Boogeymen - Mel Gilden [39]
“If we can believe these chairs,” Baldwin said, “the members of the crew looked like us; they bent the way we do, anyway.”
“That confirms the sensor readings we recorded on our first contact. Ninety-eight percent human. But humans need instrumentality. There’s no indication that they were telekinetic.”
Almost to himself, Picard said, “And yet they attained warp speed without warp engines.”
“Yes, yes,” Shubunkin said irritably. “Actually we have found instrumentation of a sort.” He took the wand from Baldwin and pointed to an artifact near the tail of the ship that looked like nothing so much as a small bass drum. “As near as we can determine, this focuses some kind of energy.”
“What kind?”
Baldwin shook his head, but he was not disagreeing with Shubunkin. He looked whipped. “Power output curves show a connection between the focusing mechanism and humanoid brain activity. Where that leads, who knows?”
The three of them stared at the teardrop. Evidently d’Ort’d technology was so different from anything in the Federation that none of the usual signposts were helpful. Picard said, “Sensors indicated the humanoids were asleep while the ship was in flight. If, for the sake of argument, we assume that the humanoid brain activity has something to do with the ship moving at warp speeds, perhaps the sleeping does, too?”
Shubunkin glanced at Baldwin to see what effect Picard’s question had had. Baldwin shrugged.
“We’re still missing something,” Shubunkin said. “Some essential part of the puzzle.”
“What about the natives of Tantamon Four?” Picard said.
“According to Baldwin’s diaries,” Shubunkin said, “the natives cannot be the builders.”
“Perhaps their ancestors?” Picard said.
“Degenerate descendants?” Shubunkin said. “Impossible. Baldwin found no advanced artifacts except this single ship. Correct?”
“Correct,” Baldwin said, and made talking-mouth motions with one hand as he rolled his eyes.
Shubunkin pointedly ignored Baldwin’s impolite gestures and said, “Professor Baldwin’s own observations support the fact that the natives advance by cooperating instead of by competing, the method used by the natives of Earth and so many other planets. I’ve found evidence of competition on the ship.”
“Your evidence is based on a theory.”
“It is a law of exology!”
“It’s a theory developed by a bunch of guys who’ve never been in the field!”
“Gentlemen, please,” Picard shouted to be heard over their argument.
Quietly, sarcastically, Shubunkin said, “Professor Baldwin has a theory of his own.” It was a dare.
“It’s in the ship’s software,” Baldwin said, a little angrily, as if he’d suggested this before to no effect.
Shubunkin said, “Can you understand the software? I can’t. I’m no computer expert. And even if you claim to understand it, you can still be wrong. We need primary data.”
“Software is a tool. It has its own logic. I understand it well enough. I don’t know why you get so defensive when I suggest that the humanoid d’Ort’d are the servants of the other, more alien species.”
“A servant, like their ship,” Shubunkin said sarcastically. “What does that mean? I tell you we need a second opinion.”
“One of your would-be exologists?”
It was obvious to Picard that these two had for hours been daring each other to cross a line and that neither of them was going to budge. He said, “Perhaps Mr. Data can be of help. Few beings know more about computers and their software than he.”
Baldwin said, “Sounds good to me.”
Shubunkin shrugged and folded his arms.
Picard tapped his insignia and said, “Mr. Data.”
“Here, Captain.”
“Would you please join me in the exobiology lab on deck five?”
“On my way, sir.”
Data arrived, the usual inquisitive expression on his face. Baldwin said, “Maybe now we can get somewhere, eh, Data?”
Data looked puzzled. “Have we met, sir?”
A cold wind blew through Picard. He shot Data