8. THE NEUTRAL ZONE

There was some excitement on the Bridge. The typical enthusiasm of an important discovery.

"You were right, Data" Geordi La Forge said from one of the scientific consoles. "Sensors picked up a particle beam that crosses the planet's atmosphere and hits directly the mountains area".

"Did you pinpoint the origin?" the android asked.

"I'm tracking it right now" Denise answered from the Helm. "I have the survey map" the woman added a few moments later.

"Let's see it" Riker instructed.

The main viewer became full of little blinking lights, representing all the stars of that sector, and a small red circle appeared on the left corner.

"Magnify" Denise ordered the ship's computer. The red circle enlarged, showing within it a planetoid, very similar to an asteroid. "It's just outside this system, Admiral" Denise explained, reading the data. "Coordinates one, seven, zero mark nine, nine, four".

"Inside the Neutral Zone" Riker underlined.

Data took place at Ops to check the sensors logs. "I am receiving strange data from the space around that planetoid" Data commented. "The tetryon emissions come surely from there, but there is more. A sort of cut".

"Explain, Commander" Picard ordered.

"It looks like a sub – space rupture, sir. But I had never seen one of that kind".

"It seems stable" La Forge intervened.

"Yes" Data confirmed. "That is exactly what I meant".

"How's that possible" Riker asked, astonished.

Even Picard did not do anything to hide his surprise. A sub – space rupture was not something one could encounter everyday. The factors producing it were not many: either the use of particular weapons or some but rare natural phenomena. However, the very fact that the rupture appeared stable was enough to eliminate both possibilities.

"There is only one way to find out, sir" Data answered Riker's question. "We must get closer to perform a short range sensor sweep and maybe to launch a probe inside".

But Picard shook his head decidedly. "No, it doesn't sound like a good idea to take a Federation starship inside the Neutral Zone".

"It would appear as an open provocation against the Romulan Government. And it's exactly what we must prevent" Riker agreed.

"There could be an alternative, sir" Data insisted. "A shuttlecraft would be more difficult to detect for the Romulans. And it would not represent a political provocation. We could always say that the shuttle was there for scientific purposes. As a matter of fact that is the truth. I volunteer, Admiral".

Picard was amazed at how, after all those years, Data could still surprise him. He was always so disposal to investigate anything, in spite of the risks involved, in order to satisfy his scientific curiosity. And, above all, he was so loyal to Starfleet that Picard had often wondered if it were not an injustice that Data had not gotten his own command yet. The reason of that being only his diversity.

"Should you have any problems, I won't be able to pick you up inside the Neutral Zone" Picard replied, finally. "Is that clear to you?"

"Certainly, sir" Data assured him.

Picard nodded in agreement. "Very well. If you consider it essential for the sake of our mission, you're authorized to proceed, Commander".

"Thank you, sir" Data said, approaching the turbo – lift.

Denise Rank rose up too from the helm consol. "Wait! I'm coming with you" she told Data, with authoritarian voice. Then, addressing Picard, she added "Permission to accompany him, Admiral. He can't go alone. We both know that if he had to encounter the Romulans, the scientific mission story would never work out".

Picard was about to answer, when Data himself interjected to rise objections. "Sir, I am absolutely against this course of action. The presence of a Starfleet Captain in the Neutral Zone is inappropriate to say the least. And a grave risk for security!"

Denise wondered whether such determination was due only to the fact that Data did not wish to remain alone with her or if he were really preoccupied for her wellbeing. Knowing him, however, she had to admit that the first option was surely out of question.

"Sir" Denise intervened "you yourself told us that this is a particular mission and that everyone has to do his part, without considering ranks. Data is a science officer and of course he wants to do his job. Let me do mine, as well".

Picard had always liked the eloquence of that young woman and was sure that peculiar trait had helped her much in her rapid career. So he decided to trust his instinct again. "Captain Rank" the admiral said "permission granted. Be careful, both of you".

"Yes, sir" Denise replied. And preceding Data, she entered the lift.

Picard, with Captain Riker at his side, was going to sickbay, where Dr. Crusher would have brought them up to date about the analysis she had performed.

"I'm a little worried for we've sent those two in the Neutral Zone" William said. "I hope it's been a wise decision".

"I hope it as well, Number One" Picard replied.

For a moment, Riker felt as if he had traveled back trough time when he was still First Officer, aboard the Enterprise. Career had its disadvantages and for Riker it meant having to do without his former captain and mentor. All he hoped for now, was to use well Picard's lessons and to perform his duty the best he could.

Beverly met them in sickbay, together with Troi and B'rent. "I've just finished the tissues analysis on all the fifty three disappeared colonists" Dr. Crusher explained.

"The results are quite amazing" B'rent interjected.

"Indeed" Beverly went on. "DNA samples have been collected from each one of them".

"But nobody remembers to have undergone a genetic exam" Deanna concluded.

"Collected by whom? What would it all mean?" Picard asked.

"I don't know" Crusher answered. "You're supposed to be the detectives here".

"Sure. You used the right word, Beverly" Picard said whispering. "All this really seems a Dixon Hill story".

"Sir" Riker intervened. "I think we should seriously consider a possible alien intrusion".

"I hope not a Romulan one, Will" Picard replied. "Well, I suppose we have only to wait for Data's return, hoping he had a better fortune".

"Sir" Troi said suddenly. "There is something I'd like to report".

"Go ahead, Counselor".

"Actually, I don't know if it's really important" the Betazoid went on. "However, it's about Dr. Ender. Every time I talk to her I receive strange sensations in return. I don't mean she's lying to us, but there's definitely something I can't explain. For example, when we discovered the cave, she told us she had never seen it before. She was telling the truth and lying at the same time".

Everybody stared at Deanna with enquiring expressions.

"Counselor, how is it possible to tell the truth and to lie simultaneously?" Picard asked.

"I can't explain it, sir" Troi admitted. "But we should investigate it further, in my opinion".

Picard pondered the Betazoid's words for a short while. He had always trusted Troi's perceptions in the past and then they had nothing else to do until Data's return. Furthermore, anything was worth trying at the point they were. At worst, Dr. Ender would become even more distrustful, but the concept did not bother Picard in the very least. They were not there to look for new friends, but to solve a mystery.

"Very well" the admiral said "we can give it a try". Then he turned toward Riker to instruct him. "Beam down with Counselor Troi and B'rent, Will. Find an excuse to speak to Dr. Ender again".

"Aye, sir" Riker replied.

"B'rent" Picard went on, addressing the Salusian "you have very particular powers, completely unknown to us. Can you help resolve the matter?"

The young man nodded. "I'll do my best, Admiral".