Boogeymen - Mel Gilden [53]
“Damned curious,” Picard said.
From behind him came the rumbling voice of Lieutenant Worf. “Sir?”
“What is it, Worf?” Riker said.
“I know why we’re going back to Tantamon Four.”
Chapter Eleven
PICARD STOOD UP and looked at Worf with an innocent expression. “I assure you,” he said, “you have our complete attention.”
Worf was impervious to that sort of humor. He merely reported, “Audio transmission coming in from Tantamon Four.”
“Let us hear it,” Picard said.
The signal sounded like insects playing insect instruments. It had the same charm, the same sound as the signal from the d’Ort’d teardrop ship that had brought them out to the Omega Triangulae region the first time. Picard let it continue while he tried to make sense out of it. He would have left that job to the computer, but he had no great confidence in the computer at the moment.
“Stores,” Picard called out.
“Stores. Ward here, sir.”
“Mr. Ward, send a tricorder up to the bridge immediately.”
“Aye, sir. Ward out.”
While the alien music continued, Picard said, “How long has this been going on?”
“Unknown, sir,” said Worf. “It is not among the frequencies we normally scan for. I discovered it largely by accident.”
Riker’s eyebrows went up, and Picard knew why. Worf did not make such an admission lightly.
The turbolift arrived, and the person inside said, “Sir?” as if a little frightened. And with good reason. Ward was standing with his feet flat against the ceiling of the car. Worf and Riker got him down, a tricky job since the Boogeymen had apparently inverted the artificial gravity in that single turbolift.
Picard gave the tricorder to Wesley and ordered him to see if he could make the music yield a message. While Ward went away on the turbolift—oriented normally for the moment—Wesley took a sample of the alien sound. He sat down at the conn, all the while pushing buttons on the tricorder and studying the results.
Mr. Worf’s discovery of the alien signal had triggered many thoughts in Picard’s head, and for the first time since he and Wesley and Data had emerged from the holodeck, the thoughts led him to conclusions that made sense. While half listening to Wesley tinker with the insect music, Picard matched the evidence together in his head and was delighted to discover that the fit was firm. He looked up and saw Riker watching him.
Earnestly, Picard said, “Number One, I feel that things are coming to a head. The virus seems to have originated aboard the d’Ort’d teardrop ship, although Professor Baldwin may have modified the program for his own use. We are receiving a signal from Tantamon Four that could be coming only from the d’Ort’d ship. We are traveling at warp speed without using our engines, which is something at least one d’Ort’d ship has demonstrated the ability to do. Evidence strongly suggests that the sleepers and the Martinez node have something to do with our speed. Which means that the trance state also has something to do with the d’Ort’d. How does this sound to you, Number One?”
“Good so far, sir.”
“Then the d’Ort’d are the key. Perhaps using that key we can reduce our many problems to one.”
“Unfortunately,” said Riker, “the galaxy’s leading expert on the d’Ort’d is in a trance down in sickbay.”
“Yes. We will have to make do with Shubunkin.”
“He really does know his stuff, sir.”
“Glad you realize that. Call a meeting of everyone involved. The conference lounge in ten minutes.”
Picard sat at the head of the table, Riker at his right hand. La Forge, Data, Dr. Crusher, and Shubunkin were ranged down the table waiting coolly for him to begin. He wished Troi were there, stabilizing them, reminding them of the human part of the equation if they should ever forget. Still, he felt better now that the problems all had handles, the same handle, the d’Ort’d. Together, he and his staff would save the ship. He only hoped they figured out how to do so before the Boogeymen took total control.
Picard said, “As I see it, we have three problems. First, and perhaps most critical, a virus has attacked our