fearing that someone hearing her screams from outside could believe he was trying to kill her.
"I can't believe you've become so petty" Denise replied almost whispering. And turned her back on the Salusian. After a few moments, Denise heard B'rent's voice again. But it was different this time. It was warmer. "So, you didn't care about him, did you?"
Suddenly Denise realized what had really happened. B'rent was only doing his job as a Vorat and she felt so stupid for not being aware of it before.
"Denise" the man said, sitting on the coach next to her. "You are not completely Salusian, but I can sense what you're feeling nevertheless".
"And what am I feeling, B'rent? Tell me, because I'm not sure I know it any longer" the woman replied.
"You were very angry earlier, because you thought everybody was against you. And you were wondering if they were maybe right. Now I'm feeling only sadness from you".
When Denise did not reply, B'rent went on. "Do you want me to get your sadness away?" he offered.
"No" Denise said, without hesitation. "Absolutely not. I want to keep feeling sad. It reminds me of my selfishness".
"What do you mean?"
"I'd been trying for all these months to convince myself that I didn't feel anything for Data and that I could forget him anytime. He's kept writing to me tons of letters and I've never answered. I'm surprised he still talks to me".
"Do you love him?" B'rent asked.
The woman looked at him silently for a few moments. "I'd like I could say no" she answered eventually.
"Why?" the man asked again, with curiosity.
"Well, you have to admit that we wouldn't be a normal couple. And furthermore we are both Starfleet officers".
"And so?"
"It would be a miracle if we could meet twice a year. It simply couldn't work".
Denise rose up and started pacing around the room. "As a matter of fact, B'rent, I don't know what to do".
The young man thought about it for a brief moment. Then, as if he had been suddenly enlightened, he said "In my opinion you should first ask yourself something. What's normal for you?" On those words he stood and walked to the quarters door. "I'm going to the lab, little sister. I'm done with you for now".
Denise Rank remained alone, astonished more than ever.
The whole eastern area of the colony was much similar to the Grand Canyon on Earth, with high and rocked mountains and a strip of desert all around. The Nimitz away team positioned itself so to cover to entire area where the tetryon emissions had been detected.
The scientists were analyzing the perimeter with their tricorders, while Captain Rank and Counselor Troi talked to Dr. Ender in the shade of one of the few trees. Deanna's senses were all focused on the colonist, always so reluctant and uncooperative.
"As I've already explained, Captain, our analysis could not explain those strange emissions" Ender said, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
"I know, doctor" Denise replied, exasperated by the thousands of objections raised by the woman. "However, it's possible that our instruments can detect something you missed".
Denise and Deanna were also sweating in their dark Starfleet uniforms, as well as the other officers of the away team. Everybody however was trying to perform his duties with both enthusiasm and efficiency.
B'rent and Data approached the three women, closing their tricorders.
"Data and I have completed the structural analysis" B'rent announced in a tired but cordial voice.
"There is nothing in the composition of these rocks that might cause the emissions" Data explained. "So we must presume that there is an external source".
Denise nodded. "Understood. What are we supposed to do know?"
Data did not waste time answering and tapped his com - badge. "Data to Nimitz, I need assistance, please. You should configure the ship's sensors to detect some kind of sub – space disturbance or high concentrated particle beams. It is my hypothesis that the phenomenon we register here is due to an external source".
From the com - unit arrived the answer of Geordi La Forge. "Which distance should we scan, Data?"
The android tilted his head while pondering the question. "I would say two light years from the atmosphere" he answered eventually.
"Acknowledged. Scan in progress" La Forge confirmed.
"Keep me apprised" Data replied, deactivating the com - badge.
"Well" Denise interjected "I suppose we only have to wait now".
"I sincerely hope that you'll let us know the results of your inspection" Ender remarked with her usual spiteful tone of voice.
"Certainly" Denise assured her.
While the five of them were discussing, Lieutenant Ris reached them. "Commander Data, we've just picked up a higher concentration of tetryon particles in one of the deeper caves. Perhaps you should give a look" the Bajoran suggested. Denise felt very proud for the efficiency of her former officer.
Data, together with the others, followed Ris through a narrow gorge that hid the entrance of a cave. According to the tricorder the cave went on for hundreds of meters in depth.
"Had you already located this cave, Doctor Ender?" Troi asked.
"Absolutely not".
The Betazoid perceived a certain ambiguity in that answer, but could not identify the reason. Maybe the woman was lying, but still something did not sound right. Abruptly, Deanna's senses were diverted elsewhere. A strange emanation captured her attention and led her away from the rest of the group.
At the entrance of the cave, Deanna realized that B'rent had followed suit and looked like he was receiving something empathically as well.
"Can you feel it too?" she whispered. The Salusian nodded.
"What is it?" Deanna asked, hoping that the man had identified the source of the emanations.
"I'm not sure" B'rent answered. "It's quite vague, but…there is some kind of vital energy…I don't know".
"Let's try to get closer" the woman suggested. "Maybe we could receive something more".
"Okay".
B'rent put his tricorder away, wanting to trust his senses only and, followed by Deanna, entered the dark cave.