Data had arrived at the Laconia right on schedule. As his shuttle settled in the docking bay, he was greeted by two security officers as well as the Captain. The captain, whose high forehead was furrowed forward in an expression of caution, gave a taught smile as Data bent low to exit the shuttle.
The two officers beside him, while both rather burly, curled backward apprehensively. Data presumed that they knew exactly who he was and had no desire to grapple with an android—or anyone with superior strength. The captain extended his hand and gave Data's a curt shake.
"Welcome, Commander Data. I am Captain Abraham of the Laconia." He held his mouth open, his jaw quivering over his salt and pepper beard. He peered side to side, recognizing that Data's gaze had moved to the officers. "Oh, uh…" he continued, snickering. "Don't mind Lieutenants Shiba or Reinald. They are simply here to ensure that you were indeed sent alone."
"Of course I came alone, sir." Data replied matter-of-factly, cocking his head to one side. "Admiral Quinn's orders were very strict. Any information that you provide to me here will be strictly confidential."
Captain Abraham squinted his left eye, ogling at Data with his right as he nodded. He made a swift turn, which made Lieutenants Shiba and Reinald shuffle in panic to catch up with him. Data on the other hand kept in step with every large stride the aged Captain took.
"I've heard much about you, Commander." Abraham continued. "You have quite the legend behind you. The first android in Star Fleet history. You've received numerous accommodations, including an award for Valor. That's impressive."
"I am always ready to perform any duties assigned to me, Sir." Data confirmed. "No matter the cost. With the introduction of my emotional programming, the need to help my fellow man has steadily grown from just a mere sense of duty."
"That's what I like to hear from any Star Fleet officer, human or no. It shows good character. Which, of course, I trust you have much more of now that you are equipped with that programming. That is exactly why I agreed to have YOU come here to pick up Commander Atkins."
"I assume that he is the engineer, Captain?"
"Nothing gets past you, Commander Data."
Abraham waved his hand to Shiba and Reinald. The pair of them stood at either side of a door to their left. Data presumed it was the Captain's private office. Captain Abraham held his arm out, allowing Data to enter first. As he did so, his suspicions were confirmed.
At the center of the room sat the Captain's desk, it was littered with data holders, personal trinkets, and a cluttered computer console. The glass tabletop seemed to be slightly scuffed in some areas, but nothing too unsightly. Abraham sat in the lavender swivel chair and pointed Data to a cylindrical stool at his front. Data sat, making note of the uncomfortable squeak in his seat. He added more weight to his feet as he allowed himself to settle in slightly, not wanting to break the chair beneath him.
As Abraham spun his chair to face his computer, wiping away the excess clutter, Data was sure he heard the chair give slightly under the massive old man's weight.
"Captain Abraham to engineering, send Atkins up. Commander Data has arrived to give him transport to the Enterprise." Abraham said aloud. No reply met him. Though Data was sure a direct order didn't often require a confirmation, particularly from a man as seasoned as Captain Roger Abraham.
As he waited for the Captain to begin filling him in on the basics of the mission, Data scanned his memory files for information on the Captain. What came up was less than extraordinary compared to Captain Picard. Captain Abraham had himself received a couple of outstanding awards, even recommendations for a promotion to Admiral—both turned down. He had completed a long list of diplomatic missions in his early years, followed by a string of secret operations for the Federation, including this one.
As Data ran over this information, he straightened up as the Captain turned to face him.
"I don't think it's necessary for me to remind you that what I am about to tell you stays between you, your senior staff and I. You are privileged with this information…well…what I am ALLOWED to provide you with anyway." Abraham laid his stern chin against his cracking, dry knuckles as he calculated Data behind his scraggly beard.
Data simply nodded and watched as he turned his monitor to face him. He eyed the information on it, puzzled as there was very little. Abraham picked up on this and continued.
"As I stated, Commander, I am limited on what I can provide you. I am still not authorized to grant any information on the nature of the Colossus experiments. I am however allowed to fill you in on a bit of background." He waved his hand casually at the monitor. "The crew of The Colossus was tasked with studying a Class M planet at the edge of the Quadrant that Star Fleet has deemed Solaris 10. The life forms below, while primitive, are almost at our stage of evolution. However, they have not been granted with the capacity for warp. The Colossus was a ten year science mission station. Its main objective was to aid the residents of Solaris 10 with warp technology. It was at year 6 of this mission that Star Fleet noticed the station had gone missing. That, of course, is where you and the Enterprise were recruited."
Abraham turned the monitor away from Data, making him sit up straight to face him.
"While I know this doesn't help much, this is all I'm allowed to give." Abraham silenced himself, smacking his lips together and suppressing a small cough.
"If you will bear with me, Sir," Data began, searching for the correct phrasing for his question. "Why does a seemingly simple mission have to be cloaked in such mystery?"
"That is for Star Fleet to know, as well as us."
"Understandable, Sir. However, I fail to see how you and your crew as well as Admiral Quinn fit into all of this."
"We on the Laconia were members of The Colossus team, at least a small branch of it that weren't confined to the station. I guess you could say we were the official Star Fleet Liaisons."
"And what of the vessel that two of our officers are working to build? It is laden with such a foreign complexity. Is there something dangerous aboard the Colossus that we—"
The Captain held up a stern hand, his face shadowed by intermittent frustration.
"Commander," he said gruffly. "While I admire your curiosity…as I said…this is all I am able to provide you with. You may add this into your report for Captain Picard. Until then, we cannot discuss this any further."
"Aye, Sir…" Data conceded, eyeing the Captain with a suspicious curiosity.
Just then, the doors to the Captain's office opened and a man in an engineering uniform stepped in. Abraham suddenly smiled and rasped. He stood and Data followed suit, turning to face the engineer he presumed to be Atkins.
"Commander Willam Atkins, I would like you to meet Lieutenant Commander Data of the U.S.S. Enterprise. He will be transporting you there to assist with the recovery of The Colossus and her equipment."
Data eyed Atkins as he gave his hand a hearty shake. While seemingly young, at least in his late twenties, he had sprinkles of salt in his messy dark hair. His eyes were sunken as though he had little time for rest, but they still twinkled with a chocolate brown enthusiasm. His sharp chin accentuated deep laugh lines as they rose up from his lopsided mouth. Despite his haggard appearance, he was indeed still a handsome young man. Overworked, perhaps, but still quite sturdy.
"It's a pleasure, Commander." Atkins said in a baritone voice. "I have heard a lot about you."
"And it is a pleasure to meet you, Commander Atkins. Captain Abraham, thank you for your briefing. However, it is time for me to return to the Enterprise. I will make up a full report for Captain Picard and give him your regards."
Abraham merely nodded, looking weary as he waved him and Atkins out.
Commander Atkins followed Data down the hall and seemed to struggle with keeping up as they made their way back to the shuttle bay.
The awkwardness of humans still puzzled Data at times, especially when he sensed that it was directed toward him. He could feel Atkins' eyes scanning him as though he were a humanoid starship and he, Data, an anomaly in space.
"Is there something troubling you, Commander?" Data asked, trying to shuffle off the slight irritability he had rising in his mechanical belly.
"Well, sir," Atkins began. "I was just wondering…is there a…Lieutenant Commander Heva Brookes aboard the Enterprise?"
Data halted suddenly and turned, causing Atkins to step back to avoid bumping into him.
"What is your interest in Commander Brookes?" Data asked, attempting to—as best he could—hide the little green goblin that began dancing around his head.
"Do you know her?" Atkins asked, both hopeful and seemingly nervous.
"I do, very personally. We are dating." Data said flatly, folding his arms. He supposed that this was a male show of dominance, though he wasn't sure why he felt it was necessary in this situation; Atkins was merely inquiring it seemed.
Atkins suppressed a laugh as he eyed Data for a sign of seriousness. As Data's face didn't falter, his smile faded slightly and he hunched his shoulders a bit.
"We're just...very old friends from our Academy days. It's been…oh…I'd say about seven years since I last spoke to her even." He answered, turning his gaze to face anywhere but at Data.
Data dropped his arms and smiled slightly, feeling himself silly for becoming so hostile. "Well then, I am certain she will be pleased to see you. She has been working so hard lately, perhaps a visit from an old colleague will be refreshing for her. I do tell her quite frequently to…what is the phrase? 'Hang out' with her friends more? This will give you two an ample opportunity to catch up."
Data turned and continued to stride his way down the hall as Atkins rushed to keep up once again. He whispered something under his breath that Data didn't catch. No matter, he had to return this man to the Enterprise.
As they entered the shuttle, Atkins made a swift apology to Data, stating that he had forgotten something important in his quarters. Before Data could protest, Atkins had jogged across the bay and out of the doors.
Data sat back in his seat and supposed that it would be a good time, now that he was alone, to record a brief log entry on the briefing to later convert into his report.
"Second Officer's Log, Stardate 49390.05
I have had a briefing with Captain Abraham, commanding officer of the Starship Laconia. While the information was limited, we at least have a basis on the Colossus conundrum. According to Abraham, The Colossus was on a sort of diplomatic mission to appropriate the residents of a new planet, Solaris 10, with our warp technology. Whether or not this was intended to also inaugurate them into the United Federation of Planets is unknown. However, it appears that during their ten year mission to complete this objective, somehow The Colossus was thrown to the other side of the galaxy. How this fits into our objective, I am uncertain. I have however collected Commander Willam Atkins from the Laconia and am about to transport him back to the Enterprise. I am curious to see how far the rest of the crew has gotten in their pursuit of this mission upon my return."
As soon as Data finished his log entry into his tricorder, Atkins returned with what he could only describe as an inflation of his confidence. The bumbling young man that had followed him seemed to fade away as he sat beside Data, looking at him with a sort of self-gratification.
"Well, Commander, I am ready whenever you are. Let's head to the Enterprise."
Data simply turned his head away from Atkins, holding onto a look of indifferent befuddlement as he piloted the shuttle out into open space and reset the coordinates with the last known location of the Enterprise.