Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [129]
It was the right thing to say. Respect flowed from his hosts, and Data was shown to a small room, presumably a chapel, although he was not familiar with the symbols on its walls and what appeared to be an altar. Although he correctly assumed there would be none, he checked for listening devices before tapping his combadge to give the Enterprise a brief progress report. “It will be a very public ceremony,” he 359 explained. “I will keep this channel open so you can hear, and you can scan the coordinates visually.”
“Good work, Data,” Captain Picard said.
“However, we are pressed for time. Waykani and Ferengi vessels will be here within ten hours.” “The ceremony is in four,” Data said. “If my plan works, I will try to persuade the Konor to negotiate with the other Samdians, and accept Starfleet personnel as mediators.”
“Yes,” Picard agreed. “That, and the presence of the Enterprise, should be enough to deter any action by the Waykani or Ferengi. It’s all on your shoulders, Data. Good luck.”
“Thank you, sir,” Data replied, and cut communication. All on his shoulders. He did not want to calculate the probabilities; with the Waykani and the Ferengi ready to rival one another in offering their services, out here so close to the Romulan Neutral Zone, interplanetary war was virtually unavoidable.
But worry was a waste of time and energy, so Data spent his time rehearsing his plan, attempting to create a flowchart of possible scenarios. He knew there could be omissions: sentient organic beings were simply not predictable. No matter how he rehearsed possibilities, when it came time for action, he would have to … improvise. Finally Data was led out onto the steps of the Council Building, facing a crowd of thousands. They stood in the square, and massed at windows in surrounding buildings. Throughout the lands of the Konor, the Elders assured him, other Konor were waiting for those gathered here to send the proceedings soul to soul.
The Chief Elder introduced Data, who told them simply, I bring you greetings.
Overwhelming welcome and joy poured over him.
He understood why the Konor found it easy to recruit those they wanted to their side-if it were not for the pain of communicating in return, it would be remarkably easy to allow these people to take him into their company. But he reminded himself of two facts: when faced with people who would not accept abject slavery, these kind and gentle people turned into ruthless killers; and their welcome was so joyful because they did not yet understand what he was. The Chief Elder was continuing, We welcome the first Konor we have discovered not born among our own people. The grace of Providence is here demonstrated, for he dwells among Ikonor, as we do, and knew not of his state until a Brother of our souls discovered him toiling in the service of the soulless.
As the Konor they had captured had asserted, no names were used. Data was already catching the nuances in tone; the reference to the Konor who had been returned to them carried with it something of both the man’s mental “voice” and the determination of his character. It was odd, though, to “hear” in references to Data himself not only a shadow of his speaking voice but a sense of… innocence?
That could not mean they knew what he was, could it?
Was Dr. Pulaski right that he gave away his mechanical nature with every word or act? But no, if the Konor knew what Data was, surely artificial would come through in the way they thought of him.
They were not at a technological level to conceive of an android of his sophistication; they simply accepted his pale skin and different body 361 movement as characteristic of the race he came from. So long as they did not guess what he was before he was ready to show them, Data’s plan had a chance.
It had to work. With time pressing, there was no chance for an alternate plan if he failed. The Chief Elder invited Data to step forward, comand remove the barriers between yourself and your brothers and sisters. As Providence sees all, we disguise nothing.
Hide not your body from Providence,