Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [11]
“Magic?” Pulaski repeated skeptically.
“By the definition,” Data suggested, “that any technology sufficiently advanced as to be beyond our comprehension may be defined as magic, then it appears that yes, we may be dealing with magic on Elysia.”
Seating herself across from Data, Pulaski snorted
derisively. “We need to understand what is happening on Elysia, not pin some obscure definition on it.”
“I do not claim that the definition explains what we have observed on Elysia, Doctor,” Data protested. “I merely agree with the captain that without more information we cannot solve the puzzle.”
“That’s always your answer, isn’t it? Gather more data.” She pronounced the first syllable of the last word with a short vowel. “In this case Mr. Data is right, Doctor,” Picard observed. “I assume you’ve all seen the recordings of the original survey team’s encounters with the Elysians, a century ago. What we’ve observed from orbit indicates that nothing’s changed.
The society is still agricultural, with no evidence of industry. The gravitational shifts have stopped, but as we’ve not been able to trace their source-was “Captain,” Data said, “we do not know their cause; their source is in all probability the single anomalous mountain in Elysia’s terrain.”
“How could it be?” Riker asked. “There are undefined energy emanations from that region, but the readings from the mountain hardly impact on the sensors. It’s probably just low-grade volcanic activity.”
“Yeah,” Geordi added, “there’s nothing regular about it. If it’s natural, then it couldn’t be connected with the gravitational shifts or it would show aftereffects. But if it’s artificial, then it ought to show the kind of regularity that you don’t get in nature, Data.”
“But it does,” said the android.
“Explain,” Picard directed.
Data turned the captain’s computer terminal so he could call up a holographic image of Elysia. “First, the 31 fact that the planet has only one mountain is unique to my knowledge.” “That’s what I’d call unique!” Geordi put in.
“Otherwise,” Data continued, “the topography of the planet appears normal enough. There is the expected gravitational bulge at the equator and flattening at the poles. There are various hills and valleys, even though all but the gently rolling lands in the protected habitats are within the swamp. The valleys there are filled with water, the hilltops emerging as hummocks or small islands. The locations of the unexplained inhabitable areas appear haphazard… until we change the view from distopographical to topological.” “I see!” gasped Geordi, the only one in the group with the engineering background to make it instantly obvious.
So the others could also see, Data adjusted the display, flattening out the irregularities of Elysia until the planet’s surface was a perfect sphere, with the exception of the single mountain.
With the unevenness smoothed out, the pattern became apparent to everyone seated around the table: each one of the nine habitats covered the same area of ground, and all were equidistant from the mysterious mountain. “I think this is sufficient evidence that the mountain is central to whatever force maintains the habitats,” said Data. “The design is patently artificial.”
Captain Picard nodded and began soliciting suggestions on how to proceed with the study of Elysia.
“Obviously, somebody has to go down there,”” Geordi said. “I volunteer.” “As do I,” Data added.
“I don’t recommend it,” Riker warned.
“Your abilities would be extremely helpful, but neither of you could pass for Elysian. We don’t know whether the natives will order strangers away, as they did the people who offended them a century ago.”
“Mr. Thralen?” Captain Picard prompted.
The sociologist nodded. “I have studied the records of the original survey team very carefully.
As long as they remained within the inhabited areas, the Elysians made them welcome. However, although none of the great power surges we have witnessed were recorded by the Clarion, they did note those energy anomalies, and beamed